Forge Press Issue 5

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Laura White interview Pages 16-17 The independent student newspaper of the University of Sheffield // www.forgetoday.com

By Martha Kelner The Union Sabbatical Officers are calling for the democratic removal of a Students’ Union Council member who was exposed on the leaked British National Party (BNP) members list this week. A member of staff at the University of Sheffield was also identified on the list. Members of representative committees at the Union have united to condemn the Council member and have support from the National Union of Students (NUS).

Have your say Comment on this article at Forgetoday.com Send a letter to press.letters@forgetoday.com Text us on 07765363716 A joint statement from all eight Sabbatical Officers said: “The BNP are a fascist organisation, who stand for an ‘all-white Britain’, an aim which could only be achieved through violence. “Their leader has denied the Holocaust, and many of their members have criminal convictions for violent offences. “They seek to manipulate the democratic process in order to destroy it. There can be no doubt that the BNP are a threat to our diverse, multicultural student community. “The BNP do not represent the views of Sheffield students. Students would not have elected this individual had he been open about his support of a fascist organisation. “The Union Officers, supported by numerous members of Council, believe that fascism has no place in our diverse Students’ Union, and this individual should be democratically removed from his position on Council.” The uncovering of the Students’ Union Councillor on the BNP members list comes despite the Union of Students openly opposing the far right party. The Union has anti-racism and anti-homophobic policies, as well as a Union Statement of Unity urging students to help prevent the BNP from winning seats in the local area. Yusuf Ghumra, Black Students’ Councillor, is shocked by the revelations. He said: “The BNP as an organisation represents hate and intolerance, everything that this Union proudly opposes. “It is alarming to think that they have representation here. This will come as a shock for Black students, particularly Muslims, who have been a primary target of the BNP in recent years. Continued on page 4

End accommodation ghettos, says Hurst By Ciaran Jones Union President Dave Hurst is to release a report detailing the ‘grossly unfair and unaffordable rent levels’ which he claims are ghettoising students living in University accommodation. He is also calling for a day of action next month as part of a campaign against what the report calls ‘socially regressive’ pricing strategies. The Unaffordable University Accommodation report claims that average accommodation prices at the University of Sheffield have increased drastically since 2005. It adds that rent levels are in many cases higher than charges at other universities, with Hurst looking to Leeds, Manchester, and Leicester for comparisons. The document states that the average rent in self-catered accommodation let to students by Accommodation and Campus Services (ACS) in 2005 was £2,742.75, with the average price in catered halls being slightly higher at £3,392.68. According to the report, the average cost of self-catered provision has risen by 44 per cent since then to £3,942.74, while the average rent payable is said to have risen by 61 per cent in catered halls. The average cost in catered accommodation this year is listed as £5,458.47, though the figures in the report compiled by Hurst have factored in an extra £15 per week to the cost to cover the reduction in food allowance which took place in September 2007. The figures are also not like for like comparisons as the 2005 average prices were calculated on the basis of a standard 31 week contract, whereas the average prices for 2008 are based on a 42 week contract length. The Union President is calling for action amongst the student body to show dissatisfaction with what he calls an “untenable situation.” He plans to lead a demonstration on Wednesday, December 3, at 1.15pm to coincide with a meeting of the University Senate. This comes ahead of the deadline for rent charges being decided upon for the next academic year, according to dates listed in the report. Hurst said: “When it comes to the crunch time when prices are set in mid-December we need to

Inside...

Union Councillor on leaked BNP list

Friday November 21 2008 // Issue 5

Dave Hurst plans to hold a demonstration outside Firth Cout on Wednesday, December 3. Photo: Helen Munro have the momentum with us to states that: ‘out of 30 types contract[s at Leeds] are still over show that students aren’t going to of accommodation and room £500 cheaper than a standard configurations, all but one are room in the Endcliffe Village with put up with this. “It’s not just a home student cheaper than the price of the a 42 week contract.’ The charges at the University undergraduate issue; even Endcliffe Village new build rents’. In some cases catered of Leicester cited in the research if you aren’t in University accommodation, it does affect accommodation in Sheffield is provide similar results, with the over £2,000 more, though many report stating: ‘all of Leicester’s you.” Hurst’s report compares the of the figures are not comparing University Accommodation is prices charged by ACS with those like for like rooms and contract cheaper than that of Sheffield at the Universities of Leeds, lengths. University Accommodation.’ Manchester, and Leicester. Despite this, the report claims Regarding Leeds, the document that: ‘Even rooms with 51 week Continued on page 4

Fuse.

Fuse.

Features

Full guide to the next two weeks’ entertainment

Including exclusive interview with Alphabeat

Forge Press witnesses the strange goings-on of student politics

Listings

Fuse page 12

Pop special

Fuse pages 2-3

NUS conference

Page 19


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