rhifyn 1145 issue 1145
gair rhydd
25 tachwedd 2019 25 november 2019
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Cardiff University’s student paper | Established 1972
Students’ Union adopts official pro-choice stance
Charlotte King Head of News
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ardiff University’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held on November 21 and saw students putting forward various motions, calling upon Cardiff University’s Students’ Union to act in a number of ways. One of the evening’s motions, proposed by Isadora Sinha, calling upon the Students’ Union to adopt an official pro-choice stance, passed with a near unanimous vote in favour of the motion. The motion demanded that the Students’ Union adopt a stance on abortion rights and bodily autonomy and alleged that misinformation has been spread about the medical procedure of abortion by Students’ Union affiliated societies. It also called upon the Students’ Union to provide more comprehensive ‘Pregnancy Support’ in line with its level of awareness of other health-related issues like mental health, wellbeing and sexual health. Additionally, it also asked the Union to change its pregnancy and abortion-related terminology; provide up-to-date information on where to seek help on the back of Students’ Union toilet stall doors; create a prochoice awareness campaign highlighting the importance of access to safe and legal abortion; and ensure that Students’ Union affiliated societies do not spread misinformation about abortion and pregnancy nor participate in activities against the Union’s policy. The passion of students from both sides of the argument in the room was undeniable. Speaking to the crowd, Sinha expressed, “carrying pregnancy needs to be an individual choice and the Students’ Union stance should reflect this” and stated that this motion does not censor anyone but rather will help create a “supportive learning environment” for students. Other supporters of the motion took to the stage too with one student arguing that becoming pro-choice does not mean that the Students’ Union becomes actively anti-abortion but ensures people have the right to bodily autonomy. Another student expressed that supporting the motion is supporting a basic human right and if people have not experienced having to make a choice on pregnancy themselves, they should “listen to the ones who have been there”. However, the motion was met with opposition from some students. Prior to the AGM, Cardiff University Catholic Society published an open let-
ter addressed to them by Reverend Fr Sebastian Jones from the University Catholic Chaplaincy calling the motion a “troubling development”. Prior to voting on the motion, it was warned that if the motion were to be passed, CathSoc would resign its membership of the Guild of Societies and continue to function independently of the Guild. However, at the time of writing it is not certain whether this will be going ahead in light of the motion’s result. Cardiff Students for Life, a society aiming to “promote, expand and develop understanding of pro-life issues” also voiced concerns regarding the motion prior to AGM, calling on all of its members to attend the AGM to vote against the motion “for our freedom of speech and conscience”. At the event, students opposing the motion said: “our human rights are being threatened”. One student argued that approving the motion would endanger students’ right to freedom of expression, conscience and choice. They stated that students have the right to a space for balanced debate and that the motion greatly offends the Catholic community at Cardiff University. A second speaker in opposition to the motion also stated that this motion would prevent the Students’ Union committing to its principle of inclusivity by denying their right to hold a contrary opinion to being pro-choice and would prevent certain students from being able to practice their faiths. Another student also felt the motion would be the same as the Students’ Union affiliating itself with a political party in principle. As the debate drew to a close, Sinha returned to the stage to express how the Students’ Union is not neutral on racism or transphobia and bodily autonomy is “a basic human right”; she feels there is no neutral. “It needs to be [the pregnant woman’s] choice and it needs to be an informed one.” Henceforth, the Students’ Union will now officially adopt a pro-choice stance and provide pregnancy support for students which is “unbiased and medically accurate” by now referring to a foetus at 13-weeks instead of a baby. Additionally, up-todate information on pregnancy-related medical services will be posted on toilet stall doors, VP Welfare and Campaigns will ensure the Union is campaigining for and provides strategies for the prochoice stance, and VP of Societies and Volunterring will see that societies “do not spread misinformation about abortion and pregnancy nor participate in activities against SU policy”.
Lights, Christmas, action: Cardiff residents are preparing to head to the polls next month. Source: Tomos Evans
Step Into Christmas 2019 event cancelled for financial reasons
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his year, Cardiff Council’’s usual event to switch on the lights, Step Into Christmas, was cancelled. A spokesperson for Cardiff Council said that “Step Into Christmas was re-
moved from the events budget last year to help the Council bridge a budget gap of approximately £25 million”. Gair Rhydd spoke to some stallholders in the Christmas market to get their response to the cancellation of
UCU strike action: Cymru ar daith should students i Ewrop ar gyfer show support? Ewros 2020
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his week members of the University and College Union are undertaking strike action in 60 universities across the UK, resulting in cancelled lectures and seminars for students. Staff are striking to protest various issues, including working conditions, improvement in pay, staff wellbeing, and the gender pay gap which constitutes a difference of 21% between pay for male and female colleagues. This week, one of our Comment editors, Adam Clarke, shares his view on the strike and why he believes students should stand in solidarity with their lecturers. To find out more about Adam’s view on the strikes and his stance on students’ support of the 8-day staff strike, turn to page 16.
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u dathliadau lu ar draws Cymru wrth i’r tîm cenedlaethol lwyddo i gyrraedd pencampwriaeth Ewros 2020. Daeth buddugoliaeth i Gymru o 2-0 yn erbyn Hwngari a wnaeth sicrhau eu lle yn y bencampwriaeth. Roedd nifer o chwaraewyr profiadol megis Aaron Ramsey, a sgoriodd y ddwy gôl, yn gyffaeliad i’r tîm ifanc hwn. Ond, roedd chwaraewyr ifainc megis Ethan Ampadu, David Brooks a Kieffer Moore hefyd yn allweddol i llwyddiant y tîm ar y dydd. Bydd Cymru’n gobeithio i ailadrodd a gwella ar eu llwyddiant ym Mharis yn 2016 pan wnaethant gyrraedd y rownd gyn-derfynol. Amser a ddengys pun ai bydd Cymru yn llwyddiannus yn eu hymdrechion. Ewch i dudalen 10 i ddarllen adroddiad Taf-od o’r gem.
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the event. You can read what they had to say inside, alongside the view of an attendee of this year’s Christmas lights switch on. To read more on the cancellation of the event, turn to page 3.
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Devolution in the United Kingdom: where are we now?
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evolution has become a defining issue in this election as the nations within the United Kingdom grow increasingly autonomous from Westminster. There have been more vocal calls for independence in Scotland and Wales in recent years and with the Brexit negotiations still ongoing, some feel that the Union’s strength is being tested like never before. However, while the SNP argues in favour of a second independence referendum for Scotland, does Wales have an appetite for increased devolution to the Welsh Assembly? And just how likely is Welsh independence? Read more on page 12 to find out the history and context of devolution and the attitute of the Welsh and Scottish people.
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