Palatinate 830

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Palatinate Officially the UK’s Best Student Publication, 2018

www.palatinate.org.uk | FREE

Tuesday 6th October 2020 | No. 830

Once you have picked up this copy, please avoid passing it to others

Features provides a guide to Durham’s societies and offers advice for new students

Politics speaks to CNN correspondent Clarissa Ward about women in journalism

Years abroad get long awaited go-ahead University Patrick Stephens and Max Kendix News Editors Durham students wanting to undertake a work or study placement abroad can now apply to travel, regardless of the destination. The decision comes after an open letter to the University,

signed by over 300 students, as well as new government and insurance guidance and advice. Year abroad travel was previously categorised by the University as non-essential, and so not permitted to countries categorised as ‘high risk’ by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. In a statement, Professor Claire O’Malley, Pro-Vice-Chan-

cellor (Global), said: “I’m pleased to say it has been agreed by the University Executive that students who wish to undertake a work or study placement outside the UK, including in countries that are not on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s exempt list, may now apply for permission to travel via the University’s placement and travel cover approval processes.”

She added: “Our commitment to the health, safety and wellbeing of our students is our first priority.” While students conducting a year abroad in any country may apply, travel will only be endorsed by the University following a rigorous... Continued on page 5

▲ Durham’s freps made new students welcome during a socially-distant freshers’ week (clockwise from top left: Imogen Usherwood, Josephine Butler JCR, Anni Deri, Michael Crilly & Izzy Hubbert, St John’s SJCR, Josephine Butler JCR, St Chad’s JCR)

The new normal: Durham’s Covid measures • All classes for Levels 2-4 undergraduates will be online until at least the end of Week One • Livers-in are assigned to collegiate households of up to 18 people • Bill Bryson Library open to bookings for up to two four-hour slots per week

Sophie Garnett, Martha McHardy and Max Kendix News Reporter and News Editors Covid-19 has forced universities around the country to work differently as they open their doors to students and staff this month.

Durham University has kept students updated with latest information regarding Covid-19 throughout the summer as the rules have changed. The government recently announced local lockdown restrictions across the North East. These include a 10pm curfew on entertainment and leisure and a ban

on mixing households. A number of Covid-19 cases have been confirmed within the Durham student community. All individuals who have tested positive for Covid-19 are now in quarantine at Durham. Some of the biggest announcements over the summer include moving all lectures online and the

closure of colleges to livers-out until at least the first week of Michaelmas Term, as freshers quarantined upon arrival for three days. Palatinate has put together a guide for how Michaelmas Term will work at Durham University. Continued on page 3

second worst for social inclusion

Keziah Smith News Reporter Recent data released by The Sunday Times shows that Durham University ranks as the second worst university in the country for social inclusion, whilst simultaneously ranking as the sixth best university in the overall league table. The statistics reflect the fact that only 48.7% of Durham students attended state schools (non-grammar). This is despite 93.5% of UK students being educated in the public sector, according to the Independent Schools Council (ISC). Durham’s suggested social exclusion is intensified by the knowledge that only 5.4% of its students are from deprived areas, in spite of University efforts to be more inclusive of young people from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. It also emerged that Durham has the nineteenth most expensive accommodation in the country. Thirteen of the eighteen more expensive accommodation prices are from London-based Universities. The Durham University ‘Access Agreement’ of 2019-2020 states that the University has allocated £11.7 million for outreach purposes, student success, and partnerships with regional schools in the hope to increase the proportion of students admitted to Durham who are classified as being from low-income families. Further analysis, provided by The Sunday Times, into Durham’s inclusivity reveals that the blackattainment gap is -14%, and all ethnic minority students make up only 11% of the student population of the University. Continued on page 4


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