Palatinate
Durham’s student newspaper since 1948
www.palatinate.org.uk | FREE
Thursday 4th February 2021 | No. 836
SciTech reveal the science behind stress and its physiological effects
Food and Drink on how to destress in the kitchen during lockdown
Former student rejects compensation from University after transphobia controversy Kiara Davies and Martha McHardy News Reporter and News Editor A former Durham University student who made national news in a row over transphobia has rejected an offer of compensation of £1,000 from the University. Angelos Sofocleous claimed he had been subject to “harassment
and bullying” by the Department of Philosophy after a post he shared on Twitter in 2018, which read “RT [retweet] if women don’t have penises”. It linked to an article in The Spectator on the same subject, and led to his removal as assistant editor of Durham’s Philosophy journal, Critique, his dismissal as General Editor of The Bubble, and, under mounting pressure, his
resignation as President-Elect of Humanist Students. Chris Ward, former Chair of LGBT Humanists, described the tweet as “horrific” and “transphobic.” However, Sofocleous also received support from figures such as journalist and former Director of the New Schools Network, Toby Young, who, in response to Sofocleous’ dismissal as from Critique, tweeted
“Shouldn’t you be encouraging debate about important issues rather than stifling it?” Earlier this year, a letter of apology was issued to Sofocleous via the Student Conduct Office. In a statement to Palatinate Sofocleous questioned “how honest and heartfelt any apology is if it’s communicated via a third party”. Sofocleous also claimed he had
been subject to “victim blaming”. Sofocleous also filed a complaint to Durham Students’ Union (DSU) regarding his “unfair treatment”. The complaint was upheld and DSU apologised for his dismissal, stating that Sofocleous is “entitled to hold and express these views” and deemed his dismissal as “procedurally Continued on page 3
St. Chad’s furloughs support staff Patrick Stephens News Editor
▲ Durham Castle is bathed in crisp winter sunlight, with the Cathedral peeking out in the background (Suzannah Gilburt)
“Literally not the point”: students react to SU’s new RON rules Martha McHardy, Theo Burman and Max Kendix News Editors and Deputy Editor Plans announced by Durham SU this week for individual students to register as the head of a verified campaign for ‘re-open nominations’ have been met
with confusion and anger from students, including some within the Students’ Union itself. The new rules, which claim to act on a University review of SU election procedure, will mean RON – historically the ‘none of the above’ protest option in student elections – will be treated as a recognised candidate, operating
under all the same rules and regulations as any other candidate. SU Assembly, the representative body for students in the SU, will not get a vote on these changes. RON would also be open to sanctions if the Returning Officer deems it in breach of election rules, as happened last year, when 58% of student votes for RON were
deleted. In the same year, a survey showed satisfaction with Durham SU was the worst of all 137 UK universities. Joseph Gellman, the SU Representative for Josephine Butler College told Palatinate that the SU’s changes misunderstood the very nature Continued on page 6
St Chad’s College has furloughed student support staff despite concerns about what one student petition called “a growing student mental health crisis”. The staff were furloughed for financial reasons. Ewan Swift, Durham SU Welfare and Liberation Officer, told Palatinate: “It’s clear that the decision to furlough support staff was an internal decision made to protect the financial sustainability of the college, however, in doing so this is sadly limiting the routes for Chad’s students to access support.” “Given the growing student mental health crisis, routes to support should be opening up, not shutting down, and so we believe that the college should receive assistance so that it is able to provide its students equal access to student support.” “Whilst the University has a confidential memorandum of understanding with Chad’s regarding funding, we believe that the University has a Continued on page 4
