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Profile talk to space engineer Sian Cleaver

Freshers angered by college allocation delays

Joe Rossiter Editor-in-Chief

Incoming students have been left outraged by delays in accommodation allocation which left some freshers without a confirmed college until 16th September.

A significant number of incoming students and parents spoke to Palatinate to express frustration

at the pace of admissions and enrolment at the University. Many complained that they had not been given a college, and so did not know where their accommodation would be, leading to delayed preparations for starting at Durham.

The University had told incoming students that colleges would be allocated by 12th September, but this was pushed back to 16th September, a mere eight days before the start of

Private housing market “now at breaking point”

Waseem Mohamed News Editor

Durham’s private housing market is “now at breaking point,” Durham Students’ Union have said, as students face a double-edge sword of increasing rent costs and abnormally early housing releases.

The annual rush to secure properties for the next academic year may have already begun this month, with over 100 private homes already being listed for the 2023/24 academic year at relatively high prices.

Palatinate analysis has found that as of 24th September, there were 104 homes being advertised on the search platform StuRents, with only seven of these homes being priced at less than £120 per person per week (pppw).

70% of the homes currently listed are managed by the Durham branch of student le ings agency Loc8me. While most of their advertised properties do come with full bills included, students will have to pay anywhere from £124pppw to as much as £212pppw for one of their properties, depending on where

they choose to live in the city.

Another le ing agent, Complete Student Homes, is currently advertising nine priorities to rent in highly sought-out locations including The Viaduct and Elvet Crescent, close to the university’s main site. However, eight of these properties cost at least £185pppw and none of them come with bills included.

Students living in private accommodation this year meanwhile are being warned of unexpected costs due to the rise in energy bill prices, despite the government recently announcing that household energy bills will be capped at an average of £2,500 this year.

Those student with ‘no bills included’ contracts are likely to pay much more for their energy this year, but even those on contracts with ‘bills included’ are at risk if they breach their ‘fair usage’ policies, which allocate tenants a restricted amount of utilities they can use for the year.

Victoria Tolmie-Loverseed of Unipol, a student housing company, Continued on Page 3

freshers’ week, when students arrive in the city.

One incoming student said: “Durham waited until a day before the deadline to send out my offer and the decisions regarding four of my friends.”

They described the process of registering with the University as “extremely stressful. Sending emails was seen as “futile, as I received the standard: ‘The decision will have

been made before the deadline’” response. The “lack of information available and the absence of communication” was thought of as “simply unacceptable” by the student.

This led, they said, to a perception of Durham’s admissions team as “completely inaccessible,” aside from an online chat service, which the individual found “useless.” The student

argued that these delays and inaccessibility added “an extra level of unnecessary stress” to an already stressful process. They noted: “No one at any other university that my friends and people around me applied to have had to experience anything like this,” and said that they believed Durham “are relying on the prestige of the University to run their operations,

Continued on Page 3

Ge ing involved with us: a freshers’ guide

Welcome to Durham!

We hope that your time at the University will be a happy one, and that Palatinate will be a staple of your termly reading.

Any student, of any year, with any level experience, can write for the newspaper.

Here’s how you can get involved:

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Simply search ‘Palatinate/Indigo [section name] contributors’ on Facebook and request to join.

All content calls will be posted here; anyone can sign up.

Further guidance is available on the groups.

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At any time, contributors can pitch article ideas to section editors.

Simply email the section address, all of which are available on page 2, with an idea of any level of detail.

Editors will be happy to assist in developing and writing the piece.

Vacancies

We regularly hire new members to join our team, and currently have a number of positions open.

Applications close on Friday 30th September at 5pm.

Full details are on page 7; contact us to ask any questions.

Meet our team

To welcome new students, we are running an event this Friday 30th September, 1-3pm in the Library Bar.

Come along to meet our editors, ask us anything and learn more about our award-winning paper.

Floral tributes were left at Millenium Place after the death of Queen Elizabeth II (Adeline Zhao)

Satire ponder Rishi Sunak’s future

Royally fudged

Editors-in-Chief

Joe Rossiter & Nicole Wu editor@palatinate.org.uk

Deputy Editors

Elle Fitzgerald-Tesh & Adeline Zhao deputy.editor@palatinate.org.uk

News Editors

Daniel Hodgson, Emily Doughty & Waseem Mohamed news@palatinate.org.uk

News Reporters

Louisa Barlow & Tiffany Chan

Investigations Editors

Frank Kelly & Emily Lipscombe investigations@palatinate.org.uk

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Sascha LO & Rory Cronin satire@palatinate.org.uk

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Josie Lockwood & Josie Sherman comment@palatinate.org.uk

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Holly Downes & Duru Akin Profile Editors

Christian Vince & Arjun Seth profile@palatinate.org.uk

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Cameron McAllister, Patrick Stephens & Will Brown scitech@palatinate.org.uk

Politics Editors

Madeleine Ballay & Jacob Cousens politics@palatinate.org.uk

Deputy Politics Editor

Sebastian Braw-Smith Puzzles Editor

Sophie Sherra puzzles@palatinate.org.uk

Sport Editors

Oliver Jervis & Sanjay Suri sport@palatinate.org.uk

Following

the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Durham University sent a message to all students addressing the news. Included within was a short paragraph on the late monarch’s visits to Durham which, it must be said, were somewhat limited and mainly part of various Jubilee tours, alongside notice that the bulk of general communication would be stopped during the period of national mourning.

However, the section of the email which drew most ire was that outlining “support” in response to the Queen’s death. The University noted that “this sad news will no doubt impact people in different ways, depending on their views, beliefs and experiences,” before continuing to outline the various outlets available, including college student support, the Counselling and Mental Health Service, and the institution’s chaplains.

Drawing a ention to mental health provision is never negative in itself, however the University’s framing of its support speaks to broader flaws in its strategy which detrimentally impact the student experience.

The most obvious issue emphasised by the communication after the Queen’s demise was the University’s understanding of what constitutes a need for proactive support. Whatever a student’s opinions of the

monarchy or the Royal Family, it is not unfair to say that the death of a sovereign pales in comparison to the impact of Covid-19 on their university experience, the struggle to find affordable housing in the city or deal with a cost-of-living crisis as winter begins.

Of course, these competing issues have not had the same unified media coverage as the death of Queen Elizabeth, however it should not be beyond the University to deal with many crises at once. After all, this is exactly what students are being forced into.

about early Bill Bryson Library closure and a new system for searching its catalogue.

It was left to Palatinate to relay this message to students, with help from experts on the topic. Guidance for students is available on our website.

What Durham University does not appear to understand is that issues such as these directly contribute to student mental health. When members of the student community are not given adequate access to the already limited outlets of assistance available to them, they are far less able to navigate the crises that these schemes aim to address. It cannot be denied that rising rent and energy bills are linked to the state of student mental health.

they experience. Durham’s approach at this stage is to assert that “it is not a mental health facility nor is it a therapeutic community,” with “limits to the extent of the support that can be provided.”

Deputy Sport Editors

Maddie Parker & Joe Harston

Indigo Editors

Samuel Lopes & Miriam Mitchell indigo@palatinate.org.uk

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Melissa Rumbold Features Editors

Isobel Tighe & Roshni Suresh Babu features@palatinate.org.uk

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Ella Al-Khalil Coyle & Elizabeth Buckley creative.writing@palatinate.org.uk

Deputy Creative Writing Editor

To take an example from the summer, Durham County Council offered many student households a £150 council tax rebate (valid even though students are exempt from this levy) as part of the government’s strategy to address the cost-ofliving crisis. This significant amount of money was given five lines of coverage in the University’s li le-read and poorly forma ed “Dialogue Student Signposts” email, alongside announcements

When it does come to mental health provision, Durham’s approach is fatally flawed by its reactive approach. In its ‘Mental Health Policy’ document, the University outlines the support available but goes on to say that it “recognises that the students are individual, adult learners, with a responsibility to contribute to their own self-care and to contribute to the quality and wellbeing of the University community.”

Further, Durham students are “invited to engage appropriately and professionally with the support available.”

In practice, this means that students are given the responsibility of notifying the University of any struggles

The University’s approach to mental health is wholly inadequate. Through its hands-off strategy, Durham consistently places burdens on the backs of its community. Though this approach may be the norm across higher education institutions in this country, it cannot be allowed to continue. If the University wants to be a leading academic institution, this must include mental health provision.

Joe Rossiter Editor-in-Chief

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Lisha Chen

Palatinate is published by Durham Students’ Union on a fortnightly basis during term and is editorially independent. All contributors and editors are full-time students at Durham University. Send le ers to: Editor, Palatinate, Durham Students’ Union, Dunelm House, New Elvet, Durham, DH1 3AN. Alternatively, send an email to editor@palatinate.org.uk.

(Rosie Bromiley)

The University’s approach to mental health is wholly inadequate

Students charged £200 advance college rent

Continued from front rather than an effectively organised team.”

Palatinate also spoke to one parent of an incoming fresher who resorted to contacting Vice Chancellor Karen O’Brien to find answers, given the confusion they experienced during the enrolment process. After their child was left with “no login details, no ability to select modules for their course, no opportunity to get excited,” they phoned Durham’s admissions office but were kept on hold for over an hour.

Another parent said that the wait to hear from the University had caused “so much angst and frustration” both for themselves and their child. Left without a confirmed college accommodation, the student was unable to plan for moving in due to a lack of information about catering and bed sizes, organise freshers’ events and receive a college-organised plan for the first week, and “get excited about this new chapter.” After the impact of Covid-19 on education, the admissions process was blamed for “hampering” a positive start to university life.

Another student said that they had not received IT details from the University, leaving them unable to enrol and register for modules as part of their course. They said that “all of my friends” and “people in university group chats have already completed this stage many days

ago.” This left the student “really worried” that they would “miss out” on opportunities as a result. The University has assured students that this will not be the case, with module enrolment deadlines

adjusted taking the delays into account.

Incoming students and parents also complained of a £200 payment requested as “advance rent.” Palatinate has seen wri en

evidence from the admissions office which says that “there is no deposit needed for college accommodation.” The payment was criticised because student loan instalments do not arrive in time to cover this

cost, however the University does have measures in place to support students in financial hardship.

Responding to this evidence, a Durham University spokesperson said: “We congratulate all incoming students on securing a place to study here at Durham and we look forward to welcoming them soon. We are working extremely hard to help them prepare, se le in and enjoy a fantastic time here at Durham.”

So much angst and frustration

“We were unable to allocate all incoming students to a college by Monday 12th September as originally planned due to exceptionally high demand for University accommodation. All incoming undergraduates who choose to live in University accommodation will be given that opportunity.”

Over 100 private homes are avaliable for 2023/24

Continued from front told The Guardian that students should “get advice on anything you do not understand. If you have obligations to pay for energy over a certain threshold, make sure to record regular meter readings and ask the landlord about what it will cost. In a shared house, housemates need to communicate and work together to manage this, and budget together for any excess payments required.”

The University has a clear duty of care

The current crisis has prompted Durham SU to issue a statement, saying that the housing market is “now at breaking point.” The officers’ statement said that “the University has a clear duty of care to its students regarding housing, whether in university-managed accommodation or not, as they have been brought to Durham by

the University.”

Durham SU have “pushed the University to act on this issue and recognise the gravity of the situation,” and will “continue to push the University to ensure that no student is without accommodation in this, or any other, year.”

Durham SU says they are working with the University to see how the issues affecting the housing market can be resolved longerterm. Durham University has also established a helpline to support students in finding accommodation this year, with students urged to email the accommodation office to book an appointment.

In a further statement, a University spokesperson said that “We are aware of the pressures on staff and students caused by, among other factors, rising energy and food costs and are actively exploring options for additional support.”

Durham is not alone in experiencing problems with its housing markets in general, as cities across the UK are experiencing shortages in rooms for students, such as in Glasgow, Manchester and Bristol.

Increased demand has partly been driven by larger numbers of 18-year-olds applying to and being accepted into universities in recent years, with rising admissions numbers driven further by grade

inflation due to cancelled exams in the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, the issues affecting Durham’s housing market have been building for some time. Last year, students had to contend

with one of the earliest rushes for private housing, while Palatinate investigations also revealed that there have been several problems with the quality and safety of some private student homes, concerning

Durham also confirmed that all students would be allocated accommodation by 16th September. for many students.

Durham SU noted their independent student advisor, able to help students facing housing related issues, the details of which are available on their website.

(Beatrice Law)

News

State school pupils less likely to get offers, and prefer to live in self-catered or hill colleges

Frank Kelly and Waseem Mohamed Investigations Editor and News Editor

Palatinate has obtained data showing that independent school applicants have a greater chance of receiving an offer to Durham University than state school applicants. Data also reveals that state-educated students who enrol at Durham are more likely to select a college that is self-catered or located on the ‘hill’.

Over a five-year average, Durham made 28% fewer offers to state school applicants in comparison to the total applications made by such students, compared to 33% fewer offers made to independent school students. This is despite the fact that on average, Durham gives 4,056 more offers a year to state school students.

State school applicants vastly outnumber independent school applicants each year. On average, 4,985 more state school students applied to Durham, over the last five years. In spite of the larger number of applicants, the percentage drop-off between applications and offers for state and independent school students does not correspondingly favour state school applicants by much; just five percentage points separate offers made to state and

private school students.

This new data comes as recent HESA (Higher Education Statistics Agency) findings showed that Durham has one of the lowest proportions of state educated pupils in the country. Just 61.6% of the 2020/21 cohort at Durham was state-educated.

Over a fiveyear average, Durham made 28% fewer offers to state school students

to Palatinate’s findings by saying “While there are some positives to draw from the data, Palatinate’s findings ultimately reaffirm that more needs to be done to ensure that Durham University more accurately reflects the wider UK student body.

“In the future, it should be expected that state schoolers receive more offers from the university, given that we account for 93% of the national student body. We call for an internal review of the current contextual offers and any access schemes in place to support those coming up from state education.”

applicants based on their merit and potential, in line with our Undergraduate Admissions Policy.

“We do not have a target for state school entrants. Instead, we are working to increase entrants from postcode quintiles with the lowest proportions of young people taking part in Higher Education.”

Durham ranked 6th in UK

Waseem Mohamed News Editor

Durham University has been ranked as the 6th best university in the UK by both The Times’s and The Guardian’s 2023 University Guides released this month. It comes as Durham also ranked 6th in the 2023 Complete University Guide earlier this year.

It means that Durham has maintained its 6th place ranking in the The Times’s Good University Guide and Complete University Guide, having also ranked 6th in 2022. However, Durham has fallen one place in The Guardian’s Best UK Universities guide, as Imperial College London took 5th spot this year.

Durham’s reputation was boosted in The Times’s rankings this year after being named Sports University of the Year for the first time since 2015.

Commenting on the figures, the 93% Club called for an internal review of the current contextual offers scheme. The club responded

A University spokesperson responded to the state/private split in applications and offers by saying: “At Durham University we aim to a ract the brightest and best students, regardless of their background or financial circumstances. We make offers to

Palatinate has also collected data showing that state-educated students have a far stronger preference for colleges offering self-catered options in their first year. 59% of students at Durham’s four self-catered colleges are educated at state schools, whereas 20% have non-state school backgrounds. In comparison, only 49% of students at Durham’s ten fully-catered colleges were stateschool educated.

The data also found that state-school pupils had a slight preference for colleges located on the ‘hill’ (referring to colleges towards South Road) compared to the ‘Bailey’ colleges in the heart of the city. 54% of students at ‘hill’ colleges were state-educated, compared to 48% at ‘Bailey’ colleges.

Hatfield College was the only university college with a majority of privately educated students over the last five years – 52%.

Josephine Butler had the highest proportion of state educated students, with 67% of its intake over the last five years coming from state schools.

When asked why state school students were more likely to choose self-catered colleges, the University responded by saying “Our colleges are at the heart of life at Durham and offer 17 distinct and inspiring communities which are open to all, regardless of background.

“A large part of these communities are made up of international students, postgraduate students, mature students, and students from non-traditional backgrounds who are not represented in the state school/independent school figures and demographics mentioned.”

In their profile, The Times also says that “extracurricular life in Durham has gone up a gear” thanks to schemes like the Game Changer competition, and as such it says that Durham’s graduates “are among the most sought after”, with Durham ranked 7th for graduate prospects by The Times

The Complete University Guide meanwhile says that the “collegiate system makes Durham exceptional”, with students being proud to belong to a college. The guide also praises how Durham “aims to lead society in becoming more environmentally sustainable through its worldleading research”.

In terms of subject rankings, Durham saw 22 of its subjects ranked amongst the top five in the Complete University Guide, with ten subjects ranked in the top five in The Times, and only eight in The Guardian’s rankings.

Subjects that performed particularly well included criminology which ranked 2nd in The Times and Guardian rankings, theology which ranked 3rd in both The Times and Guardian, and physics which ranked 2nd in The Guardian and 3rd in The Times. Other subjects in faculties including modern languages, natural sciences, and humanities also performed well.

University rankings are compiled using data across a range of indicators from student satisfaction and staff-to-student ratios, to retention rates and graduate prospects. The main rankings are determined using an overall weighted score out of 100 or 1000 - The Guardian scored Durham 87/100 this year, with the Complete University Guide and The Times scoring Durham 900/1000 and 880/1000 respectively.

Oxford University was ranked as the UK’s best university in The Times’s and Complete University Guide’s rankings this year, while St Andrews University topped The Guardian’s rankings for the first time ever this year.

Sexual assault: knowing the facts and what to do if affected

Nicole Wu and Daniel Hodgson Editor-in-Chief and News Editor

Over the summer, the University published statistics relating to Epiphany and Easter term disciplinary hearings. Disciplinary notices updates are posted a few times each year and inform the community about action taken against students.

Durham’s Senate Discipline Commi ee considered seven separate student cases concerning a “serious breach” of the University’s misconduct policies. This has resulted in two students permanently expelled from the university for a “serious breach” of the University’s Sexual Misconduct and Violence Policy.

One of the students has also received a fixed-term exclusion as an Alum. Two students will face a fixed-term exclusion period with additional sanctions: one has received a no contact order and the other was recommended to take “relevant educational training”.

In unrelated incidents, two more students were excluded from this year’s congregation and have received fixed-term exclusions as Alumni, also for violating the Sexual Misconduct and Violence Policy.

Since the start of the 20212022 academic year, there have now been a total of nine student expulsions, four of which have been as a result of “a serious breach” of the University’s sexual misconduct and violence policy. There have also been nine student exclusions, including five for sexual misconduct.

In 2021, Durham vowed to crack down on racism and sexual assault. As part of these efforts, last year the University increased funding for specialist counsellors and hired two former police officers as full-time professional investigators of misconduct, one of whom has particular experience in cases of sexual violence. Durham is the first UK university to have multiple investigators and one of only three – alongside Bath and Bristol – with any at all.

In a statement, the University’s Senate Disciple Commi ee said, “As part of our drive to ensure we create a respectful and inclusive University culture, we expect staff and students to adhere to the University’s values on behaviour and our regulations on conduct.

“If a student breaks the law or breaches University regulations, we take swift and decisive action. This approach has seen an increase in cases reported to us, but we see this as our community growing in confidence that we will act appropriately in response to such reports; and we are resolved that it will not deter us from our

commitment.”

On the ‘Recent Disciplinary Notices’ webpage, the following statement reads: “Sexual violence and misconduct - We take reports of bullying and harassment, hate incidents, sexual misconduct and domestic abuse seriously. All staff, students and visitors to our campus are able to use our online tool to report any form of unwanted behaviour”.

The University also has a dedicated Sexual Misconduct & Violence: Prevention and Response section on its website.

At a college level, “You can disclose incidents of sexual misconduct and violence to your College Student Support Office. They will provide you with support and refer to you specialist help as appropriate. They can help you consider your reporting options including reporting to the University to initiate the process within the Sexual Violence & Misconduct Policy.”

Students can also use the Durham University Counselling Service: “Our self-referral mechanism for all students with any issue is to send out a Self-Referral Questionnaire. The information provided on the form will direct you towards the more appropriate support. If you indicate ‘sexual misconduct and violence’ on the form you will be offered an appointment with a short timescale with one of our counsellors.”

For support from a fellow student, there is Nightline, “a confidential, non-advisory, non-directive listening service, run by students, for students from 9pm to 7am in term-time. Students are trained in general listening skills; they are not trained in specialist support.”

In addition to these options , there are external opportunities to get support, which are listed on the University website.

When it comes to reporting an incident, the University advises: “Following an incident of sexual misconduct and violence - which can take many forms, including but not limited to rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, image-based sexual abuse, stalking, and domestic abuseyou have options. Students and staff may choose to disclose the incident to a member of staff to seek support.

“This is not the same as making a formal report to the University for the purposes of initiating the procedures within the Sexual Misconduct and Violence Policy. You have the choice of what to do next and can choose to 1) make a report to the Police, 2) make a report to the University, or 3) seek support only.”

Breathalyser checks at clubs aim to target heavy drinking

Waseem Mohamed News Editor

Revellers heading for a night out in Durham could be subject to breathalyser checks by door staff at bars and nightclubs, as part of a new initiative by Durham Constabulary.

The initiative is designed to keep people safe and stop the culture of pre-loading on drinks before heading out, in order to give drinkers a be er chance to make more informed decisions while on their nights out.

Several venues have already been implementing breathalyser checks since last week according to the Constabulary. The breathalysers operate on a lights system, with the accepted level being based on how much a

person should consume to enjoy a “sociable drink”.

The devices can therefore inform door staff if a person has reached potentially unsafe levels of intoxication before they enter the venue. The Constabulary say the devices act as a guide for staff to decide who to allow inside their venues, but it will be up to individual door staff to decide who to perform the breath checks on.

lead to a drop in violent crime, as seen in other parts of the UK where a similar scheme was introduced.

The breathalyser scheme is one of many measures the Constabulary have planned to improve people’s safety at night, including Street Friends’ volunteers who can support drinkers as they move about, specialist CCTV operators to detect vulnerable people who may need further support, and additional street lighting in areas that the public say are of concern.

It is hoped that the scheme, funded by the Safer Streets Scheme and Durham Parish Council, will

Earlier this year, The Hub at St Nic’s Church was opened, which is designed to be a safe space for people feeling unwell, vulnerable or are a victim of a crime to get the relevant support. Some venues also employ welfare officers to provide additional support.

Student success in tuition fee claims

Joe Rossiter Editor-in-Chief

A small number of Durham students have been successful in their claim for refunds on tuition fees for the last academic year, submi ed after strikes disrupted learning in both Michaelmas and Epiphany terms.

There were ten days of strike action across February and March 2022, after a further three days in December 2021. The disruption caused to learning spurred large numbers of students to apply for compensation over the summer.

Organisers, most prominently Niall Higne , previously of the South Student Protest group, encouraged students to apply, commenting that students are the University’s “customer” and so should return fees paid for services not provided. In an open le er from May co-signed by a number of student associations, the group noted the impact of the strikes, as well as the threatened marking boyco , which did not come to pass as a result of a deal

being agreed. The le er noted that “every student faces uncertainty.”

Though many were unsuccessful in their claims, Palatinate spoke to students who received money back from the University about their experiences of the process.

One student told Palatinate that on submi ing their complaint, they were told that the deadline had passed, but that the University would consider their claim out of “goodwill.” The student said that this “annoyed me” and was “disappointing” because it “feels like they don’t care about their students very much.”

The student believed that the “main reason” why they were successful was because they were “able to prove that strikes affected their mental health.”

They also criticised the University’s policy on accepting claims, saying that “I know there were people that were actually impacted by the strikes and cannot prove that it affected their mental health so they wouldn’t be able to get any money back.”

Speaking about University communications surrounding the rebate process, they said that without student organisers, they “wouldn’t even have heard about it.”

They referenced more helpful communication at other universities similarly affected by strikes as being more proactive and helpful than that available at Durham.

Another student said that they were “outraged” by the University’s engagement with union bodies, which failed to avert the strikes last academic year. They said that “Durham’s got a lot of money, questioning the policy of charging full fees for a disrupted year. In the last academic year, the University became the largest All-Steinway school in the country, with 61 of the company’s pianos; the least expensive instrument costing around £30,000.

Palatinate understands that students received between £200 and £300 as a result of their claims, representing around 2-3% of the total £9,250 home tuition fees.

Students could be breathalysed before being able to enter Durham’s nighlife venues (Adeline Zhao)

The initative is designed to keep people safe

Council calls on government to tackle overspend

Tiffany Chan News Reporter

Durham County Council leaders have made pleas to the central government to help “immediately” in dealing with an estimated £14.6m in overspending for the 2022-23 financial year.

Council leaders are blaming the discrepancy on recent “unprecedented and unavoidable pressures”, namely the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, which have led to high inflation rates and energy prices.

The council report which revealed the estimated overspending figure also stated that £10m would be covered by a budget support reserve meant for “inflation-related pressures”. However, this still leaves more than £4m to be accounted for through council reserves, the funding of which was discussed by the Durham County Council cabinet in a meeting on Wednesday.

Cabinet members blamed Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine for the massive overspending estimates. Councillor Richard Bell, deputy council leader and finance cabinet member, said the pandemic “continues to cast a shadow over our financial performance”.

He added that “We also face significant inflationary pressures, the likes of which we have not seen for over 40 years, largely driven by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and disruption to the world economy caused by Covid. This is creating overspends across a range of areas.”

“We have over 200 students!”: Tutor for Ukraine project needs more support as scheme expands

Daniel Hodgson and Tiffany Chan News Editor and News Reporter

The Tutor for Ukraine project at Durham University has issued an urgent request for more tutors to help teach Ukrainian refugee children English. Since its inception, the project has grown exponentially, and the organisation now has more than 1,500 requests for English lessons.

Currently, a team of 20 tutors teach a group of around eight children for one hour each week. The supply of tutors simply does not match the demand of those wanting to learn English and hence there is a recruitment drive within the project.

easy way to use my pre-existing skills.

“Expecting to gain 3 or 4 students, I advertised on a Facebook group, only to find over 500 replies! I thus started the organisation in May 2022, and we have currently over 200 students and nearly 25 tutors!”

Hart’s idea was inspired by her friend and current tutor, Alicja Zon, who had previously been privately tutoring Ukrainian children on her own. Zon said, “The organisation was created with the intention to facilitate Ukrainian child refugees with accommodation to the English language and the transition as a whole.”

She shared her first student’s message to her: “he expressed to me his gratitude, explaining that English will provide him with more opportunities.”

Zon also said that she enjoyed seeing her students’ enthusiasm for learning. “At the end of the lesson if we didn’t get through all of the material, my students were keen to stay behind or show up early for the next lesson. It was evident they wanted to learn. To see them excited for my lessons was what made me happiest!”

individual needs of her students. “I realised that by ge ing to know my students as individuals and not as a group I was be er at knowing how to keep them focused for longer.”

Another tutor, Jack Seward, said of the experience “Being a tutor for the project is really enjoyable and a great opportunity to make a tangible difference to the lives of

Ukrainian child refugees”.

The project is currently based solely in Durham, but Project Manager Hart is hoping to expand the scheme this upcoming academic year.

If you would like to become a tutor with the project, please contact: tutorforukraine@gmail.com.

St. Chad’s student Alexandra Hart founded the project earlier this year. When asked for the thinking behind it, she said: “The project came about because I was looking to do something to aid the Ukrainian crisis. Having tutored for many years, it seemed like an

Zon found her teaching rewarding due to her own experiences. “As someone who struggled with the English language due to immigration and the feeling of disorientation in a new country, it’s beyond fulfilling to know you’re helping someone who may be experiencing a similar feeling.”

She was also able to learn to improvise and adapt to the

“Free yourself from the shackles of the Billy B!”: DUCFS prepares for 40th charity fashion show

The Durham University Charity Fashion Show (DUCFS) team are starting their preparations for the 2023 show with a ‘Market Square Takeover’ on Friday 30th September.

Palatinate can exclusively announce that the dates of the fashion show will be Thursday 16th February, Friday 17th February, and Saturday 18th February.

In a statement shared with Palatinate, there was an upbeat message: “This year marks 40 years since our humble show was founded, and you are not going to want to miss it. Whether you are a raucous rugby lad, STEM enthusiast or just a humble Durhamite, or all of the above –DUCFS 2023 caters to all Durham students!

“This year we promise to bring exclusive events at Durham’s most sought-after nightclubs, some u erly unbelievable sponsorship deals and (shock) a star-studded fashion show in February.

“If this hasn’t left you yearning to find out more then now would be a good time to mention it is all in the name of a good cause. So

free yourself from the shackles of the Billy B and come join in with the biggest student-led Charity fundraiser in Europe!”

Assaults against Durham emergency workers amongst highest in the nation

Tiffany Chan News Reporter

Home Office figures released recently show that assaults against emergency workers in Durham were among the most frequently recorded across England and Wales last year. 658 assaults against County Durham police, fire and ambulance crews were recorded from 2021 until March 2022.

Out of the 658 cases listed, police constables formed an overwhelming majority of the victims. There were 516 assaults without injury on PCs and 128 with injury. 14 other emergency workers also experienced abuse by members of the public.

The 2022 event raised more than £205,000 and the Saturday night show sold out in 1.81 seconds. This coming year, the team are using the £205,000 as a target to be er, and ticket sales are expected to be just as rapid.

Members of the team will be at Durham’s Freshers’ Fair today (Wednesday 28th September) and students will have the opportunity to “collect some merch or come and say hi if you see us about (the black puffers are hard to miss…)”.

The 2022 findings show a marked increase in assault cases from previous years. Durham Constabulary recorded 228 assaults on police officers and staff between March and July 2020.

However, separate figures have shown that a smaller proportion of offenders have been charged, from 68 per cent in 2020-21 to 62 per cent in 2021-22. In Durham, 72 per cent of 519 emergency worker assault investigations concluded in a charge or summons, down from 76 per cent in 2020-21.

Daniel Hodgson News Editor

(Thomas Tomlinson)

Students showed support for Ukraine in Feburary (Adeline Zhao)

It’s beyond fulfilling to know you’re helping someone who may be experiencing a similar feeling

Scenes from the catwalk of this year’s fashion show (DUCFS)

Whether you are a raucous rugby lad or just a humble Durhamite, DUCFS caters to all students!

Durham and Labour MP Mary Foy campaigns for cleaner River Wear

Daniel Hodgson News Editor

The City of Durham MP, Mary Foy, has been working over the last couple of months on her “Clear the Wear” campaign. The Labour MP is now in contact with Durham University on the ma er.

In August, Foy wrote to the Durham County Council Cabinet member for Neighbourhoods and Climate Change, Cllr Mark Wilkes of the Liberal Democrats, asking for urgent action to be taken to clean up the River Wear.

In the le er, Foy said: “Following shocking reports relating to the vast amount of sewage being dumped into rivers and seas around the UK, I am writing to you again to express further concerns relating to the current state of the River Wear.

“I have been told on numerous occasions now, by visitors to Durham, that their opinion of our beautiful city was tarnished due to the state of the River Wear.”

On 6th September, Foy raised the issue in the House of Commons, saying: “Water companies must clean up their act. Last year, Northumbrian Water allowed 615 days’ worth of raw sewage to be dumped into rivers at 92 sites across Durham, including the Wear, the Browney and the Deerness, making a lovely home for the dead ducks, the traffic cones, and the used drug kits filling up the Wear.”

Jeff Talbot, Durham County Council’s clean and green manager,

said: “We carry out daily li er picks along the riverbanks to ensure the River Wear is a clean and a ractive place for residents and visitors.

“We also carry out a monthly cleanse of the river using long handled nets and collection by volunteers utilising boats, which is a scheme that has taken place for the last eight months.”

Since being contacted by Foy, Wilkes has said: “It is really disappointing that our MP is continually seeking to undermine our city and the incredible work our staff do to keep it and our riverbanks clean.”

Foy responded: “It’s absolutely mystifying to me that Cllr Wilkes should suggest I am ‘seeking to undermine our city as I specifically contacted him to outline how I wanted to work together to try and deal with this situation.”

The day after making contact with Cllr Wilkes in August, Foy wrote to Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the Environment Agency, demanding that action is taken to clean up the Wear: “I am aware that Durham County Council was applying for a licence from the Environment Agency to be able to clear the weirs, particularly those which are now residence to o ers.

“I would appreciate reassurances that this licence will be granted soon, and that further advice will be offered to the council about the work which can be carried out to improve the condition of River Wear for residents and visitors to the city alike – not to mention the myriad

of wildlife that the river is home to.”

In a message posted on Instagram on 21st September, Foy said: “When it comes to the huge tasks of arranging for work to happen on improving the state of the River Wear, it’s really important to understand “who” is responsible for “what.”

“I’m now in touch with Durham University in relation to the weirs at Old Fulling Mill so I’ll know more

about clearance plans for that part of the river later this week.

“It is clear that a joined up approach is needed to solve this issue for Durham residents, visitors to the city - not forge ing the wildlife that the river is habitat to.

“I’ll work with everyone it takes to make sure the Wear is restored to a more appropriate state all year round - not just ahead of Lumiere or City of Culture bids.”

Local councillor numbers could fall after ward boundary review

Louisa Barlow News Reporter

The number of Durham County councillors could be reduced from 126 to 98 under proposals to review local government boundaries. The review will reconsider the necessary number of councillors and potential changes to local government boundaries.

The Council currently has 126 councillors who each represent an average electorate of 3,100 people. However, there is an electoral imbalance across the county, with numerous areas falling either side of the average.

Any changes to the Council will a empt to ensure there are a similar number of people represented by each councillor and that the Council is neither too large nor too small. It is hoped that the review will “create boundaries that are appropriate and reflect community ties and identities.”

A working group has been tasked with exploring different options for the Council such as making no changes, reducing the council members to 98, or reducing the numbers further to 85. At the council meeting on September 21, the working group recommended a reduction to 98 councillors.

Councillor Helen Lynch said, “It’s important that the council seeks to agree a realistic submission which informs its future rather than have an arbitrary figure imposed by the Boundary Commission.”

The Council will submit its final proposals by October 4.

From the Archives

As the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II continues to be mourned around the country, the Commonwealth, and the world, it is fi ing to look back at Palatinate’s coverage of the last sovereign death in this country, in 1952.

Pictured is the late Queen on her last visit to Durham as heir apparent, during which she laid the foundation stone for St Mary’s College.

The article details the mourning for her father King George VI, the respect for whom is noted as being “noticeable at once, especially so among the large concourse of students who a ended the Cathedral Memorial Service on the day of the Royal Funeral.”

This service was held on Friday 15th February to coincide with the burial, with all classes and sports cancelled to mark the occasion.

With the Queen’s death falling outside of term time, there was no similar event with student a endance, however a Cathedral memorial service did take place, with free entry for members of the public

Old trainers are found by one of the River’s weirs (Adeline Zhao)

Palatinate Satire

Rishi the smallish dishi

Joe Gellman

UK politics is no stranger to scandal and deceit. Yet, Palatinate has uncovered arguably the most shocking deception by a political figure in recent years; Rishi Sunak is only 5 foot 6.

Since he burst into politics, becoming Chancellor of the Exchequer shortly before the Covid-19 pandemic began, Sunak has generally been perceived as a man of great stature. However, the start of lockdown so soon a er he became relevant meant no one was able to meet the man in person. The nation was duped by photos and videos where he either stood alone or next to stooped pensioners, exaggerating the size of the short king. The fact that everyone’s mum slowly developed a subtle crush on him further contributed to these fabrications.

Upon further investigation, we discovered that delusions around dishy Rishi's height go back as far as his Oxford days. Initially Sunak had no interest in politics. Despite this, he was repeatedly heard roaming around his college

Getting personal: your personal statement

Caleb Tutt

Durham is preparing itself for the fresh slew of newly-old Harrovians. A successful Freedom of Information request has landed Palatinate unique access to their personal statements, and, in the spirit of noblesse oblige, I have opted to share with the masses some of the most efficient personal statement points to weasel yourself a place into our university. These achievements, from the first day of prep school, to the last hazy days of their

shouting “don’t tread on me!”, the famous libertarian slogan. Resultantly, he was swi ly adopted by the free market wing of the Conservative Party before becoming more of a moderate as the years went on. Sunak, however, was not intentionally spreading libertarian propaganda; his shouts were merely concerns about his wellbeing, since he was out of the eyeline of many of his taller peers and genuinely feared being trodden on. To avoid drawing attention to his miniature frame, Sunak went along with it and entered politics out of embarrassment.

break the news, claiming that the “woke mob” would use it against him. We asked Mr. Sunak if the woke mob was in the room with us at that moment, to which he declined to comment.

Like many men of small stature, Sunak sought to overcompensate elsewhere. He did this via attempting to become the most powerful person in the United Kingdom. Unfortunately, this plan was foiled by a woman who is merely 5 foot 3. Such a defeat was nearly as embarrassing as being the same height as Napoleon. It is hard not to feel sorry for Sunak who is only able to fall back on his net worth of over £700 million. To be fair, the fall is not particularly far as he is rather close to the ground.

We approached Sunak to tell him that we had finally learnt the truth. Still gloomy from his loss to Liz Truss in the Conservative leadership election, he begged us not to

upper sixth, have landed the incoming freshers safely on their airforce-clad feet.

An easy place to start is always referencing work experience with a local MP, senior law partner, or any high-ranking job your godparent occupies. Academia is important, so flood the page with your standard qualifications and exam boards like Pre-U and CIE to show your calibre. Be sure to pontificate in a long and ornate manner about a book you haven’t properly read. Remember, big and impressive words warrant big and impressive offers.

You essentially want to be writing in verse.

Most Durham applications, academia laden, are sent off early

What type of fresher are you?

You introduce yourself by...

A. Notifying everyone that you took a gap year

B. Telling the group to refer to you by your last name

C. Asking if anyone has a filter

D. Notifying the group of what subject you study and asking whether this was everyone's first choice of college

What will you wear on your first day?

A. Your favourite alpaca jumper from Peru

B. Straight leg jeans, hoodie, chain, bosh

C. A long skirt and doc martens

D. A pair of flares and a Durham University jumper

How do you decorate your uni room?

A. Hang a tapestry of a mandela you bought for £20

B. Put up one pulp fiction poster and put navy sheets on your single bed

C. Cover all surfaces with pictures of you and your nonuni friends

D. LED lights, fake vines and a bottle of tequila rose

We approached Mr. Sunak a second time, apologised for our prying, and instead told him that we would be writing a fair and balanced article about the highs and lows of his tumultuous political career, with a focus on recent events and how he brought down Boris Johnson leading to most of the Conservative Party turning on him. Sunak begged us to write this article instead.

around September time (does one smell Oxbridge?). Remember that inclusions of “super-curricular” activities are like proverbial opium of the ‘powers’ at the applications board. School trips work well, especially if they are beyond Britain or Northern France. Proficiency in a musical instrument also counts although try to make it above grade 7 as not to look embarrassingly amateurish. Executive positions are brilliant and are so o en accessible from your dayto-day school sports clubs like shooting, skiing, or Eton fives.

Charitable efforts show a great public-mindedness, like Mother Theresa with a Lacrosse stick . Durham loves

What societies do you want to join?

this. Examples like bravely volunteering at the local state schools or a charity trip to Kenya have proven themselves successful. For the latter, bonus points come with photographic evidence of some disadvantaged child in front of a shoddily built brick “community hub” you ‘helped’ build.

Charity examples from last year’s freshers include vintage clothes sales in Fulham and work at the Reigate couscous kitchen; all for the greater good.

A. Art society and Durham Student Film

(Rosie Bromiley)

A note from...

An editor - Rory Cronin

As a seriously sympathetic second year, I naturally feel the deep urge to welcome our dear Fresh with a short introduction to our most important institution, the Billy B (does anyone remember what this stands for?). It's a place where some of us go to chat and third years go to work. You, as the youngest, might go purposely to check your emails or discuss how much work you’ve got and I’ll go to double check that I’ve looked in every crevice of the Zara sale. Either way we will cross paths so here’s a few tips.

B. Rugby, fottball and lacrosse (but only if it's mixed)

The library is open almost 24/7. So, when you get to the point where that summative is a ma er of life, death and Jimmy’s there will be a place for you here. You can write that essay using your notes beautifully etched onto notelets from Jack Edward’s stationary collection, surrounded by older years who will look at you quizzically and welcome you to your first 3AM ‘session’.

C. None, just do the occasional 'Rotate' post

D. Palatinate and nab a role in the JCR

IF YOU GOT:

• Mostly As: You took a gap year! Unfortunately, half the uni also did that so they could reapply to Oxbridge. But keep that sense of adventure alive and channel it into your social sciences degree.

• Mostly Bs: You are a legend! You will get into your college's Rugby B team and get lucky every Wednesday at Babylon.

• Mostly Cs: You're not like the other freshers. You're a mystery who goes to Fractal and 'does drugs'. Stay sick and so sorry about Jean-Luc Godard's passing.

• Mostly Ds: You're a keen bean! You're enroute to being the next college president and getting a high 2:1 in first year! Whilst freshers is about having fun, make sure to keep your eyes on the prize.

Of course, there are books by the hundreds here but ignore such affectations, none of us actually know why they insist on taking up space with them. There is a café that serves demonic Red Bull esque coffee and tables where group presentations don’t get done.

And most importantly, there are four floors of the library of which you, fresh, are solely obliged to remain on the uppermost one, ‘level four’. Oh, and do remember the snacks. Have a great year!

"It is hard not to feel sorry for Sunak who is only able to fall back on his net worth of over £700 million"

Caleb Tu Why can't the Brits warm to Meghan Markle?

Ina recent interview with The Cut, Meghan Markle stated that, when visiting the cast of the 2019 film The Lion King, she was told by a South African actor that they celebrated her royal wedding as they did the release of Nelson Mandela. This anecdote is made all the more press-worthy when the only South African actor in the cast revealed, in the wake of Meghan’s sensational interview, that he does not actually recall meeting her at all. So what remains is now a supposedly fabricated story, the onslaught of UK newspaper articles with the familiar loaded language, and the return of the debate as to whether Meghan Markle is a selfindulgent career celebrity or rather a misunderstood mother who has faced undue and persistent hardship from the public.

To gauge public opinion, I asked the regulars at the pub in which I work for their thoughts on the Duchess of Sussex. Now, I appreciate a low-brow boozer is not exactly a beacon of inclusivity and sympathy, but the responses I received were nothing short of emphatic, bordering on the outwardly unkind, and probably unfit for publication.

Surprisingly, many of the regulars had actually mentioned their excitement for the Sussexes’ 2018 royal wedding. Harry has

always been viewed favourably by the British public, whether it be due to his military service, his boozy lads holidays of youth plastered to the tabloid front pages, or the national shock with the untimely death of his mother. So why have the Sussexes’ fortunes waned so catastrophically?. One answer is the price that comes with living as royalty: the abdication of activism and acting upon free thought.

Meghan’s parents separated when she was young. She also faced abuse on the basis of her mixed-racial identity as well as the unpleasantly commonplace sexism experienced by young girls. It is thus no wonder that her activism on racial issues and gender equality has been an important aspect of her life given her tough experiences. However, a empting to juggle this advocacy alongside a place in the royal family is a task made virtually impossible.

constitution and, If there is, constitutional crisis could ensue. Conversely, American politics is defined by the discussion of key debates at the highest level of society. Their head of state is, by profession, political. The thought that Meghan Markle could somehow impart this American a itude on a deeply entrenched British institution seemed outlandish. The monarchy has a history with American involvement with the family. Wallis Simpson’s influence resulted in the 1936 abdication of Edward VIII, the only abdication of the crown to date.

Meghan's Californian brand of progress through action created an impasse

for her, has led us here. Whilst her intentions are almost always demonstrative of social progress and a genuine desire to improve the world in which we live, the somewhat callow assumption that this can be done from within the royal family has stoked a dislike for Meghan and, whilst these views are perhaps not always justified, they nonetheless run deep.

The British constitution is laden with convention. Political involvement from the royals is deemed improper. There can be no confusion between the dignified and the efficient elements of our

And this is perhaps what the public fears the most. This humdrum British scepticism was triggered when Meghan’s a raction to politics did not give way. Her nationality, her outspoken nature, and her u erances on Trump and Brexit added fuel to the proverbial fire. Whilst she was expected to marry into the family and accept her constitutionallyordained fate, her Californian brand of progress through action created an impasse and soured her relationship with the extended royal family. The royals in this country are often appreciated not for what they do, but what they do not. The scandals surrounding Prince Andrew, Prince Philip, and now the Sussexes show that the constant that the royals provide is often cherished more by the public than the customary duties they perform. The fact that Meghan could not change for the royal family, nor have it change

Interviews like those with The Cut or Oprah Winfrey typify an antithesis to British modesty, passivity, and humourous selfdeprecation. Whilst they certainly do not make Meghan a bad person, what they do is highlight the incongruence between her and large swathes of the British public. And whilst these British a itudes should not be taken as a “holierthan-thou” set of standards for all in public life, they do act as judge, jury, and executioner for even the most admired of British figureheads.

The life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth II

Olivia Kemp Elizabeth

II was the figurehead of our system: a powerful unifying force. Her vast arc of service and the full magnitude of what she did for us all is almost impossible to comprehend. She was globally trusted; she was the embodiment of history and continuity.

With indomitable spirit she guided us through the darkest of days and - with radiance — dedicated her life to an extraordinary 70 years of serving, giving and loving.

Although the succession has already seamlessly taken place, the Queen’s passing has removed a force that King Charles III will perhaps struggle to replicate.

Elizabeth II will always be remembered by us as the Queen; the best this world has to offer.

(Rosie Bromiley)

Hannah Ferguson Atrailblazer

and

champion for women’s achievements, the Queen inspirationally excelled in academia. Becoming fluent in French, well acquainted with constitutional history, religion and law, and even visiting Saint Mary’s College in 1947.

Beyond the intellectual side, Elizabeth II became the first female full-time royal member of the Armed Forces, as a mechanic in the Auxiliary Territorial Service.

As well as her own achievements, she also encouraged other women: holding Buckingham Palace’s first all-female event in 2004. She welcomed female British icons to celebrate their work at the “Women of Achievement” luncheon.

Her Majesty will be remembered both for her own triumphs, and for her pride in those of her people.

God

save the King’: a haunting end to Liz Truss’s speech on the day of the Queen’s death, and one of the first declarations of our new national anthem; a staunch reminder of the Crown's passing.

It is a harrowing mixture of life and death, of grief and stoicism. The crown may symbolise a fulfilment of destiny, yet is an omen, passed to each successor, unachievable without the loss of a parent.

It is an experience of both heightened emotions and being forced to subdue them, for Charles is denied the human experience of mourning, particularly a loss so personal as his mother’s, instead maintaining the care of public duty, sharing his loss with the nation.

Perhaps this is the strength of the monarch, and through striving to uphold her legacy, he can mourn through action.

Caleb Tu

Leaving

this second Elizabethan age compels us to reflect on the Queen’s reign. Above the quotidian details of the job, her reign was characterised more by the constant that she provided.

As the nation modernised, as politics persisted, and as events shaped the nation’s identity, the Queen remained constitutionally passive and yet a present public servant.

Monarchist or republican, all can understand that she personified the nation. What is left to question now is, with this constant suddenly gone, whether people will look upon the monarchy not with the nostalgia the Queen represented but rather with a contemporary scrutiny that the royal family has recently a racted?

So why have the Sussexes' fortunes waned so catastrophically?

Rosie Bromiley

Elif Karakaya

Comment

A look into Liz Truss's cabinet

Lily Pra

Content warning: this article contains discussion of transphobia and abortion.

Asthe ice from Boris Johnson’s long winter finally thawed, Westminster became flooded with power hungry politicians. Victorious among those in her party was Liz Truss, who, on Monday 5th September 2022, was elected Britain’s third female Prime Minister.

Soon after beating opponent Rishi Sunak, Truss appointed a strikingly diverse cabinet which, terrifyingly, seems to be saturated with staunch loyalists and admirers of empiricism. Certain members of her cabinet, such as Suella Braverman (Home Secretary), can be seen to herald a deep reverence for empire – the cruel underbelly of British history is regarded by the Home Secretary to have been “a force for good.” Yet, it is the Health Secretary, Therese Coffey, who I find holds the most disturbingly antiquated and poisonous ideas, similar to that of the abhorrent Jacob Rees-Mogg (Business Secretary). In 2013, it is recorded that she voted against same-sex marriage and in 2019 Coffey voted against the marriage rights of samesex couples in Northern Ireland.

‘modern Britain’ will no doubt become corrupted by her insidious ideas like oil polluting a pond.

The seediness of Truss’ cabinet cannot be understated. Nadhim Zahawi, for example, is another sordid figure who illustrates the continued degrading treatment towards women by men in power. In January 2018, Zahawi was an a endee of a President’s Club dinner at the Dorchester Hotel, where female hostesses were sexually assaulted and harassed by the a endees. Whilst Zahawai was said to have had no involvement in the harassment and swore to never

Liz Truss: a dive into her inaugural PMQs

Josie Sherman

In a 2020 interview for Sky News, she said: “I took the view at the time, and I still hold to that, I have a strong faith background about what is a legal partnership and what is marriage”. Faith and the state, in my opinion, are two pillars of society which should stand separate; faith is not, and cannot, become a means to influence political thought and policy. I find it incredibly alarming that Britain has a Health Secretary whose beliefs colour her thoughts surrounding the LGBTQ+ community, as well as the abortion rights of women. It is said that Coffey opposes, but does not condemn, those who have had abortions, yet she voted against abortion rights being extended within Northern Ireland. It is despicable that our Health Secretary should disagree with a paramount human right — the right to one’s own body, and continue a precedent that abortion is something which can be challenged. Her appointment should be met with revulsion,

a end such an event again, he had a ended several such dinners in the past. This is rendered even more disturbing by his position as Minister for Children and Families at the time, a ending an event where young women were told to wear short skirts which is both sickening and perverse.

Transphobia also pervades the cabinet and I find it horrific that this has garnered li le to no media a ention. When asked if “a trans woman is a woman” Truss stridently replied “No!”. Braverman stated that “I want to make it clear that it is possible, within the law, for schools to refuse to use the preferred opposite-sex pronouns of a child” and Kemi Badenoch (International Trade Secretary) was reported by Vice News to having mocked trans women as “men”. When your words are kind and just, to speak your mind with conviction is noble. Yet when hatred dictates your speech, it is something altogether quite evil. That is why I find the beliefs of the members within Truss’ cabinet to be inherently vile and predict that pure political debate will again become disfigured by corrosive opinions.

It is unfair to label all of Liz Truss’ cabinet homophobic. Among others, Penny Mordaunt (Leader of the Commons) and Chloe Smith (Work and Pensions Secretary) support same-sex marriage and convey more socially progressive opinions. Perhaps Truss’s saving grace is her cabinet’s loyalty, yet with the treachery of Theresa May and Boris Johnson still thick in the air, I would advise Truss on hiding all of the knives in Downing Street, so as to protect her back.

7th September 2022 became a critical day in the UK’s world of politics, as Liz Truss made her debut in the House of Commons as our new Prime Minister. Given the current political and economic climate, all eyes were fixed upon Truss as she began her first Prime Minister’s Questions.

Straight away Truss’s performance radiated a cool, calm and collected manner as she stood strong in her navy suit. Regardless of the varying personal opinions towards Truss, I found it hard to deny her impressive ability to create a PMQs where we actually got answers. It was incredibly refreshing to witness a female politician, in a position of such power, hold her own and give people the “certainty” we need.

In comparison to her previous speech outside 10 Downing Street, which I felt lacked any sort of charisma and character, I found myself being able to view Truss as a li le more human and emotive in her dialect. Truss’s inaugural speech on 6th September matched the dreary, grey weather covering London and was largely filled with empty headline worthy phrases for the newspapers to grab hold of and an outline of her aims and three major policies. However, this starkly contrasts the impression she left in the House of Commons.

Finally, we saw a policy versus policy debate between Truss and Keir Starmer. One where both parties kept level-headed, polite and concise. Perhaps gone are the days of the PMQs entailing personality performances and a acks on individuals?

Fortunate enough to be in the hub of all the action at Westminster during PMQs, I spied Keir Starmer

strolling through Portcullis House and approached to ask his view on how his a empt at grilling Truss went. Starmer was quick to agree with my opinion of the event being “orderly”, stating that “it was very different to Boris Johnson." Starmer revealed to me how his main objective was to discover how Truss was planning on funding the energy price cap, which she did in fact answer! It is clear Starmer will have to head back to his drawing board and brainstorm some new tactics for facing Truss in future PMQs, as she remains unphased after their first encounter, with many more sure to come.

their consistent history of leaders from North London. Clearly Truss has done a 180 on her view of Leeds, now using it as a positive that differentiates her from other political leaders, despite recently severely criticising Roundhay School in Leeds. Whilst Truss clearly cannot quite escape the characteristic of hypocrisy that haunts political members, when merely glancing at her appointed Cabinet a flourish of diversity in race and gender is apparent – so some things are heading in the right direction.

Throughout the questioning, I found Truss remained succinct and direct in her language – at times simply replying “yes”, causing politicians to erupt into laughter at this unheard-of response. Although at times the House of Commons descended into what can only be compared to rowdy schoolboys, Truss maintained her composure and held her own in an a empt to sway the public in her favour, or at least gain some respect.

Theresa May also made a surprise appearance as she popped up, unexpectedly, welcoming Truss and shedding light on how “all three female Prime ministers have been Conservative." In response, Truss praised May on her “fantastic question," using it to segue into a stab towards the Labour party and

After spending the day surrounded by important figures in politics and finding myself discussing PMQs in a candid manner with the likes of Andrew Marr, Sir Ian Duncan Smith, and Theresa Villiers, it became clear the general consensus of Truss’s first session was largely positive — a resoundingly solid performance. Despite being considerably less charismatic and boisterous than Boris, perhaps Truss is the calm figure we need to ride out this 'storm.' Ultimately, it is essential that the Conservative party unite together to guide our country through this turbulent economic climate. Time is too precious to be wasted on personal a acks and sending empty, snide remarks flying to one another childishly in Parliament. We can only hope this solid start is the beginning of a successful and helpful series of Prime Minister's Questions.

Perhaps Truss's saving grace is her cabinet's loyalty

(UK Prime Minister via Wikimedia Commons)

Finally, we saw a policy versus policy debate

(Herry Lawford via Wikimedia Commons)

I would advise Truss to hide all of the knives in Downing Street, so as to protect her back

Comment

How can Durham start to adequately prioritise students' mental wellbeing?

Chloe Hares

Studentswho hold a place at Durham University feel a particular sense of pride in their studies and status as a member of such a prestigious institution. Nonetheless, this can result in incomprehensible levels of stress which are often left undiscussed due to the nature of Durham. It is expected that as well as being a gifted intellectual, one must also have limited emotional capacity in order to mechanically deal with the competitive, draining and unbalanced student lifestyle at a Russell Group University.

a itude in not addressing the issue in hopes others won’t notice and anyone who is directly affected must just repress such feelings in hopes they will dissipate.

So, what ought Durham to do? Firstly, an acknowledgement of students’ very real mental health ba les which have in fact led to loss of life, and in showing remorse a vow to change. By change, I mean abandoning a system of understanding which has been present in Durham since 1832 — an understanding that so long as there is a spectacle, how it happens may remain a clandestine operation.

In other words, the quality of work at the University cannot take priority over a student’s physical and mental wellbeing for the sake of living up to a historic expectation.

Acknowledging this huge problem among students is the first step to de-stigmatising it.

mindset is not healthy and can be (and has been) responsible for a downward spiralling of mental health.

Dismantling an outdated system of understanding

From conversations with other students, it seems widely apparent that Durham’s lecturers and tutors do not offer a huge amount of praise for students, so they themselves also downplay their achievements in assessments because they are so blinded by this culture of perfection being a requirement, although the energy it takes to a ain such is exhausting.

Is sexual assault at Durham University a product of elitism?

Content warning: this article contains discussion of sexual assault.

The‘Posh Lad’ group chat. If like me, you were a fresher in the year of 2020, this story is one you will remember well.

The summer before I joined university was an unusual one as it took place at home during lockdown, where much of my time was spent on social media. I eagerly followed anything Durham-related, excited to start the next chapter of my life. This eventually led to me joining group chats started by other students who were part of my cohort, college, and subject. I was hugely grateful for these platforms; it made starting university far less daunting, and through them I got in touch with many individuals who would end up becoming my closest friends today.

However, some of these group chats were less focused on fostering friendships, and a few became far more sinister. One day, a student in my college group chat sent the message: “have I told you about the posh lads competing on fucking the poorest girl”. I remember how my stomach dropped, and the other members of our group chat reacted with appropriate horror. Later that day, screenshots from the chat were leaked. The phrases ‘can’t get enough since girls don’t put out’, ‘so many people get accused of rape… I’m always worried about it after having sex with a girl’, and ‘snitches get stitches’ swam around on my phone screen. The next day, these photos were plastered across the national press.

infamous Facebook page, Overheard at Durham Uni, in which students bravely speak out about their experiences with sexual assault. This is never directed at the perpetrator, but instead in the hope that they can protect others from suffering in the same way.

This signals a fundamental flaw not just in how Durham handles sexual assault, but society more broadly. It is something that we expect and accept. When we go to a club or walk home from a lecture in the dark — or frankly, even just leave the house — we know that sexual harassment is a possible outcome regardless of our height, strength, or gender.

In 2021, Durham University was ranked sixth in the UK for the number of testimonies received pertaining towards sexual violence. Admi edly, the university has since made steps forward. They have doubled the amount of counselling available to students, improved welfare support, and hired specialist investigators.

Although it is promising that the university is increasingly concerned about sexual misconduct, it has also been documented that disciplinary action is still lacking. Alleged assault investigations are frequently dismissed, and the few punishments that are dished out are sometimes revoked. No ma er how much welfare support the university chooses to offer, does this truly achieve anything in reducing the number of allegations made? I find it unlikely. The university should worry less about dealing with the consequences, and more about preventing their need in the first place.

What is more, a recent Palatinate article reported that Durham is amongst the majority of universities within the United Kingdom who do not record student suicide rates, nor how these students die by suicide. Joe Rossiter’s report entails some frightening statistics, ones we would not necessarily have figured off of our own backs. Upon reading, you can’t help wondering why an establishment such as Durham University, known for its challenging academia, has yet to take any big steps forward in preventing suicide amongst its student population. Instead, it has continued with its Victorian

Then, in dismantling an outdated system of understanding, students do not impose upon themselves a self-fulfilling prophecy that they must meet certain standards in their essays, exams, and seminars or else they are not worthy of their place at the University. Such a

This needs to be changed for the sake of students and respectability of the university; with Twi er pages such as “has Durham University had a scandal today”, I feel the University should be trying to claw at every chance they have to be er themselves, starting with the wellbeing of students seeming most apt.

As a young woman about to leave home for the first time, reading these messages was terrifying. Even as the headlines faded and were slowly forgo en, the anxieties lingered long after in my mind. I remember many of the girls I became close with discussing withdrawing their places at Durham, fearful of being in an environment where threats against women were normalised. Even though the student who wrote most of the messages lost his place, there were still others allowed to a end the university. I remember being on a night out in second year and recognising one of the boys who had been in the group chat. He was stood in the smoking area, discussing the group chat, laughing it off and claiming it was “bullshit” that himself and others had been “ostracised" and punished for "harmless banter”.

This is precisely my issue with the culture at Durham University. Even when students are admonished for their behaviour, there is li le shift in their mindset. They disregard their reprimands as a product of toxic feminism, and do not see the damage that their a itudes cause. Every week I read posts on the

I believe that the sexual assault culture at Durham stems largely from its reputation as an elitist university. The fact that the group chat debacle was deemed as the work of ‘posh lads’ corroborates this. Overt classism is an innate part of Durham’s public image. As a prestigious university, we a ract students from privileged backgrounds who are used to ge ing what they want. At times, this goes hand in hand with sexist, racist, and classist values.

Perhaps it is time for the university to shift this reputation. In addition to adopting a zero-tolerance policy on sexual assault, the university needs to be perceived as an ambassador for diversity.

Following Rod Liddle’s appearance at the now infamous South College formal, many branded the students who walked out as ‘snowflakes’. Had the university be er defended these students against public criticism, and genuinely tried to encourage ‘wokeness’, perhaps prospective students would not shy away from the university in fear of becoming victims to classism and sexual assault, and instead would be drawn to its more progressive nature.

It is not too late for this vision to manifest. To achieve this, the University needs to publicly support students rather than remain silent. The action they have taken, like increased welfare support, happens quietly, behind closed doors. It is now time for the university to become as vocal as its students.

(Alexander Popov via Unsplash)

Josie Lockwood

As well as being a gifted intellectual, one must also have limited emotional capacity

Content warning: this article contains discussion of suicide.

(David Martin via Wikimedia Commons)

Profile

Rugby: a bridge to the classroom

Rugby isn’t typically considered to be the bridge from the streets to the classroom, but nor is Tim Grandage, founder of the charity Future Hope, your typical banker who was posted overseas.

Swapping the markets for the streets of Kolkata, Tim (commonly referred to as ‘Tim Uncle’ in India) has spent the past 35 years along with his wife Erica, supporting Kolkata’s street and slum children. He offers them an education and opportunities to be part of society, and to be er their lives and the lives of their families and communities.

I begin by asking Tim how Future Hope was born – “I was a young banker for HSBC. I joined the bank because I wanted to see the world and meet interesting people not because I was into banking at all.

“I was posted to Kolkata which is a wonderful city, it is full of people and very chaotic, but a controlled kind of chaos! The people make the city, the life is the people, how friendly they are and how you can go anywhere in the city and people will chat to you.

“There is a huge divide between the rich and the poor. When I arrived, there were lots of children living on the streets, you saw them in the stations, rag-picking or begging or trying to eke out a living in street stalls”.

Tim got to know the children who lived near the bank especially well. “They were always worried my car would get stolen and as a result they would be arrested so they insisted they should look after it. I felt rather guilty about this as they never asked for money and thought I must help these children.

“I remember the day - one of the boys fell sick and couldn’t afford to go to hospital and I just thought wow I can do something here.

the child for free! The boy later returned to say thank you, which was such a surprise for the doctor that he offered to help us with all the children. The children would repeatedly fall sick and that’s when I realised that we needed to take them off the streets”.

Tim was later relocated to Hong Kong – the moment he says he realised that he wanted to quit banking and focus exclusively on the children.

“The moment I arrived in Hong Kong I felt bad about leaving all the children and used to fly back to Kolkata every weekend.

“That wasn’t very satisfactory, and I had to make the decision between banking and the children. The children won and so I resigned”.

Tim’s commitment to the children of Kolkata was unwavering. He eventually opened his flat up to them as a home and had 35 children living in his 2 room flat. It was there that he met Erica who had just trained as a nurse in the Netherlands and joined Tim as a volunteer in search of an experience.

“When I heard about the opportunity to work with street children, I leapt at it as it was always my ambition to be a children’s nurse” she explains.

“I was drawn by the adventure. It was perfect – travelling and working together. It was a real opportunity to have some freedom. It was so different from what I was used to. The heat, smell and noise were something I recognised from my childhood growing up in Africa. Adventure, language, eating with your hands and new impressions was just so exciting. Being resourceful, using every square metre that you had were such novel concepts that I loved”.

Soon Tim and Erica were caring for nearly 60 children and that is when they realised that to equip the children for society, they needed an education.

“My dad always told me that education was your passport for life” says Tim.

“If you are a street child, the last thing you want is to go to school and be proved to be a failure again.

“They didn’t want to go to school and were running around everywhere so we decided we had to teach them sport, not least to get the energy out of them!”.

beat the clubs such as the police, the army and CCFC (Calcu a Cricket and Football Club) - India’s oldest sports club.

“Rugby taught them about teamwork. You can never win unless you work as a team. It boosted their confidence and their esteem in the local community rose hugely.”

Erica adds that rugby enabled the children to have role models and to look up to others. “Role models didn’t exist for them before that; there were just older children who ran away”.

Tim explains how the sport was the bridge that led the children to the classroom.

“They said, ‘Tim Uncle, we want to learn about the theory of rugby’ and so I took them into the classroom. They had never wanted to go into a classroom before, but they loved it and lost that fear”.

Since 1998, Future Hope has had its own English medium school which has grown rapidly over the years. Future Hope School teaches the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) curriculum to class ten (GCSE equivalent) and offers an all-round holistic education.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi once said that India would need 500 million skilled workers by 2025. So, we started our own skills centre where we teach children all sorts of things: smartphone and four-wheel repair, computers – you name it”.

I then ask Tim and Erica what

advice they can give to us, many of whom I’m sure are eager to set up a start-up – be it a business or NGO. Erica is categorical in her answer –“be straight and honest”.

to what you’re proposing”.

They both emphasise the importance of building good relationships with honest businesspeople and civil servants and always stay modest.

“The best advice I got was to always bring people together from different walks of life, communities, and professions. Get good people on side and win their trust, and then you can’t lose!

“You can never lose your temper”, Tim adds. “If you know what you are doing is right, continue to do it. You need to always keep trying until it becomes easier for people to say yes

“It is important not to shout too loudly about your work, keep a low profile and get on with it away from the spotlight. If you are too high profile, you then become noticed and other people get jealous of you.

It is good to have neutral successes and avoid controversy. That way you will always be seen in a positive light”.

“I phoned one of my customers who was a doctor for the boy, and he was so happy it wasn’t about his overdraft, he looked after

“Rugby was a great game for them. It’s a physical game and on the streets, they were always fighting so they loved the physicality. They played rather well and started to

I had to make a decision between banking and the children. The children won and so I resigned

My dad always told me that education was your passport

(Tim and Erica Grandage)

Arjun Seth speaks to the founders of Future Hope, Tim and Erica Grandage, about starting an NGO

Sian Cleaver: “I loved my time at Durham”

Profile talks with the space engineer and Hild Bede alumna about NASA’s Artemis Programme, imposter syndrome, and humanity’s future on the moon

explain in simple terms what the Artemis programme is and what her role within it consists of.

Ahead of the launching of Artemis I on 27th September, Profile had the opportunity to speak with Sian Cleaver, Physics and Astronomy graduate of Hild Bede College. Cleaver now works in Bremen for the European Space Agency on the Artemis Programme.

At the beginning of the interview, I enquire after how she landed such a prestigious position within one of the most well-known companies in the world. Cleaver reveals that she joined Airbus on a graduate scheme straight after university, “working in the UK mostly on science and exploration missions.” In 2018, following a number of years in the UK, Cleaver “started working in Bremen, in Germany, on the Orion European Service Module Programme because I had always wanted to work in human space flight.” This programme is part of a wider NASA programme called ‘Artemis.’

Cleaver specifically acts as a manager working on the European Service Module, a part of the rocket situated behind the area in which the crew sits. This acts as a propulsion system and contains all of the consumables for the expedition. Cleaver sha ered my illusion of her being dressed in a space suit by saying “at the end of the day I work an office job. However, the cool thing is that, a few metres away, they are building this thing so I can always walk down there and see the space craft coming to life, which is pre y special.”

If you are not familiar with what any of this means, like I was, do not worry as I then ask Cleaver to

“NASA have decided that they want to go back to the moon again but this time, more sustainably to go for longer periods of time. The idea is to go for longer periods of time and build up a sustainable presence on the lunar surface.”

This is a mammoth task. Cleaver candidly says that “this project will span 30 years and we are just at the very beginning now”. Following this, I am interested to see whether or not Cleaver intends to remain working on the project. She responds with enthusiasm: “I could work on this project until I retire. It would be super cool to see that project develop and grow.”

The discussion begins to feel as if Cleaver is describing the plot of ‘The Martian’ as she went on to explain NASA’s plan to “build up habitats and infrastructure both on the moon and around the moon.” NASA’s wider intentions are clarified by Cleaver as she tells Profile, “if we can go to the moon and start to live there, using its resources to sustain life, it opens up opportunities further afield.” This is important as “NASA still has Mars in its sights.”

I go on to pose the question: have you ever had second thoughts about working in space and wanted to change career paths? Sian responds quickly with “I have never wanted to move out of space, I have made that very clear.” However, she mentions her on-going ba le with imposter syndrome, “I always think that I am maybe not good enough or clever enough for certain things because I am surrounded by incredible people.” She tells me that her friends from Durham have been very helpful in reminding of her achievements and to “shake off the imposter syndrome and just be the best that we can be.”

I think Cleaver, being in the minority as a female engineer, might have found working within a male-dominated environment difficult and ask for her thoughts.

“When I started Airbus, I was one of two or three women out of a group of about 40. I don’t think they did enough for diversity if I am being honest.” Due to this, Cleaver

feels “a responsibility now to talk about what I am doing and share my experiences to show that these opportunities are possible” for young women.

Cleaver ponders, “sometimes I wonder, because I am more in management now rather than in a technical role, whether this was a subconscious decision on my part and those around me.” However, “I am lucky enough to never have suffered any specific obvious prejudice… I think everybody is now aware that diversity is a key part of a company.”

though it’s not human rated. I will take my chances.” Following this clear display of space enthusiasm, I am keen to understand where Cleaver’s passion for astronomy comes from. “I don’t know really,” she replies, “I was lucky enough to visit Kennedy Space Centre when I was a child on a family holiday… so maybe it was that?” She goes on to confess her love for space even prior to this visit, “sometimes I just think that I was born to work in this industry and this is my thing.”

The penultimate question, posed by News Editor Emily Doughty, is whether or not Cleaver wishes to go to space herself. Predictably, Cleaver declares “I’d fly on [Artemis I], even

I conclude the interview by asking Cleaver what advice she would give to students who are pursuing careers in astronomy as well as those who wish to be similarly as successful. “One piece of advice that I always give is to try and study a language if you can. At Durham, I did evening classes in Russian and I think that having a language, even at a low proficiency, under your belt, opens up your options for where you can go and study or work after university.”

The engineer finally advises me and every student to “make the most of every moment at university because those really are the best years of your life … it was hard work, but I loved my time at Durham. I have made some amazing friends who are now the closest people to me.”

If we can go to the moon and start to live there, using its resources to sustain life, it opens up opportunities further afield

I always think that I am maybe not good enough or clever enough for certain things because I am surrounded by incredible people

Artemis I positioned on the launching ramp at Kennedy Space Centre, Florida, USA (NASA)

I’d fly on [Artemis I], even though it’s not human rated. I will take my chances

Christian Vince and Emily Doughty

(Anna Kuptsova)

Green hydrogen: just hot air or fuel for the future?

Amidst the gloom of the global energy crisis, there have been a few glimmers of hope within the energy sector as implementation of renewables makes significant strides.

Last month, it was announced that green hydrogen is expected to fall from a current $5/kg to an average cost of $1.50/kg by 2030, placing it at a competitive price point to non-renewable options. For billionaire and founder of Breakthrough Energy Venture, Bill Gates, driving down the price of clean hydrogen “would be a huge step towards solving the climate crisis."

August 2022 was also a month of key political developments: the UK doubled its ambitions for hydrogen production to 10 gigawa s by 2030, Canada and Germany sealed their “Green Hydrogen Alliance”, and Singapore announced its commitment to a $540 million hydrogen gas power plant. Progress was clear in the private sector too, notably Amazon making its first purchase of green hydrogen, and the world’s first all-hydrogen railway receiving the green light in Germany – The Coradia iLint.

Whilst hydrogen is already widely used around the world, what makes these recent developments particularly interesting is their ‘green’ association. Depending on the production method, hydrogen can be grey, turquoise, brown,

blue, pink, etc. Blue hydrogen, for instance, is produced from natural gas via a process of “steam methane reforming” –hot steam and a catalyst. Carbon emissions are captured and stored underground, meaning this hydrogen production method is ‘carbon neutral’, and hence ‘blue.' In contrast, grey hydrogen releases waste CO2 and methane emissions. Whilst this places it at a more competitive price point, around 2/3 cheaper than green, it is clearly more problematic from an environmental viewpoint.

Green hydrogen production still presents challenges

That is where the green kind comes in. It differs significantly from the other forms of hydrogen, by virtue of its unique production method and waste products. It is produced using renewable electricity to drive an electrolyser which splits water into hydrogen and oxygen. The gas is burned to produce power, emi ing water vapour and warm air only.

According to the World Economic Forum in 2021, there is unprecedented momentum around the world to fulfil hydrogen’s longstanding potential as a clean energy solution. It is

evidently an important piece of the energy transition, enabling the decarbonisation of industrial heavy transportation via carbon neutral “hydrogen cells.”

This also has significant consequences for the development of the entire renewable energy sector, as excess energy from intermi ent wind or solar sources can now be converted into hydrogen and stored underground until needed.

Yet, green hydrogen production still presents challenges, which mainly boil down to the cost and concerns around the efficiency of the process. Green hydrogen

currently costs $5/kg, which is significantly more expensive in relation to grey hydrogen’s $1.50/kg. Likewise, producing, compressing, storing, and converting back into electricity or mechanical energy is inefficient. Ba eries, for instance, return 90% of every one joule of energy that you put in, whereas green hydrogen only returns 37%; thus a 63% loss.

Other experts are sceptical that green hydrogen is an immediate next step, arguing instead for the decarbonisation of existing hydrogen demand. For example, this could be the replacing of ammonia from natural gas with

green ammonia, rather than replacing natural gas with green hydrogen.

Nonetheless, the technological and political breakthroughs in August 2022 have truly cemented green hydrogen on the map of energy and climate solutions. Whilst this development must also be undertaken alongside improvements in energy efficiency, electrification and renewable power generation growth, green hydrogen is a much-welcomed milestone in our trajectory towards a new decarbonised future.

'Nature strikes back': climate change and Pakistan's floods

Paddy Stephens SciTech Editor

The sheer extent of the disaster caused by flooding in Pakistan is difficult to fully grasp. Even the UN Secretary-General was taken aback, saying on a visit to the country in mid-September: "I have seen many disasters around the world, but I have never seen climate carnage of this scale." Over 1,000 people are confirmed dead, and the government estimates that around 33 million have been affected.

In July and August, Pakistan as a whole had 190% more rainfall than the 30-year average, while the figure for the southern province of Sind was 466%. Meanwhile, heatwaves in March and April led to increased melting in the country with the most glaciers outside the poles.

Fingers point at climate change.

António Guterres continued that "Humanity has been waging war

on nature and nature strikes back." Most scientists agree. One recent study said that climate change likely made the extreme rainfall more probable. Pakistan is responsible for less than 1% of annual CO2 emissions.

The UN launched an appeal to raise £137m for emergency food sanitation and education to over 5m people. Pakistan will rebuild in time; the government has pledged government compensation for lost homes and crops. Prime Minister Sharif told a group of school children studying in a UNICEFprovided tent that they would get a new school built within two months.

But this crisis highlights a longer-term question. The rich world has proven able to mobilise to provide disaster aid, but more effective would be preventative measures. Pakistan's government estimates that it needs $7-12bn per year until 2050 to build resilent infrastructure. The question is how to raise that money.

(Sophie Draper)

Rebecca Weir

(Map: Paddy Stephens, Source: NDMA, Created with Datawrapper)

(Map: Paddy Stephens, Source: NDMA, Created with Datawrapper)

Is Zuckerberg losing the ba le for the Metaverse?

Paddy Stephens SciTech Editor

Mark Zuckerberg was ridiculed recently over an announcement post for Meta’s Horizon Worlds. How has Facebook’s pivot towards the Metaverse progressed since their rebranding? Are they ahead of the curve, or fighting a losing ba le?

Here is what happened with Horizon Worlds.

On 16th August, to celebrate the roll out of Horizon Worlds to France and Spain, Meta – as we are now supposed to call Facebook –posted a photo of CEO Zuckerberg’s in-game avatar in front of a digital Eiffel Tower. Suffice to say it did not meet with the cheers he had hoped. The graphics were terrible, with many internet users comparing it to Roblox, and the post was widely mocked.

Many are puzzled by the blunder. Horizon Worlds, a VR social virtual world accessed with Meta’s Oculus headsets, does not always have terrible graphics, so it is unclear why the company was so keen to show off that photo. But it wasn’t just the “roughly 2007” levels of detail that provoked widespread mockery. Many criticised the sheer lack of creativity displayed in the product, which is far more bland than competitors such as ‘The Sandbox’.

Probably worse than that was Zuckerberg’s a empt at damage control, which included an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience. Turning a blind eye to the show's history of promoting Covid-19 misinformation that would violate Facebook’s content policies, he tried to play to Rogan’s 11m-strong fanbase, a empting a personal rebrand from billionaire

robotic geek to what one observer called "a combat sports-obsessed gym rat." After listing "wrestling around with friends" as one of his favourite pastimes, he compared his planned Metaverse to the "beta state" of watching TV. As Bloomberg commentator Max Chafkin sarcastically put it, “apparently for Zuckerberg, real men scroll."

Facebook is in serious long-term trouble. Its share price fell 26% in a single day in February due to growth predictions dampened by Apple’s privacy changes that restrict its data-harvesting. Consumers are losing interest: monthly active users in Europe shrunk by 20 million in the first 6 months of 2022, as its regulators work on new laws to prevent data being sent across the pond. Meanwhile, new competitors are successfully vying to be users’ timewaster of choice: in the UK for example, they now spend an average of 49 minutes per day on TikTok compared to 43 minutes for Facebook, down from 47 mins in 2020.

Meta is fighting a losing ba le to adapt, improvise, and overcome.

Within Instagram, its reels a empt to mimic TikTok, while leaked company memos show that it is modifying its Facebook algorithm to be more similar to that of the Chinese firm. The slow sinking continues: according to another leaked memo from August, the total hours spent watching reels each day is a tenth of the hours spent on TikTok.

Zuckerberg thinks by investing enough, his company can hop onto a new ship: the Metaverse. So far, results have been mixed. On the plus side, his new Oculus Quest 2 headsets have done reasonably well in the last year, with 2 million new headsets activated over the

two-week Christmas period alone (for reference, 20 million PS5s have been sold over the last 2 years). The flipside is that they are being sold at a loss, as company reports for ‘Reality Labs’ indicate. Meta lost $10bn which it styled as an investment in a company whose losses were up 15% in the last quarter compared to the same period in 2021.

Zuckerberg has for them. Companies that have bought Oculus Quest 2 headsets aren’t using them for meetings: Accenture, for example, bought 60,000 in 2021, but uses them for training and new-hire orientation. Many worry about discussing company ma ers on a Facebook platform, concerned by both security concerns and its creator’s reputation for dataharvesting and monetisation. What ‘the Zuck’ seems not to want to accept is that the business model that made Facebook and Instagram ‘free’ to users and thereby led to Meta’s success may not work in the Metaverse.

There is a further problem with the metaverse. With 300 million photos uploaded per day, content moderation on Facebook is a nightmare as it is. Now imagine trying to moderate not blocks of text, images and videos but virtual social interactions. The company has introduced new features to protect users after two reported

incidents of virtual sexual assault on the platform, but even if those are effective, its long-term viability is in question if it cannot effectively be moderated. It has ‘community guides’ as a sort of security guard to keep an eye, but aside from hiring vast numbers of those, content moderation is going to remain a challenge.

Content moderation, security, these are the factors keeping people away. But what is there to actually draw people to Zuckerberg’s metaverse? Instagram and Facebook have constant updates to their newsfeed, making users keep coming back. The metaverse has no clear equivalent.

Meta has a new VR headset due to come out this month, with be er facial tracking such that when you smile, your avatar does too. That may cause excitement in some circles. But it will not detract from an increasing sense of a corporate behemoth whose best days are behind it.

What’s the ultimate goal here? These Oculus headsets are mostly at present used for gaming. Many commentators believe that the ultimate business model for them is the same as Facebook’s social media wings: data harvesting and ad monetisation. VR games are less well-suited to this than large social platforms where all interactions can be tracked and nudges to make purchases can be put everywhere. But Zuckerberg’s vision, if we can generously call it that, is that the Metaverse will revolutionise business as well as games.

The problem is that companies are lukewarm about the vision

Trouble for Twi er: Zatko the Whistleblower

Isaac Williams

Twi er’s former security chief Pieter “Mudge” Zatko submi ed a complaint to Congress last month. It highlighted many key flaws and “extreme, egregious deficiencies” in Twi er’s security, exposing a culture where the executive team preferred to hide problems from others instead of solving them.

Zatko was hired in November 2020 to improve Twi er’s security after a wave of high profile breaches. Such as, in August 2019 when CEO (at the time) Jack Dorsey’s twi er was hacked and posted messages supporting white supremacism. This was followed in July 2020 when a teenager compromised 45 high profile accounts (such as Elon Musk’s, Bill Gates’, and Barrack Obama’s) to post bitcoin scams that led to over $110,000 being stolen.

In an a empt to clean up their image, Twi er hired notable hacker and security expert Zatko to lead their security team. However, in January 2022, Twi er

fired Zatko. Twi er later issued a statement saying it was assessing the impact of its “top priority work."

After eight months of silence, the complaint sent to Congress was published. With Twi er already heavily in the limelight over Elon Musk’s a empted purchase, the complaint contained very strong allegations over the company’s security and how the executive team wanted to address it. Major points of complaint are that there have been several severe security lapses on the platform, and the executive team frequently misled government officials and its own board of directors about the security vulnerabilities in the platform.

Twi er has been known to lie to government officials in the past: former CEO Jack Dorsey promised end to end encryption in 2018 to Senator Ron Wyden, and it has not been added to this day.

Another glaring fault highlighted in the report is the lack of restrictions on what user data can be accessed by Twi er’s own employees. This gives too many people access to too much of a user’s personal data. This is especially important as Twi er has been

known to have been infiltrated by foreign actors, such as the Saudi Arabian spy who worked there between 2014 and 2015. It was also known that Indian Government officials also worked for Twi er and therefore had access to the data, but Twi er did nothing in response.

It is also stated that Twi er has violated a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) consent order which required the company to implement specific security protocols. After having recently paid $150 million to the FTC for using personal data for targeted ads without consent, a further potential fine is not a good look for Twi er.

The figures for the number of bots on Twi er also appear in the complaint. Zatko states Twi er knowingly downplays the level of bot activity on the platform and “deliberate ignorance was the norm” amongst the executive team. This is good news for Musk as he cites this as the main reason for trying to back out of the purchase agreement – arguing that the data on bot activity he was given in the contract was significantly underestimated. Musk jumped on this report and quickly issued a subpoena for Zatko

to appear at the trial two weeks ago. He also shared a Washington Post article which suggested that the “spam prevalence” of bots was shared with the board but not the public. It suggests that Twi er was happy to lie to its board, investors and Elon Musk’s team –potentially demonstrating a high degree of truth to Musk’s claim that Twi er misled him during acquisition talks.

Twi er has hit back, arguing that the complaint is “riddled with inconsistencies and inaccuracies” and “appear[s] designed to capture a ention and inflict harm on Twi er.” Twi er’s CEO also personally claimed Zatko’s complaints were a false narrative. However, Zatko’s record of being one of the most ethical and renowned security executives gives a strong degree of credibility to his account.

If Musk cannot use this information to help him back out of this purchase of Twi er, to his dismay, he will then be left with a company he believes has highly inflated user counts and has a vast array of security problems that will need to be urgently fixed

Companies are lukewarm about the vision Zuckerberg has for them

It suggests that Twi er was happy to lie to its board, investors, and Elon Musk's team

(Anna Kuptsova)

"We’ll rule out cold dark ma er in six months"

Cameron McAllister SciTech Editor

"When I started cosmology didn’t exist,” says Professor Carlos Frenk when I ask him why he chose to study the evolution of the Universe, “it wasn't a recognized branch of physics”. Now, more than 40 years after the start of an illustrious career that has included being the first director of Durham’s famed Institute for Computational Cosmology, countless awards (including the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society), and a series of highly influential research papers, many would say there would not be cosmology as we know it without Frenk’s many vital contributions.

Frenk’s career began in the early 1980s when “the cosmology community had agreed that there was a Big Bang” and “the majority opinion was that dark ma er existed and nobody knew what it was.” The problem being that while the evidence for the Big Bang was quite clear – with the leftover heat from the Big Bang, cosmic microwave background radiation, being discovered in the 1960s, and the theory successfully predicting the relative abundance of hydrogen and helium in the Universe – the evidence for dark ma er was weak, albeit plentiful.

expected, to gravitational lensing, which describes how massive objects, like galaxy clusters, can bend light. The takeaway from all the evidence is that there seems to be a lot more mass in the Universe than we can see, suggesting there is a lot of non-luminous ma er that helps galaxy clusters to bend light and stops speeding stars from being thrown out of their galaxies: dark ma er.

While these hints may be weak, what they hint towards is not insignificant: the best modern calculations predict that dark ma er accounts for around 85% of the Universe’s ma er, outweighing visible ma er by more than 5 to 1.

Today, the majority opinion is still that dark ma er exists and nobody knows what it is, but we have some be er ideas. In particular, cold dark ma er (CDM) – surely Frenk’s horse in the race, given he is one of the key originators of the theory – has continued to pass experimental hurdles while other proposals have stumbled.

Initially “really, nobody knew” what dark ma er was. Then, in the 1980s there was a revolution in how we thought about dark ma er, “a really intellectual revolution […] and this is very rare in science, that you have a revolution that's intellectual, not experimental –especially in physics.”

“There were two elements to this revolution. One was the idea that the dark ma er could be an elementary particle created in the early stages of the Big Bang." Suddenly, particle physicists had become interested in dark ma er.

Hence, inflation provides a “totally bizarre” mechanism for the formation of galaxies.

“People knew galaxies were there, but they had no idea where they came from. Many thought that dark ma er is there but they had no idea what it was, and then suddenly these two ideas that came along and they gave a mechanism or mechanisms to explain those two things,” explains Frenk. These two ideas simultaneously revolutionised how cosmologists thought and came as a “total shock."

of cold dark ma er universes have different structure to simulations of hot dark ma er universes.

In a seminal series of papers in the 1980s, the DEFW collaboration showed via their simulations that only cold dark ma er could recreate the cosmic web discovered by galaxy surveys. “So, we thought ‘Oh well, we've ruled out hot dark ma er, we’ll rule out cold dark ma er in six months’ and now it's what 40 years later, I'm still trying to rule out cold dark ma er.”

CDM has continued to cling on, clearing hurdle after hurdle, and is now a key component of the Lambda-CDM model, often referred to as the ‘standard model’ of cosmology. CDM is therefore the best-known theoretical form of dark ma er, with potential candidates for CDM including the WIMPS (weakly interacting massive particles), primordial black holes and axions.

underpin this portion of the cosmic web, or cosmic soup as Prof Massey puts it. The Universe is expected to be either a cold coagulated gazpacho or a hot smooth consommé: if the dark ma er is cold it is expected to give rise to lumpy dark ma er structures, while warmer dark ma er would lead to a smoother broth.

These dark ma er lumps would interact with the light the JWST observes via gravitational lensing. “If the cosmic soup is lumpy, the rays of light will occasionally be deflected, distorting the images like a funhouse mirror” Prof Massey explained to Palatinate back in January.

“I guess most astrophysicists thought that it was very likely there was dark ma er because there were many hints, or let me say that there was sort of weak evidence if you like, weak in the sense that the data weren't really good enough, but there was evidence from many sources all pointing in the same direction.”

These hints include everything from stars on the edges of galaxies travelling much faster than

The other element came, interestingly, simultaneously from across both sides of the Iron Curtain. “1980, the world was split into two competing ideological political camps, the USSR and the US and the West, and there was very li le communication of any sort, including science, between the two sides”. Yet, Andrei Linde in Moscow and Alan Guth at MIT in the US came up with “the same idea roughly at the same time." The idea was cosmic inflation.

The theory was as Frenk puts it, “a very exotic idea," but it can be summed up quite simply: the Universe expanded very quickly –exponentially quickly – for a short period of time just after it came into existence. Cosmic inflation invokes quantum physics, so comes with all the strange uncertainty we have come to expect of the quantum world. “This uncertainty manifests itself in fluctuations and in inflation the Universe would have been seeded by small fluctuations that were later destined to grow into galaxies.”

The result of the revolution was that cosmologists had “for the first time a proposal for what dark ma er might be,” and vitally, “a proposal for the conditions for the formation of galaxies and other structure,” provided by particle physics and cosmic inflation, respectively. This allowed computer simulators like Frenk to get to work. “Let's put the two together and see how the Universe would evolve if the structure in the Universe was promoted or produced by gravity acting on these initial conditions.”

There was another hint that simulators had to work with, a map of the Universe’s galaxy distribution – 2,400 galaxies – created in a project led by Frenk’s then-colleague Marc Davis while previously at Harvard. “By today's standards, the map was laughable […] but it was still the first map of the universe on large scales.”

The map showed that galaxies were not do ed about randomly in the Universe, they made pa erns – something that we now call the cosmic web. “There were filaments and there were lumps and empty regions, and it was pre y amazing.”

The question then – which Frenk sought to answer in a collaboration with George Efstathiou, Marc Davis, and Simon White (collectively known by the initialism DEFW) – was which type of dark ma er would produce universe simulations that would match this structure.

Dark ma er is often divided into three different types: cold, which travels much slower than the speed of light; hot, which travels almost as quickly as light; and warm, that lies somewhere in between.

The reason you can sort different types of dark ma er into different families “regardless of the mass of the particle or the actual identity”, as Frenk explains, is because “the way in which [the] small perturbations would evolve would depend on how quickly these particles were moving at early times.” Hence, simulations

Axions were named after a brand of laundry detergent because they ‘cleaned-up’ a problem in particle physics. Similarly, dark ma er itself was invented to clean up some problems in astrophysics, but the evidence for its (albeit vague) existence has continued to mount.

With be er evidence we can continue to put more and more precise bounds on what dark ma er could be, eliminating candidates one-by-one until (hopefully) only the right one is left standing. This fits with Frenk’s philosophical a itude towards theory testing: “Let's shoot as many cannonballs at it as we can and see if it withstands the onslaught."

Be er evidence (or, a more powerful cannonball) comes from be er observations of the Universe, and what be Universe than using a new £9 billion telescope? Luckily, we have just the thing. The controversially named James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the largest and most powerful space telescope ever built, launched on Christmas Day 2021. Part of the instrument was designed and built by Durham’s Centre for Advances Instrumentation, and Durham’s involvement doesn’t end there. Prof Richard Massey will lead Durham’s involvement in the COSMOS-Webb survey, which has received the largest allocation of the JWST’s time for its first year in operation.

COSMOS-Webb will survey a patch of sky containing an expected half-a-million distant galaxies, with researchers then working out the dark ma

Ultimately then, what motivates Frenk is proving his own theory wrong. “I've done many things in my career, but a lot of it has been spent exploring these cold dark ma er models, always with the goal of ruling it out,” says Frenk, joking that he’d rather prove his own theory wrong than have someone else do it.

“I mean, in reality that's the way science advances, right? By ruling out ideas. And then if you try the hardest you can and you cannot rule it out, then you begin to think that maybe there's some truth to your theory.” Nothing has managed to prove cold dark ma er wrong yet, but will it be the last theory standing? Only time, and more and more data, will tell.

(Mike Peel under CC BY 4.0 License)

When I started cosmology didn’t exist

Let's shoot as many cannonballs at it as we can

The James Webb Space Telescope

Cosmologist and Durham professor Carlos Frenk talks to SciTech about the discipline's evolution, Durham's presence in the field, and always trying to disprove his own theories

Politics Students in the cost of living crisis

Madeleine Ballay

In the past six months, we will all have seen persistent news coverage of the exponentially increasing cost-of-living. A combination of rocketing fuel prices, higher rents post-Covid and more expensive food, have led to concerns about people’s ability to both feed and heat themselves this winter.

In this deafening media conversation, there have been calls for the government to put in place dramatic measures to support households through the winter. However, the particular plight of students has received next to no airtime. This section of the population largely relies on government fixed maintenance loans: according to a 2019 Durham Students’ Union research paper, 79% of home Durham students received a maintenance loan from Student Finance England in 2018/19. Maintenance grants have not risen in line with inflation, meaning that the ‘funding gap’ (the gap between what the government lends to students to go to university and the actual cost of a endance) will increase this academic year.

This has not gone unnoticed by the Higher Education sector. At the Universities UK annual conference earlier this month,

the organisation’s CEO, Professor Steve West, called for the government to step up its support for students. He highlighted that students receiving the maximum loan of £9,706 per year, when living outside of London and away from home, would have an income falling more than £1,000 short of what they would earn in a minimum wage paying job. In real terms, student loans are at their lowest value in seven years.

Universities have stepped in, with institutions providing grants for students with low household incomes, and Students’ Unions around the country providing small one-off payments to aid with the cost of household bills. Here in Durham, the Durham Grant supplements the income of those with the highest loans, helping people’s finances reach what the Students’ Union named the ‘Cost of A endance’ in 2019. This is what they calculated to be the average amount spent by students to a end Durham. Ultimately, this financial aid is only available to those most in need and many students who don’t quite qualify have to supplement their income, either with savings, part time work or help from their families.

Liz Truss’s first decisive action as prime minister was to place an ‘energy price guarantee’ on households’ annual energy bills. Whilst these extraordinary measures will alleviate the burden

of energy bills, £2,500 remains a high price to pay for most student households. The government intends this emergency help package to be combined the £150 green levy and the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme, both of which were announced under Boris Johnson’s leadership.

Students going into private ‘bills-included’ tenancies expressed their concern about the lack of clarity surrounding the meaning of ‘fair usage’ of energy. In tenancy agreements where the price of bills is included in the monthly rent, landlords often state that no surcharge will be accrued until tenants’ utilities usage surpasses a stated amount of money.

Usually, this cap is a sum of money, rather than an amount of energy used. Within the current climate of high cost per unit of energy, what may have seemed to be a generous cash allowance for bills in Michaelmas term 2021, may now easily be surpassed. Furthermore, many landlords reserve the right to alter their policy during the course of the tenancy, potentially jeopardising people’s financial balance, as calculated according to their original contract.

The housing charity, Shelter, flagged that these tenants paying a fixed ‘bills-included’ rent, are entirely at the mercy of their landlord, as there is no legal obligation for them to pass on

the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme payment. What has been presented as a key alleviating measure acting alongside the energy price cap, may in fact pass over the many students who signed these ‘bills-included’ contracts thinking them to be financially advantageous before the energy crisis hit.

Calls for a national policy response addressing the particular issues faced by the student population have been made by Universities UK as well as the National Union of Students (NUS). Steve West urged Cabinet members to reinstate maintenance grants for those most in need (these were axed in 2016), whilst the NUS has launched a campaign to lobby the government for increased support targeted at students. Individual SUs are encouraged by the NUS to join the campaign and to lobby their local MPs, as well as to make clear resources available to the students they represent.

Ultimately, there is a lack of clarity surrounding the help available to students affected by the cost-of-living crisis. It is evident that for many students, as with the rest of the nation, covering costs whilst remaining focussed on their studies, will be harder than in years past. However, the available national aid package must be considered with those in more precarious rental situations, in order to ensure that the short-term help provided by the government reaches the student population equally.

Politics Editor Liz Truss’s term as Prime Minister began with an energy aid package totalling an estimated £150bn, but will the measures be enough for students this winter?

Protesters criticise government policy earlier this year (Alisdare Hickson via Wikimedia Commons)

My housemates and I just signed a bills inclusive rental for a house with a private landlord.

We’re worried that heat and electricity prices may get passed on to us as there is nothing protecting us from price rises in our contract

3rd year, South College

The government’s response feels lacklustre and shorttermist.

Students are being forgo en in the grey areas of emergency aid packages

2nd year, Hild Bede

Liz Truss: the Conservatives’ Jeremy Corbyn?

make those decisions.”

Jacob Cousens Politics Editor

Liz Truss MP has become Britain’s new Prime Minister after defeating former Chancellor Rishi Sunak M.P. by 57.4% to 42.6% in an election of Conservative and Unionist party members. The contest was the closest ever in a vote of party members. Truss becomes the fourth Conservative Prime Minister in six years,

She faces a baptism of fire; an economy on its knees, crippling energy prices and massacres at the polls. On the day she became Prime Minister, a YouGov poll commissioned for The Times gave the Labour party a 15% lead.

The former Foreign Secretary is poised to return the Conservative party to the days of its ideological purity. Signalling her intention to make Britain an ultra-competitive, low-tax, high-growth economy, she this week announced the government’s intention to go ahead with the lifting of the cap on banker’s bonuses. In an interview with BBC News she said: “What I want to see is a growing economy. If that means taking difficult decisions which are going to help Britain become

Her radical programme of deregulation and tax cuts represents a stark shift away from Boris Johnson’s tax and spend, economically liberal programme to market-fundamentalist, libertarian economics. In response to the policy announcement, Labour’s Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Pat McFadden MP remarked that the policy “Comes straight from the tired

We Liberal Democrats believe in opportunity for all. We do not believe that people should be born to rule.”

However, the Truss of today bears a greater similarity to her teenage years than on the first examination. One central consistency persists. The comfort, ease in fact, with which she delights in diverging from the status quo. Truss has always delighted in, relished even, breaking away from the consensus and the norm. This was much the case with the politics of her parents.

Born into a household of Labour-voting, card-carrying, flagwaving CND lefties, Truss’s faith in free-market fundamentalism comes as a clear break from the politics of her parents. Her father, John Truss, an emeritus lecturer in pure mathematics at Leeds University declined to campaign for her when she west origninally selected as a prospective parliamentary candidate in South West Norfolk. The Daily Express reported that Truss’s advocating of ultra-conservative politics has deeply damaged her relationship with her father, with one Leeds University colleague briefing: “John is distraught at the policies his daughter is advocating in her bid to become PM.”

Tory playbook on trickle-down economics which hasn’t worked for them over the last decade.”

Breaking the mould

Truss won the contest by a slimmer majority than her predecessors, taking 57.4% of the vote compared to Sunak’s 42.6%

more competitive, help Britain become more a ractive, help more investment flow into our country, yes, I’m absolutely prepared to

With all of the well-documented social media coverage of Truss’s left-wing youth, you might be forgiven for thinking that she was a radically different person in her youth. Whilst studying at Merton College, Oxford, Truss gave a speech at the Liberal Democrat party conference calling for the abolition of the monarchy. “Everybody in Britain should have the chance to be somebody, but only one family can provide the head of state.

The verdict

Prescription, norm and consensus have clearly never enthused Truss. One cannot help but note the resemblance of her a itude to ideology and peoplepleasing to that of Jeremy Corbyn. Corbyn’s enduring commitment to undiluted Marxism is certainly not a world away from the strength of Truss’s own ideological partisanship. But is Truss confined to the same fate?

She has earned somewhat of a reputation for not being a particularly smooth communicator; having a lax a itude to media scrutiny and an

unwillingness to foray into more uncomfortable interview se ings

One thing is for sure, however, if Truss is to win a general election; the British public’s relationship with her will be entirely transactional; one based on delivery. She appears less interested in the presentational quality of her speeches and interviews, and much more in the enduring perception that she delivers. Whilst she may not have the infectious zeal or communication abilities of her predecessor her formative years illustrate one thing, if nothing else: she is not afraid to break the mould.

Pu ing the Green Party back on the map

As the country faces a perfect storm of crisis after crisis and with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer refusing to make any drastic promises, the Greens may be able to fill in the void Labour has left in the Left. The story of the Greens is one of constant internal turmoil.

The Green Party began life as the PEOPLE party in 1972 but rebranded as the Ecology Party in 1975 with the hope of appealing to the then-nascent environmental movement.

Despite finding moderate success, it failed to gain much traction, once again rebranding

as the UK Green Party in 1985. 1989 saw the Greens manage to win 15% of the vote – roughly 2 million – due to its heavy involvement in the Anti-Poll Tax campaign.

Despite successfully capitalising on Margaret Thatcher’s declining popularity, it did not manage to win a single seat in the Commons.

In spite of the lingering perception of the Greens being a singleissue party, many Green parties internationally have recently found success. Green parties are in government in eight countries and have made significant gains in many more. They have become bolder in communication and advocating for drastic action on climate change. Examples include the New Zealand Greens’ Chloe Swarbrick’s viral “Ok Boomer” quip or the Australian Green’s response to the wildfires which have ravaged the nation. The stars appear to have aligned for the Greens. The recent heat wave that has swept Europe has renewed concerns about climate change and with bills skyrocketing

and quality of life on a downward spiral have caused the Greens’ left-wing populist policies are now more popular than ever.

Despite it all, the same scourge of internal conflict continues to plague the Greens. The party continues to ba le internal transphobia such as frontbench Shahrar Ali’s comments last year leading to co-leader and former London mayoral candidate Sian Berry to step down and a rift forming between the English and Sco ish greens. With their policies more popular than ever and Labour alienating many on the “hard left,” England and Wales may yet join the global Green Surge.

The former Foreign Secretary is poised to return the Conservative party to the days of its ideological purity

Truss has always delighted in, relished even, in breaking away from consensus and the norm

Carla Denyer (Bristol Green Party via Wikimedia Commons)

As the new Prime Minister assumes office, just how strong is her ideological purity?

Metas Chongsoontornkul

The stars appear to have aligned for the Greens

Politics

One month in Palestine

The Israeli air strikes in Gaza marked one month since my arrival in Palestine. Four of us sat in front of the television, watching the same scenes over and over. One image stood out: a father carrying his dead five-year-old daughter through a crowd. In three days, 44 Palestinians were killed, including 16 children, and at least 350 Palestinians were injured.

The recurring theme here is the strength of the Palestinians. I hear many stories about how the occupation affects their lives, each of them shocking in their own way. From arbitrary arrests with no charge to extrajudicial killings with no repercussion. Everyone has a story to tell.

Based in Ramallah, close to Al-Quds (Jerusalem), I work as an intern at a local NGO. What is most striking are my trips to other cities are the Israeli se lements in the West Bank deemed illegal by the United Nations. It is easy to spot them, with their surrounding concrete walls and strategic location on hilltops. The identical detached houses and red roofs with no water tanks on top stand out –Palestinians only have access to water up to three times a week and need to store it.

Over 60% of the West Bank is in Area C, under Israeli military control. Despite criticism of the Israeli military’s violations of international law and the fourth Geneva Convention, the se lements in Area C continue to expand. Although demolitions, evictions and se lement expansions happen all over the West Bank, they are particularly prominent in Masafer Ya a, in the South.

The refugee camps in the West Bank stand in stark contrast to their prosperous se lements. The West Bank contains 19 refugee camps, a higher concentration than any other area in the world. The Jalazone camp in the West Bank is located adjacent to the Beit El se lement, proving dangerous for its inhabitants. In 2020, on 13 different occasions, tear gas was used against Jalazone’s inhabitants, with one tear gas canister ending up in a school. On 16th June this year, the Israeli forces released a 17-year-old boy who had been detained for sixteen months without charge. The Israeli forces frequently raid the camps and are not held accountable for damages to people or buildings.

As one drives through the West Bank, one sees the infamous checkpoints peppered in Israeli flags, barbed wire and tall grey watchtowers. Conscripted teenagers often halt Palestinian drivers for fun. Such theatrics are designed to humiliate the Palestinians and make them aware of the superiority of the occupying forces.

My first experience of this was at the Qalandiya Checkpoint, between

Ramallah and Al-Quds. The checkpoint sits on the main route that inhabitants of the West Bank take to go to work in Al-Quds. Once we had reached the front of the queue, we had to wait for the green light above the barrier. Five minutes passed. Roughly one hundred of us were waiting and yet the three teenage soldiers were not le ing us through. The soldiers were deliberately making us wait and made use of their time on TikTok.

I know this because I was watching – we all were. They seemed to be having an excellent time – laughing, joking and occasionally making eye contact with us to let us know they were making us wait. One of the female soldiers eventually pressed the green bu on to let five of us through on each side. And repeat.

I knew that this was nothing in the grand scheme of the occupation, but this is what Palestinians have to endure each day to get to work.

a student in the UK with theirs in Palestine. At Birzeit University, in March 2019, three students were kidnapped by Israeli operatives. During annual student elections, students are often arrested by the Israeli forces or the Fatehcontrolled Palestinian Authority. Meanwhile, at Durham University, low voter turnout is considered a problem.

Recently, I was tasked with finding out how the occupation has affected the human right to education in Palestine. After scrolling through countless UN reports, I came to realise the sheer number of violations of international law that had occurred in the 15 year long siege against Gaza. More astonishing was the lack of accountability.

Authority, some educational institutions do not have even have a library. A 2018 UNICEF study reported that vulnerable Palestinian children are “less able to a end school regularly or learn effectively due to a range of factors including hunger, anaemia, high levels of morbidity, inability to concentrate, post-traumatic stress disorder, and behavioural problems.”

No ma er how many human rights violations or international law violations, li le will change. During his state visit in July, US President Joe Biden pledged his steadfast support for Israel, and made clear that a two-state solution was still far away.

of the Palestinians. Subsequently, residents of the West Bank look to other political parties, namely, Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

Hamas, the elected government in Gaza, is popular in the West Bank because of their retaliation to the occupation, including their deadly rocket a acks on residential neighbourhoods in Israel. The situation in Gaza is dire, but cannot solely be blamed on the Israelis. Hamas has consistently failed to ensure the welfare of its people and maintain its infrastructure – in part, because they are not allowed import certain goods. With Hamas internationally recognised as a terrorist organisation, they are cut off from the outside world, only worsening the situation for the residents of Gaza.. Those in the West Bank are fed up with the inactivity of the Palestinian Authority and their failure to stand up to the occupation.

It is hard to shrug off stories that you hear. A friend of mine is an English teacher here. She had to console a student who was stopped on his way to school, blindfolded and forced to wait on his knees for two hours before he was let go, without being charged. Everyone is simultaneously affected by and desensitised to experiences such as these.

I once asked a friend what his earliest memory was. He recalled tanks rolling through the streets and his father being taken and held for ten days during the Second Intifada. His family had no way of knowing if he was safe or when he was coming back. This is a reality for many Palestinians and the situation for them is not improving.

Yet, the Palestinian people endure. After a month, I am yet to be disappointed by the overwhelming hospitality of the Palestinian people. I was welcomed into homes of people I’d only just met. I was given presents for no reason. Passionate about sharing their traditional dishes, there is lots of food to go around. Every day has been different, but within this, Palestinian generosity always manages to find a way to make an appearance.

In my role at the NGO, I have been responsible for helping to empower Palestinian students from universities across the West Bank and Gaza. I couldn’t help but juxtapose my experiences at

Most recently, the Israeli air strikes damaged the Al-Quds University in Gaza this August. But this is far from the only obstacle restricting the access of Palestinians to their right to education. Discriminatory planning by the occupation forces and the bureaucratic inefficiency of the Palestinian Authority led to a protracted shortage and inevitable overcrowding of classrooms. Many students have to cross checkpoints to get to school or university. Inherent discrimination against adolescent Palestinian boys often leads to arrests or delays which reduce their access to education. As a result, Palestinian children fall behind or drop out of education altogether. In Al-Quds alone, the annual drop-out rate was 1,300 preCovid.

In Gaza, during ‘peacetime,’ people receive up to six hours of electricity a day. No airconditioning in summer or heating in winter, homework by candlelight and darkened classrooms all prevents students from receiving a quality education. Light is not a problem if one doesn’t have the necessary textbooks – which 31% of households in Gaza have difficulty purchasing. Due to underresourcing from the Palestinian

A two-state solution is complicated by the se lements in Palestine deemed illegal by the UN. A one state solution has a trilemma. There cannot be a Jewish democracy that occupies Gaza and the West Bank. If the one-state wants to be democratic and occupy the Palestinian territories, then all Palestinians would gain suffrage and create an Arab majority –therefore, the state would no longer be Jewish, it would be Muslim. Israel has a demographic problem on its hands, and it is to their advantage to continue to seize Palestinian land, le ing the demographic problem solve itself.

The Palestinian Authority and Hamas deserve a proportion of the blame. Chronic nepotism and corruption has led to under-funding and neglect of infrastructure across Palestine. Many view the Palestinian Authority as prioritising self-promotion over the interests

On every other street there are pictures of Palestinian martyrs, such as Shireen Abu Akleh – a famous Palestinian-American journalist for Al Jazeera who was shot by a sniper in May this year. US and Israeli investigations were inconclusive, however an investigation by the UN claimed that Shireen was killed by the Israeli military. To Palestinian people here, each martyr has a story and was killed as a result of the occupation. As I write this, the Palestinian people are marking the 150th day of Khalil Awawdeh’s hunger strike. Awawdeh is a victim of the policy that states that the Israeli authorities may hold a detainee for up to six months without an official charge. There are around 600 prisoners in the same position at this time.

Albeit a whistle-stop tour of many different aspects of such a culturally and historically rich area, I think this summary is revealing of my experience here. I have been exposed to different types of people with a range of views and stories to tell. It is difficult to internalise all the daily struggles that Palestinians go through. But remember that Palestinians across Gaza, the West Bank, Al-Quds, Israel and the remaining Palestinian diaspora don’t want pity. They want their freedom.

With no reduction in hostilities on the horizon, what is the reality of life in the occupied Palestinian territory?

Over 60% of the West Bank is in Area C, under Israeli military control

(Brahim Guedich via WikimediaCommons)

Ross Plowman

The situation in Gaza is dire, but cannot solely be blamed on the Israelis

These Anagrams are themed around the Royal Family.

Puzzle Editor: Sophie Sherra

online versions, answers and more puzzles, head to www.palatinate.org.uk/category/puzzles @palatinatepuzzles

Arrow

(with

An Arrow Word works like a crossword, but the clues are wri en in boxes. The answers to the questions of this puzzle are all numbers relating to the Queen.

Spot the

Aquarius

20th Jan – 18th Feb

A new moon invites you to take pleasure in travel. The cold winds of Durham might make a last-minute holiday seem appealing, but perhaps adventure is much closer to home –a trip to sunny Newcastle may be all you need.

Pisces

19th Feb – 20th Mar

Mercury entering retrograde may be the least of your worries, as it’s the li le things that have been ge ing to you lately. Try to take some time away from constantly checking whether you’ve been paid back for that drink yet and chill.

Aries

21st Mar – 19th Apr

Mars in transit could signal tensions rising in your relationships. Maybe check in on your college marriage.

Palstrology

Taurus

20th Apr – 20th May

The start of the academic year may seem overwhelming, especially when trying to balance that busy social life of yours. Patience will guide you through, the queue for Jimmy’s can’t be that long.

Gemini

21st May – 21th Jun

You may be feeling flirty this week, and for good reason – keep an eye on Tindur as the love of your life may have just spo ed you eyeing up the reduced section in Tesco.

Cancer

22nd Jun – 22nd Jul

Emotions between you and housemates are running high. Make sure your room is decorated to your taste as you might be spending a lot of time hiding from that ever-growing pile of washing up.

Leo 23rd Jul – 22nd Aug

Late night cheesy chips and brunches consisting of meal deals have been causing havoc on your health. Now would be a good time to think about adding a bit of colour to your diet.

Virgo

23rd Aug – 22nd Sep

Your new student loan is looking a bit too tempting to not dip into. As Venus enters Libra you’re going to want to tighten the purse strings a bit in the coming weeks.

Libra

23rd Sep – 23rd Oct

As it approaches Libra season it may be time to update those Hinge photos. You have been looking rather flawless after all.

Scorpio

24th Oct - 21st Nov

Despite it being only the start of term, you may want to take a step back already. Arrange some ‘me’ time. Catch up on Bake Off

Sagi arius

22nd Nov - 21st Dec

You may find yourself confused about the future. Was that summer internship that Daddy set up for you really what you want to do? Take some time to reconsider the meaning of hard work.

Capricorn

22nd Dec - 19th Jan

Opportunity to take the spotlight is coming your way. Take this moment to make some meaningful connections on LinkedIn.

Dear Violet, I have recently moved to Claypath and found out that Ocado doesn’t deliver to my address! I phoned the helpline and stressed my need for their Gastropub chicken kievs, but they said there was nothing they could do. I’ve been ordering from them since first year, and now I’m faced with the issue of where to shop. Does the Tesco chicken kiev even come in sourdough breadcrumbs?

QQ HATFIELDDear Violet, I am a fresher starting university this year, and I fear that I might have firmed the wrong place. I did not properly research Durham before accepting my offer, and I am now anxious that it might lack the wild nightlife that I have been lusting after.

Please could you reassure me that there will be good nights out in Durham, and recommend me some clubs to go to?

Ask Aunty Violet

PalatiDates

This edition’s date is between Florence and Ewan. Will they find love over dessert at Tango?

Florence on Ewan

Initial vibes? Tall and Sco ish (he came wearing a kilt). Great cologne.

What topics arose? His Sco ish heritage was deeply discussed. His passion for ultimate frisbee, also.

Ewan on Florence

Initial vibes? She was late but worth the wait.

What topics arose? The tardiness of the service, my passion for frisbee, and her assumed superiority as a woman in STEM.

ADearest reader, I can only imagine how distraught you must be. First and foremost, it might be worth asking your College welfare services for support during this harrowing time.

I would wholeheartedly encourage you to see if Waitrose can deliver to your address. If worst comes to worst, I fear you may have to resign yourself to shopping at Tesco’s. However, you’ll be delighted to hear that there is a Tesco’s finest range –you might not feel it quite parallels M&S, but I promise it will suffice. Unfortunately, university is all about humble living, and sacrificing sourdough is just one of those hurdles you will have to struggle over.

ADearest reader, I sympathise with your concerns, however I can guarantee you that there is fun to be had on a night out in Durham. Monday?

Osbourne’s. Yes, the queue might start at Waterstones, but if you set up camp at 3pm you’ll get in by 10pm no problem.

Tuesday? Wednesday? Thursday? Friday? Saturday? Sunday? Jimmy Allen’s. There is never a bad night to go to Jimmy’s. The Woodgates flow all night long, and are strong enough that after one or two you’ll hardly notice the mosh pits, the stickiness, or Mr Brightside playing on a loop!

DJ Dave is the finest talent Durham has to offer, and can satisfy the needs of a young party animal like yourself.

How would they describe you? Hopefully drop dead gorgeous. Describe them in three words Charming, big-footed, loose wallet.

Most awkward moment He complained that his linguine was ‘too dry’.

Which Durham college would you place them in and why? Castle. Very regal – but a bit una ainable. Certainly knows his own worth.

Did they meet your expectations? Expectations were exceeded when he revealed the traditional penknife in his sock.

Is a second date on the cards? I want my share of the family fortune, so let’s say yes.

Marks out of 10: 8

How would they describe you? Probably below her league. Describe them in three words Pre y, dignified, worldie.

Most awkward moment My ex-fling being sat in Spags on a date at the same time

Which Durham college would you place them in and why? Chad’s. Great fun!

Did they meet your expectations? She was a lovely girl. Surprised that she was blonde. Florence is a very brune e kind of name. Time will tell if we’re compatible…

Is a second date on the cards? I’ll have to check my schedule.

Marks out of 10: 7

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Gabi Gordon and Eve Kirman, a telepathic twosome, look to the stars to offer some essential post-summer wisdom

(Images: Nicole Wu)

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ST AIDAN’S

George Camsell: from Citizen starlet to Ayresome angel

Immortalised in bronze by the Ayresome gates, George Camsell now stands proud amongst fellow Middlesbrough legends Wilf Mannion and George Hardwick. 95 years after an (almost) untouchable goalscoring season in the English second tier.

Very few English players in the history of the game boast records like those that Camsell amassed within the famed 1926-27 season and beyond in his illustrious career that began on our doorstep in Framwellgate Moor, where he was born in 1902.

Typical of a Durham youngster, Camsell worked as a miner however his tour around the county’s smaller football teams in the early 1920s would become known as the origin of a legacy to be held in high regard over a century later.

Speaking to BBC Tees last month, George’s granddaughter, Helen told the story of how a young pit boy became one of the most prolific goal scorers in English football history. While employed by his local mine at Framwellgate Moor, Camsell took part in a strike which resulted in the miners playing football. “The lads were just having a kickabout and that’s when he was spo ed,” laughed Helen as she fondly recalled the stories of her late grandpa.

It meant that between 1920 and 1923, Camsell applied his trade at numerous teams around the area including Tow Law and Esh

Winning. However it was his time at Durham City AFC – while in his early 20s – where his eye for goal was recognised by one of the North East’s biggest names.

Camsell found himself at Durham City in 1924, where he turned out not to be such a mainstay. Leading the side from the front as one of the division’s most dangerous marksmen, he ne ed 21 goals in 20 appearances, and within a season Middlesbrough came knocking.

City were offered £500 to allow their goalscoring threat to make the short journey south to Teesside and by accepting it, history would be made.

Signing in October 1925, Camsell’s start at Middlesbrough was a steady one. Dr Tosh Warwick – who is currently working on a biography of the Boro legend –explained how the striker was eased gently into the first team, scoring three goals in the second tier that season while scoring a heap more for the reserves. After all, going from a miner to a second division footballer in several years is an almighty leap and not one that the club expected Camsell to take in his stride.

However, local newspapers knew exactly what the boy was capable of – describing the transfer as a “capture of great importance” and a “bolt out of the blue”. Those who had seen Camsell’s goal record at Durham were convinced this was quite a coup for the Teessiders.

Just a year later Camsell

would write his name into the history books as his goal-scoring talent reached phenomenal, unprecedented heights. That season, the 59 goals he ne ed made records as the most goals scored in a singular season in English football history as he led the line in Middlesbrough’s table-topping campaign.

His goal tally still stands firm as the most goals scored in a second tier season and if it wasn’t for Dixie Dean’s 60 top-flight goals for Everton just a year later, George Camsell could be a household name and not just in the North East.

Camsell’s 63 goals in all competitions that season was an outstanding introduction to a sterling career that would reach its climax in 1939 upon the start of the Second World War, still at Middlesbrough – the club he had fallen in love with. His official goal tally reached a remarkable 345, a club record he still holds to this day.

An a acker of Camsell’s pedigree doesn’t just apply his trade at club level though, so England were bound to call him up. Representing the Three Lions, he continued se ing untouchable records. His outstanding sum of 18 goals in nine games is the best goal-togame ratio in England history. Yet another record that is unlikely to be improved in the modern game.

Camsell worked in Teesside’s factories throughout the war before returning to Middlesbrough FC where he would undertake various roles until 1963. As a coach and

scout, he is famed for scouting the legendary Brian Clough who rivalled Camsell’s records himself, scoring 197 goals in 213 appearances for The Boro.

Whilst best known for the outstanding numbers he racked up, Camsell’s commitment to Middlesbrough was unquantifiable leading many to believe that his statue – completing a trio of

excellence at the Ayresome gates –is long overdue.

In 2015, the BBC described him in a piece as “the best English player you have never heard of”, although as the pride of Durham and Middlesbrough’s greatest-ever goal scorer, we can only hope that this majestic tribute to a great man changes that.

‘I think Spa should be removed from the F1 calendar’

Sanjay Suri

In the last two years, the traditional summer break in Formula One has been followed by a triple header: Spa Francorchamps in Belgium, Zandvoort in The Netherlands and Monza in Italy. These three have a lot in common. They are all oldschool tracks, they are all historical tracks and they all a ract a loud and partisan fanbase.

Whilst Monza’s place on the calendar is secure so long as Ferrari are on the grid, and Zandvoort surely retaining its place so long as Max Verstappen is racing, Spa’s future is very much in doubt.

Many have claimed that it is ‘too good’ or ‘too historic’ to be removed but is this the case? This year’s race was a relatively dull affair, where most overtakes were comfortable, DRS assisted ones down the Kemmel Straight.

The problem that Spa has is the opposite to Monaco — it is too easy to overtake. If you are in DRS range along the Kemmel Straight, you will most likely have the overtake done before the braking zone at Les Combes. If you go for a move at the Bus-Stop Chicane, it is difficult to defend as it is easy to squeeze your opponent out of room, such is the nature of chicanes in racing.

Remember in Silverstone this year when Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez ba led for nearly an entire lap, regularly changing positions throughout? This is the kind of racing you very

rarely see in Spa. Once the overtake is done, it is done. The other car does not get the opportunity to fight alongside through a sequence of corners.

There have been few iconic racing moments at Spa in the turbo-hybrid era. In 2014, Hamilton and Nico Rosberg had their first of many clashes, allowing Daniel Ricciardo to take a surprise win.

In 2018, Hamilton and Sebastian Ve el went four-wide into Les Combes on Lap One alongside two Force India cars very much punching above their weight.

throws up unpredictable races and represents Brazil’s influence on F1. Even Monaco, although often creating mundane racing with next to no overtakes, has the glitz and glamour synonymous with F1 and will always a ract celebrities and be loved by the drivers.

Granted, Spa does a ract excellent fans. They kept the noise up in 2021, despite not seeing a single racing lap. It is just across the border for the ‘Orange Army’, who come out in numbers to support Verstappen. Yet we see them at plenty of other races. It seems that Zandvoort has now outshone Spa as Verstappen’s true home race.

Africa and Asia. As more races get added to the calendar, some have to make way, and it is the European ones that look most vulnerable. Circuit Paul Ricard in France has been dropped, despite France having lots of history in motorsport.

Spa will always be loved by F1 fans. Yet, the sport is evolving rapidly, and the calendar needs to change too. There are worse tracks on the calendar, but one must be pragmatic. If Monaco goes, F1 loses a large chunk of its core identity. Races in the Middle East provide the sport with money. Whether this is ethically right is a debate for another day.

in the weeks preceding the race. The noisy fans and history are seen across Europe these days and, although corners like Eau Rouge, Pouhon and Blanchimont are memorable, they are less of a challenge for modern F1 cars which can take them flat-out.

Spa is without a doubt a historic track, but that is not why a circuit should stay on the calendar. Both the Nurburgring and Hockenheimring do not look like they will be hosting F1 in the near future, despite the la er hosting the “race of the decade” in 2019 according to the official F1 website.

After all, there are still plenty of historic tracks currently on the 2023 calendar anyway. Silverstone rarely fails to produce fantastic wheel-to-wheel racing. Interlagos

One must also question whether Spa is safe enough. Eau Rouge and Radillon is a thrilling section to both drive and watch, but it has a sinister side. Lando Norris was lucky to walk away unhurt following a big shunt in qualifying in 2021. And it has only been three years since Formula Two driver Anthoine Hubert lost his life at the same place.

The installation of gravel traps and increase in run-off area will have helped, and F1 is a dangerous sport where big crashes are sadly inevitable. Yet it is possible to have a track that punishes mistakes but does not threaten lives. The new iteration of Imola is a prime example, as well as the Red Bull Ring in Austria.

F1 is eager to expand its market in other areas, such as the USA,

What makes Spa exciting is hardly unique. Perhaps it gets overhyped as it is the first race back after the summer break. F1 fans are so starved of racing action that they talk about Spa non-stop

Should Spa fall off the calendar, it will be sorely missed. There will be discontent amongst fans, but that might fade in the coming years. Although people still wish for places like Hockenheim and Sepang to return to F1, the noise around them is significantly less. It could well be that Spa will be replaced by Kyalami Circuit in South Africa for the 2024 season, marking F1’s first return to Africa for over 30 years. A bi er pill for traditional fans to swallow, but surely a step in the right direction for the sport.

Joe Harston

There are worst tracks on the calendar, but one must be pragmatic

Francois Lambregts via Flickr

(Joe Harston)

Are the PureGym findings all that pure?

Oliver Jervis

Durham’s sports scene is revered across the country and beyond for its high-quality output. As much can be observed from the list of alumni the University is constantly able to churn out, whether it be in the form of gold medal winning Olympians (a nod towards Jonathon Edwards & more), Commonwealth champions, or rising stars such as BUCS Super Rugby all-time try-scorer Fred Davies. Moreover, it can also be seen in the recent Good University Guide produced by The Times.

This position of athletic notoriety across the metaphorical field of sport has only been reinforced by the recent findings of PureGym, suggesting that Team Durham is a force to be reckoned with for any university in the United Kingdom – even in the eyes of the likes of Oxford, Cambridge and high-flyers Loughborough.

Yet, questions remain regarding the culture presently residing within the visually merry climes of Maiden Castle’s many courts and pitches. Earlier this year, a Palatinate investigation revealed that serious issues had corrupted the University’s elite sports teams, with claims of ‘racism, elitism and intimidation’ arising.

Thus, this is evidently a body with fundamental problems that require an effective solution. As an organisation operating on the frontline of student sport, Team Durham must ask itself what it values more: ceaseless successful performances in the BUCS rankings accompanied by an intensely toxic culture, or an environment more accustomed to the ethical values consistently preached about by the University in their emails with undetermined results?

When observing the current

response to the issues of the day infesting Maiden Castle, one builds the impression that the former approach is presently preferred by Team Durham.

accessibility.

When asked by Palatinate regarding Team Durham’s response to this campaign, Luke Alsford – last year’s 93% Club President –said: “The 93% Club’s campaign was acknowledged, but not acted upon. We know from communications with multiple Team Durham clubs and from a meeting with Team Durham’s then-President Chris Lennon, that our campaign was acknowledged and the awareness raised of the astronomical costs of Team DU sports (sometimes exceeding £250) was welcomed.

participate in the 18 sports offered by the University. Additionally, it does not seem to include the 75% supposedly deterred from joining Team Durham due to their financial demands according to a recent survey by Durham’s 93% Club.

More questions instead, therefore, hang over the head of the University. In which direction is it seeking to go? At what point is it desirable to promote a real feeling of equality on the student sports scene?

Before arriving in Durham, prospective students are promised an El Dorado of opportunity, including the advantages of stateof-the-art sports facilities that are deceivingly portrayed as easily accessible.

One issue that requires particular addressal is accessibility. Due to the turmoil surrounding the aforementioned claims concerning Durham’s elite sports teams, this specific ma er has seemingly been neglected by the powers that be. In essence, it is deserving of a lot more a ention – especially in the light of PureGym’s recent glorifying study.

To provide ample context, in the closing weeks of the last academic year Durham’s 93% Club (a student group aiming to help state students at university level) ran a ‘cut the costs’ campaign which sought to address this accessibility problem.

With the intention of securing an effective solution for underprivileged students, they tendered an open le er to the University providing several proposals seeking to remedy the inequalities currently presiding at Maiden Castle.

These included the imposition of a means-tested subsidy similar to the college-level participation fund, an expansion of sports-related grants aimed at those starting at novice-level, and an increase in effective dialogue between Team Durham and students when it came to ma ers like financial

“However, what we learnt from our campaign is that while Team Durham likes to allude to its accessibility and openness, it is stubbornly and single-mindedly focused on developing the sporting talent of those who are already good enough and can afford to participate.”

In the midst of an oft-referred to cost-of-living crisis, is it really acceptable for Team Durham to continue to ignore those most in need? Furthermore, from a purely sporting perspective, how much talent is the organisation willing to let go in order to cut its own costs?

Nevertheless, if this current trend of ignorance towards the needy – to put it in a rather Dickensian fashion – is allowed to continue, then a rewriting of Team Durham’s mo o and publicity propaganda must happen with immediate effect.

Whether any meaningful action will be taken by the University hierarchy during the upcoming academic year remains to be seen. Meanwhile, studies from the likes of PureGym can only paper over the cracks for so long.

(Oliver Jervis)

With this in mind, it is necessary to ask oneself several questions. For example, Team Durham’s mo o is notoriously “Inspiring the Extraordinary”. Yet, if these claims are found to be true, who suffices as “extraordinary” nowadays?

At present, this appears to refer to those who can endure the oftenoverwhelming costs required to

DWFC: the Wildcats hoping to prowl for promotion

Palatinate recently reported that Durham Women FC were entering adulthood. Now, three games into the season, the question remains as to whether the team will find themselves emerging out of their adolescence with enough of the fervour of their youth to send the Wildcats prowling up the table and towards a coveted position in the WSL.

We can imagine the FA Women’s Championship as Durham’s first professional job. Over the past few years they have se led in well, acquainted themselves with their colleagues and polished up their Linkedin profiles. Sure, they have enjoyed their stint here and made some lasting memories but there is definitely more they can give, and the 2022/23 season is their time to prove it. Like every good working adult, they are gunning for that promotion.

Naturally however, with adulthood comes a level of responsibility that teenage excuses simply will not cover

for. Joining other teams in the championship with a switch to full-time training is both a vital pledge to professionalism and will hopefully be a huge boost for the club’s competitiveness. However, the days of being a team in transition are coming to a close and Durham’s loyal fanbase will be hoping for more than the mediocre sixth place finish of last season.

The standard and intensity of the new regime - described by star striker Beth Hepple as “the best it has ever been” - has already effected positive change down at Maiden Castle. A club record a endance of 1,668 spectators flocked from either side of the River Wear to watch a well-fought 1-1 draw in the opening fixture of the season against rivals Sunderland.

Riding on the wave of the Lionesses’ Euros victory this summer however, the increased ticket sales, TV views and interest surrounding the Wildcats will likely also be enjoyed by their championship counterparts. Much like anyone in this promotion race, Durham must find a way to stand out.

Manager Lee Sanders’ solution comes through his summer signings who accompany a plethora of long-serving Wildcats signing their first professional contracts with the club. Notable additions include midfielders Maria Farrugia and Saoirse Noonan - the la er scored a brace in Durham’s convincing 3-1 triumph against Blackburn on Sunday.

Reflecting on the impact of her incoming team members after clinching their first three points of the season, defender Sarah Robson commented, “They’ve been identified for a reason to come to our club because they’re great players that are going to make us be er.

“You’ve seen today that’s the best they’ve played before - they were outstanding and we are really happy they are part of our family now and they are going to push us on. We want to be be er and this is the start of it.”

But there’s a continuing sentiment hanging over the Wildcats’ performances during the past few seasons. “We’re just happy

because we have been playing really well over the last couple of games and we just haven’t been ge ing the results.”

Kelly, is simply too tempting.

Fast approaching for Durham also is the FA Women’s League Cup, where they will face Sheffield United on October 2nd. Robson looks forward to “a competition where everybody gets some minutes and you play against some of the best teams in the country.”

Crucially however - in a league that is notoriously difficult to escape - Durham won’t just need to ensure they win when they are on top form but they’ll need to find a way to be triumphant when they are underperforming too.

So who are the Wildcats’ main competitors? Teams like Bristol and London City - who came within touching distance of the top flight last season - seem unwaveringly focused with their flying starts to the campaign. The thought of WSL football, where they would play the likes of Leah Williamson and Chloe

She followed by echoing a wider message in the women’s game, calling for increased fan turnouts and praising their ardent support thus far. In return, the team hopes for a return to second and third place finishes that were commonplace for the club in the past few seasons.

So the scene is set as DWFC embark on their journey of adulthood. They will be pu ing in the hours down at their Maiden Castle office, hoping soon it could be a fortress of WSL football. If they are to hone in on that single promotion spot however, the Wildcats will need to harness that distinct Durham charm and get their elbows out - all while inevitably having the utmost fun. After all, isn’t that what adulting is all about?

The Wildcats will need to harness that distinct Durham charm and get their elbows out

This is evidently a body with fundamental problems

Studies from the likes of PureGym can only paper over the cracks for so long

Beth Hepple (Durham Women FC)

Maddie Parker

Durham wins SportsUniversity of the Year

Oliver Jervis

The Times and Sunday Times have named Durham as the 2023 Sports University of the Year in their recently published Good University Guide, reaffirming the university’s status as being a centre for sporting excellence.

The rankings noted Durham’s continued strong performance in the British University and Colleges Sport League (BUCS), after the university placed 3rd in the 2021-22 season. Durham has ranked within the top 3 of the BUCS every year since 2012.

The rankings also note that “Durham’s collegiate system encourages high participation rates throughout the university.” Durham boasts that over 75% of students take part in physical activity, from collegiate level right up to universitywide sports teams.

It comes as a study released by PureGym earlier this year named Durham University as the most prolific producer of professional athletes in the United Kingdom, beating the likes of Oxford, Cambridge, Loughborough and Edinburgh.

household names, such as former international rhythmic gymnast Gabby Logan, former Olympic gold medallist Jonathon Edwards and excricketer Holly Colvin.

Evidence suggests that the University has been aided in these efforts through the 12 sporting scholarships it hands out to selected students annually, whilst Team Durham possesses one of the largest internal programmes in Britain, with 18 sports being played across 700 different teams.

Nevertheless, Durham and other UK universities are dwarfed by universities in the USA when it comes to producing professional athletes. According to PureGym’s extended study, the University of Florida holds top spot under the flight of the star-spangled banner, with an immense 750 professional athletes produced.

Second place is occupied by the University of Michigan, whose 633 professional stars include NFL legend Tom Brady and serial Olympic gold medal winner Michael Phelps. To reinforce the superiority of the USA, the top ten athlete-producing universities boast at least 200 sports stars each.

Durham boasts that over 75% of students take part in physical activity, from collegiate level right up to university-wide sports teams

The 141 sports stars among Durham’s alumni ensures that they are 55 athletes beyond second placed Oxford, whilst Cambridge are sat in third spot with 73 of their graduates competing professionally.

Loughborough – who are ranked first worldwide for sports academia and have Lord Coe among their alumni – are in fourth place with 38 professional sports graduates. Edinburgh completes the top five with a total of 31 professionals.

Those representing Durham University on the world’s biggest sport stages include several

Stephen Rowe, the Chief Marketing Officer at PureGym, told Palatinate Sport that “We feel this is a great accolade for Durham University. Whatever sport a prospective student might be passionate about, a dream scenario for them will likely be to make a career out of playing it.

“To know that you can study a broad range of subjects, while being nurtured from a sporting point of view is no doubt going to be a big pull for many prospective students.

University alumni can play a part for some students in choosing where they go and from a sporting standpoint, this ticks a big box.”

Bristol Bears’ player Fred Davies –Durham Men’s 1XV captain last year and the BUCS’ all-time try scorer –also commented about PureGym’s findings: “I think coming to Durham I always had the dream to pursue a career in rugby and push on as far as I could. Early on I recognised that the university pathway was a viable one for both exposure to high level fixtures and recognition from premiership sides.

“Teammates throughout my tenure at the university were regularly being picked up by premiership clubs and therefore

the connections were fairly organic. Going through student life you develop a wide range of skills which are aptly transferable to a career in professional sport; time management, resilience, independence and the ability to adapt in new environments. Certainly, my time at Durham aided in developing all of those assets.”

When speaking about what distinguishes Durham from other sports-focused universities, Davies explained how “The Durham schedule is pre y manic. Sometimes, it can be frustrating when, as a student athlete, you are left to spin the plates of academics and performance. I know at other universities this balance can be skewed.

“However, with Durham’s clear focus on academic excellence, you develop a great resilience and “find a way” mentality to balance your lifestyle. Sometimes I felt it was a hindrance to my athletic development. However, looking back now, it taught me valuable life lessons and provided me with the tools to handle these situations in the future.”

Durham City AFC Citizens endure rough start to the season

A winless start for the Citizens means the club are currently wallowing at the bo om of Division One of the Wearside League. This has been brought about by the concession of 89 goals, with only one in their favour.

Following last season’s relegation, a mighty challenge to remain in the division is at hand.

Cycling Tour of Britain 2022 cancelled early

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the AJ Bell Tour of Britain ended prematurely after its fifth stage.

Gonzalo Serrano (ESP) was named as winner. Mathijs Paasschens (BEL) and Ma hew Teggart (IRL) were crowned King of the Mountains and Sprint winner respectively.

Team Durham Durham Uni sport sign deal with Castore

A fresh partnership deal with Castore and Kitlocker has been announced by Team Durham. The brand will now been the central kit supplier for the University’s elite sports teams.

Ma Keogh, Durham University’s Sports Clothing Coordinator said:

“As a top sporting university, our athletes need the very best when it comes to kit. Therefore, I’m really excited to see how the partnership develops between Durham University and Kitlocker and look forward to seeing all of our Team Durham athletes ki ed out in the fantastic new Castore range.”

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Email: sport@palatinate.org.uk

Maddie Parker discusses Durham Wwwomen’s start to the campaign.

(Oliver Jervis)

The best goals-to-game ratio in England history”

Joe Harston pays tribute to one of Durham City’s greatest ever players.

The thought of playing WSL football is simply too tempting”

Maddie Parker discusses Durham Women’s start to the campaign.

Joe

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