Gair Rhydd

Photographic evidence

One of South America’s few remaining uncontactable indigenous tribes has been spotted in the Amazon jungle.

The tribe was photographed by the Brazilian government on the Brazil-Peru border, in what is one of the most remote parts of the rainforest.

Get It Out for Cardiff

Students are being asked to ‘Get It Out for Cardiff’ in the biggest ever rubbish disposal operation to be organised for them in the city.

Last year the council-run Keep Cardiff Tidy campaign collected 300 tonnes of student rubbish for Get It Out For Cardiff, a scheme which took place at the end of the academic year to help keep Cardiff’s heavily-populated student areas clean.

It’s raining rupiah

An Indonesian businessman has dropped 100 million rupiah (£5,406) from a plane in a bid to promote his new motivational book.

Tung Desem Waringin flew his plane over Serang City four times in order to distribute the money in and around the city.

Students swayed by buildings of beauty

UK universities are in architectural competition as students prove to be attracted to an eye-catching campus

New research has suggested that British universities are using “radical architecture” to attract prospective students.

This includes the construction of eye-catching lecture theatres and halls of residences.

Cardiff’s “continental” facelift

Cardiff city centre’s Charles Street is set to undergo a facelift in an attempt to bring a “continental café” feel to the capital.

Cardiff council will spend £200,000 on the makeover, which will include the construction of a seating zone, cycle stands and an eating area and the planting of trees.

City bar in fire drama

Last Tuesday firefighters tackled a blaze at O’Neills pub in Trinity Street, Cardiff.

The fire, which is thought to have started in the pub’s kitchen around 11.50am before the venue opened, caused much disruption to the bustling city centre.

Race for life reflects

One of Cardiff’s major green spaces turned pink on June 1 as 8,000 women descended on Bute Park to take part in the Race for Life.

The 5km run around the park is a women’s-only event and aims to raise money for Cancer Research UK, the world’s leading independent organisation for cancer research.

The year that was...

Crime in Cathays

At the start of the year gair rhydd reported the implentation of the new Student Police Initiative. This scheme was launched by third year student and Special Police Officer Sam Tappenden as a pilot scheme in association with the local police force. The scheme involved Special Police Officers patrolling the streets of Cathays and has proven successful in raising awareness among students about crime prevention.

Strike No.2

In a disagreement over a negotiated salary increase, lecturers have threatened to strike if previous pay arrangements are not met.

An agreement, which was made three years ago, entitled university staff to a pay rise that would be in line with inflation.

Toss off

A university has warned students to refrain from tossing their mortar board hats during graduation celebrations in the interest of safety.

In a statement on their website, Anglia Ruskin University gives advice on the graduation ceremonies and the required attire for graduates but make a specific effort to discourage the tradition of flinging hats into the air.

Cheating rife among students

9,000 incidents of plagiarism reported at UK universities

Cheating among university students is more common than ever before, according to a survey for the Higher Education Academy.

Out of the UK’s 168 universities and colleges, researchers found that over 9,000 incidents of plagiarism took place last year – the equivalent to 7.2 cases for every 1,000 students.

Website sells fake degrees

Welsh universities are said to be furious following the discovery of an internet site selling fake degrees.

A Wales on Sunday investigation found the online website to be selling fake degrees from every university in Wales, at less than £40 a time.

Rail regeneration

The Assembly Government has unveiled plans for £52 million of improvements for the rail network in south Wales.

Newport Station is to receive a £22 million major regeneration, which is planned for completion by the 2010 Ryder Cup.

Downloadable lectures

UK universities enlist iconic iTunes service to make lecture materials more readily available to students

European universities have started to provide free lecture material to students via iTunes.

The venture was pioneered in the United States through the non-charging “iTunes U” section of the music downloading service, which is a free educational area launched by Apple last summer.

Spreading the superbug

Anti-MRSA wipes are inadvertently spreading the superbug in hospitals, according to a study undertaken by Cardiff University.

Hospital staff are reusing the cloths to clean more than one surface.

Race Equality Officer decided

The position of Race Equality Officer on the Students’ Union Executive committee has been announced, following a lengthy appeals process.

Candidate Ziad Akbar was initially disqualified during the election campaigning period before the vote took place.

YUVA President honoured

Founder and President of the Cardiff University Youth of India Society has been named winner of the prestigious Honour Roll award

The President and Founder of the Youth of India (YUVA) Society has been recognised by the University as the winner of this year’s Honour Roll award.

Shreenivas Raju, who was also named Best President at the Society Awards 2008, was shortlisted for the Honour Roll along with Flashmob Society President Lara Bell, Law Society President Elissa Bowell, and Cardiff University Students’ Union (SU) Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Officer Sally Wood.