Gair Rhydd

Doctor? No!

Cardiff University students are being forced to put their health at risk because they are unable to register with local GPs, a gair rhydd investigation has revealed.

With many local surgeries already full to capacity, students who have failed to register with a local GP must face indeterminable queues at morning open surgeries, with no guarantee of being able to see a doctor.

Things are looking up for medics

This week sees the opening of the long awaited new lecture theatre for medics based on the Heath Park Campus.

This ambitious development, planned approximately seven years ago in response to the increasing intake of new medical students, began construction in July 2007 and has benefited from almost £3 million of Welsh Assembly Government funding along with significant investment from Cardiff University.

Pizza company criticised over use of dead celebrities in ad campaign

A New Zealand Pizza chain called Hell Pizza has come under fire for its “grotesque” adverts, which depict three dead celebrities dancing on graves for its Halloween promotion.

Distinctly provocative, Hell Pizza had to withdraw its advert, which featured skeletal animations of Sir Edmund Hillary and Heath Ledger, who both died in January, and the Queen Mother dancing to Michael Jackson’s Thriller.

Sleeping Judge throws out case

Australia’s High Court has overturned the convictions of two alleged drug traffickers, because the judge in their original trial repeatedly fell asleep.

The court heard that the judge slept for up to 20 minutes at a time and sometimes snored, distracting the jury.

Union Watch

24-hour drinking licence revoked

The University of York Students’ Union (YUSU) has been forced to accept defeat over the battle for a 24 hour drinking licence for the Union bar in Langwith.

Controversial fingerprint policy for overseas students

A new policy means that overseas students will now need to give fingerprints when applying for visa extensions to study in the United Kingdom.

It has been revealed that overseas students will require biometric identity cards, containing personal information, which, alongside fingerprinting students, is part of a bid to tighten immigration.

Doctor Who in the house

Cardiff University will be hosting an academic conference to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Doctor Who.

The ‘Whoniversal Appeal’ conference, organized by Melissa Beattie, a PhD student from the School of History and Archeology, is dedicated to the Doctor Who series and its spin-offs, Torchwood and the Sarah Jane Adventures.

"Elite sport should get all the backing from the University" says new IMG chair

The new IMG Chair, elected last week in the non-sabbatical by-elections, has caused controversy after stating his belief that more money should be invested in so-called “elite sports” at Cardiff University over IMG teams.

At Candidates’ Question Time in the Great Hall last Wednesday, James ‘Lammy’ Lambden, who has played for an IMG team for the last 3 years, said that IMG “is what it is”, and that “elite sport should get all the backing from the University”.

Where've you bin?

Students' health at risk after four week wait for rubbish collection

Residents of student flats The Flat Place on St. Mary Street, central Cardiff, did not have their bins collected for over four weeks due to Cardiff City Council’s unannounced interruption of the services throughout the city.

Only on Monday November 3 did the City Council website announce a disruption of the waste collection services for between 4-6 weeks due to “new crews working on new rounds.”

From Rag to riches: RAG week is here

RAG week begins on Monday 10 November, with a range of activities organised in order to raise money for various charities.

The week consists of bucket collections, sponsored silences, fancy dress events and a foam party, as well as some organised events at Walkabout and the Students’ Union which students can buy tickets for.

Environment: not on the agenda

Last week, Cardiff University’s Vice Chancellor, Dr David Grant, revealed his priorities for the year 2008/09.

However, despite the Vice Chancellor’s claims that sustainable growth is important to the University, the document did not mention a commitment to improved environmental performance.

New initiative for scientists

The School of Biosciences at Cardiff University has launched a new Research Fellowship Programme for early career scientists.

The programme is named in honour of its two nobel Laureates, Professor Sir Martin Evans and Professor Dr Robert Huber, both of whom are members of the school.

Taxi skiver

Cardiff Council has successfully prosecuted a Cardiff Private Hire Taxi driver for plying for hire without a license and driving without insurance.

The prosecution was the result of a complaint upheld by a member of the public on 27 January 2008, and was investigated by Cardiff Council’s Licensing Section.

Cardiff scientist has a Blast!

A new film, featuring Cardiff scientist Dr. Enzo Pascale exploring the origins of the universe, is being screened at Cardiff University.

Blast! films the exciting scientific exploration following Dr. Pascale and an international team of astrophysicists as they perilously travel from the Arctic to the Antarctic. The team launch a state-of-the-art telescope on a NASA high-altitude balloon in their adventurous quest to find out how the universe became what it is today and how we evolved on earth.

Final year students regret degree choice

One in twelve final-year university students are less confident in their degree choice because of the recession, a survey has showed. And nearly half think that the crisis would endanger their future career.

The survey was conducted by the market research firm ‘Opinionpanel’ and involved 1,041 undergraduates from freshers to final-year students.

Student complaints cause headache for universities

The Higher Education watchdog has revealed that student complaints are rising at a rate of about 10%, and as a result, the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OAI) for Higher Education has launched a consultation programme for universities.

The complaints that are being dealt with by the OIA focus on a range of issues, such as problems with student accommodation, services being given by universities and promises made at the beginning of courses.

Higher education under scrutiny

A Committee of MPs will be looking to completely review some of the major areas surrounding higher education in the coming months in a thorough investigation.

The Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee will be probing issues such as admissions, the balance between teaching and research, drop-out rates, degree classification and methods of student support in an enquiry which could completely reform the way that British higher education looks.

'Obama - the musical' a big hit in Kenya

Days before he was voted President in the US elections, Barack Obama, along with John McCain, took centre stage on the opening night of ‘Obama – the Musical’ in Kenya.

It was a biography of Barack Obama told in dance, song and narrative with music from different genres including traditional Kenyan music.