Gair Rhydd

Caught in the Act

"I was just looking for my work card" claims gardener as he is caught red-handed burgling student property

A man was caught breaking into a student house last Sunday, claiming to be the gardener.

Katy Morris, a second year psychology student, discovered the burglar in her bedroom. When she challenged the man, he said he was looking for his work card, to which Katy replied, “What, in my room?” It was then that she noticed her laptop was missing off her desk.

Not Permitted

Nurses stripped of parking permits express safety concerns in yet another blow for Heath students

Nurses at the Heath campus are facing transport difficulties and concerns over their safety following the loss of their parking permits.

Since the beginning of this academic year, nurses have seen more and more of their parking permits revoked by the council, leaving them with limited parking options.

Arms up

Cardiff University's investment in arms companies has increased since 2006 despite pressure from the Union

Despite continuing student opposition, Cardiff University are still investing money in companies heavily associated with arms manufacture, and recent information has shown that the amount being invested has actually increased.

Currently the University holds investments with arms manufacturers BAE Systems, General Electric and Smith Group in the form of shares and bonds with a value of £225,000. BAE Systems claims to be ‘the largest European defence company’.

NUS: on the road to reform (again)

The National Union of Students (NUS) is one step closer to reform following an extraordinary conference last Wednesday in which sabbatical officers from all over the UK came together and voted in favour of revised reform proposals.

Conference passed the revised reform proposals by 614 votes to 142, easily meeting the two thirds majority required to change the constitution.

Blood donor appointments

Cardiff University’s Student Union hopes to have made their blood donation days more efficient with the new system of organised appointment times.

In previous years, donors have sometimes had to wait in long queues due to the popularity of giving blood but now there are more days and more appointments times available.

Former UWIC student petitions to save Cardiff pub

John Inverdale is the thousandth signature on a petition to save a Cardiff pub

Sports journalist and UWIC alumnus John Inverdale showed his support for the campaign to save The Vulcan pub.

Free housing for junior doctors

All first year junior doctors training in Wales will now be able to stay in free hospital accommodation until July 2010.

Health Minister Edwina Hart had previously agreed to extend the provision of free on-site housing for doctors in their foundation year in Wales until summer 2009.

Race Equality Policy reviewed

The current Race Equality Policy for Cardiff University is under review to make sure the University meets certain legal requirements and future work priorities.

The Draft Race Equality Scheme 2008 – 2011 will review the Race Relations Act that came into effect eight years ago. This Act placed a duty on public authorities to work towards the elimination of discrimination and to promote racial equality.

Broke and breaking

A charity break and busk in Cardiff’s Capitol shopping centre has raised £100 for the Cardiff City Kingz breakdancing event in December.

On Saturday November 8, around a dozen breakdancers showed off their talent busking for money to help pay for the December 6 event which will crown a breaker ‘Cardiff City King’.

Cardiff University pioneers kidney research

Cardiff University is leading a new research study that could see the failure rates of end-stage kidney disease treatment decrease.

With £230,000 secured from the Baxter Extramural Grant Renal Discoveries program, this will fund the study for three years.

Students see red over top-up fees

Last week saw thousands of students across the country stage demonstrations protesting against the top-up fee system of student finance.

The ‘Students in the Red’ day, organised by the NUS, was aimed at persuading the government to scrap the current top-up fee system in order of a fairer option.

Tuition freeze

It has been announced that there will not be a rise in undergraduate tuition fees for five years.

The current fee for undergraduate study is capped at £3145 a year and will not rise, except by inflation, for at least another five years, despite university Vice Chancellors lobbying for an increase in the upper limit.

Credit crunch causes surge in healthcare applications

An increasing number of graduates are turning to careers in health care as the credit crisis cuts the number of jobs available within the financial sector.

According to a recent survey of over 200,000 students who graduated last year, the number entering the financial sector fell by 2.7% compared with a 1.1% rise the previous year.

Union Watch

Prince William and Harry attempt to save the world

Princes William and Harry visited Cambridge University last week for a two-day seminar on how to save the world.

Cyberspace Junkies

China could become the first country to classify internet addiction as a clinical disorder and plans to register the condition with the World Health Organisation.

With the world’s largest online population of 253 million people, both China’s urban and rural internet cafés are crowded with people participating in gaming sessions. Research shows nearly half of China’s online population are aged between 18 and 30, with 42 per cent of those claiming to feel addicted to the internet.

Dead ugly

A one-eyed, three-legged, hairless pooch that won the title of World’s Ugliest Dog this summer has recently died.

Gus, a nine-year-old Chinese crested dog, lost his battle with cancer last week, after winning the annual contest in June at the Sonoma-Marin Fair, California.

Tequila - an alcoholic gem

Scientists in Mexico have successfully turned their national beverage Tequila into diamonds.

Researchers from the National Autonomous University of Mexico found that when the heated vapour of ‘tequila blanco’ was deposited on a stainless steel base, it formed diamond films.