Key stories from this week

CUSU and GU to merge

At Monday’s CUSU Council meeting, a motion was proposed to dissolve both CUSU and the GU and create a new union representing both postgraduate and undergraduate students. The proposal is in its early stages, and a two-week consultation process will take place to discuss the proposal with members of the university. The proposal aims to streamline the use of resources and improve representation for postgraduate student. Evie Aspinall, current CUSU President, has said that the final decision is likely to go to a referendum.

Virgo refutes Telegraph comments

In an interview with Varsity this week, the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Education, Professor Graham Virgo, denied claiming that black students are reluctant to apply to Cambridge because of the lack of suitable hairdressers, as was reported last week in the Telegraph. The article quoted Virgo saying that research had identified it as a “number three” reason not to apply. The Cambridge African Caribbean Society wrote on Facebook that headlines such as the one in the Telegraph “shift the focus away from the prevalent issues surrounding university access”. Virgo reassured Varsity that the university are “looking at bridging that gap” in regards to access.

Documentary on mental health in Cambridge premiers

‘Feeling Blue? Mental Health at Cambridge University’ premiered last Saturday, featuring interviews with over 30 students, college staff and senior university officials. The documentary explored issues such as workload, student stress levels, and welfare policies. Pro Vice-Chancellor Graham Virgo and Dr. Mark Wormald, a member of the University Council, are set to meet with the documentary makers to discuss their findings.

On a lighter note...

Whitworth house thrown a lifeline

A recent report by the County Council recommended that Whitworth House, a women’s only hostel, should be kept open for the next 18 months. This follows news last December that the County Council would not renew its yearly contract with Orwell Housing, the association that runs Whitworth, which would have seen the house close in June 2019. The report this week asked that the Council “seek an 18 month extension” on this contract. Ruth Jackson, chairperson for Whitworth Trust said that the report opens “more doors for us”.