Access achievements

In response to ‘Cambridge’s outreach departments deserve some love’ (14/01/2025)

Dear Varsity,

As someone who works in access and outreach, I loved reading this article! I’m glad that students find outreach fulfilling; without the help of dedicated, helpful student ambassadors who are willing to give up their time to do these events, we wouldn’t be able to do half of the things we do. On behalf of all of us who do outreach - thank you for showing up, being friendly, and answering all the questions that students have about university, it means a lot both to us, and to the schools that we work with!

Emily Lawson-Todd

St. Catharine’s, School’s Liaison and Outreach Officer

Psyched out

In response to ‘Two thirds of Cambridge researchers employed on ‘precarious’ temporary contracts’ (23/06/2024)

Dear Varsity,

Within the psychology department, particularly since the pandemic, there is a pervading culture from fellows and UTOs that our intellectual work belongs to them, our contracts are often cut short to ensure someone new can take over and thus the work (code, coding, laborious data annotations) belong to our PI and they can retain the glory and publication rights. When we try to claim our work, it is belittled and portrayed as not yet publishable, then quickly passed on to a new person or a PhD/MPhil student, enriching the university and the lab at our expense. Ironically, the Psych department culture, especially felt for visa vulnerable international postdocs, sidetracks mental health and balance for platitudes and the idea we should express gratitude to have gotten to somewhere like Cambridge so late in our careers, even when we come in with publications, skills and work ethic.

Anon.

Psychology postdoctorate student

Cornish contempt?

In response to ‘Daphne du Maurier’s demonised Cornwall’ (25/02/2025)

Dear Varsity,

As Daphne’s eldest grandson, who spent my childhood at Menabilly and Kilmarth, where my grandmother lived from 1943-1969 and 1969 to her death in 1989, I do not recognise your thesis. Her strengths as a writer were her ability to convey a sense of place and atmosphere. She never dismissed ‘local people to total insignificance.’ She had great respect for Cornish people, their resilience, sense of humour, and love for their county. I remember her outrage at the Torrey Canyon oil spillage and environmental disaster in March 1967, which ruined the Cornish west coast. Cornwall holds a special place in the nation’s affections. And rightly so. I agree, Daphne and TV series like Poldark have clothed that affection in a shroud of nostalgia. But I do share my grandmother’s sadness that, without tourism, Cornwall’s economy would struggle.

Paul de Zulueta

Lose the label

In response to ‘The etiquette of inequality at Cambridge: making tradition inclusive’ (24/01/2025)

Dear Varsity,

Seeing students as “disadvantaged” is a condescending label, and is also counterproductive. Far better than these schemes would be a course on communication skills for all. As a teacher of English and a Consultant in Interpersonal Communication Skills I’ve found that results can be achieved within a term, where student gaining the skills to contribute in seminars leads to improvements in their work. As a student I waited to contribute in a Seminar, only to fail to interject with my comment while it was still relevant. However, due to the structure of my course I soon learnt how to join in and express my thoughts. It’s important to realise that labelling is counter productive. Yes, I was from a disadvantaged background, although I didn’t see it as that! So please, think again, and do something more productive.

Vivien Plews

Freelance communication consultant

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