This week saw Cambridge staff go on strike as part of an ongoing dispute over pensions, the college rent disparity revealed, and one rather unusual culinary evening at Sidney Sussex.

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Picketing for pensions
Hundreds of Cambridge academic staff started striking on Thursday, with many lectures and supervisions cancelled and alternative ‘teach-out’ sessions hosted by striking staff. The strike was triggered by an unresolved pensions dispute between the UUK and UCU. Cambridge vice-chancellor Stephen Toope called for the organisations to return to the negotiating table after just one day of disruption. The action is due to cover every weekday of the rest of term, apart from 1st, 2nd and 9th March.

Rent disparities laid bare
In this week’s print edition, Varsity revealed the full extent of rent inequalities between Cambridge colleges, with a huge 67% gap between the most (Newnham) and least (Homerton) expensive colleges – a whopping £71.73 difference in average weekly rent. One student has already had her rent refunded after it was exposed that she was made to pay for a long lease of her room after being made homeless.

Dons debate Oxfam scandal
Two Cambridge academics got into virtual fisticuffs over the depiction of the Oxfam Haiti scandal after Mary Beard, a professor of Classics and fellow of Newnham, tweeted “I do wonder how hard it must be to sustain “civilised” values in a disaster zone”, in reference to reports of the charity’s staff using prostitutes in the disaster zone. Priyamvada Gopal, a lecturer in English and fellow of Churchill, hit back at Beard’s “patrician white ‘feminist’ racism”, before the two agreed to a Fitzbillies date to smooth things over.

Not so angelic
Singing in a Cambridge choir is a great honour, and an opportunity few can dream of. But it’s not all as harmonious as it sounds, as we reported on Friday. The culture at some choirs can be overwhelming, and at times, toxic, which drives some singers to quit what they love. As one said: “If the same stories were told of supervisions, I doubt they would go unnoticed”.

Oxsham
Murray Edwards came out two weeks ago to defend its president, Barbara Stocking, over her handling of the Oxfam scandal in Haiti, but one student does not appear to be quite so satisfied. A hand-painted poster has appeared in the College bar with the word “Oxsham”.

Briefing for Brexit
Fed up with the “one-sided propaganda” of ‘Remainer’ academics, two Cambridge dons have set up briefingsforbrexit.com, a website and group for academics to contribute intellectual, pro-Brexit arguments. Economist Dr. Graham Gudgin and emeritus professor of French history Professor Robert Tombs set up the site to tackle the “prevailing media view that all sensible and informed people oppose Brexit.”

Libraries raking it in
Missing your book deadlines helps the University gather a more-than-tidy sum – libraries run by the University collected almost £100,000 in fines last academic year, according to a recent freedom of information request. The figure puts Cambridge third nationally, behind Oxford and King’s College, London. Sidgbox has not replied to a request for comment.

Nutty for nuggets
With the demise of the strangest club in Cambridge, Clare Lettuce Club, as this column reported on two weeks ago, the demand from students with more unconventional desires has been met by the new Sidney Nug Soc. On Monday, the society invited guests to consume a whopping 1,596 chicken nuggets to commemorate the founding of Sidney Sussex in that year. All nuggets (sourced at ASDA) were eaten, according to participants. But will Nug Soc, like Clare Lettuce Club, turn out to be a one-hatch-wonder?

Striking decor
Jesus College students Lydia Day, Saskia Borchardt-Hume and Miriam Gauntlett were so eager to support their striking lecturers this week that they accidentally decorated their floor in the process of making their banner for the rally. Whoops!

Keeping the faith
In today’s edition of Varsity’s radio show, Switchboard, our hosts speak to the King’s College Chaplain about his religious journey, visit the Bahá’í Society at Anglia Ruskin, find out how choristers at Downing College feel about singing religious music, and meet a student who converted to Islam shortly before arriving at Cambridge. All this at 12:30 on Cam FM – listen live or catch up here.

Got a story that could be covered here or reported elsewhere by Varsity? Let us know: news@varsity.co.uk