Key stories from this week

Alice Guillaume speaks to Varsity, calling the Cambridge’s divestment working group “flawed”

Following her resignation from the group in March last year, former Student Representative Alice Guillaume told Varsity how “the whole process was flawed. It was flawed from the beginning”. She criticised the power asymmetries in the group, arguing that some members’ opinions were valued more than others, as well as condemning the financial, rather than ethical, focus of the discussions. Following accusations of Academic Representatives’ (Professor Simon Redfern and Dr Jerome Neufeld) alleged involvement in proposed donations from BP, over 1000 people have signed a petition calling for the group’s report, published in 2018, to be revoked.

Gender Pay Gap figures published

The University median gender pay gap has remained at 13.7% for the third year running. The mean gender pay gap stands at 18%, with the School for Humanities and Social Sciences revealed as having the largest gap, with women on average being paid 21.5% less than than men, an increase from 2017 of 2.9%. Of the Colleges obliged to publish Gender Pay Gap statistics, Trinity College revealed the largest difference with a gap of 24.1%.

Review Committee recommends revised Student Disciplinary procedures

Cambridge’s Review Committee has recommended a significant shift in Student Disciplinary procedures, advising that the burden of proof should change from ‘beyond reasonable to doubt’ to ‘balance of probabilities’. The drafted reforms would also create a full-time University investigator role, as well as a Student Discipline Officer, who could decide whether cases should be dismissed or referred on to the University’s Discipline Committee. A consultation on the proposed reforms will run until the 28th February.

NUS to cut entire Postgraduate budget

Postgraduate Representative Amelia Horgan tweeted this week that the entire postgraduate budget is being eradicated from NUS funding. She wrote “we were told this year that we wouldn’t be electing one [a representative] as there’s no money.” This follows the announcement in November that the NUS would be unable to meet a predicted deficit of £3m from its reserves. Seemingly in deep financial trouble, the organisation formally announced a proposal to defund its Trans Campaign last week and in December considered scrapping liberation officer roles.

On a lighter note...

Caius hosts Diversity Day

For the first time, yesterday Caius College hosted a Diversity Day in order to showcase “art, literature, food and dress from around the world”. Caius JCR President Reiss Ahktar, who organised the day, told Varsity that he was inspired by the “incredible discussion groups” and “reassuring spaces” he has experienced in University cultural societies. The event’s Facebook page lists its aims as to create a forum for discussion and understanding on a platform to reduce the disconnect between culture societies, College spaces and University members. The day has seen widespread support, with free tickets selling out last week.

Flags flutter across Cambridge

The start of LGBT+ History Month has seen many colleges flying the Pride flag this week. However, Trinity College has publically flown the flag for the first time in its history. Following pressure from Trinity College Student Union, the flag was flown on the 1st February and will be again on the 28th February. The College has also promised to plant multi-coloured flowers which will be visible throughout February.

King’s College has also made a statement by choosing to fly the flag of the European Union on Wednesday of this week. A symbol of solidarity with EU staff and students, the College explained that it was a move to recognise the valuable contribution of EU nationals to the College. Provost Michael Proctor praised the College as “an international and diverse College, in its people, its global outlook and the strength of its partnerships”.