Key stories from this week

Revealed: Cambridge’s bid for MoD psychological research programme

Documents seen by Varsity reveal the University applied to house the Human Social Science Research Capability (HSSRC) programme in June 2018. The programme, proposed by the MoD, would involve psychological research into manipulating human behaviour, and could have received £69m in funding over 4 years. If successful, the University would have collaborated with Frazer-Nash Consultancy, which is linked to the design and manufacture of weapons. The University dropped out of the process, though reasons are currently unclear.

Sued Sackler family has links to Cambridge

Varsity revealed this week that the Sackler family, founders of the prominent US pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma, have numerous links to the University. Currently being sued on multiple fronts for allegedly deceiving the public on the side effects of the drug OxyContin, widely viewed as the root of the opioid crisis, the family have previously funded a two year research fellowship at Christ’s. The family has also funded multiple lectures studentships and scholarships at the University as well as having two lecture theatres named after them.

PhD student detained in “hellhole”

Cambridge PhD student Peter Biar Ajak is being detained in a “modern-day hellhole” in South Sudan, according to his lawyer. He has been detained without charge since his arrest in July last year, when he returned to the country for a youth forum organised by the Red Army Foundation. A vocal critic of the ruling regime, the government are considering charges of treason and terrorism, both of which carry the death penalty. A petition calling for his release has gained over 80,000 signatures.

Councillors call on Robinson to help housing crisis

Senior Labour Party Councillors have called on Robinson College to help to tackle Cambridge’s housing crisis by letting out homes to low-paid staff. The College is currently refurbishing the properties in Romsey Terrace, which have lain empty for several years, before selling them on the open market. The Councillors stated that Cambridge Colleges should make “more of an active contribution” to solving the problems of low pay and unaffordable housing.

On a lighter note...

Support for Sustain-A-Ball

A new accreditation scheme for May Balls has received widespread support among Cambridge Colleges. 17 out of 26 Colleges holding balls this year have agreed to the scheme, with a further 7 committing to a sustainability pledge. The popularity of environmentally-friendly balls follows the commitment of Clare May Ball in 2016 to operate on a carbon-neutral basis. St John’s and Wolfson are currently the only Colleges which have refused to take part in both the pledge and the scheme.