English Faculty lift experiences ups and downs

The Faculty of English Reception sent an email elevating students’ spirits as they proclaimed the Faculty lift has finally been repaired. However, the uplifting news didn’t last long, as only moments later a secondary email was sent explaining the lift is once again broken. The Faculty lift experienced problems earlier this year in January and February, during which emails debriefing the lift’s functionality were sent to students. We can only hope the lift will rise again.

Nine lives saved!

Police at a Cambridgeshire police station rescued a young kitten from one of their marked cars. After an officer noticed the kitten concealed in a car bonnet on Thursday afternoon he was coaxed out by a humane animal trap filled with cat treats and tuna. Local enquiries into who the kitten’s owner is are ongoing, but in the meantime a few names have been suggested for the loveable feline, including Bingo and Herbert. The kitten is now safe and well and is currently being looked after at a veterinary practice in Whittlesford, with police reporting they’ve had many families enquiring to adopt the kitten.

Shakespearean shake-down

David Crilly, Director of the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival that lost a tribunal case for treating actors as “volunteers” instead of “workers”, claimed those involved knew it was not a paid opportunity. He explained the festival was an “artistic endeavour of cultural value” and the actors were informed “we don’t have any money”. Information surfaced that two actors involved in 2022 should have been entitled to the National Minimum Wage following an employment tribunal. The performers – Kit McGuire and Elizabeth Graham – were given £50 and £150 per week towards their expenses, but were expected to work set hours and only for the festival. Mr McGuire left mid-festival season after expressing that the festival was like an “exploitative business model” and Ms Graham was replaced after falling ill.

Tit Hall postgrad bears bronze

Trinity Hall postgraduate student Jan Helmich competed in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games this weekend with partner Hermine Krumbein. Representing Team Germany in the PR3 mixed double sculls category in rowing, the pair achieved third place, winning bronze medals for their country. With close competition for first and second place, the German rowers were only 12 milliseconds behind Team GB’s Samuel Murray and Annabel Caddick, and approximately two seconds behind Team Australia’s Nikki Ayers and Jed Altschwager.