Cameron White

The Cambridge Language Collective •

La Ley de Memoria Democrática: Spain between ‘olvido’ and remembrance —

‘Es honrar a la gente anónima que hace la historia de España, gente cuya existencia merece ser rescatada de las garras del olvido’ (‘It’s about honouring the anonymous people that make up Spain’s history, people whose existence deserves to be rescued from the claws of oblivion’). These were just some of the words given by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez as part of an event held at the Auditorio Nacional de Música in Madrid on 31 October to mark the inaugural Día de Recuerdo y Homenaje a tod
Varsity Online •

2021: A Year in Varsity News

From the University’s plans for a £400m deal with the UAE, to a free speech crisis at the Union: News editors past and present look back on the stories that made a mark this year.

The year began with a national lockdown. Vice-Chancellor Stephen Toope announced that while the University and colleges would remain open throughout Lent, teaching would move online, and students would only be allowed to return in exceptional circumstances. Varsity reported on student discontent at disparities between
Varsity Online •

Cambridge lead Oxford in return of ‘BOGOF’ contest

Colleges at “Camfridge” and “Oxfood”, as the universities are so called in the race to donate, have once again been going head-to-head for the latest edition of the Great Oxbridge Buy One Give One Free (BOGOF) campaign, an inter-college competition designed to support local food banks in the cities.

Set up by ‘Because We Can’, a campaign group fighting food poverty, the “BOGOF” campaign encourages students at the two universities to donate as many resources as possible.

Now in its second year,
Varsity Online •

Cambridge wins £575k boathouse VAT dispute with HMRC

Cambridge rowing has successfully navigated a victory over Revenue and Customs (HMRC) after the latter claimed that the University should have owed £575,000 in VAT on its newly-constructed £4.9 million boathouse in Ely.

The dispute stemmed from a rule which allows construction costs to be exempt from VAT if the facilities in question benefit a sports club and not individuals. HMRC took issue with Cambridge being exempt, arguing that the boathouse was for the use of individual rowers rather than
Varsity Online •

Light News – Week 2: Cambridge-set crime drama, university kicks, shortlisted diversity campaign and ‘online’ kidney beans

The successful smart crime drama Professor T has been recommissioned by ITV for a second season, and is set against the University of Cambridge.

The drama, starring Ben Miller (who acted in Bridgeton and Death in Paradise) and Frances La Tour (who acted in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and The History Boys), attracted 5.41 million viewers in 28 days for its launch episode.

The first season had its opening scene shot in the football pitch of Jesus College, with the college’s postgraduate
Varsity Online •

Regeni inquiry arrives in Cambridge

Content Note: This article contains brief mention of graphic physical injury.

An Italian parliamentary delegation has travelled this week to Cambridge and held talks with University of Cambridge representatives. The delegation are seeking answers to “some of [the] unanswered questions” surrounding the 2016 abduction and murder of 28 year-old PhD student Giulio Regeni in Cairo.

Regeni had travelled to Cairo in September 2015 to conduct research into the Egyptian economy and independent trade un
Varsity Online •

University research centre accused of Huawei infiltration

The Times has this morning (13/09) reported claims that the Chinese tech company Huawei has successfully ‘infiltrated’ a research centre at the University of Cambridge. It is suggested that three of the four directors at the Cambridge Centre for Chinese Management (CCCM) have ties to the Chinese tech firm; and, the centre’s so-called chief representative, Yanping Hu, is supposedly a former senior Huawei vice-president.

In particular, the Times reports that Hu is “entitled to a special allowance
Varsity Online •

Varsity’s summer playlist

As the last days of August dwindle by, there seems no better time to reflect on the songs that have seen the Varsity team through the holidays. Such a list ended up being rather more eclectic than anticipated, covering everything from the classical greats, to art-pop, to Swedish dance music. However, we hope that such a range will suit whatever mood is needed for your own personal soundtrack of the summer.

Given my strong distaste for whistling in songs (I blame Jason Derulo), I was originally
Varsity Online •

Varsity’s summer playlist

As the last days of August dwindle by, there seems no better time to reflect on the songs that have seen the Varsity team through the holidays. Such a list ended up being rather more eclectic than anticipated, covering everything from the classical greats, to art-pop, to Swedish dance music. However, we hope that such a range will suit whatever mood is needed for your own personal soundtrack of the summer.

Given my strong distaste for whistling in songs (I blame Jason Derulo), I was originally
Varsity Online •

University to accommodate all successful 2021-22 offer-holders

The University has confirmed in a statement this evening (10/08) that it will honour the offers of all offer holders who met the relevant criteria for the upcoming academic year.

A spokesperson congratulated all students who have successfully met their offers amidst “another year of exceptional challenges brought on by the Covid pandemic”, acknowledging that “many have faced disruption to their studies.”

They continued: “We’re pleased to say that we’re able to accommodate everyone who met the