Lockdown 2, while less alien than the first, is still a wonderful opportunity to descend into misery and despair. It’s easier than you might think, so easy that you might be doing it already. If you’re serious about getting miserable, the first thing to consider is your sleep schedule. You should endeavour to wake up…
Belgium forms a government after 16-month deadlock
The new Belgian government, led by Alexander De Croo of the Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats, or Open VLD, has taken the oath of office at the royal palace in Brussels, 494 days after the latest federal elections. The government has been formed as a coalition of seven parties, with the new Council of Ministers…
Universities divest amid protests
About half of UK universities with shares in fossil fuel companies have committed to selling their shares in these companies after sustained pressure from eco-conscious students who have occupied buildings, carrying out hunger strikes. Seventy-eight of the UK’s 154 public universities have joined the divestment campaign, either divesting, or pledging to divest hundreds of millions…
UEA postpones seminar by ‘controversial’ feminist speaker
The University of East Anglia has postponed a seminar by feminist speaker Kathleen Stock, a professor in philosophy at Sussex University, following threats of protest from transgender activists. The seminar, which was due to take place on Thursday 23 January, has been postponed due to what the university described as “issues of academic freedom”. Prof…
UEA’s singing lecturer
UEA nursing lecturer Stephen Smith, who specialises in nursing neuroscience and specialist care for patients with neurological diseases, has been making headlines with his unusual twist on the usual teaching methods. Smith uses songs in some of his lectures to help his students remember course content. “They have a lot to deal with, so I…
Surge in number of politics students since referendum
In the divisive era of Brexit, Trump, and the climate crisis, it is university politics departments who are reaping the benefits, with applications to politics courses up 28% since the 2016 Brexit referendum. Professor Lee Marsden, Head the Politics, Philosophy, Language and Communication department at UEA, says that, “since 2016, there has been considerable growth…
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