PALATINATE Durham’s Official Student Newspaper celebrating 75 years
Thursday 23rd February 2023 | No. 860
FREE
Palatinate’s sex survey results revealed p6
www.palatinate.org.uk
Music tune into songs on the picket line
Durham raise money for the Turkey Syria earthquake Emily Doughty and Lucy Baldwin News Editor and News Reporter
student’s studies, this however does not have to be located in one of the college buildings. Beyond this, it is advertised that there is limited availability for returning students to live in college, this is however by no means guaranteed. Other students shared a sentiment of anger towards the University. A second year student from Jospehine Butler who spoke to Palatinate said that they felt like the housing situation was like “the hunger games”. They went on to say that they did not receive enough support as they were only offered emotional support “not the bed I needed”. They also went on to say that they felt the University was
Durham students and local residents have rallied together to raise money to support those impacted by the syrian-Turkish earthquakes, with student groups holding bake and thrift sales to raise money for the response to the tragedy. The fundraising efforts came because of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake which hit Turkey and Northwest Syria, and saw a reported 47,000 people reported dead, with the number rising. One of the main groups leading the fundraising efforts is the Durham Turkish Society who began fundraising just days after the earthquake through bake sales, thrift sales and a raffle. Speaking to Palatinate, the society said that they felt like they were “far away” without any “direct access” and felt like they had to fundraise to support those in Turkey who were suffering through the earthquake, even if they had no family directly impacted. Fundraising efforts have also allowed the society to mobilise during a difficult time, with a member of the society saying “It really moved us, we are grieving but we also put that into action to show people we can fundraise money in a very difficult time”. Expanding further they said “Members of our society have been impacted by the tragedy first hand and it’s important for them to see how we care for them as a nation. We need to help anyone we can.” The society has also seen a connection grow between Turkish people in Durham, both from within the University and outside it, with one member of the society saying “This has allowed us to meet a lot of Turkish people and students we may have never met and this has put us all together and focused on one mission”. Another member of the society said it made the group come together like never before, “it just shows you how nobody really knew each other in Turkish Society until
Continued page 4
Continued on page 3
Members of the Durham Turkish Society holding a bake sale to raise money to support victims of the Turkey-Syria earthquake (Zeynep Duru Işık)
Students angered over the college accommodation allocation process Daniel Hodgson, Emily Doughty & Becks Fleet Editor-in-Chief and News Editors Durham University students who missed out on gaining college accommodation for the 2023/24 academic year, have spoken to Palatinate to voice their frustration and wider concern that they will have nowhere to live come September. In a poll conducted on 11th February, out of a pool of 324 students who applied for college accommodation, 150 were yet to hear whether they had been successful or not in obtaining a room, a figure of 46%. 41% of those who had received an answer from their college were unsuccessful
in gaining accommodation for the following year. A Durham University spokesperson said: “We are aware that we have not been able to meet all of the demand for returner rooms this year, but we will operate a waiting list system and will support those students who have not been offered a room”. Several students spoke to Palatinate with concerns about what the future holds, having been rejected from college accommodation for the 2023/24 academic year. Dana Al Tajer, a first year student from St. Mary’s said that it was “shameful that they [the University] made us wait until February to find out whether we have a place or not. By then most of the houses were
already gone, or extortionately expensive.” According to Sturents, as of 19th February, there were 75 properties still available to rent in Durham for the 2023/24 academic year, with 73 of these properties being £169 per person per week or more. Ms Al Tajer went on to say that the University had “sold us a positive image of the University and drummed up the pros of staying in college, we already have a place in the first year so it’s inhumane and unfair to drive us out when we are already here in the first place.” The University guarantees college-managed accommodation during the first year of an undergraduate