Over the past few months there has been a lot of talk about the current situation with the campus bars and it appears that a groundswell of students have decided it was time to stop the talking and to start taking action.
The collection, (for that is what they like to be known as) who go by the name of Peak-A-Boo, have called for all students to make their stand and let the University know what they think about the ‘Company Bars.’ These are the bars that were placed under the management of David Peeks at the beginning of the academic year (Cartmel, Pendle and County) and only visit the few remaining College controlled bars, which they have aptly named as ‘sanctuary bars’.
Within their manifesto peak-a-boo ask that students boycott all the ‘Company Bars’ as well as all the vending machines on campus due to the large amount of profit made by the Catering department through them. They also call for the University to return the power of the bars to the Colleges and for a lowering in the prices so that they are more in line with those charged by other University bars across the country.
They also view the attitude and ineptitude of Mr Peeks, head of hospitality, and now ‘controller of the company bars as part of the problem and hope that this situation is remedied with a review of his position. Peek-A-Boo firmly believe that this whole issue is an attack on the integrity and autonomy of the colleges and should be fought with by tooth and imaginative nail. Peak-A-Boo emphasise for this coming term that students should be fought against with every tooth and nail:
1) Frequent sanctuary bars, not company bars
2) Find alternatives to the coke machines; go to the shops etc instead.
3) Circulate and photocopy posters and fly-post
Whilst the identity of those involved remains unknown, with the person I spoke to announcing herself only as Jenny, their message is clear and that it is now ‘time for action’ and they urge all students to ‘support them in the cause through the boycotts and displaying the anti-Peeks posters pictured.’ They also emphasise the tactic of spreading ideas for action amongst their friends and colleagues. Peak-A-Boo believe that everyone has the opportunity to influence this campaign through their participation as consumers, and that this action will continue until the bars are returned to a state of normality.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
‘Stop the War!’ Cries Demonstrators
Saturday 10th January saw Lancaster city centre give its opinions on the current ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.
The recent conflict began on the 27th December 2008, and since more than 800 Palestinians have been killed, many of them civilians along with 13 Israelis as the hostilities enter into their third week. Of those who have died it is believed that more than 250 were children with more than 3250 individuals suffering injuries of various degrees. An Israeli attack has killed at least 43 people taking refuge in a UN school. In the Zeitoun district, at least 30 people were killed after Israeli troops repeatedly shelled a house to which more than 100 Palestinians had been evacuated by the Israeli military. One medic treating the wounded from the attacks has commented that out of around 800 individuals he had seen, only 2 were Hamas fighters.
The demonstration was organised by the Lancaster Friends of Palestine, with support from the Quakers, and the ‘Stop the War Society’ from campus, with attendance at over 60 people, all voicing concern over the conflict and the loss of civilian life. Representatives of Amnesty International (Lancaster Branch) commented that they were disgusted with the ‘horrendous use of force by Israel in one of the most densely populated areas in the world,’ and that a continuation of the conflict would only succeed in creating ‘greater levels of anti-Israel feeling’ making any notion of peace in the Middle East ever harder to attain. With regards the demonstration they commented that they were glad to see that it had brought a lot of different groups together which shows a great desire within the community for the conflict to end.
Whilst one does not ignore the complicated issues within the Middle East, it would seem clear that a continuation of the ‘eye for an eye’ mentality that we can currently see will only succeed in making everyone blind.
The recent conflict began on the 27th December 2008, and since more than 800 Palestinians have been killed, many of them civilians along with 13 Israelis as the hostilities enter into their third week. Of those who have died it is believed that more than 250 were children with more than 3250 individuals suffering injuries of various degrees. An Israeli attack has killed at least 43 people taking refuge in a UN school. In the Zeitoun district, at least 30 people were killed after Israeli troops repeatedly shelled a house to which more than 100 Palestinians had been evacuated by the Israeli military. One medic treating the wounded from the attacks has commented that out of around 800 individuals he had seen, only 2 were Hamas fighters.
The demonstration was organised by the Lancaster Friends of Palestine, with support from the Quakers, and the ‘Stop the War Society’ from campus, with attendance at over 60 people, all voicing concern over the conflict and the loss of civilian life. Representatives of Amnesty International (Lancaster Branch) commented that they were disgusted with the ‘horrendous use of force by Israel in one of the most densely populated areas in the world,’ and that a continuation of the conflict would only succeed in creating ‘greater levels of anti-Israel feeling’ making any notion of peace in the Middle East ever harder to attain. With regards the demonstration they commented that they were glad to see that it had brought a lot of different groups together which shows a great desire within the community for the conflict to end.
Whilst one does not ignore the complicated issues within the Middle East, it would seem clear that a continuation of the ‘eye for an eye’ mentality that we can currently see will only succeed in making everyone blind.
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