Martin Williams / Emily Fairburn - News Contributor - Vision

4NEWS

YORK VISION

Tuesday December 9th, 2008

YORK STUDENT FEARS FOR LIFE ABROAD

student press STUDENT: MY DANGER OF DEATH We read them... ...so you don't have to COCK-TALE

After a long night of perhaps too many cocktails, two sports captains at the University of Cambridge decided that they both had a longing for the joy of closing a sweaty scrum. The merry pair returned to the pitch and finding the centre circle, formed a tightknit ruck, reports Varsity. The activities then became a little too rambunctious and a penalty was called for inappropriate grabbing. However, the referee, not being present, was unable to assert his authority. The sport descended into chaos with shirts being ripped and the illegal pulling of certain parts. The situation got so bad that it had to be physically broken up by the groundsman.

BNP-D OFF! The discovery of the names of three Oxford University members on a BNP membership list posted on the internet has provoked controversy, reports Cherwell. The scandalous trio is made up of a member of the Uni Maths Faculty, a member of the Environmental Change Institute and a St John’s College student. One of the named has denied ever having membership and another has condemned the BNP as "a lot of damned fools." However, this has not prevented students voicing concern. One worried second-year said "the idea that I might be coming into contact with members of the BNP, particularly as I'm not from an English background is really upsetting.” She continued: “I wonder whether it is appropriate for those who have been revealed as BNP supporters to remain as faculty members.”

FISH FINGER FIRE An Exeter University student’s craving for the nationally-cherished snack of a fish-finger sandwich ended very badly, reports Expose. The hungry first year made the careless mistake of forgetting to the turn the hob off, resulting in a nearby plastic chopping board catching fire. The entire building then had to be evacuated, and the fish-finger fan’s embarrassment was worsened by the arrival of Estate Patrol, three fire engines and the Ariel Platform from Exeter.

NAKED AMBITION

At Royal Holloway, students participated in a naked photo shoot with nothing but a cap protecting their modesty, reports The Founder. The nude display was the launch to the SURHUL campaign, You Can Keep Your Cap On (part of the NUS battle to prevent top-up fees reaching the sky-high figure of £10,000 each year.) Students felt so strongly about Parliament’s review of the current cap on top-up fees at around £3,000 next year, that they were willing to abandon their clothes in protest. Ruth Gallie

BY MARTIN WILLIAMS AND EMILY FAIRBAIRN

A YORK STUDENT who returned to his home country earlier this year is at risk of a jail term and possible death penalty if the authorities find out that he is gay. In Luke’s* home country, homosexuality is illegal under federal law and the practice of sodomy potentially punishable by death by stoning or a severe 14 year jail sentence. Furthermore, there is no legal protection for homosexuals meaning that he is vulnerable to persecution and attack from others. Speaking exclusively to Vision, Luke said: “One cannot help but worry… it’s still hard to comprehend the fact that I’m at a standstill and waking up everyday not been able to look forward to anything is a very depressing thought.” Luke’s parents only recently discovered that he is gay, when his father read his emails and found evidence of his homosexuality. Although the family were reportedly angry and upset at first, Luke says “my parents are pretty silent when it comes to anything that regards me - scary thought!” He is also newly wary of the dangers of publicising too much of his personal life on Facebook: “I made a big naive mistake of actually putting so much of myself on there that I didn’t realize how much my parents had seen right in the comfort of their living room.” Despite his extremely vulnerable position, Luke’s family unexpectedly took him back home soon after finding out the truth about his sexuality. A close friend of the student told Vision that “not returning would have put Luke in a position at odds with his family.” The insider confesses that his friend was so scared about his return that he almost refused to get on the plane back to the African country, but knew he had no choice given family pressures and the requirements of his student visa. Luke admits that he had considered applying for asylum here because of the dangers he faced at home, but decided in the end that because of the “uncertainty and unrealistic thought of getting asylum,” he could not risk it. “I found out they only handled high profile cases,” he says. “It wasn’t guaranteed and should I fail in getting asylum, I would still have to return

which wouldn’t be pretty.” Ben Humphrys, YUSU LGBT representative, has also criticised the asylum system as being “particularly opaque” and risky for LGBT people to undergo. Claiming asylum on the grounds of being gay alerts family, friends and the authorities back home of your sexuality, meaning that if you are unsuccessful in seeking asylum you are at even more risk. Humphrys told Vision: “we are worried for Luke’s welfare and hope that he may come back to the country soon to ensure his rights and freedoms.” Humphrys admits that there may be many other students in Luke’s situation who have “fallen below the radar.” This has prompted LGBT to run a Love Without Borders campaign, in conjunction

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with the NUS, next term. This aims to identify LGBT students who are at risk in their home countries because of the sexuality and keep them in Britain through the asylum process. Luke says that he defiantly intends to return to the UK when he can. He describes his experience here as an “eye-opener.” “It has taught me to appreciate many things, what I am and what I am not. No one can take that away from me.” With his future uncertain, Luke says he is using the opportunity to reflect on his experiences. “I am in a process of re-evaluating choices I have made in the past some of which were good and some bad… [I am trying to] find out what my purpose is and the things I want from life.” Talking of his friends back

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in the UK, Luke says: “[They] really came through for me in my most vulnerable state and they really stood strong for me.” Whilst there is hope in the fact that nothing has happened to Luke so far, no doubt these friends will remain concerned until Luke is safely back in Britain. If any of the issues discussed affect you, please don’t hesitate to contact the YUSU LGBT Officers ([email protected]) or the Academic & Welfare Officer ([email protected]). *Luke’s name has been changed to protect his identity. We cannot name his country in case it identifies him.

"If I'm killed, let that bullet destroy every closet door." (Harvey Milk, the first openly homosexual man elected to US public office)