Editor’s Pick – Plymouth Gazette

Do Students feel empathy about World Events?

15Mar

By Saam HasanNo Comments

Do Students feel empathy about World Events?

Empathy is perhaps the one thing of value in this world that is not subject to limitations of scarcity. The Ukrainian refugee crisis currently being caused by a Russian invasion is at the forefront of the conversation. Despite the supposed low degree of effort needed to empathize with others, humans do not find empathy as naturally as they arguably should. Normally we are perfectly able to do the obvious in order to ensure everyone’s wellbeing. For example, being sensitive to each other's identities, not voting incompetent people into power, or not paying to watch the Star Wars sequel trilogy, or…you know what never mind. Regardless of whether or not we make the effort to carry out our societal duties, empathy at the very least should be doable. It does not cost anything...

University of Plymouth Pole Dancers get back on the Pole

11Mar

By Bethany VernonNo Comments

Editor's Pick, Entertainment, Events, Plymouth, Sport, Student's Union

University of Plymouth Pole Dancers get back on the Pole

A trio of dancers skillfully present coordination and teamwork. The University of Plymouth Pole Dancing Club hosted an event celebrating the skill and dedication of its pole dancers. In their first showcase since the pandemic, twelve club pole dancers performed routines to their chosen music in December. It was a chance for performers to demonstrate their creativity and individuality at a fun and supportive event. Crowds saw the pole dancers first showcase in nearly two years. On 6th December, from 6:30pm crowds eagerly gathered in the SU for the sold-out show. The mood was set with pulsing music from some of the biggest female artists, including Beyonce, Cyndi Lauper and Madonna. Tables and chairs enclosed the stage area, where two poles were set up. This set-up created an e...

SABBATICAL ELECTION – From Nintendo Switches, a year at Cineworld, to Student Policy

2Mar

By Samuel PritchardNo Comments

SABBATICAL ELECTION – From Nintendo Switches, a year at Cineworld, to Student Policy

Go vote at upsu.com! It is that time of year again when students run in their masses to the ballot boxes to elect a new sabbatical officer team. Most of the current sabbatical officer team are not rerunning due to election rules preventing candidates from staying on the sabbatical team for more than two years. A constitutional rule like being the President of the United States of America, being on the Sabbatical Team is deemed more admirable than the actual most powerful office in the western world. How do the Sabbatical Officer elections work? The Sabbatical Officer elections, use a ranked voting system, where the voter can vote who they would prefer as the elected official. So, candidates A, B and C are all facing an election but the voter, let’s call them Polly Tizian who s...

Why you shouldn’t post your degree certificate online

15Dec

By Vivian HockingNo Comments

COVID-19, Editor's Pick, Plymouth

Why you shouldn’t post your degree certificate online

In September this year, graduates were once again able to celebrate their hard-fought achievement of earning their undergraduate degree certificate with in person graduation ceremonies on the Plymouth Hoe. More recently, on Wednesday last week, postgraduate students from Plymouth were also celebrating their successes with in-person ceremonies at the Plymouth Guild Hall. Graduation marquees on Plymouth Hoe - University of Plymouth These events marked the first return to in person ceremonies since we reported last year on the decision to hold digital celebrations in lieu of traditional ceremonies, which was part of response measures to the Coronavirus pandemic. Both forms of graduation are typically however followed by celebratory social media posts. It’s not unusual to see photos ...

7Oct

By Plymouth GazetteNo Comments

Under New Management – Plymouth Gazette

In the 2019/2020 academic year, the Plymouth Gazette was conceived by a group of students at the University of Plymouth with the intention to provide their peers with a one-stop shop for student life in Britain’s Ocean City. At its inception, the Gazette promised to provide students with news and information about the University itself, Societies, Sports Clubs, individual and group achievements as well as policy changes that impact student life at the University of Plymouth. We promised that our annual £10 membership fee would be reinvested back into the Gazette and we promised to run annual campaigns to help support and improve student welfare. (We have now reduced this fee to £5.) In March of 2020 however, the United Kingdom entered its first lockdown as a response to the emerging...

Plymouth University Parades 2021 Graduation in front of Upset Families who Missed Their Chance

23Sep

By Owain GullamNo Comments

Editor's Pick, Events, Plymouth, Student's Union, SU Policies, Uncategorized

Plymouth University Parades 2021 Graduation in front of Upset Families who Missed Their Chance

Plymouth University receives backlash from Class of 2020 graduates and sympathisers whilst Class of 2021 attend coveted graduation ceremony. Graduates celebrate on a sunny Hoe pre-COVID pandemic. As Graduation Week gets into full swing, so does the angst that has been resparked in the Class of 2020 graduates. A zoom call serving as a graduation ceremony occured earlier this year. Celebration just as good? The Class of 2020 was given a promise that there will be an in-person celebration on the University's website. The information for the Class of 2020 graduates is sandwiched amongst information for current graduates and postgraduates in this brief notice. After the university started posting about this week's graduation ceremonies, disgruntled students and sympathise...

No New Worlds – Art, Plymouth and History

28Nov

By Yasmine JelleyNo Comments

Culture, Editor's Pick, Plymouth

No New Worlds – Art, Plymouth and History

BY YASMINE JELLEY (C) Lucas Voss During this second lockdown, many students felt an abundance of frustration as the university dynamic became instantly uncertain. Something that is quite clear is the fact that student experience will not be quite the same. With the majority of lectures existing online, having something to get out of the house for will be very beneficial. Between 4th September until the 29th November (American Thanksgiving), an art installation has been established to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the sailing of The Mayflower. In recognition of the history, the project has been titled 'Speedwell' after The Mayflower's companion ship. With coronavirus causing a multitude of event cancellations this year, thankfully this event was able to survive due its outd...

The Healing Power of Pole: how the world’s most taboo sport aids eating disorder recovery

25Jul

By Emily BrownNo Comments

The Healing Power of Pole: how the world’s most taboo sport aids eating disorder recovery

BY EMILY BROWN TRIGGER WARNING: mention of eating disorders throughout, but every effort has been made to ensure that no harmful behaviour associated with eating disorders is discussed explicitly in this article. According to the Anorexia and Bulimia Care website, “young people, aged 14 to 25 are most at risk" from eating disorders. With the average student being in this age demographic, it’s unsurprising that eating disorders affect many university students. Something that did surprise me, however, was how many students I would meet through the University of Plymouth Pole Dancing Club (UPPDC) who have experienced an eating disorder. Pole dancing is a sport which intimidates many, often due to its connections with the sex industry and the 'revealing' outfits that are worn. Being ...

The Fight Against Racism Takes More Than a Two-hour Protest

26Jun

By Emily BrownNo Comments

Black Lives Matter, Editor's Pick, Plymouth

The Fight Against Racism Takes More Than a Two-hour Protest

BY EMILY BROWN Photography by Lucas Voss A few weeks have now passed since the people of Plymouth took part in the Black Lives Matter Solidarity Protest, where 1000 people were estimated to have gathered. The organisers of the two-hour demonstration iterated on their Facebook page that it would be “a peaceful protest for the racist killings of Black people and those affected by police brutality,” which is not just a reality for those living in America, but also for Black people living in the UK. Black people make up 3% of our population yet 8% of all those who die in police custody are Black. Even in the middle of a pandemic, racism and police brutality could no longer be brushed aside in the UK, and white people could no longer choose to ignore racism which continues to occur. D...