As the year draws to a close, our News Editors look back at the stories you have been reading in 2024.
“Obnoxiously Posh”
Several attendees came forward to The Student with claims that the Diagnostic Society is “sexist,” anti-semitic, and “elitist.”
“Edinburgh’s oldest society” meets fortnightly in black tie to discuss a debate motion.
An attendee said she was told that “women in the society aren’t funny,” also stating that female speakers “are heckled tenfold” compared to the men, including calls to “go back to the kitchen.”
At one meeting, members of the audience proclaimed that “Hitler was underappreciated.”
In a statement to The Student, the Diagnostic Society of Edinburgh said:
“We have a zero-tolerance policy on racism, sexism, homophobia, anti-semitism and all forms of discrimination, which we take extremely seriously.”
READ MORE: “Obnoxiously Posh”: The Student Investigates The Diagnostic Society
Article by Lucy Frewin, Maryse Bots, Tom Harrington, and Nicholas Malizia
“We’ve Had Enough”
In January, The Student revealed that the University of Edinburgh upheld only 18 out of 44 cases of sexual misconduct investigated during the 2020/21 and 2022/23 academic years.
Mentioning the university’s Report and Support System, Deputy Secretary Students, Lucy Evans, told The Student that the university understands “how important it is for survivors to feel safe to come forward and report incidents”.
However, September saw Edinburgh University students from three societies protest the institution’s continuing treatment of survivors of gender-based violence.
Announcing the protest, Edinburgh University Feminist Society (EUFS) alleged that the university’s upper management had assured them that it would work with them to “do better”, adding that:
“They’ve cancelled the follow-up meetings, they’ve postponed, they’ve told us there will be months between meetings. In the meantime, nothing has changed.”
Reporting by Ellen Breen and Jack Davies
READ MORE: Less Than Half Of Sexual Misconduct Cases Upheld By University, FOI Reveals
READ MORE: “We’ve Had Enough”: Crowds Protests Edinburgh Universities Treatment Of Survivors Of GBV
“Since when do they have a mascot?”
The Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA) unveiled its new mascot, a Moose named “Dusty” in September.
While the choice of a Moose perplexed students, the students’ association explained that Teviot Row House has been home to a “beloved” moose since 1925.
The Teviot moose, which has twice been stolen by students from other universities, is currently being restored as part of the building’s renovation works.
READ MORE: Do It For The Moose.
READ MORE: “Since When Do They Have A Mascot?”: New EUSA Mascot Fails To Set Pulses Racing
Reporting by Sam Marks and Sam Stevens
“Kick out the Conservative Government”
Scottish Labour made big gains in the city at July’s General Election, upsetting the Scottish National Party in Edinburgh East & Musselburgh, Edinburgh South West, and Edinburgh North & Leith.
Speaking to The Student ahead of election day, Secretary of State for Scotland and Edinburgh South MP, Ian Murray said:
“I think it shows you how far we’ve come and how far we’ve come to meet the voters where they are on a whole host of issues.”
Upon their election, Edinburgh’s three new MPs faced a controversial vote on the Assisted Dying Bill.
Edinburgh South West and Edinburgh North & Leith’s new MPs also introduced private members’ bills on the treatment of rare cancers and absentee voting respectively.
READ MORE: In Conversation With Ian Murray, Scottish Labour Candidate For Edinburgh South
READ MORE: New Edinburgh MPs Introduce Bills For Debate In The Commons
Reporting by Jack Davies, Hannah Dunford, and Matthew Dallas
“Already struggling”
Emergency student housing was at the forefront of March’s Student Voice Forum.
One member of the university’s senior leadership said they had “made strides” in recent months, adding 400-500 beds to the university’s emergency accommodation stock.
Outlining the problems facing students, a January NUS Scotland report partially attributed the prevalence of student homelessness to high rents and the dominance of “profit-maximising” private student accommodation over university-provided accommodation.
Ahead of a decision on whether to raise rents at university-managed accommodation for the next academic year, EUSA Vice President Community told The Student in November:
“Studying in Edinburgh is already very expensive, and the university should be doing what it can to keep costs low for students when they are already struggling.”
Meanwhile, in January The Student reported on mould, mice, leaks, and caved-in ceilings in one university-managed student accommodation.
READ MORE: Students Protest To Prevent “Unnecessary And Detrimental” University Rent Rises
Reporting by Jack Davies, Robert Franklin, Nicholas Malizia, Lara Van Vorst
“Don’t be a snob”
The University of Edinburgh reissued guidance on “socio-economic microaggressions” after students shared their experiences of being mocked for having regional accents or coming from a working-class background.
A Scottish student told The Student that the university can be “alienating”, especially when “listening to people talk about you like a foreigner in the country you grew up in.”
Students formed the Scottish Social Mobility Society (SMSS) in response to the controversy and have received national attention.
According to co-president James Leitch, the society aims to provide a “community for Scottish students, particularly those from working-class backgrounds, who often feel isolated.”
READ MORE: Edinburgh University Tells Students Not To Be “Snobs”
Reporting by Rainsey Barnard and Jane Lee
“Move over Moo Deng”
In October, Haggis, an endangered pygmy hippo calf, was born at Edinburgh Zoo.
Haggis is the same pygmy hippo species as Moo Deng, a viral sensation who lives in Thailand.
Edinburgh Zoo announced the birth of Haggis in a post on X, with the tweet “Moo Deng? Who deng?”
The zoo has since apologised for their post, saying that there is space for “two beautiful pygmy hippo divas” and that they were wrong to “pit Haggis and Moo Deng against each other.”
Haggis has garnered global interest, with Saturday Night Live describing her as “fugly as hell.”
READ MORE: “Move Over Moo Deng”: Haggis The Pygmy Hippo Born At Edinburgh Zoo
Article by Ida Middlemiss Frost
“We reject the president-elect!”
In the lead-up to President-elect Trump’s November victory, American students at the university worked to increase the turnout among those in Edinburgh who could vote in the election, creating WhatsApp groups and guides to help raise awareness.
In the days following the former-President’s reelection, Stand up to Racism, an anti-racist and anti-fascist campaign group, held a “Dump Trump” protest.
A lone Trump voter visiting Scotland watched the demonstration out of curiosity.
He told The Student that he felt the mainstream media had got both candidates wrong, that “Trump is not a fascist, [and] Kamala is not an idiot”.
Reflecting on the impact they hoped their demonstration would have, the student protester remarked:
“I hope what we’re doing will light a spark of hope in the people of America.”
READ MORE: “Dump Trump”: Edinburgh Protestors Rally Against Trump’s Return
WATCH: US Election 2024 | EUTV x The Student
Reporting by Victor Dehm, Hannah Dunnford, Robert Franklin, and Ross Hume
“Fight Like Hell For The Living”
To mark the 24th anniversary of Trans Day of Remembrance, the university held a vigil on the evening of 20 November.
The day commemorates all transgender people who have died at the hands of violence due to attacks on their identity.
In the past year, there have been 350 recorded deaths of Trans people, with the actual number expected to be higher. This is one of the highest years on record.
“I will mourn the dead, and fight like hell for the living,” EUSA’s Trans and Nonbinary Liberation Officer, Ollie Cahya, told the crowd.
The former Trans and Non-Binary liberation officer, Robyn Woof resigned from her post earlier in the year following the appointment of Simon Fanshawe as the new rector of the University of Edinburgh and the slow progress on creating a LGBTQ+ subcommittee.
In an open letter, Fanshawe previously criticised Stonewall’s campaign for gender self-identification, arguing that this would undermine “women’s sex-based rights and protections”.
At October’s Student Council meeting, LGBTQ+ Liberation officer Ash Scholz said transphobia is “rife” at the university.
READ MORE: “Fight Like Hell For The Living”: Trans Day Of Remembrance Marked In Edinburgh
Reporting by Maryse Bots and Mattie Thomas
“Deception and delays”
Following on from a series of occupations of university buildings earlier in the year, Edinburgh University Justice for Palestine Society (EUJPS) staged a 34-day encampment in the Old College Quad in May.
The encampment, which saw students engage in a hunger strike, was supported by over 600 staff members in an open letter to senior management and led to an ongoing pause in the purchase of new Amazon and Alphabet stocks.
A review of the university’s Responsible Investment Policy is ongoing to determine whether its definition of “controversial weapons” should be expanded to include Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS) and AI-directed Lethal Targeting of Human Subjects.
In October, the University Court announced the creation of an advisory group on divestment, leading EUJPS to criticise the body for not immediately divesting from Israel-linked companies.
A letter released by EUJPS revealed that the university’s senior leadership had ended engagement with the group, over its careers fair protests and “threatening” posts.
EUJPS have said they are facing “suppression and targeting” from the institution, with some of its members currently under investigation over alleged breaches of the Student Code of Conduct.
READ MORE: University Court Announces New Group To Advise On Divestment Following Reports’ Findings
READ MORE: “People Are Not Safe In Gaza”: Palestinian Academic Shares Their Experience In Edinburgh
Reporting by Rayna Carruthers, Jack Davies, and Sam Marks
“fireworks” by mz.multics is licensed under CC BY 2.0.