Demonstrators, under the name Warwick Stands With Palestine, occupied the Warwick campus Piazza, calling on the university to divest with arms companies who they say are funding Israel’s military.

Around 1am on 26th April, protesters set up tents outside the SU to begin their occupation. The university’s offer holder day was then held the day after on Saturday 27th April.

With “more than 200 people supporting the occupation”, Warwick Stands With Palestine explain that it is a “cross-campus coalition of student and staff organisations which holds Palestinian liberation as a cause central to the struggle against exploitation and oppression”.

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A post shared by Warwick Stands With Palestine (@warwickstandswithpalestine)

These protesters are urging the institution to meet four primary demands – to divest and cut ties with companies they believe to be “facilitating Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza”, to condemn Israeli war crimes in Palestine and call for a ceasefire; to pledge to assist the rebuilding of Gaza’s “destroyed education sector”; and to protect the freedom of speech for Palestinian students and staff.

One student at the University of Warwick said: “We set up on the in the early hours of the 26th April and we’re here because, we have, for the past over six months been campaigning, against the Warwick management.

“We have done sit ins, we’ve done protests, we’ve done open letters, we’ve passed some motion and the university has continued to ignore us.”

Many students wished to remain anonymous, as they feared discipline from the university. However, the university has since confirmed that there will be no threat of disciplinary action for protesting students.

A spokesperson for Warwick University said: “This demonstration is being managed in line with our legal duty and commitment to allow freedom of speech on campus.

“The University of Warwick will not initiate any disciplinary action against any protesters, organisers or students involved in the ongoing demonstration unless the University receives complaints that would have to be reviewed under the Duty of Care owed to all students.”

Featured image via @warwickstandswithpalestine on Instagram. 

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Rohan Ahluwalia-Pandor was sentenced to a two-year community order yesterday after he stabbed Ayaz Kazi in 2021.

Ayaz has now said he feels “failed by the justice system” after he was stabbed at the Warwick Uni hall.

Kazi told The Boar: “Following today’s sentencing. I feel drained and exhausted by the justice system. Two years of pain waiting. The pain of seeing and feeling blood gushing out your body through three different wounds. All that for one offender to walk free and the other to pick litter. I have been failed by the justice system.

“Ausaf can walk back into the university like nothing happened. I’ve felt unheard. If things went differently, this could have been a murder case.

“Imagine a mother losing their son. A father having to bury his son. My older sisters losing their little brother. I am just happy I am healthy and fit. I thank God for saving my life because in the scenario I was in, it’s a miracle I’m alive. And no one will ever understand that.”

Kazi, whose wounds were deemed non-life threatening at the time, has since recovered.

The stabber, Ahluwalia-Pandor, was sentenced to a two-year community order after he stabbed Kazi at the University of Warwick in 2021. This sentence includes 35 days of rehabilitation and 180 hours of unpaid work.

Ahluwalia-Pandor was charged with unlawful wounding, which can carry a sentence of up to five years in prison. He had been in custody for nearly six months, and his sentencing took place at Warwick Crown Court at 10:30am on the 8th November.

Judge Peter Cooke, who delivered the verdict, stated during the sentencing that the stabbing was a “serious start to a criminal record” and that Ahluwalia-Pandor had “in effect ambushed [Kazi]”. Cooke also started that Ahluwalia-Pandor was lucky to avoid a suspended prison sentence, but warned that the sentence would “hang over” him.

On 17th November 2021, Ahluwalia-Pandor was arrested alongside his ex-girlfriend and Warwick law student Anam Ausaf after he stabbed Kazi, who was also a Warwick law student, three times. Ausaf was found not guilty on the 21st September this year.

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This group chat, created for the Jewish Society (JSoc), was then the target of antisemitic abuse.

The Whatsapp group was advertised on the society’s website with an invite link, designed for new Jewish students. However, on the 12th October, four new people requested access to the chat.

Jacob Lederman, a student at Warwick University, explained: “Four people infiltrated our group. They got through our security and posted some vile messages… It was pure antisemitism.”

At first, the infiltrators sent innocuous messages into the group chat. One text read: “U selling any kosher meat? I’m struggling to find any round here.”

However, the topic of conversation then turned to Israel. According to the BBC, another message wrote: “Everyone agree with what’s going on in Israel right?”

Then, the abuse started. The JC reported that one text accused Jewish students of killing innocent Palestinians: “I don’t like it. Killing kids, killing mothers”.

Other text messages included: “F**k Israel” and “F*****g dirty Jewish c***s”.

Lederman continued: “There were Jews who had maybe been at the university for two weeks and they were on a Jewish Society group and then suddenly they get attacked by this bile.

“It made me feel sick because I think Jews in the UK, we’re used to a kind of undercurrent of antisemitism on social media. I see it all the time. I’ve never seen it this overt before”.

UJS President Edward Isaacs told Newsnight: “We’ve seen an unprecedented rise in antisemitism on campus – we’ve seen a year’s worth of incidents recorded in just three weeks. Every Jewish student is feeling this.”

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With six brand new From The Vault tracks, this album was written entirely by Ms Swift herself – and it’s not like she hasn’t already cemented herself as the best songwriter around at this point. 13 years since its original release date, this reclaimed, heartachingly-boppy album is everything we’ve ever needed – as well as Eras tour tickets, of course. If you haven’t already streamed this masterpiece, then what are you doing?

Either way, here are 21 of the best memes to prove that Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) remains a fan favourite and for all the best reasons possible.

As we begin processing this purple-themed cultural reset, here are the best memes to get you through it:

1. Not 19 year old, baby-faced Tay writing this

2. Mr Mayer found shaking crying throwing up

3. Quite the transition

4. *Ascends (sadly)*

5. “We have Eras tour at home”

6. Gotta support both

7. I was Enchanted to hear this

8. Taylor in her coming of age, indie movie era

9. We’re all still growing up now

10. Right in the feels

11. I want this song to haunt my brain

12. Nothing’s changed from 13 years ago tbh

13. Time to get my license just for this

14. I think we’re all a little bit Emma ngl

15. It just hits different all these years later

16. AND NOW SHE’S 32

17. This song can live long in my head for sure

18. “Ours” stans unite (I am one of them)

19. No words (no breaths either)

20. Speak Now (TV) is for the delulu girlies

21. An all-round slay

Featured image via YouTube.

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But there’s more than just fan frenzy. Harry Styles’ Love on Tour has become a fashion runway for many, many people – every outfit must be a slay certified by Mr Styles, or you might as well have not shown up in the first place. From feather boas to knitted hearts; pink sparkles to cowboy hats; pearl necklaces to rather strange fruit-themed costumes, Love on Tour is almost apocalyptic with its lines and lines of similarly dressed fashionistas, all adorned in Harry-themed attire. Are they glittery zombies coated with feathers, or just a couple of Harry fans?

Evidently, there’s no better place to be. Here are some of the best outfits our very own Warwick students have worn to Harry Styles Love on Tour in Coventry:

Rainbows, makeup and initials behind jeans

This group of Warwick students came through with their bright colours, makeup and accessories. We’re absolutely in love with the Harry-esque “Love” and “H.S” written on the back of their jeans – Harry himself would surely be proud. And the drawn on hearts with the Love on Tour colour scheme? The beaded necklace? Amazing.

You can even see the design of the jeans taking form below

The dedication here is impeccable. The attention to detail is phenomenal. These students really put the “style” into seeing Harry Styles live.

Warwick Tab’s very own Love on Tour fashion trio

Next up, we’ve got my own outfit – the bright orange shirt, black suspenders, matching suit trousers and red feather boa? I might be a tiny bit biased, but it’s basically taken straight from Mr Styles’ concert wardrobe. What more can I say?

On the far left, we have a wonderfully put together pink hat, top and skirt – with the hat and hearts on the skirt personally crocheted. All matching together, all very carefully crafted – these designs are sure to give Harry’s stylist a run for his money.

And in the middle – adorned with a beautiful, baby pink feather boa – we have an oversized red, orange and purple shirt. It’s different, it’s flashy, it’s screaming Love on Tour for sure. And the pink sunglasses? Ten out of ten.

Classic cowboy hats and jumpsuits

Here we have it – the pink cowboy hats, heart sunglasses and jumpsuits. It’s giving Harry at Coachella last year, and we’re all here for it. And both of the outfits matching each other? I love everything about them. There’s definitely a crazy level of detail and thought that went into this – I’m a sucker for matching fits for sure.

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Of all the nations, I find it laughable that Americans hate on us when their “small” portion of wings are an XL over here – there’s essentially a mini chicken farm in each of their buckets. And don’t they drown their deep fried butter sticks in ranch sauce and squirty cheese too? But that’s besides the point. They can eat what they want, I don’t care. But what I want to make extremely clear is that no one is arguing for the authenticity of British Chinese takeaway foods.

No one looks at a piece of prawn toast, soggy with curry sauce, and thinks to themselves “Ah, traditional Chinese food from Beijing,” I promise you that. As a British born Chinese man, trust me, I’m not the main customer demographic for these wonderful little takeaways either. Mum and Dad make it better. So like I said, please understand that I am not arguing for the authenticity of British Chinese food – but I am defending it.

You have to understand the history behind this. Hard-working, immigrant Chinese families have had to come to post-war Britain and set up a living for themselves in the 50s and 60s. Without them, most of the UK wouldn’t have had fried noodles or a single spring roll grace their lips. Yet, they’ve had to come overseas and start businesses of their own with British palates in mind – their British Chinese takeaway food, believe it or not, is a result of having to satisfy post-war, white taste buds.

In a world devoid of immigrant flavour, Chinese takeaways had to incorporate pies, chips and bread in their menus. And I don’t think these Chinese takeaway owners did this because they believed it was the authentic Chinese food that reminds them of home. They did it because they had to appeal to their new customer base, and ultimately make a wise business decision.

I can’t help but find that these TikToks bashing takeaways are definitely tinged with sinophobia. By hating on British Chinese food and the takeaways themselves, you’re essentially hating on the hard-working, Chinese immigrant families who have travelled so far and tried so hard to appeal to the UK customer base.

They’ve sacrificed real authenticity in order to pacify inexperienced, post-war British taste buds , and I fail to see how it’s the Chinese takeaways that should be blamed for this. So stop hating them for their “inauthentic” Chinese food – every single Chinese person knows what their own cuisine is, and these owners are no different. 

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The cause of the incident was a lithium ion car battery that caught fire in the EIC (Energy Innovation Centre) battery testing chamber.

Classes and lectures were disrupted by the evacuation that followed, with a hazmat team was also quick to attend the scene.

According to witnesses, ambulances were seen treating students outside of the building but whether any injuries were actually sustained or if this was just a precautionary message is currently unknown.

One student told The Warwick Tab: “My lesson continued despite smelling like burning bleach because the alarms weren’t working”.

Another student claimed: “We had to leave labs for half an hour and come back tomorrow”.

An official statement released by the university said: “Staff and students in nearby buildings were evacuated at the time. The safety of our staff and students is of paramount importance, and as such, the EIC and Physical Science buildings will be closed tomorrow as a precaution. Should anyone feel unwell, we would advise them to contact NHS 111.”

“We will continue to liaise with the Fire Brigade and are taking their advice on safety measures for our community, including putting a cordon in place.”

“We will be undertaking an investigation to assess the causes of the incident.”

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This came after the university denied the student an extension for her course as a result of her health condition.

Riham Sheble, a postgraduate student from Egypt, was diagnosed with uterine sarcoma – a rare and aggressive form of cancer – in February 2021.

The international film and televisions studies student’s payout was deemed as a significant victory for overseas students in the UK by the URBC (Unis Resist Border Controls) and Warwick University and College Union who fought for Sheble to extend her study period.

via Facebook

Sheble welcomed the settlement of her case: “University of Warwick’s initial decision denying me an extension of study period was completely unnecessary. These battles were imposed on me at a time when I was contending with death and at war with my own body. I was forced to fight on so many fronts. It was exhausting. More importantly it was utterly unjust”.

She continued: “There came a point when I didn’t think I was going to see my mother before dying. It was a frightening thought”.

A spokesperson for Warwick UCU said: “We are delighted with this outcome and will continue pushing the university to honour their commitments. No university should deprive any student with a disability or a chronic health condition of their education.”

The Warwick Tab also contacted the university for comment. A spokesperson for the University of Warwick said: “A formal investigation was carried out into a complaint made by a student relating to how the University had processed a request for an extension to their period of registration.

“That investigation found that we could have shown greater flexibility in this case. We accepted this conclusion and recognised we had got this wrong – and then worked to put it right.

“A decision to reject a further extension to her period of registration was reversed. And we wrote to the Home Office on the student’s behalf asking for her mother to be allowed to come into the UK to support her, which was successful.

“We also felt it was the right thing to do to make a payment to the student rather than contest it through a potentially lengthy complaints process, given the unique circumstances involved in this case.

“We’re sorry for the way the student was made to feel through this process, which came during a very difficult and challenging time for her. We have sent a letter to her to offer our sincere apologies.”

Features images via Facebook / Riham Sheble. 

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The astrophysics professor had traveled to the remote mountain observatory La Silla to study the night sky before going missing in September.

It has now been confirmed that his body has been found around three miles away from the observatory, nearly two months after his disappearance. The cause of death has not yet been revealed.

Since his death, friends and family have been paying tribute to Thomas.

The Warwick Tab spoke to Tabitha Marsh, Professor Thomas’ daughter. She was touched by the tributes from Warwick and the wider scientific community. She said: “We are devastated by our loss. Tom loved us, cared for us and made us laugh. We have enjoyed a splendidly happy life with him and are so proud of everything he accomplished in his work.

“We have been very touched by the tributes from Warwick and the wider scientific community, and we are so grateful for their kindness to us. For us the loss is deeply personal, and we feel it in every moment. He will always be at the heart of our lives.”

The Warwick Tab also reached out to a couple of students who had been taught by Professor Marsh. They described him as someone that made every effort to make lectures as “fun and engaging” as possible.

One student said that Professor Marsh had a “charismatic personality” with “thorough teaching, beautiful typed notes, and going above and beyond”. He recalled a fond memory where Thomas would “spin around in a chair to teach us inertia”, and ended by saying: “All of us second year Physics students will dearly miss him.”

Another student told The Warwick Tab: “Professor Marsh made my online lectures feel as crucial as my in-person ones. There will never be another like him.”

A maths and physics student also described Thomas as the “only lecturer to get a full screen of hearts at the end of term. He made lectures fun and engaging even though they were online. Our whole year loved him. May he rest in peace, he’ll be dearly missed.”

Thomas’ colleagues David Leadley, Danny Steeghs, Don Pollacco and Mark Newton also described him as “modest about his own achievements”. They wrote: “Tom was someone his colleagues would seek out for his advice.

“His enthusiasm, collegiality and knowledge were the glue that spread throughout the Astronomy group that has made it such an energetic place to work and why many of the team were attracted to work at Warwick in the first place. He is and will always be sorely missed.”

Chris Ennew, the University of Warwick’s Provost, said: “Tom was an outstanding academic and researcher, although in his typically modest way he rarely mentioned his significant achievements.

“He was motivated not by awards but by a deep love and passion for science. But he wasn’t just a brilliant academic. Just as importantly he was kind, considerate and a much-loved member of our community, acting as a mentor and inspiration to generations of students and colleagues.”

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Professor Thomas Marsh went missing from a research trip to the Chilean desert on the 16th September.

A body was found in the country’s Atacama desert, around three miles from the remote mountain range observatory La Silla, the BBC reports.

There, Thomas, 60 years old, was working as a visiting astronomer at the observatory.

There was an extensive search of the mountainous region around La Silla led by a highly trained specialist search team that had been ongoing for many weeks.

The news was confirmed in a tweet posted by the local regional police early today. The authorities have not yet revealed the body’s cause of death.

It was also reported by local media that Thomas’ family had traveled to Chile, where they were aiding the search operation.

In a statement, the University of Warwick’s Provost Chris Ennew, said: “This is deeply distressing news for Tom’s family and our thoughts are of course with them, along with his colleagues and our wider community.

“I know what a terrible time this is for the colleagues who knew Tom and counted him as a close friend as well as an inspirational academic and mentor.

“For anyone who has been impacted by today’s news, please do use the wellbeing support that’s there to help you during this difficult time.

“We will keep you updated with any further developments.”

If you are experiencing any mental health issues or high levels of stress, it is so important to speak to someone. Mental health services at The University of Warwick can be accessed here. Alternatively contact Samaritans on 116 123 at any time. You can also contact Anxiety UK on 03444 775 774, or Mind on 0300 123 3393.

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Featured image via Warwickshire Police.