University round-up: petitions, elections, and the future of Europe’s “worst nightclub”

Trinity College’s SU launch petition against proposed increases to masters’ fees

Trinity College Dublin’s Students’ Union (TCDSU) has launched a petition against proposed increases to masters’ degrees costs.

The petition comes after the University proposed a 2.3% increase to masters’ fees for the 2025/26 academic year.

This is alongside a 10% fee increase for certain programmes and non-EU courses.

As of April 29, the petition had over 468 signatures.

TCDSU President László Molnárfi told Trinity’s student paper that “Trinity’s attempts to increase course fees will hurt the most vulnerable amongst us and further make it hard for people from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds to access education.”

The proposal will be brought to the University board on May 22.

University of Aberdeen student stands for MP

A politics student at the University of Aberdeen, Shane Painter, is standing for the Conservative Party as a candidate in Orkney and Shetland.

The 21 year old student previously chaired the University’s Conservative Association and stood for a seat on Aberdeen City Council in May 2022, finishing fifth in his ward.

The constituency is a Liberal Democrat stronghold, with Painter facing current MP Alistair Carmichael, former Secretary of State for Scotland.

Speaking to The Gaudie, Painter said he is “going to fight a positive campaign that will focus on the priorities of our island communities.”

He is the second student from the University standing in the next general election, alongside student and city councillor Desmond Bouse.

Oxford’s Biology department faces call for action against badger culling

The Oxfordshire Badger Group has petitioned Oxford’s Biology department to act against badger culling in Oxfordshire.

The petition, presented to the department on April 17, has gained nearly 20,000 signatures on change.org.

The department is criticised in the petition for the “misuse” of their research by the government to justify badger culling.

The petition points out that University research suggested that culling would “not help control bovine TB” despite the government overturning these conclusions.

The DEFRA consultation is set to close on May 13.

The “worst nightclub in Europe” closes after 50 years

Klute, a popular Durham nightclub, has closed after 50 years of operation.

The club closed on April 20 with no public announcement, creating uncertainty as to whether this was a permanent or short term closure.

The club temporarily closed in January and has since only opened on weekends.

Former general manager Dillon Blevins, speaking of his own student experience, told the Palatinate “At no point was Klute the worst nightclub in Europe: Klute wasn’t even the worst nightclub in Durham.”

The club was previously owned by the uncle of former adviser to Boris Johnson, Dominic Cummings. Cummings worked at the club as a doorman in his youth.

Palatinate has contacted the owners of Klute for comment but has not yet received a response.