Evie Selby

Varsity Online • 17th February 2025

‘Childhood ended for us at nine’: the Ukrainian society on the student experience of the Russia-Ukraine war

Sitting opposite each other in a clean, quiet meeting room in the University’s Engineering Faculty, we seem a world away from any form of conflict. But, it is this separation that is one of the hardest parts, I’m told by Viktoriia, Sofiia, and Diana, three Ukrainian students here who are also committee members for Cambridge University’s Ukrainian Society.
For all three, the war with Russia has shaped their entire lives. Sisters Sofiia and Diana were born in eastern Ukraine, where fighting began...

Varsity Online • 12th November 2024

Suella Braverman tells protesters to ‘get a life’ at Tory event

Suella Braverman told student protesters to “get a life” after her talk at the Cambridge University Conservative Association (CUCA) today (07/11).
Over 50 protesters gathered outside the Babbage Lecture Theatre to disrupt her speech, with the noise from their chants and drums being heard from inside the building.
Braverman praised the attendees for “going ahead in defiance of the mob, in defiance of cancel culture, as conservatives on campus”.
“Don’t be bowed down. Don’t be cowed by the mob a...

Varsity Online • 23rd August 2024

Trump survived, but can American democracy? 

The assassination attempt on former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has been described as “the most significant operational failure” in decades for the US Secret Service, resulting in the resignation of their director. For the Republican Party, however, it looks like the almost-assassination could be spun into the most fortuitous event of their campaign so far. And for American democracy, it may well mark the beginning of its descent into ruin.
On July 13th 2024, 20...

The Times • 29th April 2024

5 of the best … female TV detectives

Crime shows have long captivated viewers, ranging from the classic whodunnit to high-tension police dramas. But move aside Sherlock and Poirot — for years now, female detectives have been bursting into the genre and taking the spotlight. From Miss Marple to Sarah Lund, we’ve selected five of the greatest female detectives in television history. But which ones are your favourites? Let us know in the comments below.

Set in the Northumberland Moors and with 13 seasons to its name, ITV’s Vera is co

Varsity Online • 24th October 2024

King’s students disrupt talk from Silicon Valley CEO 

Pro-Palestinian students staged a protest outside a talk with tech entrepreneur Peter Barrett yesterday at King’s College, (23/10) accusing the College of platforming an “investor in genocide”.
The event, hosted by King’s Entrepreneurship Labs, was an “in conversation” with Barrett on “boundaries of deep tech and hard science,” who activists accused of having “direct ties to war crimes”.
Students gathered outside of the College’s Provost’s Lodge where the talk was scheduled to take place, accu...

Varsity Online • 13th January 2025

Cambridge law journal apologises following paper on Gaza annexation

A Cambridge University Press law journal has apologised following the publication of a paper that explored how Israel may exploit natural gas reserves in Gaza if it annexed the area.
Following significant criticism the editorial board and editors-in-chief of the Leiden Journal of International Law (LJIL) issued an apology for the article. The editors also stated that they “recognise the grounds for criticism” and “are taking steps relating to the future of this particular piece and specifically...

Varsity Online • 28th January 2025

UK universities move towards ‘inclusive’ assessment formats

Top UK universities, including Oxford and Cambridge, are moving away from “traditional” exam formats in favour of more “inclusive assessments” to lessen awarding gaps.
These include open-book tests or take-home papers instead of in-person, unseen exams.
The approach was established under new Access and Participation Plans (APP) set out by the Office for Students. Universities wanting to charge full tuition fees must adopt these to show how they are assisting students from disadvantaged backgro...

Varsity Online • 22nd July 2024

Tour de France: The biggest race in the world. And the biggest spectacle…

As the daughter of an avid cycling fan, I’ve grown up watching Tour de France highlights on TV for as long as I can remember. The TV coverage of ‘La Grande Boucle’ is all about the race, but after seeing it live for the first time at this year’s final sprint stage in Nîmes, it became clear that watching in person is a totally different experience. I was able to get within an arm’s reach of the support staff, journalists, and even the riders themselves.
Stage 16, from Gruissan to Nîmes, was the...

Varsity Online • 2nd October 2024

Animal rights protest held in Cambridge City Centre

An animal rights demonstration was held outside The Guildhall in Cambridge City Centre on Sunday (08/09) to “educate the public” about the dairy industry.
The event was organised by the activist group Speciesism WTF, an organisation founded in 2023 that uses creative art installations to protest the exploitation of animals.
The installation included a line of “milked women” accompanied by an activist dressed as “the farmer” who addressed onlookers.
The protest aimed to encourage onlookers “to...

Varsity Online • 27th May 2024

Robinson May Ball charges student workers ‘crazy’ £120 deposit

Student workers offered half on, half off shifts at Robinson May Ball have been asked to pay a £120 deposit to work at the event, in a move criticised by multiple employees of the event.

The ball, taking place on the 14th of June, allows students to work half of the night in order to enjoy the other half for free.

The system, used by many Cambridge balls, is supposed to ease the financial strain on attendees. However, multiple students have claimed they have been put off by the deposit require

University of Cambridge • 4th April 2023

'Life was never the same again': In conversation with Sir Bradley Wiggins on his cycling career and rise to fame

On 17 March, The Tab sat down with Sir Bradley Wiggins during his visit to the Cambridge Union to discuss his cycling career, experience of fame, and plans for the future.

Wiggins is a former British professional cyclist who competed professionally from 2001 to 2016. In 2012, he won both the Tour de France and an Olympic Gold, becoming the only rider to have ever won both in the same year. From 2004 to 2016, he was Great Britain’s most decorated Olympian, with eight medals in total.

We began b

University of Cambridge • 8th February 2023

Fawzia Koofi: 'Our weapon is our tongue'

The Tab sat down with political activist Fawzia Koofi to discuss her experience of life in a politically turbulent Afghanistan and her work to improve educational rights for women under the Taliban

Last Tuesday (31/1), The Tab sat down with Fawzia Koofi, an Afghan political activist who works to combat the oppression faced by women under the Taliban regime. She is particularly passionate about improving educational rights for young girls.

Koofi has had a distinguished political career as the f

Varsity Online • 19th May 2024

Cambridge academic confirms new notes by John Milton

Annotations in the margins of a book found in Phoenix, Arizona, have been identified as the handwriting of John Milton.

Milton’s writing was found in a copy of Raphael Holinshed’s Chronicles, a 16th-century text believed to have been a major inspiration for Milton’s masterpiece Paradise Lost.

The notes in The Chronicles are one of three known surviving books to include handwritten reading notes by Milton, and one of nine that survived from his personal library.

Dr Aaron Pratt, curator of earl

University of Cambridge • 20th June 2023

Tim Marshall: 'The Future of Geography'

The Tab sat down with Tim Marshall to discuss his career in journalism, the world of foreign affairs and his new book ‘The Future of Geography’

On 10th May, The Tab sat down with Tim Marshall, British journalist, broadcaster, and author to discuss his life and work. Marshall has reported widely on foreign affairs and international diplomacy, as well as publishing his bestseller Prisoners of Geography along with other works including Worth Dying For and The Power of Geography. He was visiting th

University of Cambridge • 14th December 2023

Martine Croxall: Trust, Impartiality and the BBC

On 21st November, The Tab joined St Catharine’s College Politics Society for a discussion with Martine Croxall, a BBC News and BBC World News presenter. In these roles, Croxall has covered many major events, including the November 2015 Paris terror attacks and the death of Prince Philip in 2021. Alongside this, she is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and has won an episode of Celebrity Mastermind. She joined us to discuss Trust, Impartiality and the BBC.

Trust and impartiality are cor

University of Cambridge • 22nd January 2024

Injured Cambridge students involved in 'crush' to board bus to accommodation on ski trip

Students were left in minus temperatures despite being guaranteed a seat

Injured University of Cambridge students on the 2023 Varsity Ski Trip were involved in a “crush” when boarding buses back to their accommodation despite being promised seats.

Following the Mega Après event on Thursday 7th December, the limited bus services were overwhelmed in capacity, leaving injured students unable to board in minus temperatures.

Two students with shoulder and knee injuries were told by a representativ

University of Cambridge • 24th November 2023

Suella Braverman: The rise and fall of the ex-CUCA Chairman

How did the former president of the Cambridge University Conservative Association rise through the Tory ranks to make Home Secretary, just to lose the position twice?

Since her recent dismissal from the post of Home Secretary by Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Suella Braverman has been a prominent figure in UK political news. Braverman has held the position of Home Secretary twice, firstly between the 6th and the 19th October 2022, and then again from the 25th October 2022 until her sa

University of Cambridge • 16th May 2023

Laurence Rickard: 'Horrible Histories', the world of comedy, and co-stars

Earlier this month, The Tab sat down with comedy writer and actor, Laurence Rickard before he later spoke at the Cambridge Union. Rickard is most well known for his role in the show Horrible Histories which has received 20 major awards, including four successive BAFTAs. Following this, Rickard has written and starred in various other successful shows, including Yonderland and Ghosts. He reflected on his entry into the world of comedy, experience in shows, and relationships with his co-stars.

Ri

University of Cambridge • 1st March 2023

XR Cambridge occupies Sedgwick Museum, demanding end to the uni's fossil fuel ties

On Wednesday 22/02, the Sedgwick Museum in Cambridge was occupied by Extinction Rebellion Cambridge and Extinction Rebellion Youth Cambridge in a protest of the Department of Earth Science’s fossil fuel connections. This formed part of the “Schlumberger Out!” campaign, which is attempting to persuade the University to cut all ties with oilfield services giant Schlumberger (which has recently changed it name to SLB).

Extinction Rebellion (XR) was launched nationally in October 2018, and came to

University of Cambridge • 5th May 2023

This is exactly what King Charles was like when he was a Cambridge University student

This Saturday (6th May 2023) is the coronation of His Majesty, King Charles III at Westminster Abbey in London. Celebrations will be taking place all weekend, including processions, a concert and nationwide street parties.

In Cambridge, the event is being marked by free screenings of the coronation at Clay Farm Centre and Meadows Community Centre. There are also plans for various street parties and events throughout the city. The University of Cambridge is marking the occasion in a variety of w