Brief news update: Chaucer, coffee houses, and difficult degrees
Recent news headlines have highlighted some interesting and thought-provoking stories from various sectors like arts, fashion, film & TV, music, and theatre. One story delves into the findings of the National Student Survey, revealing that students at Cambridge University find their degree quite challenging. Surprisingly, 92% of Cantabs claimed that their courses often challenge them to achieve their best work, ranking just behind the University of Oxford in terms of “toxic productivity.” To address this, the university is reportedly considering doubling all supervision hours to combat a culture of overwork and maintain its academic rigor.
In the world of British innovation, the Sinclair C5, a one-person battery electric recumbent tricycle, recently celebrated its 40th birthday. Created by Sir Clive Sinclair, this iconic vehicle has not only survived its commercial failure but has garnered a dedicated fanbase. Enthusiasts marked the occasion with a rally from Histon to Cambridge, ending at Anglia Ruskin University’s Sinclair Building, the C5’s former headquarters. Voi, a transportation company, even purchased 50 C5 tricycles to add to their Cambridge fleet, admiring the vehicle’s style and road safety features.
Another intriguing story involves a Chaucerian conundrum that two Cambridge academics unraveled. Dr. James Wade and Dr. Seb Falk revealed a centuries-old translation error in The Song of Wade, shedding light on its true meaning as a chivalric romance rather than a monster epic. Mistaking wolves for elves in the text had led to a misunderstanding of the piece for over a century, with rumors circulating that students could face exam mark deductions due to missing the wolves’ symbolic implications in their essays.
In Harvey Court, a new café, Florey, has emerged, replacing the beloved Harvey’s Coffee House. Named after Howard Florey, the penicillin pioneer and former Master of Gonville & Caius, the café will serve coffee and light fare six days a week. Following Harvey’s financial struggles and closure, despite a public campaign to save it, Florey aims to offer a caffeine haven to students in the area.
These diverse stories showcase the vibrant academic, cultural, and innovative landscape of Cambridge University, making waves in various fields and capturing the essence of intellectual thought and creativity on campus. As students navigate challenging degrees, celebrate iconic inventions, and unravel literary mysteries, the spirit of innovation and learning thrives in the historic halls of Cambridge University.