Beyond Edinburgh

- Students at Uppsala University in Sweden had the opportunity to listen to the Israeli ambassador to Sweden, Benny Dagan, at a talk held on 24 February.
The controversial speaker was there by invitation from the Foreign Politics Society, and emotions ran high from the start.

A young man from Communist Revolutionary Youth interrupted the ambassador almost immediately by shouting “Mr Dagan, go home! You are not welcome in Uppsala!” and was subsequently escorted out.

After the disruption the talk went on to discuss Israel’s economy, the recent events in Egypt and the ever-present peace process with the Palestinians. Mr Dagan said the two-state solution was the obvious answer, but that it needs to be two states for the two peoples, with Israel as a Jewish nation.

- The Cambridge Student reports that the police arrested two students who had taken part in a peaceful demonstration against the educational cuts on 24 February.

After they had returned to King’s College the police entered through the main gates and arrested one of the students. As his friend tried to intervene he was pepper-sprayed and also arrested. The College Porters repeatedly told the officers to leave; as College grounds are private property police are only allowed to enter if there is a serious incident.

Rahul Mansigani, CUSU President, was quoted saying: “This is an unacceptably disproportionate action: we condemn not only the violence used, but the contempt that police showed towards the College, and that they constantly show towards our students.”

- The University of St Andrews launched its 600th anniversary on February 25, with His Royal Highness Prince William and his fiancée Kate Middleton attending the ceremony.

The visit marked the couple’s first official engagement in Scotland, and they were also able to fit in a private reception with University officials. From there they paid a visit to the Museum of the University of St Andrews where they viewed the last surviving Papal Bull, issued in 1413 by Pope Benedict XIII, granting St Andrews university status.

The Prince was quoted saying the visit was like coming home, and he also spoke to some of the students. Two third-years told The Saint, the university’s student paper, that he had told them “less drinking, more dinner parties”, and the couple was described as being lovely and very friendly.