National Student Stories: Controversial reindeer and a bone that could be Saint Nick’s

In 2017’s final instalment of National Student Stories, Cecily Grace Morgan takes a look at stories that have caused a (snow) storm in universities around the UK this December.

Reindeer spark controversy at University of Hertfordshire

Plans for reindeer to feature at the University of Hertfordshire’s Christmas market were cancelled after a student’s petition against such use of the animals gathered hundreds of signatures.

Lucie Curry, the first year Sports Therapy student behind the petition, stated that her aim was to: “Prevent the misery of these beautiful and gentle creatures.”

She explained: “In their natural habitat, reindeer can roam up to three thousand miles a year, crossing through freezing water and over treacherous mountains.

“Being kept in a small pen, therefore, is a far cry from their natural habitat and is an example of human exploitation of animals for utterly unnecessary reasons.”

After the petition gained over 700 signatures, the Hertfordshire Students’ Union announced that it would hold a referendum on the matter. Despite over half of students voting in favour of having reindeer at the Christmas market, the union still decided to cancel the plans because the vote was marginal.

In a statement on its website, the union stated: “Because we received so many votes (just shy of half) from our students asking us not to have the reindeer, we’ve decided not to proceed with the booking on this occasion.”

“We are genuinely committed to being student-led, and we, therefore, felt that because such a high number of our students asked us not to have the reindeer, and it was on this basis that the original debate was being had, it would be best to source an alternative form of entertainment at our Christmas market.”

Father Christmas’s alleged bone proved to be the correct age

A bone which allegedly belonged to Saint Nicholas, the fourth century saint who inspired the legendary figure of Father Christmas, could be authentic, according to new evidence from Oxford University scientists.

The scientists dated the artefact using a radio carbon test and, whilst the results cannot confirm that the bone is definitely Saint Nicholas’, they do confirm that it dates back to the same era in which he was alive.

The bone is a pelvic fragment and is owned by Father Dennis O’Neill, of the St. Martha of Bethany Church in Illinois, in the United States.

Other remains believed to have belonged to the saint have been entombed in a crypt in the Basilica di San Nicola, in the Italian city of Bari, since 1087. The scientists now want to use DNA testing to discover whether they and the bone originate from the same person.

Professor Tom Higham, director of the Oxford Relics Cluster at Keble College’s Advanced Studies Centre, commented for the Telegraph: “Many relics that we study turn out to date to a period somewhat later than the historic attestation would suggest.”

He added: “This bone fragment, in contrast, suggests that we could possibly be looking at remains from St Nicholas himself.”

The University of Winchester set to open its doors on Christmas Day

The University of Winchester is set to open one of its cafés on Christmas morning and provide free refreshments for local people who may be otherwise be spending Christmas alone.

The Learning Café will be open from 9am to 1pm and everyone will be welcome.

This is the third year that the university has opened on Christmas Day, a tradition that Professor Elizabeth Stuart, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, hopes will continue.

She stated: “We hosted our Christmas Café for the first time in 2015 and hope that it will become an annual tradition for local people to join us here at the University on Christmas morning.”

She added: “Although Christmas is a very special time of year, it can also be a difficult time for many people. As a university, with compassion as one of our core values, we consider hospitality towards our neighbours and the local community an important part of what we do.”