On azerbaijans second biggest city as a brief truce in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict shows signs of unravelling. From schoolwork to grand slam champion, 19 year old iga swiatek describes winning the french open as a life changing experience. And astronomers encourage people to go outside and look at the night sky, as planet mars is at its biggest and brightest. Now on bbc news for black students, studying at one of the most prestigious universities in the world, academic pressure isnt always the only challenge, for some it can feel like a new world. For black students studying at one of the most prestigious universities in the world, academic pressure isnt always the only challenge. For some, it can feel like entering a new world. You feel like you have to be strong, you know . My mum keeps saying to me, just keep fighting. Just keep going, just get that degree. Over the years, oxford and cambridge universities have come under pressure for their lack of Ethnic Diversity. I think its a place where race has not been acknowledged as relevant, particularly, to the whole intellectual experience of being at cambridge. Last year at cambridge, the numbers improved on previous years, with the university accepting a Record Number of 91 black british undergraduates. But beyond numbers is the experience. I am ashleyjohn bapiste, a bbc reporter but also a cambridge graduate myself. And whilst i am so glad i studied there, as a mixed race south
londoner who grew up in care, it felt worlds apart from what i was used to. And nearly ten years on from my own time, i want to find out what life at cambridge has been like for a new wave of black british freshers. The data is stark black british undergraduates have never made up more than 3 of cambridges undergraduate population. This doesnt include international students, who roughly make up a quarter of all undergraduates. Steps have been made to improve things. In 2018, the university launched the stormzy scholarship to fund a selected number of black freshers. But i know first hand that once you enter cambridge, its not uncommon to feel out of place. And as much as the university did offer support, i often felt like an impostor and totally out of my depth. Its because of my own experience that i really want to know how current black students are coping, in a space that is still predominantly white and privileged. And to give us their insights, meet fabianna. Success. And sharon. Having started their first term last october, i caught up with them a few weeks in. Success is from manchester and studying medicine. For his nigerian parents, seeing their son study at cambridge is nothing less than a dream come true. Back home in africa, when they want to maybe make fun of you if you are studying so much, they will ask you, why are you studying so much . Are you going to cambridge . So that tells you the position where cambridge is. Its a big thing for us. Did you worry about what it would be like for your son, being at cambridge, as a black person . Socially, is he going to cope . How is he going to cope, eating, feeding himself . What do you mean by that . Well, for instance, they dont have african food there. Will he continue to eat fish and chips every day . Have you been eating fish and chips every day . Burger, every day. So, these things have me concerned. Cambridge has nojollof rice, and if there is nojollof rice, there is nojollof rice. I was definitely worried. My first thought, initial thought, definitely Ethnic Diversity. I could count the number of ethnic people i could see on probably two hands. Success is enjoying university a few weeks in, but he was a bit concerned about finding a barber in cambridge who could cut afro hair. Big day. Well. Success, why has it taken you so long to get a haircut in cambridge . When i looked in the mirror one day and saw this mess, i didnt really know where to go. Is it going to look like this for eight weeks . Am i going to have to buy 50 hats to cover it up . Were you concerned that you wouldnt be able to find a barber shop that could do afro hair . Yeah, genuinely. I was a bit worried about it. A few weeks into cambridge, hows it going . Yeah. Oh, man, its stressful i did kind of worry about fitting in myself, from where i come from, which is very traditional, very nigerian culture, into what is, what i see to be like an upper class, like, white community. So, i was a bit worried. But it has been good. Ive found people that are quite like me. Ive found people who are very different to me but we get on. Yeah, its just been a really good experience. I cant lie, its been brilliant. When i heard about cambridge and oxford and all that kind of stuff, they were places i wanted to go to. Sharon, from tottenham, is studying history and spanish. Herfamily, of eritrean origin, have come to visit. Growing up, cambridge was seen as something so unattainable, but it was a goal, you wanted to go to cambridge. I feel like cambridge is very welcoming. Like, representing, for eritrea, theres not that many eritreans that go to cambridge. I came forjust a short time in this country and i never dreamed that my daughter would go to cambridge, but it isjusta dream. Thank you, sharon, you make me proud as a mum. I think you do get a sense that you are different. It doesnt feel bad, but its just something that you do have to kind of think about,
you know, if you enter certain classes, you might be the only person of colour there. You might be the only black face there. One with your hair there, do you know what i mean, like . Your hair . Yeah. What you mean by that . Like, curly hair, afro hair. One of my friends said, they changed hairstyle, and people didnt recognise who they were. Academically, it has definitely lived up to its name, but what i was surprised about was how ive been eased into it, in a way. Fabianna is from coventry, where she lives with herjamaican mum. Shes studying psychology and behavioural sciences. You know where youre going, so you have to play the part. It dont work overnight, just get up and say, im going to be posh, youve been working towards this. You are not a follower, you are a leader. Im a leader. Yeah, you are. Just a few weeks in, fabianna says she encountered Racial Discrimination from another student at a social event. The incident involved the use of a racial slur. When we were all drinking together, this boyjust said like a really ignorant comment, he said,
im too drunk to say the n word. So that was something that, like, threw me off, because i had never really experienced someone outwardly saying Something Like that to me, i had never been called the n word or anything like that. And just for detail, this happened on site at the university . Yeah. And this was another cambridge student . Yeah. So, it happened at girton, in a bar, when we were all drinking together, by another student. Was this a white student . Yeah, it was a white student, a white boy. But it really threw me off, because i was with another friend of mine thats also black, and we werejust, like, we had never gone through Something Like that. Youre used to the micro aggressions, but youre not used to someone outwardly saying Something Like that to you. She decided not to report the issue, but confronted the student privately, who she says later apologised. When that comment was said, what went through your head . It was mainly just shock. I couldnt say anything, everyone was just like, oh, my gosh, i cant believe he just said that. But no one really spoke up apart from me and my black friend. But when someone makes a comment to you like that, youre definitely, like, im black at cambridge. The University Said. Whilst the incident did have a negative impact, fabianna is positive about her start at cambridge. What do you want out of your first year at Cambridge University . I just want to build loads of relationships with people. Being here, any conversation you have could be a link for yourfuture. Mostly, im fine, im having a good time. Its been really, really good. Its not too long after her own encounter that fabianna hears of another black student who alleges they have been discriminated against. According to the student, the incident involved a staff member from Trinity College, which is one of the colleges of Cambridge University. I was on the train. One of my feet was on the seat and i wasjust sitting there. A man from Trinity College came on, looked at me in disgust and just literally looked over and said bleep. Verbally assaulted me on the train. For no reason . Literally no reason. The only reason, i believe, was because my foot was on the seat. No one was around and i was unwell. He had the Trinity College lanyard, he had the Trinity College tie, he had the Trinity College uniform, it was very clear that he was from there. And when i said to him, im just letting you know, im going to be reporting you to the university for what you just called me. He said, go on then, ive got loads of friends who work in the university. I think to myself, would i have been spoken to like that if i was a white man . So, did you complain to the university about the situation . I complained to the university, yes, they sent me some links in an e mail, they sent me over to a complaints line that i could use. I had people contacting me,
saying, where are you, and i felt too embarrassed to even reply to them and say what was going on, because it was having such an effect on me. It was having such an effect on me. And it really grates me that im getting emotional about it. Yeah. Cos you feel like you have to be strong, you know . My mum keeps saying to me, just keep fighting. Just keep going, just get that degree. She was saying, do you want to drop out . Do you want to leave . You felt like you wanted to drop out because of these incidents . I have, but im fighting for every other black person who i know needs to occupy the spaces, because black people need to come here, black people need to know that they need to get here so that we can pave the way for others and we need to break that glass ceiling. And i will not leave this place and i will not shut up, i will not be quiet until i see change. The University Said that nia told her college. They understand that no action was taken. The university has taken steps to improve its diversity, but its clear that some black students still struggle. I took the guys to share their concerns with the universitys vice chancellor. A lot of black students feel like, when they get here, they dont really feel like a part of the university. Incidents where we just feel like outcasts. What mechanisms does university have for issues that black Students Experience . So, the first step is creating a Critical Mass of bame students, black students in particular, so that people never feel alone. One of the things that we have done is committed to a three Year Programme of increasing dialogue around issues of race. Do you think this is a place that is institutionally racist . I think its a place where race has not been acknowledged as relevant, particularly to the whole intellectual experience of being at cambridge. So, in that sense, i would say it is racist because it doesnt acknowledge race in peoples lives. My commitment to every student coming to cambridge is that she or he should feel that they are fully a part of the institution. Part of that is making sure that people who come from backgrounds that are different, and particularly students who come from race backgrounds that are not dominant, have to feel at home. What do you guys make of the stormzy scholarship . You know, i think its sick. I really, really love the work that you guys and stormzy have done. Yes, it was great, but i was wondering, is this really his responsibility . So, the stormzy scholarships are not the only Scholarships Available to black students, or any student, for that matter. Weve got a huge initiative called the Student Support initiative, where were trying to raise
£500 million as part of ouroverall campaign, purely for Student Support and thats really directed at people who are coming from Widening Participation backgrounds, less privileged backgrounds, who wouldnt necessarily feel that they had the resources to come to a place like cambridge. It is our responsibility. Stormzy came to us and we were really grateful, because it was a way of telling the story in a much more accessible manner, but its a much wider story than just stormzy. Since last meeting the students, theyve alljoined the universitys african caribbean society, also known as the acs. Its a University Club that celebrates african and Caribbean Culture and, tonight, a few weeks into the new term, theyre attending a special dinner. Its not your average student party, but its still a vibe. Theres a strong turnout for the dinner, made up entirely of black
and ethnic minority students. We had a group of students who suggested that we run a dinner specifically to celebrate our Ethnic Diversity in cambridge. We thought it was a great idea, we decided to put it on, host the event and because it was so popular, weve done it every year since then. After a drinks reception, the students make their way into the main hall for tonights dinner. Wanipa is the president of the acs. When i was at cambridge as a student, would you get a room full of black and ethnic minority students . We are alljust here existing and it is a beautiful symbol of how far we have come. We are here to stay. We are here to stay, im not leaving now whats on the menu . So, we have got caribbean spiced chicken wings or cauliflower, and we have got some salmon jerk, caribbean pea rice. Wow so its Caribbean Food . Yeah, caribbean pea rice. 0k. Interesting, interesting. It was just over halfway through the Academic Year that the national lockdown
was announced as a result of the coronavirus. The university closed, students sent home, lectures were moved online. It marked the end of their Student Experience as they knew it. We will beat the coronavirus and we will beat it together and, therefore, i urge you, at this moment of national emergency, to stay at home, protect our nhs and save lives. This whole coronavirus thing has just been getting on my nerves. I feel like its stressing everyone out, theres nothing to look forward to, because summers basically locked off now. This whole situation isjust putting the whole country into panic. I wish that this virus would just disappear next week, but it seems to be getting worse and worse. Ive done lots of work but i have nothing to show for the year. I have to take exams at home. Itsjust, its not going to be an accurate representation of what i am capable of, because im going to be doing it at home and there are loads of students, like myself, who have in an environment at home where you just feel like you cant really work. Itjust makes me feel, like, what was the point of this year . Ifeel like i need a refund on my 9k or something. This is me on my last day here in cambridge for the entire year. This coronavirus stuff has made it so the terms been cancelled. Its really sad. The university issued, like, a code red. Those of us who could leave were asked to leave as soon as possible. Its been four weeks, i think, since i was back at home. What the heck is going on with my hair . The exams are in september now. It is what it is. Ive not done any work in, like, three weeks. Term is cancelled in terms of theres not going to be anything in cambridge,
but we still have online lectures. Nothing, is what ive been up to. Ive done literallyjack. Work has been practically nonexistent. And whilst dealing with lockdown, black lives matter protests broke out across the uk in the summer, following the death of george floyd in the us. Black lives matter my Mental Health is not in the best shape. Im sure every black person in cambridge has a story to share about some sort of covert racism or ignorance that weve experienced and its nice, in times like this, when black lives are up for discussion, having people around you who have had the same experiences as you. Its kind of hard, being away from cambridge and not having that support system. So, yeah, it makes me miss cambridge a lot. Unis almost done, i have literally one assessment left to do and then im finished first year. Today is saturday the 6th ofjune and were on our way to our second protest for black lives matter. It wasjust, like, the best thing, the level of solidarity, the level of unity. Its been really amazing, despite whatever the medias trying to say, like, they were trying to make it out as being really violent, it was not, it was really peaceful. 0k, ive just come off the phone. Ive just had my director of studies meeting, which is like my parents evening without my parents, and i got my exam results. Somehow, i managed to bag a first in both history and in spanish. And when she told me, iwasjust, like. I dont know how, especially in this term, because its been disgracefully hard. I dont think ive actually had time to just process this year properly and sit down and i dont know. A lot of it was kind of filled with fear and obviously the whole imposter syndrome and feeling, do you really belong here . Are you really the type of person theyre looking for, were you just like a pity acceptance . All those kind of things that rush into your mind, and then come out the other side. I dont know, its a miracle. And if this is what i can achieve in my first year, best believe. Its been so long since ive seen the students, so long that a whole term has passed. I catch up with them to find out how, despite everything thats happened, they feel their first year has panned out. All right, so, you guys have had a year of being at cambridge. Is this a space where black people can flourish . It is, it is. Because i feel like ive learned a lot about myself and i have always been very aware of my blackness, very immersed in my culture, but i always say that ive never felt as black as i have here in cambridge. What do you mean by that . I mean, like, in coventry theres a lot of black people around, theres asian people around me, like, its very diverse,
but here its not diverse. Youre very aware that you are black, here, like, its something that i realised in freshers week, but that doesnt mean that you cant flourish. Your environment can make things difficult for you, but its not a barrier. You can overcome whatever you want to overcome and be who you need to be. It mightjust be a little bit more difficult, but that doesnt mean you cant do it. When we spoke to the vice chancellor stephen toope, he admitted that race was an issue that needed to be explored more. He even acknowledged stains of institutional racism. What needs to change, in light of everything thats happened over the summer . Words, especially in this day and age, are very cheap. You can Say Something and, you know, if what youre saying appeases the masses, per se, at that time, then you can kind of get away with not doing anything. And i think that, for a very long time, powerful institutions, cambridge included, have fallen
to that kind of standard. You know, theyll Say Something, and there will be no actionable plan in place, thats the next step. Its all well and good changing sentiments and feelings toward something, but if theres no practicality, if theres nothing that you apply to make black students feel, you know, more safe and more accepted in this community, then at the end of the day, you cant say weve made progress. Now, of course, as well as lockdown, weve had black lives matter protests in the wake of the death of george floyd. As black students at cambridge, how are you feeling . It made me just become disillusioned with almost everything. I think id been a person, initially, that had just trusted the system. Even if it was implicitly, and i dont mean the system and, like the government, or something big, butjust, if you stick by the rules and just
do what you need to do in the capacity that you can, then things will be fine. And it was like bit by bit, everything, no, actually, weve tidied our hair, weve spoken the way that we needed to speak, weve silenced elements of our culture, weve done this to accommodate in these spaces, and still thats not enough and still youre going to go on social media and still see people dying and still see. Just injustices everywhere and then having to confront that. I ended up feeling guilty, because why did i tolerate so much, why did i think so many things, little micro aggressions, little comments or little perspectives of like my place here in a sort of quote unquote white country, theres more to be done and theres more that i can say and speak out about without feeling like im disrupting people or making people feel uncomfortable. That was really hard to deal with and i feel like if i was in cambridge, we would have our friends and acs and everything to be able to talk about it and share how we feel, but doing that on your own. Lockdown in itself was hard, mentally. That drained a lot of people, but then on top of that, with being black and seeing your people hurting was really, really hard to deal with in lockdown. Outside of academics, i think acs will be a big part of my year this year and just being able to create just an amazing space. Covid or no covid, just because weve got such a huge intake of black freshers and ijust want them to be able to just experience what we experienced. Hello there. Part two of the weekend looks a little more promising, with more sunshine around and certainly fewer showers than we had yesterday. Now, there were frequent showers in the far north of scotland. Look at argyll and bute at the moment it looks a perfect day for messing about on the water, with just some fairweather cloud. Yesterdays showers, they have moved off of that area of low pressure into scandinavia. We are starting to see the influence of High Pressure, albeit briefly. A weather front topples in later on today. It basically means that today will be a quieter story. A few scattered showers running down through north sea coasts perhaps likely, and a few scattered showers across wales and south west england. Lighter winds, though still from a northerly direction, so not a warm source. Temperatures may well struggle, but i suspect in sheltered areas, where we get to see the best of the sunshine, we might see 15 or 16 degrees. Noticeably cooler
along that east coast. Now, as we move out of sunday afternoon, we will start to see that cloud and rain gathering from the west. So, western fringes of scotland, Northern Ireland seeing some wetter weather through the night. Clouding over ahead of it. But we could see clearer skies across eastern and south east england. Here, temperatures perhaps dipping down into low single figures in rural parts. So a chilly start here, but a bright start, pretty much. Not for long, however, clouding over quite quickly. The cloud and rain moves its way quite steadily out of Northern Ireland and scotland, down through northern england. Here, it may well linger for much of the day. And if that does so, temperatures really could struggle. Perhaps just a maximum of nine or 10 degrees. The rain not arriving into the london area until the end of the day, but a brighter story by the end of the afternoon into scotland and Northern Ireland. Now, that weather front could linger for a time on sunday. It sinks its way steadily south and east. The isobars swing around to a north easterly direction,
so the winds swing around to north easterly. Drier for scotland and Northern Ireland. Showery outbreaks of rain slipping its way across england, clearing the south east corner. And the temperatures again still struggling. Just a maximum on tuesday of 10 to 13 celsius, way down on where they should be in the middle part of october. If you want something that little bit drier and a little bit more optimistic, wednesday into thursday, High Pressure builds, quietens things down, but still not particularly warm with it. Take care. This is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. A warning from englands deputy chief medical officer that the country is at a Tipping Point in the fight against covid i9. A final night out for some ahead of an announcement on new coronavirus restrictions in england. Ministers insist the government is working closely with local leaders despite criticism of its approach. You say there is anger in the north, but the measures we are bringing in is universal and there is nothing we would do that penalises one part of the country over another. |j would do that penalises one part of the country over another. I havent
felt anger towards the government like this since i