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Beth Ranasinghe

Student unions could face fines over free speech breaches

Under the new legislation, new freedom of speech and academic duties would be placed on universities and, for the first time, on student unions. Individuals would be granted a right to seek compensation through the courts if the freedom of speech duties of an institution or student union had been breached.

UK government plans to cut university funding for creative subjects

"The cut will affect all students, but particularly those from less privileged backgrounds who may rely on local, less well funded institutions that cannot divert funds from elsewhere."

Review: “The Arnolfini Portrait” by Tamsyn Chandler

"The Arnolfini Portrait was an intricate, sophisticated project with a controlled yet bold execution. Every element of sound was carefully considered, and I took great satisfaction in being guided along Jean’s journey through the various mediums of sound." Beth Ranasinghe reviews the audio production of "The Arnolfini Portrait" by The Industry Magazine Podcast.

All kinds of vulnerable: reflections on the past year

While the worst some could imagine was a life without pubs, the worst I could imagine was the loss of my three closest family...

Antibiotic resistance driven by host immunity and rapid evolution

The study reports that rapid bacterial evolution interacts with the host's immunity to shape both the rise, and fall, of resistance during infection.

Review: Lil Nas X’s ‘MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)’

"In his adolescence, the Church told Montero that being gay would send him straight to Hell – so the singer reckoned, why not get into his thigh-high stilettos and slide down there on his own terms?" Beth Ranasinghe dives deep into Lil Nas X's recent single "MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)".

Research finds pregnant women at high risk from COVID-19

The researchers aimed to understand the effects of COVID-19 in pregnancy by amassing robust data on pregnant women with and without a diagnosis of COVID-19. This was a vital step for a number of reasons: to ensure that families understand the risks involved, mothers and babies receive the best possible care, and so that health resources, such as vaccines may be appropriately allocated. Until the release of this paper, the quality of information available has been limited.

Everyone’s Invited: Oxford University mentioned 57 times

CW: Sexual assualt and rape More than 80 UK universities have been named on Everyone’s Invited ‘rape culture’ website where students have been reporting accounts...

Checkmate or blunder? Adapting “The Queen’s Gambit” for the musical stage

"To adapt such a complex series into a musical would be to severely undermine the weight of each of these topics and in turn, the production would do no justice to the character of Beth Harmon and the communities she represents." Beth Ranasinghe considers the obstacles in the path of adapting the hit Netflix show for the musical stage.