News and Investigations

The News and Investigations Team spend anywhere between two weeks and six months researching, interviewing, and writing the very best investigations into life at UCL. The section has covered everything from the recent UCL decision to leave Stonewall to sexual harassment and commercialisation.
If you have something you believe is worth investigating or want to get a story published, contact us via email at investigations@cheesegratermagazine.org or via the anonymous submissions form.

All stories

Trouble for UCL Labour amid ‘lack of clear leadership’

Trouble for UCL Labour amid ‘lack of clear leadership’

‘Drink elsewhere at your peril’, says Union as bar prices jacked

‘Drink elsewhere at your peril’, says Union as bar prices jacked

Cruciform cleaners win pay parity after hard fight

Cruciform cleaners win pay parity after hard fight

Tory Soc suspended again

Tory Soc suspended again

Down Your Union: New Sabbs in Focus

Down Your Union: New Sabbs in Focus

Kiss goodbye to the Main Quad until 2026, says UCL

Kiss goodbye to the Main Quad until 2026, says UCL

No free speech for UCL’s outsourced workforce

No free speech for UCL’s outsourced workforce

Access denied: UCL fails disabled student on graduation day

Access denied: UCL fails disabled student on graduation day

KCL and SOAS sack new sabbs over support for Palestine

KCL and SOAS sack new sabbs over support for Palestine

Did you know you have rights? The Tenant Fees Act 2019 says you do!

Did you know you have rights? The Tenant Fees Act 2019 says you do!

UCL set to evict Pro-Palestine encampment

UCL set to evict Pro-Palestine encampment

Cheese Grater Journalist Makes Sabb Cry In Meeting

Cheese Grater Journalist Makes Sabb Cry In Meeting

‘This is Not Business as Usual’: UCL Stands for Justice Escalate Protests as University Fails to Meet Demands

‘This is Not Business as Usual’: UCL Stands for Justice Escalate Protests as University Fails to Meet Demands

Rats, Floods, ‘Fermented Pineapple Juice’: the Trials and Tribulations of UCL Estates

Rats, Floods, ‘Fermented Pineapple Juice’: the Trials and Tribulations of UCL Estates

A ‘Culture of Overwork and Abuse’: Years after the first Complaints, the Mistreatment of Post Graduate Teacher Assistants continues

A ‘Culture of Overwork and Abuse’: Years after the first Complaints, the Mistreatment of Post Graduate Teacher Assistants continues

Life in the Encampment

Life in the Encampment

‘I am happy to accept further training is needed’: UCL ‘Report + Support’ and their self-admitted negligence

‘I am happy to accept further training is needed’: UCL ‘Report + Support’ and their self-admitted negligence

The Jeremy Bentham Room Occupation: Highlighting UCL’s role in the Suppression of the Palestinian People

The Jeremy Bentham Room Occupation: Highlighting UCL’s role in the Suppression of the Palestinian People

The Bleak Reality of UCL History Department’s Redundancy Crisis

The Bleak Reality of UCL History Department’s Redundancy Crisis

The Provost’s Record on LGBTQ+ Support Sinks to a New Low

The Provost’s Record on LGBTQ+ Support Sinks to a New Low

Unfair Gordon Square: The Problems with Accessibility at UCL

Unfair Gordon Square: The Problems with Accessibility at UCL

‘Union Funding Barely Keeps Us Afloat’: UCL Water Polo and the SU

‘Union Funding Barely Keeps Us Afloat’: UCL Water Polo and the SU

Inside the SU Deep State

Inside the SU Deep State

Case closed: A Testimony to the Failure of UCL ‘Report + Support’

Case closed: A Testimony to the Failure of UCL ‘Report + Support’

TERF out Transphobia: The IOE and “Academic Freedom”

TERF out Transphobia: The IOE and “Academic Freedom”

University College Hospital and the Met Police Fail to “Treat Homeless People Like Human Beings”

University College Hospital and the Met Police Fail to “Treat Homeless People Like Human Beings”

‘Too Lazy to be Energetic’: An Honest Guide to the SU

‘Too Lazy to be Energetic’: An Honest Guide to the SU

UCL v. Security Staff: Echoes of Exploitation Ignored by Student Apathy

UCL v. Security Staff: Echoes of Exploitation Ignored by Student Apathy

2000 Yen, a Watch, and a Few Laptops: Unlocking the Secrets of UCL’s ‘Lacklustre’ Accommodation Security

2000 Yen, a Watch, and a Few Laptops: Unlocking the Secrets of UCL’s ‘Lacklustre’ Accommodation Security

“Complicity in Genocide”: Students Call for UCL’s Support of Gaza

“Complicity in Genocide”: Students Call for UCL’s Support of Gaza

“Painting the Town Orange”: Just Stop Oil, UCL and Fossil Fuel Investment

“Painting the Town Orange”: Just Stop Oil, UCL and Fossil Fuel Investment

Rental Roulette: UCL’s Rising Prices and the Student Accommodation Crisis

Rental Roulette: UCL’s Rising Prices and the Student Accommodation Crisis

The Aftermath of UCL’s Decision to Reject Stonewall

The Aftermath of UCL’s Decision to Reject Stonewall

Exploitation and Inequality: The Plight of UCL’s Outsourced Security Staff

Exploitation and Inequality: The Plight of UCL’s Outsourced Security Staff

Nightmare at Gower Street! How Negligence and Administration Errors Pushed One Student to the Brink

Nightmare at Gower Street! How Negligence and Administration Errors Pushed One Student to the Brink

Cost of Greed Crisis: UCU’s Persisting Strike Actionucl

Cost of Greed Crisis: UCU’s Persisting Strike Actionucl

InEffective UnAltruism: The Problem with UCL’s Effective Altruism Society

InEffective UnAltruism: The Problem with UCL’s Effective Altruism Society

Umair Mehmood, The Underdog Story: How QR Codes Led to Welfare Wednesdays

Umair Mehmood, The Underdog Story: How QR Codes Led to Welfare Wednesdays

Chun Buckets Everywhere: How Initiation Ceremonies Ruin the Freshers Experience

Chun Buckets Everywhere: How Initiation Ceremonies Ruin the Freshers Experience

One Pending Street: Communication Failures Worsen Accommodation Delays at UCL East

One Pending Street: Communication Failures Worsen Accommodation Delays at UCL East

The Bartlett: Architects of Bullying & Intimidation

The Bartlett: Architects of Bullying & Intimidation

Open Season on The Student Centre: The Lack of Security & Support at UCL

Open Season on The Student Centre: The Lack of Security & Support at UCL

The Story of How Rape Went Unpunished At UCL

The Story of How Rape Went Unpunished At UCL

UCL’s Response to Sexual Misconduct Remains Riddled with Loopholes

UCL’s Response to Sexual Misconduct Remains Riddled with Loopholes

UCL East: Flowery Promises Conceal Costly Commercialisation

UCL East: Flowery Promises Conceal Costly Commercialisation

Violated, Harassed, Ignored: Abuse in Halls by UCL Security Guards

Violated, Harassed, Ignored: Abuse in Halls by UCL Security Guards

The Story Behind UCL’s Rejection of Stonewall

The Story Behind UCL’s Rejection of Stonewall

No Report, No Support: How UCL Fails Victims of Racism

No Report, No Support: How UCL Fails Victims of Racism

Student solidarity, or lack thereof? A guide to SU politics

Student solidarity, or lack thereof? A guide to SU politics

The Past, Present and Future of Strike Action

The Past, Present and Future of Strike Action

Race To The Bottom: UCL’s Commercialisation Comes At A Cost

Race To The Bottom: UCL’s Commercialisation Comes At A Cost

The Cheese Grater Interviews Dr Michael Spence

The Cheese Grater Interviews Dr Michael Spence

UCL’s Role in Human Rights Abuses in the Middle East

UCL’s Role in Human Rights Abuses in the Middle East

Student Support Whilst Studying Abroad: Is UCL Doing Enough?

Student Support Whilst Studying Abroad: Is UCL Doing Enough?

Academia and air travel: how sustainable is UCL?

Academia and air travel: how sustainable is UCL?

Leaked recording highlights UCL’s disability discrimination problem

Leaked recording highlights UCL’s disability discrimination problem

How Effective was UCL’s UberEats Voucher Programme?

How Effective was UCL’s UberEats Voucher Programme?

Workers demand furlough after being compelled to work in non-essential buildings at UCL

Workers demand furlough after being compelled to work in non-essential buildings at UCL

University of London rent strikers voice their concerns 

University of London rent strikers voice their concerns 

Decolonising the divided: how anti-racist is UCL?

Decolonising the divided: how anti-racist is UCL?

The ethics behind the endowment: UCL’s relationship with the Sackler Trust

The ethics behind the endowment: UCL’s relationship with the Sackler Trust

Module mayhem marks the start of another academic year

Module mayhem marks the start of another academic year

Victory for University of London workers after years of protests

Victory for University of London workers after years of protests

Why we need the 93% Club at UCL

Why we need the 93% Club at UCL

The ‘high risk’ of working in UCL Halls of Residence during the spread of COVID-19

The ‘high risk’ of working in UCL Halls of Residence during the spread of COVID-19

“If it weren’t for my parents, I would have dropped out.” Deaf first year student left with little support from UCL

“If it weren’t for my parents, I would have dropped out.” Deaf first year student left with little support from UCL

UCL Cares? Disabled Students’ Network report reveals bleak treatment of  students

UCL Cares? Disabled Students’ Network report reveals bleak treatment of students

Open Letter From the Disabled Students’ Network

Open Letter From the Disabled Students’ Network

What exactly is the Not Cool Club? In conversation with the club’s president

What exactly is the Not Cool Club? In conversation with the club’s president

Administrative Globetrotting

Administrative Globetrotting

UCL Has Lost The Goodwill of Its Staff

UCL Has Lost The Goodwill of Its Staff

UCU Academics Strike Explained

UCU Academics Strike Explained

The burden of Late Summer Assessments on students

The burden of Late Summer Assessments on students

“The risk of internalising your own inferiority”: In conversation with two black female academics at UCL

“The risk of internalising your own inferiority”: In conversation with two black female academics at UCL

Strikes to end outsourcing of UCL cleaners, porters, and security workers

Strikes to end outsourcing of UCL cleaners, porters, and security workers

UCL’s ambiguous approach to Disabled Students’ Allowance

UCL’s ambiguous approach to Disabled Students’ Allowance

Students with disabilities excluded from UCL libraries

Students with disabilities excluded from UCL libraries

Will the Eugenics Inquiry learn from past mistakes?

Will the Eugenics Inquiry learn from past mistakes?

UCLove plagued by suicide threats

UCLove plagued by suicide threats

Academics against outsourcing boycott Senate House

Academics against outsourcing boycott Senate House

Election balls

Election balls

Union Council bans iPads for sabbatical elections

Union Council bans iPads for sabbatical elections

A brief history of Eugenics

A brief history of Eugenics

Academics oppose GRA reform

Academics oppose GRA reform

UCL shifts blame for unpaid security staff

UCL shifts blame for unpaid security staff

UCL may adopt IHRA definition rejected by Students’ Union

UCL may adopt IHRA definition rejected by Students’ Union

Has scrapping hardship bursary disadvantaged UCL’s worst-off students?

Has scrapping hardship bursary disadvantaged UCL’s worst-off students?

UCL shirks responsibility for internship from hell

UCL shirks responsibility for internship from hell

Homophobia and transphobia at Glittoris

Homophobia and transphobia at Glittoris

Socialist Workers Party secretly run student society

Socialist Workers Party secretly run student society

Why is UCL’s WiFi so bad?

Why is UCL’s WiFi so bad?

Why are lectures being held at the Royal National Hotel?

Why are lectures being held at the Royal National Hotel?

UCL blames computer glitch for degree certificate blunder

UCL blames computer glitch for degree certificate blunder

Low-paid Senate House workers hung out to dry

Low-paid Senate House workers hung out to dry

Democracy Officer wants lower turnout threshold for union meetings

Democracy Officer wants lower turnout threshold for union meetings

Keeping it casual: UCL outsource temporary staff to Unitemps

Keeping it casual: UCL outsource temporary staff to Unitemps

Inside the Panopticon: UCL surveillance creates a hostile environment for Tier 4 students

Inside the Panopticon: UCL surveillance creates a hostile environment for Tier 4 students

Exams at the ExCel: Where were all the examiners this year?

Exams at the ExCel: Where were all the examiners this year?

Inheriting Galton: The people working to make UCL less racist

Inheriting Galton: The people working to make UCL less racist

Seven Things We Learned from UCL Spin Doctor’s Crazy Rant That Got Him Fired

Seven Things We Learned from UCL Spin Doctor’s Crazy Rant That Got Him Fired

Here’s How Many Societies Opted-Out of The Union’s Shambolic Online Elections

Here’s How Many Societies Opted-Out of The Union’s Shambolic Online Elections

We Talked To Striking Lecturers Standing In The Cold

We Talked To Striking Lecturers Standing In The Cold

How UCL Risked The Immigration Status of Vice Wardens For Years

How UCL Risked The Immigration Status of Vice Wardens For Years

Voting shambles

Voting shambles

The Fight For The Heart of UCL

The Fight For The Heart of UCL

Second Time’s The Charm For Ex-IDF Speaker

Second Time’s The Charm For Ex-IDF Speaker

Online society elections will now be opt-out

Online society elections will now be opt-out

iPad debate heats up first successful General Assembly in four years

iPad debate heats up first successful General Assembly in four years

Here Are Five Shocking Sexist & Racist Tweets By UCL Professor Who Hosted Eugenics Conference

Here Are Five Shocking Sexist & Racist Tweets By UCL Professor Who Hosted Eugenics Conference

Daily Mail sensationalises UCL fundraising

Daily Mail sensationalises UCL fundraising

Exorbitant student accomodation at UCL East

Exorbitant student accomodation at UCL East

Why did only 160 students turn up to that much-hyped General Assembly?

Why did only 160 students turn up to that much-hyped General Assembly?

“Zero Tolerance is just a marketing scheme”: Union hypocrisy fails sexual assault victims

“Zero Tolerance is just a marketing scheme”: Union hypocrisy fails sexual assault victims

One Man Protest for Anti-Zionist Speakers

One Man Protest for Anti-Zionist Speakers

Geography Department sorry for sexist PowerPoint slide

Geography Department sorry for sexist PowerPoint slide

Why exactly did UCLU need a rebrand?

Why exactly did UCLU need a rebrand?

Inquiry finds UCL should have stopped its star-scientist killing patients

Inquiry finds UCL should have stopped its star-scientist killing patients

Why UCL’s NUS referendum was a sham

Why UCL’s NUS referendum was a sham

Sheikh It Off: Inside UCL’s Decision To Leave Qatar

Sheikh It Off: Inside UCL’s Decision To Leave Qatar

Here’s how much UCL made in library fines last year

Here’s how much UCL made in library fines last year

Don’t know what UCL East is? Here’s An Explainer

Don’t know what UCL East is? Here’s An Explainer

Breaking News: No Bad News About Bloomsbury

Breaking News: No Bad News About Bloomsbury

Only 22% of UCL’s Highest Earners Are Women

Only 22% of UCL’s Highest Earners Are Women

The Inside Story of Cut the Rent This Year

The Inside Story of Cut the Rent This Year

Union 15p Card Charge Killed Off

Union 15p Card Charge Killed Off

NUS referendum scheduled for October

NUS referendum scheduled for October

The indomitable ISoc election machine

The indomitable ISoc election machine

Exam timetable delayed, approximately no-one surprised

Exam timetable delayed, approximately no-one surprised

UCLU attempt to clean house

UCLU attempt to clean house

The tragic story of how UCL fails victims of sexual assault

The tragic story of how UCL fails victims of sexual assault

Zero hours, agency workers and rodents: investigation reveals Sodexo staff concerns

Zero hours, agency workers and rodents: investigation reveals Sodexo staff concerns

Jurassic Arth: Dinosaur Provost backpedals on fossil fuel divestment

Jurassic Arth: Dinosaur Provost backpedals on fossil fuel divestment

NSS: No Student Say

NSS: No Student Say

UCL spend millions patching up failing facilities to accommodate rising student numbers

UCL spend millions patching up failing facilities to accommodate rising student numbers

Senior Academics Revolt Against Management

Senior Academics Revolt Against Management

Teaching on the cheap: UCL’s exploitation of teaching assistants revealed

Teaching on the cheap: UCL’s exploitation of teaching assistants revealed

Bloomsbury Theatre Updates

Bloomsbury Theatre Updates

UCL, I Just Need Some Space

UCL, I Just Need Some Space

UCL cuts bursaries, loans to make up the shortfall

UCL cuts bursaries, loans to make up the shortfall

Living the High Life: College’s unaccountable pay and perks criticised.

Living the High Life: College’s unaccountable pay and perks criticised.

The Dark Knight Rises

The Dark Knight Rises

Spotlight on… Rex Knight

Spotlight on… Rex Knight

Declining Student Experience Threatens to Hit UCL Where it Hurts – in the Wallet

Declining Student Experience Threatens to Hit UCL Where it Hurts – in the Wallet

Final Curtain for the Bloomsbury Theatre?

Final Curtain for the Bloomsbury Theatre?

Eugenics heading for a eulogy

Eugenics heading for a eulogy

North Korean sympathiser on UCL’s academic board?

North Korean sympathiser on UCL’s academic board?

Violence between police and protestors over Senate House occupation

Violence between police and protestors over Senate House occupation

Violent Arrest in ULU

Violent Arrest in ULU

Interview with the Provost Malcolm Grant

Interview with the Provost Malcolm Grant

ULU to close but Chessum resolute: “This is not the end”

ULU to close but Chessum resolute: “This is not the end”

Wolves at the Door for ULU

Wolves at the Door for ULU

UCL Council Treasurer Sits on Costa Coffee Board

UCL Council Treasurer Sits on Costa Coffee Board

Misogynist Runs for UCLU Women’s Officer

Misogynist Runs for UCLU Women’s Officer

Hey, Big Spender!: new provost’s expensive tastes

Hey, Big Spender!: new provost’s expensive tastes

RIP Pi Newspaper (2007-2012)

UCL Confessions’ Dark Side

UCL Confessions’ Dark Side

“Fuck off, or you are going to have a war on your hands”

“Fuck off, or you are going to have a war on your hands”

Marauding on Oxford Street

Marauding on Oxford Street

Careers Fair Disrupted by Anti-Arms Trade Activists

Careers Fair Disrupted by Anti-Arms Trade Activists

Why Were Newham Complaints Not Heard for Eleven Days?

Why Were Newham Complaints Not Heard for Eleven Days?

Referenda Close

Referenda Close

Censor This

Censor This