One for the pot

The new coffee shop at Bath University students' union has caused steam to rise without even putting the kettle on. The Melting Pot had a sign depicting a cartoon figure tied to a stake in a cauldron above an open fire. Among those who became heated were Emma Howard, the union's equal opportunities officer.

The union executive agreed that it was a hideous piece of racial stereotyping and it was altered. But Bath Sponge, the union newspaper, has had mail from such characters as "the Big White Hunter," who says that the committee has "nothing better to do than cause trouble where there isn't any," and the possibly pseudonymous "Mohammed al Fayed" who invites students to "stop insulting the intelligence of the student population at their own expense". Howard insists that "the people who write in are in a privileged position. They do not suffer from much discrimination". She has yet to notice that Missionary on Toast features on the menu.