YOUR SECURITY MATTERS What would you do if you lost your laptop or phone? Accidental damage accounts
for over 70% of Endsleigh student insurance claims.
43% of students admitted to being
uncomfortable without their phone for more than 24 hours.
70
%
Source: Endsleigh claims data July 2014-2015
43
%
Source: Endsleigh Student Lifestyle Survey 2015
Protect your laptop, phone and other possessions with the No.1 student insurance provider. Visit endsleigh.co.uk/university Source: Endsleigh Student Lifestyle Survey 2015 Endsleigh Insurance Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. This can be checked on the Financial Services Register by visiting their website at www.fca.org.uk/register Endsleigh Insurance Services Limited. Company No. 856706 registered in England at Shurdington Road, Cheltenham Spa, Gloucestershire GL51 4UE.
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CO N TE N TS Hello and welcome back!
Now, if you’re as depressed as we are about returning to your cold flat with another semester of hard work to look forward to, all you’ll want is cheering up. Which is why we’re here. It’s our Feel Good issue, with many many many articles, pictures and even a colouring sheet (!) to help you on your way back to happiness. Even our cover art is inspired by adult colouring books, the new craze for destressing and harking back to when you were young and free. Sigh. If you’re keen to get involved in writing, artwork, photography or design, swing by our weekly open meetings on Mondays at 5.30pm in the GUU. I promise we’re a friendly bunch! Lucy Keown Editor-in-Chief
Editorial Team: Culture Editor - Anna Ireland News Editor - Hannah Burgess Column Editor - Amy McShane Lifestyle Editor - Kate Whitaker Cover and Graphics Editor - Rachel Bean Photography Editor - Lottie van Grieken
4&5 From the board
6&7 News - Trump: In His Own Words & News to make you smile 8&9 lifestyle - winter warmers 10&11 Let’s Talk at Glasgow uni 12&13 culture - What’s on: Early 2016 14&15 review - back catalogue: feel good films 16&17 Column - Happy mind, happy student & food sharing 18&19 Pic of the month & colour me happy CONTRIBUTORS: Lottie van Grieken, Anna Ireland, Kate Whitaker, Hannah Burgess, Ellen MacAskill, Amy McShane, Lucy Keown, Lewis Grant, Hannah West, Rachel Bean, Emma Harrison, Matthew Botez, Hannah Raymond, Annabel White, Sharon Dawson If you’d like to contribute in any way, or get in touch, please email: libraries@guu.co.uk, or check us out below; Facebook - /GYoumagazine Twitter - @g_youmagazine Instagram - @gyoumagazine Website - www.gyou.co.uk G - Yo u | J a n u a r y E d i t i o n 2 0 1 6
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Fr om the Boar d
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F RO M T H E B OAR D
LEWIS GRANT Hello and welcome back to a new semester at Glasgow University Union! We have a lot going on this month, namely Refreshers’ Week which is running from 13th - 24th January> We’ll not only have Hive returning with some extra special nights, but our committees are running their own events that week - keep an eye out on Facebook for more details when we announce them! I’m going to give you the low down on what Debates Committee do at GUU, and how you can get involved in debating. Here at the Glasgow University Union we are extremely proud of our long history of debating success. Having won the debating world championship five times and moulded speakers of the quality of Charles Kennedy, we have gained international renown for our unique training and lively events. This upcoming semester we have a packed calendar designed to cater to all your debating needs.
Speaker training is our weekly event that runs from six o’clock in the Bridie Library at GUU. Coached by the Union’s top international debaters, speaker training takes the form of lively informal activities as well as debates. Our speaker training program teaches you to be a witty, intelligent and engaging speaker giving you the skills necessary to confidently express your opinions. For those interested in competitive debating this is where we train you to take on the likes of Oxford and Harvard, but it is also a great opportunity to kick back and enjoy a VK or two by the fire. Don’t worry if you didn’t have time to make it along last semester, new members are just as welcome this term! In February the Union is also lucky enough to be playing host to the John Smith Memorial Mace, which is the Scottish debating championship. The best debaters from across the country will be battling it out for the opportunity to compete for
Scotland against the best that the world has to offer. The crown jewel in GUU debating and for me what makes the Union really unique is Parliamentary debating. A rowdy mockup of the House of Commons, five fictional political parties fight it out over the course of the year for political supremacy. From communists to extreme right wing conservatives, speakers cast aside their own political views in a battle of rhetoric that rages into the early hours of the morning. The next Parliamentary takes place on Friday the 29th of January and will as always be followed by a post-debate party featuring free yakka cocktails - so make sure you come along, if only just to watch! Parliamentary debating has been taking place for nearly as long as we have had a Union. If you only attend one debates event all year, or want to understand exactly what we are all about, then there is nothing better to give you a flavour.
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News
T RU M P : I N H I S OWN WO R DS
HANNAH BURGESS It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that Donald Trump is a bit of an unorthodox character to be the Republican frontrunner in the 2016 American Presidential campaign. For those who don’t share the growing worldwide concern, who better than Mr Trump himself to provide evidence of the beliefs, ego, morale and intellectual standpoint of the man who intends to be the most powerful man in the Western world. These are things he actually said. Yes, really. 1. When an ‘extremely credible source’ called his office to say that Barack Obama was not born in the USA, thus removing his eligibility for the post. I don’t know about you but if I had discovered this information Donald Trump would not be on my must tell list. 2. He tweeted in May 2013 “26,000 unreported sexual assaults in the military – only 238 convictions. What did these geniuses expect when they put men and women together?” There are no
words. 3. Retweeted another Twitter user who wrote “If Hilary Clinton can’t satisfy her husband what makes her think she can satisfy America?” Trump’s Twitter feed is a list of insults and accusations aimed at the woman he will in all probability face in the race to for the White House. I’d far rather hear his positives 4. “All of the women on “The Apprentice” flirted with me – consciously or unconsciously. That’s to be expected.” On behalf of women everywhere, no women would do this from choice, EVER! 5. “I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words.” An interesting approach to foreign policy. 6. “It’s freezing and snowing in New York. We need global warming.” If only this was a joke. 7. “Sorry losers and haters, but my I.Q. is one of the highest
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– and you all know it! Please don’t feel so stupid or insecure. It’s not your fault.” Modesty and compassion are qualities to be admired in a world leader. 8. “Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on.” Such a controversial comment to make in a country whose Bill of Rights promote freedom of religion. This prompted response from Hilary Clinton who said ‘This is reprehensible, prejudiced and divisive. @RealDonaldTrump, you don’t get it. This makes us less safe.’, Republican opponent Jeb Bush stated ‘Donald Trump is unhinged. His “policy” proposals are not serious.’, whilst former New York Governor George E. Pataki tweeted that Trump’s comments were ‘Idiotic, next thing we will be banning loudmouth, racist billionaires.’ Even J.K. Rowling got in on that act tweeting ‘How horrible. Voldemort was nowhere near as bad.’ She’s nailed it once again!
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N E W S TO M AK E YOU S M I LE HANNAH BURGESS Taking time to look at the news is fast becoming one of the best ways to put a dampener on your day. Our newspapers report conflicts, war and unprecedented suffering the world over. Tuning into televised news reports show the devastation recent weather has brought right here in the United Kingdom as families leaves their flooded homes with nowhere to go, their most precious possessions lost or ruined and all during supposedly during the most wonderful time of the year. So, as we enter a new year, surely it’s time to buck the trend and bring you some news stories from around the world that will bring a smile to your face. Amur the Tiger and Timur the Goat When you need something to make you smile, looking to the animal kingdom is always a good idea. We’ve seen the pictures of unlikely friendships; the elephant and the sheep, the cat and dog sharing a basket, even a cheetah and a labrador but the story of Amur and Timur, residents of a safari park in the far east of Russia, takes things to a whole new level of adorable. Timur was originally placed in Amur’s enclosure as live prey. However, the Siberian Tiger decided to befriend the goat and they’ve played and slept togother and entertained thousands ever since. Taking Twitter and Instagram by storm, you can’t fail
but smile at this unorthodox pair. Refugees join the fight against the floods The plight of refugees travelling through Europe in search of a safer and more secure life was widely reported. To say the reports of their migration into Europe received mixed press would be an understatement. However, when the country faced a threat which did not select its victims on grounds of gender, age, class or race but was simply caused by the force of mother nature, threatening homes, communities and lives, was I the only one left with a smile on my face at the sight of refugees rolling up their sleeves to help? They face unbelievable challenges of integration to name but one factor but felt they wanted to help those who had made them welcome and helped them in their challenge to make this foreign land home. It was heart-warming to see them supporting their adopted communities. Watermelon Boy Mitchell Schibeci was catapulted to stardom last week when he was caught on camera eating a watermelon, skin and all, using only his mouth, at a cricket match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Commentators of the match, and spectators alike, were amazed as the young boy knawed his way through the sizable fruit with many taking to twitter afterwards to voice
their astonishment. Later Mitchell’s father documented his son’s heroic effort, almost eating the whole fruit. All hail Apple, the iPhone 7 will be waterproof This is the news everyone who has ever had to perform the emergency rice submersion procedure with their iPhone has been waiting for. If you have managed not to drop your phone down the toilet, spilled your coffee over it or had it generally drowned by the constant Glasgow rain, give yourself a pat on the back. Some sources have even suggested that the iPhone 6 and 6s are partially waterproof as a test prior to the release of the iPhone 7. The key word in that sentence is partially. I, unfortunately, can testify that when my iPhone 6 fell face up in a puddle it was goodnight Vienna. The news seems to specialise in depression. Yet, if you start to look for it, there is a lot of good and heart-warming stuff out there. A little bit of kindness makes a difference, just as the efforts of Apple’s scientists will make all of our lives just a little bit easier. My challenge to all of you is get out there, and make your own little bit of good news. A selection box to a children’s hospital, a shift in a food bank – not a lot to give, but we can all make a difference.
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Lifestyle
WI N TE R WAR M E R S
EMMA HARRISON & HANNAH WEST Glasgow is never the warmest of places, but as we move into midwinter the days are becomingly bitingly cold, and the enticing warmth of cafes is becoming ever more tempting. To help you find the best places to take a break, whether it be for a full lunch or just a quick coffee, we have compiled a list of some of the best available, assessing location, price, and cafe quality. Waterstone’s Costa (153-157 Sauchiehall Street) Accessibility: *** Prices: *** Books and cafes are almost always a winning combination, and this Costa is no exception. Located in the basement of the flagship five floor Waterstones, just a short walk round the corner from the exit of the Buchanan Street subway station, this small but bustling cafe is the perfect place to take a break from shopping. Its placement in the middle of the room, overshadowed by the balconies of the floor above, gives the rather lovely feeling of being utterly surrounded by books - and allows customers to take a novel or two from the shelves to leaf through while they eat and drink, which is a particularly nice feature. As well as the standard range of
coffees and teas, there are a few Costa specialities - the white hot chocolate is a particularly delicious choice - and a selection of healthy, if a little pricey, juices and smoothies. For lunches, a warm toastie or panini is often ideal for a cold day in town, and there are a good range of tasty toppings. Being part of the Costa chain means that prices are not as affordable as some, but quality is guaranteed for your money - service is quick and expert, the cafe is always clean and organised, and the food and drinks are delicious. It’s often well worth using an extra pound or two of the student budget to exchange a watery filter coffee for this rich and creamy alternative. Nic’s NYC Deli (396 Byres Road) Accessibility: ***** Prices: ****
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In a departure from coffee houses, Nic’s Deli provides a taster for the American eating experience, serving a variety of choices including hot dogs, sandwiches, taco bowls and savoury pancakes. It has gained a reputation among students, however, for its less nutritious options; notably their huge selection of delicious doughnuts (including flavours such as Terry’s Chocolate Orange and Happy Hippo) and wide range of sweet crepes, offering mouth-watering toppings such as nutella, strawberries and cream. There are also a number of drinks on offer, ranging from the popular coffees and milkshakes to a few more unusual flavours, like the peanut butter hot chocolate. Overall, the cafe is ideal for students - thanks to its placement at the top of Byres Road, it is only a short stroll from the University campus, and the quick service (rarely more than 5-10 minutes) means that it is ideal for a brief hour break between lectures. The Deli also has the advantage of its long opening hours; 9am 11pm; so a late night snack, or use of their takeaway service, is never really out of the question. This, combined with the bright, quirky decor and a quiet atmosphere (the cafe manages to avoid
Lifestyle the bustling noise of most central shops) means that the Deli is the perfect place for a catch up with friends, and, at around £8 a meal per person, it’s difficult to refuse. Paperchase’s Tinderbox (185221 Buchanan Street) Accessibility: **** Prices: ** Located almost directly across from the Buchanan Street subway exit, this cafe is very easy to reach and well worth a visit. In the same vein as Waterstones, a trip to the cafe comes hand in hand with a wander around the store, which utilises its large space to fill with a stunning amount of stationary, art utensils, cards, accessories and more. The new Paperchase loyalty card also gives the customer a free coffee per week with a store purchase, making this a particularly cost-effective trip if you’re shopping for supplies for the new semester.
One of the bigger cafes on this list, Tinderbox offers half a floor of seating areas - an assorted collection of bar stools, plush sofas, cosy booths and standard tables and chairs, with a few window seats providing a great view of Buchanan Street below. Despite this size, the cafe is always bright and bustling,
and it is sometimes a challenge to find a seat, so it may be best to avoid the obvious lunch hours. There are a good selection of hot and cold drinks, but the cafe truly specialises in its wide range of fresh cakes and biscuits, which make for a delicious snack; the Nutella slices are especially nice, and a little different to the usual cafe fare. It is, however, a more expensive place to eat, and so perhaps more of a treat than a regular stop. CUP (311 Byres Road) Accessibility ***** Prices **** This one is a perfect choice for those rainy walks to and from the university, when an instant pickme-up is needed ASAP. Due to its prime location of Byres Road, this adorable cafe is a perfect place to hide away from the harsh cold of Glasgow’s winters, and it’s also an excellent excuse for eating cake when you’re really supposed to be studying. Although Cup may be small, this actually adds to the atmosphere of it being an independent coffee shop, despite the fact that it is a chain. There is a small downstairs seating area where you can drink your tea surrounded by bare brick walls, sitting on comfy sofas and listening to calming music. There is also an upstairs seating area that cannot be seen from the outside, the view outside and of the downstairs area here makes for some excellent
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people-watching opportunities. My personal favourite part of visiting this little cafe is the variety of tea to choose from; there are flavours that I didn’t even know existed, and trying them all has been a personal mission of mine this semester. This feature combined with their unique cupcake flavours makes Cup one of my top choices for a rainy day. Cottonrake Bakery (497 Great Western Road) Accessibility ***** Prices **** Cottonrake is by far my favourite place to take anyone I ever have to visit me in Glasgow, due to its wonderful location of Great Western Road, surrounded by unique and interesting shops and cafes, making for a wonderful experience of Glasgow. The most wonderful thing about this cafe in particular is that everything is freshly baked in store, a quality that proves hard to come by in an age of coffee shops being taken over by the likes of Starbucks. The authenticity of Cottonrake makes it feel homely and comfortable, a feeling that is further enhanced by the fact that all of the seating actually faces the street, so the views of Great Western are fully accessible. When it comes to the menu at Cottonrake, nothing is set in stone as the selection of fresh baking changes every day. This makes your experience of the cafe a highly interesting one, and a large amount of browsing can be done each and every time you are there. Overall it is an excellent place to go with friends, visitors or even alone simply to read or get on with some coursework.
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Societies Spotlight
LE T ’ S TAL K AT G LAS G OW UN I
LUCY KEOWN
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Societies Spotlight Sexual violence is feared by many, yet is not addressed to the level it should be - especially in higher education. Let’s Talk is a student run campaign at the University of Glasgow, made up of campaigners from many different student bodies (GU Amnesty International, Sexpression, GU Feminist Society, Isabella Elder Feminist Society, and GU Mental Wealth), with the aim of tackling this issue which is hiding in plain sight. As part of the campaign, the organisers have come up with seven measures they will be petitioning the university with, to tackle sexual violence on campus, and end it for good.
“If a university wants to keep its students, it should try to prevent traumatic incidents from recurring within its social bounds” Seven Measures: · Amend the University of Glasgow’s Student Code of Conduct to include a clause prohibiting sexual violence on campus and detailing how to report the incident as a survivor, a bystander, and an assailant · Introduce mandatory sensitivity training for all student body (GUSA, GUU, QMU, SRC) executives. · Introduce specific Sexual Violence Prevention Training for all Freshers’ Helpers. · Introduce Bystander Intervention Training for all New Students (first year, study
abroad, and transfer). · Highlight and publicise all services available within the University and the city of Glasgow through: - verbal communication in conjunction with the Bystander Intervention course - a booklet listing all services and proper reporting procedures - a designated and accessible space on the University’s website. · Launch a social media campaign that specifically targets sexual assault on campus. · Host a Service “Meet and Greet” Fair: - An event similar to Career Services’ Employers Fair, but with sexual health services. - Open to all students to openly engage in a discussion about sexual health and violence whilst empowering themselves with the knowledge about existing services. Ellen MacAskill of Let’s Talk commented; “The Let’s Talk Campaign came together as individuals and societies realised that action has to be taken at university to prevent sexual violence, and GU are not doing enough at this point. Similar campaigns have been appearing in other campuses across the world but so far this seems to be the only of its kind in Scotland. Increasing numbers of people are speaking out about sexual violence, and the less taboo there is around the topic the more we can do about it. One of the main goals of Let’s Talk as a campaign is to avoid victimblaming. Personal safety measures can be important and make people feel safer, but they are not going to end violence. Every
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time we read advice telling us not to drink too much on a date or leave a bar alone, we should see twice as many billboards saying: “respect people’s bodily autonomy and don’t rape”. In the proposed bystander intervention courses, discussion of consent would be central, and an understanding of this is the first step. The grassroots element of the campaign forces the university to recognise that this is a problem and something the student body cares about. Pragmatically, the university is a business and will only invest in welfare services if they see that it would be detrimental not to do so. If students are survivors of assault, that can hinder their education and force them to leave. If a university wants to keep its students, it should try to prevent traumatic incidents from occurring within its social bounds. The geographical location of campus is less important than the social position that all students are in. We are not asking for more lighting beside the library. We are asking, for example, that every student at a party in halls has participated in an anti-assault workshop. Violence can happen anywhere, including in intimate relationships. If any survivor or perpetrator of violence is a student at GU, then GU has a responsibility to that incident.” Sign up to the petition here: https://www.change.org/p/university-of-glasgow-please-implementthese-7-measures-to-keep-students-safe-from-sexual-violence2?recruiter=43126270&utm_ source=share_petition&utm_ medium=facebook&utm_ campaign=autopublish&utm_ term=mob-xs-share_petition-reason_msg
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Culture
WHAT ’ S O N : EAR LY 2 0 16
ANNA IRELAND In the midst of getting back-to-the grind, be it university or transitioning from a chocolate-based winter diet to vegetables, it’s good to have things to look forward to. With this in mind, we look to the month (or two) ahead to give you a few rays of sunshine. Do not fear term time, there is help at hand, whatever your taste. Album The 1975 - I Like it When you Sleep Because You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It Release: 26 February 2016
2015 was a big year for the 1975, overhauling their image with a
meticulously planned social media campaign that hinted at a breakup. Instead, this hype was utilised to release their elaborately titled new album, featuring single ‘Love Me.’ A catchy departure from their usual mellow, whimsical pop, it promises a shift from guitar-heavy sound to a funk-driven sound. Throw in a playfully ridiculous music video, and we have what could be the band’s defining album. Their upcoming tour is selling fast; catch them at the O2 Academy in November.
Throughout we see nods to the title, with choral vocals and handclapping; it could be precisely this variety that will leave fans satisfied, and mark a more stable return to the top for the group. Film It’s a promising year for films! Watch out for these in the near future… Finding Dory - June 17
Bloc Party - Hymns
Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie - July 1
Release: Jan 29 2016
Ghostbusters - July 15
The 16-year history of Bloc Party has been tumultuous, and 2013 saw their staying power perhaps jeopardised, with two members leaving the band. However, do not fear; they return with the promise of fifth album ‘Hymns,’ and new bandmates. With this comes the ‘dancier’ sound of first single ‘The Love Within’, more akin to a clubbing anthem than the indie-rock gems they are known for. However, this rejuvination could be anything but predictable: track ‘Good News’ is a typically rock offering.
Br id g e t J o n e s ’s September 16
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Baby
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Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - November 18 Fifty Shades of Black - January 29 2015 Following a host of YouTube parodies of erotic drama Fifty Shades of Grey, and more general critical commentary on its finer details, Fifty Shades of Black offers a
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varied. Experience: Glasgow Film Festival - 17-28 February
ludicrous, and hilarious, reinterpretation of the film, with Marlon Wayans as ‘Christian Black’ and Kali Hawk as Anastasia Steele. Poking holes in the ambiguity of the original, it promises to be much more gross, and much less saucy: the trailer sees the two re-create a scene where Grey bids farewell to Anastasia, and Hawk’s head gets stuck in an elevator. And, with a more raunchy trailer released, it suggests that the film could be more explicit than the original ever was; a definite one to watch for those for whom the original was just too much mystery to bear. Zoolander 2 - February 12 2016 Ben Stiller returns alongside sidekicks Owen Wilson and Will Ferrell as male model Derek Zoolander, whose dimwitted and hilarious involvement in the fashion industry saw him previously embroiled in a plan to assassinate the Prime Minister of Malaysia. Its sequel features a stellar cast including Benedict Cumberbatch, Penelope Cruz and Kristen Wiig. Someone is trying to kill the worlds most beautiful people, and Zealander is challenged with infiltrating the world of high fashion to prevent the killings and triumph against evil.
Mocking the culture we live in and the fashion we consume (we witness Justin Bieber dying mid selfie), it does so all whilst being completely ridiculous. If you enjoyed the first, then this promises to satisfy your comical taste buds. Art/Theatre/Comedy/Events Watch: Into the New @ the RCS - 18th21st January
The twelfth annual Glasgow Film Festival arrives in February, featuring a host of exciting premieres, discussions, Q&A’s and live performance. The Centre for Contemporary Arts will be the home of screenings including those focused on experimental cinema, while their Saramago Bar will feature nightly live DJs and discussion. Or, visit Kelvingrove Art Gallery to see screenings of Raiders of the Lost Ark and Silence of the Lambs (complete with live organ music) on 20 February, or catch a screening at legendary venue Barrowland Ballroom. Additionally, the Tramway will house exhibition, performance and screening This is Now: Film and Video After Punk (1978-85). Check out the full programme, available from Thursday 21 January at glasgowfilm.org/festival.
Grab yourself a day pass and get along to the Royal Conservitoire of Scotland for the annual festival of performance for graduating students of the Contemporary Performance Pracitice programme. This programme examines the role of performance in a whole manner of contexts, allowing students the creative freedom to showcase and share these skills. The 2016 festival includes a live art cabaret, a symposium, and work from nine graduating artists. Covering a huge range of issues, the performances promise to be unique, passionate and G - Yo u | J a n u a r y E d i t i o n 2 0 1 6
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Review
BAC K CATALO GU E : F E E L G O OD F I L M S MATTHEW BOTEZ
Feeling down and depressed? Are you having a bad case of post-Christmas blues? Then there is no better cure than snuggling in your bed with a cup of tea and watching an uplifting movie. However, with so many options available you’re likely to find yourself at a loss. No worries! We are here to offer you a list of the quintessential feel good films to cheer you up, which you’ll want to revisit as often as possible. While such a list can be debatable, it broadly includes movies that leave you in a happy mood, with a warm feeling of hope and optimism and restored faith in the human spirit. For the sake of variety, we’ve chosen five iconic films from different genres and time periods. So, tuck in, dim the lights, grab your popcorn and enjoy! G - Yo u | J a n u a r y E d i t i o n 2 0 1 6
Review When Harry Met Sally (1989) Arguably the best romantic comedy of all time, the brilliance of Rob Reiner’s masterpiece can hardly be described in words. Starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, it follows the complicated relationship between two college graduates in New York across 12 years, from hating each other in the beginning to becoming friends and eventually falling in love. Influencing to some extent every romcom since, the movie introduced famous concepts such as high-maintenance and low-maintenance, as well as sparking a pretty intense debate on whether men and women can simply be friends. The beautiful chemistry between the leads, insightful dialogue and images of New York in different seasons are guaranteed to make your day, all while reexamining the nature of relationships. Not to mention the incredibly funny ‘I’ll have what she’s having’ scene at the diner, which will have you laughing for hours. Finding Nemo (2003) One of the most successful animated movies, Finding Nemo became an instant classic and continued Pixar’s winning streak when released in theatres in 2003. The story of a clownfish named Marlin who embarks on a journey to find his abducted son Nemo, struck a chord with parents and children of all ages. While the film deals with heavy themes such as the loss of family and generation gap, it balances them with plenty of witty humour provided by Marlin’s overprotective and panicky character, as well as Dory’s forgetful nature; there is also adventure to keep you on the edges of your seat, as the two face plenty of dangers on their way to Sydney Harbour
to save Nemo. Marlin’s unconditional love and Nemo’s own maturing process teach us essential life lessons, while Dory’s now iconic incentive ‘Just keep swimming’, perfectly embodying the spirit of the film, will probably become your life motto. Back to the Future (1985) Nothing says feel-good escapism quite like 80s sci-fi teen movies. Chief among the genre is Robert Zemeckis’ Back to the Future in which teenager Marty McFly uses the invention of quirky scientist Doctor Emmet Brown to travel back to 1955. Chaos ensues when his mother falls in love with him and he must do everything he can to save his family and himself. The first and best film of the iconic trilogy portrays the dangers of time travelling in a straightforward and fun way, mixing charm and excitement to create a unique experience. Viewers will want to be Marty the cool, rebellious guy, played by Michael J. Fox, while laughing at Doc Brown’s gimmicks, the mismatched characters and hoping that Lorraine never ends up with Biff. If this movie doesn’t make you want to time travel and rock out to 80s music, we don’t know what will. The Blind Side (2009) Few sports dramas are as touching, inspiring and heartfelt as The Blind Side. Sandra Bullock delivers one of her best performances as Leigh Anne Tuohy, a tough but caring southern woman who decides to adopt homeless teenager Michael Oher; helping him improve his academic situation and develop his potential for football, the woman soon realizes that Michael’s presence has changed her life completely. While relying
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a bit on formula, the movie’s edge comes from Leigh Anne’s strong, acerbic personality, doubled by clever parallels between the world of sports and the real life. You will be relieved to see Michael achieve his dream after being saved from his condition of poverty and welcomed by an almost perfect family; it’s an example of success against all odds, making us believe in the power of hard work and determination and that people can perform life-changing acts of kindness. Chicago (2002) If you’re looking for a well-made modern day musical, look no further than Rob Marshall’s Oscar winning Chicago; set in the titular city, it tells the story of two murderesses – Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart – who find themselves in jail together awaiting trial in the 1920s. However, in order to escape, they need to fight for fame and thus engage in a competition to dominate the front page of the newspapers with the help of greasy lawyer Billy Flynn. Though it may seem dark at first, the movie represents a humorous take on celebrity, scandal and corruption in Chicago during the Jazz Age, where one’s life is staged for the amusement of others. Less conventional than other entries on the list, the film succeeds as an energetic and exuberant piece of spectacle, featuring incredibly catchy and memorable songs. The performances are also very impressive, particularly the interplay between showgirl Velma (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and housewife-turned-aspiring-vaudevillian Roxie (Renée Zellweger). Both deep and entertaining, it’s a movie that stays with you long after you finish it.
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HAP PY M I N D , HAP PY ST U DE N T
AMY MCSHANE The general consensus, certainly among students, is that Christmas is an exceedingly happy time of year. You can escape exams, return back to that home town you claim to hate (but secretly love) and wallow in a soft, warm haze of central heating, weird school friends and real food. You might even get some presents too, like an Asda student gift voucher (I genuinely got one), and your mum’s supply of Aldi’s finest prosecco is endless. Life seems tangible and almost normal again. Memories of West End tenement flats with averaging temperatures of below zero are gone, and you begin to feel like you can maybe, actually, possibly make it through next semester. Life is sweet! Then, the second of January hits you in the face harder than the hangover that the first of January served you up. What is life? What do I do now? What is there to live for between today and the beginning of June? Absolutely nothing, it seems, other than Hive Thursdays and Topshop’s January sales. You are now the proud owner of a new chin, far too used to actually eating three meals a day and feeling thoroughly fed up of wandering Great Western Road in the dark, feeling your way towards the uni every morning. You are quite simply... sad. Unless, of course, you are
one of those weird people who is on unsettlingly happy all the time, you should keep reading. We’ve got this. It can often seem like the least painful way to get through this dull time of year is to sleep, watch Netflix and keep eating. Endurance feels like the answer. Now, I don’t want to get all personal here, but I used to be the champion of hibernation and wishing away the winter months - first prize, every time. Thankfully, I had some sort of epiphany and realised that it is not only unhealthy, unenjoyable and unsustainable, but completely detrimental to your mental health. That leads on to my first, and perhaps most obvious piece of advice. Do something physical. If you can’t afford a gym membership like me, or you’re not part of a sports club, try walking. Every day, I walk to some sort of supermarket, even if I need only one small thing, just to give that point in my day some purpose. Take a detour to the Botanical Gardens and wander around the greenhouses with some headphones on (it’s also surprisingly warm in there). The basic act of being aware of your body in a space other than your bed, the shower and a lecture theatre is stimulating. Give yourself a basic daily routine.
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Having no ‘plan’ leaves you unsure how many hours in the day there is, especially when daylight is so short, and your productivity goes right down. Find a small amount of time to read something that isn’t on your course reading list. I find that reading something fictional that is set in a warmer/more favourable environment works incredibly well. With that in mind, make some plans for the spring and summer months. Knowing what lies ahead has a sort of ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ effect and gives you motivation. In the meantime, plan smaller things to look forward to in the coming weeks. Visit the cinema, Kelvingrove Art Gallery, a little tapas bar in Finnieston... Just make sure it’s SAAS friendly, or you’ll cause yourself even more stress. My final piece of advice would be to GO OUT. Take advantage of the fact that it’s a new semester and get sociable. Get some pre drinks organised and see all of the pals you missed over the Christmas break, then head to whatever club you’re feeling...(Hive). Buy yourself a few doubles, spray a bit of that Impulse you received from your granny for Christmas and go nuts. It gets pretty warm in Hive too, so you’ll completely forget it’s January.
F O OD S HARI NG
KATE WHITAKER According to an EU report, the UK throws away over 14 million tonnes of food waste every year and apparently 50% of that is from our households. Meanwhile, thousands of people in the UK are struggling to get enough to eat. The Trussell Trust states that over 1 million people were fed by food banks in 2015 and most of these people would have had to skip meals without them. Throwing away all this food also has a huge environmental impact. It wastes the huge amount of energy and water that goes into producing, packing and distributing food. The United Nations have said that food that goes to waste is responsible for 3.3 billion tonnes of the greenhouse gases that are omitted by the industry every year. However, students have been coming up with exciting new ways to tackle this problem. In Edinburgh, the first Disco Soup event happened in March of this year. This idea started in France in 2012 and has now spread to over 25 different countries. The concept is to collect up fruit and vegetables that would otherwise go to waste, play some funky music and make some delicious, free food in a communal setting with a festival feel. Sounds pretty fun, eh?
Always on trend, Glasgow School of Art have also got on board with the food waste movement. ThrowAwayGourmet aims to provide free meals made entirely of food that would otherwise go to waste for GSA students. The project was set up by a student with a passion for preventing food wastage and a belief in the value of communal meals. On her blog, Eleanora Jaroszynska writes that she was inspired by her travels in Europe. In Spain she realised it was a “powerful experience to be a part of a group of individuals coming together for one night to share the simple act of eating together;” a feeling she wanted to recreate at GSA. Glasgow Uni has also had its share of initiatives aimed at targeting the environmental impact of food. The Food Coop sells fortnightly veg bags from Scottish farms allowing students to buy cheap, organic, local produce without the air miles, the packaging and the chemicals. Plus, their monthly dried food orders make it easy to bulk buy everything from lentils to tahini to peanut butter, saving us money and plastic packaging. More recently, a group of students set up Food Sharing Glasgow. The aim of this group is to create a space for students and local
businesses to share food that they don’t want or can’t use with others who do and can. Second year Zoology student, Alice Clark, was inspired by the success of Food Sharing Edinburgh and wanted to bring the idea to Glasgow. The group aims to “build up good relations with local suppliers to create a self-sustaining network of food waste redistribution.” Food Sharing Edinburgh currently have nearly 2000 members and their Facebook page is full of people offering bags of potatoes, coffee beans and huge boxes of bread to other students for free. They have a team of dedicated volunteers who regularly collect and redistribute surplus food, to save it from going to landfill. The surplus food collected by Food Sharing Glasgow will be either given to food banks or advertised to students via the Facebook page (Food Sharing Glasgow) and available for collection from the Eco Hub, for free! Alice says “the success of this group relies upon the cooperation of the public, volunteers and businesses, which is no mean feat, but I am determined to give it a shot.” In a time when the news always seems to be bleak, it’s inspiring that students are using their time and creativity to create working solutions to issues like food waste.
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Pic of the Month
PICS OF THE MONTH We all need something to help us beat the winter blues. Day or night, sun or snow, what’s your winter scene?
Frosty Kelvingrove Glasgow, Edinburgh Christmas Market, Glasgow University Library (Hannah Raymond)
Les Carroz in the Alps (Annabel White). Sunrise & set in the Botanic Gardens (Lottie van Grieken & Sharon Dawson). G - Yo u | J a n u a r y E d i t i o n 2 0 1 6 Love photography? We want to hear from you! Email libraries@guu.co.uk to get involved.
COLOUR ME HAPPY Adult colouring is not only fashionable, but proven to de-stress and relax you when you need a moment to collect yourself. Give it a go with this handsome chap below - and don’t worry, feeling like a kid is all part of the fun...
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WEST END WINTER FAIR
Featuring arts, crafts, and food from local businesses at the heart of the West End. GUU DINING ROOM on JANUARY 23rd 2016 from 11am-3pm Contact Us for Stall Hire at westendfairs@gmail.com or www.facebook.com/westendfairsglasgow FREE ENTRY and each entrant will be given a raffle ticket in the hopes of winning some exclusive prizes!!!