The Leopard Issue 15 (Summer 2013)

Summer 2013 Issue 015 Free

Web: www.theleopard.co.uk E-mail: leopardnewspaper@gmail.com Twitter: @leopardnews

RHB Under Restoration Plans

CONTENTS NEWS

ULU CLOSURE F E M I N I S M ONLINENETWORK COMMENT

TONY BLAIR ALIENS & R E L I G I O N GRADUATION LIFESTYLE & CULTURE

F A S H I O N C O O K E RY INTERNSHIPS FEATURES

By Courtney Greatrex

In the largest renewal to Goldsmiths in 50 years, the iconic Richard Hoggart Building is getting ready to see a massive restoration project that will last all summer.

The six-month initiative comes as the first instalment of works as part of a 20-year ‘master’ plan that aims to transform the Goldsmiths

campus and surroundings by 2023.

With a total cost of £1.4m, the works aim to transform the current car park at the forefront of

the building into a pedestrian-only social area with improved access and a space for outdoor performances and activities. Additionally,

the entrance into the building will be expanded into an open-plan area for students and staff alike to meet. ...(continued on page 3)

University of London Union threatened with closure in 2014

By Dean Courtney

University of London’s management committee have voted in favour of shutting down the University’s Student Union at the end of the 2013/14 academic year.

The announcement, which came on May 2nd, has triggered a furious response from the ULU president, Michael Chessum, who branded the decision ‘illegiti mate’.

Defending the decision, Paul Webley, University of London’s deputy vicechancellor and chair of the review group, said: “Our view is that ULU made sense in the 1950s, when there were 30 colleges and medical

schools. Most of them had under 500 students, and the total population was 25,000.

“Now you’ve got a number of institutions that are the size of universities themselves, such as UCL [University College London], Queen Mary, King’s, which each have massive student unions. The student population is quite different; the student experience is quite different. What you see, when you look at that, is the role of a federal students union is one that isn’t needed any more.” ...(continued on page 3).

S T U D E N T ASSEMBLIES U K I P FILM PREMIER SPORT

ALEXFERGUSON RUGBYSENDOFF ROUND UP MUSIC

BENICASSIM SOUND TRACKS PHOTOGRAPHER’S PAGE

BLACK & WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY

THE LEOPARD SUMMER 2013

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NEWS

A Letter from a Prospective Student picture by InsEyedout; Flickr.com

As a prospective Goldsmiths student, I’m filled with a strange mixture of terror and excitement.

They’ve come together and created something quite delicious and I feel nauseous and giddy in equal measures.

I’m dizzy with anticipation about the people I’ll meet and the University itself, with its heady notoriety for all things creative.

London, too, and the ups and downs of living in a city of ten million people. On the one hand there are the things to see and do, the places to go, the wonderfully diverse multiculturalism, and on the other there’s the tube during rush hour with its ocean of stern, joyless faces.

If you see a stylistically redundant, bright-eyed, shaggy-haired, naïve looking fellow standing on the wrong side of the escalator, please don’t be too harsh, as all I ever seem to remember about London is getting shoved to the side on the escalator.

But I’ll be alright – don’t worry about me. My intention is to use my bicycle as much as I can. Learn a

selection of routes and stick to them wherever possible. Get myself some bright yellow stripes and a helmet and a bell. Try my best to stay away from steamrollers.

The actual nitty-gritty, the work, I’m approaching with as much seriousness as I dare. I’ve been collecting together my reading list and making important decisions about stationeries. I’ve even started learning about my own learning.

My ‘attribution style’, my ‘metacognitive awareness’ and my ‘selfefficacy’. I’m becoming a nerd, basically, but without the brains.

When term begins I’m determined to become the class Fonz, the quiet, cool one in the corner with all the right answers and the effortlessly brilliant grades, but in reality I’ll probably end up being the annoying one with the stupid comments, testing the teacher’s patience, a roll of the eyes and a sigh whenever my hand goes up. But whatever happens, I can’t bloody wait.

The Leopard est.2010

News Editor: Dean Courtney

Stories for the breakfast table

News London Student comes to the end of a tumultuous year

News Degree show fever

A highly controversial figure throughout this year has been Jen Izaakson, soon to be former editor of London Student.

As previously reported in The Leopard, the editor attacked Goldsmiths several times at the helm of the paper. Later, the election results for the 2013/14 editor were withheld, causing further uproar.

Finally in April, Izaakson narrowly escaped being axed from her position following a vote of no confidence against her. With the news that the University of London Union has now been threatened with closure, it is now uncertain whether the publication will continue after the next academic year.

Here’s hoping that the London Student can be returned to its key place in London student life, rather than merely being marred in its own controversies, before it really is too late.

Adam Morby

Editors-in-Chief: Nindya Atmodipoero Alice Yehia

Features Editor: Bartholomew Foley

Layout: Sophie Hardcastle,Ted Low & Will Course

Comment & Opinion Editors: Radu Istrate Michael Lovelock

Leopard Logo: Emily Harthern

Lifestyle & Culture Editors: Charlie Brinkhurst Cuff Grace Drayton

Interested in becoming a contributor in any area of The Leopard?

E-mail: leopardnewspaper@ gmail.com

Music Editor: Josh Hobson Gary Spencer

0207 71 72 220

Sports Editor: Oliver Bellamy

THELEOPARD, Dixon Road New Cross SE14 6NW

News in Brief:

Photography Editor: Camilo Fernandez

Proof reader Gamel Oki

The Leopard is a publication printed on mattwest, so after you have finished with it please pass it on so others can read it or take care to recycle or re-use it. Save those trees, reduce those rubbish dumps and be kinder to the environment!

By Dean Courtney

It’s that time of the year again for Goldsmiths’ finest to show off to the world. Most events will be happening on campus, while this year, the BA Design degree show is heading to the Old Truman Brewery between May 31st and June 3rd. For further details, log on to gold.ac.uk/degree-shows.

Following intervention from the SU President, Samson Osun, Halal sandwiches are now included in the Meal Deal.

“The meal deal is crucial for students saving money and this crucial opportunity should also be extended to all of our students,” said Osun. “It is important that all students feel comfortable speaking up about these things as it is very important.”

News The boring, but very necessary bit Just before I dive into 4 months worth of hangovers and sunburn, I’ll attempt one final act of kindness.

Even if you intend never to step foot in the place again, it may be worth knowing that the library will start closing at midnight from June 14th.

For those of you descending on round the world trips to rediscover your inner chi, better best get back by September 23rd for the start of term, eh? Fear not, teaching doesn’t start until the 30th, so that’s a solid week of trying to blag free stuff at the Fresher’s Fare first.

For those of you not coming back, we salute you. All the very best.

Feminism: A Revival?

Charlie Brinkhurst Cuff

The idea that feminism is experiencing resurgence has been featured prominently in the news in the past few weeks; mainly, it seems, in response to the misogynist culture that has been re-exposed. Cases like that of Tia Sharp, and the Cleveland kidnappings highlight the need for feminism in our society.

Bringing it home, although it does not seem necessary to wax on about the infamous ‘Uni Lad’ culture, as it seems that the negativity surrounding that branch of the internet merely spurs it on, the idea that exposing both young women and men to feminism can help counteract its influence is perfectly legitimate.

Feminism, and the ideologies that surround it, is necessary for the social development of both the sexes.

For too long outdated notions have been grounding elements of society in the past.

However, the idea that we are experiencing a ‘great feminist revival’, as Joan Smith put it in her latest article in The Guardian, is debateable. A feminist revival should be something that is rooted in national consciousness, not just in a few academics writing articles about it for one of the few prominent liberal papers in the UK, or ‘100,000 signatures’ to get rid of Page 3. Although Smith may wish it were true, it could be argued

that the only reason why it appears that feminism is experiencing a ‘revival’, is because those with access to the media have decided it is. Similar articles on revival also appeared in The Guardian back in 2011 and 2012.

In the meantime, women still are stymied in ideologies that leave them bereft in the world of men.

Hopefully there will always be those who are aware of the power that equality will bring, and will fight for the rights of women – but in many ways it seems that a ‘feminist revival’ is still far from being created.

SUMMER 2013 THE LEOPARD

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NEWS Goldsmiths Moves to the Cloud

By Courtney Greatrex

Goldsmiths’ online network, Eduroam has recently signed a deal with Microsoft to give the University faster and more secure access to data.

On the 21st of May, Microsoft signed an agreement at Goldsmiths with Janet, the organisation that runs Goldsmiths’ online roaming network, Eduroam.

The deal comes as a new strategic partnership between the two organisations that will connect Microsoft Windows Azure, Microsoft’s Cloud network to Eduroam.

RHB Under Restoration Plans Some key objectives of the restoration works will include restoring the period features and character of the building and adding a modern touch. Along with the entrance being opened up to its original height, featuring a glass bridge connecting first floor corridors, high tech glass arches will be installed between the hallway and Great Hall.

Goldsmiths Warden, Patrick Loughrey believes that the improvements to campus will not only benefit students, but the local community too. He said: “We are proud to be in New Cross and keen to reach out to the community in inspiring and exciting ways.”

Student Union President, Samson Osun, who played a vital role in the development of the project is also

optimistic about the plans. He said: “It will give RHB a more modern look and will attract students to the university.”

The RHB is the epicenter of Goldsmiths as it is today. The building has a history dating back more than 160 years, and is named after a former head of the college and a key academic in the field of sociology.

Internal works to the building he works will take place from June and aim to be completed in August this year.

Other projects taking place this summer: • A new coffee bar in the RHB refectory plus re-landscaping of the courtyard outside

(continued from front page) • A new coffee bar and social learning space in the ground floor of the Rutherford Building (this will include a newly fitted out ATC and classroom) • Refurbishment of the 2nd floor of the Rutherford Building • 286 New Cross Road - new recording studios for Music • Refurbishment of Lockwood Building (certain areas) for Design • Repairs and redecorations to Deptford Town Hall • Redecorations to Dean House • Improvements to the Ian Gulland Lecture Theatre and other teaching rooms • New Heating pipework along Whitehead Roadway • Improved heating controls to a number of College Buildings

Eduroam, which is short for Education Roaming is the secure, worldwide roaming access service developed for the international research and education community. It allows students, researchers and staff to easily obtain Internet connectivity across campus and when visiting institutions.

The 18 million Eduroam users will benefit from Windows Azure, Microsoft’s cloud computing network through an improved level of access to infrastructure such as Virtual Learning

University of London union threatened with closure in 2014 ¬ULU, said: “This decision is totally illegitimate and will have a majorly negative impact on student life and representation in London: no student sat on the review panel, no student got a vote on the decision, and student responses have been ignored or brushed aside throughout. It’s not that we won’t go down without a fight – we simply won’t go down.

“The conclusions of the report don’t really fit the evidence that was given to it. hat’s happened is that the review group has acted as cover for the university doing what some people in the university probably wanted to do all along, which is to steal our building, turn it into what they hope will be a profitable student services centre, and abolish the democratic element of the student union.”

The union is funded by subscriptions from the university’s constituent colleges totalling about £800,000 a year, from which it pays rent to the university for occupying its Malet Street offices.

“It’s one of the most iconic buildings of student unionism in London,” said Chessum, standing outside the redbrick building, at the other end of the street

from the university’s forbidding Senate House. “It’s where all the student demos start. It’s been a fixture of where students hang out in Bloomsbury for 50 years.”

Criticisms have also been voiced in a joint letter to the Guardian from prominent London politicians and Assembly members such as Ken Livingston and Diane Abbott. “Over the last few years, ULU has played a key role in the student movement, acting as a focal point for anti-cuts and workers’ rights campaigns.

“These moves come as the culmination of a review on which no student was invited to sit. If approved, this would strip ULU of its building and resources and force its representative functions into an undefined and unresourced new structure. In a climate of privatisation and cuts, it would set a dangerous precedent for university managers to attack and undermine democratic union structures.”

The proposed shut down of ULU will be debated at the time of going to press. If passed, the new London-wide student representative body, matching similar NUS proposals, could be in place in a little over a year.

Environments (VLE), websites and research projects.

Goldsmiths’ IT services Director, Basem El-Haddadeh, signed up the University to Microsoft Office 360 at the beginning of this academic year, and was key in pushing for the Microsoft and Janet deal. He said the fact that Janet and Microsoft have already agreed terms and conditions for the use of Office 365 will make it easier for universities to start using it.

He said: “We’re really pleased with the roll-out at Goldsmiths and our staff and students are already enjoying using the new system. I’m looking forward to the benefits the strategic alliance can bring.”

Connecting the networks privately will also improve Goldsmiths online security through eliminating the need to transfer data over the public internet. This enables a high bandwidth connection for students and staff to use Windows Azure which is managed, ensuring high-speed delivery of data.

(continued from the front page)

SUMMER 2013 THE LEOPARD

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COMMENT & OPINION

To the Class of 2013...

By Aashti Bawa

By Aashti Bawa

Devils Advocate:

Leaving home after ‘down-time’ (A.K.A. Vacations) has always been easy for me. Yes, I’ll usually feel a tinge of homesickness, eventually, but knowing that I was coming back to university life made leaving the nest easier. But leaving home after this winter break, seemed to be a mission. The tears were in full flow, and I was ready to latch on to anything and everything to prevent my departure. At the time, I didn’t understand why I was finding it so hard, but soon enough I realized that my childish tantrums arose from the fact that I wasn’t ready to face my final term. I wasn’t ready for the questions that were about to be asked: What are yourplans for after?

Did you find a job yet? Have you even applied for a job? Are you going to go back home to live with the parents after this? I wasn’t ready to think about my possible future. I didn’t like the uncertainty of what was to come. The end was in sight, and all I could think of was Graduation, getting a job, and havingto ‘Grow Up’. Out of all of those, growing up seemed to be the hardest. All the nights spent dancing to cheesy pop music at Club Sandwich, of the sleep deprivedall nighters when finals were approaching, of the alcohol filled all nighters when finals were over, and all the time spent trying to find a group of people you fit in with, they were all coming to an end.

It was the end of an era, and as sad as it made me to say this, it was time

to become an ‘Adult’. Having never written an article for The Leopard in all my years at Goldsmiths, I realized this was it: It was time for me to make my final contribution to my fellow students. It was time for me to say my thanks to all my teachers, friends, and colleagues. It was time for me to convey my parting words and congratulate the Class of 2013. (I apologize in advance for the cheesy words that follow.)

and his government are responsible for a shift in the green agenda both internationally and domestically.

In 2003, Blair stood before the US Congress and said that the “drain on natural resources cannot be ignored,” and “America must listen as well as lead.”

Despite continued stubbornness by US politicians, the green agenda has now become a mainstream issue across all major Westminster parties. Blair shifted the political centre to the extent that each major party now fights to be the ‘greenest’.

While I do not wish to hash out old arguments, Blair’s conviction that Saddam Hussein ought to be deposed was certainly bold. That a vicious genocidal dictator who shot his own health minister, who gassed the Kurds, who destroyed Marsh lands, who

invaded Kuwait and whose crime family ran a country; could continue to rule Iraq was wholly unreasonable.

Given that the subsequent diplomatic and military actions will lead to an overall judgement, I will refrain from any further points.

Despite his failings, which I will again leave to others, Tony Blair was necessary for Britain. Not only that, but he was a fine and capable head of government and a truly 21st century leader. earth like the late astronaut Sally Ride.

Anyone can be gay, lesbian, bisexual or trans; but we’re not determined by it, and nor does it define us. We can, and do, all manner of things in our own different ways. For now, however, the battle to be visible, in all our wonderful and diverse forms, is far from won.

As my three years have come to an end, and I now latch onto everything in order to stay, I keep an open mind to what is to come. To my lecturers and seminar leaders (whether you were my favorites or not), I thank you. You have given me the knowledge to help me shape my future. To my colleagues at the Students’ Union, it was an honor working with you. You made every reception shift spent hung-over, more than bearable. To my fellow classmates, I wish you all the best inyour future endeavors. My three years at Goldsmiths would’ve been boring if I hadn’t had all your brilliant minds to compete with. To my football team, you girlsare incredible. I hope you continue to make me proud. I am more than honored tohave met you all. And to my dearest and closest friends, Goodbyes are not my thing, so I’ll leave you with this: I’ll see you soon.

Here’s to the Class of 2013 - we made it.

In Defence of Tony Blair and New Labour

By Bartholomew Foley Tony Blair remains one of the most important British reformers. He brought to the country both common sense pragmatism and visionary politics that transformed its very nature. His political career, however, will always be remembered for the Iraq invasion. Yet this would deny the whole picture.

Blair faced a Labour party that needed major change. Labour had been in opposition since 1979 and would stay in opposition until New Labour’s election in 1997. Blair, having become leader in 1994, started a program to shift Labour to the centre ground and make the party electable again.

In a famous move, Blair changed the historic Clause IV of the party constitution, which had dedicated Labour to a project of nationalisation.

What was once seen as a modernising force no longer served the interests of the nation or the party.

Doing so only briefly after becoming leader, Blair put his political career on the line to drag through these necessary changes. He achieved the reform despite much internal opposition.

Blair also set out to reduce Labour’s reliance on the Unions, making Labour a party for Britain. He famously said in his victory speech, “We were elected because as a party today we represent the whole of this nation, and we will govern for the whole of this nation.”

In 1997, having been elected with a large Commons majority, Blair set about the longest premiership in

Labour’s history.

1998 was a busy year for Tony Blair and New Labour. It saw the institution of the National Minimum Wage Act, guaranteeing dignity to all British workers for the first time. And it saw his intimate role in the negotiations of the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland.

1998 also included passage of the Human Rights Act which, along with integrating legislation set out in the ECHR, included the full and final abolition of the death penalty in Britain.

This was a symbolic and important progression for law and order in the UK. Most significantly, however, in ‘98 was the project of Devolution to Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland devolution also having come as a result of the Good Friday Agreement.

Following successful referendums in each country, the Welsh Assembly and the Scottish Parliament were established. Blair’s project of decentralisation came as a badly needed modernising process.

In the midst of the 1998-99 Kosovo War, Tony Blair led a drive for humanitarian intervention. Following an initial bombing campaign by NATO, Blair crafted plans for military action through a ground invasion force.

In convincing the US to provide this invasion threat, and without Russian intervention, the murderous streak of Slobodan Miloševic was brought to an end, preventing a far greater

humanitarian crisis.

Blair had said, “If we let an evil dictator range unchallenged we will have to spill infinitely more blood and more treasure to stop him later.”

Having visited refugees and seen the evidence first hand, Blair had determined the need for action.

Although Britain wasn’t the only combatant, Blair’s actions were forthright in accelerating military action and the eventual peace.

November 1999 saw the most significant of New Labour’s constitutional reforms. Britain was faced with an anachronistic second chamber that required radical change.

In restructuring the House of Lords and reducing the total of hereditary peers to 92, Labour strengthened the Lords Chamber and British democracy as a whole.

2000 saw the passage of the Freedom of Information Act. Although this legislation would lead to later controversy, this was an important move away from Cold War cynicism, and towards 21st century British democracy.

In December 2001, free entry to the national collections was reintroduced by the government following an initiative from Culture Secretary Chris Smith. According to the Observer, attendance since has more than doubled on average, and the weighted revenues from international visitors is some 350% of the cost to the UK economy.

Along with this focus on culture, Blair

SUMMER 2013 THE LEOPARD

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COMMENT & OPINION

CLASH

The sand was scorching hot, but the air felt cool. Clashing waves served as our background music, flooding our ears with pleasure. Jess was wearing a black two-piece swimsuit, while Clarke and I were covered solely by our trunks.

After a quick bathing session, I decided to take up their offer to serve a beer.

Dragging their feet through the sand, they held hands and Jess kissed his cheek every couple of minutes. To this day, I still cannot figure out whether the bigger heat came from the sun or her.

“Tres cervezas, por favor,” Clarke told the waitress.

“Such a show off,” I added. The

By Radu Istrate

waitress smiled at me, although she probably didn’t understand.

The terrace seemed nothing but a piece of a world we hadn’t experienced before. The seagulls were chatting away accompanied by the guitars and the joyous screaming of children. With an overwhelming sense of serenity, I let out a huge sigh and closed my eyes.

I could hear Jess caressing Clarke’s chest, while her head was resting on his shoulder, but I didn’t want to look.

I didn’t want to do anything. I just wanted to melt into the sun. And that I did, until our order arrived.

“Gracias,” I said. I was greeted with yet another smile.

“She likes you, Henry.”

“I understand her,” Jess said.

Clarke briefly looked at her and raised his left eyebrow. He grabbed his beer and drank it all in one big gulp, while staring into the distance. Jess looked at me, smiled and raised her bottle. I did the same and took a sip. The silence was getting awkward, but I’d come to realize that sometimes it’s better to keep it like that, rather than spoil it with words. Jess, however, had not.

“That cloud right there. The grey one.

He must feel so lonely among the white ones.”

“Stop embarrassing yourself, dear.

Henry, you’re awfully slow at drinking.

Pick up the pace or I’ll drink that for you.”

“I’m sure you will,” Jess mumbled.

“Oh, here we go. Can’t I fucking enjoy myself? Can’t I have several beers with my friend here and my woman?”

“You most certainly can, Clarke,” I said. “No need to lose your cool. Here, have it.”

I gave him my Estrella Galicia and watched him down it. Eight rounds later, we had to trick him into leaving and we headed towards the hotel. The guitars had stopped playing and the seagulls retreated into the darkness. The waves went silent, while the sun waved goodbye. I held Clarke by the waist, as he whispered indistinguishable sounds into my ear. Jess was walking slowly in front of us, with her hand running through her hair. After what seemed an interminable walk, I managed to throw Clarke in bed and closed the door behind me. As I was leaving, I heard a loud cry coming from the bathroom. I wanted to just walk out and pretend I hadn’t heard anything, but I couldn’t. I knocked at the door, but no words came out from behind it.

“I’ll be downstairs, if you want to talk,” I said as I exited their room.

In the lobby, countless families were checking in and out of the hotel. Smiles were being thrown in every direction, but I didn’t manage to catch one for myself. I wasn’t unhappy at all, I was just tired. Tired of keeping certain feelings bottled up, while another man was being kissed by the woman I loved. I wished I could’ve smiled when I finally saw Jess coming down the stairs, but my lips didn’t move. She sat down next to me and lay her head on my shoulder. There were so many words that were knocking at the gates of my mouth, begging me to let them out, but I couldn’t. She started to shake and covered her face with her hands.

I felt my body ache. Her tears made my blood boil. My bones began to feel as if they were rotting away. Although everybody was unnecessarily loud, I could hear her so clearly. I just looked at the painting in front of me and imagined I was the bullfighter in it. I felt that dealing with a raging bull seemed a lot easier, at the time. Through the window on my left, the moon winked at me. I looked up and asked it for advice. She told me to kiss her. But, I couldn’t. And I didn’t.

Mise-en-scène

By Dan Svec Jr

Life Could Be Out There: Is Denying Possibility of Aliens Limiting God? By Dan Svec Jr Often times as young filmmakers we are taught many things such as: cinematography, directing, editing and sound design. We use these general concepts to drum up basic visual narratives to tell a story worth telling. However, one of the phrases usually over-looked in the filmmaking scheme is the term, miseen-scène which in French means, “Placing on stage.” This phrase alone stands to be one of the most critical pieces of student low-budget filmmaking.

Some Film Study critics give the term a narrow definition of, ‘everything that appears before the camera and its arrangements.’

This definition alone is simple enough for me. Sometimes we, as student filmmakers, are distracted by so much production logistics that we tend to overlook the simple yet powerful means to make a story more dramatic. One of the most important collaborations with the Director and Production Designer, the Production Designer is the role that’s sole responsibility is to create the look of the set. This means being in charge of various departments

such as: locations, props and costumes.

As a student filmmaker myself, I found having a Production Designer on set an integral part of low-budget student filmmaking.

The various elements of production design help express a film’s ambiance by generating a sense of time and space, as well as setting a mood, and sometimes informing the audience a character’s state of mind. One of the best uses of miseen-scène is in the first Matrix film by the Wachowski’s. When Keanu Reeves’ character Neo sells the book, Simulacra and Simulation to Choi, the Wachowski’s placed framed the book purposefully for the fact that they wanted to give the audience a ploy into the inspiration that is the Matrix.

Future aspiring filmmakers, as well as veterans, should take the time on location and try to visualize what the audience will see on the screen because by remembering the concept of miseen-scène they can add a whole new dimension in their arsenal of visual storytelling.

Christians don’t give aliens enough attention. Although Scripture does not suggest there is life on other planets, it also does not rule out the possibility. While the Bible is inerrant, it does not incorporate every aspect of science or history that we know as fact. There is more to this universe than we know.Even parts of the universe we have investigated are so vast and infinite that its entirety goes beyond our understanding. This is much like our understanding of God. Revelations 1:8 says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, who is and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” As much as we think we know God, we only touched the surface.Just as it would be foolish to put God in a box, it would be just as ignorant to put limits on hisuniverse. It is ludicrous to think that human beings are without a doubt the only inhabitants of the cosmos.Faith is believing that which you do not know as fact,

Doyou disagree? leopardnewspaper@ gmail.com.

which is necessary in any religion.

We have faith to believe in God; we believe in something that is beyond our understanding.When witnessing to nonbelievers about the existence of God, Christians cannot prove it with visual or scientific evidence. Yet, people continue to believe. Similarly, there is no hard evidence of another race of beings. I cannot prove to you there are aliens, but you cannot prove there are not. Famed communication scholar, Robert Scott, once said, “In order to deny a something, therehas to be a something.” What that means is, you cannot deny something that you do not know about. When atheists say they do not believe in God, they just acknowledged the existence of God. In the same way, do not “deny” the existence of aliens because in doing so you will have acknowledged the idea of aliens.The question then becomes, where did the belief in aliens originate?

If the first though that crosses through your mind when I say “aliens” is “Men in Black,” fine. But screenwriters and animators of the film had to have gotten their conceptions of aliens from somewhere. After tracing the idea of aliens from our modern day’s perception of little green men back to the first science fiction images, there still must be an origin of the initial inquisition about life on other planets.

It had to have come from somewhere.If one day science proved that life exists on other worlds, everything would change. In light of this possibility, today we should rethink our role as humans on Earth. Yes, scientific proof of aliens would chance our understanding of God. But not in a negative way.

Instead of disillusionment, we would experience a broader comprehension on his infinite possibilities. The truth is out there.

Do you disagree with the opinions of any of our contributors in this month’s issue? Want to have YOUR say, and get your views on these, or any other issues printed on these

pages and read by students and staff across Goldsmiths? Then email your articles or any queries to commented. leopardnewspaper@gmail.com.

THE LEOPARD SUMMER 2013

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LIFESTYLE & CULTURE

The Overthinker’s Guide to Living Life After University

By Nindya Atmodipoero

Photo: The Bubble Chamber.org

Dobar dan, restless minds. missed it in the last issues, last article, I’ll share some to entering the Real world,

Welcome to, quite possibly, the last Overthinker’s Guide. In case you have this is a column dedicated to my fellow people with analysis paralysis. For my experiences and hopefully useful advice I’ve received over the years in regards which is arguably the ultimate conundrum for (overthinking) university students.

SO:

You have submitted all your essays, wrote all your exams, and, as underwhelming as it turned out to be, effectively you are not a university student.

Not anymore. That’s it; you’re done.

Soon enough the magic words ‘student discounts’ will no longer make your eyes sparkle. Instead, you will smile wanly when the cashier asks if you have your student card with you, all the while reminiscing about those gloriously carefree days – when all you have to worry about revolves around a) handing in your assignments on time, b) building a good CV, c) what to eat for dinner, d) the dilemma: to do laundry or to shop for new clothes, e) whether ‘It’s too cold’ is a legit excuse for not getting up and doing work.

Everyday you look at yourself in the mirror. You are now a capital A Adult with capital R Responsibilities. You laugh. Yeah, right. But deep inside, you know it’s true. The time has come for you to be a fully functioning, responsible grown-up. And whilst you might spend most nights staring at the ceiling, thinking about your future prospects as an Arts graduate, you are now officially allowed to insert condescending things like “Back in the days, when I was in university…” in casual conversations.

Speaking of conversations, you might already notice how much social occasions have become increasingly stressful now that you’ve finished university. Not that you did not see them coming, but once people begin to ask you things that were previously held inside your overthinking head, you know now you really have to figure things out.

FAQ FOR FRESH GRADUATES ASKED IN CASUAL OCCASSIONS: • So, what’s your plan?

• What jobs can you do with your

degree? I mean, real jobs.

• Have you secured a job yet?

• How many firms are you applying to?

• How did the interview with (insert company) go?

• Internship? Aren’t you supposed to do that when you were still a student?

• Don’t you want to start looking for a full-time job now?

• Masters? Don’t you want to get a real-world experience first?

• Clock is ticking, are you sure you want to take some time off?

• If you want I can introduce you to (insert name) who works as (insert job) in (insert company)… what do you think? Yes? Should I call now?

• Why don’t you just set up a business?

• Did you regret doing (insert your major)? What did you actually learn?

• So when are you getting married? What? No one has ever asked you this?

Just me? Okay.

It really depends on your relationship with the questioner but it’s likely that you will remain cool, calm and collected upon answering these questions. You have asked yourself most of these things before so chances are you will have at least the politically ‘correct’ answers. You feel proud of yourself and your ability to keep (looking) calm and (pretend to) carry on. However, as you are being welcomed to proper Adulthood, these thoughts run through your mind: • So-and-so got that job already.

Meanwhile I’m just here, taking life one existential crisis at a time and being hopelessly boring in general.

• What did I actually learn in univer-

sity, you asked? Erm, how to take things in the last minute?

• Financially responsible adult? LOL my bank statement is basically a list of bad decisions I’ve made.

• Before university, I don’t know what I was doing with my life. After university, I am confident. That I don’t know what I’m doing with my life.

• Before university, I didn’t have a degree, money, and an idea for my future. But NOW, I have a degree.

• If you really think about it, there is nothing inherently wrong with being a bartender or a waitress. And no, barista is not an Italian for “I went to arts school”.

HERE’S WHAT TO REMEMBER:

1. Comparison is the thief of joy.

People mature differently. And that’s okay because life is actually a sooner or later thing. After all, you don’t want to be Tom Buchanan who reaches “such acute excellence at 21 that everything afterwards savoured of anti-climax.”

2. The real world is no more or less real than the world we (you) already live in.

3. You don’t have to do one thing in your life. It might seem obvious but sometimes we forget. Of course, it’s daunting to think that you’ll end up doing one thing for the rest of your life.

But you can do a lot of things.

4. It’s fine to not get it all figured out now. See point 1.

5. Your job is not your career. Okay, you managed to get a job but you hate it because a) you were applying randomly, b) it was the first offer so you took it anyway c) you were afraid you would not get any other job. Well, if you can’t quit for whatever reasons, see point 3. And, always remember, even the shittiest job gives you something to learn. Learn it.

6. Success is however you define it.

7. Always be thankful. You’ve already had it better than a lot of people.

SUMMER 2013 THE LEOPARD

7

LIFESTYLE & CULTURE

In Praise of a Well-Stocked Spice Cupboard

Come Dine with Grace

By Adam Morby

I will begin my BA at Goldsmiths in October and already, I’m brimming with an excitement I have never felt before. It’s spilling out of my ears and I’m counting down the days like twenty years ago, when Christmas was approaching.

But this article isn’t about that.

This is about food. It’s about your food and your cupboards and what should be in them before next term; it’s about spices, herbs and sauces – and just how many hundreds, even thousands of different dishes you can make with a well-stocked spice cupboard. When you make a small investment in spices, you’re suddenly

By Grace Drayton the price of a pint away from five continent’s worth of culinary brilliance.

Because that’s what we’re all about, us students, isn’t it? Thrift.

Well, maybe not when it comes to going out: we’ll spend the lot, and then some, and we’ll still find a way to go out tomorrow. But when it comes to eating we usually just scrape a few pence up from the bedroom floor and buy a ready meal or a tin of something or whatever; we don’t care. But we probably should.

Firstly, we’re supposed to be using our brains more than we probably ever will again and food’s important for all that.

Secondly, those ready meals are full of salt, sugar, oil and thisomide thatozine,

as well as what-the-hell-ium-jesuschrist-oate – it’s why they’re cheap and taste good. Don’t get me wrong, I, too, like slurping down a microwave lasagne, more liquid than solid and somehow deliciously so, but bear with me because we can do better than that.

Anyway, here we go. I’ll start with chicken. This is by no means my favourite dish, but it demonstrates quite effectively what you can do with a well-stocked spice cupboard.

Summer BBQs are hopefully just around the corner. With that in mind, I’ve compiled a simple BBQ friendly side dish that goes well with meat, fish, or works just on its own.

Couscous is quick and easy and can be flavoured to suit pretty much anything. Nothing has to be measured, and can be done to eye, making it simple anwd fuss free.

Ingredients: Couscous (500g bag) 2 Courgettes 1 red pepper 1 yellow pepper 2 large red onions 1 pack baby plum tomatoes Olive oil for frying/to taste Butter & salt and pepper to taste

Feeds: 4-6 PRICE: £5-7 TIME: <1 hour, very easy

Method: • Boil a full kettle and place the whole bag of couscous in a large bowl. • • • Pour the boiling water over the couscous until it’s covered by about half a centimetre.

• Add a knob of butter, and cover the bowl with cling film leaving to stand for about 10 minutes, or until all the water is absorbed.

• Whilst waiting for the couscous to soften, dice all of the vegetables (except the tomatoes) into small chunks and fry with a little olive oil until soft, and then leave to stand. The tomatoes can be halved and left raw.

• Uncover the couscous and check that it’s softened.

• Stir in the now melted butter, adding the vegetables (including the tomatoes) as you do so.

• Add salt and pepper to taste and a little olive oil if needed. The couscous can be served either hot or cold.

MOJITO Ingredients: 6 chicken drumsticks and thighs 1 tin of chickpeas or one aubergine or a couple of peppers or all three 1 carton of passata (or 1 tin of tomatoes) 1 large onion 8 garlic cloves Spice options: • Mediterranean. Half a teaspoon of the following: cumin, smoked paprika, dried oregano. If you’re feeling flushed, squeeze over some lemon, add some chopped chorizo when you’re frying the onions, then top it off with a jar of cheap, black olives.

• Mexican. Cumin, dried oregano, dark chocolate, chilli powder, peanut butter, and any kind of tinned beans instead of chickpeas.

• Indian. Two teaspoons from a bag of sane-looking spice mix from any Indian food shop. I’ve had the same one for two years. Or simply half a teaspoon of cumin, dried coriander, garam masala, dried fenugreek leaves.

Method: • Salt and pepper the chicken and put it in the oven, gas mark 5, about 170C. • Chop the onion and soften it in a pan with a little oil, then grate the garlic and add that. Make sure that it doesn’t burn. Add just less than half a teaspoon of salt, the spices (see note), and cook until you can smell them, mixing it around a bit.

• Add passata or tomatoes and half the amount of water (use the container). Simmer until it’s all bubbling nicely and starting to thicken a little. About 10 minutes. Then add it to the oven dish containing the chicken.

• Cook for 30 minutes, add the veg, cook for 10 more minutes (if you use all three veg, which I would recommend for reasons of thrift, take the chicken out, throw in the veg, mix it around a bit, then put the chicken back on top).

• That’s it. Eat it with cooked rice and yoghurt. If it seems too watery, plate up the chicken and veg and leave the sauce in the oven for an extra ten minutes. If you see any parsley on the cheap, sprinkle it on.

A pack of half price rocket? Buy it. If you’re using a lemon squeeze it over. And whatever’s left, shove it in some Tupperware and eat it within five days.

The Perfect BBQ Beverage, a simple cocktail that tastes like summer.

How much would this cost? At its cheapest, about a fiver. With all the fancier bits (chorizo, olives, lemon), about seven quid. For sure, these spices cost money but you’ve got to see it as an investment.

Method: Place mint leaves and 1 lime wedge into a sturdy glass. Use a muddler to crush the mint and lime to release the mint oils and lime juice. Add 2 more lime wedges and the sugar, and muddle again to release the lime juice. Do not strain the mixture. Fill the glass almto the top with ice.

Pour the rum over the ice, and fill the glass with carbonated water. Stir, taste, and add more sugar if desired.

Garnish with the remaining lime wedge.

Pro tip: Always buy from the corresponding continental foodshop.

Also, if you’re buying oriental, never, ever, ever buy Amoy or Blue Dragon – especially the soy sauces. Double especially the Thai curry pastes!

Ingredients: 10 fresh mint leaves ½ lime cut into 4 wedges 2 tablespoons of white sugar (or to taste) 1 cup ice cubes 1 ½ fluid ounces white rum ½ cup soda water

COMING UP...

THE LEOPARD SUMMER 2013

8

LIFESTYLE & CULTURE To intern or not to intern... that is the question...

I stood outside with my course convenor and began to discuss my internship. It was Christmas and at this point I had been interning for a year, on and off with two separate companies; the odd day here, for more prolonged periods when London Fashion Week rose its ever-so-slightly pretentious head.

My course convenor himself would tell you that he was more than sceptical of my ‘achievements’ in the field of Fashion PR. There seems to be a developing school of thought that internships are simply cheap labour; a legal way for companies to use intelligent, (almost) university educated eager beavers to their best advantage for little to no pay. My experiences have been mixed.

I have been particularly fortunate in both the internships I’ve completed to have had my expenses paid.

Lunch and travel may not seem a great deal of money but it soon mounts up, having this paid certainly takes some of the strain off.

From speaking to fellow interns, I am aware that this is not always the case. Without this advantage it simply would not have been financially viable.

I have greatly benefited from working with smaller companies. For me, this has allowed for a great deal of flexibility with regard to work times and dates which has been invaluable when juggling deadlines, lectures and the waitressing job I decided to take on to finance my inability to have a quiet Saturday night-in.

With larger companies, the trend appears to be for internships that span months, which can only really be completed during the summer or after completing a degree. Other benefits to working for a smaller company are that you are far more likely to be called upon to do interesting jobs where you can actually learn something as opposed to being the stereotypical coffee runner.

However, because life isn’t a movie, it’s not always been peachy-keen.

I’ve had my share of bad experiences. Whilst being given the opportunity to work closely with managers on their projects has been worthwhile and sometimes exciting it has also come with its fair share of agro.

I’ve always been perfectly willing to help, give my ideas and be involved; there are obvious benefits to this, not to mention the CV building opportunities. But there comes a point when enough is enough. The company’s well being should not be resting on your shoulders and when you’re being SPOKEN TO ON SKYPE IN MASSIVE CAPITAL LETTERS… ON A SATURDAY… BY YOUR MD WHO IS AT A FASHION SHOW WHERE SOMETHING ISN’T WORKING AND IT IS APPARENTLY ALL YOUR FAULT it’s time to pick up your laptop and toddle off politely in search of new horizons (otherwise, you may find yourself sobbing alone in the toilets). Yes, you’re willingly working

for free, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get a little respect… at least at the weekend!

Whilst the combination of neurotic boss and too much responsibility is something to be avoided, being willing to go the extra mile; when it also benefits you, can really make a difference. In my second internship, being willing to take time out to travel to regional events, as well as working later than expected, and taking the odd weekend here and there to help at shoots ultimately lead to my internship being paid. Over Easter I was able to quit my waitressing job to work full time. I just about met my deadlines, one essay was diabolical but I’m crossing my fingers for the 3rd year 15 credit drop. As I’m writing this now, I haven’t completed my dissertation, and I already have a few 27 hour library shifts un-

By Grace Drayton

der my belt.

It hasn’t been easy to juggle but ultimately I think it has paid off. A few weeks ago I was happily able to tell my course convenor, who I went to see because of my de-funked essay that I had been offered a permanent paid position, one of those actual contracted job things, starting from the 3rd June. Whilst my end grade may take a little bashing, I personally think it’s been worth it.

I have gained a great deal from Goldsmiths, things that extend far beyond graded pieces of paper.

However, I think it’s relatively acceptable to suggest that many, if not most of us come to university in the hope of it opening doors into a career. Unfortunately, and like many others, I have arrived at the conclusion that having a degree does not guarantee you a job. Who we can

blame for this is subject for another article, but I would suggest to anyone that interning is an invaluable experience, which could lead to a job, if you play your cards right.

BEAR THESE THINGS IN MIND WHEN CONSIDERING AN INTERNSHIP: • Make sure you’re CV Building: Expect to make the occasional coffee but also ensure that what you are doing is worth while and benefiting you as well as your employer. It’s not a one-way street. Know what you want to learn and achieve before starting and attempt to complete your goals.

• Know when to jump ship: If things are becoming more than you can deal with say so. If things don’t change, leave. You’re not in a paid role; you shouldn’t have the stress of one.

• Look out for extra opportunities: It’s all about getting as much out of the experience as you can. If you get

on with your colleagues, ask their advice on what you can do to improve your CV, or about any qualifications that would give you the edge.

Use events as networking opportunities. There’s no harm in asking for extensions to your internship, or enquiring into career opportunities. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.

• Pick the right place: Don’t get pigeon holed. Whilst general experience is positive; if you want to work in a particular field aim for experience in this specific area. As well as this, working for companies that are in their infancy and growing provides greater future career prospects. Know your company facts!

• Enjoy Yourself: If you’re not it’s jut not worth it, leave. You haven’t failed, it just wasn’t right. Showing enjoyment for the job will get you noticed for the right reasons; if you’re not it will show and this can have negative effects on your CV, future opportunities, and ultimately your mood!

SUMMER 2013 THE LEOPARD 9

FEATURES

UKIP, Europe and Tory Division: Where’d it come from?

By Bartholomew Foley

With the Conservatives in disarray over gay marriage & Europe, and MPs declaring their ‘conscience’ across all parties, you may be wondering how exactly we got here.

The origin dates to the UKIP surge from the May 2nd local elections. As a result we’ve seen Tory backbenchers unify against the cabinet, queries about David Cameron’s leadership and UKIP’s growing confidence.

May 2nd: The local elections saw UKIP voters, previously labelled ‘closet racists’, now constitute about one in four voters.

May 4th: Conservative MP David Davis challenged the party to throw off its “privileged and out of touch” image, calling for a referendum before next year’s European parliamentary elections.

Lord Tebbit also voiced concerns on Europe, describing the Prime Minister as “badly off track”. Tebbit said that UKIP now offered the “politics of the common ground”. A claim that seems a little overblown.

Home Secretary Theresa May replied by saying the party vowed to “win back” UKIP voters, who appear to be disillusioned right-wing Conservatives.

May 5th: Somerset Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg called for a Conservative/UKIP pact ahead of the election, describing it as a “better bet for Conservatism and the right wing in British politics”.

May 7th: In the first great shift within the Conservative Party, former Chancellor Lord Lawson called for an EU exit, claiming economic prudence.

Despite Cameron’s attempt to put on a brave face, these comments broke party taboos forming a divide between ministers and backbenchers.

May 8th: The Queen’s speech, for backbenchers, saw the noticeable absence of a European referendum pledge. Despite the fact, of course, that it this would require agreement with the Liberal Democrats.

The day also saw the reinstatement

of Tory MP Nadine Dorries. In what now seems a symbolic sea change, Dorries again became a party member following her suspension for appearing on ‘I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here’. Given that Dorries is a forthright Eurosceptic, this could signify a growing sympathy for her views within the party.

May 9th: An amendment to the Queen’s speech was tabled expressing regret for the absence of an EU referendum pledge. Cameron reacted with his now-famous ‘relaxed’ attitude to his party’s defiance. The mounting pressure caused another former Chancellor, Lord Lamont, and former Cabinet member Michael Portillo to agree on basic terms with Lord Lawson.

May 11th: Opposition leader Ed Miliband condemned Cameron’s ‘relaxed’ attitude and said Labour would oppose the amendment.

May 12th: Conservative MPs showed their support for the government despite rumours of more than 100 suspected Tory rebels. Government Ministers were advised to abstain but other MPs were given a free, conscience vote.

In a defiance of the Prime Minister, Defence Secretary Phillip Hammond said that he would vote to leave the EU if a referendum were held today. He mirrored comments made by Education Secretary Michael Gove who said he wanted “change in Britain’s relationship with the European Union,” but that “life outside would be perfectly tolerable”.

May 13th: UKIP leader Nigel Farage welcomed the idea of dualparty candidacy for the 2015 elections.

About making a deal in the next parliament he added, “If somebody like a Boris (Johnson) or a Michael Gove was leading the Conservative Party, we’d certainly be prepared to have a conversation,” but “not with David Cameron as leader”.

May 14th: The Conservatives announced a draft bill that would “make provision for the holding of a referendum” on Britain’s membership in the EU. This caused critics to denounce Cameron as following his

backbenchers rather than leading his party. Cameron replied that the whole debate started because of his “act of leadership,” and he would now “seek change in Europe and seek a referendum for that change”.

Farage continued to mount pressure on Cameron saying his actions were reminiscent of “the old John Major days,” where the government was “blown around by events”. He said, “The public and his own backbenchers don’t really trust Mr Cameron to deliver on the referendum promise”.

May 15th: 133 MPs voted in Westminster for the Queen’s speech amendment, including 116 Tories, lamenting the absence of an EU referendum. In response, Cameron said, “It’s a free vote,” and “I’m very relaxed about that”.

MP John Baron, who tabled the bill, said that politicians had previously “broken promises” about EU referendums and that legislation was needed to fill the “deficit of trust”.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg accused Conservatives of trying to “change the goalposts” over referendum legislation. Clegg, who filled in for Cameron at Prime Minister’s Questions, faced criticism from Tory M P Edward Leigh over his own past statements on an EU referendum.

May 16th: Eurosceptic MP James Wharton came top in a ballot to introduce a private member’s bill. He pledged to introduce the Tory draft bill on a referendum as laid out on May 14th. This constitutes a 24-hour reversal of his position, previously warning of the “risk of not being seen to talk about the things that matter because we’re just talking about Europe”.

This bill brought further condemnation from Lib Dem Business Secretary Vince Cable calling it a “self-indulgent civil war in the Conservative party about Europe,” and that “it’s doing the country serious damage through commercial uncertainty.”

Despite rising success of UKIP in England, Farage enjoyed little welcome in Edinburgh, facing jeers and shouting from protestors as he left a press conference. Farage later said that those involved were “yobbo fascist scum”.

May 17th: Former Defence Secretary Liam Fox condemned Conservatives

who voted for the Queen’s speech amendment, saying it was causing “a lot of internal strife”.

The day also saw fresh allegations that a member of David Cameron’s inner circle described Tory activists as “mad, swivel-eyed loons,” who took a hard line on gay marriage and Europe.

In a move to re-unite outraged grassroots members, MPs and high-ranking Conservatives spread praise for their volunteers and party members.

However, Phillip Hammond again made himself prominent with vocal opposition to the Government on gay marriage. Another issue compounding the rift within the Conservatives.

May 18th: In reaction to the ‘loons’ allegations, Conservative Grassroots Chairman Bob Woollard stated that, “Droves of previously loyal Conservative Party members are leaving.

“They’re either resigning from their membership of local associations, sitting on their hands or they’re going to UKIP”.

With mounting opposition to Cameron’s attempt to modernise the party, to implement gay marriage and stand firm on his EU position; local members and Conservative activists appear to be disenchanted with his leadership of the parliamentary party.

Although No 10 have denied any involvement in the ‘loon’ comments, Cameron has evidently been weakened.

Further stoking division, Tory Cabinet Minister Lord Howe said, “The debate on Europe within the Conservative party (has fallen) to a new, almost farcical, low.

“The Conservative leadership is in effect running scared of its own backbenchers.”

He says that, “To walk away from the European Union into the unknown would be a very dangerous choice indeed.”

May 19th: Given that Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt described a ‘united’ Conservative Party, to go along with MP Peter Bone’s comments that “the Conservative Party has never been more united on Europe”; the parliamentary Conservatives are evidently in damage control. The new ‘swivelgate’, the contentious gay marriage bill and the ever-looming European question

2013 Goldsmiths Student Assemblies: A review The Union’s democratic forum saw some major motions pass in 2013; including the alteration of the Campaigns officer’s role, the affirmation of the ‘No Platform’ policy and Safe Space policy. The GSU also continued its traditional stance on liberation and equality issues passing motions on transphobia, disabled persons, mental health and representation.

2013 saw some heated debates and discussions on contentious issues.

Alongside some puzzling motions of political correctness and posturing.

January 28th saw the re-affirmation of the ‘No Platform’ policy on

Fascism. The motion, which seems to favour rhetoric over reality, notes that, “the British anti-fascist movement is what has actively prevented the rise of fascism.”

The motion goes on, “(Opposition to fascism) has not arisen because of an innate aversion to fascism or racism in British society,” but rather “through No Platform, election campaigns and through street mobilisations.”

It later notes that fascism constitutes a “political attack on democracy”. A well-known feature of many political ideologies, such as: communism, anarchism and liber-

alism. This motion runs roughshod over history and constitutes little more than political posturing and populism.

The motion passed 35 to one with seven abstentions.

January 28th also saw motions supporting those with mental health issues, disabled and transgender persons.

Sabbatical officers Søren Goard and Tama White attended the protest of Marine Le Pen’s talk to the Cambridge Union on February 19th to show their disdain for the Front National leader and to support the ‘No Platform’ policy.

Ben Kentish, President of the Cambridge Union Society, defended his invitation of Le Pen by saying that, “freedom of speech is universal, and cannot simply be withdrawn from those whose views we may not like,” and that “to attempt to silence one’s opponents and pretend their views will simply go away makes no sense.”

March 19th saw the full-time Campaigns officer’s role change to Campaigns and Activities officer, much to the chagrin of then ‘Campaigns officer-elect’ Howard Littler. Littler sought to speak against the motion and instead adopt

remain endemic threats to a functional Conservative party.

A letter from various ‘Conservative Chairmen’ warned David Cameron that “your proposal to redefine marriage is flawed, un-conservative, divisive and costing us dearly in votes and membership.

“You have failed to listen and respond in an appropriate manner to the concerns of loyal grassroots members.

“Your refusal to listen to reason and grassroots opinion is causing many previously loyal Conservatives to leave the party.

“Many will not contemplate re-joining unless the Bill is abandoned or the party leadership changed. Some of course are joining UKIP.” In the greatest shock yet, Tory activists widened the division within the party and aired threats to David Cameron’s leadership.

May 20th: The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill passed its second reading in the House of Commons despite attempted amendments and opposition by many Conservative MPs. May 21st: David Cameron sent a ‘personal note’ of placation to party members saying that “ours is a companionship underpinned by what we believe,” but “does that mean we will agree on everything? Of course not.”

Standing firm on his economic reforms and European position, Cameron said he was “acting in the national interest”.

While attempting to cool relations with his own party, David Cameron would then need to rely upon Labour MPs to pass his bill on gay marriage.

In the evening, with an original tally of 366 to 161, the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) The Bill is now in the House of Lords where a wrecking amendment was heavily defeated on June 4th.

What this means for the long-term health of David Cameron and the Conservatives with only become clear in the fullness of time. Yet what is a short-term win for Cameron may in the end be a blow for the Conservative Party, with original reports saying that 133 Tory MPs voted against gay marriage.

By Bartholomew Foley a new sabbatical position to include this role. Provisions for adding a new sabbatical officer are to be discussed at a later date.

Wholesale changes to the Campaigns role remain unlikely, however, as the position must now “Represent the Activities and not be an Administrative role”, hinting at a largely representational change.

The night also saw some sparring words between Welfare and Diversity-elect Joe Killin and GSU President Samson Osun. The issue raised was over the GSU’s abstention in the London Student Election debacle. Later on, the assembly saw

SUMMER 2013 THE LEOPARD

10

FEATURES The Serial Film Premier - Goer

By Alice Yehia

The dark starts to settle and I can barely feel my frozen hands. As I try to wiggle my numb fingers, a single thought passes through my mind: “Why on earth am I still standing here?” Around me, an impatient crowd is fervently awaiting the big moment.

Traces of steam and smoke cloud up the atmosphere, colouring the starless sky.

“Is this your first?” I’m being asked by the man who had been pushing and shoving me for the past 3 hours. I can’t help letting off my sheer disgust through a short, but categorical affirmative answer. “Why is that girl sitting down? She should stand up so more people could fit in there. It’s not fair.

Tell her to stand up,” he continues.

I try to move forward and squeeze in-between the two men standing in front of me. “Sorry, I’m holding this spot for someone,” I’m told. The overly crammed space becomes suffocating.

But for some people time seems to be flying while waiting for the premiere of “Django Unchained”, Tarantino’s latest film, to start. A group of friends is playing some sort of ‘Lord of the Rings’ card game, while others are discussing films and life. Armed with posters, dvds and pictures they are firm in their front row positions. Nothing and no one could make them move from their precious spots.

As a legal alien, a ‘film premiere virgin’ in the middle of Leicester Square, I feel different from the others.

A mix of curiosity and exaggerated Tarantino adoration has brought me here. But a lot of people seem to be standing in this freezing weather purely out of love for attending a film premiere. Why?

mine,” he continues.

One month down the line, Michelle Pott, a 37 year-old personal shopper for Tesco, is waiting for the ‘Oz: The Great and Powerful’ film premiere to start.

She says: “I’m here for everything. I’ve been to over 200 film premieres.”

For Cambridge based Michelle, it all started ten years ago when she was walking through Leicester Square and saw that the Terminator film premiere was on. “I was curious so I stayed,” she says.

“I met Arnold [Schwarzenegger] that day and boom. The bug started.

It’s so addictive. There’s an adrenaline rush. You get to meet all these people that come and it’s never the same experience twice. I’ve collected about 600 autographs from attending film premieres only. I keep them all.

But I also go to autograph events so I probably have way more than 600. The most I’ve queued up for a film premiere was 34 hours for ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part Two’, but I’ve also queued up for 24 hours for The Hobbit.”

Michelle has already made a friend today, Cassie, a ‘first timer’. But Cassie is planning ahead her future film premieres. “I’m probably going to some more next month. I’m here today because my friends said they like the film.”

As I move around Leicester Square, I begin to notice familiar faces. A middle aged man with a long white beard, dressed in a blue tracksuit, is talking loudly while sitting on his customdesigned camping chair. I am almost certain I have seen him before at the previous premiere I went to.

told him: ‘I don’t give autographs on my way to work.’ But the guy stayed there until Eastwood left the building and he told the actor: ‘Do you give autographs on your way back from work?’ And he did,” Lexy whispers on.

Educational psychologist, Freddie Trinidad, explains why people are fascinated with celebrities and implicitly film premieres. He says: “Indeed people can be very obsessive. The magic of ‘red carpet’ makes us fixate on these celebrities, however identification goes even deeper. People tend to go to concerts and football matches in groups, to egg each other on. They tend to chant in unison, as if their adoration of the star or of a team is somehow legitimized by the collective effort,” he continues.

According to Trinidad, the history of individuals indentifying with celebrities dates back to the Second World War, when stars like British singer Vera Lynn sold more records than anyone at the time, not least because the troops felt very close to her in their darker moments.

Cubitt, professor of film at Goldsmiths University of London.

“The famous (but probably apocryphal) story is that Carl Laemmle, the founder of Universal, had poached an actress known on as The Biograph Girl and publicised her name for the first time - Florence Lawrence.Certainly by the 1920s big stars like Gloria Swanson were always in the public eye. The first Oscars were awarded about 1927, which might be considered the beginning of film premieres in cinema.

On the other hand, he says, 19th century literature is full of ‘stage-door johnnies’ and the stardom of the theatrical thesis that were immense public figures; “the red carpet was originally a diplomatic gesture laid on for royals, so might have been for the eminent visitors to the theatre rather than stars.

It would be interesting to know when the democratic USA began to treat its commoners like kings . . .”

But for some people, going to a film premiere is not quite as enjoyable as it is for the ones who queue up for hours just to get a glimpse of a famous person.

Dan Jolin, features editor for Empire magazine, tells his story from the other side of the fence: as a journalist holding a ticket to the actual red carpet event and film screening. Something most ‘serial film premiere-goers’ would kill for.

“He’s been talking for ages about how he’s met so many celebrities,” says LexySchwartzkopff, a University of Westminster marketing student, in a conspiratorial whisper.

But it was after the war that the cult of the superstar was to emerge and was going to reach hysterical proportions.

The intense fan frenzy in the 60s with the advent of pop music and the rise of Beatlemania would not end with the Beatles. It spread across the entertainment world, and the screams and shouts that had become fashionable were to set a trend of apparently hysterical over-reactions to an increasing number of celebrities.

“Apparently he came in the morning to meet Clint Eastwood where he was working at that time. Clint Eastwood

While ‘fan frenzy’ can be traced back to the 60s, the history of film premieres can be linked to 1910 or 1912 says Sean

“From my experience, going to a premiere is in many ways the worst way to see a film, because there is a big extravagant screening attention.

The director and the stars are the point. You get the likes of Tom Cruise or Will Smith who absolutely work the red carpet. But for some people

capricious types.

And don’t forget to “always get explicit verbal consent before touching someone”. Tama White, who proposed the motion, cited handshakes as inappropriate in certain circumstances.

This night also saw the passage of the ‘“That’s what she said” “Lad Culture” on campus’ motion.

Once again, a combination of some common sense and much cynicism. It included the provision “To condemn (the) ‘Spotted at Goldsmiths’” facebook page. Considering a number of assembly members had undoubtedly ‘liked’ this page, they must’ve sat a little uneasy. The Union once again desiring to make its presence felt; this time in the

cyber world.

The night also saw motions on NUS conference representation and alternatives for religious food.

The 2013 turnout, as a whole, seems to have been an improvement on previous years. Current

and Assembly Chair-elect Sebastian Hicks commented on this fact and members sounded their agreement.

The new 2013-14 sabbatical officers will now take over from a divisive set of incumbents and attempt to push through and act upon their election

After a few more hours, the excitement builds up as more celebrities appear on the red carpet. I start to tremble as Tarantino gets closer and closer. My arms shake as I keep pushing my notebook in the director’s face for a signature. A euphoric feeling possesses me after I realise what just happened: I’m holding his autograph in my hands. “Can I see it?” says the same man who had asked me if it’s my first premiere. “I want to compare it to

“I don’t want to talk to you,” he shouts at me.

full support for a housing motion and two motions of anti-austerity and anti-privatisation.

April 23rd saw further motions for conduct policy. The new ‘Safe Space’ policy includes a provision to “use uncomplicated language” when on Union premises. True, once again, to the didactic nature of the sabbatical officers.

What was once thought common sense has been spelled out for students, “If you are challenged, do not become defensive, but listen and think and learn.”

And, “If a discussion becomes personal” one is to keep matters inside the room and “behave with kindness and consideration when responding.” A handy tip for us

that’s the most exciting thing. I think film premieres are a massive orgy of publicity. Given the choice between tickets to a film premiere or going to see the film in a cinema, I would choose the latter.”

He also admits to having no desire to queue up for hours for an autograph and thinks of the people that do it as ‘mad’. “Some of them are genuine fans like the Twihards. But there are also the autograph hunters. I call them autograph vampires.”

Back at the ‘Great and Powerful Oz’ premiere, I find myself talking to 42 year-old Steven from Hartfordshire and 35 year-old tax consultant Neil from Northern Ireland. They’ve befriended each other today.

Suddenly, the crowd starts screaming with excitement and the place fills up with action-packed rumours as a man gets escorted outside of the ‘fan zone’ by security.

“I heard he headbutted someone,” Neil whispers with flickering eyes.

“I heard he was just being violent,” Steven interrupts.

“I drew this poster of RaichelWeisz,” Steven says showing me a portrait of the actress made in crayon. “I really want it signed. It’s all about where you get the autograph. It doesn’t matter which celebrities or actors show up. But I try to stay away from getting an autograph from the same people twice.”

“I agree with Steve,” says Neil.“It doesn’t really matter who attends. It’s the atmosphere, the friends you make and the thrill of seeing all these famous people.”

promises.

If you would like further information, agendas from each assembly meeting dating back to December 2012 are freely available on the GSU website. Here’s hoping 2013-14 is equally as eventful.

SUMMER 2013 THE LEOPARD

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MUSIC Isle of What? Isle of Bestival! By Sam Bossman

We’re starting our coverage of this summer’s festival season with coverage of Bestival, the festival we’re most excited about. Bestival turns ten this year and the stage is set for the celebrations with the announcement of Fatboy Slim as the Friday headliner as well as the debut of the new Port Stage. For most of us who attend Bestival, it’s the festival’s setting on the Isle of

Wight that helps make it such an experience, so we’ve asked Sam Bossman, an Isle of Wight resident and regular attendee of Bestival to give his perspective on the last ten years of the festivals annual invasion of his hometown. Tom Moore also gives an insight into the other side of the festival and how it feels to play the main stage.

That Time When I Played at Bestival

By Tom Moore Bestival is a really highly regarded music festival now and I think that’s partly down to its eclectic line-up and also because of the dreamlike atmosphere they create within the festival grounds.

You feel like your entering a new surreal world when walking around, and unlike other festivals they make an effort to keep the place clean and tidy!

And so, unsurprisingly it draws big crowds of very creative people, and as a performer that’s exactly what you want. I know my band at the time made a lot of effort to try and put on a good performance, because it’s not like a gig in your mate’s back garden, you really want to impress people at Bestival because it’s where the real music fans go.

Behind the scenes I doubt a lot changes from one festival to the other; it’s the people and what’s going on in the festival grounds that make the difference I think. The crowd feed of the atmosphere and the bands can feed off the crowd and so it’s like a big culmination of things that make for some great unforgettable performances. I will always remember The XX set just after they had won the mercury music prize, it was a totally mesmerizing and serene experience seeing them that year, but that moment would of only worked so well at a utopian place like Bestival.

For me as a performer my experience was very different than when I have

been to festivals purely as a music fan. The obvious things like queuing up outside for a couple of hours whatever the weather and having your stuff searched for whatever reason all changes. And just generally being treated like an important person is a nice feeling. We had the privileges of artist camping and I got carted around on a buggy the day we were playing.

Things like that are great, you feel as excited as a kid on Christmas day, but the weathers nice and no one tries shoving Brussels sprouts down your throat.

Actually playing a festival like Bestival is a totally unique and life fulfilling experience. I always use to dream about it, it’s a childhood thing like wanting to be an astronaut. It doesn’t happen to everyone even though there are a lot of people who deserve it. Although I did have a bad case of diarrhea at the time so I used up a lot of energy, not only worrying about being the first band on the main stage, but dealing with the nerves that come about when worrying about being the first guy to shit his pants whilst playing a major UK music festival. What makes Bestival really stand out is its attention to the present yet still holding onto all the best artists of the past whilst giving you a great surreal environment to enjoy with your mates.

It all started with an adventure, or an adventure park to be more exact. Robin Hill, a permanent fixture of my childhood, nestled in a small green valley; it is a child’s dream straight out of Alice in Wonderland and I spent many long, hot, sultry – actually most likely drizzly – afternoon exploring its boundaries with wild abandon. Today, its hills have become alive with music, and there is not a Nazi in sight, but instead a positively multicultural array of costumes, and characters, that would not have entered even Adolf Hitler’s darkest nightmares. It is the behemoth of Bestival.

I grew up on the Isle of Wight and as an “Islander”, I have seen the small-time but big attitude of Bestival, take it from the side-lines to the front-line of the festival boutique.

Scooping ‘Best Medium-Sized Festival (2006)’ at the UK Festival awards and ‘Best Major Festival’ in 2010 and again in 2012, Bestival has become the alternative, liberal safe haven festival. This year is Bestival’s tenth year, and to mark that anniversary is a nautical theme that isolates what for, people from off the island, “mainlanders”, see as special about Bestival, the trip over the sea.

This connection with punters is another hallmark of Bestival. Rob Da Bank and co. are able to isolate what makes a good time and it is not mud caked insanity until you vomit (well it is, but with a safety net of hospitable comfort). The staffs are friendly, and there seems to be a veneer of sunshine on the place, even if there is rain. The Oxfam tent for example provides free cake and tea on a bed of cushions, which sounds dreamy but is genius in reality. This is what makes Bestival different from the corporate horrors of, say, V Festival.

And, with Elton John donning his no doubt well-worn captain’s outfit it is sure to receive all the plaudits once again this year, despite Glastonbury returning from its mudenforced exile.

Rob and Josie Da Bank, together with co-founders “John and Ziggy”, must take a lot of credit for seeing the potential that Bestival at Robin Hill harboured (sorry, it is a nautical theme after all). The little blob at the bottom of the map of Britain is not first on many people list for a wild weekend, even if you are aware of the landmark 1969 Isle of Wight Festival, but as a location it gives people the licence to escape entirely into a bizarre world where inhibitions are comfortably left behind without becoming ill-natured.

For “Islanders” like myself we have become accustomed to seeing the ferry ports flooded with thousands of people at different times of the year, Cowes Week and the Isle of Wight Festival also attract considerable numbers. Although in recent years, Bestival has comfortably asserted itself, so much so that coming to university in London I’ve found it’s easier to say I’m from the “Isle of Bestival”, rather than get bogged down in explaining: “no, we’re not savages” “yes, we have schools” and, a personal highlight “yes, we are inbred.”

However, with the added popularity and acclaim logistical problems have come. Bestival’s site at Robin Hill, although large, has begun to slightly creak with the amount of people. Its seemingly annual increase of capacity from 10, 000 (2004 limit), in line with its popularity, has patently found its limit at the 55, 000 mark. The death of Michael Molloy on a coach departing the 2012 Bestival, as well as a driver running down and killing a festival-goer in 2010 have been significant blots on a festival that prides itself upon being safe but fun. Michael Molloy’s death is particularly damaging: his talent as a musician and ambitious personality immediately gave the media a story, and his song “Rise and Fall” posthumously entered the UK Top 40.

Accidents such as these are inevitable on the Isle of Wight, to put it into context, the biggest road that exists on the IOW is a dual carriageway, for the amount of people that do attend every year, not discounting those of the IOW’s 140, 000 strong population who are not attending the festival, and the amount of transport that is involved, this is a serious problem. The main road connecting Newport, the county town, to Bestival is single-lane and, until recently, did not have lines, some of the corners are unsighted, and it is a wonder many more accidents have not happened. The complete logistical failure of the 2012 IOW festival also garnered further bad publicity, despite the weather and bad organisation that, chiefly, created the problem.

Predominately good organisation is what has saved Bestival, because it is, undoubtedly, a festival that is crafted by genius. Last year 55, 000 people watched Stevie Wonder in a place with a “rabbit run” for Christ’s sake! The transport is, for the most part, well organised and it is perhaps the IOW council’s responsibility to improve the infrastructure for an important cash-cow and a growing population, not Rob Da Bank’s. Still, at this moment, any calls for a move from the Isle of Wight are premature, Bestival is, like me, inseparably associated with it. The limit may have been reached with the number of people but the potential of Bestival certainly hasn’t, its desire to increase the site, but maintain the number of people, is testament to an “adapt and survive” mentality that is what’s needed in the ultra-competitive festival market. Certainly, this year, like so many others, it will sell out and certainly, this year, like so many others, I will be upside down in my tent dressed like a sea captain.

SUMMER 2013 THE LEOPARD

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MUSIC Soundtracks Comeback: More organisations needed

By Gary Spencer

The phenomenon of the inner city music festival has been on the rise for some time now, offering a mudfree alternative to the traditional summer festivals. Whilst Brighton’s Great Escape and the Camden Crawl may be the most well-known names in this sub-genre, there has been rapid take-up of this festival format throughout the country with nearly every major city now boasting its own single ticket, multi-venue music events including Liverpool’s own ‘Sound City’ and Nottingham’s ‘Hit The Deck’ festivals.

Perhaps the most ambitious take on this incredibly popular format however is the returning Soundtracks Festival, which took place last month across London’s East end following its surprising absence in 2012.

What marks Soundtracks out though compared to the multitude of similar events in London alone is an attempt to modify what is very quickly becoming a rather staid formula for urban festival goers. Soundtracks has much greater scope than its more established counterparts with greater focus on the spaces in which artists perform and what seems a rather unique ideological approach at attempting to integrate different areas of London drawing attendees across a series of hand-picked locations including East London hot spots: Dalston Old Boy’s Club and Peckham’s Bussey Building, whilst, in their own words, turning the overground line from a ‘means of transportation into a destination’.

What at first appears as an admirable attempt at overhauling a rather well worn festival template is unfortunately undermined by a lack of planning and to a greater extent a lack of publicity.

On the verground line ticketholders and the general public alike were treated to acoustic sets from artists whom also appeared at venues throughout the day, offering up a chance for fans to see artists perform in multiple environments and for the acts themselves to build up support. In practise the attempt of

Soundtracks to draw in the general public and cultivate a fluid performance space for the bands is manifested in a slightly awkward merging of those travelling and music fans crowding into the overground’s carriages, at times creating a nighon impossible atmosphere for the acts to play in. Coupled with the lack of a timetabled programme which meant that even finding a band you’d hoped to see was in reality left to chance, rendered this travelling showcase something of an annoyance rather than providing the level of immersion I’m sure the organisers were hoping it would.

There were again problems with the organisation of the festival with some of the venues running behind schedule and an unannounced venue change due to the weather meaning it was even harder to plan for seeing any band in particular, which was frustrating due to the large mix of artists playing throughout the day and the increased travelling times between the sprawl of venues.

That’s not to say that Soundtracks didn’t get anything right on the day with standout performances from the haunting Brighton born multiinstrumentalist Woodpecker Wooliams at Rotherhithes’ Brunel museum which hosted artists inside the cavernous entrance hall of London’s first underground tunnel and an extraordinary crowd-pleasing set from ‘London’s premier guitar poets’ the Wave Pictures at the Bussey Building whose urban folk singalong was a very fitting end for the festival.

Soundtracks 2013 unfortunately seems to have for the moment bitten off more than it can chew, whilst offering up an eclectic lineup of musicians and performers in an innovative new approach is definitely something to be praised it seems the organisers are yet to find their feet.

Nonetheless the acts I did manage to catch throughout the day seemed to enjoy the for the most part the relaxed staging of the event, hopefully next year the festival will have managed to resolve a few of these teething problems and will leave a little more of an imprint.

A Heavenly Journey If you’re like me, a person who has a song for every moment, a thriving ambition and don’t mind working hard, being rewarded with what once might have been a distant dream is something I am sure you will achieve. This is my story, sound tracked by some brilliant bands and some truly inspirational figures.

Record labels are the beating heart of the music industry, without them many great bands from The Beatles to The Rolling Stones, The Strokes to Arctic Monkeys would have gone unnoticed, let alone become some of the biggest and memorable rock ‘n’ roll bands in the world.

For any crazed music fanatic, the sheer dream of working for a label is instant access to an exclusive club full of likeminded music nuts. Throughout history many of the great independent labels from Tony Wilson’s Factory to Rough Trade, Alan Mcgee’s Creation and 4AD have sometimes been driven to despair by their acts made penniless by others, but, ultimately released some of the greatest records of all time, marked by a belief that this music will bring happiness to those who lay their hands on it.

My interest in record labels first began in conjunction with my teenage obsession for British band The Libertines.

Transfixed by their exhilarating tracks and turbulent relationship, my natural impatience quickly threw out any ideas of picking up a guitar and replicating

By Katherine Cantwell

their anger, so as an alternative I decided to write about it.

Creating my own music blog was an outlet for my pent up energy! Releasing words of enthusiasm ignited by a live performance, a cracking album or exclusive news for my most over ruling passion to date was something of a starting point for my fledging interest in the world of music. Thanks to the internet, it also grabbed the attention of young acts, built a platform for inspiring fans and allowed me to rabbit on incessantly about my favourite topic of choice.

As my drive for everything with guitars, drums and a decent bass line landed me in London, sitting behind my laptop bashing at the keys, speakers on full volume wasn’t enough of a buzz anymore. Having compiled my albums of 2012 list, the fantastically colourful self-tilted debut from East London band TOY made the number one spot and gave me a new ambition to focus on. I wanted a key to the door of those that contributed to delivering me this magical record.

Keeping my options open, I began sending endless letters, emails and at times tweets to the main figures behind my most loved labels. Never giving up, despite the frequency of not a single response, my all encompassing desire finally landed me a one day a week spot at TOY’s label, Heavenly Recordings.

Most famous for capturing the Manic Street Preachers in their early stages, the romantic swoon of Doves and St Etienne as well as opening the doors of the legendary Social Club that spin’s the very best of the Heavenly Jukebox, Heavenly were now the home to my latest band crush. Welcomed by founding figure, Jeff Barrett and rucksack full of records to takeaway, my five months with the label was the whirlwind musical adventure that I had always craved.

Behind the scenes, it was the hub of music I anticipated, helmed by the likeminded characters I had envisaged.

Throughout, it has been nothing but a pleasurable experience that on occasions have hit surreal heights. Finding myself on the guest list for numerous gigs, reading articles in the NME about their current success and partying with the band of the moment, Charlie Boyer and The Voyeurs will be treasured moments, that “I can’t wait to tell the gran kids!”

Rock ‘n’ roll clichés aside, it’s the hardworking team of fanatical music fans that captured my heart and informed my belief that indeed record labels are the beating heart of that wonderful place we call the music industry.

It’s with a genuine respect and a blushing honesty, I would like to dedicate this article to Jeff Barrett, Danny Mithchell, Lucy Doyle, Carl Gosling, TOY, Charlie Boyer and his Voyeurs.

Thanks, it’s been incredible.

SUMMER 2013 THE LEOPARD

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PHOTOGRAPHER’S PAGE

Black and White Photography

By Camilo Fernandez

When I started as a photographer I had no clue of what I was really doing with my camera. Therefore, I started looking for inspirations for my work as an artist; I began searching for an influence – a “mentor” – to help me find my path into the world of photography. One of the first photographers who came across to me as a role model was Ansel Adams, the master of black and white photography. He is one of the main reasons why I do black and white photography.

Moreover, while I was doing my course at Central Saint Martins School of Art in London, I learnt to not only take pictures and develop them myself but also I to put meanings into a single photograph or a body of photographs. This was my first project about lighting and body shape.

For more information about the projects, please visit my website:

www.camilo.4ormat.com.

THE LEOPARD APRIL 2013

14

SPORT

Time After Time: Sir Alex Ferguson

By Olly Bellamy

Love him or hate him, it’s impossible to not see what a fantastic role Sir Alex Ferguson has done at Manchester United, leaving behind a huge legacy that David Moyes will have to work very hard to see through. In a typical stalker role, we look at Alex Ferguson’s career, right from his first game in 1957 up to winning Manchester United’s 20th Premier League title.

September 1957: A 16-year-old Alexander Ferguson debuts for Queens Park as an amateur in a successful career playing as a striker, turning down various moves to England in favour of staying in the Scottish League.

June 1974: Appointed as manager of East Stirlingshire in a part time role.

September 1974: After just 3 months in charge, Ferguson is scouted by St. Mirren and, over the course of 3 years takes them from a struggling second division team to first division champion.

1978: Fired from his position following a disrespectful behaviour to a club secretary and unauthorised payments to players, it is later admitted his impending move to Aberdeen is the reason behind his dismissal.

1986: Begins part time care of the Scottish National team, managing to secure just 1 point in their group at the World Cup held in Mexico.

November 1986: Declines positions at Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur and completes his move to Manchester United after the firing of previous manager Ron Atkinson.

January 1990: Having gone for four years without a trophy, speculation begins surfacing over the future of Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. Reports also suggest that the team has begun looking at a replacement a year earlier.

June 1993: Sir Alex Ferguson guides Manchester United to their first Premier League title in 26 years, signalling the beginning of one of the most successful reigns in the top flight of football that sees him achieve the Premier League title 13 times, the FA Cup five times, League Cup four times, Champions League twice, the European Cup Winners Cup, European Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup and World Club Cup. June 1994: For the first time in the club’s history, Manchester United achieves the double under Alex Ferguson, a feat that only three other clubs have achieved.

June 1996: Manchester United wins the Champions League, the Premier League and FA Cup, securing the ‘Treble’. Alex Ferguson becomes Sir Alex Ferguson after being knighted by the Queen.

May 2001: Announces plans to retire at the end of the 2002 season, severing all ties with Manchester United after it becomes apparent he is unable to negotiate an extended deal with the club. Ultimately he is able to agree with the new terms and signs a new deal.

March 2004: Having always cited his health as one of the primary factors of his retirement, mild speculation

begins surfacing after Ferguson was fitted with a pacemaker.

June 2006: For the first time in 14 years manages to achieve the League Cup. May 2012: Ferguson’s wife, Cath, confirmed that Ferguson has planned to retire at the end of the 2012 season, however having lost the title race to Manchester City, will continue on another year in order to recapture it from Manchester United’s fierce rivals.

May 2013: The media begins to circulate around the idea of Ferguson retiring at the end of the season.

2013– May 4: Reports suggest of Ferguson missing the beginning of the 2013/2014 season due to surgery on his hip.

2013– May 7: Rumours begin to surface on Manchester United training ground among players and staff over Ferguson’s intentions to retire at the end of the season.

Reports spread to newspapers with the assumption of Ferguson officially making the announcement after their last game at home against Swansea.

Speculation immediately focuses on his successor with suggestions of Everton Manager, David Moyes, spending a season as Ferguson’s understudy.

2013– May 8: Media centres set up live coverage systems at the Manchester United headquarters. At 9.22am the club released an official statement online confirming Alex Ferguson’s retirement at the end of the season, ending his 26-year reign at Manchester United. Speculation intensifies over the successor of Ferguson, with Moyes set as odds on

favourite by betting firms.

Albion in his last press conference.

2013– May 9: Announces his intention to begin writing a follow-up autobiography. Wrigley’s chewing gum stock prices fall. Manchester United immediately appoints Everton manager David Moyes.

2013– May 13: After the last home game of the season against Swansea, Alex Ferguson addresses the 75,000 strong crowd at Old Trafford for the first time since his retirement is made public.

2013– May 19: Manchester United faces West Bromwich Albion, Sir Alex Ferguson’s 1,500th game in charge. Despite holding a large lead, West Bromwich fights back to earn a scintillating 5 - 5 draw.

2013– May 17: Talks of the upcoming match against West Bromwich

2013– May 21: Manager of the Year awarded to Ferguson.

2013– May 23: Announced as a football ambassador to Manchester United, reportedly earning a cool £100,000 per appearance throughout the year.

Impact of ULU Outcome on Sports

By Olly Bellamy It was announced on May 3 by the University of London that plans to close the University of London Union had been put into motion. Ongoing assessments of the union’s practicality had deemed it largely a waste of resources, condemning the only union that represents the 120,000 students in London to an early grave.

With the current economical forecast only partially brighter than my postgraduate career prospects, corporate restructuring is becoming a common practice amongst larger business as a way of aligning themselves with financial targets, streamlining the business through smart delegation practices and outsourcing programmes.

In a business sense, the University of London is no different. They provide a centralised service for the outlying colleges in exchange for a number of fees that come with being associated with the University of London. It’s a fair assumption then that the colleges’ contributions should be met with some

sort of return, the very issue raised in the review by the University of London.

The higher education sector has fared relatively well through the post apocalyptic recession, with student numbers only dipping in 2012 after the tripling of tuition fees. But it’s for the very reason that universities are now looking into their business practices. With students now paying £9,000 a year, there is an understandable belief that they should have a say in where their money is being spent. At the same time, funding has been cut to the universities, so suddenly there’s a position where the students are demanding more, yet the establishments themselves are receiving no extra money from the hike in prices.

From the point of view of colleges like Goldsmiths, which are located outside of central London, the questionable justification of spending large sums of money on a union that very few of their students physically use is understandable. When attending sports at

the ULU grounds I’m always met with blank stares after announcing sheepishly that I’m a member of Goldsmiths, something that clearly iterates a lack of use of the services provided by the outlying colleges.

Yet flicking through the ULU website there are very few sports that would appeal to me and even fewer I expect that would appeal to the archetypal Goldsmiths students. After visiting a number of the clubs there, it would seem that the services provided support the larger universities much more proportionally. Yet this was also one of my main arguments presented against the closure of ULU, smaller colleges without the resources or man power to facilitate unique sports like lacrosse or sailing would suffer most, whereas larger universities like University College London have most sports in place to cover their students out of the ordinary tastes.

Part of the announcement by the University of London aimed at keeping

open as many clubs as possible that were used by a significant number of students from a broad range of universities. Sports like fencing where cited being “provided it only a very few college SU’s” as well as having a notable number of students using the services. The report also aims to reduce the number of duplicated sports like football or athletics that most universities have their own teams for.

Certainly it seems that the University

of London report has aimed to reduce running costs while still keeping the core functionality there, smaller universities are being considered when how useful sports are, however with the final decision yet to be made by the board of trustees a number of members are worried that arguments made by ULU could be used to make extensive and erratic changes beyond the scope of their review.

APRIL 2013 THE LEOPARD

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SPORT

Rugby Send Off

By Leigh Simmons

It’s been an incredible season for the Goldsmiths Greyhounds, having improved on last year’s success they managed a third place finish in their league as well as winning their varsity match 33 - 3. Despite the fine end of season form next year will prove a major challenge with several players vital to the team’s success leaving this year.

Joe Briel This man has been the true professional to the Greyhounds. Captain in second year and vice captain in third, Briel is renowned for having an amazing work ethic in the team. He’s the team organiser who never misses training and is always the first to arrive, making sure all the boys know where they need to be and at what time. On the field, he’s been a tower of strength who’s partial to a try or two. He has great hands and runs well with the ball. Above all else though Briel has a presence, firing the players up and filling them with the extra confidence to go the added mile.

Moment of the season Coming back from injury to score against UCL. Moment to forget Struggling to comprehend a series of substitutions resulting in a line out being handed over to the other team.

Calum Gaffney Not necessarily the biggest or quickest, the pack leader has had his fair share of

injuries over the past two years from constantly putting his body on the line and never backing away from a tackle.

His reading of the game allowed great forward runs and much like Briel, his presence on the field calmed the forward nerves when the team was looking most stretched.

Moment of the season A hard earned try against VETS as he dived on a loose ball.

the strongest built winger in the league, when the backs were against the wall and Goldsmiths looked pressed, Curly was called upon during quick counter attacks with his brilliantly timed runs and lightening speed which caused devastation upon the opposing camp on multiple occasions. He used this brilliant array of talent to finish top try scorer for the second year in a row, but it was his ability to score vital try’s that really earned the respect of his peers.

Moment to forget Injuring his face at the expense of a hard earned try.

Moment of the season Scoring twice against UAL during varsity.

Eliot Williams With a similar dedication to the game as Briel, Eliot never missed training and was always there on time, he always had a try-hard attitude both on and off the pitch. Coming into his own during the third year, Eliot began to excel as a second row proving a pivotal part of the line out. His height combined with light build as a forward was a vital advantage during set pieces.

Moment to forget The one rare game he didn’t score a try.

Tom Hardman An amazing athlete with great hands, Hardman was greatly missed by the team throughout the campaign after having surgery on his shoulder, forcing him to watch from the sidelines. His driven-forward, strong build and awareness left a void in the team, leaving a sense of wanting at times.

His input as team president had played a huge part in driving the team to their best ever season.

Moment of the season A stand out game away to Imperial.

Moment to forget Using colourful language toward the referee against VETS. Tom Ross Known as Curly Tom, Ross was considered by many to be Goldsmiths’ Player of the Year. Despite not being

Moment of the season Ruining Arthur’s life with fitness Fridays.

Daniel Armistead Also known as Deejay, Daniel was the heart and soul of Goldsmiths, both on

and off the field. Earning more caps than any other player he moved from full back, to centre and then to number ten. Deejay exemplified everything good about Goldsmiths athletes. He trained hard, made great friends and never missed a night out with the team.

Deejay was by far one of the most gifted players Goldsmiths has ever had. He had electric pace, great hands and read the game perfectly. If the game needed to be slowed down or sped up he was there. If the game needed an injection of beguile he was there. With his experience and ability now missing from the backs, his boots will be the hardest to fill and Goldsmiths will need to make major strides to counter balance what has now gone.

Moment of the season Scoring a kick against UCL. Moment to forget Missing the other five.

Sigmund Widerberg Our friend from Norway who had never played rugby before excelled in his first season and was a regular starter for the greyhounds. His powerful frame and fearless attitude was a foreboding presence for the yellow bellied opposition. He will be greatly missed by the entire team not just on the field as a player but off the field as a true gentleman.

Moment of the season Playing amazingly against

East

London and destroying his competitor in the scrum.

Moment to forget Casually breaking his jaw against old boys

Calum Mercer With the Goldsmiths Greyhounds adding to their list of injured players, Calum Mercer stepped up to fill a lot of very big shoes, yet the utility man came into his own and rose to become an exceptionally valuable player.

Moment of the season Amazing tackling which contributed to his man of the match performance against MET. Moment to forget Rising from strength to strength, he’s become the staple on the Goldsmiths team with no real moment to forget.

Luiz Suarez’s Premier League Menu Starters

Alexander Büttner and bread Júlio César salad with crotons Spicy Nachos with cheese Monreal

Mains

Brad Goujons Sebastian sea Bassong with citrus-dressed broccoli Jake Livermore and mushroom pie Thomas Hitzls-burger and chips

Desserts

Eaten mess Hazard Steven Piennar Butter Cookies Fruit Sides Antionio Valencian oranges Barry Banana Cesar Apricots

Drinks

Christopher Sambuca Aleksander Coca-Kolarov

Contributors wanted for next year leopardnewspaper@gmail.com

Sport

THE LEOPARD APRIL 2013

16

Twitter: @leopard_sport sportsed.leopard@gmail.com

What to do Over Your Summer

by Olly Bellamy

Take a look at our guide to keeping active over the summer months with what’s still on offer at Goldsmiths. This would require some excess time, so may only be applicable to first year students.

For everyone else, isn’t there a dissertation you should be panicking unreasonably about?

With summer approaching the majority of sports are coming to an end, we give a warm send off to the bitter conditions and harsh tactics of rugby and football, and instead welcome the playful joys of beach volleyball and surfing. With the end of the season already over for the majority of the teams, Goldsmiths still has a number of sports to offer its students over the last bit of the summer term before drunk middle aged Millwall supporters, pregnant East London mothers, knife wielding gang members, shifty looking OAPs, drug lords and chick chicken employees dominate New Cross’ errr... vibrant location.

If you’re after a high-octane sport, filled with booze, women and adrenalin fuelled highs then look no further than extreme cricket. For the first time in the university’s history,

or ANY university’s history for that manor, governing bodies have brought together the timeless classic of cricket and combined it in a deadly fusion of dance, deadly combat, machetes, deadly foes and enough alcohol to level a small Russian army.

Perhaps I’m over exaggerating the cricket run at Goldsmiths by a small proportion, anything more than a few brisk games on the green is likely to be met with extreme force by the powers that be in the Goldsmiths hierarchy.

As far as official sports go the cricket, which is run by the Goldsmiths 2nd’s captain Charlie McGinnes, offers a convenient way of keeping fit during the sporting drought as well as adding an extra dimension to the social experience on offer. The team is looking to field a competitive team but welcomes along individuals from various levels of experience. Equipment is provided and Goldsmiths’ official ground is well kept if a little far from home. The only down side is you’ll have to bring along your own Pimms and dodgy middle class accents.

If you’re after something that involves less leisure time and cucumber sand-

wiches, the athletics club is still active even if numbers have begun to dwindle towards the end of term, so it’s best if you check their Facebook page before wandering down. They meet every Tuesday at New Cross Station to catch the 7.03 train to Catford. Activities include short distance sprints including 200 and 400 metres as well as longer more endurance-based training run on a proper track and with an instructor.

The cycling club, which was mentioned at the beginning of the year, is still in full flow over the summer with various members organising trips in London and around Surrey. The sporadic nature of the events does mean you need to be well informed to know about them however members are kept informed over their Facebook group as well as monthly emails circulating on upcoming events as well as useful advice on accessories and equipment for braving the London streets.

As well as the gym available to those willing to shell out £21 a month, more unorthodox methods of cardio workouts exist around campus, the Goldsmiths Lions practice twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays

in the upper gym in the form of group stunts and tumbling workouts which are more intensive than meets the eye.

Sports’ End of Year Roundup After playing in arctic conditions for the majority of the year including snow, torrential rain and just about every other nasty that mother nature can conjure up, the bulk of sporting teams have now finished their respective seasons just in time before a sniff of sunshine hits good old Blighty.

With only a few competitive sports available, Goldsmiths finest athletes will no doubt be looking forward to a 3-month off and home-cooked dinners that will send them on the bad side of the BMI scale.

After taking up the position of sports editor at the beginning of the year, it was quickly apparent what a monumental job each and every Goldsmiths team has done with

the exceptional lack of resources presented. Goldsmiths has never been known as a sports university, yet each and every team competes at an exceptionally competitive level only amounted through hard work and a genuine desire to win.

The men’s basketball team endured a difficult season. However, they managed a mid table finish thanks to crucial wins against St George’s and the London School of Economics.

They also managed a comfortable win in their varsity match, which helped set the pace for the remaining competition.

The men’s firsts football team had a tough start, recording large losses at the beginning of the season. Yet,

a turn of form after Christmas saw them climb the table to a respectable mid table finish in the LUSL and a league promotion in the BUCS football league.

The seconds team started the season on incredible form and recorded substantial wins over the majority of universities in their league. Despite slightly lower score levels towards the end of the year, the seconds managed to finish at the top of their table thanks to their substantial goal difference amounted at the beginning of the year as well as trouncing the University of the Arts in their varsity match.

The thirds too started the season well, but a series of low scoring matches

The Goldsmiths football team make regular efforts to assemble small teams for friendly matches every so often.

By Olly Bellamy

towards the end of the season means they only narrowly missed out on a promotion to Division 1 but still managed to win their varsity match through a penalty shoot out. With such a committed group of players a promotion next season is more than possible.

The women’s football team also earned themselves a promotion into the premier division after finishing second to Royal Holloway in the league as well as earning a breath taking last moment win against UAL in the varsity match (read the full coverage on the previous edition of The Leopard!)

The men’s hockey team narrowly missed out on promotion, after being edged out by East London University on goal difference. Their campaign has yet achieved the highest target following a defeat by a highly impressive UAL, while their female counterparts too finished second in their league to Roehampton. Keep working hard and better luck next season!

Looking at their performance in both the BUCS and LUSL leagues, the newly-formed ladies netball team will no doubt be looking forward to next year’s fresher’s fair to lure in more fresh talents and form a competitive team for the year ahead.

All the best!

The men’s rugby union team enjoyed a successful campaign and managed an exceptionally strong mid table finish and goal difference despite playing the least amount of

games than any other team. Their solid performance against University of the Arts in the varsity cup gave a nice send off to the team, which typified their end of season form. As reported in the Newspaper, the team will suffer a large number of players leaving over the summer however the team will no doubt use next year to pick up the hottest talents and hopefully secure a well deserved promotion next season.

The women’s rugby team fared less well, finishing the season at the bottom of their table. But of course, all hope is not lost, as the next season will allow the team to start anew.

Despite a series of struggle, the Men’s ball team finished their season in a mid table position having played 2 less games than 3rd placed Essex while the mixed volleyball team managed 2nd place in the premier division and recording only 1 loss in 5 games. The women’s volleyball team finished 4th in their league and rounded off a comfortable season that recorded both 3 wins and 3 losses. Overall the volleyball team managed an enthralling win over UAL in the varsity, which much like the basketball team, set the remainder of the cup up nicely in Goldsmiths’ favour.

Overall then, a solid performance by every team, Goldsmiths biggest achievement was no doubt their victory in the latest Varsity Cup, meaning Goldsmiths have won more times than Arts.