London Student V.32 Issue 9 by London Student

FEBRUARY 13 -FEBRUARY 26 2012 | www.london-student.net | VOLUME 32 | ISSUE 09

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UCL Atheist Society President resigns following cartoon controversy Get a glimpse of life as a Study Abroad student in the States

Why all the memes and what do they mean? Find out if this issue’s lucky couple found love on their date

ULU election results suggest victory for “activist” candidates The University of London Union (ULU) election results have been announced, with the candidates running on strong political, anti-cuts manifestos coming out on top.

________________________________ Writer Hesham Zakai Editor

Are there simply too many men? Research published earlier this month looks at the gender imbalance Photo: Powerhouse Museum Collection PAGE 19

Eviction costs SOAS £12,000 Writer Portia Roelofs SOAS

The forceful eviction of the Bloomsbury Social Centre (BSC) from a SOAS-owned building at 53 Gordon Sq cost the School over £12,000 in legal fees and bailiff costs, it has been revealed. Priot to it being occupied, the building had been empty for three years. Building work was due to commence on a new postgraduate study centre the same week it became occupied. The occupiers claim they had been negotiating for a peaceful exit in early January, but SOAS obtained a court possession order, citing the almost £4,000 a week contract of deferment costs, resulting from postponing the building work. BSC allege that they were negotiating in good faith when the eviction had already been decided upon. The building is being redeveloped in time for September

2012 and the plans include space for SOAS offices, a seminar room, research and study space for postgraduate students and residential accommodation on the fourth floor. During the occupation, which lasted from November 23 to December 22 2011, the building was renamed the Bloomsbury Social Centre and was used to host political meetings, film screenings and discussion groups. The economic rationale behind

the eviction has been disputed. In a statement, SOAS Press Officer, Johannah Flaherty said: “The total cost of the occupation, the eviction, the interruption to the building contract and the additional surveys that had to be carried out due to the damage, now stands at £80,000. “We calculated that the cost per day was £1,244 (exc. legal costs but inc. VAT). Had the occupation continued for another 14 days this would have totalled £17,416.” Documents obtained by London Student under Freedom of Information legislation show that the economic justification for the eviction is open to dispute. The occupation was costing SOAS £3,910 + VAT a week in deferment costs to Parkeray Ltd, and £2,025.78 + VAT in security costs, down from a higher level of security in the first week. The cost of waiting two weeks for a peaceful exit would have been £14,245.87. It is unclear where the other costs in the SOAS calculation come from. The eviction cost of £12,018.96 includes bailiff fees (£8,694) and legal fees (£2,770.80) associated with the eviction. It does not include the cost of any damage caused to the building in the course of the eviction.

Current ULU vice-president Sean Rillo Raczka was elected as President; current Royal Holloway Students’ Union president Daniel Lemberger Cooper was elected to the post of Vice-President; and LSE postgraduate student Jen Izaakson was elected as the new London Student Editor. Alongside these three Sabbatical Officer positions, Craig Gent and Stef Newton were elected to the ULU Board of Trustees. Sean Rillo Raczka ran uncontested and won 737 of the 1234 votes cast in this category. Daniel Cooper defeated Ross Speer by 871 votes to 560 in the second round, a5er Abs Hassanli had been eliminated in the first round with 217 votes. There were a total of 1591 votes in this category. The London Student Editor category was the most closely contested. There were five candidates running with Jen Izaakson triumphing a5er four rounds of eliminations. Izaakson had led from the first round and eventually beat UCL Cheese Grater editor John Bell in the final round by 637 votes to 572. Reflecting on the result, a gracious John Bell said: “Congratulations to Jen, she had the ULU demographic on her side, but ran a good, high energy campaign. I wish her all the best.” Whilst Rillo Raczka was running uncontested for the presidency, he faced a potentially difficult chal-

lenge in overcoming a Re-Open Nominations ‘candidate’ buoyed by voter disillusionment and a support campaign by King’s College London Students’ Union newspaper Roar! Roar! ran a message on its website saying: “We have decided to put the full weight of Roar!’s support behind reopening nominations for ULU President. “We just can’t support an election where there is only one person running for President .” Responding to the ‘Back RON’ campaign, Rillo Raczka said: “Roar! thought it was fair to do a RON campaign against the only presidential candidate; they didn’t contact me or ask me for any comment on that. “People want to vote RON against people who succeed in things. If I was under the radar and wasn’t doing anything that was interesting or controversial, I wouldn’t have got that many RONs. I’m very relaxed about the idea of people doing RON campaigns and things like that. “I think it is also dissatisfaction with ULU from colleges who are paying a lot of money and we need to work to rectify that.” All of the elected candidates define themselves as activists and have pledged to continue ULU’s campaigning work. All candidates will officially take up their new posts on August 1. You can find all the voting figures on our website: www.london-student.net

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KCL War Studies department celebrates 50 years

SOAS to host ‘Where are the Women?’ conference Writer Eavan McKay

Ha ie Williams News Editor

King’s College London’s War Studies department is celebrating its 50th year a7er its establishment in 1962, having become a world leader in the study of war, peace, and security in the past, present and future. War Studies is now providing for over 400 students and 200 doctoral candidates with 13 MA programmes and a popular undergraduate course. The department employs around 100 staﬀ and associated researchers. A special event, ‘War Studies: a Department and a Discipline, Past, Present and Future’ was held on Friday January 27 in celebration of the landmark. Discussions and talks by current staﬀ and former heads of the Department, including its founder, Professor Sir Michael Howard, were followed by an evening reception. Professor Sir Michael said: “This is a Golden Jubilee well worth celebrating; that it should have grown so much speaks volumes for the dedi-

Art by Animals at UCL

cation of its staff, the quality of its students, the political skills of its leadership and the urgency of the need it was created to fill. “I find it astonishing that it is 50 years since we started it all. When I was Prof. Frost

“The Department is one of the very few in the UK devoted to exclusively to the multi-disciplinary study of war as a phenomenon.”

here it consisted of a staﬀ of three and ten graduate students.” Professor Mervyn Frost, Head of Department, said: “The Department is unique in the UK and one of the very few university departments in the world devoted exclusively to the multi-disciplinary study of war as a phenomenon. “Wars challenge all aspects of the so-

Jack Ashby

Ha ie Williams News Editor

The art exhibition, Art by Animals, featuring paintings by elephants, apes and several other species, launched at UCL’s Grant Museum of Zoology last week in collaboration with UCL Slade School of Fine Art graduate, Mike Tuck. The work was gathered from Samutprakarn Zoo, Thailand’s Erie Zoo, Saint Louis Zoo, Cheyenne Maountain Zoo Colorado, Pennsylvania and Missouri, USA by co-curators Mike and Will Tuck. Mike Tuck, said: “We believe the exhibition at the Grant Museum to be the ﬁrst to exhibit multiple species’ paintings and to a8empt to take a broad view of the phenomenon.” The exhibition aims to question visitors whether animals can make art

cieties in which they occur and its study, therefore, deserves academic analysis like any other subject to deepen our understanding of war’s complex issues.” Fraser Bomford, 2003 MA International Relations graduate, said: “I enjoyed that I could dip into diﬀerent subjects – war in the media, intelligence, international relations – which allowed me to read a broad range of literature.” David Bradley. 1967 MA graduate, said: “Today’s 50th anniversary was a most enjoyable day with fascinating presentations and lectures, the opportunity to meet old friends, all rounded oﬀ by a great reception in the evening. “I for one thoroughly enjoyed myself and it was especially gratifying to see how the department had developed over the years and very encouraging to learn how it was dealing with new subjects and opportunities.”

Art by Animals: Picture courtesy of UCL

and be creative, and why some creations by the animal are considered more valuable, or skilful, than others. Will Tuck, co-curator, said: “Although it is fairly clear that any notion of art by animals is essentially anthropomorphic, it starts to raise very interesting questions about the nature of human art.” “Ape art is o7en compared to that of two or three year old children in the ‘scribble stage’,” he added. The painting of a ﬂowerpot by Boon Mee, a former logging elephant in Thailand, is a highlight of the exhibit. The handiwork of gorillas, orangutans and chimps stand alongside an historical documentation of ‘animal

“Whether this is actually art is the big question.”

art’. Painting and sculpture has been used as a leisure activity for animals in zoos since the mid-‘50s, raising funds for conservation by selling the works. Its popularity began with Granada TV’s 1956 Zoo Time, rising with the materialisation of the abstract expressionism movement. Jack Ashby, Manager of the Grant Museum of Zoology, said: “Whether this is actually art is the big question. While individual elephants are trained to always paint the same thing, art produced by apes is a lot more creative and is almost indistinguishable from abstract art by humans that use similar techniques.” Art by Animals is part of the Humanimals Season at the UCL Grant Museum of Zoology, and runs from February 1 to March 9 2012. The Museum is open to the public 1-5pm, Monday to Friday. Admission is free and there is no need to book.

On the 18th February SOAS will be hosting a cross-university conference entitled ‘Where are the Women’. Organising the event are women’s officers from various university of London unions. The event aims to bring together students and key note speakers to discuss issues that affect both female students in the UK as well as women internationally. The conference is timely due to recent statistics that say the UK education cuts are set to hit female students the hardest. This is likely party because humanities subjects both face the greatest decline in government funding and also are more favoured by women. Events at the conference will include self-defence classes, talks from speakers, including John McLaverty from Oxfam discussing women in Sierra Leon government and a talk on women in the media. There will also be a film screening about women during the Arab spring by Egyptian activists. The a7ernoon debate “Where are the Women” will have representatives from different ULU campuses on a penal discussion debating questions from the floor. There will also be poetry and choir performances. All university of London students are welcome to the conference. Sian Mcgee – SOAS Women’s Officer and key conference organiser told London student “We hope this will spark similar events away form the usual NUS conferences which are hindered by bureaucracy.” For more information on the conference there is a facebook event page entitled “Where are the Women” or alternatively contact Sian Mcgee on 251286@soas.ac.uk.

News round up

NUS celebrates 90th birthday NATIONAL

It was in a packed conference room at the University of London Club, Gower Street, on 11-12 February 1922, that the National Union of Students was created, and Ivison Macadam elected its ﬁrst president. Today, the Union celebrates its 90th birthday, led by current president Liam Burns. NUS have said there will be various events throughout the year celebrating the Union’s achievements.

LSE dean issues alcohol warning LSE

Jan Stockdale, Dean of Undergraduate Studies at LSE, has raised concerns to the School’s Personal Security Group about the intake of alcohol on campus. In an email, she expressed concern at the rise of alcohol-related incidents on campus over the past year. Her email stated that “the low cost of alcohol relative to incomes has been a factor in an increase in alcohol consumption with all its a8endant risks”.

Security concerns at Queen Mary Queen Mary

Queen Mary’s security is once more under scrutiny a7er one of its security staﬀ claimed the present reorganisation of its security services has le7 the campus “wide open”, according to a report by QMessenger. This latest revelation will fuel concerns already brimming from the end of last year, when £2,400 worth of SU equipment was stolen a7er a thief broke into QMSU oﬃces.

LONDON STUDENT VOLUME 32 ISSUE 9

Love the Heart: Queen Mary’s makes St Valentine’s Day Medical Ha*ie Williams News Editor

Queen Mary, University of London is oﬀering an exclusive event this Valentine’s Day, asking the time-honoured question of artists, lovers and singletons: can you die from a broken heart? Queen Mary’s Pathology Museum at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, West Smithﬁeld is opening its doors tomorrow, Tuesday February 14, to those medically interested in the human heart, alongside those eager to avoid a clichéd Valentine’s night out. Following complimentary wine and chocolate, guests will be treated to a double-bill of Valentine’s-themed lectures from two medical heart specialists. Dr Alexander Lyon, Senior Lecturer in Cardiology Imperial College and Consultant Cardiologist at the Royal Brompton Hospital, is speaking on stress cardiomyopathy, or “Broken

University applications fall 8.7% Writer Zafer Kha*ak

The number of UK students applying to start university this autumn has dropped by nearly 9%, official figures show, a9er colleges were allowed to increase fees as part of the government’s plan to narrow the budget deficit. Tuition fees for English universities are due to triple to a maximum of £9,000 this autumn. Overall application from all students, both home and abroad, are down by 7.4%, the figures show. The figures show that the number of applicants have fallen from all parts of the UK. In England the number of applicants has dropped by 9.9%, Northern Ireland 4%, Scotland 1.5% and Wales 1.9%. Education experts warned that the Government's plans to raise tuition fees could be having an impact on application figures. But UCAS chief

Heart Syndrome”. Dr Lyon will expose the facts and ﬁctions of the condition: the rigorous decline of the heart muscles that can occur a9er emotional or physical trauma, such as strokes, seizures or the sudden loss of a loved one. Dr Samantha Warnakula, University of Cambridge, will talk on the health beneﬁts of chocolate. This National Pathology Year 2012 event is introduced by Dr Catherine Molyneux, Director of Anatomical Studies at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry at Queen Mary. “The Museum is hosting this unique Valentines event as part of National Pathology Year – a series of events taking place across the UK to celebrate the medical achievements made through the study of disease,” said Dr Molyneux. “This is a unique opportunity for the public to come inside the museum, which is such a valuable resource for research and teaching. Compared with what a lot of other people may be doing on Valentine’s Day, it’s sure to be a fascinating and extremely different experience.”

executive Mary Curnock Cook suggested that population changes could be a factor in the fall, and said the drop in demand was larger among wealthier students than poorer ones. And university leaders said the dip had been "far less dramatic" than had been predicted. For prospective students, it's important to remember that there is still time to apply. This is only the start of the admissions process. The important thing will be looking at how many of these, and subsequent applications, turn into acceptances in the coming months. Last week, the government announced that the number of university places for this autumn would be cut by 15,000. The move was detailed in a le:er from Vince Cable, the business secretary, and David Wille:s, the universities minister, to organisations that give out public funds to universities on behalf of the government. It also stated that funding for teaching in universities would be cut by 18%.

Former SOAS Student detained in Iran in preelection crackdown

Parastoo Dokouhaki, MA Media studies (SOAS 2007-8)

Writer Portia Roelofs

The Pathology Museum, usually closed to the public, is situated in the Robin Brook Centre at Bart's Hospital on Queen Mary’s West Smithﬁeld campus. Its collection concentrates on cardiovascular, reproduction and gynaecology, cancer and forensic medi-

Readers banned from SOAS library

Photos courtesy of Queen Mary’s

cine. Anatomical heart specimens will be on display at the event and a cake rafﬂe – donated by the new tea shop and vintage store “Crimson Heart”, Shoreditch – will raise money for the British Heart Foundation.

Writers Portia Roelofs

There are daily reminders not to eat in the library, and occaisional disgruntled sounding tannoy announcements, but has anyone ever been thrown out for good for snacking between the stacks? It has been revealed that in 2011 an external visitor to the library was permanently banned for “striking a member of staff”, according to Johannah Flaherty, SOAS’s Press Officer. More recently, someone was banned for a month for eating in the library despite “repeated requests” from library staff, and another was banned for the same length of time for “fraudulently using a SOAS student's identity card”. Both were external visitors, not SOAS students. Asked if the library had ever had to exclude a SOAS student from the premises Flaherty replied: “SOAS

Photo courtesy of SOAS

students are only temporarily banned for serious breaches of our code of conduct. Depending on the circumstances, we would speak to the student and their academics to make special arrangements for study support.” “A:acks on any member of staﬀ will not be tolerated. SOAS will take the necessary measures to protect its staﬀ from verbal and physical abuse. The SOAS Library code of conduct was dra9ed to ensure the safety of all its users, to enable them to study without disruption and to protect all learning materials and facilities.” The library reminds students not to lend their cards to external users, in the interests of security. The Library Customer Charter is available on the library website.

A SOAS alumni has been arrested in Iran as part of a wider crackdown on bloggers and journalists. Parastoo Dokouhaki, who studied for an MA in Media studies in 2007-8 was arrested in her home in Tehran on the 15th January this year. She has previously wri:en on women's rights for the magazine Zanan and her own blog Zan-Nevesht but had not been involved in political activity in the last few years. The European Commission, Amnesty International and the US State Department have all made calls for her release. Aki Elborzi, President of SOAS Iranian Society, said “We express our solidarity with Parastoo Dokouhaki and add our serious concern for her well-being and safety.” No oﬃcial explanation has been given for her detention.

SOAS to host Middle East Conference Writer Ha*ie Williams News Editor

SOAS is hosting a free, studentorganised conference, A9er the Spring, examining the future of the Middle East. Speakers for the event on February 25 will include Sami Zubaida, Charles Tripp, Brian Whitaker, Nadje El-Ali and other academics, journalists, and activists. SOAS have organised the conference “in the hopes of be:er understanding the hopeful opportunities and signiﬁcant challenges that lie ahead for the region and its people.” Panels will include Geopolitical Challenges to Political Change; Justice, Intervention, and the Rule of Law in Transition; Gender and Sexuality in Revolutionary Politics, and Transforming Societies? Social Change across the Region.

LONDON STUDENT VOLUME 32 ISSUE 9

UCL Atheist Society Bill Gates tackles President resigns following World Poverty at cartoon controversy LSE Writers Hasnar Haidar

The president of the University College London’s (UCL) Atheist, Secularist and Humanist Society, Robbie Yellon, has resigned following controversy over a publication of a cartoon sketch depicting the Prophet Mohammed and Jesus Christ having a drink on the society’s facebook page. The society used the title page, from an online satirical comic book “Jesus and Mo”, by a pseudonymous British cartoonist called Mohammed Jones, to advertise a social event. UCL’s Union backed the protests of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Asso-

ciation against the sketch. Following complaints from students, the society was advised by the union that it would be “prudent” to take the cartoon down. The society refused, launching an online petition to “defend freedom of expression at University College London” and criticising “a6empts to censor” the society. A UCL Union statement said: “The atheist society has agreed they will take more consideration when drawing up publicity for future events. The society was asked to remove the image because UCLU aims to foster good relations between different groups of students and create a safe environment where all students can beneﬁt from societies regardless of their religious or other beliefs.” The Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Associa-

tion is continuing with its protest against the image, saying it has wider implications. “The principle is more important than who is being attacked,” says Adam Walker, the association’s national spokesperson. “This time it is Muslims and Christians but in the future it could be atheists themselves.” The Secretary for the National Federation of Atheist, Humanist and Secular Student Societies, Michael Paynter said Yellon “stepped aside because he signed up as president to organise events and run a student society. He did not appreciate the stress he would be under when dealing with a controversy like this, so he wanted to make way for someone else.” Yellon will be replaced by former vice president Michael Thor.

UCL’s Atheist Society President Robin Yellon has resigned in the aftermath of the contro versy which followed after his society posted a cartoon of the prophet Muhammed on its Facebook page. Image courtesy of UCL

Ha#ie Williams News Editor

Bill Gates, co-founder and chairman of Microso5 and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, expressed his views on the prevention of world poverty, conferencing at the LSE last week. Mr. Gates covered the key themes of his 2012 Annual Le6er, which he delivered alongside Hans Rosling, cofounder and chairman of the Gapminder Foundation and advisor to the Global Poverty Project. In the lecture, Gates concentrated on the magnitude of health and agriculture, describing it as “intrinsically connected” to the ba6le against global poverty. He determined that lack of development is “holding people back” in the developing world. Gates said that a be6er understanding of plant genes through scientiﬁc investigation may help lower crop impairment and aid research in the prevention of human diseases. He stressed the importance of scientiﬁc research into the protection of cassava, the developing world’s largest staple, from brown streak disease. “Most of the poor are people with very small farms who barely grow enough to feed their families. In tough years, they are extremely malnourished, so health ties very closely to agriculture,” he said. “The reason why kids die of diarrhoea and pneumonia is because their bodies aren’t very strong; if

they had proper nutrition, the death rate would be dramatically lower.” On issues of health, Gates discussed the successes of an ongoing campaign to eliminate polio, launched in 1987. Today, only ten nations worldwide are le5 with the disease. These are the “toughest countries” in which to eradicate polio, said Gates. In India, once regarded as the greatest challenge, there have been no cases of polio in the last year.

Photos courtesy of The Beaver

Gates concluded: “There are many things going on in terms of the Eurozone crisis and budget cutbacks that would make it easy to turn inward and reduce ﬁnancing. People are reminded that donations and aid have a signiﬁcant impact on the lives of others overseas.” Gates added that we must “keep doing what we’re doing” to end poverty. He praised Great Britain’s commitment to poverty reduction as “actually quite exemplary.” Bill Gates, the most famous entrepreneur of the computer revolution, was greeted enthusiastically by students as he entered LSE.

Student occupation protesters investigated for terrorist links Writers Portia Roelofs The Metropolitan Police's Counter-terrorism division, SO15, investigated the 53 Gordon Sq occupation for links to terrorist factions. Documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show that SOAS Management were in communication with SO15 and Camden Council in the ﬁrst weeks of the occupation, which started on 23rd November last year. The SO15 was set up to “protect London and the UK from the threat of terrorism … providing a proactive and reactive response to terrorist, domestic extremist and related oﬀences.” The documents include a dra5 witness

statement from Richard Poulson, Director of Estate at SOAS, which was presented to the High Court of Justice as part of the hearing for an expedited possession order for the occupied building on 15th December. It states that the School believed the occupation was “connected with the wider Occupy Movement and … the Government’s planned public spending cuts”. It reads, “The police were concerned that the occupation might have been linked to terrorist factions planning to inﬁltrate the [November 30th] march.” Contact was made with both the SO15 division and local Camden Police “in connection with these concerns.” However, a5er the original communications, police interest faded. The statement suggests this was because “there

is no or insufficient evidence linking the occupiers to any criminal activity of the sort they feared when the occupation commenced." The Metropolitan Police were unable to comment on their communications regarding the occupation. The occupiers called themselves the Bloomsbury Social Centre and said they were “[hoping] to use the space that SOAS have neglected as a hub of organising for students, workers and residents in the Bloomsbury area.” They held a daily schedule of events in the building including dinners, film nights and information evenings for tenants, workers and benefits claimants. A spokesman from Bloomsbury Social Centre, Robin from Birkbeck, said:

“Domestic extremism is a term which has been applied to campaigners for social justice in the UK over the past few years. Were we campaigning for social justice? Certainly. If demanding wages and pensions people can actually live on is extreme, then we counted as such extremists.” Val Martin, a student at SOAS, said “"It comes to something when the state is so suspicious of people speaking against it - even in the form of peaceful student protest - that they look for links to terrorism." A motion condemning police presence on campus was passed by 2 votes short of unanimous at the SOAS UGM on 17th January this year. Proposed by Kristian Brunn, Vernon Square Oﬃcer on the Student Union and seconded by

Keiko Ono, the International Students' Officer, the motion noted “The unnecessarily violent eviction of the Bloomsbury Fightback occupation at 53 Gordon Square by masked bailiffs in December 2011”. It also made reference to an incident in 2009 where police carried out a dawn raid against people working as cleaners in SOAS, which resulting in five deportations, including of a woman who was 6 months pregnant. The motion argues that “That the security of students and staff (notably cleaners) has been neglected, whilst the security of 'management' at SOAS to make profit and control property has been privileged.” and defend the School community from UK Border Agency, Police and Bailiff presence.

NEWS

LONDON STUDENT VOLUME 32 ISSUE 9

Illustrator Nathan Clu erbuck

Anthony Shadid 1968-2012

Writer Bassam Gergi News Editor

Marie Colvin 1957-2012

Courage in journalism

To be a journalist in many parts of the world is not a ma8er lightly taken today. Anthony Shadid and Marie Colvin , two reputed foreign journalists, lost their lives in Syria last week as they tried to shed light on the a8rocities being perpetrated by the Assad regime. Their courage, their steadfast desire to bear witness to historic transformations in the Middle East, and their determined pursuit of the truth, no ma8er the cost, marked them apart. In an age where technology is supposed to make the world a more transparent place, journalists are increasingly coming under a8ack. The number of jailed journalists worldwide in 2011 reached the highest level since 1996. Imprisoned, intimidated, and targeted, journalists face a dangerous landscape. What too many journalists and their loved ones have discovered is the truth o7en comes at too dear price. This week, world news is highlighting a handful of courageous journalists who gave their lives to open a window through which the rest of us could look in.

1) Raul Quirino Garza

MEXICO

Just one day a7er the Viennabased press watchdog International Press Institute named Mexico as the world’s deadliest place for journalists to work - Raul Quirino Garza, a municipal employee who also worked for local weekly newspaper La Ultima Palabra, was gunned down. 15 bullet casings from high caliber weapons were found at the scene. A spokesman for the state detectives agency, speaking on condition of anonymity, reportedly told AP that Quirino Garza was shot while driving a new car in the municipality of Cadereyta. The spokesman also indicated that gunmen may have mistaken Quirino Garza for a rival or wanted the car.

(IPI) Executive Director Alison Bethel McKenzie said: “We oﬀer our condolences to the family and colleagues of Mr. Quirino Garza and we urge Mexican authorities to conduct a full, swi7 and transparent investigation into his death. The murder of Mr. Quirino Garza is a grim reminder this early in the year of how dangerous it is to be a media worker in Mexico.”

2)Laecio de Souza

BRAZIL

Brazilian journalist Laecio de Souza was killed January 3 in Salvador, the largest city in Brazil's northeast. According to reports, he had received threatening phone calls prior to his murder, and local drug traﬃckers were reportedly dissatisﬁed with his a8empts to build a community center in a working class neighborhood.

Souza was a local news reporter for the radio station Sucesso FM, and he aimed to run for city council, according to Correio 24 Horas. Witnesses said two men shot the journalist while he worked to construct a storage facility for the local community on his property, according to Agência Estado. Souza was shot three times and died on the spot.

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LONDON STUDENT VOLUME 32 ISSUE 9

4)Mukarram Khan Aatif PAKISTAN

Wael Mikhael

EGYPT

Mikhael, an Egyptian cameraman for the Coptic television broadcaster Al-Tareeq, wasshot while filming violent clashes between Coptic Christian protesters and the military in front of the headquarters of the Television and Radio Union, commonly referred to as Maspero, according to the broadcaster and other news reports.

Mikhael was shot in the head, the station said. The source of fire was not immediately clear, although news accounts reported that military forces had fired on protesters during the demonstrations. The cameraman was one of at least 25 people killed in the clashes, during which hundreds of others were injured, local and international news outlets reported. Mikhael is survived by a wife and three children.

Two gunmen killed broadcast reporter Aatif outside a mosque in Shabqadar, about 15 miles (25 kilometers) north of Peshawar, according to news reports. A correspondent for the private TV station Dunya News, Aatif also worked for Deewa Radio, a Pashtolanguage service of the U.S. government-funded Voice of America. The assailants struck as Aatif was leaving a mosque near his home a1er evening prayers. He was shot several times, and his a2ackers fled on motorcycles, police told reporters. Wounded in the head, Aatif died of his injuries at Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar. An imam at the mosque was also injured in the a2ack, according to news reports. Taliban spokesmen spoke to several news outlets, taking responsibility for the killing. Ihsanullah Ihsan told The Associated Press that Aatif had been warned "a number of times to stop anti-Taliban reporting, but he didn't do so. He finally met his fate."

5) Wisut "Ae" Tangwittayaporn THAILAND

Wisut, 44, a reporter and owner of the newspaper Inside Phuket, was shot and killed by two motorcycle-riding assailants while driving with his wife, Jiraporn Hosakul, during morning rush hour on the southern island of Phuket, according to news reports. One of the assailants fired four times through the windshield of Wisut's car as the journalist was waiting to turn onto a main road, news reports said. Wisut died from gunshot injuries to the shoulder, chest, and throat at Vachira Hospital later that morning, according to the reports. His wife was unharmed. Wisut was likely targeted for his critical reporting. Wisut had reported on a series of controversial land claims for Inside Phuket. He was also a political activist with the United Front Against Dictatorship for Democracy, which is aligned with Thailand's ruling Peua Thai political party.

COMMENT

LONDON STUDENT VOLUME 32 ISSUE 9

Prof. Stefano Harney QMUL

“No one really wants to be a number, or be

rated by one. And yet this is exactly what the NSS does.”

Anya Pearson UCL

“Struggling to find a job or support your fam-

ily? You’d better head to the workhouse with a new-found penchant for gruel.”

The National Student Survey turns us into statistics

hat's wrong with giving someone your 'feedback'? What's wrong with telling someone what you enjoyed, what you didn't, what was helpful, what was not? Nothing, of course. But the way we give our feedback tells us a lot about our relationship with the other person. We could even say that the way we give our feedback helps to define what kind of relationship we are going to have with that person. If you went out last Saturday night, it is unlikely you called your boyfriend or girlfriend on Sunday morning and said I would like to give you some feedback 'from 1 to 5' on your dancing and sense of humour. Nor would you send them a form to fill out so that in the future you could serve them be2er. If your mother asks you how her cooking is, responding with '7 out of 10' is probably a mistake. It would also be a bad move to provide her with a summary graph. It's the same in the commercial world. No one likes filling out those stupid cards telling the restaurant what we thought of their service. But if a waiter asks how things are, we are usually

happy to tell him. It is the same on-line. No one pays a2ention to how many stars a new song or flat screen television receives on Amazon. But we all want to read the comments, even though we suspect some are wri2en by bored employees and others are just plain weird. This is also why representative democracy can o1en feel so unsatisfactory, so hollow. Ticking a box, being just a number in a vote tally, is nothing like catching a politician in a supermarket and telling her what you really think of tuition fees. In short, no one really wants to be a number, or be rated by one. And yet this is exactly what the NSS does to lecturers, and to students. It emphasises big numbers, added together to give rankings, and it turns the relationship between students and lecturers not just into a customer relationship, but an impersonal customer relationship. Comments are chucked aside, and only the numbers survive. It is the numbers that count. And it is the numbers that define who you are as a student or a lecturer in the NSS. Once that relationship is established, it gets worse. Think about what you want from

your relationship with a lecturer. You want feedback that is individual, that addresses your work specifically, and that helps you get be2er. The lecturer wants the same from you. But when you stop giving the lecturer anything but numbers, or more accurately when the NSS forces you into that relationship, the lecturer also reacts to this. Now you are not just her student, but her judge, her jury, and if things go badly, her executioner. This is not your fault. You would like to give real feedback and get real feedback. But that is not how she sees you because now you are just part of the NSS numbers game. She does to treat you now like an individual, but part of an aggregate number, and what she says to you, and how she gives you feedback may look personal, but she is not looking at you. She is looking at a number. And not just a number, but a customer number. I teach in a business school, and I can tell you that the first lesson we teach students is that the customer is to be manipulated. Okay, we don't always say it like that but when we talk about trying to sell something to a customer we are not concerned with whether that customer really

t’s the bicentenary of Dickens' birth this year, but try telling that to Tory and Lib Dem MPs. As they reject all seven Lords amendments to the welfare reform bill, they’re twisting the knife in this already Draconian regime of cuts that are hitting the most vulnerable people in our society the hardest. It strikes me that the repressive Poor Law legislation of the 1830s will sound disturbingly familiar to anyone following the current debate on the proposed £26,000 benefit cap. Struggling to find a job or support your family? You’d better head to the workhouse with a new-found penchant for gruel. The benefit cap borrows heavily from the nineteenth-century principle of 'less eligibility'; that is, the condition of a person on welfare should not be seen as attractive to someone in work (or they'll quit their job, go on the dole and bathe in champagne and caviar, presumably). Thousands of unemployed and impoverished men, women and children were forced into the

workhouses to slave for bread and board to serve as an example to the rest. It was a bit like Oliver Twist, but with less unbridled joy. And then there’s the discipline. 200 years ago, the elite were obsessed with disciplining the 'deviant' poor. In 1834 the Poor Law Amendment act endorsed the pernicious idea that poverty was a choice and therefore the sole responsibility of the individual. Fear of hunger and destitution would give these bond-idle, 'undeserving' poor the incentive they needed to find work. Employment was out there - they just had to wait for the penny farthing to be invented, and then get on it and look for a job. An Assistant Commissioner of the Poor Law complained with disgust about the "Discontented, surly, thoughtless pauper, who talks of ‘right and ‘income’ and will soon fight for these supposed rights”. Flash forward to October 2010 and Ian Duncan Smith is channelling the spirit of Norman Tebbit by telling the unemployed to stop demanding wel-

fare in financially hard times, get on the bus and look for work. But, like the 1840s, unemployment is chronic and an average of 4.3 people are now chasing each job in the UK. The official count of unemployed people who are actively looking for work is 2.68 million. Another driving force of the Poor Law was to deny workingclass people the right to a family life and prevent them from having children, splitting up countless families. Once in the workhouse, mothers, fathers and children were not even allowed to communicate. Similarly, Duncan Smith assumes that people have children just to scrounge more benefits: "They are incentivised, many of these families, to find more children so that they can stay out of work. This is utterly wrong." Duncan Smith cannot countenance the idea that workingclass people may actually want – and deserve – a family of their own. Accordingly, the benefit cap will effectively break up families who can no longer afford to be together, especially if it includes

needs something, only with how to make that customer want something. If I start to see you as a customer in my class I am no longer interested in what you need. I am interested in making you happy so you will say you like my service. In fact, I am not even concerned with you and what you need individually at all, because now you are a number to be satisfied, a number to be moved up the scale by making you like something, not by finding out what you really need. If we are to avoid looking at each other as numbers and treating each like numbers, we need an NSS without numbers, feedback that reflects the relationship we really want to have between lecturers and students.

A workshop focusing on these issues, mobilising opposition to the NSS and designing a more productive form of student evaluation will be held in room 3C at ULU at 6pm on Wednesday 21 March. Speakers include Professor John Holmwood, Campaign for the Public University, Arianna Tassinari, Co President Welfare and Education, SOAS SU and many others. A dra% motion opposing the NSS is available from: d.freedman@gold.ac.uk

Benefits cap: the new Poor Law

child benefit in its £26,000 figure, which seems more than likely. As Liberal Democrat deputy leader Simon Hughes says: "It will provide a financial incentive to be apart". These historical comparisons are not glib. We live in one of the richest countries in the world but studies show that 3 million children currently live below the poverty line in Britain and the daily experience of hunger is reappearing. To claim that our country is a more comfortable and less harsh place since Dickens’ time is not an excuse to regress, or sacrifice equality for misplaced austerity.

Agree? Disagree? Your views: comment@london-student.net Rachel Harger QMUL

“Alfie was struck so hard on the headwith a police baton that he needed three hours of emergency brain surgery to save his life. ”

Paul Haydon

Like the war on drugs,

the war on piracy is unwinnable; people will always ﬁnd a way to circumvent the law. “

COMMENT

LONDON STUDENT VOLUME 32 ISSUE 9

Student demonstrations may have slowed but the ramifications are raging on

n December 9 2010, tens of thousands of students came from across the country to march and demonstrate their anger against MPs voting for the 9K hike in tuition fees. On the streets we experienced mass unity against this deeply unpopular policy, which the Liberal Democrats had pledged explicitly against. However, thousands who came to voice their anger that day were met with police charges on horseback, ke8ling and baton strikes. A senior doctor from Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, who set up a field hospital in Parliament Square on December 9, spoke of her experience being kettled later that night on Westminster Bridge: “It was the most disturbing thing I've ever seen – it must have been what Hillsborough was like. The crush was just so great. Repeatedly I tried to speak to officers, telling them that I was a doctor and that this was a serious health and safety risk.” She recorded people suffering from respiratory problems, chest pains and symptoms of severe crushing. Many who were present at the demonstration experienced police lashing out at protesters throughout the day. Activist and Journalist Jody McIntyre was hit with a baton whilst being pulled from his wheelchair and dragged along the pavement; this happened to him twice that day. Alfie Meadows came on the demonstration a7er being heavily involved in a campaign at Middlesex University, to save his

Philosophy department from closure. The department was subsequently closed, ignoring the concerns of Philosophy students like Alfie. It was a8acks on education such as these which led many students like Alfie to demonstrate, yet Alfie was struck so hard on the

he 18th January 2012 saw the Internet rise up and rear its head in an unprecedented show of force, with online giants such as Google, Wikipedia and Reddit leading a massive campaign against SOPA and PIPA - the planned anti-piracy bills being debated in the US Senate and Congress. Perhaps most hardhi8ing, especially to students, was the terrifying ‘black-out’ of Wikipedia, which asked hapless users to “imagine a world without free knowledge.” Social networking sites soon began to buzz with talk about the dangers of the planned piracy bills, and by the end of the day political support for the bills had crumbled. American lawmakers and politicians began to realise just how much they had underestimated the power of the internet. The criticism levelled against these anti-piracy bills was well-founded. The bills proposed to block access to any website which violated copyright law, meaning that sites which allow users to share information such as YouTube or Wikipedia could be shut down if just one user illegally uploaded copyrighted material. Backed by some of America’s most powerful lobbying groups representing big business and the entertainment industry, those dra7ing the bills did not even a8empt to consult representatives of the internet, and therefore failed to reﬂect some of their legitimate concerns. Namely, that these draconian laws would have severely restricted the free-ﬂow of information online, and in the process threatened the devel-

opment of what has perhaps been the most profitable and revolutionary invention in human history. Admi8edly, piracy is a huge problem that costs the entertainment industry billions of pounds in potential revenue each year. With music and films so easily obtained for free online, many see li8le point in going out and purchasing them for the full price. Of course, this is not morally excusable, and is rightly classed as the7. Yet it is also partly explained by one of the ongoing mysteries of the digital age. Although the running costs associated with packaging, retail and marketing have been removed, many major companies have failed to adapt and still expect us to pay full price for what have effectively become intangible goods. Should we really have to pay iTunes 99p per track, or channels such as Film4 £3.50 to watch a film (once)? Unlike other areas of mass consumption, much of the entertainment industry just doesn’t seem to have matched its prices to the lower costs of production. However, others have shown how revenue can be sustained by taking a more pragmatic approach to online sales. Many bands have followed Radiohead’s example and are giving away albums in exchange for voluntary contributions. Meanwhile ondemand movie services such as LoveFilm, which offer users unlimited access for a small monthly fee, are rapidly growing in popularity. In addition, revenue from online video advertising has rocketed, more than quadrupling since 2008. This shows how many people would prefer to pay a small but rea-

Drawn by imprisoned protester, James Heslip who is serving 12 months at Wandsworth Prison. For more of his drawings from prison visit: http://jamesheslip.blogspot.com/

head with a police baton, that he needed three hours of emergency brain surgery to save his life. As well as losing his university department and almost his life, Alﬁe has been charged with violent disorder and faces a trial on March 26. However the police who carried out a8acks on protesters throughout

the day and evening are yet to face any charges. Many workers and trade unionists came down to Whitehall on the evening of 9th December, a7er finishing work, to stand in solidarity with the protesters being ke8led. We are asking for the same display of support for Alfie Meadows as he goes into court on March 26. We have already seen a number of protesters receive long custodial sentences of up to 36 months. Not only has this ripped many young people away from their families and friends, but it has o7en meant universities have a8empted to exclude and expel these students. This happened most recently to James Heslip, a third year student at Kingston. However he was immediately reinstated following a campaign by students and staff who he was twinned with. We encourage supporters of the campaign to get involved with the twinning scheme. Your le8ers will not only ensure imprisoned protesters know they are not alone, but will also create the necessary political channels of solidarity, for those imprisoned who could suffer further victimisation. To twin with an imprisoned protester or find out more, please email: info@defendtherigh8oprotest.org As part of the Defend the Right to Protest Campaign, we are calling for an end to political charging and sentencing of protesters. We must defend the right to protest; we must call on the authorities to drop all charges against Alfie Meadows and all criminalised student demonstrators.

The internet strikes back over SOPA

sonable fee, or simply watch a couple of adverts, in order to enjoy a reliable, high-quality service and avoid the guilt and risk of illegal piracy. Meanwhile in China, where pirated DVDs have long dominated the market, some companies such as Fox and Time Warner have started selling films for as li8le as two dollars in order to recover some of their lost revenues. More recently, a deal was made between Fox and Chinese video website Youku, allowing online users to view the latest Hollywood films for a tiny charge. Similarly in India, which also suffers from rampant piracy, firms have begun selling legitimate DVDs for cut-prices, beating the counterfeit competition by providing higherquality and risk-free goods. This shows how those powerful lobbying groups within the entertainment industries who pushed for the US anti-piracy bills have to adjust to the new realities of the information age. Whilst efforts to legally clamp down on piracy are fully justified, they will never fully succeed in upholding copyright law, and should not come at the cost of the freedom of the internet. Like the war on drugs, the war on piracy is unwinnable; people will always find a way to circumvent the law. The film and music industry therefore need to find more effective ways of safeguarding their profits, by lowering their prices, increasing ease of access or finding alternative sources of revenue such as advertising. The real way to beat piracy is not through legislation, but through the market.

Boys will be boys

Lawrence Wakefield Greenwich

Panel shows 'Mock the Week' and 'QI' were among the BBC shows criticised this week for not putting enough women in their programme. It seems bizarre that such a objection could be raised after all, comedy is a male dominated business. It always has been, and will continue to be for the forseeable future.

Why then, should shows that feature (primarily) comedians be forced to staff its teams in a way that is disproportionate to the business? Should a fear of being labelled as sexist really stop TV companies making their shows the way they want to? Perhaps we should ask the likes of ITV's Loose Women and Take Me Out to feature an equal amount of men and women? If Mock the Week and QI are to be criticised, I feel it should be on the merits of the shows themselves, rather than the gender count. Indeed, there's plenty to get worked up about.

The infuriatingly faux-academic pretense of QI has us believing Stephen Fry is some sort of Einstein of our times, for simply being able to read off a card while his Oxbridge educated friends on the panel take it in turns to congratulate him for presenting knowledge that may or may not be hearsay. Mock the Week meanwhile, serves only as a slim framework for comedians to read out the same stand-up material they have been espousing across every other TV panel show that month, propped up by the occasional excitement of a Frankie Boyle joke that crosses into very bad taste territory.

Maybe the BBC would be better advised to put quality content first on their agenda and difficult diversity issues second. Then the answer would be surely be simple employ the comedians that are the funniest - irrespective of their gender, age or race.

COMMENT

LONDON STUDENT VOLUME 32 ISSUE 9

THE GREAT DEBATE

Agree? Disagree? Your views: comment@london-student.net

Should student newspapers have a page 3?

Last month, KCLSU’s student newspaper, Roar!, announced their intention to run a page 3 feature, reigniting debates about whether or not page 3 is demeaning and what place – if any – it should have within student press. Meanwhile, at The Leveson Inquiry, The Sun’s editor, Dominic Mohan, launched a defence of page 3 in response to criticism from women’s groups. In this issue of The Great Debate, Roar!’s editor responds to the furore to clarify Roar!’s position, and we also hear from a student who believes page 3 has no place in the press.

Writer Zoe Tipler KCL

YES

or a one off Valentine’s special this issue of Roar! has a crop of buff boys on our Page 3. As the only tabloid student newspaper in London our tongue-in-cheek a4itude towards something that happens daily in at least two newspapers across the country has been deemed inappropriate, but perhaps you can already tell that as Editor of Roar! I don’t agree. In fact I have to say that the question posed baffles me - we have run far more controversial stories this year, like a whole issue on Initiation that had nudity aplenty on display. And what about our Value for Money campaign comparing the costs per contact hour of different degrees – isn’t that a bit of a stir-up? So it must be the mention of the dreaded Page 3 that makes hackles rise. Woe betide Roar! for enjoying ourselves. I suppose all the problems around standard Page 3s are related to women and concerns that, for whatever reason, they have been forced to do something that they may not be entirely comfortable with.... don’t think Jordan sees it that way, but you would have to ask her! The argument is that titillating pics of women degrade all women, and that growing teenage girls are damaged by comparing themselves to these images of seminaked perfection. Herein lies the problem for all the criticism of Roar!, we always intended our version of Page 3 to be boys only. Feel free to check back on our Facebook and Twi4er pages if you like – aren’t they gorgeous? Roar!’s Page 3 boys were all volunteers, we didn’t force anyone to do anything, they are adults who to come into the Skills room at KCLSU, have their picture taken

and walk away. Grab a copy of Roar! or have a look on our website (www.roarnews.co.uk) you will see that two were so happy they even gave us their names. We tried for phone numbers but they were less keen! These are boys who are proud of their bodies, and they’ve got every right to be. Do you really think they would have got topless in their student newspaper if they weren’t? As for degradation, well it’s by no means a reliable sample but I did ask my two male housemates what they thought. Both said, if it were girls, we are looking at far more graphic stuff on the internet than on Page 3, and because it’s boys they won’t be looking anyway! Neither felt in any way cheapened by having a page full of pictures of topless boys in their student newspaper. One went as far as to point out that sex sells and we are simply following a very well trodden path. Whether the images are harmful to people’s confidence, well I would argue that the photos we have taken are of guys you bump into every day around Kings. They’re in the library, they are in your lectures, you cheer for them at Varsity. They aren’t models and they haven’t been airbrushed. How are pictures of them any more damaging than those of Beckham in his pants for H&M? Or Nadal doing Armani? If anything our true to life boys are a healthier site. I am sorry if our pictures of four topless boys cause any profound emotional trauma, but while body confidence issues are no joke these are about as real as KCL guys come! I think everyone needs a reminder that students do have fun, and student journalism doesn’t always need to be hard hi4ing, serious and a bit dour. These are tough times, they’re going to get worse – so let’s have a laugh while we can. Ultimately, I’m afraid I take the view that if it’s good enough for The Sun then it’s good enough for Roar! Really all we have done is take a few pictures of some topless KCL men which just so happen to have been put on Page 3! Nothing too shocking in that is there?

Writer Stephanie Chan SOAS

Ultimately, I’m I’m afraid I take the view that if it’s good enough for The Sun then it’s good enough for Roar!

When was the last time you heard of a man being a4acked in the street for wearing too li4le clothing?

et’s make a few things clear. We live in the 21st century. Women in the UK have come a long way in terms of equality. Women in the UK are relatively equal to men, at least more so than in many other countries outside the UK. We hold positions of power. We are all capable of forming our own opinions and deciding whether or not we want to pose topless in newspapers. We know men like to look at breasts. We know sex sells. We know we can use our bodies however they want. So it’s fine for a newspaper today to devote their third page every single day to showcasing naked breasts. All the men who read these papers obviously respect these women’s choices, otherwise they would boycott the papers immediately. It’s not like anyone forced these women to take off their tops. It could be so much worse; we could be getting stoned for showing our wrists, right? We should be proud of this freedom. Anyone who doesn’t agree is just a bitter flatchested, AA-cup bra-burning feminist stuck in the 60s who doesn’t want anyone. Right? Well, not exactly. It’s not quite that easy. Yes, I do agree we do have the choice to pose topless if we want. But should we also have the choice not to be reminded every single day about how many people would rather look at and judge our naked flesh than give a damn about what we think, or what we have done, or are capable of doing with our lives. Here’s another idea: would it be

ok if we had a male version of Page 3 to objectify men’s torsos as well and show how equal we all are? Yay! Fun! On the surface, maybe. In reality, it’s a completely different story because men are not judged by their bodies or feel threatened by how they look in public anywhere as much as women in society. When was the last time a man complained or felt threatened for their dignity and lives about getting wolf-whistled at in the street for how his chest looked? When’s the last time you heard of a man being attacked in the street for wearing too little clothing? We don’t change the problem of women’s bodies being turned into pieces of meat by turning men into pieces of meat, too. This is the sort of superficial demonstration of equality that lets certain people claim that the pendulum has swung too far the other way – look, both sexes pose topless in newspapers, so sexism is dead, right? So what’s wrong with me making a few rape jokes? But possibly the most worrying thing is that this new all-male page 3 is being sold as humour. It’s slightly strange humour – the joke seems to be that men are doing something that’s normally considered a woman’s job. When a man does something womanly, it’s funny, because he’s humiliating himself by acting like the weaker sex. Yep – that’s hilarious. We’re definitely equal now.

Why work at a bar?

FEATURES

LONDON STUDENT VOLUME 32 ISSUE 9

Writer Nicholas Erik Stewart Wilson SOAS

Hello, my pecuniary-challenged fellow students. Fee hikes leaving you high and dry? Need a little spare wonga for a shiny new iPad or an awesome, rocking, fun-without-limits holiday in Latvia? Fancy something a little more fun and social than sign-holding, or charity mugging? If your answer to any or all of these increasingly silly questions is ‘Yes’, then perhaps you should consider the merits of working behind a bar: It’s interesting and uncomplicated work, you get to meet a lot of people, and you find yourself regularly scoring tips, free drinks, and perhaps even the occasional phone number – what’s not to like? Of course, having said this, the vast majority of professional bars probably won’t take you on straight away, as they are looking for people with at least a year’s solid experience. There are two kinds of places, however, that you can initially apply to and will train you from scratch: Large chains such as Wetherspoon’s or the Slug and Lettuce, or alternatively, your own university bar. If you’re interested, then at this point it’s worth considering what you’re looking for in a bar job, because whilst your job title at each of these will be nominally very similar, they couldn’t be more different in practical terms. The former is a more stable, professional affair – you work all year round, wear a uniform, and the tips are vastly better. You also receive training to a much higher standard, giving you the skills to be able to work at better, higher-paying bars in future (not to mention impress and woo the ladies with your incredible homemade mojitos - a seduction technique arguably overshadowed by the ability to mix up great frappuccinos, but then the alcohol does its best to close the gap…) By contrast, your university bar, is more relaxed and casual – you only have to work in term time, and the standards are lenient enough to excuse you upon occasion when you mispour the odd pint, drop something, or accidentally forget to ask that attractive young brunette to pay for her vodka cranberry because you were too busy making it a double (you smooth devil, you...) This is not to say you won’t be worked hard, of course. Those big clunky beer barrels won’t move themselves, you know. And it’s a fact that any good bar will live and die upon the willingness of its employees to perform several random and unanticipated errands at a moment’s notice without question.

What’s that, boss? You want…28 pints of milk…? Well I suppose I’d better wheel out the granny shopper then… As established, it’s not all roses. You sometimes find yourself wishing you were on the other side of the bar on a Friday night. You often find it can get either very busy or very monotonous at a moment’s notice. And in either of these cases, you will always find something quietly soul-crushing about pouring the 50th pint of beer in a row. In times like these, mixing a cocktail or making pleasant chitchat with your coworkers or the customers really helps to break up the grind and remind you that the job is ultimately quite satisfying. Be that as it may, however, the experience of serving the customers can sometimes become dangerously surreal. You come to realise that the kind of bizarre caricatures of people that you had once previously believed to only exist in B-movies and really bad old American sitcoms/crime dramas (which, let’s face it, before the 90s more or less amounted to the same thing) actually exist in real

life and are standing inches away from you, ordering a Gin and Tonic with just two ice cubes, please. JUST. TWO. You serve the gentleman in question and hand him back his change, meeting his terrifying bloodshot eyes with a pleasant, reassuring smile worth roughly £2.80 and the 357th identical ‘thank you’ of the afternoon, before promptly returning to your conversation with the person sitting at other end of the bar: a dewy-eyed aspiring singer-songwriter; a charmingly rough-edged London taxi driver; or a simply delightful, if somewhat homely middle-aged woman who you can smile and mildly flirt with, but should never, ever give your real name under any circumstances. The topic and quality of the conversation you get also varies immensely. You can be receiving an intense crash course on Iranian cuisine one minute, and throwing out dull affirmations to some bloke waxing on at length about his coin collection the next. But however much you appreciate the conversation, there’s something reassuring about knowing that the

customers themselves will generally appreciate your simply giving them the opportunity to speak candidly a lot more. It’s right there – you can see it in their faces: it’s there in the warm, grateful smiles, and the open and sincere ‘thank you’s that they leave behind them. It’s also in the fiver they’ve left sitting What’s that, neatly on top of boss? You the tip tray, but want…28 pints that’s unimporof milk…? Well tant – it’s really I suppose I’d not about the better wheel money. Honout the granny est… shopper … S o then… having evaluated all these pros and cons, why ultimately work behind a bar? For those interested in the profession, and especially in mixology, it’s a no-brainer, but if you’re just looking for a little cash on the side as you slog through the jungles of academia, it’s still a pretty solid choice. Because whilst practicalities may not make this job espe-

Photo: prayitno

cially different from the supermarket checkouts and high street stores, there’s a whole other dimension to bar work that makes it worthwhile – Because to your coworkers and your regular customers (and this is especially true of university bars, where the clientele is basically the same every day,) you’re more than just a pair of hands – you’re a prominent member of a closely-knit microcommunity that has based itself around your humble bar. You’re the familiar and friendly face that serves them their coffee every week, smiles at them and is ever there to exchange a little casual banter over a pint, or listen to their deepest drunken musings on the human condition whilst nodding politely. You slowly get to know all their names, as they get to know yours, and before you know it, you’re a local celebrity. And if old whats-his-face ushering a million nameless people daily through the checkouts at ASDA can go home with that kind of job satisfaction at the end of the day, then I, for one, will eat my bar blade.

FEATURES

LONDON STUDENT VOLUME 32 ISSUE 9

BDS: Can three simple letters spell liberation for one of the world’s most polemical conflicts? The Israel-Palestine conflict is one fraught with passion. A$er ULU passed a motion endorsing BDS last year, colleges like King’s and LSE have come under greater scrutiny for their ties with companies such as Ahava and Technion. Ben White explains precisely what BDS is and how logical and morally necessary a strategy it is for resolving the conflict.

Ben White Guest Writer “It is no longer enough to try and change Israel from within. Israel has to be pressured in the same way apartheid South Africa was forced to change.”

hose are the words of Yonatan Shapira, a former captain in the Israeli Air Force turned antiapartheid activist. The Boyco4, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign he supports has grown in just a few years to be a key strategy internationally for the advancement of Palestinian rights. BDS is straightforward: “the application of pressure in an effort to change government and corporate practices”. The call from NGOs, trade unions, faith groups, and students in Palestine includes three demands that encompass the core rights denied Palestinians by Israel: ending the military occupation, equality for Palestinians inside Israel, the right of Palestinian refugees to their homes and properties. There are four main reasons for why BDS is necessary. The first, most important reason is the reality of Israel’s ongoing policies of colonisation and apartheid. Israel’s se4lements in the Occupied West Bank are built in defiance of international law, a position clarified in various UN resolutions, by the EU, UK government, and others. The Separation Wall has also been condemned, most notably by the International Court of Justice in The Hague in 2004. The Israeli government and military routinely carry out gross violations of rights: demolishing homes outside the context of military necessity; holding Palestinians without trial; controlling people’s freedom of movement based on what kind of ID they hold. In Occupied East Jerusalem – a territory Israel unilaterally and illegally annexed – Palestinian resi-

Illustration by Millie K Nice dents suffer from harsh discriminatory practices, including the rescinding of their very ‘right’to live in the city. Meanwhile, millions of Palestinians remain refugees, the legacy of the ethnic cleansing that took place with Israel’s establishment in 1948, when the majority of Palestinians inside the new borders were excluded, forbidden from returning, and their property confiscated. Israel’s conduct has been slammed in numerous UN resolutions – and this leads us to the second reason for BDS: the absence of accountability. While groups like Amnesty, Human Rights Watch, and many others record the facts, what is missing at the governmental level is the will to enforce international norms. BDS is a response to this continued impunity, a way for Palestinians to seek support and solidarity that should be, but for now isn’t, given by Western governments. Thirdly, BDS educates. Palestine solidarity actions, including those using the tactics of boyco4 and divestment, stimulate debate and discussion on campus, and provide an invaluable opportunity to increase awareness about the facts on the ground. And fourthly, the BDS campaign empowers people to take action and make a difference. Just as students and non-students alike have answered the call from numerous oppressed groups in the past and through to today, the Palestinian call

for action oﬀers an alternative to apathy or complicity. You might hear a number of objections to BDS. One claim is that it ‘singles out' Israel. Well, yes, it does: the Palestinians have not been dispossessed or occupied by Guatemala. Those making the point would not dream of accusing Tibetan activists of ‘singling out’China, or tell campaigners against child slavery to go focus on something else. In fact, this objection implies that Palestinians as a people are uniquely prohibited from resisting This is a their oppression cheap shot and seeking allies that seeks to in their struggle. smear stuAsecond objection dents commitis that BDS ‘creates ted to human tension' on camrights. Those pus, a criticism active in BDS sometimes accominclude Palespanied by the sugtinians, Jews, gestion that Jewish and many othstudents are being ers. ‘targeted’. This is a cheap shot that seeks to smear students commi4ed to human rights. Those active in BDS include Palestinians, Jews, and many others. Whenever injustice is challenged, a tension will occur: between those who seek to remove it, and those wanting to defend the status quo. BDS has also been criticised on the

grounds that ‘it hasn’t worked’, i.e. its goals of implementing Palestinian rights has not been realised. I’m not sure if those making this argument understand how strange it sounds: thank goodness they weren’t around in the 1970s to tell antiapartheid activists, ‘Give up, this boyco4 SouthAfrica thing isn’t going anywhere’. A more substantial objection is that BDS alienates the Israeli peace camp. But who is in this ‘peace camp’? The Israelis who yearn for the days of Yitzhak Rabin, an Israeli leader commi4ed just like all Thank goodthe others to mainness they taining a regime of weren’t ethno-religious around in the discrimination and 1970s to tell colonisation? The anti-apartheid ‘peace camp’ that activists, calls for a with‘Give up, this drawal from some boycott South or all of the West Africa thing Bank – only in isn’t going order to secure anywhere’. Jewish privilege in the majority of the land? Thankfully, there are Israelis who genuinely believe in peace with justice, and who join Palestinians in co-resistance to the system of discrimination. Israelis like Shapira, who support the call for boyco4. The words of Martin Luther King, in his le4er from a jail in Birmingham, Ala-

bama, resonate today:

Lamentably, it is an historical fact that privileged groups seldom give up their privileges voluntarily…We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.

To emphasise: BDS is a tactic, not an end in and of itself. It is a response to a call from Palestinians, and makes a direct link between Israeli crimes and a response to them. It is a sign of hope, not despair.And it is a grassroots strategy steeped in a rich, historical tradition of opposition to all sorts of injustice. Boyco4 and divestment are not mysterious or new: BDS is a well-trodden path as a means of eﬀecting change and challenging the powerful. It is not the only means of showing solidarity with Palestinians, and BDS must be part of a bigger picture, one element in a broader programme for Palestinian liberation. But it is our part to play. It is our response to the call from Palestinians, and in taking action, we can make a vital contribution to the establishment of a just resolution to the conﬂict. Ben White is a freelance journalist who regularly speaks at UoL campuses. You can follow him: @benabyad Facebook.com/benwhite.org.uk

FEATURES

LONDON STUDENT VOLUME 32 ISSUE 9

THE LYRIC PIC

Every issue, we open up a centre page to submissions from photographers in a competi tion called ‘The Lyric Pic’.

The idea is to capture an image that you associate with one of your favourite lyrics. For example, you may choose to take a pastoral picture of forests to accompany Bob Dylan’s ‘upon four-legged forest clouds the cowboy angel rides’ lyric. Send your submissions to: photo@london-student.net - the best submissions will feature in the paper throughout the year.

NAME: CARTER WANG

INSTITUTION: NYU LONDON

CAMERA SETTINGS: iPhone default LYRIC:

"AND I'M ALWAYS PRETTY HAPPY WHEN I'M JUST KICKING BACK WITH YOU"

5 YEARS TIME - NOAH AND THE WHALE

LOOKING THROUGH THE LENS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHER:

I took the pic in the Sahara Desert near a small town called Merzuoga in Morocco. I like this camel photograph because this camel had been my loyal companion throughout my adventure in the desert. It never complained and was so tame and helpful. I can still recall every single detail of the desert trip in Morocco and I believe a picture of my "friend" would be the best way of remembering this unique experience. I never thought that I could end up coming to Europe for University, so I have to grasp this chance to travel.

FEATURES

LONDON STUDENT VOLUME 32 ISSUE 9

Justice in super-diverse societies Res ea r ch S po t l ig h t Writer Preet Virdi SOAS

When faced with family relationship breakdown, how, when and why do South Asian women access justice? As globalization and migration increasingly challenge the political and judicial systems of Western nations, my doctoral research contributes to current debates about access to justice in ‘super-diverse’ (Vertovec 2007) societies, concentrating on South Asian women’s access to family law. Sikh women involved in divorce proceedings in Ontario, Canada serve as a case study, investigating how they navigate their cultural and religious traditions, and the formal legal system. I am o6en asked, ‘why are you in the UK if your research is based on the Canadian context?’ As a secondyear research student at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), I am applying a deep understanding of South Asian law and society to the western multicultural context. There is an increasing need to discuss the signiﬁcance of access to justice in super-diverse societies. Although most people agree access to justice is a fundamental democratic right, discussion proceeds largely in the absence of reliable quantitative data (Genn 1999). Greater emphasis on alternative dispute resolution has raised concerns women may be unsuitably re-directed because they lack the resources needed to access the formal legal system. Observed in ﬁeldwork, huge increases in self-litiga-

Study Abroad Diaries

The US Writer Janna Jung-Irrgang KCL

So it has been almost a month since I’m over in the new world, and I can say I’m starting to miss London badly. I miss cycling over the bridges at sunrise and sunset, these crazy colours of the sky

tion place extra burdens on the legal system. Long trials have become commonplace and it appears the middle class are having problems ﬁnancially accessing the system. Despite common law’s institutional mechanisms to respond to the changing needs of society, emphasis on a falsely homogenous legal culture coloured by a Hellenistic and Christian view (Chiba 1986) ignores prevailing diversities (Shah 2005). Although an elaborate patchwork of access to justice programs exists, the legal needs of marginalized peoples are going unmet (Jacobs 2011).

Exacerbating access to justice further, a 2010 Canadian report confirms family relationship breakdown is the primary reason why most Ontarians enter the civil justice system (Currie 2009) and is among the most difficult, complicated and time consuming problems (Sossin 2010). L--ack of a7ention to family law as a field of study lies in its ‘low status’, which pervades all facets of the justice system resulting in inadequate levels of public resources (Wilson et al. 1993). The inherent gender bias of the legal system is making me stop each time and wonder how it is possible that the city is not taking notice this spectacle. I miss Soho at night, bustling with people looking for fun or good food. And I even miss King’s Campus and the way you fall onto Strand suddenly being surrounded by everyone but students. This wouldn’t happen here. Over the past few weeks I’ve learned to know and love Campus life, and as much as I miss the big city, this is certainly enjoyable for a semester. It means being able to get up fifteen minutes before class starts, there only being one bus that can take you home. It means all your friends living within minutes from you, making any meeting so

rooted in standards of the male life experience, values and priorities, gendered division of labour and the traditional separation of public and private (Wilson et al. 1993). Given this complex meta-narrative, my second year of research has been spent preoccupied trying to secure necessary funding to carry out timeintensive qualitative research (a separate conversation to be had about the practicalities of a PhD in current times). Meanwhile, I am somewhat relieved to report the ﬁeldwork completed to-date has resulted in more than enough research material. Accordingly, my second year of research is being spent analyzing divorce cases, obtaining the expertise of various legal practitioners, and planning the second half of ﬁeldwork.

Trained in the study of socio-legal theory, I examine access to justice for divorcing Sikhs employing legal pluralism, the study of multiple sometimes competing state laws, religious laws, customs and other normative orders (Chiba 1986; Griﬃths 1986; Merry 1988; Shah 2005, 2008; Menski 2006). I examine how non-

much less stressful. And guess what, you actually find time to study if you don’t spend in on the Tube or the bike. The downsides of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, could be much more prominent if the neighbouring town (ehem, village) wasn’t the biggest hipster concentration I have ever encountered. Apart from several lovely cafes, great thrift stores and bars (which you aren’t allowed to enter, if you’re not...) it boasts the greatest small concert venue you could imagine. It is hardly believable, but I’ve been lucky enough to come to a place that is actually not a forgotten spot on the American map, contrary to my expectations. In

Photo: orangesparrow

Western understandings of law transform through immigration, settlement, integration and citizenship, since subjects o6en perceive state law as “an irrelevance in the real structure of social controls upon which order and harmony depend” (Co7errell 1984:31).

Research and education on family law issues affecting minority groups is needed since “[s]ome of the accepted principles of family law may be inappropriate or require modification” (Wilson et al. 1993:213). In fact, Fournier’s (2001) research on Islamic marriages reveals judicial marginalization of cultural differences in family law decisions. Furthermore, the years 2003 to 2005 featured the so-called ‘Shari’a law debates’ in Ontario that led to the banning of religious laws in family arbitration. This debate sparked interesting Canadian research (Bakht 2005; Bunting 2004, 2007; Fournier 2006, 2010; Razack 2008a, Razack 2008b). However, it primarily focuses on religious Muslim and Jewish (Cohen 2000; Fournier in press) women. Looking beyond to examine the gen-

the past Cat’s Cradly, the name of the place, has seen acts like Nirvana, Public Enemy and Beirut; just yesterday Theophilus London gave an ingenious performance and this semester ’s calendar includes Zee Avi, The Naked and Famous, Youth Lagoon and Of Montreal. I will not complain. Other than that, the South (as y’all will no, if you’ve ever been) offers not only the worst kinds of food it is also possible to get an easy 20 degrees outside on a January afternoon. And while I’m desperately trying to feel with the people fighting the snow chaos back home in Europe, I’m wearing summer dresses and eating ice cream on a sunny park bench.

eral cultural frame from which these religious women come from has yet to be explored. Although monistic conceptions of law are not absent in Asian cultures, law is not immediately perceived as central (Menski 2006) and normative ordering takes place in the social sphere. Over 71% of Ontario’s South Asians are born outside Canada (Statistics Canada 2008). While all immigrants integrate to varying degrees this process is neither complete nor uniform. Primarily from Punjab, India, Sikhs are the subjects of this research because even though they are Canada’s oldest South Asian se7lers, less than one in three Canadians view Sikhs favourably (Geddes 2009). My master’s research reveals reluctance amongst immigrant Sikh women to approach legal institutions for justiceable family problems and confirms official Canadian laws modify existing South Asian legal understandings (Virdi 2010). Building on these findings, research questions include: What barriers exist to South Asian women’s access to justice? How are multiple conceptions of law negotiated? What makes Sikh divorce unique? When is alternative dispute resolution utilized? Lastly, what policy recommendations are proposed? It is hypothesized that culture, reified via the corporate family structure and izzat, a dynamic South Asian normative order that governs honour, respect and reputation, regulates, and possibly restricts, Sikh women’s access to justice. Accordingly, my goal is to contribute relevant and timely research and policy recommendations on improving access to justice for marginalized members of super-diverse societies. For more information or for a complete list of sources, please contact me at m_virdi@soas.ac.uk.

Photo: Rakka

COMMUNITY

As LIMUN 2012 comes and goes, we take a look at the enduring importance (and popularity) of Model United Nations conferences - page 16

Victoria Yates

COMMUNITY EDITOR

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Facebook’s impending launch onto the Stock Market presents one of technology’s most exciting IPO of recent times - page 17

Ahmad Bakhiet

ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDITOR

The Social Side to Fantasy Sports

Writer Max Scoging UCL

Fantasy sport is surprisingly social as an activity. Surprising because the idea of picking a team of sportspeople based on their ability to achieve statistical success does not seem like it could possibly have much of a social element. However, this ignores the element of competition. As soon as you have the opportunity to compete with your friends, it almost doesn't ma5er what you are doing, it will become a subject of conversation, as long as the competition is in some way close. Here should lie the rub, those people who know more about the chosen sport should dominate to such a great extent that it just becomes boring for the others and the competition should die. However, that is not entirely the case. Fantasy sports rarely perfectly reﬂect how well a player actually plays and the best players are usually known to all concerned. There is a large element of luck involved, especially with the vagaries of injuries and suspensions playing a role. This means that people who go into the competition with a less complete knowledge of the sport do not lose so much ground that they inevitably get disheartened and pack it in. It then comes down to identifying which players to get rid of and which to replace them with, which is a relatively simple aﬀair as you can replace those that have not got you many points with those that have scored well recently. This is unlikely to lead you to glory, but will allow you to do reasonably well. This relative simplicity means that

Flickr User Anna Tesar

the learning curve is not exactly steep for new players when competing against most people (there are people who are just really worryingly good at fantasy sports but they are few and far between). The fact that those friends who are less interested in sport can compete with those more interested in sport can engender a greater interest in the chosen sport among the less interested players. Suddenly watching a match has some kind of personal signiﬁcance. Where previously they might have simply tolerated going to the pub and watching a match, a game involving one of their players now involves them; in almost the same way, a supporter of a team is involved in that team's matches. Watching the matches leads to a greater ability to judge which players should be chosen and which should be avoided, increasing the chances of beating friends and so increasing the enjoyment of both the fantasy sport and the sport itself. The people who already knew something about the sport also gain greater enjoyment from those matches that they otherwise might not care about, thanks to the involvement of their players. Essentially, fantasy sport provides a brilliant excuse to go to the pub and enjoy sport, for those that feel the need for one. It can also help foster greater enjoyment of sport among people who would otherwise be le4 cold. The competitive element provides near constant conversation fodder, as people swap ideas and try to work out how beat the people at the top of the table. All in all, it is a surprisingly social activity.

SCIENCE

Recent research shows that unbalanced gender ratios not only impact social situations, they also hit men in the wallet. See our examination of Gender Spenders - page 19

ACADEMIA

LONDON STUDENT VOLUME 32 ISSUE 9

With Valentine’s Day around the corner love is in the air, we turn our attention to issues of love in academia - page 20

PSYCHOLOGY

Happiness is always said to be a state of mind, see Saul’s ten step tips to getting yourself a GREAT DREAM - page 21

COMMUNITY

Rachel Mundy Harriet Jarle,

SCIENCE EDITORS

Valeriya Nefyodova ACADEMIA EDITOR

The Green Column

The Corporate Environment Writer Ben Parfi, UCL

London students have stormed a top UK competition to innovate a technology-focused solution to a real-world environmental problem, but the University of London is nowhere to be seen. South Bank is represented by one team in the semi-finals of BP’s ‘The Ultimate Field Trip 2012’ competition, while Imperial fields an impressive three teams. These Londoners com-

prise a quarter of remaining teams tasked with the theoretical - but “It was great to practicallywork on somefocused thing that could challenge to make a differcreate the ence and be infirst zero teresting at the CO2 oil resame time." finery by 2030. The challenge asks students to use their imaginations to consider how to improve efficiency, how to capture and utilise CO2 and how to make use of lower carbon alternatives. TV science sensation,

Professor Brian Cox has encouraged students to "get involved,” adding that this opportunity is " about as valuable as it gets". Overall winners will join teams on BP’s largest deep-water oil field in the Gulf of Mexico, which involves trips to New Orleans and the Caribbean. Imperial has a strong previous record in the competition, boasting previous winners. Imperial graduate, Lizzie Riley, won the

inaugural competition. "It took a huge amount of our time," she explains, "but it was worth it. It was great to work on something that could make a difference and be interesting at the same time." Dig a little into the current state of engineering and corporate sentiment within the University of London, and the lack of representation begins to be explained. Last year, a UCL careers event hosting the oil giant was disrupted by a rally against education cuts. Elsewhere, King’s no longer offer undergraduate courses in engineering following recent decisions to

Saul Hillman

PSYCHOLOGIST IN RESIDENCE close the department. Strikingly, of 19 separate university institutions within the University of London, only UCL and Queen Mary still give undergraduates the opportunity to study engineering. A decline in engineering or an anti-corporate sentiment? If nothing else, this lack of involvement may draw attention to important questions about the role of corporate environmentalism within the University of London. For more information on “The Dig a little into the current state of engineering and corporate sentiment within the University of London, and the lack of representation begins to be explained

Ultimate Field Trip” including rules, brief, and how to enter

Flickr User Glenn E. Davis

visit the bp.com website: follow links ‘Students and Graduates’‘UK’- ‘Ultimate Field Trip’

Adeleye Adewole -Member of 2011’s Winning Team

“I’d advise students to go for it... If you’ve got an idea, don’t hesitate – even if you don’t win, whatever stage you reach, you will learn a lot.”

Follow Ben on Twi er @bparf

COMMUNITY

LONDON STUDENT VOLUME 32 ISSUE 9

A Model Future

In light of LIMUN 2012 we consider the history and importance of Model United Nations

In August 2011 Secretary General Ban Ki Moon delivered the key note address at the Third Global Model United Nations Conference on the promise and importance of youth engagement. Below is an excerpt. How the world looks in 2031 will depend largely on the decisions we make now, in 2011. Whatever decision you make now, whatever decision we make together, will determine the future in 20 years. Yes, technology offers solutions. But I prefer to put my faith in people, young people in particular. That is why the United Nations needs your engagement on the challenges that will shape the world you leave to your children. I urge you to use the knowledge and skills you gain from this Model UN exercise and other pursuits to advance the objectives of the United Nations. A3er all, you will soon be the government officials who will negotiate peace, the community leaders who will help feed and shelter the vulnerable, the entrepreneurs and innovators who will get carbon emissions under control, the lawyers and human rights defenders who will fight injustice, impunity and intolerance. Many of you are already making a difference. I am sure that one among you will become secretary-general, or president of the General Assembly, or a president, prime minister, foreign minister or ambassador. That will depend upon how you do today. That is why I am telling you the future of our world depends on your active engagement today. Recent events around the world have shown the power of young people to take the initiative and positively change the course of history. Increasingly, young people are saying to their elders, to their governments: “This is not the world we want.” We have all witnessed the peaceful protests in Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain and elsewhere. But all of us have also seen terrible violence there and in Libya and Syria. Your generation is showing a growing resolve to change our world – and a capacity to make things happen, through peaceful means. I welcome this.The world must take account of your voices. It must take account of the legitimate aspirations of young people everywhere for opportunity and dignity. Please keep working with us, pushing us and inspiring us. Help shape our world for the be4er help us meet the collective tests of our times and help the United Nations deliver what the world needs at this crucial moment. Never underestimate the power of the individual to make a difference to change the world. For full text see www.un.org

Writer Jenny Cobb KCL

Model United Nations (MUN) is an academic imitation of the United Nations, which aims to educate members about current aﬀairs, international relations, diplomacy and the UN agenda by the participants re-enacting a UN conference. During an MUN conference, each participant acts as a representative for an individual country, and through de-

“work together to ﬁnd solutions to international challenges, acquire new knowledge and skills, and build relationships that cross borders of background, culture and nationality.” Participants take on the role of a UN ambassador, allowing them to experience directly the intricacies of international policy formation. “Each delegate represents the viewpoint of a single Member State of the United Nations or non-governmental organisation (NGO), researching that country's or NGO's policy and

ganisation that aims to “extend cultural empathy, understanding of international aﬀairs, and knowledge of the United Nations amongst young people through the organisation of an annual Model United Nations (MUN) conference.” Organised ex-

The concept of MUN seems to date back to even before the United Nations itself existed: in the 1920s students in the USA are recorded as taking part in college simulations of the forerunner of the UN, the ‘League of Nations

An Event For All Tastes

1/4 National Student Enterprise Conference [ENTREPREUNERSHIP]

This year’s NSEC is the place to explore disruptive innovation and business models. The Ford Model T, the iTunes Store, hydraulics, cloud computing, Netflix…what do they all have in common? You guessed it – they’re disruptive innovations, and they turned their respective markets upside down. For two days, on February 18th and 19th, college students, university students and graduates will have the opportunity to tap into a wealth of expertise and hear from industry experts, innovators, personal branding gurus, angels and high-profile entrepreneurs. Be there! For more information see www.nacue.com

2/4 20th Medical Innovations [SCIENCE &TECH]

bate and discussion, aim to resolve international problems faced by the UN in real life. The concept of MUN seems to date back to even before the United The UK’s LonNations itself don International Model existed: in the United Nations 1920s students (LIMUN) is the in the USA are largest univerrecorded as taksity-based coning part in colference in l e g e Europe simulations of the forerunner of the UN, the ‘League of Nations’. However, the first official MUN organisation claims to be the Model United Nations of the Far West, which began meeting annually in 1951 at Stanford University. Model United Nations groups have since spread to the international community, and in the current day there are many different MUN organisations across the world and throughout all continents. The UK’s London International Model United Nations (LIMUN) is the largest university-based conference in Europe. The annual meeting o3en draws over 800 representatives from around the world, however this year’s conference being held on the 10th-12th February at the Institute of Education and Imperial College has expanded to 1,200 participants. The LIMUN aims to allow students to

Youth Democrac y in Action at OxIMUN 2010 Photo: Travis Riley

advocating these views to other delegates.” The conference debates the current issues faced by the UN, such as climate change, for example, and the discussion is controlled using the same rules and conventions that are followed at a genuine UN conference. The goal of these debates is to “reach consensus and pass a statement of the international community's response to a particular area of concern.” Each year the LIMUN conference also features a number of guest speakers to address the participants. This year’s Keynote Speaker will be Dr Jung Chang, best-selling author of Wild Swans - Three Daughters of China and Mao: The Unknown Story. LIMUN is similarly a charity or-

clusively by students from various University of London colleges, the charity works towards building understanding of international current affairs among young people. “LIMUN is commi4ed to extending knowledge of international affairs to all young people. The outreach programme works with inner-London youth groups, extending access to those that would not otherwise have the opportunity of experiencing MUN.” The organisation’s leadership team consists of student volunteers, who are commi4ed to spreading knowledge of international affairs. For more information www.limun.org.uk.

visit

The Royal Institution of Great Britain has two events in February about the key medical innovations of the 20th Century, presented by Kevin Fong and Richard Barnett. Heart to heart (Wed 15 Feb) will explore the history of heart transplants, with pioneering surgeon Sir Terence English, practitioner Francis Wells and ethicist Antonia Cronin. The second event, From Iron lungs to intensive care (Tue 28 Feb) looks at the surprisingly short and contentious history of intensive care, with ethicist Simon Yael and intensivists Nicholas Hirsch and Fiona Kelly. For more information see rigb.org

3/4 LSE Literary Festival [COMMUNITY]

This year’s exciting and diverse programme explores the “relationship between the academic cultures of the arts and social sciences, as well as the interaction between global cultures, and the art of communication”. You will find an event for all tastes from the scientifically minded to the politically motivated or even those looking for a potential romance (‘Speed ‘book’ Dating’, Thursday 1st of March, 7pm). Speakers will debate, discuss, and enlighten, so be sure to book your ticket early! For more information see lse.ac.uk

4/4 Study Group Fair [ACADEMIA]

Flickr: Didier Jansen

This is an event for international students, currently based in the UK, who would like to graduate with a degree or masters from a UK university. Meet university representatives or advisors to discuss university entry and IELTS requirements, visa issues and UCAS applications. This event is from12-4pm at Park Plaza Victoria, 239 Vauxhall Bridge Road. For further information and to register in advance, see: www.unifis.co.uk

ENTREPRENEURSHIP LONDON STUDENT VOLUME 32 ISSUE 9

The latest on the Facebook IPO

We analyse some of the facts and figures behind what will probably be the most exciting IPO of 2012 Writers Ahmad Bakhiet Geppert Carey The startup world has been waiting for this for some time, and it is almost upon us. The Initial Public Offering of one of the most successful tech companies founded post millennium is imminent. Facebook Inc. filed for an initial public offering Wednesday that could value the social network between $75 billion and $100 billion. The financials released showed the company produced a $1 billion profit last year from $3.71 billion in revenues. The company derives 85% of those revenues from advertising, with the rest from social gaming and other fees. The company intends to raise $5 billion and if it is successful, it would top rival Google Inc.'s 2004 record for the largest U.S. Internet IPO (Google raised $1.9 billion at a valuation of $23 billion). Growing at an astonishing rate (845 million users globally, up 39% from a year earlier) Facebook hopes to continue significant growth post IPO. The company hasn't decided whether it will trade on the New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq Stock Market but has chosen the apt "FB" as its ticker symbol. For many this vanity ticker sym-

bol has only bought up more questions. Until recently traders were able to tell at a glance whether a comOne of the pany was listed on top ten the NASDAQ or wealthiest NYSE: the former individuals used a four characin America. ter symbol con-

share power. Assuming Facebook is worth $87.5 billion (given that estimates put it between $75 and $100 billion) Zuckerberg’s share equates to $24.7 billion or enough cash to make him one of the top ten wealthiest individuals in America! However, with great power comes great responsibility, and in

vention and the latter accommodated for one to three character symbols. Understandably, most companies want a symbol that fits with their brand, like LNKD, AMZN, GRPN, AAPL, or NYT. Facebook has been shrewd and reserved the symbol “FB” for use “on either exchange,” Facebook’s founder, Mark Zuckerberg owns 28% of the company and holds 57% of its voting

Mr. Zuckerberg’s case it is estimated through his IPO windfall he will have to pay around $2 billion in tax. Many claim that the intital Facebook critics have been proved wrong, not least for the fact that unlike some other Web companies, Facebook is profitable, with 2011 profit up 65% from the year earlier period. However, Facebook's costs and

expenses are going up faster than revenue. Due to growth in employee head count and equity compensation the company has seen its research and development expenses skyrocket from $9 million in 2010 to $114 million in 2011. Facebook's revenue is still driven by online ads, but social gaming has become an increasingly important part of Facebook's business. The company generated over $500 million in revenue last year from partners such as Zynga who sell virtual goods on the platform. The IPO is a long expected ‘win’ for Facebook but the question remains just how the company will manage its “We don’t growth while build services keeping both adto make vertisers and money; we subscribers make money happy and balto build be)er ancing demands services” of privacy and profits. Mark Zuckerberg has partially pre-empted this question in his open letter where he states that he plans to continue focusing on building products, rather than sales growth. "We don't build services to make money; we make money to build better services," Mr. Zuckerberg wrote. Whether that will be the case, we will all just have to wait and see.

to investigate the potential competition is to buy its products or use its services. For example, if your idea is to create an eco-friendly kitchen appliance, buy eco-friendly appliances that are already on the market and compare them to what you had in mind. Similarly, if you want to set up a new type of catering service, find a potential competitor that provides a service most similar to your idea and buy some of the food to review against your own thoughts. Investigating if potential competitors are profitable and how they started up would also be a worthwhile exercise. After researching similar companies and products already out there, you could draw up a theoretical business plan. Research how much the startup costs could be,

work out how long it could take to get things moving and what kind of knowledge, experience and contacts you may need. Evolve the business plan and create profit projections based on the information you research. Doing this will enable you to assess viability, how much investment you’ll need and potential profitability. Get practical advice by talking to people who are entrepreneurs in the industry that your startup would potentially compete in. Discuss your idea with them and ask if they think it has the potential for success and how to proceed. You gain great contacts that may prove useful in the future this way as well. If the startup idea looks like it has potential and you want to do further research, you could seek work experience in a business similar to that of your startup. This way, you could learn the practicalities of the industry you may be taking on, as well as allowing you to work out if you would actually like working in the relevant sector. Another way to assess your idea would be to get in touch with the people to whom you intend to sell your product. The potential customers will be the people who will

spend the cash and subsequently be the most important factor as to whether the business will be a success or a total failure. You could do this through organising focus groups or possibly setting up a small trial business. One of the most important questions you should ask yourself is: can I make this work? You may have the most incredible startup idea in the world but if it requires the contacts and someone with the ability to provide a large investment to make it work, then unless you happen to have these at hand, you don’t have much at all. Put it this way; if your idea is based around social media - you will need an amazing website and some marketing. If, however your idea is to start a new airline – you will need to acquire international flight routes and find the money to buy a fleet of Boeing 787’s. You’ll never really know if you have a great business idea until you actually set it up properly and try it out. And, if you fail, learn and move on. Here are some words of wisdom from Thomas J. Watson, a great American industrialist and founder of IBM: “If you want to increase your success rate, double your failure rate.”

How to work out if your start-up idea is any good Writer Martyn Hopwood

Ideas are cheap. Most people with a bit of commercial experience can come up with an idea for a business. With TV shows such as ‘Dragons’ Den’ and ‘The Apprentice’ transfixing the nation over the past few years, it wouldn’t be surprising if your Grandma had a brilliant start-up idea. The easy bit is the idea; the hard part is turning that idea into something that resembles a successful business. In a super-competitive and connected world, where ideas cross continents in seconds, it’s not easy to come up with an idea which will transform you into a Porsche driver. The reality is that, nine times out of ten, your idea will be unworkable, unoriginal and not worth pursuing. To know for sure if your idea is any good, you will have to do some research. So, how can you go about this? Firstly, check out the potential competition. The most obvious thing to do would be to simply Google the idea: this will tell you the basics and whether the idea is worth taking further. Another way

Entrepreneurial Twist Writer Carolina Mostert It’s a New Year for entrepreneurs as well. Suspense. Expectations. Surprises. 2012 is a big, heavy, important year. The Olympics, for example. They are happening in London, and London is changing. New transport plans are being made, cable cars across the Thames are being promised, constructions go on day and night in front of Oxford Street’s Center Point. The city, now, is wonderland for entrepreneurs: from different fields and backgrounds, with new ideas. They are most welcome - as long as they bring life to London, as long as they aim for a change. An example of a twist: Anish Kapoor’s immense, towering, red creation. He borrowed the Tour Eiffel and broke it, made the tower bend its knees to touch its toes. Then painted it the colour of revolution, from top to bottom. When I saw it, I considered it quite ugly, weird and extremely rude. Londoners would wince to see Buckingham Palace turned into a knot and tangled up somewhere behind Montmartre. Yet, the tower is very interesting from an entrepreneurial point of view. First of all, it is expected to generate a revenue of £10m per year and to attract about 1 million visitors, again, each year. Secondly, it is a symbol of an event which brings the world together. The tower will stick to the memory of so-many-people, it will be turned into a story which will reach far away countries. It will call more visitors. To keep in mind: the Olympics will be amazing, but they will pass. The 377 feet tall building will remain, fixed to the ground, high in the sky. For this reason, the an “architecArcelorMittal tural start-up”. Orbit, as the It mixes busitower is offiness, engineercially called, is ing, art and an entrepreneurinnovation in a ial success, an sweet blend. “architectural

start-up”. It mixes business, engineering, art and innovation in a sweet blend. In this way, Anish Kapoor built a tower of speaking steel, with a voice; an inspiration for all entrepreneurs. Its message: during Olympics 2012, take advantage of the time to build something new and unexpected, somewhat sensational for the present and which will last for the future. Take inspiration from Anish Kapoor. Create something with a twist.

SCIENCE

LONDON STUDENT VOLUME 32 ISSUE 9

Research in Brief Olympic Drugs KCL [MEDICAL SCIENCE]

We’re all getting excited about the Olympics coming to London this summer, but is there a role for scientists in this colossal event? A team of more than 150 scientists from KCL will be part of an extensive 1,000-strong, anti-doping lab based in Harlow, Essex. The group are going to be working with pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline to test about 400 blood and urine samples a day - a total of 6,250 throughout the games. They’ll all be part of the effort to keep the 2012 Games fair and clean of drug cheats. And, in keeping with the drive for the Games to be a sustainable venture, the centre will be turned into a permanent sample-testing business.

Magic ‘Shroom IMPERIAL COLLEGE [NEUROSCIENCE]]

Magic mushrooms have proved extremely useful to scientists who investigate the effects of psychedelic drugs on the brain. Two studies have found that the drugs work by suppressing parts of the brain responsible for keeping the world rational and orderly. It was previously thought that they actually increased brain activity leading to hallucinations. The key regions that are suppressed are also overly active in depression, and the studies, published in PNAS and the British Journal of Psychiatry, may explain why the active ingredient of magic mushrooms has informed psychotherapy treatment since the 1950s.

Global Heating

QUEEN MARY [CLIMATE]

Global warming could have an identical effect on all ecosystems it touches, scientists have found. Research published in Global Change Biology looked at the respiration rate in organisms living in very similar environments, but at different temperatures. They found respiration rates increased by very similar jumps when the temperature rose. This means that, if temperatures do rise on Earth, it will affect us all equally, and we all need to think about the consequences. The finding might help scientists to predict future effects of global warming on our planet more accurately.

Breaking Heart QUEEN MARY [CARDIOLOGY]

Is it possible to die of a broken heart? Is chocolate actually good for us? Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Queen Mary’s will be hosting a pair of lectures to answer these two questions. Dr Alexander Lyon from Imperial College is going to talk about Broken Heart Syndrome, known more formally as stress cardiomyopathy, which sometimes follows traumatic psychological and physical events. It leads to severe weakening in the heart. Dr Samantha Warnakula from the University of Cambridge is going to show that chocolate is good for our hearts. So, if you happen not to have a date for the 14th, why not get some complimentary wine and chocolate courtesy of Queen Mary’s Pathology Museum?

Maria Botcharova

The Science of... Love Writer Aamna Mohdin

My lab partner tells me that science has limits. She tells me: "Science can't explain love." It was hard to argue with this. Love has previously been the territory of poets and artists, and any scientist who ventured into the realm would surely end up floundering. Not anymore. Pioneering work by Dr Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist at Rutgers University in New Jersey, has discovered the scientific basis for love - it's an addiction! "Romantic love is one of the most addictive substances on Earth," says Fisher. Fisher spent the past few years studying people in love by placing them in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanners. It appeared that people ‘in love’ have increased activity in an area called the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA). Such fMRI experiments have shown that the VTA is also active in the brains of drug addicts and people with obsessive behaviour disorders. However, normally this area is part of the brain's reward system - a system that makes us take huge risks when there are huge gains to be had. There are other chemicals involved in love, notably oxytocin, a hormone which is important in sexual arousal, pair bonding and maternal attachment. New research, published in the Journal of Neurophysiology, has found oxytocin can make ‘rude’ monkeys treat each other a little more kindly.

Elizabeth Eisen

Steve Chang, Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Centre of Cognitive Neuroscience and Department of Neurobiology at Duke University, speaks to the London Student about this infamous ‘love

hormone’. “The most well-known role of oxytocin is in female reproduction. But, because of more recent work into its role mediating maternal behaviour, pair-bonding, and pro-social

long-term memory formation. It is suggested that Orb2, in a clustered form called amyloid-like oligomer, achieves this by marking relevant synaptic sites during brain activity. Si and colleagues believe that such synaptic marks act as labels for brain activity as they only accumulate when there is synaptic activity. “We found that these Orb2 oligomers become more numerous in neurons whose synapses are stimulated, and that this increase in oligomers happens near synapses,” says lead author Amitabha Majumdar, a postdoctoral researcher in Si’s lab. Their results suggest that the majority of simple Orb2 is present in neuronal cell bodies, whereas clusters of Orb2 occur in the synaptic region. There is one important diﬀerence between simple and clustered forms of Orb2. The la4er seems to be much more stable, bearing the potential to remain and self-renew

for decades, hence contributing to long-term memory maintenance. Not surprisingly, these results come from researchers affiliated with Eric Kandel, the Nobel Prize winning scientist who pioneered work on memory formation in the sea snail Aplysia. But for this study the researchers at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research turned to the fruit fly Drosophila to probe their theory. The group used fly mutants in the Orb2A form, which is the Orb2 subtype necessary for amyloid-like oligomerisation. In the experiments, flies lacking this type failed to stabilise memory beyond 48 hours. These results support the idea that amyloidlike oligomer clusters in neurons are critical for the persistence of long-term memory. “Self-sustaining populations of oligomers

behaviours, it has come to be known as the love hormone,” says Chang. He goes on to explain: “A boost of oxytocin level in the brain increases trust and empathy toward a partner during social interactions in humans. In monogamous voles, a boost in oxytocin can directly promote pair-bonding between female and male voles upon introduction.” In giving the rhesus macaques the hormone, Steve Chang and the research team have shown that they pay more attention to each other and make choices that give another monkey a squirt of fruit juice, even when they don't get one themselves. During the research, the monkeys, under the influence of oxytocin, let their gaze linger a bit longer when they made their choices. Was this love at first sight? Chang explains that it’s not that simple: “Oxytocin promoted them to look more frequently at the face of another monkey in the reward donation context. Our data are consistent with the idea that oxytocin is critically involved in gazing attention toward other individuals, and this effect might be related to an enhanced interest in what happens to others. How this type of boost in other-oriented attention might be related to ‘attraction’ remains an open and interesting question.” Chang hopes that oxytocin can be used in a “therapeutic setting”, as it might be “greatly beneficial to individuals with neuropsychiatric conditions marked by social deficits”. Romance may seem inexplicable, but scientists have and are continuing to challenge that notion - more research is expected in this area.

Proteins Promote Heart Pangs Writer Alina Strasser

If you can remember the ﬁlm Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, you may be pleased to hear that protein clusters in your brain may well account for this recall, but also for painful memories too, such as those a4ached to your last breakup. Just two weeks before Valentine's Day, Kausik Si and colleagues presented their results on the process of long-term memory formation, in the journal Cell. Their goal was to discover something new about the molecular composition of synaptic sites. Synaptic sites are communication points between neurons, and hence are of tremendous interest to brain scientists. Previous experimental ﬁndings have already shown the relevance of clusters of the protein Orb2, a type of cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding (CPEB) protein, in

located at synapses may be the key to the long-term synaptic changes that underlie memory; in fact, our ﬁnding hints that oligomers play a wider role in the brain than has been thought,” says Si. What may be most intriguing is what these amyloid-like oligomers protein clusters resemble. Protein formations of this type have classically been associated with neurodegenerative and prion diseases. In humans, however, the potential role of protein clusters - similar to Orb2 for long-term memory remains to be established. Scientists will continue digging deeper, allowing us to keep some memories by stacking up proteins, but keep the level lower for others, just to relieve the pain of the heartbroken. So enjoy it while it lasts. Happy Valentine's Day.

SCIENCE

LONDON STUDENT VOLUME 32 ISSUE 9

The Cost of Too Many Men

60 seconds with...

With this many men and so few women, men will seduce using cash incentives. Powerhouse Museum Collection

Writer David Simpson

Research published this month indicates that a shortage of women can convince men to spend and borrow more money in a bid to outcompete one another. A team of researchers led by Professor Vladas Griskevicius, from the Department of Marketing at the University of Minnesota, predicted that the perceived sex ratio (amount of available men per available a shortage of w o m a n ) women can within a comconvince men munity influto spend and ences the borrow more economic demoney in a bid cisions that to outcompete men make. one another. Reviewing a wealth of data from 134 US cities, the researchers found strong support for their predictions. They exemplified their theory by highlighting the case of two cities located less than 100 miles apart in the US state of Georgia, Macon and Columbus. Despite sharing a very similar historical and economic background, the average consumer debt of those living in Columbus was $3,479 higher than an individual living in Macon. It was observed that in Columbus there are 1.18 single men to every woman, and in Macon there are only 0.78 single men to every woman. Furthermore, the team devised experiments whereby participants read local news articles that described their immediate community as containing either more men or more women. These par-

ticipants were given a monthly paycheck from which they asked how much they’d save versus how much they’d borrow, using credit cards for immediate expenditures. The men who believed themselves to be in a more male-biased community cut their monthly savings by 42% while their borrowing increased by 84%. With the findings comes the question of whether these men are aware of how many ‘competitors’ they have, and are deliberately acting more frivolously to outshine potential rivals. “In none of the experiments did the men know the true reasons for their behavior,” Griskevicius explains, “some of our behaviors are much more reflexive and subconscious. We see that there are more men than women in our environment and it automatically changes our

desires, our With the findbehaviors, ings comes the and our enquestion of tire psycholwhether these ogy." men are aware Given the of how many current eco‘competitors’ nomic clithey have, and mate, how are deliberately might we acting more learn from frivolously to this research? outshine potenCould there tial rivals. be any take home messages here for the male dominated banking world, whose reckless short-term lending contributed to our financial downfall? “Yes, the studies in the paper do suggest that having more males in the workplace will lead to more impulsive and perhaps risky decisions,” Griskevicius asserts. “One

implication is that employers might be more strategic about hiring decisions or more strategic about where they locate specific people in the office relative to the gender ratios of their immediate peer group.” This is by no means the full story. Looking east to China, a country which, compared to the US and the UK, currently has a stable economy, we find that there are 1.18 men for every women. In his paper, Griskevicius acknowledges that differences in mating strategy are important when comparing different cultures: “American men may be more likely to respond to male-biased sex ratios by wanting to spend money because, on average, they are more oriented toward a short-term mating strategy.”

Our next, highly recommended, ideas to help you woo your date are two exhibitions displaying at the Wellcome Collection until February 26. Under the Miracles & Charms series, the gallery explores three themes of “faith, hope and

amulets respectively. Both have been a huge hit with visitors. Entry is free and opening hours vary (check the Wellcome Collection website for more details).

Events under the microscope:

Writer Lucy Pereira

A Special Valentine’s Edition

Searching for days out for the geek in your life? Well look no further! This week’s column brings you some science date ideas for Valentine’s Day. Our star attraction is the Royal Observatory’s brand new planetarium show, ‘The Secret Lives of Stars’. Snuggle up together in the warm, dark planetarium and star gaze to the soothing tones of Sir Patrick Stewart of Star Trek. His narration leads viewers on a whirlwind tour following the life and history of stars like our very own Sun. Showing every weekday at 14.45, and on weekends and holidays at

11.45, 13.30 and 15.15 until the end of February (due to the Planetarium’s refurbishment), make sure you get in to see this super show soon. Entry costs £6.50 for adults but £4.50 for students.

Flickr: HerArtSheloves

chance”, ‘Infinitas Gracias’ and ‘Charmed Life.’ In particular make sure you get a look at the Mexican votive paintings and London

Finally, Science London (a branch of the British Science Association) are holding an evening of crafty fun with pathogens in ‘SciCraft: Love Bugs’. Here, you can create your own ‘cuddly bacteria’ and hear entertaining talks on “things that you wouldn’t want to catch”. This is a one-off event being held on Valentine’s Day at the Hunterian Museum from 6 – 9 pm. Entry is free, but a £2 donation is suggested – and there’s a free face mask for every donation. Perhaps the ideal option if it’s a blind date!

Writer Alex Badrick London Student speaks to Dr Qazi Rahman, a psychologist at Queen Mary, about the science of sexuality, love and a raction. LS Can a)raction and feelings like love be measured scientifically?

QR There’s nothing really mystical about people’s experience of love, sexual arousal and romantic a2raction - they’re not unexplainable cognitive phenomena. Measures like a2raction can simply be recorded on a scale by assessing people’s responses on a questionnaire, asking whether they’re a2racted to people of the same or opposite gender. Or you can use techniques like brain imaging, where you show images of their preferred partners, or current romantic partner, and then look at their brain responses. Although this is a less robust measure.Another way is to look at physiological responses, like how much sweating there is in the palm in response to those pictures. Cognitive psychologists recently have been working on whether this is a good way of measuring and whether you can develop quick, automatic computer based tests that draw people’s a2ention to what they prefer. You might test gay men and straight men and show them pictures of nude men and women in quick succession - so quickly that it’s unconsciously processed. LS Like subliminal advertising?

QR A bit like that, yes. A1erwards you’d have a nonsense task: “Decide if this shape is a square or a triangle.” People tend to get the answer right in the area of the screen where they saw more of their preferred image.. Our common sense understanding of love and a2raction in the real world is that you go into a bar or a cafe, someone draws your a2ention and you can’t take your eyes oﬀ of them. Feelings people describe as chemistry can be broken down into those sort of things. LS What is your area of research?

QR I study the origins of sexual orientation... what makes people gay or straight. To do that we decipher the genetic and non-genetic mechanisms that lead to variations in sexuality. My research focuses less on romantic a2ractions but what makes people gay and links with mental health research. We have three strands of research, one is trying to understand the genetics of sexual orientation. We can use complicated maths to break it down and decide if those traits are due to genetic or environmental factors. This is quite controversial but parents have li2le sway in how their kids turn out, essentially parents don’t really ma2er.

ACADEMIA

LONDON STUDENT VOLUME 32 ISSUE 9

Lecture One: Love And Sex In Class. The two sides of the story Have you ever wondered what happens if a student fall in love with his/her teacher or visa versa? As St. Valentine’s Day is approaching, London Student is having a closer look at love inside Academia, namely at student-teacher relationship and the controversy around this issue. Is this kind of relationship simply a natural instinct one should follow, or is it not acceptable at all to be in love and be loved within the institution? Take a deep braeth of Valentine’s air, dive in and read.

Writer Julie Jo UCL

From my memories as a student in an all-girls school, the moment a young and decent looking male teacher arrived, he was the topic of heated conversation on every lunch table, creating excitement in, and out, of the classrooms. Although in most cases, these fantasies live only in films and in novels, as fictitious as these stories may be, it shows that it is an idea that is within the boundaries of human thought and imagination.

Photo: wallyg

A romantic relationship between a teacher and a student is a topic we simply accept as the wrong thing to do. The most obvious reason is that it may lead to special treatment and favouritism- failed pedagogy. As important as this reason is, this may not necessarily be the case. What

only one kind of romantic love. And love, lust and sex are blind. It clouds our logical judgement and morality only to make us cross the boundaries. Another topic that puts negative light on a studentteacher relationship is the balance of power. A teacher may be abusing the position of authority and a student may be coerced. However, how can a student be forced into an emotional relationship? They can be forced into sex which would be rape, a different matter beyond this discussion. This would only be a point of concern if the feelings were not mutual. Are the practical values of taking precautions for such possibility more important than our natural human instinct to fall in love that we must

about the grey area? The grey area is when the professor no longer teaches the student, never has nor will ever teach a student personally but is or was within one's own institution. We are not dealing with rape or an act of criminal offence with an under aged child or infidelity of a married professor in a mid-life crisis. We are looking into relationships between two similar aged singles that stand a chance outside the study environment: the ones that may prosper to love and be the real deal. Having said this, why should we generally accept that it is just morally the wrong thing to do? Like doctors to patients and lawyers to clients, teachers have a duty of care to the students. This type of care requires objectivity and guaranteed trust. Breaking this trust is, I guess, what people refer to as 'crossing the line'. Crossing the line would essentially be defying the very nature of their position in society and the general codes of conduct that come with it for both students and teachers. It would also jeopardise the practice of sound pedagogy and academic education in general. However, in the light of discussing one's position in society, we are humans before being a student or a teacher. It is human nature and an automatic instinct to seek love whereas being a teacher or a student is merely a social construct. I cannot explain the methodological breakdown of how this form of care transforms into the care one has for those they love romantically but the key point is that once it does, it is hard and even impossible to reverse the process. The fact is that there are many different kinds of care but

set rules to forbid and punish those who do? The most grey area of all is when the relationship may be the real deal or the so called 'true love'. Perhaps this is the view of a naïve and an unrealistic romanticist but those who reject this idea could be a pessimist disguised as a realist. Therefore, it is only fair to explore the minds of the precedent case. If you are the latter, take a deep breath of the Valentine's air and read on. I learnt in psychology of relationships that people have limited options within their circle of lifestyle to find their match. As apparent as this may be, we do not have all the people in the world to find our true love and nature restricts our chances of finding 'the one'. I found this a sad fact. So, why exacerbate the pitfall of nature by further narrowing our probabilities? The key question is what if the two were meant for each other? It is impossible to give a definitive answer to this from the start of a flirtatious gesture or from an infatuation based on appearance. We cannot tell if a 'thing' will eventually end

stitutions, as well as make the odd criticism of certain aspects of the ‘student experience’. Early a1ernoon on Sunday February 5, RHUL Memes uploaded the ﬁrst meme amongst universities in London on Facebook with the following quote: “Why do the international students pay the most and work the least?” But the creators of that page did not expect to see such signiﬁcant interest from their fellow Royal Holloway stu-

dents. A1er three days, KCL, LSE, Imperial College, UCL, and Goldsmiths students were so impressed that they created a memes page as well. But what was the factor that persuaded over 3000 King’s College students to like their memes page within 72 hours? Perhaps it is their capability to lightly make serious points. By scouring through the hundreds of memes, it is not impossible to conclude that a new quasi-social movement on cyber space has been

College’s Facebook memes;

The key question is what if the two were meant for each other?

I always remember this valuable quote from Napoleon Bonaparte: “Public opinion is the thermometer a monarch should constantly consult.” During the last week students from diﬀerent colleges in the University of London created Memes pages on Facebook to jestingly lampoon their student life and students at other in-

It’s All About Arts And Music This Time! UC L

UCL CHAMBER MUSIC CLUB CONCERT

Photo: Kristen B

up with the promise of the words, 'till death do us apart'. However, the basis of any romantic relationship is to take risks, tempt fate and put our hearts on the line to face the hurdles if you wish to find true love one day. People say that we cannot help how we feel but we can control our actions. As believable as this common phrase sounds, it is short of rational thought. The actions that we control are reasoned and committed by our sense of logic and morals. If these two factors are compromised by our emotions and feelings, which we do not have control over, then our actions too are subjects of our feelings. Therefore, it would be cruel to be condemned for the consequences of our actions that we did not have control over. It would be an over generalisation to conclude that I condone studentteacher relationships. I do not advocate lust and sex but I do support the exception. The reasons that support why this type of relationship should not be allowed still stand valid and important. What an individual chooses to prioritise between work, reputation and love depends on their culture and personal values among many other things. My belief is that everything comes at a price. Nevertheless, a part of me holds close to the line that 'the greatest thing you will ever learn is just to love and be loved in return'.

Happy St. Valentine’s Day, everyone!

A quasi-social movement in cyber space?

Writer Alireza S Nejad

WHAT’S ON:

initiated. Although much of what resides in these pages is purely for fun, from a social point of view they can come to serve an important function in bringing to the fore serious issues that can, in turn, draw the a2ention of journalists, College management, and those who are involved with education. To read this article in full, please visit the ‘Academia’ section of the London Student website: www.london-student.net

An Evening of French Music: performed by members of UCLU Music Society, to complement and promote UCOpera's March production of Acante et CÃphise by Rameau.

Time: February 23, 5.30pm Place: Haldane room, UCL Main Campus KCL

ARTS & HUMANITIES ALUMNI CONCERT 2012

The King’s College London Symphony Orchestra warmly invites staff and students to the Arts & Humanities Alumni Concert 2012, one of the College’s artistic highlights of the year. Conductor Dominic Grier will be leading pieces such as Glazunov’s Violin Concerto in A Minor and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D Minor. The concert will feature a full chorus from King’s and four soloists made up of current King’s students and alumni Time: February 19, 7.309.30pm Place: Duke’s Hall, The Royal Academy of Music, Marylebone Road, London NW1 5HT Tickets: Standard: £12.00, students: £5.00 LSE

LSE ARTS LUNCHTIME CONCERT

“An afternoon in Spain”, F.Sor; Variations on a Theme of Mozart Op.9, ?Miguel Llobet; Three Catalan Folk Songs, ?Francisco Tárrega; Capricho Árabe, ?Isaac Albéniz. A top prizewinner at international competitions, Morgan Szymanski has performed all over the world. "A player destined for future glories" (Classical Guitar Magazine) Sevilla – Mayorca – Granada – Asturias. Time: February 16, 1-2 pm Place: Shaw Library, Old Building, LSE

COMMUNITY

London Listens LONDON STUDENT VOLUME 32 ISSUE 9

Dr Saul Hillman works as a psychologist at The Anna Freud Centre/ University College London. He also has his own practice as a hypnotherapist/life coach/NLP practitioner.

NEXT ISSUE

We will be looking at phobias and anxieties. Please email me with any letters or experiences you have in this or any other area

Saul can be contacted on 07939 523 025 or saulhillman@blueyonder.co.uk. For more information and resources visit www.saulhillmantherapy.com

Ten Ways to Get Happy = GREAT DREAM

We live in a society where the drive and focus tends to be on reducing negativity and misery rather than striving for a positive state of mind. In recent years there has been a strong movement with substantial evidence into the science of wellbeing. The language of ‘happiness’ is a simple and effective one that even the Government has embraced since we now have the evidence on how we can make be2er choices to increase well-being in our lives. The notion that happiness is an important concept has roots in British history. Indeed, in the mid-18th century, the Sco2ish philosopher Frances Hutcheson was the first to describe the best society as the one that had "the greatest happiness of the greatest number". But this concept was not restricted to Britain and Thomas Jefferson asserted that "the care of human life and happiness… is the only legitimate objective of good government". Indeed, he also stated in the American Declaration of Independence about the entitlement to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Contemporary thoughts on ‘happiness’ are holistic and consider how we can improve overall satisfaction with our lives. Of Research consiscourse, our tently shows that ability to feel we need to change happy is inour priorities fluenced by since happiness our genes, and fulfilment upbringing come less from and our cirmaterial wealth cumstances and more from reincluding filationships nancial, health and professional factors. However, it is now accepted that our choices, values and sense of purpose, make a greater contribution to our feeling of

wellbeing. There are many things in life that ma2er to us - including health, freedom, autonomy and achievement. But if we ask why these individual concepts ma2er, we can generally give further answers - for example, that they make people feel be2er or more able to enjoy their lives. However, if we ask why it is important to feel happy and be2er, we tend to

and tested ways to enhance our mental state. These 10 strategies spell GREAT DREAM. Giving - doing things for others can make us feel happier and healthier. This can allow us also to feel more connected to others whether they are fellow students or in the wider community. Remember, giving is not just about money, it may be about giving time and ideas.

Jefferson argued that the care of human life and happiness is the only legitimate objective of good government. Flickr User Rishi Menon

struggle to know what to say. It is self-evidently desirable. Our overall happiness - how we feel about our lives - is what ma2ers to us most. Research consistently shows that we need to change our priorities since happiness and fulﬁlment come less from material wealth and more from relationships; less from thinking about our own needs and more from reaching out to others. Research in the UK shows that people are no happier now than they were 60 years ago in spite of economic growth and more prosperous lifestyles. The ‘Action for Happiness’ have 10 tenets for happiness which are tried

Relating – connecting with other people through all sorts of strong relationships is perhaps the most recognised way of enhancing our mood state. People with weak and narrow relationships tend to be less fulﬁlled and have a lower sense of belonging. It is indisputable that building and strengthening relationships will be helpful. Exercising - with our body and mind so interconnected, it is also highly recognised how physical activity will improve both physical and mental wellbeing. We can instantly increase our positive state even if this is restricted to brisk walking. Appreciating – in our everyday

lives, we are constantly wired whether it’s being drowned in course work or simply bombarded by our phones, social media and other channels. What we have become worse at is simply to be more mindful and aware of the smaller things in life we take for granted. These still moments of contemplation and observation allow us to be grounded in the present rather than fre2ing about being comfortthe past or fuable with who ture. you are may Trying Out – seem a bit trite learning new but we are ininformation creasingly living through study in a world of soclearly affects cial comparison our well-being which only in lots of posiserves to magnify tive ways our flaws since it exposes us to new ideas and maintains that state of being curious. Besides the obvious positive outcomes that come from accomplishing the work we do, it has a great boost to our self esteem. For further self-improvement, learning new skills or sharing skills with others has a great impact. Direction – we o1en need goals and purpose to motivate, challenge and stimulate. Clearly, these need to be realistic or they will have the reverse effect. Resilience – an inevitability in our lives is that we will suffer knockbacks whether it’s in relationships, our studies or elsewhere. Our response to bounce back from these stresses is essential and one that can be learned. For example, if we are able to maintain a determined and positive a2itude a1er a relationship break-up, and allow ourselves not to feel immobilised, then we are demonstrating resilience. Emotion – experiencing strong

In Conversation with the Doctor How do I get happy?

I cycle every day and that keeps me fit and active. (JJ, 21) I go to a Capoeira class twice a week with some mates. (TH, 19) I’ve got a really nice group of mates and we hang out the whole time. That keeps me happy. (YK, 19) I’m in a band and sing. (AW, 20) I go to a yoga class and practice it the whole time. (BB, 21) I sit in a local park by myself, have a cigare2e and just zone out. (MN, 19) I’m at the gym the whole time. (CW, 19) I do some voluntary work for a charity once a week. (AA, 18) I watch comedy DVDs. (BC, 20) I make sure I have holidays and things to look forward to. (JS, 20) positive emotions such as joy, pride and inspiration will be cumulative in terms of how we feel about ourselves. Acceptance - being comfortable with who you are may seem a bit trite but we are increasingly living in a world of social comparison which only serves to magnify our flaws. If we can accept ourselves, warts and all, and being kinder to ourselves when things are not always perfect, we can feel more fulfilled and resilient. Meaning – students may o1en feel anonymous in a vast place and lack the sense of belonging and meaning in their lives. We can find meaning and purpose through numerous areas whether it’s membership of a sports club, a religious group, or a political group. Most people will feel the benefit of belonging to something bigger than themselves.

LONDON LOVES with Aphrodite LONDON STUDENT VOLUME 32 ISSUE 9

Will,

Katherine,

Parasitology

International Relations

Will is 23 and studies at the London

Katherine is a third year student study-

Trop"). The three words to describe him are: Top notch guy!

Finally, a convergance of some new colleges! This week sees QM meet “the Trop” as our couple hit the Battersea Pie Co. in Covent Garden. Let’s see if Love was in the Air in time for this Valentine’s Issue....

The Date: Will’s Report Being a bit of a regular reader of the Lonely Londoners, I had high expectations for a decent bit of Indian We seem ed t o have cuisine and e n o ugh in some good c o mm on to company. In wa r rant a po s t-dinner reality only dr i nk, and 50% of this a n o ther one was on offer, a n d another on e ... the venue now being Battersea Pie co. In my pre-date state of anxiety I rushed into what i thought was the only pie shop in Covent Garden and uttered the dreaded words, "hi, i'm here for the blind

date". It turned out I was in the wrong pie store... After being escorted to the actual venue I was shortly followed by my date, Kathrine. We got off to a flying start, with some reassuring conversation about how we were both "in it for the experience" whilst on our way up to the pie counter. Whether she believed me or not, I don't know. The staff were friendly and eager to make our situation as easy as possible. The upgrade to a bottle of wine was highly appreciated! I opted for a tasty chicken 'n' mushroom option, whilst Katherine chose what I guess is considered the lady-like salad option in this establishment: a vegetarian pie. With pies in the oven, we settled into a lengthy conversation ranging from our uni courses to childhood memories of being chased by cows. The sporadic theme of conversation kept flowing and we seemed to have enough in common to warrant a post-dinner drink and another one and another one, I sensed i was being led astray...

ing International Relations at Queen Mary. Funny,

chatty and great at first impressions, she is the perfect person to get any conversation flowing.

After bumbling from one bar to the next, inhibition was rapidly being shed and we eventually entered the student union (the shame). The time seemed to fly past and the last tube was approaching, so after a warm goodbye and a not too subtle number swap, we went our separate ways..

The Date: Katherine’s report Before I met Will I was really nervous, but I had nothing to worry about because he was so friendly and laid back. We met in the We chatted Battersea Pie co. in Covent Garden, which about the dangers of is a really nice place! the counWe talked about tryside our university courses, from jump- he is studying paraing cows to sitology (I think) and I jumping amstudying Internahay bales! tional relations so there was not much cross over, however as both of us have grown up in the countryside we

Battersea Pie Co. Lower Ground Floor, 28 the Market, Covent Garden, WC2E 8RA Call on: 020 7240 9566 Deliveries Available!

num bers S n

ged og

d pe

Swa p

School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine ("the

LOVE-O-METRE

chatted about the dangers of this, from jumping cows to jumping on hay bales..! After eating we went to a bar in Covent Garden for cocktails. We had lots to talk about and the conversation was easy however we ended up leaving swiftly after being given the ultimatum either to pick up our belongings or put it them in the cloakroom. We then went on a search for a Canadian pub also in Covent Garden. We were helped in our search by the giant maple flag outside. We had (another) drink and this time it was the stuffed black bear which aided our exit. We then decided to meet some of his friends and on the way we had a quick stop off at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and diced with death on the London roads, finally making it to ULU. His (“best friend”) Adam said I needed to mention him so, hello! All in all it was a lovely evening and Will was really fun to hang out with.

London Haunts:

Valentine’s Day romance...

Valentine’s Day rolls around again and with it the incredibly crass overload of teddy bears and sterile roses and a whole lot of pink. Someone’s clearly having a joke on the consumer; you would be hard pressed to find anyone who thought a smiling and slightly rotund bear clutching a shiny heart was anything other than romantic and endearing. The market manages to reduce one of if not the founding factors of society: love, into a depersonalised and slightly twee mess. The natural reaction to all of this would of course be to retreat into an anti-romantic rut, tell your loved one that you are feeling under the weather and seek solace from the plethora of cuddliness. I am however convinced that Valentine’s Day can still be romantic and wonderful; all it takes is a little imagination, and an active escape from the expected. On this note, any notion of dinner, movie etc should be vetoed before they are even considered. If going out is the name of the game, a date to a pub, probably the Cross Keys in Covent Garden would be my suggestion, that way you can be completely incongruous. Otherwise why not stay in and cook? Maybe it sounds a bit middle aged and you wouldn’t see depictions of this cosy little scene in Clinton’s cards, but I am entirely convinced that the way to a happy Valentine’s Day is low pressure and defying convention.

Flora Neville

Afterthoughts from Aphrodite

So the whiff of Valentine’s day hangs in the air like a cake baking in Cupid’s kitchen, and he sure did try his best to bake up a treat for this evening. Promising, positive....perfect? Might not go that far, but perhaps the Valentine’s day consumer-hungry aura gave this pair a little lift... Swapping cheesy roses and tacky heart-paraphernalia for modest, tasty pies and a good bottle of wine, maybe Flora is right - less fuss is more conducive to an enjoyable evening.

If you are a Lonely Londoner and fancy some good old fashioned romance this Valentines- AND a free meal, do contact Aphrodite at: love@london-student.net with your name, age, university and 3 words to describe you. Find some romance today.... PLUS:Need some inspiration for a Valentine’s day meal with a twist? Look to Food now for Wahaca’s tasty Huevos Rancheros recipe!

SPORT

LONDON STUDENT VOLUME 32 ISSUE 9

The Inside Track:

Disappointing developments Writer Daniel O’Donnell Royal Holloway

Every issue, Daniel O’Donnell examines issues, triumphs and decisions made by various organizing commi ees. In trying to determine how well the Olympic games will run, why decisions have been made and how will it all aﬀect the city and the country next summer.

Now I’ve had a fair bit of feedback when it comes to writing this column. I’m proud that people can read comment - everyone has a right to reply - it’s a fundamental and key part of journalism. There would be no point writing pieces that everyone agreed with, nodding, caps doﬀed and bowing to such amazing knowledge. That’s what academics are for isn’t it? No, journalism is a dialogue - hopefully a well researched article that gives balance and stirs argument, interest and debate. This sounds like a

What makes BUCS so special to tennis players?

Writer Freddie Clamp @2clamp

A good friend of my mine, a sporting fanatic now crocked by injury, recently said to me “my biggest regret of University is not playing a British Universities and Colleges Sport fixture”. Having now experienced a season and a half of

most. So I’ve tried to come up with sensible suggestions as to what could be done in light of these complaints - instead of just complaining.

So in that vein I’m going to discuss a particularly painful issue. Recently I compiled a news report for EastLondonLines.co.uk in regards to a new temporary indoor-training facility for Olympic and Paralympic basketball teams that has now been approved to be built on Leyton Marsh on the borders of Waltham Forest and Hackney.

I was dubious, as always being an impartial journalist, though what has been proposed by Olympic Development Authority (ODA) is nothing short of an atrocious decision that has immediately alienated a whole community from not only the development but also the idea of the games themselves.

defence article so just to be clear, it isn’t. More of an admission that I may be slightly underwhelming when it comes to the games. To clarify, I can’t wait for the Olympics to come to this city. I’m a huge sport enthusiast - I even spent my undergraduate degree studying all about it; sociologically, politically, economically and psychologically - whether it be its eﬀects on the population or the individual. Sport has a massive role to play - and I’ll always advocate that. Though what would be the point of

BUCS sport I struggle to imagine university life without it. Five days of my week are spent training for or competing in BUCS Tennis South-Eastern Division 2B, captaining the Queen Mary Tennis Team has become an integral part of my student life.

The playing part aside, captaining a University team inevitably brings its own challenges. Over 220 people signed up for the tennis club at Fresher’s Fair of which roughly 85 turned up to our first trial session. Four courts, 85 people, our goal to reduce 85 to 16, you do the maths. With such little space we were left relying on everyone’s own opinions of themselves, hardly an infallible method. After three weeks of reducing 85 to 16 we had ourselves a team, although it seems certain that we will have let someone slip through the net such is the nature of a chaotic trial. The perennial battle with fresher’s flu is an ongoing nightmare for any BUCS captain. It can strike at anytime and is sure to mess with trainings and fixtures alike. One has no choice but to lie low if hit with this horrible student bashing illness.

So what makes BUCS so special to students? This is difficult, but lets

just telling everyone every couple of weeks how much I’m looking forward to a clean sweep in the cycling and sailing - and seeing whether we can win anything in the more upright sports - dispelling the Aussie banter about being good at si3ing down sports (throwing it back - Australia is the 3rd most obese country in the world so they can talk) and the rest that comes with such a sporting occasion.

So I decided from the outset to look objectively at the Olympics - which has it’s critics from many - infact

start by saying it isn’t the organisation of BUCS. It is difficult to envisage any other competition where it is deemed acceptable to play tennis in a mixture of sleet and snow, quite frankly, come rain or shine we are expected to compete. Last year against Canterbury Christchurch waiting for my teammates to complete their matches I saw the first signs of frost developing on my tennis racket – once back in the warmth of the car it was immediately clear why, -2C.

Away matches are perhaps the pinnacle of university sport. The Wednesday afternoon battles with London Transport explain why the London Underground Song was once written. The camaraderie developed on these trips is something lovely to behold, the tense nervous journey to the fixture before the joyous celebratory return home is what we play sport for. Brilliant.

BUCS is the facilitator for students of different universities to compete against each other and must be applauded for this. The competition between the London universities is often intense, rivalries develop, friendships are sometimes broken but far more often made. This is the beauty of BUCS competition.

The marsh land is home to a Site of Special Scientiﬁc Interest and plenty of dog walkers, ramblers and runners. Having visited the site, it was clear how much of an aﬀect such a temporary three-storey indoor basketball court - complete with tarmac road - would have on the local residents and the look of the area - not to mention a lasting environmental impact. It’s a shame that the ODA have decided to go forward with this development - on land that had previously been unable to be built upon - temporary or not - because of a protected status called Metropolitan Open Land. Though due to the “special circumstances” of the games the plans are set to go ahead a2er successfully gaining planning permission earlier in the month.

Though it’s not only the developContinued from page 24 John McEnroe before it had started. McEnroe had said “Brad Gilbert doesn’t swing at the ball hard enough to break an egg. He doesn’t hit the ball. He waves at it”. Gilbert was irate by this claim, and came into the match and tried to hit the cover off every ball. Needless to say, McEnroe comfortably won 6-4 6-4 and had the cheek to say in the post match press conference “Brad seemed to be playing a li3le more aggressive than usual. I think it hurt his game”. Pure genius from McEnroe. Currently in men’s tennis we don’t have a personality like John McEnroe or indeed Jimmy Connors, the current top 4 Nadal, Federer, Djokovic and Murray are all very much sedate in the press and don’t engage in a verbal war of words and off court are very much friends, unlike Connors and McEnroe who loathed each other both off and on the court. Although we see no evidence of mind games in the press, without doubt, games go on behind closed doors, within the locker room, in the canteen, even at the stringers. Just how much of an effect does it have on his opponent when Nadal walks into the locker room, and refuses to smile or make eye contact? Nadal’s opponent’s a3ention and focus has now changed, it is on Nadal and not on himself. Nadal has

ment of this facility that has angered local residents - I spoke to councillors and local people - they were never consulted until very recently, citing unfair play by the ODA in trying to push through planning permission with as li3le public consultation as possible. This lack of communication, this decision, has not only distanced locals from ownership of their own community but also from the idea of the Olympic games themselves. What is damaging physically on the land is mirrored psychologically by the residents in their feeling and support of future sporting events. It is why communication is so vital when deciding these games. I would argue that no person would object to creating new jobs, regenerating an area, inspiring new initiatives and even ge3ing more people into sport and ﬁtness - though all of these aims seem to be a seldom resort to rhetoric with li3le evidence of any of those objectives being met. In terms of a solution, unfortunately it seems this one is past it. Though I would urge both Hackney and Waltham Forest Councils to urgently seek new grounds to build such a structure. For temporary or not, this will have a long-term aﬀect on the area, whether it be the marsh land or the residents themselves. It’s a shame the ODA couldn't just go out and speak to people.

Daniel writes a blog to accompany pieces wri3en for London Student on his website www.daniel-odonnell.com Daniel writes a blog to accompany pieces wri en for the London Student on his website: www.daniel-odonnell.com

the advantage already. Roger Federer has an aura that only Roger Federer could ever possess. As he walks into the locker room with his latest cardigan perfectly positioned on his chest, the sheer sight of him is enough to cause his opponent to buckle at the knees in fear. Like Nadal, Federer has an immediate advantage without saying a word. In 2011, the new world number 1, Novak Djokovic, has created an aura of invincibility, he has lost once in 50 matches, he doesn’t believe he can lose a set, let alone a tennis match, and this is noted by his opponents. His opponents already doubt if they can beat him, Djokovic is halfway to victory before a ball is struck. It is without doubt that a tennis match can be won or lost before setting foot on the court, but, is there some way not to become eﬀected by these mind games.

SPORT

LONDON STUDENT VOLUME 32 ISSUE 9

KCL & UCL prepare to ba"le at Varsity 2012

and started the second half 12-0 up. King’s began their comeback and in the final play, a4er thirty phases, man of the match Philip Jones scored a try under the posts to make it 15 all. Jake Janes kicked the winning points to se5le the match 17-15 to King’s. This electrifying finish prompted a pitch invasion by the King’s fans that ran on to congratulate their new heroes. It was a fi5ing end to an era of playing at Richmond and many of the crowd said that the finish was as dramatic as that witnessed in the legendary 2003 World Cup final.

Writer Ed Lawless

King's Men's Rugby Rivalries are ﬁerce between the constituent colleges of the University of London, but none are as intense as that between King’s and UCL. Over the past 180 years the rivalry has taken many forms; from the stealing of each other’s cherished mascots to pitched ba5les using Covent Garden’s ro5en fruit as ammunition. In the modern era the focus of the animosity is set on the annual match between the institutions’ Men’s and Women’s rugby teams. This yearly clash is now less than three weeks away and preparations are well underway in both camps, and the Students’ Unions are working together to make this the best London Varsity to date.

This year the London Varsity is taking up a new residence at The Twickenham Stoop Stadium, home of the Harlequins. The number of supporters has been steadily growing over the years and the event has outgrown its previous grounds at Richmond. The new venue gives the opportunity for the two sides to play on premiership turf in front of a crowd of thousands. For the fans The Stoop promises to oﬀer an atmosphere that is even be5er than what has been enjoyed at Richmond in the past. One of the exciting new features for the crowd are the pri-

All the teams are hoping to have a more comprehensive win over their opposition this year but Varsity never fails to disappoint the crowd’s desire for a tense, passionate and exciting match. So regardless of who you’re supporting on the night we look forward to seeing you in the stands, singing your hearts out and cheering your teams to victory.

vate boxes that oﬀer an unrivalled view of the whole pitch and like the standard tickets are available to purchase from the respective Students’ Unions now.

With the stage set the four teams involved are working hard to deliver their best performances of the season. Both Women’s teams have been enjoying every success in their BUCS leagues and remain unbeaten this

season. A rather diﬀerent tale is told for the Men’s sides that enjoyed each other’s company in the same BUCS division last year. UCL successfully fought oﬀ relegation whilst King’s secured promotion. However the tables have been turned this season and King’s, plagued by injuries, has struggled to perform in the higher division. Though since the Christmas break, a new found belief has come into the side and the 30 man

England Rugby to face salary cap blunder?

Writer Emma Swan QMUL

The ﬁnancial aspect of Rugby has undergone much deliberation in recent years with many of the major clubs such as Northampton, Bath and Saracens all respectively pushing for an increase in the salary cap for English club Rugby. Although a rise in 2008/2009 from £2.2 million to £4 million for Heineken Cup and Amlin Cup players which is set to ascend further to £4.5 million in 2012/2013, these amounts of money are but pennies compared to those of overseas clubs such as Toulon

Lost in the lockers: Psychology in sport

Freddie Clamp @4clamp

and Stade Francais; The grass is always greener is a concept that run through most Rugby players minds when making the decision to play across the channel, with England stars Johnny Wilkinson, Riki Flutey and James Haskell all packing their bags to venture to sunnier climes and deeper pockets with French clubs capping their salaries for players at £7.1 million; Wales have followed suit and introduced their salary cap at £3.5 million for the four regions in fear of financial difficulties for the clubs in the future. Mark McCafferty (Premiership Rugby chief executive) comments of these fiscal extremities, “The final sustainability of clubs is a crucial issue, we need these clubs

to be around in the next 50, 60 or 70 years, not just in the next three or four,” said McCafferty. “That is why we need the salary cap in place to try to make sure as many clubs as possible do balance the books. That means you trade off. You can’t spend the money.’’ The salary cap of £3.5million is said to cover the costs of the registered players for European players in the four regions (Ospreys, Cardiff Blues, Scarlets and Newport (Gwent Dragons), however does not in fact cover the development and academy players. It has been said that this enforced cap will generate a greater prominence on developing the further generations of Welsh players.

Fortunately, tennis hasn’t succumbed to the lowly levels of boxing just yet, we are yet to see Nadal and Djokovic engage in virtual sparring via Twi5er or other media outlets, but inevitably, as with all sports, mind games and pre game psyching are a huge part of tennis. Ones ability to deal with these games is paramount if you are to reach the

pinnacle of the sport. During the rigmarole of the modern day tennis tour, rivalries are bound to develop, friendships made and broken, and the unlikeliest of friends are created. It is not, however, o4en that this happens on the court, it is in the locker rooms and the canteens. It is highly unusual that the ﬁrst

Varsity training squad are now conﬁdent in their abilities and have been pu5ing in admirable performances every Wednesday. Meanwhile UCL has been enjoying the success King’s had last year and are top of their division. Last year’s Men’s match was truly unforge5able to those who played and those who watched. UCL outplayed King’s during the ﬁrst half

The London 2012 Varsity will take place on Friday 2 March 2012 at Twickenham Stoop, Langhorn Drive, Twickenham, Middlesex, TW2 7SX For more information and latest updates visit: www.thelondonvarsity.com Women’s kick oﬀ 5:30pm Men’s kick oﬀ 7:30pm

Tickets for the match and a"er-party are available from kclsutickets.com

One big issue that has surfaced on the salary cap ma5er is that of each Premiership club allowing one player to be excluded from the demure cap (set to be introduced in 2012/2013) to allow increased capacity to keep a hold on existing International players and import stars from abroad. Bath have welcomed this open arms a4er there failed attempt at luring Dan Carter to the Rec. McCafferty adds, "Looking forward, the continuing success of our expansion strategy to 2015 will depend significantly on our development of playing talent to world-class levels, our retention of that talent in England and the continued a5raction of some of the world's best players. This combination will add significantly to the attraction of our competition to supporters, viewers and partners. "Our successful growth will also continue to depend on striking the right balance between the investment in playing talent and the continued long-term financial stability of clubs. The clubs have agreed

how best to strike the right balance." Have English and Welsh stricken the right balance in terms of salary capping? Or will they face the loss of many talents players to the bright lights of higher earnings? Only time will tell.

time you speak to or make eye contact with your opponent is on the court. Players share a locker room during tournaments and it is highly unlikely that your eyes don’t meet before a match. The best players on the court also tend to be the best players in the locker room or in the press when it comes to taking the early psycho-

logical advantage. Brad Gilbert who is widely considered one of the greatest tacticians and strongest mentally in the history of tennis was never the most talented player, many say he reached the top 20 solely because of these two a5ributes. However, Gilbert famously admi5ed in 1984 he had lost a match to Continued on page 23