KEELE STUDENTS SPEAK KUSU WILL NOW ACT
Issue Number 8 : February 4th 2008
Jack Corrigan Vice-President Education & Welfare
On Thursday 24th January 2008 Keele University Students’ Union held an Emergency General Meeting (EGM) to discuss the proposed restructuring of the School Economics and Management Studies (SEMS) and the Centre for Health Policy and Management. A motion was proposed to show support for the University and College Union (UCU) which represents many of the lectures affected by the proposed restructuring.
When the plans for the proposed changes to SEMS and CHPM were received by the KUSU executive it was decided that any decision taken would be guided by the student body here at Keele. Understandably the sentiment that was expressed by some students when this information was received was that of anxiety and disillusionment. The social networking site Facebook allowed students
to communicate their disconsolate response to the University’s proposal. The discussion group centred on this issue created a boiling pot of debate, which demonstrated just how fervently students felt on this matter.
24th. It was decided that to facilitate a fair platform for discussion, it was necessary to have a consultation meeting where students could come and ask questions regarding the process to the UCU and University management. The consultation forum proved to be an adequate stage in the decision making process, as it allowed some of the ‘rumours’ surrounding the issue to be clarified.
Following the consultation meeting, the meticulous preparation for the EGM began. The vociferous nature of students on Facebook regarding this issue, suggested that this meeting was going to be a well attended summit at the Students’ Union. The Vice President Democracy and Communication and the Constitutional Affairs Committee, with help for interested parties, strove to make the EGM a fluid and effective meeting. When a motion was received from Neil Watkins, seconded by Paul Butters, which proposed support for the UCU, the EGM’s agenda began to take shape.
On the evening of EGM, the Ballroom was set up and the debate was ready to begin. With 134 attendees the meeting reached quorum and a justified decision could be made. The meeting began with Martyn Harris, the Constitutional Affairs Committee Chair, explaining the processes and procedures of General Meetings, and the rights of students as voters. Following this a discussion was scheduled, to comment on the previous consultation meeting held by KUSU. Owen Meredith took this opportunity to question the behaviour of the UCU President Colin Whitston, at the consultation meeting, suggesting that his walk out
In Concourse Issue 8
The Students’ Union released a press statement which outlined the programme of discussion, which culminated in the EGM on the
kusu.net/concourse
Representatives Wanted > Page 2
demonstrated how committed the UCU was to student matters. Gareth Snell retorted to Owens’ comments pointing to the fact that Colin Whitston had a prior commitment which had been organised before the Students’ Union had invited him to the consultation period. Following this discussion, the agenda moved to the hearing of the motion. Watkins, the proposer of the motion, set out his stall for the reasoning behind his belief. Laden with emotive sentiment he reiterated the Students’ Unions message that it should be the students leading the debate and making the decision. Paul Butters then seconded the motion, despite some shameless pandering to the crowd with regards to the Vice Chancellors pay cheque, Butters demonstrated his political experience and eloquence in hammering home the main reasons to support the UCU.
The debate then ensued, though it was just a case of most people simply agreeing to the reasoning behind the motion. To speed up the process of agreement, Adam Cook called for a procedural motion to be passed that the motion be heard immediately. Cook’s suggestion was accepted unanimously and the motion was then heard. A closed ballot vote then took place in which students could either vote for or against the motion, or choose to abstain. Following a short adjournment, the results were announced and with 117 votes for the motion passed relatively comfortably.
The mandates of the motion where as follows; mandate 1. The KUSU sabbatical officers to ensure that the concerns and views of Keele students are fully represented in relevant meetings with the University. 2. The KUSU sabbatical officers to communicate all
Be A Legend of Keele! > Page 7
relevant and non-confidential information to students through regular email bulletins. 3. The KUSU Vice President (Education & Welfare) to co-ordinate a student campaign in support of any action taken by UCU within the academic year 2007/08 which is directly in relation to the proposals for restructuring SEMS and CHPM.
The next step for KUSU is now to act upon the students’ decision. We will be opening up communications with the UCU and formulating a plan for protest and campaigning for the coming months. If you are interested in getting involved please email vp.edwel@kusu.keele.ac.uk.
The day after the EGM, saw the first campaign by student members as a group of mainly international students protested outside Keele Hall calling for a quick resolution to the current scenario we find ourselves in. Keele students have spoken, and the clear message coming from them is one of support for the Lecturers. The KUSU executive will ensure that student voices are heard and will aim to co-ordinate an affective and well supported campaign.
National Student Volunteering Week > Page 12
Concourse
We Want Student Representatives for the......
Why be President?
Leadership is a gift. It takes strength, valour and dignity to lead your peers. Being President of Keele University Students’ Union in a goliath task.
Do you see yourself as a bastion of the student population? Can you keep a calm head whilst all round you are losing theirs?Can you be the archatypal Bobby Moore figure?Be a leader who just commands respect! The requirements for this job are simple, be tallismanic, be assured, be affable, be diplomatic, be courageous, but most of be fun. Want to lead your union into a brighter future this job could be for you.
Wanted!
Vice-President Democracy & Communications
Are you interested in the media? Do you enjoy being creative and looking for new ways to get your message out there? Why not give VP Comms a go! The job is a full-time sabbatical position where you take a year out from studying (or stay an extra year if you graduate this summer). The main focus of this job is editing the fortnightly newspaper of KUSU as well as overseeing the communications and publicity of the Students Union. You will represent the views and opinions of students to the University, be involved with the day to day running of the Students’ Union and a trustee for a whole year!
Experience: Ideally some background in media For Further Information Contact Naz (though not essential) and preferably some experience of working with students. at president@kusu.keele.ac.uk
To apply pick up a nominations form This job will do wonders for your CV and is great from Matt ‘The Chisel’ Alexander from if you love working with students! To apply for the the top floor of the Students’ Union. job please collect a nominations sheet from Matt Alexander in the VP Comms Office.
Part-Time Officers Wanted!
Wanted Athletics Union President
- AU is seeking a representative to voice their views to KUSU and the University. - To apply please collect a Nominations Form
Wanted Campus Affairs Officer
- We need a student to raise the issues surrounding living on Campus to the University. Do you have what it takes to push for student welfare?
Wanted Off-Campus Affairs Officer
- Student wanted to help improve communication and represent the interests of students living off the Keele campus. Apply in the VP Comms Office!
Wanted LGBT Officer
- Representative Needed! Are you the person who can represent students to a higher body? Do you understand the issues surrounding being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transsexual students?
Wanted Non-Portfolio Officer
Why become Vice Why Be Vice President Education and President (Finance & Activities)? Welfare?
The Duke or Duchess of Keele Univeristy Stu- Let me guess that the first words that comes to mind when you think of this role is numbers dents’ Union numbers numbers…and let me take a further The Role of Vice President Education and stab in the dark that this is the exact thing that Welfare is a 1 year Sabbatical position, which may put you off running for this position?!?! is full time and fully paid. This job is not suit- How does the idea of running your own events able for everyone; A Donkey’s lips do not fit sound? During your year in office you will get to onto a Horse’s mouth. To be VP Ed & Wel you organise and schedule fresher guides for the need to be a positive, active and diligent first day of term to make the new students first worker. You need to be strong in the face of days at keele even better. You will also get to adversity and painstaking bureaucracy. You run both Freshers and Refreshers society signneed to be organized and infused with the de- up days. In addition you will get to run Keele’s sire to make a difference. You need to be able annual talent show and to top the year off you to believe six impossible things before break- will be organising the spectacular end of year society awards evening. And…if finance does fast. really float your boat then you will be involved The Vice President Education and Welfare in preparing budgets, analysing expenditure represents the Student body with regards to and monitoring society balances. Educational issues. In addition to this the VP Obviously I am going to be very biased, but this runs Awareness Campaigns which protect stu- has been a phenomenal year for me and I dent Welfare as students. The VP Ed and Wel- would strongly urge for anybody to consider runfare needs to realize that it is better to light one ning for my position. Not only will you have an candle than to curse the darkness. If you are amazing year but by the end of it you will be the kinder persons who strives to have a equipped with a variety of transferable skills that stronger back rather than a lighter load, the will be beneficial for future employment. role of Education and Welfare could be for Best of luck! you. Oli
Wanted Female Gender Officer
- Do you understand the needs of the female population at Keele? Want to push issues surrounding female students up the next level? Be the Female Gender Officer for 2008/9!
Wanted Male Gender Officer
- Do you want to support Union Committee and play a big role in the decisions of 2008/9? - Collect a Nominations sheet from Matt Alexander!
- We need someone to keep the issues surrounding male students to the University and KUSU. Collect a Nominations sheet from the VP Comms Office.
- Do you care about the environment? Could you strive for KUSU and the University to adopt a more ‘green’ approach to their business? Apply now!
- Can you be the person to make KUSU and the University aware of access problems around campus? A keen and eager person needed!
- We need a student to help organise campaigns and raise awareness of issues surrounding ethnic minority members of KUSU.
International Students Officer - Can you arrange an International Exravoganza? Can you get International students more engaged with KUSU? Apply before the 7th of February!
Wanted Environmental Officer
Wanted Racial Diversity Officer
4th February 2008
Wanted Disabled Students Officer
Wanted
Wanted Mature Students Officer
- Seeking a student to infrom and represent mature students at Keele. Collect a nominations sheet if you’d like to apply.
Wanted Postgraduate Officer
- Do you understand what its like to be a postgraduate? Why not be the Postgraduates Officer and add something to your CV.
Wanted Entertainments Officer
- Think you can provide entertainments that students at Keele want? Dance your way down to the VP Comms office to apply!
Wanted Hospital Campus Officer
- We need a student to put forward the issues surrounding students on the hospital campus. See Matt Alexander to apply!
Wanted!
Faculty Representatives!
Interested in being involved with the academic faculties at Keele? Want to improve your CV by sitting on the faculty Learning & Teaching Committees? Want to represent what students think about the courses at Keele? Then why not be a Faculty Representative!
This role currently holds 3 vacancies for 2008/9. These are;
Faculty Representative for Health, Faculty Representative for Humanities & Social Science; Faculty Representative for Natural Science
Experience: Preferably some experience of being or working with the Student Academic Representatives (StARs). A passion for representing the views of students! Application forms available from Matt Alexander in the VP Comms Office
4th February 2008
Concourse
Reality Of Government Policy Hits Home : The Fate of the Post Office
Owen Meredith
Many of you will have been invited to the facebook group “Save Keele Post Office” in the last few weeks. But sadly, it is not only Keele Post Office that may face the axe.
Under Government proposals, 2,500 Post Offices across the country are earmarked for closure by 2009. This is in addition to the 5,000 already closed since1997, the Labour government holds the record for closing Post Offices faster than any other government. As the growth of the numbers in the facebook group show, this is a highly emotive issue. But what are the facts: Is Keele Post Office Closing? Answer - We don’t know, consultation in Staffordshire starts in March, when the government will release a list of Post Offices in the region outlined for closure. Keele may or may not be on this list. Can We save Keele? YES! But only by changing the national government agenda for Post Office closures, we cannot save Keele Post Office simply by joining a group on facebook, or buying more stamps! 2,500 post offices will be closed by the end of the year unless the government is forced to change its mind.
How can we stop them? The only way to force the government into a u-turn is through the national agenda. If enough people sign a petition calling on the government to halt there closure agenda, we can force a re-think. Keele CF have linked up with a national petition and are asking students and residents to sign the e-petition calling on the government to abandon their program of closures. Log onto www.newcastlecf.co.uk and follow the link.
What is the alternative? Giving Post Offices greater independence from state control to diversify the services they offer and become commercially viable is the best way for Post Office to remain at the heart of thousands of communities in the UK. Post Offices provide essential services to millions of people, and this government policy will hit the vulnerable hardest.
Our own Post Office in Keele is one of the last remaining links between the university and village communities, one village resident recently said to me: “Without the Post Office, the University may as well build a brick wall around the perimeter and seal us all out.” This is not what Keele is about, we are one community, and for many of us that is the attraction of Keele. Make a stand, and stop the heart being ripped out of 2,500 communities: sign the petition today.
Residential Managers
Fire Safety…
Fire alarms and fire brigade call outs dropped significantly last semester after a real drive from the local brigade, Resident Tutors and Residential Managers to ensure that people were sensible with cooking and fire equipment, so well done!!
However, there have been some calls to the brigade that could have very easily been avoided so please continue to be sensible!! Here a few reminders:
Please make yourselves aware of where the emergency fire alarm buttons are in your blocks or flats and avoid leaning on them. Obvious? YES. But people are still setting their block alarms off in this way. When cooking on the hob, don’t cook with too much oil, as the smoke will set the alarm off, even if the food is not necessarily burning. Don’t leave any cooking food unattended under any circumstances. If your cooking does start producing smoke, turn the oven/hob/grill down or off, Open the windows in the kitchen and keep the fire door shut. This will reduce the chances of the alarm going off. Thank you all for your co-operation.
Concourse Editor : Matt Alexander Concourse Issue 8 contained articles from;
Jack Corrigan, Owen Meredith, Residential Managers, Tom Coupe, Ben Powell, Nikki Cooper, Lauren Fuzi, Matt Alexander, Michael Barnett, Dan Hougham, Desiree Capstick, Amanda Carrod, Lizzie Leeson, Catie Dear, Rob Chamberlain, Adele Wooton, Becky Taylor, Liam Didsbury, Jamie Barker, Farah Halime, Mark Harrison, Aide Rushton, Simi Sehgal, Katy Swingland, Stephen Johns, Ben Phillips. Jez Tullock.
Democracy at Keele?
Does 117 votes represent our entire Students Union?
Tom Coupe
On the 24th January at the EGM, Keele students voted overwhelmingly to pass a motion mandating full KUSU support to the lecturers in any action they take in response to the proposed restructuring of SEMS and CHPM. Firstly I would like to state my full backing of the motion and the lecturers, but I have come to doubt the manner in which our Union support was mandated. On the night 117 of the 134 votes cast supported the motion, 12 voted against with 5 further abstentions. The turnout was mainly comprised of SEMS students and those more involved in KUSU politics. Despite a substantial majority in favour of the motion, I question whether the vote was representative of the wider student body.
KUSU support has been mandated by a fraction of the student population at Keele, yet the decisions taken by the UCU in the coming months may have a substantial impact on all students, despite an assurance to preserve student welfare. Opposition was limited to one speaker raising the valid point that the motion handed a “blank cheque” of support to the UCU. The threat of wide-ranging strikes has not yet reached the agenda but if it does KUSU has been committed to support any action taken. It seems unreflective of Keele University that a small segment of students can mandate full Union support, when in the face of strikes popular opinion may fall against the lecturers.
I am aware that all students had the opportunity to attend the meeting and raise their concerns over the wide-ranging implications of full KUSU support but the significance of the meeting was not well publicised. In the preceding days I met students unaware of the SEMS restructuring and many more oblivious to the EGM and its consequences. In the aftermath of the meeting I found further students opposed to strike action. If the conclusion of this “restructuring” leads to strikes where are these students to turn? Their Union has been mandated to support action that they are not in favour of. Despite my belief that the correct action has been taken, it seems unfair that those unavailable or too apathetic to attend or even those completely unaware of the meeting have been somewhat discarded in the decision-making process. KUSU is an allinclusive body but its decision has been cast by 117 members. I am personally dismayed and disappointed that a meeting of such potential significance can be decided by fractions of the total student population. I think the Union should have acted to raise further awareness or even have taken the decision through a different manner. Imagine if the Sabbatical Officers were elected in a meeting of 134 students. Their legitimacy would instantly be jeopardised and I believe the legitimacy of this vote will be called into question if wider strike action occurs.
Finally, I would like to reiterate my full support for the motion, I made the decision to attend the meeting and I have made the decision to support the lecturers in whatever action they take. I am not however, an elected official, I represented my own views in the same manner as every other individual at the meeting. My concern is that the Union has been committed to a cause without a full consultation of its members and that the wider student body remain unaware of the decisions cast in their name.
Next Edition of Concourse:
Want to write for Concourse? You can submit articles and adverts to Matt Alexander in the VP Comms office on the top floor of the Students’ Union, or at; vp.comms@kusu.keele.ac.uk
Monday 18th February
Please submit articles for this edition by 12pm on Sunday the 11th of February to VP Comms
RECYCLING YES ALWAYS!
Concourse
4th February 2008
Did you know?
* 70% less energy is required to recycle paper compared with making it from raw materials. * Recycled paper produces 73% less air pollution than if it was made from raw materials. * 12.5 million tonnes of paper and cardboard are used annually in the UK. * The average person in the UK gets through 38kg of newspapers per year. * It takes 24 trees to make 1 ton of newspaper.
From January to December 2007 KUSU sent 5.520 tonnes of waste paper and 13.80 tonnes of cardboard for recycling.
Did you know?
* Glass is 100% recyclable and can be used again and again. * Glass that is thrown away and ends up in landfills will never decompose.
KUSU Bars employ students to separate ALL its glass waste from ALL its bars so that it can be easily collected and recycled. KUSU PREMISES DEPARTMENT
4th February 2008
The National Student Survey 2008
Monday 4th February will see the launch of the National Student Survey 2008 (NSS) at Keele. The NUS hails the survey as an opportunity to shape higher education in the future.
The NSS is a national initiative intended for final year undergraduate students.
Concourse This is now the fourth year the survey has been conducted, with nearly sixty per cent of eligible students responding.
The survey provides an excellent opportunity for students to share opinions on the quality of their course and university. The survey results will inform future students in choosing what and where they would like to study. If you are a final year undergraduate, you will be contacted by Ipsos MORI, an independent research company, and invited to fill in the survey online, by post or by telephone. Through the survey, all final year undergraduates will be asked to provide feedback on the following topics: Quality of teaching Assessment and feedback Academic support Organisation and management Learning resources Personal development, and Overall satisfaction.
Chris Wain is the contact for the survey at Keele, but all schools have one or more members of staff acting as contacts, who will do their best to help with queries or give advice on how particular programmes relate to the questions.
It only takes five minutes to fill in the National Students Survey. But it will help tomorrow’s students make the right choice for their future.
Launching of the Keele Anti-racist Anti-fascist Society
Lauren Fuzi
‘For evil to triumph all that is necessary is that good people do nothing.’
With the rising support for the BNP in Stoke-on-Trent, Keele students have felt it necessary to start a society aimed at countering the racist and fascist attitudes which form the basis of the BNP’s (British Nationalist Party) political policies. The BNP has targeted North Staffordshire in recent years. It deliberately creates racial tension by spreading lies and rumours. It seeks to create disharmony and division because it is when communities are divided can they hope to advance. This is not something we want to happen on campus. The BNP are a real threat and we must unite against them. The leader of the BNP denies that the Holocaust happened, shares platforms with neonazis and thinks that Jews run our media to brainwash our minds. The BNP would force out non-white people regardless of whether they are British or not. The BNP would halt any international aid, and opposed the Tsunami relief effort. The BNP have six councillors in Stoke-on-Trent but they rarely turn up to meetings and when they do they sit in silence. The BNP is not a legitimate political party. They do not stand for anything other than racial hatred and fascism. For example, the most recent BNP manifesto states that it would give special attention in schools to white boys to prevent them from falling behind, that benefits and social housing would go only to British people, and that they would abolish anti-discrimination laws. They do not engage in proactive political debate, preferring instead to intimidate the opponent. If we do not act together in suppressing their presence on campus and the wider area then the atmosphere of fear and hatred that the BNP incite will destroy the beauty of Keele’s cultural diversity and give legitimacy to an incompetent and badly organised group of racists. The majority of people are opposed to the BNP but this means nothing unless we actually act against them and voice our opposition. We must take a stand and we must prevent the BNP from infiltrating Keele University. If you want to get involved email Lauren Fuzi at KeeleARAF@live.co.uk, or come to our meetings which are on Wednesdays 7pm in the Student’s Union.
Check Your Balls!
Ben Powell Male Gender Officer
Testicular Cancer is the most common form of cancer among young males and while it is still relatively rare, its incidence rate has increased four-fold over the last fifty years. While on the face of it, this looks pretty grim; if discovered its early stages it has a 99% survival rate. Put simply, ‘examining yourself’ from time to time is a pretty good idea as the earlier the disease is discovered the higher the chances are of surviving and remaining fertile. The Everyman campaign; a dedicated male-cancer charity have produced guidelines on the best way to check ones self:
We recommend this is done after a warm shower or bath when the scrotal skin relaxes. Support the scrotum in the palm of your hand and become familiar with the size and weight of each testicle. Examine each testicle by rolling it between your fingers and thumb. Gently feel for lumps, swellings, or changes in firmness. Remember each testicle has an epididymis at the top which carries sperm to the penis. Don’t panic if you feel this – it’s normal. Regular self examination will help you become more aware of the normal feel and size of your testicles so that any abnormalities can be spotted early on. If you find anything of concern; contact your GP as soon as possible. For more advice visit www.everyman-campaign.org.
Calling all Disabled Students!
Nikki Cooper Disabled Students Officer
I know you’ve just been badgered by Jack to fill in the QAA questionnaire… but here’s another one. If you consider yourself to have a disability then please take 10 minutes to fill it in, it really will be worth it! The questionnaire is designed to get feedback on your experience here at Keele; and covers the Library, your Course, the Union, Disability Services and Sport and Travel. They’re available from reception, www.kusu.net and will be sent out in an email to all students that are signed up to the KUSU mailing list.
If you would like the questionnaire in an alternative format please contact Nikki Cooper – Disabled Students Officer on one of the following, to discuss the format you would like.
* Email - sta54@kusu.keele.ac.uk * Phone – 07939 091 557 * Visit in person – Monday’s at 12pm in the Union Committee Office (located on the top floor of the union)
Concourse
What to do when a candidate comes a knocking!
Matt Alexander Vice-President Democracy & Communications
The KUSU Elections are just brewing up now, ready to explode onto campus towards the end of February. For those of you who are unfamiliar with what happens at election time, watch out, because it can be quite an intimidating experience! You will end up being hassled by candidates as you go to the library, the shops and probably even when you’re sat in your room! Those of you who are experienced Keelers will no doubt have learnt to avoid those candidates out campaigning, but don’t! Remember that this is your chance to have a say in who represents you next year, and who can make the changes you want happen! Get involved with the elec-
Don’t look back in Angers Part 5
Michael Barnett
Happy (belated) New Year and welcome to the first edition of 2008 of your favourite Concourse column on the subject of life in France, ok the only Concourse column on the subject of life in France. What hard hitting topics shall we deal with this week? The ongoing debate about the funding of French higher education and the subsequent student strikes and demonstrations (and believe me these guys don’t mess about, when they demonstrate they have marches, sit ins, riot police, the works)? Or perhaps the alleged ‘marriage’ between President Nicolas Sarkozy-the randiest Western leader since blow job Bill-and his girlfriend Carla Bruni? Maybe the story about Societe Generale the French bank that suddenly realised it had lost 4 billion pounds? No those issues are respectively too complicated, too libellous and too boring to deserve my consideration so instead I’m going to tell you the story of the exam from hell. ’Yeah right’ I can hear you say, ‘the exam from hell, I bet it wasn’t as bad on the test I had to sit on the environmental impact of the judicial and socio-economic development of the Kalahari bushmen between 559 B.C and 1991.’ Maybe it wasn’t but bear with me. The exam in question was History of Art, it started at 8am. However as we had to be there half an hour early and the exam hall was a bus ride away this meant getting up at 6am. The exam lasted 4 hours, oh and it was on a Saturday morning, that’s right, a Saturday. Dutifully we international students turned up bright and early having done our revision so we could tell the difference between Manet and Matisse, we went to our seats, were given our exam papers and began to write. Very quickly it was obvious that something was wrong, the exam question was about a painting we had
tions this year and show some support for those who want to work for YOU.
This time last year when I was out canvassing for the elections I found it a bit frustrating when asking people to vote for me that they often didn’t have any questions they wanted ask me. Whilst this was good, in that I had more time to speak to a greater number of people because I was spending less time with each one, it was also a bit frustrating that people didn’t want to ask me what changes I could bring to the job. This was a problem that all candidates experienced and I’d like to encourage all students this year to question those people who they see campaigning to see what changes they can make at KUSU to benefit you!
To help you with this difficult task of questioning a candidate when they knock on your door in the dead of night, I have compiled a few questions that you might want to put to the candidate.
never seen before in our lives, in fact it had been painted 200 years before anything we had studied in lectures. However the exam had started there was nothing we could do but try to answer the question. Making an effort so obviously futile that it would have impressed the 600 lancers of the light brigade I spent 3 and a half hours eaking out an answer of a page and a half of writing gleaned mainly from what I could remember from the Da Vinci code. Having finally given up I found out what I had suspected all along. It was the wrong exam. Happily everything was soon worked out and we sat the right exam a few days later but I still feel that I was cheated out of a lie in. Thankfully exams are now over; sadly however this means that many international students who were only here for one semester are now returning to their own universities leaving the rest of us to carry on without them. Understandably this is quite annoying, having spent the past few months making friends it’s a bit galling to see them disappearing from view so quickly. Still life goes on. As if I needed proof of this lectures start again this Monday (which will be last Monday by the time you read this) so there is no rest for the wicked. In fact I still have to choose which courses to do; somehow I feel I’m going to give History of Art a miss. I realise that this column hasn’t given a particularly positive representation of study abroad and this is somewhat unfair. Study abroad is undoubtedly tough-especially when things go wrong-but that’s not to say it’s always bad. Its an experience, its neither totally good nor totally rubbish (or at least it hasn’t been so far) for every story like the one above there is another one which balances it out, like the time we went to Disneyland and spent too much money, waited for ages in queues, got very cold and wet and basically had a brilliant time. Nonetheless, the fact remains that administration here is, shall we say ‘different’ to how it is at Keele, with that in mind I now have to study various highly complicated timetables and lists in order to work out which classes I can and cannot take, it is a frustrating process which I have successfully put off by writing this epistle but which I really should do now whether I understand it or not, as the aforementioned 600 probably didn’t say ‘ours not to reason why, ours but to do…..’
4th February 2008 Why are running in the KUSU election?
What do you hope to change about KUSU if you are elected? Why should I vote for you?
Jaffa Cake, biscuit or a cake?
After you have finished interrogating the poor candidate you might be lucky enough to pick up a flyer of them (which you can add to your collection). Keep it safe so that when you come out to vote on polling day you can have a quick read and make your mind up on who you’d like to be elected! Don’t forget that polling takes place on the Monday the 25th, Tuesday the 26th and Wednesday 27th February in KUSU. You can question the election candidates further in the KUSU Hustings (candidate question time) at 7pm on the 18th and 19th of February. Remember that nominations for the 2008 elections close at 5pm on Thursday the 7th of February. Remember to check kusu.net/elections for more information.
Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jet Li...
Dan Hougham
..everybody has heard these names and knows the superb disciplines their skills exemplify very well. However, how many people know of the western martial art counterparts?
Bruce Lee was a great advertiser of self defence, and following his illustrious movie career a large number of self defence schools sprung up in the UK. Unfortunately our own English heritage was forgotten and eastern schools were taught and learnt.
I am not going to disrepute eastern martial arts. I personally regularly practice Jiu Jitsu and feel the Keele JJ club is a great place to learn. I do however feel that it is a shame that our own culture, history and heritage takes a back seat and is often forgotten entirely.
I think few people will have heard of the exquisite arts of savate, la canne or singlestick, and whilst many have heard of boxing, wrestling, broad swords and axes I wonder if many people know the elaborate syllabii of these disciplines (savate, boxing and wrestling are core components in many modern day MMA fighters regimes, with Kung Fu, Japanese JJ, Karate and Taekwondo hardly anywhere to be seen!)
Keele European Combat Sports Association gets experienced Maistre’s (the equivalent of Sensei’s or teachers) on demand to teach the weapons or arts that the students of Keele wish to learn. They come to Keele and are far cheaper than the elaborate cross country seminars you would otherwise have to attend to learn these skills.
If the English heritage interests you, if you wish to learn self defence in a new way or if you simply wish to find our more or explore the difference in the perception of eastern and western arts please join our new facebook group, which can be found at facebook under Keele European Combat Sports Association.
4th February 2008
Concourse
Walking to the shops helps the rise of global warming!
Desiree Capstick
Yes its true! According to leading environmentalists, our food production is now so energy-intensive that more carbon is emitted. This form of carbon provides a person with enough calories to walk to the shops, than a car would emit during the same distance. Around 60 years ago this would not have been a problem, but the increasing population and farming industry is taking its toll. We can see especially with cattle farming being notorious for its perceived damage to the environment, based on what scientists politely call “methane production” from cows. The gas, released during the digestive process, is 21 times more harmful than CO2 . Organic beef is the most damaging because organic cattle emit more methane.
Scientists have proven that cows generate more emissions than an aircraft. Unfortunately, the majority of us eat meat….However, we should not stop eating meat as its an important part of the diet, but maybe look at alternative food products. Of course if you’re vegetarian or vegan, etc well done. In helping the environment farmers and food corporations urgently need to work out how to reduce the greenhouse gas intensity in our food. Chris Goodall, who specializes in environmental issues and healthy eating claims “Driving a typical UK car for 3 miles [4.8km] adds about 0.9 kg [2lb] of CO2 to the atmosphere,” he said, a calculation based on the Government’s official fuel emission figures. “If you walked instead, it would use about 180 calories. You’d need about 100g of beef to replace those calories, resulting in 3.6kg of emissions, or four times as much as driving.”
In this case, eating less and doing less exercise is actually considered a valuable option for helping the global environment. However, don’t be fooled into using this as an excuse next time you attend the gym! I’m sure you’re well aware of the importance of exercise to keep both your body and mind in shape. It’s important however that we address the issue of cattle farming and alternative food options available to us.
“Through the Chair please Student”
Amanda Carrod
134 students attended the Emergency General Meeting last Thursday of which a resounding voice of 117 voted “Yes” in active support of the lecturers of SEMS and CHPM. It is times of effectual need, such as this emotional issue, that students are joined together in one active and powerful body. But I don’t believe that enough students are encouraged to become vocalized within the politics of the union. If only as much clamour was dedicated to U.G.M’s and everyday matters concerning the union that occurs every Wednesday night in the ballroom.
How many students have read the KUSU constitution? How may students even know there is one? It seems to have become apparent that the “average” student voice is being smothered by a blanket of bureaucracy and a pillow of protocol that should not exist. There is such an oppressive systematic procedure that dictates over E.G.M’s and U.G.M’s and SRC’s that the voice is being constrained and withheld, oppressed by the anxiety of saying something supposedly irrelevant, not backed by previous motion numbers, and un-seconded. What should be dynamic debate forums, sparked with varying voices and opinions, are becoming carefully constructed audiences led by the same few, creating essentially a model based upon the example of a court of law. What starts as an open topic, fresh for debate and development predominantly results in becoming personal faction slanging matches. This needs to change.
Those that attended the E.G.M are a classic example of overcoming this, whilst also showing the general sense of confusion-amongst the not-so-political us-and as a result silence; that is created by protocol, rigmarole and rigid time scaled procedure of meetings. Why do we need this confusing chess set of positions that dictate the order of events. We are not a parliament or a cabinet, we are reactionary, vocal and opinionated students that should be encouraged to speak sporadically, not ordered by procedure and the continual command of “order” and “through the chair.” So are you, like me, too bewildered by the bombardment of references to past acts, passed motions, quotations from the constitution, to stand and have your say? We as a student body need to react against these confines and get activated. And we need to do it now...with the extra 5,866 of us turning over the chair, not speaking through it.
Lizzie Leeson Entertainments Officer
Welcome back my friends, I hope you had a really relaxing break and you’re all settled back after exams. I hope you all have enjoyed your first couple of weeks of the semester; entertainment wise we have had a lot to offer, and I hope you have all been trying out the new nights! The roller disco was a great success and it was really good to see so many people had made such an effort with their outfits! As you can see from my picture I did have a little bit of an accident on the skates, but I still had a really fun night! I’m sure a few of you still have some bruising but I think it was worth it. Coming up in the next couple of weeks we have a lot of fancy dress nights as we know you love them Keele. The return of the ‘Ave it’ nights is marked by our rags to riches themed night. For Valentines the union gets a bit romantic; and celebrates love with a traffic light themed night.
We also have heat one of the Battle of the Bands competition, it would be good to see all of you at the union support some fresh new talent that Keele and the local area has to offer. If you would like to get involved or enter your band contact either myself, or the bands officer; Dave Little. I think that’s all for now. Just remember the entertainment forum is held every Monday at 1pm in K2. Feel free to come along and share your thoughts and ideas about YOUR union!
Response to Adele Wootton’s letter in 1st edition of Concourse Firstly I would like to apologise for the lateness of this response, I tried to put a reply in this semesters 1st edition of concourse but unfortunately with the pressure of exams and coursework I missed the dead line. Secondly I would like to commend those students who took the effort to make others aware of the reality of the prostitution and the sex trade.
As your elected entertainment officer it is my job to take on and deal with any concerns and objections student have with any of the night hosted by KUSU entertainments. I accept the objec
tions which were raised in the article however I was only made aware of these after the event took place. I hold the Entertainment forum every Monday at 1pm in K2. This is the place for students to come and voice and concerns they have with nights out, or fancy dress themes and to make suggestions for improvement. If anyone can not make this time I can be contacted very easily and my email address is below. My job as entertainment officer is to represent you and I am slightly upset that some students feel they can not approach me to raise any concerns they have. Contacting Lizzie:
Email – lizzieleeson1987@hotmail.com u5h17@ugh.keele.ac.uk
Entertainment’s forum – every Monday at 1pm in K2 Office Hour – every Monday at 3pm in the Union Committee office in the elected officer’s corridor.
Catie Dear
Oxjam!
On Saturday 24th November Keele University held it’s second Oxjam as the nationwide music festival entered it’s second year! It truly was the best yet! We would like to thank all of you people who turned up, bought tickets, donated your time and your money so that we could Party Against Poverty and help to make a real difference. Even if you did nothing more than boogie the night away to Rou from Enter Shikari and Mr Blobby it all made a difference! With all the money that we have raised we have enough for Oxfam to start up a community grain bank giving people a reliable and local source of food, Oxfam can supply more than 50 Oxfam buckets with taps and lids to keep water clean, and enough to provide 10 families with chickens, while this doesn’t sound much to you and me here in the Keele bubble, something which you all helped to contribute to will help make a very big difference in the big wide world! Well done Keele and thank you for making this happen!!
Rob Chamberlain Venue Manager
If you haven’t already noticed, 2008 sees the introduction of the new Nuts Poker League, most Saturday nights in K2 or Ballroom. It’s open to anybody who just fancies a chilled out game with mates, of ANY ability - it’s not just full of pro’s! It’s all played for points in good fun and you might just end up winning some cash prizes! The winner of the league will go through to a regional final, the winner of which will get an all-expenses-paid trip to the World Series in Las Vegas!! If you’re a novice/beginner, we’ve also got some side tables where some of the Poker Society can teach you the rules or give you some tips! Also new for 2008 is SLAM. Keele’s first home-grown, home-built Saturday dance night in some time. Featuring residents DJ Chilly and Alexander Lee, SLAM is THE place to get your fix of House, Electro, Breaks and DnB. The next SLAM is on February 23rd so make sure you’re there! Saturdays have been a traditionally quiet night so it’s great to see so many of you getting involved with fresh events like SLAM, the Roller Disco, Headphone Disco etc... keep coming and we’ll keep putting on events like these! Don’t forget, of course, that you can give us any suggestions of your own by coming to the Ents Forum on Mondays at 1pm in K2, or via the facebook groups/website/emails etc. or contact Lizzie directly. If your ideas are viable we’ll do them! On a seperate note, we are currently recruiting for technical staff to join the Crew. If you’re a 1st or 2nd year and know one end of an extension lead from the other, or have always fancied yourself as a bit of a “roadie”, then we want to hear from you. The position is a paid one and you’ll be responsible for setting up all the equipment for all events, whether it’s lights, sound, video or general stage hands for the gigs. If you’re interested, come to the Ents Office, top floor of the S.U or visit the Job Shop directly. Tata for now...
Concourse
4th February 2008
Response to a ‘Response’
Adele Wootton
I wrote in for the last issue of Concourse to express my personal opinion, which was that KUSU’s Entertainments department should think twice about putting on events like ‘Pimps & Hos’ night, because of the risk of trivializing a very serious issue which affects many people, including some UK students. My article was published alongside a response from Ents – fair enough, you might say. However, the response didn’t come from our elected Entertainments officer (Lizzie Leeson), as should have been the case, but from one of KUSU’s full-time members of staff. Like many of the things I’ve been drawing attention to, this may seem a trivial point, but it the fact of the matter is that full-time staff are simply not supposed to be getting involved in these sorts of things. Now, because I submitted the article during the Christmas period, it may have been the case that Lizzie was simply unable to write the response herself, but even if there was nobody but the full-time member of staff on hand to write it then he certainly should not have written anything opinionated, sarcastic or misleading – surely just to state the facts would suffice?
Firstly, I did not accuse the individual who responded to my article of anything at all, let alone ‘rape, paedophilia, prostitution, soliciting, slavery, drug abuse’ and whatever else I’m supposed to have written – in fact, I never knew he even existed until now. Secondly, to suggest that there is no point in discussing the decision-making capacity of our Ents team after a particular event has taken place doesn’t really make a great deal of sense. Thirdly, the majority of Student Union venues are NOT members of Flirt! and so I would be interested to know why the fact that we aren’t the only members means anything at all. Fourthly, while Ents may have been happy to allow a group of us to distribute leaflets, it should not have been up to a concerned group of students to make sure that a Union event was taken in the spirit in which it was intended, and I would be interested to know what precise measures were taken by Ents to make absolutely certain that the intended nature of the event was clear to ALL students (I’m not actually a crackpot, unlike the response from Ents seems to suggest).
If students want to come to the Union dressed as a stereotypical prostitute, or pretty much anything else, then that is their prerogative. If some of us students want to write in to OUR newspaper to voice concerns they may have about the way in which events have been run, then that is ok too. What isn’t appropriate is for full-time members of staff to ridicule students for having opinions they don’t agree with – and I hope it doesn’t happen again.
‘McG.C.S.Es’ and the End of Jamie Oliver’s Dream
Jack Corrigan Vice-President Education & Welfare
Last week the government decided that big companies can now give out qualifications akin to GCSEs, NVQs and A-Levels. The Three companies have been afforded this privilege so far are; McDonalds, Fly Be and Network Rail.
The decision to let make McDonalds give out these McG.C.S.E is a real kick in the teeth for Jamie Oliver. The tenacious Essex boy has excoriated the standards of school dinners in the U.K for a good few years. This current move by the government seemingly pulls the carpet from under-
neath, this connoisseur of culinary creativity. Oliver’s campaign had been very successful and it can be argued that he had begun to make a difference. His campaign had recruited an effective plenipotentiary that had lobbied government and the relevant plutocrats, to make a change to the way our nations children eat.
This decision will surely just exacerbate the situation though. The school couldn’t serve fast food so the fast food company became the school. In political terms this manoeuvre should
be placed on a pedestal and lionised for years to come. It is simply genius, what better way to get ‘junk’ food back into our educational system than this. The fast food giants’ temporised approach to the whole Jamie Oliver whirlwind has paid off, thanks to the government reinstating fast food into our nation’s educational hierarchy.
Whilst the average child might not be eating a Big Mac tomorrow for school dinners, this is opening the door again to such companies. How long till Ronald McDonalds perennial competitors the Colonel of Chicken and the King of Burgers want a bite at the deep fat fried frenzy. This is a plea to you all that you promote to Sons, Daughters, Brothers, Sisters any young folk that you know, listen to the shaggy haired Essex Boy. Give the kids an apple and a tuna sandwich, not a McFlurry and a Fillet O’ Fish.
To avoid being sued….. I’m sure McDonalds is very healthy!!
Concourse
4th February 2008 CAREERS SERVICE SPRING EVENTS AT A GLANCE February – March 2008 Mon. 4
Wed. 6
Mon. 11
Tues. 12
FEBRUARY
Camp Counsellors USA 5 - 6 pm CBA0.060
Work Experience USA & Worldwide Adventures 6 – 7 pm CBA0.060
CVs and Covering Letters 1 – 2 pm CBA1.078/79 Crafting Legal CVs CBA1.098 1 – 2 pm
Royal Navy Careers Liaison Officer Interviews from 10.30 am Careers by appointment Service Legal Application Forms 1 – 2 pm CBA1.021
Thur. 14 Application Forms (Paper and Onl ine) 1 – 2 pm CBA1.099
Tues.19
Your PhD What Next? 1 – 2 pm CBA0.001 BUNAC Summer Camp USA 12 – 1 pm HORN.013
Thur.28
BUNAC Work Canada 1 – 2 pm HORN.013 Wed. 20
Psychometrics Briefing WMO.35 1 – 1.10 pm
Mon.3
Thur. 21 Psychometric Test CBA1.070/071 1 – 3 pm
Mon. 25
Tues.26
Wed. 27
Building a Legal CV presented by Hill Dickinson Solicitors 1 – 2 pm CBA0.060 Army Careers Adviser Interviews from 10.00 am Careers by appointment Service A Career as an Academic 1 – 2 pm HORN.013 Stay Close…Go Far – Graduate Advantage Work Experience and Employment Presentation 1 – 2 pm CBA0.061
Keele’s Teaching Associates Scheme (Undergraduate placements in schools and elsewhere) 1 – 2 pm CBA0.060 MARCH Camp Counsellors USA 12 – 1 pm CBA1.102
Work Experience USA & Worldwide Adventures 1 – 2 pm CBA1.102 Tues. 4 Applying for Pupillages 1 – 2 pm HORN.111 Wed.5
Grindeys Solicitors presents A Career as a Paralegal 1 – 2 pm DHO.16
Thur.6 Interview Success 1 – 2 pm CBA1.099 Tues.11
searcher
A Career as a Contract Re1 – 2 pm
HORN.013
Thur.13 Work Experience and Volunteering Workshop 1 – 2 pm CBA0.060 Mon.17
Disclosure of Disability in the Application Process presented by Employment Opportunities 1 – 2 pm CBA0.007 Psychometrics Briefing Careers Service 1 – 1.10 pm WMO.35
Tues.18 Psychometric Test 1 – 3 pm CBA1.021 Dates and venues will be announced on our website and by email for the following events: Probation Service Presentation, 1 – 2 pm
Eversheds Solicitors Workshop, 1 – 2 pm
If you require communication or access support for any of these events, please speak to a member of the Careers Service to discuss ways of organising this.
Plagiarism: just say NO
Stephen Bostock
You may have come across on campus some jolly red business cards offering help in writing essays. If you looked at the web site it advertised, out of curiosity, as I did, you would have found a very slick site and a friendly video explaining the various ways they can help. If you looked further at the site you may have used the nifty little device for quoting an exact price for (they say) a unique essay with any title you specify, at any level and to a required mark. The service guarantees that their service is discrete and that the authorship will not be detected. Well, they would, wouldn’t they? The words they don’t use are ‘plagiarism’ and ‘cheat’. This is an example of a ‘cheat site’ or ‘essay bank’ or (in the USA) ‘paper mill’. They have been around for a few years and some of their owners have become very rich, very quickly. What happened to their customers? Read on.
Obviously, using such a service breaks the university regulations, and for good reasons. University degrees will be worth nothing if they can be bought for cash. Cheating in coursework cheats the university and also cheats honest students of some of the value of their hard work. Employers and others rely on universities to safeguard their assessments of student work and abilities.
Concourse
4th February 2008
National Student Volunteering Week 25th February – 2nd March 2008 Stand out from the crowd… Becky Taylor VE
Working together with Staffordshire Police and the local community, VE @ Keele volunteers are organising a series of events to highlight and promote Keele student volunteer activities in and around the local community during National Student Volunteering Week from Monday 25th February to Sunday 2nd March.
Through these events, Keele students hope to raise awareness of student volunteering and the positive impact that this can have on the local community. Planned events include a volunteer fair on Monday 25th February at Keele University Students’ Union, to enable local voluntary organisations to showcase their services and recruit student volunteers. Afternoon tea for elderly residents of Keele village is planned on Wednesday 27th February at The Hawthorns Restaurant, Keele University. Two local schools will be giving performances at this event. Keele, St John’s Primary orchestra will be performing and Silverdale, St Luke’s will be playing African drums. Also planned is a community litter pick in Parksite, Silverdale on Friday 29th February. St Luke’s will also be taking part in this event, together with Silverdale primary school and members of the local community.
Most universities, including Keele, use the software Turnitin to detect plagiarism or collusion in coursework. Last year, Keele generated 5700 reports on individual student coursework at the Turnitin service. This was usually done by students submitting coursework to WebCT, our A VE @ Keele display board will be set up at Newcastle library on Thursday 28th and Frivirtual learning environment, which has a direct connection to Turnitin. day 29th February to highlight Keele student volunteering in the community and ways in But any coursework submitted on paper can also be requested in elec- which VE @ Keele students are making a positive impact in the community. tronic form later, for checking. Becky Taylor, VE @ Keele Project Leader said ‘We are all really excited about these events which VE volunteers In 2006-7 at Keele, there were 140 cases of undergraduates found are organising with the support of local Community Police Officers’. guilty of plagiarism or collusion, either by their School’s Academic Conduct Officer or, for repeat offenders, by the Central Misconduct Panel. More Keele students are needed to help us organise these events. If you are interested in helping in your local comThe penalties varied depending on circumstances but all included a munity, would like to take part in any of these events, or want more information, contact Becky Taylor at VE @ formal warning and a record of academic misconduct plus, at the min- Keele. imum, a mark of zero and a required re-assessment. If you know someone who is struggling with coursework, or can’t do Don’t forget – you could gain an award by volunteering your time through VE @ Keele! the work on time, and is considering using the Internet or a cheat site to obtain ready-made work, do them a favour. Tell them to ask for help Contact VE @ Keele for more information: from their personal tutor or the course tutor, or from Student Support Tel: 01782 583626 and Academic Guidance, or from the Independent Advice Unit in Email: volunteering@kusu.keele.ac.uk KUSU. It could save their career.
Volunteer Fair Monday 25th February 11am - 4pm KUSU Ballroom
Find a volunteer placement. Gain a VE @ Keele Award. Meet Placement Providers
4th February 2008 Farah Halime
Concourse
Crime Scene Investigation
The return of the Channel 5 crime series, CSI Las Vegas’ (there’s also a CSI: New York and CSI: Miami, could Keele be next??) high tech setting of a forensics lab, is not exactly on the same tele-wondrous through-the-roof-ratings scale as brilliance like Vera Duckworth’s departure from Corrie or Sir David Attenborough’s captivatingly animated narrations of the Earth and its inhabitants, but it is still good. Better than good – it’s almost a crime thriller equipped with the laughingly gory effects that are best suited to Scary Movie (1 to 4) and an abundance of tightly clad luscious-locks women that somehow don’t strike you as Forensic Science types. The jokes are strained; the acting false and the murders get ridiculously ridiculous with each episode! This is rubbish telly and we love it.
Season 7 sees a colourful array of “murder inquiries” (if you could call them that) with a case involving a man’s torched corpse, whose bones and tissues have been removed leaving garden tools and an umbrella in their place as well as the mystery of the “Miniature Killer”, whose trademark half inch models of the crime scenes he commits engages you in unravelling the identity of this crazed serial killer. The “talents” of the model-like cast including the smouldering Warrick Brown (Gary Dourdan), the Columbo-ish Captain Jim Brass and the blonde bombshell that is Catherine Willows (Marg Helgenberger) provide fabulously extravagant and down right weird story lines that grip you, whether you like it or not. By the time the dreaded words of the final episode, ‘To Be Continued’ flash up on screen, you’ll have chewed your nails to the cuticles. Now showing every Tuesday on Channel 5 at 9pm and downloadable on five.tv Release information: Date: 25 February 2008 Price: £34.99 Cert: 15
Music Reviews Jamie Barker Music Editor
Review: Los Campesinos – Hold On Now, Youngster… There’s always been something special about Los Campesinos. Their early demos pulled an eager few into their world and now they’ve sharpened their teeth and have an album’s worth of anthems ready to snare the rest of the country. ‘You. Me. Dancing’ ebbs and flows, eventually clocking in at just under seven minutes and still ending too soon, where ‘Knee Deep At ATP’ may be the only song to ever document the heartbreak of a rumbled festival fling. This album may not quite have the scope you might hope for, every track on here immediately has ‘the Los Campesinos’ sound, but when a band sound this urgent and talented there’s really no need to stray too far from the formula on a debut outing. This isn’t the typical lowest common denominator music that normally has people shouting ‘next big thing’ from the rooftops, this is intelligent, innovative schizophrenic pop that you won’t be able to resist falling in love with.
Preview: Manchester Orchestra UK Tour w/ Anathallo After their debut album ‘Like A Virgin Losing A Child’ finally getting a UK release, and proving itself to be the most underrated albums of 2007, Manchester Orchestra spent the rest of the year on the road. After the success of their December arena tour with Kings of Leon they’re back on our shores headlining much smaller venues in February with old friends Anathallo. Bridging the gap between the type of epic indie that often slips below the radar and the pop rock which sets the radio waves alight M.O. are one of the best live bands working the circuit today.
Make sure you don’t miss an early contender for tour of the year and if you make it to any of the dates make sure you come and say hi to me at the merch table. Dates: 9th – Dublin, 10th – Glasgow, 11th – Leeds, 12th – Birmingham, 13th London, 15th – Manchester, 16th – Bristol, 17th – Nottingham, 18th – Brighton.
Review: Lightspeed Champion – Falling Off The Lavender Bridge It’s not very often an artist manages to completely reinvent themselves in the space of two releases and if a member leaves a band and goes solo; the resultant vanity project is often a watery mish-mash attempt at the previous bands latest release. However, in this case, ‘Falling Off The Lavender Bridge’ is almost the polar opposite of Dev’s frantic, angular past-life in the late Testicicles. Gone is the hectic combination of dancefloor indie and string-tearing riffs and in its place stands the best album Bright Eyes never made. Lacing his aching pop-folk with the gorgeous vocals of the superb Emmy The Great was a masterstroke and adds a haunting beauty to this clutch of future classics. Singles ‘Galaxy of The Lost’ and ‘Tell Me What’s It Worth’ shine and ‘Midnight Surprise’ throws a curveball by pushing the ten minute mark without ever getting boring. As well as crafting this reflective, breathtaking album, Dev has also managed to complete his first genre transition on the way to becoming Indie’s chameleonic answer to Madonna. This is the first must-have album of 08. Live: Black Tide – Manchester Academy Success can be measured in many ways and while Black Tide aren’t going to be breaking sales records or hitting the charts anytime soon, spending 4 months on tour with Avenged Sevenfold is certainly a mark of success. This success is even more important when the oldest member of your
Mark Thomas: Serious Organised crime
Liam Didsbury
relative unknown to those not overly integrated into the comedy circuit, Thomas’s new politically motivated stand up DVD Serious Organised Crime begins rather unglamorously. The opening credits are as gloomy as John Major and as clumbersome as David Blunkett, monochrome images of political statements that are etched into the minds of sixth form communists flash up on screen. He arrives on stage in front of what appears to be an audience of around forty with an average age of roughly seventy two, wearing a plain black T-Shirt and sporting a sensible neatly cropped bonnet.
Fortunately, despite having an exterior reminiscent of your aunt’s smart price ice pops, Serious Organised Crime has an interior equivocal to your grandma’s homemade sponge pudding. His material is based on his experiences as a political activist. Solidly structured with a series of hilarious, descriptive, chronological encounters with the central London police force, he requests permission to protest on a multitude of absurd topics. His demonstrations are always without purpose much to the frustration of the police. At one point he even requests to demonstrate on 21 different topics, forcing the police to complete 3 years worth of paperwork in just one week. Thomas is an extremely likable performer, who manages to brilliantly make serious issues light hearted. His plight, was to demonstrate how ridiculous the law is, and how meticulously the police enforce it. The passionate underbelly of Thomas’s performance makes an inherently dull issue suddenly seem all the more appealing. His performance is deceptively energetic, seamlessly he manages to switch between the caricatures his intuition so cleverly creates.
band is only 19 and you count a 15 year old within your ranks. Black Tide ooze stage presence and are The characters however, are pretty two dimensional. Thomas essenridiculously self-as- tially has two voices that he uses to mimick the people from his anecsured for a band dotes. He has his mockney accent for the coppers and Queens playing such a big English for everyone else. Although this does demonise the authoritavenue at such a tive figures, it does nothing to suggest he has a diverse armoury of small age with min- characters at his disposal. His material and performance all make for imal mainstream very watchable comedy, but it feels like it was put together rather shodexposure. Despite dily and I can’t help but think he is little more than a funny uncle. this cocksure swagger they also have the talent to back it 15th – Manchester, 16th – Bristol, 17th – up and treat the crowd to thirty minutes of Nottingham, 18th – Brighton. riff-shredding intensity. With the arrival of Black Tide it seems that tonight we’ve wit- Review: Lightspeed Champion – Falling nessed the birth of metal gods for the next Off The Lavender Bridge generation. With such a breathtaking live show and a studio album slated for release It’s not very often an artist manages to comin March the sky is surely the limit for these pletely reinvent themselves in the space of two releases and if a member leaves a band young heroes-in-waiting. and goes solo; the resultant vanity project is Preview: Manchester Orchestra UK Tour often a watery mish-mash attempt at the previous bands latest release. However, in this w/ Anathallo case, ‘Falling Off The Lavender Bridge’ is alAfter their debut album ‘Like A Virgin Losing most the polar opposite of Dev’s frantic, anA Child’ finally getting a UK release, and gular past-life in the late Testicicles. Gone is proving itself to be the most underrated al- the hectic combination of dancefloor indie bums of 2007, Manchester Orchestra spent and string-tearing riffs and in its place stands the rest of the year on the road. After the the best album Bright Eyes never made. success of their December arena tour with Lacing his aching pop-folk with the gorgeous Kings of Leon they’re back on our shores vocals of the superb Emmy The Great was a headlining much smaller venues in February masterstroke and adds a haunting beauty to with old friends Anathallo. Bridging the gap this clutch of future classics. Singles ‘Galaxy between the type of epic indie that often slips of The Lost’ and ‘Tell Me What’s It Worth’ below the radar and the pop rock which sets shine and ‘Midnight Surprise’ throws a curvethe radio waves alight M.O. are one of the ball by pushing the ten minute mark without best live bands working the circuit today. ever getting boring. As well as crafting this Make sure you don’t miss an early contender reflective, breathtaking album, Dev has also for tour of the year and if you make it to any managed to complete his first genre transiof the dates make sure you come and say hi tion on the way to becoming Indie’s chameleonic answer to Madonna. This is the to me at the merch table. first must-have album of 08. Dates: 9th – Dublin, 10th – Glasgow, 11th – Leeds, 12th – Birmingham, 13th London,
Concourse Keele Amnesty International Society – Refugees and Asylum Seekers in the UK
Lauren Fuzi
This semester we will be focusing on the human rights abuses against asylum seekers and refugees in the UK. We feel this is a real issue that needs addressing due to the prevalence of negative and often false images that the UK media portray of refugees and asylum seekers. There are around 9.2 million refugees and asylum seekers in the World; the majority of these flee their homes to escape fear, persecution, violence, conflicts, and other human rights abuses. Asylum seekers are not economic migrants. The top ten refugee producing countries in 2006 all have poor human rights records or are places where war or conflict is ongoing. The UK host 3% of the 9.2 million refugees. The UK is not overburdened with refugees and asylum seekers as some media reports would suggest, and those that the UK do host are not treated with much respect either from the government or from the general public. A recent study conducted by Refugee Action found that one in five of their clients had experienced some kind of violence while 83% percent of female refugees do not go out at night due to fears of being harassed or abused. Most asylum seekers’ accommodation is in ’ghettos‘ in deprived areas. They are housed in poor quality accommodation – often previously hard to let – sometimes in areas where research has shown they are more likely to face racial harassment. This issue is especially important in North Staffordshire which has a high concentration of refugees and asylum seekers, and a high concentration of BNP support. The views that people like members of the BNP support create an increasingly hostile environment for refugees and asylum seekers. Refugees and asylum seekers are already in vulnerable positions caused by unfamiliar surroundings, languages, cultures, and by the fact that the majority have had to flee unstable situations at home. The hostility created by racist and fascist attitudes leads to violence, misunderstanding, and ever rising racial hatred. I cannot imagine that this kind of atmosphere is leading to anywhere good, and it is for this reason that Keele Amnesty International Society feel that it is important that we do all we can to counteract the misunderstanding that results in intolerant attitudes. If you are interested in getting involved with this campaign, or want to know more please email us at keeleamnestysociety@bluebottle.com. Alternatively you can come join us on Tuesdays at 7pm in the KPA (postgraduate bar behind the SU).
Societies, Societies, Societies
Simi Sehgal
Being a University student can be difficult, especially when the work load decides to sink its claws into you, refusing to let you go. Soon, you find yourself wrestling with every trial University life can throw at you, and even the things you enjoy doing like talking to your friends and having some alone time begins to seem like a chore, simply because there’s just so much to do, so much you could be doing, and so little time to do it in. When this happens, its almost impossible to try and find the balance between working, socializing, and taking the time out to have some fun and games. Added to all of this trouble is the fact that money has and will always be something precious that’s hard to come by.
When deadlines come close, the juggling act gets even harder; either your social life falls into disrepair or you’re stuck ripping your hair out as you stay up all night in front of the computer trying to finish off your work which is due in for the next day.
It’s a desolate picture to paint, but things don’t have to be this way. I might not be able to help as far as the work load is concerned, but there is a way to indulge yourself for a few hours during the day without killing your bank account so that you can be stressed about things which are entirely separated from money matters.
The problem is that on Keele campus, you might think that there is nothing to do, and that you’ve exhausted all the opportunities that exist on campus. So you go out, you spend money, you feel guilty about it, and you start stressing when you see those little numbers on the cash machine becoming less and less. But there’s always something going on somewhere, it’s just a question of knowing what’s going on and when.
And for this sort of thing, societies are the way to go, especially if you get different friends to join different societies. For a few pounds, you can have a few hours of entertainment, doing things that truly interest you, along with people who love the same things you do.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be telling you about some of the things you could be doing during the day, and what day and what time and where exactly you should go if you want to join in with the fun.
4th February 2008
Another victory for Keele Labour Students
Mark Harrison
As Mahatma Ghandi once said, ‘Be the change you wish to see in the world’ – none of us can change the world as individuals, but we can all do our bit together. So on Saturday 26th January, Keele’s very own Labour Students took the campaign against the British National Party to Stoke-on-Trent which coincided with the weekend of Holocaust Memorial Day. This was of great significance, seeing as the BNP continue to refuse to acknowledge the full magnitude of what happened during the Holocaust. It is insulting and repulsive to even contemplate that the slaughtering of six million people simply never occurred; the situation in our area is a serious one, and Keele Labour students took the campaign to the streets of Longton and Blurton leafleting houses, trying to get the message out that despite the BNP’s ‘caring and compassionate’ facade, they are far from being anything but fascists in reality. It is somewhat paradoxical that their defence of their racist beliefs rests upon the fact that people died in the war fighting for this country - the Nazi ideology they died fighting is the very same which the BNP advocate, which just highlights how illogical the BNP really are.
This is not something that Keele Labour Students has just recently participated in; this has been a long term campaign, and will continue to play a prominent role in what we do as long as it is necessary. I hear people ask how a few leaflets are going to change things. I say that we can sit back and let the BNP gain a stronghold in our back yard, or for that matter anywhere, or we can go out there and make a difference. And maybe make a very big difference at that. It was only last year that Keele Labour students provided the campaigning manpower for the election in which the longest-serving BNP councilor in the West Midlands was beaten by 45 votes, which showed us all just how much of difference we can make. If we had not shown people who had voted BNP before the true colours of the BNP then there can be no doubt that there would be an extra BNP councillor making decisions which affect people’s lives this year. I was proud like everyone else to say we were part of that, and you can be to - by being the change you wish to see in the world. Contact ian@keelelabour.co.uk if you’d like to get involved in similar campaigns.
Keele Big Band – Ready for another year of entertaining!
Aide Rushton Keele Big Band Publicity Officer
This new year sees the continuation of one of Keele’s most respected and acclaimed musical groups. After a very successful year, playing at events in Keeleand in other parts of the country, the band is once again ready to entertain. This year the band is already confirmed to play at the Dance Show, at Stafford Jazz Festival and at Lindsay bar on Thursday 7th February. The band plays a range of jazz styles, and is able to suit any occasion. We are once again looking for occasions to play for you! If you are on a society committee which is having a function/ball, we are looking to you to play gigs for. We are available to play any sized venue and can suit of set to suit your certain event. If you would like to find out more information about us or would like to get a quote for your event please email our Chairman, Gareth at keelebigband@hotmail.co.uk. Also, to hear us perform, we will playing at various evenings in Lindsay Bar, look in concourse and listen to KUBE Radio for more information on when these events will be.
Love Keele: Love Dance’
Katy Swingland
It’s that time again: the Dance Society are getting out their hotpants and dancing shoes to start classes after the Christmas break and begin rehearsals for the show in March. On Tuesday 4th March the (metaphorical) curtains will open on our show, a fabulous evening which will include dances from Ballet, Tap, Salsa and Hip Hop, with interludes from our very own Big Band, and the much-loved Vertical Reality team. Tickets for ‘A One Night Extravaganza’ will be only £4 with an NUS card, so get ready to be very excited! Meanwhile, lessons for society members are at the usual times this semester, but some will be used to practice some show pieces: Monday 5.30-7 Salsa (beginners then ‘progressers’), 7-9 Hip Hop; Thursday 6-7.30 Tap, 7.309 Ballet. All lessons take place in the Ballroom. If you are a budding dancer, or even want to help backstage, get in touch through president@keeledancesociety.com , or by finding Jane Mills (president) or myself (vice). See you there!
4th February 2008
Concourse
Keele University Lacrosse mid season review
Stephen Johns Club Captain
Phew! Can’t believe that over half the season has gone and it is only February! Anyway it has been a pretty good season so far for the Tigers. Starting with the men they have won two games so far against Aberyswyth and our arch rivals Staffs both with the score line of 12-5. In addition they came close losing 6-3 against Nottingham University at home. The other games so far had been pretty major mismatches against such universities as Loughborough and Birmingham, but the Tigers did not roll over and showed some spirited performances against such strong sides. The mixed team have had an excellent season so far two wins against Staffs and Manchester Metropolitan University. Unfortunately teams have been cancelling left, right and centre so haven’t been able to play many matches! The most exciting part in the overall club structure has been the creation of a women’s lacrosse team for the first time in the club’s history. They have their first game against Aberystwyth away on February the 16th and the club wish them all the best of luck. The men’s and mixed teams have been included in Varsity on 12th March with men’s lacrosse making its debut and all the clubs future matches and training will be geared toward this event. The club would like to thank the committee for their effort so far this season. Keele lacrosse are still recruiting so if you want to try a new sport that is fast paced and action packed just come along to training on Wednesday 2-4pm on our pitch (next to all the football pitches) or contact keelelacrosse@hotmail.co.uk We have all the equipment needed and are a friendly and sociable club. Three members only started last week!
Keele Critical Legal Group
Jez Tulloch
If you don’t already know we are the Keele Critical Legal Group. You may have seen as at one of the society signup days, but what do we actually stand for?
Well we hold informal discussions on critical legal issues, like torture in the use of information retrieval and sex trafficking; two successful events that we held last semester. This semester we are looking at holding discussions on War Law, Animal Rights and Law and Sexuality. We are looking into also holding revision sessions for law students close to the exam period, similar to our Land Law Workgroups last semester.
Despite the obvious legal footing, we are open to non legal students, as it is a good opportunity to come along to a debate that you might feel passionate about.
Our next event will be on “Regulating Reproduction” on Monday 4th February 6-7pm in CBA0.060, so come along for an interesting discussion.
Keele University Motorsport - SUKC Round 3
Ben Phillips
With the start of the New Year saw the return of the Staffordshire University Karting Championship. Due to exam periods, society leader Mike Fryatt had to miss the meet and left the racing in the hands of William Warnock and Ben Phillips. With Will third in the leader board before the race day he had a chance to move onto the top of the pile. The race track was, as ever, wet with standing puddles in places making the racing trickier.
Out of the twenty drivers that started the day, only 16 could make it through the heats into the quarters and which both drivers did. Keele driver, Ben Phillips got a tough draw in his quarter final being drawn up against the only two winners of the race days’ which made his chances slim with only the top two progressing. Unfortunately, it couldn’t be done and that was the end of the race day for Ben. Things were more successful for Will as he received a good draw and progressed nicely into the semi finals and then once again made it into the final.
The qualification into the final matched all of William’s past achievements as he has failed to reach the final. The start of the race caused much uproar when going into the first corner Staffordshire driver David Whitehouse forced Will into a spin effectively ending his chances of yet another podium. The final was won by Staff’s driver James Davis with Will ending the proceedings in fourth place, after playing up to the on watching crowd. The 30th of January see’s the drivers at it again with hopefully a more successful result for Keele!”
ELECTIONS ARE HERE!