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PALATINATE The ofﬁcial Durham University student newspaper since 1948

ISSUE 707 | FRIDAY 8TH MAY 2009

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ALASTAIR BARBER

Loveshack DJ asked to leave following Open Day allegations

Adam Painter

DJ held responsible for encouraging inappropriate behaviour on stage Thomas Lewis A LOVESHACK DJ was asked to leave for encouraging inappropriate games on stage on the ﬁrst evening of the Durham University open day. >>>Problems arose as the DJ, a man not connected with Durham University, stopped the music and organised games on stage for potential students, which included stripping and swapping clothes between boys and girls.

“Swapping clothes” >>> The situation was made worse when, after the last game, he unexpectedly raised the screens behind which contestants were changing, to reveal two potential students in a compromising position in front of the entire nightclub. >>>Andy Welch, the Students’ Union president, and numerous other Durham college representatives complained to the duty manager, at which point the DJ was taken off the stage. Andy Welch told Palatinate that he was impressed that the open day representatives acted so swiftly. >>>Michael Hartley, an open day representative from the College of St Hild and St Bede said, “the behaviour I witnessed was appalling. I was surprised simply because I had never seen it happen in Dur-

ham before. >>> “All the potential Hild Bede freshers just wanted to dance and have a good time; I re-assured them the next morning that it was not a normal occurrence in Durham”. >>>The general reaction to the night seemed to be of surprise as the open day this year had been unusually strict after criticisms of last year’s open day for underage and excessive drinking. >>>This included colleges such as St Aidan’s enforcing a token policy at its college bar to monitor even legal drinkers. Furthermore, at Loveshack, all students including Durham college representatives, required identiﬁcation. >>>Olly Nguyen, a senior fresher representative, noted: “the open day had run very smoothly with colleges being particularly vigilant. The DJ was probably to blame, especially as the next night out ran without a hitch”. >>>Loveshack told Palatinate that they wanted to make it clear that the DJ was not from the same DJ company that they usually hire from. >>>Their regular DJ was apparently called in from a gig in Newcastle as soon as a complaint was made. They said: “As soon as problem was highlighted, the DJ was released from his duties. >>>”His actions were totally inappropriate and we immediately responded to rectify the problem and ensure there was no repeat”.

Grey up to the Challenge The Grey College University Challenge Team were victorious against St Mary’s College in the Durham University inter-collegiate University Challenge Final, which took place last Wednesday 29th April. Pictured above from left to right: Sarah Watson, James Link, Hannah Mosley and Jessica Pratt.

University appoints first female registrar DURHAM UNIVERSITY HAS appointed a female registrar and secretary for the first time in its 177 year history. Carolyn Fowler, 39, was appointed to the position permanently after initially working in the role on an acting basis following Lee Sanders’ departure from the role in October 2008. >>>As registrar, Mrs Fowler is the chief operating officer of the University, heading the Registrar’s Division of professional support departments of more than 650 staff and with responsibility to the vicechancellor for the University’s business.

DURHAM UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS

Lyndsey Fineran

Academics’ pay dispute intensiﬁes

Within her new role, Mrs Fowler is also secretary to the overall governing Council Committee and the Senate - the body which oversees academic policy-making and is a member of the University’s senior management team. >>>Mrs Fowler was one of the first women to attend University College, graduating in 1990 with an honours degree in history. >>>She was first appointed as the School of Education’s Administrative Officer in 1998, before becoming the Registrar Division’s head of the undergraduate section. >>>She went on to become deputy director in the University’s Strategic Planning and Change before taking up the position

of academic registrar a year later.

>>>Mrs Fowler said, “Durham is a place

I really love and having arrived here as a

student more than 20 years ago, I am extremely proud to have been appointed as registrar to the University”.

>>>Vice-Chancellor Professor Chris Hig-

gins described her new position as “a key

role in developing and implementing the University’s strategy and in developing

the professionalism of our support departments in what is an increasingly competitive marketplace”.

A PAY DISPUTE in the higher education sector has escalated after members of a prominent trade union balloted their members for industrial action. >>> The University and College Union (UCU) has provoked anger from the employers’ organisation University and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) after it appeared to break with an agreed timetable for action, prompting Durham University vice-chancellor Prof Chris Higgins to send an e-mail to all academic staff expressing his dismay with the industrial action proposal. >>>It was originally agreed that the dispute, relating to pay, conditions and union fears over job cuts, would be discussed over an eight week timetable. However, the UCU’s decision comes only three weeks into the agreement. >>>Jocelyn Prudence, the UCEA chief executive, said: “On a day when the sector has been asked by the Treasury to make additional signiﬁcant savings, the UCU decision to instigate a strike ballot over pay is truly bafﬂing”. >>>The move by the UCU appears calculated to demonstrate impatience at the nature and development of proceedings, after what they cited as the “lack of a credible pay offer”. The union responded to UCEA by saying: “It is the failure of the employers to react to the growing crisis that has forced our hand”. >>>The NUS has expressed disappointment with the news. The president said: “Given the effects of the current economic climate on the graduate jobs market, students need industrial action by university staff like a hole in the head”. >>> It is as yet unclear how Durham might be affected.

A New Look?

INDIGO

NEWS

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Friday 8 May 2009 palatinate.org.uk

NEWS PRESIDENT’S COLUMN ANDY WELCH THIS WEEK I have decided to talk (OK, type) about the upcoming European and local elections on 4th June, not because I have nothing more interesting in my life (honest), but because they are very important. >>>Regardless of whether you are proor anti-European you should be aware that the EU Parliament increasingly sets EU-wide policy on important issues such as trade, the environment and civil liberties. >>>Even if you do not care about what kind of person represents you in Europe, the elections are very important on the domestic front as well. Local and EU elections are used as referenda to gauge the popularity of political parties; if a party does particularly badly they might change their leader, and if they do well they capitalise on it to increase their political momentum. It is an excellent chance to express your thoughts on who should run/keep running the country. >>>If you vote, it also makes my job easier. I am often lobbying politicians with your concerns and issues, and whilst they normally listen, they listen harder to pensioners. Why? Because more pensioners vote than students. If more students voted, the government (and opposition parties) will care more about our concerns. >>>It may seem facetious (my word of the week) but democracy is kind of a big deal. People have fought very long and hard to give you the ability to vote and the least we can do is honour their work by using this right when ever we have the opportunity. Remember, if you dislike all the options on a ballot paper you can always use it to compose an amusing limerick! >>>To register to vote (and make me very happy), go to www.aboutmyvote.co.uk May so The deadline is 19th don’t delay! Don’t forget to vote on 4th June either.

From the Union Patrick Hague George Beverly I REMEMBER SAYING in my election hust back in dark and frosty Michaelmas that, despite appearances, Durham does have a summer. This week we’re beginning to see the first inkling of it. >>>It’s been a busy first week for the Union Society. We kicked off the term last Friday with the final round of the Robson Cup, in search of the best debater in Durham. Competitors from across the university argued for and against Tamil independence in Sri Lanka. I’m pleased to announce that, after truly excellent speeches from all finalists, Tim Finlay of St Aidan’s won the cup this year. >>>The debate was followed by free summer cocktails at 24. Given the sheer volume of alcohol consumed by members, I can only conclude that it went well and a good time was enjoyed by all. Huge thanks need to go to our social secretary Anna and everyone who helped ensure that a freshly muddled mojito was never too far away. >>>Durham teams have also been doing well on the national debating circuit. We had a strong presence last week at Newcastle Open with Tim Finlay and Luke Wells reaching the finals, only narrowly missing out on the title. >>>In the next couple of weeks before exams, we have some really interesting debates on legalising cannabis and the Israel-Palestine conflict. Would you like to be able to smoke cannabis at a Durham Cafe? Or perhaps you’re more interested in bringing peace to the Middle East? If so, then come on up to the Chamber on Palace Green; you could be surprised by what goes on.

DUCK and SCA donate ducklings Jamie Hubbard DURHAM UNIVERSITY’S CHARITY organisations, Durham University Charities Kommittee (DUCK) and Student Community Action (SCA) recently made a donation of eight ducklings and a mother duck to the children of Daisy Chain in Norton, Stockton-on-Tees. The unique institution was founded to give children with autism and special needs respite and holistic care. >>>The centre has been described by its founder Lesley Hanson as “a haven for children with autism and special needs, a place where they can go and ﬁnd something in life to give them pleasure”. >>>Set in the grounds of Calf Fallow Farm it offers an environment of fun and learning, with animals and activities for the children to be involved with. Recent building development at the centre, which marks its sixth anniversary this year, will greatly enhance the facilities available. >>>SCA has been involved with the centre for a number of years. The gift was aided by Tees Valley Wildlife Trust. The ducklings have been very well received; Laura Matthews, the manager of DUCK for 2008/9, described them as “so, so cute!” It is hoped the relationship between the charitable organisations will continue to strengthen.

NUS conference Jess Pauley THIS YEAR’S NUS conference took place in Blackpool from 30th March until 2nd April. Eleven students attended on behalf of Durham University, including Durham Students’ Union president, Andy Welch. >>>NUS President Wes Streeting was re-elected for a second term in office by a margin of 631 votes to 140. The vice positions were also elected, with the new term of office commencing on 1st July 2009. Streeting said: “I have received the overwhelming mandate of 81% of delegates at our conference to lead our Union for a second term and I relish the challenges to come”. >>>Many hot topics were debated at the conference to ascertain the Union’s standing on a number of key issues. There were also a number of external speakers present. Matthew Collins, an anti-racism campaigner from HopeNotHate campaign, spoke about the need for people to get involved to help defeat the BNP in forthcoming European and local elections. >>>The NUS will also be calling for additional action to be taken on the recession over the coming months, including putting pressure on the government to expand its graduate internship scheme and to encourage the continued growth of student numbers to prevent a crisis in youth unemployment developing in the near future. >>>Students everywhere are concerned about the future of government funding with regard to tuition fees; those at the conference were reassured by Streeting about the priorities of the NUS over the coming months. “The year ahead will be about fighting for a new deal for students: one that combats, halts and reverses the marketisation of our education system. When the university fees review starts later this year we will step up to the plate with an analysis of its failings, and a fairer, equitable and sustainable alternative that sees graduates contribute according to the real benefits they obtain, and our government putting its money where its mouth is on the importance of education and the necessity to widen access and increase opportunity and aspiration”. >>>A motion passed on the final day of the conference endorsed proposals to start consultations to set a minimum price

Durham University Student, Amran Hussain, takes to the stage at this year’s NUS conference. for alcohol in student unions across the country. This was one of the most contentious debates. It was argued that more needs to be done to discourage students from drinking to dangerous levels, and that there should be no place for this kind of activity in students’ unions. However, as one Durham delegate highlighted in their post-conference report, Durham University already imposes mimimum pricing and as such, the issue was not as hot a topic for Durham as for other universities. >>>However, there were several criticisms raised as a result of this year’s NUS conference. The ﬁrst of these, and perhaps the most important, was that delegates did not ﬁnd many of the issues raised to be in tune with Durham students. As one delegate wrote in their conference report, “Durham is a unique institution and needs to be recognised”. Durham only had two motions in which it had allocated speeches - but unfortunately there was not enough time to get to these points. >>>The second criticism was concerned

with what was actually achieved as a result of the conference: delegates complained that too much time was wasted submitting procedural motions, particularly due to the limited timescale that the conference was operating on. At one point, people were becoming so annoyed by the time wasting that a procedural motion was proposed to stop procedural motions; as a result, some motions were not discussed which was deemed disappointing. >>>However, Andy Welch said to Palatinate, “I think NUS conference does waste some time on issues of dubious relevance, however it made some important and good decisions on topics like Higher Education Funding and supporting student unions in their campaigns”. >>>Amran Hussain, one of the delegates that attended the conference (and pictured above), said “we ﬁnally witnessed a conference where our National Union moved on from institutional debates and endless motions on its constitutions and British foreign policies, to debating issues that really matter to us British students”.

Durham awarded grant to train local industry Jamie Hubbard DURHAM UNIVERSITY HAS been selected to receive a share of signiﬁcant government funding. >>>The money, offered by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, is targeted towards the provision of qualiﬁcations called ‘Industrial Bridging Fellowships’. The intention is to provide short courses and periods of research that allow employees of locally-based companies to enhance their development and output. The hope is that companies being hit by the recession will increase their productivity in an attempt to nullify some of the effects of the downturn. >>>It is thought that the University was selected due to its excellence in research

and commitment to high quality teaching. The pro-vice-chancellor for research, Professor Tom McLeish, was pleased by the announcement. >>>He said: “We are excited by the opportunity to meet the needs of our local communities now and in the future by bringing together the efforts of teaching, research and business staff across many departments”. A hand-picked selection of other UK educational institutions were also given a share of the grant. >>>The funding offered must be spent by the end of September 2010, and is part of proposals by the government to provide short-term support for industry. Durham, amongst other higher education institutions, will aim to spend this money quickly for maximum beneﬁt to local companies. The University is working in

partnership with One North East, the Regional Development Agency, for this part of the country to make sure the money is spent efﬁcently and effectively. >>>One North East has already begun to look into speciﬁc plans for how to allocate the cash and there will be agreement between the University and the development agency on how the money can most effectively be used. >>>One thing is clear: the intention is a “short sharp shock” to local industry and a much-needed boost for ailing North East institutions. >>>In the long run, this will be a positive step in providing people with the professional skills that will be demanded in the future. This is more essential than ever given the economic crisis and the subsequent burden on future generations.

C M Y K

Friday 8 May 2009 palatinate.org.uk

Got a scoop? news@palatinate.org.uk

NEWS 3

NEWS

Future of accomodation fees debated across university JONATHAN ALLEN

Vincent McAviney PLANS ARE BEING discussed within the university to radically change the accommodation system. At the end of last term, Palatinate learned that the idea of differential lets was being discussed by the University Accommodation Advisory Group comprised of Presidents’ Committee members and university officials. >>>Differential lets essentially means that instead of charging a flat rate for college accommodation, rooms would be assessed on quality, amenities and location, and priced accordingly. >>>However, this idea was met with resistance over fears this approach could be detrimental to the nature of the collegiate system leading to ‘rich’ and ‘poor’ colleges. Jenny Wren-Charlton, University College senior man said at the time “A concern I think many have, mainly from hearing from friends in other universities, most notably Oxbridge, is there is a fear of changing the unique nature of the college system into an elitist one, thus diminishing the diverse communities that you find in colleges and the eclectic mix of people that our University attracts”. >>>When questioned about the status of the proposal, DSU president Andrew Welch stated that the University, in response to the negative reaction of students, is considering alternative ideas, primarily a ‘returners’ bonus’ to help plug the gap in college finances. “Currently some

IN BRIEF

A STUDENT FROM the College of St Hild and St Bede - William Lucas - was admitted to hospital last week after getting washing detergent in his eye. The accident occurred when his friend, another student from Hild Bede, accidentally burst the capsule during a ‘play fight’, causing some of the liquid to go into Will’s right eye. This resulted in chemical burns to the cornea. William was admitted to a specialist eye clinic in Sunderland following the event. After several days, his eye has started to recover.

colleges like Hild Bede, Van Mildert and Aidan’s are struggling to fill their blocks,” said Mr Welch. “This is known as the ‘void problem’, as many third and fourth year students find it cheaper to live out in areas like Gilesgate instead of moving back into their colleges”. >>>The idea is to charge freshers, who have to live in for the duration of their first year, more money for their accommodation, allowing colleges to charge returners less. It is hoped this incentive will attract

third and fourth year students back into their colleges. >>>However student reaction to the proposal has been decidedly mixed. When raised at a Van Mildert JCR meeting this past weekend, the proposals were not well received, with many students labeling the system ‘unfair’. >>>However, a source placed highly within the Hild Bede SRC executive said that the college is in favour of the returners’ bonus. “With Hild Bede surrounded

by cheap Gilesgate accomodation, there is no incentive for third and fourth year students to move back into the college. They can live out for less whilst enjoying all of the college facilities”. It is hoped that with more Hild Bede students choosing to return, a greater sense of community will develop and college spirit will be strengthened. >>>The discussions remain on-going within the Accomodation Advisory Group.

Students warned of Criticism of library theft admissions process Dan Bloom

students who own them. >>>“We do our best to ensure people look after their possessions – and we provide lockers,” a library source said. “But people just say, ‘Oh, it’s safe in here’. We can’t have a card entry system because of our archives”. >>>Madeleine said: “I wasn’t actually aware that it was a public library. I hadn’t heard from anyone that anything had got stolen before so I was kind of lulled into a false sense of security by the Durham bubble. They should have some way to monitor what goes on because it could easily happen again.” >>>She has learnt from her experience: “I’m much more vigilant, and I’d say back everything up on a hard drive,” she said. “I had my work backed up but because I DJ, I had about 8,000 songs that weren’t. I’ve had my iTunes since I was about fifteen so it was a bit of a loss.”

MARK LOVELL

A STUDENT’S LAPTOP was stolen over the Easter break from Palace Green Library when she left her desk for just five minutes. >>>Madeleine St-Amour, a second year from Trevelyan College, was working in Palace Green Library on Saturday 25th April when she noticed her white Macbook had disappeared. >>>She said: “I was at Palace Green all day at a desk on my own, and it must have gone whilst I went to the toilet. I only left my desk for five minutes at most about twice that afternoon. It was in its case and hidden under my bags, so I only noticed it had gone at about four o’clock. When I realised it had definitely gone, after I’d searched everywhere, I burst into tears and told the Palace Green people”. >>>However, since the library has minimal security facilities, there was little staff could do to help. >>>Madeleine went on to say: “They said because there was no CCTV, and people walk in and out of the library all day, they couldn’t really help me too much – but they did help me look around the library for it”. >>>Unlike the Main Library, Palace Green welcomes members of the public to its Archives and Special Collections and so lacks a card entry system. >>>Responsibility for belongings rests solely with the

Student blinded in Liqui-tab incident

Jack Battersby Last month, Durham University was publically linked to growing concerns over how UK universities should distinguish between high performing applicants. >>>On 5th April, the Sunday Times published a letter from a parent whose son had been rejected by the University to study History and Russian, despite achieving four ‘A’s at A Level and holding ten ‘A’s or ‘A*s’ at GCSE. >>>After asking for the decision to be reconsidered, the applicant was told that, given the intense competition for places, the University had taken into account the “educational context in which previous qualifications had been achieved” and applied a “mathematical formula” to reach its decision. >>>The University informed the applicant that the formula was applied to GCSE results to “recognise candidates who had performed very well despite attending schools where average performance was weak”. >>>The letter received attention from Chris Woodhead, former chief inspector of schools and now columnist for the Sunday Times’ education feature ‘Answer the Question’. >>>His response echoed the parent’s concerns of a system that had the potential to work against those who had attended feepaying schools. “Exactly how it works is not clear to me. Admissions tutors should

exercise discretion rather than blindly apply a formula”. >>>Vice-chancellor Chris Higgins was quick to clarify the University’s position in his bulletin to staff and students. Defending the admissions process, he highlighted the difficulties faced by academic selectors in distinguishing between candidates achieving three ‘A’s or above at A Level. “The University is committed to recruiting high quality students by identifying merit and potential, regardless of background. We do not have quotas or reduce A Level grades for offers to students because of their school type or socio-economic circumstances”. >>>In June 2008, universities were told that they could adopt controversial admissions procedures to make lower offers to pupils from struggling state schools because they show greater potential than applicants that have been intensively tutored at private schools. >>>However, last year’s revised Undergraduate Admissions Policy saw no change in the University’s procedures for attracting state-educated applicants. Outreach activities, including a generous bursary scheme to attract students from lower income backgrounds, remain the favoured approach. >>>It would appear that despite considerable pressure, Durham University admissions tutors remain opposed to the use of social engineering to encourage state school applicants.

Zip Wire Challenge A DURHAM HOSPICE is planning an audacious zip wire challenge across Newcastle’s Tyne Bridge. St Cuthbert’s Hospice is planning the event on 7th June. The aim is to raise precious funding for the hospice, which provides free care and support to local people with life-limiting conditions. It is hoped that the nature of the zip wire challenge event will interest local students and aid engagement with the hospice’s vital role in the community. If any of you are interested in either participating in the challenge or simply donating money, please contact Emily Rosselli on (0191) 386 1170.

Cuth’s to push for privacy clause in licensing ST CUTHBERT’S COLLEGE JCR is to lobby other colleges to join a campaign to add a privacy clause to the standard licensing agreement issued to all students who live in college rooms. The proposal, which is expected to state that students would have to give their permission before University staff entered their rooms, follows an incident in St Cuthbert’s last year. A college officer was allegedly found to have entered a student’s room in their absence and without their permission.

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Friday 8 May 2009 palatinate.org.uk

NEWS

RESEARCHERS FROM DURHAM University’s Centre for Bioactive Chemistry have been looking at approaches which could prevent the development in our bodies of one of the viruses which causes respiratory illnesses, as well as one third of forms of the common cold - and potentially the recently emerged swine flu. >>>Led by Dr John Sanderson and Dr Paul Yeo, researchers have been investigating ways to intercept the virus inside our bodies and to prevent its reproduction and development. >>>As part of their work, the team have helped to produce the first ever high-resolution, full-length structure of a protein from an enveloped virus called the ‘matrix protein’. Using this, they have been able to learn more about the final development stages of viruses and how it functions. In particular, they have been working to identify the vulnerable parts of the virus’ structure which could be targeted to prevent its spread.

>>>Dr Yeo has described how these images “provide amazing insights into the micro-chemical world of our cells. We have an opportunity to use bioactive chemistry to develop the medical tools of the future”. >>>During this work, researchers have been looking closely at the point at which the virus assembles inside the body, and believe that by intercepting and attacking the virus at just the right time, the virus can be destroyed. It is on this basis that future drugs for combating these illnesses would be based. >>>When looking to develop medicines against viruses, one of the main problems facing scientists is the fact that viruses are constantly developing and mutating, and so can become immune to these drugs. The Durham University team also hope to be able to extend this work to look at other viruses including Hepatitis C and Measles. Swine flu The past few weeks has seen the emergence and spread of the swine flu virus

from Mexico around the world. The World Health Organisation has upgraded its status to Level 5, meaning that a global pandemic is underway. With cases occurring across Britain, including one confirmed case in Newcastle, the virus has shown that it has mutated to combine forms of the virus that affect not only pigs and birds, but humans as well. Dr Paul Yeo offered some of his expertise on the matter. >>>He stressed the difficulty in working with viruses to confirm suspected cases of swine flu and to develop a vaccine. He says that “some people are unrealistic about timescales” when expecting immediate solutions to the outbreak. At this point, it is impossible to know whether the attention being afforded to swine flu is unnecessary hype. Whilst bird flu was contained and did not begin spreading between humans, the fact that swine flu has made this development makes it potentially much more serious. >>>He described how “the pig has become the mixing pot of influenza viruses” and as such swine flu is now “a complex virus”. He added that “it’s not hype if people are

Iranian Culture Week gives valuable insight >>>A large collection of photographs and books also showed off Iran’s impressive archaeological heritage and informed visitors of the many peoples who live within Iran’s deserts, mountains and forests today as pastoral nomads. >>>A documentary played in the background gave visitors a a glimpse into the extraordinarily rich history of Iran and the historical influences on its art to the sixteenth century. >>>However, the festival also examined aspects of contemporary Iranian culture. Iranian cinema has undergone a revival and achieved international critical success over the past decade, and the screenings in the week addressed key moments in Iran’s more recent past, such as The Third Day, set in 1980 in Khoramshahr, which is a challenging examination of the Iran-Iraq War and its effects.

Jennifer Thompson ST AIDAN’S COLLEGE played host last week to Durham’s first ever Iranian Cultural Week. >>>The event was organised by the Centre for Iranian Studies and was an ambitious project aiming to showcase in detail as many different aspects of Iranian culture, both traditional and modern, in five days. >>>Visitors had a chance to explore and celebrate the heritage of the country through a programme of film and music. There was also an exhibition of traditional Iranian arts and photography running alongside these events. >>>The first half of the Iranian festival featured the Iranian band Safa, which gave much-appreciated recitals of Sufi and der-

vish spiritual music in a series of evening concerts. >>>Having performed in both European and Middle Eastern countries before, singer Fariborz Alagheband said that they were very pleased to be in Durham, adding, “We think it went well and hope the audience liked it. Audience members have described it as absolutely wonderful and we enjoyed every bit of it”. >>>Meanwhile, artists demonstrated traditional Persian calligraphy and miniature painting live, such as Maryam Mirzaei who, like Safa, travelled all the way from Iran to be at the festival, where she continued her work in illumination at the college throughout the week. >>>Her colleague Mr. Salehi, an expert calligrapher, helped visitors understand the art form and explained its history in a Persian context.

“Iranian cinema has undergone a revival and achieved critical success” >>>The event was attended by students and academics from across the UK. Executive director for the Centre for Iranian Sudies Dr. Reza Molavi said that they were “very happy to have been instrumental in the first ever cultural exchange of its type.” >>>Durham’s Iranian visitors certainly enjoyed the time they spent in the city, members of Safa all agreeing that, “We want to stay in Durham forever!”

dying in large numbers”, which has been the case in Mexico, where there are over one hundred suspected swine flu deaths. >>>With the Mexican government saying that the spread of the virus has peaked and is now in decline, it appears that a guardedly optimistic outlook can be taken for the time being. In Mexico, the move

to temporarily shut down the economy, alongside the co-ordinated response from the WHO and international governments, has proven successful in slowing the spread of the virus. >>>However, a new wave of infections could still occur in autumn/winter this year.

JONATHAN ALLEN

Peter Reid

DURHAM UNIVERSITY

Protein key to fighting flu virus

Survey of Class ‘09 Jess Gordon ACCORDING TO A survey conducted in March, the Class of 2009 are expected to fare quite differently in the graduate job market to their predecessors. The survey, based on interviews with 16,357 finalists nationwide, reveals that fewer students have applied for graduate jobs in business and finance, instead favouring their chances in the public sector. >>>The survey was completed across 30 top universities in the UK, including Durham, Bristol, Oxford and Cambridge. 52% of university leavers are recorded as having described prospects for new graduates as “very limited.” >>>Although the volume of job applications made by final year students has increased notably this year, the proportion of those who have received an offer has fallen by a third compared with 2008. >>>One in six job hunters have confirmed

that they deliberately targeted employers that appeared to offer the best job security, rather than pursuing that dream job or a generous starting salary. >>>Findings reveal that of the Durham University finalists surveyed, for the 30% expected to join the graduate job market straight away, the most popular destinations are in teaching, media and marketing. >>>Evidently not all finalists are intending to plunge headfirst into the world of work as an almost equal proportion of students plan to delay the move into the ‘real world’, opting instead to study for a postgraduate course. >>>20% of Durham finalists surveyed are preparing to take time off and travel. >>>In spite of this year’s tough graduate job market, 96% of students at Durham University felt their time as a student had been beneficial. Furthermore, 50% of those asked said that they read Palatinate on a regular basis!

IN FOCUS

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IN FOCUS

Adam Painter weighs up the pros and cons of leaving Britain in search of work

George Stafford and Jess Gordon review Labour’s Last Stand

“The question of employment opportunities outside the UK for graduates has never been of greater exposure”

before travel would be beneficial says Peter. Moving away can add to, or give you many key skills as prospects.ac.uk outlines, working abroad can, “provide an opportunity for total immersion into a foreign culture”. Furthermore, skills

such as initiative and determination, communication and flexibility they say can also be strengthened. When it comes to actually going away there are so many opportunities and areas to try. The sheer amount of options can be daunting and confusing. Therefore it is paramount that you try and minimize your options. For example, deciding whether you wish to go away for a short term project or long term employment would be the biggest decision to make. If going for employment it will of course be important to search relevant employers and check out their entrance requirements. Will you need to be able to speak the language for example? If looking for actual employment abroad a clear decision must be made about which career path you wish to follow

A man delivered his baby son by watching a video on YouTube. Mark Stephens from Cornwall watched the video as a precaution when his wife began to feel discomfort and called for an ambulance. However the ambulance did not arrive in time and he had to use what he had picked up from the internet just hours earlier. They had planned a home delivery, but not quite in this fashion. “The videos gave me peace of mind. I think I would have coped, but watching videos made things much easier,” said Mark. Mother and baby were taken to hospital, and both were healthy.

BBC blunder Residents in a Scottish village have complained to the BBC that its negative weather reports are driving away tourists. Villagers claim Carrbridge, which is situated in the Cairngorms National Park near Aviemore and protected by mountains, has its own weather system. They also criticise the BBC’s use of the word ‘showers’, when in fact the weather is mainly dry. Local businesses believe tourists are using the web to determine the weather and where to book their holidays and day trips, and are being put off by this negativity. Tourism is the main industry for the village of 250 inhabitants.

Flickr: Stuart Axe

Bursting the bubble

long term jobs but can be of great help in researching the necessary requirements. Of course any work, even work in hospitality and catering can increase your cultural and commercial awareness, as well as giving you an insight into different cultures. Although it is incredibly difficult to outline all possible options the aim of this piece is to inform of what is available and make you think about why or even if you wish to take the big step of going abroad. Yes, you can gain a huge amount from going away whether it be for the long or short term however that does not mean you have to. Foreign work can give huge advantages however it can also go belly up.

TWO WEEKS AGO Alistair Darling delivered his 2009 budget speech to the House of Commons. Palatinate investigates what the changes may mean for students in Durham. The major headline that came out of the budget was an increase to the top level of income tax, which is now set at 50% for incomes above £150,000 a year. Obviously this will not apply to students in Durham, but there was

“if you drink 15 pints a week you will spend an extra £7.80 in the next financial year”

“Despite all the doom and gloom in the mainstream media there are still plenty of UK opportunities”

plenty in the speech to take note of. Duties on alcohol and tobacco have risen once again, putting the price of the average pint up by 1p, and an

Peter Fox makes it very clear that you should think incredibly hard before deciding to go away. He wishes to clarify that despite all the doom and gloom in the mainstream media there are still plenty of UK opportunities. He says, “good quality graduates who have been involved in other extracurricular activities are still encouraged by employers to apply. They are still keen to recruit the best candidates”. In fact he also states that it “is more like 20%” of recruiters who have slimmed their intake. Therefore do not let the current recession cloud your judgement; of course times are tough and it may be in your mind the best time to go abroad. Try to build your plans into your long term aims and consider why you are wanting to go away, essentially do it for the right reasons. Of course people are not just packing their bags in the current climate, postgraduate options should also be considered,and many students are in fact taking up this option. Things in the UK are not apocalyptic, there are still opportunities here for hard, conscientious workers. In the end it is up to you, plan, take the advice and then decide. Your answer may not be as straight forward as you first thought.

Thousands of people have thronged to the streets of the Sierra Leone capital, Freetown, to see one of the country’s shortest people get married. Masire Kamara, a tea seller at the local market, is well known in the city. When it came to the kiss she had to stand on a chair to reach her partner. The Church was packed and street festivals went on all night in celebration, making Masire a local celebrity. The mayor of Freetown and several MPs also attended the ceremony.

Message from the past Buliders near the Auschwitz death camp in Poland have claimed to have found a prisoner’s message hidden in a bottle. The message, written in pencil and dated 9th September 1944, bears names, camp numbers and home towns of seven young inmates from Poland and France. The note seems to be written by young Jews trying to leave some momentum of their existence behind. The bottle was buried in a concrete wall of a school just outside the camp that the prisoners were forced to build.

amount you can put into a tax-free ISA to £10,200, starting next year. Finalists with no plans for life after Durham will find it hard to be completely out of work in 2010. In an attempt to prevent unemployment numbers getting any higher, the government has promised to offer employment or training to all under-25s who have been out of work for

“Finalists with no plans for life after Durham will find it hard to be completely out of work in 2010.”

a year, starting from January next year. It is difficult to tell how the financial downturn has affected Durham life this term. Empty college bars and clubs are probably a symptom of exam season more than the credit crunch. There are few immediate effects of the budget on students. Studying at university in Durham is still probably one of the best situations to be in over the next financial year. Rises in fuel duty will be largely irrelevant, as most Durham students do not have a car or need to use public transport. Shops trying to stay in business are offering enticing deals, such as mid-season sales in clothing stores or meal-deals for £2 in Marks and Spencer. Most importantly, students are not in fear of losing a job on which their livelihoods depend, unlike millions across the country. One aspect of the credit crunch that does eat into the overdraft is rising food prices: but as long as inflation is kept under control student budgets should survive Darling’s reaction to the crunch. The immediate effects of the budget are fairly limited for students, but its long-term implications are much more important. Reaction from Durham students to the budget has been overwhelmingly negative. “There isn’t much in the budget to help students” responded St Aidan’s first year Hugh Silk who believes the tax increases might lead to a brain-drain “for anybody earning that much the attraction of working in the UK has been lessened”. Similarly Collingwood student James Underwood said “In terms of help for students the budget is not going to do a great deal. I

think a radical overhaul of the taxation and student finance system is needed.” Asked if he would consider working abroad after graduating he replied “I personally wouldn’t move abroad but I think more people will leave. I’m not sure its the right thing to do though.” The advantages of being at university in the downturn are balanced against the effects of the governments’ massive spending over the next year, which will be funded by borrowing money. The government will borrow £348 billion over the next two years, which is more than the sum total of all governments’ borrowing of the last 300 years put together, doubling the national debt. This debt will have to be paid back over the next decade. Students currently at university will have to face higher taxes when they find employment in years to come to pay for last month’s budget. Many students will be looking for jobs in the public sector: in teaching, the armed forces or the civil service. It is likely that the salaries of these jobs will have to be lowered because of funding cuts to accommodate for the debt. The borrowing incurred by Darling’s budget may well save the country from economic collapse, but it is certain that we will have to pay for it in years to come.

How has the financial crisis affected your postgraduate or gap year plans? Do you care about the Budget? Will the tax increases promt you to seek a career aborad? Email us: in.focus@palatinate. org.uk

Budget reaction

by Ursula Hankinson

Shortest bride

extra 7p onto a pack of 20 cigarettes. However, these rises will not break the bank; if you drink 15 pints a week you will spend an extra £7.80 in the next financial year, and an extra £7.28 if you smoke 2 packs of cigarettes a week. Tax on fuel has also risen by 2p a litre, applying from September. If you want a new car to fill up with pricier petrol, now might be the time to get one. A scheme based on German and French models gives you £2000 off the price of a brand new car when you trade in one that is more than 10 years old. The grant will be available until March 2010. But most students are not lucky enough to own a car to exchange, or the cash to buy a new one regardless of the discount. However, there are some students lucky enough not to have to spend their student loan. They now have a greater opportunity to earn tax-free interest on it. To encourage the public to save more, the government has raised the JONATHAN ALLEN

advisor, suggests that whilst these forms of funding are entirely credible it is worthwhile trying to have some of your own money stored away before travel. Trying to get some work in the UK

and in what way your UK degree is accepted in your chosen country. It is of course difficult here to talk through the thousands of different career areas you could work in, here it would be easier to alert you to the many background checks you must consider before taking such a big step. If looking for long term employment one must research the company you are applying to, its history and custom. The company’s terms of employment will also be very important and it may also be worth considering whether there will be opportunities for you to move back to the UK in your role. Although there are of course many graduates who go on to work abroad full time, whether in a profession, for charity or to teach; the majority of students who are looking to move away will do so on a short term basis. This will usually manifest itself via a short term project in which to gain vital transferable skills and commercial awareness or a specific task to train for a chosen area of employment. Camp America for example can be great for enhancing teamwork skills, getting fit and experiencing a different culture. Certainly for sports students it can be very beneficial. Other ‘projects’ would be familiar to most and are run by companies such as Projects Abroad. Often they involve community or conservation work but can often entail work base projects. These may involve media work, experience of international law and things such as child care experience. Often in such schemes you may stay in a hotel or most likely with a local family. They are not cheap but can provide an array of life experiences. When it comes to going to foreign lands there are a few obvious things to consider. Visa requirements are usually a key problem for all travellers;certainly short term ones. The USA and Australia are especially tough with immigration,as are some of the Asian countries. Therefore it is essential to check embassy websites for all updated travel information. The EU however is fairly easy to travel around. Being a member of the EU, UK residents can travel and work in the EU without too many problems. If you are looking for work inside the EU a great site to check out is EURES at ec.europa.eu. The site contains mainly

“Today everyone can see what an utter mess this Labour government and this Labour Prime Minister have made of the British economy.”

“Alistair Darling did well in a very tight spot … Brown and the Labour party are lucky in this Chancellor”

– David Cameron

– The Guardian

Flickr: FF Arcade

FLICKR ID: JAFFA THE CAKE

A fair budget?

Midwife YouTube

IN FOCUS

Home or away? NO, WE ARE not talking about football or which question to choose on Question of Sport. In fact this question is of much greater importance. Many of us, unless we are happily isolated from the news, will be well aware of the dire financial circumstances the UK currently finds itself in. Now, whilst this is not the place to discuss the recession or who caused it, the effects of it will impact upon every one of us. Certainly, graduates in the next two years are going to be faced with a severely restricted labour market as we continue in a deep recession at least until next year. If this news was not bad enough (and you may be wondering how it could possibly get any worse), most other countries are also suffering from the collapse of the financial sector and the overall fall in world demand. Therefore, it is not simply the UK suffering in terms of graduate opportunities. Nevertheless the question of employment opportunities outside the UK for graduates has never been of greater exposure. For there are still opportunities out there, not just for full time employment but also temporary opportunities to expand your CV before returning to the UK labour market when the economy improves. That said, there are of course still opportunities here in the UK. This is not about persuading you either way, but to clear up any misunderstandings and provide some help and advice during a period of exposure for work abroad. Moving away is always a very big decision to take and it is certainly one you should not take lightly. There needs to be an in depth consideration of your aims, motives and potential outcomes of any foreign work or study. Before you even start, you need to make sure you are financially able to undertake such a commitment. This of course involves future planning to assess your potential outgoings, and is likely to take priority before any active planning of moving to foreign climes. In the current climate, banks will be less willing to lend to students who are planning a knees-up and a quick tan whilst growing forever familiar to Fosters lager. Finance-wise then, it is worth considering your funding, whether you will try for a loan, sponsorship, or try to undertake some charitable work. Peter Fox, a Durham careers

IN FOCUS

“Gordon Brown’s budget is a dishonest piece of pre-election politicking… the rapid increase in borrowing is eye-watering”

“They have condemned us to years of unemployment and decades of debt. The public deserves something different.”

– The Economist

– Nick Clegg

M Y K

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EDITORIAL AND LETTERS

EDITORIAL AND LETTERS EDITOR James F. Thompson editor@palatinate.org.uk DEPUTY EDITOR Daniel Bjelis deputy.editor@palatinate.org.uk INDIGO EDITOR Dipal Acharya indigo@palatinate.org.uk CHIEF NEWS EDITOR Jess Pauley news@palatinate.org.uk NEWS IN FOCUS EDITOR Vincent McAviney in.focus@palatinate.org.uk DEPUTY NEWS EDITORS Adam Painter, George Stafford deputy.news@palatinate.org.uk COMMENT EDITOR Chris Wright comment@palatinate.org.uk DEPUTY COMMENT EDITOR Calum Jones deputy.comment@palatinate.org.uk SPORT EDITOR Rajvir Rai sport@palatinate.org.uk DEPUTY SPORT EDITOR Simon Lamb sport@palatinate.org.uk CHIEF LIFESTYLE EDITOR Dipal Acharya lifestyle@palatinate.org.uk BEAUTY AND FASHION EDITOR Dipal Acharya fashion@palatinate.org.uk FEATURE EDITOR Francesca Teoh feature@palatinate.org.uk FOOD EDITOR Fiona Hicks food@palatinate.org.uk INTERVIEW EDITOR Charlie Booth interview@palatinate.org.uk TRAVEL EDITOR Eleanor Killin travel@palatinate.org.uk CHIEF ARTS EDITOR Daniel Bjelis arts@palatinate.org.uk BOOKS EDITOR Matthew Richardson books@palatinate.org.uk FILM AND TV EDITOR Poppy Macleod ﬁlm@palatinate.org.uk MUSIC EDITORS Anna Codrea-Rado, Sebastian Payne music@palatinate.org.uk STAGE EDITOR Daniel Dyer stage@palatinate.org.uk CO-STAGE EDITOR Sophie Zeldin-O’Neil stage@palatinate.org.uk VISUAL ARTS EDITORS Rosie Boscawen, Thomas England visual.arts@palatinate.org.uk LISTINGS EDITOR Alison Moulds listings@palatinate.org.uk MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Laura Pennington multimedia@palatinate.org.uk ILLUSTRATIONS CO-ORDINATOR Susannah Taylor illustration@palatinate.org.uk PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Max Waldron photography@palatinate.org.uk CHIEF SUB-EDITOR Liza Miller sub-editing@palatinate.org.uk SUB-EDITORS Lou Quarmby, Lucy Jackson, Joe-Han Ho, Frances Main, Ivan Au, Huw Silk, Laura Bulbeck, Daisy Wyatt, Ellie Austin, Jessica Stewart, Ally Bacon, Georgie McCluskey ONLINE EDITORS Ali Gledhill web.editor@palatinate.org.uk, James Inman deputy. editor@palatinate.org.uk

PALATINATE

EDITION 707 | FRIDAY 8TH MAY, 2009

A few words on the future of Palatinate F

OR OVER SIXTY years now, Palatinate has held the distinction of representing Durham’s student newspaper of record; a newspaper produced entirely by the students of Durham, for the students of Durham. >>>It is not without a certain amount of pride that Palatinate’s editorial board produces forty pages of entirely studentled content every fortnight, even if this content isn’t always to everyone’s taste. >>>While the paper’s afﬁliation with Durham Students’ Union is self-evident, it is worth remembering that at no stage throughout the production process of any given edition of the publication does a paid member of staff have any creative input whatsoever, irrespective of various misconceptions to the contrary. >>>Naturally, this situation has both advantages and disadvantages.

>>>Without paid involvement, the paper is, theoretically at least, free to publish whatever it sees fit, provided that this is not illegal. In this fashion, the paper is able to represent the views of Durham students free from alien influences. >>>Of course, the flip-side to this coin is that Palatinate will never attain a truly professional standard; how could it? Its editors, writers, sub-editors, photographers - everyone involved with the paper - are students, just like everyone else. >>>From the start of the next academic year, this situation could be about to irrevocably change, for better or worse. For there presently exists a proposal, currently working its way through DSU, to appoint a paid editor to take charge of Palatinate on a full-time basis. >>>Palatinate wants to know what you think: www.palatinate.org.uk

Anybody wishing to become involved with a section should e-mail the relevant editor(s) as listed above

Correspondence Palatinate readers share their views. This edition, DSU’s porters are ﬂush with praise for Palatinate

>>>I was apalled at your review of Esquires coffee house in the latest edition of Palatinate newspaper. The whole ‘craving coffee’ article felt to me like a one sided rant based on personal preferences and experiences. I personally love coffee, I’ve drank in most of the houses in Durham on more than the ODD occasion. >>>If the reporter behind this article has any real idea about coffee knowledge and, as the Palatinate is a STUDENT newspaper and not one for personal rants about hatred of coffee houses, then I think instead of trying it once and having a bad experience, I challenge them to go back and try the honeycomb latte - it’s divine. >>> This article is not helpful for students at all, maybe something based on research would be better. I seriously doubt the integrity of a student newspaper when articles are based on one person’s opinion and not that of the student body!!! R. J. Dunn Re: ‘Down the pan’, edition 706 >>> Madeleine Pitt’s article on the toilets of Durham City was engaging, but not entirely balanced. >>> >>> Amongst the venues mentioned in the article, those of us who work at DSU are fortunate enough to know who is responsible for the depressingly common damage to our facilities: Durham students. >>> One of our ﬁrst jobs on a Monday morning is to assess the level of the weekend’s destruction to our toilets, whether it be to the toilets themselves, other sanitary ﬁttings, kicked apart cublicles, kicked off doors etc. Indeed the damaged cublicle in your DSU photograph had been repaired for precisely one day before the damage shown was caused. >>> It’s all well and good expecting the Union of (to quote Madeleine) “one of the world’s leading centres of scholarship and learning” to provide better facilities; for our part we might reasonably expect the students of such an esteemed institution not to destroy our facilities on a weekly basis.

ELIZABETH FUNG

Re: ‘Craving coffee’, edition 706

normal business: their entire existence relies on the fact that one can make money merely by having money, and thus they are more dependent on economies of sale, and it is in their interest to be as large as possible. >>>The Monopolies and Merger Commission might possibly be partially to blame for the crisis, for allowing the mergers of Lloyds and TSB and Halifax and the Bank of Scotland. But when you bank you are taking a risk; that’s why they pay you interest. >>>People may be angry with good reason - I didn’t say they weren’t - but no amount of public anger can justify a post-facto change in the law. Fiat justitia, ruat caelum, and all that. Mark Harmstone

>>> To be honest we’re not so green behind the ears that we think this situation is likely to change dramatically, but an article which points the ﬁnger without considering the culpability of its own readership seemed somehow incomplete to us. DSU Porters Re: ‘Sir Fred Goodwin’ piece, edition 706 >>>RBS would likely have been bought out by one of the banks who had acted sensibly. If not, the deposit protection scheme would indeed have come into play, but don’t forget that only your ﬁrst £50,000 is fully protected. >>>As the bank is now in state hands, the taxpayer is now underwriting the whole amount, and the size of public liabilities is that much greater. >>>It’ll actually increase yet further, as those with over £50,000 in cash will move it from the risky private banks to the no-risk state-owned banks. Effectively we are now in the process of moving to a full deposit guarantee. >>>If individual banks have such a great market share, that is indicative of there not being enough capitalism. I do accept that banks are different from

Re: ‘On the receiving end’, editorial, edition 705 >>> Well, if that isn’t the ultimate proof that Cuths (or certain members of it, at least) needs to grow up I don’t know what is. >>> No one was named in the article in question, and it made points that a) were purely opinion, b) were also the opinion of a number of other people. >>> The equivalent would be Gordon Brown suing, say, George Monbiot for criticising his environmental policies; we might expect these things perhaps in Russia or China (no disregard to those nations, merely their governments) but not here. >>> If you disagree with the points someone has made you take it up with them, publicly if necessary, but just saying ‘we’ll sue you’ is frankly pathetic. >>> Anyway, my point is - well done, Palatinate, for giving such a ﬁghting response to what is possibly the most ridiculous thing I have heard in my 2 1/2 years here. Which is saying a lot. Thom Addinall-Biddulph Submit letters to editor@palatinate.org.uk or comment on any of our articles directly at palatinate.org.uk P. S. Look out for our new website...

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THE BIG PICTURE

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THE BIG PICTURE

C M Y

THE BIG PICTURE

Wednesday 18 March, 2009 Tartuffe, Castle Great Hall

Photograph by Ieuan Jenkins

12 COMMENT

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COMMENT Peter Elliott

propose that it is wholly worthless is misleading, dangerous and, at worst, fatal. As Owen Barder, an expert in International Development, retorted about one such sceptic, if she “is wrong, and yet her book convinces enough people that aid should be reduced, then people will die”. The stakes are high. >>>The sceptics are largely concerned about governance standards. “ODA keeps non-democratic, corrupt and inept regimes in power”, some holler. “The social contract between citizens and government is undermined”, others add. “It cultivates dependency”. Another criticism often levelled is that ODA produces no tangible results. >>>Not quite. Disbursing aid through governments rather than directly to the people strengthens the social contract; the latter option undermines the authority and credibility of the state. It also lowers transaction costs, streamlines development policies across multiple agencies, and builds the capacities of governments. >>>The argument that it fosters dependency is startling. There is strong evidence to suggest that aid is correlated with growth, helping to ﬁnance better power infrastructures, educational facilities, and transportation and communication systems. Along with this are ‘spill-over’ effects from increases in foreign direct in-

Chris Wright

vestments, trade volumes and so on. >>>If anything, ODA helps construct the foundations of a strong economy, enabling developing countries to become self-sufficient in the long term. Moreover, the alternative to aid which the sceptics often propose, - privatisation, liberalisation and de-regulation - in the words of Paul Collier, “exaggerates this opportunity for alternative finance and underestimates the difficulties African societies face”. This has been compounded by the global recession. >>>Britain’s national interest, the second reason why ODA is deemed irresponsible, is frequently overlooked. Blair’s liberal interventionism may have been discredited following the Iraq War, but the tenets it was founded upon remain as important as ever. With the globalisation of trade, travel and ideas, developments on the other side of the globe can have a profound effect upon Britain’s welfare and security. It is no longer possible to turn inwards. >>>The outbreak of Swine Flu is a telling example: global action is necessary, but many developing countries lack the resources to take effective measures. If the problem is not solved within these countries, then it is more likely to spread to our isles. Overlooking the welfare of people in poorer countries will therefore be detrimental to our own.

>>>Providing ODA results in positive-sum gains. Helping to give people in Pakistan an education provides them with hopes and aspirations, hence reducing violent tendencies against British interests. Encouraging developing countries to adapt to climate change and adopt

sustainable agricultural practices reduces global greenhouse emissions. Preventing food, social and economic crises from deteriorating by offering valuable skills, resources and commodities serves as a power-

ful form of ‘soft power’, which is the ability to achieve policy aims through the attractiveness of our culture, ideals and policies. >>>It is for these reasons that the Labour government’s decision not to reduce aid spending in the recent budget should be celebrated. This is particularly significant because The Department for International Development (DFID), created in 1997, is the world’s pre-eminent aid organisation. >>> Its expertise is needed and sought across the globe and it is up to us to ensure that this continues by putting pressure on future governments not to reduce its funding or independence. >>>Indeed, the Conservative Party has stated that if they win the next election the Foreign Office will be given more influence over the distribution of ODA. This is a woeful idea which should be firmly opposed, not least because it will undermine DFID and lend credence to the notion of neo-colonialism, especially in those countries to which Britain is historically attached. >>>The world’s poorest will be the worst affected by the global recession. This is not the time to turn our backs on the commitments we have made. Even if you do not want to do it for the sake of the common good, do it for yourselves.

McBride’s lesson in media ethics We should not overlook the role of journalists in Brown’s bullying

journalist whose job depends on a flow of political stories from ‘anonymous sources’. >>>Some have dated the origin of the technique of anonymous briefing to the the journalist George Steward, who in the autumn of 1937 spread a strategic lie on behalf of Prime Minister Chamberlain. The foreign secretary, Lord Halifax, was on a trip to Germany, but with no special diplomatic intention in mind. Steward briefed The Times and The Telegraph that the purpose of the meeting was to make appeasing gestures, and thus No. 10 won an internal political struggle against the Foreign Office on the policy question of how to approach Herr Hitler. >>>Thatcher’s press man, Bernard Ingham, institutionalised the practice and turned it into a science. The good work of Alastair Campbell was the result of the Labour Party, traditionally less efficient and ruthless in such matters, learning to play the same game. It is a system that diminishes the power of the cabinet to hold the Prime Minister to account, with the positive effect - if we view it

as a positive - that the government can get more done. Damian McBride and Charlie Whelan are Mr Brown’s somewhat inferior versions of Ingham and Campbell, bullying the press into doing the Prime Minister’s dirty work. >>>There is an old legal phrase, quo warranto or ‘by what right?’, which people who claim authority should always be expected to answer. When Brown’s admirers are challenged to justify the position of a prime minister who has never been elected, they often reply that it’s a good thing we don’t have an American presidential system: we don’t vote for a leader, we vote for a party. Ignoring for a moment the fact that Brown bullied his way to the top of the Labour party and is regarded by many within it as a liability, this argument is completely undermined by the political lobby system of anonymous brieﬁngs. >>>In America, the president is held to account by Congress much more effectively that any British prime minister is held to account by Parliament. Traditionally in Britain, therefore, the role of the Cabinet has

been crucial: the PM, as his title suggests, is supposed to be ‘ﬁrst among equals’, more team leader than emperor. Yet the authority of Cabinet is profoundly undermined by the Malcolm Tuckers of this world. FICKR ID: NO10

he subtext of l’affaire McBride is the acquiescence of journalists in an extremely dodgy political lobby system. >>>Following the resignation of Brown’s personal attack dog, the commentariat lined up to rip a piece of ﬂesh from the disgraced spindoctor’s carcass. >>>Steve Richards of The Independent wrote about a TV presenter being told by McBride to ask a cabinet minister about his drinking problem. Boris Johnson told of McBride’s unpatriotic willingness to sabotage some Olympic-related occasion in the name of undermining the new Tory mayor. Iain Martin of The Telegraph explained McBride’s involvement in the chaotic 3am resignation of Ruth Kelly. >>>None of this was made public at the time because of the powers wielded by McBride, namely the power to cut journalists off from his brieﬁngs and the power to use other journalists to spread poison about opponents. You don’t lightly make enemies with people who have such power, especially if you are a lobby

Congratulations to Labour for its international development policies

JONATHAN ALLEN

t is often said that charity begins at home. With Britain’s economy submerged in a deep recession this sentiment has never seemed pithier. And now, emboldened after years of marginalisation, the sceptics of Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) are beginning to sharpen their knives. >>>ODA comprises of governmental financial flows aiming to promote the economic development and welfare of developing countries. Although it represents a minimal amount of the UK government’s budget, at approximately 0.52% of Gross National Income in 2006, its critics are loud and vociferous. They often have a point too: there are other ways of supporting development. >>>The criticisms come from two seemingly opposing viewpoints: global ethics and national interest. Pertaining to the former, the UN estimates that nearly a billion people are starving worldwide. Poverty is prevalent and almost half the world’s population live on less than $2 a day without access to clean water or sanitation. Some ODA sceptics have suggested that this situation actually arises because of foreign aid; others say that ODA does nothing to alleviate these inequities and is thus squandering public money. >>>Some concerns about the quality of aid distribution are justified, but to

Maintaining aid through recession

>>>Relatively admirable and even loyal ministers like Douglas Alexander and Alastair Darling have recently been victims of Brownite attacks. In other words, Britain has the worst of both worlds: an effectively presidential government with none of the constitutional protections. >>>Cliques rule the world, but like

tyrants they do so in the knowledge that they might be displaced by those outside the loop. The great thing about democracy is that it provides a bloodless mechanism for the process of displacement. But the vigour of this system depends on our being able to continually demand: by what right? >>>Unless the media gives voice to this question, journalism is just another form of entertainment. When journalists are servile to those with power, they deserve to lose the respect and trust of the public. >>>There are a lot of other deep problems with the British press. We have the ineffective and illiberal combination of libel law and the Press Complaints Commission; commercial pressures favour cheap journalism which relies on the press releases from authority and also from PR on behalf of businesses and other organisations. Press magnates such as Murdoch have the power to intervene in politics if they so wish. >>>But what is the point of tackling these distortions if journalists willingly comply with authority?

C M Y K

Friday 8 May 2009 palatinate.org.uk

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COMMENT 13

COMMENT

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Friday 8 May 2009 palatinate.org.uk

COMMENT Douglas Burkinshaw aniel James had a white solution poured into his mouth. He was asleep within minutes; a camera was catching it all. >>>Eighteen months earlier his neck had twisted in a collapsed scrum: the force of the scrum had twisted his neck severing his spinal chord. He had played for the English Universities’ rugby team only four days before. Eighteen months on from that scrum and he was lying dead in a clinic in Switzerland. Life is a tough old sod, eh. >>>Big tragic cases crop up every now and again. They bring the issue back into our living rooms. The lad was depressed: his life was shattered, he couldn’t move, he went from sportsman to tetraplegic in a single movement. He wanted out. You can hardly blame the guy. I can hardly say that I wouldn’t be the same. >>>You see, where once he would have had to tough out a life that he didn’t want to live, today because of legal euthanasia in Switzerland, with minimal pain and surrounded by the people he loved, he did exactly as he

wanted to do. >>>Daniel James passed away on 12th September, 2008. It was an informed decision that he made about his life. He checked out of the big hotel of life on his own terms, he paid the bill with his own card, he walked through the big swing doors as he wanted to: his life, his decision. >>>In recent years the euthanasia debate has receded. The goal posts have shifted. You see, if somebody wishes to die we simply cannot stop them boarding a plane to Switzerland. We just cannot touch them. >>>Today the debate instead centres on those who ﬂy out and assist the suicide: should or shouldn’t they be prosecuted under our laws? In terms of raw legislation the answer is yes – yes, they are culpable in another person’s death – but the law is slightly more complex than just raw legislation. >>>The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has in recent years shunned prosecution. Judges use their discretion to issue sentences, sentencing guidelines issued by the government do not require custodial terms, and

James Funnell

more and more the CPS is choosing not to prosecute at all. Every time the CPS doesn’t prosecute, or a judge issues no sentence they are setting precedent and moving the legal goal posts. >>>The debate has not only moved on, but in recent years it has faded even as a debate at all. It seems that with each new tragic case that we do not prosecute or in which we do not sentence we are moving more and more towards a compromise of ‘sorts’: we are sort-of allowing people to go abroad, and to sort-of legally do as they wish, even to sort-of legally assist relatives - but we are not allowing it on our own soil. So they still can sort-of do it, but we still sort-of don’t facilitate it. We kind-of don’t condone it. If you get what I’m sort-of saying. >>>As a middle way it seems to have appeased those on both sides of the argument. The anti-euthanasia camp still do not have euthanasia on our soil and still haven’t had their fears - of vulnerable people being pushed into signing away their lives - realised. And then the legalisation

camp see that those in the direst need do not have to tough out years of pain, that for those like Daniel James there is another way. With such a divisive issue, to have calmed even the moderates on both side of the spectrum, as this has, is a huge achievement by what is really just an accidental solution. >>>In terms of the monumental change that would be legalising euthanasia outright, well, we’ll leave those big brash statements to the Swiss. We have done it our way. >>>Daniel James’s parents were unwitting pioneers: to face interrogation and questioning whilst in mourning is, I’d imagine, hardly pleasant. I hope they can take solace in knowing their bravery will help others in similar situations. >>>A difﬁcult and vexing issue for many years, now the euthanasia debate has receded. Daniel James and others are tragedies; but it is my opinion that to force them to live on against their will would have been a greater tragedy. It also is my opinion that we have ourselves a beautiful solution. I call it the Swiss solution.

Obama’s compromise on torture The 44th President needs to be tougher about his liberal principles

procured valuable information from American and British fighter pilots is testimony to the potentially remarkable success of non-violent interrogation. Unsurprisingly, history teaches us that the reliability, effectiveness, and ethics of Hanns-Joachim Scharff is the complete antithesis of those traits which characterise the use of torture. >>>A revealing example is the case of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Waterboarded an astounding 183 times in one month, his admission to the murder of Daniel Pearl was entirely fabricated, and evidently induced by nothing more than sheer agony and unmitigated terror. Perhaps the Bush administration should have spent more time reading history books than watching the (admittedly gripping) television series 24. >>>The desire of the Obama administration to draw a line under the disastrous human rights abuse and transparent law-twisting of the Bush years is clearly admirable. Yet rather than a firm line, all we have at the moment is a disappointingly halfhearted squiggle. >>>The underlying flaw in Obama’s carefully balanced position is that it is an appeasement of those who advocate Bush’s absurdly cruel policy of ‘enhanced interrogation’; it continues to support the dismissal of lawsuits concerning allegations of

torture, it has effectively invalidated the verdict of the Nuremberg Trials that ‘obeying orders’ is never admissible (in the assurance that CIA interrogators will not be prosecuted), and it is presently more interested FLICKR ID: BUSHISSHIT

orture is a war crime. The Japanese were tried, convicted, and hung for employing methods of interrogation such as waterboarding against American prisoners of war during WWII. >>>The Norwegian 1948 war crimes trials convicted Nazi ofﬁcials on the basis of using ‘enhanced interrogation’, which involved practices such as submitting detainees to near-death freezing conditions, forcing them into prolonged periods of standing, and putting them into stress positions. >>>Yet these interrogation techniques – which were unequivocally and explicitly denounced as torture around 60 years ago – were reinterpreted by the Bush administration, in what could realistically be described as a political contest to assemble the most radically tough-minded memo on the lack of prisoner rights. >>>While not only incontrovertibly illegal, and against practically every human rights convention since the Second World War, the simple fact is that torture simply does not work. It’s nothing more than an ineffective, counter-productive, self-defeating, and unethical form of barbarism. >>>It is no coincidence that one of the most successful military interrogators to have ever lived never resorted to violence. The eye-opening story of the Luftwaffe Ofﬁcer who

The decisiveness of the Swiss leaves Britain free to remain neutral FLICKR ID: OTZBERG

Euthanasia: taking the easy way out

in bipartisanship than the prosecution of those who approved harsh interrogation methods. Certainly not the ‘hope’ and ‘change’ which I was anticipating. >>>However, all is not doom and

gloom. In typical fashion, President Obama has been exceedingly cautious in his wording, and has thus left the door open to the genuine possibility of a ‘truth commission’ and a subsequent criminal investigation. Yet the current administration’s attempt to juggle the conﬂicting balls of human rights and partisanship is erroneous; one clearly needs to be compromised to uphold the other. >>>The bottom line is that America has taken a massive step towards legitimising the use of torture across the globe, and that accountability is an absolute necessity. No, prosecution will not undo the damage that has been done; the Rubicon has been crossed and the American moral standing has taken such a dent as to be unrecoverable, at least with regards to the foreseeable future. >>>Yet one step forward will provide at least some compensation for the Bush administration’s eight year backwards run with regards to the complete neglect of international law and arms control efforts - both of which failed to be mentioned in either of the previous administrations’ National Security Strategies. Not to mention the dismissal of the Security Council (with a “we have the inalienable right to enforce the just demands of the world, even if the world overwhelmingly objects” attitude), a full-blown assault on civil

liberties, and the firm establishment of the ‘right’ of the United States to engage in preventative war against whomever it sees fit. Compliance with the Third Geneva Convention on the issue of torture is the least Obama can do. >>>Presidential rhetoric and precarious executive orders are, in this instance, simply not sufficient; those responsible must be finally brought to justice. Without prosecution, the door is left wedged open for any future American president to follow in the footsteps of George W. Bush. Without prosecution, the global legitimisation of torture edges closer to reality. Without prosecution, the recovery of American moral standing is utterly inconceivable. >>>Obama is certainly correct in stating that the recent years have been a “dark and painful chapter in our history,” yet he is completely off the mark in claiming that this should be a time for “reflection, not retribution”. >>>It is time to get off the fence, Mr. President. Do you disagree with any of our opinion-merchants? Go online to tell them what you think at www.palatinate.org.uk Or why not take part in the brand new Purple Radio feedback show on Wednesday at 1pm? Email multimedia@palatinate.org.uk

C M Y K

Friday 8 May 2009 palatinate.org.uk

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COMMENT 15

COMMENT

structures and procedures in place with professionals and sabbatical officers working together and with council meetings every other week to discuss student policy. We are clearly a student union that has established itself over the years into an effective body of student representation. Clearly we don’t need the NUS to help us with that. >>>So what else can the NUS help us with? Their main aim is to represent student views from right across the country on wide-reaching topics from tuition fees (something that will be addressed separately later) to banning the consumption of Coke at university (apparently it’s unethical). Again, this goes back to my previous point; we have a union that is strong enough to make decisions on its own. Look at the Coke argument; why can’t the DSU decide if Coke is unethical? >>> We can clearly make decisions on similar topics; after all, the Israel boycott debate attracted huge publicity within the university, and students had a real, direct say on what they wanted. By giving decision-making to the NUS, Durham students are putting their trust in delegates from many institutions, most of which are very different from Durham.

Rich Johnstone If they want Gurkha soldiers, they should treat them equally” Dhan Gurung, Ex-Gurkha

>>> The Gurkhas of the British Army have fought for their adopted country for over 150 years. Being stationed at every corner of the globe, and risking their lives at each turn. >>>While it is not right to glorify war, or dismiss it like Clausewitz as “merely an extension of politics”, the treatment of the Gurkhas by Britain’s current government is unacceptable. >>>The Gurkhas are a proud and courageous people that have forged a reputation as some of the finest fighters in the world. These men have fought for our country for a very long period of time; indeed 26 of them have been awarded the Victoria Cross, underlining their bravery. Yet now, this Labour government sees them as a nuisance and an annoyance. >>>The actions of the government towards the Gurkhas have been met by derision by those aiding their fight for justice. Last week when the updated guidelines were announced to the High Court, they were heralded by the government as a way to allow many more ex-Gurkhas to settle in Britain once their military career was

>>>So indeed it is time for my first of many moans about the NUS. Having attended the NUS annual conference a few weeks ago, I can genuinely say that so many of the delegates there are egotistical, self-righteous, and simply living on another planet. The obsession with morality and ethics is so inhibiting to the effectiveness of the union. Every time a good motion was proposed, the conference would get bogged down by politically correct measures that simply aren’t necessary. The problems get worse with the motions themselves. Not only are some of them simply vague and inconsequential, but they only affect a minority of the unions represented. >>>This is perhaps the fundamental problem with the NUS; it is simply too convoluted in the types of institutions it represents. Over 6 million students are represented by the NUS from higher education (universities like Durham), further education (e.g. vocational colleges), apprentices, and even 6th formers. Do we really think an organisation can effectively represent so many people from such a large diversity of backgrounds? For example, huge swathes of time are taken up with motions that only affect apprentices

and FE institutions; we are paying for all of this time-wasting. >>>The NUS also tries not just to represent students, but quite literally, it seems at times, to save the world. Let’s discuss something controversial: one of the motions (that was passed) was to ban beauty pageants at universities as it objectified women. Whatever you feel on this subject, surely the university

in question has to make the moral decision themselves, not an overlyarrogant organisation. Perhaps on a more moderate platform, shouldn’t Durham colleges decide what fits them best on policies like this? What about the BNP (to which the NUS has a no platform policy)? Despite my dislike for the organisation, I still think it would be a shame if the Durham Union Society were not allowed to invite BNP members; wouldn’t this be detrimental to academic debate generally? >>> Let me end on a more positive note for the NUS. The subject of tuition fees is the only real issue that will have a direct and important impact on Durham students in the next few years. Undoubtedly having a large organisation like the NUS petitioning the government to keep the cap is a good thing, and perhaps for that reason alone we should stay within the NUS. Still, there are other possibilities; Durham might fare better in a smaller union that only represents universities similar to ourselves. >>>I am certainly not advocating an instant withdrawal from the NUS, but at least ask yourselves if you feel that the £11,000 is being put to good use. Personally, I’m not so sure.

Brown’s shame over the Gurkhas

If 45,000 Gurkhas died for us, we can afford to support the survivors

over. >>> What the government failed to mention was that their opinion of many more was a few hundred officer rank Gurkhas. If we examine the criteria, we can see just how obstructive the government has been to these ex-soldiers. >>> For a Gurkha to be eligible to claim asylum in the UK they must have; three years continuous residence in the UK during or after service, close family in the UK, a bravery award of level one to three, service of 20 years or more in the Gurkha brigade or a chronic or longterm medical condition caused or aggravated by service. These rules were to apply to the 36,000 Gurkha troops who served and retired before 1997 who have now retired. They may seem reasonable but many of them have hidden caveats that cause them to be useless. >>> The offer to live in Britain because of a working relationship for over twenty years seems just reward for a career defending this country. However, it fails to mention that a non-commissioned Gurkha soldier can only serve a maximum of 15 years. Therefore, these offers were extended in the knowledge that they

could only ever effect a very few. Gordon Brown argued that it was an improvement from twenty years previously, however, why should we accept an improvement from ignorance to elitism? >>>While Brown and Woolas have suggested that several thousand Gurkhas will be able to settle in Britain because of these changes, the response of the Gurkha Justice Campaign is that it will only encompass a few hundred of the officer class. >>>The gesture made by the government at least shows a positive step, but it was forced by a high court ruling, and these new stipulations were thrown out by parliament at last week’s vote. With the government being defeated for only the fourth time since coming to power in 1997, it shows how insensitive the government was to this matter. >>>We are abandoning men who have served our country proudly in theatres such as the Second World War, up until the present day where they have been present in Helmand, Afghanistan. >>> The Gurkha’s settlement rights have become somewhat of a cause celebre with the public support of Joanna Lumley and the emergence

FLICKR ID: LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

“

Is it worth being part of an organisation that morally evaluates Coke? FLICKR ID: BENFRANTZDALE

Ask any Durham student about the NUS, and they will most likely tell you that it appears on their student card and gets them a discount at Topshop. >>>What they won’t tell you is about all the campaigns the NUS currently supports, the enormous bureaucracy behind it, and indeed most importantly, that the DSU currently pays them £11,000 a year just to be a member. For a union that has very little money (the DSU was making a huge loss until only a few years ago), do we genuinely feel that this is money well spent? >>>Right from the very start I would like to make clear that I do not consider the NUS to be a useless organisation in terms of principles and aims, and although I will express my concerns on the way it handles itself, I do still believe the NUS has a lot to give to many universities and colleges; just not Durham. >>>Let me give an example; the NUS is brilliant if you are a member of a new university or college and want help setting up a strong and effective student union. Their experience and skills are invaluable for these organisations. However, the Durham Student Union is one of the oldest in the country. We have strong

£11,000 per year for NUS membership

MARK PRITCHARD

Andrew MacFarlane

of the Gurkha Justice Campaign. >>> However, I feel that we are depriving many thousands of British troops the chance to live in the country that they have served and protected. >>> The influx of numbers of exGurkhas will not cripple the state. Not all will want to move from the province in northern India where they hail from, but we should offer the opportunity to those who wish to. >>>Every year we commemorate those that have died in the many wars that the British have fought. In the Second World War alone, 45,000 Gurkhas died. They gave their lives to protect our country, and yet we now belittle their legacy by ignoring their modern brothers. >>>Allowing the Gurkhas to settle in Britain is not an act that glorifies war. It is one that we should make to show our gratitude to these men for volunteering to serve in our army. The actions of parliament make the chances of a positive outcome in the future likely, but our government should not have needed to be defeated to find justice for these men. >>>If we remember those that have already died on 11th November, why should we not show our appreciation now, to those that have survived?

TAKE YOUR CAREER TO NEW HEIGHTS AT THE

MA/MSc Open Event Wednesday 6 May 2009, 1.00pm to 2.00pm at Queen’s Campus, Stockton Wednesday 13 May 2009, 2.00pm to 4.00pm at Durham Business School At Durham Business School we offer the following Masters programmes for recent graduates: MA programmes:

MSc programmes:

� MA Management (also available via Distance Learning)

� MSc Accounting and Finance

� MA Financial Management

� MSc Corporate and International Finance

� MA Marketing (also available via Distance Learning)

� � � � �

� MA Human Resource Management

MSc Economics and Finance MSc Finance MSc Finance and Investment MSc International Banking and Finance MSc International Money, Finance and Investment

Interested? Then come along to our MA/MSc Open Event. You will see a presentation from the Programme Directors, with an overview of the facilities and support available as well as career services. In addition to meeting members of the MA and MSc teams, current students will be on hand to tell you about their Durham experience. For further information on our Masters programmes please call 0191 334 5188 or email ma.admin@durham.ac.uk To book a place on this Open Event please visit: Stockton – www.dur.ac.uk/dbs/news/forthcoming-events/?eventno=5393 Durham – www.dur.ac.uk/dbs/news/forthcoming-events/?eventno=5392 Please book by 4 May for the Stockton event and by 11 May for the Durham event: pre-booking is essential.

C M Y K

Friday 8 May 2009 palatinate.org.uk

Know the score? sport@palatinate.org.uk

SPORT 17

SPORT

Undefeated season for Collingwood ladies NEWLY CROWNED THE Collingwood Sports Team of the Year, the Collingwood Ladies’ Football A team have had an outstanding season: they stormed the Women’s Football Premiership to take the title without losing a match, scoring 41 goals and conceding a staggering 0. >>>Palatinate caught up with club captain Harri Shee, First Team captain Claire Mellor, striker Helen Roach and right back Sarah Allt-Graham to talk about their unbelievable record, the club as a whole and their futures in the sport. >>>Girls, a fantastic achievement to win the league, and not only were you unbeaten, you didn’t concede all season! How did you manage it? >>>“Although we did play really well, and I know it sounds cheesy, we actually all got on really well. Off the pitch we had a great time and I think you can carry that onto the pitch,” responds Roach. >>>Mellor adds: “I think when we got on there it was a lot easier to read each other. When you spend a lot of time with each other, you get to know how to work with each other as well”. >>>While Shee reflects: “The social element struck me when I joined in my first year. It made me think ‘I want to stay in this club’ because there was this real sense of welcoming. I think we’re proud to say that that’s been an aspect of the club throughout our time at Durham”. >>>On the pitch, did you focus more on defence, or did you feel attack was the best form of defence? >>>“I think we kept it equal throughout. We didn’t really have a huge defence like some teams do; we just kept the normal 4-4-2 formation and it worked for us. For the first few games we didn’t really realise we hadn’t conceded, and then after that the thought of conceding a goal was hor-

COLLINGWOOD GIRLS FOOTBALL TEAM

Vicki Sparks

rible, so we just didn’t let it happen!” says Allt-Graham. >>>Did it affect the way that you approached games? >>>Roach diplomatically states: “We’re really lucky in the fact that our defence and our attack are equally strong. Our centre-half is the uni Firsts captain, so even if the other team broke we were pretty sure that she’d pick up on it. So I don’t think we changed our strategy at all; we just thought if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it, and it worked out for us”. >>>Allt-Graham chips in saying: ”You’ve got to give credit to Big G the goalie!” >>>You also competed in a uni tournament this year, didn’t you? >>>Roach excitedly responds: “Yeah! We held our own, scored a few goals and had a good time, and I think we gave them some good competition for a college team”. >>>Mellor laughs, stating: “I don’t think the other teams were there to have fun like we were though; they gave us some horrible chat!” >>>Is there a balance in the club between people who have played before they came to uni and people who haven’t? >>>“Yeah I’d say it was about half and half. We’ve got some really good players like Nat, obviously, the uni captain, and we’ve got people who I don’t think have ever touched a football before, like me! So I think we’ve got a really good mix of all abilities,” notes Shee. >>>Would you ever think about going into women’s football once you leave Durham, either at amateur or semi-pro level? >>>Roach again excitedly responds first: “Yeah, women’s football is getting more and more exposure every year, and I’d be really upset if I left uni and never played again, so I’ve got big plans to carry on with it”.

Hatton proves to be ‘first class of the second class’ Simon Lamb AS RICKY HATTON lay on his back on the MGM Grand’s canvas after only five minutes and 49 seconds of his bout with Manny Pacquiao, his loyal fans were exposed to boxing in all its brutality. >>>Wind the clocks back five months and two weeks before his fight in December 2008, the unbeaten Ricky Hatton had a lot to say about ‘Prettyboy’ Floyd Mayweather. “I’m sure he’s in the best shape of his life, but he does not realise how good I am and that’s going to be a shock”. When a fantastic Mayweather left hook turned Hatton’s legs to jelly in the 9th round, the Mancunian’s demise began, if even he joked that he “slipped”. >>>A change of trainer, to no less than Floyd Mayweather senior, and a reasonably convincing points win against Paulie Malignaggi, suddenly left his shortcomings in December almost completely forgotten. >>>The new plan was set. Arrange and win a fight, back in Las Vegas, against the pound-for-pound number one fighter in the world who goes by the name of Manny Pacquiao. Achieve this then let all memories of his only loss be pushed aside with a knockout win in a rematch with Floyd Mayweather. Sadly, whoever believed this needed to be awoken from their fanciful dream. >>>As you sit and watch the Sky sports programme entitled Hatton-Pacquiao 24/7, you are lulled into a slightly false sense of

Hatton shows in his everyday life. The programme gives you a fantastic insight into both boxers lives, both in training and at home leaving you with no idea which boxer would prevail on the night. >>>It seems the only man who knew what was going to unfold was Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach when he said, “Ricky will make us look great”. Hatton’s third visit to the canvas in only two rounds left him unconscious and de-throned. I’ve seen bigger left hooks in my time but I really can’t remember when, for the final punch from Pacquiao was felt by sleepyeyed watchers all over the world. >>>But to criticise Hatton’s performance too much would be to belittle the greatness of the ‘Pac Man’, who seems to be on a mission to win in every weight category boxing has to offer. If the general public is given its wish and Manny Pacquiao meets Floyd Mayweather Junior we could be alive to witness the greatest boxing match since Muhammad Ali met George Foreman for the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’. >>>The most popular man in boxing has seen what was a glittering career come to a rather sorry end, with retirement his only option. It is a sport for the young and the hungry - not rich, ageing boxers chasing an unreachable dream. No top class fighter would risk their reputation in the ring with him now, yet if they did you feel the outcome would be inevitable, as Hatton has proven to be ‘first class of the second class’.

18 SPORT

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Friday 8 May 2009 palatinate.org.uk

SPORT

Durham City AFC are the pride of the north

Rajvir Rai WHO SAID FOOTBALL in the north east was on the decline? Durham City AFC are only heading one way, and that’s up! >>>Those football fanatics from the north east who are desperately in search of a successful team support need look no further than our local club. >>>The club have recently joined an elite group of teams who have achieved back to back promotions. >>>The squad last year were crowned Amgrove Northern League Champions, and followed that up this season by winning the Unibond North League Championship. >>>Next year they will compete in the

Unibond Premier League where they will meet teams such as Boston United, FC United of Manchester, and Hednesford Town. >>>While the north east’s premiership giants have struggled to find the net all season, this has not been a problem for the Durham boys. >>>The team have scored well over 100 goals in both the league and the cup this season. >>>Barcelona have Thierry Henry, Lionel Messi, and Samuel Etoo, and Durham City boast their own lethal trio of Steven Richardson, Adam Johnston, and Gavin Cogden who between them have scored 77 goals. >>>Maybe Gareth Southgate, Alan

Shearer, and Ricky Sbragia, should come down to the Arnott stadium and check out the training methods of Durham’s manager Lee Collins. >>>However, the team did leave it to the last game of the season to secure the championship title. >>>Knowing they needed a win away from home against mid table Woodley Sports, the pressure was on. >>>This seemed to tell as the team found themselves 3-1 down at half time, and the title they so deserved was slipping away from them. >>>However, a magnificent second half turn around - which saw Richardson score a hat trick - gave the travelling supporters what they came for!

>>>Durham narrowly edged out their nearest rivals, Skelmersdale United, by a solitary point and ended the season with an impressive goal difference of plus 57. >>>Notable highlights of the season included a 6-1 home thrashing of Mossley, and a mere 10 goals being put past Bolden C.A. >>>With confidence high in the Durham camp the team were relishing facing their southern counterparts Retford United. >>>Durham had Lewis Dodd and Tommy English to thank as they secured a 2-1 victory and the all important bragging rights. >>>However, the team could not keep up their winning momentum as last Saturday they were defeated 2-1 by Eastwood

PAUL GAYTHORPE / PK4IMAGES.COM

Town in the final of the Peter Swales Challenge Cup. >>>However, despite their heartbreaking final defeat the team can look back on the season and be proud of what they have achieved and the manner in which they achieved it. >>>So forget the all-seater stadiums and disappointment of the north east’s supposed elite; if you want drama, goals, controversy, and importantly a win here and there, then Durham City AFC is definately the team to watch. >>>Palatinate would like to congratulate all the staff and players at the Abbott stadium on all their successes, and will definitely be taking a keen interest next season to see how they get on.

Team Durham cyclists look to end season on high HANNAH READ

Hannah Read AFTER LAST YEAR winning silver and bronze medals in the BUCS Cycling competitions, DUCC had to go some way to top the achievements of the 07/08 season. At the very start of the 08/09 season though, they had already started to make inroads into that tally. >>>For DUCC the team actually received a set back as the BUCS cycling season begun with news that the Track cycling championship was to be cancelled, This announcement denied the Palatinates the exciting opportunity to participate in an event with previous record holders, Olympic gold medalists Sir Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton. >>>With the combination of Hamish Batchelor, Rob Simpson, and Harry Evana, they won the Men’s Team bronze medal in the BUCS Hill Climb Championship with some considerable style. >>>Batchelor also came agonisingly close to winning an individual medal in the event coming in a respectable 4th position overall. >>>In the time trial competitions Women’s Captain Hannah Read also had a very strong showing, narrowly missing out on an individual medal coming 4th

in both the 10 and 25 mile Time Trials respectively. >>>Arguably the performance of the season for the Palatinates was in the Mountain Bike Championships, where Hamish Batchelor secured a well earned silver medal in the Cross Country event. >>>Strong performances from Ewan Brown, Anthony Swales and Henry Smart meant all finished in the top 10 of the Men’s Sport event, and the team gained an overall 6th position on top of their silver medal. >>>The team looks now to the BUCS Road Race where they will be striving for more medals to cap off an excellent season; with an ever expanding squad, the Palatinates will approach next year’s BUCS competitions hoping to secure that elusive gold medal. >>>For season 09/10 DUCC will be lead by co-captains Matt Daniel and Ewan Brown, both cyclists have been committed members of BUCC, and with their undeniable experience they will look to lead from the front in what could prove a very successful season. The DUCC are looking to strengthen their squad for next season by recruiting extensively in the upcoming Freshers’ Fair. >>>If you want to join DUCC see: www.dur.ac.uk/cycling.club

C M Y K

Friday 8 May 2009 palatinate.org.uk

Know the score? sport@palatinate.org.uk

SPORT 19

SPORT

DURLFC star to coach Great Britain STILL CELEBRATING A landmark finish in the BUCS plate, Durham University Rugby League has more reason to celebrate after Thomas Brewster gained selection to the Great Britain Students Rugby League Tour 2009. Thomas has been given the role of assistant manager on the upcoming tour to Norway. The fact that Brewater is currently injured and has not played competively for sometime, makes his achievements even more remarkable. Club captain Martin Hall commented: “We are all really really proud of Thomas. His hard work all year has definitely been recognised by us, and it’s nice to know that it has been seen by others as well. “International honours are a massive achievement. We know Thomas will be a terrific ambassador for the club and country, and we wish him and the rest of the squad the best of luck.” An over the moon Brewster said:“I am delighted to be asked to tour this summer with Great Britain. “It’s the greatest ambition that any sportsman can ever wish to achieve, and I consider myself so fortunate to be given this opportunity. “I hope the tour is successful and I will endeavour to bring back to Durham the latest skills and coaching techniques for next season.” The 2009 tour to Norway sees Thomas assisting in coaching the game to a number of local sides as well as the elite Great Britain squad. Whilst in Norway, Great Britain will play a number of club sides, before the tour

culminates in a test match against the full Norwegian national team in Oslo. Thomas said that he was unphased by the challenges that lie ahead of him. “The Great Britain training is motivating me more than scaring me to be honest. He went onto to say that: “Coaching in a foreign country will be a great eye opener, and I am particularly looking forward to spreading the English style of play to Norway. Brewster concluded:“I’m entirely grateful to all those that have assisted me in the game this far. There are many people to thank, namely those at University Rugby League. “They are a great bunch of guys and I hope that by getting involved, they feel that I am representing them as well”. This is an exciting period for DURLFC, with Martin Hall, First Team Captain Karl Stephenson, and winger James Alderson, having all played country level earlier this season. Such is the development of the club over the last year that Maximuscle has recently announced that they will be backing DURLFC with nutrition supplements to aide further improvement. Equally, there is fierce competition between sponsors for shirt space for the 2009/10 season. The forthcoming season looks to be an exciting one for the club who are relishing the growing attention that they are now recieving. Brewater believes that the next few years will see the club grow in stature and acheive real success. “We have had a great year, and the challenge for us now is to push on in the future and go one better than this year. I firmly believe that we will do it too!”

University Triathlon Sprint team end season on a high THE BUCS SPRINT distance triathlon took place on Sunday 3rd May with a strong showing from Team Durham. The triathlon involves a 750m swim, followed by a 25km cycle, ending in a 5km run, representing one of the shortest events on the calendar for most triathletes. >>>As such the race encourages a wide range of abilities and experiences, which was reflected in Durham’s team, with competitors ranging from Great Britain level to first timers. >>>In the event Loughborough’s Mark Threlfall won in a time of 1:05:28 with Lois Rosindale of Leeds Met winning on the women’s side in a time of 1:13:05. >>>Durham’s highest place competitor for the men was Matt Gunby in 12th, with Sarah Hazel, who has recently qualified for Great Britain, coming in 18th for the women. >>>Other impressive results included Ben Howard and Vikki Frith, finishing in 28th and 35th respectively in only their first triathlons. >>>Next year’s club captain Kat Henderson said: “this was a great effort by everyone with the club improving significantly from last year”. >>>Henderson also stated that “I have been left with a great platform to build upon in the future, and I hope to move the club forward next season. >>>An encouraging performance from an enthusiastic club that through investment from Team Durham could progress further and add to the 6 members who have already achieved Great Britain level.

TRIATHLON CLUB

Nicholas Bugler

DUELFC

Henry Simkin

SPORT IN BRIEF

Sailing success for Team Durham Pippa Wilkinson AMONG THE 33 teams who qualified for the team racing finals, the highlight of the university sailing year, were Durham 1 (Andy Conn, Pippa Wilkinson, Rich Clay, Jemima Riley, Ed Sidgwick and Helen Williamson) and Durham Ladies (Hayley Goacher, Bryony Meakins, Tash Lister, Heather Jones, Olivia Pettit and Megan Chamberlain) >>>The Ladies team made the most of them. The Ladies team dominated the competition by winning 8 of their 10 races and ended an excellent day in 1st. >>>The first team didn’t share the Ladies’ luck; throwing away their first race against Manchester, and failed to make an impact against Southampton in their 2nd race. >>>Things began to look up with a win against Oxford 2nds. However, they lost the next race against local rivals and training partners Newcastle due to a series of fouls. >>>Suddenly, late in the afternoon, they found their form, racking up respectable wins against Cambridge 2nds and Bath, which gave them a 1,2 all around the course and a huge confidence boost. >>>On Thursday, with the wind light and changeable, the roles reversed. Durham Ladies struggled, especially against the strong Bristol teams, dropping to 2nd by the end of the day. >>>Meanwhile, Durham 1 stormed through the Gold fleet. They took control of the start line and won 7 out of 8 races, including clear wins over last year’s champions Southampton 1st, >>>The wind on Friday was again light and fickle. Durham Ladies continued well to secure a place in the quarterfinals. >>>The Firsts kept their winning streak by comfortably beating Newcastle and Nottingham. Thanks to some fantastic manoeuvres up the final beat, they also scraped a win against Bristol 1. >>>Their 10 race wins placed Durham 1 at the top of the Gold league ahead of Oxford 1st and in 4th place overall, guaranteeing them BUCS points. >>>The Ladies semi-finals used the new “Aussie Rules” format with two chances to get to the final, so after narrowly losing to Bristol 2nds they made it by beating Bristol 1 in style. >>>Durham 1st was chosen by Cambridge 1st, lying 3rd overall, as their opponents in the quarterfinals. >>>After a clear 1,2 win in the first of 3 races, Durham began to struggle. They lost a 1,3 to smooth team racing moves from Cambridge 1st. >>>With a win each, the pressure was on for the deciding race. Durham had a slight advantage with a 1,4,5 combination, but when Sidgwick/Williamson in 1 were given a penalty, Cambridge 1 sailed into a 1,2 and the semi-finals. >>>The Ladies final was a nail-biting affair. Durham took the lead off the start in the first of 5 races, thanks to an amazing start from Pettit/Chamberlain. >>>But the tight contest came down to the final face with the scores level at 2-2. >>>However, Bristol 2 won the start and kept their position to win the BUSA Ladies competition 2009. >>>The main BUSA competition was won by Oxford 1st, with Southampton

Got tales from the team? sport@palatinate.org.uk

Friday 8 May 2009 palatinate.org.uk

PALATINATE SPORT JONATHAN ALLEN

Sam Crutchley

Durham stumble against Leeds Ally Bacon DURHAM 2ND’S CRICKETERS got off to a flying start this season with wins against Newcastle and York, and on Wednesday faced their rivals Leeds Met Carnegie 2nds in the third match in the BUCS Northern Conference League Division Two. >>>Both teams were unbeaten so far this season, and head the top of their division. >>>Facing the familiar blustery and chilly conditions that every resident of northeast England is well used to, Durham Men’s were optimistic of their chances in the clash between these two promising sides. >>>Winning the toss, Durham elected to maximise the conditions that would inevitably deteriorate as play went on and went in to bat. >>>Durham’s batting was opened by Chappell and Sharpe. With a magnificent glance shot from the red-helmeted Chappell to get four off a Leeds short pitch, Durham were off to a solid start after only a few minutes. >>> Following this play was defensive and slow-paced, the potent Leeds bowl-

Bailey rule supreme over the Hill in women’s rugby

ing exacerbated by the gusty wind. Nonetheless, Chappell made a satisfactory nineteen off 78 balls before being bowled. >>>Sharpe took over the role of aggressor to hit some sweet boundaries and contributed 27 before falling to the Leeds attack. >>>Rain threatened to chop the overs, but luckily it stayed away and the third batsman Bruce came to the crease. >>> Though unluckily caught after four, it was the star of Wednesday’s match, Jackson, that distracted from this and had Leeds back on their toes. >>>Shots were progressively more attacking, and greater risks were taken as confidence returned to the Durham batting order. >>>Jackson narrowly escaped being run out in a spectacular nose-dive across the line, and responded promptly from this scare with a sweeping four. >>>Outstanding batting following this brought him close to a half-century, before he was bowled for 42 all in the space of about three minutes. Suddenly, there was an urgency amongst all the players. >>>With Elsden and Bugge both contributing a decent fifteen and twelve respectively and Pickup out on an unlucky LBW

after just one run, Durham finished up bowled out at 179. >>>With Leeds having to chase 180 for victory at Maiden Castle, Durham broke for lunch with a fair degree of confidence. >>>It was noted that Leeds Met needed an average of 0.6 runs per ball so it was pretty much in the balance. >>>The gamble of batting first with the weather looking threatening paid off, as the post-lunch conditions deteriorated and Durham now had to field in bitterly cold conditions. >>>However, they faced an uphill battle from the outset, with the Leeds openers gaining a handy 40 runs by the seventh over. >>>Yet the consistent and accurate efforts of the Durham bowlers meant that victory was by no means easy to come by, with constant pressure being applied from both ends of the pitch. >>>Leeds continued to cash in on some generous Durham fielding though, with top Leeds batsman Rickards racking up a century to bring the score to 179-3. >>>With only one run left to win, Durham promptly took a wicket with a sizzling ball that demolished the stumps in a last minute attempt to regain control of the

match. >>>Leeds’s replacing batsman almost got caught out on each of the next few throws, but balls were dropped much to the dismay of the Durham fielder, raising the tension tenfold. >>>With a classy flick round the corner by Leeds’s Rickards, the match closed 180-3. >>>Sharpe stated on leaving the pitch, head held high, “Leeds just got off to an absolute flyer, and we just couldn’t catch them”. >>>Whilst this match did end in defeat, Durham can take solace in the developing skill of their bowling attack. >>>Though most of the Durham team were out to poor shot selection, it was mentioned by the Leeds players after the match that batsmen Farley and Jackson were particularly impressive, having calm, mature and measured innings, employing stalwart defensive shots, and patiently waiting to play their offensive shots. >>>Some things need to be worked on, but Durham can take heart from the efforts of Jackson, Sharpe and Chappel, whose performances impressed even the opposition.

The Women’s match set the tone for what was to be a rip-roaring evening. Despite early pressure from The Hill, stout defence by The Bailey allowed them to gain a pontoon in which to bridge the early gulf in possession and territory. >>>Expansive breaks from Bailey players Jasmine Coyne and Sophie Campbell mirrored the changing momentum in the match, and after a long stoppage for a serious neck injury, Charlie Miller burrowed over to give the Bailey a 5-0 lead at half-time. >>>The Bailey continued to apply pressure early in the second half, but in a reversal of fortunes, The Hill then grasped the nettle and was unfortunate to be held up by a stoic Bailey defence following a mazy run by their number 10. >>>Yet Bailey defences finally broke and Rachel Fenton crashed over from the five metre line. >>>As the game became increasingly scrappy and marred by errors, it become apparent that a moment of brilliance would eventually separate the teams. >>>Gathering the ball on the half-way line, Campbell profited from an uncoordinated Hill backline and proceeded to pace into the corner, sending the Bailey team into raptures and giving them a 10-5 victory. >>>Following some amusing half-time entertainment provided by foolhardy, naked men and the adequately clothed Grey Cheerleading Squad, the Men’s match began in a similarly physical vein. >>>The Hill were pressurising The Bailey’s line, yet indiscretions at the ruck area were negating their advanced field position, and furthermore, allowing The Bailey to wrestle the ascendency from them. >>>This dominance was crystallised by a well-crafted try as the Bailey established a maul off a lineout and breached the Hill’s defensive line. The game was then energised by two superb solo efforts. >>>First, Ollie Boden from The Hill produced a devastating line to cut through The Bailey’s defences and equal the scores at 5-5. >>>Then, Matt Wertheim re-established The Bailey’s lead with a trademark break, astonishing onlookers with dynamism and flair not necessarily befitting a hooker’s credentials! >>>With the Bailey leading 10-5 at halftime, The Hill had to reduce their arrears rapidly, but such plans were scuppered as Nick Burberry scored an audacious interception try, increasing The Bailey’s lead to 17-5. Despite continued pressure on The Bailey’s defence, Oli Turner’s try added the coup de grace to see The Bailey return a well-deserved double over their rivals from The Hill.

BEN MORFOOT

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