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BDo you want to go Careers Fair Sir Harold Evans the seaside?c The lowdown on all Britain’s greatest the freebies and jobs journalist tells all

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The official student newspaper of Durham Students’ Union since 1948

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Tuesday 26th October 2010 | Edition 721 | palatinate.org.uk Newsbox Pricey formals

A review of the university’s finances has lead to a hike in prices of formals across many colleges.

Page 3

DUO’s ‘difficulties’

Concerned users of Durham University Online’s email and e-learning systems speak out after long term problems with the site.

Page 4

University Challenge begins

Best scorers in the intercollegiate competition to enter the Durham team for the 2011 television rounds.

Page 4

Summer launch for DUCK

Destinations across the globe announced by DUCK for this year’s entrepid students.

Page 5

After over half a decade of shaking graduate’s hands and being the face of Durham, Bill Bryson hangs up his gown Successor speculation Indigo i2

Thanks a Billion!

The search for the new Chancellor of Durham University begins as Bill Bryson steps down

Lucinda Rouse

Bill Bryson is to step down from the role of University Chancellor in 2011, it was announced last week.

Bryson, who has held the position since April 2005, is said to be leaving Durham in order to donate more time to family and writing commitments. His final official engagement will be at the Summer Congregation on 1st July 2011.

He said: “I will treasure forever the time that I have spent at Durham University and in this beautiful city. It has been just the greatest privilege and honour I have had in my life to serve as Chancellor for such a remarkable community of students, staff and life-long University friends.

“I will miss Durham more than I can say

and hope to find time to continue to visit after my time as Chancellor has come to an end.”

Born in Iowa, USA in 1951, Bryson has spent much of his life in England. He has lived in Norfolk since 2003.

His dedication to the City of Durham was recognised in March 2009 when he was made an Honorary Freeman. He is the first American to have received the award.

The Chancellor’s public role lies principally in conferring degrees. This consisted of Bryson’s attendance at 14 congregation ceremonies involving 3,000 students in the summer of 2009.

Bryson has also been highly praised for undertaking many additional duties, including raising awareness for the NHS Organ Donor Register through the ‘My friend

Browne Review Special News Features p 6&7

Oli’ campaign, and litter-picking with Student Community Action.

Vice-Chancellor Chris Higgins has praised Bryson’s devotion to the University.

“Bill has done far more than simply fulfilling his ceremonial duties at Congregation, giving his time, passion and inimitable talent to raise the University’s national and international profile in so many ways. He has been the very archetype of a Chancellor.

“As an active writer, and more importantly as a husband, father and grandfather, he is, understandably, keen to spend more time at home.”

Speculation has already begun as to who will replace Bryson as Chancellor. A Facebook page in support of Stephen Fry has attracted nearly 2,000 supporters at the time of writing.

Other suggestions have included Michael Palin, Dame Judi Dench, and Brian Blessed.

The selection process for Bryson’s successor will be carried out by a panel formed of members of the University Council and Senate. Members of the University are encouraged to put forward suggestions to the panel. Information on how to submit a nomination will be issued in due course.

HRH The Duke of Edinburgh currently holds the position of Chancellor at Cambridge and Edinburgh Universities, while Manchester’s top post is filled by the property developer Tom Bloxham.

Previous Durham Chancellors have included the writer-actor-director, Sir Peter Ustinov, and ballerina, Dame Margot Fonteyn de Arias.

indigo

Thousands join Facebook groups in support of Stephen Fry and Brian Blessed to succeed Bill as Chancellor.

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Tuesday 26th October 2010 PALATINATE

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Editorial Favourites, letters, corrections and editorial

PALATINATE T

Welcome to the Finalist Freakout

he Finalist Freakout this past fortnight has been truly viral. Worse than Freshers’ flu, worse than forgetting what happened on Friday at Planet and waking up to your horror encased in someone else’s rowing lycra, worse than getting a 43 in that summative you spent the entire night in the library working on, worse even than the horrendously inadequate state of DUO; the Finalist Freak out is now an established University-wide phenomenon.

Characterised primarily by rocking back and forth cradling yet another cup of coffee wailing to anyone who will listen;“What am I going to do with my life?!”, the virus is spreading fast and confusion is rife.

Yet not a soul is actually able to aid this chaotic predicament, aside from the Careers Advisory Service who leave you with little more than a handful of a small forest complete with glossy company logos and smiling creeps in suits, plus an appointment where they then raise that very question you most certaintly do not actually want to be asked; “So, what do you want to do after you graduate?”

From what I’ve noticed from lecture halls, libraries and conversations ourside Klute, the Finalist Freakout is now scarily endemic.

This editorial will only realistically be relevant to those in final year to whom this edition shall be dedicated, in part, towards: For all those who writhe in anguish and weariness over the tenth online application to yet another undistinguished consultancy firm that appealed at last week’s careers fair at the DSU mostly because they had those free glow in the dark USB pens and a guy who worked on the stall with basically the most gorgeous forearms. This edition is for all those who have no idea what ‘auditing’ actually means.

For those who can’t even add up their change at Tesco, yet are nervously consid-

ering a future career in Finance.

For all those who, instead of kindly praising and elating in the joy of the housemate that secured that dazzling contract with that big shiny law firm this summer (whilst you plonked yourself on the beach and enjoyed yourself whilst applying factor fifty because “I’m Irish-skinned”) and now secretly are praying that the lucky housemate will either, accidentally leave their Facebook open for the law firm to ‘somehow’ be made aware of the said housemate’s first year reputation as a Banterous Lashmonkey.

That, or they will tragically choke on one of the firm’s fancy pen lids and fall into a permanent coma and then you instead will be offered the job after a successful compensation appeal.

I feel your pain, fellow finalists. This chilling, existential crisis of being in your last year at Durham, I fear this editorial is only scratching the mere, bleak surface.

To all those first and second years that are yet to comprehend this fear we nearadults have, enjoy it while you can. And, it goes without mention that most finalists don’t really like you very much right now.

Just saying. Going to bed straight after Saturday’s X Factor and polishing off that section of your lab-book and seminar text you promised you would do instead of going to Revolver like all you young lot, is something a little too depressing for words right now to accept.

I am not bitter; I am just a rapidly aging Arts student with no clear future outside the Durham Bubble. The comfort of everything being structured, lectures just down the street, living in a house with your chums and relying on the security of a student loan, of which the reality of having to pay off is being constantly stuffed as far back in the mind as possible.

You might not quite adore the University, but the comfort blanket it is is said

to provide is no understatement. Thus, perhaps there is a correlation between all that and this dangerous Freakout condition, which I have observed on countless occasions in friends and classmates.

Some simply close their eyes and sway and wail, others sign up to every single thing possible and come home armed with pens, brochures and business cards after a day of copious ‘networking’ events at the same time as somehow trying to balance a degree, football training and Cheese society.

I’m sure many others are totally fine and have a nice clear future lined up, so bravo, good on you and all that. Nonetheless, there’s a very good reason why this edition has a special two-page Careers section spread.

Hopefully most of you will ingest its neatly prepared wisdom and nab some form of epiphany over this next term and realise that deep down you always wanted to be a software development manager or a monkey farmer or the next DJ Robin.

To the rest of you who still don’t know what you want to do with your life, there is always the obvious delay: become a Sabbatical officer!

That, or try and battle with Stephen Fry in the bid to become the next esteemed chancellor of Durham University or enter 2011’s Britain’s Got Talent. All of these are well respected and definitely worth a shot in an attempt to avoid the ‘real’ world for that little while longer.

- Ally Bacon

him greatly. Leukaemia Research work tirelessly to try to develop ways of preventing this tragedy from repeating itself.

The graduates have raised a brilliant £2000 already, with St Aidan’s College donating 10%, and have trained for months, with some juggling completing their degrees, and others starting new jobs in new cities. With 1 in 3 people being affected by cancer at some point in their lives, they need all the support they can get to make sure that this statistic does not continue to grow. In our lifetime we are likely to see this figure become ‘everyone’ - unless a cure is found soon.

http://www.justgiving.com/TeamChantry

In our previous edition we used an image of a Rolls Royce car in our careers section. to accompany an article about the graudate scheme. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and Rolls-Royce PLC are registered as separate employers with the careers serv

ice. The non-motor car company describe themselves as providing worldwide power solutions in challenging civil aerospace, defence aerospace, energy and marine markets, not the car company which is a separate entity. We apologise for any confusion this may have caused.

Palatinate News pages 3-5 Browne Review pages 6-7 Profile page 9 Careers page 10-11 Comment pages 12-14 Sport pages 17-20

indigo Features page 3-5 Food page 6 Travel page 7 Fashion pages 8-10 Film and TV page 11 Music pages 12-13 Stage page 14 Books page 15 Games & Photography page 16

Favourites Politics page 8 14 Comment page

Sport and Sexism

Women’s sport in the dark despite many wins Music 12-13 Musicpages page 10-12

Dum Dum Girls

All girl band, all girl power? Music reports Sport page 18

College or Uni?

Corrections Rolls Royce

26.10.2010 No. 721 Contents

(Naturally, the Careers Advisory Service are perfectly adept at helping. Do drop in. They will aid you fabulously I’m sure, just right now, it feels like nothing will make third year less complicated, and I’m sure countless others agree. And who am I kidding, Revolver was free for my college last weekend. I was there. With bells on.)

Aidanites run for Team Chantry Two days ago, a handful of Durham graduates jogged their socks off in the Great South 10 Mile Run in Portsmouth to raise money for Banana Army Leukaemia Research.

The friends ran in memory of their university friend and housemate, Tom Chantry, who died two days after being diagnosed with leukaemia in November last year. Tom, a Geography student from St. Aidan’s College was just 21 years old, and had graduated from Durham in the L to R: Si Mihailovic, Jenny Powell, Izzy McDonald, summer, just a few months before.

Tom was a wonderful friend and his suf- Nina Daniels, Ross Ledingham and Tom Chantry fering and sudden death were a real shock for his family and friends, who still miss

To have your say on anything featured visit palatinate.org.uk

Strum

This events is on Saturdays and not on Tuesdays as it was reported in the Music Section last issue.

Send all comments and queries about this edition to editor@palatinate.org.uk The battle between our allegiances

Palatinate is published by Durham Students’ Union on a fortnightly basis during term and is editorially independent. All contributors and editors are full-time students at Durham.

Send letters to: Editor, Palatinate, Durham Students’ Union, Dunelm House, New Elvet, Durham, DH1 3AN. Alternatively, send an e-mail to editor@palatinate.org.uk

Editorial Board

Editors-in-Chief Matthew Richardson Ally Bacon editor@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Editor Rosanna Boscawen deputy.editor@palatinate.org.uk News Editor Jack Battersby news@palatinate.org.uk News Features Editor Dan Johnson news.features@palatinate.org.uk Deputy News Editors Lucinda Rouse Rachel Aroesti Hugh Anderson-Elliot deputy.news@palatinate.org.uk Queens’ Campus News Editor Lea Georgeson queens@palatinate.org.uk Politics Editors David Wynne-Griffith Huw Silk politics@palatinate.org.uk Careers Editor Rachael Revesz careers@palatinate.org.uk Profile Editor Kirstyn Wood profile@palatinate.org.uk Comment Editors Thom Addinall-Biddulph Alexandra Bottomer comment@palatinate.org.uk Sport Editor Richard Lowe-Lauri sport@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Sport Editors Ed Dove John Burn-Murdoch Hugo Morrissey deputy.sport@palatinate.org.uk Indigo Editors Daniel Dyson Sophie Zeldin-O’Neill indigo@palatinate.org.uk Features Editor Alison Moulds features@palatinate.org.uk Food and Drink Editor Lydia Ashby food@palatinate.org.uk Travel Editor Jess Jones travel@palatinate.org.uk Fashion Editor s Antonia Thier Emma Spedding fashion@palatinate.org.uk Visual Arts Editor Tamara Gates visual.arts@palatinate.org.uk Film and Television Editor Madeleine Cuff film@palatinate.org.uk Stage Editors Kathy Laszlo Lyndsey Fineran stage@palatinate.org.uk Music Editors Olivia Swash Nico Franks music@palatinate.org.uk Books Editor James Leadill books@palatinate.org.uk Games Editor Jon Zhu games@palatinate.org.uk Chief Sub-Editor Lisa Paul sub-editing@palatinate.org.uk Section Sub-Editors Kayleigh Brandon Mei Leng Yew Joanna Turner Sarah Ingrams Chief Web Editor Chris Wastell web.editor@palatinate.org.uk Illustrations Editors David Drysdale Claire Coombes illustration@palatinate.org.uk Photography Editor Quin Murray photography@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Photography Editor Rob Burgess deputy.photography@palatinate.org.uk Publicity Editor Jo Rowley publicity@palatinate.org.uk Multimedia George Stafford multimedia@palatinate.org.uk

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PALATINATE Tuesday 26th October 2010

For more news visit palatinate.org.uk

Durham News

Formals cancelled after price rise uproar

T

here is indignation across the University as a large majority of colleges are forced to start charging, or increasing prices for formal dinners, after a review of University finances carried out over the summer brought to light substantial losses.

Heads of House were asked to focus on areas where savings could be made and it became apparent that there was a considerable deficit due to unbudgeted subsidies of formals. While some colleges and JCRs are able to cover the cost through alumni contributions or bar profits, others are obliged to charge students to make up for the losses accrued last year.

The JCRs and MCRs of two Colleges in particular, Van Mildert and Trevelyan, have protested at this unforeseen increase in costs.

Van Mildert, whose catering deficit last year was put at £20,000, have increased prices from £5.50 to £8.50 for livers-in for

each formal. Due to widespread objection, the price of the first formal of term, ‘Parenting’, at which attendance is expected, was reduced to £7 a head. The subsequent full price (£9.50) Livers-Out Formal had to be cancelled after poor sign-up.

Trevelyan College JCR and MCR took their protest one step further when they staged an ‘informal formal’, turning up to celebrate normal dinner clad in gowns with wine, boat races and ‘two penny-ing’.

The college’s loss from formal subsidy was £14,700 for the year 2009/10, and thus the price has been set at £4 a head per formal for this year. At an emergency meeting to discuss the matter, the JCR expressed its outrage at being made to pay for something previously thought to have been included in battels.

Trevelyan College principal, Professor Martyn Evans responded, saying, “Bonuses enjoyed by students in the past do not equal entitlement now.” The JCR has voted to suspend the next Formal, with support from the MCR and SCR. Several memQUINN MURRAY

JCRs across the University have defended the formal as a cherished tradition of Durham

HATFIELD COLLEGE

Claire Read and Rachel Aroesti

News in brief

Colleges have hidden substantial financial losses behind black ties and ball gowns

bers of the JCR, however, expressed their concern at the prospect of losing the formal tradition for the sake of around £48 a year per person. This was the winning case at St. Mary’s College, where the JCR has agreed to pay £7 for the formerly free formals to include silver service and a ‘higher quality’ of food.

Dean of Colleges, Professor John Ashworth admitted that the catering budget was being overstretched each year, “partly because allowances weren’t being made for the cost of enhanced meals”, but said that it was up to individual colleges to decide how to achieve their overall budgets.

All three Colleges were unable to explain how these substantial losses can have gone unnoticed for so long.

Discussions are ongoing, and more areas of college life are likely to be affected as budgets continue to be reviewed.

To report a story from your college, or to read University-wide news, visit www. palatinate.org.uk.

Trevs plays host to Radio 4 quiz show

Shopping around

FREE

DANFORD SHOWAN

Ella Pardoe

Trevelyan College has opened its doors to BBC Radio 4 for the recording of an exciting new quiz show, ‘The Third Degree’.

Durham was selected as one of six UK universities to take part in the University Challenge style spoof, hosted by comedian Steve Punt. The show visits a different university each week, challenging three undergraduates to take on the vast intellects of

three lecturers.

The show is split into various rounds of questions, ranging from general knowledge, to specialist subjects which are specific to each contestant.

Recorded on Thursday 21st October, students Ellie Hunter (English), Tim Knight (Earth Sciences) and Simon Tingle (Law) took on academics from across the University.

Challenging students were Dr Simon James (English), Professor Jon Gluyas

(Earth Sciences) and Professor Gavin Phillipson (Law). This team proved to be tough opposition for the student side, who were defeated by a sizeable margin.

In the run-up to the recording, BBC Radio 4 appealed for students and staff to attend the event as audience members. Over 80 people responded, taking free seats in Sir James Knott hall to enjoy the quiz.

Other universities taking part in the series include Reading, Salford and Stirling.

The show will be aired later this year.

Mei Leng Yew

Conservative MP Graham Stuart has criticised the University for failing to offer students value for money.

Mr Stuart is chairman of the Commons Education Select Committee and was appearing on the BBC’s The Daily Politics when he revealed a recent visit to Durham had left him “struck by how many people felt that they’re not getting value for money from the University – they’re not getting much face time each week”.

Vice-Chancellor Higgins has expressed “surprise” at Mr Stuart’s criticisms and maintains that the University “offers a distinctive education where students benefit from direct contact with world-leading researchers in academic departments”.

Castle (twice weekly); John’s (weekly)

Prebends Bridge poses risk to rowers

£3.50

Rhian Addison

Hatfield, twice-weekly

£7

Mary’s (6 per term)

£9

Collingwood and livers-out at Aidan’s (3 per term)

Debaters achieve top ranking in DUS history Jamie Sherman

Steve Punt chaired the spoof show , featuring a battle of quick-fire wit between staff and intrepid undergraduates

MP criticises University over low number of contact hours

Durham Union Society has achieved its highest position in European debate team rankings in its 170-year history.

Jumping to fourth place in the league table, the record was achieved as a result of the combined performance of teams throughout the year. The new position is a staggering 14 places above last year.

A spokesperson from the University’s oldest society told Palatinate that this recent victory is the outcome achieved from an increase in investment and an improvement in the training received by debaters.

Director of Debating, Guy Miscampell said the position was “a real testament to the work the debate team has put in, and the enthusiasm of our 3,000 members.”

The Union has gone from strength to strength in recent months, attracting national attention on the eve of May’s general election as David Miliband and Nick Clegg addressed the chamber.

This term’s Friday night debates will range from size-zero models to the position of the monarchy in Britain.

The Union runs novice workshops every Monday night at 7:30 in the chamber on Palace Green, which are open to all members. Intermediate and advanced training sessions are also available. For further details, email info@dus.org.uk.

Rowers have been told to stay clear of a 230-year-old bridge at the risk of debris falling on them.

The historic Prebends Bridge is primarily used as a footbridge, but is currently being used to accommodate traffic being diverted away from road works on the North Bailey and Saddler Street.

The bridge has been placed on the English Heritage’s ‘at risk’ register.

Since the warning, rowers at University College and St Aidan’s have not used the water.

It has been estimated that the bridge, which has suffered water erosion, may cost up to £1m to repair.

Contractors Carillion have requested that river users steer clear of the bridge until the Saddler Street works are completed next month.

Photography exhibition pictures hidden community Edward Ball

A new exhibition at the University’s Oriental Museum is showcasing the photographic work of four Durham students.

The team cycled along the 500km Trans-Himalayan Highway, one of the highest roads in the world, in the isolated Indian region of Ladakh.

The journey was chronicled with a series of portraits of local villagers who, until the late 1970s, were completely cut off from the outside world.

Several of the fascinating images reveal how Western influence has already begun to permeate this ancient culture.

The exhibition runs until 30th January and entry is free to all Durham University students.

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26th October 2010 PALATINATE

4

Durham News

Martin Dorset-Purkis

SCA Column James Hubbard

SCA started the new year with a bang!

The freshers fair and projects’ evening were both extremely well sucessful with over one thousand students signing up to the mailing list and over three hundred and fifty people attending the project fair.

Saturday the 30th of October is Make A Difference Day, the UK’s biggest day for volunteering, and SCA has many projects running all week to sign up for.

We’ve got bulb planting at the Botanical gardens, leaf raking at St Cuthbert’s hospice and a litter pick, which both commence at 10:30 on Saturday 30th, with well deserved drinks at the riverside bar in the evening. Anyone is welcome and, whatever your interests and availability, there’s someway for everyone to get involved, just drop us an email community.action@dur.ac.uk for more information or to sign up. For Queens Campus events, such as the Fright Night at Preston Museum on Friday 29th email stockton.sca@dur.ac.uk.

Finally, watch out for SCA’s annual jazz and wine tasting night at Chad’s on the 21st of November.

I

T users across the University have voiced concerns over difficulties accessing email accounts through Durham University Online (DUO).

Over the past fortnight, users have complained of long delays in accessing the inbox page and failures in sending messages.

Some students have reported being completely unable to access email accounts for a period of several hours.

In a statement posted on the DUO homepage, Learning Technologies Team Leader for Durham University IT Service (ITS), Dr Malcolm Murray, apologised for the recent performance of the e-mail service. “We are sorry that the service has not been as responsive as we would all like it to be. The ITS has been experiencing e-mail problems recently and working hard with the vendors to try and resolve them.”

However, Dr Murray was keen to stress that difficulties in accessing e-mail were unconnected to the performance of other services offered on DUO. “The behaviour of this tab [e-mail] is dependent on the load on the Exchange server, not the load on DUO. If your e-mail

page is taking a long time to load, then this is because of the volume of traffic using email.”

Students voiced their frustration with the service through Facebook, with the group ‘Durham Uni ITS... EPIC FAIL!’ attracting over 800 members at the time of printing. One comment read, “My e-mail is taking ages to load, then telling me it can’t load because it has taken too long to load.

Thanks ITS, it’s not like I need to get in touch with my dissertation supervisor or anything.”

In a statement to Palatinate, the ITS appealed for students to report problems to the Service Desk to enable technicians to respond effectively.

“We understand the frustration and inconvenience such issues cause and we don’t take concerns lightly. When problems are reported we always work to resolve them as quickly as we can. If you experience any issues with email or any of the IT services we provide don’t just tell each other - tell us too!”

The ITS have advised users to use Outlook Web Access as an alternative to DUO in accessing e-mail accounts. Log onto http://exchange.dur.ac.uk to access it.

Left to right: campaigners Rosie James, Lis Martin and Jamie Hubbard in a twinned toilet

Graduate feels flushed with success Maddie Cuff

More than ten colleges have joined the DSU in a global ‘Toilet Twinning’ scheme.

Run by the charity Cord, the initiative twins toilets within university and college buildings with new, sanitary loos being built in Burundi, Central Africa.

Each loo costs £60 to twin, and the new toilets in Africa will help to prevent diseases such as diarrhoea caused by poor sanitation. 4,000 children die every year

from the fatal condition, in what charity Tearfund deems ‘a silent emergency’.

Speaking to Palatinate, graduate Lis Martin, who brought the scheme to Durham in 2009, expressed her delight at its success. “Toilet twinning raises awareness of unsafe sanitation not only to those who are raising money for the cause, but to each and every person that uses the loo from then on.”

For more information, or to twin a loo yourself, visit www.toilettwinning.org.

Durham prepares for University Challenge 2011 Charlotte Kertrestel

ITV STUDIOS/BBC 2

The great thing about jailbreak is that no two teams will come back with the same story. If you log onto the tracking site twelve hours after the start of the event, you’ll be confronted by a fantastic mess of coloured lines radiating from Durham, across all of Europe.

Each line represents a venture of highs and lows, of near misses and of accounts of heroic acts of kindness from random strangers.

Charlie and I, dressed in newly-wed attire, were at the end of the lime green line last November, texting in our location at each change of vehicle so that the website could trace our convoluted path south through the UK. We blagged lifts on greasy, dilapidated vans, in shiny hire cars. Even a converted post truck heading suspiciously to Poland aided our mission to make it to Australia by nightfall.

After 36 hours though, nursing sore thumbs and a significant downscaling in ambition, we had made it to Calais. We paused in the port, took a ceremonial photo by a sultry French immigration officer and jumped back on the same ship home.

We hadn’t got anywhere amazing, no, and we were a dismal distance from the eventual winners in the Canary Islands, but we’d had an incredible journey witnessing simultaneously the very best and worst of human nature.

From the scoffs of the smug BA staff at Birmingham airport, to the coach driver who went 50 miles out of his way at four am to drop us in Collingwood turning circle, we’d broken out of the bubble for a weekend in one of the best ways possible. All journeys, we concluded, should be conducted in this way (as long as you’re not particularly fussed about the precision of the destination).

Jack Battersby

Durham’s annual inter-collegiate University Challenge tournament began in a spectacularly competitive fashion last week.

Since the UK-wide competition returned to our screens in 1994, Durham has qualified twelve times, a feat achieved by only three other UK universities.

The University was victorious in 1977 and 2000, placing Durham amongst the top competitors in the fast-paced quiz show. Only Magdalen College, Oxford has won on more occasions, racking up three wins over the programme’s history.

The inter-collegiate tournament, which kicked off on 25th October, promises to be an exciting and competitive battle between the sixteen colleges.

Teams of four from each college will play each other once in the group stages; the top two teams from each of the four groups in this first round will then go on to play in a 2010 saw Durham beaten in the first round of the tournament, losing 270-90 against St John’s College, Oxford. Above: last year’s contestants. head to head knock-out round leading up to the final, scheduled for 3rd December. rounds. that Durham is capable of success this year. she said.

The final team selected for the proAlthough last year’s team failed to ad“I’m working hard to make sure our It is hoped that every college will enter gramme, starting in February 2011, will vance to the second round of the national inter-collegiate tournament is as successful a full team into the competition, ensuring include the best scorers who demonstrated contest, DSU Societies and Student Devel- as possible. I think that the team we put for- that the final selection will be more than a their knowledge in the inter-collegiate opment Officer Kristina Hagen, believes ward this year could be our strongest yet,” match for Durham’s Oxbridge rivals.

Coalition slashes teaching budget Lyndsey Fineran

Universities are facing an uncertain future following last week’s comprehensive spending review. With the teaching budget being cut by around 40%, tuition fee hikes and a move towards privatised funding, university finance is set for a significant shake-up.

The spending review cuts the higher education budget from £7.1bn to £4.2bn by 2014. With some subjects such as science and technology protected from cuts, even deeper reductions are likely elsewhere. Arts and humanities courses could face a withdrawal of almost all state funding for teaching.

The amount which the government invests in higher education is already low in comparison with other countries. The UK

invests only 0.7% of its GDP in the sector, a figure over one third lower than the United States.

The University Alliance (a group of 23 business-orientated universities) has sought to highlight the dangers of relying on lower public investment levels, warning against ‘sleepwalking towards a privatised university sector’.

The Russell Group of leading universities has said that there is now no ‘plan b’ as an alternative to Lord Browne’s recommendation to push up fees. Yet the imbalance of increased fees and little increase in teaching quality is a cause for concern among academic groups.

“Ministers will have to answer to students if their increased contributions do not translate into better funded universities”, the Russell Group said. Director gen-

eral of the Russel Group, Wendy Piatt, said “We are concerned that the cuts will mean it will be tough to maintain the high quality teaching, learning and research environment our universities currently offer, even under the Browne system.”

President of the NUS Aaron Porter said: “The true agenda of the coalition government this week is to strip away all public support for arts, humanities and social science provision in universities and to pass on the costs directly to students’ bank accounts.”

Tuition fees How will the Browne review 6 & 7 >>> affect you?

FLICKR ID: GEOFF DEXTER

DUCK Officer’s Column

IT users infuriated by slow e-mail service

ANDREW ADAMS

National News

October’s march against cuts in Birmingham

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PALATINATE Tuesday 26th October 2010

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Durham, national and columns News

DUCK launches 2011 summer expeditions

DSU President’s Column

With destinations including the Mt. Everest base camp, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Nepal and Sri Lanka, there’s something to test any student’s grit and determination

Sam Roseveare

FLICKR ID: KENDUNCAN

If bungee jumping, white water rafting, elephant riding, living with Buddhist monks and trekking is your thing, the five week long expedition to Nepal could be for you

Martin Dorset-Purkis

T

he last few hundred feet to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro are some of the most surreal you’ll ever take.

Drunk on altitude and exhaustion, as you skirt around the rim of the ancient volcano, you are surrounded by thunderous glaciers and clouds that glow orange in the morning light almost 2000m below you.

An immense sense of relief floods through you at the famous sign that marks the highest point in Africa, as the friendship-testing six months of barrel-scraping is suddenly put into glorious, meaningful

£676,732

Where in the world?

The best way to find out more about a DUCK destination is to listen to one of the talks taking place at the expeditions fairs. Times for both campuses shown in red.

Togo Work ranges from assisting NGOs to working in a summer school.

4.40pm

Kenya Six weeks doing some fantastic humanitarian work and sightseeing.

5pm

Sri Lanka Focuses on providing buildings and human support for villages.

5.20pm

Romania Spend your summer working with socially disadvantaged children. 5.40pm Cambodia Aims to help to develop schools in the North West of the country.

6pm

Philippines Travel to the Philippines for reef conservation work and diving.

6.20pm

India Three-week cycling expedition across some of the poorest areas.

6.40pm

Jordan Two weeks in the hills of the South in Rajef running a summer program.

Himalayas Spend five weeks reaching Annapurna Base Camp.

7pm

7.20pm

Kilimanjaro Six-day trek over all terrains, reaching the highest point in Africa. 7.40pm FLICKR ID: KENDUNCAN

FLICKR ID: KENDUNCAN

The record amount raised by DUCK last year perspective.

But the students who made the summit in Tanzania were only part of an extraordinary set of diverse experiences over five continents that DUCK expeditions covered this summer, on ten very different ventures.

Those in Nepal stared up from Annapurna Base Camp after eight days trekking through Jurassic Park style mist to a 360-degree panorama of some of the highest, most spectacular mountains in the world.

This though was just a prelude to a packed five-week schedule including teaching in Kathmandu to white-water rafting and elephant back safaris in Chitwan National Park.

Twenty DUCK volunteers learnt how to dive in the bath-warm water of the Philippines and surveyed the stunning coral reefs there. By doing so, they contributed to valuable data presented to the government, which should ensure the area receives the protection status it deserves.

Meanwhile, those in Jordan found immense value in working with children with special needs in Rajef and continued to forge brilliant links between Jordanian university students and DUCK. From Romania to Sri Lanka, Cambodia to Death Valley, dozens more who nine

months before had stood up and said “Yes, me too!” were spending their summers engaged in extraordinary work and adventures that they will be forever relaying.

At the risk of sounding a little over-sentimental, the wealth of experience, genuine camaraderie and phenomenal fundraising achieved through DUCK’s expeditions make them, for many people, some of the most defining features of their lives at Durham and beyond. It also makes expeditions the achievement which DUCK is perhaps most proud of.

This weekend marks the launch of DUCK’s 2011 summer expeditions. Two fairs, one in the DSU and the other in the Waterside bar at Queen’s campus, will offer a taste of the ten international projects, challenges and unique experiences that truly set DUCK apart from other organisations like it around the country.

At this weekend’s fairs, you’ll find the old regulars: Kilimanjaro, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Nepal, alongside some exciting new ventures including an epic cycle across the Indian Himalayas on behalf of Childreach, as well an expedition to Kenya.

Come and ask questions about of any of the trips, or listen to the talks from the leaders that will run throughout the fair.

For more information, contacts, or application forms, head online to duck.dsu.org. uk. Deadlines for all expeditions will be towards the end of November.

Diary dates

30th October DUCK expeditions fair at the DSU. Talks and information in Riverside Cafe and Vane Tempest room.

4-8pm

Stunning views from Annapurna base camp

31st October DUCK expeditions fair at Queen’s campus. Talks and information in Waterside Bar. 4-8pm

Poon Hill, Annapurna region Nepal

www.duck.dsu.org.uk

As I type this, slightly blearily in a postPlanet morning, I’m reminded of the freshers’ events of the past few weeks – it’s been great to see, and also to have met so many of you at Hound, Revolver and elsewhere.

The atmosphere was incredible last night, and it’s been great to get so much positive feedback, as well as ways to make things better over the past fortnight.

After the chaotic timetabling of freshers’ week, I expected to fall into the more regular working pattern of the Michaelmas Term.

However, a combination of the Browne Review, Comprehensive Spending Review, Bill’s intention to step down and the final episode of the Inbetweeners have left me a little preoccupied.

Nothing is set in stone, and the Browne Review is an indicator of what is to come, rather than a white paper for education.

However, it is highly unlikely that a Graduation Tax will be adopted, and it is even more unlikely that the cap will be kept.

What we can say is this: the student contribution to the cost of education will increase, even if we can’t say how that contribution will be delivered or how much it will increase by.

If you can stoically accept that this is the likely course of Higher Education, then there are still some very interesting questions and debates to be had.

In any other sector, if you were paying more, then you’d expect to be getting more, and it would be surprising if the sector didn’t change to reflect this.

In this brave new world, student satisfaction and value for money will increasingly position Universities in the league tables.

How the student experience is delivered, and how student feedback is represented and acted on, presents the University and the student body with some very interesting opportunities.

Bill Bryson has sadly stepped down as Chancellor of the University. The process to find a new Chancellor has begun, but nominations are not yet open.

The process will take about 11 months, and as a member of the nominations panel, I am very excited about the prospect of finding a new Chancellor – I would encourage everyone to send in nominations once nominations are open.

A few years ago, Bill led a very successful campaign to increase the number of students signing up as organ donors, under the ‘My Friend Olly.’

At the time, parallel schemes, such as blood donations, had an unprecedented level of incoming students donating blood, which, for many students, was a considerably less daunting prospect.

Since that peak, now 3 or 4 years ago, blood donations have tailed off, and there are very few students acting as donors.

8,000 units of blood are used across England every single day, and the National Blood Service depends wholly on voluntary donations.

The vast majority of these are taken at drop in sessions, such as the sessions that are in the Three Tuns towards the start of November. I really hope that Planet won’t be the only place I see you that week, and that you’ll join me in giving blood.

One final thing. There’s an Inbetweeners film in the works. Result.

6

World University Rankings

Tuesday 5th October 2010 PALATINATE

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6

Tuesday 26th October 2010 PALATINATE

Browne Review

For more information and analysis, log onto www.palatinate.org.uk

Special report: Tuition fees shake-up £3,290

The current cap on tuition fees, which Lord Browne recommends scrapping

10%

The percentage increase in university places anticipated as a consequence of Browne’s proposals

Students face up to £38,000 debt - Fees could rise to as high as £12,000 a year - Cable endorses Browne’s recommendations Daniel Johnson

S

tudents face paying up to £12,000 a year for their degree, with universities allowed to charge unlimited tuition fees under proposals published last week by the Browne Review.

Lord Browne’s review calls for a radical shake up of higher education funding, including changes to when graduates have to start paying back their loans, as well as the rate of interest on those loans.

Under the plans, supported by Business Secretary Vince Cable in the House of Commons, the current cap of £3,290 for fees would be removed, with universities wanting to charge above £6,000 a year being required to pay a levy.

Graduates will only start paying back

2.2%

The level of interest plus inflation students would pay on their loans

their tuition once they are earning £21,000 as opposed to the current level of £15,000, but at a higher interest rate. Outstanding loans would be written off after 30 years.

Lord Browne, the former chief executive of BP, insisted that he does not expect students to be deterred by the prospect of an average debt of £38,000 for a three year course.

“There is a lot of evidence that students don’t just look at debt, but at the prize at the end as well, which is significant earning potential.” He argued that students will see a 400% return on their investment and called for a 10% increase in university places over three years, so that institutions “compete” for students.

Browne added: “We must not flinch from putting a value on education. Once we do this - and make that value portable - we will allow generations of students to reshape their higher education experience.”

The review also calls for changes to maintenance. Under the proposals, all students would be entitled to flat-rate maintenance loans of £3,750 per year and the maximum maintenance grant would be increased from £2,906 to £3,250.

In addition, different institutions could charge difference prices for different courses, and will have to prove their worth to charge higher figures.

In spite of receiving endorsement from Liberal Democrat ministers, who signed a pledge promising to oppose tuition fee

rises, the review has received scathing criticism from the National Union of Students (NUS).

On their website, NUS branded the review “foolish, risky, lazy, complacent and dangerous”.

NUS President Aaron Porter said, “If adopted, Lord Browne’s review would hand universities a blank cheque and force the next generation to pick up the tab for devastating cuts to higher education.

“There is no clear assurance that a hike in fees would improve student choice or quality and the evidence since fees tripled four years ago shows that neither student satisfaction nor quality has improved. Universities have not made the case for what they would do with more.”

Labour’s Shadow Business Secretary John Denham charged the government with offloading ‘the responsibility for reducing the deficit on to the personal banking accounts of this country’s most ambitious and able young people.’

Roberta Blackman-Woods, MP for the City of Durham, added that she fears the recommendations will ‘produce a disincentive for some people from some backgrounds to attend university.’

Part of the expected rise in fees is likely to compensate for a 40% cut in the university teaching grant, announced in Chancellor George Osborne’s spending review, which

was published last week.

Vince Cable accepted that “I don’t deny that there will be a very substantial reduction in the amount of money that the government can provide in the form of teaching grants.

“A lot of courses would cease to be subsidised. Those where there is a high cost and a big national interest - science, medical courses - would continue to be subsidised.”

Universities UK President, Steve Smith, maintained that an increase in fees to £7,000 would only replace the investment

“Foolish, risky, lazy, complacent and dangerous” How NUS described the review the government has withdrawn.

“This is transferring the cost from the state to the student”, said Professor Smith.

When giving his stamp of approval to the report, Vince Cable was eager to argue that Lord Browne’s “persuasive proposals” are “fair and progressive’” “The top third of graduate earners would pay more than twice as much as the lowest third - that’s fair and it’s progressive and the government broadly endorses this approach and will examine the details of implementation.”

However, according to research by the Social Market Foundation, the changes are likely to squeeze those in the middle the hardest.

The review has the potential to cause a major rift inside the coalition as prior to the general election every Lib Dem MP signed a pledge promising to vote against increases in tuition fees.

Vince Cable said, “we were committed, I was personally committed, to try to get rid of tuition fees”.

“I did sign the pledge, I accept that and I put my hand up to the fact that the reality of the situation is that there is no alternative but to increase the level of graduate contribution”.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Cable declared that the Lib Dem policy to scrap tuition fees “is simply no longer feasible”. It is unclear how many Lib Dem MPs plan to oppose subsequent legislation, but under the coalition agreement they do have the opportunity to abstain.

Profile: Lord Browne Lord Browne of Madingley is one of Britain’s best-known businessmen, having risen up the ranks of BP to become chief executive in 1995.

Son of a Hungarian Auschwitz survivor, Lord Browne resigned as chief executive of BP in 2007 after allegations about his private life.

Lord Browne was a beneficiary of state-funded university education, and he arguably owes his career to the benefits he enjoyed from an education at Cambridge University, where he earned a First Class degree in Physics.

In November 2009 he was invited

by Lord Mandelson to chair a panel considering the future direction of higher education funding in England.

Behind the rhetoric: how Clegg converted “We want to abolish tuition fees. We think they’re wrong.” (April 2010) “We’ve inditifed more than £15billion of savings year on year... that’s why we can commit to phasing out tuition fees.”

(Speaking when he launched his party’s election manifesto).

“We think it’s just wrong at a time when you’re starting out in adult life, when you’re supposed to be optimistic about what you can do, you’ve got this heavy weight of debt around your neck.”

FLICKR ID: THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE

Then

Prior to the election, Nick Clegg pledged to vote against rises in tuition fees

Now

“I am painfully aware of the pledge we all made to voters on tuition fees ahead of the general election. Departing from that pledge will be one of the most difficult decisions of my political career.”

“I could not forgive myself if we did not take decisions now, regardless of how difficult they are politically, that would lead to a fair and sustainable system of higher education funding for future generations.”

Under Browne’s proposals, Durham graduates will face paying up to £12,000 a year for their university education

Durham students voice their opinions

“It might work in a purist economic world, but the education of the individual is of value to society on more than just an economic level”.

Chung Leung, St Aidan’s

Q&A If I was able to, could I pay my fees before I graduate, while I am still at university?

Essentially, yes. The review explicitly states that students will never be made to pay back any of their student loans before they are earning over £21,000 per annum. However, if they can pay off their loans early, then they may. This is obviously controversial, as students from rich families suffer for a shorter period of time.

What has Browne actually proposed?

Fundamentally, Browne’s review will

release a free market on tuition fees, allowing universities to dictate how much they can charge, which could reach as much as £12,000 per year. The current fee cap would be lifted, with the government demanding levies on universities that choose to charge more than £6,000 a year.

Will we still be able to avoid repayment of our fees before we are earning a stable income?

The proposal keeps this part of the student loan process in tact. In fact, it proposes to raise the level at which graduates must start to pay back their loans, from £15,000 per annum, to £21,000.

E

7

PALATINATE Tuesday 26th October 2010

Want to write for News Features? Email news.features@palatinate.org.uk

400%

The return students will see on their university investment, according to Lord Browne

£3,750

The level maintenance loan to which all students will be entitled to under the Browne review

57

Number of Liberal Democrat MPs who signed the NUS ‘Vote for Students’ pledge

30

Browne Review

The number of years after which any outstanding debt is written off, as opposed to 25 years under the current system

£6,000

Universities are subject to a levy if they charge higher fees than this

as Browne calls for ‘no cap’ on fees JEAN-FRANCOIS MERCURE

“We must not flinch from putting a value on education. Once we do this, we will allow generations of students to reshape their higher education experience”.

Lord Browne

“An uncapped tuition fee “The proposal completely is one way of reducing the ignores the plight of the numbers in the university lower middle class”. system and returning quality to British education”.

“I haven’t heard of the report. “I think Browne is right.

Is it written by Dan Brown, We haven’t been paying author of the Da Vinci Code?” enough for our education”.

Matthew Vincent, St Aidan’s

Anonymous, Van Mildert

How much will graduates end up owing?

On average, the graduate debt bill could reach £38,000. However, this obviously depends on how much universities choose to charge. Students who attend universities that charge £12,000 will obviously be facing higher debts.

Could the proposal be altered in any way?

There are suggestions that some form of aggregated interest rate system could be used, whereby higher earning graduates would payer higher rates of interest, or would be submitted to early repayment penalties. This would attempt to quell the

Alisia Thompson, St. Cuthbert’s Society

trend of high earning graduates paying off their loans early to avoid the ongoing interest costs.

When will it take affect?

The panel is merely an advisory body, but if the legislation is carried through the House of Commons, the earliest possible date that the fee rises could come in, is for students beginning study in September 2011.

What will the plan mean for universities?

According to Lord Browne, the plan means that universities will be able to expand their places by 30,000 nationwide

in three years. In real terms, the pan shifts the emphasis of university completely: from the taxpayer to graduates. Whether this expansion holds true, remains to be seen.

Why change the system?

With the number on university applicants rising every year, and the governments spending cuts hurting the credit bills of universities up and down the country, places have started to dwindle.

With last Wednesday’s cut to the teaching budget, universities fundamentally need some way of gaining the money to provide for their places, and this review sets out a plan to do this.

Jack Battersby, Collingwood

What is the government’s position on the Browne Review?

Obviously, this is issue is extremely divisive for the Coalition as the Liberal Democrats promised to vote against tuition fee rises and faze them out over six years, during their election campaign. The Conservatives did not commit to a position on tuition fees before the election.

Although Business Secretary Vince Cable has given his support to the proposals, it remains to be seen whether Liberal Democrat backbenchers will support any subsequent legislation.

The changes are painful, but necessary Commentary: David Wynne-Griffith

So finally the rains came and as predicted, the house was built on sand. Lord Browne’s review panel will tear up the wallets of students up and down the country.

The release of the £3,920 cap converts the cherished university experience into a free monopolized market. Frighteningly, it allows some universities to charge up to £12,000 a year for a degree course transforming our fee structure into an Ivy League-style model where essentially, a two-tier university system comes into view.

On the one hand, there will be the ‘affordable’ universities and they will be accompanied by an upper echelon of universities with elevated fees, but with a world-class standard of education. The question reverberating on everyone’s lips, especially the ‘squeezed middle-class’ is, is it fair?

The report essentially removes all taxpayer funding from the majority of degrees.

The report is thus hugely controversial, but it does set out a plan to finally put higher education funding in sustainable shape.

Fundamentally, the reality on fees was written on the wall years ago. The cold light of day unfortunately glinted against the emerging iceberg: the looming cash crisis in Higher Education.

Good intentions are no substitute for good judgment. With this in mind, one must analyze the alternatives to Browne’s measures. The left supports a return to free provision, whereby the government essentially foots the entire student bill. This view is ironic as it requires public spending into a branch of society that will enjoy the highest rewards our country has to offer. The other alternative is a graduate tax. The difficulties of this should be clear for all: how do we apply it to graduates who proceed to work abroad, and at what rate could it be paid fairly across the income scale?

All in all, the report outlines the only visible future avenue, within the crowded forest of the public spending crisis. We need to maintain high-quality institutions across the country in order to compete internationally. By removing the present low ceiling on fees, the craning neck of government is replaced by the forces of market choice.

Moreover, institutions will benefit from the extra capital that does not compound the public debt crisis. Fundamentally, university applications have soared, institutions have found themselves increasingly strapped for cash. Although higher fees may encourage what the NUS has labeled as a ‘damaging consumer mentality’, the evidence shows that it will not deter the youth of today from applying to university.

Vince Cable ironically claimed on hearing the proposal, that “we are not living in an ideal world”. Although this reveals a comical political backtrack, it does capture the view with which the Browne review must be embraced. It is regrettable, but crucially, understandable that students should pay for the undoubted benefits of higher education. The university experience is a privilege, not an unalienable right, and sometimes privilege costs. The changes will hurt, but they present a lasting cure, rather than a short-term palliative.

9

PALATINATE Tuesday 26th October 2010

Check out our archive of interviews at palatinate.org.uk

Profile

Interviews Profile

Look inside the minds of today’s big movers Interviews with those shaping the world

“Dear me, you know the boy has no latin...”

Kirstyn Wood talks to the biggest cheese in British journalism, Harold Evans, about how posh old Durham inspired him to go on to become Editor of the Sunday Times despite not being a ‘typical’ student in anyone’s eyes.

CINDY QUILLIAN

guage undergrads so I have always blessed the three years in a residential college. I was lucky that when I got to Chicago University I lived in international house, which had some of the benefits of college life.

the graduates who had gone before us had apparently acquitted themselves well - a trail of glory.

As for the degree, in those days there were so few places open that a university graduate on a popular paper was a standout. For an editor then to take on arts graduate was an interesting experiment with a living creature, as frightening in its way as the experiments I heard were conducted with frogs in the biology lab.

KW: Did you ever feel out of place at Durham? Were you very aware of being in the minority as a Northerner?

HE: I never felt socially and academically out of things. Maybe I should have done; at first it is true I did feel I was there on false pretences. I just knew I was the only person there who wasn’t a baronet or had qualified as a boyhood genius. I’d been excluded from the great universities oxford and Cambridge and so on, because of that very grave deficiency I have mentioned: “Dear me, you know the boy has no Latin....” but once we got talking at dinner and in the lecture rooms in Durham I found my way. I liked the propinquity with the pit villages. I’ve described in my paper chase how I started a tabletennis team and we relished taking on the miners and shipbuilders.

I think I’d also learned a valuable lesson at Durham about balancing the social and the academic aspects of college life, and in this I include sport and community life and so on in addition to college life and study. You can learn how to relate to people through Durham.

It is said again and again, but it is worth repeating, that the benefit is not so much the fragments of knowledge you come out with, but you learn how to think. (Though some of my professors would no doubt regard this as a very large claim). University gives you a perspective which nothing else can give you.

KW: How has your degree in Economics and Politics helped you in your journalistic career?

HE: Durham to me was iridescent with glory. I’d come out of the RAF where, as a corporal, I had charge of a barrack room - a charge that was very theoretical I must add - so I was giddy at the translation from the grindingly humdrum to the heavenly. In a sense, I inhabited Durham in my imagination before I actually got there in 1949.

I’ve just recently been asked by Bonham’s magazine to write about my favorite room and as the founding editor of a travel magazine, I should have been spoiled for choice between, say, a room in a venetian palace or right on a beach in the Bahamas, but I had no hesitation in saying “my room in Durham in 1951”. It was on the Norman gallery in castle. I saw a photograph of it in a brochure about Durham when I applied and lived in it mentally in the months while I waited to see if the university would admit me.

I somehow ended up three years later in that very same room - study with fireplace, and a god’s eye view over the city. In those days, we had scouts who made tea and assembled the scatter of books and papers so there was no escaping where duty lay.

Of course Durham was overwhelming to someone who hadn’t seen much of the world, as I hadn’t. Unless you are made of stone, you never forget emerging from hedgerows along the railway on the train.

Suddenly the curtain lifts very theatrically on that marvelous panorama of cathedral and castle and river.

Dining in the finest university dining room anywhere in the world, Castle Great Hall with its echoes of history, was a nice change from the RAF mess hall where the conversations ranged vigorously from what the scarcity of beer and sex was doing to our lives and how many days we had left to get out...

I didn’t come straight out of school to Durham. I’d become a newspaper reporter in my teens, and then went into the RAF, so

the chance to read books and write other than a news report agitated brain cells I never knew I had. I started out on social studies, which thankfully did not require Latin. I had somehow acquired enough school certificates to enter college, but the school in Manchester didn’t offer Latin so many courses were barred to me. At the end of the first year I did well enough, I suppose because it was all fresh to me, that I was told in the second year I was being moved to honors in Politics and Economics.

HE: The reason I applied to Durham in the first place and plunged into Economics was the conviction that if you don’t have a clue of economics, 20% of news is unintelligible to you, so you cannot write intelligently about it, you cannot popularise it. When I came to write my book The American Century, which included discussion of the Great Depression of the thirties, I’d never have felt confident in attempting the essay if I hadn’t had that grounding in lecture at Durham.

You have to understand the background. I was a real nerd about education - it wasn’t commonplace then. Having spent a year in a girls’ business college in Manchester studying shorthand and typing and then going out to be a reporter you get a certain type of education but you don’t get any depth in Economics or Modern History which is what I was so keen to gain from university.

My regular RAF routine was editing reports on air mishaps at our flying school.

Relief and exhaustion was provided by starting a camp newspaper and then a magazine, hand-setting the type. But the most important escape was the RAF’s education department’s offer of a two-week course on the rights of man at Manchester University.

We dipped into John Stuart Mill and Rousseau and found our convictions confronted by reason.

Similarly, many years later when I came to write about the history of innovation for a book and TV series, I drew from the education Durham offered in using multiple sources to research and check and test the observations against my own - which were sure, anyway, to be unpicked in the tutorial sessions, an essential part of Durham.

That first year of social studies was useful, too, since it ventured into unfamiliar territory which you are doing all the time as a journalist.

KW: Clearly Castle had a lasting impact on you, what do you think of Durham’s collegiate system?

HE: I reported on Manchester University when I got a job on the Manchester evening news after graduating. Manchester is a very fine university and it had a vigorous student life, but the students in a city university are so scattered it is hard to generate the fizz you get in a high-density community such as we had around Palace Green. I liked the relative smallness of Durham.

I couldn’t stand to be in one of the giant universities, more like degree factories. I also got a kick out of dining in the Great Hall at Castle and the casual encounters with very clever scientists, mathematicians and lan-

I remember finding myself entranced by the fragments of psychology picked up from a very dark, handsome Austrian professor. So that’s what makes people tick! A year in social studies course proved stimulating. It was actually a good route to the base camps of political philosophy and macroeconomics. Words still mattered more than algorithms.

KW: Do you feel that the Durham degree is distinct from others?

HE: There are barbarians who go to other universities who are perhaps as intellectually able, but they miss the civilizing influence of Durham. You can’t be in Durham surroundings without being changed by the environment - without at least acquiring a little appreciation of architecture and history and music.

The newspapers to which I applied, a proof of seriousness of intent, took my time on Palatinate seriously. Durham - the name itself carried weight in the interviews because

Knowing that for every point of view there’s a counter view and that for every point of view and counter view it’s a question how far the evidence supports it. That methodo-

The second thing I learnt from the thalidomide incident was that the decency of people really is impressive. When the company said ‘oh we can’t do this because of the shareholders’, somebody got the shareholders to back us up.

It’s no use printing the truth once. You have to persist. Persistence is key to a lot of things. The common characteristic of all successful inventors and innovators is that they persisted when people thought their ideas rubbish.

KW: If you were the editor of The Times today, would you have taken the same action as Rupert Murdoch and erected the paywall?

I’d rather have a paywall and good journalism than no paywall and bad journalism.

Each editor, each proprietor must make his own decision, so I have no inclination to criticise him on that. And I am vehemently skeptical of the value of web systems that rely on algorithms for deciding what should have people’s attention. The truth can only be found through human intelligence, no algorithm can do that, or cope with the

CINDY QUILLIAN

KW: To begin, tell me about your memories of Durham?

about how drugs were tested for safety there. Much as I respect lawyers and their profession, the truth is not usually their concern. The case-law of precedence is sometimes of no use.

Harry during his student years.

logical approach to problem solving, that impetus of intelligent inquiry, that is what comes from university and it is a bedrock for good journalism.

KW: Many people regard the Thalidomide story as the greatest of your career, would you agree?

HE: Two important lessons came out of the thalidomide incident- firstly, the law may be essential for the resolution of disputes but it is not necessarily a discoverer of truth and that’s for a lot of different reasons. Secondly, if you want to be effective in a campaign it is pointless to print the truth once. When I edited The Northern Echo, we only won our causes on cervical cancer and the wrongful execution of Timothy Evans because we laid on so many layers of fact and argument they could not be ignored forever.

In this case, journalism was superior to law.

The very bright people who I put on this story at The Sunday Times put the thalidomide chemical structure up on their walls and went out to the US to find the truth

complexities of our time.

Hopefully, one day journalism will earn as much from online as it does in print. The daily beast is now a publisher of books as well as an aggregator of news and original reporting and comment. The books they publish and the conferences they’ve organised - on women’s rights, and innovation might not have the wide appeal of a bodiceripper or ‘I found Jesus in a teacup’, but they can help to sustain good journalism.

KW: Your daughter is of university age, if she were graduating from Durham this year, what career advice would you give her?

HE: Remember what you’ve learnt but don’t show off about it. Modesty when you come out of university is important. The second thing, in terms of starting a career - grab what you can. Whatever career you want, go into the interview at the TV station or newspaper or magazine and know it backwards, forwards and sideways; it should be part of your gut and if it is, it will be easy to work out what you can contribute.

8

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Tuesday 26th October 2010 PALATINATE

Employer Information Fair2010

For further information, log onto www.careers.dur.ac.uk

Careers Miss the Careers Tips for the Fair

Tom Davies from the Careers Advisory Services gives us five top tips on how to make the most of the Careers Fair.

1. Decide who you would like to see and why the organisation would be attractive to you. Come to the fair smart casual in appearance; first impressions count even in a crowd!

2. Think about what you want/need to know prior to approaching the stands e.g. more about the types of work they offer, methods of applying/selection processes, training and career prospects.

3. Don’t be put off if there are other students waiting to see someone. Listen to the questions that they are asking as they might be similar to the ones that you want to ask and have answered.

4.

Representatives will want to know about you as well so be confident and tell them what degree you are doing, what year you are in and why you are approaching them on the day. They have come to Durham for a reason; to encourage you to apply to them.

5. After visiting each organisation, write down the name of the person you saw and what they said to you in a ‘careers notebook’. Having such a book could be useful for other things such as making notes from careers talks, from meetings that you have with Careers Advisers and for keeping a record of applications you make to organisations.

Palatinate went along to the annual Employer Information Fair to give you a comprehensive overview of what this year’s companies had to offer.

The Newcomers to Durham Careers’ Fair

AB InBev: the largest brewer in the world, best known for brewing Becks, Budweiser and Stella. In 2011 they are taking on between 20-30 new graduates who have a 2:1 degree in any discipline.

Starting salary is 24 k plus accommodation as you will move around a lot.

“We’re fast paced and we make a fun product”.

fields of Engineering, Science, Business and Finance.

Akzonobel: the largest global paint and coatings company. About 15-20 new graduates will be offered a starting salary of 25.5-27.5 k, primarily based in manufacturing and the Decorative Paints Head Office. A 2:1 in specific subjects is required.

King Sturge: the property consultancy is looking to recruit 25 graduates next year at an inital salary of 23.5 k. A 2:1 degree is required. “We provide varied work which is relevant to today’s world.”

Marks & Spencer: the retail giant will offer about 100 new graduate schemes at 24 k starting in 2011. They received 9,000 applicants in 2010.

Henderson Global Investors: welcomes applicants with a 2:1 from all degree disciplines for a competitve salary. This smaller company is looking to take on about six new graduates next year.

British Sugar Plc: manufactures white sugar, producing 7 million tonnes of it every year. The company uses up all its waste produvsts and is recruiting 15-20 graduates to join its innovative team, with a salary of 25-30 k. A 2:1 is the minimum requirement.

This is just a small selection of the companies who attended the Employment Information Fair. More information is available on www.careers.dur.ac.uk, where you can check specific requirements, contact details and deadlines.

Macquarie Group: a new company to join the financial sector at Durham’s fair. In search of 40-50 new employees for 2011, they offer a competitive salary for those with a 2:1 in the preferred NATASHA CORAL

The Top Earners According to the Careers Advisory Service, the average Durham student’s starting salary is around £22,000. Salaries in London are usually significantly higher and the avergage pay in investment and corporate banking starts off between 35-40 k. But some companies offer much more . . .

Morgan Stanley’s starting salary is 49 k.

Barclay’s Global Retail Bank promises new trainees a sign-on bonus of 8 k after the first week.

Sagar Wright Search and Selection Ltd, the professional headhunting agency, provides a six-figure salary after four or five years.

British Sugar Plc is the world’s largest producer of tomatoes.

Detica, the specialist business and technology consultancy, analyses data which can lead to dissolving paedophile rings and terrorism groups.

Henderson Global Investors have never lost a graduate to another company post training.

Bloomberg offers journalists a career reporting breaking financial stories in their busy news room.

Nestle is the largest food and beverage company in the world.

Metaswitch Networks, a leading communications technology company, believes that A-level, rather than degree, results correlate more accurately with success. Their profit has also risen by around 82m in the past eighteen years.

Ever wanted to invent names of Dulux paint colours for a living? Opaque crystal? Berry red? Join the marketing department with Akzonobel.

The top five selling points used by the companies at the fair: 1) Treating you as an individual.

2) Being a friendly company.

3) Opportunities to work abroad.

4) Encouraging a work/play balance.

5) Enduring the economic crisis.

Blackrock: “We are the world’s largest asset manager. We can afford to pay well because we do well”.

HSBC: “We won’t turn anyone away who matches our criteria”.

NATASHA CORAL

Did you know . . .?

11

PALATINATE Tuesday 26th October 2010

Follow us at twitter.com/palatiCAREERS or email careers@palatinate.org.uk

Fair? We didn’t.

Employer Information Fair 2010 Special

NATASHA CORAL NATASHA CORAL

Top Ten Freebies And what did you have to say about it?

1) Three kg Kitkat: Nestle

“I think it’s really well organised but the variety is lacking. I suppose there are no jobs in arts so it’s all finance and banking”. Jessie Beeham, St Mary’s.

2) Memory Stick: Fidelity Investment Managers

“I like the idea of working for local Government so the NGDP stall was useful.

But the second day was overtly commercial”. Alex Walshe, St Aidan’s.

3)Torchpen: Barclays

“It’s great in the sense that we can ask specific questions, find out more information and get tips such as how to impress at an interview”. Charlotte Walsh, John Snow.

4)Water flask: Credit Suisse 5)Bouncy ball: Morgan Stanley

“I haven’t found it useful at all. There are so many students at Durham and we’re not all interested in finance!” Elliot Sims, University College.

“This is the first one I’ve been to in my four years. I’m doing maths so it’s relevant to me”. Alex Kent, St Mary’s.

NATASHA CORAL

6)Toy plane: QinetiQ 7)Highlighter: Lloyds Banking Group 8)Waffle: Grant Thornton CHRIS WILLETTS

9)Sweets: Financial Servces Authority 10) Post-its: Network Rail

The Big Guns KPMG: will eat you for breakfast.

They are the only company to merge fully with their European branch. Hiring around 800-1000 graduates in 2011 at competitive salaries, this company remains a firm favourite amongst Durham graduates.

Deloitte: another giant in the finance sector. Next year the company will take on up to 1,000 graduates across the UK at a highly competitive salary. They also provide opportunities to play sport and get involved in charity work.

PWC: the biggest professional service in the UK, it will take on up to 1,100 new graduates come 2011. The salary starts at over 20 k. A 2:1 degree is expected.

Army: A salary of 29 k post training, they are taking on around 700 graduates at Officer level. Officers are expected to obtain a degree at 2:2 or above.

Sagar Wright: “We’re going to put off more people than we attract at the fair today”.

Fenwick: A family-owned, friendly retail company based in Newcastle.

They own eleven stores across the UK and pride themselves on the quality of their products and their innovation.

Fenwick is recruiting between eight and sixteen graduates come 2011 who have a 2:1 qualification in any subject. The starting salary is over eighteen thousand per year.

Waterstones: an IT company based in the North East. In 2011 they are looking to recruit up to ten graduates who have a minimum of a 2:1 in Maths, Science, IT or any similar field. Developed interpersonal and communication skills are also desriable. The starting salary is 24 k plus benefits.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car: This car rental and retail management industry is recruiting up to 800 graduates over their 400 UK locations, such as Durham, Darlington and Sunderland, salaries for which start at £16,000. “We made more money in the past two years than we have ever made, proving that we have come out of the recession unscathed”. Any degree discipline is welcome.

Cooper Industries: supports UK manufacturing, in the North East and across the UK. They will take on board around fourteen new graduates next year who have a 2:1. The company offers travel opportunites and starting salary is 21-26 k.

Teach First: strives to address social disadvantages through education in over 30 subject areas. It offers a two year teaching contract followed by a supported fast-track entrance into the career of your choice. 730 graduates are being recruited for this year. The contract salary ranges between 17-21 k. A 2:1 in any subject is required to apply for this competitive programme.

Ernst & Young LLP: this company will be recruiting around 700 graduates in 2011. A 2:1 qualification is expected and the starting salary is over 22k. The company is “friendly, personal and will look after you”. Strong leadership skills and a high level of dedication are valued in applicants.

BNP Paribas: the corporate and investment bank is looking to recruit up to 500 graduates on a global scale. Again, a 2:1 is required in any field. A compeitive salary is offered. The company “will encourage you to be proactive, get involved and learn what interests you”.

RAF: Up to 400 graduates are being sought after this coming year at Officer level. The organisation’s “biggest frustration is knowing that applicants aren’t aware of how many routes there are to take: doctors, lawyers, pilots, engineers and many more”. There are over 60 areas in total and starting salary is around 30 k.

Applicants are advised to get their skates on: many companies, especially in the finance sector, have strict deadlines around mid- to the end of November 2010 for jobs starting in the coming year. For further information on individual companies, expectations and deadlines, visit www. careers.dur.ac.uk.

NATASHA CORAL

Sainsbury’s: “25% of our Durham applicants make it to the assessment centre”.

Work in the North East

Barclays Bank: Across the whole board, there are over 1,250 vacancies for graduates. The starting salary is in line with the bank’s competitors and applicants are accepted from all degree disciplines.

Tuesday 26th October 2010 PALATINATE

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Comment Analysis

Comment Anna Holt

Michaelmas at the Union is continuing in style with debates, socials and much more. The first debate attracted hundreds of students to watch our lively group of experts, which included N.U.S President Aaron Porter and Graham Smith MP discussing whether we should discriminate against privatelyeducated pupils. The democracy debate then proved that it is actually possible to find a topic more controversial and divisive than private schools, even in Durham. Harpal Brar, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist Leninist) and neoconservative Dr Alan Mendoza were probably never going to share many opinions, but the resulting exchange was one of the most ferocious and exciting I have ever seen in the Chamber, second only to a debate in Easter 2009 when a speaker had to be restrained! As we move on to debating the Alternative Vote and whether size zero models should be banned, Friday nights should be just as polarising but hopefully a bit less violent.

This week has also been a time for celebration at D.U.S as the new European debating rankings put us in a fantastic fourth place. Our students put so much hard effort and enthusiasm into teaching competitive debating at all levels and it’s wonderful to see their hard work reflected in our international reputation. It is a great achievement. After an extremely difficult selection process last week, we have selected teams to defend our place at the Worlds debating competition held in Botswana in December.

Meanwhile, the Union continues to defend its reputation of putting on some of the best socials in Durham. It was great to meet so many of our new members at he recent Freshers’ Drinks, and to introduce a new generation to the delights of Yakka and Jelly Babies!

The Night of Devilish Sin was perhaps a more refined evening, with 30 students being taught the delicate art of wine tasting and dipping strawberries in a chocolate fountain without dripping. We’re now looking forward to a Hallowe’en party in 24, trips to Durham Brewery and Murrayfield, and of course, the Venetian Ball.

The Second Chance Project, the Union’s outreach programme, is also underway. The project gives a chance to learn to debate with disadvantaged adults who have had a variety of problems in their lives. Three student volunteers from D.U.S enjoy the opportunity to teach the art of debating, and aim to improve their confidence and encourage the group to share thoughts and ideas. Watching the first session on Tuesday night, I remembered how exciting and enjoyable the project is. It’s a wonderful reminder of how much we can learn from different people, how much volunteers can achieve, and the importance of leaving the small world of Durham life.

I can’t wait to see the participants in the Friday night debate later in the term.

Our writers discuss topical matters This edition: are top universities elitist?

The spending cuts seem unintentionally sexist

In the fight between public service and social benefit cuts women lose out on both counts Frances Weetman Analysis

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he Coalition’s spending cuts sparked fears of double-dip recessions, and high levels of unemployment. But this is only part of the issue.

It is generally agreed that Britain’s budget deficit needs reducing - even if the centre-left claims this has been done too severely. What needs questioning is where the cuts are taking place.

On close examination, it is clear the cuts are to the detriment of women. According to the Office for National Statistics, around four million public sector workers are female. That is 67% of its workforce. Forecasts predict that over 500,000 public sector jobs will be terminated by 2016, and women shall bear the majority of this burden.

“This isn’t the 1950s, this is the 21st century: women work” This problem is not evenly dispersed across the country, and across income levels: the bulk of the problem is closer to home than you may think. Nowhere else is the problem more pronounced than in the North East of England. 46% of all working women in the North East are employed in the public sector, the majority of which earn less than £20,000 per annum.

As the vast majority of public sector job losses are coming from local authorities, it is easy to see that those on lower incomes are more likely to find themselves unemployed than well-paid workers in Westminster, where women form only 35% of the working population. Contrast this with the 58% of women in administrative work; the lion’s share of job losses shall be taken by female workers, who are often found in the lower echelons of the civil service. The job

SPEAKER’S CORNER

Emma Hutchinson hates: the Chilean media frenzy

Women and children are likely to be the worst affected by the spending cuts instigated by last week’s Comprehensive Spending Review

losses are discriminatory against women.

What of these lost jobs? Aside from hindering economic growth, such unemployment is a huge blow to the well-being of many households nationwide, who will find themselves lacking a significant proportion of their income. Any notion that “men are the family breadwinners” is retrograde at best. This is not the 1950s.

This is the 21st century: women work.

And they work, not necessarily because they want to, but because they need to.

Unemployment is just a small part of this issue. To add further insult to injury, the Coalition is also drastically cutting children’s and families’ services. The cumulative loss to these services, by 2013, is set to be £13 billion. As Fathers 4 Justice have brought to public attention, the vast majority of single parents are women; similarly, the vast majority of those dependent on families’ services are women.

Not only are the cuts a threat to the employment of women, they are a threat to the well-being of their families and children. Numerous studies have illus-

U

nless you have been living in a hole for the past few months (pardon the pun) you are almost certain to have heard about the plight of the Chilean miners. Held for over two months in darkness and blistering 32 degree heat, it is easy to see why the media swarmed round their story like vultures.

When it was announced that their rescue was imminent I am ashamed to admit that I too, with morbid fascination, tuned in to get my share of the action. But I was shocked to discover that rather than the picture of courage and human resilience that I was expecting, I was greeted with something more reminiscent of a reality television show. It was a surprise not to see Davina there in her trademark black attire uttering the now legendary phrase “... and I can now reveal that the next person to be evicted from the San Jose mine is...”

One website featured 24-hour coverage of the desert site and the mine itself, live footage of the miner’s releases and family reunions, and personal profiles for each one of the men complete with mug-shots.

Of course media coverage is necessary, but should it be so invasive? I feel little remorse watching a fame hungry Big Brother contestant break down on live television having knowingly signed up to the show,

trated that a greater proportion of money earned by women – as opposed to their husbands or partners – goes towards their children. If this is truly the case, reductions in benefits to both single and married mothers will have a disproportionately negative effect on their children.

This is deeply worrying; not only are these cuts so severe, they have been dealt even before the Coalition’s Comprehensive Spending Review, which is less than a week away. This situation may well worsen within a matter of days.

Just this August, George Osborne voiced his desire for progressivity and social mobility, where “a child born at the end of this period of government [has] better life chances than a child born at the beginning of this Government”. This is a highly laudable stance, and one worthy of advocation.

Although this statement may reflect the general opinion of the Coalition Government, their actions may suggest otherwise.

The years following the First World War are regarded as some of the most progressive in our history. There is one prominent

reason for this: women mattered. With their invaluable work in traditionally male-dominated arenas, such a prominent force in British society could no longer be ignored.

The 1918 Representation of the People Act, which gave women over 30 the vote, marked one of the most monumental shifts in British society; women had raised their position in the social pecking order.

but surely watching these men’s real-life emotional suffering is extreme voyeurism?

Like Big Brother contestants, the media are helping to turn the miners into celebrities, dragging out private tales of family feuds and mistresses for public entertainment. It appears to have been forgotten that what they really need is to be reunited with their loved ones and begin to deal with the psychological effects of their trauma in privacy.

The Chilean Government are also playing a key role in this television spectacle. When the first miner was rescued he was enthusiastically chanting the name of his country for all the cameras to see; a piece of genius propaganda after the public backlash the Government suffered following their handling of the earthquake in February of this year.

Rather than putting an end to the media frenzy, their President, Sebastian Pinera, is perpetuating it, encouraging the filming of his motivational speeches and 24 hour presence on the sight (he is sleeping in a luxury Winnebago by the way). Instead he should have forced the world press to keep their distance and allow these men to re-enter their lives blinking in the sunlight rather than the glare of the flashbulb.

Unfortunately, however, it looks as though the miners are about to unwit-

tingly become the next victims of the cult of celebrity. In the days to come they will be whisked away by a media circus and recruited as its newest dancing bears. The ringmasters will inevitably whip these vulnerable men into performing their routines for the cameras and the newspapers; but what happens when the circus inevitably moves on, as it always does, leaving in its wake 33 broken performers?

“46% of all working women in the North East of England are employed in the public sector” The notion that the Coalition’s cuts are fair to both genders in equal measure, or that this problem is exaggerated, is absurd. The Conservatives are taking a retrograde step.

“Does media coverage need to be so invasive?”

They are innocent victims of an appalling disaster who, at a time like this, need their families and their privacy, not book and film deals popping up in every direction. Why can the media not allow that? Now that the Big Brother house has finally shut its doors forever, are we looking to real human disasters to quench our thirst for reality television and fill our newspaper columns? Are we edging ever closer to the predictions in 1984 of 24hour surveillance, where even our private thoughts and emotions are public goods?

Orwell would be turning in his grave.

DAVID DRYSDALE

From the Union

Debate with us on Twitter @PalatiCOMMENT

13

PALATINATE Tuesday 26th October 2010

Browse our archived opinion pieces at palatinate.org.uk

Opinion Comment KOK LENG YEO

Natural born memoirs Too much is revealed by public figures today Matthew Richardson

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The West should be patient and calm in dealing with North Korea Matthew Lee

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week is a long time in politics, but in North Korean politics it is enough to anoint an heir to a family dynasty and decide the fate of a nation. The Kim family may not have the comical standing of the Griffins or the Simpsons, but over the coming weeks they will no doubt be watched with equal intensity around the world. At a recent mass rally Kim Jong-un, the son of current leader Kim Jong-il, was introduced to the Western Press and, in some cases, his own people, for the first time.

“We have made mistakes in relations with North Korea” The comparison to various animated families may seem whimsical but control of North Korea remains a family affair with talk of brothers and sisters rather than personality and policies. It is still unclear who holds ultimate power, an issue further complicated by the emergence of Kim Jong-il’s influential sister, Kim Kyong-hui.

Nevertheless, it is clear that Kim Jongun’s meteoric rise marks the beginning of the end for Kim Jong-il’s reign. Campaigners for basic human rights and democracy worldwide, myself included, would happily rush to write the dictator’s obituary before his actual passing. However, recent events have illuminated lessons that need to be learned when dealing with “rogue” states and tyrants. We, the West, have made more mistakes then we care to admit when it comes to relations with North Korea.

Firstly, how should Kim Jong-il be remembered? A run-of-the-mill tyrant consumed by absolute power? A man whose puppet alter-ego appeared in Team America World Police singing “I am so ronery”?

Or perhaps one of the founding members of George W. Bush’s favourite band The

Axis of Evil? As with many conclusions concerning North Korea, it is difficult to say. His creation of a country often referred to as the “Hermit State” makes any grasp of policies and achievements difficult. In general terms he deified himself, creating a godlike omnipotence rarely heard of outside medieval history. His economic policies have led to widescale famine and the deaths of over a million people. Reliable statistics are a commodity when dealing with North Korea but the picture remains grim: mass starvation, close to 200,000 incarcerated political prisoners, corruption and a flimsy economy are all part of the legacy that Kim Jong-un will inherit.

From what little information filters from North Korea, it would be fair to say that North Korea deserves its status as one of the most oppressive nations in the world. Furthermore, stories of people scrubbing the pavements of Pyongyang by hand and cutting the grass with scissors further endorse the idea of North Korea as Kim Jong-il’s personal kingdom.

However, the era of Kim Jong-il should not be reduced to the quirks and fables of one man’s madness, for close to two decades we have presented ourselves as the hate figure that inflates Kim Jong-il’s ego.

The last sixteen years have been characterised by politics of hyperbole. North Korea portrayed as the antipathy of democracy, a rogue state only to be addressed with dire threats such as George Bush’s creation of the “Axis of Evil.” Similarly, North Korea views the West as irrational aggressors intent on destroying systems not in line with their own, a stance highlighted by their statement in response to Bush’s founding of the Axis of Evil, “The secondterm Bush administration’s intention to antagonize the DPRK and isolate and stifle it at any cost has become quite clear”.

Fear breeds fear, a situation where both sides, not just North Korea, fear military action to such an extent they are inadvertently moving towards war. This imagined battle of good versus evil on both sides has legitimised the flexing of military muscle and the breakdown of productive talks.

Moreover, the reign of Kim Jong-il, although punctuated by short-lived multilateral talks, has often taken the form of unilat-

eral demands for change on both sides. The USA condemned North Korea’s underground test of a nuclear device in 2009, yet it retains the largest nuclear arsenal in the world. Such hypocrisy is not conducive to talks as it conveys an arrogance that sours negotiations before they have even started.

The benefits of overcoming this superiority complex have been highlighted in Afghanistan where talks between the Taliban and the US-supported Afghan government have begun. Only after the US accepted parity were productive talks allowed to begin.

“The only way the average North Korean citizen can be saved from starvation is through fair dialogue on equal terms” So what can be done? I am by no means anti-America or pro-North Korea, but it seems to me that the only way the average North Korean citizen can be saved from starvation and repression is through fair dialogue on equal terms. For North Korea, this means accepting concessions and the fact that change is needed for the benefit of millions. Crucially, for the West it means accepting concessions and an acknowledgment that we cannot demand a society of extensive civil rights and no nuclear weapons when we are far from perfect ourselves. Most of all we need patience.

China’s development has taken many years but the creation of vested interests and negotiations based on the acceptance of equal economic might has led to a thriving relationship. With the ascension of Kim Jong-un we are faced with a once in a lifetime chance to begin talks on a level playing field. Many die-hard anticommunists may find it hard to stomach the sight of North Korea and the West working together. However, it is easier to endure the warmth of a strained handshake than the chill of another Cold War.

e need a serious man for serious times, they say. A change is in the air and a bit of soulstripping is in order. No more splashing and paddling about among the flotsam and froth. Now is the moment to snorkel down into the murky depths. Ungirdle yourself. Cast off the shy corsetry and flowered long johns of embarrassment and sob and whimper before the reader.

Yes, apparently it is all the rage. And, as we at Palatinate ball our fists and stamp our feet with every rage old or new, such parsing of the soul has fallen to me. Previous Editors might have got away with perky encomiums to the editorial board or plumped out some column inches with a puckish anecdote or two. But such fleeciness has now been soundly sheared.

Gone are the days of optimism and ornament. The frills and plumage, the hems and necklines, are excesses of a fatter and indulgent past. No longer can a student newspaper hydrate itself on undergraduate revelry.

It’s all about personal candour and directness now, sandpapering away the finish and revealing all the flaked and prickly edges. If you want to get ahead in public life then eye-popping self-analysis is the way to go.

You only have to look at the shelves.

Memoir after memoir, felled tree after felled tree, obese with its omphalic load.

Lord Sugar’s What You See Is What You Get, Tony Blair’s A Journey or, in a slightly more educatory vein, William Roache’s 50 Years on the Street: My Life With Ken Barlow. Each author staring searchingly from the covers, faces scratched and scrawled with angst one and all.

lit and slightly too bedarlinged in the end.

Rather too flabby with its own empurpled gloss and sparkle. But the other extreme is more worrisome. Everyone knows the raw and doughy emotionalism of Blair and the other ageing fish in the New Labour pond is no more real, no less focusgrouped or market-tested than Strictly Come Dancing or one of Simon Cowell’s rival media progeny. Tony’s trials, Mandelson’s mediating or Brown’s bullishness is as stagey and auditioned as anything ITV could dream of. Just because Blair is tieless on the cover and translates his various urges for Cherie into ashmatic textual form, doesn’t mean the spin has spun its last. Similarly just because Cameron doesn’t crack a camera lens at less than fifty paces doesn’t mean he trumps Baldwin and Disraeli in the up-front honesty poll.

But, no, perhaps I’m being too pessimistic. I really must try harder. Lines of well-ovened prose should now be steaming from these very pages. I should be telling you about the trials and upsets of life in the driving seat of a student newspaper; of the tears, tantrums, fights and fallouts, that go into the make-up of every edition.

The rivalries, catfights and bloody succession crises. How, after a tough day in the office, I stagger back to my flat, draw up a benchful of dry sherries and let Grieg’s Piano Sonata in E Minor heal my every hurt.

STEVE CHILTON

“The history books will sound the death knell on the day Parkinson was axed” But it is useless complaining, futile to buck with Edwardian outrage. Such humourless spillage of the self has been gestating for decades. Ever since Lady Thatcher transmogrified from a shrill education secretary into that marbled and glassy behemoth of the world stage, the donnish twinkle or tweedy chuckle has been slowly pulped and trouser-pressed from public life. All amusing creases have been ironed into straight-down-the-line self-exposure. The lightness of Chesterton or Churchillian dash has gone. If one is not prepared to hop on to the This Morning sofa and puff and pant about everything from budgets to botox in grave and sombre tones then you will never grace a party platform or a Waterstone’s shelf.

For me, the history books will sound the death knell on the day Parkinson was axed.

That was the final puncture that sank the ship, the wobble that unbalanced us all into Popian chaos. What I would have given to ooze, trickle and shimmer in Wodehousian fashion down those stairs, preened and primped in a jaunty pinstripe. There was no histrionics or chest-thumping. Sir Michael didn’t Jeremy Kyle around the soundstage, thumping on the floorboards and screaming at his guests. And the audience did not curl their faces and boo or hiss either. It was smiley, happy with winsome anecdotage and Wildean quips.

Perhaps it all was a bit showy, brightly

It seems everyone must have a memoir now

But I just can’t do it. My fingers begin a bashful hovering above the keyboard before packing up and halting altogether. I fear in the end that I’m not cut out or coloured in for public life. Give me the sprightly, dashing hues of early Hollywood or the inky self-consciousness of the dandified 1890s. Let me sink into the golden fuzz of Parkinson or The Tonight Show, crash into the slightly wry, ironic niceness of it all. The humorous and the huggable beat the piously pretend in my book any day.

Well, for now at least. Until Not the Next Alagiah: My Story shudders and sobs its way on to a bookshelf sometime after graduation, of course…

Tuesday 26th October 2010 PALATINATE

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Comment Featured article

Share your views with the Palatinate readership at palatinate.org.uk

Deep sexism remains inherent in the world of team sport Women’s sports remain woefully under-reported and underfunded despite British success by many female teams Featured Article

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tanding on a university sports ground, watching a game of rugby, is perhaps nothing new for a Durham University student. The fact that it was women’s rugby I had come to watch, from a university where so many of both genders enthusiastically participate, was once again no surprise.

However, on the 20th August 2010 I was at the University of Surrey’s sports grounds not to support the Palatinate purple but the famous red and white of England’s women, the hosts of the IRB 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup. With a small crowd of 2500 around me, I watched the England team obliterate their Irish counterparts by a score of 27-0. Maggie Alphonsi, the England openside flanker, showed such a wealth of skills that The Times sportswriter Stephen Jones wrote that she had given “the greatest individual display I have seen by a female player; and it was not so far down my all-time list by a player of either sex”. However, you may have failed to recognise her name or have read about this English performance. In fact, do not fret if you often fail to keep up with the world of international women’s sport. For you, as well as these rugby players, are scrummaging against the disproportionate media coverage of women’s sport in Britain.

A 2010 Women’s Sport and Fitness

“Without equality in funding, female sports are more likely to remain amateur” Foundation (WSFF) report in March of this year showed that over three days only 2% of articles and 1% of images in the sports pages of national newspapers were devoted to women’s sport. In their study of Sky Sport’s TV coverage, they found that Sky Sports 1 and 2 failed to broadcast any female sport on March 14th 2010 while Sky Sports 3 managed to squeeze in an embarrassing three hours out of 72 hours of television.

Discussing this subject, my housemate patronisingly declares that there is not substantial demand to broadcast female sports. This is the unsurprising chauvinist denial of the problem in question. How, as the public, can we demand to be teased

by Alphonsi’s crafty footwork and electric surges through the opponent’s defensive lines if we are unaware of who Maggie (nicknamed “The Machine”) is in the first place? Without recognisable household names for people, especially kids, to admire, no one will demand shirts are made or bigger rugby stadiums booked.

The cycle is perpetuated by the fact that without coverage and recognition, it is harder for the players to achieve the sort of interest that will attract both fans and sponsors alike. Without equality in funding and sponsorship, female sports are more likely to remain amateur. Consequently, high-quality athletes are not going to reach the pinnacle of their athletic ability, which they could if they had the chance to train and commit as much as men of the same field (excuse the pun). Impressively, the England rugby player Sophie Hemming balances rugby training with being a vet, which can take up 100 hours of her week with on-call work.

Equally the captain of the Scottish women’s rugby team, Sarah Gill, also devotes energy to the demanding hours of a surgeon.

The nature of women’s sports reporting conveys a lack of respect for these athletes and could be leading to larger societal issues. Whether sport is still deemed a so- Women’s rugby is one of the sports in which British players excel yet their achievements are rarely reported in the national and global media cially male pastime, especially team sport and contact sport, is a matter that has this statistic, we can infer that women’s other countries, such as New Zealand and football team in reaching the final of the been studied in depth. What is now wor- success is belittled and this must have re- Australia, a wide range of team and indi- European Championship in 2009 did in ryingly emerging is a fear of the effect that percussions into what teens and women vidual women’s sports receive a substantial fact lead to seventeen players being signed this could be having on the whole public, think of their gender’s relationship with amount of coverage alongside sportsmen. to central contracts to concentrate on fullnot just athletes. Becky Adlington, double sport. This has been linked to the WSFF While visiting New Zealand, I was shocked time football training. However, a cyniOlympic Gold medallist, has commented statistic that among young people aged to watch English netballers on terrestrial cal eye will note that in 2009 the England that the media has overly concentrated 16-24, women were half as active as men. TV, competing against the Kiwi “Silver men’s cricket team won the BBC Sports on her “girl-next-door” personality and Therefore, it is important that cultural Ferns”, who were famous enough to have Personality Team of the Year Award after obsession with shoes in relation to her attitudes to women’s sports change for the contracts advertising washing machines. they narrowly won the Ashes (criticised success. Chris Hoy’s Olympic cycling ef- players and society at large, with the me- The WSFF shows that Britain could and for underperforming when they were forts were widely appreciated in the me- dia a necessary tool in altering opinions. should be progressing this way with the ex- knocked out of the World Twenty20 that dia after winning gold medals at Beijing. While still Culture Secretary, Andy Burn- ample of how the women’s FA cup is now same year). The English women cricketers, Yet Victoria Pendleton, who also won a ham condemned the media for their part regularly televised on the BBC and attract- who won the World Cup and the World cycling gold, may be remembered instead in a society where girls were dropping out ed a healthy 1.5million viewers in 2008. Twenty 20 and retained the Ashes, holding for being successfully encouraged to pose of sport before the London 2012 OlymUnfortunately the England women’s it for the last three series and making them nude. Indeed one way the WSFF analysed pics. He argued in March 2009 for broad- rugby team and “the Machine” lost in the the most accomplished female cricket team online coverage of women’s sports was to casters, governing bodies and investors to final of the World Cup against New Zea- in the world, did not receive a similar aclook at images on the top ten sports web- change their ways and begin to encourage land 13-10. I hope that their excellent ef- colade. In this man’s world of sport, withsites. Out of 129 images, only four were of women’s sports more wholeheartedly. This forts on our English soil will have raised the out the media being forced into an onside women, one being Kate Lawler in her un- culture is neither successful for the UK nor, profile of women’s rugby in this country. position, this gender hypocrisy will exist derwear in a marathon photo shot. From in my opinion, a natural state of affairs. In The recent success of the English women’s despite the brilliance of our female athletes.

Hallowe’en is an occasion to be celebrated - not lambasted

The festival is second only to Christmas in our affections and with good reason, being an ancient time of rejoicing Hayley-Jane Doyle

I

t’s just a money-making scheme. The original meaning has completely evaporated and trick-or-treating is the ultimate begging ploy. Hallowe’en festivities are a total Americanisation of the true tradition. Are these negative images, articulated within the congregation of moaning Myrtles, really necessary? Has England finally turned irreversibly cynical? It would be simply glorious for us to show even a tiny sparkle of appreciation for Hallowe’en. A blithe attitude can certainly be a good thing every once in a while.

There are not many celebrations which have managed to maintain such national recognition and prominence; Halloween deserves huge congratulations for

managing to remain in the rat race for the public’s attention. We could perhaps even crown it second place to Christmas, a key member of the Holiday Hierarchy who, despite Hallowe’en’s intense jealousy, will inevitably never be beaten.

Surely within our everpresent cult of consumerism, profit will always be a vital motivating factor. In the current economic climate, H a l l o w e ’e n can be seen as a positive influence, allowing retailers to have confirmation of when particular items, such as pumpkins and fancy dress, are sure to be rapidly seized off the shelves in a flurry of Hallowe’en excitement.

Bowing to the persuasive temptation of submission to Hallowe’en’s celebrations provides an opportunity for fun, partying, reuniting with friends, and a valuable focus for social events.

This year BBC Radio in Northampton is running a competition for artists to write songs with Hallowe’en as the theme; the winning songs will be played live on 29th October. With Hallowe’en being an almost obligatory celebration for companies and institutions in the limelight, it provides a nucleus for imagination, reinvention AR THE JAGU TAMBAKO and involvement; BBC radio here, has successfully managed to carpe diem.

Samhuinn, of Celtic pagan origins, was a festival used as an escape from the constraints of structure and normal organisation, where time was abolished and chaos ruled. It marked the end of the light half of the year and the beginning of the dark half.

People dressed up and children knocked on doors asking for food. However, the abolition of normality had a deeper meaning, the veil separating our world from “the other side” was removed and contact could be made with the departed.

Then, with the coming of Christianity, the church was unable to stop people from celebrating the festival so it was named Hallowe’en and, as a passionate, determined, strong individual; he remained, effective and unwavering. This Christian concern is still rife in a contemporary sense. The Rt Rev Kieran Conry, Bishop of Arundel and Brighton, spoke out against Hallowe’en, denouncing it as a complete waste of time and having no meaning whatsoever. Conry is among

the school of thought which strongly feels that the celebrations are unnecessary due to them compromising other (mainly Christian) religious and spiritual beliefs.

Despite his disapproving comments, he is once again proving the power which Hallowe’en has managed to achieve; Conry’s resolution to the supposed problem of Hallowe’en was for children to instead dress as Saints to commemorate All Hallows’ Day, a day to honour all the saints. Halloween is too prominent to be erased so Conry can only suggest channeling the concept in another direction.

Hallowe’en requires a Hagrid-sized pat on the back for managing to be flexible enough to submerge itself in a new cultural climate year by year, with its tradition still being undeniably evident.

Time has been unusually transparent in terms of roots and typicality of practice.

Society should once again let rip, laugh in the face of routine regularity and cease the cynicism.

E01

Michelle Wisson

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PALATINATE Tuesday 26th October 2010

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Debate Comment

The traditions of elite universities alienate certain students

After a recent blog by a student was featured in The Guardian, our writers debate the value of Durham conventions JEPOIRRIER

Rachael Revesz YES

NO

F

I

nstead of storming ahead wearing my Jack Wills gilet – it was a gift, alright – and hypocritically arguing that Durham traditions alienate students from certain backgrounds, I would rather suggest that yes, they do have the potential to do so. Which is totally understandable and, frankly, undeniable.

How can you possibly argue that longstanding, totally ingrained and often inbred traditions in Durham and other top universities, which traditionally cater for the more privileged members of society, do not have the potential to alienate those from elsewhere?

We can congratulate our universities for widening access in recent years. Their obsession to tick the ethnic diversity box is unparalleled in history following immense pressure to ensure that their admission statistics cannot be used as proof of discrimination. The Equalities Act is now in force and a higher proportion of state school students are being actively recruited.

But the widening of access to Durham as an educational institution should be running parallel to the expanding inclusion on a social scale. And it is not.

Formals, balls, boat races and gilets – from the perspective of the ordinary citizen, the Durham world may appear surreal. The majority of people do not get sloshed on a Saturday evening by slyly stuffing coppers into wine bottles, or feel the hilarious need to use elbows and surnames to address those sitting around the table.

In Freshers’ week we are effectively plunged into a lifestyle which is the very nature and, some might say, the charm of Durham itself.

But however hard we try to frock it up in gowns, robes and beautiful architecture, classism remains a known and widelyaccepted phenomenon among our British educational system.

Dr Daniel Conway from Loughborough University compared the race divide in South Africa to the class divide in Britain.

“Any critique or attack on white privilege is immediately rebuffed as being inherently discriminatory and unjust and therefore the

“People will, by default at least, group together in their own social class”. privileged suddenly becomes the victim”.

An episode such as the “boycott” of Bristol University by public school authorities due to its alleged favouritism towards state school applicants could be a class-driven equivalent of racial apartheid in other countries, it has been suggested.

Dr Conway added: “Elite institutions build and rest their status too much on the back of such class distinctions and rituals and are not willing to address the cultural problems that result from valorising such attitudes and behaviour”.

I feel complacent enough to guess what the opposing debater might say, judging by some online comment forums on the subject. I might be accused of making “sweeping sociological conclusions through anecdote”.

They might say that formals are inclusive: they are a chance for everyone to mix and mingle. Formals and balls are jovial, vibrant and atmospheric events where everyone has the opportunity to binge drink

Daisy-Rose Srblin

The traditions associated with the archaic buildings may be seen as exclusively upper-class

in unison and, well…if do not like it, why are you here?

It all seems a little too predictable. As Dr Conway suggested, is their denial of social mobility and education being restricted along class lines an expression of their vested interest in perpetuating their privilege?

In other words, do they just not want to give it up?

Luckily for me, I enjoy the odd binge drink and am just as willing as the majority of my privately-schooled neighbours to indulge in purposely complicated drinking games. I am not self-conscious of my accent or of my state school education and, effectively, I just get on with it.

“Class differences are an unfortunate inevitability of British society.”

But that does not mean that I agree with the attitude which regards the participation in upper-class traditions as an effective means of integration.

The problem is that, among the highranking British universities, a good education usually equates with a very good upbringing, as well as social status, money and an up-turned collar.

There is no common ground to stand on. And, as a friend pointed out, who is it that will have to do the adapting? There-

ormal hall, croquet on Palace Green, Matriculation in the cathedral, a spot of Quidditch on a warm summer’s evening. These are just some of the marvels awaiting a first year Durham student. I remember my first formal (complete with three-course meal and silverware) like it was yesterday. Possibly because it was yesterday, but that’s by the by.

We all have the same worries and fears when starting university: the stress of matching names to faces, courses to A-levels, interests to drinks-of-choice.

Adjusting to new expectations and a new environment can also be daunting, whilst the more unusual aspects of a university can seem strange at first. However, it would be all too simple and condescending to say that a student from a working class background is guaranteed to feel alienated by traditions at the university, when economic considerations and issues surrounding social diversity play a far bigger role in shaping their time here.

Surely we should be celebrating these idiosyncrasies, these traditions that set us apart from other “top-tier” institutions and make our time here all the more memorable.

The strangest of our traditions will most likely seem “arcane” to the majority of students, regardless of social background. The idea that a middle class student is more accustomed to crab-eating, Latin prayer and croquet is as narrow-minded and dated as suggesting that most working class students subscribe to the Socialist Worker, eat Spam and plan a dictatorship of the proletariat in their spare time.

Far from alienating any class of student, these traditions serve to unite, whether through a sense of collegiate loyalty, or through a fond awareness of the silliness of it all.

“We should be celebrating these idiosyncracies, these “Classism may well occur in an institution traditions that set us regardless of its ‘historic apart from other ‘toptier’ institutions and traditions’”. make our time here all I like to think of the TV show The Inbe- the more memorable ”. tweeners, when Will turns up at Warwick fore, students from state schools may well be put off from applying to Durham even before the UCAS stage.

University to be baffled by a bunch of students sitting around with a crate of Fosters, shouting at him to drink every time he asks a question.

The more moronic he finds their game, the more he is pressured to drink. He ends up tearing apart a bonsai tree with his teeth.

(Although Will is the archetypal posh guy with a briefcase, the show effectively highlights a case of someone who has not been previously exposed to that environment).

Class differences are an unfortunate inevitability of British society. This problem does not apply uniquely to Durham; in fact classism may well occur in an institution regardless of its “historic traditions”.

People will, by default at least, group together in their own social class. However, the overt celebration of our essentially upper-class way of life at Durham does have the potential to exclude as well as bring some of us together.

The argument that “arcane” traditions are to blame for any alienation of working class students fails to address the issue at the heart of this: underrepresentation. It may well be argued that many traditional universities are not as socially diverse, and therefore not as representative, as some of the newer universities.

This is not to say in any way that a working class student is then “guaranteed” to feel alienated, but it may well seem strange at first.

I am not suggesting that every university should be a microcosm of society, but it is certainly true that working class students might feel more comfortable as a result of the presence of individuals from similar backgrounds – the same can be said of any underrepresented group.

If anything is likely to contribute to the alienation of a working class student, it

would be the lack of social diversity.

Finally, it is worthwhile looking at “arcane” traditions as more than just an oddity: in many ways, they serve to encourage the integration of all members of the university. Particularly for students from a working class background, the more eccentric aspects of life at a traditional university are particularly appealing.

“The idea that a middle class student is more accustomed to crabeating, Latin prayer and croquet is as narrow-minded and dated as suggesting that most working class students subscribe to the Socialist Worker and eat Spam”.

Age-old traditions form the character of a university. Studying at a traditional university provides students with a chance to finally be on the map – a university like Durham has a proud history, a world-class reputation, and a name people recognise, and promotes a real sense of belonging for many students, a sense not necessarily fostered at most local comprehensives, grammar schools or even private schools.

The list of people from working class backgrounds who have attended universities with seemingly “arcane” traditions, and whose personalities and future careers have been shaped by their time there is considerable, including Alan Bennett, Edward Heath, Ted Hughes and Pat Barker.

Instead of looking at these traditions as something to deride and even to blame for alienation, our traditional ways show how we are different, and why we are different, ultimately setting us apart from the crowd.

Far from alienating working class students, they provide a springboard to move to bigger and better things. These traditions make our university unique, and ultimately ensure our graduates are in demand.

At a university such as Durham we are a part of a wider community, and we have many more opportunities than were available at our previous schools, which should surely be celebrated. So if we don our gowns a couple of times a term, or indulge in hearty recital of our college song at the gates of Hatfield, it is worth putting these traditions in perspective.

Along with our academic excellence our traditions make our university what it is, and provide our students with a sense of infinite possibility.

If ever there was a time when formal hall was a test to see how well you know your port, those days are now firmly in the past, along with the dominance of the English aristocracy and the non-ironic wearing of tweed. We delight in our traditions with a sense of fun, but more seriously speaking, they make our university what it is. Our unusual ways distinguish us from the Bristols and Manchesters of the land, and I strongly feel it is something to be grateful for.

A student at Durham has every door open to them, partly as a result of the worldwide standing of the university but also because of the confidence gained here. And for this we have arcane traditions to thank.

17

PALATINATE Tuesday 26th October 2010

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Sport

Sport

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Off to a flyer: impressive Durham sweep Loughborough aside CHRIS WILLETTS

Women’s Lacrosse Durham: Loughborough:

13 5

Mike Horrocks

D

urham Women’s Lacrosse Firsts made an admirable start to their British University and College Sport (BUCS) campaign, making short work of Loughborough and securing a 13-5 victory in a confident display at Maiden Castle.

Initial signs, however, had not been encouraging. Inside a minute Loughborough were in front, having broken quickly from deep inside their own half. The situation worsened as Loughborough added a second scarcely two minutes later. With the Palatinates looking somewhat ragged, Coach Jess Adams attempted to stem the tide by calling a third minute timeout.

After the restart Durham began to assert themselves on the game, having the best of the possession and creating a number of good chances. Yet it was not until almost half way through the first half that the home side made the pressure count, cutting Loughborough’s lead in half. With the Palatinates now looking more composed, it was not long before the equalizer came, courtesy of Christie Barnes.

Loughborough’s defence started to crack as Durham began to dominate the tie. The Palatinates added four more before a flowing Loughborough move reduced the deficit to three, giving Durham a 6-3 lead at half-time.

Both sides started well after the break,

After Wednesday’s imposing display against Loughborough, Durham have the BUCS Lacrosse National Championship title in their crosshairs

but it was Loughborough who drew first blood, just five minutes into the second half. Durham rallied well, however, quickly restoring their three goal lead after the ball was bundled into the away side’s net.

Another goal soon followed as Durham

began to put any hope of a Loughborough comeback out of reach. Two powerful strikes within a minute from fresher Lulu Rowlands made victory look comfortable at 10-4, despite Loughborough’s continued hard work.

As the match entered its final quarter the Loughborough goalkeeper was sent from the field of play after receiving a yellow card for an unintentional head check. Durham duly converted from the resulting penalty. Although Loughborough managed to

score a fifth in the 52nd minute of the game, it was clear that this was to be Durham’s day.

With barely five minutes left, Tash Bott secured her second goal of the match, cutting sharply inside to thrash the ball home. Soon after, Barnes put the seal on a very sweet win for the Palatinates.

Speaking afterwards, Coach Adams said that she was happy with the result, especially after such a shaky start. She valued having to face such strong opposition in the first match of the year: “it’s good to have a tough start because it lets you measure how good you are”. Adams was not, however, going to let the team get carried away with this initial success. She pointed out that there were a number of areas where the Palatinates needed to improve, most notably their finishing in front of goal.

Quentin Sloper, Assistant Director of Sport at Durham, stated this year’s goal for the Women’s Lacrosse Firsts in no uncertain terms: to win the BUCS Lacrosse National Championship. After bitter disappointment last year following defeat

by Cambridge in the semi-finals, the Palatinates are desperate to go all the way this time.

Although the stiffer test is likely to come from current title holders Birmingham, twice victors over Durham last year and off to a similarly impressive start after disposing of Edinburgh 13-4 in their opening game, such a comprehensive victory over one of the country’s finest teams can only bode well. The Durham team should be brimming with confidence going into their next fixture away at Newcastle.

On 17th March 2011 the Women’s Lacrosse Championship Final will be held at Mount Saint Mary’s College, Sheffield. On the basis of their performance in this season’s first match, we may well see Durham there.

India’s athletes shine on home turf as 2010 Games prove a success Hotly-debated, revolutionary, spectacular: as the curtain descends on the nineteenth Commonwealth Games, one of the most controversial in recent history, it has certainly given the casual onlooker food for thought.

We’ve been treated to the emergence of India as an athletic powerhouse, a plethora of medals for the home-nations and the rising of a host of new and wonderful Games disciplines. Combine that with Nigerian drug-cheats, the shambles of the women’s 100m and the anxiety surrounding the athletes’ village and Delhi’s offering was unquestionably one of the most memorable Games to date.

From an English perspective, the Games were encouraging: despite being ousted

by India as the second placed team on the final day, the medal haul was up from 110 in 2006 to 143 (without the likes of Phillips Idowu, Jessica Ennis and Christine Ohuruogu, all definite gold medal favourites).

Particular credit should go to the swimming team, who picked up 34 medals.

Individual praise goes to Tom Daley, Becky Adlington, James Tancock, and Mark Lewis-Francis for wonderful goldearning performances over the course of the Games. What was slightly disappointing however was the medal ratio; just over 25% of the medals won were gold and there were a remarkable 60 silvers, most of which

could, and probably should, have been gold. Particular sympathy here has to go to the English hockey teams, both agonisingly knocked out in the semi-finals (the men in a gut-wrenchingly heartbreaking penalty shoot-out), and poor old Nathan Robertson who appeared in three separate badminton finals but failed to win gold.

The other home nations performed similarly to previous Games, with special commendation due to Dai Greene, who continued his splendid year by coasting to the 400m hurdles gold for Wales; Scot Millar winning Scotland’s first ever road cycling gold in the time trials; Hannah Miley holding off stiff competition to secure the 400m individual medley title; and Northern Ireland’s boxing trio of Paddy Barnes, Paddy Gallagher and Eamonn O’Kane, who each sparred themselves to gold-medal success.

Yet this Games’ real success story belonged to the hosts’ amazing and sudden materialisation not only as an inspired team sports power, but in receiving their first athletics medals in 50 years as they established themselves as a real threat in track and field events as well.

Personal highlights of their Games include a one-two-three in the women’s discus, courtesy of Krishna Poonia, Harvant Kaur and Seema Antil; Sushil Kumar’s devastating 66kg wrestling gold; and last, but definitely not least, the huge shock of the 4x400m relay, in which Manjeet Kaur, Sini Jose, Ashwini Chidananda Akkunji and Mandeep Kaur came home to win a

glorious gold. The atmosphere for this was even greater than Beijing’s Bird Nest when the crowd celebrated Usain Bolt’s comparatively superior achievements two years ago.

India has sent the sporting world a golden message: they are well and truly here to stay.

The Games, however, were not without their debacles. The women’s 100m was probably the most eminently farcical.

English sprinter Laura Turner was shown a red card for a false start. Then the declared

winner, Australia’s Sally Pearson, was left in tears after she was also disqualified for a false start; just before she was due to step onto the podium. The gold medal initially went to runner-up Osayemi Oludamola, of Nigeria, who ungraciously complained of fellow athletes’ inability to follow the rules.

Somewhat inevitably, Oludamola then tested positive for a banned stimulant and lost her medal.

However, this was merely a blemish on

what was in fact, regardless of the media furore before the event, a superbly executed and wildly exciting Commonwealth Games, epitomised by Kenya’s Irene Jerotich who, after being tripped and falling badly at a water stop in the marathon, came back to win with aplomb.

This remarkable achievement exemplifies Delhi 2010; despite all of its obstacles and hiccoughs, it delivered when it mattered. And boy did it deliver well.

FLICKR ID: SEAVIEW99

James Day

Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium: a site of scandal, controversey and a highly successful Commonwealth Games.

Tuesday 26th October 2010 PALATINATE

18

Sport

College sport: bane of Durham’s sporting elite?

Simon Lamb investigates the battle for athletes’ allegiances between College and University Sport GARETH CHAMBERS

Rowers take charge on River Tyne

Follow us on Twitter for up-to-date reports and results @palatiSPORT

John Harris

Despite forecasts of rain early in the week and ominous looking clouds on the day, conditions for the Tyne United Small Boats Head race on Saturday 16th October were near perfect. The competition was effectively a time trial over the five kilometre stretch between Scotswood and Newburn on the River Tyne. Durham was well represented, comprising almost a quarter of the total finishing crews, with a healthy contingent of Durham University Boat Club (DUBC) competitors and a number of College crews.

With racing underway, crews got to grips with the course and their opponents.

DUBC was, as ever, triumphant; posting the fastest times in five of the six disciplines in which it entered crews. Especially convincing was its domination of the Men’s Double Sculls, taking the first three places with a cushion of a minute over the next competitors in their class.

Durham posted fastest times in the Women’s Pair, Women’s Coxed Four, Women’s Single Scull and Men’s Coxed Four. DUBC also competed in the Tyne Long Distance Scull where they secured fastest times in the Men’s Quad and Women’s Double Scull. The DUBC President seemed pleased with the day’s performances; commenting that, with GB trials on the weekend of 23rd and 24th, the competition “provided a good chance for the triallists to get some race experience in” and that it served as a useful gauge of how Durham is shaping up against Newcastle.

Notable performances from the Colleges came from St Aidan’s, University College and Hatfield. Aidan’s men posted comfortably the fastest time of any College in the Men’s Coxed Fours, only losing out to University College crews for the top spot. The Aidan’s Club Captain dubbed the performance “an excellent start to Aidan’s Head Season”.

University College’s Novice Men’s IV outshone all but one of the more senior Intermediate 3 College crews, including a fellow University College Boat Club (UCBC) crew. The UCBC President said he was “reasonably happy”.

Having only had two outings prior to the race, the Van Mildert Men’s Four struggled to find its form of Regatta season and posted a time over 50 seconds slower than Aidan’s as third fastest College. The Van Mildert Boat Club (VMBC) President is confident that they will be back on form again by Rutherford Head.

College women were somewhat underrepresented with only four crews between all the Colleges, three of which were sent

by Hatfield and one by Aidan’s. This should not detract, however, from a strong performance by Hatfield’s 1st Women’s Four, who developed a cushion of 30 seconds over their Club-mates to secure the mantle of fastest Women’s College crew; their 2nd IV came in 2nd and Aidan’s in 3rd. The Hatfield President said her “1st and 2nd IVs raced fantastically” and that she was anticipating a closely competed year ahead.

To an outsider, the day seemed like just another easy win for some of the DUBC rowers: Palatinate overheard the view of one member: “it’s just a business row today”. With little or no time to prepare for most College crews,it constituted for them a testing of the water: to see how rusty they and their counterparts had become over the summer. Perhaps we should wait for Rutherford Head on 27th November before we make any predictions as to which College will dominanate Collegiate rowing this year.

D

urham University’s collegiate system has a long and illustrious history, embodying the traditional nature of this great academic institution.

With sixteen different colleges a divisive state of affairs occurs naturally as affiliation to your particular college is drilled into the subconscious of all new recruits.

One’s loyalty to one’s own college, although not always attested to by everyone, is uniform throughout the University. The regular formals, social events and, most notably, sports matches maintain a student’s ties with their college even upon moving out to live in the city after their first year.

There has long been the argument that with such strong allegiance to a college in the sporting arena Durham University sport has suffered as a consequence.

Team Durham are unquestionably one of the major sporting forces in almost every field throughout the country. However, there still lingers a feeling that the college system is distracting many talented sports men and women from achieving success in the highest level of sport available to them.

Talented players from school sports teams arrive at Durham and naturally the University’s reputation as a sporting powerhouse plants the seed of doubt that they are not good enoughin their minds.

This ultimately grows, under careful nurturing by college sport captains, to prevent these students from realising their potential and having the opportunity to play for the University.

“It could be argued that a strong allegiance to college sport detracts from University sport ”

Is college sport robbing Team Durham of some its finest athletes?

To play University sport you need to be committed to playing at the highest level.

This involves rigorous fitness regimes, taxing training sessions and long away days to compete against other universities which often are at academically inopportune times. The elite level demanded and unshakable dedication required is often where many of the high class college sportsmen and women fall short.

Monopoly of a club at the college level is easily achieved and with it comes a guarantee of one’s place in the team and thus the freedom to pick and choose training sessions at will. Many senior college personnel know that their sporting prowess gives them the power to dictate terms without facing repercussions. Obviously this is not

always the case, yet particularly among established players this pattern is all too common.

At the University level idleness is not accepted. Willingness to train and to commit to the sport is imperative. Relying on talent alone and allowing a carefree attitude to encroach is tantamount to failure.

With persuasive captains, loyalty ingrained from day one, a laid back approach and financial attractions it does appear that colleges hold the upper hand.

Yet, with all this in mind, University sport still holds the trump card; the chance to play at the very highest level which for many is their last opportunity to do so.

Women’s Lacrosse first team captain, Katie Sloane, summarises what she believes is the crux of this particular debate; “University sport offers you the chance to play at the very highest level, providing access to the very best coaching and facilities available and thus is an opportunity that should not be squandered”.

Elliot Kay, Durham University Amateur Football Club (DUAFC) captain, had similar sentiments, believing that the University level of sport is still home to the elite sportsmen and women; “having held college trials I think the standard is too high for college players. The best student footballers across Durham play for the University”.

Elliot did, however, believe that the collegiate system and the University Sport set up can help one another to facilitate the development of sport at all levels. “I don’t see them as a hindrance to each other”, he said, “I think they can complement each other as University players can play for the college and collegiate footballers can make the jump up to the top level”.

Finding a common ground between College and University sport is therefore vital to allowing the continuation of Team Durham’s significant sporting success. If any discrepancies that still exist can be found and eradicated then the elite sportsmen and women, who share an appetite to play at their highest possible standard, can continue to flourish playing for Durham.

There can be no doubt that College sport provides an arena for all sporting standards and it is this provision which makes Durham such an attractive proposition for sport mad undergraduates. Having the very privileged position of being able to choose the level you play at from ‘pub teams’ to nationally recognised University sides is a luxury that makes Durham a cut above its rivals.

Reigning champions Collingwood squashed by Grey A team Women’s Squash Grey:

3

Collingwood:

2

John Burn-Murdoch

Sunday 17th saw the opening fixtures of the new women’s squash season. Getting proceedings underway were two teams who endured contrasting seasons last time around; Collingwood A came into the match confident of an early victory as reigning champions; while opponents Grey A, who had finished bottom of the pile last year, were well aware of the task that lay

ahead and were looking as much for a good team performance as anything else.

First onto the court were the thirds, with Jess Pratt and Charlotte Bradley representing Grey and Collingwood respectively. In a hotly contested game the balance of power swung from one to the other but in the end Charlotte’s athleticism saw her sneak a 9-7 win to give the reigning champions a great start.

Next up were the number fours, with Grey’s Camilla Ford lining up against Ellie Onions of Collingwood. There were some fantastic rallies on show here in a very even match but after a tight start Camilla broke away and took the game 9-5. This levelled things up at one game apiece.

The third tie saw the firsts take to the court, with Collingwood’s Kat Moore facing Grey captain Olivia Murphy. The

standard of play on show in this match was truly first class with both players displaying excellent technique as they attempted to outwit each other. Powerful serves were the order of the day as Olivia surged into an early lead but, just as she looked as if she would open up a gap over her opponent, the tide turned and Kat gave her a taste of her own medicine. The game looked like it would go right down to the wire but Olivia’s guile at the front of the court eventually saw her through to a 9-6 win, putting Grey 2-1 ahead.

No sooner had Grey shot into a shock lead than parity was restored as the seconds played out an entertaining game of their own. Grey’s Caroline Chard lined up against Collingwood’s Esmé Swindells and after a tense opening few rallies it was Esmé who took the initiative. Both players

showed fantastic agility but Esmé came through on the day, winning 9-3 and setting up a tense finale.

With the scores tied heading into the last pairing, the number fives had it all to play for. Into the fray stepped Grey’s Lucy Senior and Collingwood’s Jess Brown and, with their team mates watching anxiously, the decider got underway. After a cagey start where serve alternated to and fro it was Grey who made the breakthrough.

Putting her fierce serve to good use Lucy swept into the lead and, try as she might, Jess just couldn’t get a foothold from which to push. The closely fought encounter came to its conclusion as Lucy’s persistence paid off and she closed out an impressive win by nine points to nil, handing a Grey a shock victory against their more illustrious opponents.

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PALATINATE Tuesday 26th October 2010

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Sport

Mens Hockey 1st XI overcome ill-disciplined Belper ROBERT BURGESS

Westley talks cricket, work and Wikipedia Tom Clarke

Whilst my juvenile dreams of becoming the next Beckham or Freddie Flintoff have long laid shattered in the gutter, there are some at Durham who are still relentlessly pursuing theirs. Tom Westley is one them.

Durham’s 1st IX cricket captain is the youngest ever player to score a century for Cambridgeshire at the age of nine and then, at fourteen, Essex County Cricket Club ignited the proverbial rocket strapped to his back and his career took off.

After captaining England Under 19’s, Westley has already made 35 First Class appearances, has two First Class centuries to his name and is now aiming to follow Andrew Strauss and Nasser Hussein in becoming the third Durham Alumni to captain England.

I met up with him to talk captaincy, writing essays on tour in Barbados and, after a fascicle summer, whether cricket can ever recover.

As a big fish in Durham’s pond, have you ever Googled yourself?

No, but my housemates have created a Wikipedia page for me which is quite funny.

Who is the best player you’ve played with and against?

The best players I’ve played with are either Andy Flower or Alastair Cook. At Essex, I can turn to Cooky for advice as well which is great. In terms of people i’ve played against, it would probably be Mark Ramprakash although Tino Best almost took my head off this summer!

The Palatinates will take heart from their imposing performance against an ill-disciplined and frustrated Belper side last Sunday.

Men’s Hockey Durham:

3

Belper:

0

Louisa Boddy

F

ollowing the success of the women’s first X1 with their 3-1 victory against Belper on the previous day, Durham’s men’s side were looking to replicate the achievement of their female counterparts with a home win, also against Belper.

With previous meets between the two sides proving to be well contested, a large crowd turned out to lend their support to Durham as Belper looked to disrupt the home side’s recent impressive form.

Both teams began their campaign somewhat tentatively with neither side managing to break through the opposition’s defence.

Durham however showed early initiative, retaining much of the possession with control and patience, setting the disciplinary tone for the remainder of their first half performance.

After a period of evenly contested play, Durham took the early advantage after some slick teamwork which left George Scott with just enough room to guide the ball between the legs of the Belper keeper at fifteen minutes.

For the majority of the first half, neither side offered much in the form of attacking play as the ball was retained in each defensive third with the aim of creating space to attack by drawing the opposition out of shape.

However, with both teams remaining disciplined and sticking firmly to their tactical play, the only convincing chances on goal came from numerous breaks, none of which were capitalised upon.

After failing to produce any forceful attacking play or to win any penalty corners, the teams entered half time with just the one goal separating them.

The second half began much like the first had ended, as each team continued to pursue a tactical approach to play. Despite Belper trailing by one goal, they persisted in adopting a deep press, giving the Durham defence space to knock the ball around the back with relative ease.

“The Palatinate’s revival of energy proved to be too much for the Belper defence” Much of the half saw the play take place in the middle third of the pitch, with neither side managing to consistently produce links

to their forwards, instead relying on long passes and aeriel balls from the back which were often intercepted.

With only one penalty corner being awarded throughout the first twenty minutes of the second half, it looked as though the score line would remain unchanged.

However, a fantastic break by Durham just fifteen minutes from the final whistle marked the turning point in the game, as Durham narrowly missed going two ahead having forced a save from the Belper keeper with an excellent deflection attempt.

Durham continued to run at the Belper defence, testing them properly for the first time in the game and being rewarded with a series of penalty corners as a result of some aggressive Belper tackles.

The Palatinate’s revival of energy proved to be too much for the Belper defence, and after already having givien out a green card for bad tackling, the umpire gave the Belper captain his marching orders with a yellow card and Durham were awarded their fourth penalty corner.

On this occasion, the ball found the back of the net as Daniel Coultas coolly fired his drag flick low into the corner to bring the score to two nil. A two goal lead didn’t seem to be enough for the determined Durham side, who continued to attack with pace, intercept passes and squeeze Belper deep into their defensive pocket.

The frustration of the opposition was increasingly evident as a second yellow

card was awarded to a Belper player for bad language, reducing their team to only nine players.

“The frustration of the opposition became evident as a second yellow card was awarded” The temporary absence of the two Belper players was immediately evident as Durham were able to exploit a demoralised Belper team and seal their victory with a final goal from Alex Czerniewski who fired the ball past the hopeless Belper keeper with a neat deflection from the cross ball into the circle.

Durham will be pleased with their three nil win and continue with increasing confidence into their upcoming fixtures.

Think you could write a great match report?

Want to gain valuable experience in journalism?

E-mail: sport@palatinate.org.uk

What is the best memory in your career so far?

Captaining England Under 19’s was obviously a massive honour for me, but playing a pivotal role in winning promotion for Essex in the last game of the season just beats it (he scored 132 in the first innings and 40 in the second).

So, if you can’t be a professional cricket player, what would you be?

Probably homeless! Cricket is all I’ve wanted to do since I was nine and now that I have the chance to do it I realise I am very privileged. It continues to be my priority through Uni (to the detriment of my grades)!

Should we be betting on your future?

Ha, ha. Well, obviously I’m not a million miles away but I would hate you to lose any money on my account. In five years time I hope to have established myself in the Essex 1st team and England is the goal. I think when I stop pushing to play for England I will give up cricket. I don’t see the point in becoming stagnant and settling for less.

Finally, reflecting on cricket’s betting scandals this summer, can you give us a little signal so we can bet on your next no-ball?

I’ll give my ear a little rub!

Tuesday 26th October 2010 PALATINATE

20

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Inside: is college sport the bane of our sporting elite?

Tyne United Head and all the latest University sport news CHRIS WILLETS

Out-muscled and out-played: Northumbria were unable to compete with an impressive Durham 1st side, who dominated play from the off, scoring an admirable fourteen point lead over the rival North-East University

Local rivals Northumbria prove no match for decisive DURFC Men’s Rugby Durham:

32

Northumbria:

18

James Oram

B

illed as an immense clash between two of English University rugby’s North-Eastern giants, the contest between Durham University Rugby Football Club (DURFC) and Northumbria on the 20th was the perfect fixture to promote the first team’s inaugural home ‘Super Wednesday’ clash.

In recent seasons, Northumbria have been a serious force to be reckoned with but, on this occasion, they were out-muscled and out-played by a highly impressive Palatinate outfit, only managing to procure points sporadically and not through their own invention, but rather feeding off the home side’s mistakes.

Durham started brightly, putting the ball through the hands with consummate ease, but also giving early indications that winning the forward battle was well within their grasp.

The first scoring opportunity fell to

Mike Ward around the five minute mark, as Durham were awarded a penalty 35 metres out. Ward struck the ball sweetly, only to see it rebound off the post. Fortunately, Durham reacted more quickly to the loose ball (something that was to become a recurring theme during the game) and regained possession.

From an ensuing scrum, the powerful Durham pack caused the Northumbria front-row to buckle and, as the Durham forwards rumbled over the line, number eight, Joe Allen was able to dot the ball down for a simple five-pointer.

Maybe complacency began to seep into Durham’s game as they sensed that they were by far the superior team and, with the enticement of wreaking total havoc foremost in their minds, mistakes were made and penalties conceded.

That said, there were regular penetrative incursions made by Sam Rupar and the outstanding Tom Shiel and this pattern continued until, with half an hour gone, Rupar again made a barn-storming break and Tom Dugarin touched down a couple of phases later with the Northumbria defence at sixes and sevens.

Almost immediately following this, however, Durham let Northumbria straight back into the game, with their speedy flanker making the most of a spilt pass and racing

clear of the floundering defenders to find a pass to put their centre under the posts.

This came as somewhat of a shock but normal service soon resumed with Ward kicking a penalty into the corner and the ever-reliable lineout producing another unstoppable maul, resulting in a try for giant lock Joe Thomas.

However, an uncharacteristic mistake from Alex Graham at the back allowed Northumbria another point-scoring opportunity; this time with their outstanding flanker the beneficiary of good build up play, they scored in the corner.

“Durham were able to shut out Northumbria once and for all” This was the last action of the half with the scoreboard on the hill providing a visual prompt that, at this level, no game is a walkover. Bearing in mind their physical dominance up front and the opposition backs’ propensity to go missing in action every time the Durham three-quarters showed attacking intent, 17-12 was not a sufficient lead. There were early signs in the second

half that the anxieties of the Durham supporters were misplaced, as once again the forwards continued to wear down the Northumbria men.

Although they had their open-side sin binned for pulling a maul down, they were still able to release the pressure as the overly officious referee awarded a string of penalties to the visitors. As a result, the Northumbria fly-half narrowed the gap to two points when he knocked over a simple penalty from the 22 yard line; a blessing in fact to Durham since their defence had been in serious danger of being breached more gravely moments before.

A fairly uneventful passage of play followed, with the action centred around the middle third of the pitch, and the sides exchanging a penalty each as the hour mark was passed. At 20-18 with less than twenty minutes to play, Palatinate hearts must have been palpitating at the prospect of throwing away a golden opportunity to see off a dangerous rival.

Fortunately, Guy Sears single-handedly (literally) hauled Durham back into the driving seat with a strong charge down, resulting in Durham regaining the loose ball and Thomas getting his second try of the day with a drive from point-blank range.

Durham continued to concede penalties but soaked up the pressure admirably.

However, captain Malaney was forced off with a back injury, just one of several casualties of a particularly intense and physical period of play.

Eventually though, Durham reverted to the tried and tested method to ultimately sap the legs and hearts of the opposition: the driving maul. With freshman hooker Fred Stonell’s throwing consistently accurate, and the tight five still prevailing, Durham were able to gain field position and crucially retain possession to shut out Northumbria once and for all.

Yet despite this impartial observer’s mind turning towards consolidation, the enterprising Rob Gash nonchalantly knocked a box kick into the corner, having noted the mismatch of the speedster Charlie Lambert against the rather more sluggish Northumbria prop. The ball fell neatly straight into the arms of the diving Lambert for Durham’s fifth try, expertly converted by O’Toole from wide on the right.

Durham regained position from the kick off and played out the final few minutes with consummate ease, recording a win in the process of 32-18 which capped off a great couple of days for the club with all four sides securing convincing wins.

Nevertheless, the first team should not be complacement but should instead be warned: there will be tougher tests ahead.