Being trans at university Comment Experience explores transexuality in Durham p.14
Wolf Alice and Drenge on tour
Exclusive interview with two of Britain’s indie rock bands pp.10-11
Durham’s independent student newspaper
Palatinate
No. 776
Thursday 22nd October 2015| FREE
www.palatinate.org.uk
Photograph: James Boobier
Toxic Durham Union Society culture exposed Josh Smith Editor-in-Chief Following the latest controversy surrounding Durham Union Society (DUS), Palatinate has investigated the deep divide within the society, which is the result of racist and sexist remarks plaguing DUS over the last two years. DUS recently came under fire after it used a picture of ISIS terrorists to publicise a debate about Islam’s relationship with the western world. Although the picture was removed from the event page within
24 hours, a former student, Osha Al, encouraged others to send an email to Vice Chancellor Stuart Corbridge, calling for DUS to issue a formal apology. Napat Rungsrithananon, the current DUS President, issued a public apology, which stated: “I recognise that it was a poor choice of image, however no malice was intended, and I regret any unintentional harm it has caused.” With national coverage of the incident reaching the Daily Mirror, some have questioned whether the blunder will have a lasting impact on the society’s reputation.
It’s also not the first time that DUS has found itself in hot water. Former UKIP MEP Godfrey Bloom, who attended a debate titled ‘This House Believes the Right to Free Speech Means Nothing Without the Right to Offend’, has been invited to the Union at least eleven times, despite a significant protest by students during a debate he attended last May. Last term, a number of students protested against Bloom’s invitation to debate on feminism, shouting “No Room for Bloom!” and “Women’s rights now, no debate necessary.” Students made their views on Bloom more than clear, with a member of Durham University Feminist
Society claiming he never should have been invited because “we are giving a platform to someone who has made sexist, racist and homophobic comments.” This was in reference to him calling an audience member a “slut” at a party conference one year and describing the squeezing of people’s backsides as “this is life” at DUS. Various DUS members have spoken exclusively to Palatinate about the society’s recurring invitation to Bloom and the image this is giving the society. Kat Hind, a Castle third-year, who has been associated with the
DUS for the last two years, said: “It seems bizarre to have the same speaker coming back so often, it’s not exactly giving members, who pay a large amount for their membership, value for money. “I definitely feel that the reason for inviting Bloom back specifically is because he is controversial. “He draws a crowd for all the wrong reasons and it’s an ugly side of [DUS].” Arguing for the right to offend, Bloom only gave anecdotal evidence and name-dropped figures he had met. Continued on p.8
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Editorial For a reformed Durham Union Society Firstly, let me clarify that the headlining article is not an attack on Durham Union Society. But this editorial is. DUS does a lot of important things. It holds interesting debates week after week, which tackle a range of issues and give voice to a stimulating variety of opinions. It is the largest and oldest society in Durham, which involves an incredible proportion of the student body and helps students excel at what they’re interested in: debating. I’ve been fortunate enough to report on their charity work in the past, so I can vouch that by working with the vulnerable and disadvantaged, their efforts are unparalleled in some areas, and that certain members are a credit to the University. Furthermore, DUS is one of the University’s leading bastions of free speech and I wholly respect that it is an integral part to the student experience in Durham. But, and it’s a big ‘but’, its sense of tradition, its deep roots within the University and its power to invite those of celebrity status cannot hide where it has erred. Last week, Godfrey Bloom
was invited to speak at DUS for the eleventh time. Of course there is free speech, which must meticulously maintained, but then there are issues of quality control: did Bloom’s fairly inarticulate speech contribute anything to last week’s debate? Did we need to hear this man speak for the eleventh time? These wouldn’t be urgent questions if was not for the shocking context Palatinate has uncovered. Evidence of the prioritisation of male speakers, evidence of DUS officers engaging in a shamefully racist debate, evidence of deep-divides within DUS and evidence of DUS ignoring students, hint at something much uglier. From the way DUS holds debates and the sweeping issues they tackle, it is fair to suggest that DUS is controversial for the sake of being controversial. And what does this accomplish? Our investigation over the last two weeks has revealed a deeply-divided DUS. There are those who use DUS to debate and those who use DUS as a platform for sexist, racist, and quite frankly disgusting views. Not that I mean to cause
so much trouble in my first editorial, but I feel it’s my duty, and that of the paper’s, to report on these type of events and on the small handful of individuals that let many others down. A key suspect mentioned in the article warned me of raking up the past for controvery’s sake and told me to “let the dead past bury itself”. This sense of unaccountability and failure to recognise the significance of where DUS goes wrong cannot carry on. Palatinate has tried to get comment from the current DUS President and those that support DUS for balance, and has been ignored. Palatinate has also asked the University detailed questions about DUS and has been profoundly disappointed by the length and quality of its reply. But this story is running anyway and I hope you find it enlightening. Josh Smith
Thursday 22nd October 2015 | PALATINATE
Inside 776
Editorial Board
News pages 3-8
Editors-in-Chief Henry Clare and Josh Smith editor@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Editor Sandy Thin deputy.editor@palatinate.org.uk News Editors Daniel Fox and Ryan Gould news@palatinate.org.uk News Features Editor Siena Morrell news.features@palatinate.org.uk Deputy News Editors Mirriam Brittenden, Jasper Cox and Charlie Taylor-Kroll deputy.news@palatinate.org.uk Politics Editors Sofya Grebenkina and Rob Littleton politics@palatinate.org.uk Profile Editors Will Fremont-Barnes and Oliver Mawhinney profile@palatinate.org.uk Science and Technology Editor Bruno Martin scitech@palatinate.org.uk Comment Editor Alex Cupples comment@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Comment Editors Ellie Mullan and Oscar Rocklin deputy.comment@palatinate.org.uk Sport Editor Kieran Moriarty sport@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Sport Editors Charles Richardson, Matt Roberts and Kishan Vaghela deputy.sport@palatinate.org.uk Indigo Editors Patrick Brennan and Sraddha Venkataraman indigo@palatinate.org.uk Features Editor Ellen Finch feature@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Features Editor Cristina Cusenza deputy.features@palatinate.org.uk Food and Drink Editors Adrian Chew and Charlotte Payne food@palatinate.org.uk Travel Editor Megan Thorpe travel@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Travel Editor Laura Glenister deputy.travel@palatinate.org.uk Fashion Editor Sally Hargave fashion@palatinate.org.uk Film and Television Editor Rory McInnes-Gibbons film@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Film and Television Editor Hugo Camps-Harris deputy.film@palatinate.org.uk Stage Editor Isabelle Culkin stage@palatinate.org.uk Music Editors Jacqueline Duan and Will Throp music@palatinate.org.uk Creative Writing Editor Celeste Yeo creative.writing@palatinate.org.uk Books Editors Hannah Griffiths and Ellie Scorah books@palatinate.org.uk Visual Arts Editor Jane Simpkiss visual.arts@palatinate.org.uk Chief Sub-Editor Marianna Mukhametzyanova sub-editing@palatinate.org.uk Sub-Editors Sarah Boreham, Ollie Mair, Ciara Murphy, Maddy Winnard and Becky Wilson Online Editor Jessie Honnor online.editor@palatinate.org.uk Web Editor John Morris web.editor@palatinate.org.uk Photography Editor Venus Loi photography@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Photography Editors Verity Rimmer and Grace Tseng photography@palatinate.org.uk Illustrations Editor Mariam Hayat illustration@palatinate.org.uk Events and Publicity Officer Morgan Hayden-Kent publicity@palatinate.org.uk Advertising Officer Jess Sham advertising@palatinate.org.uk
SciTech page 9
Profile pages 10-11 Politics pages 12-13
Comment pages 14-16 Sport pages 18-20
indigo
Editorial page 2 Food & Drink page 3 Fashion page 4 Books page 5 Visual Arts pages 6-7 Creative Writing page 8 Features page 9 Film & TV pages 10-11 Travel pages 12-13 Music page 14 Stage page 15
Get involved! Are you a keen writer, photographer or illustrator? To get involved with a section, get in touch with the relevant editor using the email addresses to the left. We hope to see you in the paper soon!
The best of Palatinate Online www.palatinate.org.uk
Fashion: Rosie Nelson fights against the pressure to be super skinny
Profile: What does it mean to be English?
Jasmine Watkiss examines model Rosie Nelson’s petition against the pressure on models to become ultra skinny.
Prolific journalist and author Yasmin Alibhai-Brown talks to Profile’s Will Fremont-Barnes about the perils of patriotism and England’s ‘exotic’ cultural influences.
Visual Arts: Discover Durham’s grand designs Discover more about Durham’s unique look by delving into the architectural histories of some of it’s most architecturally striking buildings, with the help of Eleanor Sly.
Sport: Team Mary’s launched in style by footballers Matt Roberts was watching as Team Mary’s celebrated their launch night with wins for the men’s football A and C teams.
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 University. 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
PALATINATE | Thursday 22nd October 2015
Union President’s Column
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News
News
@PalatinateNews
There are so many opportunities for you to get involved in the Students’ Union, whether that’s by voicing your opinion and directing our work, accessing our services or just having fun. Here are our top five things to do this term!
1. Come to the Riverside Bar to socialise with friends and enjoy our new evening entertainment programme. Enjoy live sport, free Domino’s pizza, late night DJ sets, live music and much more. Visit our website for our newly launched evening entertainment programme. 2. Join a student group – we have nearly 200 to choose from. These include our student fundraising arm, DUCK; student media groups including radio, TV and journalism; or our associations which include Students’ with Disabilities, Mature Students’ Association, International Students’ Association and LGBTa (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender association). Join any time on our website. 3. Access our Advice and Help service. Based in the Students’ Union, with a weekly service at Queen’s Campus every Tuesday during termtime. The service provides free, friendly, confidential and independent advice and information. Staffed by a team of professional and experienced advisers, we cover all main areas of student concerns including money, housing and academic issues.
Students partying at the Durham Students’ Union Welcome Ball on the Friday of Freshers’ Week. The event featured a live set by DJ Fresh Photograph: Durham Students’ Union
In defiance, redevelopment of The Gates is approved
Third year Law student to take letting agent to court
Castle votes to change JCR President title to “Senior Student”
Photograph: Clearbell Capital
Photograph: Cressida Peever
Photograph: Durham University
4. Save money with NUS extra. The student discount card unlocks fantastic savings locally, nationally and online on clothing, entertainment, travel and eating out, all for just £12 a year. Get yours online or from the Students’ Union reception.
5. Use the night bus. A safe and secure way for lone students to get home in the evening for just £2 per student journey. The bus is available during term-time in Durham City between the hours of 21:00 – 01:00 Monday – Saturday and 21:00 – 23:00 on Sunday. Just like a taxi service, call the driver on 07922 648802 to be picked up. Visit our now website for more information www.durhamsu.com
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OVERWHELMING MAJORITY FAIL “ISLAM IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH WESTERN DEMOCRACY” MOTION
65-YEAR-OLD MAN DIES AFTER SUFFERING FROM A SUSPECTED CARDIAC ARREST IN THE BILL BRYSON LIBRARY
STUDENTS REACT POSITIVELY AS RAILINGS AND LIGHTS ARE INSTALLED ALONG THE RIVER
The Durham Union Society held its second debate of the term on Friday 16th October. The Union was previously criticised for its presentation of Islam, with pictures of ISIS members used to advertise the event on Facebook. The debate was won, overwhelmingly by the opposition.
A member of staff confirmed that the man collapsed on Sunday 4th October and tragically died on the way to hospital. Various sources have told Palatinate that a student and library staff attempted to perform CPR on the gentleman – whose identity is currently unknown.
The fences have been installed along the river between the Bishop Langley pub and the Prebends Bridge, an area deemed to be “highrisk” by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). Speaking to Palatinate students praised the improvements and called for more work to be done.
News in brief
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In defiance, redevelopmen
Plans to redevelop The Gates shopping centre in Durham City to include a cinema, restaurants, and a further 253 student bedrooms have been approved by Durham City Council’s planning committee in a move that will cost £30 million. The plan to redevelop The Gates - in the face of strong opposition from Durham University, the MP for the City of Durham, and various residential groups - will improve the city’s nightlife and create jobs, applicants Clearbell Capital have said. The inclusion of 253 student bedrooms as part of the project has come under fierce scrutiny in particular, for how it will have a detrimental impact on permanent residents of Durham City. In a letter submitted to Durham County Council’s planning committee on behalf of the University in July, Harvey Dowdy, Deputy Director in the Estates and Buildings department, wrote that “it has not been demonstrated that there is any need for the 253 student bed spaces proposed.” “The University’s projects of growth in student numbers over the next five years are only 359 students and in the last two years the Planning Authority have granted permission for over 3,000 beds in Purpose Built Student Accommodation,” the letter reads.
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It has not been demonstrated that there is any need for the 253 student bed spaces proposed.
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“The University does not consider that the developer can demonstrate what objectively assessed need the proposed 253 bed student accommodation is aimed at and why this need is currently unmet.” Citing that the surrounding area of Durham City is “already heavily skewed to the provision of student accommodation,” the plan to allow the residential portion of The Gates’s redevelopment to be solely student accommodation
“would perpetuate an unbalanced residential population where […] a temporary population of students […] dominates to the exclusion of other types of resident.” Durham County Council raised Ms Dowdy’s concern of the risk of an unbalanced residential population within the supporting text of the Interim Policy on Student Accommodation, recognising that action must be taken to address the shortage of family housing within Durham City. Roberta Blackman-Woods, MP for the City of Durham, argued this point in a letter to the Council’s planning committee in September, stating that the supporting text for the Interim Policy on Student Accommodation “recognises the fact that Durham City is under increasing pressure from large scale student developments, with 4,113 rooms currently with planning permission or in the pipeline. “It is important to consider the cumulative effect such an application will have on the character of the city, the amenity that is currently enjoyed by local residents, and the pressure that will be placed on services and infrastructure within Durham,” Ms Blackman-Woods wrote. In conversation with Palatinate, Ms Blackman-Woods said that Durham County Council are consulting on a number of policies that will seek to address some of the imbalance issues that exist within the local area. “Parts of the city that are already saturated with student housing, such as the Viaduct area, will need a set of specific measures to create more of a balance between permanent residents and students, but these are still to be established,” Ms Blackman-Woods said. “Until this is done, local residents and Durham County Council will find it difficult to realise their ambition for more family housing within the city centre.” Ms Blackman-Woods’s concerns were also echoed by David Freeman, a local councillor representing the Durham City communities of Elvet, Gilesgate, Crossgate, Claypath, and The Sands. Mr Freeman told Palatinate that “while the redevelopment of The Gates has some merits in providing a much needed multiscreen cinema and improved retail space, the purpose built student accommodation part of the scheme is far from welcome.” Aside from the 4,113 rooms referenced by Ms Blackman-Woods, Mr Freeman said that Durham University’s own plan to erect 1,000 student bedrooms at Mount Oswald, near Van Mildert College, points towards no need for further student accommodation in The
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...the purpose built student accommodation part of the scheme is far from welcome.
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Ryan Gould News Editor
Gates. “The Council is completely crazy to keep approving large private sector accommodation blocks when it is clear there is no demand. I know many students want to ‘live out’ in a house in the city and would not want to live in purpose built accommodation,” Mr Freeman said. “In a few years we could have a very serious housing problem as a result of the Council having no sensible policy on student accommodation in Durham.” In a summary statement for the redevelopment, Milburngate Ltd states that the inclusion of student accommodation as part of The Gates “will have a positive impact upon the private property market through assisting with the re-release of a proportion of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) back to market housing.” “By increasing the provision of purpose built accommodation which is of a higher standard than many HMOs, whilst maintaining competitive rents, it will promote students to move into purpose built accommodation,” the statement reads. Alluding to the risk of an unbalanced residential population, Milburngate Ltd concludes that, in the longer term, students living in developments, like that proposed as part of The Gates, “should lead to a readdressing of the balance between HMOs and Purpose Built Accommodation.” Opposition from residential groups, like that of the Durham City Neighbourhood Planning Forum (DCNPF), are coherent in citing that the inclusion of purpose built student accommodation in the redevelopment of The Gates is “a misuse of prime retail space in the city centre.” In a statement to Palatinate, the DCNPF said that the “lack of planning for the appropriate location and design of student accommodation benefits neither students nor residents of the city.”
Artis The DCNPF referenced the Council’s committee report for the project, where it states that “student accommodation would maximise the viability of the development to enable delivery. Residential use is also considered less marketable due to factors such as low demand for apartment ac-
commodation and the impact of the traffic adjacent to Milburngate Bridge.” “In other words, students living in close proximity to high volumes of traffic and poor air quality,” the DCNPF said. “Students are being used to make the project viable.” The DCNPF has since set out a
Making the best of a difficult situation Analysis Finding the happy medium in a situation such as this was never going to be plain sailing. While some might be hesitant to admit it, The Gates has long been crying out for the investment it so desperately needs. This is Durham, the city’s official tourism guide, labels it the “premier shopping location,” but truth be told, it hasn’t been that for some time. Perhaps to the dismay of Durham’s Gala Theatre, the inclusion of a multiplex cinema—likely to be Odeon—as part of the redevelopment is one of the more convincing elements in the plans. The Gates has struggled to cash in on the value behind Durham’s status as a university town, and in doing so, has prevented itself from becoming the city’s go-to venue for wining and dining, shopping and socialising. Perhaps most interesting, though, is the University’s response to the story. While clear in their objection to the inclusion of further student accommodation as part of The Gates at the planning stage,
the University has in some way shied away from shouldering some of the responsibility for the imbalance between local residents (including residential housing) and students overall. Local residents are mostly proud of the University’s status and the privileges it brings to the city. At the same time, it isn’t fair that students should be responsible, though indirectly, for essentially locking residents out of the city. Let’s not forget that students aren’t a permanence in Durham. Students spend roughly eleven weeks here between October and December, nine weeks between January and March, and only eight weeks between April and June. Many might feel that the University should do more to prevent the possibility of further student accommodation being erected without its own consent. With over 4,000 student beds having been granted planning permission in the past two years, it isn’t yet clear where the line will be drawn.
PALATINATE | Thursday 22nd October 2015
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nt of The Gates is approved
list of priorities for “what needs to change” following the return of 162 consultative questionnaires; a list that includes redressing Durham’s heavy skew towards student accommodation and its accompanying consequences. In a meeting of the Forum last week, leaders also highlighted that Durham County Council should further take on board the views of local residents before agreeing to planning proposals, as well as to increase the diversity of retail outlets and reduce business rents and rates. The DCNPF said that responses frequently drew attention to excessive student housing around
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of Durham’s historical heritage, lobbied strong opposition to the inclusion of student accommodation in The Gates redevelopment in the planning stages. “The applicant has not demonstrated that a need exists for this student accommodation and consequently […] this element of the proposal must fail,” a letter to Council’s planning committee reads. Dr Douglas Pocock, Honourable Secretary for the City of Durham Trust, told Palatinate that, “since the creation of the unitary authority in 2009, the County has acted shamefully to the city.” He said that the refusal to create
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st’s impressions of revedelopments to The Gates Photograph: Clearbell Capital
a town council, despite a legitimate referendum, and the abolition of Durham’s mayor means that “the city is totally over-ridden” [sic]. Ms Blackman-Woods told Palatinate that, “by and large, local residents are not against the development of Purpose Built Student Accommodation.” Rather, she said, they “would prefer such development to be brought forward by the University itself, whether this is an expansion and renovation of existing facilities, or the development of new college accommodation. “This could improve the residential offer to students, protect the collegiate system which is so important to the University’s identity, and create more appropriate student development. “This is especially the case if the University works with the community to identify suitable locations for student accommodation, if it is of a high quality, and is effectively
“We are keen to work with the community to ensure there is a positive environment for all who live and work in Durham and Stockton-on-Tees and we welcome open dialogue,” Professor Towl stated. The University did not provide comment on the viability of its own plans to erect a further 1,000 bedrooms at Mount Oswald, near Van Mildert College, after it entered into contract with developers, Banks Group, in August 2014 in a deal worth £200 million. Applicants Clearbell Capital have said that 23 retail stores will be refurbished, alongside the creation of 35,000 square ft of restaurant space and the installation of a new riverside walkway. Work on The Gates is due to start next year, with the new centre expected to open in two stages between winter 2017 and summer 2018.
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We are keen to work with the community to ensure there is a postive environment for all who live and work in Durham...
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By and large, local residents are not against the development of Purpose Built Student Accommodation.
managed,” Ms Blackman-Woods stated. “It would also be helpful if any further private, developer-led Purpose Built Student Accommodation applications are brought forward only with the support of the University and local residents following a full consultation and engagement process.” In a statement provided by Durham University to Palatinate, Professor Tom Ward, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education), said: “In common with many UK universities operating in a competitive global higher education market, Durham is considering a long term growth agenda and has modelled options for an increase in student numbers, along with the appropriate investment in staffing and infrastructure to ensure students will continue to receive a first-class experience both academically and within our colleges.” Asked about whether the University should shoulder some of the responsibility in permeating an unbalanced residential population, Professor Ward stated that the University’s “long term growth agenda” is “an extensive programme of work in progress, and will need to be fully considered through our governance system, including but not limited to Senate and Council, on which there is student representation.” “It is important to stress that no decisions have been made.” Professor Graham Towl, ProVice Chancellor and Deputy Warden of Durham University, also commented that the University “takes very seriously the concerns of residents,” and is “evidenced by the fact that [the University] hosts regular local residents meetings.”
...they would prefer such development to be brought forward by the University itself...
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Durham, the city’s poor retail offering, and traffic congestion, while at the same time praising the University and its students. The City of Durham Trust, set up in 1942 with the aim of conserving and encouraging the appreciation
The Gates shopping centre Photograph: Venus Loi
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Thursday 22nd October 2015 | PALATINATE
Third year law student to take letting agent to court
Jasper Cox Deputy News Editor A third-year Law student is preparing to take a letting agency to court after they allegedly took too long to put the deposit in a government-protected scheme. India Hitchen lived in Flass Court Upper on Waddington Street last year, a property let by MC Lettings. She told Palatinate that, given the deposit was paid in cash, the money was sitting at the company’s offices for months. “The security risks were very high and [it was] incredibly disrespectful,” she said. According to the timeline of events the third year gave to Palatinate, the deposit of £2,800 was paid in cash to the estate agent on 12th December 2013. However, the money was not put into the Deposit Protection Scheme in its entirety until 24th April 2014. She says she found this out when she rang the Deposit Protection Service in March 2015. She also claims that during the tenancy, MC Lettings, refused to provide her and her housemates with the deposit repayment number.
When contacted by Palatinate, MC Lettings claimed this issue related to the landlord of the property and had nothing to do with them. They said they paid the deposit into the Deposit Protection Service as soon as they received it. Landlords must generally protect deposits for assured shortterm tenants in a governmentbacked scheme within 30 days, although there are a few exceptions, such as with student accommodation let directly by universities or colleges. Tenants must also be given details about the how the deposit is protected. Landlords found to have breached these rules can face paying back up to three times the amount of deposit paid. Hitchen said that studying Law has helped her in “getting the ball rolling” in preparing the case. She covered the relevant Housing Act briefly as part of her course. However, she recommends students who have problems as tenants contact the Durham SU advice service for consultation. Also of help has been the website Shelter, the housing and homelessness charity which helps student tenants. “The process isn’t as difficult as
Youth Speak is entirely youth informed Photograph: Ryhan Hussain
Photograph: Cressida Peever
society seems to think it is,” India told Palatinate. Hitchen is now in contact with another organisation, the Student Law Office Northumbria, which connects students to solicitors. She believes their practical experience makes them a better choice for representation for the small claims court than Durham SU. Professor Graham Towl, ProVice-Chancellor and Deputy Warden told Palatinate: “According to UK law, landlords must put a deposit in a government-backed tenancy deposit scheme if they rent their home on an assured shorthold tenancy. “On the University’s Accommodation Office webpage, there is information regarding deposits. “The University’s Accommodation Office works in partnership with the Students’ Union and supports and recommends the services they offer. “If any student has an issue with their landlord, or has another house-related issue, we suggest contacting the Students’ Union Help and Advice Service. “We also specifically recommend students use the Union’s Help and Advice Service’s contract checking service before signing a contract.”
Housing scheme introduced to help improve quality of student homes
Charlie Taylor-Kroll Deputy News Editor Durham County Council have introduced a scheme incentivising student landlords to improve the quality and quantity of student housing. The Durham Student Assured Housing Scheme (DSAHS) aims to help improve the quality of private student housing by proposing a code of standards that landlords are required to adhere to. The scheme’s code of standards aims to uphold the safety, repair, and quality of amenities in student accommodation. Properties that reach the requirement of the scheme will be quality assured. Supported by Durham University and recommended by the Durham Students’ Union, the scheme has been in part provoked by a study in 2012/13, commissioned by Durham County Council, which
Photograph: Emma Thompson investigated the quality of student housing in Durham City centre. Durham County Council deals with roughly 100 complaints per year regarding the conditions of student housing. Those who comply with the regulations of the scheme become certified as being assured on Dur-
ham County Council and Durham University webpages, and are awarded with an assured property certificate to be displayed in the property. Over 80 landlords have signed up to the scheme since its inception in June 2015. The scheme is scheduled to run for a period up
until 31st May 2018. Third-year Philosophy student Ottoline Spearman, who has previously written about the issues of student housing for Palatinate, said: “Anything that improves the quality of housing is a good thing. “Landlords, especially in a place
as small as Durham, can get lazy and think they can get away with over-charging students because they have no one else to rent from.” Second year Psychology student, Will Lewington, also spoke to Palatinate, stating: “Students shouldn’t have to worry about their accommodation in their second and third years.” Public Health and Housing Team Leader at Durham County Council, Paul Jenkins, told Palatinate: “The DSAHS has been well received by the landlords and agents of the 80 properties that have already signed up. “The Council is confident that this figure will rise significantly in the coming weeks, given that there are a number of landlords and letting agents who have given strong indications that their applications are imminent.”
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PALATINATE | Thursday 22nd October 2015
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St Chad’s heralds Good Lad and Active Bystander workshops Daniel Fox News Editor St Chad’s proclaimed itself the first college to put on two workshops for their new intake of freshers during this year’s Freshers Week. One workshop was publicised as a Good Lad workshop and the other was focused on Bystander Intervention. Chad’s JCR in a tweet, which the college then retweeted, announced the success of the workshops. “Great afternoon rolling out Active Bystander and Good Lad workshops to our freshers! “Proud to be the only Durham college so far to do so.” The workshops were in the format of non-judgemental discussion groups which were led by the college welfare team and other members of the JCR. Chairs were positioned in a circle and those leading the workshop stood in the middle. In conversation with Palatinate, attendees praised both workshops. Ollie Griffiths, a first year at St Chad’s college, spoke of the usefulness of the Good Lad workshop. “It made me analyse the behaviour of ‘lads’ in a group and made
me realise that sometimes what may seem like a sociable activity to a group of guys may be [seen as] offensive and harassment by other people around. “I would say that all the guys in the workshop found them really thought-provoking and useful.” Praise was also given to the Active Bystander workshop by Evie Griffiths, a first year at St Chad’s college. “I thought that the active bystander [workshop] was really good as it gave you the confidence to intervene in a way that is safe to you as well as to the target.” ‘Lad culture’ has risen in prominence in the last few years along with an increasing awareness and discussion of issues around sexual consent. Last year Durham Student’s Union passed a motion which resolved that Durham SU would “state the need for the University to introduce compulsory consent workshops from September 2015 during induction.” Joanna Gower, welfare officer at St Cuthbert’s Society and one of the draftees of the Durham SU’s zero tolerance policy, affirmed that the motion meant that Durham SU had to act. “I, along with Esther Green and last year’s community officer,
wrote up the zero tolerance policy for sexual violence. “It was passed, meaning they do have to do something about it.” Given the fact that compulsory consent workshops have been mandated - and actively called for - by Durham SU, which represents all Durham students, some have questioned why similar workshops have not already been made compulsory across all colleges. Both Oxford and Cambridge University established compulsory consent workshops for incoming students last October. Dan Carter, a second year student from St Cuthbert’s Society, called for their introduction at Durham.
“I think the University should make these workshops compulsory at all colleges, so that new students develop an appropriate insight into what life should be like as a University student.” An anonymous Chad’s student agreed saying: “given how well both workshops were received at St Chad’s, it would be sensible for such workshops to be available on a University wide basis. “I think after the resolution last year, people were expecting a similar initiative across the University which has not as of yet arrived.” However, Joanna Gower went on to explain the difficulties of putting on the workshops immediately.
“If people are improperly trained to talk about consent and rape, it can actually make the situation a lot worse and can upset a lot of people in the workshops who have been targets themselves. “That means that, as frustrating as it may be, until the Union can arrange the very complex training processes, we will not be able to run any consent things on a large scale.” A Sexual Violence Task Force has been set up by the University and is chaired by the former Chief Psychologist at the Ministry of Justice, Professor Graham Towl, now Pro-Vice-Chancellor at Durham. In a comment sent to Palatinate, Professor Towl said: “During Induction Week a number of events were planned around respect for others. “[The workshops] were well attended and the feedback has been very positive.” He also hinted that the University might be looking to change its policies going forward. “In terms of general crime rates, Durham is one of the safest cities in the country. “However, at Durham University we see no room for complacency and are looking afresh at our policies and practices in relation to sexual violence.”
Accompanying the article was a photograph of the author, bearing a handwritten sign with the words: “This is not what a rapist looks like.” Writers for both student and national publications have responded officially to Lawlor’s comments, identifying that as the flaw in his reasoning. Some students have leapt to Lawlor’s defense, with fellow Tab contributor Oli Dugmore writing: “Anyone who dares challenge the status quo of consent is set upon by the pack.” Dugmore did, however, disagree with Lawlor in one respect: that just because he was a well-educated, self-proclaimed “decent, empathetic” individual, that he – and his friends – had no need for “help to understand basic human interaction.” Journalist Rebecca Reid, writing in The Telegraph, echoed this criticism. “Rapists are not a type. Rapists are not like pirates. They don’t dress a certain way or have a modus operandi. “What Lawlor really doesn’t seem to quite grasp is that rapists
don’t dress like the Hamburglar and hide in bushes.” The Overview of Sexual Offending in England and Wales, released in January 2013 by the Ministry of Justice, the Office for National Statistics, and the Home Office, showed that approximately 90% of those who are raped know the perpetrator prior to the offence. “So yes, a normal bloke is exactly what a rapist looks like,” Reid said. Lawlor’s stand comes at a time when universities nationwide are recognising the importance of continuing sexual health education: Warwick follows Oxford and Cambridge in adding consent classes to the induction week timetable. At Durham, however, the initiative has faltered. A poll run by The Tab Durham showed just 39% of 4,440 votes were in favour of introducing consent classes to the freshers’ week timetable. Despite a motion passed last year by the Durham Students’ Union stating the need for compulsory consent workshops from September 2015, the complexity of the scheme has hindered a university-wide launch.
Adam Frost, a fourth-year linguist at Durham, said he considered Lawlor’s response to the classes “disproportionate” and “venomous,” but insisted upon the need for a tactful approach to address consent, to avoid giving the impression that all men are rapists. Last year, Frost attracted criticism for his attempts to establish a men’s rights society after the suicide of a friend. He was only permitted to establish the society as a branch of Durhan University Feminism Society. “Men are starting to get fed up of feminist generalisations about toxic masculinity,” Frost said to Palatinate. “It’s this sort of demonization by feminism that men are beginning to resent.” This element of Lawlor’s article, that as a man, being invited to a consent class is tantamount to an accusation of being a “vile rapistin-waiting,” has gained some traction. “Selectively inviting people to attend them is a dangerous game,” wrote Oli Dugmore. “The rugby players of Oxford were singled out and made to attend compul-
sory classes on consent. Does that mean we assume they are rapists more than anyone else?” The National Union of Students have targeted societies and sports teams with the I Heart Consent initiative. Speaking to the BBC, Josie Throup, Women’s officer for Warwick Students’ Union and campus orchestrator of the workshops, said: “I want to make it clear that we are not attacking sports teams.” In an article for The Tab, Throup clarified her position. “Warwick sports teams chant songs about rape. A friend of mine from a club here at Warwick told me about a pre-drinks in which members of his club raised their voices as one in the chant. “An exec member who had attended an I Heart Consent workshop told them to stop, mindful of survivors in the room who would be traumatised, and perpetrators who would be empowered. “Our workshops teach there’s a spectrum of misunderstandings in between, and consent can only be an enthusiastic yes,” wrote Throup.
Photograph: Durham University
National response to consent class criticism Siena Morrell News Features Editor
A Warwick University student last week attracted a maelstrom of controversy after publicly objecting to his invitation to a sexual consent class by saying that he does not need to be taught about rape – and that he doesn’t “look like” a rapist. Politics and sociology student George Lawlor expressed his anger at being invited to participate in the workshop hosted by the Warwick Students’ Union, called “I Heart Consent.” “To be invited to such a waste of time was the biggest insult I’ve received in a good few years,” Lawlor wrote. “It implies I have an insufficient understanding of what does and does not constitute consent and that’s incredibly hurtful. “Brand me a bigot, a misogynist, a rape apologist, I don’t care. I stand by that,” he wrote. “I feel as if I’m taking the “wrong” side here, but someone has to say it – I don’t have to be taught to not be a rapist.”
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Calling fundamentalist Christians “wishy-washy Christians” and once again referring to Africa as “Bongo Bongo land”, Bloom was certainly playing up to the “reputation of giving offence”, which he warned the audience of at the beginning of his talk. To all those he had caused offence to, Bloom remarked: “Before you vote…I don’t give a shit.” Giacomo Paoloni, former Durham University Labour Club Secretary, spoke to Palatinate about the ‘No platform for Bloom’ movement: “I think Godfrey Bloom is a person whose opinions speak for themselves and he has been provided by the DUS with too much floor for his racist and sexist slurs. “I wonder how long the relationship between Godfrey Bloom and the DUS will last with all the racist people they plan to invite.” Such concerns follow the announcement that Tommy Robinson, former leader of the English Defence League (EDL), is due to speak at DUS too. The Union Society, however, has chosen to ignore the outrage felt by many students over Bloom’s constant appearances, which has led many students to believe the society is legitimising his views. During the talk last May, a member of the audience stood up to condemn DUS for its decision to invite Bloom and was consequently ordered out by President Rishiraj Goenka. Angela Towers, a member of the No More Page 3 Campaign, who spoke against Bloom at the debate last year, described online how he supposedly infatuated certain DUS officers: “The adoration of Bloom continued and blossomed into boysclub back patting, and bonding over e-cigarettes. “In all honesty I think he’s a dangerous man, and the (mostly male) students’ reaction to him was, for me, quite scary.” Similarly, Paoloni informed Palatinate that he heard of Bloom making “dirty jokes on women getting rough compliments on the streets” to “get all the other lads laughing”. Paoloni also states that a few DUS officers allegedly provoked students at the protest last May
by holding up ‘Vote for UKIP’ placards. This dissatisfaction at Bloom’s appearance was not only expressed by protestors, but also from those at the top of DUS. Lucy Warden, a former President of DUS, told Palatinate: “I personally had no desire to see Godfrey Bloom speak at any event, so I did not attend any DUS events to which he was invited.” On the recent controversy surrounding the publication of a picture of ISIS terrorists to publicize a debate on Islam, Warden condemned the current officers: “The ignorance, sloppiness and, above all, privilege that pervades the Union Society’s current leaders and, dare I say, Durham in general, came to a fore with that debate picture. “It made me ashamed of the University and society I have spent so much of my time championing and defending.” Warden called “leftist” Presidents like her a “rare breed”. Speaking anonymously to Palatinate, a senior General Committee member said: “It’s all one revolting cabal. “They try to justify their repugnance with the sad justification of ‘controversy’ when in fact they care little for debate. “They are all close friends who have an utter contempt for those around them and anybody that
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They try to justify their repugnance with the sad justification of ‘controversy’ when in fact they care little for debate
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tries to challenge them.” Although DUS is independent of the University and has its own board of trustees, the University reassured students that they had “communicated [their] concerns to the board”, but said nothing of the “investigating” the University were carrying out, as mentioned in Professor Corbridge’s reply to Osha Al. Daniel Cain-Reed, Senior Student Representative for Hatfield College, thought that “[DUS] wouldn’t get away with as much if [it] didn’t have as much autonomy”. President-elect Emily Beighton also caused a stir after proposing a debate on criminal anonymity in her manifesto. Certain DUS officers have criticised this proposal, given her friendship with a former DUS secretary, who was charged with accounts of sexual assault and rape in May. Kat Hind called this decision “inappropriate and insensitive” and thought that “this could appear to many as certain members using the student society to further a personal agenda”. Palatinate has also uncovered notes on the Farewell Debate of Easter Term 2014, ‘This House Believes the British Empire Was a Force for Good’. Despite being proposed as a comedy debate, many of the arguments were highly inappropriate and incredibly racist. References were allegedly made to the Germans and Dutch as S&M people, and the audience was told that the British were “too weak with the rod in colonial pursuits.” After debating with President Rishiraj Goenka, one speaker suggested that there was still a language barrier after decolonisation, and that he “didn’t hear a word of his speech”. Following this, the speaker said: “There are still gaps in [member’s name omitted]’s comprehension of the English language…So it seems that [they] still need to brush up on the word ‘no’, whether it’s coming from the DUS or some girl in Klute…” Many have seen this comment as a joke about non-consensual sex. As confirmed by a recording of the debate, the last speaker also made fun out of the institution of
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slavery: “The British Empire ended the Slave Trade as was alluded to, I believe, by [name omitted]. And I point out that that was an extremely profitable business. Nice work Britain imposing your civilised views on everyone else.” The Chair was also forced to censor reference to a “lovely concentration camp” in South Africa. As a result, an audience member is said to have stood up and condemned the debate for its “tacit racism” and “slut-shaming”. The same member told the President: “I’m disappointed in the way you conducted yourself”. This statement was consequently removed from the minutes of the debate. Palatinate has learned that various DUS officers made formal complaints and wished for the debate to be cancelled, but the General Committee still deemed it appropriate. Warden said: “I again did not wish for it to go ahead, and thus did not attend it when it did.” According to the University’s Code of Practice on Freedom of Expression in Relation to Meetings or Other Activities on University Premises, DUS can invite who they want to speak as long as they are “sensitive to [the University’s] increasingly diverse and inclusive community.” However, males, usually white and right-wing, dominate the list of speakers.
Out of 27 external speakers for the coming term, 25 are male. There are 4 debates where women will not speak at all, and men are delivering all the addresses. On this matter, Hind said: “The fact that people don’t understand the need for a safe space for women, or that they can’t understand that this is a key way to start balancing the gender split in the male dominated sport, baffles me.” After the debate on Islam last Friday, a female Anthropology student defended this gender imbalance: “Women aren’t related to all the debates.” Another student said “it’s less likely for women to be involved, when it comes to Islam”, while another called the lack of women “pervasive sexism”. Andrew Lloyd, former DUS President, defended the current President’s choice to invite mainly men: “People think that you can email a speaker and he will come, sadly it’s a numbers game. “Every presidential election I have seen people campaign saying they will get the best and the brightest in the country. But after several hundred emails and countless hours of work, you really have to settle on the best you can get.” When asked what it thought of the gender imbalance and apparent right-wing bias, the University said: “Durham University embraces freedom of expression within the law and welcomes open and challenging debate on controversial issues.” When asked whether it was investigating how best to work with DUS, in light of these discoveries, the University simply said: “The society is an independent charity with its own board of trustees.” Palatinate repeatedly tried to contact Napat Rungsrithananon, the current DUS President, to comment on some of the issues in this article. He refused to comment and ignored further messages sent to him. Rungsrithananon also refused to comment on the controversy surrounding the ISIS picture. Palatinate has received reports from an inside source at the General Committee meeting last Wednesday that he “palmed off concerns and resorted to dodging questions” when asked about the Islam event and women’s representation.
sue of gendered titles. Having consulted the evidence, the jury recommended that the title of ‘Senior Man’ be changed on the grounds that the title is a gendered term. Mr Throp said that this was “an important reputational issue for the college”. Third year Castle student, Joshua Bailey, commenting on the successful vote, said he hoped the
change would see more women running for the position. “I think the old title had an adverse signalling effect that played on the idea that women were less suited to official positions than men. “I hope that [the new title] will come to symbolise Castle’s continued efforts to improve gender representation and inclusion in all facets of college life.”
The British Empire ended the Slave Trade... Nice work Britain imposing your civilised views on everyone else
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News Features
Thursday 22nd October 2015 | PALATINATE
Castle votes to change JCR President title to “Senior Student”
Miriam Brittenden Deputy News Editor University College has voted to change the name of its JCR President to Senior Student. The change voted in at the end of last term will now allow the JCR President to choose between ‘Senior Man’, ‘Senior Woman’ or ‘Senior Student’ when taking up the role.
Commenting on the changes, incumbent Castle Senior Student, Will Throp said: “The decision was reached by a broad consensus, and I think we’re all quite comfortable with this. “As a JCR we must seek to recognise and engage with our wider place in the world, while still retaining an appreciation of the opinions of our students.” The vote is the second one of its
kind in the past year. In November 2014, Castle JCR voted to retain the title of “Senior Man” by more than two votes to one. This happened after the College came under criticism for keeping its “sexist” title. The successful vote in June came in response to the establishment of a college-wide deliberative jury, charged with investigating the is-
PALATINATE | Thursday 22nd October 2015
SciTech
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The Waters of Mars
Bryony Hockin Is there life on Mars? It’s the age old question, one that has fascinated everyone from scientists to rock stars, and now we are one step closer to answering it. NASA’s main strategy for the exploration of Mars is “Follow the water.” Scientists have known for some time that frozen water exists below the surface of the planet, and certain features of the Martian landscape suggests the presence of flowing water thousands of years ago. But where is it now? Is it all locked up, frozen, with nowhere to go? On the 28th of September this year, scientists at NASA published a paper in the journal Nature Geoscience called “Spectral evidence for hydrated salts in recurring slope lineae on Mars.” In layman’s terms, this means that they found salty water trickling down some mountains on Mars. A recurring slope lineae is a dark stripe that appears on mountainsides on Mars and disappears with the changing seasons; the presence of these stripes in the colder weather at night suggests that liquid water may be rising to the surface and trickling down the mountains. NASA’s Curiosity Rover has already found liquid water containing salts below the surface, but the presence of flowing water on the surface is a hugely significant discovery. The main reason that this briny water is so important is that geolo-
gists have been able to establish a theoretical hydrological cycle for Mars; whereas on Earth we have a simpler water cycle involving rain and clouds, Mars has a much stranger one. Mars has very low atmospheric pressure, so low in fact that it lowers the boiling point of water to just a few degrees above freezing: any pure liquid water on the surface of Mars would simply boil away into a cloud of steam. So how is it that these ‘recurring slope lineae’ are possible? The key is in the phrase ‘hydrated salts’. Rather like in sea water, this Martian water contains high levels of dissolved salt which lowers its freezing point and raises its boiling point,
meaning that it stays liquid across a broader range of temperatures. So in the day, it is too hot for water to be present on the surface, and it is locked away as ice, or in a layer under the surface full of salts. At night, it is cold enough for water vapour to be absorbed by salts on the surface and form frost and even liquid water. This then re-evaporates in the day as the temperature climbs. So far this effect has only been observed in summer at the equator, where conditions are harsh. Scientists hope that in areas of higher latitudes, this type of cycle might be present all year round. If we were to land on Mars and try to drink this water, we would certainly run into some problems.
The Gale Crater had lakes for thousands of years, long enough for life to evolve
Most of these salts are perchlorates, which are highly toxic and removable only by complex chemical processes. In addition, this surface water is found at a bitterly cold -70oC, and is exposed to high levels of cosmic radiation. The announcement by NASA was widely regarded as a confirmation that life was possible on Mars, but any life on the planet would have to be extremely resilient. It would have to be specially adapted to the toxic water, and probably live underground to avoid the harsh sunlight, radiation and varying temperatures of the surface. Even more recently, evidence has emerged that lakes existed in the
Illustration: NASA
Gale Crater on the surface of Mars. These lakes existed for thousands or even millions of years, long enough for life to potentially evolve in them. Lakes such as these were interconnected by a series of streams, and moved around, suggesting a generally humid climate on Mars. In fact, NASA’s Curiosity Rover has found very high levels of humidity in the air and soil of Mars even today. What do these discoveries mean for the future of human exploration, and colonisation, of Mars? When asked for comment on the issue, Durham’s own Mars One candidate, Astronomy PhD student Hannah Earnshaw, had this to say: “While this news doesn’t directly affect Mars One’s plans, as they revolve around extracting the frozen water in the Martian soil we already know is there, the discovery of liquid water is a great confirmation of the presence of water on Mars. It also opens up new possibilities for collecting water. The amount of extra water is not likely to be very large, but when living in such an extreme environment, every little counts.” So, a momentous discovery indeed! There is water on Mars, as both a liquid and a solid; it has a water cycle, albeit one much saltier than ours; and many years ago it may have flowed in streams and gathered in lakes. Is there life on Mars? We are getting closer to finding the answer every day.
“Shaped by the past”: our scientific legacy
Shubhi Sharma
Since our University opened its gates in 1832, it has hosted a steady stream of forward-thinking students and professors. In particular, Durham has produced notable scientists over the years, who have helped the University achieve the prominent status it holds today. You may spot some of their names on lecture theatres and campus buildings, but how well do you know their stories? The Physics Department has been a home to renowned scientist Sir Arnold Wolfendale, who taught at Durham between 1965 and 1992 and still remains an emeritus professor. He made important contributions to the study of cosmic ray particles, which are charged particles that continuously bombard the Earth but whose origin still remains controversial. He is known for develop-
ing two novel techniques: the neon flash tube, used widely in cosmic ray, neutrino and quark studies, and the ‘solid iron’ spectrograph. Sir Wolfendale is a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and the Royal Society. We have a lecture theatre at the Calman Learning Centre named in his honour. Professor George Rochester FRS discovered one of the fundamental building blocks of nature, originally called ‘V particles’, along with Clifford Butler in 1947. Today, V particles (or kaons) are recognised as the first observed particles containing the strange quark. In 1955, he was appointed the Head of the Physics department and finally retired in 1973. Noteworthy scientists from the Chemistry Department include James Feast and Judith Howard. James Feast contributed to many fields, but is best known for his work on Electroactive Polymers. Between
2006 and 2008 Feast was president of the Royal Society of Chemistry. In 2007, he was awarded the Royal Medal of the Royal Society which is deemed as one of the most prestigious awards for research in the UK. Judith Howard CBE FRS, a professor of Chemistry from 1991 to present day, is one of the world’s most distinguished crystallographers and is well known for developing fast data collection methods for research into organic metals and thin films, and for designing biosensor materials. In 1999 she was awarded the Royal Society of Chemistry Prize for Structural Chemistry. She was also the first female Head of a Chemistry Department of any university in the United Kingdom. From the world of geology and geography at Durham, comes one of the most eminent geologist of the 20th century: Arthur Holmes FRS. He was a pioneer of the new discipline of geochronology and, using radioac-
tive chemistry, estimated the age of the Earth to be 1.6 billion years in his 1913 book “The Age of the Earth”. He contributed to the theory of continental drift and put forward a theory that has come to be known as plate tectonics. The Arthur Holmes Medal of the European Geosciences Union is named after him. Further, our Uni-
Arthur Holmes proposed the theory of plate tectonics
versity’s Department of Earth Sciences has an Arthur Holmes Isotope Geology Laboratory, and there is a crater on Mars that carries his name. Lastly, Gordon Manley, the Head of the Geography Department from 1928 to 1939 and curator of the Durham University Observatory, set up the Durham Temperature Series dating back from 1659. It is the longest series of temperature records in existence and is still maintained to this day. Manley’s 1952 book “Climate and the British Scene”, was one of the great contributions to British climatology. Manely was also President of the Royal Meteorological Society. The scientists and academics mentioned here are only a handful of remarkable people who have taught, worked and studied at Durham. Looking at the list of accomplished alumni and staff, one truly believes that Durham University is “shaped by the past, creating the future”!
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Thursday 22nd October 2015 | PALATINATE
Living the indie dream with Oliver Mawhinney joins two of Britain’s most exciting indie rock bands Wolf Alice and
Wolf Alice: “It’s pretty fun that what you dream of happening can happen in front of you” Oliver Mawhinney Profile Editor If ever symbolism was required of the meteoric rise of Wolf Alice and the infatuated thrill surrounding the North London four-piece, Birmingham’s The Institute provides it: it is 3:30pm - five hours before the indie rockers are due on stage - as I meet with bassist Theo Ellis and drummer Joel Amey, and already a stream of hysterical teenagers patrol the venue gates. This breezy Thursday evening in September marks Wolf Alice’s third jaunt to The Institute in sixteen months, an ascendency driven from hosting the 300-capacity Temple room last May to selling out the 2,000-capacity room tonight as part of a nationwide tour with alternative rock duo Drenge. It was only last year that Wolf Alice acquired a record label to Theo’s awe: “It definitely has gone off, I didn’t think this tour would sell out – if you told us that a year ago I would have told you that you’re a lying bastard. “It’s amazing, it’s weird.” Reflecting on a summer that has taken them to fields across the globe, Joel adds: “It was a good one this year - this year was a bit more selectivewe did stuff like Glastonbury, Reading, Leeds, Latitude, Lollapalooza. “We’ve got so many massive highlights. We also managed to go to things like Summer Sonic Festival in Japan, Splendour in the Grass in Australia, we did our first American festival. It’s gone a bit more global this summer.” Theo continues: “In Japan, we played at 11:20 in the morning to 10,000 people. That’s bullshit. Such a beautiful and respectful crowd.” From the motion in which the band bounce off each other onstage to the camaraderie between band members, Wolf Alice are savouring the fulfilment of many dreams. While the past year has marked the most memorable in the young Londoners lives, it is easy to forget that Wolf Alice’s journey began in 2010 as an acoustic act between fellow members: vocalist Ellie Rowsell and guitarist Joff Oddie. Theo acknowledges this unpredictable and wild journey: “We very much haven’t been a pre-conceived band – you see these bands pop up with this amazing, polished sound, like how the fuck have they done that. You can see just how shit we
were 3 or 4 years ago. We were whack, we weren’t very good live. And now, today I can feel like we’re a proper band and we’re really proud to put on a show.” Wolf Alice’s organic growth, rooted in a flurry of singles and EPs, such as Blush and Creature Songs, has resulted in a constant flow of pressure and expectation towards June’s release of the debut album My Love Is Cool. Joel recognises the pressure inflicted upon the band: “I think we’ve felt pressure on everything we’ve put out. There’s natural pressure because we got put in that tundra of hype artists that journalistically people use as a tool to pit against bands that sometimes scuppers bands. “Although it’s never been a pressure that has affected us to the point of us not being able to try things in songs”. Consequently Wolf Alice have retained their authentic sound and have become characterised as a band that delicately balances soft and spoken tones, in songs such as Turn to Dust, to the more melodic riffs and frenzy of their most successful single to date, Giant Peach. My Love is Cool is a product of those contrasting influences, Theo considers: “There’s not one person who’s good at certain slow stuff. It’s probably a natural result of our subconscious. We definitely have those contrasts.” Joel, expands: “But we still have the same end result for those con-
trasts so no one’s going to be like ‘woah’ if you suggest a slow piece of music like Turn to Dust because we’re into it and when that first demo came through we were like that is sick. “If we like the piece of music then we see it through to the end.” The distinct nature of performing contrasting tones spawning distant emotions amongst a crowd that is mostly rallied teenagers eager to throttle with debauchery could be conceived as a challenge for a band like Wolf Alice. Joel accepts this was a matter of concern upon the opening of the My Love is Cool tour in Bristol: “I was nervous beforehand – ‘Is everyone just going to go to the bar when we play a certain song?’ But it didn’t seem to be like that at all. “I really felt after coming off stage [in Bristol] that we can do this, we can play songs. We don’t have to be
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In Japan, we played at 11:20in the morningto 10,000 people
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that fun punk band, we need to show that live we can be confident enough to play songs like Silk. Last night I really thought we did it. “We want to play the album in full and that is what the album is – if you like the album and you’re coming to the show then you expect to hear those songs. It would be strange if we were like ‘the faster songs are on this EP so we’re going to play all the fast ones from the EP four years ago’. “We want to move up and would like to play new songs.” This is indicative of the maturing sound of Wolf Alice, Joel accepts: “We definitely used to write songs to get a mosh pit – we wanted to have a mosh pit – it was an ambition and that’s kind of where Fluffy came from.” Now, generating such vast adoring crowds, one mosh pit is no longer the goal, Theo boasts: “Even Giant Peach, before we played it we were like this probably will go off at some point in the future and you sort of envisage a circle pit and then you go and play a show and there’s like four circle pits. “It is pretty fun that what you dream of happening can happen in front of you.” My Love is Cool is an ode to the Internet Generation – the proverbial Millennials – or whichever noun The Guardian have opted to describe those who have grown up with music only a click away. Wearing a System of a Down tshirt, Joel is assertive of the role of the Internet in establishing the many layers of Wolf Alice’s sound:
“I think we like to be representative of the culture that we grew up in which is the Internet where you can listen to 8O8s and Heartbreak [Kanye West] and a Slipknot record.” However, he jokes with a tone of disappointment in revealing that: “Obviously we’re not going to make a fucking hip hop album”. While depreciated by many, Theo is emphatic of the role of Radio One to the success of Wolf Alice : “It’s huge. It’s so important. Not that many people like that it’s important but it is.” Radio One has provided Hottest Records, Tracks of the Day and live sessions to Wolf Alice prompting Joel to share in Theo’s appreciation: “It doesn’t have to be your sole reason for being in a guitar band but you shouldn’t fucking piss on it – don’t be that dude who’s like I don’t care. No, why not just enjoy the fact that people enjoy your music because not everyone gets that chance.” The fandom behind Wolf Alice partly stems from the void left by the golden age of The Libertines in creating a garage rock revival and culture centred upon Camden. While conversing with many Wolf Alice fans it becomes apparent that part of the attraction of the current era of indie rock bands is the appeal of forging a similar sense of culture centred on complementary British guitar bands – the likes of Drenge, Swim Deep, Peace, Superfood and Palma Violets. Continued on p.11...
PALATINATE | Thursday 22nd October 2015
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Britain’s most exciting bands Drenge on tour to talk breakthrough moments, varied influences and dream venues.
Drenge: “No one’s writing songs about bankers or the real people who are ruining this country” Fresh from their first post-festival season gig supporting Wolf Alice in Bristol, Eoin Loveless’ - guitarist and vocalist of the post-grunge brother duo Drenge – reflective tone is clear: “It’s been a kind of crazy three years for us. “It’s weird it’s our third year of doing festivals – third time doing Reading & Leeds, third time at Glastonbury, second time at Latitude.” With shows this summer including a main stage performance at Reading & Leeds, Drenge have certified their transgression from impressive young prospects to a hallmark of the British indie-rock scene. Eoin savours in the seminal nature of that late August show: “It was difficult not to feel emotional stepping up on a big stage. “Looking at the line-up on that particular day it looked particularly weak and embarrassing to be alongside bands like Mumford & Sons and Panic! at the Disco – bands that I wouldn’t like to see our band put alongside. “But I feel like we did what we needed to do that day. Compared to what it was five or ten summers ago… They might as well get Clean Bandit to headline, they will sell the same amount of tickets.” The melancholy Eoin directs with the diversity of the Reading & Leeds line up is testament to the pride and energy Drenge invest in their live shows: “When you see us live you get the pure essence of anger and adrenaline. “The recorded side of the music is quite polished. I feel like all the music we’ve done in the studio is a much cleaner representation of what we’re like, so when you see us live it’s just a
After a gap that many perceived as a staler and calmer period, British guitar music is returning to the centre stage. Joel acknowledges the sense of unity amongst these bands that are adored by a similar ilk of audience: “All our bands sound different but we’re lucky that we’re all quite likeminded in the way that our bands share a similar drive and enjoy the same things about shows. “It’s so great that none of us sound the same, like we don’t sound like Swim Deep but we love the Swim Deep boys. It’s nice just to know that we can all get along. It’s less tribalistic now, it’s fucking hard to be in a band this day and age – you’re not making any money even if you’re
different show.” Much of the anger and aggression which underpins Drenge’s live sound is rooted upon the associations of growing up in the current British political climate: “I can’t say we’re speaking on behalf of unemployment but that’s where the band definitely stemmed from. “I just lost six months of my life with nothing going on and the only thing that I had that I could focus on was booking this band that I was in with my brother for their next show in two week’s time at a different venue in Sheffield, and trying to have a creative purpose when I felt like had no purpose. “Being unemployed sucks but it’s not your fault that you’re not employed. You can’t point a finger at someone and say ‘screw you’ – it’s not the government’s fault that you’re unemployed, the government doesn’t make jobs – it’s more the economy’s fault. “People are so quick to go ‘oh, we need to write songs about politicians’ but no one’s writing songs about bankers or the real people who are ruining this country.” With songs such as The Woods originating from the brothers Castleton hailings, a serene rural idyll deep in the Derbyshire Peaks, their music is an ode to the countryside and its influences: “All our music is dedicated to the countryside.” “I remember when we started touring and I’d say we were from Sheffield, even though we weren’t, until someone told me to stop saying that. But now I actually live in Sheffield I prefer pushing the Derbyshire side of my band.” Thus, the resentment Eoin rages massive so you’re just all lucky to be together and you’re mates.” Theo is further appreciative of such culture in aiding Wolf Alice’s success: “I think at the moment in the UK as a guitar band that it’s easier to get noticed and harder to sustain longevity which is always difficult. “My cousin in America is a musician as well and he always talks about how it’s quite difficult to get noticed but also there feels like people want to shine a light on guitar bands. I think that’s why quite a lot of the times there were guitar bands who were coming over to us and they were like NME are going to write about us, DIY are going to write about us.”
at the controversial process of fracking which threatens many of the nation’s rural heartlands in the pursuit of gas comes at no surprise: “Recently the whole fracking thing has really sent me over, I’m so furious that people can feel that it’s a perfectly fine thing to do to the countryside. I think it’s a real invasion.” The band is now embedded into a touring schedule for live shows with the bassist and former frontman of blues-rock duo Wet Nuns Rob Graham, an addition that Eoin describes as “fantastic. It changes the dynamic from just being on the road with my brother.” Drenge are preparing for their fourth tour of America. However, shows in America offer a contrasting environment and atmosphere, which Eoin ponders: “In the States we’ve always played plus-21 shows and it just changes the vibe in a really weird way. “The kids that go crazy at the front at our shows in the UK aren’t there because music is lumped in with the alcohol industry and kids can’t go to see live music unless it’s arena shows. America has got a real problem.” With Undertow marking a transition to a more sinister, darker sound, aficionados are already excited for the future of Drenge. However, Eoin concludes quietly upon the brothers future sound: “If you find a sound that you don’t think you’ve wasted then make another record, but I feel that on both records we’ve done what we could. We try to write sporadic genreless rock music – people go, ‘you sound like Nirvana or The Smiths or Arctic Monkey’s’. Someone recently said we sounded like Talk-
Joel adds: “I think that’s right, going back a while The Killers, Kings of Leon they had to come here to break before they could break over there because no one really breaks Amer-
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We like to be representative of the culture we grew up in
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Photograph: Infectious Records
When you see us live you get the pure essence of anger and adrenaline
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ica. People who break America are like potentially Dolly Parton, Frank Sinatra.” A bemused Theo deadpans: “Or fucking Imagine Dragons or some weird shit like that.” We conclude our conversation pondering the future and where the band, who have already played The Shepherd’s Bush Empire and O2 Arena supporting Alt-J, dream of one day bringing their live show. Theo playfully asserts: “Wimbledon, where they play tennis – I fucking hate tennis – it’s literally the shittest sport in the world.” With a similar level of ambition but greater tone of realism Joel responds: “Glastonbury, but headlining. Glastonbury is another world.”
ing Heads… awesome because of the rhythm in that song.” Urging the band to pursue a Talking Heads inspired album, Eoin humours: “Maybe, that would be exciting.” While one can only dream of Eoin replicating David Byrne, it is startlingly clear that Drenge’s riffs are here to astound for years to come. Eoin and Rory Loveless are one of Britain’s most promising duos. The ambition is commendable but it is not to be laughed upon, Wolf Alice have enjoyed phenomenal success that through their largely young crowd one only imagines will accelerate. But they also remain remarkably rooted: “Nothing has changed in terms of us having massive egos. I think the only thing that has changed is the size of the venues that we’ve been playing”, Joel says. “Life hasn’t really changed because we’ve been on the road or recording.” Meanwhile Theo is still living on his mother’s sofa bed and gleefully accepts: “Until that changes I am not going to believe anything has changed.”
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Politics
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Thursday 22th October 2015 | PALATINATE
In coversation with the head of Du Sofya Grebenkina Politics Editor Deputy Chair of the DU Liberal Thinkers, Luke Hallewell, talks to Palatinate. What are the ‘liberal values’ that your society upholds?
So the main liberal values that we seek to uphold and support are tolerance and mutual respect for one another. Liberal values are also the principles of liberty and equality - especially freedom of speech. It’s a value we hold really dear and we believe that, in a society, we have the freedom to engage with one another, and to be able to discuss our own opinions without feeling like we have to restrain ourselves. Obviously some people have very different viewpoints from one another and it’s fascinating to be able to hear and understand such a broad spectrum of views. When did the society begin?
It started this year, 2015, around the time of the election. The election really was such a major
catalyst for our revival.
Did you have any particular motivations behind the foundation of your society?
We realised that there was no liberal society here in Durham. After the whole issue of tuition fees, student popularity amongst the Liberal Democrats declined significantly, solely due to this one issue rather than all the other things the Liberal Democrats were fighting for. They also believe in increasing funding for mental health support and free school meals for children. Only one issue was really blown out of proportion by the media. That unfortunately caused the former society in Durham to collapse. We decided there was still space for liberal voices in Durham. There’s a lot of people who are quiet liberals who are fearful because it’s a smaller party, it’s a smaller group. Why would people want to be affiliated with something that’s not part of the major establishment parties, such as Labour and the Conservatives? They have had a massive footing here amongst students, and we felt there was a need for alternative voices.
What does your society hope to achieve? What are its goals?
What will this alliance between the universities bring?
It’s still early days. We want more people to be involved with liberalism. Not the Liberal Democrats, liberalism. We seek to distance ourselves somewhat from exactly replicating the Liberal Democrats. We want a greater membership purely to get more and more people involved. We want to be able to show people proponents of liberalism; we have some speakers coming up this term including Sir Alan Beith, and Lord Shipley. I really respect them. All of this is so that people are aware that there’s more than just Labour and Conservatives. Eventually the aim is to have a consistent society set up, one that does not flounder after the original founders leave. The ultimate aim is to have a North East alliance. Recently Newcastle and Northumbria universities have set up their own liberal societies. That has been partly inspired by GK, our chair, who’s been liaising with them quite a bit. This is all to bring liberalism back on the agenda and as part of the political debate.
It raises awareness of the importance of liberalism in the country. There isn’t much of a liberal voice in the North East. We want people to know that liberalism is also a valid school of thought. We’ll also give people space for free and fair debate, for conversation, without feeling that they’re going to be attacked. We want people to know that you can hold these values (of liberalism) and be proud of them. Why do you think people are fearful to hold liberal views?
A large proportion of it is because of the Liberal Democrats. So this is why we are called the Liberal Thinkers, not the Liberal Democrats. A large proportion is also that liberalism has fallen into decline, not just here, but across Europe. Nationalism is on the rise. People are scared. There is a lot of worry about immigration. It frightens me to know that if I want to say: “I’m a liberal,” people will associate it with radicalism. This is not the case. What is wrong with being tolerant, respectful,
and having individual freedoms? There are so many more liberals than there are understood to be, but they keep quiet because of the negative connotations associated with the Liberal Democrats. Also the party is small compared to the major ones, it pales in comparison. How is a small party going to change something? They can. You mentioned the refugee crisis and immigration. Do you have a stance on the issue, as a society?
As a society, every single one of us holds internationalist principles. David Cameron has had a shameful response, only allowing 20,000 (refugees) in until 2020, which means about 12 people a day. More needs to be done. These people are fleeing persecution. It’s such a terrible situation. Why more people aren’t being allowed in is astonishing. If it was happening here, you’d hope that other countries would support us. We’re all humans on this planet. I think it’s such a no-brainer, but obviously so many other people have diverging opinions. We want raised quotas, but we also believe
PALATINATE | Thursday 22th October 2015
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Politics
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urham University Liberal Thinkers that the EU should take as many refugees as possible. What happens when a member disagrees with this position in the society?
We absolutely encourage debate. We’ve had people disagree with us on other issues so we debate and discuss. We don’t want to be aggressive. Something I was fearful of, when helping to set up the society, was that we would put people off because we were pushy or forceful. So we’ve made sure to encourage people to speak. Freedom of speech is liberalism. Even in the Liberal Democrat party, there are some traditional liberals who don’t support membership of the EU and are still there. We still hold internationalist principles, it’s just slight disagreements on bureaucracy of international organizations or the way that funding is allocated, rather than the idea of wanting to be immersed in multiculturalism. How do you foster this debate?
We were only ratified in June, but this term we have socials. We
also have events not just about frequenting bars. We’re looking into ‘Pizza and Policy’, where we can sit and discuss ideas of liberalism. We have speaking events, speech competitions, where people will be able to speak for three or four minutes at a time so they can say why they’re so passionate about liberalism, and certain specific areas that they care about. You seem to have a negative opinion of David Cameron, but what do you think about Jeremy Corbyn and his values?
Corbyn is interesting. It’s far too early in his leadership for me to determine exactly what he stands for. His support of certain things like Palestinian statehood is something that we, as a society, share. Every state should be allowed to have selfdetermination, provided it’s done in a fair and peaceful way, in a negotiated manner, with the support of other international players. We understand the oppression of Palestinians in places like Gaza and we can comprehend his (Corbyn’s) point of view. Also prior to his
leadership he supported, to some extent, electoral reform. We want proportional representation. The petition that was signed in support of this has gone unheard. Let’s go back to Durham University. What is the biggest issue you see here that you think you can fix?
We definitely want more of a liberal voice. It’s frightening to think that some people here share the same opinions as Nigel Farage. It’s wonderful that they can express those opinions but we hope that with discussion they will amend them, even if slightly. Unfortunately their narrowminded, dogmatic views have the potential to hurt other students. Some of us (members of DULT) are affiliated with the local party and we go around Durham witnessing racism, intolerance, xenophobia. It’s horrible, and more should be done to prevent it.
a table and discuss where we stand on things. Labour and Conservatives are very broad parties and there’s bound to be some overlap. There will be members of those parties who have very similar views (with DULT) but will identify with them because of their parents, or their geographical area, or they are planning on being an MP. We’re looking forward to having multiple party meetings, socials, and time for debate. We want to bring political interest back to Durham for those who are oblivious, or wish to remain so, with politics. All the parties need to work together. How are you planning to get students involved who have never cared about politics?
It will be great to just sit round
We want to have a large presence in different events, at different colleges, to come around and talk. I really like the idea of political awakening through discussion. This includes meetings in the streets and discussions on social media. You think one person can’t make a difference but if I can get one more person to vote, one more person to want to be elected to a council or JCR, then I’ve made a
US. This assumption is dangerously incorrect; while Trump’s persona is unquestionably ridiculous, his ability to combine economic populism with fervent right-wing nationalism has made visible the fear and resentment within much of the national electorate. There are others, too, within this sizeable Republican field, attempting to stoke anger with similar tactics, whether it’s Texas Senator Ted Cruz, or former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. To fully explain the prominence of non-politicians like Trump, neurosurgeon Dr Ben Carson or former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina in this contest, it is important to look a little deeper than specific policy offerings. The strong support for three non-politicians is surely yet another result of the ‘anti-politics’ wave that is seemingly afflicting all Western democracies. Yet the Republican Party has already witnessed the rise of the Tea Party, a movement that is itself anti-establishment, and is to blame for the current struggle to find a new Speaker of the House of Representatives. It may be that Trump is simply the newest way for those frustrat-
ed conservatives to express their displeasure. In Ben Carson, the Republicans have a man with all the anti-Washington zeal of Trump, but without the divisive rhetoric (his recent comments blaming the victims of the Oregon shooting for not fighting back aside). While there is clearly early momentum behind Trump, it is important to reemphasise just how long the process is, as well as how quickly things can change. In October 2007 Hilary Clinton was up by 25% in her race against Barack Obama, while Rudy Giuliani was leading the Republican contest (with eventual winner John McCain in third). Most pollsters do not anticipate any of the three current frontrunners to win the eventual nomination - they use measures like fundraising and endorsements from fellow politicians to judge who the real favourite is. Yet even here conventional wisdom has failed. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker was widely considered a leading candidate, someone who could appeal both to the conservative base and the Republican establishment, yet his collapse in the polls lead him to
You think UKIP is narrowminded, but do you see yourself cooperating with other societies?
difference. That’s huge.
How is the exec committee organized and run?
We have the Chair who sets the overall vision for the society and is due to manage the major issues within the society like membership, discussing the groundwork for meetings. The Deputy Chair is more involved in the day-to-day running, and smaller issues. We also have an Honorary President: someone who has been involved in championing liberalism. Additionally, we have a Communications Officer who is in charge of advertising and admin, and who also tries to get speakers in. In the future we’d like Nick Clegg to speak and that would hopefully attract members of other parties and broaden the forum for debate. We have the Treasurer and the Social Secretary. There is also the Secretary who deals with the general administration of the society. People keep their roles for one year and the next elections are at the end of the second term. If you feel you want to get involved then make sure to look for the DULT society on Facebook.
Race to the White House: The Republican Primaries
Joe Slater It is hard to believe that there are still four months until the first state primary for the Republican presidential nomination begins, nine months before the Republican Convention announces the party’s candidate, and another 13 months to go before all Americans head to the polls and elect their leader. This is the nature of American politics; it’s long, loud and stag-
geringly expensive. It is a remarkable electoral system that seems to dominate American culture for years at a time, while making heroes and villains of its contestants in equal measure. The current Republican battle, however, appears to have taken things to a whole new level. The giant elephant in the contest is, of course, Donald Trump. From afar it can look to many like one big joke: a rich man’s vanity project that could only gain actual political support in a place like the
Trump leads in polls for Republican primary Photograph: DonkeyHotey, flickr
quit the race after only two debates. There are two other candidates widely tipped by the political media. Former Governor Jeb Bush and current Senator Marco Rubio, both from Florida, are battling to become the favoured choice of the moderate wing of the party. It is another quirk of the American system that a Bush and a Clinton are once again leading candidates to become president; there is, however, evidence that both are suffering from growing antipathy toward their respective political dynasty. Rubio, on the other hand, has visibly grown into the race; he has a personable charisma and a political career eerily reminiscent of the then Senator Obama. This contest has already made fools of political pundits who dare to try and predict it. As unlikely as ‘President Trump’ seems, remember what was said about Jeremy Corbyn or even Bernie Sanders in the Democratic race. There’s a long way to go before the voters of Iowa and New Hampshire formally begin proceedings. And as the long Summer of Trump fades, it’s impossible to say what will happen next.
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Comment Experience
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Thursday 22nd October 2015| PALATINATE
Experience: Being trans at university The past year has been tough, but it has been one of the best of my life
Luke Armitage I started at Durham University with the intention of not telling anyone here about my trans status. After all, it doesn’t affect the fact that I am a man, just the same as those assigned that way at birth. Yet, here I am, at the beginning of my second year, writing an article that will effectively make this information public. There are many reasons why a trans person might choose my initial intention, to be ‘stealth’, and each personal decision is valid and should be respected. It shouldn’t be necessary to do so, but unfortunately being out as transgender leads to being viewed and treated as different to cisgender (a term which basically refers to anyone who is not trans) people. The consequences of this vary from invalidation of a person’s gender, to unequal treatment, to the threat of violence and even murder. A 2014 NUS report found that a third of UK trans students have experienced some form of bullying or harassment at university, and that only a fifth feel safe on campus. And so many transgender women have been murdered in America this year that Laverne Cox (of Orange is the New Black fame) declared it a ‘state of emergency’. So why am I coming out to you
now? In doing so, I acknowledge that my privilege as a white man means I am less likely than others to face violence as a result, so in this way I am lucky to be able to. However, none of us should have to hide or be ashamed of this part of our lives. As someone who is relatively safe, I think that it is important to make myself unapologetically visible as a trans person, to humanise us in the eyes of society, especially for those of us who are not able to be out for reasons such as prejudice and fear. The past year has been tough, but it has been one of the best of my life. In all honesty, I wasn’t entirely certain that I would be able to complete first year, with mental health
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Being out as transgender leads to being viewed as different to cisgender people
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issues as well as gender dysphoria to contend with. The aforementioned NUS report showed that half of all trans students consider dropping out. However, it turns out that coming to Durham was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I’ve had support from bril-
liant new friends, my college, my departments, the disability service and the counselling service. And this summer I got good grades and underwent gender affirming chest surgery, and I am the happiest I have been in a long time. I have faced problems, both internal and external, due to being trans here in Durham. Binding my chest, which thankfully I no longer have to do, restricted day-to-day activity and prevented me from participating easily in sports. Feeling that aspects of my body are completely wrong doesn’t exactly help my confidence, and exacerbates my mental health problems. And there are constant reminders of the exclusion of trans narratives from mainstream life and discourse both socially and academically, such as the introductory lecture where gender was given as an example of a binary variable (in Psychology, no less), which demonstrated complete disregard of non-binary people, some of whom are likely to have been in the room, listening to their existence being casually erased. However, there have also been many positive experiences, successes and achievements. I imagine the size of the impact that interacting with trans-aware people has had on my mental health and well-being would surprise the majority of cisgender people; empathy and understanding are incredibly important, but are often difficult to find in a society where trans-inclusive education is sadly lacking. To each individual who supports and campaigns for trans issues and rights: thank you. Whilst
there is still a lot of work to be done for the inclusion and support for trans people both within and outside of the LGBT+ community, it is progress such as the introduction of gender neutral toilets in St. Aidan’s college and the geography department that encourages me and helps me to be hopeful of change in a society which is structurally prejudiced against me. So whilst I have had to deal with the ignorance and attitudes that led to someone non-consensually feeling my chest to ‘determine’ my gender, I have also had the opportunity to attend talks by two different trans men (Buck Angel and Stephen Whittle), and to organise and lead a ceremony for the Transgender Day of Remembrance. The latter will be observed this year (on November 20th) through events organised by the university-wide LGBT association, and I encourage you to attend these and to remember the many people who have been killed as a result of transphobia in the last year. There are simple things that you personally can do to support trans people at Durham and in general. Even if you are not intentionally transphobic, it is important to actively seek to educate yourself to avoid participating in structural and socially-learned discrimination. The response to my presentation on sex and gender, which was part of a series of student talks on LGBT issues, demonstrated the extent of the problem of the lack of mainstream trans-inclusive education: it surprised me just how few people knew that biological sex is different from gender, and that neither category is binary.
Illustration: Mariam Hayat
Something basic to start with: the name that a person asks you to call them is their real name. Use it. And you should use the pronouns (for example: he, she or they) that they ask you to refer to them with. If you aren’t sure how a certain set of pronouns works, you can look it up on the internet, just as you can and should do with any other questions you may have. If there is something you absolutely must ask a trans person, you should ask them respectfully and in private. But first, please think about whether it is appropriate or any of your business. You don’t need to know whether or not someone has had a particular surgery- it doesn’t make them any ‘more’ or ‘less’ trans. And if you wouldn’t ask a cisgender person about their genitals, why would you ask for this information just because someone is transgender? Support your friends and celebrate steps of progress in their transitions with them. Equally, listen to trans people when it comes to issues that affect us- the problematic way that we have been represented in the media is a recent notable example. In the end, just remember that we are people just like everyone else, and there is a lot more to us than our gender identity. Why treat us any differently?
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PALATINATE | Thursday 22nd October 2015
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Durham Comment
Are landlords in Durham exploiting students? Emma Yeo was less than impressed with the state of the house she moved into this year Emma Yeo
In first year, the college housing talk was the start of my housing panic. Our fellow students assured us that there would be plenty of houses left even as late as January. That was true. But finding a house in an area of town I’d actually like to live in (no Neville’s Cross or Framwellgate Moor for me) wasn’t as simple. Many of the houses and flats we were interested in just vanished. We had an appointment to view one house in Elvet Crescent, but someone snapped it up before we could even step inside. For another house, the process felt a little like a messedup dating show. In groups we met the landlord at the Students’ Union to express an interest and he chose who to bestow the contract upon. We weren’t the lucky ones, so back
to the drawing board it was. By the end of November we were starting to get a little desperate, realising that the best city centre pads were vanishing before our eyes. In the end, thankfully, we found somewhere. The house I’m living in was one of the last available in Whinney Hill. For a couple of reasons we needed to live within a short walk of the city centre and Bill Bryson. So, spotting a house still languishing on the market, we pounced. When we went to visit, the happygo-lucky residents told us that everything was great. The only problem I can remember was that the insulation in the hallway wasn’t the best, so it could get a little chilly sometimes. They didn’t seem that concerned though. After all, my college room often resembled a sauna. I thought it would be a nice change to be somewhere a little cooler. Fast forward seven months and first year was over. Shortly after the end of term I went to the letting
agents and picked up my keys. In the envelope was also a leaflet about mould and damp that it was apparently imperative I made my housemates aware of. At that time it didn’t seem like a bad omen, just a letting agent doing their job. If they weren’t keeping the properties in a good state of repair what was the point of them?
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There has been no rent reduction or offer of compensation for all of the trouble
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A short drive away from the letting agents later, I arrived outside my new home for the next year. The red peeling paint on the door was a lit-
tle less appealing than I had remembered and a mountain of cigarette butts had miraculously appeared in the front yard. At this stage I was still hoping for the best. After all, student homes aren’t meant to be the most luxurious of places. Front door swings open. There is a strange smell in the room, reminiscent of a dreary old people’s home. My hopes for the perfect start have been dashed, but perhaps it won’t get any worse… Those annoying online listicles about student life always say to do an inventory, so I decide to start with that. Handprint on one of the walls, like something out of a horror movie: check. A massive brown stain on my bedroom carpet, which looked as if someone has had a bit of an accident: check. My family later brought a carpet cleaner to the house and were amazed at the black jelly-like substances that flowed out from the machine afterwards. There was a long, rambling visit
to the letting agents. Followed by multiple emails across the summer period. There were insects crawling under the lino, slug trails, a mouldy washing machine, a door that kept on jamming, and even lovelier surprises. There has been no rent reduction or offer of compensation for all of the trouble we’ve spent trying to make the house liveable ourselves (or the week my family spent cleaning). Last year’s tenants were right though. Without the heating on the house is freezing. When we moved in we tried to brave the house with no heating. We ended up eating outside at a picnic table and hiding in bed under duvets and blankets. Once my fingernails started to go purple and I was spending more time with an elephant shaped hot water bottle than my housemates it was time to stop. The heating is on now. We’re told not to rush into finding a house, yet if we don’t we spend a year living in a hovel. What’s a student to do?
The not-so-great British drinking culture
Ram Gupta considers the implications of going to university in a country where heavy drinking is normalised Ram Gupta
The beginning of the academic year is always a great one. Fresh starts, light workloads and boundless events bring out all the pros of university life. It is a chance for students to capitalise on what university has to offer, and to discover (or rediscover) the many reasons to love Durham. This time of year is even more thrilling as a fresher. For most firstyears, it’s the reward for consistent and committed dedication and hard work. Phrases repeatedly heard such as “University is the best experience of your life” make freshers’ the climax of many years of fervent anticipation. But what purpose does freshers’ (and more specifically fresher’s’ week) actually serve? Of course, it’s an opportunity to settle in, get to know people and enjoy oneself… but do all these need to be achieved in one way. Thinking back to my schoolmates’
and even my own initial expectation of what freshers’ would be like before starting university, it became clear that there is one prevalent image: drinking, and lots of it. While this turns out to be true, the ugly side of it has almost always seemed to stay concealed. The calamities from nights out are shrugged off the next morning as good stories to tell, but the police and hospital staff that had to deal with them probably wouldn’t look at those incidents in the same way.
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Drinking is ingrained in our culture: predrinks, drinking games, nights out
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Daily, drunken occurrences such as injuries, arguments and illnesses aren’t taken much notice of; however, deeply serious issues involving
alcohol have come to light recently; most prominently involving the River Wear. But one could question whether the impact made by these incidents has been as big as it should be. The same week a river death was acknowledged, nightclubs were still booming and intoxicated students were still stumbling by the river (people have fallen in again since). So despite horrific events like these being common knowledge, why is alcohol still so heavily glorified? It’s because it’s ingrained into our culture. Pre-drinks, drinking games, nights out; they all revolve around alcohol. And seeing as this practice is de facto a compulsory ritual if you want to fit in during freshers’, the peer pressure to drink is no myth. The average fresher won’t have had anywhere nearly as much to drink before coming to university as they’re ‘expected’ to now. Most haven’t established their limits and although it’s not always clear, people are being directly and indirectly pressured to drink before they can stop to think about if they’ve had enough. ‘Games’, ‘initiations’ and ‘challenges’; having a drink is one thing, but forcing it down someone
else is another. Speaking to international students, I have learnt that this drinking culture doesn’t permeate all corners of the Earth. - “I have lived in this country for many years, but I still don’t understand British drinking culture,” says a New Zealander. This shows heavy drinking is very much a British culture and although it’s generally accepted here, it is by no means the global norm. Freshers are coming into a new and very different environment, and therefore will be very easily influenced into believing what the ‘right’ or ‘proper’ thing to do is. For
that reason, it is vitally important that they aren’t pressured into doing what they aren’t wholly comfortable with. It’s not all negative. The student community has shown great unity when aiming to protect others (volunteers as Street Angels and Freps, for example). Along with the Durham SU’s alcohol awareness campaign these have made some difference and raised students’ alcohol awareness in Durham. But more can be done to prevent the exacerbation of the British drinking culture that not all students actually enjoy. Image: Hans via Pixabay
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National Comment
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Thursday 22nd October 2015| PALATINATE
We must protect the BBC as our most precious cultural institution Zoë Boothby defends the distinctive characteristics of the BBC and the license fee Zoë Boothby
Wednesday nights at university are the best. Sports socials? No, I was more thinking of the glorious double bill that is Great British Bake Off followed by Don’t Tell the Bride. Filo pastry and meringue dresses; what more could you want? However, it seems my mid-week viewing routine is in jeopardy, as public debate rages over the compulsory licence fee. Critics argue that it is archaic and outdated; even lovely Terry Wogan of Pudsey Bear fame has commented that the BBC is no longer the ‘national broadcaster’ it once was. Recent debate over the TV licence has been fuelled by the apparent changes in our viewing habits: the convenience of catchup TV and the ‘Netflix and chill’ phenomenon has resulted in 1,000 people a day ditching their TV licence, with ownership of television sets at its lowest level since 1972. The message is seemingly clear: the BBC does not hold the same national importance as it once did. The yearly licence fee cost for
households is £145.50 a year, which works out at an average of £12.13 a month. As a public service the BBC must be entirely transparent in their spending, and on their website you can find where each penny of your money goes, whether into TV channels, radio stations or other costs. BBC Radio is possibly the greatest beneficiary of the licence fee, and without it many have argued that BBC Radio would be unable to survive in any capacity. Smaller channels, such as BBC Alba, cost just 3p a month, but cater for a small percentage of society that would otherwise be ignored. When other media forms are considered it is difficult to reject the argument that the BBC represents incredible value for money: Sky’s monthly costs are five times higher, and do not offer nearly the same variety. The BBC has recently been used as a political tool by the Conservative government, who, having negotiated free TV licences for over75s, will cost the BBC an estimated £650million year. In return, it is expected that a fee for using iPlayer and other services will be introduced, though the corporation’s annual funding is still expected to fall by 20%. By utilising the BBC as
a means of pursuing the ‘grey vote’, the government have undermined the cultural importance of the BBC. Even outside public broadcasting, the BBC subsidises the production of many films, and is a very active supporter of the UK film industry. Fundamentally, the issue of the BBC is a question of whether we want a publically-funded broadcaster: a poll by Radio Times of 9,000 members of the public found that 96% were in favour of a public broadcaster, whilst 91% thought that the licence fee was the best way to fund the corporation. 97% of us use the BBC for 18 hours a week. Yet such overwhelming public support does not excuse the BBC from the continuous need to routinely reassess its role. Though the BBC holds an elevated position in public broadcasting, it must still be subject to the same pressures as other broadcasters, and strive to remain
The demand for a safe space for ethnic minority students was met with outrage and Mustafa was deemed a racist and a bigot. However, she and many others dispute the very existence of the ‘reverse’ racism of which she has been accused. In a video speech she denies that her actions were racist at all: ‘I, as an ethnic minority woman, cannot be racist or sexist towards white men.’ Mustafa’s speech highlighted how racism targets those who cannot privilege from the structure of society. White privilege describes the reality of white people benefiting from institutionalised racism and discrimination such as presumed greater social status, freedom to move and speak freely and advantages in professional and educational contexts. There are numerous examples of this, such as the fact that people of colour are more
likely to be arrested – while only 30% of the population of the US are people of colour, they make up 60% of prisoners. Discrimination against non-white minorities has become a huge topic recently following police violence against black individuals such as Michael Brown. Should we be denying ethnic minorities a ‘safe space’ to hold an event? Sometimes, people have to understand that others need a place away from the reminder of discrimination and that they cannot be included within it. When you exist in a comfortable life of privilege and thus do not experience discrimination it is easy to forget that others do. A comparable example of white male privilege leading to accusations of ‘reverse’ racism as a result of attempted exclusion of the white male community is the Black Lesbians United Facebook event page being infiltrated by white male stu-
relevant. The BBC, however, is not only pressured to produce quality, but also quantity: if the license fee is compulsory across the UK, content produced must be reflective of the population. Representation of class, race, disability and gender on the BBC is not entirely perfect, but it nevertheless exists to a greater extent than on other channels. It is for this reason that the BBC must exist as a whole: the distinctive characteristics of each channel must be maintained. The unique success of the BBC is underpinned by the range of target audiences catered for between channels such as BBC Two and BBC Three, Radio 4 and Radio 1 Xtra. And in this vulnerability also lies the BBC’s greatest strength: the undeniable truth that the broadcaster does exist for everyone. It is a service in which each of us equally contributes and equally gains. The
licence fee will always have its critics, and the debate will inevitably crop up once more in public discussion. The role of the BBC in the 21st Century needs to be constantly questioned, and perhaps other methods of licence payment should be considered at a later date should circumstances change. Yet, now is the time for the central message to be the need to preserve such an important media platform, particularly at a time which sees great political threat to our culture. The BBC is made by us, for us. Nowhere else could one find such a vast array of content: drama, comedy, news, reality television, radio, politics, films, children’s television, documentaries. The BBC cannot be immune to public change; but we cannot allow such change to ever overwhelm our most precious cultural institution. Image: Fluteflute via wikimedia comons
Bahar Mustafa and the problem of white privilege Kate Dean
Bahar Mustafa the student diversity officer for Goldsmiths University Students’ Union, has been the centre of a racism argument resulting in the creation of a petition calling for removal from her position and now, in a separate incident, being charged by police. The 28 year old was thrown into the limelight when she asked cisgender white men not to attend an event targeted at black and ethnic minority students in back in April. In October, Mustafa was charged with sending threatening communication for using the hashtag #killallwhitemen. The case surrounding this woman raises the controversial issue of white privilege in our society.
dents. The event was targeted by British university students, many of whom were from Durham, who posted offensive, fetishizing and degrading posts on the page, ruining the event for those who only wanted to create a ‘safe space’ within the black lesbian community. Like in the case of Bahar Mustafa, the desire for those attending the event was for a safe space and this was met with accusations of supposed anti-white racism, those very accusations perfectly exemplifying why a safe space was required in the first place. The presumed entitlement of the white male students has further oppressed the minority group as is the case of Mustafa – opposing white privilege only appears to increase discrimination against minorities. The #killallwhitemen tweet that Mustafar posted is nothing more than unprofessional. It is doubtful that many men are going to feel
personally threatened by a tweet; Guardian journalist Suzanne Moore suggests, ‘If men are seriously fearing for their lives because of this hashtag, they can surely organise a safe space. Indeed, they have; it’s called “most of the world”.’ The fact that Mustafa is being charged as a result of this tweet is a tragic defeat for free speech. Indeed, Mustafarherself must be wondering whether those (often white male) individuals who sent her personal threats of rape and death over social media are also being charged by police. Once again a minority, female voice is being denied while privileged voices are allowed to thrive.
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Sport Sport
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Thursday 22nd October 2015 | PALATINATE
Meet The Teams With the new season underway, Kierran Moriarty hears from nine clubs about their hopes for the coming year
Aidan’s - Men’s Cricket Social Secretary- Dave Thompkinson
After an incredible two seasons, a revitalised and strong SACCC will be eying up silverware once again this year. The club has an abundance of talent which Captain Legg will utilise thoroughly. After a successful recruitment drive, the club must be favourites once again this year to be crowned champions. With a sterling exec SACCC will continue its high standard and winning ways.
Hatfield- Rowing Boat Club President – Alex Dent
Hatfield College Boat Club are excited to see this season begin. Both men’s and women’s squads are hoping to build on last year’s performances and hopefully place well at the Head of the River races and the BUCS head, which is closer to home in Newcastle this year.
St. Cuthbert’s Society- Mens Football A Team Captain- Tom Haste
Cuths A are looking to get back to the Premiership division after two years of exile. We are also looking to relive the former glories of 2013-2014 and have a good run in the Cup.
Collingwood - Women’s Football Club Captain- Kate Petty
Our A team have narrowly missed out on winning the league two years in a row so that is our big target this season. We are welcoming many new players to the club that we hope can help us achieve that goal. Let the year commence!
Grey- Women’s Hockey Club Captain- Lorea Johnston
Grey college women’s hockey club are not only pushing for promotion this year but are also hoping to get their hands on the hockey trophy, which they narrowly missed out on last year. The team has nearly doubled in size so we have high hopes for the coming season.
Hild Bede - Men’s Hockey Club Captain- Robin Wallich
Josephine Butler - Darts Club President- Harry Clayton
St Mary’s- Ultimate Frisbee Club Captain - Jack Williams
Van Mildert- Netball Club President Emma Burroughs
With some promising performances last season and a large cohort of freshers, Hild Bede will be pushing for a top-half finish in North East league 1 this season. Hopefully our relentlessly attacking hockey (no clean sheets last season) will help get us a cup run this season as well!
St. Mary’s Ultimate Frisbee Team are looking forward to another successful season following a league promotion and a long run in the Inter-Collegiate Cup last year. Strength in depth will hopefully serve the team well as they look to expand into two squads for the first time in the college’s history.
After a successful season, including promotion and a cup final, both of Butlers darts team are eagerly awaiting the start of the new college season. We are looking to build on last year’s success and even challenge for the title maybe!
Van Mildert Netball Club is steadily growing year on year and is now one of Mildert’s biggest clubs. After losing a lot of players last season, the club is looking to rebuild each of the teams, hopefully get a few promotions and enjoy a few good socials along the way.
PALATINATE | Thursday 22nd October 2015
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“I thought that I can make a real go of this if I work hard, it’s paid off now” Sale Sharks’ Josh Beaumont was back in Durham recently to watch his old university team in action. Palatinate Sport caught up with the former Aidante to discuss his career Charlie Richardson Deputy Sport Editor Was there a massive step up from University rugby to fully-fledged Premiership rugby with Sale? Yeah there was. You look back now – I watched the University last week – and you watch the Premiership. I don’t think in terms of the skill level because there are skilful players at University level and sometimes the speed of the games are similar-ish but the Premiership is just different in terms of intensity and physicality. It makes a big difference on your body shape; it is a big step up in pressure and physicality. How much did Durham develop you as a rugby player first of all?
Durham had a huge influence upon my career development as a rugby player. I only moved to the forwards when I was seventeen so I was still in a sort of transition phase when I arrived at Durham. I got to University rugby as a step up from schoolboy rugby; a step up
in physicality mainly so it was good schooling for a forward to not have to jump straight into the full professional side of the game. I was fortunately able to work my way up and you learn a few things on the way. And as a person?
As a person, University is the best thing for development in my opinion. I think it is good that you are immediately put out of your comfort zone. You have to make mates and get to know people you wouldn’t necessarily get to meet at school and in more normal walks of life. And when did you realise – at Durham or before – that becoming a professional rugby player was a genuine career option for you?
It was probably my last year at University. Although I’d signed at Sale and trained with Newcastle Falcons during my second year, it was something that I was going to go and try and perhaps give it a go. It was only when I played in my third year for Sale in the Heineken
Cup, I thought that I can make a real go of this if I work hard,. It’s paid off now. Speaking of where you are now in terms of your career, what was your reaction to your England callup in June?
You set yourself targets at the start of the year and throughout the year. Last year my target – after being out injured for my first year – was
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I was fortunately able to work my way up and learn...
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just to break into the Sale first team squad and become a regular by after Christmas. When that happened quicker than I thought – I was already a regular by then – I just kept playing well and putting in good performances. Then I got a call up to the England Saxons squad, albeit as a travelling reserve, and then being picked for the England squad against the Barbarians happened quicker than I expected. It just shows you that if you’re playing well and you’re a young Englishman then you’ll get the opportunity. And immediate goals for the future?
Looking forward, hopefully I can go on and make that full England cap and make the most of my opportunity but I don’t want to get second season syndrome. And do you have a message for DURFC and their forthcoming season? Get back to Twickenham because all of the old boys want to go.
Former Hatfield student and Ashes winner dies aged 85
Kishan Vaghela Deputy Sport Editor Frank Tyson, who has died at the age of 85, was considered to be one of the quickest bowlers of all time and therefore earned the nickname “Typhoon”. Despite a fleeting five-year international career, the 1954-55 Ashes series in Australia proved to be a glamourous pinnacle, obliterating the Australians in a 3-1 series victory. After a moderate return of 1-160 and therefore an enlightening start to the rigours of international cricket in Brisbane, he regained his form in the second Test match in Sydney, taking 10 wickets as England bounced back with a 38-run victory. His form continued in the third Test in Melbourne, where his career-
best figures of 7-28 allowed England to take control of the five-match series. Another victory in Adelaide followed to secure the Ashes yet his overall international figures provide a modest reflection of one of England’s most ferocious bowlers ever. Although he ended the Ashes series with 28 wickets at an average of 20.82, he would only represent England on a further 11 occasions, It is unlikely that anyone has bowled as quickly as Tyson for England, having clocked 89mph in the nets on a tour in New Zealand. However according to The Telegraph, the former Durham University student believed he was as fast at university as he ever was in his subsequent career. Tyson eventually secured his degree as an English Literature student
at Hatfield College, after his involvement in the Ashes series. However even whilst on tour, he
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It is unlikely that has anyone has bowled as quickly as Tyson for England having clocked 89mph...
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immersed himself in poetry off the field. It was rumoured that he recited the poems of William Wordsworth as he ran in to bowl. Yet having represented Hatfield College, Northamptonshire and England, his body succumbed to his unusual bowling action, forcing him to retire in 1960 aged just 30. However, his retirement from cricket took him to the land of his most acclaimed success in the game. Tyson went on to pursue careers working as a school master, coach, commentator and author in Melbourne before moving to the Gold Coast to enjoy his full retirement. Tyson married Ursula Miels in 1957, having met her on the successful 1954-55 Ashes tour. They had a son and two daughters. Frank Tyson, cricketer, born 6 June 1930; died 27 September 2015.
Durham graduate signs professional contract with Oxford United Kishan Vaghela Deputy Sport Editor
League Two side Oxford United have signed former DUAFC winger Jonny Giles after he impressed during a two-week trial with The Us. The Durham University Alumnus graduated in Physics in the last academic year. However his career has taken off like a rocket after he posted a highlights video of himself on Youtube. The compilation features clips of Giles playing for National League South side Maidenhead United as a youngster. Ashington, who are now managed by former England fastbowler Steve Harmison and Durham University’s 1st XI. An agent stumbled across the video compilation on Youtube and from this, eventually arranged for Giles to have a trial with Oxford United. Following the move, Giles told BBC Radio Oxford “I’m hoping to learn a lot while I’m here from a really talented bunch of players.” “This is a new chapter for me. I’ve never played football professionally before so I’m going to try and develop for the first couple of months” he added. “I think I’ll improve coming back from training every day and hopefully eventually reach new heights at this club”. During the trial, Giles faced Southampton duo Jay Rodriguez and Juanmi in player development matches. Giles faced the forwards, who have also represented England and Spain respectively at senior level, and demonstrated enough to his current employers. Former DUAFC Club Captain Will Legg had this to say about Giles. “He is a truly special player who fully deserves the oppurtunity to play professionally. I’m sure he won’t be overawed by the challenge. Everyone at the club wishes him well with his career at Oxford United”. Giles is the second Durham graduate this year to turn professional, following Gustavo Silva who now plies his trade in Malta.
Sport
Thursday 22nd October 2015 | PALATINATE
College Sport Clubs Palatinate profiles nine College clubs as new season kicks off p. 18
Professional contract for Durham Alumnus Jonny Giles earns deal at League Two side Oxford United p. 19
Free scoring Netball 2s off to a winning start Kieran Moriarty Sport Editor
Frank Tyson (left) graduating from Durham. Read Kishan Vaghela’s obituary of the former Hatfield and England cricketer on p. 19 Photograph: Durham University
Loughborough rain on Durham’s parade Charlie Richardson Deputy Sport Editor In terms of a rugby spectacle, it was a complete wash-out in every sense. But in terms of a spectacle which unified a community and raised £2650 for the truly wonderful charity Sport in Action Zambia it was an utter triumph. It would be easy to criticise Durham but the reality of the situation was that their opponents boasted ten players who were involved against Premiership heavyweights Leicester Tigers a week previous. Yet there will still be a sense of what might have been amongst the Durham players as their fiercest BUCS rivals were undoubtedly there for the taking on a deceptively wet night at Durham City Rugby Club. The opening exchanges were understandably scrappy; there was clearly a touch of pre-season rustiness coupled with anxiety created by the grandeur of the occasion and both sides struggled to grab the
match by the haunches. Nevertheless Durham did start brighter and this brightness was rewarded with a sumptuous try with nearly a quarter of the match played. After captain Buchan Richardson - one of Durham’s better players on the night – combined intricately down the blindside with livewire scrum-half Tim Turner, an inside offload found Justin Clegg on a subtle supporting line and he was able to touchdown unopposed. Henry Slater – by no means for the first time during the match – was unable to add the extra two points and Durham suddenly led 5-0. However Durham were unable to prevent Loughborough responding almost immediately. On numerous occasions Durham were out-numbered in defence and it didn’t take much for Loughborough to exploit them. Ryan Redman found the lightning quick Brandon Mandivenga in space and the sweeping defender stood no chance. Loughborough had levelled the scores in a matter of minutes. Despite Durham’s set-piece supe-
riority, they were unable to read and contain the Loughborough attack and its midfield decoy runners. By the end of the first-half, Matt Edwards had crossed for Loughborough’s second try which was converted by Josh Sharp and the visitors led 12-5 at half-time. Durham continued their set-piece dominance into the second-half and – coupled with Loughborough’s appalling indiscipline in all facets of play – were unlucky to not have seen one of their counterparts sent to the sin-bin. The whole of the second-half was played in Loughborough’s half and it seemed a question of when rather than if the next Durham score would come. But Durham were at times too lateral and inaccurate in their attacking play to trouble the Loughborough line. That’s taking nothing away from the devastatingly spirited defensive effort from a Loughborough side spearheaded by the imperious Andrew Boyce on the openside flank; he was an utter breakdown nuisance
until he was crazily substituted in the 65th minute. Yet, after missing several kicks at goal, Durham rued missed opportunities and after several strong carries from the superb Fraser Mosley they were unable to overturn the seven point deficit. The home support which came in such vast numbers left wet and upset.
DURHAM LOUGHBOROUGH
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Wednesday 7th October Durham City Rugby Club Attendance: 1000
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The second umpire may not have made an appearance but there was no doubt that DU Netball 2’s turned up on the first BUCS Wednesday of the season, cruising to a comfortable 39-27 victory over Leeds 3s. The Palatinates were initially slow to start in the opening stages. Leeds capitalised on this sluggish start and managed to go 3-1 up. This clearly spurred Durham into life as they produced a fantastic response, where they not only restored parity with their opponents but also raced into the lead. Lydia Woodward and Katherine Weir exhibited no signs of early season rustiness and were dispatching their chances with ruthless efficiency. By the end of the first quarter, Durham led 7-10. Durham carried this momentum into the second quarter, scoring five points without response from Leeds. The Palatinates were now playing some tremendous netball; a dazzling mix of dizzying movement, lightning quick passing and clinical goal scoring. Leeds struggled to contain Weir and Woodward and by the end of the second quarter, Durham were further ahead, leading 13-20. Leeds recovered well in the third quarter and got a few goals on the board. However they could not match the scoring rate of the Palatinates, meaning they fell further behind, finishing the third quarter 17-31 down. The game appeared to be in the bag yet Leeds refused to give up. At 21-37, Leeds scored four in quick succession to cut the deficit to 25-37. Nevertheless, it was too little, too late. Durham saw out the final quarter professionally and finished the game 39-27 winners.
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