Palatinate’s exclusive interview with the Wealdstone Raider Sport (page 18)
Palatinate’s General Election survey results Politics (pages 10-11)
Durham’s independent student newspaper
Profile interviews Green Party leader Natalie Bennett (page 9)
Palatinate
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No. 773
Thursday 30th April 2015| FREE
The vibrancy of Durham’s riverside scenery inspires local artists and students alike
Photograph: Grace Tseng/ Mr Hall
Durham crowned a top five University
Tom Fenton Henry Clare Durham has retained its position in the 2016 Complete University Guide, staying in the top five for the fifth year in succession. 90% of the subjects studied in Durham were ranked among the top ten.
Last year the Durham was the only University in the country to see 100% of subjects ranked in the top ten. For the third year running, Durham’s English department was ranked top in the country. However, rankings for Economics and Accounting and Finance plummeted with the former dropping from 9th to
23rd and the latter falling from 9th to 18th. The CUG also ranked History 2nd, falling from 1st last year. Sports Science also dropped from 1st to 13th. Cambridge topped the rankings, with Oxford, LSE and Imperial College London all finishing ahead of Durham. Durham’s was given a 3.14
rating the quality of its academic research, with the highest possible score being 4.0. Meanwhile, Durham ranked 5th in terms of entry standards, below Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial College London and London School of Economics. Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ray Hudson, said: “This is excellent news for the University
and confirms that Durham is amongst the top broad-subject universities in the country. “We are particularly pleased that 90% of our subjects are ranked in the UK top ten. Durham’s exceptional students and leading academics together create an excellent educational experience that equips our students well for the next stage in their lives.”
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Editorial RoSPA report: A masterpiece in saying very little in as many words as possible Over the Easter holidays, we were busy at work bringing you the latest news and reports from Durham. At the beginning of the break, we published an investigation into the University’s investments. Although the University had said that they did not have any “direct investments in tobacco or armaments”, we found that it had invested hundreds of thousands of pounds in arms and petrol companies. In response, the University told us that “our investment policy is scheduled to be reviewed in 2015” and that “they are discussing the situation with the managers”. We will bring you developments as soon as we have any. As you may also have seen, during the last week of the holidays, RoSPA (the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) published their report into riverside safety in Durham. The report found that parts of the river (primarily between Framwellgate Bridge and Mill House) were “high risk”, something we had found when we had walked along the river late last term. As the report pointed out:
“lighting is not provided on all the ‘made’ routes and this adds to the likelihood of accidental water entry”. It also commented on the many areas where fencing stops close to a high risk feature “leaving uneven paths close to water with ill-defined edges which are hard to spot in low light levels.” However the report came across as verbose, with RoSPA just taking the middle road and coming up with little of substantial value. I spoke to a couple of local journalists who had similar reactions, with one saying it was surprisingly disappointing and another saying it was non-committal. Indeed, it was a masterpiece in saying very little in as many words as possible. Since October 2013, four people have died after falling in the river and of course there is not one single solution to prevent these tragedies from happening again. Pragmatism and being realistic is the only way that a real, substantial difference can be made. However, fences along the most dangerous parts of the river pathways are one important part of the solution. Lighting also needs to be
improved along parts of the riverbank. Let’s hope that in the coming days, the City Safety Group, who have the unenviable task of making Durham, its residents and students and the riverside secure, can come to a thorough conclusion. You can see the many river safety measures implemented so far on page 4. We will also provide continuous coverage of developments over the exam period. Of course, there are many of you who will completely disagree with me. Send an email to comment@palatinate.org.uk to share your thoughts on how Durham can be made safer.
If you would like to become involved with our paper, email the relevant section editors, which can be found to the side of this column. Our website received almost ¼ million views last term so your articles will be widely read! Tom Fenton
Thursday 30th April 2015 | PALATINATE
Inside 773 News pages 3-8 Profile page 9 Politics pages 10-11 Careers page 12 Comment pages 13-15 SciTech page 16 Sport pages 17-20
indigo
Editorial page 2 Food & Drink page 3
Features pages 4-5 Music pages 6-7 Stage page 8
Film & TV page 9
Fashion page 10 Books page 11 Travel pages 12-13
Visual Arts page 14 Creative Writing page 15
Letters to the editors
Want to see your name in print? We’d love to hear your thoughts on our stories. If you have a story for us or an opinion you’d like to share, email us at editor@ palatinate.org.uk, and you could appear in the next edition.
The best of Palatinate Online www.palatinate.org.uk
News: University investments in defence contractors and oil firms
Politics: Weekly General Election Recap
Profile: 18-year-old Solomon Curtis, the youngest PPC in the country
Comment: Is work experience elitist?
Palatinate reveals university investments in arms companies and oil firms. The University responded: “We are discussing the situation with the managers”
Politics recap the stories of the week as we head into election season.
Oliver Mawhinney talks to 18-year-old Solomon Curtis, who is running for the Labour Party in Wealden as the youngest Parliamentary candidate.
Miriam Brittenden investigates the culture of unpaid work experience, and how certain sectors are becoming exclusive towards those who can afford it.
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
Editorial Board Editors-in-Chief Henry Clare and Tom Fenton editor@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Editor Sandy Thin deputy.editor@palatinate.org.uk News Editor Josh Smith news@palatinate.org.uk News Features Editor Becky Wilson Deputy News Editors Ryan Gould, Olly Mawhinney, Charlie Taylor-Kroll, Sofya Grebenkina and Daniel Fox Politics Editors Alex Cupples and Ollie Hamlet politics@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Politics Editor Miriam Brittenden Careers Editors Olivia Rosenthall and Toyosi Taiwo careers@palatinate.org.uk Profile Editor Will Fremont-Barnes Science and Technology Editor Sadie Bartholomew scitech@palatinate.org.uk Comment Editor Patrick Brennan comment@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Comment Editors Ellen Orange & Oscar Rocklin Sport Editor Nick Friend sport@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Sport Editors John Evans & Kieran Moriaty Indigo Editor Kate Wilkinson indigo@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Indigo Editor Sraddha Venkataraman indigo.deputy@palatinate.org.uk Features Editor Zosia Eyres feature@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Features Editor Ellen Finch Food and Drink Editor Adrian Chew and Shalaka Darshane food@palatinate.org.uk Travel Editor Oliver Collard travel@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Travel Editor Naoise Murphy Fashion Editors Jessica Ng & Megan Magee fashion@palatinate.org.uk Film and Television Editor Jonathan Peters film@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Film and Television Editor Caroline France Stage Editor Isabelle Culkin stage@palatinate.org.uk Music Editor Ana Symecko music@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Music Editor Will Throp Creative Writing Editor Celeste Yeo creative.writing@palatinate.org.uk Books Editors Atifa Jiwa & Florianne Humphrey books@palatinate.org.uk Visual Arts Editor Frances Marsh visual.arts@palatinate.org.uk Chief Sub-Editor Lucy Hart sub-editing@palatinate.org.uk Sub-Editors Morgan Hayden-Kent, Marianna Mukhametzyanova, Ellie Mullan, Isabel Lopez Ruiz & Ciara Murphy Online Editor Jessie Honnor online.editor@palatinate.org.uk Web Editor Ian Ager web.editor@palatinate.org.uk Photography Editor Venus Loi photography@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Photography Editors Rob Law and Dai-Khue Le-Duong Illustrations Editor Mariam Hayat illustration@palatinate.org.uk Publicity Officer Alexandra Fitzgerald publicity@palatinate.org.uk Advertising Officer Jess Sham advertising@palatinate.org.uk
PALATINATE | Thursday 30th April 2015
Union President’s Column
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News
@PalatinateNews
Dan Slavin Firstly, I want to start with the work we have been doing for Work Smart. Working with CIS, DUO is now available on all mobile devices making lecture notes etc... much easier to access. There are lots of revision tips and fun videos on the Union’s facebook page for you to use (procrastinate with). Away from Durham, last week I attended the NUS National Conference along with the rest of the Durham delegation. Conference is the sovereign policy setting body of the NUS and it is made up of delegations from the NUS’ member Unions. Conference vote on motions presented to it, approves the accounts and financial plans for the NUS and elects the National President, Vice-Presidents and National Councillors. Durham already has key roles in the NUS with Leigh and me sitting on three committees between us. I really value our membership of the NUS as it provides the access to resources and expertise plus a network of other Union officers. Conference itself is a bit of a pantomime. Imagine a common room meeting with a 1000 people, where half the room think the exec are evil and the other half don’t even know their name. This has been my third national conference, so I’ve had a fair few frustrations. To change this and make the NUS more relevant to Durham, I ran for election to be a member of the National Executive Council. The results are announced next week, so hopefully I will help to make the NUS better for students here, even after I leave. Speaking of the election if you going to be an undergraduate student here next year, following student feedback, we have moved the course rep elections to this term so that your rep is in post for the start of the next academic year. Make sure you don’t miss your opportunity to vote. Finally, back to exams, my geography teacher gave me the best advice, answer the question you are being asked not the one you want to be! Good luck everyone.
The sunny weather has moved revision from the Bill Bryson Library to plenty of outdoor areas around Durham.
Photograph: Venus Loi
Breathalysers to be used in Durham over three months
659 new student homes approved as fees rise 5%
Event raises awareness of mental health issues
Photograph: Rob Law
Photograph: Venus Loi
Photograph: Ryhan Hussain
Turn to page 4 to read more
Turn to page 5 to read more
Turn to page 6 to read more
News in brief SCOTTISH NATIONALIST PARTY BACKS PROPOSAL TO REDUCE TUITION FEES
NEW NUS PRESIDENT PROMISES TO TACKLE LIVING CRISIS FACING STUDENTS
STUDY REVEALS HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS FAIL TO SPOT PLAGIARISM
The Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) has confirmed that it will support the proposal to reduce university tuition fees in England to £6,000. However, the lowering of fees could have a significant impact on the revenue of Scottish universities, as much of their income comes from UK students outside Scotland.
The National Union of Students (NUS) has elected Megan Dunn, the current Vice President for Higher Education, as President. At the NUS Conference in Liverpool, Dunn promised to “finally deliver” on free education and to deliver a series of campaigns “ending unpaid internships and exploitative work.”
A paper published in Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education last week revealed that 86% of undergraduates profess to have a “reasonable understanding” of plagiarism. Only 51% recognised the need for quotation marks around a large block of quoted text, which could constitute plagiariarism.
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Breathalysers introduced across Durham clubs Josh Smith A pilot project has been launched in Durham City across a range of bars and clubs, which will use breathalysers on anyone believed to be intoxicated upon entry. Students face being denied entry at six venues if results show they are twice or more over the legal drink-and-drive limit. Trained venue staff will test anyone believed to be intoxicated and seeking entry to one of the following venues: Wiff Waff, Loveshack, Jimmy Allen’s, Whisky River, The Fighting Cocks and The John Duck. The City Safety Group launched their latest initiative on Wednesday 22nd April, and it will
will run for twelve weeks. Speaking at the launch of the pilot scheme, City Safety Group Chair, Terry Collins, said: “The breathalysers will not be used on everybody, only when door staff have concerns.” The equipment works on a traffic light system, where an amber light means door staff should be concerned, and a red
“This is not about stopping people coming to Durham, but helping us make premises safer.”
light means that it is the staff’s discretion whether or not to allow entry. Ivan Wood, Chief Superintendent of Durham Constabulary, also spoke at the launch: “Breathalysers are an additional tool to avoid points of conflict around ‘What am I drunk? I don’t think I’m drunk.’ “This is not about stopping people coming to Durham, but helping us make premises safer.” Collins praised the pilot scheme on the basis that a similar initiative was launched in Norwich in 2013, and has contributed to a 52% decrease in violent crime. Collins also wished to stress that this measure “is just one of a wide range of measures we have introduced. “We are working with the
The breathalysers will be used in six premises licenced trade and all our safety group partners to ensure our city stays safe, but I would reiterate
Photograph: Rob Law
that ultimately responsibility for how much you drink lies with the individual.”
Palatinate looks into river safety measures so far... January 2015 Following the tragic deaths of three University students, Prime Minister David Cameron calls for action to improve river safety City Safety Group annouces launch of long-term ‘social norms’ campaign within University City Safety Group promises a “reassuring presence in the city, particulary during night-time”
February 2015 Durham Constabulary clarifies laws concerning drunkenness Student volunteers scheme launched by Student Community Action (SCA) Inquest review into death of Euan Couthard Neighbourhood Inspector encourages students to “look after your friends” on evenings out
April 2015 Water Safety Week tackles drowning prevention Concerned mother’s riverside safety campaign mother raises money to buy safety equipment Taxi services agree to take students home in return for campus RoSPA review states parts of the river are “high risk” Three month trial of using breathalysers in clubs begins
PALATINATE | Thursday 30th April 2015
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659 new student homes approved as fees rise 5%
Oliver Mawhinney As research has been released revealing a 5% rise in private student accommodation fees since March 2014, Durham County Council have approved the development of 659 new student homes. The plans include a Student Castle’s £50million, 445 development on lower Claypath and a 214 room development in Kepier Court. The new complex would be up to seven storeys at the rear and three at the frontage onto Claypath, with student rooms arranged around a courtyard to the rear. The Claypath development is hoped to be completed by 2017 and involves plans for the construction of a gym and small cinema. The development proposes the demolition and relocation of the existing buildings on the 18-29 Claypath site including Oldfields restaurant, Kwik Fit, and Durham City Snooker Club and Warm Sanctuary. Student Castle will run the accommodation, independent of
“The development proposes the demolition and relocation of the existing buldings on the 18-29 Claypath site”
any Durham University college The application for the development in Claypath narrowly passed by six votes to five. It is further proposed that the Kepier Court development, that housed postgraduate students until 2005, would be demolished to enable the development of four new buildings, comprising 98 bedrooms across 19 cluster flats of four to six rooms each and 116 self-contained studio flats. Kepier House, a former prison, would continue to house communal facilities and offices. Conversely, proposals for a 363room development on the site of the former County Hospital on North Road, were rejected by the Durham County Council Planning Committee.
Photograph: Venus Loi The proposals, which included 81 studio flats and two accommodation blocks containing 282 flats had received 130 objections. The announcement of the planning committee’s decisions faced animosity by local residents who heckled councillors following the confirmation of the Kepier Court development. Both plans were rejected by Durham University with the University only forecasting increasing student numbers by 59 students by the start of the 2019/2020 term. Professor Graham Towl, ProVice-Chancellor and Deputy Warden told Palatinate “The University is reviewing its position”. Following the announcement of to raise college accommodation fees by 8% for the 2015/16 academic year, research from the student property search engine ‘StuRents’ has shown that private student accommodation fees in Durham have risen from £89.58pppw (per person per week) to £94.17pppw between
March 2014 to March 2015 at a rate of over 5%. As a result, a four student house-share now costs £954.72 a year more than this time in 2014, leading to Durham students paying the second largest premium of over 31% for houses in Britain compared to non-students. Durham students pay an average of £94.17 per person per week (pppw) for private accommodation compared to non-students in the same areas of the city paying an average of £71.42pppw. Tom Walker, Co-Founder of StuRents, commented: “The news of rising prices for private housing will only compound Durham University’s existing worries about its accommodation situation. “Now student protesters are even handing out literature to the parents of prospective undergraduates warning them of the rising (and they claim unjustified) costs of universityowned accommodation. “Today’s news therefore is clear – the private sector is following trend.”
Durham to hold first ever Pride Parade Tom Fenton Durham will hold the first ever Pride Parade in the county on 31st May. The march will start at 1300, accompanied by a marching band from Palace Green through the city. A stage will be set up outside Slug and Lettuce with entertainment until 1900, followed by evening events to be held in Loveshack, Slug and Lettuce and Ebony. There will also be a number of stalls providing information and support around homeless services, sexual health, weddings and adoption. Phil Mullen, Trustee of Durham Pride UK, told Palatinate: “The atmosphere will be of celebrating diversity, and so anybody looking to have fun in a
relaxed and accepting atmosphere is welcome. “The entertainment will also be varied in order for there to be something for everyone. “We believe strongly in uniting the community across the county and bringing everyone together to
“Regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, County Durham is a place where you will be accepted.”
really enjoy themselves and send a message that, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, County Durham is a place where you will be accepted.”
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‘Down the Rabbit Hole’ event raises awareness of mental health Charlie Taylor-Kroll Durham University’s Mental Health Research Group and Youth Speak premiered the film ‘Down the Rabbit Hole’ last Thursday as part of their ‘Youth Speaking Stigma’ Project. The film was launched by Laura Degnan, a filmmaker at the School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Health at Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA). Youth Speak led an interactive experience after the film which brought together students, mental health researchers and local council members on the subject of mental health in young people. The film gave the audience an insight into the assembly of Youth Speak, with members describing the group as a welcome platform where thoughts on mental health could be freely expressed. Phrases such as “open forum” and “open hierarchy” were used to describe Youth Speak. Youth Speak consists of 14-25 year olds, with some members suffering from mental health problems and some not. One member of Youth Speak, who is also a Durham University Student, spoke to Palatinate about her personal experience of mental
health issues, and how this helped discussing such issues and working to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. “Definitely an emotional attachment helps. It could be yourself, family members or a friend.” Members of Youth Speak were passionate in expressing their views on the means by which mental health research is published. One important question that was raised was: “How can young people learn more about mental health through contemporary research if it is not written in a clear and easy form?” The members concluded that currently it is necessary to be an academic to understand mental health research. Youth Speak tackles this problem as it is directly informed and led by young people. The group, which meets every month, tries to change researchers’ and health professionals’ attitudes towards involving young people in mental health research. Dr Chris Elliott, Regional Patient and Public Involvement Lead at the National Institute for Heath Research (NIHR), told Palatinate: “Youth Speak are really important because they get in at the ground level of research. “They’re the experts because nobody knows about mental health issues better than young
Youth Speak is entirely youth informed Photograph: Ryhan Hussain people with mental health issues themselves.’’ Youth Speak also encouraged the audience to raise awareness
of mental health through social media. The audience were invited outside, each given a banana, and told
to write inspiring words on it and post the picture on social media. This was likened to the ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’, with the audience being encouraged to nominate others to get involved. The ‘Down the Rabbit Hole’ event also included a social experiment, during which the audience was given the opportunity to ask each other questions with a mask on, and then without a mask, to evaluate the difference in confidence between the two. One member of Middlesbrough Dance, a subset of Middlesbrough Council’s Department of Culture, was particularly impressed with the experiment: “My eyes are starting to be opened, especially on how young people are judged through their differences.” Dr Elliot of NIHR believed that the event and work Youth Speak is carrying out in collaboration with the School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Health was going to have a national, as well as a local, impact. “All the advice they give us and the guidance they give us becomes embedded in the research that we carry out, and then that research is shared across the NHS. “’[Youth Speak] are an exceptional group who can influence all our policies and all our services nationally.”
Durham recognised as ninth safest city
Daniel Fox
New research shows that Durham’s crime rate is the ninth lowest in the United Kingdom. Professor Graham Towl, ProVice-Chancellor and Deputy Warden, said: “The City of Durham is rightly proud of its low crime rate, making the city a safe environment for everyone who lives and studies here.” The analysis of over 500,000 crimes found Brighton losing out as crime capital with 829 crimes per thousand residents. Egham home to Royal Holloway - bagged safest city with 57 and Durham came in at 115, with a higher crime rate than both Bath and Loughborough in the rankings. Durham boasts a crime rate over four times smaller than that of local rival Newcastle. However, according to the Complete University Guide, the city has risen in the rankings since 2013, when it had the second lowest
crime rate in the UK, leading some to question whether students are becoming complacent. The Durham Police website urges students to use “common sense.” They advise that “there is no point having a reinforced door if you are not going to lock it, just as it is a waste of time having a window with toughened glass if you are going to leave it open when you leave the room.” However, some students feel it unnecessary to take such precautions. Sam Jones, a first-year Physics student from St Cuthbert’s Society spoke to Palatinate: “I certainly am complacent. I happily leave my room and flat unlocked, just so I don’t have to carry my key, but I don’t see it as a massive issue.” The attitude of many students seems to be at odds with that of local police and the University. Crime prevention plays a big part in Freshers’ Week, with a police officer speaking to each college’s intake to make students aware of the risks. Large cardboard hands were shoved
through the windows of student bedrooms where the windows
“The University is committed to doing all it can to reduce risks to safety and we make great efforts particulary through our college system” were left open and there are still strict rules on shutting doors in many accommodation blocks. Student safety is a priority for any university, and Durham is certainly no exception. Speaking to Palatinate, a University spokesperson had this to say: “The University is committed to doing all it can to reduce risks to safety and we make great efforts, particularly through our college system, to inform students about
Durham has one of the lowest crime rates Photograph: Pippa Cole how they may contribute to a safe and friendly environment.” Despite some fears of
complacency, the survey confirms Durham’s position as being one of the safest student cities in the UK.
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University invests in Intellectual Property
Sofya Grebenkina Durham University has successfully secured the amount of £34,500, after being one of the winners of the Intellectual Property Office’s StudentshIP competition. The award, presented by Baroness Neville-Rolfe, was granted for the ‘UnzIP Knowledge of Business Value’ project and given to Michael Bath, Business Development Manager in the University’s Department of Business and Innovation Services, and an expert in Intellectual Property management. Professor Brian Tanner, Dean for University Enterprise at Durham Business and Innovation Services, spoke to Palatinate about the importance of understanding Intellectual Property (IP): “An understanding of the meaning and importance of Intellectual Property is important for graduates entering the world of business and commerce. “Students should be aware that the value of a business is not just in terms of cash, but intangible assets such as trade-marks, design
rights, copyright, patents, knowhow and branding. “Understanding the need to capture and protect these assets is an integral component of the soft skills which a rounded graduate should exhibit.” The law is clear that IP created by staff “in the course of their employment” belongs to their employer, i.e. the University. However, students are not employees of the University and therefore are not subject to the same guidelines, unless they are postgraduates whose work has commercial value and has been made in partnership with staff. Any assignment of Student Intellectual Property must therefore be considered separately and alternate arrangements need to be provided. The University is therefore targeting their project at undergraduates specifically. It aims to promote the value of IP by enhancing the University’s existing material on the topic and engage with the student-run society, Entrepreneurs Durham, to produce teaching materials, which will be spread among the student body through the society’s
An understanding of intellectual property is increasingly important for graduates
activities and social media channels. Professor Tanner said: “The majority of the money will be used to produce media tools to present the ideas to students both
in the classroom and in informal settings. This will include a short introductory video. “[The project] involves staff and students of existing modules which incorporate aspects of
Photograph: Venus Loi entrepreneurial learning. These student cohorts will pioneer the use of the material next academic year.” ‘UnzIP Knowledge of Business Value’ will run until April 2016.
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Town vs. Gown: Tensions with the local residents Becky Wilson It is well-known that students and local residents are not always the best of friends. In the fourteenth century, a clash in an Oxford pub between university students and locals escalated into a two-day fight. Locals armed with bows attacked the academic village, killing and maiming scores of students. While not anticipating a Medieval-style battle, most modern-day Durham students would think twice before stepping into certain hostile pubs in the city. Likewise, the ‘studentification’ of certain parts of Durham has driven permanent residents out of their homes. So why are tensions so high between the two groups? Palatinate spoke to students, local residents, landlords and business owners to find out. “Some residents resent the wealth of the students,” said one local who wished to remain anonymous. “While the city itself isn’t too poor, the surrounding villages have a lot of problems with unemployment. There’s a sense that the students are quite posh – the accents alone, and the flashy clothes and cars. It’s really at odds with the local poverty. So some people tend to think ‘these students are doing well and I’m really struggling’.” It is difficult to measure the wealth of students precisely. However, it is true that last year Durham had one of the lowest intakes of state-school students in Britain (63.4%), while its private school intake was, proportionally, very high. Politics can also lead to tensions between the two groups. Last week, a survey by Britain Uncovered found that the North East is the most left-leaning region in the UK, with 56% of people voting for parties on the left of the political spectrum – far higher than the national average of 36%. Contrastingly, it was found recently that many Durham University students intend to vote Conservative in the upcoming general election. A local resident voiced his concerns about students’ political influence. “A lot of students from Durham are from wealthy backgrounds. Generally speaking, this makes them more inclined to the right, in favour of cuts and austerity. When they vote here, they’re
not aware or in touch with the challenges in this area – the economy, social issues, unemployment.” Politics and wealth aside, there also appear to be less subjective reasons for the tensions between Durham’s town and gown. “There is a bad relationship between locals and students,” says Mike Costello, a permanent resident who believes the dominance of student housing in the city is to blame. “The city has thrived for over a thousand years. Many of us moved to the city because of the balanced community which existed when there were 6,000 students, but that balance has been destroyed.” Costello criticises the University for its “unmanaged” expansion over the last twenty years, which he believes is universally damaging. “House prices have driven out permanent residents and those of us who remain live an entirely different lifestyle to undergraduates. Students are only here for seven months of the year, and take no part in the local community. It is not good for students, residents or the economy.” Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, agreed with Costello. “Many of us question whether it’s fair that the city is dominated by the University. It’s a huge frustration for some people.” The housing imbalance is particularly noticeable in the Viaduct area. On Hawthorn Terrace, for instance, 60 of the 62 houses are inhabited by students. One local landlord said: “I can understand residents’ concerns about so-called ‘ghettos’ being formed, but it’s not as if the student areas are rundown - there’s no public squalor. The transient nature of students means that the locals don’t get the chance to bond with their ever-changing neighbours. This obviously can’t change, so maybe their attitude needs to.” Noisy and drunken behaviour is another point of contention between locals and students. Last year, permanent residents told Palatinate that they felt “forced out of the city” by loud, often intoxicated students. One woman told the council that students had made her life “an utter misery.” “We have been physically threatened, neighbours’ windows have been broken, our children have been repeatedly woken up
Illustration: Mariam Hayat
by gangs of loud, drunken students marching up our street, after which they have been too scared to sleep in their own beds and we have had to complain about piles of stinking rubbish falling out of damaged bags all over the street.” However, one local business owner said that students are not solely to blame. “As far as drunken behaviour goes I think one only needs to walk through the villages around Durham County to find out where the true drunken behaviour takes place. “In years gone by, locals were battling with each other on Friday and Saturday nights in the city centre. There is no comparison with student drunkenness, most of which is good-humoured.” Costello says that students also place an immense financial strain upon the council. As an example, he cites the £50,000 it recently dedicated to the Student Union’s responsible drinking campaign. “That expenditure is but a small proportion of the costs of protecting students from themselves and the fall-out of their behaviour, such as litter, vomit, inability to adhere to rules for rubbish and recycling. And yes, we resent that when our
streets, footpaths, roads and services are generally so poor.” While this may be the case, critics of the University cannot begrudge the economic benefits it brings to Durham. Last year, the University employed more than 4,000 people, making it one of the county’s largest employers. Moreover, it is estimated that University employees generate £200m in other sectors of the economy. On top of this, the students themselves have huge spending power.
“Many of us question whether it’s fair that the city is dominated by the University.”
One local said “permanent residents know that without the University, Durham would be a lot worse off economically. A lot of bars and restaurants would really suffer without them. When the students go home, the town completely changes.” A business owner agrees: “I am
very much pro-students, as all of my business interests centre around them. In fact, most of thbusinesses around the centre rely on them.” Helen McKaigue, a second-year Law student, says “from my perspective, we have a positive relationship. They welcome us into the city and we boost their economy. There’s mutual respect there.” Amy Campo McEvoy, a Durham student and project leader at Student Community Action (SCA) says that students deliver far more than financial benefits to the city. “We contribute in many ways to the community. There are organisations like SCA and Team Durham Community Outreach, which organise tutoring lessons with students in local schools, volunteering with the elderly people of the community or activities with disabled people, just to name a few. It definitely makes students more aware that we are not the only ones living in Durham!” Ultimately, a business owner tells Palatinate, the positives of the student presence in Durham outweigh the negatives. “If it wasn’t for the students, the city would be a far poorer and quieter place.”
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“There’s a real sense that change is possible” Leader of the Green Party Natalie Bennett talks to Palatinate on the ‘Green Surge’, branching out from their core environmentalist perceptions and her hopes for the General Election. Oliver Mawhinney Rewind twelve months and it is likely that only the most politically astute, or indeed supporters of the Green Party, would be able to identify Natalie Bennett. However, on the cusp of the General Election, Bennett leads the Party with historically-high polling figures and a record number of parliamentary candiates. In conversation with Palatinate, Bennett says: “About nine months ago we did a three to five year plan. I think we are probably in about year four now.” Bennett identified two factors behind the purported ‘Green Surge’. “I think it is that people have started to hear our message and also people have started to really focus on the General Election and the fact that it is close. “A lot of people have said they’ve looked around at the three businessas-usual parties and gone ‘That’s no answer’. “There’s a real sense that change is possible; that change is in the air.” Bennett has worked tirelessly as leader over the past three years to emphasise the Party’s position on a range of social issues, as well as its core environmentalist principles: “If you went out and polled one hundred people and said ‘What do you think the Green Party think about the badger cull?’ I think most would answer without looking it up. A lot of people know where we stand on issues such as climate change, renewable energy, and fracking. “But we also need to make sure that people know what we believe about education, and not just zero tuition, but also bringing free schools and academies back under local control, abolishing SATs tests and OFSTED. It’s really important we take whatever chance we get to explain those ideas.” One such chance was the BBC and ITV Leaders’ Debates, which provided the Greens with their largest platform yet. Prior to the debate, Bennett told Palatinate: “It’s great to be there and it really does give us the chance to get our message to reach lots of people who it would otherwise be difficult to reach.” The inclusion of the Greens in the debates was largely due to a Change. org petition, which generated over 280,000 signatures supporting the inclusion of the Party in the live debates. Bennett appeared optimistic that a similar momentum could be generated in contributing to the debate regarding electoral reform post-election: “I think there’s already going to be one clear loser from this election: the First Past the Post election system.
“The claim used to be that First Past the Post delivers clear majorities but it clearly doesn’t in the multiparty democracy that Britain is now. “That’s going to be a really important outcome. You don’t stand on doorsteps now and say electoral reform but I think there’s going to be a point where people go ‘Hang on, we haven’t reformed Westminster for over one hundred years’. It’s time for that.” The nature of the UK electoral system may result in many left-
“About nine months ago we did a three to five year plan. I think we are probably in about year four now.”
wing voters gifting votes to the Conservative Party by voting for the Green Party in marginal seats. Yet Bennett has a clear message for those with such concerns. “What I urge people to do is look at the state of the world and vote for what they believe in. “The fact is we have got the kind of politics we have now because of tactical voting; particularly the two largest parties have been able to just angle for the swing voters in the swing seats. “To paraphrase Einstein: ‘You don’t get a different result if you just keep on doing the same thing again and again’. “People are thinking ‘We’ve been voting for years and getting that result. I’m going to do something different’.” While the threat of the Greens to Labour appears to have declined with a slowing of the ‘Green Surge’, the potential remains for cooperation with a future Labour government: “We’ve said very clearly if we end up in any type of balance of power situation, we would not prop up a Tory Government in any situation. “Clearly the SNP are going to do very well - they’re an auti-austerity, anti-Trident party; Plaid [Cymru] will also do very well. “We’re running against each of them but we have things we agree on and we’ve demonstrated we can work together. “We’re all talking on vote-by-vote action rather than coalition, so that means we will have a different sort of politics where people will have to work out what they agree on rather than spending time waving fingers on what they disagree on.” The rise of the Greens has led to an unprecedented level of scrutiny, resulting in a series of
infamous high-profile media gaffes by Bennett. Often uncertainity has arisen regarding certain Green Party policies, such as the £72-a-week ‘citizen’s income’. However, Bennett sought to clarify the confusion regarding one of the Greens’ flagship policies. “What we’re saying is, you can’t just come in and say right we’re going to change everything, that’s the kind of thing [Michael] Gove did with a lot of school things. “It is something that we are still planning to do but the realistic time frame doesn’t put it within the next Parliament. “I think it is an idea that’s really starting to get some traction and get people debating. It’s been our policy for decades but it’s really great to see we’re now having a real impact on debate.” Bennett displays a similar level of reflection upon the Greens having fewer ethnic minority candidates than any other major party. “This is something that, like all political parties, we’ve got to do much better on and there’s a very strong awareness of that. “We should be doing much better around the country, and I think the Green Surge will really help with this. “Green Party women have had a strong grip in the Party for a long time, but we also need a really strong BME grip in the party. “Often it is a matter of encouraging people to stand through actively reaching out.” With policies including free tuition fees, the reintroduction of the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA), and raising the minimum wage to £10 a week by 2020, it is no surprise that the Greens have become the second most popular party amongst young people.
“What I urge people to do is look at the state of the world and vote for what they believe in.”
Bennett consequently recognises the importance of the youth demographic to the success of the party: “Students are very important and I think that’s partially because students aren’t set in their ways; they are looking around for ideas and thinking what the world should be like, so they are open to different ideas. “It is interesting that under twenty-fives are our strongest demographic and then up to thirty-fives are our next strongest demographic. Thirty-fives to forty-fives are our next strongest
demographic, and then after that we’ve got some work to do.” Although a student haven, Bennett admits victory in the Durham constituency is unlikely: “Durham is not on our initial list of twelve target seats but our initial list of twelve was written up considerably over six months ago. “The world has changed a lot, politically speaking, since then. I think there’s some sort of chance that somewhere in the bleary hours of the day after the election, someone will come up to me and say ‘It looks like we might win somewhere’. “I think one of the things about this election is that it is going to be very seat by seat: some Lib Dems will hold on against the national swing because they are good MPs.” Meanwhile, Bennett is hoping for her own individual success as she runs for election in the Holborn and St Pancras constituency. In the 2010 General Election, Bennett won just 2.7% of the constituency’s vote. However, she seeks to benefit from the retirement of Labour’s Frank Dobson, who has held the seat since 1983, and a decline in the Liberal Democrats’ share of the vote: “The Lib Dems had 29% of the vote last time and I think even they would accept that they are unlikely to get anything like that this time, so that really opens up the possibilities.” Yet with a colossal travel
Photograph: RonF schedule and a vast array of media commitments, Bennett acknowledges her differences to other party leaders: “Most of the other party leaders are in safe seats so they stroll in occasionally, wave a bit and then leave again. “I’m standing in Holborn and St Pancras because that’s where I live but it is also the case that there’s pretty much nowhere in the constituency that is more than an hour from the main television studios. It fits as well as it possibly can. “I really enjoy knocking on doors, it provides a great chance to gain an insight into feedback from people of all ways of life and different perspectives.” The impact of the party may not have reach the levels hinted at in January, when the Greens gained 13,000 members in the space of a week. However, there is still a possibility that they will be add some more seats to their current MP Caroline Lucas, provided that she is relected in Brighton Pavilion Bennett appears energised, concluding our conversation on the prospect of the influence a progressive alliance of the Greens, SNP and Plaid Cymru could yield within the Commons: “It’s clear that the whole anti-austerity agenda is catching on and spreading”.
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Politics
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General Election 2015: Labour and Conservati Palatinate’s 2015 General Election survey reveals that 29.9% of Durham students say they will vote Labour and 29.5% will vote Conservative.
Alex Cupples Ollie Hamlet The results of the Palatinate General Election Survey are in, and Labour and Conservative are almost neck and neck. In a staggeringly close survey, 29.9% of the 1,229 Durham students who took part in the survey say they will vote Labour, compared to 29.5% saying they will vote Conservative (close to the national average of 33%). This comes in stark contrast to the poll recently conducted by Highfliers, which interviewed 572 Durham finalists and found that the University’s students planned to vote overwhelmingly Tory, with 45% of those suveryed claiming they would vote for the Conservatives. The remarkable difference in findings is likely to reflect the rise in Ed Miliband’s popularity over Easter, and in the difference in samples, with the Highfliers poll exclu-
“This comes in stark contrast to the poll recently conducted by Highflighers”
4.3% of Durham students say they will be voting UKIP, compared to just 14% of the national population. UKIP’s policies have been generally regarded as unpopular amongst young people. Students can register to vote in both their home constituency and at University but can only vote in one. When Palatinate asked where Durham students were planning to
sively selecting final-year students The next most popular party amongst Durham students is the Green Party, taking 16% of votes. This suggests that, despite equal support for La-
bour and Conservative, Durham students are left-leaning. Support for the Liberal Democrats is expected to be low amongst students following their concession to raise University tuition
fees to £9,000 under the coalition. Just 8.9% of Durham students say they will be voting for the Liberal Democrats, despite their status as the second most popular party among the city’s electorate.
“The Green party are the third most popular party, suggesting a left leaning student population overall”
“52% of students plan to vote in Durham City, Stockon North or Stockton South on the 7th May”
vote in this election. 52% revealed that they will vote in Durham, Stockton North or Stockton South this election. If the results of Palatinate’s poll are reflected on Election Day, 7,000 students will be voting within Durham City, which in 2010 had an electorate of 69,926. When asked what they consider to be the most important issue at the General Election, Durham students remain undecided. The two most important issues for students are social welfare (15.6%) and education (14.4%).
PALATINATE | Thursday 30th April 2015
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Politics
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ive neck and neck amongst Durham students Government borrowing, the NHS and jobs also had high responses. Despite being prominently discussed in the election campaigns, only 5% say they think that immigration is the most important issue. Many of those that responsed ‘other’ said they were concerned about the economy more generally. Durham City, is expected to remain a safe Labour this year, despite there only being a marginal victory of 3.067 over the
Liberal Democrats in 2010 The predicted percentage of votes in Durham differs dramatically from the student population. According to our survey, Durham students are just as likely to vote Labour as they are Conservative. Labour, Liberal Democrats and UKIP are all expected to have high percentages of the vote, and Green and Conservative lower. Historically the centre of Durham has been mostly Liberal Democrat with the
former mining villages surrounding it boosting the Labour vote. Stockton South is currently held by Conservatives, but is expected to return to Labour this election. Stockton North is considered a safe Labour seat. The extent of the difference between the two polls on Durham’s voting intentions, whilst partly the consequence of aforementioned factors, seems to suggest a deficiency in the way in
“Only 5% say they think that immigration in the most important issue”
which the polls were conducted, with Highfliers interviewing significantly fewer students long before the general election campaigns came into full swing. The Palatinate General Election survey serves purely as an indication of the voting intentions of Durham students and is unlikely to be entirely accurate.
Keep up with the General Election as it happens at www.palatinate.org.uk and follow us on twitter @PalatinatePol
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Careers
Toyosi Taiwo
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Thursday 30th April 2015 | PALATINATE
A 2:1 is not enough
Toyosi Taiwo reports on the competitive nature of securing graduate jobs
When Googling for graduate schemes in your chosen field, whether it be finance, journalism, or marketing, hundreds of options come up, particularly in the sought after London. That seems like a lot right? ‘I have time’, ‘I’ll apply later’, ‘Oh, they only need a 2.1 – I’m good’. No. For the 200 jobs that come up for public relations alone, there are thousands of final year students eyeing them up. Last year 370,000 students graduated from university and this year the number is set to be higher. After all, it seems like those 200 jobs may not be enough. Whilst speaking final year students, a common refrain I heard was ‘I got rejected seconds after completing my test, they didn’t even read my application’, ‘I’ve sent off X amount of applications, nothing seems to be receptive’. Although Palatinate reported last term that graduate jobs were on the rise, being a graduate has never been so competitive. For every position advertised, employers are sure to receive over 100 responses. A 2.1 and a three-year degree, is now the norm, and no longer enough to secure an interview. Be-
Photograph: Alex Howell
fore an invitation for an interview is even given, it is fair to expect a numerical test, verbal reasoning, logical test, or something I just found out about – a personality test. How do they determine your personality from 20 multiplechoice questions? I don’t know, but it is a sign of employers wanting to desperately filter through the hundreds of applications they receive all from graduates with the typical 2.1-degree.
Durham University provides advice for students worried about the tests they are about to face, so the Careers Service website should be consulted for assistance. Nonetheless, it is becoming less and less about just passing the test, as the majority of candidates applying should be able to! Catrin Roberts, HR director at L’Oreal emphasises that it is becoming more and more about whether graduates can demonstrate that they can bal-
ance a wide variety of tasks. This can mean anything from getting involved in student run activities, clubs and societies, or anything that showcases your ability to balance extra-curricular responsibilities, as well as academic responsibilities. Roberts notes: ‘We have students who have started their own businesses [...] who have raised money in an entrepreneurial way’. When discussing this predicament with employers, a common
piece of advice I have received is as follows: when applying for graduate roles, it is imperative that you prepare thoroughly, as any mistake or gap in the application process will result in an automatic rejection. Highlight your strengths and ensure they align with the role you are applying for. A representative from Accenture takes this further; she suggests students take advantage of social media channels to engage with employees at the firm. Employers look upon partaking in activities that involve you being part of a team fondly too, as you will have to work with other colleagues for the greater good of the company. Atkins from Barclays puts it well when she says: ‘It’s not The Apprentice.’ Essentially, candidates must show their ability to work efficiently within a team. All things being considered, yes, finding the perfect graduate role may be an extensive process. However, students should be consoled by the fact that if they are engaging in activities to supplement their 2.1 degree and if they are forging good relations with employers via the social media space, they are one step closer to securing the dream role.
Masters Applications Do’s and Don’ts
Olivia Rosenthall
As many finalists will be aware, the deadlines for applications for most Masters’ courses range from the end of March up until June. Some universities even accept applications as far as July and August, but those wanting to secure accommodation, funding, and a guaranteed place will need to be considering their options, and getting their applications in as soon as possible. This doesn’t leave much time for students that have made a last minute decision in wanting to further their studies. Applying for a Masters’ course can at times seem far more stressful than the efforts put in for undergraduate study, with some universities asking for personal statements with a 3,000 word limit, and others requesting abstracts for dissertations; so it demands just as much time and thought. We’ve compiled together a few tips and pointers for those of you struggling to write a personal statement, as well as advice if you’re still deliberating over whether further study is really what you’d like to do.
Advice for mastering your Masters application
Questions to consider: • How will this degree help me in pursuing my desired career? • Why have I chosen this particular subject? • What can I bring to this course? • How will this enhance my knowledge and skills?
Don’t: • Forget to include the reasons why you have chosen to apply to this course, and why you want to complete it. This can sometimes seem like the most daunting part to write, and a lot of students leave this as a short summary at the end. Yet it is one of the key aspects of your statement, and the person reading it will be looking at your intentions and purpose for study very closely – so make sure you spend some time considering what you plan to do with your degree, and why you want to do it. • Spend too much time describing your interests and hobbies, unless they are crucial to your choice of subject. Your reasons for studying, previous work experience and your accomplishments are far more important. • Feel obliged to include any unnecessary information about your-
self just for the sake of writing more. Remember you are writing a personal statement, not a CV. Excessive waffling can make you sound as if you are clutching at straws. • Downplay your achievements; if you worked hard for something, you deserved it!
Do: • Plan it. You want your statement to flow well, so not to cause confusion for the reader. It is always good to write a first draft, and if anything, write too much so you can cut out what you don’t need. • Cut appropriately. Try to decide which parts of your statement are more necessary than others. • Give it to someone else to read. Getting another person’s opinion, whether it’s a friend or a lecturer is always helpful, they may also find a grammatical error that you yourself had previously missed. • Make sure you choose to go into more detail on your most significant achievements, rather than your less important ones. It is probably more worthwhile to mention your involvement in societies and current extra curricular ventures than your job as a lifeguard when you were fifteen. • Write confidently, not boastfully.
You want to show that you are proud of yourself, not arrogant. • Check it! Do not submit your personal statement without having looked it over one last time for errors!
Is postgraduate study for me? Many students find themselves torn between whether to go into employment or commit themselves to further study. One key factor to consider is whether you yourself will enjoy taking the course, or not. Ask yourself these questions: Do I want to do it because I don’t have anything else planned for after graduation? Do I want to do it because I’m not entirely too sure what it is I want to do at all? It is not surprising that quite a few students take on a postgraduate degree without realising just how hard it is. There are less contact hours than there are at undergraduate level, with much of your studying and research being completely independently lead. The transition between undergraduate and postgraduate study can be quite daunting, as some believe it to be just an extra year of study, without realizing how difficult and over-
whelming it can sometimes be.
Do your research and see what modules and topics the course offers that you find interesting. Don’t force yourself to commit to something you won’t enjoy just because you’ll be getting a degree out of it. Consider what you’d like to do with your degree once you have completed it. Do you think it will help you in pursuing your desired career path? If you don’t believe it will help you, it may not be worth doing. Once you have decided what you want to study, compare universities. See which ones offer the same course, and which one you believe would be the best institution for you. How would you like to complete the course: from home? On campus? You should also be aware of how you’re going to fund your studies. Many universities offer plenty of financial bursaries and scholarships for postgraduates, so make sure to check your eligibility for each institution’s funding opportunities. Lastly, don’t be afraid to contact your specialised department for more information. Many lecturers and professors will be willing to aid you in choosing what’s best for you.
PALATINATE | Thursday 30th April 2015
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Living with chronic fatigue syndrome
“
As part of M. E. awareness month, Katharine Cheston sheds light on a debilitating and frequently misunderstood illness Katharine Cheston
Illness narratives often start with a shock: a sudden blackout; an excruciating headache; a lump. My illness, however, had the most mundane beginning. In September 2008 I caught a cold. I never recovered. Within a matter of weeks I went from a happy, active 14 year old – a keen musician and a competitive judo player – to an invalid. I couldn’t stand without fainting, I couldn’t read or watch TV; I often couldn’t speak and regularly struggled to breathe. I was in immense pain, the light hurt my eyes, I couldn’t bear to be touched, and any noise caused further, painful deterioration. My life was suddenly transformed into the cruellest test of endurance: I spent each and every day between the sofa and my bed, unable to sleep yet plagued by an infernal exhaustion so intense I could barely move my limbs. During the very worst moments I wondered how I was still alive; during those worse still, I couldn’t think at all. After medical tests heeded no clear results, I was diagnosed with M.E. – despite my quiet pleas that I was far too ill to have something referred to as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Like most people, I was completely unaware of the utter devastation this horrific neurological disease can cause. Reality hit fast, followed by the burdensome weight of the stigma that so unfairly haunts this illness. Worst was the realisation that no one could help me: instead of medical help or treatment, I was left to try to manage my illness on my own. M.E. was, and still remains, both incurable and untreatable. Though M.E. continues to affect every aspect of my life, a lot has changed in the time since those dark early days. I have been ill for almost 7 years now: a third of my life. I can no longer remember what it feels like to be ‘normal’. Yet my story is not a tragedy. Every morning I am well enough to get out of bed. I can wash my own hair and prepare my own lunch. I can leave the house and watch the seasons change from a view other than out of the living-
room window. Despite concerns at my most ill that I might not even achieve 2 GCSEs, I can even study part-time at a university that I love. I am immensely grateful and will never take what health I do have for granted. Most M.E. sufferers are not so lucky, with many spending decades on end in bed, in the dark, in silence, and in unimaginable pain. Those most severely affected are dependent on carers, morphine, and feeding tubes. Some die from the illness and its complications; more take their own lives, unable to endure the torturous suffering any longer. The fact that many still believe that M.E. is “just tiredness” simply could not be further from the truth. While my health slowly improved, the same cannot be said about the perception of M.E. in the medical profession and in the media, as the truth about M.E. remains as hidden as its most severe sufferers. Veracious accounts are few and far between, as M.E. patients lose their voices both literally and metaphori-
cally. From TV series to papers by literary critics, it would seem that nowhere is immune to the animosity directed towards M.E. sufferers, who are labelled as anything from ‘lazy’ to ‘hysterical’ – and much worse. Evidently, losing your health is not enough, as our dignity, too, is stripped from us. Despite an increasing number of studies suggesting a serious, severe neuro-immune disease process affecting multiple bodily systems, M.E. receives no government funding for biomedical research, and many doctors still mistakenly believe M.E. to be psychological in nature. Though we are fortunate enough to have some superb medical professionals fighting our corner, the toxic combination of ignorance and arrogance in a few can be disastrous to patients, who are often put on forced exercise regimes that achieve nothing but worsen their condition. When my condition deteriorated in 2013 and I began having excruciating seizures that regularly required paramedic assistance, I was
M. E. is a serious neuro-immune disease, but receives no government funding for biomedical research
”
brutally reminded of the realities of this illness – and the chronic misunderstanding surrounding it – as neurologists were dismissive at best and abusive at worst. Worse still, some M.E. patients are forcibly institutionalised and locked in psychiatric wards against their will; Karina Hansen in Denmark has now been incarcerated for 2 years, leaving her
so ill she cannot recognise her own sister, while in the UK Sophia Mirza experienced such a deterioration in her health after being wrongly sectioned that she died of the very illness she was told did not exist. Ours is a forgotten illness – which, like M.S. and Crohn’s disease, were barely heard of 50 years ago – has too-long fallen prey to the erroneous stranglehold of greedy psychiatrists keen to exploit their psychosomatic model for profit. With more research and awareness, the truth will out – the question is, how many more will suffer until then? May is M.E. Awareness month. I’m not asking much; I’m not asking you to donate money to fund research, or join a protest, or volunteer for the cause. All I ask is – even for just one month a year – that you could please, please believe us. M.E. is not a choice; its sufferers are not malingers, and we’re certainly not lazy. We’re just ill people who desperately want to get better.
Illustration: Mariam Hayat
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Thursday 30th April 2015| PALATINATE
Drinking culture: Palatinate discusses
Is student drinking out of control? Or are we the victims of a national witch hunt? Palatinate Comment explores the highs and lows of life on the lash Georgia Dodsworth
Yes, students drink a lot – but demonising our generation alone is both unhelpful and unfair.
If at some point in the last six months or so, you’ve managed to flip through a newspaper, catch the local news or even (God help you) stumble across a Tab article through Facebook, you’ve probably noticed a recurring theme of discussion regarding Durham students this year. Due to recent tragic events (on which we are all already well informed), the criticism of university drinking culture – that favourite stick with which to beat the British student population – has begun afresh, and this time Durham has found itself at the centre of the debate. A recent news broadcast from the city centre managed to catch
Charles Hudson
Stop singling out students. Britain as a whole gets it wrong on alcohol.
University students these days get a lot of bad press. As if the pressures of fees weren’t enough to put prospective candidates off, relentless media coverage of drunken larks give the impression of a student population which, while bursting with overinflated A level grades, has a lot to learn in terms of moderation and self control. And, to an extent, they’re not wrong. While JCRs generally do a good job of highlighting the alternatives to boozy nights out, the expectation remains that at least some of our social events will be accompanied by a large consumption of alcohol. Quaddies have a
(undoubtedly to the glee of the production team) a few shots of a rather inebriated young woman tumbling out of Loveshack after a night out, propped up by a friend. As a generation, we’ve become rather used to such footage being broadcast to justify smug finger-pointing by the media, and to be frank, I’ve had it. Yes, many students drink a fair bit, but the endless, one-sided condemnation we face because of it is needlessly sensationalist and irritatingly hypocritical. I freely admit that we aren’t all teetotal angels – claiming alcohol is not a major part of university life would be, quite simply, a lie. Whether you drink or not, from that very first night of Freshers’ Week onwards, the majority of social events do indeed revolve around alcohol and places that sell it. Studies from the Universities of Northampton and Nottingham show that around 83-89% of their respective student populations identify as drinkers, which sounds about right for Durham too. Of course, telling you all this is about as useful as a frontpage exposé revealing that grass is green. Students drink, so what? The real question at hand should be: is
particularly bad reputation, but drinking elsewhere can be just as likely to get you to a reasonably dangerous point of intoxication, especially given the price of supermarket drinks deals. With this in mind I’ve been taken aback by the lack of such a culture on my year abroad in France, a country where a bottle of (fairly) drinkable wine can be purchased for the equivalent of a couple of pounds and 70% strength absinthe is available on supermarket shelves. I have undoubtedly witnessed drunken parties while at university in Paris, but French students seem less ready to necessarily equate a big night out with enormous intoxication. There is, I believe, a pretty uniquely British approach to student drinking. But singling out students as the underlying reality of boozy Britain is largely inaccurate, and worse, desperately unfair. Painting binge drinking as a problem among students is lazy journalism and amounts to the victimisation of an underrepresented group in society. A similar snobbery plays out along differences of socio-economic status and regional bias. The ‘shameful’
there any merit to the claims that we drink too much? On a technical level, perhaps. Considering one standard double spirit and mixer contains two units, you could probably exceed the NHS-recommended daily limit of 2-4 units just by standing in the doorway of Jimmy A’s and inhaling the fumes. I don’t think it would be much of a stretch to claim that many of us who drink regularly probably end up meeting their ‘binge-drinking’ quota of 6-8 units on the average night out either, especially after a few of Klute’s ‘quaddies’ which they definitely do not sell… And yes, it’s not always pretty, but students aren’t as ignorant of the issue as we are perceived to be. Drinkers and nondrinkers alike know that too much
photos of drunken antics that the Daily Mail delights in publishing on New Year’s Day, in an unjustifiable act of Jeremy Kyle-esque voyeurism, tend to target revellers in Liverpool and our near neighbours Newcastle. Are we to believe that similar levels of intoxication are not being reached by those seeing in the New Year with cocktails and champagne in Home Counties mansions and fancy London nightclubs? Alcohol plays a large part in social interaction at all levels of British society. Many have commented on the phenomenon that whilst social events in other cultures take food as their focal point, ours are often centred around drink. Beers to catch up with friends, drinks after work on a Friday, a glass of wine at the theatre. Sports events are no different. Having worked at stadium bars for the Ashes, Wimbledon and Chelsea FC, I can attest that fans of all stripes appreciate a drink or few before the
booze does little to serve our sense of human dignity, and that it’s no good for our liver, bank balance or our personal safety either. However, demonising students and other 18-24 year-olds alone for drinking (and acting as if we are the first and only generation to do so) is not only unfair but just plain inaccurate. A study by UCL has found that ‘frequent alcohol consumption is more likely to occur in middleaged and older adults’ – perhaps your mum and dad aren’t vomiting all over their shoes outside a nightclub, but that bottle of Zinfandel in front of the TV every night isn’t exactly harmless either. Moreover, anyone who ever sipped a dodgy can of Strongbow while sat in a field as a teenager knows that drinking goes on well before UCAS applications are even distant spectres on the horizon. Expecting students to stop drinking and going out, costly public awareness campaign or no, is wildly unrealistic. I will however agree
big game. I’m not suggesting a general disdain for our drinking culture – a drink makes many things more relaxed and enjoyable. Furthermore, Britain can be proud of its heritage of alcoholic beverages. English ales are unique and the perfect accompaniment to a pub lunch. Our gin and whiskey is exported all over the world. Drinking in itself is not a problem. Yet problematic drinking exists all over Britain, and not just in university towns. Too often the drinking that began as part of sociable interaction leads to a feeling that a drink is a necessary part of this. The student drinking experience, rather than being separate from this culture, is merely its logical conclusion amongst people who live in close proximity and have free time on their hands to spend as they see fit. What can we do to solve our collective drinking problem and the associated risks? In the short term, when there is an immediate danger to students in our community we
that there are two inherent problems in the way we do it. Firstly, I think a lot of us drink for the wrong reasons, be it for increased confidence, because everyone else is doing it, or just to make it through a night in Klute. Secondly, I think most of us like to think we know our limits but don’t (or we do know them but kid ourselves into thinking that bottle of vodka at pre-drinks will be totally fine). I would be a massive hypocrite if I condemned all students who consume alcohol regularly and to excess, and an utter liar if I said I was going to stop drinking. Alcohol is undeniably fun when you do it right, and needn’t end in projectile vomiting or more serious accidents if we made slightly more effort to look after ourselves and our friends. I’m the first to admit that the drinking culture at universities isn’t exactly healthy. However, pointing a camera at an incapacitated student then using it as evidence to tar every other young person with the same brush is both supremely condescending and hugely unhelpful, and the idea that we are the first and only generation to drink to excess is, to put it bluntly, a fairy story.
Illustrations: Mariam Hayat
must take what measures we can to protect each other and encourage the local authorities to support this. But ultimately, we need to find a sustainable solution by re-examining the relationship between alcohol and our free time. Here, I think there might be something to learn from the French model. Alcohol is not something to be feared, nor abused, but simply enjoyed in moderation. We could do this by paying a bit more attention to the quality of what we drink - few French students go for the €2.50 bottles even if they ‘do the job’. Food undoubtedly plays a part in organising events which aren’t solely about drinking, as does the fact that lots of events happen in interesting bars, rather than nightclubs, which seem to require a base level of drunkenness to enjoy. There are signs that we’re moving in the right direction. ONS figures suggest that the number of young adults binging at least once a week has fallen substantially in recent years to 18%, and fewer students see alcohol as a prerequisite to having a good time. Britain is fixing its reliance on alcohol – but there is still work to do.
PALATINATE | Thursday 30th April 2015
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An Asian perspective on UK drinking culture Lauren Chan provides a fresh perspective on British drinking habits
Lauren Chan
Over Easter, the loud and alcohol filled corridors in college turned quiet. Whilst I and a few other international friends were enjoying this peace, it led us to ask something that has troubled so many Asian students – what’s so fun about being drunk? Now before you take this the wrong way and presume that Asians don’t know how to have fun, our question is simply why does so much of Durham’s socialising and conversation centre around mad nights out? We jokingly agreed that UK students make friends not by befriending people during the day and then going out later as friends, rather, they utilize the power of alcohol to make everyone their best friend,
then solidify that uncertain bond by musing over the night’s crazy antics the next morning, with the most popular conversation starter being ‘So, how was your night?’ (wink face). While this generalisation was made in jest, and of course British young adults are perfectly capable of making real friends when their judgment is not impaired, this does not take away from how international students often struggle to overcome the large obstacle that is Durham drinking culture. Wild, drunk nights in Klute or wherever you fancy are of course an essential part of the university experience to most – what you can remember from them often make the best memories in Durham. But those who drink less or come from a different drinking culture will find right from Fresher’s Week that they cannot relate to the majority’s habits and can soon feel alienated. From personal experience and those of
friends’, clubbing is also popular in Hong Kong and South Korea. However, it is nowhere near as integral to nightlife as it is in Europe, partly because parents and more conservative teens in Hong Kong frown upon clubbing and excessive drinking. By far the most popular way of socialising would be over a good meal. Nevertheless, it is part of mainstream culture in Hong Kong universities to drink and chat while playing drinking games in their halls, or for a bigger night out to do the same (plus a bit of singing) in karaoke bars. Nightlife starts much later in Asia. Hall parties don’t start until around 2am and for the minority who do go clubbing or karaoke, the night starts at 11pm-12am and ends at around 5am. So a common complaint after a night out in Hong Kong would not be: ‘I wish I’d had a strategic chunder’, rather, one would say: ‘I wish I still had a voice left’. In comparison, drinking is much more popular in
South Korea, especially at university. I have been told that the compulsory companion to any night out is beer and fried chicken. Favourite drink? Soju, a spirit of around 20% ABV, which Psy is taking shots of in his video ‘Hangover’. Drinking starts at supper and carries on in a restaurant/bar crawl, and drinking games are almost always preferred to clubbing. Day drinking is also acceptable. Despite alcohol being a familiar companion to Korean students, and somewhat in Hong Kong, the binge drinking culture of Durham remains alienating. Right from Fresher’s Week the mentality of drinking to get drunk is as omnipresent around college as the smell of vodka. Even for Asian students who drink, the rowdiness of their drunken peers is intimidating. Students who choose not to participate in alcohol related activities rarely have a chance to socialise with the majority, and from week one onwards, the gap only in-
creases between drinkers and nondrinkers. As an international student I know there are many things that feel alienating – grasping a foreign language and the British sense of humour, English food, the weather and Northern accents to name a few, and of course the lack of entertainment and opportunities to socialise that don’t involve drink or clubbing. Every international student accepts that these are only some of the shocking cultural differences they face in Durham. And as an international student I am happy (and sometimes join in) with UK students drinking copious amounts of alcohol, for nothing is more fun than letting your hair down in the way that your culture has taught you to. So next time, before you judge Asian students as overly quiet, try to think of how they are doing their best, or how you would manage to socialise in such a different cultural setting.
Confessions of a non-alcoholic
Alice Barber
Sitting comfortably enveloped in my dressing gown, armed with a cup of tea and a blank word document, I normally feel reasonably content; today though, I must admit that I am a little apprehensive about beginning to write this article. Everybody is aware, of course, that there has been one thing resting particularly prominently on the consciousness of this city recently – the question of alcohol consumption. Talking about alcohol in any other way than a purely celebratory fashion can often be, to quote the irrevocable wisdom of ‘Mean Girls’, an act of ‘social suicide’. However, given the evermorepalpable grip that drinking culture is coming to have on our society, and our existence as students in particular, I believe this is a topic worth discussing, even if it does mean I’ll be eating my lunch from inside a toilet cubicle for the next few weeks. As a bright-eyed and bushytailed first year, I was the one at pre-drinks who would demand we played ‘ring of fire’, someone who would never refuse a challenge to down my drink, and took a particu-
Alice Barber recounts her experience of giving up alcohol
lar pleasure in doing suicide shots. It shouldn’t have really come as a surprise when I found myself in hospital eight weeks into term, my immune system having taken such a hit from alcohol consumption that it had amassed a collection of infections that had developed into pneumonia. I was unable to return to university until Epiphany term and, to be completely honest, felt pretty damn sorry for myself. And yet, I didn’t learn. I went straight back to my old ways, and by the end of Epiphany I’d gained myself yet another chest infection. Finally, I cottoned on. So this year I decided ditch the hooch entirely, primarily because I couldn’t afford to immobilize myself again, and partially due to curiosity as to whether I’d actually be able to manage it. What has struck me most powerfully during my stint of sobriety is how unbelievably awkward it is to tell people that you’re not drinking. Ironically, it is much less awkward than telling someone that my average consumption at formal was usually bottle of wine, followed by a couple of pints in the bar. I think my reluctance to admit to having gone teetotal is not without reason - even I’ve indulged in the ‘non-drinker’ stereotype in the past, judging someone before even know-
ing them simply on the basis that they didn’t want to ingest poison the same way I did. It’s undeniable that there is a certain stigma attached to it. I’ve found myself immediately justifying the decision, harping on about health and my immune system, or lying that I’m trying to save money, or (more recently) that I’ve given it up for lent. Perhaps I’m just a little paranoid, but sometimes I can’t help but detect what can only be described as vague disappointment in the face and tone of whomever I’m talking to. It’s as if I’ve let them down somehow, despite the fact that by the time they’re inebriated they probably won’t be able to distinguish between the toilet bowl and the floor, let alone
whether I’m drunk or sober. Part of the stigma seems to partially stem from the idea that intoxication is supposedly the key to enjoyment, hence the surprise evoked when I admit that I won’t be drinking – ‘But… how are you going to enjoy it if you aren’t drunk?’ This sort of reaction has got me thinking about two things. The first is the perversity of centering a great deal of university life on activities that supposedly can’t be enjoyed unless you’re completely smashed. People will refuse to leave the bar because they’re ‘not drunk enough to go out yet’. The words ‘sober Klute’ never fail to inspire a hushed dread. It seems logical to ask, then, that if you wouldn’t ordinarily enjoy fist pumping in a dark room, why bother doing it in the first place? My second thought has been to wonder whether alcohol is actually even necessary to produce the bu z z t hat peop l e crave in or-
der to enjoy a night out, and whether the same feeling might be achievable without the aid of booze. My sober clubbing experiences have been some of my best; doing a Post-Application open day last year surrounded by good friends and fresh-faced enthusiasm made for one of the best nights out I’ve had in Durham. And I can distinctly remember coming out of a more recent college BOP, having just bellowed Taylor Swift’s ‘Shake It Off’ into the unsuspecting ears of those around me, feeling giddy, and light-headed, chattering relentlessly like you do when you’re… well, tipsy. Try it – you might surprise yourself, and realize the making of a ‘good night’ actually comes from yourself, and not the glass in your hand. As much as I love a chilled Corona on a hot summer’s day, I’m quite content to keep abstaining. It isn’t a choice many would make, and nor am I saying it should be. But I do think it is sad that whilst it is morally wrong to question someone’s religious or political views, it is acceptable to question what they choose to put in their body. The fact that I was worried about writing this article says a great deal about the social pressures of our culture, which unfortunately will not be alleviated until people can engage in an essential empathy, and refrain from judging someone by their life choices.
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Thursday 30th April 2015 | PALATINATE
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Reader’s Scigest
Science & environment:
the key election pledges Jennifer Horrocks
Next week sees perhaps the most important General Election for a generation, with the main parties neck and neck despite polarised views on many of the important issues, and minority parties set to make huge gains. Read on for some of the parties’ promises on major science, technology and environmental issues. Climate Change
The incumbent Conservatives will continue their subsidies towards the purchase of new electric cars and vans, investing a further £500m over a five-year Government to increase the number of electric vehicles on our roads. However, subsidies for new onshore wind farms, initially pledged by UKIP and berated by the Green Party, will be phased out. Labour want to reduce the emissions produced by electricity production, with an aim to bring them to zero within fifteen years. The Liberal Democrats are aiming to double renewable energy production in the UK by 2020, have zero carbon energy production by 2030 and a fully zero-carbon country by 2050. They also pledge to plant 750,000 trees each year. The Green Party have, unsurprisingly, the most radical plan to combat climate change, by phasing out all
Illustration: Mariam Hayat
fossil fuels and nuclear power, banning fracking, investing in renewable sources and bringing UK emissions to 10% of their 1990 level by 2030. UK greenhouse gas emissions in 2013 were estimated by the Department for Energy and Climate Change at 568.3 MtCO2e (metric tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent), and would have to fall to 80.9 MtCO2e to meet the target. UKIP take the stance that, while the climate is changing, it is not linked to anthropogenic causes and therefore mitigation is better than efforts to prevent climate change. They therefore seek to repeal the Climate Change Act of 2008, which sets out the world’s first legally binding targets for greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and also to scrap so-called ‘green taxes’, which are currently imposed on products containing environmental pollutants. UKIP support investment in nuclear power. Technology
The Conservatives are leading with headline-hitting plans to prevent child access to online pornography by introducing online age checks. This has been welcomed in principle, but critics point out the difficulties and dangers of implementing such a system, particularly if the user must share credit card details online. The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are both pledging better internet access to rural areas, with commitments to ensure ‘superfast
broadband’ in nearly every home. Research
Tying into the hot issue of immigration is the accessibility of the UK to foreign researchers. The Green Party have pledged to reverse the scrapping of the twoyear work permit available to international students upon graduation, allowing the UK to retain skilled workers. UKIP want to introduce an Australian-style points system for immigration to allow skilled workers to work in the UK. Labour have stated they will take international students out of the net migration target, allowing more students to study in the UK, whilst also reducing university tuition fees for home students to a maximum of £6,000 per year from the current £9,000 per year. Few parties have been willing to commit on figures for long-term science research funding, but the Green Party are pledging to double government spending on research and development, which is currently £5.8 billion (year 2015/16) and the Conservatives have pledged a further £6.9 billion for building and improving research infrastructure by 2021. Environment
Both Labour and the Conservatives are prioritising flood protection, with the Conservatives pledging to spend £2.3 billion on flood defences and over £3 billion on environmental improvement schemes. The EU Common Agriculture Policy (CAP), which was established in 1957 to increase productivity and control food prices, has been widely criticised and is a point of contention between parties, with the Conservatives wanting to improve and simplify the CAP, the Green Party wanting to work towards a replacement, and UKIP wanting an immediate end, replaced by payments for farmers. Genetically modified (GM) crops are also causing debate, with Labour taking a cautious approach but acknowledging that GM crops will have a key role in future food security. UKIP would take the issue of whether GM crops are grown in the UK to a Parliamentary vote. The Greens have pledged to promote organic and sustainable farming, and ban the practice of ‘factory farming’ and testing on animals.
A QUICK LOOK AT SCIENCE
PAINKILLER PLUS
RETURN OF THE LHC
Scientists at The Ohio State University have found that the overthe-counter analgesic paracetamol (also known as acetaminophen) blunts emotions as well as relieving physical pain. Previous research had shown that the drug could suppress psychological pain such as distress related to social rejection. The new study, however, shows that it is just as effective at numbing positive feelings; during the experiment, subjects who had taken paracetamol rated their emotional response to both pleasant and disturbing photos less extremely than those who had taken a placebo. The results highlight concerning side-effects, as paracetamol is an active ingredient in more than 600 medicines.
After two years of downtime for extensive upgrading, the Large Hadron Collider is back in action. Proton beams were sent around the tunnel of the particle accelerator in both directions at low energy in early April, as part of an operation to ensure the machine was functioning correctly. Now particle physicists at the Geneva-based laboratory CERN are steadily increasing the beam energy and will start colliding the particles head-on when it has reached 13 TeV – almost twice the energy achieved in the initial three-year run. In such a high-energy regime, the team are hopeful about making new discoveries about fundamental physics, such as detecting dark matter or uncovering hidden dimensions.
Bruno Martin
Sadie Bartholomew
Also in the news... Strange Supervoid
Did you know?
Astronomers have detected an extremely large ‘supervoid’ – a region of the universe with low galactic density – in the constellation of Eridanus. At 1.8 billion light years across, the void is the largest structure ever to be discovered, and has around 10,000 fewer galaxies than expected.
Physicists need to take the moon into account in order to correctly analyse results from the Large Hadron Collider; lunar attraction causes the ground to rise about 25 cm at full moon relative to new moon, which causes the circumference of the main tunnel to change by around 1 mm.
Drone surveillance
Attracting Mosquitos
Counter-terrorism officers will soon be using drones to monitor airports in London.
Photograph: Michael Khor via Flickr
A recent study on sets of twins suggests that a person’s genes partly determine their likelihood of being bitten by a mosquito. The finding could motivate production of a pill which causes the release of natural repellent to protect against insect bites and the consequent spread of diseases such as malaria.
Did you know?
Google vs Apple
In 2013, 1.18% of total government spending (£8.4 billion) went towards research and development performed in the UK. There has been a general decline in government investment in UK R&D since 2003, when the figure was 1.37%. [Source: Office for National Statistics]
An image of the Android mascot urinating on the Apple logo was spotted in satellite view of Google Maps to the south of Rawalpindi in Pakistan. The origin of the image is not yet known, but it is thought to have been added by a user of the tool Map Maker.
PALATINATE | Thursday 30thth April 2015
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Durham student makes England bow
PhD student Heather Kerr made her England debut during the 2015 Six Nations Championship. Deputy Sport Editor Kieran Moriarty spoke to her about the England experience, taking up rugby at University, and her plans for the future. Kieran Moriarty
How does it feel to be an international sportswoman? “It’s a complete privilege, very few people get the chance to say they have played for their country, if I’m honest its still rather surreal! Obviously, my life has changed a lot in the last year but I’ve tried to take the changes in my stride as best I can, I definitely require a lot more forward planning in both day-to-day life and longer term. Trying to juggle a PhD, University rugby, DMP Sharks, England, and a social life I’ve learned is a fine art but one I’m getting better at.” What was training for the national team like? Was it a significant step up from the training you are used to at Durham?
“Camps are always very intense - not just physically but mentally too. As I’m still relatively new to the sport I’m trying to absorb as much technical knowledge as possible and learn from all these women that have been at the top of their game for a number of years. Training with the likes of prop Rocky Clarke who won her hundredth cap against France at the end of the Six Nations is a truly incredible experience. It’s a big leap from university rugby where as 1st team captain I try to lead from the front and feed my rugby experiences to those that are at the beginning of their playing careers. Training and playing with Sharks has helped that transition as we have the likes of Tamara Taylor and Katy McLean in the team.” What are your future aspirations with the England team?
“At the moment, I hope to continue learning and get more caps under my belt. Front row is a position where you get better with age as there is such a plethora of technical ability you have to learn and perfect. In front row terms I’m still young, so of course I’m looking up to the senior England players and hope to follow in their footsteps. Competition in the squad as you’d expect is strong but it lifts everyone as you are trying to improve as a team for the next game but at the same time fight for that white shirt; we have 52 players in the EPS squad and a match day squad of 23.” What’s your ultimate ambition in the sport? Do you view rugby as a viable career option or as a hobby?
“Degree aside, I’m hoping that I
can continue to develop as a player through England training and bring that experience onto the pitch with DMP Sharks and also back through to DUWRFC. Then I want to pass on the coaching that I have had and support a lot of new players that we have already and continue to keep the squad strong”.” How did Durham help in your development as a rugby player?
“Durham has formed me into the player I am now. Without the feedback and coaching I received in my first year of playing, I wouldn’t have made it into the England pathway. In addition, the club environment is a very important part – I enjoyed my experience playing Hill vs Bailey and then BUCS 7s in my third year to the extent that I decided to stay in Durham to do Masters and have a proper go at rugby. DUWRFC continues to provide me with new challenges today and I would be truly lost without the club. Support from the club meant I had the confidence to go down to my first DMP Sharks training session, go for North Academy trials and eventually end up where I am today.” What do you think of the standard of university rugby?
“Our Durham coach Cameron Henderson told us there used to be a time when we struggled to get a first XV each week. If you look now, DUWRFC has two full squads competing every Wednesday. I think the 1st XV winning the Northern Premiership for the first time in our club’s history is testament to the club’s development having started in a local league!” I think the publicity of the women’s game recently has been incredible off the back of the World Cup and I think the number of people getting involved will just keep snowballing.” Finally, do you have a message to DUWRFC for the future?
“DUWRFC’s future is very exciting. We need to continue to bring in new players, develop, and integrate them into the club. We have had a number of girls come from having played little to no rugby and the club has catapulted them onto playing for our 2nd team, 1st team, county, regional, and international rugby. Being part of this club has really changed my life and I just want that to be a possibility for many more students at Durham, because although it sounds clichéd, DUWRFC is not just being part of a club, it really is a family; you gain memories and friends that you’ll have for life.”
Kerr in action on her debut against Scotland
Photograph: rugbymatter.net
Macdonell hits ton in testing pre-season Ed Pollock The Durham MCCU cricket side reported back for pre-season on 21st March. The top quality facilities at the Racecourse ground enabled the side to get vital preparation in before taking to the field for three first-class games against county sides. On 27th March the team took on Leeds MCCU in a warm up game at the Racecourse. Batting first Leeds posted 235/6 having taken advantage of some loose bowling early on from Durham. However, they were pegged back by the spin of Darrel Williams, Chaitanya Bishnoi, and Dimitri Ratanayake. In response, Bishnoi and Jack Clark both posted half-centuries, to leave Durham requiring 32 from the last four overs. Durham sneaked over the line with a single off the last ball to win by one wicket. A buoyant side made the sevenhour trip down to Taunton Vale to face Somerset CCC for a three-day first class game from 2nd to 4th March. Bowling first, Durham MCCU took the field after lunch on the first day having been delayed by rainy
weather. Wood got the side off to a dream start getting Abell caught behind by Steele for 0. When play resumed late on day two –again due to rainy weatherWood continued his excellent spell to fell former England great Marcus Trescothick. Johann Myburgh and James Hildreth went on to post chanceless tons for Somerset as they finished on 356/3 declared. In response, skipper Cameron Steel was the standout performer with a splendid 80 that carried Durham MCCU to 129-7 at the end of day three, meaning that the match was drawn - albeit mainly due to the early season weather. Moving forward, the MCCU knew they had to be more disciplined with their bowling and batting to compete against a Durham side captained by former England all-rounder Paul Collingwood in two days time. The team made the long trip back to Durham to face up against the local county for another three-day fixture from 7th to 9th April at the Emirates ICG. Bowling first, Ben Williams got the early wicket of Mark Stoneman before Keaton Jennings and Scott Borthwick went on to post 100s, helping Durham to declare with the score on 448-4. Ratanayake, a postgraduate
student with prior first-class experience, was the pick of the bowlers with 3 wickets. Ollie Steele made a defiant 48 not out in response to Durham’s imposing total. Having been bowled out for 159, the University side took to the field once more. Durham declared their second innings on 260-7 with two wickets apiece for Jenkins and Phillips. Charlie Macdonell and Gibson started positively in the fourth innings of the game scoring 37 and 24 respectively. However, a strong Durham bowling unit dismissed the MCCU for 170 and Ollie Steele again provided some resistance in grinding out 34 runs. The University side eventually succumbed to an inevitable but respectable defeat, losing by 379 runs. Durham MCCU travelled down to Birmingham to play Warwickshire CCC in a non-first class game from 12th to 14th April. On the day of the game, and on a flat wicket, the bowlers toiled hard for 124 overs as the hosts amassed 553, with the highlight of a tough day in the field being Bishnoi’s four wickets. In reply, Durham MCCU amassed 220, which contained a superb 136 from Macdonell. Warwickshire went on to bat out the rest of the match to end on 414-5.
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Thursday 30th April 2015 | PALATINATE
The man behind the fan
On 9th March 2013, Gordon Hill saw his life change forever. The Wealdstone fan made his way down to Whitehawk FC’s Enclosed Ground Stadium for their Ryman Premier Division clash. The rest, as they say, is history. Palatinate spoke to non-league football’s most famous face. Nick Friend
In reality, part of Gordon Hill wishes that 9th March 2013 had never happened – that the game between Whitehawk and Wealdstone had been postponed or that he had made other plans for that Saturday afternoon. However, unlike many of the media-made celebrities that invade our screens, our newsfeeds, and our newspapers, Gordon Hill is different. “Sometimes [I wish it had never come to light]”, he admits to me. “But as my manager says, make the most of it and enjoy it, which is what I have done.” For, life has not always been this rosy for Hill, a 49-year-old unmarried builder and roofer. Until the age of fifteen, Hill, who suffered from toxoplasmosis, spent much of his life in Great Ormond Street Hospital. The parasitic disease can lead to health problems including neurological diseases, heart, liver, ear, and eye problems. It is this, he tells me, that has inspired so much of his work since he was ‘discovered’ by a combination of YouTube, Twitter, and Vine. “The most amazing thing for me is to be able to put a smile on a poorly kid in hospital because that poorly
“Sometimes I’d like a a bit of peace and quiet but I mustn’t complain as I have met some amazing people”
kid was me once.” Since Whitehawk fan Darren Ward – Dazman21 to his YouTube subscribers – filmed an inebriated Hill’s foul-mouthed rant, the lifelong Wealdstone fan has gone above and beyond to repay Great Ormond Street. A charity single ‘Got No Fans’ took the charts by storm, and challenged X Factor winner Ben Haenow for the Christmas Number One spot. Ultimately, ‘The Raider’ reached number five – behind Haenow, Bruno Mars, Olly Murs, and Ed Sheeran. Hill, though, is philosophical about his brief foray into the pop industry. “No, not really”, he confesses when
I ask whether he was disappointed to miss out on the win. “That was all predetermined by Mr Cowell. I am just really proud that I got a single to number five in the Christmas chart from an idea that was only 9 days old. I loved it as it was all done in 13 hours through the night – from nothing to a finished single. “But above all else, it raised over £30,000 for good causes.” Indeed, every penny from the song was split between Great Ormond Street, Wealdstone Youth FC, and Autism Concern. Haenow’s, although labelled as a charity single, gave away just 17.5%. Hill’s work doesn’t end there. He has been known to request £2 charitable donations for all selfies with the internet star. Even without the single, Hill has raised upwards of £10,000. The success of the Wealdstone Raider is a victory, too, for non-league football. Too often is it overlooked as an irrelevance in a world where multi-billion pound TV deals are the norm in the Premier League. The rags-to-riches stories of England strikers Les Ferdinand and Rickie Lambert, as well as QPR man Charlie Austin are testament to the value of the honest toil by those lower down the footballing ladder. The way in which Hill talks about Wealdstone speaks volumes for the increasing attitudinal gulf between the professional and semi-professional game. Although Hill’s bursting schedule has seen him miss more games than he would like, with Wealdstone in their first season as a Vanarama South club, he tries to go “as regularly as possible. “I love it because the Stones are one big family. We have done remarkably well as were six points adrift after twelve games so to finish in mid-table in our first season at this level is remarkable.” The notion of “one big family” is alien to the big bucks environment of the Premier League – a money-making machine with little regard for the game’s most important aspect: the fans. Hill’s perception of Wealdstone is in keeping with his attitude towards his new-found fame. At one stage rumoured to be pencilled in for a place in the Big Brother house alongside fellow social media personality Katie Hopkins, public opinion of the two differ hugely. Counting McBusted and DJ Chris Stark amongst his fans, Hill remains refreshingly down-to-earth. “I’m amazed [by the public reaction]. I have a lot of fans and always give them as much time as possible.
‘Got No Fans’ reached number one in the UK Indie Chart
“Sometimes I would like a bit of peace and quiet but I mustn’t complain as I have met some amazing people.” Such is his popularity that Hill has spent much of the past year touring nightclubs throughout the country. “I do enjoy my club appearances but not the travelling. I hope to get up to Durham later in the year.” However, with this unusual lifestyle comes its difficulties. “I am not doing much building work at the moment”, he concedes. “I am working weird hours as I often
Photograph: Steve Foster
don’t get home from a club until six in the morning.” When thinking about the last two years, it is hard not to be impressed by Hill. Many weaker characters would have hidden themselves from public view after the Wealdstone Raider videos went viral. That Hill has made a success of what could easily have been interpreted as, at best, cyber-bullying and, at worst, public humiliation, is praiseworthy. Yet, I find myself squirming and cringing my way through the original
clip as I watch it back – not because of Gordon Hill – but because there’s a man behind the camera, who – in the words of ‘The Raider’, “gave me twenty minutes of abuse and was taking the mickey out of me because I talk a bit funny.” “When I first saw it, I wanted to hide behind the sofa for the rest of my life”, he told Sky Sports in an interview at the World Darts Championships. “But, I thought, ‘everyone else is making money out of me, why don’t I make a few pounds for charity?’”
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Mixed results for Durham at long-awaited Head of the River Eliot F. Voelker Durham College Rowing Press Secretary Over the holidays, Durham took to London. Although most students travelling there were returning home, a dedicated set of students went to London for an entirely different reason, the summation of our
winter training. For those uninitiated amongst the readership, the goal was Head of the River Race (HoRR) and Women’s Eights Head of the River Race (WEHoRR). The first race was WEHoRR, which took place the Saturday 14th of March. Our women travelled down to London in advance to prepare themselves and the boats for the near 7km row down the Thames.
Cuth’s 1st VIII (pictured above) finished 126th overall - 61 places ahead of Durham’s 3rd VIII Photograph: Angela Rowing Photography
The day of the race turned windy, which chopped up the water, making it hard to balance the boat. In addition, the rowers had to push against the strong headwind with every stroke. Luckily, this did not last, as the wind died down after the crews went past Hammersmith, and you could hear the spectators from the water. The calmer conditions allowed the crew to come back together and enabled them to drag their boats to the finish. DUBC’s 1st boat missed out winning their division by 20 seconds, and their university category by 25, coming second in both categories. This was followed by HoRR two weeks later. HoRR, having been cancelled two years in a row, was anticipated with baited breath; the weather conditions caused apprehension amongst many as the race was postponed for half an hour to gauge the wind and check the tide. The rowers waited and stretched their preparations out, checking and rechecking all the equipment. To great relief, the Race was allowed to proceed without further distraction, but this came at the price of every crew having to fight the wind for an advantage; it changed direction around the bends and caught the waves, creating a chop. This was not going to be a race for the faint of heart.
Once the race was underway, Durham boats became embroiled in races between each other, with many colleges within seconds of one another. Some caught a tailwind, while others suffered under gale-force headwinds. Each crew had their own individual wrestle with the elements and the race continued, with everyone supporting each other; whether amongst a single crew, or cheering departing crews onwards off the start and through the finish. Durham University Boat Club managed to secure the Halladay Trophy, which is reserved for the winning university crew that competes in or below Intermediate 2 division.
The colleges had mixed results, with some colleges achieving their aims, although others were left underwhelmed and having to evaluate their performance. With the Head season completed for the year, and the weather ‘going north’, regattas are now upon us. Watch out for Durham City Regatta on the 9th/10th of May – a crucial meet for competitive crews aiming to race at Durham Regatta (13th, 14th of June).
Head of the River - Men’s Results Finish Pos.
32 33 126 131 160 187 207 223 228 233 235 275 285 309
Crew Durham University I Durham University II St. Cuthbert’s Society I Collingwood College Van Mildert College Durham University III Hatfield College St. Aidan’s College University College I Trevelyan College St. John’s College I University College II St. Cuthbert’s Society II St. John’s College II
Division In1 In2 In2 In3A In2 NovA In3A In3A In3A In3A In3A In3A NovA In3A
Time 18:15.0 18:17.6 19:24.8 19:28.0 19:42.7 20:01.0 20:12.9 20:18.7 20:24.2 20:27.5 20:28.4 21:04.1 21:19.3 21:48.1
Sport
Thursday 30th April 2015 | PALATINATE
Wealdstone Raider exclusive
Palatinate speaks to internet sensation Gordon Hill p. 18.
Head of the River race report
All the results from Durham’s rowing teams on the Thames p. 19.
Heather Kerr interview
Palatinate talks to DUWRFC and England rugby player Heather Kerr p. 17
Hill vs Bailey rugby ready for action Emileigh Clifford Chair of College Rugby
You wansum? We’ll give it ya! Read our exclusive interview with the Wealdstone Raider on page 18 Photograph: Steve Foster
Durham break BUCS Cup record John Evans
A brilliant season for Durham’s sports teams was sealed with some impressive results in the final round of sporting fixtures at ‘BUCS Big Wednesday’. The event played host to the finals of the knockout cup competitions, and for Durham’s teams it was a last chance to showcase their talent before the summer break. The excellent facilities at Loughborough were the stage for a historic day for Durham sport which saw records broken, trophies won, and the end to one of the University’s best ever sporting seasons. Perhaps the best feat achieved by the Palatinates over the course of the day was surpassing 1000 Cup points in a single season for the first time in Durham’s history. This mammoth total also eclipses sporting powerhouse Loughborough’s highest ever total. The Palatinates finished second in the overall BUCS standings, only
trailing fierce rivals Loughborough. Another of the greatest successes this year has been the number of Durham teams who have gone unbeaten all season. The women’s lacrosse team were faced with the daunting of prospect playing Loughborough away in front of a very large and partisan crowd, but made sure of their unbeaten status with a 10-6 victory. The men were almost shocked by a Nottingham team who scored four goals inside the first 10 minutes of the game, but Durham dug deep and made an inspired comeback to win 11-8, securing a very impressive fifth season in a row without losing a single match. The men’s water polo team ensured they went a season without defeat with a 14-5 victory against a very strong Bristol team. The women’s team thrashed Warwick 30-8 in the Trophy final to ensure that both of Durham’s 1st water polo teams were unbeaten all year. At Loughborough’s new purpose built football stadium, the women’s football 1st XI matched Durham’s
earlier achievements to secure their own invincible season with a 2-1 victory against Birmingham, to claim the double as Premier North and Championship winners. Durham’s tennis teams had much to celebrate as the women’s 2nds upset the odds to win the National Trophy, beating Cardiff 1sts 10-2. The match that was closer than the score-line suggests, but the team fought hard to become national champions. The men’s tennis 1st team built on the success of the women’s earlier Trophy win to secure the Championship title by beating a strong Bath side 10-2. This secured yet another undefeated season for a Durham team. Durham’s women’s volleyball team travelled to Loughborough for the tough task of competing the national final with the best team in the country – Northumbria. The Palatinates forced the game to a final set but in the end the favourites ran out winners, with a final score of Northumbria 3 - Durham 2. The women’s tennis 1sts suffered
their first singles defeat of the year, losing out 8-4 to Bath in a fiercely competitive final of the Trophy. Bath proved to be just too good for Durham, who had already secured the Premier North title earlier in the season. In the final BUCS match of the year, Durham’s men’s basketball almost won another trophy against a much-fancied Northumbria side. Durham led the competition favourites 68-60 going into the final quarter but couldn’t prevent a Northumbria fightback, with the score finishing Northumbria 90 Durham 79. It was a fitting final day for what has been a record-breaking season for Durham’s sports teams, with all student athletes, no matter how they fared in competition, doing the University proud.
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It’s the time of year again where the Hill and Bailey Colleges will square off in the annual charity rugby matches. This year is set to be the biggest and best yet – with all proceeds going to Sport Action in Zambia. The event will be held on 3rd May at Durham City Rugby Club, and will feature entertainment such as Zorb Soccer, as well as food and refreshments. The women’s match will kick off the day’s proceedings at 2pm. The Hill go into the match as favourites. A ‘Milbut’ side consisting of players from Van Mildert and Josephine Butler Colleges were crowned the champions of the women’s Premiership this season. Another Hill side, ‘Trollingwood’ (Trevs and Collingwood), were close runners-up, only missing out on the title on points difference. Considering the strong league positions of Hill teams, Collingwood’s Lauren Crawford, captaining the Hill, should be confident about her side’s chances heading into the match. Hatfield’s Phillipa Rawbone will lead the Bailey team looking to cause an upset against their strong Hill opponents Immediately after the women’ s match, the men will take to the field for the second match of the day at 4pm. Cuths’ Campbell Macleod will lead the Bailey team out to face a Hill side captained by Collingwood’s Jack Flynn. The season isn’t over yet – but it is the Hill teams who are taking up the top places in the Premiership . Aidans A are currently in third place while Collingwood A are sat at the top of the table as it stands, three points ahead of Hatfield A in second. Flynn’s side will take heart from the fact that only teams from the Hill made up the sides in the semi-finals of the Floodlit Cup. Tickets are being sold for £3 in advance or £4 on the gate, with all the proceeds going to charity.
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