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Thursday 22nd October 2020 | No. 831
Once you have picked up this copy, please avoid passing it to others
Profile speaks to Alastair Campbell about mental health and politics
Indigo talks to Durham graduate and YouTuber Jack Edwards
290 sexual misconduct incidents disclosed to University in 5 years Jack Parker Content warning: this article contains repeated mentions of rape, sexual assault and sexual misconduct.
▲ The University has built a cover for students queueing at the Bill Bryson Library (Amana Moore)
Almost half of Durham students have ignored Covid-19 rules, poll finds • 1/3 students rated Durham University’s Covid-19 policy as ‘poor’ • Almost 50% of students rated their experience of online learning as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ • DUCU ask University to extend pause on face-to-face learning, as cases exceed 1,000
Max Kendix and Martha McHardy News Editors A survey of Durham students has revealed that around 45% of students ignored Covid-19 regulations in order to see friends, family or a partner.
The survey, carried out by Durham Polling, surveyed 207 Durham students from 5-17th October. Around a third of students rated their satisfaction with the University’s Covid-19 policy as “poor”, with a similar proportion saying the policy has been “good” or “excellent”. About one in five students rated their experience with online
learning negatively, with half saying their experience with online learning has been positive. The news comes after Durham University and College Union (DUCU), which represents academics and support staff, sent a letter to Vice-Chancellor Stuart Corbridge asking for an extension to the pause to face-to-face teaching that was in place for the first week
of term. In the letter, they asked that the pause be extended to the end of the month for all modules that can be feasibly taught online. Sara Uckelman, Communications Officer for DUCU, told Palatinate: “We desire that the VC Continued on page 3
Almost 100 incidents of rape or attempted rape were disclosed to Durham University from 20142019, a Palatinate investigation has found. The figures, which appeared in a paper submitted to the University Executive Committee last December, show that 262 disclosures were recorded anonymously by the University in those five years. In total, 290 incidents were disclosed; of these, 99 (35%) concerned rape or attempted rape, with a further 89 (31%) of sexual assault. The University’s “Non-Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Outcomes” consider these types of incident as Category 2 student offences, and could be sanctioned with expulsion or a one-year exclusion. Staff perpetrators are subject to separate disciplinary procedures. Other incidents disclosed include sexual harassment, indecent exposure, stalking and cyberstalking, image-based sexual abuse, and domestic abuse. Many of these may also be considered Category 2 offences. Among the most striking revelations is that 89% of those who disclosed sexual misconduct were female. In 19 out of every 20 cases, the perpetrator was male. Since the University began recording disclosures in 2014/15, the annual number increased from 17 to a peak of 87 in 2017/18. As the report notes, the sharp rise does not necessarily mean more sexual misconduct is occurring, but instead suggests Continued on page 4
Thursday 22nd October 2020 | PALATINATE
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Editorial
In defence of print journalism
T
o my mind, the role of any journalist, whether student or otherwise, is to inform, scrutinise those in power and offer new information. What is most important, however, is shedding light on what has previously been kept in the dark. It has been a long summer for news in Durham. From uncovering the screenshots that led to society bans, reporting on the expulsions of two students for sexual misconduct and racist remarks, and discovering that, in five years, almost 100 incidents of rape were reported at Durham, Palatinate has shown how vital journalism is in exposing these stories. Sexual assault, abuse, racism, antisemitism, homophobia and discrimination should not be kept in the dark any longer, and it is only through disclosing these accounts that we can begin to create change.
Palatinate has shown how vital journalism is in exposing these stories Whilst Palatinate is able to bring you these stories online, as a student paper, the presence on campus that our print edition offers us - to be found in colleges, the library, cafes and restaurantswhich is free for anyone to pick up and take away, is unique, and often, the first way that many students engage with Palatinate at all. Aside from the critical skills students - like myself - can gain when they learn to lay up and produce a physical publication, Palatinate is also an activity that students sign up for. We have hun-
dreds of applicants a year, and if you are reading this now, we welcome all students to contribute to any and all of our sections. Not only are we an organisation that holds the University to account, we are also a society that forms an important respite amidst the pressures of University life. Students want to be here, and they want to be with like-minded individuals. Personally, I am never happier than when I’m with my friends at Palatinate.
We are our printed newspapers, and we are also the 72-year history that lead us to this point If I had it my way, my personal tuition fees of £9250 would go towards Palatinate, enough to fund its entire year. And if I really had it my way, I wouldn’t be doing my final year online. But this is not a perfect world, and we are Generation Zoom. You only need to look at this edition’s news coverage to realise this: the number of Covid-19 cases now exceeds 1,000 in Durham, while a report alleges that northern students are subject to physical and verbal abuse by fellow students in our community. We’ve lost CDs, DVDs, maps and photographs to the digital age. It is our mission to make sure that we do not lose print papers as well. The decline of print is not inevitable. When the Kindle first arrived, critics and cynics decried the loss of the physical presence of books. Yet still we pack bags heavier than needed because there is a satisfaction in turning a physical page and seeing the pro-
gress you’ve made. Just like a Kindle isn’t the same as a book, reading a paper online isn’t the same as holding a physical copy in your hands. When you have newspapers in print, your eyes find stories that you think are interesting but that you weren’t looking for. Indeed, the excitement of seeing your name in print never fades, and the mere fact you can keep an edition forever reinforces the respect and appreciation you have for the work that goes into making it possible. Unlike a website that you can update whenever you spot a mistake, once out in print, a story cannot be changed. Print therefore holds us to a journalistically higher standard. And to top it all off, there is something very sentimental about a physical paper, which can cement a Durham identity. We are our printed newspapers, and we are also the 72-year history that lead us to this point.
If I had it my way, my personal tuition fees would go towards Palatinate While one day you may be able to download Palatinate as an app, will the quality of the content remain the same? And will we even be able to call it a newspaper? Now is not the time to limit journalism in any of its forms. As John Oliver said in his defence of print journalism: “We’ve grown accustomed to getting our news for free. And the longer that we get something for free, the less willing we are to pay for it. But sooner or later we are either going to have to pay for journalism, or we are all going to pay for it.” If all
Inside 831 News pages 3-6 Comment pages 7-9 Profile pages 10-11 SciTech pages 12-14 Politics pages 15-17 Sport pages 18-20
indigo
Editorial page 2 Features page 3 Visual Arts pages 4-5 Food & Drink page 6 Books page 7 Film & TV pages 8-9 Interview page 10 Creative Writing page 11 Music pages 12-13 Fashion page 14 Stage page 15 Travel page 16
the leading student newspapers across the country are still going to print and we are not, will we actually be able to call ourselves a leading student paper? We at Palatinate believe an appetite for a physical newspaper is still there. For these reasons, we will continue to make the argument for print journalism. Tash Mosheim
Palatinate Editorial Board Editors-in-Chief Imogen Usherwood & Tash Mosheim editor@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Editors Toby Donegan-Cross & Tim Sigsworth deputy.editor@palatinate.org.uk News Editors Martha McHardy, Patrick Stephens & Max Kendix news@palatinate.org.uk News Reporters Richard Waters, Keziah Smith, Kiara Davies, Sophie Garnett, Saniya Saraf & Ella Bicknell Investigations Editor Luke Payne investigations@palatinate.org.uk Comment Editors Hazel Laurenson & Cerys Edwards comment@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Comment Editor Abigail Brierley Profile Editors Will Entwistle, Isabella Green & Izzy Harris profile@palatinate.org.uk Science & Technology Editors Ewan Jones, Faye Saulsbury & Elise Garcon scitech@palatinate.org.uk Politics Editors Sophie Farmer & Aisha Sembhi politics@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Politics Editors Anna Shepherd and Lilith FosterCollins Sport Editors Matt Styles & Luke Power sport@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Sport Editors Ben Fleming & James Reid Indigo Editors Hugo Millard & Millicent Machell indigo@palatinate.org.uk Sub-Editors Chloe Waugh & Naomi RescorlaBrown sub.editors@palatinate.org.uk Photography Editor Mark Norton photography@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Photography Editors Beatrice Law & Amana Moore Illustrations Editors Amber Conway, Verity Laycock & Samantha Fulton illustration@palatinate.org.uk
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
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PALATINATE | Thursday 22nd October 2020
News
1/3 students rated University’s Covid-19 policy as ‘poor’ “Rate your experience of online learning as excellent, good, neutral, poor or terrible”
Seun Twins
Durham Students’ Union President
It’s not a new thing for me to point out that this isn’t the year any of us wanted or expected. It’s difficult. It’s inconvenient. It’s confusing. And often it’s lonely. For many, particularly the most vulnerable in our community, there’s a lot of worry about keeping ourselves and our friends and families safe. We must all work together, following the guidance we are given, to not only keep each other safe, but also to keep as much of everyone’s education, socialising and broader life open for all of us to participate in as possible. But let’s be honest: it is not just Covid-19 that has made this year at Durham difficult. It seems that every week another story of Durham’s toxic culture bubbles onto social media or sometimes the national news. We are beginning to examine these incidents online, to talk about them with our friends, and to see the media pick them up as news stories. We know that something is definitely wrong with Durham University’s culture, and I am making it my priority this year to deconstruct this problem and make recommendations for systemic change, so that we can create a community that we all feel welcome in. Durham University has already delivered the Respect Commission – a piece that begins our thinking in this area, but that focuses more on the University as a workplace. I will be delivering a Culture Commission. This will complement the Respect Commission’s existing work and put the focus fully on students. At the end of the day, whether we consider ourselves onlookers or direct contributors, we create the culture here and I believe that in leading this commission, it is up to us as students, to show the way to something better. I’ve written more detail about this on durhamsu.com, and I will be starting the first step of the commission by releasing a widespread survey to understand students’ experiences at the end of October. Until then, I think we should all use this time to reflect on the experiences that we are hearing and get ready to do something about them.
Polling and graphic by Durham Polling Continued from front will help Durham University show the same sort of leadership in the sector that we showed in March, when the decision was made to move teaching online in advance of a directive from the government to do so.” Over 1000 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed among Durham students and staff since the start of term. The majority of households in the accommodation of University, St. Mary’s, Collingwood and Hatfield Colleges have been isolating. University and Josephine Butler Colleges have announced that their bars will be open to those living out of college, as many college bars face financial pressure as a result of isolating freshers. Anyone caught breaking Covid-19 rules or mixing households in the University College bar will be banned from the bar for at least two weeks. Durham is currently under “Tier 2” restrictions, meaning socialising with other households or people outside your social bubble is only permitted in an outdoor space. Those under Tier 2 restrictions can also only socialise in a group of up to six people. Hospitality
venues in Durham such as bars and restaurants have been placed under a curfew and must close by 10pm. Last week, the University announced it would take “swift and decisive action” against students who fail to follow Covid-19 regulations. For a first time offence the University will adopt an ‘engage, explain and encourage response’ where students will be asked to explain the risks of their behaviour and encouraged to observe Covid-19 regulations. For cases in which the response has been judged ineffective, the University will employ a graded ‘yellow, amber, red’ response system. A yellow warning signifies a first time, low level breach and will be issued by the student’s college. Second time or more serious breaches will result in an amber warning which will result in a formal warning being added to the student’s record. These warnings may be accompanied by further sanctions including a fine of up to £500 or community service of up to 75 hours. Further breaches will be issued with a red warning and sanctions could include expulsion from the University.
Some colleges were prompted to move freshers’ week activities online after reports of freshers mixing households. The University College Senior Student, Ferdinand Schultz, said he received “multiple reports” from other colleges that University College freshers were spotted in their premises during freshers’ week. Just a week after freshers’ week, students living at St Mary’s and Collingwood Colleges were told not to leave their campus for seven days other than for campusheld activities organised by the University or in-person teaching, after 50 positive cases of Covid-19 were confirmed at each college. A freshers’ representative (‘frep’) at St. Mary’s College, who helped freshers move in, told Palatinate: “The freps were only informed of the positive case [of a frep] at the very last minute, a day after the test result had been confirmed. “It is clear as a member of the team that there has been a conscious need to keep the case under wraps [...] the team as a whole felt that their safety and the s a fe t y of the
freshers were not prioritised”. A frep at Collingwood College said: “If I was told the true risk of being a Frep this year, I would never have done it”. On volunteering, the frep noted: “I did it to help the Freshers, not police social-distancing and catch Covid-19”. Representatives at Collingwood College declined to comment, and St. Mary’s representatives have been contacted for comment. Pro-Vice Chancellor Jeremy Cook said: “We have been actively monitoring coronavirus case numbers across the University community throughout the pandemic and have implemented a range of carefully considered, progressive measures to reduce the risk of the virus spreading.” (Amana Moore)
Trevelyan freshers run corridor relay marathon for charity Kiara Davies News Reporter Thirteen freshers at Durham University in lockdown have run and walked a marathon along their corridor to help raise money for Help Musicians UK. The students at Trevelyan College had known each other for just two weeks when their household was locked down after two of them had contracted coronavirus. Their household was assigned together based on a mutual love of music. The corridor is 15 metres long and, between them, they have crossed it 2,813 times to complete the length of a standard marathon.
Each of the 13 freshers completed 109 ‘laps’ of the corridor, with the marathon being completed in about six hours. One of the students, Constance, who is in her first year studying Music at the University, stated “As I’ve got to know my wonderful housemates everyone’s musical talents have been revealed. It just confirms that no matter where you’re going or what you’re doing music is essential. “It’s scary looking at the current state of the industry because although musicians and creatives are some of the most driven, dedicated and passionate humans, most of the industry isn’t being given the recognition or financial support it merits.” The students have been featured on BBC News.
Their chosen charity, Help Musicians UK, is passionate about enabling musicians, in all genres, from those starting out to professional and retired musicians so they can continue to give back to
society. Working in the UK, they offer creative development funding and health and welfare services, such as a mental health helpline and hearing health scheme.
(Constance Froment)
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Thursday 22nd October 2020| PALATINATE
News
The extent of sexual misconduct in Durham
Continued from front
a higher proportion of survivors are choosing to come forward. In a dozen disclosures, the perpetrator was a member of staff. Eight disclosures were made by staff members who had experienced sexual misconduct at the hands of other staff or, in some cases, students. Sexual misconduct extends beyond the University community; around 15% of incidents were committed by individuals “not affiliated with Durham University”. In these cases, “no [disciplinary] action would be possible from the University”. These figures are only those centrally recorded by the Student Conduct Office. Since other support bodies such as the Counselling Service and student-run listening service Nightline hold separate records, the real picture could be worse.
The underreporting of incidents
Under the University’s 2017 Sexual Misconduct and Violence (SMV) Policy, disclosing and reporting an incident are separate actions. A disclosure involves someone “choosing to tell anyone who is part of the University community about their experience of sexual misconduct.” A report is the formal sharing of information “for the purposes of initiating the investigation process by the University”. A notable trend is the underreporting of incidents in Durham. Although 262 disclosures were made to the University in five years, only 150 (57%) were officially reported to begin investigation proceedings – 58 to the University, and 92 to the Police. The underreporting of incidents means that many of those who commit sexual misconduct avoid facing consequences.
15% of incidents were committed by individuals “not affiliated with Durham University.”
Over five years, the total number of students referred to the Senate Disciplinary Committee, with the possibility of being either excluded or expelled, was only between 14 and 20. This low total is partly explained by the fact that each year, several of those who make reports withdraw them voluntarily before an investigation can be completed. In other instances, student perpetrators withdrew from the University before investigations
were concluded. As they were no longer enrolled, the University could take no action; in effect, they escaped discipline altogether. Palatinate understands that this is a strategy used by some students at universities across the UK, and not just at Durham University.
University investigations take significantly longer than the sector standard
The University’s underfunding of its sexual misconduct systems is acutely felt in its investigation processes. Palatinate discovered that as of October 2020, every investigator looking into sexual misconduct reports was a nonpaid volunteer already employed elsewhere within the University. An FOI request found that the trained volunteer pool comprises just 30 people. The relatively small pool of investigators has posed availability issues. In October 2019, only 2 of the 30 were available to investigate reports; at that point, no other investigators were available until mid-November.
Although 262 disclosures were made to the University in five years, only 150 were officially reported.
In the paper’s words, internal University investigations “can be delayed and sometimes take too long”, taking significantly longer
than the sector standard. The Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) considers it “good practice” for disciplinary investigations to be concluded within 90 calendar days of the report being received. In 2017/18, when the University began recording investigation durations, internal investigations took an average of 133 days. This improved to 120 days in 2018/19, but remained a month longer than “good practice”. These figures do not include the added time needed if the case requires a hearing of the Senate Discipline Committee. Hearings are normally held within six weeks of an allegation of a “major” offence being referred. Effectively, delays and lengthy processes mean that if an incident was reported later than midJanuary, the perpetrator could potentially not face disciplinary action within that academic year.
“Durham University is a safe University”
In a statement to Palatinate, Sam Dale, Director of Student Support and Wellbeing at Durham University, said: “We recognise sexual misconduct and violence such as rape and sexual harassment are matters of international concern, and the safety and wellbeing of our students is our first priority. “While Durham is a safe City, with low crime rates, and Durham University is a safe University, we have an extensive programme of activity through education aimed
at prevention of sexual violence and misconduct and through response by providing victim-survivors with the appropriate support to report allegations, rebuild their lives and stay safe.
“We are now further investing in this area, in support of our staff and students, through the appointment of two full-time professional investigators.”
“We take a survivor-led approach, so that students who are subjected to sexual violence can choose whether they want to report incidents formally to the University and/or Police and whether, they make a formal report or not, are signposted to specialist support including: being referred to an independent sexual violence advisor, having access to specialist counselling from the Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre [RSACC] available within the Counselling Service and general support from their College Student Support Office.” Durham University also launched its ‘Report + Support’ online tool in October 2019, allowing students, staff and visitors to easily report sexual misconduct and violence, hate crime, and harassment. Dale continued: “We are now further investing in this area, in support of our staff and students, through the appointment of two full-time professional investiga-
tors, which is a recent innovation in the UK higher education sector. “Our Sexual Misconduct and Violence Operations Group, which was set up in 2016 to implement the recommendations of our Sexual Violence Task Force, continues to work with staff and students across the University and beyond to make Durham an even safer place to live, work and study.”
HEARD ANYTHING NEWSWORTHY? Email news@palatinate.org.uk
News Online Two colleges open bars to livers-out as freshers isolate Black History Month: upcoming events in Durham
University museums welcome North East school children for virtual visits University Covid-19 measures
announces disciplinary
Two students expelled from Durham University for sexual misconduct and racist remarks respectively
PALATINATE | Thursday 22nd October 2020
5
News
Zero-waste shop ‘Scoop’ opens in Durham Sophie Garnett News Reporter Scoop Durham opened its doors to students and the public on Wednesday 14th of October. The shop was opened by Durham students following on from a nationwide student initiative to provide a zero-waste solution to bulk buying groceries.
The store, located next to Old Tom’s Gin Bar on the Riverwalk, stocks a wide range of dried goods such as pasta, rice, spices and dried fruits. Prices are based on the weight of the goods bought with customers being able to bring their own containers or purchase biodegradable bags at the shop. The shop is staffed by student volunteers who signed up to
commit to working at least two hours a week to the store. They also have an extensive studentled team who work together to create publicity and source goods from suppliers. As well as having a zero-waste focus, the shop also donates all their profits to charity. At the checkout, customers can choose one of three charities to donate to with the charities changing
every term. This term customers can choose between RSACC and DASH. The profits are then split between the charities based on the number of votes each charity receives. Scoop asks that customers wear a face covering while at the store as well as limiting the number of customers allowed in the store to six at a time. They also have a minimum card spend of
£1 and do not accept cash. The shop plans to open on Wednesdays and Sundays throughout the year, giving students and the public a chance to visit. More information about the Durham store and the nationwide Scoop initiative can be found on the ‘Scoop Durham’ Facebook page and on the ‘Scoop’ website.
that the attitudes of “many” students and staff “directly contradict the terms and conditions of student conduct”. Testimony from current and former Durham students included in the report shows that Northern students at Durham have been subject to mockery of their accents which have been described as “feral”, “dirty”, and “vulgar”. Some students reported not feeling comfortable in seminars. One student said: “I can’t bear seminars sometimes, I just feel like nobody accepts my points because of the way I talk.” Another student said: “by the end of my first semester in first year I wouldn’t even want to speak in seminars because I felt so conscious of it [my accent].” The report also shows that some Northern students have reported feeling isolated in a college environment and as a result, have chosen to live at home after their first year, or have chosen to drop out of Durham. Lauren White, the author of the report, has chosen to live at home at her Gateshead address this year to complete her final year of study, as a result of the “alienation” she has experienced. One former student said: “I ended up dropping out of Durham in February 2019 after only five months because of how elitist I found it. I’m from a working class Gateshead family and went on the Supported Progression programme to get into Durham which I really enjoyed. But then when I got to Durham it was so different to everything I thought it would be. “I was such an advocate for the Uni and I now tell anyone who’ll listen that it’s one of the worst institutions I’ve ever been a part of.” Another former student said: “I attended Durham 2013-2017 and I had the most horrendous time there. It resulted in me going to counselling during University and years after because my self esteem became so low.
“I was told repeatedly that the only reason I was at Durham was because my family were on benefits. I was told I would never get a job because of the way I speak, I was told that I was a waste of a worthy student’s place. “Another thing I remember that I think should be mentioned is ‘rolling in the muck’. It was a thing a lot of students would say referring to them sleeping with a Northern/working class person. I remember there being nights dedicated to ‘rolling in the muck’ where sports teams or societies would go out to try and get with Northern/working class people.”
committed to working to solve the issues in the report and that Professor Corbridge has asked to have a meeting with her to discuss the report. Professor Corbridge said: “We believe that everyone has the right to study and work in an environment that is respectful and where people feel comfortable to be themselves and to flourish. “For most staff, students, visitors and partners, their experience of Durham University is a very positive one, but we want to do better still. “We recently published the final report of the Durham Commission on Respect, Values and Behaviour, which we set up to understand better what it is like to study and work here, and how we can create positive change. “We are now setting up an Oversight Group to oversee the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission and explore further actions. “The ‘Northern Student Experience at Durham University’ report highlights some behaviours which are unacceptable and en-
tirely at odds with our values as a University. In the short time since receiving the report, Lauren and I have agreed both that her report will be considered by the Respect Commission Oversight Group and that we will meet shortly to discuss her findings further.” Lauren White told Palatinate: “The testimonies that this report has been founded upon are equally as shocking to read as they are demoralising. But they have only proven what many of us have suspected for so long: that Durham University promotes a toxic environment for students of Northern, working-class, so-called ‘disadvantaged’ backgrounds. “This is why we are calling on the University to re-educate students, to provide support for existing students who have faced this discrimination and prejudice, and to identify ‘background’ in the Student Pledge as a characteristic which should not be the target of discrimination or unfair treatment.” For more information about the Respect Commission, please visit: www.durham.ac.uk/respect
Report alleges verbal and physical abuse against northern students at Durham University Martha McHardy News Editor A Durham student has published a report into Northern students’ experiences at Durham University. The report, which has been sent to University Vice-Chancellor Stuart Corbridge, details the experiences of Durham students from the North of England who described feeling unwelcome at the University and, in some cases, have felt forced to live at home during their studies or drop out of Durham. Lauren White of Van Mildert College interviewed over 20 past and present Durham students from the North of England, the oldest having graduated from Durham in 1996, and the newest having started at Durham this year.
“I was told repeatedly that the only reason I was at Durham was because my family were on benefits.”
The report asks that the University acknowledges that it has a “toxic culture” towards Northern students, and that ‘background’ is included as a type of discrimination in the student pledge, which every student is required to sign before they begin their studies at Durham. It also calls on the University to take “re-educational action” to ensure that every student at Durham is aware that prejudice and discrimination against students due to their background is “unacceptable”. It also asks the University to provide more support for the recipients of the Supported Progression programme and asks that these students are invited to give evidence and share their experiences. The report claims that “there is no support for students from Northern, working-class backgrounds” at the University, and
“We want to do better still”
When talking about their experience at Durham, one Durham graduate told White: “I honestly think Durham University is just a cesspit where people can get away with saying almost anything with no consequences.” White told BBC Radio Newcastle that Vice-Chancellor Professor Stuart Corbridge, has assured her that the University is
(Amana Moore)
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Thursday 22nd October 2020 | PALATINATE
News
Staff demand input over pension contributions
Martha McHardy News Editor Durham University staff have written an open letter to Durham University Vice-Chancellor Professor Stuart Corbridge asking that the University clarifies its position on staff pensions. The letter, which has been signed by 236 members of staff, demands that the University strives to keep pension contribution rates made by the University and its staff low enough as to “retain the high quality staff required by the university” and that the University allows staff to provide input on any proposals to raise the pension contribution rate. This is in response to a consultation document published by the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), the UK’s largest private pension fund, which indicates that total pension contribution rates for employees in the higher education sector could rise
to between 40.8% and 67.9% due to the fund’s large deficit, which ranges between £9.8 billion and £17.9 billion. If these changes are enacted, the pension scheme could become unaffordable for some staff members, and it may result in cuts to the pensions that staff would receive.
“There is no reason why there should not be a positive alignment between the interests of both Durham staff and the University”
The letter states that the USS position pays “insufficient attention to its stated principle of intergenerational fairness”, as it could mean that younger members of staff face having to pay “higher than reasonably required contributions into the future.” It also calls on the University to voice its opposition to the USS position “in the strongest possible terms”, and to push for a longer
deficit recovery plan than is being suggested by USS. Universities across the UK, including Durham, have been embroiled in a dispute with their senior management over casualisation, pay inequality, pensions, and workload. This dispute meant that the last academic year saw two waves of strike action in Universities across the country. At Durham University, this was followed by an agreement between the Universities and Colleges Union (UCU) and Durham in which the University agreed to limit its use of casual contracts and agreed to give University employees an annual cost of living increase. However, in order to mitigate the financial impacts of Covid-19, the University introduced a voluntary measures scheme which included pay cuts, reduced hours, voluntary severance, and early retirement. In an attempt to save £10 million, University staff were given the choice to take a 5-20% pay cut
for a minimum of three months, and a minimum 10% reduction in hours. The open letter affirms that: “There is no reason why there should not be a positive alignment between the interests of both Durham staff and the University. Significantly worsening pension provision and costs will be harmful to both the university and staff. In the worst case scenario, any move away from an open, defined benefit scheme would likely bring further additional pressure on university pension costs. “Pension provision has been at the centre of two recent industrial disputes. We believe that, especially at the current time, the university must do all it can to reassure staff of its desire to protect their continuing conditions of service. Undertaking the requests expressed at the start of this letter, as well resisting harmful aspects of the USS Trustee’s approach described, are steps that would contribute to rebuilding
trust in the university’s approach to its pension provision.” Iain Lindsey, Durham UCU Pensions Officer, told Palatinate: “The numbers of staff that have signed up to the open letter show the strength of feeling about preserving the university’s pension provision.
David Attenborough (World Bank)
Miranda Curtis (UK Government)
If these changes are enacted, the pension scheme could become unnaffordable for some staff members. “Pensions have been a core issue in strikes over the past three academic years. We want to avoid further industrial action, and so we very much hope that this time the university will work with us and put pressure on those managing the pension scheme to achieve a solution that is in the interests of staff, the university and, ultimately, the quality of teaching we provide for students.”
£700,000 spent on VC’s Birthday honours awarded to over 20 residence refurbishment Durham associates
Luke Payne Investigations Editor
Figures obtained by Palatinate have uncovered the substantial cost of major refurbishments conducted on the University owned 19th-century property, Hollingside House, in 2016. Hollingside features the ViceChancellor’s official residence and the main house, which is a University facility for hosting the Vice-Chancellor’s events and visitors. In 2016, cost estimate documents obtained through Freedom of Information Requests revealed that over £700,000 has been
spent on the property. The documents include a breakdown of expenditure including £43,200 on an architect, £16,572 on an interior designer and £3,792 on a bat survey. The vast majority of the costs were attributable to major internal and external works by the selected contractor. Jennifer Sewel, University Secretary at Durham University, said: “Hollingside House is owned by Durham University and is used for business purposes, including meetings and events. The Vice-Chancellor lives in in a twobedroomed flat attached to the House, wherein he also maintains
(Durham University)
an office. “The money spent on Hollingside House in 2015-2017 was to address issues of rising damp, undertake major works to the roof and for general refurbishment and decoration as part of a planned programme. No major capital expenditure has been undertaken since.” The document shines further light on the heavy cost of the University’s policy of providing homes to its most senior employees. The figures have been uncovered shortly after Palatinate revealed draft proposals to spend millions of pounds on the properties of Heads of Colleges. Hollingside House is also home to a substantial number of works from the university’s valuable art portfolio acquired over the last decade at a cost of £2.5 million. In 2016, Durham University was ranked the third highest university spender on artwork in England and was only outspent by Oxford and Cambridge Universities. Events held at Hollingside House have historically included lunches and dinners with a wide variety of the Vice-Chancellor’s guests ranging from ambassadors to Common Room Presidents.
Richard Waters News Reporter Over 20 alumni, friends and associates of Durham University have been recognised in the annual Queen’s Birthday Honours list. Among the list was Sir David Attenborough, who added a GCMG to his long list of accolades. The award-winning broadcaster, respected author and environmental advocate received an honorary Doctorate of Science (DSc) from Durham in 1982. Alumni were recognised for their work during the pandemic. This included Ian Hammond, who received an MBE for services to the NHS during the Covid-19 response, and Kathryn McCloghrie who studied at University College and received an MBE for services to the community in Cumbria
during the Covid-19 response. Miranda Curtis, meanwhile, received a CMG for services to gender equality globally. Curtis studied Spanish at St Cuthbert’s Society, before embarking on a high-profile career in global trade and telecommunications. She chairs the Campaign for Female Education and accepted the award on their behalf. The University congratulated the recipients. “From supporting women to access education, to the protection of our natural world, to stellar lifetime achievements across business, society, and the arts - those individuals celebrated represent the inspiration and leadership that characterises Durham alumni the world over. We are inspired by their success and honoured by their affiliation with our institution.”
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PALATINATE | Thursday 22nd October 2020
Comment
Freshers are only valued as financial assets Anonymous
While I, like all other students starting this year, was aware that we would not have the traditional rites of passage into Durham life, such as Klute, Matriculation and Freshers Fair, nothing could have prepared me for the sense of isolation and exploitation I have experienced.
First years have been brought onto campus to keep the University financially afloat Let’s make this clear: first years have been brought onto campus to keep the University financially afloat, not to provide the “educational experience that is accessible, inclusive, and of high quality” promised by the website. Before the start of term, all information about in-person contact hours was vague. We were encouraged to move into student accommodation. Although there was an option to study Michaelmas online, it was with the caveat that accommodation would not be available if you chose to arrive later. When
I enquired about in-person teaching, I was told “teaching activities with larger numbers of students, such as lectures, will be available online either synchronously (live) or asynchronously (pre-recorded). Teaching in smaller-group settings – such as seminars, tutorials and practicals – will be delivered face-to-face on campus, where it is possible and can be done safely.” Once my accommodation contract was signed, I was informed that the message above translates to one inperson seminar, every two weeks, that is accessible online anyway. And here lies the paradox. Because many students are in self-isolation due to outbreaks of coronavirus, all contact hours and resources must be accessible online. However, the reason for students being in self-isolation in densely packed student accommodation is that they wish to access face-to-face teaching. Despite having had months to plan how to teach during a pandemic, disorganisation plagues my classes. Links to lectures and seminars are littered around duo, class lists and email. Internet connection cutting out in the middle of class is normal. When a student asked how they were meant to attend an
in-person seminar commencing straight after an online lecture, the lecturer simply replied, “the University is still working on that”.
Disorganisation plagues my classes - inks to lectures are scattered around duo, class lists and emails For me, as a humanities student, being on campus has brought no educational benefits. It has brought plenty of financial benefits for the University, who have me locked into an accommodation contract, requiring me to pay the college 40% of the yearly amount in order to leave halls – as is my current plan. A lot of the advice I received before arriving at university centered around making friends: how you should not worry if your flat are not your best friends, and that you should join societies and sports to meet like-minded people. Plainly, all this advice is useless when your social circle is limited to who you would normally meet in the first hour of freshers’ week. Evidently, under the current restrictions in the North East, everyone is banned from socialising
outside their household. However, in the wider local and student population, their household consists of their friends and family. For first years their household consists of 17 strangers - hardly a support network. The majority of communal spaces are closed, so we are confined to our rooms. To make it worse, in my college, you can only contact the welfare team over Zoom. This is a ticking time-bomb for students’ mental health. And as you could probably guess, the household system has fallen apart. Flat parties with multiple households are common, as are first years visiting other colleges. Plainly, this behaviour during a pandemic is selfish and inexcusable, but first year students have been left with the dilemma of becoming isolated or joining the crowd. At the time of writing, there are 79 confirmed cases at the University, but due to the lack of social distancing, I suspect there are far more that have gone undetected. On their website, Durham claims that “We’re enjoying welcoming all our students to Durham”. I don’t feel welcomed. I feel used. The link next to this statement brings you to a list of measures the University has taken to stop the spread of the
virus; however, it is clear to me that the University has only been prepared to bring in these measures if they pose no financial harm to themselves.
“
Durham claims that ‘We’re enjoying welcoming students to Durham.’ I don’t feel welcomed. I feel used
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Populist leaders see ill health as a weakness Joseph Monaghan The Fisher King is a character from Arthurian legend. He is the last of a long line of monarchs, who through a terrible injury has become unable to do anything but fish in a small boat by his castle. As he sits there, fishing away, his country turns to a wasteland, and when he is eventually healed, the land heals too. In the context of the 12th century, when this tale first appears, the message to those who were listening is clear: the King must be strong, for the health of the King is the health of the nation. The few kings of today no longer rule; in their place are political leaders, a not insignificant number of whom have caught Covid-19 this year. Among their number are our Prime Minister, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, and, most recently, Donald Trump. Their response to their infection has been very interesting and provides a rare, honest insight into the mind of the
populist leader of the 21st century. It’s not a new thing for politicians to minimise or try to hide illness. Politicians with significantly different worldviews to the trio above have hidden their afflictions – JFK had Addison’s disease, as well as regular back pain, fevers, and adrenal problems, all of which were only made known to the public years after his death. Another American President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, was unable to move about without use of a wheelchair, yet carefully choreographed public appearances to avoid showing him going to and from podiums or balconies which he could stand at. The Secret Service even
destroyed photos of the President being moved around by others.
It’s not new for politicians to minimise or try to hide illness It was a different time, however, when disabilities and weakness were discriminated against more severely; surely in our time, people are less judgemental of such things? In today’s politics, where relatability and being a ‘man of the people’ are priceless qualities for anyone facing the prospect of an election, it could seem that getting ill could be a good thing - suffering with the people, living through what they’re living through, all being in this together. Yet, leaders have instead sought desperately to downplay their illness; we were told that Johnson was in ‘good spirits’ on the 5th of April as he was being (The White House)
moved to hospital as a ‘precautionary measure’, yet days later he was in intensive care. Trump’s hospital stay has borne out in a similar way, with him ‘feeling well’ on his first day, despite running a high fever - a detail that was only made available to the public after he returned to the White House. So why the disconnect? Instead of seeing the political advantages it could confer, these leaders cannot see past their deeply personal attitudes to being sick. Illness is something that these people hate; biographies and accounts of both Johnson and Trump speak of how they cannot stand being ill, but what they really can’t deal with is appearing ill. They identify it with a personal weakness, a failure.
Power is key here, as well as wanting to appear powerful We were told throughout Johnson’s illness that he was working through government business when in reality he was gasping for air, and how he’d get through it because he was a ‘fighter’. The projection of personal power and strength was more important than
showing what they would see as vulnerability, and what most would instead call humanity. Power is the key here, as well as wanting to appear powerful. Indeed, the closest thing that any of these administrations have to a guiding ideology is becoming powerful. All of them have valued the loyalty of their ministers over their competence; all of them have an unwillingness to engage with the legislative bodies they govern alongside; all of them have pursued a programme of more executive authority, especially over the permanent institutions of their countries. The populist leaders of today don’t really want to be elected leaders, not deep down: they don’t literally want to be kings, but in some way they can’t help but want to be like one - powerful, strong, indomitable. They can’t accept being ill, because in their mind they’re doing a fantastic job - they’re getting Brexit done, they’re building back better, they’re making America great again - and doing a fantastic job and being ill cannot be true at the same time. After all, the health of the King is the health of the nation.
Thursday 22nd October 2020 | PALATINATE
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Comment
Face masks: the newest form of self-expression Rhiannon Green
A little over six months ago, face masks were something seen predominantly in surgical wards, yet this modest garment has now become a staple accessory that few leave the house without. Throughout the past few months, face masks have evolved from an essential health precaution into a symbol of (Anna Kuptsova)
style and fashion. Responses to this are arguably mixed, ranging from the anti-maskers to those who have a different mask for each day of the week. It is obvious, however, that the type of mask people choose to wear is becoming increasingly important. In the world of fashion, face coverings have become a fun way of experimenting with appearance and exploring individuality. The variety of colours and patterns available has created great diversity in how we all look, and many take
great pride in this. More broadly, masks have also been used in a political context, as seen at the Black Lives Matter protests this summer. Mask-wearing has become a statement, in which even the lack of a mask can have political and personal meaning.
Face coverings have become a fun way of experimenting Designers have eagerly jumped onto this concept, with a recent
article in The Guardian drawing attention to the existence of a Louis Vuitton face visor. Marketed as a luxury accessory, this visor is a far cry from the PPE supplied to NHS workers at the height of the pandemic. While this is a somewhat creative approach, some may argue that it detracts from the fundamental health function of the equipment. Lana Del Rey’s recent sporting of a mesh face mask at a Los Angeles book signing is a perfect example of this, as mesh renders a mask useless. Experimenting with different colours and patterns is one thing, but the ability of masks to keep particles in and out is the most important factor. Whilst standard disposable face masks can be bought in bulk online, this is not always cost effective. At the height of the pandemic, back in March and April, many sites hiked up the prices of masks to correspond with the increase in demand and, possibly, to financially capitalise on a time of global crisis. Ethically, such masks are not ideal as they rely on single use wear, meaning they are harmful to the environment. Alternatively, the rise of handmade masks on sites such as Etsy has caused a boom in local businesses, typically with a home set up. These face coverings are usually quite stylish and appear to be a popular choice. With regards to sustainability, fabric masks are typically multi-wear, hence more environmentally friendly. However, this luxury does come at a price, which excludes certain demographics who cannot afford to invest in
masks. For many, it is the convenience of single use masks that is favoured over costly reusable ones which require rewashing. Although mask-wearing was eventually made compulsory in shops and other indoor spaces in the UK, the government has made little effort to provide the general public with sufficient PPE. Whilst it is understandable that a significant cost is associated with such a measure, low-income families may struggle to purchase face masks.
There is a sense of elitism within the assumption that face masks can be accessed by all members of society There is a sense of elitism within the assumption that face masks can easily be accessed by all members of society. This issue extends to the question of fashion, as the appearance and quality of a mask can be a visual reminder of wealth disparities. For some, the prospect of wearing something on their face that so obviously reveals economic background is incredibly daunting. It is undeniable that the variety of different masks on offer has hugely increased recently. Although this has allowed for a new form of self-expression, the quality and appearance of masks can serve to further divisions within society. At the end of the day, the protective ability is the most important factor in choosing a mask; while the importance of fashion and selfexpression is undeniable, it is frequently elitist and exclusionary.
The elephant in the Zoom breakout room “ Where is the Francesca Boyce-Cam
Normally, when we think of an evil supervillain, our minds jump straight to the likes of Lord Voldemort or Cruella De Vil. Yet, what if we were to look much closer to home to find our modern-day villain, the thief who robs us of sleep, the heavy shadow who hovers over our every move? This almighty villain goes by the name of Covid-19, and its power extends far beyond tormenting Harry Potter or stealing a litter of puppies.
From the time we wake to the time we fall asleep, we are always walking in coronavirus’ shadow Indeed, as we awake each morning, still foggy from sleep and in that blissfully ignorant state of slumber, we immediately turn to our phones to see a news alert re-
minding us of the impending doom which waits for us to emerge from our night’s rest. From the time we wake to the time we fall asleep, we are always walking in coronavirus’ shadow. The morning cup of tea giggling over your friend’s antics the night before has been replaced by heavy sighs and adamant housemates declaring that yes, Boris will most definitely lock down all of Durham in a prison-like state by Monday. Even as I stood in line at Boots I could overhear one girl saying to another “OMG, have you heard X tested positive”, to replies of “OMG stop it no way! You can’t be serious, like seriously?” Whilst we of course should not ignore or trivialise the danger and necessary concern that a pandemic brings, we are in fact ignoring the mental health crisis on our hands, cases of which are equally spreading like wildfire, and yet I feel little is being done to tackle it. Humans are social creatures: we feed off face-to-face interaction, whether this be in a seminar in Elvet or at the Swan over a pint.
As trivial as these activities sound, they keep our serotonin levels in check, and fight off unwanted visitors in the form of anxiety and depression. And yet the Durham streets today, among the drizzle and grey skies, resemble the opening scene of The Walking Dead as Rick wanders, apocalypse-style, through the once bustling and now deserted streets.
We are ignoring the mental health crisis on our hands, cases of which are spreading Whilst many households are, as they should be, isolating due to a positive test result, I can’t help but think how many of us carry a heavy and dangerously intense feeling of anxiety on our shoulders as we wait for what feels like the inevitable alert from the NHS app telling us to isolate. We then find ourselves sitting in our bedrooms, presentable for our Zoom class from the waist up, hiding our pyjama trousers and fluffy slippers from view (don’t try to deny it), and next thing we know
it’s been two weeks and we’ve been at the same desk in the same position in the same flat since day one. And so, how can we not feel a continuous sense of dread at the prospect of an entire term in which we only seem to exist virtually, a term in which our daily activities are governed by the strength of our WiFi connection? According to health.org, more than two-thirds of adults in the UK report feeling somewhat or very worried about the effect Covid-19 is having on their lives. Nevertheless, when the Prime Minister gives his Covid-19 press conferences, I can’t help but think, where is the mental health professional? Where is the expert standing before the nation addressing the surmounting problem of anxiety and depression? How can we tackle such a crisis if we are not willing to address its very existence? We need to start the conversation so as to strip anxiety and depression of its taboo status and give it the gravitas it truly deserves. After all, the more we try to ignore the silence, the louder it will become.
expert standing before the nation, addressing the surmounting problems of anxiety and depression?
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PALATINATE | Thursday 22nd October 2020
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Comment
It’s time to end the annual housing panic Olivia Montgomery It’s the second week of term and I am scrolling through Zoopla looking at houses. I am unlikely to be the only one, as it is the start of Durham’s annual housing panic season. It is a time of year marked by anxiety, friendship drama and countless stories of students queuing at estate agents through the early hours, all in an attempt to secure somewhere to live for next academic year. Unlike many others who are looking for a house right now, I find myself looking at houses, not based on an excess of preparedness, but due to last year’s lack of foresight. I signed for my house too early, and now find myself in a costly conundrum, without a suitable place to live. Take this opportunity to learn from my mistakes. I remember the first time housing was brought up, just after freshers week. Sat in a big group with an unearned sense of confidence and closeness built up through a week of heavy drinking and late nights, we began to joke about what fun it would be to share a house the following year. Someone pulled up an estate agent website, and suddenly we were looking at an array of houses spread across the city, all ready and waiting to be taken. We made a document full of options and patted ourselves on the back for a job well done. Obviously, this was not some-
thing that worked out. While freshers’ can feel like a learning curve, it is ultimately only a week. Friendships form and fade, people change, and friendship groups are always in flux, especially at the start of university, when you are only just finding your feet. I am glad that that initial conversation did not result in the signing of a house. That would have only made us all unhappy - but that conversation did set the tone for what would be a panicked few months. Rushing to get contracts signed can take its toll, no matter how much we are told to ignore it. Eventually, in a flurry of panic from rapidly disappearing houses, broken friendships, and ever ticking by time, I signed for a house after a five-minute viewing for far more money than I had ever intended on spending. It felt like I was too late, and I was out of options. It was only November.
to their college households, and too difficult to meet new people when some friendships inevitably go awry. The biggest mistake I made last year was not taking the time to properly assess the house I signed. If lockdown returns, I worry that freshers might not even have the luxury of a five-minute viewing. The underlying sense of panic driven by the times we live in could exacerbate the housing rush, forcing people to make tough decisions they haven’t really thought through. Something strikes me as I finish compiling my new list of houses, this time with a much nearer movein date, and a greater sense of perspective. Even now, two weeks into
term, there are so many houses on the market, many of which are far better and far cheaper than the house I signed on almost a year ago. There is no cut-off date after which you suddenly become homeless, especially not in November. It is said every year, but it bears repeating: do not rush into signing for a house. There are enough houses available for everyone, and even if you find yourself, like me, looking for a house at the start of next year, everything will work out fine. Estate agents and landlords like to feed the panic because it ultimately benefits them. It doesn’t matter if they fix problems with the house, it doesn’t matter if they behave illegally, and it doesn’t matter if their tenants are unhappy – they can always just find more. Now more than ever,
it is time to hold them to account, and that takes all of us working together. Always take your time when deciding: view a property carefully, look for the issues that they do not want you to see. Read your contract carefully and make use of the SU’s contract checking service to make sure you are happy with the terms you are legally bound to fulfil. If a few weeks or months down the line we find ourselves back in lockdown, do not sign for a house you cannot view. Waiting will ensure you can examine a property carefully and avoid a difficult situation like mine. This year is going to be a difficult one, but we really are all in the same boat. The housing panic is something we need to exclude from the new normal. (Maddie Flisher)
It will be too easy for freshers to stick to their college households The house I signed only two months after moving away from home for the first time has many problems. If I had given it more thought, and been less scared, I would never have signed the lease, and I certainly wouldn’t find myself in the situation I am today. Covid-19 has shaken everything up, including the housing market. Above all else, I feel worried for freshers. It will be too easy to stick
The link between eating disorders and veganism Sophie Tice
Content warning: this article discusses eating disorders which some readers may find upsetting. When I first read The Times’ headline on this topic, I laughed. “Vegan food is off the menu at top private school Cheltenham Ladies College (CLC) : Pupils who follow diet given blood tests amid anorexia fears”, it crowed. Of course: yet another attempt to find a single, curable ‘thing’ culpable for the world’s deadliest mental health condition – let’s ignore families, genetics and the overwhelming body-shaming nature of our society for the blameable fads of youth. On closer investigation, however, I found the headline was an unfortunate victim of overzealous enthusiasm for mediocre wordplay: vegan food was never on the menu at CLC. The only real change is that the school is now offering blood tests for those who chose to become vegan, its aim
being to combat veganism’s association with, and indeed the existence of, eating disorders. I’m a big fan. One of my closest friends, whilst at boarding school, underwent the dreaded and hateful process of compulsory weighing at the local school clinic. What could have transformed from anxiety-inducing to a shining opportunity for help failed when, noticing a significant drop in weight since her last check-in, the nurse accepted my friend’s excuse that she had “been wearing shoes last time”. Only months later, my friend entered a psychiatric hospital, days away from starvation. She, like so many others, had become vegan in the development of her eating disorder. Indeed, in one study, the National Centre for Eating Disorders at Newbridge House found that it had four times as many vegans and double the number of vegetarian patients compared with the same national age group samples. Meanwhile, more than two-thirds of participants of a separate 2013 study agreed that
there was a relationship between their vegetarianism and their eating disorder.
Turning vegan or vegetarian during the development of an eating disorder is commonplace This is not to claim that being vegan can lead to having an eating disorder. Rather, it is to suggest that turning vegan or vegetarian during the development of an eating disorder is commonplace and indeed can become part of the disorder itself. Orthorexia, the unhealthy obsession with so-called ‘clean eating’, is one contributor often seen in anorexia sufferers. First, the avoidance of certain foods – fat, gluten and often meat – is likely the result of the facts that nearly all anorexia-sufferers will know and probably forever recollect: there are four calories per gram of carbohydrate and nine per gram of fat. However, like much of the disorder, it develops into il-
logical anxiety that consumption of these foods will result in unrealistic weight-gain and a general lack of control. Moreover, it is socially acceptable. If people see you slowly munching on lettuce every day and gradually growing thinner, they will eventually become suspicious. Veganism, however, becomes the best, unquestionable excuse. Its overwhelmingly positive ethical and environmental effect makes other young people in particular reluctant to question your stated motivation. Forgetting the now widespread availability of ‘vegan fun foods’ – delicious vegan meats, cheeses and ice creams – weight loss becomes an explainable effect of the myth of instant vegan healthiness that contributed towards its absorption into the eating disorder in the first place. With this information in hand, I understand CLC’s reluctance to promote or even allow a vegan diet. Moreover, blood tests could compose a fantastic method of providing an early sign to the services, if they make sure to lis-
ten and follow up, that there is a problem on an individual and collective level. However, they must remember that veganism can be a symptom, not a cause, of an eating disorder. The College must make sure to do more to combat the breeding ground for eating disorders that the competitive, all-girls environment of the College and our body-shaming culture allows for, formulating a clear plan to promote body acceptance and easy availability of professional help. Furthermore, they must make the step to introduce vegan options into their menu. Avoiding this diet, as they have already seen, will hardly magically cure the problem of eating disorders. Instead, it will feed unhealthy self-explanation and justify public excuses for why those with eating disorders are not eating, delaying help and external recognition until the situation has become dire. There is no easy fix for eating disorders, but, like any mental health condition, collaboration and understanding is certainly a better option than fear.
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Thursday 22nd October 2020 | PALATINATE
Profile
“We need a free press, but our press isn’t free” Extinction Rebellion on protests, their relationship with the media, and the importance of student activism
(Yasmin Hatton)
Isabella Green Profile Editor Since its establishment in 2018, Extinction Rebellion has significantly impacted dialogue around the climate crisis, including pushing for the Climate Emergency Bill to be debated in parliament. A collection of eco-activists from Durham, Newcastle, Gateshead, Northumberland, and Teesside make up Extinction Rebellion North East. Chris, 19, coordinates the Newcastle University group, and said, “It’s the only climate change movement that I think is having an impact at the moment. It’s the most effective group I’ve seen. I’ve always been interested in social justice movements, and climate justice is social justice at the same time.” Jess, a college student, is part of the Tees Valley Affinity Group for Extinction Rebellion, and is a National Spokesperson for the movement. She has just camped out at HS2, as part of a protest campaign against the construction of the high speed railway. Jess has been involved with Extinction Rebellion for over 18 months, and explained, “I decided to join because I had been an animal liberation activist for a number of years, and through that I was aware of the effects that animal agriculture has on the climate. Then I found out the real extent of the climate crisis through travelling, and decided that this was the only option.” Kevin, 74, volunteers with the Durham branch and has been a leader on a number of local projects, including the recent display of 1,000 pairs of children’s shoes on Palace Green. He felt initially out of place at his first Extinction Rebellion meeting
in February. “When I got in, I looked round and it was all students. I felt like the grandad and they were all looking at me wondering if I was in the right place. But of course, I was, and I was made very welcome, and from then I became a member.” Since then, some more professionals and retired people have joined the Durham branch, which has made Kevin feel more at ease. “We have a group called ‘Grandparents for XR’. That was a good thing for me, as I was worried that I was cramping the style of the young people.”
“It’s the students’ future that is being messed with”
A common criticism of Extinction Rebellion is its poor diversity and accessibility, while members are sometimes stereotyped as “middle-class meddlers”. Chris and Jess both acknowledge that there were diversity problems in the movement, at least at the beginning. “This claim that we’re a middleclass, white rebellion was in some respects true,” Chris admitted. “If you went to a protest, you would see that the majority of people there were middle-class. This is something that we tried to address in September. There was more of a focus on using our funds to pay for those who didn’t have the money to travel. The majority of the budget this year was spent on getting people there in the first place.” Chris also explained that some People of Colour might not go to the bigger Rebellions, because they are afraid of how the police might treat them if they were to be arrested. In the phase of protests in London, over 300 people were arrested on the 3rd September
alone. During this Rebellion, Chris was one of six rebels who ‘locked on’ to Lambeth Bridge. Jess herself does not fit the stereotype of a typical Extinction Rebellion member. “A lot of people will use that criticism and then stop in their tracks because they realise I’m not white. Not everyone in Extinction Rebellion is white. I think in the beginning, it was a stereotype that was true, but they are doing a lot of intersectionality work at the moment.” “They are really trying to diversify. There is an Extinction Rebellion working class group that helps and supports people so that they can get involved as much as possible, and acknowledges the struggles that they might face. Within the movement, there are a lot of demands for social justice, so that really helps marginalised people, People of Colour, and Indigenous peoples.” The North East rebels emphasise the essential nature of student activism, and urge young people to get involved in the Rebellion wherever they can. “It is absolutely imperative,” Jess said. “There are so many young people that feel disenfranchised and subsequently become apathetic about these issues. But it’s the students’ future that is being messed with and ripped from beneath their feet. We really need as many people as possible to get out on the streets with us. Even if it’s just donations, or coming and helping where they can. We need all the help we can get.” Chris expresses his concerns about the uncertainty of the future: “When I joined the movement, I was expecting it to be the future of the next generation that I was fighting for. But now, it’s most likely going to be our future. A lot of the older people in the Rebellion say they are doing it for the young people, but at the end of the day, we young people need to do it for ourselves. This is one of the most important things to fight for, otherwise I don’t know what could happen.” Chris, Jess, and Kevin have all attended multiple rebellions around the UK, but have recently had to adapt to a new form of protest in a coronavirusdefined world. While previously Extinction Rebellion’s focus has been on ‘site-taking’ (holding a location for as long as possible), the Pandemic has meant more rolling road blocks, rather than permanent ones. The movement has most felt the impact, however, in its
dwindling active numbers, as Chris explained, “Because of coronavirus, a lot of the older members of Extinction Rebellion are shielding and can’t travel. Also, some people have more urgent things to deal with, as a lot of them have lost their jobs.” One solution to this issue has been a digital rebellion, which attempts to disrupt companies’ phonelines, and avoids the risk of members being out on the streets in their numbers. Chris is hopeful, however, that this period will have increased awareness of the climate crisis among the public, as lockdown has shone a light on the detrimental impact that humans have had on the planet.
“Coronavirus has shown that the government do not care about us”
Jess agreed that the pandemic has definitely changed the movement. “But I think that Extinction Rebellion is constantly changing and adapting anyway. I don’t think anything is really permanent for us. “In the beginning, our focus was on our three demands: tell the truth, act as if that truth is real, and a citizens assembly. We got the first demand, which was a declaration of a climate emergency, and we really got Extinction Rebellion into the public eye. Since then, we have listened to criticism about disrupting every-day people. Now the focus is more on targeting companies and the government. Things that we did in the past were really radical, and we are going to continue to do radical things, but the target and the audience has changed.” On 4th September, rebels blockaded printing presses, preventing papers from being delivered to newsstands all over the country for the following morning. While this was only one within a series of coordinated country-wide actions, it garnered significant media coverage due to being perceived as a threat to the freedom of the press. How do the North East rebels justify this action? “It’s because the media is refusing to report the truth on the climate and ecological crisis,” Jess said. “Obviously the media has a duty to report significant events, and they’re not doing that. The newspapers that we blocked don’t report the truth about anything. They twist things. It’s definitely necessary for the media to change because they’re so
imperative in getting the message across to people.” Chris emphasised, “We all agree we need free press, but our press isn’t free. That was the whole point of the action.” Kevin pointed out the contradiction in the concept of billionaire-owned ‘free press’. “We are talking about very rich media moguls and the government, who stick together because they’re not prepared to operate for the majority of people. It wasn’t an attack on the free press at all, it was to show that we’re concerned about the media moguls. “We don’t get much media coverage. I suppose we have to be really high profile if we want to do anything. If the media think that what we’re doing or saying doesn’t go along with their principles, they won’t run it. And that’s a big problem we have.” Chris, however, is relatively optimistic about Extinction Rebellion’s relationship with the media. “When Extinction Rebellion is on the news, it’s usually because they’re saying bad things about us. But we’re not here to be liked, we’re here to protect life. And change is happening, not nearly enough as it should be but the public opinion is changing for sure.” The overwhelming message of Extinction Rebellion is clear: while this phase of protests may be over, “the Rebellion doesn’t stop here!” The North East rebels are also hopeful for the future of the movement, but stressed the importance of immediate and urgent action.
“If the media think that what we’re doing or saying doesn’t go along with their principles, they won’t run it”
“Coronavirus has shown that the government do not care about us,” Chris said. “They’re literally just protecting themselves and their pockets, which is why nothing gets done about climate change. Because, of course it is going to cost money. But what’s the cost of not doing it? Human lives. We need to understand that people are dying right now, and we will be next if we don’t do something about it. “Two words: act now. It isn’t any good waiting any longer,” Kevin urged. “To students - I’m an elderly guy but I’m very interested in the future of my grandchildren, and students like yourself. You have to act now, because your future is very delicate and dangerous.”
PALATINATE | Thursday 22nd October 2020
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Profile
“Politics is a laboratory for mental ill health” Alastair Campbell, former Downing Street Director of Communications, talks to Profile
Will Entwistle Profile Editor Alastair Campbell is known best for his central role within New Labour. His diaries, notably The Blair Years, reveal the challenges he confronted, both professionally and mentally. Campbell since acknowledged that his mental health was an inescapable feature of these years and now writes and campaigns extensively for mental health awareness. His new book, Living Better, was published at an apt moment, during a pandemic which has caused anguish for millions. “I don’t have a target audience”, Campbell says. He did, however, write to satisfy three core aims, namely: “I hope there’s stuff for those who get depression…I hope those who don’t get depression can understand it better”, finally adding, “I want to see depression in a broader campaign space.” Living Better anecdotally explains how to live better with depression, pertaining to oneself or another. “I can see how a student struggling with lockdown can hopefully get something out of it”, Campbell adds. What obstacles, then, are preventing us from living better? What can we do to start living better? Campbell is often considered an outspoken critic of Boris Johnson and his cabinet. Campbell recognises that university students will struggle, both financially and mentally, from the government’s stance on their term-time return. He concedes, “you can go over the history of tuition fees if you want to”, then adds, “but the fact is that it is very, very important to the economy, and that of the university sector, that you guys are there.” He asks me where I am “locked-up”, as if to illustrate his point. Universities have adapted to the pandemic by expanding their online offering, with Durham now delivering lectures solely online for students, with a mix of face- to face teaching in other areas, such as seminars. “Be honest about that!”, urges Campbell, when asked how the government should communicate with anguished students about their return. “Don’t promise that it’s safe to go back, and then when you get back, you’re stuck in your room doing your course on a laptop and you can’t see your mates. Do not pretend.” In the latter part of Living Better, Campbell described
Johnson as “reckless” now a hackneyed term thanks to coronavirus-related narratives. What does he mean by “reckless”? Campbell immediately refers to Johnson’s interviews with regional journalists. “I know the thinking, ‘let’s get the locals in, that’s the way we’ll lead the news in all the regions’”, he says. Campbell’s analysis is, of course, founded on his well-documented career in print journalism, as well as his work at the heart of government. “He just doesn’t do the work”, Campbell summarises, “this is about populism.” He insists that Johnson’s illprepared interviews reflect the hollowness of populism. He offers a transatlantic comparison to illustrate populism’s impingement on government responses to Covid-19. “Trump is partly ill because he deliberately, wilfully refused to take this seriously because the virus of populism tells you that ‘they don’t want to hear that it’s dangerous’”, adding, “‘they want to hear that you can sort it for them, and that it’s easy!’” Donald Trump’s contraction of Covid-19 and subsequent hospitalisation, beckoned discussion on access inequality throughout the American healthcare system. Trump urged Americans to “not let [Covid-19] dominate your lives”, adding that they should “get out there”. These fragments of Trump’s statement align with Campbell’s assessment, as both imply that fear, whether it be of infection or recession, is needless— something easily overcome. Johnson reflected similar laxity under scrutiny, saying, “science will ride to our rescue, eventually.” In the meantime, why worry?
“Matt Hancock didn’t have a single meeting with any mentalhealthorganisations”
False assurance, for Campbell, characterises the Conservatives’ recent approach to mental health. ‘If the politicians won’t deliver as they should, we are going to have to take a lot more responsibility ourselves for our own mental health.’ Indeed, he wastes little time in raising Matt Hancock’s inaction with mental health support during the pandemic’s infancy. “Matt Hancock—I don’t know if he has since the first three months of this pandemic—didn’t have a single meeting with any mental health organisations”, he claims. “He’s the Secretary of
State for Health and Social Care, not just for COVID”, he stresses. “I don’t think they get it”, Campbell laments. He refers to David Cameron’s “historic pledges”, one of which promised that those with psychosis could see a psychiatrist within two weeks. Campbell experienced psychosis, suggesting that the “physical health equivalent is being in a bad car crash”, and being assured that an ambulance will arrive within two weeks; there is, as he puts it, “No parity between mental and physical health there.” Then, he mentions Theresa May’s “priority” of resolving “burning injustices,” claiming that under resourced mental health services was one of them. Though Campbell translates “priority” as “more important than other things.” Ultimately, May’s attention wavered, in part, because of Brexit negotiations—a self-inflicted distraction prioritised above mental wellbeing, Campbell suggests. “To be fair to Cameron and May”, says Campbell, “I don’t think they did enough, but they signalled a change of direction. They talked the talk. I might say they walked the walk, but sometimes in politics that is what leads to the change.” Despite this, Campbell says that “Johnson doesn’t even bother…if it’s not in his personal orbit.” Johnson did, however, suggest that we emulate Winston Churchill by working until our depression has dissipated. In other words, we must work-off depression as if it were an extra pound. In Living Better, Campbell recalls Dr David Sturgeon, his psychiatrist, summarising psychiatry as a series of ‘trial and error’. I asked Campbell if Sturgeon’s summary could be a helpful way to see life, especially in times of duress? “Yes, of course”, he answers. Campbell begins his response by referring to Arianna Huffington’s definition of innovation: ‘It is the understanding that you are always a work in progress.’ Campbell mentions Huffington’s definition to demonstrate humanity’s impatience in 2020. Beforehand, he suggested, “we’re still in a place—and social media doesn’t help with this—where we think we should be able to get what we want now.” We are distracted from both the present and retrospective reflection by this impatience. Then, he offers a personal analogy: “I had good times and bad times as a journalist. The bad ending up with me having a breakdown.
But I’m glad I spent time as a journalist.” He follows this with a political equivalent, concluding, “I look back at that time and realise I was often unhappy. But I’m happy I did it.”
Few politicians have admitted their struggles with mental illness Though happiness is often immediate, it is also retrospective. Campbell distinguishes these forms of happiness within a university context: “You will hopefully, despite the current situation, have a good time at university, and hopefully have good times as university. You will leave with a degree which will lead you places. But you would have had great nights out or produced good work…The good will stay with you showing that, on reflection, you had a good time.” Campbell encourages us to learn about mental illness to help manage it. He argues, in Living Better, that politics is “in many ways something of a laboratory for mental ill health.” He substantiates this with his political experience, underlining that politics attracts anguished personalities because it “feeds” an “addiction” to be “central and feel relevant”. Campbell suggests “from experience” that the addiction to relevance underlying politics is why “politics probably has a higher proportion of mentally unstable and psychologically challenged people than other walks to life”. Despite the “higher proportion”, he notices so few are willing
to admit to having struggled. Campbell, however, readily admits his own “relevance issue”. Fiona, Campbell’s partner of four decades, “makes jokes about it. She’ll say, ‘How relevant are you feeling today?’”, he remarks. Few politicians have admitted their struggles with mental illness. This, writes Campbell, “is compelling evidence of the continuing stigma attached to mental illness”. Politicians are enmeshed in public scrutiny often leading to domestic dislocation, “particularly at the highest level.” Campbell insists that “nowhere near enough thought is given to the impact that [public scrutiny and subsequent domestic fallout] has on politicians, those that work for them, and the people they serve.” Removing the stigma attached to mental illness appears to be a crucial step towards improving mental health nationwide. Campbell suggests that we must reconceptualise mental illness. This involves the removal of popular, albeit fictional, depictions affixed to mental illness, like “the way we talk about schizophrenia as ‘having a split personality—Jekyll and Hyde.’” “The mentally ill”, writes Campbell, “are far more likely to be victims of violence than its perpetrators.” Campbell suggests that we risk misunderstanding mental illness by overlooking its “compensating benefit[s]”. A profile article once said of Campbell that he had had a successful career “despite a history of mental ill health.” He suggests that “despite” should be replaced by “in part because of”. (Anna Kuptsova)
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Thursday 22nd October 2020 | PALATINATE
Science & Technology
The weeds that could save the world
Faye Saulsbury Science & Technology Editor
Arabidopsis thaliana is as sensitive to daylight hour variations as a student with self-diagnosed seasonal affective disorder. Arabidopsis thaliana may prove to be a key player in the fight against climate change. Arabidopsis thaliana is a weed. Research into this unlikely ally is taking place at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in California. Outside the windows of the research centre, smokeblackened skies serve as a menacing reminder of the importance of this work.
Not only must we stop emitting CO2 but we must also actively remove it
Led by Joanne Chory, scientists are using gene editing techniques to bulk up Arabidopsis thaliana’s root systems. The idea is that chunky, more extensive root systems will be able to remove greater amounts of carbon dioxide from the air. Although current trials only involve Arabidopsis thaliana, Chory’s team hopes to replicate this same carbon-sucking quality in wheat, corn, rice, rapeseed and cotton – crops which already
occupy half of Earth’s arable land. If this can be achieved, then the benefits of this gene editing technique will be seen without any further land clearance.
Smoke-blackened skies serve as a reminder of the importance of this work
It is generally accepted amongst the scientific community that the reduction of fossil fuels alone will not be enough to halt climate change. To achieve the goal of the 2016 Paris Climate Agreement – to keep global temperatures from rising more than 2°C above preindustrial levels – not only must we stop emitting CO2 but we must also actively remove it. Unfortunately, carbon removal technology is burdened by large land requirements for costly chemical reactors and storage facilities. Despite the US Congress dedicating $60 million to carbon removal technology in 2019, cur-
rent models remain too energyintensive to be a realistic option. Considering that many renewable energy technologies are still in their infant stages and are relatively expensive, producing yet
team is not creating a new technology; they are optimising one that already exists. The answer was hidden in plain sight. Chory has spent 30 years decoding the molecular structures and mechanisms that allow plants to photosynthesise. It is through photosynthesis that plants are able to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and convert it into oxygen and biomass.
Chory’s team is not creating a new technology; they are optimising one that already exists
m o re energy is not a realistic option in the fight against climate change.
The answer was hidden in plain sight
That is why enhancing the natural ability of plants to remove carbon dioxide from the air is such an exciting – and relatively simple – alternative. Chory’s
The magic ingredient in this research is suberin, a molecule found in plant cell walls. Suberin is carbon-rich, impermeable to water, and does not break down easily. This last point is crucial because the process of decomposition releases carbon back into the atmosphere. Not only will these genetically engineered plants remove more carbon dioxide from the air, but enhanced carbon levels in the soil will make the soil richer, thus
promoting better crop yields. Engineering crops to capture and store an optimum amount of carbon dioxide, and also to increase yields for a ballooning world population, is certainly impressive. But it is also timely; such innovation is vital to solving two of humanity’s greatest modern-day problems.
“Our greatest responsibility is to be good ancestors”
For her work, Joanne Chory has received the 2020 Pearl Meister Greengard Prize – Rockefeller’s preeminent award recognising outstanding women in science. Leading seed distributors such as Monstanto Co. are already buying rights to her idea. However, they will still need to overcome consumer resistance to genetically engineered crops. The Salk Institute for Biological studies was founded in 1960, by the developer of the polio vaccine, Jonas Salk. His vision was to create a culture in which scientific research for the benefit of all humanity could be pursued. Salk believed that “our greatest responsibility is to be good ancestors.” If Joanne Chory and her team are successful, then to future generations they will be. Everyday magic (Triffie Axworthy)
Don’t destroy the DSU if you care for the planet
Keturah Civelek In 2020, few can deny that the climate crisis is here. The UK government has pledged to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, and Boris Johnson has promised to make Britain “the world leader in low cost clean power generation.” However, lowering CO2 emissions involves more than throwing up dozens of offshore windfarms. In 2014, 42% of UK emissions came from the built environment. Much of campaigning has therefore focussed on improving the energy efficiency of new buildings. Here in Durham, the Palatinate Centre uses heat pumps, solar panels and extensive natural light features to reduce energy con-
sumption. The goal of operational zero carbon is often used to justify demolishing existing buildings and replacing them with new ones. In fact, Durham University cited this exact reason when proposing to replace Dunelm House (more commonly known as the DSU), as part of its current expansion.
The Palatine Centre uses solar panels and natural light features to reduce energy consumption
However, the desire to build new neglects consideration of the additional carbon emissions associated with construction – commonly referred to as the embodied energy of a building. Continued on next page
A green Durham Students’ Union? (Anna Main)
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PALATINATE | Thursday 22nd October 2020 Embodied energy considers the carbon produced in constructing the building as well as manufacturing the building materials. Glass, concrete and steel tend to have higher embodied energies per kg than more traditional materials such as fired brick, timber or cob. In particular, the chemical reactions involved in manufacturing cement directly produce carbon dioxide, which is why the cement industry alone is responsible for 8% of all global emissions. Determining whether savings in emissions for a new building
would be greater than those in improving the efficiency of an existing structure can involve detailed assessment, which itself can be a significant additional cost in designing a project. But the UKGBC says that 55% of an average new building’s embodied energy comes from the materials used, so in theory refurbishment could dramatically reduce carbon emissions in comparison to building new. Reuse thus begins to seem a good way to show off your eco-credentials. Furthermore, it tends to be
SciTech easier to make the case for refurbishing buildings with aesthetic or historical value. For example, the Grade II listed Hotel Indigo on Old Elvet is a repurposing of a Victorian building originally used as the Durham county hall, which had been empty since 2012. The system of listing in the UK acts as a counter weight to demolition but it’s not fool proof.
Refurbishment could dramatically reduce carbon emissions
The University of York’s 1960s concrete buildings were able to achieve listed status, and yet the DSU was not – despite the DSU’s connection to Kingsgate Bridge and the world-famous engineer Ove Arup. No doubt part of this is due to general dislike of the Brutalist aesthetic. Launched in September 2019, the Architects’ Journal “RetroFirst” campaign makes the case to change policy to incentivise retrofit over demolition. It proposes reducing VAT on refurbishment from 20% to 5% to bring it
in line with new build projects. This would get publicly funded projects to consider retrofit before demolition. As Durham University reassesses their Estates Masterplan in light of Covid-related budget crunches, it would be very interGOT AN IDEA FOR AN ARTICLE? WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Send your thoughts to scitech@palatinate.org.uk
Women in Science: a conversation with Gillian Campling Gillian Campling is the Director of Education in the Department of Biosciences at Durham. She tells SciTech about sexism in science, teaching refugees in Lebanon, and being shortlisted for the Project Juno mission into space.
Elise Garcon Science & Technology Editor Why did you go into science? I was meant to study medicine but I don’t think I was emotionally mature enough to do it; I was scared. Biology was my real passion, and I studied it at Bath Uni before going onto a postgraduate degree in Pharmacology. I ended up being a biomedical biologist, researching psychiatry at Oxford Uni for 11 years. I love humans: we are fantastic organisms! At Durham, I now teach mainly physiology. How did your past career lead to your job now? I got into teaching in between two research jobs. Like most researchers, we ran out of money, so I then spent two and a half years as a house mistress at an international school in Lebanon. There, I had to teach students whose first language wasn’t English, many of whom were refugees and were isolated from their families. We didn’t have a lot of equipment so we would go outside to study. I bought or made tools using my wages. Still, we had a really good time! Teaching Biology across a language barrier really impacted me. Now, my two biggest passions are Biology and my students. It really is a privilege to teach you! Why did you come to Durham? Whilst at Oxford, I split from my partner. In the 1980s, it just wasn’t financially viable to stay in Oxford. Our house cost £800 a month, and no council houses were available. All they could offer me was a bed
and breakfast for me and my two children, who were one and four. I came to the North to be near my family. A part time lecturer post had opened up at Queens Campus, so I applied, got it, and ended up really enjoying it!
What has been the most important moment in your career? Perhaps being elected onto the HUCBUMS executive committee. It’s a national biomedical science education group; this means I’ve been an external examiner. Otherwise, it’s a long term thing: the most important part of my career is seeing all the things my students go on to do after they have left me. Watching a first year student resit one of her A-Levels and then become a doctor was amazing: she taught me about patient dignity and social science; things I’d never really thought about. I also applied for the Juno mission, which was a space mission to study circadian rhythms. I was shortlisted, but Helen Sharman beat me out! How do you think your career, and science in general, will change due to Covid-19? Teaching, I think, will change in good ways. For example, we have a seminar series for which we invite speakers from the far reaches of the globe to talk over Zoom, and we can continue this when we get back to the ‘old normal’. The networking opportunities for both teaching and science are endless: before, people collaborated on research mostly people they knew, over dinner with a glass of wine, whereas now we can contin-
ue that network all year long.
Has your experience in science differed as a woman, and if so, how? It is easier, for women to get into academia now. It used to be that getting tenured posts was difficult for women. The only reason I could have children whilst working at Oxford was because they offered maternity leave, so I knew that there was a permanent position to go back to. There have been great improvements with regards to this, but it used to be that if you chose to take time out between research jobs, it was hard to get back into the field, after not being involved in the networking for a year or so. As a woman in science, I’ve experienced a few interesting situations. Once, I was at a meeting with the head of public health labs, and there was a tray of coffee on the table. Someone assumed I was doing the minutes, asked me to serve the coffee, and started addressing the director. I was actually the chairperson for the meeting. This director, the head of public health, said “I tell you what, I’ll act mother and pour the coffee, while Gillian chairs the meeting, because she’s actually our chairperson.” This man was a world famous scientist and I doubt he’d ever poured coffee in a meeting! It was fantastic! I’ve been in other meetings where people just assume you’re the secretary. My colleagues have often been very supportive, but there will always be differences as a woman. When I left the boarding school for Oxford, they actually brought
(Gillian Campling) a dancing teacher over from Lebanon, and made him propose to me! They wanted me to stay: it was honestly an honor.
What is the hardest thing about teaching? With big class sizes, I think it’s difficult to get trust and confidence from the students. You can teach students, but you have to build a rapport with them, get teamwork going.
I feel sick on the first day of the term, just from nerves, but once I get going, my passion for science just takes over. If everyone in the lecture has that passion, it basically runs itself. This is the first in a series of interviews with women in science - if you have an idea for another interview and would like to contribute, send your pitch to scitech@ palatinate.org.uk.
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Thursday 22nd October 2020 | PALATINATE
SciTech
Can we blame the Neanderthals for the destruction of Covid-19?
Dasha Scanlan-Oumow 50,000 years ago in the Middle Palaeolithic, Covid-19 was a faroff futuristic blip. However, scientists today are suggesting that a mortality risk factor due to the virus can be traced back to this time, when our ancestors’ interbred with Neanderthals. A study of our genetic coding has uncovered multiple genes related to our immune system and pathogen resopnse, that have been inherited from Homo neanderthalensis. These genes would have benefitted newly arriving Homo sapiens populations in Europe, who would have been ill equipped for the different climate and new pathogens. These disease resistance genes have thus remained intact in modern humans through positive selection (when a trait granted by a gene is favourable, and thus passed down through surviving members of a species) However current research suggests these previously beneficial genes may increase the chances of being put on a ventilator due to
plays a significant role in our immune response. Found on chromosome 3, it was already identified as a risk locus for respiratory failures – a very dangerous collection of genes if a deadly pandemic sweeps across the world. This same stretch of DNA was also found in well-studied Neanderthal genomes - leading us to believe that it is a relic of the once valuable disease resistance genes inherited from our Neanderthal ancestors.
This small segment of DNA plays a significant role in our immune response Grandpa? (Paul Hudson via Flickr) Covid-19 by 30%. A recent study compared the DNA of severely ill Covid-19 patients with controls. They uncovered a short DNA segment uniquely found in those suffering from severe respiratory problems as a result of coronavirus This small segment of DNA
More worryingly, this gene variant is strongly associated with certain populations. So, alongside your health, socioeconomic status, age, or sex, a new risk factor may also be at play – your genetics. Through the Human Genome Project, scientists established the population trends of this genetic trait. They found that up to 50% of South Asians carry the gene,
but only 16% of Europeans do. A surprising discovery is that as much as 13% of the population of Bangladesh is homozygous for this trait. This means individuals carry two copies of the gene, hugely inflating their risk at developing severe symptoms of Covid-19 if the gene is indeed directly linked. This statistic was even used to tentatively explain why populations with Bangladeshi origin in the UK experienced such high mortalities from the pandemic. Although it would be incredibly satisfying to lay the blame of SARS-CoV-2 on a singular cause, we must be careful not to wholeheartedly accept claims that a small section of DNA inherited by Neanderthals makes you more vulnerable – especially when the percentage of Neanderthal DNA within modern humans differs in certain populations. Attributing diseases and illnesses to the ethnic origins of populations is a risky game. All too quickly, biological superiority is assumed and a few key words spring to mind: racism
and eugenics. The disproportionate nuber of deaths amongst the BAME communities that has been observed both in the UK and the US is likely not a result of genetic differences, but of social inequalities. These are often reflected in other health conditions such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes - which have all been linked to, low socioeconomic status and a poor access to healthcare.
Neanderthal-inherited genes may increase the chances of being put on a ventilator by 30% Before we begin to examine our genetic composition and focus on minute differences between populations, we should first achieve as level a playing field as possible for all individuals, regardless of heritage or status within a society. We can’t change our genetics, but perhaps by understanding them a little better we can begin to make small steps towards a better world.
Women are driving the search for life on Venus
Caitlin Painter As discussed recently in Palatinate, phosphine gas has been detected in the clouds of Venus, suggesting the possibility of life. This research was led by Professor Jane Greaves of Cardiff University, who, as an advocate for fairness to women in academia and a prominent figure in astronomical research, has had a hugely successful career. She was awarded the Institute of Physics Fred Hoyle Medal in 2017 for her “significant contribution to our understanding of planet formation and exoplanet habitability”. However, this discovery may not have come to light without the perseverance of Professor Greaves in the face of what is still a male-dominated field of science.
Venus had previously been ignored as a candidate for life in the Solar System
For years, scientists have ruled out Venus as a possible planet to harbour life; NASA described it as “an unlikely place for life as we know it”. With surface temperatures of around 460°C and atmospheric pressure over 90
times that at sea-level on Earth, not to mention clouds of sulfuric acid, it is easy to see why Venus had previously been ignored in this search. On Earth, phosphine gas can only be produced naturally during anaerobic decay, making it an excellent marker of life. Using the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) in Hawaii, Greaves discovered the presence of phosphine in the atmosphere of Venus by analysing the absorption spectrum and identifying a dip in frequency that could only be caused by phosphine. Phosphine gas is stable for only a matter of hours in the atmosphere, but Greaves was observing a constant production of it. This is not necessarily indicative of life on Venus, due to the possibility that chemical processes unknown on Earth could be responsible for producing the gas. Further telescope time was needed for Greaves to be sure that it was phosphine being detected, so she requested time with ALMA, a radio telescope array located in Chile. In an interview for the BBC’s The Sky at Night, Greaves describes the difficulty she faced in securing the extra time she needed and that her proposal was perceived as
“eccentric”. After four requests, she was able to use ALMA to observe the same result found using the JCMT.
At Durham, only 22% of physics undergraduates are female
At the National Astronomy Meeting held in 2019, Greaves spoke about prestige bias concerning telescope time allocation. She presented data showing that the lead researchers for projects were more likely to be given time with a high-profile telescope if they were male. Greaves’ perseverance in securing time with ALMA meant she was able to validate her results. In a world where academic science research is dominated by males, the influence of a femaleled research project of this scale is hugely important. Greaves describes her discovery as a “lifechanging moment” for herself, yet the potential impact she could have on young female scientists is even greater. In her biography for her current role as Professor of Astronomy, Greaves says she has “worked extensively for fairness towards
Is there life on Venus? (The European Southern Observatory via Flickr) women in academic science”. not she has discovered life on VePhysics has one of the largest nus, Greaves states that the next gender gaps out of all STEM sub- step would be to get funding for a jects, and a report conducted by spacecraft mission to fly through the American Institute of Physics Venus’ atmosphere to collect and found that 19% of astronomy fac- analyse samples. ulty members are women. According to STEM Women, Greaves has worked extenonly 23% of A-Level Physics stu- sively for fairness towards dents in 2019 were female, a sta- women tistic that is reflected higher up in universities. At Durham, only It would be extraodinary to 22% of physics undergraduates find conclusive evidence of life in the last academic year were on Venus, and more extraodinary female. still to find that it had evolved inNot only has Greaves started dependently from that on Earth. one of the first plausible searches Such a discovery would certainly for extra-terrestrial life, she has go down as one of the greatest also put her name on the map moments in history - with Profesas an inspirational woman in sor Jane Greaves’ name forever STEM. To determine whether or attached.
PALATINATE | Thursday 22nd October 2020
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The military’s role in Covid-19 Joseph Lorenzo Covid-19 isn’t going away – many countries are now seeing second waves. Israel, initially lauded for its response to the crisis, now faces a dramatic rise in cases. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on the army to help manage the country’s second national lockdown. This is not a unique strategy. Many countries, the UK included, have utilised the military during the pandemic. The question is whether it is the most effective way to respond to the crisis. Britain is now officially suffering a ‘second wave’ of Covid-19, with daily-reported cases exceeding 10,000 for the first time. The
Government introduced new rules to help stem the tide of infections, including the new ‘rule of six’ and more stringent lockdowns for local areas like the North East. So far, they have stopped short of calling in the army to help out. The army offers experience in emergency management, as well as their extra manpower. During the UK’s first wave of Covid-19 20,000 troops were at “readiness” with more than 4,000 deployed at any one time conducting tasks such as setting up Nightingale Hospitals, administering drivethrough test centres, distributing PPE to frontline NHS staff, and operating repatriation flights for Brits stranded abroad. The way the government describes the Covid-19 crisis alludes
(The National Guard via Creative Commons)
to a war. Boris Johnson has consistently referred to the need to “fight and defeat” the virus with a “willingness to make sacrifices”. The head of Britain’s armed forces explained how the military must be “prepared to fight the war we may have to fight”. With the pandemic framed as a war, the logical response is surely to engage the army. Yet, for all this belligerent rhetoric, the military cannot be the solution to controlling Covid-19. In a June report detailing advice for countries on how to manage the pandemic, the World Health Organisation suggested the military’s utility was limited beyond maximising available health workforce. The fundamental role of the army is to protect its nation from enemies of the state. Armies have been deployed to help enforce lockdowns, in countries like South Africa, where hundreds of citizens have been harassed by security forces, and Kenya, where a 13 year-old boy was shot and killed while standing on his balcony. Relying on the army for much more than their manpower, therefore, risks losing sight of the fact that there is a difference between citizens failing to follow the law and being treated as enemies of the state. Whilst Boris Johnson has stated
his government will not hesitate to use the army, he has also outlined how this would most likely involve soldiers “backfilling certain duties” such as office roles and guarding protected sites, “so police officers can be out enforcing the virus response”.
has been criticised for, such as apparent involvement with Epstein, a convicted sex offender. Undoubtedly, Baron Cohen will draw attention to Trump’s shambolic handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. In the aforementioned Twitter video, Borat says that,” because of Trump, 350 million Americans are still alive”. Plainly, such a sarcastic claim is intended to draw attention to the massive death rate across the US, and the President’s lack of respect given to the disease, which has played a huge contributing role in the 200,000 death tally in America. He has been noted for referring to the virus as the ‘Chinese Virus,’ and ‘Kung Flu’. The sequel will depict Borat quarantining with some Trump supporters. I think we can expect to see opinions similar to those of Trump, which will alert the ordinary viewer of the dangers of another Trump presidency.
dulgent and offensive? Joel Siegel of ABC News labelled the original Borat movie as, “offensive, juvenile and repulsive… but still one of the funniest movies I’ve ever seen”. It is the controversy surrounding the character that makes the film so politically enlightening. It is shocking to most viewers to learn that the people that appear
There is a difference between citizens failing to follow the law and being treated as enemies of the state
As for what may be the most effective way to combat Covid-19, World Health Organisation advice has consistently stressed that testing, isolation and contact tracing should form the “backbone” of the pandemic response. Lockdowns enforced by the police, with supplementary support from the army, serve only to buy time and slow down infection rates. Widespread testing could negate the need even for a vaccine. With the head of the UK vaccine taskforce, Kate Bingham, admitting that less than half the British population can expect vaccination, this may be the only way to get back to normality. So although the Covid-19 pandemic is the 21st century’s first global war, it is not one that can be defeated on traditional battlefields or by hawkish practices.
Politics
From the Editors What an eventful couple of weeks to say the least! French overseas aid worker Sophie Pétronin has been released from Mali after nearly four years in hostage, while Kyrgyzstan launches impeachment procedures against President Sooronbay Jeenbekov. As the UK’s handling of sky-high Covid-19 cases comes into scrutiny, the US televises two of the country’s most powerful politicians resorting to base and tit-for-tat retorts (as summarised in Gaughan and Aichen’s twopart overview). Undoubtedly, this may make one feel like losing all hope in those put in charge to prevent this widespread disquiet that is circulating as I write. Luckily, in this edition we’ve handpicked some of the most critical pieces analysing current global events; from border negotiations in the Middle East, to the treatment of the Muslim population in India — our contributing writers reassure us all that this generation will get it done right. Sophie Farmer, Politics Editor
Mockumentaries: enlightening or offensive? Dominic Clear We all know Borat. The highly offensive yet beloved Kazakh that pulled in $262 million worldwide. For those unfamiliar, Borat is a deliberately ignorant and backward character played by Sacha Baron Cohen. The movie takes the form of a fake documentary, in which Borat poses as a racist and homophobic Kazakh journalist making a film about American culture. By involving real, nonacting alongside non-suspecting Americans, the film serves as a shocking yet fascinating insight into the views and opinions held by some sections of society. To the delight of millions worldwide, Borat is back on 23rd October, with a sequel movie catchily entitled Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. This will be released just 10 days before the US election; the prime time for Borat to make his mark… The trailer for the sequel teases Borat covering the reaction to the coronavirus pandemic, in which Trump supporters label Democrats as more dangerous
than the virus. He also attends a Mike Pence rally, dressed as Trump, carrying his ‘daughter’ over his shoulder, and shouting about how he has brought her for Pence. Thus, it is fair to say this sequel will not fall short of our expectations of being controversial and aggravating.
This sequel will not fall short of our expectations of being controversial
The timing of the release of this sequel is no coincidence. A parody Twitter account of the ‘Republic of Kazakhstan’, writing in promotion of the film, has ‘praised’ Trump’s performance over the recent campaigns and debates. The ironic video labelled Trump as the “strongest premier in history,” and the, “protector of womens,” whilst simultaneously displaying a video of the President dancing suggestively with several women in a nightclub and speaking with Jeffrey Epstein. This juxtaposition highlights the sarcastic tone of the video, and in all but name, confirms that the sequel will take a stance of mocking Trump and highlighting issues he
The controversy surrounding the character makes the film politically enlightening Are mockumentaries such as this politically enlightening or in-
on screen are unsuspecting members of the public. The humour and satire involved just makes it an easy watch, and in this way, enables the film to gain so much traction and support. In this way, it is a fascinating insight into the lives of staunch Trump supporters, which equally may alert others of the dangers of a second Trump term. (ekai via Creative Commons )
Thursday 22nd October 2020 | PALATINATE
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Politics
Scotland’s emancipatory cry Tom Walsh Ironically, the oft-cited desire for increased UK sovereignty may have the unintended effect of dismantling the Union itself. Calls for independence within the corridors of both Stormont and Hollyrood are not only growing in volume, but are becoming increasingly legitimised by the realities of Brexit. Whilst Northern Ireland voted in favour of remain, the margins were significantly tighter than those we saw in Scotland. North of the border, all 32 council areas voted by a majority to stay within the European Union. On a national scale, Scots voted 62% to remain. These figures are stark, especially when contrasted with England. Scotland was as united on the issue of Europe as it is possible to imagine. It also shows that Scottish people identify with Europe very closely. Whilst it doesn’t necessarily prove, by definition, that Scots are more European than British, it certainly gives a flavour of that mentality. The Brexit vote occurred on 23rd June 2016. On the 28th June, Sturgeon said “independence is not my starting point in these dis-
cussions. My starting point is to protect our relationship with the EU”. This is a clever use of rhetoric, bringing the European issue to the fore, whilst appearing to put independence on the backburner. In actuality, this framing evolves Scottish independence into an entrenched, multi-faceted, and common sensical decision.
The likelihood of a referendum happening is a logistical nightmare
It feels like a very long time since the first Scottish independence referendum in 2014. The frustration within Scotland is palpable, not just about Brexit, but about the incompetence of the current government in Westminster. Whilst Sturgeon has been far from perfect when dealing with Covid-19, her instructions, policies, and overall position have represented a degree of clarity and decisiveness, which has been completely absent from Boris Johnson’s approach.
The Progress Scotland polling shows a surge of support for independence over the recent months. Polling expert Professor John Curtice, when asked to account for this surge, replied simply: “It’s two things – it’s Brexit and it’s coronavirus”. These developments culminated with a harrowing poll for the unionists. Just this week, a poll showed the highest ever recorded support for Scottish independence. Excluding those voters who were undecided, 58% of Scottish likely voters said they would vote “yes”, for Scottish independence. The Scottish referendum for independence of 2014 resulted in only 44.7% of voters vot- i n g “yes”. So, the likelihood of a referendum resulting in independence for Scotland is in-
credibly high at present. The likelihood of a referendum happening is a logistical nightmare. In order to conduct another vote, Holyrood would have to secure the support of Westminster. Boris Johnson has repeatedly said that, under no circumstances, will he sanction another referendum. The Scottish elections are in May of 2021. The SNP already has a significant majority. The chances of this increasing further, and a legitimate landslide occurring, look entirely likely. This will give Scotland an emphatic and total argument for a second referendum, and put significant strain on Westminster. Neve rtheless, the power remains i n
London, and the Tories appear significantly bloody-minded on this issue to ensure another referendum does not happen.
Scotland’s identity has become crystallised once again against the English
Nevertheless, this British government is being attacked from every angle, even within their own party. Politics is evolving at a rapid pace, and there is no telling what is around the corner. There is great confidence that the SNP will wipe the floor with their opponents in May, and bring the cries of a united Scotland to the doors of Downing Street. Scotland is a proud nation and their identity has become crystallised once again against the English. The cries will be loud and the fight will be volatile. The spirit of Robert the Bruce’s proclaimed proclamation that “we fight not for glory, nor for wealth, nor honour but only and alone for freedom which no good man surrenders but with his life”, will be brought with force to Parliament. (Jörg Angeli via Unsplash)
The inadequate Home Office response to Windrush Aisha Sembhi Politics Editor On 30th September 2020, the Home Office released a plan in response to the Windrush Lessons Learned Review. Commissioned in 2018, the Windrush review was an effort to investigate the causes of the Windrush scandal, which saw Black individuals of Afro-Caribbean descent being deported back to their countries of birth, being forced to arrive in countries they had not seen since they had left as children, despite legally residing in the UK for decades prior. Other victims were wrongly detained in UK immigration centres, lost their jobs, denied benefits, and made homeless. The review concluded that a primary cause of the
injustices was the failure of the Home Office to understand race and racism on an institutional level. With the release a Comprehensive Improvement Plan in response to this Review, current Home Secretary Priti Patel has an opportunity to rectify the failures of the previous government and ensure both compensation for victims and widespread reform of the Home Office’s approach to racism and xenophobia. The Comprehensive Improvement Plan follows five themes designed to ensure a correction of the Home Office’s previous shortcomings: “Righting the Wrongs and Learning from the Past, Compassionate Approach, Robust and Inclusive Policymaking, Openness to Scrutiny and An Inclusive Workforce”. On the surface, the Plan looks promising – talk of reform on both
an empathetic and practical level imply an authentic motivation to engage in positive and inclusive revision. In the foreword, Patel claims to pioneer “urgent change” and transform the Home Office with a “genuine cultural shift”. The plan itself is optimistic, assuring those campaigning for justice that “this time it is different” in Part Four of the document.
Apologies are of no value, and the founding of compensation schemes is yet to show any worthwhile result
This apologetic tone is consistent throughout. The Home Office claims that, following the findings of the investigation, it “recognises [the Windrush scandal] as an historical series of events deeply embedded in current
and past, structures, policies and cultures”. This, at least, personifies at least some growth from Theresa May’s establishment, which in its insistence that it was never the government’s intent to cause harm, failed to acknowledge the role racism and the culture of hostility played in the scandal. Previous efforts to remedy the fallout following the Windrush revelation, such as the founding of the Historical Cases Review Unit and the Windrush Compensation Scheme, are highlighted and should be recognised as the first steps in the right direction to achieving justice. The Comprehensive Improvement Plan reiterates that the observations and recommendations following the Windrush Review are “not about the policy” regarding immigration, and simply comments on “behaviours and values” o f the Home Office. Of course, the Home Office is not responsible or involved in the passage of legislation – this is entirely expected. However, once the Plan is put into the context of the current political climate, its insufficiency and the severi(Global Justice Now via Flickr)
ty of its limitations are highlighted. One of the key themes, “A Compassionate Approach”, has been totally disregarded by Home Secretary Patel’s recent campaign to halt immigration and asylumseeking, and the consistent antiimmigration rhetoric all too often endorsed by the Conservative Party. The Home Office has once again failed to work to rectify the damage caused by its “hostile environment” policy – apologies are of no value, and the founding of reviewing bodies and compensation schemes are yet to have had any worthwhile result. Even with these superficial developments, the promise of change remains an empty one, a perspective further consolidated when considering the current Home Office agenda and rhetoric regarding immigration. The Home Office’s response to the Windrush Lessons Learned Review is wholly inadequate, though entirely expected. Achieving true justice and ensuring a repetition of Windrush does not occur are both impossible if Priti Patel remains unwilling to abandon her staunch anti-migrant rhetoric, something emboldening an extreme and renewed zeitgeist depending on a culture of hostility. Without Patel’s co-operation, the Comprehensive Improvement Plan offers nothing of value, and an insult to the decades of tireless campaigning.
PALATINATE | Thursday 22nd October 2020
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Politics
Covid-19 at university: the prophecy everyone predicted Joseph Lorenzo Across the country millions of young people are once again descending upon our university towns and cities. But gone are the age-old traditions of booze-fuelled nights out and head-pounding hangovers, with students instead arriving at university to the prospect of banishment to the bedroom constantly looming over their heads. Everyone will have seen the reports from Manchester and Glasgow of entire halls being placed into lockdown, with little access to necessities like food and cleaning supplies. These stories give news channels easy content, but the individual realities they depict are being replicated nationwide.
Barely a few weeks into term, Covid is threatening to derail the entire university sector
Barely a few weeks into term, Covid-19 is threatening to derail the entire university sector. Moving millions of students across the country to return to university was always going to be a hercu-
lean task when draped across the backdrop of a global pandemic. Indeed, it might even seem fair to ask whether such a task was ever going to be safely or practically possible. Some – including the UCU and the NUS – seem to be arguing against any in-person return to university, advocating for education to be delivered fully online akin to the Open University. University chancellors rightly acknowledged the problem with this approach, that the Open University charges around £10,000 less for a degree than most other institutions, so unless an effort was made to maximise on-campus teaching, universities would be obliged to offer a rebate on fees that they were scarcely able to afford. In addition, most returning students have signed tenancy agreements with landlords for accommodation over the coming year. The economies of many university towns and cities are dependent on the yearly influx of students. Not all students have adequate resources at home to be able to successfully complete a degree to the best of their ability. In short, a return to campus was absolutely necessary. But really, it’s about much more than that. If the government was to
design a Covid-19 strategy based solely around the best interests of young people, then life would surely look much like normal. The virus would be allowed to run riot through the population, with pubs and clubs staying open and individuals free to socialise as they so pleased. Infections would skyrocket, but the vast majority of students would suffer only mild to moderate symptoms, if any at all, and at some point, so called ‘herd immunity’ would be reached. Of course, the consequences of this would be catastrophic. Tens of thousands of elderly and vulnerable people would catch a virus that would send them to their graves, and the NHS would very probably be overrun with Covid patients. Clearly this virus doesn’t strike equally, and it is crucial we acknowledge that tens of millions of healthy young people are being asked to pause their lives in order to safeguard the welfare of the elderly and vulnerable. This isn’t necessarily an unfair ask. It is inherent in the fight against Covid-19 that we all sacrifice some of our own liberty to protect that of our fellow citizen. Most students are at the very least begrudgingly accepting of the need for some restrictions on normal life. But it would
quite simply be unfair and unenforceable to ask students to spend a year of their lives isolating at home with mum and dad.
of LK Advani, a former deputy Prime Minister, and 32 others, for their part in the destroying of the Babri Masjid mosque in 1992. After refusing to accept videos and photographs of the incident, the Central Bureau of Investigation court delivered a 2,300 page verdict detailing how there was no clear evidence of wrongdoing by the accused. This highly suspect acquittal further undermines the le- gitimacy of
a justice system that has recently been under much scrutiny. In 2019 the Supreme Court ruled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was within his rights to withdraw the constitutionally protected special status of Jammu and Kashmir without consultation, constitutional amendment, or an act of parliament. What does this mean for India’s 172 million Muslims? Well, firstly, it means more discrimination and division to come. The government of Narendra Modi is using the a b h o r - rent but effective technique of blaming a wide range of problems on a specific group of people in one’s society. This was proved in late 2019 when the new Citizenship Amendment Bill excluded Muslims’ new
routes to citizenship; cementing into law the fact that Muslims are treated worse than other religious minorities. It will not end well for anyone in the long run. India’s Muslims are more moderate than in many other nations and have proved to be resistant to terrorist organisations such as ISIS and al-Qaeda. Mr Modi’s government has taken this for granted but failing to include, or actively excluding Indian Muslims will only breed resentment and anger. “Actively excluding Indian Muslims will only breed resentment and anger” Sadly, it appears that instead of competent governance and incremental successes, Mr Modi and the BJP are using religious/nationalist tub-thumping to retain support. Exploiting religious divisions will not make up for the fact that he bungled the initial Covid-19 lockdown – the most recent in a string of poorly planned, massive policy changes. The most memorable being when he invalidated 85% of India’s currency overnight in a failed bid to reduce dirty money. “Religious nationalism cannot plaster the cracks of poor governance for long”
In short, a return to campus was absolutely necessary
Given the governments’ seeming lack of foresight throughout this crisis, perhaps it is not surprising that university facilities and resources have not been utilized earlier to tackle the crisis. University laboratories could have been repurposed to test every student on arrival. Spare accom-
modation could have been used as hotels for Covid-19 positive students to isolate in, preventing the inevitability of transmission to flatmates. Support systems to deliver food and pastoral care to those isolating, whether living in university accommodation or not, should have been built. Any competent government would have used the six months after students were told to go home to adequately prepare for their return. This government has squandered that time, and as a result, students are living through the chaos of a second wave. Students aren’t to blame, they are. (Samantha Fulton)
The injustice in India’s religious nationalism
Patrick Digby India is a land of stark contradictions. It is the fifth richest country in the world, but the 116th by GDP per capita (PPP adjusted). It is a relatively new democracy but the world’s largest. It is de jure secular but de facto Hindu. These contradictions cause tension; none more so than in the religious sphere. India’s Muslims have for many years been getting a bad deal. It seems to be getting worse. The latest example of this recurring theme is the acquittal
(Marc van der Chijs via Creative Commons)
Mr Modi has been in power for six years now and still has widespread support in India. However, as we have seen with Benjamin Netenyahu in Israel, once a government starts using religious nationalism to boost support, it is very hard to stop. Whether annexing the West Bank or building Hindu temples on the ruins of destroyed mosques, religious nationalism cannot plaster the cracks of poor governance for long.
Religious na“tionalism can-
not plaster the cracks of poor governance for long
”
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Thursday 22nd October 2020 | PALATINATE
Sport Sport
“The criticism female broadcasters get is much more intense” Sport speaks to former Soccer AM host Max Rushden about the morality of bookmaking, female representation in sports broadcasting, and the footballer he would choose to survive an apocalypse with.
Matt Styles and Luke Power Sport Editors “It was totally life-changing for me, I was so lucky to get it. All my other mates had proper jobs while I would occasionally recreate the John Lewis advert and spend the day dressed as a penguin,” reflects sports broadcaster and all-round good guy Max Rushden on his ‘glory years’ at Soccer AM. The Oxford alumnus has enjoyed a fruitful time in the industry since his first knockings around at BBC Cambridgeshire twenty years ago and has been able to forge a career from his expert ability to talk nonsense about football. It was no surprise, then, that much of our interview was populated with discussions on how best to consume beans on toast, or existential pontifications over what footballer he would choose to survive an apocalypse with. In the end he settled on James Tarkowski, with the likes of David Seaman, Paul Merson and Matt Holland failing to make the cut. But there is a deeply moral and thoughtful side to Rushden beneath his effervescent personality. He recalls the early days of his broadcasting career doing serious news reports on the tele, such as murder trials, which is a far cry from what listeners are accustomed to hearing on Football Weekly and talkSPORT these days. “I’m capable of broadcasting about serious things, which is ostensibly easier than trying to be funny,” he tells Palatinate. “If I’ve ever succeeded in that it’s not for me to say. “I can’t ever complain about my job to anybody because I get paid to watch football. I don’t even
have to go. I also don’t really need to analyse it.” Football Weekly listeners especially enjoy the honesty and transparency that he fosters on the podcast, helped by the misanthropic approach of sidekick Barry Glendenning. He invariably strikes a healthy balance between taking football deeply seriously, whilst recognising the folly of getting too ensnared by its more illusory and dry aspects.
“I can’t ever complain about my job to anybody because I get paid to watch football.”
For example, Max doesn’t profess to know about the majority of the footballing world, nor indeed care about what the outcome is between Southend and West Ham U21s in the EFL Trophy; he simply doesn’t see this as an issue. “There’s a lot of football, and you can’t watch all of it. I
don’t know how, say, Girona did on the weekend and, to quote Barry, ‘I don’t care!’ “There are a lot of things you need to take seriously in the game – racism, homophobia, discrimination, misogyny, corruption – and I want to talk about those things seriously. But whether Conor Coady has a good game for England, or whether Grealish gets on the pitch or not, I’m not going to get angry about that. I hope we win but it won’t keep me awake at night. “I also don’t think there’s enough brutal honesty if a game is shit. Fans aren’t idiots, and if a game is shit you should be able to say ‘that was shit’. If you portray every football match as breathless and extraordinary then you can’t get excited when it genuinely is very exciting.” He recognises, for example, that he would struggle to be a Dave Jones type of broadcaster – compelled to force the theatricality of a Sky Sports production. Rushden’s occasional dispassion and indifference to certain aspects of the game can, however, invite criticism from the purists who can’t handle their beloved game being trivialised.
“Fans aren’t idiots, and if a game is shit you should be able to say ‘that was shit’”
Conscious of the fickle and venomous atmosphere of social media, he strives tries to block out the vitriol as best he can, remaining authentically himself and transforming the hate comments he receives into whimsical song montages on Instagram. “Bosses have wanted me to be a bit ‘laddier’, but I’m just a bit of a nerd, and if someone on Twitter wants to call me a bellend there’s nothing I can do about it. Not to appear like some sort of rhinoskinned hero, but I just don’t care, it’s just funny. You’re allowed your opinions on me, that’s absolutely fine.” “Football fans are not forgiving, and so if you make a mistake, or you expose your lack of knowledge on something, you can get stressed
about that. But I’ve accepted that whatever team I’m talking about there will be someone listening who knows more than me. If you don’t know something, you just don’t know it, it’s not a crime.”
“If young up-and-coming female broadcasters made the same mistake that I made they’d get hammered for it” Rushden acutely recognises, though, that having such thick skin isn’t so easy for everyone in sports broadcasting, especially for young female presenters due to the sexism that still exists in the industry. At Football Weekly he is central to the process of embracing prospective female talent but knows that there is still a long way to go. “If young up-and-coming female broadcasters made the same mistake that I made they’d get hammered for it, and no one would care if I did it. For that reason, I’ve seen some young female broadcasters try and say everything they know when they don’t need to. “I think it’s changing slowly, but if you ask any established female broadcaster it’s not changing quickly enough. The criticism they get is much more intense, and we are judged differently, and that’s really depressing.” It is this very awareness of the pitfalls of the world he operates in that makes Max so refreshing to talk to. He also spoke well on the non-glamorous side of footballers’ lifestyles and remains deeply concerned by their treatment in the media and the amount of mental health support they receive after they retire. “The longer I’ve spent with footballers, the happier I am not having to be one. Being a footballer is not an easy path to happiness and can be a very lonely existence. “When you’re injured, rehab can be soul-destroying, and I think retirement for footballers is a nightmare, you know I’ve seen it a lot. Everything’s done for you, everything’s provided for you, then when you don’t matter they don’t have time to deal with you. You’re thrown out the door and that’s it.” Tied up with this is the alarmingly symbiotic relationship between football and betting companies, which is something that, as Rushden was keen to stress, footballers are
not impervious to. Just recently Nicholas Bendtner opened up about the ruinous impact of his gambling addiction, and as a member of the ‘industry’ this is something that he massively struggles with morally. Just recently there was a poignant moment on the podcast where he openly addressed listeners and fellow guests, having accepted money from a bookmaker. It pricked his conscience as he agonised over the decision for weeks and has consequently decided to never engage with that sort of thing in the future. He feels totally comfortable with that decision but does not profess to be ‘some sort of hero’. “We’re all probably hypocrites as people, there are probably lots of things I do indirectly without thinking about them. If you work in this industry you will indirectly do stuff with bookmakers all the time, but I can actively make the decision to not sign up personally with one to promote it.” All he really aims to do is live life with integrity whilst doing the things he loves: broadcasting, bringing joy to people, and embracing the ‘serious fun’ that is football for as long as he can. This includes keeping close tabs on his beloved Cambridge United, who regrettably he doesn’t watch live as much as he would like to anymore, but is delighted to see them thriving this season in League Two with former Norwich stalwart Wes Hoolahan pulling the strings.
“The longer I’ve spent with footballers, the happier I am not having to be one.”
Max will also keep playing football on a Saturday, which has been an important staple of his life for 18 years now. He has recently penned an exciting move from Polytechnic Fours to Polytechnic Vets, as he reflects on the evolution of his playing style over the years. “For a few years I was Teddy Sheringham, then as I got a bit dirtier, and a bit worse, I became Kevin Davies. And for the past two years I’ve been Eric Dier as I’ve gone back into holding midfield and occasionally centre-back. “I’ve recently joined the over 40s side and I’m the youngest player there, it’s so exciting. So in many ways I’m Kylian Mbappé now, apart from in an actual footballing way!”
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PALATINATE | Thursday 22nd October 2020
Sport
Durham CCC finish 2020 season with promise
Lees who with five fifties, one century and an average of 48.25, represented a bright spark in a largely bleak four-day campaign for Durham. Moving forward in the longer format of the game, adding more consistency will be key. The other fast bowlers were largely rotated to avoid injury, but James Franklin and his coaching team will need to find a bowling unit to better support Rushworth for next season. Durham accrued the second-fewest batting points,
and so more runs from the rest of the team, to help Lees and Harte will be required if Durham are to improve their fortunes in the longer format. In the T20 Blast, it was very much a campaign of two halves. A lack of batting depth shone threw in the early games as Durham lost their first five games. However, a mammoth 55-run victory following a first innings score of 223 (Lees, 77 of 56 balls) saw a dramatic shift in the team’s form. Impressive bowling
performances would lead to wins over Leicestershire, Yorkshire and Lancashire and leave Durham on the cusp of quarterfinal qualification. A final game shootout against Notts would ultimately end in a disappointing 18 run defeat and leave Durham one win short of qualifying for the quarter-finals. Despite starting poorly and ending in agonising circumstances, Durham can have a renewed sense of optimism going into their next T20
campaign. Alex Lees once more impressed, facing the secondmost balls (290) and scoring the seventh-highest number of runs (365) of anyone in the competition, at an average of 52. An improvement on his strike rate of 125.86, should be the target for the opener next season if he is to be recognised, rightly so, as one of the best openers in the domestic short game. With the ball, Paul Coughlin’s 13 wickets in 10 games is commendable but the shining star will be Matty Potts, who, at 21 years old, looks an exciting prospect. His 13 wickets, coming only at the expense of 7.34 runs an over, saw him named in Wisden’s Under-24 T20 Blast team of the tournament. His performances in Durham’s last three wins, with combined figures of 9-41, bode well for the fast bowling moving forward. If Durham can call upon the experience and quality of Stokes and Wood, with more frequency next season, they will boast a quietly impressive bowling line-up. The abridged season will come as a disappointment for Durham, who were hitting their best form towards the season’s end. And, whilst the departure of promising young all-rounder Scott Steel has raised eyebrows, the return of homegrown, experienced allrounder Scott Borthwick from Surrey adds great experience and will mean Durham fans can be rightly optimistic about their expectations going into the next season as they build a squad with an exciting blend of promising youth, established quality and older, wily experience.
“His serve could take your head off! He was so sharp it was almost scary.” The level of commitment from some of Durham’s players is exemplary. Undergraduate Olivia French, who competed for the Women’s 1s and 2s last year, trained for roughly 25 hours per week last season to retain her level. Meanwhile, Brasington commutes to Newcastle to work as a tennis coach for 40 hours per week on top of his own playing commitments and degree. But somehow, they shrug off such diligence as if it were no big deal, with Brasington humbly conceding that, “maybe it is a lot of tennis when you think about it, but I wouldn’t have my life any other way.” The club is structured in such a way that anybody can join. At the lowest end of the University’s tennis structure is the Development Squad, which itself is comprised of three tiers, catering people who have never picked up a racket to people
aiming to make one of the University teams. Club President Olivia Christie outlined her hopes to expand the reach of tennis at Durham. “The Development Squad is something that I really want to push this year. It’s enjoyable and even at that level you get a taste of topstandard coaching. “I would also encourage people to look at college tennis. Tennis is one of the safest sports to play during Covid-19 and I really hope the University promotes it because it’s a healthy and fun option for everyone.” Due to the pandemic, the club was not able to hold its preseason training, and there will be less training sessions during Michaelmas term. French says that she has been cycling to Newcastle and Sunderland just to get back into practicing on court, but preliminary plans suggest all the hard pedalling won’t be in vain: Epiphany Term should bring the return of university tennis’ top leagues for such determined
players to compete in. All three make clear that university tennis really is what the individual makes of it. For the diehard athletes aiming for the sky, all the resources are laid out to mirror a professional environment: training sessions most days of the week, fitness classes, strength and conditioning sessions, and also sports psychology consultations. For those who can’t or don’t want to commit so heavily, the option is there to train less. And all members are welcomed as part of the club socially, which extends beyond meals and nights out on Wednesdays. Olivia French praises the multifaceted benefits of being involved with the tennis club. “You don’t really realise the full impact of making friends. It’s nice to have more people to say hi to in the street. I came to pre-season last year not knowing anybody, but we bonded so quickly and it was comforting to start term with a
huge circle of friendly faces. I’ve even had older players doing the same degree give me notes and help with my subject, so you can actually benefit academically from joining! “You can play tennis for life if you start now. At my club away from Durham there are people still playing who are 70, even 80, and they’re meeting new people all the time. You can join any club in the world as long as you pick up a racquet.” Perhaps it is the romance of a possible lifelong hobby which is most entrancing. Tennis does not have to be the frenetic, adrenalinfilled scramble that breathes sweat through our television screens. Picture yourself 50 years from now having a leisurely game in the sun-kissed Italian countryside, the promise of a barbecue enlivening your creaking muscles (and perhaps making you rush your serve), surrounded by Durham friends. You have aged like a fine wine.
Ben Fleming Deputy Sport Editor In a season with so many hurdles and obstacles, English cricket should be praised for its ability to strategize and implement a Covid-secure plan which allowed cricket fans all across the country to see as much cricket as they did. A regionalised version of the County Championship, named in honour of the late great Bob Willis, provided some fourday entertainment whilst the T20 Blast continued into early October, to great success. For Durham, this shortened season will be viewed with some disappointment, even if their results towards the end of the season have led to some much deserving optimism for the 2021 season. In the Bob Willis Trophy, Durham failed to reach the levels expected of them, failing to win a single game in five outings. Heavy defeats against Yorkshire and Lancashire started the season with Durham failing to score more than 200 runs in three of those four innings. Two heavily rain-affected draws were to follow before a good performance saw the team draw against Nottinghamshire. The evergreen Chris Rushworth, who recently signed a two-year extension at the age of 34, continued to provide consistency with the new ball taking 16 wickets at an average of 22.37. With the bat, Gareth Harte’s average of 41.66 is commendable but special mention must go to opener Alex
Durham will look forward to 2021 with hope after a strong finish to the season (Ben Sutherland/Durham Cricket)
University tennis: the start of a lifelong love
Luke Power Sport Editor Continued from back page “We have a number of postgraduates on tennis scholarships who have a chance of making the professional circuit, but what strikes me is that they have so much time for everybody else. Even if you have a tiny technical question, they’re there to answer it and are really invested in helping you improve your tennis.” Indeed, postgraduate scholars agree to spend time coaching those at the lower levels when they join Durham. One such player to bring his expertise here in recent years was Finn Tearney, who chose to continue his tennis education at Durham in 2018-19 after reaching an ATP ranking of 356th in late 2016. Brasington remembers him as an excellent tennis player, though it sounds like Tearney would be better suited to medieval sword fighting.
Thursday 22nd October 2020 | PALATINATE
20
Sport
An interview with Max Rushden
Matt Styles and Luke Power speak to the former Soccer AM host (page 18)
Durham CCC’s 2020 season comes to abrupt end
After a slow start, writes Ben Fleming, Durham were in good form (page 19)
Inside Durham University Tennis Club Luke Power Sport Editor Professional tennis is often visualised as a sport of solitude. Its emotional zeniths are captured in snapshots of superstars collapsed to their knees on hallowed turf, tears streaming down their face, hands clasped in thanks to the heavens. A singles player must weather the physical and spiritual storm of a match alone; there are no team huddles, no substitutes, no places to hide, and no pitch invasions upon the attainment of glory. The silence can be chilling in the moments preceding the blood rush of a rally.
With Beth Hepple leading the way up front, Durham have scored 16 goals in seven games so far this season (George Ledger/Durham WFC)
Durham Women make flying start James Reid Deputy Sport Editor 14 points from their first six games have seen Durham Women make a fine start to their FA Women’s Championship campaign. Having finished third in last season’s curtailed campaign, Lee Sanders’ side will have been cautiously optimistic going into this season, despite not having the budget of others competing at the top end of the division. Wealthier challengers Liverpool were swiftly brought down to earth after their relegation with a 1-1 draw with the Wildcats. It was a performance that perfectly summed up Durham as a side. Hard-working and difficult to play against to the end, something which was duly rewarded with a late equaliser from star player Beth Hepple. All of this, too, when down to ten players. Such a result sent a message out to the rest of the league that Durham mean business this season. Liverpool are strong favourites for the title this season, but Durham
matched them all the way, in turn revealing their own title credentials. The point at Prenton Park was followed up with two home wins, and two clean sheets, against Lewes and London City. Both were dominant performances reminiscent of a side looking to challenge at the business end of the table. Both matches were games that Durham were ultimately expected to win, but that is easier said than done. The Championship is an unforgiving league in terms of dropped points; there is little room for error in a bid for promotion to the Women’s Super League. Six points from their two home games was almost a must for the Maiden Castle side and they duly delivered. It did look like it was going to be three wins from three as Durham led 2-1 until a late Leicester equaliser saw the Wildcats drop two points. It will have been disappointing to have dropped crucial points in such a manner, especially in a game that had been dominated by the North East side.
Nevertheless, it does little to take away from the good start that Durham have made. They currently sit atop the Championship after Liverpool lost 2-1 to Leicester. The disappointing draw was followed up by slim victories against Crystal Palace and London Bees, as well as a convincing 5-2 win over Coventry in the Continental Cup. Games in hand for Sheffield United and Lewes mean that this may only be a temporary position, but a strong start to the season has left Durham in a good position to make a promotion push. The star of the show has been forward Hepple who already has ten goals in just six games, including a hat-trick against Coventry in the Continental Cup. Durham’s number seven has excelled in a free role behind the strikers that has allowed her to lead the Wildcat attack while continuing to contribute goals herself. It is, of course, early days. Six games do not make a season. However, Durham have shown only signs of encouragement thus far. There has been an overreli-
ance on Hepple to provide the goals thus far which may need to be addressed, though worries are soothed by the strength of Durham’s backline which has conceded just three goals. The squad is small, too, with Durham regularly naming only four or five substitutes. This naturally leaves the Wildcats vulnerable to a sudden injury crisis and with limited flexibility. There are signs of encouragement here, though, with a number of players such as Grace Ayre and Lily Crosthwaite stepping up from Durham’s sister side, Durham Cestria. They will add vital bodies to the thin squad, though its small size contributes to something of a siege mentality amongst the current squad. It is this mentality, along with the currently unstoppable Hepple, that has put Durham in a good position to mount a proper promotion bid this season. There is still a long way to go, but it should be an exciting campaign down at Maiden Castle.
Durham is fortunate enough to have the best university tennis club in the country.
Yet the university version of tennis is slightly different. Each match is part of a larger tie against a rival university, with the team relying on several players to win their matches to claim overall victory, like in the Davis Cup. It is this team format, with friends cheering you on from just metres away and ready to lay everything on the line for you in their own match, that makes universitylevel tennis more relational and synergetic than the game we see on television. Durham is fortunate enough to have the best university tennis club in the country, consistently winning national titles. The professionalism, humbleness and dedication found at the top of the club is shared with the ranks below, creating a culture of shared knowledge and devotion to improving every single player. Every member of the club counts. “The great thing about tennis here is not just that we have truly exceptional players at the top end, but that we have a great breadth of opportunities for people of all levels and experience,” says Rob Brasington, captain of the men’s team. Continued on p. 19