QMessenger Issue 73

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MONDAY 11th FEBRUARY 2013 ISSUE 73

QMESSENGER.CO.UK

THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF QUEEN MARY STUDENTS’ UNION The new trend for week long events LGBT, RAG, Go Green and Student Volunteering Week

Gay Marriage Bill and ‘the legislative straight jacket’ Page 5

QM bucks trend with double-digit application rise for 2014 Bethany Moffett News Editor A rise in applications to Queen Mary University has defied the general trend of applications to Universities in the UK. The trebling of maximum tuition fees in the country has led to fears of a general decline in further education, with many students questioning the value of University. However, statistics show that the rise in applications this year at Queen Mary is almost 22% for undergraduate courses, and a total rise of 9% since 2011 in general applications.

This comes despite national figures showing a rise of only 3.5% in applications to Universities from students living in England, showing that Queen Mary has managed to attract many more to study further education at the institution.

No doubt this will be welcome news for the University, which suffered great loses at the last intake

NEWS Peopling the Palace

in September due to a failure to fill clearing places. Around 300 places were left empty in 2012, leading to a loss of money by the University.

Fears that this trend of decline would reoccur this year have been distilled, with the new popularity of the University amongst prospective students.

Indeed, there has been a general rise in applications to London Universities this year, which is perhaps a surprising fact given the cost of living and studying in the City.

Housing costs on Mile End campus alone rose by around 11% last year, making studying in London more expensive than it has ever been.

Yet, the City proves a popular destination for further study, with the number of applicants from abroad also increasing. International applications were up by 12% from 2012, and overall by almost 26% since 2011. Queen Mary stated this was due to the fact that ‘students recognise the benefits and opportunities created by living and

COMMENT Amnesty International

IMAGE BY LLOYD RAMOS

Peeking into the job market Journalism summit brushes over Leveson Isabelle Leach Editor It was not the keynote speaker that provided the answers for Student Media, but the panel. John Rentoul started his speech by referencing what he was supposed to be speak-

CULTURE

ing about, the Leveson Enquiry.

However, the fact that ‘it seemed as if it was going to transform the country, but actually it isn’t going to have much effect unless the government agree and make legislation’ was all he said on it. He entertained the crowd with anecdotes on how he turned to writing because

SATIRE

Valentine’s Day We’re not so Ideas Great (Britain)

he realised he wasn’t going to be David Bowie. However, his keynote speech was cut very short when he decided that he would rather take questions to establish what the students wanted to know. However this did not yield much useful information from Rentoul. Among

Continued on Page 3

SOCIETIES

SPORTS

Jesus in a toastie

January transfer window

02NEWS EDITORIAL TEAM: Executive Editor Kashmira Gander

Editor in Chief Isabelle Leach

Creative Director Lloyd Ramos

Photography Lloyd Ramos

Sub Editors Jasmine Virhia and Sarah Power, Tasha Mathur and Aisha Rimi

News

Joseph Flaig and Bethany Moffett

Features

Preston Abell

Comment

Stevie Rankin and James Tory

Culture

MONDAY 11th FEBRUARY 2013

The news on campus this week Queen Mary scientists have had more discoveries this week. The first is the first ever evidence of polyandry in female deer. It was previously understood that the males took control during the mating season, but new research has found female fallow deer to choose multiple mates each year. The majority of female deer mate only once, but 5-20 percent of the female fallow deer mated with multiple males over the period of 10 years. This is thought to be due to females ensuring they get pregnant if they initially mate with an older male for example. This evidence is important for breeding patterns to keep deers in high numbers.

Belphoebe New and Rhiannon Evans

Satire

Lucretia McCarthy

Societies

Becky Adkins

Sports

Queen Mary is the to become the first University of London college to offer a Masters specialism in International Shipping Law. With the current economy, the shipping industry may face some difficulties as well as opportunities, and London is often the port of call for resolution of disputes in the courts or by arbitration. The marine industry is a big contributor to the UK economy, with a 10 billion annual turnover while China and India are expanding their shipping industries. London is home to many maritime law associations which will be invaluable for students.

This course will be taken at Queen Mary’s Centre for Commercial Law studies in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, at the heart of London’s legal hub.

Students will have taught modules covering International Law of the Sea, International Commercial Law, Marine Insurance Law and I nternational Shipping Law.

Research conducted at Queen Mary has shown that patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) have a chance for recovery. A new trial has shown that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and graded exercise therapy (GET) when supplemented with specialist media care can produce a likely recovery in threefold compared to previous studies. CFS affects around 250,000 people in the UK, and this new research will give hope for those who suffer this debilitating long term condition.

Raise and Give has made around £350 for RAG Week, though this does not include the money raised from the library fines. This is where all library fines paid in a certain time scale will be donated to the QM Hardship Fund. This has been raised through their 12 hour constant knitting marathon, and a Man vs Food dougnut eating contest. This is all before the special ‘Itchy Feet’ dance night on the friday night.

RAG is also yet to hold it’s skydiving and jailbreak events.

Hannah Clarke and Jeremy Baily Special thanks to Matthew Taylor

QMTV

Station Manager: Ozzy Amir www.qmtvchannel.co.uk

CUB Magazine

Managing Editor: Anna Matheson www.qmessenger.co.uk

Quest Radio

Station Manager: Chris Smith www.questradio.co.uk QMessenger is printed at Mortons of Horncastle Ltd, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincolnshire, LN9 6JR. Tel: 01507 523 456. Each issue has a print run of 1,000 and costs £445 to print and deliver.

Established in 2008, QMessenger is the free bi-monthly newspaper of Queen Mary Students’ Union. We are proud of our editorial independence and endeavour to always hold the College, Union and external bodies to account and to provide the best news and analysis to the students of Queen Mary, University of London.

QMessenger is created entirely by students and the publication retains all copyright of design, text, photographs and graphics, along with the individual contributor.

Any views expressed in QMessenger are those of the individual writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the paper, the editorial board, Queen Mary Students’ Union or Queen Mary, University of London.

Queen Mary set for more students with continued popularity this year Bethany Moffett Continued from Page 1 studying in the Capital.’ However, the University has been keen to emphasise quality of teaching over cost.

The Principle of the University, Professor Simon Gaskell, stated that ‘We are pleased that prospective students recognise the quality of the student experience and education on offer at Queen Mary.’

Gaskell further emphasised that ‘our membership of the Russell Group confirms the University’s status in the eyes of applicants and the rise in application figures reflects this.’

Queen Mary, which joined the Russell Group in 2012, along with the likes of the University of York and Durham University, prides it-

self on not only teaching, but also its research capabilities.

The Times Higher Education once described the University as ‘the biggest star among the research-intensive institutions’, a key factor, the University believes, in its success in the application process.

The University, which has some 16,900 undergraduate and postgraduate students, is amongst the largest colleges in the University of London. It has 21 academic departments, and houses three sectors: Science and Engineering; Humanities, Social Sciences and Laws; and the School of Medicine and Dentistry.

Of these departments, the most popular in the rise in applications proved to be the Department of History, with a total of 56% in-

crease in applicants, and also subjects in Physical Science, which has seen a 31% increase. Other popular courses have proved to be that of Mathematics, Engineering and general Social Sciences.

Moreover, despite the general decline in applications in the UK by 9% in the field of Medicine and Dentistry, Barts and the London attached to Queen Mary has seen a rise of over 26% in applications between 2011 and 2013.

However, despite these encouraging figures, one must remember that these are University applications only, and not actual places filled.

Thus, they must be taken with a pinch of salt. The University could once again suffer from being second choice to many students, and again lose out on clearing places.

IMAGE BY STARMANSERIES

NEWS03

MONDAY 11th FEBRUARY 2013

The ‘Mile End Group’ Queen Mary’s forum for government and politics are holding their ninety-third meeting at Westminister on 28th February. The event will be the Third Michael Quinlan Memorial Lecture on ‘The Ultimate Weapon: Deterrent or Dinosaur?’ The talk will be given

by Baroness Shirley Williams.

Tickets are free but limited, and may be booked by emailing meg@ qmul.ac.uk .

QMTV recently conducted research on QM’s sexual health.

For their news show Bloody Mary, they interviewed 56 18-28 year olds. Out of the 79% of people that were sexually active, 52% were having unprotected sex. More importantly, 73% of the group knew someone with an STI. Shockingly, only 57% of the group knew where the nearest sexual health clinic was.

The popular New Globe pub is set to also become a Bed and Breakfast. They have applied for planning permission to part of ground, first and second floor to become a 15 bedroom B&B. Permitted in April 2012, the work is expected to start imminently.

Specialisms, persistance and experience - The way to get a job in the media Isabelle Leach Continued from Page 1 nuggets such as ‘it’s about luck and hard work, it’s both, journalism is like life, but more so’ Rentoul highlighted the importance of personal contacts.

‘It is not difficult to get published but difficult to get noticed’ summarised his feelings about the democratic openness of blogging, but its simultaneous problems with getting noticed.

So, Rentoul’s main bit of advice that was repeated throughout the questions was ‘get a specialism’. It seems doing an Owen Jones and writing a book about it first helps.

His insistence that ‘I’m a fraud, I’m not a proper journalist, I wouldn’t recognise a news story if it hit me in the face’ really emphasised his

focus on the necessity of personal contacts. Rentoul and ‘people who matter’ did not consider journalism degrees to be of any value, were in contrast to the panel that actively encouraged postgraduate journalism courses.

The panel consisted of Alex Thomson, Chief Correspondent of Channel 4 News, Rebecca Coxon, Production Management Assistant of BBC Factual, Hannah Livingston, Reporter for Firecrest Films and Dispatches and Edwin Lampert, Group Managing Editor at Riviera Maritime Media. The panel discussion was more rewarding in terms of solid advice.

Alex Thomson highlighted the power of persistence, and experience in student media to get your foot in the door. Coxon recommended students spend their

summers volunteering and doing unpaid internships. Whilst most students were laughing into their twitter feeds, Lampert recovered it by assuring the audience that even those who have to work in their holidays learn skills from just working in a kitchen.

Lampert made it clear he was there to represent the little publications, the other options to big name outlets.

Livingston had the quote of the night: ‘Work for free but don’t work for nothing’. She emphasised ‘skilling up’ which included learning to be resourceful, finding your angle or specialism.

The panel came to a close on the importance of CVs and interview situations, where Lampert repeated the phrase ‘do the ordinary things extraordinarily’. Other important

notes were the insignificance of society memberships and the importance of being informed, likeable and passionate. When all questions for Alex Thomson on what is was like to report from a war-zone ceased had been exhausted, the panel session drew to a close. Despite the chance to network with the panel after the session over drinks and nibbles, the room was cleared very quickly. However Alex Thomson, who insisted he could only stay for 5 minutes, entertained a small and devoted crowd for the rest of the evening.

If you missed the chance to attend the Media Summit, but still want to get involved to improve your C.V, get in touch at editorqmessenger@gmail.com. You can get help with ideas, or submit articles on whatever you wish.

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04NEWS

MONDAY 11th FEBRUARY 2013

History of Weeping from QM Professor

QM Library Archive Tours Available Now Bethany Moffett News Editor February will see the Queen Mary Archives opening its doors for special tours of its hidden treasures.

Tours are available to book from the 11th to the 22nd February, in order to see the collections, which will also demonstrate how to access primary source material, and view the new exhibition on the People’s Palace which has a special display and highlights of the collection.

As well as records from Queen Mary University itself, the treasures found in the archive include the recently discovered letter by T.S. Eliot. Written in 1957, the letter was to Jacob Isaacs, whom Eliot asked for help in revealing the

meaning behind one of his own essays, which he had failed to recall.

Within the collection, one can also see the Lyttelton Family Archives, which display a history of the family through the Victorian and Edwardian period.

Containing letters, photos and general memorabilia, this archive includes the possessions of Neville Lyttenlton, his wife Katherine Sarah Lyttelton, and their three children.

First-hand accounts of War Service and its impact on the home front can be discovered, along with letters from the front line.

This pride of the Queen Mary library holds the collections of Peter Hennessy, Alan Deyermond and Clive Schmitthoff amongst many others.

Joe Flaig News Editor

IMAGE BY BEN GALLAGHER

Queen Mary’s own Dr Thomas Dixon recently explored the idea of crying and its relationship to culture in a BBC Radio 3 ‘Sunday Feature’.

The show, which went out on Sunday 27th January and is still available online, ‘explores the history of weeping as an aesthetic response to works of art’ in order to understand why we might be moved to tears by something that is essentially ‘not real’.

A senior lecturer in History for the university, Dr Dixon is the director for ‘The Centre for the History of the Emotions’, a cross-departmental group that seeks to explore the

status of emotions throughout the ages and to engage with these ideas in a modern setting.

He is also the author of the upcoming book ‘Weeping Britannia: Portrait of a Nation in Tears’, which will be based on his own work.

The Radio 3 show also allowed him to draw on his prestigious cultural and historical understanding of emotions, as he told Queen Mary news that he ‘wanted to dig deeper into the cultural history of tears and discover why some have celebrated weeping as an aesthetic, intellectual, and even religious, response.’

‘Margaret Are You Grieving? A Cultural History of Weeping’ is available to listen and download on BBC iPlayer.

QM Vickery celebrates New Soviet Holocaust footage found 200 years of Austen Stephanie Relf Queen Mary’s own Amanda Vickery is co-hosting a Regency Ball for BBC2 in order to celebrate the 200th anniversary of this iconic novel.

Vickery teaches Early Modern History to QM students but has had a prominent role in the media, particularly at the BBC for her expertise in Women’s Studies.

She is well known for her involvement in the televisions series At Home with the Georgians, and The Many Lovers of Austen. Also of note are her many appearances on BBC Radio 4’s Saturday Review and In Our Time, along with the series History of Private Life exploring the letters and diaries of women throughout the last 400 years.

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife” In 1813 Pride and Prejudice was first published and with it brought one of the most famous first lines and famous couples in literary history. The book follows five sisters and their endeavours to find suitable husbands having no fortune of their own, and no occupation to speak of. It is an England far removed from our own, but for Jane Austen it was the harsh reality.

The most well-known adaptation is the BBC’s 6 hour series featuring Collin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, as well as Joe Wright’s interpre-

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tation with Matthew Macfadyen and Keira Knightley. Helen Fielding updated the story in 1996 with Bridget Jones’s Diary again proving its timelessness.

Vickery has also written two books on life in Georgian England, winning the Whitfield Prize for The Gentleman’s Daughter: Women’s Lives in Georgian England in 1998.

This new programme with the working title “Pride and Prejudice: Having a Ball” has been designed to replicate the Netherfield Ball thrown by the charming (and exceedingly rich) Mr Bingley when he moves to Meryton.

In the early 19th Century a ball was one of the only opportunities for young girls to dance and socialise with the opposite sex, chiefly of course, to find a husband.

It is at the Netherfield ball that the two protagonists (Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy) first dance, therefore it’s fitting that a replica ball should mark the occasion.

The location for the programme is Chawton House in Hampshire, not too far from Chawton Cottage where Jane Austen spent the last 8 years of her life, writing and reviewing her 6 novels including Pride and Prejudice.

With the traditional setting, dress code, orchestra, and dances like the Cotillion and Savage, “Having a Ball” promises an authentic insight into the Austen world and its airing is anticipated for Easter time.

IMAGE BY LLOYD RAMOS

Bethany Moffett News Editor New Holocaust footage has been revealed after its discovery in a Soviet state archive in Moscow.

The exciting new find has been made by Jeremy Hicks, a senior lecturer in Russian at Queen Mary University, who has published a book which uncovers the footage.

‘First Films of the Holocaust’ looks at Soviet movies which condemn Nazi Anti-Semitism, and date back to the 1930s and early 1940s.

The launch of the book was held on the 4th of January, and discussed the films, which uncover previously neglected footage capturing some of the earliest ever cinematic depictions of the Holocaust, which is estimated to have killed

around 1.5 and 2 million Soviet Jews.

The films include correspondences, discussions and telegrams between the cameramen, within the areas of Ukraine and central and southern Russia.

Dr Hicks explained that ‘these first films to depict and denounce the Holocaust constitute cinema’s initial attempts to grasp the enormity of what was happening. These films are pioneering, but deeply flawed, as the Soviet official account refused to accept the Jewish dead as a separate category of the Nazis’ victims, instead viewing them as part of the overall Soviet death toll.’

Although often thought that the films on the Holocaust began with US and British footage of libera-

tion camps such as Belsen in 1945, Hicks suggests that Soviet film makers started to record the mass murder as soon as 1941, when they began to recover some of the territory lost to the Nazis in the Second World War. Hicks has stated how the Soviet attitude to the Holocaust ‘meant the films have been forgotten or ignored in Russian archives, and by the wider world. But this footage clearly demonstrates that these were the first victims of the Holocaust and shows how the unfolding horrific events started in 1941 and then escalated into camps which were seen later.’

Dr Hicks emphasised that he hoped ‘the films also grant us a deeper insight into the Soviet Union’s relation to the Holocaust.’

NEWS05

MONDAY 11th FEBRUARY 2013

New festival of events to start Peopling the Palace Joe Flaig News Editor An upcoming festival of mixed performances and events will be coming to the newly re-opened People’s Palace on the Mile End campus between the 17th and 24th February. ‘Peopling The Palace’ is a collaboration between several diverse groups, including staff and students from the Dra-

ma, Film and Geography departments and the ‘Live Art Development Fund’, which claims to be ‘the leading development organisation for Live Art in the UK’, and will be a festival of ‘performance, conversation and entertainment’.

The festival will open with a packed schedule on Sunday 17th February, with an ‘Intergenerational Tea Dance’ hosted by Ragroof Theatre and a screening of the film ‘Deep End’ by the So-

cial Cinema group, followed by a drinks reception between 8pm and 9pm that is free to attend.

Between the Wednesday and the Friday, there will be a series of three ‘post-work conversations’ entitled ‘Life After Work’, ‘in which artists, activists and thinkers reflect on the nature of life and work and how we might imagine their relationship in new ways.’

All three events are free and

will be held in the Studio. Artists Geraldine Pilgrim, 2boystv and Simon Vincenzi will all be putting on shows of their own, utilising the revitalised setting of the Great Hall to provide the perfect backing to their interdisciplinary shows.

There will be two exhibitions running for the entire week, one of which is called ‘People’s Palace Poster Project’.

This alliterative exposition has

been put together by undergraduate students in the Geography Department, and will explore ‘the context in which the People’s Palace developed, the key people that made it happen, the activities that went on in the Palace and its history up to the present’ through a series of posters.

Information and tickets for ‘Peopling The Palace’ can be found at http://www.airproject. qmul.ac.uk/

IMAGE BY UK PARLIAMENT

Gay Marriage Bill: Is it really a milestone of equality?

Emma Shone Tuesday 5th February 2013. A date which will live on in our history for years to come as the night equality was achieved? As news broke of the House of Commons reaching a majority vote of 225 in favour of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, the digital world exploded with celebrations of our new step towards absolute equality.

But to what extent does Tuesday’s vote represent a victory for the majority of our population in favour of equal marriage rights for gay couples? Various controversies surrounding the debate and voting procedure during the Second Reading of the Bill last week have highlighted future issues, not just for couples affected by the changes in marriage rights,

but for our government’s entire formation; 70% of Conservative backbenchers voted against the passing of the bill, opposing their party leader’s open support of the matter. Besides being an obvious embarrassment to the Prime Minister, the dissonances evident in the Tory votes pose the question: is our country in safe hands?

The friction within the party has even caused the stepping down of employees from posts. Ed Costelloe, former chairman of the Somerton and Frome Conservative Association criticized the way that Cameron has handled the advancement of the bill, telling the BBC his humiliation was “selfinflicted, because there’s other ways of doing this that would not have caused this kind of ruction.

He could have asked a royal com-

mission to look into this and report back around the time of the next election in 2015. There’s anger and frustration about the way it’s been done, as much as with the issue of gay marriage itself.”

Besides the outstanding opposition from the Conservative party, the main source of outcry against the bill is form The Church of England, who in fact demanded special protection from the Gay Marriage Bill. Labour MP Ben Bradshaw, one of the first MPs to come out as homosexual, but also a member of the CofE, commented on the ridiculous nature of this request, given that other religions and denominations, notably Roman Catholics and Muslims, made no such requests.

The bill itself makes the endorsement of gay marriages en-

tirely optional for religious organisations, and Bradshaw argues that The CofE’s request for “its own special legislative straight jacket” when other groups “appear perfectly capable of making the decision not to have same sex weddings themselves” is in fact an embarrassment.

Likewise, Ben Summerskill used twitter to point out that, while the main religious opposition to the Gay Marriage Bill lay within the case for preserving the sanctity of marriage, almost a quarter of the MPs voting against it were in their second marriage, or married to a divorcee. The Reverend Malcolm Brown, director of Mission and Public Affairs for Archbishops’ Council, Church of England, told the BBC that “The Church is against gay marriage

because changing the definition and understanding of marriage will affect the whole of society.”

The Church’s failure lies, then, in the refusal to see that this change in society is increasingly one that people want to see. The Gay Marriage Bill is yet to be discussed in the House of Lords and, in fact many of those opposing are hopeful that this stage will slow its progress.

Nevertheless, while last week’s vote may not mark as crucial a difference as the passing of the Civil Partnership Act of 2004, years of campaigning, lobbying and passionate dedication have paved the way for society’s steps toward equal marriage rights and, in this sense, the progression of the bill thus far is indeed a victory, hopefully the first of many to come.

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MONDAY 11th FEBRUARY 2013

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COMMENT07

MONDAY 11th FEBRUARY 2013

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Iran have admitted the returning monkey was different to that they sent

IMAGE PROVIDED BY PRESS OFFICE

Not your traditional space tourist - Iran sends monkey into space for science Tom Parrott A few days ago Iran broke into the news by sending a monkey into space and having it return back safely. This was another in a line of animals Iran had fired into suborbit, with predecessors including a rat, turtle and a handful of worms. As exciting as this is, the Iranians are still far behind considering that the western world has been nipping to and from space as if we were briefly popping out to the shops. It’s nothing special.

What makes this more entertaining is the blatant fact that it’s actually a fake. Although, granted they managed to send a monkey into space it suffered a horrific heart attack and was dead on landing, replaced by a different coloured, still breathing, monkey to try and savour some credit from what was otherwise a hilarious, embarrassing failure. Nice one Iran. I had actually previously started this article with my congratulations to a country whose ambition is to send a man into space by 2019, however doubt is now cast on who will actually land. I think we’ll all agree that the attempt to cover up the blunder is not showing Iran in any positive light, and as you scroll through google you witness the pure brutality which journalists are tearing into the failure.

In a way it’s still a success for Iran. Let’s be fair the most likely

reason for testing such a rocket is more future application in missiles, another well documented fact when reading any article reporting on the event will tell you. As the rocket made it 75 miles into space it would appear that Iran has developed a long range missile for potential future use, and if as reported the main focus of the test was to develop a missile system I think we can sit uncomfortably knowing that this is well on its way into reality.

I have partially digressed from the actual topic, whilst tearing into the failures of others and highlighting peoples failings is something I seem to have developed a particular enjoyment for the moral topic of using animals in space experiments is what needs addressing.

I’m not about to articulate any pro-animal rubbish which the RSPCA and other irritating public activists seem to consistently attempt to shove down our throats.

No, instead I’m stating that I’m not against the use of animals in space flight. It prevents the loss of human life and for the majority of the time it’s worthless creatures such as rats and worms which are used, with the only time anyone ever objects to animal usage is when something cute and fluffy is blasted into orbit.

Animals in space, whether you like it or not, are a useful determinant in judging whether it is safe

for humans to go somewhere and also provides valuable information which helped to put Neil Armstrong onto the moon. It’s not ideal, but then we live in an imperfect world and unfortunately you have to face up to that fact. However ultimately the majority of nations which participate in space travel and exploration are a lot more developed than Iran and the use of animals is particularly limited.

Despite this the use of animals has allowed us to pioneer space travel and they are actively celebrated as crucial contributors to the development of space exploration. So well done to all the dogs, rats, worms, monkeys and other animals that have lived and perished all so that we can get some cracking images of a galaxy we’ll never, ever visit.

The only hope is that Iran takes on board that video doesn’t lie and not accepting the failure to keep a monkey alive has caused minor amusement for the rest of the world. Who knows how many more monkeys will or will not survive before they feel confident to be able to send an actual human into orbit.

It is through using animals that we have the possibility of space tourism and whilst, to appease the animal lovers out there, creatures dying so that I can go and have a cheeky peak of blackness is not ideal it has been an important part of space science and is recognised accordingly.

Drawing on Anti-Semitism Sao Mai Ly As Rupert Murdoch apologises for the Sunday Times’s publication of a political cartoon accused of antiSemitism, new questions concerning the fine line between freedom of expression and respect for people’s sensitivity need to be raised.

In the print, political cartoonist Gerald Scarfe depicted Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu building a brick wall out of the blood and bodies of the Palestinians. It was captioned ‘Israeli elections. Will cementing peace continue?’

The cartoon led to the Board of Deputies of British Jews complaining to the Press Complaints Commission and to Mr Murdoch’s apology via twitter: ‘Gerald Scarfe has never reflected the opinions of the Sunday Times. Nevertheless, we owe major apology for grotesque, offensive cartoon.’

While the publication on Holocaust Memorial Day resulted in accusations of anti-Semitism, the debate on whether the cartoon was only a harsh critique of Israel’s policies rather than an attack to Israel itself and Jewish people is still open.

Although the bad timing of the publication encouraged the idea that the cartoon was an offense directed to Jewish people, its anti-Semitic nature is anything but certain.

In a statement, the Sunday Times clarified that the print was only an attack to Mr Netanyahu and it was not aimed at Israel or Jewish people. Martin Ivens, the Sunday Time’s acting editor, added: ‘The paper has long written strongly in defence of Israel and its security concerns, as have I as a columnist.’

Scarfe, political cartoonist for the Sunday Times since 1967, ‘very much regrets’ the timing of the pub-

lication. He had seemingly forgotten about the Holocaust Memorial Day. Scarfe’s previous works include harsh and violent depictions of other political leaders, such as Margaret Thatcher. Anshel Pfeffer, journalist for Israeli newspaper Haaretz, declared that although Netanyahu’s depiction was offensive, ‘that is only par for the course for any politician when Scarfe is at his drawing-board.’ He also said that the cartoon was ‘not anti-Semitic by any standard.’

Perhaps, there should be more reflection on the fact that criticisms to Israeli policies are too often labelled as anti-Semitic and have hardly any space in the public debate. Anti-Semitism is nowadays an easy defence behind which the wrongs of the Israeli government are hidden. Is it possible to criticise Israeli policy-making without being accused of anti-Semitism?

But there is another question which needs to be answered here and it is a broader one. It concerns freedom of expression and its limits, and in particular the line between everyone’s entitlement to publicly express ideas and the censorship needed to safeguard people’s personal sensitivity.

Strong language and images are sometimes necessary to raise awareness on particular issues but, given the multitude of people’s characters and backgrounds, it is hard to define what is considered offensive.

How can we distinguish a harsh but genuine criticism from an offense that would be best to censor?

More thinking should be devoted to the use and meaning of crude words and imagery. The impact the have on the public, whether positive or negative, is strong and should be considered.

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08COMMENT The Great Debate

MONDAY 11th FEBRUARY 2013

Does social networking actually make us more sociable?

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YES Tom Parrott

NO

a bubbling conversation between those two individuals who went from just acquaintances to weekly gym buddies. As sad as it may seem, some of us actually boost our social lives in order to impress our friends on these social media sites, but one should see this as a positive enforcement.

These social networking sites act as a teaching tool for social attitudes and relations. Whether you are the popular girl in high school or the nerdy loser who’s never been kissed, you WILL find ways of becoming more social. Virtual relationships and friendships have sprung up through the years because of these sites. They help you find something in common and you can express yourself with all your heart, even if you lack confidence.

You connect with people and learn something new every day.

So, before neglecting the important role of social media in our day-to-day lives we must come to a decision as to whether our social lives would have reached such high levels without them. Some people abuse and use these sites in unproductive ways which do not show results. However, those of us who use them right do realise the importance. Would you have known about that underground party, the instable political situation or even the humid weather in Australia without Facebook and Twitter?

Probably not. Tomorrow: “Did you read that article about Social Media?” “Yeah, someone posted it on Facebook!” Enough said. Or if not, then we can always rely on Facebook to help us.

Samar Malik

*Click, takes picture* “Oh that’s nice! Instagram it and put it on Facebook!”

Does Social networking actually make us more sociable? Well, obviously! There is a reason why it is called Social Networking! We live in the 21st century and we are in the age of new technology, new communication techniques and new ways of networking; where we are almost entirely dependent on these social networking sites to keep us all in touch with the world. Ask yourself a question, where would you be without Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, LinkedIn and what would you be doing right now if you were not on there? Probably pointlessly sitting at home, feeling starkly naked and impatiently anxious. Why? It’s because these social networking sites have CHANGED us and HELPED us improve our own social lives.

Facebook: a social networking site which currently has more than a billion users. More than a seventh of the world’s population accesses Facebook at least once a day, and others probably once a minute. It is the best site to date which fulfils our networking needs of efficient interaction. We ‘like’ other people’s posts and statuses to show our appreciation; we ‘comment’ and look at people’s pictures to keep updated on their day-to-day lives; and we ‘post’ and ‘share’ our lives and views to instigate that waited comment from that Facebook friend because we are just buzzing to talk!

We do become more social because that little ‘like’, and that comedic ‘comment’ may help to spark up

There is a perfectly good reason that those of you who spend a lot of time wondering around checking tedious, repetitive Facebook feeds are considered anti-social and incredibly sad by your peers.

Wondering around on your phone updating twitter because you’ve just eaten a bacon sarnie and it was “alright” is moronic and quite frankly, no one cares.

Social networking has only taken over what mobile phones, email or post did, which is to provide quick and easy access to your so called friends. It hasn’t added anything to the social experiences that we already had; we use it to organise events and stay in contact with people, all things that we’ve been able to do long before. It’s merely another pointless yet somehow addictive form of communication.

Consider Facebook, other than stalking and constantly getting recommended friends (most of who you don’t even know) the networking site does very little to expand the social process, if anything it removes the real aspect of socialising which is meeting people face to face and forming relationships in the real world.

If you were to scan through your Facebook news feed, or twitter, the information that you actually pay attention to is pretty limited.

Most people won’t care about your holiday or that you’ve got a new sofa, it’s not interesting and the fact that people deem compelled to tell the world about their dull and pointless lives is a total mystery. Those who might give a small ounce of care will be your close

friends, the people you text every day, meet up with every week and will probably know about your pointless new possession long before you decide to grace Facebook with your irritating excitement. Of course social networks don’t make us more sociable, the majority of your “friends” and “followers” you won’t even know that well or will have forgotten and so the fact that they remain able to scour through your day to day lives is bewildering. Social networks take away the act of meeting people and socialising in the public sphere with actually bones and flesh rather than a keyboard and a cup of tea. Maybe a biscuit.

Most people are very selective about who they actively communicate with, which is undermined by the ability to add and follow whoever you like. Granted we can ignore twitter as a social network more of a glorified, slightly stalker like, news feed where you are interested in particular people such as footballers, comedians and film stars as you think that because you are seeing them directly communicate with you you’re somehow closer to them. Facebook on the other hand seems to be a site you can collect friends, which people who you often no longer talk to or actively dislike seem to get unusually upset when you do the sensible thing and remove them. Overall social networks do not make us more sociable, they add nothing to the social process that’s already in place and usually only display pointless information no one could care less about.

COMMENT09

MONDAY 11th FEBRUARY 2013

Paleolithic diet : The ancient diet Nick Durrant In recent years an increasing number of experimental and extreme diets have been championed, often by sagging female celebrities, on the basis of their ability to achieve weight loss in remarkably short times and with minimal physical effort. I am here to make the case that despite being labelled as such on the NHS website, the Paleolithic (more commonly known as simply “paleo”) diet, does not fall into this category of “fad diets”.

Before explaining its nature and origins, it should be made clear that the paleo diet is not to be understood as a diet in the contemporary sense of the term - one aimed primarily at weight loss - but rather as a modern nutritional plan, which seeks to improve general health and wellbeing. In my experience it is typically adopted by openminded and forward-thinking people, quite often young adults with a background in science.

In brief, the theory behind paleo is grounded in the evolution of genetics. The plan consists of eating only the types of foods consumed by ancestral humans of the Pelolithic era, which lasted approximately 2.5 million years and ended around 10,000 BP. The rationale behind this is that our bodies, more specifically our digestive systems, are genetically adapted to consume these foods, as they evolved in such a way during that time.

As many of you will be aware, evolutionary changes occur over millions of years, not thousands.

Thus it follows that grain-based diets, which began only 10,000 years ago with the birth of agricultural farming, have not been around long enough to lead to any significant adaptations in our bodies.

The types of modern foods the diet consists of are fish, meats (free-range in as far as possible), eggs, fruit, vegetable and nuts.

It explicitly excludes any wheat, grains, dairy products, legumes, and refined sugar and salt. This list is not exhaustive nor is it necessarily hard and fast; for example, many have found that drinking small amounts of milk has had little impact on their ability to feel the benefits.

It is also important to understand that this is not simply a lowcarb diet – what is more significant is the glycaemic load of the carbohydrates you eat, which signifies the rate at which they turn into glucose in your body. This is what makes sweet potatoes paleo, but white potatoes not.

And what are the benefits of paleo? I started on the regime around nine months ago when I noticed feeling more sluggish after eating certain things, and I began to realise that avoiding those foods made a difference. I can say that within a few weeks I started experiencing most noticeably greater energy levels and an overall lift in my mood.

When I tell people this their response is often that they don’t feel unhappy or lacking in energy, so why should they change their diet?

But the reality is, everyone gets in

bad moods from time to time.

Many people are also often exhausted by the time they get home and experience post-lunch lulls in their energy levels, despite a sufficient number of calories and enough sleep (you don’t actually need as much as 8 hours). This can be explained by reference to what we eat: high-glycaemic foods – in particular sweets/chocolate and bread/pasta – raise your blood sugar levels very suddenly.

Whilst this gives you an immediate boost in energy, once the food is metabolised your pancreas releases insulin and blood sugar levels drop again, causing tiredness. Avoiding foods like this can therefore actively impact on the way you feel: I’m much less often tired and can cope with fewer hours sleep; very rarely anymore do I argue with friends or family; and my outlook is generally more positive. This is something that both myself and others who know me have noticed, and I’m certain it’s down to going paleo.

At this stage I feel I should point out that sticking to this diet in modern times is not easy. If you look at the labels on a number of the products you buy at the supermarket sugar is frequently one of the top three listed ingredients, be it in a stir-fry sauce or “healthy” granola bars.

We all crave sugar and again biology informs us – fruits were somewhat of a treat back in the paleo day hence why they taste so good, and they are crammed with (naturally occurring) sugar. But once you’ve cut it from your diet

for a while, the cravings go and you begin to appreciate much more the taste of simple foods like vegetables and nuts.

Whilst eating out is rarely an issue – all restaurants will have something paleo on the menu – snacking can be difficult. On-thego food is almost always breadbased, and sometimes fruit just won’t cut it.

Some forethought or preparation might be necessary if you want to keep your diet varied. Typically you’ll also be spending more on your weekly shop as you end up substituting wheat and grain products, which tend to be cheap and filling, for more meats and fish.

However despite the drawbacks and limitations, I believe it’s worth it.

When considering taking on the paleo diet one should remember that it’s not all or nothing: if you go 80% you will feel 80% of the benefit as any significant reduction in “difficult” foodstuffs will make a difference. I for example still drink beer (the hardest thing to give up in my opinion) in moderation, although red wine is the most paleo friendly alcohol out there.

The main things to watch out for are sugar, grains, and wheat. So I suggest trying it out for a couple of weeks and seeing you how feel; if you don’t notice any change then you’re no worse off. In the meantime, I hope I’ve convinced some of you to at least read up on the prospects of joining team paleo, for an improved version of your current life.

IMAGE BY JAYNEANDD

Hooligans should consider history James Tory

IMAGE BY PCORRIEA

In the ancient city of Timbuktu, Islamist insurgents fleeing from French and Malian troops decided to torch the Ahmed Baba library and destroy many of the city’s centuries old idolatorous shrines.

According to UNESCO, The library housed 300,000 priceless historical manuscripts which covered subjects such as poetry, astronomy and medicine dating back to the 13th century in a city which was at one point an important trading hub of Africa and a centre of Islamic learning from the 13th to 17th century.

While most of the manuscripts were saved – the major-

ity of them being moved out of Timbuktu before the Islamists moved in – workers at the Ahmed Baba Institute reckon that 2000 manuscripts may have been lost, either to the fires or looting marauders. Timbuktu’s rich cultural heritage like many other places in the world – think Rome when it was pillaged by the Vandals at the beginning of the Dark Ages; China during Chairman Mao’s destructive “Cultural Revolution”; or when Bamiyan valley suffered the destruction of ancient statues to the Taliban – has been irrevocably damaged by this event with hopes of restoring these historical documents and shrines doubtful. Aside from the

loss of human life, the destruction of historical artefacts and documents is probably one of the greatest losses that the human race can suffer. Infrastructure and governments can be rebuilt again but the history, relics and monuments which recorded everything from seismic events to the day to day routine of ordinary people in the past is forever lost. Think of how much more we could have learnt of the ancient world had the great library of Alexandria not been destroyed?

Many people may be indifferent towards the what happens to these objects but to lose them is to lose a cultural heritage which helps define who we are in the present. Whether it is our proud-

est moments such as the Magna Carta which was the first step towards democracy in Britain or nightmarish relics from the horrors of the Holocaust.

Think of it this way: when we are gone from the world, the only way we will be known centuries hence will be by the documents e.g. photographs that we leave behind. How would it feel if you were not remembered in the future by others if some cultural hooligan decided to burn down the library containing the proof of your existence?

So we must preserve our proof of our history or otherwise future generations will just think that what has happened is nothing more than a myth.

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10COMMENT

MONDAY 11th FEBRUARY 2013

No peace with Amnesty International

noun “terror”, one could argue that such predictable blunders as blowing up wedding parties are at best counterproductive.

Added to that, the 439 British soldiers who have come home in body bags should provide more than enough justification for ending the war at the first opportunity.

Not so for Amnesty International.

Anyone in Library Square last Tuesday would have seen their Queen Mary group campaigning with the slogan “Afghanistan: no peace without women’s rights”. As vital as wom-

en’s rights are, the implication here seems to be a threat that if women’s rights are regrettably not implemented, then war will simply have to continue – Amnesty appear to demand it. If these people won’t learn to be modern and liberal like us, we’ll have no choice to muster Prince Harry’s semi-retired Xbox-trained thumbs to “take them out of the game” from his civilizing Apache gunship.

Amnesty International have form here: last May they ran a poster campaign at the NATO summit in Chicago depicting women wearing burqas

with the slogan “NATO: Keep up the good work!” The hinting at women’s rights as a fig leaf for an imperialist war is in the same vein as the invocation of democratic ideals as a pretext for occupying Iraq, at the same time as British and US continued shamelessly to cosy up with dictatorships like Mubarak’s Egypt or the absolute monarchy in Saudi Arabia.

Foreign domination never helps liberation, and usually has the opposite effect, empowering reaction elements in a society.

Human rights defenders have a responsibility to stand up to power, and not to become its unwitting shills by recycling narratives that form the basis of pro-war propaganda (“we need war to save their women!”).

It’s not hard to find other places in the world where the situation for women is dire, yet the one place that Amnesty focuses on in their campaign is the same place that the British army is fully mobilized.

Amnesty does, of course, criticize the human rights situation in countries that are close allies of Britain, such as Saudi Arabia and Israel, but unlike Afghanistan, there is never any suggestion that it would be OK to deal with these countries through military means.

Amnesty International insisted to me via their official UK Twitter account that their slogan is pro-peace,

sufficient funds to employ this amount of staff members. So what can happen nowadays, when there is a reported deficit of over £9m, and a 6% fall in enrolment numbers at Queen Mary in autumn 2012 is likely to lose the university millions more?

It seems we must expect further cuts made to staff members. The people we need on campus for us to get the best we possibly can out of our time at university.Already this year the Medical Library at West Smithfield have stopped lending books out because of staff shortages (management had transferred them from West Smithfield to other libraries) and has only delayed plans to drastically cut opening hours after strong student protests.

It would be a different argument if we were requesting Queen Mary to spend money it didn’t have. Cuts are made because there is no other alternative, right? Yet Queen Mary reportedly has £10 million in reserves, and our Principal Simon Gaskell has been increasing his pay and benefits package (which

includes a free flat in Wapping worth £39,000 per year) by nearly 20% in recent years to around £273,000. The number of staff paid more than £100 grand a year each has risen 11 to 106 in the last 2 years.

Yet the university claims it is unable to afford workers in the library on much more modest salaries.

Also it is not just the library that bears the brunt of cuts. Elsewhere jobs are being slashed, such as in security. This is equally important to students’ wellbeing, particularly those living in halls or anyone of us working late or taking part in society meetings.

Yet at night there are often only a handful of security staff covering the entire Mile End campus. How often do you see security patrolling late at night to speak to if there are problems?

These problems aren’t necessary. Instead of staying in the cut back culture, the university needs to consider alternatives which will be more beneficial and effective long term. The money hasn’t

disappeared, it is just where it shouldn’t be: the wallets of the principal and others. It needs to be where it can be of use because no one realistically needs a salary of more than £100k. But we, as students, need the staff members that will make our time at Queen Mary the safe and useful experience we are paying for. One that will justify the respectable reputation Queen Mary has. Speaking on behalf of Socialist Students, we call out for an alternative that creates no damage to life at Queen Mary.

If the university is losing numbers of students due to the higher fees, then it needs to change its policy and put the quality of students’ education first, investing in the staff who make a real difference to students instead of executive salaries for the few, and charging the maximum fee to look prestigious.

Students are paying almost triple last year’s fees, but getting less for it! With this in mind, it is clear that cuts are the wrong method. The money we know Queen Mary has

needs to be put to better use.

Sam Playle This country has been embroiled in an unwinnable war in Afghanistan for over 11 years, and there are many good reasons to campaign against it.

One could point to 15,000 dead Afghan civilians, or argue that Western states have no business galavanting around the world bringing rogue states to heel.

Even if one accepts the basic premise that we have a right to act as judge, jury and Predator drone pilot to save the world from the abstract

image by sam playle

not pro-war. That makes little sense because being “pro-” something would tend to preclude making it conditional on something else. If the Taliban were insisting “no women’s rights without peace”, that couldn’t be reasonably called a pro-women’srights slogan.

One might wonder whether Amnesty mean “peace” is in the sense of “No justice, no peace!” - a promise to continue protesting, not machine gunning, but that’s untenable because the campaign was clearly times to coincide with the trilateral negotiations between the UK, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Campaigns have more potential to do good when they focus on the society they come from, although this will surely make the campaigners less comfortable than if they were to have joined the chorus against the establishment’s foes.

Amnesty should spend its time attacking human rights violations perpetrated by our own side if it really wants to make a difference in the world.

QMessenger asked the VP of QM Amnesty Nataša Cordeaux to comment on the above article. She replied ‘It is not justifying war, it is suggesting that war is not enough; we need to concern ourselves with issues on the ground and support women who want change in their society.’

Another word on West Smithfield Library Eleanor Morrissey Cuts are never popular amongst people, yet cuts are a common occurrence in times of financial difficulty.

This can range from a single student refraining from a night out to stay within his/her budget, to a nation’s government, as we are all aware, cutting funding for tuition fees. Queen Mary also have also taken part in the culture of cutting back. So as students we need to ask if the cuts made are necessary and will it create an unwanted impact on the quality of our university experience Queen Mary promises?One place where cuts at Queen Mary have been made is one which is vital to all students: the library. In 2011 the Mile End library saw 24 highly trained and motivated staff members made redundant.

These people are needed to assist students in many different ways to make a student’s work or research run as smoothly as it possibly can.

Yet they are gone, because the university claimed not to have

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IMAGE PROVIDED BY QM PRESS TEAM

COMMENT11

MONDAY 11th FEBRUARY 2013

A bully, a lie and a cheat: Armstrong’s apology for being caught Hannah O’Neill It’s a tricky one, the Lance Armstrong debate, and I’m not sure I’ve picked a side yet. In some ways, there are many factors to consider. There is the culture of competitive cycling, and the fact that the corruption surely extends beyond Armstrong, to consider.

Then there is the charitable work he has done through the Livestrong foundation, which some would argue shouldn’t be neglected in the verdict by his jury, the general public. And finally there is the fact that the man had an aggressive form of testicular cancer, which spread to his brain and lungs, and which resulted in testicular and brain surgery along with excessive chemotherapy. It’s very hard to point the finger and shout ‘Liar’ at someone who has been through that. On the other hand, it’s very simple: the guy cheated, then lied about cheating, then took legal action against every person that called him a cheat. And now some experts are accusing him of lying to Oprah about being clean for his comeback races in 2009 and 2010. For some reason, people are finding it hard to take his word for it.

It is almost impossible to consider this affair as an isolated incident and to dismiss Armstrong as merely an athlete who cheated (albeit on an unprecedented scale), and for the sport and public to forget about him so that he fades into obscurity as an embarrassing blip in the history of professional cycling; that is what would happen were it any other athlete.

What sets Armstrong apart is his history of dogged denial in the face of accusation.

You may be familiar now with the names on the collateral damages list: Paul Kimmage, Christophe Bassons, David Walsh, Emma O’Reilly and Betsy and Frankie Andreu (the former of whom he called ‘crazy’ and a ‘bitch’, but crucially, never ‘fat’) are all on there. Sunday Times journalist David Walsh was on

Armstrong’s case for 13 years, determined to prove his suspicions that the athlete was a serial doper, and he suffered for his pains, earning the nickname the ‘Little Troll’ from the former athlete. Armstrong met his match in Walsh, and like any bully, he was intimidated. Walsh will undoubtedly take comfort in the fact that Armstrong has assured Oprah that he will apologise to the journalist – probably in the same way that Betsy Andreu was comforted by her 40 minute phone conversation with Armstrong; that’s over half an hour of sincere, heartfelt words from a man who is notorious for saying only what he really means.

Armstrong has certainly changed tack. Consistently arrogant in the past, he set himself up for a majestic fall – his faux pitying sentiment to all the doubters - “I’m sorry you guys don’t believe in miracles” - following his seventh consecutive Tour title, holds an acute irony now, and his decision to tweet a picture of himself “just layin’ around” with his seven yellow Tour de France jerseys was classic behaviour for a man so deeply deluded that he considered banned substances as integral to his preparation for a race as was ‘the air in his tyres

For some reason people are finding it hard to take his word for it and the water in his bottle’.

Only when he realised that in order to repair his public image to any small degree he was limited to stockpiling sympathy, did Armstrong pull a complete 180 and announce his decision to confess to everything on Oprah during a tactically timed no-holds-barred exclusive interview. Armstrong hitched his wagon to the doyenne of American media and basked in her forgiving glow for 2 hours

ARMSTRONG WON SEVEN TOURS THROUGH VARIOUS FORMS OF DRUGS

of what was the best acting that Armstrong has demonstrated since his cameo in Dodgeball.

Unfortunately for him, body language experts such as Vanessa Van Edwards were unconvinced

by Armstrong’s performance.

Van Edwards, who analysed the interview for the Huffington Post, claims that the only emotions evident in Armstrong’s expressions were anger, pride, defiance and contempt, and she laments the lack of sadness, the only emotion which would have convinced her of any regret. She also refers to Armstrong’s ‘open leg cross’ positioning, which conveys aggression – hardly the behaviour of a person who is sincerely apologetic for his actions.

The interview is worth a watch.

Armstrong uses a number of clever devices to try and win over the audience from the outset: he plays the cancer card, the philanthropy card, the self-deprecating card. He flatters Oprah and feigns respect for the questions you just know he hates her for asking.

In response to “Why admit to it now?”, Armstrong skirts the real answer (“Because it’s the only PR stunt that has any chance of

saving my mangled reputation”) and instead congratulates her on asking “the best and most logical question” before going on to acknowledge that the confession is “too late for most people”. Armstrong is clearly a man who knows tactics, or at least who has learnt them the hard way.

His reasonable attitude and calm demeanour during the interview is a far cry from the wiry athlete who spat denial from the press conference podium. His refusal to name names enhances the sense that he is a martyr for the cause, just like his affirmation of “I deserve this.” His reputation has died for the sins of the sport.

No doubt there were people who were convinced by his confession to Oprah and his apology.

What has left me cynical, aside from past evidence that his “win at all costs” attitude can easily be mistaken for the brazenly unapologetic personality of a bully and pathological liar, is the fact that he expressed to Oprah that he regrets making a comeback in 2009, as he believes that if he had not returned to the sport, they would not be having that interview. This implies that Armstrong

would not have had to make his confession to Oprah if he had not made his comeback, because he would have got away with doping his way through a successful, and what some considered miraculous, career. What is difficult for some people to stomach is the notion that someone who has had cancer and has set up a charitable organisation is also capable of bullying, lying, and cheating.

Such conflicting traits do not sit well. I would argue that it is perhaps not so hard to believe that the same “win at all costs” attitude that Armstrong took into his cycling, he also applied to his ambitious humanitarian projects.

The work that the charity does is presumably beneficial, but that is not necessarily down to its controversial former figurehead, it is down to the many people that carry out valuable work in its name.

A lot of people make mistakes, but in this case I am erring on the side of the critics of Armstrong’s confession. I don’t believe that he is particularly sorry about something which came so naturally to him. It’s a cliché, but I believe he is merely sorry he got caught.

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12FEATURES

MONDAY 11th FEBRUARY 2013

IMAGE BY GUILLAUME PAUMIER

LGBT Week - How far have we come?

Sean Richardson LGBT: For some, it’s a tricky phrase. How do you pronounce it? What does it mean? Just plain, what?

For others it’s something they’ve known about since they were little, it might even be a part of their own identity. So what exactly IS LGBT? Well, it stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, queer, questioning, asexual or intersex.

But what it stands for isn’t what

it means, and that’s what Queen Mary’s LGBT History Month celebrations have been all about, raising awareness and celebrating diversity.

Over the past week we’ve put on a string of events, from LGBT healthcare to an open mic night at the Victoria, it’s been five days packed with all aspects of LGBT culture.

But even better, it’s been five days packed with all kinds of LGBT people. For if this week has

proved one thing, it’s that LGBT folk are everywhere, they permeate every part of society as well as make up their own and they are more numerous than even I myself realised. Oh, and we’re one step closer to equal marriage – what could have been a more apt political move for Britain to make?

Feel like you’ve missed out?

Don’t worry, this is just the tip of a huge, LGBT iceberg.

The rest of the month will see

London wide festivities, and a quick glance at Time Out will provide you with a multitude of celebrations happening near you.

Prefer something closer to home?

Join QM’s very own LGBT society, runs for the LGBT officer position in the upcoming elections or take part in our version of the It Gets Better campaign to help send a positive message out to everyone on campus. LGBT culture isn’t going away, it’s growing bigger with every passing year

and it’s something to get involved with, to understand and to enjoy.

This past week has shown that LGBT is for everybody, some if you’re gay or straight there’s always something to get involved with or a culture that you haven’t fully explored yet. LGBT History Month awaits, so go find out what’s happening! To get involved with the It Gets Better campaign please organise the video co-ordinator at seanrichardsonucas@gmail.com

Raise and Give Week storms Queen Mary Preston Abell RAG Week, Queen Mary’s annual Raise and Give Week, kicked off on Monday, 4th February, with a cake sale that took place in library square entitled “Let Them Eat Cake”. The week of events included a wide range of activities, from a 12 hour Knitting Marathon in Library Square on Tuesday to a doughnut eating contest on Wednesday, all of which were designed to get Queen Mary students involved in raising money for charity.

Over the last 8 years of RAG Week, at QM and BLmore than £1.5 million has been raised for local charities. This year, the charities that RAG chose to support were Richard House, a Children’s Hospice in East London, Whitechapel Mission, a charity serving the homeless population in the East End, and Positive East, a East End based organization serving

those affected by HIV. Richard House was founded

by Anthea Hare, whose brother, Richard, died in his teens from advanced and multiple disabilities.

Inspired by her brother’s passing, Anthea founded Richard House in hopes of providing a place where children facing debilitating and life-threatening illnesses could make the most out of their short lives while also providing support for the children’s families. Most of the children that Richard House serves are affected with an incurable or advanced condition, such as Muscular Dystrophy or severe Cerebral Palsy, where their life expectancy is tragically short.

There are 8 full time beds at Richard House, and an array of services for both the affected children and their families. On top of this, the Chief Executive of Richard House, Peter Ellis, hopes that within the near future, through the help

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of fundraising initiatives like RAG Week, that Richard House will be able to expand and “be considered a central hub for palliative care, a resource centre to support as well as provide services for children, young adults, their carers and professionals in healthcare” in London’s East End. Whitechapel Mission and Positive East have equally worthy goals and initiatives. Whitechapel Mission’s stated mission is “to serve the men and women caught in the cycles of poverty, hopelessness and dependencies of many kinds, and to see their lives transformed to hope, joy and lasting productivity.” Over 5,000 people used Whitechapel Mission’s services last year with the help of over 4,000 volunteers.

In 2012 alone, Whitechapel Mission served 109,700 breakfasts, an average 300 breakfasts a day. Just as impressively, Positive East, has served 2,583 HIV positive individ-

uals through their many advocacy programs, support groups, counseling and medical services. To close RAG week’s successful string of events, there were two musically themed events. On Friday, students showed off their talents and busked around Mile End campus, with all of the proceeds they raised going to charity. Then on Friday Night, Itchy Feet played an event at Concrete in Shoreditch in which all of the proceeds from the tickets went straight to the RAG fund.

In the spirit of getting everyone involved for a good cause, officers at RAG were even able to get the Library involved in their fundraising after they kindly offered to donate all late book fines collected on Tuesday and Friday to the RAG fund, allowing even those who were unaware of or unable to attend any of RAG’s other events to contribute to RAG’s incredibly worthy mission in some small way.

IMAGE PROVIDED BY QM RAG

FEATURES13

MONDAY 11th FEBRUARY 2013

Get Involved: Paint the town Green : Go Green Week Student A week of events getting students thinking about sustainability Volunteering Green Mary Society Week

Preston Abell Queen Mary’s Student Volunteer Week is taking place from Monday, the 11th of February to Friday the 15th. On Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 11:30 to 1:30 in Library Square, there will be representatives from a wide range of charities and nonprofit organizations looking to recruit students to volunteer for their cause.

The charities represented cover an array of different issues: from Starfish Greathearts, which raises money to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa, to RNIB, which aids and advocates for the blind and partially blind, to Generating Genius, which works with and supports gifted students from disadvantaged communities and underprivileged schools.

There will also be an International Volunteer Fair from 2 to 4 on Tuesday in the SU Hub which will help students find the right organization to work with if they are looking for work or volunteer experience internationally over the summer.

Additionally, on Thursday from 1 to 2 in Bromley Room One, there will be a training and discussion session about working with students with learning disabilities. This will be followed by a Mini Marathon in Victoria Park from 11:45 to 3:30 to support and benefit young people in sports.

Lastly, on Wednesday, from 1:30 to 3:30, there is a special opportunity for QM students to get involved in their local area, for there will be a Clean Up Campaign at Regent’s Canal, where participants will spend several hours cleaning up and beautifying the Mile End stretch of Regent’s Canal.

Meat-Free Monday: Rearing meat for human consumption is contributing significantly to anthropogenic climate change.

The amount of greenhouse gases emitted each year from livestock farming is greater than the emissions produced by all of the world’s transport systems.

It would be ideal for the planet and all those that live on it if humans gave up consuming the flesh of animals but of course many people won’t give up meat for various reasons. However, a reduction of our consumption of meat will still enormously contribute to decreasing both our individual and collective carbon footprints, leading to better health for the planet and ourselves.

On Monday 11th February, The Curve and Mucci’s will go meat free and sell a range of vegetarian dishes. Infusion, The Village Shop and Ground will have special promotions on vegetarian food. This is your chance to try some vegetarian dishes that you normally wouldn’t.

Give it a go - it could open your eyes to a new way of life!

Travel-Light Tuesday: Encouraging staff and students to cycle to work not only physically helps them but helps to reduce their own carbon footprint. To promote this, we’re putting on a number of events that put cyclists first.

For early risers free muffins will be given out if you get to the Curve between 8am-10am. Here, you’ll also be able to calculate the carbon emissions avoided by your journey too. There will also be Crime Prevention Officers giving advice on bike theft between 10.30-1.30 on campus. There will also be the chance to pick up cycle accessories and find out about local cycle routes, Barclays Cycle Hire scheme and free cycle confidence training.

And finally, driving somewhere?

Say no to empty seats. Get your car seats earning money and meet fun people by sharing the journey and help the College to reduce carbon emissions! For more information, visit gocarshare.com/queen-maryuniveristy-of-london Although unrelated to travel, there is also going to be a Biodiversity Conservation task being held

by Tower Hamlets between 10:0016:00. Meet outside the Soanes Centre, just inside the main entrance on Southern Grove.

IMAGE BY SHEESHOO

Waste-Not Wednesday: One of the most difficult but important life-lessons to gain is having the courage to need little.

Waste in Britain is a major issue, when over a third of all our food is thrown away. Similarly, most of us have heaves of unwanted junk that is never used, and could probably find a better home elsewhere.

To facilitate this, we will be holding a Student Swap-shop at the SU Hub (behind Ground) between 12:00-15:00. Please come along and bring any donations that you can spare; we will have music, books, clothes and much more!

Regents Canal, as I’m sure you have all seen, is also rife with waste.

It can seem like a never-ending battle fishing out beer cans and shopping bags from the waters.

Thankfully, an organization called Thames21 have made it their mission to clean our beloved canals, but they can’t do it without volunteers. There will be a canal clean-up this Wednesday 13:30-15:30. Meet

by The New Globe and you will be kitted out with gloves, boots etc.

No previous experience necessary.

About a third of UK universities are still recycling less than 25% of their waste. Think that’s rubbish? Then recycle your unwanted books - students and staff are asked to place any unwanted books into one of the donation boxes in each of the College Libraries. 2.5 billion disposable cups are discarded annually in the UK so, if you love your mug and

care about the environment, visit SU catering outlets and receive 10% off your hot drinks.

Local-food Thursday: Buying locally is a great way to promote small businesses, eat fresher and reduce your carbon footprint. Every Thursday at Queen Mary, the Famer’s Market is held, selling all manner of fresh, locally produced food. From fresh bread to Vegan Creole Fritters, there are plenty of things to sample for lunch.

To promote buying from the Farmer’s Market, there will be a raffle held so that everyone who buys something raw will be given a ticket for the opportunity to win a hamper of local food. A great present for valentines day too! This will run from 9am-2pm.

The Curve will also be doing their bit to promote buying locally by having a menu of meals with ingredients sourced locally, including a vegetarian option. We will also be screening a short film ‘Best Before’ at the SU Hub Bromely Rooms 16:30-18:00 with a discussion afterwards about how we can buy more locally in every area of life.

Switch-Off Friday: It can be tough trying to reduce your energy when you’re living in halls with, say, 10 other people.

Luckily, an organization called Student Switch-Off offer competitions for flats to compete in. If

you can show that you’re actively trying to reduce your energy consumption, then you have the opportunity to win goodies like Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream for your flat.

The Student Switch-Off team will be visiting halls on this day to give students the opportunity to sign up and talk about ways in which saving energy can be done.

This year, everyone who makes the Big Switch to renewable energy during February will win a Plush Chocolate Hamper with a value of over £50, and People & Planet will receive up to £60 towards student-led climate campaigns.

You’ll pay no extra than you do now for great green energy. Just 50 sign-ups would mean a whopping 5000 new customers receiving clean, green renewable energy instead of fuelling the fossil fuel companies.

We will also be holding our other Biodiversity Conservation event today, this time at the Ecology Pavilion between 10:0016:00 for some Willow Coppicing. After all this, it’s time for some relaxation. We will be going for some food and drinks in the area – everyone welcome! Meet outside room 1.02.5 in the Bancroft Building at 17:00 (our usual meeting point).

For more information on the events being put on for Go Green Week, please contact Green Mary at greenmaryqm@gmail.com

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Clubbing with a conscience: NSPCC Dance to be Heard Belphoebe New With the rise of the nightime charity event, the idea of ‘clubbing with a conscience’ has become popular in raising money for various British Charities. The NSPCC have organised an exciting night alongside students of Queen Mary, UEL and the London College of Fashion which is sure to cater to all music tastes, and it’s just down the road in the achingly trendy Shoreditch, mixing a dose of morality with London’s trendiest nightlife.

‘Dance to be Heard’ is a live music event that both awareness promoter for the NSPCC Dustin and Queen Mary organiser James Levy say ‘wishes to combine awareness with entertainment.’ Dustin says that he hopes that ‘students go away and pledge to spread the message.’ He explains that the night is ‘for all age groups’, the underlying message of the event being to ‘report incidents of child abuse on the NSPCC helpline.’

This message comes under the NSPCC’s general awareness campaign at the moment, called ‘Don’t wait.’ Dustin offered the shocking statistic that around ‘half the

people who call the helpline wait a month until they report an incident of what they suspect to an abused child.’

Queen Mary Student James Levy has taken a large part himself in organising the event. Alongside students from LCF and UEL, James spent 8 weeks brainstorming ideas to make the most impressive and most effective evening of entertainment possible.

He stressed to me the idea of feeling the need to give something back, in a world where our dissertations may seem the biggest problem on the horizon, James wants to see the bigger picture, stating ‘the most important aspect of the world is us, as we’re going to grow up and run it.’ He said he ‘met some great people with some great ideas’ and is confident that the event will be a brilliant night for readers as it is run ‘by students, for students.’

Dustin offered some highlights of the event itself, including a motivational speaker Action Jackson who will be performing alongside bands such as Tall Poppies, an indie folk act and No Room for Giants, a five piece of alternative Rock Band. If that’s not enough

for you, James described the exciting concept of ‘musical bingo’ to me, playing with songs instead of numbers, meaning that the grannies’ choice of gaming can probably become ironically cool even under East London’s standards. Dustin also excitedly tells me of a film they will be showing, directed by Skins director Amanda Boyle, parodying the original youtube hit ‘Shit girls Says’ with their own version: ‘Shit kids say.’

It’s clear that the two organisers are passionate about what’s on offer, and confident that it will help students go away and feel enthused to spread the message. Dustin says that to further help the work that the NSPCC are doing, he asks students to like the ‘Dance to be Heard’ Facebook page , as well as following on Twitter and donating to the cause. The event itself is free, so there’s no excuse not to get down there and join what looks to be a brilliant night of live music, entertainment and moral awareness. Take a short walk or hop on the 25 down to 128 Curtain Road in Shoreditch on the 28th February, door open 7pm. See the poster for more information!

£30 to see a lump of wax: are tourist attractions worth it?

Belphoebe New

London is often said to be the city where you can have fun for free, whether you’re enjoying the various parks on offer or the never ending list of free museums and galleries.

However, renowned tourist spots can still make a considerable hole in the spectator’s pocket, and may have put you off visiting.

This is a guide on what pricey tourist attractions are worth the money and which ones are worth missing.

Madame Tussauds - £25.80 If waxworks are your thing (are they anyone’s thing?) then Madame Tussauds is must. It might be your only opportunity to meet the stars, even if their eyes are disturbingly glazed over and they look nothing like the real thing.

However, at almost £26, it’s one of London’s most expensive tourist attractions, and with the distinct lack of anything other than over the top theatrics and IMAGE BY PETER GLENDAY

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MONDAY 11th FEBRUARY 2013

unconvincing as well as mildly creepy models, it would seem that this might not be the ideal choice for the cash strapped student.

Verdict: Overpriced and worth missing.

Ripley’s Believe it or not London - £24.95 (student) Promising a day entirely out of the ordinary, Ripley’s museum celebrates the weird and the wonderful and the terrifying. Yet the most terrifying element of the exhibit might possibly be the price.

For what some might say is a museum directed at children, Ripley’s may still maintain some dark and eccentric humour for the student, and at a whopping 85p less than the underwhelming waxworks available at Madame Tussauds, this might be a worthy day out for believers in the fantastic and the grotesque.

Verdict: Worth it for the weirdness.

The view from the Shard £24.95 The newly opened Shard view-

IMAGE BY COSMONAUTIRUSSI

ing deck promises the best views of London that make the London eye’s offering look insignificant at best.

Standing at 310m tall, nobody can deny that this will be an incredible depiction of London for the tourist, but at a shocking £25, it might be worth sticking with the actual helicopter panoramic views of London shown on shows like the Apprentice.

It might not be the real thing, but it’s a hell of a lot cheaper.

Since the opening has been hampered by poor weather, it seems that the Shard isn’t offering anything new.

Verdict: Not worth the trek.

St Pauls Cathedral - £14.00 (concessions) London’s incredible cathedral differs from many other city cathedrals in the sense that it charges for entry, and at £14.00 for students, it’s not cheap. But, as one of London’s most iconic buildings, it’s hard not to feel a little bit of curiosity about what’s inside.

With one of the most impressive interiors of a building you’ll ever see, this building is truly steeped in history.

You can also climb to the dome

and watch the happenings of the cathedral floor, as well as admire the amazing view of the architecture, and be able to truly appreciate how large and impressive this building is.

Verdict: You’ll have to visit once, but that’s probably all you’ll need.

The Tower of London £17.60 (students) If you hadn’t already visited the Tower of London on a school trip as a kid, you may be curious as to know what all the fuss is about.

The Tower is one of the most historically fascinating areas of London, but again, at an eye watering £17.60, it’s not exactly ideal for a spontaneous day out.

If you want to experience some of the gruesome stories of torture, death and the dodgy streets of London that the tower has to offer, then this is definitely worth a visit at least once in your 3-4 years at university.

Also, if you’re a Tower Hamlets resident with an Idea store library card and proof of address, you can visit the Tower for just £1. Visit the Idea store website for more information!

Verdict: Worth it for the iconic depiction of the past in London.

CULTURE15

MONDAY 11th FEBRUARY 2013

Who needs a Valentine when you can have pancakes?

Jasmine Virhia Sub Editor

Ingredients (to make approximately 8 pancakes): 220 grams of sifted plain flour Pinch of salt 1 pint of milk 50 grams of butter

Step 6: Leave the mixture to stand for around 30 minutes.

Step 7: Heat the frying pan and use the left over melted butter to grease it.

Step 8: Pour 2 or perhaps 3 tablespoons of the mixture (depending on the size of the frying pan) into the centre of the pan and tip it around, side to side to get an even spread.

Step 9: When the underside is golden brown, attempt a pro chef style flip to cook the other side.

Step 10: Serve with any kind of topping, and if you’re not sure what to have, here’s some tasty suggestions.

Step 1: Sift the flour and salt into a mixing bowl with the sieve held quite high above it to ensure the flour is aired.

Step 2: Make a hole in the middle of the flour and break the eggs into it.

Step 3: Begin whisking, making sure all the flour is mixed with the eggs.

Step 4: Start to add small quantities of milk whilst still whisking. Keep doing this until the mixture is smooth.

Step 5: Melt the butter in a frying pan then add 2 table-

Serve with: - Lemon juice and sugar (the classic) - Nutella and ice cream - Peanut Butter and bananas - Fried apples and toffee sauce - Dulche de leche and chocolate For those of you that don’t have a sweet tooth, why don’t you try: -Melted cheese and herbs -Bacon and maple syrup -Chilli Con Carne and cheese -Salmon and cream cheese -Spinach, Egg and Mushrooms - Four cheeses ( Mozzarella, Halloumi, Cheddar and Gouda)

It’s that time of year again where ‘love is in the air,’ you however can fill that with the smell of pancakes. If you fancy a go at making your own then here’s a step by step guide complete with possible ways to serve. Enjoy!

spoons of it to the mixture.

IMAGE PROVIDED BY ACIDNULL

Practical Theology: An interview with Lord Andrew Mawson Emma Shone Last summer, the eyes of the world rested on our city’s East End. Contrary to expectations, we put on a damn good show, and proved the worth of a previously less than reputable area. Countless news stories revolved around the miraculous turn-around of the Tower Hamlets and Newark area, and the golden opportunities the Olympic visit had provided which enabled the area to move forward from its poverty-stricken past. Did the Olympics help? Undoubtedly. But it was the people, not the park, that have brightened the future of our East End City.

Nor did the games mark the beginning of the East End’s renaissance. Today, our area is 25 years into a 50 year redevelopment plan, which has been pioneered and driven by social entrepreneur Lord Andrew Mawson. Since being posted to a derelict church in Bromley-By-Bow 29 years ago, where he was greeted by an elderly congregation of 12 people, spread amongst their regular seats in a church built for 200 – “It looked

like the dead had been carried out and no one had noticed” – Lord Andrew has founded the world-renowned Bromley-By-Bow Centre.

The Centre’s unprecedented concoction of health care, art, culture and entrepreneurship has demonstrated what can be achieved when cultures come together and actively build something, as opposed to sitting and theorising on its potential.

He told QMessenger: “You had these housing estates, where 97% of everything was run by the state, nothing worked, anyone who could get out had got out, and it was all a terrible mess. And you had the highest levels of poverty, mental ill health, unemployment, and also what you had at that time was lots of ideology starting to run around.

“When you look at those who talk ideology and theory, and those who get into the practise with real people, you see something quite different, actually. At the time, East London was littered with campaigns and people talking who I can’t remember- they came and they went and they never stayed and did anything. So, what I began to discover, is the relationship between

the micro and the macro, and that actually what we need in this generation are people who don’t talk so much, but get their hands dirty and get involved.”

Confessing that he only meant to stay in the East End for two years, Lord Mawson told us how he became such a vitally permanent presence in the area: “I loved a challenge. And one of the reasons I decided to stay was, people started to join us, and we started saying “well we’re going to take them on.

Cos we don’t buy all this theory, actually. Cos it’s a social human disaster. I just love working with these people. The East End has a great great people, and they don’t have any nonsense. I really like that - I come from Yorkshire!”

Despite opposition from both Social Services and the NHS, who put their hands in their bags and “pulled out an encyclopaedia of 1000 reasons why nothing can happen in the world, ever”, the Bromley-By-Bow Centre now employs over 150 staff members from the local area, and has supported residents in the building of their own entrepreneurial ventures, in-

IMAGE BY ANDREW MAWSON PARTNERSHIPS

cluding a £300million housing company with over 9000 properties.

So, as Lord Mawson explained, “The Olympics were a catalyst.

They’re small, compared to what’s coming- there’s a new city growing here. And these journalists that keep arriving from Mars and keep telling us the big story’s the stadium- no its not!

Actually, it’s about building this new city and connecting universities and people and creating jobs.”

And what can we do, as university students, still very much engrossed

in memorising the ideologies we believe are going to catapult us to the heights of career success? We can get involved.

There’s a new city growing in London’s East End, and Queen Mary is sitting right in the middle of it. As Lord Andrew explained, “If you leave school with loads of ideology and no practical skills no one’s going to employ you; one of the problems with universities is that too many people are leaving with no practical skills. So my advice to students is: let’s get practical.”

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16CULTURE

MONDAY 11th FEBRUARY 2013

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What to do this Valentine’s Day...

Belphoebe New Whether you’ll be planning the special day weeks in advance or cynically branding it as a barely concealed marketing ploy, you may as well enjoy some of the brilliant events on offer in London for the day of love. We’ve collated some of the best Valentine’s events, for couples and singles.

Find love in the past Museums across London are going to be celebrating Valentine’s Day with an evening of love themed entertainment.

If you’re wondering how they do it on the discovery channel, visit the Natural History museum’s Love in the Natural world event where they’ll be ‘taking a look at the wild side of Valentine’s day.’ Otherwise, the Museum of London over at St. Pauls will be hosting a 20’s themed evening with live music and cabaret. Locations varied.

Escape on a Love A Fayre Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club have organised a fair centred around the loving season, but not just for couples.

With live music, vintage accessories and plenty of gifts for your other half, this looks like a cheaper and more enjoyable way of finding a gift for your partner or, more importantly, yourself.

Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club, E2 6NB

Relive your prom If you love old 80’s movies, the Book Club’s Valentine’s offering might just be the one for you.

Promising a recreated 80s prom night with confetti, Taffeta and unlikely couples getting off in the corner, this looks like the most fun you could possibly have on Valentine’s day, whether coupled or not.

Take your partner or friends for a brilliantly kitsch night of fun. The Book Club, Shoreditch EC2A 4RH Buy yourself a new heart Specialist morbid cake makers Evil Cakehead are holding an event where ‘saying it with hearts and flowers has never been so scientific!’

Selling an array of gifts every thing will have one thing in common – they have been based off an anatomical heart.

Open February 8th to 10th on the Bethnal Green Road, this is the perfect place to find that last minute gift, and quite literally give your heart to that special person. Bethnal Green Road, E2 7DG. Mix up love in a glass Your local budget cinema Genesis is holding a mixology class this Valentine’s Day in their new Bar Paragon. You can learn to make your own ‘shaken, not stirred’ concoctions and enjoy your liquid designs afterwards. Classes start at 7 and 8pm. Arrive half an hour early to be ready to shake on time.

CULTURE17 ...and for the singletons

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Belphoebe New Join a book club.

Think book club sounds like something you’d be forced to do at school? They can actually be a great way to learn about different cultures and enhance your analytical skills. The local library up in Whitechapel are running a series of free book groups specifically based around the Bengali culture, a great opportunity to learn a little more about your own culture or someone else’s. Idea Store, Whitechapel, E1 1BU.

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Be an unknown heroine.

Croatian artist Sanja Iveković brings her work to East London to showcase her photographic and mixed media works based around concepts such as consumerism and femininity.

Already displaying her works at the Tate Modern, Iveković’s work can be described as an unsettling ride through the human consciousness as affected by civil unrest.

Closing up on the 24th February, any photographic or general art fans shouldn’t miss this. Calvert 22, E2 7JP.

3

Finally take off those stabilisers Look mum no hands may sound like the name of the world’s most obnoxious hipster club night, but it is actually an effortless (?) blend of cuisine and bike repairing.

Yes, really. Come here to get your cycle repaired as well as enjoy some of the classic salads and cakes on offer, and maybe catch a cycling event at one of their showings.

Definitely a good choice for any Bradley Wiggins wannabees.

Old Street, EC1V 9HX

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Don’t be scared If you’re looking for a London nightlife experience a little different to Drapers, then secretive speakeasy The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town might just be the one for you.

Last issue’s featured location The Breakfast Club is the first place to go to find this illusive basement experience, where you should ask for the Mayor, who will lead you through…a Smeg Fridge.

Inside you’ll find an atmosphere as self-consciously retro throwback as the fridge door you arrived

through, with moose heads, high stools and exposed wood walls.

Unlike other speakeasies, it doesn’t take itself too seriously and pokes a little fun at other secret or underground venues. Get a cocktail and a bite to eat to escape this valentines.

But remember to keep it your little secret. Artillery Lane, E1 7LS.

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Be transported to central Europe (via the Kingsland Road.)

Sat on the join between Old Street and Kingsland Road, this bar might seem relatively unknown to students.

It is infact, a European themed bar experience which proclaims as to having London’s largest collection of premium Czech lagers, often seen as some of the best in the world.

The interior is a comfy setting of leather sofas and warm lighting where you can enjoy Czech delicacies such as the marinated cheese and their special pate.

Their cocktail list is extensive, and not unreasonably priced, so it is ideal for pre drinks or a casual night out. Kingsland Road, E2 8DA.

IMAGE BY BRITTA JASCHINSKI

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18SATIRE

MONDAY 11th JANUARY 2013

Fifty shades of yellow Matthew Walsham This week E.L James is suing the coalition after Cameron referred to Clegg as; ‘my very own Nick Clegg flavor popsicle.’

As he bit his lip on camera visiting an armaments factory in Accrington, he seemed roused, continuing; “Hmm...he’s soft and hard at once, like steel encased in yellow velvet.”

Ms. James, original pen name “Snowqueen’s Icedragon”, is famed for her Fifty shades series which led to a global phenomenon of less than credible literature with added jiggle balls.

Yet the plagiaristic quoting by our Prime Minister seems to have the litigious paddle of the icedragon swinging hard, raising the question if life imitates art, or conversely, is the Fifty Shades of Grey Saga actually based on a twisted amalgamation of the coalition and Twilight?

What started as a story of polit-

ical intrigue between two naughty politicians has slowly been polluted to a whole new sadomasochistic level.

Within his own party Cameron’s strong use of the chief whips has led to a well hung parliament but recently the pair has come to blows over Cameron’s use of the Catholic approach to the EU despite Clegg preferring the barrier method of reform.

Other controversies include disagreements over the redrawing of political boundaries, while this time it pertains to elections, it is not the first time boundaries have been violated.

Early in the first chapter of our story, a lib-con agreement was drawn up, a contract detailing Cleggy’s hard and soft limits for when getting into bed with Cameron. Slowly all the safe words like AV, Lords reform and tuition fees have been whispered in agony, yet Clegg remains firmly ball gagged and sodomised for Dave’s

pleasure. Clegg has even started to turn up to press conferences in full leather, seemingly embracing his new submissive life in government.

The now thoroughly dominant Tory party is pushing through radical agenda without a parliamentary majority. Despite Britain once falling in love with Nick Clegg, he has become a slave to the Christian Grey-esque political power play, reduced to a miserable man whose greatest lift in polls comes from the auto-tuning of his apologies rather than the apology itself.

Ms. E.L James shouldn’t be suing the Government, she should pity poor Mr. Clegg, who gets no satisfaction and ends up more frustrated than QM Equality.

I am supportive of Cameron and Clegg’s submissive relationship, but if not an alternative sense of pleasure, I’m starting to be confused in what Clegg gets out of it.

Rebels far from right Lucretua McCarthy Normally it would appear that ‘Conservative Rebellion’ is a contradiction in terms, however, since the coalition formed, everything has changed.

Blame it on the introduction of those pesky left-wingers if you will, but the gay marriage ‘controversy’ is doing great things for UKIP membership.

The crazy rebellion featuring hippy style protests and free love for everyone (except if you’re gay) has been sparked by proposals to allow homosexual and lesbian couples to marry.

One Tory rebel has been quoted as saying “equality is for normal people”, strongly supported by his later statement “freedom is for heterosexuals” both of which are snappy enough to become slogans for the cause. It is feared that the shocking idea of gay people marrying will quickly be followed by civil partnerships for pets and wide-

spread paedophilia and this sense of proportion is reflected in media coverage of the issue.

In response to backbenchers fears, the right honourable David Cameron has declared that “LGBT should be allowed to be as unhappy as the rest of us”, proving that the move is more than a publicity stunt, contrary to backbencher’s beliefs it really is in keeping with the self titled ‘nasty party.’

Nevertheless, it appears that Conservatives are really getting into the spirit of the rebellion, preempting the meltdown in society they predict by embracing hallucinogenics, swinging and camp outs over their favourite causes.

One enthusiastic opposer declared “I always wondered how hippy’s could live with themselves as such layabouts but it turns out opposing stuff is actually quite fun! We’re in talks about opposing other causes without grounds too, that is if we don’t get sucked into the lovely UKIP fold first”.

IMAGE BY LLOYD RAMOS

Gold? Our streets are paved with poo Lucretia McCarthy All of our fears, or let’s face it, expectations about the surprisingly successful Olympics are going to be realised in the next two years in the form of some snappy new adverts.

Britain is proposing to send commercials to Romania and Bulgaria in anticipation of border flooding when immigration restrictions are relaxed in the EU. And they promise to tell it like it

really is.

Gone is the white wash of “Inspire a Generation” 2012, forget the Jubilee and put your bunting away. PR men are rubbing their hands together as they plan a cynicism bonanza and engage in a favourite British pastime – rubbishing the country to anyone who’ll listen.

We’re going international with our moan-culture and making adverts highlighting the pitfalls of ironically named ‘Great Britain’

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to prove to Eastern Europeans that English roads are paved with phlegm, dog shit and broken glass rather than gold and that housing is more garden shed than Windsor Castle on the newly improved benefits system.

It is likely the ads are the brainchild of much riled against quangos, particularly in light of the enthusiastic press statement: “It only cost twelve billion to make Britain look half decent for two weeks, the opposite should be a piece of piss!”

So, what should we expect from these off putting adverts? Well, perhaps they could feature inexplicable Morris dancing organised by the zany BoJo in glorious English rain, featuring country favourites drunken football hooligans?

Or maybe they should highlight the stilted atmosphere created by the imperceptible etiquette implicit in all situations unless you want to be happy slapped by a chav with bad teeth.

We could even delight our Eu-

ropean cousins with our brilliant customer service as the only country who can boast “how can I help you?” as a rhetorical question.

Oh, and of course that Britain’s real favourite sport isn’t high jump or swimming because complaining is a sport and hobby all rolled into one.

However terrible an idea the ads appear to be, they could satisfy our craving for intercontinental spleen venting, especially after such a disappointingly successful Olympics.

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MONDAY 11th FEBRUARY 2013

Toasties, Carlsberg and Jesus Imogen Atkinson If you saw Christians frantically running through campus bearing toasties a few weeks ago or handing out flyers as you innocently strolled through library square, it could only mean one thing; the annual Christian Union Events Week.

For five days Christian Unions across London came together to put on events for friends and students, and here at Queen Mary we had our most active and inventive year so far. Things kicked off with ‘Text a Toastie’, the principle being if you texted in any question about Christianity then a member of the society would bring a free toastie of your choice and an answer to your question. Buried in kitchens across campus were bustling hubs of toastie activity, bringing the students of Queen Mary their orders as the texts came spilling in each day. The range of questions was bigger than the queue outside Dixie’s on a Thursday night, ranging from ‘If the Bible has been edited and re-written over thousands of years how reliable is it?’, to the more theologically challenging ‘If God was a vegetable what would he be?’. The answer was a potato. With no question too big or too small it was fascinating to chat with students on campus about issues that they actually cared about, and to show a little kindness in the form of melted cheese and bread. Three

lunch bars ran through the week considering the relevance of Christianity to modern life.

The titles included ‘Would God Drink Carlsberg?’ and ‘Why Don’t Christians Just Shut Up?’ provoking often funny but always interesting conversations. Hosted in Drapers or the chaplaincy, each consisted of a short talk with an open discussion time at the end, alongside a range of snacks or lunch (or indeed Carlsberg).

Things then came to a close on Friday with ‘Grill a Christian’, where a panel of four Christians did their best to tackle whatever questions the audience threw at them. An incredible range of issues were pulled apart as students from different view-points and religions had to the opportunity to explore any issues in a comfortable atmosphere. For Christians on campus, faith is not just an airy principle or nice idea but a real and amazing aspect of everyday life. So more than anything else, Events Week is an opportunity to invite people to think about Christianity not just from pre-disposed ideas passed around in culture but to see the reality of how it plays out in the lives of real students at our uni, to re-think for themselves a certain aspect of who this Jesus guy was and his effect on the world. And if you managed to get a free toastie or lunch along the way, then hey, even better.

Debate Society Events Kevin Omwenga

For years, Queen Mary has been the only major university not to have an established Debate Society.

This year in response to incredible demand the Debate society has been ressurected. Offering a platform for dialogue and conversation on a wide range of issues.

We meet every Monday from 6-8 pm at Francis Bancroft room 1.13 for a series of exciting and vibrant debates in a relaxed environment.

The first hour consists of ‘HotSeating’ where a volunteer is given a random and usually humurous motion and without any preparation time delivers a short speech on the subject.

The second hour sees the main advertised debate. This is usually in conjunction with another society which includes a Q & A segment involving the audience or a full

IMAGE BY BURNTIMPRESSIONS.COM

Lord Adonis visits QM BL Labour Eduardo da Costa The Labour society in collaboration with New Turn this term played host to one of the main ideological linch pins of the New Labour movement.

Lord Adonis may not be a God from Greek mythology yet in political terms he comes close to it.

An Atheist evident in his opening speech in his interesting remarks about the Catholic church’s arken practices.

He bullishly defended the new Labour’s infatuation with public private influence of major improvements to our state provision.

The event itself was held in the student union Blomeley room packed with a wide array of both academics and students of all stripes to hear Adonis deliver what by most peoples reasoning was a strident but balanced defence of new Labour’s policy.

As it was a joint event Ollie Brown welcomed the guests with some warm words and a brief overview of what New Turn does in the same vain as the Chair of Lab Soc I did the Same.

We were pleased to have the avuncular Jeremy Jennings the head of Politics and IR chair the evenings proceedings. Adonis was candid cracking a joke before his speech about the bottle of wine placed at his table to which he smilingly retorted in jest ‘I do not know what you are trying to do to me’.

Which was a sign of the ease we as a society had put him in, born out in the candid way in which he answered freely wide ranging questioning on issues of the day like student fees, a policy he was instrumental in introducing to which he said the previous system in place was not ‘fit for purpose and needed reform and allowed a record number of students to gain places in higher eduction establishments’ He rebuked the current governments blind sighted raising of student fees to a record high and their attack on foreign students as being malformed.

The conversation then moved on to the issues as wide as foreign policy and state procurement under the labour administration. With emphasis on the modernisation of state infrastructure which led into

a conversation on the speakers view of HS2.

He affirmed labours line and how a labour administration would have conducted the negotiation differently with a greater emphasis on training for the local employed delivering a sustainable skills lead legacy for the communities in the form.

Something missing form the current HS2 plans that mainly focus on the delivery of a new line form London to Birmingham and maybe beyond.

The Labour society this year has come out of mothballs, to borrow from the BBC we have entertained by hosting a variety of socials, we have educated by hosting external speakers, we have entertained you by occasionally messing things up.

But we are here and hope not only grow in numbers, but along with the rest of the left on campus make your student experience more rich.

Lord Adonis concluded his speech by joining the Labour societies Mug Club. He appeared incredibly pleased and said he would use it daily in place of his broken favourite labour party mug.

British Parliamentary style debate.

The topics range from politics and current issues to science and technology to fun debates (This House would euthanize Justin Bieber for crimes against music). We also hold training on Wednesdays from 4-6pm in the library. Some of our upcoming events: Monday 11th February- Joint event with the Ability Society Wednesday 13th February- Joint debate with the Philosophy society titled “This House believes that Love is Dead” Monday 18th February- Film Night, The Great Debaters Thursday 21st February- Joint event with Multiple societies titled “Socialism: Where did it all go Wrong?”

IMAGE PROVIDED BY QM BL LABOUR SOCIETY

cultureqmessenger@gmail.com

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MONDAY 11th FEBRUARY 2013

Hindu Soc addresses women’s equality

11th

Russell Kane live at QMUL 7pm-10.30pm The Great Hall Peoples Palace

12th

Envy at Drapers 9pm-2am

Jasmine Virhia Sub Editor On Thursday 24th January, QM Hindu society held their first topical discussion; “Perception of Women in the 21st Century. Are we finally equal?” The discussion welcomed students from all faiths, backgrounds and cultures encouraging them to voice their opinions on a matter which has dominated worldwide news recently due to incident in India in early December.

A considerable amount of the discussion was focussed upon the atrocities that occurred in India in early December, 2012. A 23 year old woman was travelling home with a friend in South Delhi on a public bus. The male friend was beaten and knocked unconscious with a metal rod by six other people on the bus. The young woman was then dragged to the back of the bus, beaten and simultaneously raped by these six men. The severities of the sexual abuse led to internal organ damage resulting in her being incubated and on life support.

Sadly a few days later the young woman died which triggered a worldwide uproar campaigning for her justice. The corruption within the Indian Governmental system was then showcased and the want for reforms became prevalent.

Vice President Sorabh Patel stated that the “corruption in India is not something new, this incident however, exposed it to the international community. The case in question was something that deeply impacted us as students and the protest highlighted the fact that sadly women in today’s society are not treated as equals. This is something that we wanted to address as Hindu Society’s mantra is “Be the change you wish to see” thus wanting to discuss and challenge the perceptions of women in today’s society, regardless of social, economic, cultural and religious factors.”

The discussion began with “Who thinks women are equal in their terms of rights to men?”. Needless to say, silence resounded across the lecture theatre and very few, if any hands were raised. This was followed with “Why do we think that is?”.

Most agreed that specifically in Indian and Chinese culture, men and boys are quite obviously favoured. This preference for sons is ingrained in their cultural history,

13

Unsoken words: Feminist Poetry

by QM Equality and QM Literature Society

14th

Happy Valentine’s Day

15th

Reading Week begins

16th

Portsmouth Day trip departing at 8.00am

17th

Rest Day

18th

Debate Society Film Night

19th

Big Quiz at Drapers 7.30pm-9.30pm

th

IMAGE PROVIDED BY HINDU SOCIETY

beliefs and practices, for example the legacy of a family surname and the costs of weddings and dowries for daughters.

The injustice which women face not only in India, but worldwide is perhaps a result of the lack of education that is available to them.

The discussion continued with the social and cultural expectations of women in Indian and African cultures and their “homemaking”.

A startling video was shown regarding the “missing” girls of Asia and how one mother physically killed 8 of her own new born children as they were all female.

The majority of the discussion was based on what we, as inhabitants of the western world, thought should be implemented in countries such as India, to gain justice and equality for these afflicted women.

Many suggested mainstream education as it can be implemented nationally however I personally believe that customs and beliefs in favour of males that have existed for thousands of years cannot be so easily changed. It is true that the attitude towards women in India is in dire need of being changed to one of consideration and respect however any methods for change that are implemented, I think will be over a considerable amount of time.

societiesqmessenger@gmail.com

From being a participant in the discussion I feel it was very important as the topics that were discussed are often considered taboo in Asian culture.

They were addressed in a considerate and articulate manner, making the discussion relevant and informative.

The president of the Feminist Society, (formal name QMEquality) Wanda Canton and LGB Rep Sean Richardson attended the event, Wanda stating afterwards that ‘the meeting was relaxed but engaging. Unlike many events at QM, it felt like a genuine discussion with a variety of views and perspectives. I would highly recommend future Hindu Soc events and thank the society for such an enjoyable and friendly meeting.’

Towards the end of the discussion Wanda notably stated that the actuality of the discussion proves that women today are not equal.

Although discussions such as these are extremely small scale in tackling the injustice and heinousness regarding women, the Hindu Society should be commended for hosting this event as it has most definitely raised the awareness and severity of such a topic, not only in India but in this country.

Facebook: Nhsf QueenMary Hindu Society Twitter: @NHSFQMHS

20th

Magic at Mile End 6.30pm Drama Studio, Arts 2 6.30pm

21st

History Society goes to Amsterdam

22nd

QM Marrow Volunteers Anthony Nolan tube fundraiser

23rd

QMUL ACS Presents: Play Reloaded at Cokobar 11pm

24th

History Society back from Amsterdam

SOCIETIES21

MONDAY 11th FEBRUARY 2013

Admin Bank Becky Adkins This week, QMessenger interviewed Andrea Scheel, societies officer at QMSU about Admin Bank.

Q: What exactly is Admin Bank?

A: Admin bank is a free to use, no strings attached system designed to help improve societies. The idea behind it is that any society can get in touch with us if they want help with things like graphic design for posters, arranging charity events or editing promotional films and we will get a member of our team to help them out. Our main aim is to improve societies here at Queen Mary by encouraging them to broaden their horizons and helping them to better their events.

Q: What services do you have available for societies to use?

A: We have the following:

•Graphic designers

•Movie editors

•Campaigning advisers

•External Affairs Adviser (Encompassing sponsorship and the creation of links with schools/sixth forms.)

•Charity advisers who are closely associated with RAG. Q: What does working for

Admin Bank involve?

A: It involves you working in an area which interests you (whether or not you have had much previous experience as all training can be provided!) The positions we have are voluntary and students can put as much or as little time into their work as they wish.

Our team of people work directly with the societies to help them in their chosen area for as long as the society requires their aid.

Volunteering for us is not only interesting and varied, but also looks good on your CV! Q: How do you recruit the people who make up the Admin Bank?

A: At the start of the year we carried out recruitment but we are always looking for people to help out so you can apply now if you are interested in being part of the team! Just send a few words to us about yourselves (at the email addresses below) and we will set up a meeting with you to find out more.

Q: What have you achieved so far?

A: So far this academic year we have managed to help around 15-20 societies and over the next few weeks we have more meetings lined up with new societies

and student groups. All of the people involved in Admin Bank have learned a lot from the experience so far, meaning we have been able to expand and improve quickly. This has helped us to achieve more than we had originally hoped, which is fantastic!

One great thing about the year so far is all the positive feedback we have received from everyone who has used our services.

Q:What aims do you have for the future?

A:We hope to continue expanding in the future by reachingw out to more societies and student groups. We are also hoping to be able to help student groups carry out more work for charities and to create more links with external bodies (especially local schools.)

Finally we are looking to potentially extend our services to sports clubs.

Q: How should people get in contact with you?

A: For both enquiries regarding becoming a part of the Admin Bank team and regarding using our services email either Nicolas Meier, the head of Admin Bank, at Nicolas-meier@02online.de or myself (Andrea Scheel) at andreascheel@msn.com. We hope to hear from you soon!

IMAGE BY S58Y

Unspoken Words

Praises flow for festival orchestra

Stephanie Rankin

Emma Shone

Feminism is about activism; it’s about affecting change in society to end the oppression that women face at the hands of patriarchy.

It’s about achieving equality, but it’s also about healing. QMEquality, the feminist and gender equality campaigns group on campus, is holding an event this week called ‘Unspoken Words’. The event aims to showcase the voices of women that have previously been stifled.

Poetry, like all of the arts, is known for its cathartic properties, and so we hope that the evening will prove to be uplifting and inspiring for all in attendance.

Women will gather from Queen Mary, BL, and from the wider London population to express themselves through the medium of spoken word and poetry. We’ll also have a resident musician, Logan Afyouni, playing between sets. The

event is occurring on Wednesday 13th February at the Gallery Cafe in Bethnal Green, and will commence at 6.30PM. It’s free to attend, and all are welcome, but please bear in mind that ‘Unspoken Words’ will be a no-tolerance event, operating a safe space for those who wish to attend and to perform. Women will be given precedence when it comes to reading, and that the open mic segment of the evening is likely to be very popular. Last but not least, the first thirty people to arrive will receive a discount on their drinks orders from the bar!

QMEquality hold meetings every Wednesday at 2pm in the Student Union Hub behind Ground. We’re currently planning our awardwinning week of events called Festival51 which features screenings, talks, a production of The Vagina Monologues, and more. Everyone is welcome!

Last weekend, QMSU’s Music Society took to the stage with 100 other musicians as part of the Water City Festival Orchestra. A full weekend of rehearsals – 18 hours in total – culminated in a musical spectacular. Besides a rich programme of classical classics, including SansSaëns’ Dance Macabre and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, the performance featured visual projections and live actors, coming together to tell the story of the city emerging in London’s East End. Responses to the concert were outstanding, with even members of staff ushering the event claiming that it had been an “amazing performance”. Almost every seat in the house was filled, the atmosphere electric, and audiences members left amazed that a music department they’d heard very little about in the past had put on such a musically

fulfilling performance.

The Water City Festival was the first in a series of musical events marking the reopening of the newly refurbished Great Hall. It was followed last week by an inaugural organ recital given by the college’s Musical Director, Alan Wilson, as a demonstration of the Hall’s historical 1936 Rutt organ, which was recently fully restored.

The Music Society’s next appearance in the Great Hall will be on the 14th of March with their annual Gala Concert on 14th February, moving from the Octagon to the larger venue for the first time in over three years. The ensembles at the heart of the society are the orchestra, choir, big band and vocal group A Capella (who have performed at various university events in the past, most notably Colours and Honours last year), all of whom will feature in the evenings programme. The performance will consist of music celebrat-

ing the history of the Hall and the People’s Palace since its foundation.

With everything from Mozart to music from the recently adapted for screen Les Miserables, the society’s gala concert promises to be an evening of entertainment for audiences of all tastes.

The final concert in the series will be given on the 20th of March by the prestigious London Chamber Orchestra, playing well-known orchestral favourites such as Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra and Beethoven’s 5th Symphony (if the titles don’t ring any bells, the melodies most certainly will). Tickets for all events are available to purchase on Queen Mary’s website.

If you’re musical, or simply want to have a bash at singing in a choir, it’s not to late get involved in any of the group’s ensembles. To get in touch, email qmulmusicsociety@ hotmail.co.uk.

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MONDAY 11th FEBRUARY 2013

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SPORT23

MONDAY 11th FEBRUARY 2013

January transfers fail to excite fans Rumman Sikdar In a relatively quiet transfer window, most of the moves involved proven talent. Newcastle were the most active, plundering the French league for some great signings.

Moussa Sissoko already looks a snip at a rumoured £1.8 million, whilst Mathieu Debuchy and Yoan Gouffran are seasoned internationals.

It is not often that a club manages to strengthen significantly in the January window, yet the Magpies seem to have done it with panache.

Tottenham Hotspur may have finally found a replacement to Van der Vaart in Lewis Holtby, with both Liverpool and Chelsea easing their goal scoring woes by signing Daniel Sturridge and Demba Ba respectively –all proven talent. However, apart from Mario Balotelli’s arriva derci to Manchester City, the only other big money move was possibly a gamble as Manchester United splashed out £15 million on Crystal Palace’s Wilfred Zaha.

Zaha may well be the future for United, with Nani seemingly persona non grata at Old Trafford, and Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young unable to keep consistent form. Zaha is already an England international –albeit one who can still switch allegiance to the Ivory Coast. However he has a lot to learn and Sir Alex Ferguson may well be

one of the best to help groom him.

That said, Ferguson isn’t without fault when it comes to youth – few seem to question the lack of young players coming through to the first team since the 90s.

Whenever he looked back upon selling Gerard Pique back to Barcelona in 2008 for a paltry £5 million, he must have hoped he would never make such a costly mistake again.

With injuries ravaging Manchester United’s once almost impregnable centre back duo of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, Pique could have been the rock, United’s defence has clearly been crying out for over the last two seasons.

Five years ago however, there could have been no way of knowing just how badly Ferdinand and Vidic would suffer at the hands of Time, or just how disappointingly Johnny Evans would progress.

Flash forward to the summer of 2012, and after almost a year of failed -and very public- negotiations, Manchester United let Paul Pogba join Juventus on a free transfer. Many United fans saw the folly in this, but many more were content to see him leave; after all, the young Frenchman was completely unproven in the Premier League, and there was no guarantee that his eye catching displays in the youth and reserve leagues would carry over to the big time.

As United sit at the top of the table, it is hard to say that it was a poor decision, but this would be focusing on the short term. Pogba has hit the ground running at Juventus, getting more game time than many had expected he would at a club full to the brim with midfield maestros. His brace against Udinese in January, and his game winning goal against Bologna in October, were all impressive goals, not only for their nature, but as indicative of how seamlessly he transitioned to senior football -he was scoring screamers for fun in his time at the reserve and youth levels.

United’s acquisition of Pogba from French side La Havre in the first place was full of scandal. La Havre accused Pogba and his family on reneging on a pre-contract agreement, United threatened to sue La Havre, and La Havre got FIFA to inspect the deal. FIFA cleared United of any wrongdoing, and a settlement was reached with the French side.

Pogba is not the first youth player to have caused such scandal, but is probably one of the few to have managed any form of success. It is hard to forget Chelsea’s record in the mid 2000s; the club were accused by Leeds United of tapping up both Michael Woods and Tom Taiwo in 2005 as both youngsters were lured to Stamford Bridge.

John Bostock was another young Englishman to have caused a furore when he moved from Crystal Palace to Tottenham Hotspur in 2008.

A fee was reached by tribunal, the Palace chairman banned Bostock and his father from Selhurst Park and the young player moved on to White Hart Lane. He subsequently spent the next few years being shipped around the football league on various loan spells, but despite still only being 21, it looks like he won’t be making a name for himself with Spurs.

Paul Pogba’s move to United in the summer of 2009 was just one of many problematic moves that year. Chelsea were given a transfer embargo until 2011 and fined after signing Gael Kakuta from French side RC Lens, who himself was given a larger fine and banned from playing for over a year. After numerous appeals all sanctions were lifted, but not after a massive spotlight had been placed upon Kakuta’s development.

To date, the player has made sixteen appearances for Chelsea, but his progress has seemingly stalled as he has been farmed out to play abroad in consecutive seasons, sandwiching disappointing loans spells at Fulham and Bolton Wanderers. With numerous midfield and attacking options available at Chelsea, it is hard to see how Kaku-

ta can work his way into the manager’s plans.

The majority of these players have not developed into the world beaters their potential promised.

While it may be too early to tell with some, who are still on the fringes of the top leagues, it is definitely the case for many.

It would appear the players who have to face less of the spotlight at a young age are more likely to develop into successful professionals.

After all, who paid much notice to Manchester City signing Joe Hart from Shrewbsury, or Liverpool taking on a young Raheem Sterling from QPR? Wilfred Zaha’s decision to develop in a stable environment and move to United as a more mature player may well benefit both parties as much as United’s decision to negotiate a fair and honest deal with Crystal Palace.

Football sometimes forgets that prodigious young players are sometimes more young than prodigious and need to be handled with care. FIFA need to regulate youth transfers more diligently, as protecting the players should be their primary goal.

However, money talks, and as long as the most powerful clubs continue to benefit from raiding smaller clubs for their best talent, regulations will never be strictly enforced. Hopefully that won’t always be the case.

sportsqmessenger@qmessenger.co.uk

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MONDAY 11th FEBRUARY 2013

Results BUCS Scores – 30.1.13 – Queen Mary Badminton Men’s 1st: 5-3 :Barts and the Royal London Badminton Women’s 1st : 4-4 : Imperial Medics 1st Badminton Men’s 2nd : 2-6 : LSE 2nd Basketball Men’s 1st : 10280 : University of Westminster Basketball Women’s 1st : 68-38 : LSE 1st Fencing Men’s 1st : 120-114 : University of Essex 1st Fencing Women’s 1st : 13581 : Brunel 1st Hockey Men’s 1st : 3-3 : Canterbury Christ Church 2nd Hockey Women’s 1st : 0-1 : University of Kent 2nd Netball Women’s 1st : 4621 : St. Mary’s University College 2nd Netball Women’s 2nd : 3114 : Goldsmiths 1st Squash Men’s 1st : 3-0 : University of Essex 3rd Squash Men’s 2nd : 0-3 : Royal Free and University College Medical School 1st Tennis Men’s 1st : 0-12 : LSE 2nd BUCS Scores – 30.1.13 – Barts Badminton Men’s 1st : 3-5 : Queen Mary Hockey Men’s 1st : 1-2 : University of Essex 1st Hockey Women’s 1st : 4-0 : Royal Veterinary College 1st Hockey Men’s 2nd : 0-9 : University of Greenwich 1st Netball Women’s 1st : 3434 : Imperial College 1st Netball Women’s 2nd : 29-23 : Imperial College Medics 3rd Netball Women’s 3rd : 23-10 : University of the Arts 3rd

Djokovic dominates Jeremy Baily

IMAGE BY FREDERIDEVILLIAMILL

It appears that we have found the successor to Roger Federer’s dominance in men’s tennis. It did not come in the form of Rafael Nadal, who, with his 11 Grand Slams, looks like a spent force in elite tennis. He may well come back in Paris and reign supreme again, but if he does it will be because of his unnatural ability to play on clay, rather than his superiority over his rivals. Instead, we have the man who many thought would never be able to cut it at the very pinnacle of the game, a man whom was considered too skinny to be able to battle it out with the big boys when push came to shove, but now a man who is undisputed world number 1 and 6 times Grand Slam champion, with undoubtedly many more to come.

That man is Novak Djokovic, who beat Andy Murray in a thrilling final on Sunday morning UK time to record his third successive win in Melbourne, a feat not achieved for the past 46 years.

It was a much closer match than the 6-7 (2-7) 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 6-2

score-line suggested, and had Murray had the steely nerves which the Serb possesses, he may well have closed out the break points that he earned at the start of the second set and grabbed the match by the collar. Instead, Djokovic managed to hang on in a set where he was rarely on top, and close out the tiebreaker in ruthless fashion.

The rest of the match was a mere formality for the world number 1; once he grabbed the momentum from winning the second set he never really looked back. A huge blister on Murray’s foot could not have helped, but this did not appear to hamper his movement too much, instead he was running down balls left, right and centre, but was never able to get enough purchase on his returns to worry a Djokovic, who, quite frankly, could have returned a ball from the top row of the crowd as was his defensive prowess throughout the match. In the final set, Murray appeared to be clutching at his hamstring at regular intervals, but one could imagine the mental pain of knowing the match was slipping

away from him was far worse than any physical pain he was feeling.

It was not all bad for Murray. He reached his third successive Grand Slam final in Melbourne, and this consistency can only bode well in his pursuit of more glory to match that of his Olympic gold medal and US Open victory. He will take heart from the fact that he beat Roger Federer for the first time in a Grand Slam, and this will do his confidence no end of good if he is to face him in the latter stages of a major in the near future. However, he may well have to wait until Wimbledon to have another realistic chance of winning a Grand Slam, because he cannot match Nadal or Djokovic on clay, and may even be inferior to Federer and Ferrer on the surface.

There is one thing for sure though.

Novak Djokovic will be the man to beat on any court this season. You cannot hit through the man, you cannot tire the man out. Possibly the only way to beat him is to go toe-to-toe as Murray did in the US Open final, and any man who can do that deserves to win any tournament in the world.

Footballers behaving badly Anthony Tipping “I think I kicked the ball and not the boy. I apologise”. Belgian and Chelsea star Eden Hazard was quick to admit that he was in the wrong. In the 80th minute of the second leg of the Swansea-Chelsea encounter of the Capital One Cup, emotions were brimming. As the ball rolled out for a goal kick, Hazard followed. Yet in his spirited mission, a ball boy thought it wise to stand in his way. What a dire decision!

The ball boy, a true prima donna, fell upon the ball, slowing the game and testing the emotional Hazard. The boy earned a small nudge in the ribs as Eden poked the ball from underneath him. He subsequently rolled around in agony, (Oscar worthy performance?)

as Hazard was booted from the field of play with a red card. The boy proceeded to limp to safety, clutching his war wounds with a face of utter anguish. The shadow of an evil smirk must have risen in the corner of his mouth as Chelsea came crashing out of the Cup. The reality is that both were in the wrong. Hazard, lacking emotional judgment, should have known better than to roll around with a 17 year old on the sidelines.

The ball boy himself took full opportunity, revelling in his new found fame as the camera spanned his way. On the 31st January, the FA confirmed that, “an independent regulatory commission was of the opinion the existing threematch sanction for this offence was sufficient”. The verdict is a fair one, yet others would claim Hazard has

dodged a bullet. Unexpected behaviour makes a fan draw breath and gawk incredulously. It draws us to the edge of our seats, and makes sport worth watching.

Hazard’s behaviour should not be sanctioned, but neither should it be stretched out of perspective and displayed on a stage of humiliation for a frivolous crowd.

Hazard’s behaviour questions the behaviour of sports personalities across the spectrum. The competition, the passion, the expectation: all measures which might draw the very best out of an athlete, but also the very worst, that moment when a blanket of red drapes the vision.

Perhaps the most memorable of sporting outbursts was produced in the World Cup final of 2006. Zinedine Zidane, in the very last game

of his professional career, brought his head crashing down on the Italian defender Marco Materazzi. Not only can the incident almost entirely be blamed for France’s subsequent loss; it truly stained a career which up to that point could only have been described as ‘beautiful’.

Like Hazard, Zidane was quick to apologise following the game.

Around 700 million people had tuned in to the spectacle. What of the millions of people who looked up to Zidane as a role model? What of his fellow teammates? What of France? A mere apology was perhaps not enough. We should avoid promoting such behaviour, but does make for interesting viewing.

It creates debate. It gives this article life. What would be the point in a perfect and uniform sporting world? Think about it.

sportsqmessenger@qmessenger.co.uk