QMessenger Issue 71 by Kaz Gander

MONDAY 14th JANUARY 2013 ISSUE 71

QMESSENGER.CO.UK

THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF QUEEN MARY STUDENTS’ UNION

The Price of Student Housing:

West Smithfield Library Gutted

Image by Lloyd Ramos

£9,632,000 is needed by the university to level finances, the annual Queen Mary Financial Statement has revealed. The document, which can be accessed online at www.finance.qmul. ac.uk, reveals the startlingly large deficit that the university management faces, and outlines further plans for student and staff areas.

NEWS Re-Union Fair This Week

Despite signs that the university is suffering from a lack of funds, the Principal, Simon Gaskell, states in his opening report that he feels that the approach being taken, one of cautious acceptance, is the correct move, and ‘leaves QM well placed to face the challenges of the next few years.’ Gaskell also claims that the move of accepting the deficit

COMMENT

should ‘ensure that QM remained on track to achieve its headline objective of being a top-ten UK HEI (Higher Education Institute) by 2015.’, which would make the university more attractive to prospective students and staff. The news about the deficit is perhaps made all the more shocking when the other main financial

CULTURE

Patriotism and Best Books the Left and Blogs 2012

news of the year is considered: the decision by the university to charge new applicants the highest possible amount of £9,000 for an undergraduate degree. Gaskell explains this away however, stating that the sudden drop in government funding is yet to be met by the increased fees. ‘The phasing of these changes is such that the reduction in HEF-

SATIRE Jamie Oliver Fat Cat Fake

CE [Higher Education Funding Council for England] funding has preceded the inflow of increased tuition fees from students, creating a funding gap that was particularly apparent during 11/12.’ With the arrival of the higher fees, it seems the deficit will be compensated for, but the univer-

SOCIETIES

Continued on Page 3

SPORTS

Andrew Marr Kickabout with visits QM GeogSoc

02NEWS EDITORIAL TEAM: Executive Editor Kashmira Gander

Acting Editor Isabelle Leach

Creative Director Lloyd Ramos

Photography Bethia Stone

Sub Editors Jasmine Virhia and Sarah Power

News

Joseph Flaig and Bethany Moffett

Features

Preston Abell

Comment

MONDAY 14th JANUARY 2013

The news on campus this week T HE FARMERS’ Market will be back on our campus in full after some missing stalls last week offering their usual array of fresh products and ethical take away food. They are also holding a ‘Favourite Stall’ competition this month. Students can nominate their favourite stall over the past 12 months in an email including; the name of the stall, which market it is, and why you’re voting for them. If your favourite stall wins the award your name will go into a draw to win a hamper of farmers’ market produce.

The new Student Hub opened this term behind Ground and will be hosting a weeks of events. This is a re-vamp of previous year’s ‘Re-Freshers Fair’ to become a ReUnion Week. See Page 5 for more information on the fairs key events

The Drunken Monkey, East-London’s infamous eatery and bar has been giving out some free food on campus this past few weeks. Keep an eye out for their free food announcements on DrunkenMonkeyE1 to make sure you don’t miss out on some student scrounging.

Stevie Rankin and James Tory

Culture

Belphoebe New and Rhiannon Evans

Satire

Lucretia McCarthy

The new Santander bank opened on campus on the 23rd of November ready for this term. The branch is open to the general public in addition to Queen Mary students and staff. The bank offers 'tailored services' and free financial advice, as well as exclusive mortgage deals for staff of the university. The branch will be able to provide funding for enterprise projects, scholarships, and mobility grants. It was not envisaged that this would be the result of the polite notice on the broken Village Shop cash machine many months ago. Santander has branches in 11 other London institutions and has links with educational institutions in Brazil. The university is using this link network to explore the idea of recruiting Brazilian students under a special scholarship scheme.

Queen Mary is currently converting the old student’s union into offices. In the mean time, they have placed signs advertising the opportunity to rent out different buildings of the university. This can be for hosting academic events or even weddings. In light of the university’s deficit, Queen Mary appears to be branching out to corporations and hopeful couples to boost the accounts.

Societies

Becky Adkins

Sports

Hannah Clarke and Jeremy Baily Special thanks to Tom Sutton and Melissa Snyder

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 weekly 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.

Library Square was host to a bizarre milking incident very recently. A mysterious post circulated Facebook inviting students to ‘like’ the status in order to ensure someone would pour milk over themselves in the central square on campus. This comes as part of the new milking craze started at Newcastle University. Tom Parrot tried to exlain to QMessenger ‘Milking began as a radio stunt to provoke listener interaction and draw more attention to Quest radio and The Tom Parrott Show (Wednesday 7-8pm). It was first suggested by my co-host, Max Nicholls, when he saw clips on YouTube and after we advertised the idea on Facebook it quickly became an actually event using 8pints of, very cold, milk. So, on possibly the coldest day of the year (no exaggeration) I walked into the middle of library square and poured milk over myself, much to the amusement and surprise of those running off to their lectures! Cold, wet and rather white I jogged home to shower. Watch the clip on Quests YouTube page!’

It was confirmed this week that there will be a new Graduate Centre worth £36m. The centre is hoped to be finished by as early as January 2015. The building will include teaching rooms and lecture theatres, reading and common rooms and 24 hour IT and learning rooms. That is only the academic side. This new site will also be home to a new cafeteria, offices, 123 bedrooms, it’s own power plant and winter garden. The centre is designed to improve the learning experience and resources for postgraduate students and for an expanse in the number of these students. It is part of the university’s new finance strategy and sustainability programme in continuing the College’s Carbon strategy. The office space will appropriately be for the uses of the School of Economics and Finance. The site for this centre will be behind the Queen Building, where the old Chemistry building used to be.

Queen Mary will be holding a musical gala with the Water City Festival Orchestra for the reopening of the People’s Palace next to the Queen’s Building. The former ‘palace of delights’ has undergone a £6m refurbishment for the education and entertainment purposes for students and public of East London. The performance will feature an exhibition, and music by Sibeius and Debussy. Music, film and spoken word will create the story of the past and present stories of the Lower Lea Valley. It will include an insiders view of the Olympics from the people working and living in East London at the time. This orchestra based in East London is looking for musicians grade 6 level and above to play at the launch event. Rehearsals will be at the start of February and musicians need to contact Maria Smith on mariazarina@ntlword. com for more details.

Nominations for Queen Mary Students’ Union Elections open on the 21st January. Nominations close on 13th of February, so make sure you consider all the candidate carefully before casting your vote. This is a chance to influence the way the union supports it’s students. You can take a year out or after you graduate work in a paid full-time role as one of the Executive Officers, or be a Part-time officer. You can even apply to be a Student Representative, Student Trustee or NUS delegate. If you don’t want to run for a position, make sure you get out and vote and vote wisely. Voting turn out has been very low in recent elections at Queen Mary and University of London. The voting opens on 10am on the 4th of March and closes on the 7th. Do not miss out on the opportunity to decide who makes the decisions about your welfare and education support.

NEWS03

MONDAY 14th JANUARY 2013

Volunteer staff and limited borrowing Continued from Front Page

Joe Flaig

sity is still clearly lacking in necessary funds. This has been keenly felt at the West Smithfield library in the last weeks, after announcements that make plain the effects of the cuts on university staff and facilities. In a statement on the my.qmul website, the Director of Student Services, Emma Bull, explains both the changes and the reasons for them. As of January 2nd, the centrally located library no longer lends books out, and they are only available for reference on site. Opening hours have also been effected and until 25th January, the library will not be opening at all on

Editorial

HE CHANCE for students to be able to afford a postgraduate degree is rapidly decreasing. Eleven chancellors of universities around the country have met recently to stand against the research council’s decision to withdraw all support for standalone master’s degrees. They have rightly hailed it a “catastrophe” for economic growth. The research councils

weekends. Between the 28th January and Saturday 20th July, when the library will again be reviewing opening times and services, the library will be opening on Saturdays, but only between 1pm and 8pm. Vacation opening hours are yet to be confirmed. Students and staff from the School of Medicine have apparently already voiced their concerns, as Bull apologises ‘for the short notice about these changes, and the upset this has caused.’ She goes on to cite ‘financial constraints’, stressing the difficulty of finding affordable alternatives that also satisfy students and staff. The changes to the library have been necessitated principally by a reduction in staff numbers, the re-

port on my.qmul claims. The loss of staff has led to members of the student union giving up their own time to volunteer at the library, in order to keep it open. Lending services have been cut as trained staff who left recently cannot be replaced, and volunteers will be focusing on ‘ensuring a safe environment’ and directing students. To gauge student opinion and receive some ideas, there are two Library User Forums, which students are encouraged to attend and details for which are available on my.qmul. However, for Andy Smith, Vice President of Barts and The London, these consultations have come too late. ‘The Barts Li-

brary is a gem of the university. The lack of student consultation regarding the proposals to change it, and the changes themselves, caused uproar amongst the students; especially with the finalists’ examinations approaching.’ He also told QMessenger that he is determined to discuss the issue with the ‘relevant parties’, in order to find a solution that works. West Smithfield library may the most recent casualty of the cuts, but it is by no means the first. Sciences have already been hit hard by the financial problems, and some staff were controversially lost. One unnamed Zoology student in the third year of his undergraduate degree had these comments on

the changes he has seen: ‘Probably the most noticeable change would be the shift in the department’s priorities from teaching standards to profit making on research. By focusing on bringing in researchers and firing teaching based staff, they have significantly effected teaching standards, and staff and student trust in the management.’ Despite cuts to services and what some see as declining standards, university management seems confident that the current state of affairs won’t last too long. For the current student body, however, will things improve in time?

are public bodies that grant funding for academic research and their decision has been made in the face of financial pressure from government cuts. This is alongside the unnoticed fee hike for postgraduate degrees that was made at the same time as the increase in undergraduate courses to £9,000 a year. The rise in postgraduate fees to an 11% increase this year and is expected to rise further in years to come. In the current job market it is becoming more

necessary to have a specialised research qualification to get into the higher paid positions. Employers are looking for graduates with specific credentials, and the choice of post-graduate degree is a way of narrowing down prospective candidates. This will also result in universities becoming the playgrounds of the rich, because people from less privileged backgrounds will not be able to afford to stay on to study. Not just because they cannot take on more debt for the

future, but because they will not be able to work a job and study their degrees. This means they may not have enough money for day to day expenses. Many students heavily rely on their funding in order to just live in London. An increase in tuition fees this year means the situation is predicted to get worse. In the 2010-11 year of study there was a decrease in postgraduate courses by 4.3% and it is forecast to continue to decline.

The change in the funding will have a severe effect on the economy through the lack of money being put into education under this government. Our principal Simon Gaskell, who attended the meeting, spoke of a fear of a “policy vacuum” as a result the recent decision. If funding is going to be removed, there needs to be a better loan system in place. It is madness to remove funding and expect education and the job market to thrive.

04NEWS

MONDAY 14th JANUARY 2013

Black Dahlia Murder Case Analysed Bethany Moffet

Image by FeverBlue

HE BRUTAL murder of Elizabeth Short will be revisited and examined by specialists at Barts Pathology Museum this week. The Museum, at Queen Mary, University of London’s West Smithfield campus, is holding an evening seminar on the anniversary of the Black Dahlia Murder case – on the 15th January. The evening will focus on cultural depictions of the case, and will take a wider look at forensic science and cases of dismemberment. On the 15th January 1947, the body of Elizabeth Short was found on a vacant lot in Los Angeles, California. The dismembered body of the 22 year old was severed at the waist, her faced slashed from the sides of her mouth to her ears along with other disturbing signs of violence and torture to the woman before her death. Discovered by a local resident and her 3 year old daughter, the body was

drained of blood and carefully posed on the ground. The case, which was nicknamed the ‘Black Dahlia Murder’ by newspapers at the time, has become somewhat part of crime folklore. Short has further assumed a ‘femme fatale’ persona, giving much material to crime writers and scholars as well as film writers. Although the crime remains unsolved, there have been many suspects and possible scenarios as to what happened that day, which will be examined on the evening of the 15th. The evening seminar will include several talks from experts in the field. Steven Powell, a Crime fiction scholar and editor, runs the blog ‘The Venetian Vase’ and is author of the essay ‘Betty Short and I Go Back: James Ellroy and the Metanarrative of the Black Dahlia Case.’ Powell, who has also edited several books on the topic, will hold a talk on the enduring popularity of Short’s life and death in

newspapers, novels and films. Professor Peter Vanezis OBE, Professor of Forensic Medical Sciences at Queen Mary, will also contribute to the evening. The Professor, who has first hand experiences of dismemberment cases over his career, will talk about three of these similar to the Black Dahlia Case. He is based at the William Harvey Research Institute, which is part of Queen Mary’s medical school. Throughout his career, he has acted as advisor to the Russian authorities on the case of the Romanovs, but also the investigation into the death of Princess Diana. He is currently a Consultant Forensic Home Office Pathologist, as well as Senior Consultant in Forensic Medicine to the Armed Forces. Professor Vanezis is also the Director of Cameron Centre for Forensic Medical Sciences. Entry is £6 and includes refreshments. Doors open at 6:30pm, and tickets can be purchased through the QM e-shop.

Bringing a new ‘Bloody Mary’ to QMUL

Aaron Parr

T IS one of those things that you have always wanted to do but never found the right time. You say to yourself, “next time it happens, I will do that… yeah… sure…” But this is your chance to jump in and do it now. Do something amazing and donate blood. Blood stocks are constantly too low in the UK; in particular O and B blood types. There are many reasons why a transfusion must be performed but they occur more frequently than perceived by the public. Many students on campus are healthy and eligible to donate blood, but despite blood stocks depleting, there are not enough donors coming forward. It is most definitely important for students of this campus to take part in giving blood simply because it can save lives. However, the reason why many people refrain from donating is because some of their concerns are not always answered clearly. For instance, the most en-

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thused question is always, “Does it hurt?” Well, you feel a sting for about a second and that’s about it. You suffer a lot more the morning after a messy night out! There is also the increasing concern about the safety: for the donor and the potential recipient about the blood. So how should you prepare? You need to have drunk plenty of water in the past 24 hours to keep you hydrated, and have had a meal in the past two. Of course, avoid alcohol and medicines, although if you are ill with a cough or cold you probably shouldn’t be donating anyway. And what about the rest of the day? You should be able to do whatever you get up to in your normal day-to-day life. But it would be advisable to avoid strenuous activity and alcoholic drinks (I speak from experience) - although going out doesn’t have to be off the agenda, you should go easy. So all in all, your day would not be too punishing, so long as you look after yourself and behave.

But even if it is a bit of a burden, afterwards you have the satisfaction of knowing you helped save somebody’s life. Blood is not wasted so it would only be used for very important reasons. And if that is not enough, you get to find out your blood type, arrive to free tea and biscuits and even get a sticker telling people to be nice to you! If you book a session in ad-

vance, the process of donating and getting back to campus could take less than an hour, although you can just turn up and walk in too. The bank is only ten minutes walk from the East Gate to: The Ecology Pavilion, near Grove Road Please make a note in your diary for when this blood bank will be open next: Friday 25th January: 13:00 –

15:00, 16:30 – 19:30 Friday 29th March: 9:30 – 12:30, 13:00 – 15:00 If you want to give blood on one of these days and would like to share your experience of giving blood to promote blood donation further, please contact: welfare@qmsu. org or a.parr@hss12.qmul.ac.uk If you would like further information on giving blood in general, go to: www.blood.co.uk

Image by London PermaCulture

NEWS05

MONDAY 14th JANUARY 2013

The Students’ Union welcomes What our Sabbs are you back for their Re-Union Week looking forward to... Bethany Moffet

UEEN MARY Students Union are hosting an events week for all returning and new students. Welcoming students back after the winter break, the Union is putting on events from the 14th to the 18th January. On Monday the 14th, it will kick off with the ‘Union Fun Day’, which will launch the new Students Union Hub, which is located behind Ground – moved from its previous location next to the Curve. From 1pm-5pm, there will be free popcorn, candy floss, sweet shop, arcade games, stalls and giveaways for all. Tuesday 15th welcomes the Re-Union Fair, which was previously known as ReFreshers. For those searching out societies to join, sports to take part in, or just the many guaranteed freebies and leaflets, it can be found in the Students Union Hub from 11:30am14:30pm. Stalls will also include information about volunteering, entertainments, representation and other important groups. Later that day, there will be a Principle and President State of the

Union reception, in the Students Union Hub from 6-8pm. Questions will be answered by both the Principle and the President. The 16th, which is Wednesday, will include an Introduction to Volunteering event, held in Blomeley Room One in the Students Union Hub from 1-1:30pm. This is for anyone interested in volunteering, and it will be an opportunity to gain more information on how to do more for your community. In the evening, from 5:307:30pm in the Blomeley Rooms in the Students Union Hub there will be a Capoeira Showcase. This will be a display of Latin culture through music, dance and martial arts. But note there will be some audience participation... Thursday the 17th will bring a further instalment of the Re-Union Fair, in the same place as Tuesday, but held from 5-7pm. At the same time, a Discussion Talk on ‘The Journey of a Small Publishing House’ will be held in Drapers Room Two from 5:6:30pm. This will look into the publishing house Ignite, and will be led by its founding members. It will be an opportunity to network with indus-

try professionals in the publishing business, and look into options for the future. The final event on Thursday will be an Arts and Culture Evening, with the special guest spoken word artist Joolz Denby. Held in Drapers Room Two from 7:30pm, it will provide an evening of live poetry, spoken word and acoustic sessions. The final day of events will be held on Friday 18th January, with another chance to get an introduction into volunteering in the Blomeley Room One in the Students Hub at 12:30-1pm. There will also be an insight into the Open Book Project, held in Blomeley Room One from 1-1:30pm. The project aims to help young people in the community to further their education and careers. The last event of the week will be the ‘African Drumming Experience’, which will be held in the Blomeley Rooms from 5:30-7:30pm. This will be a cultural workshop led my African drumming specialists, and will provide a taster into the roots of African musical culture. Participation in drumming is available, and booking is necessary for this event.

Babatunde Williams QMSU President We have invited the Principle, Simon Gaskell to give a short talk at the union on Tuesday at 6pm in the Hub behind ground. He shall be talking about the long term direction of the university and the challenges we face going forward. This short talk, shall be followed by a drinks reception and an update by myself on the state of the Union. Jade Lee VP Education I am very excited about re-union week and not just because there will be free candy floss. It has been great to contribute to a project that isn’t completely academic but one that focuses on re-introducing students to their union, its new surroundings and activities. As an executive officer we have had the opportunity to decide how best to launch the student union hub, the type of events and the reunion fair. The event that I am most looking forward is the Capoeira Showcase. Not only do we get to see some amazing dancing and martial arts but we get to take part too!

Images by Lloyd Ramos

Image by Lloyd Ramos

A response to our squeaky problem Q

MESSENGER INVITED Estates and Facilities to respond to criticisms in a recent article about mice in catering outlets across campus. This is their response published in full. The College has in place a plan for pest control management in all buildings.This includes ongo-

ing visits throughout the year by a professional pest control contractor for all internal and external areas to proactively manage the risk of infestation on campus. When an infestation is located – action is taken to ensure this is dealt with quickly.In a campus and local environment where there are many

opportunities for mice to access food – bait stations and the bait within them prove less attractive. This is the case wherever such opportunities co-exist and it is all of our responsibilities to ensure food waste is properly stored and disposed of to ensure such opportunities are minimised. The Curve

along with all outlets on campus undergoes regular inspections in order to monitor hygiene and recording of information related to storage and management of food. The inspection of the Curve in May 2012 found information relating to some records was not available and meant the facility

gained the current one star out of five. All action highlighted was taken immediately to rectify this, and the Curve is due for reassessment in the next few months. The full list of gradings for all outlets available on campus is available on the Food Standards Agency website.

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NEWS07

MONDAY 14th JANUARY 2013

To pee or not to pee, that is the question Wanda Canton

MEQUALITY, QUEEN Mary’s Feminist Society, are this year leading a campaign for the establishment of Genderneutral toilets (GNT). This effectively means that some existing toilets will become accessible to all, as opposed to being designated ‘male’ or ‘female’. A motion has already unanimously passed to mandate the Student Union to establish one GNT in the new Student Hub by the end of this academic year, and to lobby

the University to ensure there is at least one GNT in each building. Sean Richardson, LGB (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual) representative for QMEquality who proposed the motion states that ‘by passing a motion at council the Union’s representatives have shown that they care about a significant number of people whose needs can be easily be met through, really, a small change to a door sign’. UCL, amongst many others, currently has some GNTs. Beth Sutton, Women’s Officer of UCL Student’s Union tells QMessenger

that they were established as ‘an issue of welfare, for people who may feel uncomfortable using gender designated toilets, people who may be trans or people who don’t necessarily identify with the female/male binary.’ Cameron Akitt from UEL’s LGBT Society echoes this sentiment and explains that ‘we converted a handful of previously gendered-single-occupancy toilets on campus and they’ve proven very welcome and successful.’ Alex Samuel, Trans representative for QM LGBT Society elaborates; ‘QM

has a diverse student body and noone, trans or otherwise, should be made to feel uncomfortable when doing such a basic activity as using a bathroom just because of how they look.’ Aside from this, GNT can be useful for student parents. For example, a mother would be able to accompany her young son without the concern of them being considered too old to be using female toilets. As Hannah Paterson, NUS Disability Officer also notes, ‘Gender neutral toilets are also good for

disabled students whose enablers/ personal assistants may be of the opposite gender allowing them to use the loo in a more dignified way.’ Of course, nobody would be compelled to use these toilets, but it provides a basic facility for those who would find them inclusive and accepting. Fundamentally, most of us already use GNTs on a daily basis – in our homes. Gender Neutral Toilets are a small but significant gesture we can make to ensure that our campus reflects, and is accommodating of our diversity.

Image by Aaron Parr

Another Prayer Room is possible

The Islamic Brothers spoke to QMessenger about their recent campaign Sean Richardson

T QUEEN Mary Students’ Unions last council a motion was proposed which sparked debate like no other has this year. The motion, submitted by members of Queen Mary Islamic Society, drew a crowd of over a hundred to the new Hub, proposing that “The prayer facilities for Muslim students on campus are insufficient” and as such the Union should “actively campaign to the University and other relevant bodies on behalf of the Muslim students, working with the Islamic Society, to establish, support and help maintain a Muslim prayer room.” Almost immediately as the motion was proposed questions were rife and slowly but surely debate was fierce, some councillors questioning the need for the rooms, some arguing there was no space for such a provision and some, bizarrely, even asking what “constitutes a Muslim.” After accepting an amendment to the policy, showing the need for the space and providing the council with evidence that small-

er prayer rooms provided by the University at the time had been booked by no other faith group than the Isoc, the policy was eventually passed. In order to show the need to the wider student body and help the policies progress run smoothly onwards, QMessenger has conducted an interview with the ISoc’s head brother, Alamgir Islam. Q: What has the passing of the motion achieved for Muslims at Queen Mary? A: The successful passing of the motion has shown that there is support in the fact that the new Multi-Faith Centre (MFC), as it currently stands, does not adequately adhere to the needs of students. We absolutely believe that everyone’s needs, regardless of faith, should be accommodated, but the proposals suggested thus far have been rather lackluster. We believe this is proven by the fact that although the new Student’s Hub was opened on 12th November 2012, a proper timetable for the use of the faith rooms was only available in the last week of the semester. The next step forward is to work with the SU in order to lobby the college to

provide faith facilities that accommodate all faiths respectively. Just to clarify our position, we believe that there should be a Muslim prayer room open throughout the day (one for men and one for women) as well as a room for members of other faiths. Q: Why do you need a separate prayer space from other people? A: Unfortunately, there has been a perception that we are demanding a separate prayer space from other people purely because we do not want to share. Months of negotiation and dialogue with SU and other faith societies dispels such untruth. Rather it is due to the foreseeable logistical issues which have occurred in the past, as Muslims (those who submit) we pray 5 times a day throughout the day and so a room is necessary that is available and open through the whole day which is not possible with the other faith societies also needing a space From a practical point of view, if there were to be a shared room it is highly probable that a number of difficulties will arise. Firstly, some of the prayers we perform are conducted out loud and in con-

gregation. If for example, a member of another faith was present at the same time this would be extremely uncomfortable or perhaps distracting for them. Also, Muslims represent the largest faith society at university, on average we get 400+ people attending Friday prayers, and so by having a separate prayer space this could solve the issue of over-crowing which would occur if there were to be shared prayer facilities. Finally, our request lies within the norms, for in wider society different religions perform their acts of worship separate to one another and university arguably being a microcosm of society such a request should not seem unwarranted. Q: Why is it necessary to have two separate rooms? A: The objective of the prayer in Islam is to establish a relationship with one’s Lord. According to the teachings of Islam, men and women establish the prayer in separate areas for it is the way of our religion. It is essential that one is able to focus with full concentration in his/her prayer. Our religion has within it the best of examples and that is what we follow

orthodox Islam. The matter of segregation does not denote degradation. Both genders are required to fulfil their acts of worship not in relation to gender however in relation to the laws established by their Lord and the final Messenger Muhammad – peace and blessing be upon him. Q: What are the next steps from now on in trying to gain a separate prayer space? A: As was aforementioned, the next step is to work with the SU to lobby the college. We already have a petition signed by 300 people which we are ready to send to the principal. A number of other strategies have been discussed and a number of media outlets have shown interest about the current situation. A campaign group has also been set up so that there is an order and centralized process as to how we go forward and of course we are always welcome to ideas on how to go forward and achieve the best outcome for the students we represent. With that we have explored all avenues and taken part in all processes of dialogue it seems that this is the final option.

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08COMMENT What are you selling? Well it’s not feminism

MONDAY 14th JANUARY 2013

Stephanie Relf

Y GENERATION doesn’t need feminism” said Carla Bruni to the outcry of the few feminists who still care. It is a sad truth that the bra-burning phase of 60’s hippies has severely damaged the reputation of a movement that should encompass at least 50% of the earth’s population. Are women afraid to stand up for equality because they’re embarrassed by their predecessors? Recently on bus stops, tube stations, and bill-boards, there have been posters for H&M featuring a scantily clad woman with sultry lighting and excessive airbrushing to advertise the fact that this brand sells underwear. Just in case we forgot. Speaking to a few women about this particular example received the same response, that it’s really quite indecent; yet a quick google search and there’s no mention of it. For some reason half naked women have become the norm. But is it really the nakedness that’s offensive? To be fair the company produces similar posters for men’s boxers so this isn’t necessarily a feminist issue. It’s more the implication that the company feels the need to sell sex in order to sell bras for £9.99.A recent campaign for Lady Gaga’s perfume featured far more explicit images, although tastefully done, naked women on the television before the watershed seems to me more than slightly inappropriate. However despite the fact that many find it angering or at least unnecessary it never becomes a widely discussed issue. Perhaps we’ve become accustomed to the bizarre entity that is Lady Gaga and are no longer fazed by her. In this case the images can be considered art and are therefore acceptable but why? It

is no wonder that feminism is dwindling if tasteful lighting and fancy cameras are all that distinguish art from Page 3. The Leveson report found there to be “excessive objectification of women in some parts of the press” with a lack of respect and dignity for women in general. Underwear may be one thing, but it seems more unreasonable that certain papers need to sell sex in order to sell news. Unless topless women are news I struggle to understand why this has been normalised. Recently a group of East Londoners “celebrated” Page 3’s 42nd anniversary by creating a 6ft birthday card comparing the Sun’s typical depiction of men in suits and Page 3 girls. When a photo was posted on facebook it was removed without warning as it violated the website’s explicit images terms - yet the same images are available for anyone in reach of a newspaper to see. Considering page

3 was launched in the 70’s before equality legislation, when marital rape was legal, and sexual harassment wasn’t recognised by law, why is the media the exception from politics? Of course the media is no stranger to scandal but in particular the Jimmy Saville crisis has created a surge in the number of calls to rape help lines. It appears as though people have been afraid to ring because of the perception that they themselves will be vilified or that no one will believe them. A reasonable fear when a woman in UAE reports being gang raped but gets fined £169 for admitting drinking without a licence. There is also evidence that upskirt shots of women, whether staged or real, increase the link between sexualisation and violence against women. By implying that these photos are non-consensual it reinforces the exploitation of women as sex objects

for the public’s entertainment. As for Carla Bruni believing her generation has no need for feminism, I think many in France would disagree. This year 14 men were accused of gang rape and 10 of them walked free; the rest received minimal prison sentences. This leniency seems to suggest that those fearing their claims won’t be taken seriously enough have legitimate cause for concern. Since being in power Francois Hollande has set up the Ministry for Women’s Rights who plan to educate children from ages 6 to 11 on gender equality. Women’s rights are still important and relevant in the 21st century. Just because we have equal civil rights does not mean social or cultural attitudes have changed and the Leveson Report found proof of this. Women in the press are inevitably either portrayed as sex objects or as wives and mothers, with frequent references to their age or appearance.

Image by Jonathan Mcintosh

How can we justify maintaining the social pressures which have clearly had such a detrimental effect on the identity of women? There shouldn’t be a need to rant about the levels of anorexia, bulimia or even dieting in young girls because everyone knows the figures are shocking. So why then has nothing changed? Currently there are giant billboards of beautiful “perfect” women who have probably spent 3 hours in hair and makeup and even longer in airbrushing, yet they are not only desirable they are presented as attainable. Or attainable if you buy a certain brand of clothing or underwear. How can women realistically be expected to aspire to such impossible, unnatural standards? How can society’s self-worth be repaired if we are relentlessly subjected to this type of advertising? To constantly judge how other women look or dress and inevitably compare yourself to them creates needless competition and insecurity; reinforcing the belief that there is a flawlessness which can, somehow, be achieved. If you are someone who can dress and look however they like without caring one iota what anyone thinks then I applaud you whole-heartedly but the sad fact is, advertising works. The impossible standards have been set and it’s surprisingly difficult to escape the pattern of trying to better your appearance by conforming to the image of who you want to be. Mary Wollstonecraft writing in the 18th Century described middle class women in society as “confined in their cages like a feathered race, they have nothing to do but to plume themselves and to stalk with mock modesty from perch to perch”. In the last 200 years, how much has changed?

Royal baby is the icing on the cake James Taffe

EWS OF the royal pregnancy in December last year somewhat divided the nation. Given the current political and economic climate, it seems almost absurd to regard the announcement of a royal pregnancy as anything but wonderful news. It comes as a blessing not just for the royal family but for the nation. Against a background of extreme flooding and a double-dip recession, Britain is given a much needed dose of delight and cheer before the

holidays. Not to mention the news certainly rounded off 2012, a fantastic year of celebration for the royals who have nearly recovered from the marital scandals of the 90s and the tragic death of Princess Diana. Isn’t it about time Britain let go of its traditional cynicism and embrace a promising and hopeful future, perfectly embodied in such a joyous occasion? This isn’t to say we should all revel in a state of baby fever, but we should admit the royal pregnancy does have its advantages. Building on the excitement of a royal wed-

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ding and the diamond jubilee, the news extends the royal run of celebration, raising their profile and popularity to the highest it has been for decades. Indeed, the announcement of a royal pregnancy sparked something of a global phenomenon. Their growing popularity would inevitably benefit the British tourism industry as the royal family will continue to generate much-needed revenue for our struggling economy. Experts predict a surge in visitors following the announcement that the Duchess is expecting, giving us an opportunity to showcase

Britain’s rich cultural heritage, one which we can be proud of. In troubled times, we are privileged to have something that we can celebrate, news which can unite the nation and prolong our growing patriotic sentiment. The royal pregnancy has even given new urgency to proposed constitutional amendments addressing the issue of succession in Britain. If passed, new legislation would overturn centuries of patriarchal tradition and come to better reflect changing attitudes in Britain, guaranteeing royal daughters an

equal claim to the throne. News of the Duchess of Cambridge’s pregnancy certainly provided a sharp, restored focus for politicians to back the initiative. This fundamental change would not only drag the royal family into conformity with our modern society but also mark a real breakthrough for gender equality. Perhaps this is a bit of a stretch, but it still stands that the royal pregnancy should in no way be regarded as ‘bad’ news. Instead, we should crack a, if necessary, false smile and join the rest of the world in offering our congratulations.

MONDAY 14th JANUARY 2013

COMMENT09

The Great Debate

Is it too late to discuss gun control in the USA?

Oli Griffin

Rowan Pearce

school in Henan Province, China, the same day. I doubt the People’s Republic will resolve on outlawing knives as a result. He equally could have resorted to the black market. A quick glance at Switzerland would prove further that more control is not the answer. It has the fourth highest gun ownership rate globally after the US, Serbia and Yemen. However, despite the US having a population of 39 times larger than Switzerland, it has a staggering 287 times more homicides. It is evidently not the guns. It could be the sense of collective responsibility that accompanies Swiss gun ownership. With regards to the Sandy Hook shooting, the failure to address and protect those who have mental abnormalities gives credence to the idea that it might not be gun ownership per se that needs to be addressed but other aspects of American society. I consider the best solution in response to tragedies like this one should be to promote firearm responsibility instead of restriction, perhaps emulating that of Switzerland which allows firearm ownership after military service. Considering that around half of Americans recognise gun ownership as a constitutional right this is as a fairer alternative. You must see that it is unfair to punish millions of Americans at the expense of a few deeply disturbed individuals, and to blithely negate the many other factors involved.

YES

ENTERED THE US on the day of the Sandy Hook shooting, in which Adam Lanza killed 28 people including himself. Every channel on TV documented this tragedy and inevitably, there were heated discussions on the controversial issue of gun control. This is a knee-jerk reaction after disasters similar to this and detracts from the real issues that need to be addressed. Guns themselves didn’t drive Adam Lanza to commit these atrocities; his psychological disorder did, along with many other factors less easy to pinpoint. There is a prevailing notion from the left and the fulminating Obama administration that the widespread use of guns led to Sandy Hook and previous shooting sprees. This makes no sense: just imagine if your house was replete with semiautomatic assault rifles and stocks of ammunition, would you kill your own mother then massacre 26 primary school children? Of course not and nor would most people. And if you had that urge one would imagine you would try your best to get your hands on any guns by any means possible, even if firearms were completely prohibited (making gun control a waste of time). It is entirely feasibly that these atrocities could have been committed by other means had the gun controls been tighter. Lanza could have used knives like in the bizarrely similar attack on a primary

Cartoon by Charlotte Byrne

OLUMBINE HIGH School shooting; 20th of April 1999: 16th of April 2007: Virginia Tech massacre; 20th of July 2012: Aurora cinema shooting; 14th of December 2012: Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting. I have not isolated these dates for any particular reason, other than that they stand out in my memory. The notoriety of these attacks renders the need to research less ‘famous’ incidents unnecessary. In these four attacks, 76 people were killed and 101 others were injured. This might seem like a shameless attempt at shock tactics but the fact is, these statistics are shocking and you should be shocked. What makes it sad is that you probably aren’t; after each subsequent report that a school has been shot-up or a gunman has rampaged in a quiet suburban town, we become less surprised and less concerned with the people involved. Compassion-fatigue sets in and on this side of the pond we wait with baited breath in anticipation of what the NRA might say. After the Sandy Hook shooting, the most recently reported mass murder; the National Rifle Association’s response was utterly outrageous, yet predictable. Wayne LaPierre, the executive director, called for congress to pass a law stationing armed officers at schools nationwide and (now famously) declaring that “The only thing that stops a bad guy with a

gun is a good guy with a gun.” Amidst cases of soldiers driven to insanity and then turning on their comrades, what’s to stop an armed police officer killing his colleagues then shooting yet more children or teachers? It’s a cliché to say this, but violence solves nothing. Increasing the potential for violent gun related incidents will not solve the problem of shooting sprees in the states. So is it too late to start questioning American gun laws? In terms of the cost of human life, yes, it is too late. These laws should have been questioned, analysed and reviewed decades ago. The Dunblane school massacre in 1996 was an event that took place in Scotland where sixteen children and one teacher were killed – after this incident, the owning of hand guns in the UK was essentially illegal. Without adopting a stance of superiority, this is an example that America should pay attention to. After a year that has too frequently been punctuated by news of gun attacks in America, now is as important as ever to question US gun legislation. Even after Sandy Hook, four fire men were shot in New York State – two of them fatally. With so many occasions exhibiting the danger of the current gun laws in the America, it would be foolish to do anything but bring sharp focus to these ridiculous gun laws.

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10COMMENT

MONDAY 14th JANUARY 2013

Is impersonating accents in comedy racist? Elliot Salle

Image by Inspirebyyou

VERY TIME you have laughed at The Simpson’s Apu Nahasapeemapetilon do you feel as though you have committed a racist offence? Of course you don’t, and rightly so. To say that the mimicking of accents in comedy is racist is an example of equality for the sake of equality and also shows us another example of political correctness gone mad. Those that oppose this form of mimicry in comedy oppose it on the grounds that the accent used (different to the ‘British Accent’) presents us with somebody struggling to use the English language correctly. So, in effect, we laugh because we feel linguistically and even racially superior to them. Whilst I can see that laughing at somebody’s accent could be seen

as ‘offensive’ by some, it is by no means racist. Most importantly, we have to remember that the world of comedy and the real world are two completely different realms. The world of comedy is a world in which very little should be taken seriously as opposed to the real world in which we must use our own reason to regulate what we say in order to avoid causing offence. For example, we may laugh at Omid Djalili and his hilarious take on a Nigerian accent, but this does not mean that we intrinsically hold anything against Nigerian people. We do not laugh because we are racist but laugh because the idea of a fat Iranian man mimicking a Nigerian accent is funny and if somebody does not find this funny, it surely cannot be because this display is necessarily racist.

Unfortunately, the power of political correctness has overwhelmed British Society and we are in constant fear of offending. It is a fact that people, by virtue of growing up in different cultures, will have different characteristics and behaviours to our own. If we are unable to joke about these differences and appreciate them in the light hearted environment of comedy, where would we be able to discuss race? Our main exposure to race would come from sources such as the news, in which it seems all people are tarnished by the same brush much too easily. We should not feel guilty for using race to create humour as there are fundamental distinctions to be made between cultures, and there is nothing wrong with innocently joking about this.

Let us say that we lived in a society in which laws were passed inhibiting comedians from using foreign accents in their work on the grounds that this is racist. What would this do to television, radio and film, in which comedy is the main aim? It would mean we would have to either expel any foreign elements from our comedies, or we would have to tarnish foreign characters with English accents which I am sure would lead to a string of post colonial arguments about how imposing an accent upon a foreign subject is wrong. This attitude towards the use of accents in comedy is stuck in the past. In a society where people are becoming ever more increasingly accepting of other races, I cannot see anything wrong with the mimicking of accents in comedy.

Image by Nastassia Davis

Sex for tuition fees site uncovered

Issy Leach

HE WEDBSITE sponsorascholar.com has recently been removed after it was discovered to be providing money to female student to pay for tuition fees in exchange for sex. This comes at a time when rape-victim blaming is rife within the media and is being brought to attention as existing fundamentally in our culture. The website advertised to pay up to £15,000 for “discreet adventures” with wealthy business men, but women were told they had to undergo a “quality control” sex assessment with this man to evaluate the “level of inti-

macy” that they would be willing to provide for the clients. Some women who slept with this man were sent a follow up email telling them that their application was unsuccessful but that they could re-apply in a few months. This story has only been covered by The Independent, who sent one of their journalists undercover to meet the assessor, returning with video evidence of their meeting in a McDonald’s restaurant. The Independent covered this story extensively over five separate articles with each new development of the story contributing to the site to be taken down and investigated by the police.

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The Minister for Women and Equality (in the Government’s Departure for Culture, Media and Sport) Jo Swinson was quoted urging the police to “investigate anyone suspected of taking advantage of students”. It was only then that the question of financial pressure on female students was even addressed. This was mentioned at the end of The Independent’s article whereby she defended the current tuition fees. Swinson argued that “no eligible student has to pay for their tuition up-front. Loans are available to meet the full cost of tuition charges at publicly funded institutions.” No-one seems to be concerned

that it is the continual rise in tuition fees that is driving students to desperate measures. An article in the London student newspaper, The Angle, suggested that it is a woman’s naivety that leads her into these situations. Another Independent article blamed the university welfare systems for not recognizing or ignoring this as an option for students today. We must not blame the women in university welfare systems for not defending them well enough. It is the government’s fault for not considering or understanding the consequences of such large loans for standard education. Dismissing the problem of paying them upfront does not make

the tuition fees any less daunting or make universities cost any less money. Women are hit the hardest by the cuts to welfare and education but people-- especially politicians-- do not understand to what extent it is affecting women economically and emotionally. The police and government must properly investigate the men in society that seek to profit from the hardship of women today, but look at the problems they have caused in government. Not only have they driven women to this dire financial position, but the government’s closure of rape crisis centres has left women without a place of support.

COMMENT11

MONDAY 14th JANUARY 2013

New Female Minister South Korea Cristina Trujillo

N THE 19th December South Koreans voted in the new president of the country, the leader of the conservative Saenuri Party, Park Geun-Hye, who narrowly beat her left-wing opposition, Moon Jae-in. When I first heard that the new president of South Korea would be female my immediate reaction was optimistic. I feel that Park Geun-Hye, the first female president of South Korea, represents a leap forward in the social equality of South Korea in the same way as Barack Obama did in America by being the first African American president of the United States. However, this leap is more symbolic than anything else, considering the reactionary nature of the Saenuri party.

Park Geun-Hye’s gender has been widely discussed in reference to her electoral victory, with some claiming that her gender factored positively in her triumph. However, South Korea has one of the highest rates of gender inequality in the world, rendering it apparent that Park Geun-Hye overcame vast amounts of prejudice and huge obstacles in order to reach her position. This prejudice is exemplified by the sneeringly condescending and sexist nickname given her by a South Korean newspaper – ‘ice princess’. It appears that Park Geun-Hye’s extraordinary influence as a politician is what has convinced voters in her favour. In this sense we can laud Park and her supporters. However, we shouldn’t be misled by the fact of

Park’s gender - she takes a hugely conservative line on issues which affect women and the gender gap. Being the daughter of Park Chung-Hee, the dictator who ruled South Korea between 1961 and 1979, undoubtedly played a vital part in Park’s victory. Since Park Chung-Hee’s dictatorship, the opinion of South Korea has been divided as to his legacy. Many voters remember the ruthless authoritarianism of his regime, which involved the torturing and execution of his opponents and the strict repression of freedom of speech and press. However, more voters appear to have considered Park’s crucial development of the economy and industry of South Korea when casting their votes. Despite Park ChungHee’s invaluable work done towards

gaining South Korea the power it holds today, the truth remains that his profoundly oppressive regime implemented certain unacceptable policies and tactics. It is highly concerning, but not surprising, that these more conservative voters dominated the polls, the political environment of South Korea having a long conservative tradition. Time will tell how far Park Geun-Hye follows in her father’s footsteps, although her democratic rise to power gives us reason to hope she will be a less ruthless leader than her father. Park Geun-Hye’s family connections have proved helpful to her. However, whether or not judgement is coming from the direction of her supporters or her opposition, it will be her mission to cast off comparisons to her father and step out of his shadow.

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Why should we judge her because of her parentage and gender?

Image by Greek Foreign Ministry

Why fox hunting should remain illegal Caroline Page

Image by Matt Preston

HERE ARE many arguments against fox hunting, yet recently the government has pondered whether to reverse the current laws and allow fox hunting to be carried out legally. Hopefully if you are not already, this article will persuade you how awful fox hunting is and why it should stay prohibited. Firstly consider the ethics (or lack of ethics) by killing the foxes inhumanely. Generally, hunting parties consist of “packs of scent hounds”, horses and their riders. Often numbers will exceed 20 dogs and large groups of people on horseback, foot, or quad bikes. Surely 20 dogs verses 1 fox is unfair for a start? In May 2009 a profox hunting group published that “fox hunts caught 13,987 foxes last season, of which 8,896 (64%) were ‘above ground’ and 5,091 (36%) were dug.” Aside from the horrific numbers from these statistics, when the writers say “dug” what they actually mean is that the fox was trapped, quite literally, underground. Nowhere to run. The fox is then shadowed by dogs scrabbling at the opening with their claws and hunts-people with their shovels. According to their own figures most foxes, 8,896 in May, are caught above ground. This can be a grizzly affair as most hunts-people fail to mention is

how most dogs are trained to follow the scent so much that in their frenzy the fox is torn apart while still alive. Limb from limb, into pieces- the fox wouldn’t stand a chance. Surrounded in a copse or a burrow the results are ultimately the same. Most foxes are not killed by bullets but by 20 or more dogs biting from all directions. Hardly a nice way to die. Then you have the damage caused to the property, environment and waste of resources. When hunts are carried out a fox does not know boundaries of huntsmen property and public property. It simply runs for its life. (I would, too, if I was a fox.) This means those 20 or more dogs (and however many horsemen) will follow. To stop this harming people’s property police are issued to carefully monitor hunts and I have been told many hunts cause outrage as they take “short-cuts” through gardens and farmers’ fields. This is a waste of police time and can spoil local community atmosphere without mentioning the costs for repair or replacement that follow. “There are 318 registered hound packs in England and Wales,” so scale up the damage for each hunt and there are a lot of costs. According to the pro-hunting sites “the 200 hunts spent a total of £3.37million annually on collecting this stock. This is an average of £18,000 per hunt and £9.20 per

animal collected.” Surely there are plenty of ways this money could be used elsewhere? Even donating to charity would suffice. I have heard arguments that the “social ritual” is continued out of tradition. To this I reply there were traditions that included keeping slaves or hanging criminals but times have changed. Riding through the countryside on horseback can be sociable without hunting down foxes. Why can’t these people have gatherings without causing so much chaos and death? To me the idea of watching animals be pulled apart as they struggle for their lives is not my idea of social; morbid as it sounds, I would find standing in an abattoir for a day more appealing so long as the killing is humane. “Like most wild mammals, foxes carry a range of diseases. There is no current evidence that these pose a significant disease risk to humans and/or domestic animals. Foxes present no significant threat of rabies. The risk of foxes attacking children is extremely low and negligible when compared to the risks posed by companion animals,” (International Fund for Animal Welfare). No more needs to be said here. As for the “controlling the population” excuse the people using this argument have obviously never been to a lecture on population dynamics. “There is no evidence to

suggest that foxhunts played any role in the control of fox populations, nor is there any evidence that the introduction of the Hunting Act 2004 will have a significant impact on fox numbers,” (International Fund for Animal Welfare). In short, populations will increase until resources, at some point, become limiting. As resources are finite, this is only a matter of time. Populations that increase beyond the “carrying capacity” crash as a natural cycle of increase when resources are plenty and decrease when they are not. The population will not be able to grow past a certain point and young will replace old. By removing relatively small numbers of foxes the population is kept beneath the carrying capacity but at a high population density. Now the population will not crash as it would naturally but stays abundant. Fox hunting is a complete waste of time population dynamics wise. Letting the population cycle naturally reduces the numbers without having to go on killing sprees. There really is no need. In conclusion, gallivanting around the countryside tearing foxing apart does not benefit society in any way. Excuses are not enough to persuade me it’s necessary in any form. Fox hunting is illegal for a reason. It should be kept that way.

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12COMMENT

Should we stay or should we go? Nick Garland

HE QUESTION of British membership to the European Union has been a subject of debate over the last few months. With concern over the dwindling economy, many people have begun to express doubt over Britain’s membership as shown by the Conservative party becoming more divided on this issue and the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) gaining popularity with a surge from 4.5% to 14% in the opinion polls. But why? Withdrawal would firstly offer us immediate economic advantages. The UK would cease having to pay £50 million a day in EU contributions and having the regulatory burden of the Common Agricultural Policy lifted would make farmer’s food significantly cheaper. We would also regain control over our fisheries which includes 65% of North Sea stocks that were taken by the EU under the bungling Fisheries Policy. Also, a huge proportion of business regulation is governed by European law which according to top CEO Terry Smith stifles the growth of smaller businesses. With a reduction in red tape and the many EU directives, smaller businesses could grow faster. It is understandable why many would consider leaving the EU a dangerous move considering that 40% of our current trading is with the EU. But what we must acknowledge is that this is a rapidly diminishing market while other economies around the world are exceeding it. The last several years have seen the Euro disintegrate. Not only have we seen the splintering of the north and south of Europe and the debilitating bailouts handed out by the ECB (European Central Bank), we will soon bear witness to a similar split between France and Germany. The vast tax hikes on high earners implemented by the French president Hollande will diminish economic activity and create a chasm between their economically powerful neighbour. This will eventually force the two strongest EU players out of the same economic and monetary union, leaving the EU fractured in all places. Leaving the EU would enable us to set up bilateral trading deals with much faster growing economies, particularly the 2 billion people of the English-speaking Commonwealth which we share an amicable

relationship with. As the sixth biggest economy in the world, it is embarrassing that only 2% of our current trade is with India (according to the Office for National Statistics) and only 3% is with China (which will be the largest economy in the world by 2017 according to BRIC). At the moment the UK is chained to the EU’s Customs Union which prohibits us a seat on the World Trading Organisation where these deals can be made. Considering all these incentives, European trading deals can still be achievable. Both Switzerland and Norway are members of the EEA (European Economic Area), which is still an option for us. A recent article in The Times announced that senior EU officials from Brussels have proposed a potential status for the UK as an ‘associate member’. This is definitely attainable considering we have a 50 billion pound trading deficit with the EU and it is in their interest for us to remain active trading partners. Putting aside the economics, the UK would once again be a full democracy. Trading laws (about 80% of which are made in Brussels) would be made in Westminster. We’ll be able to decide everything ourselves from environmental policy to health and safety regulation (whether we want more or less of it), rather than by the unelected leaders of the EU. This would have further optimistic implications; more people would vote in general elections as the government would have more control and a degree of national confidence would be restored. In addition, we would have a fairer immigration system which currently is a lot more difficult for those outside the EU to work and live in the UK than it is for Europeans. Shouldn’t the system be equal for everyone? Whichever side of the political spectrum you adhere to, surely it is better that the decisions made for this country are made inside this country rather than outside. It has also got to be more desirable that we establish ourselves in the global community and are able to trade freely with other non-Europeans economies. The opposing argument seems to consist of ‘the better the devil you know than the devil you don’t’ mentality, however in the face of these points this is weak and nonsensical.

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MONDAY 14th JANUARY 2013

QM Library Mugs

New Confession Style blog restyles the offensive Sean Richardson

T THE time of writing this article the group in question has but 300 likes, yet I think we all know exactly how long it will be before another Queen Mary group, similar to QM Confessions, takes off and rockets past the Union in popularity and traffic. These groups have the potential to be funny, they have the ability to allow people to tell their deepest darkest “I shit myself in Francis Bancroft” type secrets or call those out who think it’s okay to sit on the bottom floor of the library and listen to Taylor Swift at full blast. I’m not disputing that, each of us knows someone ending up with a ratchet where it shouldn’t be in the Engineering department or a library book soaked in someone else’s piss is usually going to end up being a funny situation. However the problem with these groups is that all too quickly they become places where people can anonymously send abuse in without fear of others finding out who they are. They become areas where admins can post other people’s racist attacks such as “I bumped into some guy with a rag on his

head” or sexist slurs like “talking to two sluts” without anyone being able to argue against them, point out they’re deeply flawed and prejudiced attitude or do little else than post a comment on the thread which states their complete objection to what has been said. The real issue with these groups is that the people behind them find it appropriate to post messages about others that don’t point out their superficial and annoying behaviour but degrade them based on factors such as race, gender, sexuality and disability. At a University which has one of the highest Muslim populations in the country, which has more women than men and the likelihood of having over one in twenty LGBT students, vile tirades such as these highlight the ignorant and flawed attitudes of those that both post the messages and send them in. Worse than this, when students object to said slurs more often than not the groups respond with further calls of “slut” or “faggot”; these aren’t just words picked out of the air, they are examples from both QM Confessions and the newly founded Spotted: QM Library Mugs which, once again, the admins find it fine to throw back

at people. And finally, as we all see on a daily basis, come the group of men who find it fine to rip into those who have problems with the slurs. Do they engage in polite, intellectual debate? No. They deem it fit to post sarcastic, passive aggressive message which further lay into the people who have objected to their friends being abused. Nothing constructive comes of the posts, they are slurs which lead to further ignorant arguments from overwhelmingly those that aren’t affected by the insults. Men telling women to “lighten up” over being called a whore, or straight people telling the LGBT community to “take a joke” when they’re referred to as “queers.” This isn’t an article which is meant to go against groups being set up however it is one which slams the nature of the posts that these groups deem fit to send out to the student body. You can be funny without attacking someone else based on their identity and if you can’t then it’s time to go back home, have a nap and reconsider your life choices. So please, if you’ve got an idea good enough that it will reach half of QMUL, please keep it slur free, nobody wants to see that.

Image by Aaron Parr

COMMENT13

MONDAY 14th JANUARY 2013

The big Issue: Patriotism and the Left Nick Garland

T WAS the great left-wing playwright George Bernard Shaw who dismissed patriotism as being ‘your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it’, and this has essentially remained dogma for the British liberal-left ever since. This stems from a host of factors. The 20th century showed both the evil that can be done in the name of nationalism and the decline of the British Empire, bringing with it a sense among many that we should all bear collective shame for its crimes. Meanwhile, the end of the Cold War brought with it the effective death of traditional socialism and the ‘modernised’ left, lacking solutions and fearful of using ‘Old Labour’ language, gravitated away from its historical dedication to create economic equality towards the kinds of equality it thought it could achieve: gender, racial, sexual, and so on. This reached its apogee with the limp liberal response to militant Islam, as liberals scrambled to be as tolerant as possible of the most intolerant people they could possibly find.

other’, and Labour’s one great, radical government sprang out of patriotic sentiment at the close of World War II. The harsh truth that the liberal-left has always had to grapple with is that generally the people of Britain- especially the working class- has never been liberal. However, in recent decades, the left has been all too happy to cede this considerable political ground to the right, which has accepted gleefully, playing off the patriotism and a wider social conservatism of the very people most disadvantaged by their policies. However, post-2010, we have begun to see a trend towards the mainstream left reengaging with issues of national identity. On the one hand, this was sparked by the growing influence It wasn’t always this way. of Maurice Glasman and ‘Blue Certainly, the far left have Labour’ ideas within the Labour generally subscribed to Marx’s Party. assertion that ‘the workers have To Glasman, the 1945 governno country’, but patriotism- even ment signalled the point Labour outright jingoistic nationalism chose liberal statism over a was not always the sole preserve richer ‘paradoxical tradition that of the right. strengthens liberty and democFrom the beginning, alongside racy, that combines faith and the generally middle class liberal citizenship, patriotism and inwing of the Labour Party always ternationalism and is, at its best, existed a generally working radical and conservative’. class, conservative wing which, These received enough interin the words of the historian est from Ed Miliband that Blue Martin Pugh, championed ‘their Labour ideas are now the domiclass and socialism on the one nant school of thought behind hand along with class collabora- his leadership, albeit repackaged tion, patriotism, imperialism under the ‘One Nation’ slogan. and authoritarianism on the The second factor driving

The working class - has never been liberal

the greater interest in national identity and patriotism, across the political spectrum but most markedly among the left, were the defining- and spectacularly contrasting- events in London over the last two summers. First, the riots roused concerns about a huge section of Britain lacking any stake in society or even in their own communities.

sentiment can be distinct from racism or insularity. A second obstacle for radicals and progressives to accept patriotism is the backwards, hierarchical nature of the traditions associated with it. British national identity is unhealthily intertwined with archaic institutions- above all, the monarchy which symbolise hierarchy and privilege. But just because many selfdefined patriots are monarchists is not to say one cannot express national pride in the people, or in our largely triumphant passage towards democracy- while also hoping for radical constitutional change. Ultimately, this boils down to a question of whether the left is willing to tolerate conservative language being deployed in the interests of its agenda. For Image by Janet Ramsden many- whether the far left, or stripes gleefully seized on the op- the ‘Guardianista’ ranks of the portunity to hold up the Olympics liberal left- this is too much to as a source of national pride. The tolerate. predictability with which each What this overlooks is that party leader sought out cheap ap- patriotic language carries with it plause and a share of the credit in political utility beyond electiontheir conference speeches verged eering. on the desperate. However, to overlook the value of what the Olympics symboliseda genuine and all too rare source of national pride for a declining, post-imperial nation would be a grievous mistake. However, to simply ape that rather than to find new sources of a similar sense of unity is going to wear thin very soon. There are reasons to be sceptical of the capacity of the language of social conservatism to serve the left. The spectre of racial intolerIn France, the language of ance in an age of multiculturalnational duty was used, for ism hangs heavy; it only took the instance, to condemn Gerard Deextremely moderate proposal to pardieu for his decision to move try to guarantee everyone living abroad to avoid tax. in Britain should speak English The idea that one owes one’s for the Guardian to accuse Ed country a duty is a powerful Miliband of ‘dog-whistling’ to the one, and one the left is guilty of far right. undermining. The realisation that ensuring The liberal-left loves the idea immigrants speak English is as of society, social duty and the much in their interest as in ours, common good. However, it’s or that social cohesion and toler- terrified to talk about what ance are near-impossible without can actually give rise to those: a common language, was quite national identity, family or social beyond these strikingly reaction- cohesion. ary liberals. Hopefully, this is starting to As many on the left pointed change. It needs to if we’re to out, the adulation of Mo Farah see a radical, effective left this at the Olympics showed patriotic decade.

Conference speeches verged on the desperate The ultimate consequence of the triumph of economic and social liberalism is the breakdown of any value system beyond that of the market; on an individual level, simply that of consumption, of ownership to prove status. The Thatcherite fixation on home ownership sparked the economic crisis we remain entangled in, and its natural extension lay behind a nihilistic willingness to loot and cause havoc in people’s own communities. National identity offers one of the few rallying points through which we can respond to this social breakdown. Meanwhile, politicians of all

Many selfdefined patriots are monarchists

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14FEATURES

MONDAY 14th JANUARY 2013

Queen Mary Mission Issy Leach

T THE end of last term, in the sticky heat of summer, Queen Mary campus was full of bins and skips of rubbish, but also usable food, clothes and bedding. When some of the associate students left to return to their home on the other side of the water, they kindly left their food and bedding that they could not fit in their suitcases or their flatmates to eat or use as they wished. Otherwise, they were permitted to throw the rest away. Although the other students benefitted quite well from the free food, they had food of their own to eat before the moving out weekend. This group of students looked up some local homeless centres in the area to take some of this food and bedding too. The Whitechapel Mission is a centre near the hospital where the homeless in our area can go and have a good meal, and use the shower facilities and medical attention. It is run by volunteers and helps all those suffer from a situation of poverty or hopelessness. The students filled up three hiking rucksacks of food and caught the bus down to the Mission. They were greeted by one of the members of staff, and invited to deposit their bounty down a chute to be sorted by volunteers. They were offered a tour of the building and a chance to see a little bit of the work done in the Mission. They were shown the vast amount of bread and eggs that are used every day for breakfast, and the bank of clothes that frequently needs to be re-filled to cloth those who have none. All the staff were very friendly and happy to see that even students wanted to help those in need. A few months later, in conversation with one of the stallholders at the Farmers Market, the Bow Foodcycle Centre popped into the conversation as the place where stallholders deposited their unsold food and vegetables. They combine volunteers, surplus food and a free kitchen to create meals for the local community and a positive social change to the way we use food. Food retailers donate food due to problems with excess stock.

They have pilot hubs at Imperial College London, and the London School of Economics that have spread across the UK. In the same way as this campaign, it was inspired by Americans but through the Campus Kitchen Projects. This encouraged Kelvin Cheung to tackle the food poverty and food waste in the UK. Thus, this campaign was born. So much food is wasted on campus every term, particularly at the end of the year. One of the challenges as a student is buying your own food and knowing how much food to you will eat over the course of the year. Most students will still be ingrained with the purchase habits of their parents and be left with a surplus amount of food at the end of the year. This is where we can help. Furthermore, many international students need to provide their own bedding when living in halls, and just don’t need to or can’t take it home with them at the end of the year. None of this is the fault of the students but we can be more responsible with our waste. The purpose of this campaign is to create a food, clothes and bedding bank at the end of the year in a building on campus monitored by QMUL staff for students to deposit their surplus stock. This will be no harder than putting it all in a bin bag and carrying it out to throw in the overflowing skips and bins the university provides. When most of the students on campus have gone home and they have given all they can, a team of volunteers will each fill a van with stock and drive it to the two centres. Both centres are welcome to have the university’s support and donations, and wish to make this an on-going scheme. When you first arrive at Queen Mary you really consider your affect on the local community. You are obviously providing custom to local businesses such as Dixie’s or Food and Wine, but you are also adding to an already overpopulated area. Most students have to use public transport, which makes it busier for other residents, and make use of the already strained welfare system. It is not that students should feel guilty about this, but they need to give something back to

make up for the loud late night antics when all the bars close. With the recent government cuts and caps to benefits for the hardworking people of London, and the rise in travel fares, it is clear that poverty is becoming a way of life for those in our borough. It should not be said that students have it easy either. With the rising tuition fees and withdrawal of funding for post-graduate degrees it is increasingly difficult to get by as a student. However, we can give away what we cannot use or no longer need. As the government champions to increase in food banks as a sign of community spirit, they ignore that they are the reason that it is necessary in the first place. While we may campaign to change this, it is important that we do not ignore the current situation. As a society the stronger must support the weak and the vulnerable. Until this is true, the less fortunate must not be inconsiderate and support others who are not in a position of privilege. Queen Mary’s environmental society Green Mary is committed to supporting this campaign. The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) found that 3.6m tonnes of food is needlessly thrown away each year. This is an environmental as much as a poverty problem. The university may have to pay for excess waste at the end of term, and this can be reduced through this proposed scheme. The university cares a great deal about its status and reputation as an institution that contributes to the local community. This is something all students can help to sustain and in turn feel they have benefitted their local community. This does not just apply to students staying in halls of residence. Students in surrounding private residence can take the initiative to take their own waste to the centres themselves, not just at the end of terms but at the end of their residencies. It is just a small thing that students can do to prove that they are not a selfish or unconcerned generation in the face of a lot of bad media press. This is an opportunity for students to showcase their humanity in this time of crisis.

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MONDAY 14th JANUARY 2013 I think this is a great campaign by QMessenger and hopefully it will change some long term attitudes to wastage on campus and also beyond our time at this university. The highlight of this campaign shall see QMessenger linking up with RAG after Reading Week to encourage students to give away presents they don’t from Christmas or yesteryear for sale. I know I have an Elvis Onesie at home that is better off collecting dust in someone else’s wardrobe so I shall be letting that go. Hopefully, we as a student populace can extend the Christmas spirit a tad longer and donate not only food and bedding we shan’t be taking back home at the end of each term/year, but also those things that we have at home such as clothes that might be valuable to the aforementioned charities. Babatunde Williams (QMSU President) I hope this campaign is successful. It demonstrates how poverty isn’t just confined to the so-called Third World: it’s here with the ‘civilized’ too. It will help everyone; because we can all save money by making things last longer and by reusing bits – because food won’t always be readily available. Charlie Pullen (1st Year English Student) “I would certainly think of using it a lot more if it was there. Most people do have things that they do throw away at the end of term, and this would definitely be a more productive use for it”.

There is nothing worse than perfectly good food going to waste at any point during the year. The fact that it can go to use and, more importantly, go to a good cause is brilliant. I think most people would agree and would like the thought of being able to help others. Katie Schuster (2nd Year French Student) Despite the economic crisis, Britain remains one of the most prosperous countries in the world, so it’s disgraceful that so many people are finding themselves forced to use food banks just to get by. I think it’s a direct result of Tory ideology which seeks to make life as precarious as possible. While it’s clearly a political problem which requires a political solution, we should do everything we can to make things more bearable those who need help. Universities should have strong links with their communities and this is a exemplary initiative demonstrating the willingness of Queen Mary students to get involved and make a difference. Sam Playle Post Graduate Research Representative

“It’s a great thing for Queen Mary to get involved in. There’s so much work going into developing this part of the city, and I think it’s cool that QM wants to play a bigger part in that.” Nathalie Grey (3rd Year Literature Student)

As someone who is incredibly passionate about sustainability and waste reduction in particular, I think this new campaign is a fantastic idea and should have been implemented years ago! Despite Rebecca Maiden’s Sustainability Team doing all they can to reduce waste from halls, staff losses in her department mean that students need to get on board to ensure the work that they have started continues to grow from strength to strength. This new waste bank idea would allow students to do just that – whilst contributing something of significant value to our local community. Jannat Hossain (QMSU Multicultural Rep. and Green Impact Project Assistant)

I think the campaign is a great idea and really shows off how our media can be used as a force for positive change. I plan on getting involved, and hope that other students do too. Donating to food banks and supporting this campaign makes sense because we’ll be preventing so much waste and helping those in our local community, especially in these times of austerity. I hope the campaign takes off and all our QM students who live in the local area take part in this opportunity to foster closer links with the community and prove that students don’t deserve the bad rep they usually get! Ozzy Amir (Welfare Officer)

Grassroots campaigns like this one are often needed to make institutions take responsibility for the environment. It is a great example of thinking globally and acting locally. Avoiding the vast waste at the end of the year is the bare minimum the university should be doing, while students should be setting an example. The least-green government ever is also the government presiding over an unprecedented rise in child poverty, while food bank usage rockets 600%: supporting operations like the Whitechapel Mission is the very least we should be doing to resist the war on the poor.

As soon as I heard this idea, I thought it was a great idea! I was brought up in a family who recycles regularly and, naturally, I have become an eco warrior! This is not just good for the environment and creating sustainability in halls, but it will benefit the local community. Speaking from experience, when flatmates leave for home, they leave excess food out for me and other flatmates, which usually goes to waste. Also, when associate students go home, they leave a ton of stuff that they can’t take home and that the less fortunate would truly appreciate. I for one wish I could do more to benefit the community we all live in, and hopefully from this campaign, all current and future students will realise what a privileged position they live in.

The amount of waste here at Queen Mary in the summer, is somewhat shameful. When students leave their halls along with leaving their kitchen utilities, food and clothes, everything is thrown out and the halls are made afresh for the next set of students in September. Much of this waste could be sent to the needy around Mile End and put to a much better use. This project is attainable, important and necessary if we want to reduce waste at Queen Mary, and will have a very positive impact on providing deprived people in the community with things that many of us take for granted.

Sam Phillips (2nd Year Engineering Student)

Aaron Parr (First Year Representative)

George McVicar (President of Green Mary Society)

James Cullum (Biology Student)

All Images with permission by FoodCycle

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MONDAY 14th JANUARY 2013

In Conversation with Nadia Lee Cohen Belphoebe New

AYLOR WESSING photographic prize nominee Nadia Lee Cohen’s work is daring, flirtatious and bold. In the world she creates, cabaret dancers pose in hairdressers, divers on escalators, and her subjects are presented as shrouded in netted fabric or adorning grotesque bunny heads. The women she captures pose with almost a doll like quality, and the dazzling technicolour nature of the work only enhances this feeling of other worldliness. We caught up with Nadia to ask her about her inspirations and aspirations… Qmessenger: Your work is being exhibited as part of the Taylor Wessing Photographic prize, how does it feel to be able to display your work to a such a huge audience? A: It still doesn’t feel real that my picture is in there everyday! I remember going to the exhibition last year and thinking how incredible all the photographs were. I entered this year because a friend told me I should, to be honest I didn’t think my work would really be their cup of tea, but it turned out that it was. I’m very honored and grateful to be alongside such talent. Q: How do you decide on the concepts for your photoshoots? Do you draw it out, scrapbook your inspiration etc? A: The concepts come from everywhere, mostly from something I’ve seen in a film. I have a little book that I carry around in my bag and if I see something or come up with an idea I’ll write it in there so I don’t forget it. I also spend a lot of time prop shopping; sometimes an idea can materialize from seeing an unusual object. Q: Your work reminds me a little of Cindy Sherman’s The Untitled film stills, did you want to catch that sort of Hollywood, Americana feel in your work? A: Wow thank you, she’s a real inspiration. I’ve always been drawn to Americana and Britain in the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s, perhaps because of the films and other photographers I like, I guess the reason it shows a little in my work is because I have such a passion for it. Q: Your work is incredibly colourful, have you ever chosen to work in black and

white or is the use of colour important for you? A: I have worked in black and white previously; but that was before I really found my own style. I love working with saturated colour, one of the main processes of creating a picture is thinking about colours that might clash or co-ordinate when it comes to the clothes and the props. Q: What is your favourite shoot that you’ve photographed and why? A: I think ‘call me’ is a favorite; I had an idea to photograph a series of prostitutes on the telephone, I think I like it because the process became really interesting. I became fascinated with

dressing and naming each of the characters to personalize them and ensure they all complimented one another. Q: If you could photograph anyone in any situation, who and what would it be? A: Dead – Elvis at his home in Graceland, Alive possibly Lana Del Rey – I really like everything about her face – she looks like a mannequin .I’d love to shoot her in an incredible Lynch-esque set. Q: What’s next for you? A: I’m currently planning a new series of images to show next year, I’m scouting for prospective characters and trying to find a van to lug all my props around.

You can see Nadia’s chosen portrait at the National portrait gallery until February 2013. Her portfolio is available at http://nadialeecohen.com/.

Fairytale in the O2: The Pogues Bradley Hillier-Smith

FORECFUL, endearing journey through the high octane jigs and thoughtful, solemn ballads of the Pogues repertoire, a concert to remember.

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The notorious London based Irish punk band brilliantly blend traditional Irish tunes, instruments and styles with the raucous energy of punk.

Image by Mark Hilary

The performance at the 02 arena, far from being the typical alcohol fuelled calamitous stagger through a slurred set, was actually a sharp, tight, effervescent celebration of the songs that fans adore. Delivered with infectious energy, the songs enveloped the crowd and commanded the venue. Shane Macgowan’s arresting vocals dispelled any doubts that they would be unable to sonically fill the mammoth 20,000 capacity O2 arena, the final venue for their 30th anniversary tour. Singer Shane Macgowan oozed with charisma. No longer the gaunt, stick-thin punk that started the pogues in 1982; he is now a bloated, toothless figure with a distinctive hoarse voice, having been eroded by unending years of relentless alcohol and substance abuse. Still, Magowan, wearing sunglasses, showing a clear and cheeky disregard for the smoking ban, fag in one hand, a gin n tonic in the other, trudged onto the stage and owned it. S mashing cymbals when he was supposed to be singing, wandering off stage when he felt like it, forgetting verses (having to be reminded mid-song by band-mate Spider Stacey) then spluttering an apology, laughing it all off with his wheezy cackle before another drag of a cigarette. Shane Macgowan was sheer entertainment. But not only this Shane Macgowan’s vocals were lucid and more enunciated than expected,

so much so that the intricate and meaningful lyrics could be caught by the audience. The vocals were driven and spewed out with a snarl and conviction through the more aggressive songs, such as ‘If I should Fall From Grace with God’ and ‘Boys From The County Hell’, and held a lilting endearment through the softer melodies like ‘Dirty Old Town and ‘Rainy Night in Soho’. This orchestrated a performance that was riotous yet heart-warming. The festive highlight of the 24 song set was, of course, the fantastical Christmas Classic ‘A Fairytale of New York’. Camille O’Sullivan’s spritely, sassy but tuneful voice in the romantic duet balanced Macgowan’s rasping melodies perfectly. The song climaxed with the singers entwined in dance whilst white confetti littered across the stage and audience. A true treat and spectacle as the audience passionately sang along: ‘and the bells were ringing out for Christmas day’. The Pogues certainly haven’t fallen from grace, lives of excess and self-destruction may have withered the appearance, health and voices of the members, but the spirit remains. The band may have been doused and drenched in alcohol over the years but their energy, allure and brilliance has not been extinguished. I hope the rumours of a repeat performance the same time next year are true.

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MONDAY 14th JANUARY 2013

There is more to London that Brick Lane and Drapers

FTER A holiday of cooked meals and general comfort, the thought of coming back to a cold second home with essays and inadequate home cookery probably doesn’t seem like the most attractive prospect. But there is plenty going on in East London to introduce you back into the life of well-adjusted Londoner: Tube it to Canary Wharf. If you enjoyed last year’s BBC series on the inner workings of the tube, this film series as screened in the Canary Wharf ticket office is a must see. Showing films documenting the history of the underground, this second instalment of a large series is a rare insight into the world beneath our feet. Running from

January 7th to February 5th at the Canary Wharf Screen. Rumble in the Jumble (literally.) East London is possibly the only place where Jumble sales come with celebrity guests, DJ’s and memorabilia from the rich and famous. Bringing your own jumble is mandatory, but allows you to have some very high quality jumble at your disposal, and you can feel good about yourself too, with all the profits going to charity. Only a short walk down the road and at just £3 entry, this is a must for those who enjoy gawping at other people’s stuff. Get down to Bethnal Green’s Working Men’s

Club on January 26th. Find a state of neutral pleasure. The Whitechapel Gallery, East London’s most famous display of art works, is running an exciting new exhibition with Irish artist Gerard Byrne. Specialising in film installations revisiting important moments in time, Byrne has focused his multi-screen installations on everything from the illusion of the Loch Ness Monster to the nature of sexuality. This exhibition focuses especially on aspects of erotica and the discussions surrounding the minimalist movement that Byrne has interpreted through both photography and film. Running from the 17th January to the 8th

March, admission is free, and only a short walk or bus ride away. Take the long march to equality. If you’re interested in equal rights and women’s rights specifically, this exhibition will seek to inspire you. Documenting the feats of the woman’s movement from Grecian times to the 90’s Riot Grrl movement, this exhibition takes a thorough look at the rights of women and the protest surrounding them over the years. With the threat of closure impending over the current women’s library, this exhibition looks to be a defiant and fascinating representation of an ever evolving movement. Catch it until March 22nd at the London Metropolitan

University, with free admission. Go way out west (well, slightly west.) Though advertised as a Transgender bar, Aldgate East’s Way Out West Club claims to be open to all, as a ‘friendly, relaxed night out.’ With a detailed website explaining the club experience and the flexible door policy, this club clearly seeks to make sure its clientele have the best time possible. With a weekly club night, this bar is ideal for those who want to have fun in an accepting and diverse environment. Visit on your next night in Shoreditch, at the Abbey Bar. For more information go to: http://thewayoutclub.com

Image by Andrew Warran

Image by Volalto

Tim Walker’s Fashion and Fairytale at Somerset House

COLLECTION of works by Tim Walker, renowned British fashion photographer, are currently on show at Somerset House in the exhibition Tim Walker: Story Teller. The exhibition shows Walker at his most creative and fanciful, throughout its various elaborately designed images and celebrity portraits. Walker’s influence in the world of fashion is vast – in 2008 he received the ‘Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator’ from The British Fashion Council, his photographs are a part of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s permanent collection and he has recently started working in moving film. However, Walker is best known for his involvement

with Vogue magazine, which has published Walker’s photography for over a decade. Many pieces of the Walker exhibition may not be new to loyal readers of Vogue or Vanity Fair, but there is something there for everyone. For those more familiar with Walker’s work, there are new pieces never exhibited before, along with a breath-taking selection of props from Walker’s photography sets. These include the sinister giant doll used in a set for Italian Vogue, photographed kicking a model down a hill. There is also the life-size white boat with two swans at the prow and the huge bee playing a cello. Most of the props are in fact dis-

tinctly oversized, the characters of Walker’s stories having taken on the fantastical proportions of the dreams and nightmares of children. There is a whole host of events which accompanies the exhibition, which includes workshops featuring set-designers who have worked with Walker and film-showings including Walker’s own work. The exhibition is threaded together by quotes from Walker presented on the walls, perhaps the most salient of which reveals that a camera, to Walker ‘is simply a box put between you and what you want to capture’ – a crude means to a fine end. Images of childhood and fairy tales pervade the exhibition, fan-

tasy being Walker’s genre of choice. In turn, the photographs are funny, poignant, surreal and sublime. Walker’s work is also markedly British. Iconic British celebrities star in Walker’s set of photographs, and inspiration is drawn heavily from the creations of other important British artists. Tim Burton and Lewis Carroll are two primary influences on Walker’s work, revealing a tendency in his photography towards cult, gothic imagery such as that of Alice in Wonderland. Tim Burton features as a menacing Santa Claus posing next to Malgosia Bela, Queen of Hearts-esque, decked out in red ruffles – a duo of crazy, gothic, cartoon villains. Helena Bonham Cart-

er plays the role of a decrepit queen, recalling the Dickensian image of Miss Havisham, and Karen Elson is snapped in bed with a crocodile, whilst Charles Guislain and Stella Tennant are sprites larking in derelict ballrooms. Walker’s photography is as vibrant and powerful as fashion photography can get, intriguing in its narratives and timelessly beautiful in its presentation of high fashion. The exhibition is well curated, linking photographs, sculptures, installations and text, enveloping visitors in Walker’s fantasy world. Tim Walker: Story Teller runs until 27 January 2013 and admission is free. For more information see http:// www.somersethouse.org.uk/.

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18CULTURE

MONDAY 14th JANUARY 2013

Blogs were big in 2012. Here’s the top 5 Kashmira Gander

IP LING - http://www. bipling.com/ Bip Ling has taken the fashion blog formula, ripped out the pretension and injected it with fun, mad gifs and cute blob-like characters. Bipling.com isn’t unlike something you’d expect your twelve year old cousin to create. With enough neon ‘LOLLLLLS’ and ‘YAAAYS’ to make your eyes hurt, The Central Saint Martins alumni is certainly doing something right. Having shot features for the likes of Nylon and Elle, she can be seen gracing the cover of Company’s January issue with fellow internet sweetheart Susie Bubbles. If you’re bored of posed photos in smudged mirrors and meticulous documentation of bloggers’ various dinners under the guise of quality, Bip is the one for you. London Grumblr - http:// londongrumblr.co.uk/ Living in London is amazing, at least for the first week. The only way you can survive

the dirt and expense after that is by becoming offensively smug about living in the ‘best city in the world’ whilst adopting an air of cynicism sour enough to curdle your £5 bottle of milk. This year London Grumblr captured this duality perfectly using Tumblr’s usual repertoire of hilarious gifs and captions that will have you procrastinating for hours. Some of our favourites attacks include grimacing when people call Shepherds Bush “She Bu” and gasping in horror when newcomers dare to say “Laandan Taaan”. Awesome people hanging out together - http://awesomepeoplehangingouttogether.tumblr.com/ Pablo Picasso and Le Corbusier. Anthony Kiedis, David Bowie and Johnny Depp. Dolly Parton and Keith Haring. Some people are undeniably awesome. When they get together with other awesome people something truly magical happens to awaken the fan-girl in each and every one of us.

Part of the fun comes from being left to decide in what situation Russell Brand and the Dalai Lama would ever meet. Occasionally they’ll treat you to the location, but nothing more. Decades of photos fill the blog’s pages, so you’re certain to find a photo to fill you with utter awe and confusion.

Image by Blogger, Wordpress, RSS, tumblr

Sex Positive - http://lacigreen.tumblr.com/ Sex is inescapable. It is everywhere, more or less all of the time, and whatever you define as, it’s not going away anytime soon. So, it’s odd that post-1960s sexual revolution it remains a taboo and so many of us are unaware or ill informed about sexualities and genders other than man/woman, gay/straight. This is where Laci comes in with her army of sex toys to save us all from ignorance. She covers every topic imaginable, from being pansexual to fat-shaming and losing your virginity. No stone, or sexual organ, is left unturned in this brave and informative blog.

Never Seconds http://neverseconds.blogspot.co.uk/ Martha “Veg” Payne’s blog took the heady world of school dinners by storm this year. Her innocent endeavour set up to rate her school dinners quickly became an international topic of conversation. Children from around the world now send in photos of their school lunches, using Martha’s rating system to rank their meals according to: portion size, courses, healthiness, price, and whether there’s hair in it. She’s garnered praise from Mr School Dinners himself Jamie Oliver, and was named Human Rights Young Person of the Year for standing up against her council when they tried banning the blog. Since then, her website has been visited by over 6 million people and has raised over £100,000 for her charity which helps feed children in the developing world. Who else can claim to have achieved so much before their tenth birthday?

Books still make news. Here’s our favourites Jasmine Virhia

FTER A well overdue Christmas break it’s time to get back into the university routine and pick up those books. If, you’re not quite ready to dive back into those onerous textbooks, here’s a list of the top 5 books of 2012 (note that the “50 Shades of Grey” trilogy will not be included) to ease you back into a semester of reading, this of which you will enjoy! Winter of the World Ken Follet This is the second of Follet’s projected trio of novels about the tumultuous events of the 20th century. The novel successfully brings to life, five interrelated families from American, German, Russian, English and Welsh backgrounds, depicting their experiences as they enter a time of social, political and economic turmoil. This fusion of politics and culture is combined with a deeply troubling history of the rise to the Third Reich, the events of the Spanish

Civil War and hysteria of WWII. So if you enjoy all things historical and political this is definitely a read for you! A Walk Across the Sun Corban Addison. This novel focuses mainly on two sisters, Ahayla and Sita following their experiences of surviving a Tsunami that cost them their family and livelihoods. Attempting to reach their convent and school the girls are kidnapped and thrown into the hellish descent of the sex trade in India. Addison introduces an American attorney on a sabbatical, aiding the prosecution of sex traffickers. His mission to rescue the sisters creates the opportunity for a compelling showdown between a host of international criminals and figures. The novel touches upon a culture problem in India that has been largely ignored by media up until recent times. It is startlingly pertinent to current events in India today and proves to be a tough, yet incredible read.

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Bring Up the Bodies Hilary Mantel This book won the award for the Man Booker Prize of 2012 and is the sequel to her award winning of 2009 Wolf Hall. This is the second of a planned trilogy following the rise and fall of Thomas Cromwell. The novel explores the complications of relationships within the court predominantly that of King Henry VIII and Jane Seymour. Mantel also explores the somewhat bitter and pitted relationship between Anne Boleyn and Cromwell as he seeks excuses to expel her from the King’s Court. This book is another one for you history fanatics and proves to be exciting with rumours of infidelity and harsh brutalities. The Fault in Our Stars John Green This novel addresses a particularly sensitive issue as the sixteen year old narrator, Hazel, is a terminally ill cancer patient. She is forced to attend a support group where she subsequently meets Au-

gustus, an ex-basketball player and amputee also suffering from cancer. The novel beautifully explores the developments in their relationship and how their choice in literature is symbolic and characteristic of their personalities. Although there are moments where you may have to hold back a tear, the ending is truly bittersweet and I definitely recommend having a read. Building Stories Chris Ware This is a graphic novel created by fourteen printed works including cloth-bound books, newspapers, broadsheets and flip book, all packaged up in a boxed set. (Making it slightly difficult to be one of your morning-commute-on-the-tube reads as I don’t think this novel comes in e-form). The protagonist is an unnamed woman with a missing leg. It focuses on her experiences in an apartment in Chicago yet later follows her later in life as a mother.

CULTURE19

MONDAY 14th JANUARY 2013

Test yourself on the News of 2012 Across

1. Told to ‘get with the programme’ by PM 3. Romney’s problem with children’s television 5. Pin-Up for Tax Avoidance 6. Hailed star of Oscar winner The Artist 7. Two words of Miliband’s conference speech 9. The Thick of It USA 12. TV Chef caught stealing cheese and wine 13. Loves the Olympics, not knighthoods. 14. Found buried under a carpark this year 15. Shares horses with Prime Minister 16. USA’s natural disaster

Easy

Medium

17. Most-liked video in YouTube history 18. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m so so ... 19. Famous for zipwire stunt in Victoria Park 20. Famous Visitor to Ecuadorian Embassy

Down

2. Failed Wimbledon Lion 4. Mummy Porn Trilogy 8. Most anticipated book of the year 10. Greggs swarmed by politicians 11. Dropped for cycling under the influence

Hard

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MONDAY 14th JANUARY 2013

14th 15

16th 17th 18th

Re-Union Fun Day Students’ Union 13:00-17:00 QMessenger Elections Students’ Union 18:00

Re-Union Fair -Students’ Union 11:30-14:30 QMBl NeuroScience Symposium The Garrod Building (ticketed) 10:00-until late Economics Society BAT Test Bollywood Vs. Nollywood - Drapers 21:00-02:00

New Turn: Israel-Palestine: Is two states the solution? 18:30 Reunion Fair Students’ Union 17:00-19:00

Open Book Club Students’ Union 11:00-13:00

B.O.F.F.I.N Society Post Apocalypse Celebration New Globe

20th

Day off- take a well earned rest!

21st

Monday’s calling- Drapers

Conservative Society “This House Believes That Feminism Has nd Gone Too Far.” Students’ Union Hub 18:30-20:30

22 23

ISOC Sisters Hereafter Talk

24th

Provide Volunteering Barnardo’s Toy Dash

Open Book Club th Students’ Union 11:00-13:00 Introduction to Law Students’ Union 14:00-16:00

26nd

Recover from your hangover

27th

Spend a relaxed Sunday in Ground

SOCIETIES21 Iranian Cultural Society

Mahs Mohseni

HE QUEEN Mary Iranian Cultural Society is a non-profit, non-religious, non-political organisation, with the aim to promote the Iranian culture, traditions, language, history, music and hospitality to people of all cultures and backgrounds, as well as to celebrate important events in the Iranian

Calendar. We aim to provide an interactive environment for students of Iranian heritage and to also offer various cultural and social events to familiarise all QMUL students with Iranian traditions and Iran itself We regularly join with the Iranian societies from other universities in London, to hold larger scale events, such as our recent

Shabe Yalda event, celebrating the Winter Solstice which proved to be a huge success. We look forward to seeing you all at our future events and would love to hear of any comments or suggestions you may have. Please feel free to contact us on iraniansociety@qmsu.org or visit our Facebook group “Queen Mary Iranian Society”.

Marrvellous Evening for History History Society

N THURSDAY 13th December 2012, Queen Mary History Society and the QM History Department presented an evening with the British political journalist and historian Andrew Marr. The event, which was combined with the department’s end of term drinks for students, took place in Arts Two Lecture Theatre with around 200 people in attendance, including the former Conservative MP Jerry Hayes. The event began with Andrew Marr telling the audience why he chose to write a history of the whole world – something which he himself labelled as a “ridiculous” challenge to undertake. There then followed an inconversation with the questions asked by History Society’s Social Secretary Grant Tucker, which

touched on a range of subjects including a rather interesting interview Andrew held with President Obama and the difficulties of making historical re-enactments accurate when filming his latest television series. After the talk, Andrew kindly stayed behind at the drinks reception talking to audience members and signing copies of his latest book, A History of the World, which accompanies the television series of the same name, as well as two of his other best-selling books; The Making of Modern Britain and A History of Modern Britain. Co-president Becky Adkins said after the event “we had 200 tickets available to students and they were all gone within a week of us advertising the event! It really feels great to have put on such a popular event. Hopefully there will be

more speaker events to come in 2013.” One first year commented “I really enjoyed the event… Andrew Marr was interesting to listen to and I liked the fact that a range of issues were discussed, not just his new book…I’ll definitely be coming to History Society events again!” History Society would like to say a huge thank you for all the time, effort and money put into the event by the History Department, without which the event would not have taken place. Many thanks also go to the committee members who helped both in the run up to the event and on the day. For more info on History Society, search QM History Society 2012-13 on Facebook or drop an email to qmhistorysoc@gmail. com. Watch this space for more incredible events (both historically related and not) in 2013!

German Society Past and Future Hari Mountford

UEEN MARY German Society is not just for Germans. Equally, it is not just for German students. Neither is it not solely for people who can speak German, although, admittedly, this is a bonus. Headed by legendary QMessenger cartoonist Anna Titov (president), the committee also includes Iain Sinclair (treasurer), Christina Powis and Hari Mountford (vice-presidents).Meeting every Tuesday, the society runs a German film weekly at 6pm – usually with English subtitles. The range of films has been huge so far: old and new; well-known and obscure. After the film, it is the custom to attend ‘Stammtisch’ – in other words ‘Beer and banter’. Last year this was held in RBar, but, alas, since the closure of our beloved (let’s face it) Mile End Institution, this has now moved to Drapers. The German Society

claims the Pool area, and the evening is a good laugh, with lecturers popping along, some members coming just to this part and not the film, and quite often a fair few native speakers turning up which makes for great conversation. So far this term, the German Society has been to the annual DAAD quiz which this year was held at King’s College. Pitted against various other university teams, the German themed quiz had mixed results for the two Queen Mary groups: one coming an admirable second (and bringing back goodness knows how many Stollen), and the other coming pretty much last (this may or may not have been due to every question in the last round being answered to with ‘Bono’ – it was late, don’t judge…) As well as this, we have held a bake sale in Library Square, which as well as making a bit of money, hopefully introduced unsuspecting students to the delights of German treats. The German Christmas Mar-

ket at Southbank was also a success – with traditional fare (Glühwein and Wurst) being sampled. Talking of Glühwein, this was in abundance at the German Department Christmas Party, to which all society members were invited. This year we hope to have a lot more socials and events in addition to our weekly ‘Filmklub und Stammtisch’, with trips lined up to the Bierkeller in addition to many other German themed activities. So, if you are German, study German, are interested in German, speak German or like German films, come along to see if Queen Mary German Society is for you. If, conversely, you fit into none of the above categories, come anyway (after all, a society that watches films and drinks beer can’t be that bad, right?). DISCLAIMER: The German Society does not endorse alcoholism or force beer onto their members. We are nice people really. Auf Wiedersehen

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22SATIRE

MONDAY 14th JANUARY 2013

Recipe for disaster from Jamie Oliver Keumars Afifi-Sabet

CELAND MUMS rejoice as celebrity chef and part-time fatfighting layabout Jamie Oliver plans to launch the most radical culinary publication since William Powell’s 1971 ‘The Anarchist Cookbook,’ which included recipes on DIY narcotics intertwined with helpful tips on how to build bombs and overthrow your government. Bearing a different purpose, though no less pointless, Oliver’s new cookbook, entitled “Jamie’s 35 Second Meals,” is said to meet with the fast food generation on a level playing field – despite most of said generation never having lumbered remotely near one.

The latest offing is considered to be a return to form following the disappointing sequel to 2010 series debut “Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals.” Oliver’s latest book follows the anticlimactic journey of a smarmyarsed, smiley-whiney wanker who finds himself periodically forced to prepare meals in exactly thirty-five seconds in order for mankind to be saved from the bumbling shackles of fearsome globule Captain Obesity – brilliantly characterised by former Jabba-the-Hutt impersonator John Prescott. Fans of the series may look forward to an assortment of skilfullycrafted marvels such as “Jamie’s Seriously Good Toast,” and “Jamie’s Seriously Good Toast with

Rambutan Jam,” though a particular highlight includes critically acclaimed “Cottage Cheese Dipped in Fat-Free Kurdistani Margarine.” There’s even room for a number of guest publications including Nigella’s famed “Pain au Nigella;” presumably a form of irritating croissant lathered in copious amounts of chocolate. Surprisingly, the book hasn’t remained far from controversy. A number of people were seen at a press preview tearing out pages from the book and gobbling on them directly in the hope they’d be nutritionally supplemented without having to hassle with any of the ‘35 second’ malarkey. Though they weren’t incorrect, they were po-

litely asked to stop by a worryingly tear-stricken Jamie Oliver, believing the 35 second cooking timeframe to be a significant feature of the book. Of course, Oliver is known to spend much of these days in schools, making children and/or smaller adults ‘eat proper’ despite suffering from a peculiarly compulsive and impulsive tear-ductexpulsion disorder brought on by acute ocular distress; more specifically an unwelcome tendency to break down into abundant streams of tears upon the miserable sight of a fat kid munching on some chips. Rumour has it that the potential critical success of his latest book will serve as a much-needed

morale-boost in his personal battle against the growth of a generation of novelty hamster balls. In any case, what’s next for the slightly chubby “one-pot wonder”? Rumour has it that Oliver plans to launch his own brand of specialised hair-care product dubbed ‘Goose Fat Supreme,’ earmarked for a 2015 release. In truth, however, he’s far more likely to spawn further miserable daytime televisual dross that nobody would much likely care for barring the unemployed and horny middle-aged – unless, of course, he suddenly snaps and tries to stab the boom operator in the eye with a rubber spatula. That’d actually make for some remarkably entertaining television.

All Hail the new Twitterati

Gove grinds down

Abel Iever

Lucretia McCarthy

IS HOLINESS, the Bishop of Rome, The Servant of Servants: the Pope Benedict XVI has Twitter. I know, I know, it seems like yet another sickening attempt of a low B/high C list celebrity to get more fame; but friends it is so much more! It is the act of a low B/high C list celebrity to get more fame and a vigorous and active one at that. The Pope, fresh faced from recent Gold success at the Olympics where he over took Michael Phelps at the pinnacle of human sporting endeavour, as well as a tour with his Polka Dance troupe in Japan, is quoted as saying he’s “never felt younger, it’s the Spirit of God that

invigorates me. And the coke.” Pope Benedict has taken back previous statements of ‘what is the internet’ and ‘doesn’t everyone love me too much already’ to offer the personal touch. His hand on the Twitter page is obvious, the man who we know so much about, from his accepting, inoffensive Christmas Message where he said “I love gays so much I might just become one”. His Holiness tweets almost every hour, with around a 100,000:1 ratio of tweets to followers...Wait, sorry that’s completely wrong. With 100,000 followers for each one of his tweets, he must CLEARLY be conveying something worthwhile in each one, right?! YES? In the spirit of Christmas he had

donned his hand sewn slippers, suitable for tweeting in and recounted this heartfelt tale of childhood Christmases’ “The cribs that we built in our home gave me much pleasure. We added figures each year and used moss for decoration.”(Actual quote, promise.) So yes, we can see that his Holiness the Pope has made himself a beacon of what it is to be an internet sensation, lucky. He has Tweeted 14 times and has 1,333,000 followers. He has even less interaction with the people who pray to him than the God he claims to represent’s son was murdered. When was the last time God answered one of your calls, that’s all I’ll say.

ECRETARY OF Education Michael Gove has vowed to do away with the current PC school curriculum in favour of a timetable which looks suspiciously like a very old curriculum. Gove has discovered that there is a shocking lack of access to information on middle class white men in the education system and this he claims is leading to the ruin of the country. In bold old plans he will do away with modules on social reformers and anti-slavery campaigners in favour of wall to wall heterosexual males who he claims are beacons of getting things done and appear to be in the minority now.

According to Gove, letting the riff-raff in has led to the breakdown of society and so a white man revival is the imminent answer to getting the country back on track. Ethnics and women will feature but only in their proper place, ‘immigration studies’, a footnote section underlining what could happen if we turn weak again and start apologising for what would otherwise be an inspirational history of the country. Government ministers feel that the people shaped objects known as ‘the youth’ are leaving school woefully undernourished in good old fashioned white men and this, he vows to change.

You can keep Piers Lucreteia McCarthy

IERS MORGAN, also known as the Spineless Wonder, has recently made bold comments on his adoptive home, the USA. These include his views on gun control, The Bible and most popularly the constitution. Rather than hailing the straight talker for his enlightened perspective, the American’s have banded together to show nationalistic ingenuity and start a petition for his deportation. Unfortunately, the country has found themselves at jingoistic loggerheads with Britain who are refusing his return. Across the nation, a reciprocal petition has started to ‘stop the smug bastard’. So far the British petition for the American’s

to keep Piers Morgan has proven popular, even gaining celebrity endorsement from the likes of Jeremy Clarkson.Clarkson, also widely believed to be from Camp Smarmy Dickhead as an advocate for things which are largely bad for people and the country at large has seemingly departed from the once strong band of brothers. He claimed that Britain would be unwise to take someone so misguidedly self satisfied back, stressing that Morgan isn’t worth the over-polished skin he’s in. Such strong views from somebody like Clarkson show Piers really is busting boundaries on the twatometre, but the American’s are gaining on us with 100,000 signatures and counting. Let’s just hope he opts for France.

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Image by XXRobot

Image by LeWeb2012

MONDAY 14th JANUARY 2013

GD -8 -3 -3 -3

6/5th -3/9th

Rugby, Men’s 1st

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Fencing, Women’s 1st

Tennis, Men’s 2nd

MONDAY 14th JANUARY 2013

Sports Leagues Going up:

Geography Society plays the field

Football

Hockey TableTennis

Going down: Tennis

Lloyd Durbin

EOGSOC FC an 11-a-side team, founded in September 2012 has had a blinding start in it’s first semester. Successive victories and a loyal crowd of supporters already formed, the team’s future is bright. Since formation, a solid group of 1st and 2nd years have taken to the field against the Maths Society and the Economics Society. They dispatched Maths with ease, winning 14 – 2. Hat-tricks from Stewart Kemp, Josh Oxlade and Josh Frecknall created a margin that could not be broken down by the spirited Maths team who, despite their best efforts, were truly put to sleep by a miracle of a free kick from super striker, vice-captain and U17

Badminton

Inside: The Leagues

game, a hat-trick from himself and a brace from leading scorer Stewart Kemp took the air out the Economics Society. The final score being 11-2 – with scorers including, once again, Josh Oxlade and Josh Frecknall. There was also a single and only goal for self-dubbed footballing messiah Michael Kleopa, and a second hat-trick of the game from Panashe Tauringana. Once again the defence led from the back – this time commanded by 1st year James Winstanley, and only constructed of 3 players. The Economics Society were no doubt a formidable foe, but one that GeogSoc FC overcame with attacking flair, defensive steel and a gritty determination throughout. With upcoming games against the History Society, Indian Society and Kings College London Ge-

ographical Society, the only way is up for GeogSoc FC. In the next semester expect to see a full team kit, a women’s football team and hopefully even more games. The Geography Society is no doubt leading the way for inter-society football. To become part of GeogSoc FC, you need to be a member of the Geography Society. The cost is only £5, and can be easily purchased online from www.qmsu. org via the activities tab, and following the correct links, or at the Student Union, located next to John Smiths Bookshop and The Hive. To find more information on upcoming games and how to get involved in them plus other events join the Facebook group, which can be found simply by searching for the QMUL Geography Society.

The Best Gift this Christmas The highs and lows of football over the festive season

Anthony Tipping

Volleyball

Scottish International player Panashe Tauringana. Despite this astute performance from the attacking players in the team, it is important not to forget the defensive efforts of the defensive 4 and goalkeeper. Led by Max Thompson, they did not shy away from tackles, headers or blocks, passed smoothly and effectively over the course of the entire game, and runs from leftback Adam Sims along the touchline cut open the oppositions defence with ease. The second game, against the much larger Economics Society was a far tenser affair. A blade of grass could not separate two teams in the first half – evenly matched for the whole 45 minutes. A second half renaissance led by goalkeeper turned striker Niklas Haukhol broke open the

HE TASTE of Christmas is grand. Roast dinners, mince pies, and the cocktails which made us jolly. And as an accompaniment, our hunger was satisfied by something just as savoury: the football. With anticipation gushing through our veins, we all sat down to a spectacle of unprecedented performance. As is customary over the Christmas break, all Premier League sides battled it out in game after frequent game, playing roughly every three days. After such a demanding exposition, it would have been excusable to expect some drab performances. But were we not spoilt with something fantastic? On the continent, such incessant football over this period

does not exist. But juggling the pros and cons of the English system is too much trouble. Whilst these lavishly paid men gruel it out, the fan is gifted with what he enjoys most. There can be no complaint. At the bottom of the table now sits QPR. Owner Tony Fernandes can only shake his head in bewilderment as he struggles to appreciate why. Many would love to see Harry Redknapp and his new side relegated at the end of the season. But giving credit where credit is due, the fans of QPR finally have cause to celebrate. In the recent fixture against Chelsea, a wonder strike from the formidable (yes, formidable), Sean Wright-Phillips, was slotted so finely into the bottom corner of the net. It saw them clinch a late victory over the Blues. However, to

expect a sudden revival based on this one performance is highly optimistic. At the top of the table alight Manchester United. ‘Fergie time’, United’s uncanny habit of winning games in stoppage time, continued to bemuse absolutely no one. They now sit on a pedestal with clear distance above their closest rivals Manchester City. Much of United’s success must be credited to the prowess of the forward Robin van Persie. With nine goals in his last nine games for the club, I beg we all take a moment to bask in his brilliance. In explaining such accomplishment, he proclaims he is “surrounded by champions”. Such humble words do nothing but add credibility to his artistry on the field of play. He is in a class of his own, painting his own canvas of suc-

cess. With a series of harrowing defeats under their belts, it is only fair to take an intrusive probe at Aston Villa. This is a young side, falling down a deep chasm of self-pity. Warning signs came on the 23rd December, where the team suffered an 8-0 defeat to Chelsea. Since then, there has been little cause to celebrate. They have suffered heavy defeats to both Tottenham and Wigan in the Premier League, and only narrowly escaped with a recent draw to Swansea. QPR at least have reason to smile at such a woeful Villa side, as the brawl at the foot of the table grows in impetus. Good food and good football came hand in hand this Christmas. Let us hope for more to come!

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