PETERS-DAY ON DEFENDING THE RIGHT TO PROTEST | HOW LONG IS YOUR NECK? | A CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH
TheBeaver
23.10.2012
Newspaper of the LSE Students’ Union FREE
Vandals wreak havoc on Oxford St.
Oxford Circus. Protesters began by attempting to occupy a hotel on The Future That Works march or- Great Marlborough Street, as well ganised by the Trades Union Con- forcibly entering a McDonalds. As the march continued, the gress, against austerity was marred by a small group of protesters, Sat- crowd headed towards Regent urday, who marched up and down Street and attempted to destroy a Oxford Street vandalising shops Boots shop window, as well as surrounding and rocking a convertible and disrupting traffic. The march itself, while peaceful, before police converged on the dissaw a group of mainly Black Bloc, turbance and let the car pass. The group then marched up and Solidarity Federation and AnonyPRXV SURWHVWHUV VSOLQWHU Rஉ IURP down Oxford Street vandalising the main group and head towards shops, including a number of StarLiam Brown and Matthew Worby
bucks and Boots outlets, chanting “Pay your taxes! Pay your taxes!” and “Whose streets? Our streets!” The crowd, made up mostly of students and young people, took aim at Primark as well as Marks and Spencer before police, who had pre-emptively told shop owners to close and lock their doors, took control and pushed them back. Towards the end of the march, there were a number of skirmishes between protesters and the police – including one incident in which a
protester smashed the window of a shop before being tackled by a police officer. These incidents came as a disappointment to many as the Trades Unions groups marched peacefully to Hyde Park to hear Labour Leader Ed Miliband address the crowd.
In-depth coverage of the march: - Editorial page 2 - Comment page 8
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Where have all the good people gone? Clearly, and sadly we do have to point this out to some people, the title of this editorial is not meant to be taken literally. There are good people out there, in fact, the vast majority of protesters on Saturday’s TUC anti-austerity march are good people. Organisers thanked the police for their work and the vast majority of marchers got to Hyde Park in good spirits and with no trouble. In the eyes of most, this aspect of the march was not only overwhelmingly positive, but a complete success. Sadly, a hen will always produce at least one bad egg. Towards the middle of the march, anarchists dressed all in black who had been followed closely by riot SROLFH EHJDQ WR VSOLQWHU RŕŽ‰ from the main group. Their destination: Oxford Street. At around 2:30pm, with po-
lice struggling to keep pace with the sprinting group a mass of vandals converged on one of the most cherished, and historic, parts of London. The group, made up mostly of Black Bloc, Solidarity Federation and Anonymous weekend anarchists, ran up and down Oxford Street trying to force their way into shops ranging from small Boots outlets to the larger stores, such as Primark. This, according to the vandals, was in response to news many of these stores paid no UK tax over the past number of years. Where do these thugs JHW RŕŽ‰ " 'R WKH\ UHDOO\ WKLQN pushing over a display in a branch of Boots on Regent Street is going to have any impact on the policy deciVLRQV RI WKH PDLQ RIILFH" $OO they are doing is making life harder for store employees
who are, more than likely, IDU ZRUVH RŕŽ‰ WKDQ WKH YDQ dals themselves. We are all for the right to protest, but we cannot support what these Black Bloc et al miscreants continue to do march after march, protest after protest. It is time march organisers take a proactive stance against this small, yet unprincipled group of bandits. Police are already doing their best to proactively protect people and businesses from these mainly middle class hooligans, but they should not be welcomed into any march no matter the organisers. Although this would be a tough order as these groups are not organised, per se, a tougher stance is necessary. Bring these thugs to justice, and maybe, just maybe, the general public will stand behind these demonstrations once again.
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The Beaver | 23.10.2012
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News
23.10.2012
| The Beaver
Tackling racism in football Tim Poole
John Barnes, former Liverpool and England footballer and Clarke Carlisle, Professional Footballers’ Association chairman headlined a debate on racism at the London School of Economics last Wednesday. LSE Students’ Union Anti-Racism Officer Mohamed Harrath organised the event alongside the Afro-Caribbean Society as part of Black History Month. Although Barnes and Carlisle led the debate, the panel also contained four students and welcomed questions from the audience throughout. Proceedings began with an introductory speech by ex-footballer Barnes, who
announced that he takes a ‍Ú?‏GLŕŽ‰ HUHQW DQJOH RQ UDFLVP‍ ڑ‏ and believes ‘society cannot be separated from football.’ Barnes said that football can stop ‘overt racism’ but only ‘education, knowledge and discussion’ could ensure racism was eradicated rather than just masked. The forty-year-old discussed the concept of ‘unconscious’ racism and cited the need for people of all races to be ‘intellectually equal’. Carlisle then spoke of his belief that football has D ‍Ú?‏ERXQGOHVV SRZHU WR LQŕŽ‹ X ence’ society, which he believes is ‘inexplicably linked’ with sport. The 33-year-old discussed the need to ‘set an example’
that would ‘resonate’ with football supporters and went on to state the need for ‘respect’ in the face of disagreement. With the debate then opening to questions, CarOLVOH‍ڑ‏V ன UVW DQVZHU SXW IRU ward the notion that the ‘disassociation of football and society is wrong’, while Barnes stated his preference for solving ‘problems not symptoms’. Immediately, the question of whether society can ever ‘get rid of racism’ was asked, prompting Barnes to suggest that if racism is ‘accepted’ for what it is, the process to ‘start changing ideas’ can begin. Carlisle later remarked that he didn’t think racism
would ever stop but that ‘progress’ can always be made in reducing its frequency. An audience member then asked whether legislation represented a case of ‘running before you can walk’, to which Barnes responded with agreement and a visible contempt for quotas. The ex-footballer said enforcing legislation to ensure black people got jobs based on the colour of their skin was ‘still being racist’. But, although Carlisle agreed with a ‘two-fold approach’, the PFA Chairman insisted ‘action’ was also needed. Barnes followed by displaying his belief that society ‘perpetuates racism’ and proceeded to clarify that he
has ‘no problem’ with bans but that, as Carlisle had said earlier, education was ‘also needed.’ The debate moved onto the issue of whether racism in society should be addressed ahead of racism in IRRWEDOO VSHFLன FDOO\ WKRXJK Oscar created a source of disagreement by stating that it was the other way round. However, Carlisle insisted the notion that sport itself was the culprit is ‘ludicrous’ and that society has ‘corrupted sport’. Further audience contribution suggested ‘football is king’ and that players should take responsibility as role PRGHOV WR PDNH D GLŕŽ‰ HUHQFH as ‘a powerful force.’ But Barnes disagreed in principle, claiming ‘everybody’ has a responsibility and that players can act against racism but not understand ‘why’. Carlisle was similarly dismissive, stating that football has an ‘opportunity’ to deal with the issue of racism rather than a ‘responsibility’ – something he believes lies more with society as a whole. The issue of social media as a starting point for patrolling racial discrimination was then addressed shortly thereafter. Here, both Barnes and Carlisle felt it was vital to emphasise that there will always be ‘ways around’ reguODWLRQ WKHUHE\ VLJQLன FDQWO\ limiting its power. The event closed with Carlisle declaring that ‘interaction’ can change prejudice and Barnes making the key point that race is considered more important than nationality in modern society.
Secularism and the Arab Spring Rachel Browne
Aziz Al-Azmeh, world-renowned Syrian professor in the School of History at the Central European University spoke last Monday to a packed Wolfson Theatre as part of the LSE’s Middle East Centre lecture series. Professor Fawaz Gerges, Director of the Middle East Centre, introduced Professor Al-Azmeh as a “relentless liberal voice who dares to speak his mind� and it is fair to say that his lecture, entitled “Freethinking, Secularism, and the Arab Spring,� was as provoking as it was enlightening. Professor Al-Azmeh’s exploration of the his-
tory of secularisation and freethinking in relation to modern understandings and practices of Islam in today’s Arab world highlighted his controversial, yet important, opinions. In “proposing to engage rather than pander to [the audience],� AlAzmeh made many striking claims, including that we should critically evaluate the phrase “return to Islam,� commonly used to describe the current sociopolitical climate in parts of the Arab world. For AlAzmeh, the word “return� here is loaded with sociological and historical baggage, which assumes that Islamic societies are directly connected with their
historical past, are naturally predisposed to interweave Islam with political regimes, and that Muslims have always regarded the Koran as a literal template for life, as opposed to a symbolic one -which AlAzmeh argued is false. Perhaps even more contentious was Al-Azmeh’s idea that Muslim response to blasphemy and insult, citing the recent riots over the “Innocence of MusOLPV‍ Ú•â€ŹŕŽŠ OP DUH FRUUHODWHG to the group’s “readinessâ€? and “enthusiasmâ€? to receive such insults. The question and answer period revealed a somewhat stirred and, as promised, thought-provoked audience, many of
whom sought Al-Azmeh’s FODULன FDWLRQV RSLQLRQV and predictions on current events in the Arab world, namely the Syrian conŕŽ‹ LFW (YHQ WKRXJK TXHV tions were instructed to be “criticalâ€? ones, many audience members took it as an opportunity to put forth lengthy commentary or alternative views on the opinions and issues raised by Al-Azmeh. Even though some audience members found fault with or were troubled by Al-Azmeh’s arguments, there was a consensus in the value of seriously engaging with them. At the end of the lecture, Al-Azmeh conceded, “there is, of course, much
more to say, far more than I have time to address� and promised he would “do this next time.� Dylan Nelson, a MSc Political Sociology student, remarked that Al-Azmeh’s lecture was helpful and relevant to his studies, particularly his discussion of power and cultural symbols. Nelson, however, would have liked Al-Azmeh to go into more detail regarding the role of economics in the uprisings of the Arab world. For Louis Hayes, an Accounting and Finance postgraduate student, AlAzmeh’s talk was “refreshingly blunt and unapologetic.�
News
The Beaver | 23.10.2012
5
Brawl marrs Battle of the Halls A series of traditional Battle of the Halls comCarr-Saunders, defending petitions were planned by champion of the annual RAG, which was to include and Raising And Giving Battle imbibing-challenges of the Halls emerged vic- GDQFH RŕŽ‰V 8QIRUWXQDWHO\ torious once again despite they were quashed by a the night being cut short mob of intoxicated freshers by drunken stage invasions storming the stage during one of the planned games. and a violent brawl. On Monday night, an The bouncers, trying to army of freshers marched maintain the game’s rules down to Camden’s Proud of four onstage contestants to commence war at the from each hall, were over“RAG Battle of the Hallsâ€? run and the games were cancelled. event. It was the second subsequently freshers event from Stu- Moreover, an unrelated dents’ Union RAG Soci- னJKW LQYROYLQJ QRQ /6( ety and expectations were students broke out soon high after the success of after, and the combination of both disruptions resultlast week’s Freshers Ball. By the time the doors ed in the night ending two were opened at 10:00pm, hours early. Nona Buckley-Irvine, னUVW \HDUV IURP DOO /6( residences were ready to RAG Event Officer stated begin the games with halls- that “battle of the Halls 2012 was the most sucbased chanting. The large venue was cessful event we have had packed with enthusias- so far, with tickets selling tic freshers from halls far RXW IRU WKH னUVW WLPH HYHU ‍ڕ‏ In relation to the brawl, and wide, chatting, dancBuckley-Irvine said “everying and amicably mingling while being treated with a one arrived in good fashmelange of classic pop and ion but the intense rivalry of the night did spill into chart remixes. Georgia Grayson
D PLQRU னJKW 7KLV ZDV dealt with quickly by Proud and did little to marr the high spirits of the night. The bouncers were heavy handed with our students, however, and we would not choose them as a venue again.â€?
Edward Luce discusses American decline Arisa Manawapat
Last Monday, Edward Luce, columnist of the Financial Times explored a topic no American presidential candidate will publicly discuss: the decline of the United States. As chair of the event, Professor Michael Cox introduced the “unmentionable D-word� within the context of a long-standing debate which began in the 1970s, following the Vietnam War. Luce maintained that his newly released book entitled “Time to Start Thinking: America and the Spectre of Decline,� critically renamed by the New York Times as “Time to Start Drinking,� is “not as depressing as it sounds.� The 44-year-old Washington Bureau Chief of the FT affirms that, despite his British accent, he is not “Anti-American,� but is rather warning US policymakers. “Economics,� Luce explains, “is not a zero-sum game.� According to the columnist, relative decline does not mean that American citizens will become poorer, but decline can be
worsened through self-inŕŽ‹LFWHG GDPDJH LQ WKUHH PDjor categories. Firstly, the US faces a crisis of “middle class income stagnationâ€? – simply put, a two-person household is now earning income at the same rate as one person was forty years ago. Noting social inequality as a possible cause, Luce revealed that “the richest 200 American families are spending more on the current election than the 320 million U.S. population combined.â€? More importantly, the “tomorrow budgetâ€? - ten per cent of the total budget responsible for infrastructure and education - has not been passed. Luce solemnly remarks, “Tomorrow is frozen. Yesterday is continuing to grow.â€? Secondly, in Silicon Valley, the level of venture capital funding is shrinking annually – this, according to Luce, presents a “crisis of innovation.â€? According to Luce, the US should cut military spending and invest in building the economy through encouraging innovation, noting that “every innovation has had public research money behind it.â€?
1HYHUWKHOHVV னQDQcially, the evening was a success, with just short of ÂŁ3,000 raised for the nominated charities – the Richard House Hospice, Find Your Feet and The Haven. 6DPLU 5HD D னUVW \HDU LSE student said that she
had a “cracking nightâ€? and praised the “top-notch work from the RAG society.â€? The sequel to the event, “Battle of the Halls: The Rematchâ€? will be held in WKH னUVW ZHHN RI /HQW WHUP
LSE welcomes Calhoun at reception
praised those who worked and studied at the LSE. Moreover, Luce draws “We are blessed by peo- Emphasising the dedicaattention to an “intellectual ple who have a willing- tion that everyone who crisisâ€? in which America re- ness and a desire to make worked at the school had, quires a “profound change the institution thriveâ€? said he said: “The LSE employs of the present economic Craig Calhoun, the London a range of people who work model.â€? The notion that School of Economic’s new beyond employment, they productivity growth equals Director, as he was official- work out of dedication to wage growth is “outdat- ly welcomed as the new Di- the work they do, its not edâ€?, as the labour market UHFWRU E\ D PL[WXUH RI VWDŕŽ‰ just a contractual relationship, not just a job.â€? is clearing at a lower price and students. He also expressed adeach year. On Wednesday, the Senmiration for the extraordiIn defence of the United LRU 'LQLQJ 5RRP ZDV னOOHG nary community at the LSE States, Professor Cox raised with heads of the various – illustrating this by pointthe issue of America’s “soft departments, the Pro-Diing out the vast number of power,â€? pointing out that rectors, and other senior emails he received almost one-half of the top 100 uni- members of the school. versities are located in the Notably, the room also immediately after the inU.S. The columnist retali- contained a large num- formation that he was to ated: “Within the top twenty ber of LSE students from be named the new Director universities, at least three across the years, courses, was leaked by the Guardto four are based in the U.K. and disciplines. Calhoun ian. Additionally, he noted Taking per capita into ac- had decided to open up the values inherent within count, this method assumes WKH HYHQW WR DOO /6( VWDŕŽ‰ the LSE’s founding, that it that the U.K. is also a super- and students who wanted is not only a highly ranked power.â€? to attend, and places were university, but an instituFernando Rivera, a sec- RŕŽ‰HUHG WKURXJK D UDQGRP tion with distinctive valond year student from West- ballot system. ues. “The LSE stands for minster University, highCalhoun was introduced more than just being good: OLJKWHG $PHULFDQ LQŕŽ‹XHQFH by Peter Sutherland, the in the media. “Because a chair of the LSE Coun- it stands for trying to make vast majority of our enter- cil, who took the opportu- the world a better place,â€? tainment comes from the nity to praise Calhoun as he said. Describing the LSE as States, the world will always a “highly distinguished, “already wonderful,â€? he be sympathetic to America multi-disciplinary, social stated that the LSE had and its causes.â€? scientist,â€? with “a stellar “untapped resourcesâ€? that reputation.â€? he would pursue as DirecCalhoun’s speech tor. Chris Rogers
6
News
23.10.2012
| The Beaver
Nigel Lawson criticises climate policies Students and professors gathered in a packed Hong Kong Theatre on Wednesday for a discussion with former politician and perPDQHQW ன [WXUH LQ %ULWLVK government, Nigel Lawson, Lord of Blaby. “Lord Lawson needs very little introduction,â€? said economics professor Tim Besley, who chaired the discussion. For an hour and a half, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer regaled the audience with his experiences during the Thatcher administration, and how those lessons he learned pertain to the world today. Lawson argued that the government must do more to address the triple threat to the economy, in the IRUP RI WKH EXGJHW GHன FLW household debt, and “the shattered and feeble banking system.â€? This crisis, he added, has been exacerbated by the Eurozone’s actions that “made no economic sense.â€? “The single currency was introduced entirely for political reasons,â€? said Lawson, just days after the European Union was award the Nobel Peace Prize. “You need a political union before an economic union,â€? he added, bemoan-
ing the EU for dogmatically “refusing to admit to their failure.� Lawson noted that there is no simple or painless solution to the banking prob-
ing that supply-side tactics could be useful. He also warned that the recovery is “bound to take time,� and criticised the impatience of Neo-Keynes-
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Kelly Quinn
lem, and that the governPHQW QHHGV WU\ D GLŕŽ‰ HUHQW remedy for the situation. “We are getting diminishing returns on quantitative easing,â€? he said, add-
ians and “Krugmanites.â€? As Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1983 to 1989, Lord Lawson had great inŕŽ‹ XHQFH RYHU ERWK PRQH WDU\ DQG ன VFDO SROLF\ ,Q UH
sponse to a question from Professor Besley about the rise of income inequality when he held the position, Lawson responded that it was his job to “focus on the alleviation of poverty rather than get hung up on egalitarianism.â€? “Social and economic freedom are indivisible,â€? Lawson added. During his time as Chancellor, Parliament lowered the direct income taxes, while increasing regresVLYH LQGLUHFW WD[HV VSHFLன cally in the form of VAT. According to Lawson, he did so because the crippling income tax rates resulted in a “brain drain.â€? More recently, Lawson has grappled with the issue of climate change and has became an outspoken critic of global warming policy. “The whole thing has been over-interpreted and become a pseudo-religion,â€? he said. Lawson does not deny the existence of global warming, but rather argues that lawmakers must look rationally at the entire problem, as well as the economic impacts of the various policy options. In an attempt to change the climate change debate, Lawson authored “An Appeal to Reason: A Cool Look at Global Warmingâ€? in 2008.
According to Lawson, putting a “moralâ€? or “saving-the-worldâ€? slant on a policy objective makes it difficult to challenge. By centring the global warming debate around saving the world, pro-environment policy makers have HŕŽ‰ HFWLYHO\ FKDQJHG WKH GLV course from one of reason to one of ethics. Lawson contended, however, that it would be unethical to ban countries like China and India from using carbon energy, thus hurting them economically, “because you think there might be global warming 200 years down the line.â€? These points roused the crowd, and several audience members quickly took to Twitter. While some mocked Lawson’s position on global warming, others praised him: “One reason to listen and give Lord Lawson credibility on climate change is he doesn’t have a personal incentive to deny but does,â€? tweeted Rahul Kamath (@rlpkamath). “He put forward a persuasive argument about the futility of Britain unilaterally cutting carbon omissions without a world agreement,â€? said Michael Clark, a member of the public, who called Lawson an “impressive speaker.â€?
LSEFC Twitter account taken down after posting sexist Tweets John Armstrong and Shu Hang
A series of sexist tweets have been posted on the official Twitter page of the London School of Economics Students’ Union Football Club (LSEFC) during the past week, referring to some female students who attended Wednesday’s Athletic Union (AU) night at Zoo Bar as “sluts� with no “self-respect.� The Football Club has since closed down its Twitter page, and also emailed its members reminding them to abide by the rules and code of conduct of the Students’ Union and the LSE when using their own name or the name of the LSEFC. The Beaver has also received complaints about the tweets posted by other players associated with the LSEFC. According to Alice
Stott, Women’s Officer of the Students’ Union, she was “approached by a student who felt uncomfortable about the tweets on the LSEFC Twitter accountâ€? on Thursday. After discussing the offensive tweets with Alex Peters-Day, General Secretary and Matt De Jesus, Activities and Development Officer, the Students’ Union then contacted the captain of the Football Club, who “immediately apologised and deactivated the Twitter account.â€? According to Stott, the tweets “illustrate particularly sexist and misogynist attitudes towards female sexuality,â€? which she referred to as “slut shaming.â€? “Slut shaming sends a PHVVDJH VSHFLன FDOO\ WR women, that sex is bad, is something they should not enjoy, and that to have sex with more than one person
is disgusting,â€? she said, “it is a practice that scrutinizes and judges women, in contrast to men whose sexuality is celebrated.â€? President of the Athletics Union, Nicole Mateer stated that “the LSE Athletic Union does not and will not tolerate any behavior that is derogatory RU RŕŽ‰ HQVLYH WR DQ\ SDU ticular group. The people responsible have apologised and immediately rePRYHG DQ\ RŕŽ‰ HQVLYH PDWH rial from public forums.â€? She went on to say, “I have been assured that this will not happen again and the next stage is to implement Matt De Jesus’ LSEquality training which will ensure captains understand and take full responsibility for their actions with regard to the sensitivities of other groups.â€? Alex Peters-Day also showed her disapproval
regarding the tweets stating that “as a Students’ Union we take a zero tolerance approach to sexism, along with all other forms of discrimination.� Imogen Butler-Biggs, a prominent member of the AU, stated that “there is no excuse for crude e-mails, tweets, conversations or pictures, in public or private. The reputation of the AU amongst LSE students is embarrassing enough as it is without further
scandal, and I can’t imagine it would take much more for the students union to try and eliminate sports clubs from LSE.� The LSEFC Twitter account remains deactivated and as a response to the sexist tweets, the Beaver has published an article in Social on page 29. For Alice Stott’s full statement on the incident, visit www.thebeaveronline.co.uk.
News
The Beaver | 23.10.2012
7
High Holborn rated worst hall Audrey Pang
Despite its close proximity to campus, the London School of Economics High Holborn Hall of Residence was rated by its former residents as the least recommended LSE Hall, according to the 2011/2012 housing survey. The survey, conducted from January 31st to March 15th of this year, was used by administrators to gain further feedback from students about their experiences living in student halls of residence. Over 700 students, or 21 per cent of the previous LSE residential community, participated in the satisfaction survey. The majority of respondents were postgraduates (57.3 per cent), followed by undergraduates (33.2 per cent). Rosebery, known to many as the most sociable hall, came up on top in the survey, with Rosa Gil, the Front of House Manager
at Rosebery claiming she was “thrilledâ€? with the results of the housing survey ZKLFK DPRQJ WKH ன QGLQJV saw 96 per cent of Rosebery residents stating they “would recommend their residence.â€? “We are committed to doing an excellent job and we work very hard to provide the best service to our Rosebery students,â€? said Gil, “we aim to make D GLŕŽ‰ HUHQFH DQG WR SURYLGH a memorable experience to our students so that in years to come they can look back to their time in Rosebery with a big smile. A big thank you to all the students to participated in the survey and made this possible.â€? According to the survey, most halls performed well, with 80.6 per cent of the respondents claiming that they “would recommend their residence to other LSE studentsâ€? and 72.7 per cent of the respondents saying that “their resiGHQFH RŕŽ‰ HUV JRRG YDOXH IRU
VOTING CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
money.â€? On the other side of the spectrum, High Holborn was voted as the hall with “the least value for moneyâ€?, with 57 per cent of its residents believing that the hall did not provide good value for their money. $ ன UVW \HDU 0DQDJHPHQW student from High Holborn FODLPHG ‍ڔ‏LW‍ڑ‏V GHன QLWHO\ QRW worth it: my room is way too small for its price. There’s no view at all, and it’s not even en-suite.â€? But not all High Holborn residents have such a pessimistic view of their Hall; a Finance graduate student DW +LJK +ROERUQ RŕŽ‰ HUHG D GLŕŽ‰ HUHQW RSLQLRQ VWDWLQJ “Considering the location of High Holborn, I am very glad to live here, it means that I am so much closer to LSE.â€? Last year, the Beaver reported about the noise pollution at High Holborn caused by the ongoing construction work which started as early as nine in the morning.
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The survey suggested that students were more or less content with the prearrival experience at the LSE halls, with 42.4 per cent of the respondents rating their experience as “good.â€? Nevertheless, 32 per cent of respondents ZHUH OHVV FRQWHQW ன QGLQJ their pre-arrival experiences to be “below averageâ€? or “average.â€? Such dissatisfaction is though to be partly caused by the messy room selection process at the LSE Halls, with many students complaining to the Beaver about the inefன FLHQW VHUYLFHV SURYLGHG E\ the LSE ‘Hallpad’ website. The survey has been questioned by some, however, as it has been suggested that the survey is not a fair and unbiased evaluation of the halls due to the uneven response rates from each individual hall, with Bankside House having 121 respondents (16 per cent of total residents) and Connaught Hall having around 3 respond-
ents (less than 1 per cent of total residents.) Neil Lawrence, the Front of House Manager at High Holborn, who was not impressed by the survey’s methodology. “Despite an HŕŽ‰ RUW WR JHW VWXGHQWV WR ன OO in the survey, only around 8 per cent of students responded at High Holborn,â€? he said, “the survey needs further investigation and a bigger response rate before any conclusions can be made.â€? Last year, Lukas Slothuus, the former LSE Students’ Union Community and Welfare Ofன FHU ODXQFKHG WKH DQQXDO “Your Hall Your Callâ€? event, which provides a platform for students to highlight particular concerns within their own hall. Issues from the level of training of sub-wardens, to disruptive maintenance works, to inadequate lighting in bedrooms were addressed.
8
Comment
23.10.2012
| The Beaver
Comment
Defending the right to protest Our General Society argues that LSE’s history of campaigning is under threat
Alex Peters-Day
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Comment
The Beaver | 23.10.2012
9
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The abortion debate has become a matter of emotion over sense Ben Phillips
I don’t really know what I think about abortion. Give me capital punishment, euthanasia or any other moral maze and I’ll step right in, but abortion puzzles me. I do take issue with it in one sense though. My problem isn’t with either side of the debate, but the debate itself. A fundamental moral issue has been reduced to something resembling a drunken brawl. Individuals on both sides, from the distinguished ideologue to the self-righteous tweeter, pursue the question of abortion on a purely emotional basis. Anger has replaced logic. Under these circumstances, I can’t hope to make any objective progress on the issue. More importantly, neither can society. When Jeremy Hunt announced his support for halving the abortion limit from 24 to twelve weeks, he was quite rightly scrutinised. He addressed an issue which tackles choice, life and religion, then throws in a bit gender politics for good measure. Abortion is naturally controversial but the debate
has become immature. The response to Jeremy Hunt exHPSOLனHG WKLV SHUIHFWO\ +LV words met by cries of chauvinism and retaliatory howls of anguish from pro-life fundamentalists. Incredibly, the emotional excess of this reaction isn’t isolated – it is a phenomenon transcending national borders. Look at the absurdity of America’s abortion debate, where legitimate discussion on the issue has given way to sheer ethical propaganda. It is clear that when it comes to abortion, reasoned analysis has been superseded by stubborn opinion. 7KHUH LV D ŕŽ‹DZ LQ WKH EDsic framework of the abortion debate. Our approach to it has made outrage, and not consideration, the natural state. Even the labels given to those on either side of the issue – pro-life and pro-choice – are ideologically loaded. “A woman’s right to chooseâ€? and “sanctity of life,â€? normally such complex concepts, are chucked around with such vitriol that any discussion of their full PHDQLQJ VHHPV RŕŽ‰ OLPLWV Not everyone with an opinion on abortion needs to tone down the venom. There are reasonable voices out
there. The problem is that when they speak, a storm of irrational fury tends to respond. An article opposing abortion in last week’s New Statesman exposed its author, Mehdi Hasan, to the more ferocious of the nation’s bloggers. Accusations and insults were the norm, vastly outnumbering a few more restrained objections. It was as if the debate had already concluded, with abuse the only remaining currency. Hasan’s resultant advice to aspiring journalists seems all too true: “avoid the abortion debate.� It would seem that our nation’s politicians agree. The bringing up of abortion on last week’s Question Time was followed by several minutes of pure ambiguity. Members of Parliament are always good at dodging questions, but this was brought to a whole new level. The terror of being associated with the dreaded abortion debate unlocked new levels of vagueness. Avoiding the abortion question has become commonplace among those in the public eye. The laws on abortion currently upheld in most Western nations are at best
a strange halfway house, prioritising neither choice nor life. Placing time limits on the legality of abortion PD\ ZHOO UHŕŽ‹HFW WKH GHEDWH over when a foetus becomes viable, but it in no way reŕŽ‹HFWV D PXFK GHHSHU PRUDO question: whether terminating a foetus at any stage is MXVWLனDEOH &XUUHQW SROLFLHV are not a noble compromise seeking to maximise fairness. They are designed to PLQLPLVH RŕŽ‰HQFH 7KH OHJLVlation of almost every other VLJQLனFDQW PRUDO LVVXH LV in the UK at least, subject to extensive examination and revision. Laws regarding abortion, like the debate surrounding them, have stagnated. This is a sad indictment on the UK’s capacity for open-mindedness. More importantly, it’s a disservice to mothers and foetuses alike. There’s another problem, though. With furious debate raging on around them, it’s quite difficult for the undecided to separate logic from bias. Attempting to adopt a stance on abortion is rather like trying to choose which political party to vote for while being shrieked at inside the booth. Balanced views on abortion will be-
come increasingly elusive as long as the current exchanges of anger persist. In turn, progress on the issue will continue down a road to impossibility. A measured abortion policy will be as unlikely in the future as it is now. That is unless we can make some changes. The abortion debate needs a refurbishment which adPLWV WKH ŕŽ‹DZV LQ LWV FXUUHQW framework. Intransigence must make way for consideration. Labels and loathing must be replaced by mutual respect. Ideas must be scrutinised and opinions rationalised. It’s unclear where the initiative for that change could come from. Either the ideologues will need to calm down independently (unlikely) or politicians will need to start speaking their mind a bit more (even more unlikely). Put that way, change looks a little more than improbable. An appeal for a saner debate would be a start. Perhaps, one day, emotion will be tempered by restraint. Only then will we reach a truly reasoned discussion on abortion. Only then will I be prepared to make up my mind.
'R \RX UHDOO\ FDUH DERXW WKH 8*0" The state of the UGM is saddening - it needs a new lease of life cratic structures of the Union are designed around 6LQFH , னUVW DUULYHG DW WKH a functioning UGM. If the LSE in 2001, I have been UGM isn’t working, there to somewhere north of 50 comes a point when we have UGMs. When it’s working WR ORRN DW GLŕŽ‰HUHQW ZD\V RI well, it’s a fantastic way of setting the Union’s policies setting policy and holding and holding its officers to officers to account. It may account. I have three challenges well be that people only attended for one agenda item for three sets of people. Firstly, motions. As im- I remember one particularly controversial motion portant as I think officer னOOLQJ WKH 2OG 7KHDWUH DQG reports are, they are not requiring a video link to going to attract lots of peoWKH 1HZ 7KHDWUH &HUWDLQO\ ple. Motions can, if they’re most people there were in- on subjects that people give terested in a motion on Is- a damn about. That this is rael and Palestine; however, more interesting has been they heard the officers giv- recognised with the debate ing their reports, found out section that now occurs at how to submit motions and the end of UGMs; rather saw that the Union could better would be if the deand would take a stand on bate was on issues that individual students themselves all manner of issues. The UGM at the moment had chosen. By the way, forget the saddens me; it reminds me of nothing so much of yel- posters. The LSE is liberlowing diary pages recalling ally covered with adverpast glory days. It cannot tisements for every kind of continue as it is; the demo- event under the sun and it’s 'DYLG /DQGRQ &ROH
hard to stand out. I’ve heard suggestions about a sort RI 8QLRQ &RXQFLO RU PDNing society representatives come to the UGM. Under Tuuli Kousa’s General-SecUHWDU\VKLS 8QLRQ &RXQFLO - a sort of second chamber of the UGM to which societies had to send representatives on pain of losing their funding - was abolished because nobody came. You are not going to push people to the UGM - you have to pull them in by making it something they actually want to attend. There are lots of hacks at LSE. My challenge to you is to put a motion in front of the UGM - even if it has no chance of passing - before you next stand for election. It can be on anything; a TXLFN ORRN WKURXJK P\ னOHV னQGV PRWLRQV VXEPLWWHG RQ making the Exec sing “Eternal Flameâ€? at the end of the UGM, cutting Sabb pay, the Iraq War, LSE’s room book-
ing system, energy use at LSE, single-sex halls of resiGHQFH 6XEKDV 1HWDML &KDQdra Bose and just about every other topic under the sun. To begin with, a lot are going to fail because someone will make a quorum call. Submit them anyway to prime the pump. If you really believe the UGM is special and worth keeping as a means for the Union to hold its officers to account and pass policy, get submitting. Secondly, quoracy. 250 is unobtenable; 150 is, and would enable us to (for instance) pass a motion. The rules, as they stand, require a considerable number of members of the Union to vote to make the necessary FKDQJH LQ WKH &RQVWLWXWLRQ There is an election later this term at which more than enough people will be voting; I trust that a suitable referendum will be put before the Union then. My challenge to the Exec
is to put that question to referendum at the upcoming elections or, if there isn’t enough time, at the elections next term. Thirdly, giving a damn. We have a new Director who told the students last week at the UGM that he would be liaising with the Students’ Union regarding the changes that he will be implementing. Some of those changes will be happening before the academic year is out. That alone should be enough reason to go to the UGM: you can have your voice heard in deciding how we teach at LSE. If that’s not enough and what you care about is how slow the computers are, write a motion. My challenge to you whoever you are - is to go to the UGM and to keep going to the UGM and make it work by giving a damn about the Students’ Union and the LSE.
10
Comment
23.10.2012
| The Beaver
Hunt’s views have no place in politics The case for women’s rights is clearly far from over past 24 weeks was too dangerous. Since then, there have 47 per cent of people in the been several amendments United Kingdom want the tabled by Members of Parabortion gestational limit liament, trying to reduce to stay as it is, according this gestational limit even to YouGov. Eight per cent further. 2008 was the most would like to see it reduced recent, with MP Nadine to twelve weeks. These reDorries trying to achieve a sponses were prompted aftwenty week limit. She was ter Jeremy Hunt, our new defeated 332 votes to 190. Conservative Health SecOutlined above is how retary, caused outrage this Britain has a long history month when he suggested of allowing women to have that the gestational limit for abortions and facilitating abortion should be lower. these through the National He was quoted by the Times Health Service. Abortion up as saying “Everyone looks at to 24 weeks is engrained in the evidence and comes to a our society and represents view about when they think Britain as a forward-thinkthat moment is and my view ing, liberal society. Hunt is that twelve weeks is the appears not to respect this right point for it.â€? strong history when disThe question is what the cussing his views on aborevidence is, and why men tion. continue to try and make In addition to the history, decisions about issues that it is essential to actually XOWLPDWHO\ DŕŽ‰HFW ZRPHQ DQG know the nature of abortion not them. Women have been before making moralistic entitled to abortions since judgements on it. There are 1967 when the Abortion Act both therapeutic and elecwas passed, allowing abortive abortions: therapeutic tion until the gestational abortions are performed to limit of 28 weeks. In 1990, prevent harm to pregnant the Human Fertilisation and women or terminate an emEmbryology Act lowered bryo that will grow into a that time limit from 28 to 24 severely disabled human weeks, in order to protect being. It is essential to safewomen’s lives and health, guarding the health of the as it seemed that abortion
Nona Buckley-Irvine
woman and the embryo. Certain tests, such as the anomaly scan which scans the embryo’s organs to check their status, are only available to women who are between eighteen and 21 weeks pregnant. If Hunt’s ideas were adopted, women would be able to have these tests conducted, yet not act on them if there was concerns about the status of the embryo. Elective abortions are for non-medical reasons, covering issues such as accidental pregnancy, a known inability to be able to provide for the child or other personal reasons. Most abortions take place prior to the 24 week limit: medical abortions involving pharmaceuticals account for the majority of abortions and are conducted up to nine weeks into the gestational period. Up to னIWHHQ ZHHNV GRFWRUV XVH D method of suction to remove the embryo. Up to 26 weeks, doctors open the cervix of the uterus and empty it using surgical instruments and suction. As a (young) woman myVHOI LW VRXQGV KRUULனF WUDXmatic and terrifying. But at the same time, for a woman who is not ready for a child,
or whose life is at risk, or who knows that their child will be severely disabled, that thought is likely to be more terrifying. That is why it is unfair, dogmatic and inappropriate for Hunt to comment on the “right pointâ€? for abortion. Pro-life campaigns place too much emphasis on the life of the embryo but cease to consider the life of the child. Birth is when life truly begins; when the baby WDNHV WKHLU னUVW EUHDWK when they start to learn and engage in the world around them; when they start to be cared for by their parents. If there are problems that the mother is aware of prior to birth, such as disability, or the fact that she does not want the child, or instability in the household – is it morally correct to say that the child should be born? We need to ask ourselves what considerations we should have for the welfare of the child if it is not being born into the ideal world that it should be. This is what Hunt is missing – a consideration for the long term life of the child. Hunt misses something else too though, a serious respect for the rights
of women. It is laughable that we still live in a society where men think that they can make comments and deFLVLRQV WKDW DŕŽ‰HFW WKH ULJKWV of women, such as the right to abortion. Surely Hunt knows that he has no right whatsoever to comment on what is right in terms of abortion and what should be done with regards to women’s bodies? His staunchly conservative and undeniably religious views have no place in politics and are not only disrespectful to women but women who have taken the decision to abort a pregnancy over the twelve week gestational period. As a man, he would feel indignation if women started arguing for policy that restricted the freedom of men and limited their rights. Yet, this speaks volumes about the position of women in our society. Women are largely seen to be equal men now, with many arguing that the case for women’s rights is over. The fact that a male politician feels FRQனGHQW HQRXJK WR PDNH these remarks shows that there still remains a long way to go. Clearly, the case for women’s rights is far from over.
Extend votes to sixteen-year-olds The Scottish independence referendum provides an opportunity for democratic reform Liam Hill
The agreement this week between David Cameron and Alex Salmond over details of the Scottish independence referendum to be held in 2014 was remarkable for various reasons: not least because sixteen and seventeenyear-olds will be allowed to cast their votes. This is the best opportunity we may have for a long time to achieve a small, but necessary, step towards greater democratic representation. The moral case for extending the franchise is compelling. Sixteen-yearolds are legally old enough to get married, consent to sex, join the army and pay income taxes. Seventeen-year-olds are trusted enough to drive. Why are
they not trusted to vote? If the case against sixteen and seventeen-yearolds being allowed to vote rests upon accusations of insufficient maturity, then the answer is better citizenship education. The simple fact is that many sixteen and seventeen-year-olds are mature enough to vote and are yearning for some kind of stake in the democratic process. Those who aren’t mature enough, like adults who don’t consider themselves mature or informed enough to vote (or, in far too many cases, feel let down by politics and politicians) can simply abstain. What is fundamentally unfair is to deny hundreds of thousands of potential voters democratic rights on the basis that other people in their age group aren’t mature enough to
vote when that is such a spurious point anyhow. The political case, especially for progressives, is just as compelling. 1.5 million young people capable of holding our politicians to account means 1.5 million have thus far been unable to give their verdict on the abolition of EMA, the rise in tuition fees and youth unemployment, issues that are relevant to them. In the constituency where I went to school, the candidate who went on to vote for the tuition fee rise defeated one who pledged to vote against it by just 523 votes. That YRWH GHனFLW ZRXOG , contend, would have been surpassed by the number of young people in that constituency voting for the latter candidate. Lowering the voting age would make
DQ LPPHGLDWH GLŕŽ‰HUHQFH DW the next election. Playing identity politics is always a risk, but it is clear that this government has not put improving the lives of young people at the heart of its agenda. This is in part because the eighteen-24 year-olds are the age group least likely to vote. However, putting another 1.5 million young people on the electoral rolls would make a huge GLŕŽ‰HUHQFH Furthermore, the debate surrounding Votes at sixteen could also trigger a broader conversation about how we should change our democracy for the better, and perhaps revive debates about electoral reform which have been neglected. British Politics remains in crisis. Apathy towards the political process and
distrust of politicians remain rife. Extending democratic rights to sixteen and seventeen-year-olds is a necessary but insufficient step in the right direction, an exemplar of the kind of change we need to have a vibrant, successful, open and transparent democracy. While many of the main political parties have paid lip service to the possibility of lowering the voting age, we must heed the lesson that this kind of change is demand-led, and must come from below. If we are in favour of votes at sixteen, we must make our voices heard. The Scottish referendum has provided us with an opportunity to make a progressive change to British politics. Let’s take full advantage of it.
Comment
The Beaver | 23.10.2012
11
Commenting on your comment LSE100 is not as bad as you think A response to Jason Wong’s criticism of the compulsory course pulsory or that its organisers should strive to convince us about how groundbreaking It does not surprise me that and revolutionary it is. But LSE100 was attacked once the argument that a dogmatagain by someone who be- ic style of teaching prevails lieves the course “is entirely is simply unfounded – or at useless in the real world.â€? If least based on evidence that the success of the course is I would not personally trust. measured by how fast it can The example given by Jason earn someone a job at a big Wong, namely that the eninvestment bank, then I am tire module of climate only sorry to disappoint any of presented us with one side you but LSE100 is doomed of the argument and made to fail. However, allow me little mention of growing to disagree on the assertion scepticism among scienthat it is (as a result) a use- tists, is misleading to say less course. Arguably, uni- the least. versity is less about how apAs shocking as it may plicable the content of your sound to many opponents of degree subjects is and more the course, I did attend the about how taking those sub- majority of the lectures and, jects shapes your ability to yes, I did follow the discusthink. sion on climate change. I No one is claiming that felt that all arguments were LSE100 was designed to presented clearly and coVROYH WKH ன QDQFLDO FULVLV RU herently and the suggestion the issue of climate change. that many scientists remain Nonetheless, and although open-minded on the issue the course will not necessar- was not hidden from us in ily make me more employa- any way. EOH , GDUH VD\ WKDW , GLG ன QG The reason why classes it useful and that I am glad fail to stimulate discussion I was one of the “wounded is because individuals alheroesâ€? who completed it ways - and perhaps naturally successfully. It seems to me - react when freedom is takthat some people should be en away from them, or when more open to new experi- they are told that what they ences and not limit them- are dedicating their time to selves to what they perceive guarantees them no reward. to be an added bonus on Had LSE100 been part of their CV. WKH ன QDO GHJUHH FODVVLன FD I do not intend to argue tion, I am sure that it would that LSE100 should be com- have been taken much more
Chloe Kiliari
seriously in classes, that people would have actively participated in discussions having read the necessary material and that the quality of LSE100 would have dramatically improved. I do not know whether others have noticed the contradiction in the arguments of those opposing the course. On one hand, they claim that it should not take up too much of their time as they have not consented to taking it and on the other they ridicule the course for being too easy (“a mickey-mouse A Level General Studiesâ€? as argued by Jason Wong). Teachers hand out sheets and force us into what are meant to be “engaging exercises,â€? simply because they are left ZLWK QR RWKHU RSWLRQ , ன QG it worrying that “bright peopleâ€? like us completely disregard and therefore render dysfunctional a course aimed primarily at stimulating discussion. You can ridicule me if you want to, but I do have the guts to say I learned a few interesting things from LSE100. The concepts of “necessary and sufficient variablesâ€? or “correlation versus causalityâ€? are relevant no matter whether one studies a qualitative or quantitative degree subject. In my opinion, the ability to
assess information and theories is a vital skill and closest to what we refer to as “critical thinking.â€? It is true that many of the analytical tools that LSE100 claims to equip us with are more common sense than a complex science but they are far from useless. I have referred to the concepts in my essays and I also see them as relevant in my Economics studies. As for the content of the course, it is not that much of a disaster. Personally, I felt that some interesting topics were explored. I particularly enjoyed the analyVLV RQ WKH FDXVHV RI WKH ன nancial crisis because the truth is that LSE100 helped me structure my thoughts on the issue. I also felt that the topic on Cold War RŕŽ‰ HUHG PH D JRRG XQGHU standing of the approaches that historians and other social scientists take towards understanding why great events occurred when they did. As for the debate on Intellectual Property, I believe it was an interesting addition to the course given its increasing relevance in today’s world. LSE100 has not taught me how to write essays and I am willing to accept it is limited to words because numbers cannot be as easily taught to those who do not
Letters to the Editor Dear Sir,
of working in multidisciplinary groups for example is directly transferable and I read last week’s article regarding LSE helps to combat feedback we have had in 100 with interest and some surprise. the past that LSE graduates can appear (“The Case for ending LSE100â€? – Com- too narrow in their thinking, immersed ment 16/10/12). as they often are in single subject proFirstly, perhaps the author should have grammes. Group work and presentapaid more attention to the programme as tions undertaken as part of the course the article lacks a sound evidence base develop transferable skills important for and instead references desk graffiti as employment, and selection for employa primary source. Secondly, and impor- ment, in a way which goes far beyond the tantly from my perspective, it claims in box-ticking exercises many students unseveral places that the course is ‘useless dergo elsewhere in order to receive skills LQ WKH UHDO ZRUOG‍\ ڑ‏HW RŕŽ‰ HUV QR UDWLRQDOH FHUWLன FDWHV DQG LQVWLWXWLRQDO DZDUGV )L for this argument. My own experience nally, LSE100 has become a blueprint for from talking to employers on a daily ba- the sector with other institutions now atsis is that they are very positive about the tempting to emulate its success. programme, indeed we have had more than one request from organisations who Kindest regards, would like to be directly involved with Jenny Owen, Director of LSE Careers the programme; requests the School has turned down as this is an academic programme and not an employability initiative. Having said that, the tangible outcomes of the course are extremely relevant in the workplace. The experience
have the background. But the course was undoubtedly useful to me and I get WKH IHHOLQJ WKDW PDQ\ ன QDO year students who took the course with me last year no longer remember it with utmost bitterness. In hindsight, the course was far from a disaster. I do believe the course organisers should reconsider whether the course should be compulsory or not but I do think it should continue to exist for those who want to combine a better knowledge of tools used by social scientists and some LQWHUHVWLQJ GHEDWHV DŕŽ‰ HFW ing our world. There should be a reconsideration of the actual debates that form the core syllabus and possibly the inclusion of questions that students are likely to encounter in the daily press. However, the course should not be abolished. That is my opinion and I am sure it reŕŽ‹ HFWV WKH YLHZ RI PDQ\ RWK ers that do not dare to say it. I know that what I am about to say could be considered scandalous by LSE100 haters, but here you go: If given the chance to take LSE100 voluntarily, I would gladly take the exam as well.
EDITORIAL NOTE
Dear Sir, I think you are extremely mistaken in criticising LSE100 in this ZHHN‍ڑ‏V LVVXH , WKLQN /6( RŕŽ‰ HUV so many insights and opportunities that nobody fully appreciates. 7KH DPRXQW RI ZRUN DQG HŕŽ‰ RUW WKH professors have put into it is severely undervalued. The course is extremely well organised and the topics are extremely relevant and contemporary which makes it more interesting. As a Law stuGHQW , ZRXOG QHYHU ன QG RXW DERXW WKH LQWULFDFLHV RI WKH ன QDQFLDO FUL sis or the politicised nature of the climate change debate. The way the course explains it so simply yet makes us think as social scientists had impressed me greatly. Kindest regards, Byamba Enkhbayar
The Beaver’s Editorial Board encompasses a wide range of views on the LSE100 course. We do not censor our writers’ negative opinions of LSE100, as demonstrated by our publication of last week’s article on the topic. ,QVWHDG ZH Rૼ HU D Commenting on your Comment section and a space for Letters to the Editor in order to facilitate debate.
12
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The Beaver 23.10.2012
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astille have been on everyone’s lips the past few months with a lot of hype surrounding the band. With over 30 festival appearances over the summer including a packed tent performance at Reading Festival, DQG D SUROL೉ F VXSSRUW VORW ZLWK Emeli Sande at the iTunes festival, Bastille are beginning to develop quite the following. The fact that Bastille have been able to sell out tonight’s 1500 capacity venue before even releasing a full studio length album, a feat that few acts have achieved, proves that there is an air of excitement around the South London quartet. The venue is ೉ OOHG ZLWK PRVWO\ HDJHU WHHQ agers, sporting iron mask
BASTLLE
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styled masks that can be seen in the video for latest single ‘Flaws’. It is hard to imagine that Bastille have been around for over 2 years with singer/songwriter Dan Smith modestly producing demos in his bedroom to performing this sold out London show. Bastille’s signing to EMI has no doubt begun to propel them into the mainstream where their synth pop indie songs are a breath of fresh air amongst homogenized club pop songs. Latest single Flaws are rapidly gaining popularity as it recently climbed to Radio 1’s B list last week. With a strict curfew of SP WKH ೉ UVW VXSSRUW DFW Jay Brown is already perform-
ing as punters start to enter the venue. Jay Brown, a London based, Northampton native manages to capture the crowd’s attention as the audience happily clap and sing along to her acoustic based pop music. Manchester based band Swiss Lips, fail to impress with almost no crowd interaction and an issue with the guitarist’s pedals that takes WRR ORQJ WR ೉ [ PHDQV WKDW WKH crowd lose interest, so much so, that by the time they carry on performing, the stationary audience are very bored. There is nothing interesting here from this non-descript indie band that perform Foster The People-esque songs without the catchiness. Anticipation builds rapidly as the stage is prepared for Bastille with the swathes of teenagers screaming before the house lights have even gone down. As Bastille enter the stage, the loudest screams are reserved for Dan’s entrance, as all four members immediately start to hit various drums in a lively build up to fan favourite ‘Icarus’. Accompanied by impressive video visuals, the band energetically power through their set. Complemented by a string quartet and with all four members acting as multiinstrumentalists throughout the night, Bastille prove their talents exceed that of their heavily programmed recordings. Throughout the show Dan jumps around excitedly during songs while sheepishly giving a thank you at the end of each song. As the show progresses he seems more comfortable and with the help of his band mates Chris Wood, Will Farquarson and Kyle Simmons,
the audience are quite literally shouting back the lyrics to songs that have surfaced the internet over the last year. In particular during the stripped back ballad ‘Overjoyed’, the crowd are so loud that Dan himself cannot be heard. There are periods where the set becomes a bit repetitive as there are only so many chants of ‘oh woh’ that one can listen to. However this is possibly due to the fact that these are album tracks that are awaiting release in early 2013. The real highlight of the night is ‘Flaws’; Bastille’s latest single due out October 22nd 2012. Any energy lost is revitalized as the audience reacts ecstatically to the song that was originally uploaded in a D.I.Y. fashion to YouTube over a year ago. For ‘Flaws’, Dan, rather bravely, walks into the crowd and attempts to make his way through whilst singing this future hit. As Dan is mobbed it is quite clear that any excitement over this band LV QRW VXSHU೉ FLDO DQG UDWKHU than lead a fan base, Bastille have almost formed a cult. The band exits the stage and return for an encore as 'DQ DGPLWV KH LV VXŕłˆ HULQJ from tonsillitis and thanks the crowd again. He need not mention it, as the perforPDQFH ZDV ೊ DZOHVV IXQ DQG genuinely exciting. Bastille promise they will be back soon as they leave the stage for the last time and you can be quite sure that 2013 will be a big year for Bastille. With the release of their imminent debut album, expect to see the band in larger venues on more sold out tours.
Ɖ Neraj Thangajarah
$ THE REVENGER’S TRAGEDY
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his modern adaptation of The Revenger’s Tragedy is marketed as a ‘Halloween horror event’ however it is not particularly scary, despite the gory death scenes (complete with mutilated eyeballs and twitching tongues) DQG 79V ZKLFK IX]] DQG ೊ LFNHU WKURXJKRXW WKH ೉ UVW DFW 'RHV this mean this adaption of the 17th century classic fails? Absolutely not, although not as scary as more modern plays, this adaption of Thomas Middleton’s work is a powerful and engaging portrayal. The mixture of extreme gore and poetic Jacobin language of the script make the play entertaining. The piece centres on Vindice (Tom Mothersdale) whose wife Gloriana (Katherine Templar) was poisoned by the lustful Duke (Vincenzo Nicoli) after refusing his advances. Vindice along with his broth-
er Hippolito (Jack Hardwick) plan their vengeance against the Duke and his (equally evil) family. The more Vindice becomes embroiled in the incestuous and malicious family and learns better the sins of his own family, the more gruesome his acts of revenge become and the closer he comes to losing his mind. Tom Mothersdale’s manic portrayal of Vindice drives the play. He is especially striking in the VFHQH LQ ZKLFK KH ೉ UVW PHHWV WKH 'XNH‍ݰ‏V ೉ UVW ERUQ /XVVXUL oso, played by the equally skilful Nana Amoo-Gottfried; Vindice’s slimy, creepy behaviour to ingratiate himself to the powerful and privileged Lussurioso sends a shiver down the spine. The production was visually impressive throughout, although the use of televisions, swords, guns and 19th century dress meant the time in
which the story occurs is dif೉ FXOW WR SLQSRLQW 7KH REYLRXV visual highlights are the gory death scenes, which are the closest the play gets to scary; yet the opening scenes of each act are atmospheric triumphs (so don’t be late!), both hypnotic and engaging. There are, however, moments where the script seems crudely edited. This makes for a rushed second act, and the closing monologue is also
slightly spoilt by being nearly drowned out by ‘scary’ sound Hŕłˆ HFWV QRW WR PHQWLRQ WKH VXSHUೊ XRXV ‍ݯ‏VSRRNLO\‍ ݰ‏HFKRHG voice-overs). Furthermore the late cameo appearance of Antonio (Vincenzo Nicoli) is without explanation, and leaves the audience a little unsure of his position in relation to the other characters.
Tom Maksymiw
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15
The Beaver 23.10.2012
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Author Anatol Lieven Pages 297 Publisher Oxford University Press Price £12.99
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Recently screened during the 56th London Film Festival Scheduled to be screened next at the Barbicanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Framed Film Festival Director Boudewijn Koole Cast Rick Lens, Loek Peters, Susan Radder Run time 81 minutes
16
23.10.2012 PartB
# A CELEBRATION O CONTROL 2007
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he LSESU Film Society just had a screening of Guy Ritchieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Snatch as WKH ŕł&#x2030; UVW LQ D VHULHV RI ŕł&#x2030; OPV on the theme of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Britainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. We thought we should suggest some betterâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and more inspiredâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;choices of British cinema, which is sadly often underappreciated and misrepresented.
ZENITH ENTERTAINMENT
WARNER HOME VIDEO David Hemmings in Blow-Up (1966)
Photographer Anton Corbijn mortgaged his own house to ŕł&#x2030; QDQFH KLV GLUHFWRULDO GHEXW DQ DFFRXQW RI -R\ 'LYLVLRQâ&#x20AC;ŤÝ°â&#x20AC;ŹV frontman Ian Curtis from his rise to his untimely demise. It chronicled the formation DQG SRSXODULW\ RI -R\ 'LYLVLRQ his unhappy marriage, his affair with a Belgian journalist, and his struggle with epilepsy. A modern black-and-white PRYLH &RUELMQâ&#x20AC;ŤÝ°â&#x20AC;ŹV SKRWRJUDSK\ EDFNJURXQG LV HYLGHQW LQ WKH atmospheric cinematography, which is punctuated by Joy 'LYLVLRQâ&#x20AC;ŤÝ°â&#x20AC;ŹV PXVLF DV SOD\HG E\ the actors. It is extremely fortunate for us that Corbijn decided to take that gamble and create such a nuanced and compassionate biopic of this music legend.
Terence Stamp is The Hit (1984) being taken care of by John Hurt and Tim Roth
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0DGH GXULQJ WKH V UHYLY DO RI JDQJVWHU ŕł&#x2030; OPV The Hit ZDV GLŕł&#x2C6; HUHQW IURP LWV JHQUH counterparts in that it was a character study in the wrapSHU RI DQ DFWLRQ JDQJVWHU ŕł&#x2030; OP It is unsurprising to see that it was directed by Stephen
THE 39 STEPS 1935
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MOMENTUM PICTURES
Alfred Hitchcock could be argued to be one of Britainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most successful exports to America. Before his blockbuster collaborations with Cary Grant and a rotation of icy blondes, Hitchcock honed KLV DUW LQ %ULWLVK ŕł&#x2030; OPV The 39 Steps is generally considered the best of his â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;early periodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ŕł&#x2030; OPV DQG LW LQWURGXFHV VHYHU al themes that would become a recurring feature of his latHU ŕł&#x2030; OPV VXFK DV D +LWFKFRFN blonde in Madeleine Carroll, a Hitchcock cameo, and a â&#x20AC;ŤÝŻâ&#x20AC;Ź0DF*XIILQâ&#x20AC;Ť Ý°â&#x20AC;ŹZKLFK LV D GHYLFH WKDW GULYHV WKH SORW EXW XOWL mately means nothing. Robert Donat stars as Richard Hannay who gets embroiled in a spy ring and has to go on the UXQ WR VDYH KLPVHOI DQG EUHDN the spy ring in 86 minute thrilling caper.
Sam Riley in his breakthrough role as Ian Curtis in Control (2007)
GOSFORD PARK 2001
Before Julian Fellowes decided to make a classy soap opera out of upstairs/downstairs hijinks, he wrote a classy screenplay of upstairs/downstairs hijinks that became DQ 2VFDU ZLQQLQJ ŕł&#x2030; OP XQGHU Robert Altmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s direction. It boasts a megastar cast, including two knights and two dames. An Agatha Christie like murder is the centre of most action but not of attention. Altmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s camera glides DORQJ DV WKH FDVXDO REVHUYHU of an eraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decline during the interwar period, illuminating class issues alongside an interesting murder and wrapped up with a nice twist.
)UHDUV ZKR IDYRXUV VXEWOH FKDUDFWHU VWXGLHV LQ KLV ŕł&#x2030; O mography. Terence Stampâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s immense screen presence and FKDULVPD LV HYLGHQW LQ ŕł&#x2030; OP and is competently supported by Tim Roth and John Hurt. Stamp was on his way to superstardom in the 1960s, he ZDV DFWXDOO\ Rŕł&#x2C6; HUHG WKH UROH RI â&#x20AC;ŤÝŻâ&#x20AC;Ź$Oŕł&#x2030; Hâ&#x20AC;Ť Ý°â&#x20AC;Źŕł&#x2030; UVW EXW SDVVHG LW RQ WR KLV ŕł&#x160; DWPDWH 0LFKDHO &DLQH instead. As Caine became an international celebrity, Stamp abandoned fame and fortune for a 10-year meditation in India. Stamp plays a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;superJUDVVâ&#x20AC;Ť Ý°â&#x20AC;ŹZKR KDV OLYHG LQ 6SDLQ for a decade since ratting out his gangster buddies, until two hitmenâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Tim Roth and John Hurtâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;kidnap him and bring him to Paris for execution. The Hit is one of many H[DPSOHV SURYLQJ 6WDPSâ&#x20AC;ŤÝ°â&#x20AC;ŹV skill as an actor and Stephen Frearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s adeptness at character studies while launching Tim Rothâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s career.
KES
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UNITED ARTISTS
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James Mason is the Odd Man Out, run
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The directorial and screenwriting debut of Gary OldPDQ WKLV ŕł&#x2030; OP LV D VHPL DX tobiographical account of a IDPLO\ OLYLQJ LQ D 6RXWK (DVW London council estate. Oldmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sister, Laila Morse, acWXDOO\ HYHQ SOD\V D VXSSRUWLQJ character in this. Ray Winstone and Kathy Burke are the parents of Billy, played by Charlie Creed-Miles, who is a drug addict. Nil by Mouth is an uncompromising depiction RI XQGHUSULYLOHJHG OLIH LQ DQ HQYLURQPHQW RI KRSHOHVVQHVV and is comparable to the work of Ken Loach or Mike Leigh.
The shoemaker gives Victoria Page, played by M
ODD 1947 MAN OUT
&DURO 5HHG LV RIWHQ GHŕł&#x2030; QHG by merely his magnum opus, The Third Man (1949), which was ranked as the number RQH JUHDWHVW %ULWLVK ŕł&#x2030; OP E\ the British Film Institute in 1999. Many elements of Odd Man Out were reused in The Third Man, including the cinematography (Robert Krasker FDSWXUHG ERWK ŕł&#x2030; OPV D PDQ on the run through dark alleyways and cobbled streets. Although, sadly no Orson Welles. Odd Man Out follows IRA man Johnny McQueenâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; SUREDEO\ WKH ŕł&#x2030; QHVW RI -DPHV 0DVRQâ&#x20AC;ŤÝ°â&#x20AC;ŹV PDQ\ PDQ\ ŕł&#x2030; QH SHU formancesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;as he wanders through the streets of Belfast after being injured in a rob-
Billy (David Bradley) an
17
The Beaver 23.10.2012
OF BRITISH CINEMA EHU\ 7KH OP EHJLQV LQ D UH DOLVWLFDOO\ UDZ PDQQHU DQG EH FRPHV PRUH DQG PRUH VXUUHDO DV 0F4XHHQ GHVFHQGV LQWR GH OLULXP WKH DQWLKHURݰV MRXUQH\ WKURXJK WKH FLW\ LV JULSSLQJ DQG WRXFKLQJ DOO WKH ZD\ WR WKH ELWWHU ODVW VWDQG
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HONOURABLE MENTIONS
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CARLTON INTERNATIONAL
nning from the authorities in Belfast. BBC FILMS
PERSUASION 1995
ITV DVD
Moira Shearer of the Royal Ballet, 7KH 5HG 6KRHV.
MGM HOME ENTERTAINMENT
nd .HV, his pet kestrel.
Venice in 6XPPHUWLPH, starring Katharine Hepburn and Rossano Brazzi as lovers.
SUMMERTIME 1955
OPTIMUM HOME ENTERTAINMENT
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0LFKDHO 3RZHOO (PHULF 3UHVVEXUJHUݫDND 7KH $UFK HUVݫZHUH SHUKDSV WKH PRVW FUHDWLYH DQG LQೊ XHQWLDO FRO ODERUDWLRQ LQ WKH KLVWRU\ RI %ULWLVK OP DQG WKH\ QHYHU DFKLHYHG DV PXFK VXFFHVV DV WKH\ GLG WRJHWKHU DIWHU HQG LQJ WKH SDUWQHUVKLS The Red Shoes PDUNHG WKH FUHDWLYH KLJK SRLQW RI WKHLU FDUHHUV FRPLQJ DIWHU KDOI D GR]HQ %ULWLVK FODVVLFV 49th Parallel The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp A Canterbury Tale I Know Where I’m Going! A Matter of Life and Death DQG Black Narcissus $OO WKHVH OPV VKRXOG EH LQFOXGHG WRR EXW WKDW LV IRU DQRWKHU WLPH /RRVHO\ EDVHG RQ WKH +DQV &KULVWLDQ $QGHUV HQ WDOH RI WKH VDPH QDPH WKLV LV WKH VWRU\ RI D \RXQJ GDQFHU ZKR LV WRUQ EHWZHHQ KHU ORYH IRU D PDQ DQG KHU ORYH IRU EDO OHW -DFN &DUGLೈ FDSWXUHV 7KH $UFKHUV ݰVLJQDWXUH PDJLF UH
UNITED ARTISTS
Ciarán Hinds and Amanda Root in maybe the most faithful Austen adaptation, 3HUVXDVLRQ.
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THE 1963 SERVANT
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18
23.10.2012 PartB
! THE THICK OF IT - BBC2
BBC2
B
revity is a common factor of the British sitcom. Six episodes tends to be the norm, with many of the acknowledged classics rarely running past the two series PDUN :LWK D QXPEHU RI VSH cials under the belt, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Thick of Itâ&#x20AC;? is already longer than would be commonly expected, although the general view from viewing public and creator alike suggests that this probably represents the ŕł&#x2030; QDO VHULHV The Thick of It has always prided itself on being closer to reality than the likes of Yes Minister or Absolute Power. Nearly three years on from the most recent run, which
GHDOW ZLWK WKH ŕł&#x2030; QDO \HDUV RI an unpopular, long-serving administration, it is hardly surprising that Armando Iannucci had chosen to focus on a dual storyline structure. One half has observed the perils of Coalition Government, with traditionalist Cabinet Minister Peter Mannion struggling with the twin-problems of a modernising Downing Street Director of Communications Stewart Pearson (portrayed by the superb Vincent Franklin) and the intransigence of Ministers of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Inbetweenersâ&#x20AC;? who form the Junior Coalition Partners. There is a sense however that the most recent series has
lost something by not truly understanding the nature of the &RQVHUYDWLYH /LEHUDO 'HPR crat administration. The joy of previous episodes emerged from the exact pillorying of the ZRUVW DVSHFWV RI 1HZ /DERXU This time around, there is a sense that the creators have had to rely on third-hand eviGHQFH IRU WKHLU VFULSWV :KLOVW Mannion is probably more like Ken Clarke than Ken Clarke is, Pearsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cuddly esoteric management speak is already a year out of date, whilst the Special Advisors surrounding Mannion are closer to a decade behind the times. Indeed, a colleague working for Michael Gove has suggested
that inept nepotist Phil Smith needed to be â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ten years older, Indian and wearing red trousersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and whilst it would be perhaps be rather unfair to DUJXH DJDLQVW VXFK VSHFLŕł&#x2030; FV areas such as this do suggest that Iannucci has lost out from not having closer links to the Conservative Party. Fortunately, the two episodes focusing exclusively on the Opposition are amongst the best of the entire proJUDPâ&#x20AC;ŤÝ°â&#x20AC;ŹV UXQ :KHQ ODVW VHHQ Nicola Murray was outgoing 6HFUHWDU\ RI 6WDWH DW WKH ŕł&#x2030; F tional) Department of Social $ŕł&#x2C6; DLUV DQG &LWL]HQVKLS %\ curious happenstance, she QRZ ŕł&#x2030; QGV KHUVHOI DV WKH LQHSW 3DUW\ /HDGHU KDYLQJ EHDWHQ popular Deputy Dan Miller by an â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;technicality.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; One can only allege where such an outlandish concept could have come IURP :KHWKHU E\ FRQVSLUD cy (the leaking of a memo in which Murrayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s concept of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Quiet Batpeopleâ&#x20AC;? appears in an unforgiving tabloid press) misfortune (drafting a Shadow &DELQHW UHVKXŕł&#x152; H RQ D WUDLQ WR Bradford) or basic blundering (failing to properly carry a wreath on Remembrance Sunday) Murray, played by Rebecca Front, makes a perfect example of the well-meaning, but entirely incapable senior Minister that seems to have LQIHFWHG WKH :HVWHUQ ERG\ politic over the past three decades. Popular mainstay Malcolm Tucker, as ever taken to art-form by Peter Capaldi, continues to steal the most quotable lines, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;These phones are amazing, arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t they? Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got an application that can throw grenades into peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dreams.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; being my own, personal favourite. Iannucci
REALM OF THE MAD GOD
H
aving seen last week that just because a game looks retro doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be any good, I was asked to look at other retro-esque games by one of the messengers from the Beaverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ivory tower. Accepting my mission I went on to look at Realm of the Mad God, an online MMORPG of simplistic pixel graphics currently free to play on Steam. You start the game with the vague idea you live in a realm ruled by a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Mad Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, and naturally youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not the kind to stand for such abuse. And so consequences EH GDPQHG \RX JR Rŕł&#x2C6; RQ D quest to kill your worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deity, who from time to time will just conveniently let you know how to get to him. 7KH YHU\ ŕł&#x2030; UVW LPSUHVVLRQ you get of Realm of the Mad God is that it appears to be a very simplistic version of Runescape. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re free to select a character and are soon
grudgingly conversing with hundreds of players asking IRU IUHH VWXŕł&#x2C6; :KDW PDNHV LW GLŕł&#x2C6; HUHQW IURP 5XQHVFDSH however, is that thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very little room for customisation. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even mean that relatively regarding other online RPGs. You literally start with one character class to choose from: a wizard. The idea is that as you level up said character youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll eventually earn other classes, from archer to monk to knight et cetera. $ORQJ WKH ZD\ \RX FDQ ŕł&#x2030; QG new weapons and abilities, most of which are very class VSHFLŕł&#x2030; F DQG ZLOO WKXV EH XVH less to you, and eventually you PLJKW MXVW HPHUJH ZLWK D ŕł&#x2030; UH spewing wizard with a gothic fashion sense to answer everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plain old Gandalf wannabe. This isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessarily a bad thing. In fact it reminds me a lot of quite classic games like the original Gauntlet series,
particularly since every class and their mum seem to have an inexplicable spell based range attack. You choose how you want to play and get better as you go, and to be fair HDFK FODVV KDV D GLŕł&#x2C6; HUHQW style of special ability. Given that you can play with all your friends free of charge as well creates possibilities for adventuring with a varied team. The only problem is that the world of the game can be a tad unforgiving, particularly to lone players. The idea is that you level up by destroying the various bosses that litter the over world, and each boss is surrounded by constantly swarming familiars. Not that theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re hard to kill, but if your game lags for even just a second you can end up losing your characWHU :RUVH \HW FKDUDFWHUV FDQ not be revived, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have to start from scratch. Given that you have to start paying if you want more than
one character slot to choose from, Realm of the Mad God comes across as a game that can only really be enjoyed with some investment. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s another one of those games where you play largely for satisfaction, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actually quite appealing to work with players whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re better than you because of practice and skill rather than the hours of point grinding theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve put in. $QG WKHUHâ&#x20AC;ŤÝ°â&#x20AC;ŹV GHŕł&#x2030; QLWHO\ D /27 of practice and skill to playLQJ WKLV JDPH :RUNLQJ RQ D 2D plane, the game uses basic arrow controls to move and the left mouse button to ŕł&#x2030; UH ZKLFK LV D FODVVLF ZD\ of moving thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to pick up and hard to master. Since enemies can move and attack as fast as you the game TXLFNO\ GHPDQGV IDVW UHŕł&#x160; H[HV and concentration. The only downside to this is that as an online game youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be open to lag, and all your hard work
deserves credit for using the character more sparingly than in the previous series, which at time felt more like â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Tucker Showâ&#x20AC;? than anything else, but it is clear that the specter of spin remains at WKH KHDUW RI WKH VKRZ :KDW has happened more so than in the past has been a fortunate transformation from the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gorbals Goebbelsâ&#x20AC;? from Anti-Hero to Villain. Capaldi has done his best to portray a poisonous LQŕł&#x160; XHQFH RQ 3DUOLDPHQW DQG LW is refreshing that at long last, 7XFNHU ŕł&#x2030; QDOO\ VHHPV WR EH shown up for the bully that he is. Episode Six is perhaps the best example of this, where an Hŕł&#x2C6; HFWLYH JHQUH VKLIW VHHV WKH entire regular cast sitting before a thinly-veiled version of WKH UHDO OLIH /HYHVRQ ,QTXLU\ Rather than the tightly-worded scripts usually seen, Iannucci gives nothing more than the usual questions, and allows the deeply talented cast WR Hŕł&#x2C6; HFWLYHO\ DG OLE ,W LV DQ Hŕł&#x2C6; HFWLYH FKDQJH DQG PDQDJHV to keep the audience content to watch what amounts to little more than a Courtroom for an hour, content to see certain FKDUDFWHUV VXŕł&#x2C6; HU RQ VFUHHQ meltdowns, self-implication coupled with one panel member temporarily removed to IDFH Rŕł&#x2C6; VFUHHQ DOOHJDWLRQV This is probably not the series that will be shown on the inevitable â&#x20AC;&#x153;Remembering The Thick of Itâ&#x20AC;? in twenty years time, but it still warrants attention for some of the best dialog in British comedy, inspired casting and a perceptive message about the fundamental shabbiness of politics.
Jack Tindale
will amount to naught if the game only decides to register the hits your enemies make or you suddenly lose the ability to move. Overall, Realm of the Mad God is a fairly well done MMORPG. Its pixelated naWXUH Rŕł&#x2C6; HUV DQ DSSURSULDWHO\ simple gameplay style mixed with modern online rules and etiquette. If you can forgive the fact that it can be unforJLYLQJ DW WLPHV LWâ&#x20AC;ŤÝ°â&#x20AC;ŹV D GHŕł&#x2030; QLWH alternative to giants of the JHQUH OLNH :DUFUDIW ZKLFK LI you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t got a copy of by the time you started university probably isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the best way to invest your money right now. In fact, why not spend that money on membership for the gaming society?
Philip Gallagher
19
The Beaver 23.10.2012
Â? MEDLAR
COCKTAIL CORNER
MEDLAR
M
ost of us have a guilty pleasure, something we hate to love. Last week, it was the return of our fascination with the lives of those unfeasibly glamorous Chelsea inhabitants: are Spencer and Louise still â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;togetherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;? Are Jamie, Proudlock and Francis as close as ever? Why does Richard always go for girls who look exactly the same? As shallow as the concerns of their opulent existence may be, that hour of frivolity seems to possess a unique magnetism. In my halls at least, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s set to become a weekly staple. $QG , DP WKH ŕł&#x2030; UVW WR DGPLW LW is one of the reasons I actually look forward to Mondays. Is it aspirational? Do we really desire wealthâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;usually
thanks to parental achievementâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;just so that we can dress fabulously, go on holidays to St Tropez and Dubai at a momentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s notice, drink in the coolest clubs and dine in WKH ŕł&#x2030; QHVW UHVWDXUDQWV" Well, here is a secret: you too can have a taste of the Chelsea highlife without needing the wherewithal of Millie or Spencer. Medlar, a restaurant slap-bang in the middle of the Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Road, will happily welcome you for lunch at the bargain price of ÂŁ26 per person, for three courses. On the way there, it struck me how inconvenient Chelsea is for public transport. I suppose if your postcode is really 6: \RXU FKDXŕł&#x2C6; HXUHG 5ROOV Royce solves the issue. However, walking the 30 minutes
I
n recognition of this past weekendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s anti-austerity march, Cocktail Corner this week will give you the best in rabble-rousing, and even a tad anarchist, drinks that will nodoubt quench your thirst for equality. With these TUC-inspired cocktails, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be ready to VHUYH WKH PDVVHV RI ODLG Rŕł&#x2C6; men and women.
to the restaurant from Sloane Square underground station did have its advantages, not least people watchingâ&#x20AC;Ś Was that Cheska I saw? From the outside, the restaurant is understated. Its palate of slate grey and vivid green evokes its name: a medlar is a small, hardy fruit, which is bright green when ripe, but canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be eaten until itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s half rotten. Lovely. Inside, we were seated in a packed dining room. Do not forget to book, or you will not get in. The menu is concise, with six or seven choices for each course. I started with the duck egg tart, a perfectly cirFXODU GLVF RI SXŕł&#x2C6; SDVWU\ DQG an equally exact fried duck egg, married with a turnip puree. It sounds simple, but with the accompanying red wine jus, sautĂŠed duck hearts and crisp lardons, it was an almost unbeatable mixture of light WH[WXUH DQG KHDUW\ ŕł&#x160; DYRXU My companion had the crab raviolo, which came with samphire, a salty sea vegetable, tasty little brown shrimps, a velvety fondue of leeks and a bisque sauce: another truly fantastic combination. He was instructed by our waiter, who had already served us with several rounds of their irresistible home baked focaccia
BROKEN NOSE 44 ml Advocaat 30 ml Tequila 59 ml Grenadine Lemonade Mix tequila and grenadine together in a highball glass. Add Advocaat, make sure it does not actually mix and is phlegmlike. Dilute with lemonade.
and sourdough, that the sauce of the dish made it essential to take some more! For my main, I had roast grouse. Chosen for its rarity, it did not disappoint. Two pink and gamey breasts arrived alongside damsons and bread sauce, beautifully traditional SDUWQHUV WR WKLV PDJQLŕł&#x2030; FHQW bird. My companion had unGHU EODGH ŕł&#x2030; OOHW VHUYHG ZLWK cafĂŠ du paris snails, salad, triple cooked chips and bĂŠarnaise. This take on the classic steak and chips was perhaps a safer option, but was nevertheless cooked to perfection, the addition of snails creating a unique twist. My dessert was equally delicious: chocolate torte with a heavenly praline parfait, shavings of coconut and salted
caramel sauce. My companion chose less well, and had the raspberry and frangipane tart with clotted cream. Although very nice, it was not in the class of the rest of the meal. Considering Medlar has MXVW DFKLHYHG LWV ŕł&#x2030; UVW 0LFKHOLQ star, this meal was incredibly good value. The wine list is extensive, and there is a sommelier on hand to pair your meal with the perfect wine, but it also includes some less expensive options from ÂŁ4.50 a glass. Hurry there and live the Made in Chelsea lifestyle, even if just for a few hours.
,Gaia Manners-Armstrong
438 Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Road SW10 0LJ 020 7349 1900 12pm-3pm daily; 6:30-10:30pm Mon-Sat; 6:30-9:30pm Sun Cuisine French Average spend ÂŁ26 (3-course lunch) Meals Lunch, dinner Reservations Yes
ARTILLERY 8 ml Sweet Vermouth 44 ml Gin 2 dashes Bitters Stir with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.
THE ONE PERCENT 30 ml Apricot Brandy 15 ml Butterscotch Schnapps 15 ml Dekuyper Razzmatazz Sour Mix Mix with ice and serve in a FRFNWDLO JODVV 7RS Rಝ ZLWK sour mix. Beaver Bartender
win tickets to a swanky party. best food article wins. food@thebeaveronline.co.uk
20
The Beaver 23.10.2012
P-DAY AND MCKENNA ATTEND EDL MARCH CORRECTIONS
Private B would like to clarify a malicious rumour circling around Campus. This page is, in fact, entirely satire. Whilst it often fails to be particularly funny, that is the fault of Private B, and the useless lawyers that insist the paper should be EODQG DQG LQRஉ HQVLYH The content on this page isn’t always entirely true, often it merely contains a kernel of truth. Apart from the bit about Putin-Day loving Calhounigan. That’s totally legit.
Letters to the Editor Deer private b, Ginger Whoreby
The B can reveal, exclusively, that Alex Putin-Day and Drunkan McKenna have both been arrested while attending an EDL march for their priority, Students’ Union campaign. After a night in the cells, that Drunkan claimed were “The best networking event I’ve ever attended whilst at the LSE, I’ve got, like, four more
supply networks now.” The pair were released early last night, and, after a quicky in Wrights Bar they were back at it, destroying the forces of Capitalism. The resulting press conference did much to clear up the confusion over just why the pair had attended an EDL march. It was infact because they believed they were attending an ‘Education Defence League’ rally. The pair spent the after-
noon burning down three police vans in the name of education. The pair were then apprehended in a nearby Greggs, arguing over the price of a sausage roll. When a concerned member of the public, Jack Tindolt, rang the police to complain of loud noises interrupting his afternoon of trainspotting. The B would like to take this moment to clarify the GLஉ HUHQFH EHWZHHQ WKH WZR
The EDL is an abhorrent movement that no sane person would ever take the time to agree with, let alone attend any of the campaigns. And the other is, of course, the racist English Defense League. In no way do PutinDay or McKenna endorse the EDL, but were their, shortly lived, EDL campaign to march again, they would DWWHPSW WR FODULI\ WKH GLஉ HU ence in stronger terms than just turning up.
ALL HAIL THE GLORIOUS LSE100! Tyrone Braxton
In a tumultuous announcement this morning, Commissar Calhounigan revealed the student satisfaction results for LSE 100. Once the fanfare and prostrations ceased his Sovietness announced that there were no negative responses at all. In fact, satisfaction in the teaching of the course had increased by over 138 per cent in the last year, directly coinciding in his Great-
ness’ ascension to his most glorious position in this Politechnika. In typical LSE 100 fashion the questions, and responses of the meeting were directly and carefully scripted. This was in order to “minimise as much free speech as possible”, in addition to limiting the “dissemination of dangerous ideas, such as critical thinking.” In his typical, visionary fashion, the Commissar went as far as to ask all but two questions at the press con-
ference to himself, this being the most efficient way of dealing with the proletariat. When questioned about the recent Ice-Pick Wongovski article, Calhounigan stated that the problem had been dealt with. We at the B are unable to contact either Jason for comment, or in fact our reporter who asked that question, so if anyone has seen them could they please get back in touch. Putin-Day echoed our Glorious Leader’s statements, stating that she “Fucking
hated free speech” and even being kind enough to check that we had “Tooken notes (sic.), because you guys have to be extra positive this week after last weeks naughty dissent.” We at the B would like to praise our most glorious leader and his visionary greatness in allowing us to continue with our LSE 100 course. Long live the Commissar!
U should stop being mean to me and craigybaby. I hate it when you make it out that we’re really nasty to each tother, and thet we’re not in love. Yous should get a life. Hunney, Alexandra Putin-Day
To Whomever this missive may concern, I must convey my severest concerns over the content of this newspaper. Please don’t make me crush you under the KHHO RI P\ QHO\ KDQG made English Brogues OLNH WKH VPDOO LQVLJQL cant plebs that you are. I will cut you. Warmest regards, Professor P.Kells
Features
21
The Beaver | 23.10.2012
Up on cloud nine - the digital age Hayley Fenton investigates the rise of cloud computing employees need to do is log into an online server. It’s cloud computing, and it’s not exclusive to corporations. If you have an email account with Hotmail, Gmail or Yahoo! Mail then you will already have experience cloud computing. The storage and software doesn’t exist on your computer, it’s on the computer cloud. Of course, this means the information you’re inputting doesn’t exist on your com-
FUTUNDBEIDL
How would a future historian write your biography? (Assuming, of course, that you will be biography-worthy, which I’m sure all of you will be.) Rather than traipsLQJ DURXQG WKH JOREH WR ஊQG relations with snippets of information they may just open Google Archives (watch this space) and look at your Google search history. Possibly unearth your Wordpress blog and decadent Facebook while they’re at it. Data – all of your digital
It’s paradoxical that despite descending privacy barriers of the internet and particularly Cloud Computing, more people than ever are putting more information on the internet. crumbs be it songs, witty blogs, soppy emails, your Neopet that has been starving for the last 7 years, medical records , online banking records. Everything – is quickly becoming the foremost economic asset of modern life. Your data collection comprises of YLUWXDO VWXஉ DQG LQWHOOHFWXDO property that amounts to a digital creation of ‘you’. And the information footprint you leave on this earth (the one potential biograSKHUV ZLOO EH GXVWLQJ Rஉ in years to come) does not rest in your hands but in the Cloud.
puter, but in the cloud. After everyone has passed the ooh-ing and ahh-ing stage, the issues that are raised with cloud technology are important. Cloud computing doesn’t rain up there, it pours. Once your information is up in the cloud you’ll never get it out. But most people know this already; those sporadic Facebook trends where everyone is convinced they’ve sold their soul to the online world: cue massive uproar, panic, and a couple of hours later you’ve reverted to that all-important next Stumble. It’s not so much about put-
of people in charge of it. Then there are the ownership issues. The ownership of all online information, after all, doesn’t lie in the hands of the individuals but with a handful of massive, multinational corporations. A lot of people argue that we should have ownership Cloud computing doesn’t rain up there, it rights to our data because, pours. Once your information is up in the cloud come on, it’s OURS. But in every instance you’ll never get it out. where two parties are involved, both parties are coSo what is the Cloud? I ting bad information up; it’s creating that information. As don’t profess to be a techno- more what bad people can do such, both parties own it. whiz, quite the contrary if I’m with your information. Once The privacy issue with honest, but with the amount the Bad Guys break the sys- Cloud Computing is an imof iCloud adverts circulating tem and have hold of your in- portant one. People may folthe net it’s almost impossible IRUPDWLRQ WKH GRPLQR HஉHFW low the ‘it won’t happen to not to have heard of it. could be terrifying. me’ logic when it comes to Say you’re the boss of a There’s the fact that you, putting photos on the interbig company. the inputter and ‘owner’ of net, but what about when it Instead of installing iden- private data, could have your DOES happen to you? tical software on every com- information accidentally or I come from a part of the puter, you just load one appli- deliberately altered or de- world where it’s not unusual cation – an application that is leted. to hear an operator breathrun by machines owned by Not so bad when it’s a ing down the phone in the another company. couple of pictures from your middle of a phone conversaThis application provides holiday, but you only need to tion, because you happened your employees with every- Google ‘Kweku Adoboli’, or to mention a ‘trigger’ word thing they’d need to do their have heard of the UBS rogue that warrants being eavesjob; email software, word trader scandal to understand dropped on. documents, data spread WKH SRWHQWLDO UDPLஊFDWLRQV RI It may seem a fairly arsheets, etc. In order to ac- having all your personal data chaic to imagine a third party cess this application, all your online, and a singular group bugging calls, but it’s some-
thing that isn’t unheard of in Western society. They’re just EHWWHU DW PXLQJ ZKHH]HV For example, the secret NSA program (AKA ‘Warrantless Wiretapping) that was part of the Bush administration’s ‘terrorist surveillance program’ authorised the NSA to monitor (without search warrants) phone calls, internet activity, texts and emails. It’s standard news now, but when it came to light in 2006 that tens of millions of Americans had had their phone calls secretly recorded it came close to blowing people’s minds. And in truth, it is a bit Though-Police-ish (that 1984 reference was inevitable) that suddenly we are being spied upon, even in the Land of the Free. And that’s exactly what’s happening with cloud computing. It’s paradoxical that despite descending privacy barriers of the internet and particularly Cloud Computing, more people than ever are putting more information on the internet. Cases of fraud could increase exponentially. There are legal implica-
tions as well. The fact that one person’s Cloud operations, despite the terms and conditions, may not remain in the same data centre, or even on the same cloud system. 'HVSLWH HஉRUWV WR ڐKDUPRnise’ the legal environment, this leads to legal concerns over jurisdiction. The reality is that our beautiful, young internet world (it’s hard not to think of the internet as a child when you were waddling around the surface of the Earth before it had been commercialised) is morphing into something that looks very much like Big Brother; some anonymous, omniscient being that is in charge of maintaining integrity over your personal information. And even if Big Brother doesn’t do anything with your information, someone else might. There may be a couple of people suing to claim ownership of their own information today but you can bet your cotton socks there’ll be thousands doing the same in the future. Brave New World, here we come.
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Features
23.10.2012
| The Beaver
A CELEBRATION OF wrong I was. The murder of my son has shown me that what happens to any of us, anywhere in the world, (PPHWW 7LOO PXUGHUHG KRUULŕŽ&#x160; FDOO\ had better be the business of us allâ&#x20AC;?. IRU GRLQJ VRPHWKLQJ DQ\ \HDU ROG What we now know as Black boy would do today; liking a girl. If I Civil Rights was ignited by Emmett liked a white girl today, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need Tillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death; it was worked into the to be scared of white men, simply American nation and recognised by EHFDXVH , DP DŕŽ&#x2030; RUGHG VWDWH SURWHF the world through important pertion and the state itself would not sonalities such as Martin Luther tolerate such. In Emmettâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s case, King Jr, Malcolm X, Rosa Parks and he was bludgeoned to death for it, Jesse Jackson. Of particular imafter repeated torturing. Emmet portance was Dr Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hope that Tillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story is pivotal to black hismany more Emmett Tillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be toryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s importance today, because SHUSHWXDWHG 7KLV LV YLYLGO\ UHŕŽ&#x2039; HFW black history must be a celebration ed in his â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have a dreamâ&#x20AC;? speech of Emmett Tillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s soul, not its loss. which is undoubtedly one of the It must also be known that Emmett ZRUOGâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹV ŕŽ&#x160; QHVW VSHHFKHV 'U .LQJâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹV Tillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death is not to be recognised â&#x20AC;&#x153;dreamâ&#x20AC;? by analogy to Emmett and celebrated by black people Tillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s murder was that a white boy alone, this is the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s problem; could like a black girl and not get the apparent notion that black is bludgeoned and lynched to death black and white is white therefore; for it. Do you believe this has been whatever happens to my race afachieved? I believe it has and I wish fects myself alone. I now seek to Dr King could see it today. The conput forward the notion that whattext in which it has been achieved ever happens to you, regardless of is however debatable. I believe we your race, has also happened to me. have embraced equality because it I pray that one day we can all start to seems expedient to do so, not berealise that we as humans and noncause our hearts welcome it fully. I humans, alongside nature and the believe the world we live in today is world beyond are an interconnecta semi reality of Dr Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dream; ed whole. No one else could have this can be illustrated by pointing put my hopes and prayers better to poverty and the Third World, than Emmett Tillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mother herself a place of plain injustice, on the (Mamie Bradley Till); â&#x20AC;&#x153;When someother hand, the Western world; a thing happened to the Negroes in place of relative comfort and hapthe South I said, `Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s their busipiness. This illustration brings ness, not mine.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Now I know how out the contrast of the world as a
ZKROH WKH VXŕŽ&#x2030; HULQJ RI RQH SHRSOH and the enjoyment of another. I am not suggesting that Dr King was an international activist who sought to ŕŽ&#x160; JKW IRU SHRSOHV RI WKH ZRUOG HYHQ though some may argue this point and it is true that he contributed to world peace. What I am suggestLQJ LV WKDW WKH VXŕŽ&#x2030; HULQJ RI 1HJURHV the slavery of our forefathers, the discrimination of our generation and the death of Emmett Till must GULYH XV LQWR ORYH DQG DŕŽ&#x2030; HFWLRQ IRU one another, the contrast above is a good enough reason to do so. ,URQLFDOO\ D VLJQLŕŽ&#x160; FDQW FRQWULEX WRU WR WKH ORYH DQG DŕŽ&#x2030; HFWLRQ , SUD\ we adopt is Eleanor Roosevelt, a FHQWUDO ŕŽ&#x160; JXUH QRW MXVW WR EODFN SHR ple but to the world in general. If an upper class white woman can champion the cause of black freedom alongside strong activism for womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rights and equality, I refuse to believe that our hearts cannot accommodate love and affection. More importantly, it points out our interconnectedness, the vigilance of Eleanor Roosevelt in promoting fairness and equality up until her death shows that we are but one people and the sooner we realise it, the better the world will be. Moreover, the death of Emmett Till and every other victim of hatred is a reason to bring out the goodness of our hearts. The belief that thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s evil could not be more true in this area, racial
hatred is evil but simple toleration of race is not â&#x20AC;&#x153;goodâ&#x20AC;?, it is simply a VWHS WR LW WKH GHŕŽ&#x160; QLWLRQ RI â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x201D;â&#x20AC;ŹJRRGâ&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2022;â&#x20AC;ŹLQ this context is my acceptance of you in my heart regardless of your race. Eleanor Roosevelt was seen as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Her own bodyguardâ&#x20AC;?, today, I believe we are all each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bodyguards. 2Q -DQXDU\ WK WKH ŕŽ&#x160; UVW black president was sworn into the American White House. This is progressive but not the epitome of progress. I also donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessarily see this as black progress but as the progress of people. Barack Obamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entry into the white house contrasts starkly with Emmett Tillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s PXUGHU LW VKRZV WKH DFFHSW ance that a United States president can be black, however the important question is whether you want him there as a black man or as a person who is interconnected with you and the beggar on the street. What then is the epitome of progress, as a people? I strongly believe it is accepting others in our hearts, with all the love it can give. What then is the point of progress? The answer to this brings us back to the topic; the point is to honour Emmett Till, to honour the slain lives and Dr King in the form of Black History Month and to honour all the fallen soldiers who fought for a better today, a today that is devoid of Emmett Till type injustice and progressive towards Dr Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aspirations.
as usual approach from a country that has reaped so many rewards from black history. I have to seek out opportunities to celebrate. I think everyone needs a reminder in their diaries to wake them up; I said to my friend the other day â&#x20AC;&#x153;Its black history monthâ&#x20AC;? and based on the glaze in her eyes and the awkward response I knew she hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been aware. Since the Deptford ŕŽ&#x160; UHV LQ ZKHUH WKLUWHHQ EODFN boys were mysteriously burnt to death by a white supremacist gang and there was a lack of inYHVWLJDWLRQ QRW GLŕŽ&#x2030; HUHQW IURP WKH Stephen Lawrence case but still remains unsolved, black history in London has always been secondary. Black history for the Empire has been a means of oppression and exploitation; the idea of black history month likewise, condensing my history into a month with no visible celebration. For all the EHQHŕŽ&#x160; WV (QJODQG KDV UHZDUGHG itself with from its relations with black people since the initiation of VODYHU\ LQ XQWLO WKH SUHVHQW
we are still put on a cultural hierarchy in a so-called multi-cultural city, with Black British culture being portrayed as a representative for us all and from certain angles. The racism and racial stereotyping I see in London is abundant. Around London there will be a celebration in multicultural areas, community colleges and even LSE will have a night dedicated to black history. We will appear from the side-lines similarly to the day in secondary school for Black history month and the re-telling of the African slave trade. But what about the distant enclaves of British countryside, those who have no interaction with Black people EXW KDYH VWLOO EHHQ DEOH WR SURŕŽ&#x160; W from the system of hierarchy and injustice? Are they celebrating on WKH EHQHŕŽ&#x160; WV WKDW WKH\ KDYH UHDSHG over centuries? Or are they pandering to the views of the media and politics that need immigrant scapegoats when they cannot fulŕŽ&#x160; O WKHLU HOHFWHG GXWLHV" 7KLV FDQ be seen by certain posters in the
V XVLQJ WKH VORJDQ â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x201D;â&#x20AC;ŹYRWH for Labour if you want to make a nigger your neighbourâ&#x20AC;?. Yet even today I am yet to see the celebration for Rosa Parks, MarWLQ /XWKHU .LQJ -U WKH ŕŽ&#x160; UVW PDQ to do open heart surgery, create the traffic light that litters our JOREDO FLWLHV RU WKH ŕŽ&#x160; UVW ODG\ WR create treatment for cataracts. I havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even scratched the surface on the history of Black people globally and unfortunately our history remains buried deep from Africa, the Caribbean, Australia and Asia, right down to the streets of London and New York. I would like to have more than a toast to them and their struggles. Only when we take steps to uncover it ourselves is our progress, success and contribution evident. Otherwise it is a dot on the national curriculum for the sake of equal opportunities. So why the need for an un-celebratory black history month? All that I know is that my history is more than a month.
Tola Ariyo
Asia Williams
I started this article because I felt that I wanted to write something poignant for Black history month that would be featured in the Beaver and give people a true perspective on what Black history month actually stands for. However, my own viewpoint and anger, although warned by a friend to temper it has come through quite obviously when re-reading it. Despite that I am more than happy for my opinion on black history month to be aired publicly and everyone to make their own judgements on â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Black History Monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. This month is black history month. Is it really and what are we celebrating I ask myself? I am in London for the event this year and as I walk the roads of this cold city I can see no signs of this so-called black history month and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not that I want it to be advertised everywhere, but for me, it seems a bit of a business
Features
The Beaver | 23.10.2012
BLACK HISTORY the values black music and entertainment teach are not helpful for a multi-cultural society. We will not Has black music and entertainengage with society if we love the PHQW QHJDWLYHO\ DŕŽ&#x2030; HFWHG EODFN black stereotype. This is especially stereotype around the world? dangerous for the younger generaBlack music and Black entertion, if they are socialised into ignoWDLQPHQW KDV DŕŽ&#x2030; HFWHG EODFN VWH rant music videos and stereotypical reotype around the world. It is arTV shows, they will grow up feelgued here that it has been negative. ing like they are not a part of soThe Black community entertains ciety and this possible isolation of LWVHOI ZLWK PXVLF ZKLFK JORULŕŽ&#x160; HV the black person must be avoided. crime, sex and violence. This has reWhy is the black community so sulted in a stereotype, that stereotype over policed and yet under protected? consists of a care free black person This topic can probably win an who makes their life determined by award for being the most cliqued this illusory crime, sex and violence. topic in the black community. But it It is not argued here that the black is argued here that it is only cliqued community as a whole is controlled because it is important. Most people by black music and entertainment. seem to argue that the police are eiBut it is argued here that those who DUH DŕŽ&#x2030; HFWHG E\ LW DUH VHULRXVO\ GLVDG vantaged by the lie it feeds to them. More light needs to be shed on the black stereotype. It generally consists of a person who believes his/her race will always be a factor against him/her, does not actively seek to reengage with his/her community because it is all â&#x20AC;&#x153;the systemâ&#x20AC;?. Has Black music and entertainment enforced this stereotype and made it harder to dispel? Has Black music and entertainment also celebrated the stereotype through artists putting across the message that that stereotype is exactly what they were and it is what made them successful? Is it now a stereotype we accept because it is put in our faces through black entertainment? It is proposed that the black community accepts this stereotype. The more controversial question is â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Is Black music and entertainment simply an obstacle to black progress? Yes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; since it encourages ignorant attitudes which result in a lack of engagement with society. No â&#x20AC;&#x201C; just bether out to get ethnic minorities, or cause it is an ignorant attitude does that ethnic minorities should stop not mean it is necessarily an obstacle. moaning since theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the ones killHere is why it is an obstacle. It ing each other. The reason why we gives young black people a false have this problem is because peosense of belonging and it portrays ple are asking the wrong questions. women as objects, not humans. FirstThe real issue is the policing ly, the false sense of belonging arises approach, which I argue, is based when a young person is socialised on an adversarial stance against into ignorant music videos and stewider community. Following on reotypical TV shows. This results in from this, blacks are more outthat young person trying to emulate UDJHG DQG DŕŽ&#x2030; HFWHG EHFDXVH WKH\ what they see, there are minor imitaare the ones that are targeted. tions like dressing but the most imWhat is the question getting at? portant is what it does to the black â&#x20AC;&#x201C; â&#x20AC;&#x153;over policedâ&#x20AC;? in the sense that personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mind. If we are constantly ethnic communities seem to logibombarded with ignorance and lies, cally (since theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the ones killing (the bling bling lifestyle) we make each other) have a large amount ourselves ignorant because we will of police in their neighbourhoods not live the bling bling lifestyle and but that community usually has our existence is a lie. Now if this lie a high level of hatred for the pocontinues in our lives, we grow into lice. Drawing on from that, it is it till it becomes a part of our existhard to feel protected if you feel ence. The problem with this is that TONY FISCHER PHOTOGRAPHY
Tola Ariyo
like the police are out to get you. Policing should be about you and the police working together to have a safe neighbourhood. The police seem to emphasise this in their slogans but if people generally do not feel any connection to their police officers, then the working together aspect of policing is broken down and it (policing) starts to look a bit like soldiers guarding a war zone. With regards to ethnic minorities, if they feel no connection to police officers (connection in the sense of policing the community) then they cannot logically feel protected. Ministry of Justice statistics for 2009/10 shows that there is no sigQLŕŽ&#x160; FDQW GLŕŽ&#x2030; HUHQFH EHWZHHQ WKH SHU centages of arrests arising from s60
munities and made them feel like they were a part of the policing HŕŽ&#x2030; RUW ZH ZRXOG QRW KDYH SHRSOH arguing that black people are actively targeted by the police when, as statistics show, they are not. Is there a valid excuse behind black students preferring to reside outside their home countries post university? If you have left your home country, where educational standards are low and you have found better education in the West, is it right for you to stay where you are? Knowing fully well that you would be an invaluable asset to your home country? There are probably a variety of reasons for residing outside your home country. You might have developed an affiliation to the receiving country and that affiliation might be more important for you than any sense of patriotically going back to your country. You could also be in a receiving country for practical reasons, e.g. asylum seeking. Some would argue that black VWXGHQWV LQ SDUWLFXODU VXŕŽ&#x2030; HU from this problem of brain drain. In conversation with the President of the LSESU ACS, he quoted VRPH LQWHUHVWLQJ ŕŽ&#x160; JXUHV DFFRUG ing to the United Nations Development Programme, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ethiopia lost 75 per cent of its skilled workforce between 1980 and 1991,â&#x20AC;? which harms the ability of such nations to get out of poverty. Nigeria, Kenya and Ethiopia are believed to be the most affected. Today the engine of human and state development is fuelled by the educated and skilled, the same people who choose year in year out to reside in Europe and Americas where life is more convenient. He argues that the more we do this, the stop and searches of white people more we let last long this stagnant compared to black people. In other growth that has cost us decades dewords, s60 searches of black people velopmentally and makes it harder result in arrest with the same degree for us to grow. Based on this, brain as s60 searches of white people. drain is wrong. But note that it is This suggests that there is only wrong on a wider scale. Most no disproportionality in the people who know that they are asuse of the power and that it sets to the countries they will not go is being consistently applied. back to, seem to believe it is no reIf there were disproportional- sponsibility on their path. How can ity and black people were being you convincingly argue that someinappropriately targeted, then one who has lived in poverty all his/ you would expect the proportion her life should stand up and head of black people who were arrest- back to that same country to help HG WR EH VLJQLŕŽ&#x160; FDQWO\ ORZHU WKDQ others? On the surface, this looks the proportion of white people. like a noble thing to do. The truth The above statistics show that you can draw from this is people the myth that black people are ac- DUH VHOŕŽ&#x160; VK DQG WKH\ SUHIHU WKH FRP tively targeted by the police should fort they know, than the discomfort be discarded at once. The real is- they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even predict. As long as sue at hand here is the policing this persists, the poverty strickapproach. If the police made a en Third World will not rise out VWURQJHU HŕŽ&#x2030; RUW WR UH HQJDJH FRP of its problems as fast as it could.
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24
Features
23.10.2012
| The Beaver
How to help KenyaтАЩs disempowered? Flora McCrone
interest rates, Muhammad Yunus himself has stated the QHFHVVLW\ IRU VXVWDLQDEOH LQ vestment from local sources, whose interests will likely be more closely aligned with those who receive the loans. A second factor that forces the interest rates of .:)7 DQG RWKHU PLFURроК nance agencies still higher is the administrative costs RI GLVWULEXWLQJ ORDQV ,W ZDV WKLV SUREOHP WKDW LQ .HQ\D SDYHG WKH ZD\ IRU 0 3HVD LQ D VHUYLFH LQWHQGHG IRU PLFURроК QDQFH DJHQFLHV DQG their clients, through which
7KH YLUWXH RI 0 3HVD OLHV LQ WKH IDFW WKDW DQ\ SHUVRQ DO PRVW DQ\ZKHUH LQ WKH FRXQ try, is able to save and utilise WKHLU роК QDQFHV VHFXUHO\ DQG easily, whilst avoiding the H[SHQVHV LQFRQYHQLHQFHV DQG HYHQ FRUUXSWLRQ LQKHU ent in many other formal and LQIRUPDO роК QDQFLDO VHUYLFHV :LWK 1DQF\ DQG .:)7тАл┌СтАмV KHOS 5DFKHO ZDV DEOH WR MRLQ a small chama, through which she secured a microloan, in RUGHU WR SXUFKDVH D VWRFN RI second hand clothing which VKH KRSHG WR VHOO LQ KHU ORFDO WRZQ 7KUHH PRQWKV ODWHU 5D
decades since, it has been JUDGXDOO\ UHFRJQLVHG WKDW PL FURроК QDQFH LQ LWV FXUUHQW IRUP LV DQ LPSHUIHFW V\VWHP SDU ticularly due to the extremely high interest rates that are DWWDFKHG WR ORDQV тАл ┌ЛтАмLQFLGHQ WDOO\ .:)7тАл┌СтАмV ORDQV KDYH D LQWHUHVW UDWH 7KH KLJK interest rates of microloans are thought to be the result RI D VKLIW LQ IRFXV E\ PLFURроК QDQFH DJHQFLHV IURP LPSURY ing the social and economic wellbeing of their clients, to PD[LPLVLQJ WKHLU RZQ SURI its, commonly as a result of SUHVVXUH IURP IRUHLJQ LQYHV WRUV ,Q RUGHU WR UHGXFH VXFK
ORDQV FRXOG EH SURYLGHG DQG UHSDLG FRQYHQLHQWO\ DQG FRVW HроЙ HFWLYHO\ YLD WKH PRELOH SKRQH QHWZRUN 6DIDULFRP 6LQFH LWV JHQHVLV 0 3HVDтАл┌СтАмV VHUYLFHV KDYH EHHQ DGRSWHG E\ RYHU RI .HQ\DтАл┌СтАмV SRSX ODWLRQ ,Q DQ DJH ZKHUH ZLGH VSUHDG ODERXU PLJUDWLRQ KDV IRUFHG WKH GLDVSRUD RI PDQ\ $IULFDQ KRXVHKROGV 0 3HVD KDV EHFRPH WKH PRVW HроЙ HF tive method of transferring money to family members LQ QHHG 7KH 0 3HVD IUDPH ZRUN KDV H[SHULHQFHG VLPL lar success elsewhere in the GHYHORSLQJ ZRUOG LQFOXGLQJ $IJKDQLVWDQ DQG 7DQ]DQLD
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secured following a rigorous assessment by every member of a womanтАЩs chama, as to WKH YLDELOLW\ RI KHU SURSRVHG business. Meanwhile, chama PHPEHUV PXVW DWWHQG RQFH monthly meetings in which .:)7 RроМ FHUV Z LOO R YHUVHH the administration of loans DQG SURYLGH HGXFDWLRQ RQ WKH QDWXUH RI EXVLQHVV :KHQ WKH V\VWHP RI PLFURроК QDQFH ZDV LQLWLDOO\ SLRQHHUHG LQ WKH ODWH V LW ZDV KDLOHG DV EH LQJ WKH JUDQG SDQDFHD WKDW we had all been waiting for, ZLWK ZKLFK JOREDO SRYHUW\ ZRXOG EH HUDGLFDWHG ,Q WKH
encounters had been utterly LQYLVLEOH 7KH VPDOO DPRXQW RI PRQH\ WKDW 5DFKHO KDV DF FUXHG WKURXJK KHU PLFURHQ WHUSULVH KDV EHHQ GHSRVLWHG LQ KHU SHUVRQDO 0 3HVD DFFRXQW and as a result she has been DEOH WR SUHYHQW KHU PRQH\ IURP EHLQJ VLSKRQHG DZD\ E\ her extended family, and can UHSD\ KHU ORDQ VZLIWO\ ZLWK out incurring unnecessary travel or administrative costs. %\ JDLQLQJ DFFHVV WR D VH OHFWLRQ RI роК QDQFLDO VHUYLFHV Rachel and many others in similar circumstances have EHHQ DEOH WR EHJLQ WKH GLIIL FXOW EXW YLWDO SURFHVV RI FXW WLQJ WKH IHWWHUV RI SRYHUW\ that tie them to the ground. .:)7 DQG 0 3HVD DUH MXVW two of a growing number of RUJDQLVDWLRQV WKDW DUH DW WHPSWLQJ WR DGGUHVV WKH LQVXI ILFLHQW DQG RIWHQ LQHроЙ HFWXDO роК QDQFLDO DVVLVWDQFH DYDLODEOH WR WKRVH LQ WKH GHYHORSLQJ ZRUOG ,QVWHDG RI VHDUFKLQJ for a single miracle cure with ZKLFK WR тАл┌РтАмPDNH SRYHUW\ KLVWR ryтАЩ, RachelтАЩs story teaches us WKDW D PRUH ZRUWKZKLOH SXU suit is to take a grassroots DSSURDFK VSHQGLQJ WLPH DQG energy on uncovering the UHDO SUREOHPV H[SHULHQFHG ZLWKLQ LPSRYHULVKHG VRFLHW\ DQG WDLORULQJ D UDQJH RI DO OLHG роК QDQFLDO VHUYLFHV WR VXLW WKHLU VSHFLроК F QHHGV -XVW DV 0 3HVD KDV JRQH VRPH ZD\ to bridge to void between the роК QDQFLDO DJHQFLHV DQG WKH SHRSOH ZKR QHHG WKHLU VHUYLF HV LQ .HQ\D GHYHORSPHQW RU ganisations elsewhere in the ZRUOG VKRXOG VLPLODUO\ HP brace a more multifaceted DSSURDFK WR HQFRXUDJLQJ WKH ZLGHVSUHDG LQFOXVLRQ RI SRRU SHRSOH LQWR VXVWDLQDEOH HFR QRPLF DFWLYLW\ роК QGLQJ ORFDO VROXWLRQV WR ORFDO SUREOHPV
Chavez, Capriles and the future of Venezuela Devyani Garg
On the 7th of October Hugo &KDYH] ZRQ KLV роК IWK SUHVL dential election in Caracas, Venezuela to become leader of the country for another six year term. Having ruled IRU WKH SDVW IRXUWHHQ \HDUV Chavez emerged with 55% RI WKH YRWH GHIHDWLQJ KLV VLJ QLроК FDQWO\ SRSXODU RSSRQHQW +HQULTXH &DSULOHV 3UHYLRXV victories have brought with WKHP ZDYHV RI SROLWLFDO UH IRUP DQWL OLEHUDO HFRQRPLF SROLFLHV LQ WKH V SURS HUW\ UHIRUP H[SUR SULDWLRQV RI PXOWLQDWLRQDOV DQG QHZ ODERU ODZV WKLV \HDU ZKLFK RXWODZ RXW sourcing, reduce the work ZHHN DQG SURYLGH JHQHURXV VHYHUDQFH SDFNDJHV &KDYH] has consistently ensured that there is no feeling of stagnation in his socialist
revolution. However, this yearтАЩs election has shown WKDW WKH RSSRVLWLRQ FDQ SUH VHQW D XQLWHG IURQW SRVLQJ WKH роК UVW VHULRXV WKUHDW WR &KDYH]тАл┌СтАмV UXOH VLQFH Although the majority of western media has given JUHDW VXSSRUW WR &DSULOHV DQG YLHZHG KLV FDPSDLJQ RSWLPLVWLFDOO\ &KDYH]тАл┌СтАмV FRQ VLGHUDEOH UDSSRUW ZLWK PDQ\ lower income citizens of the country as well as his innate SROLWLFDO VNLOO KDV DOORZHG him to win this 5th election. 0DQ\ KDYH ODEHOHG WKH HOHF tion as тАШfree but not fairтАЩ, ZKHUH WKH LQFXPEHQW FRQ WUROOHG DOO JRYHUQPHQW LQVWL WXWLRQV DQG D VLJQLроК FDQW SRU tion of the media. Some fear WKDW WKH FRQVLGHUDEOH VXS SRUW VKRZQ WR WKH RSSRVLWLRQ WKLV \HDU ZLOO SURYRNH &KDYH] into cracking down further RQ UHJLRQDO LQGHSHQGHQFH
and the countryтАЩs democratic V\VWHP LPSHGLQJ WKH SUR JUHVV RI IXWXUH RSSRQHQWV &KDYH]тАл┌СтАмV SROLFLHV KDYH FULSSOHG WKH 9HQH]XHODQ economy by converting the VWDWH RLO FRPSDQ\ LQWR DQ DOO SXUSRVH GHYHORSPHQW DJHQ cy which has squandered money on inefficient social SURJUDPV $OWKRXJK KH KDV been fortunate that his rule KDV DFFRPSDQLHG D FRQVLVW HQW ULVH LQ WKH SULFH RI RLO WKH ODFN RI VXSSRUW JLYHQ WR WKH SULYDWH VHFWRU KDV PDGH WKH FRXQWU\ GHSHQGHQW RQ WKLV RLO 'XULQJ WKH роК QDQFLDO FULVLV 9HQH]XHOD VXроЙ HUHG more than most of Latin $PHULFD GXH WR WKH GLS LQ RLO SULFHV DQG ZLWK WKLV FDPH D GLS LQ &KDYH]тАл┌СтАмV SRSXODULW\ A continuation of ChavezтАЩs SROLFLHV ZLOO DOVR PHDQ JURZ ing debt in Venezuela due WR SXEOLF ERUURZLQJ DQG WKH
borrowing of the state oil FRPSDQ\ ,W LV HVWLPDWHG WKDW LWV EXGJHW GHроК FLW FRXOG UHDFK RQH роК IWK RI LWV HFRQRPLF RXW SXW E\ WKH HQG RI WKLV \HDU ,Q RUGHU WR UDOO\ KLV SROLWLFDO EDVH SUH HOHFWLRQ &KDYH] VSHQW HQRUPRXV DPRXQWV RI PRQH\ $ VLJQLроК FDQW SRUWLRQ RI KLV FDPSDLJQ IRFXVHG RQ D SURJUDP WR EXLOG IUHH KRXVLQJ IRU WKH KRPH OHVV E\ 7KH JHQHU DWHG GHEW FRXSOHG ZLWK WKH governmentтАЩs unfriendly SROLF\ WRZDUGV IRUHLJQ LQ vestors has made servicing WKHLU GHроК FLW YHU\ GLIILFXOW 7KH HOHFWLRQ KDV KRZ HYHU PDUNHG D VLJQLроК FDQW WXUQLQJ SRLQW LQ 9HQH]XHODQ SROLWLFV ZKHUH IRU WKH роК UVW WLPH VLQFH WKH RSSRVL WLRQ KDV SUHVHQWHG D XQLWHG front and a strong alternative OHDGHU &DSULOHV FDPSDLJQHG WR HQFRXUDJH IRUHLJQ LQYHVW
PHQW VKLIW IRUHLJQ SROLF\ away from Russia and China, DQG HQG VXSSRUW RI WKH ZRUOG wide revolution in order to IRFXV RQ ORFDO QHHGV LQ 9HQ H]XHOD VXFK DV GHFD\LQJ LQ IUDVWUXFWXUH DQG XQHPSOR\ PHQW ,Q FRQWUDVW WR &KDYH]тАл┌СтАмV EURDG VSHFWUXP JRDOV KH DGGUHVVHG VPDOO ORFDO SURE OHPV TXLFNO\ LQFOXGLQJ IUH TXHQW SRZHU RXWDJHV LQ SDUWV of the country outside the FDSLWDO FLW\ DQG LQFUHDVHV LQ YLROHQW FULPH $Q LQFUHDV LQJO\ HYHQ GLYLGH LQ WKH HOHF WRUDWH DORQJ ZLWK VXVSLFLRQV surrounding ChavezтАЩs health FRXOG HLWKHU VXJJHVW SRVVLEOH LQVWDELOLW\ RU D VWUHQJWKHQ LQJ GHPRFUDF\ 7KH TXHVWLRQ ZLOO QRZ KLQJH RQ WKH RS SRVLWLRQтАл┌СтАмV DELOLW\ WR UHPDLQ united and focused under &DSULOHVтАл ┌СтАмOHDGHUVKLS DV ZHOO as ChavezтАЩs management of the Venezuelan economy.
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The Beaver | 23.10.2012
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Education, Pakistan and Malala UNITED NATIONS
tacks targeting schools, this ŕŽ&#x160; JXUH LV QRW OLNHO\ WR LPSURYH 7KH UHFHQW ŕŽ&#x2039; RRGV LQ 3DNL stan have further aggravated the problem. According to the SPARC report 9,800 schools were damaged in the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan, with over 410,000 children out of school due to damaged or occupied buildings or unavailability of teachers. More than 40,000 children in temporary shelters have no access to education and nearly 729,600 children do not have learning materials. It says: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Approximately 1,244 schools in Sindh and Balochistan were being used as shelters E\ ŕŽ&#x2039; RRG DŕŽ&#x2030; HFWHG SHRSOH â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2022;â&#x20AC;Ź Another key factor worsening the problem of illiteracy is the issue safety in obtaining an education, especially in the province stan. The evidence lies in the of Khyber-Pakhtunkwa. female literacy rate in rural The on-going â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;war areas, which is less than one- on terrorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in the region WKLUG VLJQLŕŽ&#x160; FDQWO\ ORZHU WKDQ has led to a total of 710 the national average of 46 schools being completepercent). With continuing at- ly destroyed or damaged.
ry objective of government policy in the last few years has Fourteen year old Malala been to improve the level and Yousufzai remains in critical quality of education in Pakicondition days after being stanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, it has not been evident shot in the head and neck. that this has been the case. $FFRUGLQJ WR ŕŽ&#x160; JXUHV UH The Tahreek-e-Taliban has ported in the Pakistan Soclaimed responsibility for cial and Living Standards the attack on this school girl. Measurement Survey, the Malala was shot on her way home from her school in literacy rate for population Swat, north-western valley of of 10 years and older was Pakistan. The Taliban spokes- 58 percent during 2010-11. man, Ihsanullah Ihsan, in- The governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lack of foformed the media on the cus on education has been phone that this attack was due to its concentration on WR â&#x20AC;ŤÚ?â&#x20AC;ŹŕŽ&#x160; QLVK WKLV QHZ FKDS the various crises gripping ter of obscenityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. He claimed Pakistan in recent years, that Malala was â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;pro-West, namely economic stagnashe was speaking against tion and the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;war on terrorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Investing in education the Taliban ... and promotprovides long-term bening Western culture in PashHŕŽ&#x160; WV EXW WKH YRODWLOH SROLWL tun areasâ&#x20AC;? referring to the main ethnic group in the cal situation in the counarea. He also said that this try has led to the various attack served as a warning governments mainly focusfor all youngsters who were ing on policies that would involved in similar activities help them retain popularity and added that they would be and power in the short run. Almost 25 million children targeted if they did not stop. Malala had been on the are currently out of school Talibanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s radar since the in Pakistan while seven milDJH RI ZKHQ VKH ŕŽ&#x160; UVW lion of them are yet to rewrote a blog for BBC Urdu ceive some form of primary called â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Diary of a Pakistani schooling according to a schoolgirlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; detailing life report prepared by Socieunder the Taliban regime. ty for the Protection of the Though this blog was Rights of the Child (SPARC). Only 39 percent of written anonymously, her schools have electricity, identity was later revealed when the Pakistan military the report says, and there managed to regain the area. are around â&#x20AC;&#x153;30,000 ghost The entries focused on schools throughout Pakian edict issued by the Tali- stan, which continue to reban banning all girls from ceive government fundingâ&#x20AC;?. While the government of attending school, and also Pakistan has certainly played on her fears of being unable its part in neglecting the eduto return to school and of cation sector, its policies have the uncertainty and danger not been the sole factor hamin the Swat valley. She has since been a leading voice pering education in Pakistan. The country may have for female education in Pabeen united in condemning kistan, a country where, acthe shooting of Malala Youcording to IMF statistics, sufzai, with religious clerics the government allocates branding the event as being merely 2% of its annual total expenditure on education. completely â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;un-Islamicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, but While official government the fact remains that female reports claim that â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;the prima- education is looked down upon in many areas of Paki-
Anaam Afridi
Equality and Diversity
In Malala Yousufzaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hometown of Swat, 121 schools were completely destroyed while another 280 were partially damaged by militants over a span of two years. Malala Yousufzai risked her life to give voice to an ever-ignored issue of the lack of education in Pakistan. The problems the country faces are extensive while opportunities are few and far between. Malala provided Pakistan with a glimmer of hope and for this, she was brutally targeted. For there to be any kind of improvement in the FXUUHQW VWDWH RI DŕŽ&#x2030; DLUV WKH people need to make sure that Malalaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s words echo in every corner of Pakistan:
â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have rights. I have the right of education. I have the right to play. I have the right to sing. I have the right to talk. I have the right to go to market. I have the right to speak up.â&#x20AC;?
redefining  difference
PHOTO COMPETITION redefining  difference
ALL LSE STAFF AND STUDENTS redefining  difference
redefining  difference
THEME: Redefining Difference redefining  difference DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES: 28 October 2012 LSE Equality and Diversity invite entries for their annual Diversity Calendar Photo Competition. The theme for the photo competition is â&#x20AC;&#x153;Redefining Differenceâ&#x20AC;?, encouraging participants to demonstrate out-of-the-box thinking about diversity in their photos. The judging panel will select 12 winning entries to feature in the Diversity Calendar for 2013. How to enter: The competition is open to all LSE staff and students. Each participant can submit up to three photos for consideration. The photos should reflect the theme â&#x20AC;&#x153;Redefining Differenceâ&#x20AC;?. Please submit each photo as a JPEG file, 300dpi and no smaller than 2MB.
To enter the competition â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Please go to lse.ac.uk/equalityanddiversity to download the entry form, which gives further details about the competition. Send the entry form and photos to Equality.and.Diversity@lse.ac.uk by 28 October 2012. Please contact the Equality and Diversity team if you have any queries: Tel: 020 7955 7826 Email: Equality.and.Diversity@lse.ac.uk
Features
The Beaver | 23.10.2012
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â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is peace for our timeâ&#x20AC;? having awarded the Peace Prize to Barack Obama and Recognition of the Silent Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo Victory â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 and 2010 respecAward to the European Un- tively to similar uproars and ridicule. It is incredibly easy ion. At a time where Europe to criticize and treat the deseems on the verge of tear- cision as a farce; Nigel Faring itself apart with riots and age of the UK Independence protests still taking place in Party, for example, predictacities across the continent, bly chose to accuse the EU of the decision to award the causing â&#x20AC;&#x153;insurgency and vioNobel Peace Prize to an insti- lenceâ&#x20AC;? above all else, while tution facing grim questions Eurosceptics across the poabout its future and, indeed, litical spectrum have roundly its very existence appears to condemned or questioned be little more than an embar- the legitimacy of the award. The answer lies in Nobel rassing case study in irony Committee Chairman Thorbafter more than four years of unresolved economic, po- jørn Jaglandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s assertion that litical and social crises. De- the award was for â&#x20AC;&#x153;peace spite all this, the Peace Prize and reconciliation, democcould not have been timed racy and human rights in EHWWHU DQG PD\ ŕŽ&#x160; QDOO\ SXW D Europeâ&#x20AC;?. From its very inface to the European Unionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ception, the purpose of the greatest and most intangible European Union has been to ensure that never again achievement â&#x20AC;&#x201C; peace. The Nobel Committee is would the nations of Europe no stranger to controversy, go to war with each other â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in HŕŽ&#x2030; HFW DQ DPELWLRXV GULYH WR
break from a history of violence that plagued the continent for centuries. Some would argue that NATO had a greater role in preserving peace on the European continent than WKH ŕŽ&#x2039; HGJOLQJ 8QLRQ RU WKDW the broken states of Europe would never realistically have a chance to wage war against each other anyway. But it is the EU that, true to its name, fostered a culture of unity and European identity grounded in democratic values and human rights that had never existed before on a continental scale. Neither were such values reserved in any way for the founding members of the Union as a form of privilege or right â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the successive falls of dictatorships in Spain, Portugal and Greece are made all the more remarkable by the swift and stable introduction of democracies to those nations, and once again when
the countries of Eastern Europe emerged from the shadow of the Soviet Unionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s collapse. By ensuring the spread of this culture, the gradual decline of the spectre of yet another European war and a common belief in the European community, the EU is able to claim a remarkable, if not well advertised, victory â&#x20AC;&#x201C; no matter how severe the HFRQRPLF FULVLV WKDW DŕŽ? LFWV Europe is, no matter how much unrest or tension may exist in the social fabric of its members, the threat of war has been consigned to history and it is to the EUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s credit for making war impossible throughout the institutionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s existence and into the future. It is perhaps unfortunate that harsher, more immediate issues can easily obscure the mark of such an achievement. Talk of peace and security is understandably farremoved from the realities
of the homeless protester in Athens or the unemployed university graduate in Madrid. Once again, it would be easy to react with cynicism to the EU, for it is more deŕŽ&#x160; QHG RQ WKLV LVVXH E\ ZKDW LW prevents as opposed to what it can give. The hope, as a result, is for the Nobel Peace Prize to strengthen what has until now been the silent, unspoken triumph of Europe. Nonetheless, this well-deserved award also serves as a stern reminder: the trials of the European Union are not over. It is a reminder of why the EU is still so important and relevant to the modern European world, and it will only serve as a painful reminder of how things should and could have been if it is to fail at this crucial juncture. Against the backdrop of a dark history that it has managed to leave behind, the EuURSHDQ 8QLRQ FDQQRW DŕŽ&#x2030; RUG to fall.
tensions concerning economic policy. That is why these days, with regard to the crisis, very few Europeans will think about unity when they talk about the EU. Connected with this crisis are the three EU politicians who receive the prize. Better, as some argue, would have been an awarding to the people who were really responsible for European peace, like Jacques Delors or Jean Monnet. But can one even speak of a peaceful Europe? There might not be wars on European soil, but what about the WURRSV ŕŽ&#x160; JKWLQJ LQ $IJKDQL stan and elsewhere in the world wearing the French, %ULWLVK RU *HUPDQ ŕŽ&#x2039; DJ RQ their uniforms? Are European values, especially democracy, only pretence to invade FRXQWULHV WKDW WKLQN GLŕŽ&#x2030; HU ently? And if that is in doubt,
LV LW MXVWLŕŽ&#x160; HG WR UHFHLYH D 1R bel Peace Prize? But letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s go back to 1945. WWII had 110 million people under arms. 63 million people (about the size of the population of Great Britain) died in what came to be known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;total warâ&#x20AC;?, called â&#x20AC;&#x153;World War IIâ&#x20AC;?, although it was a primarily European war. DeVWUXFWLRQ VXŕŽ&#x2030; HULQJ DQG ZDU reached levels never even imagined before. At that time, Europe could look back on an exceptional history of EORRG\ FRQŕŽ&#x2039; LFW 7KH ODVW WLPH it was something close to unity was under Charlesmagne, more than 1000 years ago. A lot has changed since. ,Q WKH SDVW ŕŽ&#x160; IW\ \HDUV SHR ple became used to the exceptional achievements the EU granted its citizens: as the Nobel committee argued, peace, democracy and human rights are the most out-
standing accomplishments of the EU. The idea to start with a customs union and the common market and extend this further step-by-step to a political union was incredibly successful regarding peace and the rule of law. Today, Europeans can work in most EU countries, study and travel wherever they want, and go to any hospital receiving DŕŽ&#x2030; RUGDEOH ŕŽ&#x160; UVW FODVV KHDOWK care. Nobody would even WKLQN DERXW DUPHG FRQŕŽ&#x2039; LFW within the borders of the EU. So, in this sense, Europe is the continent where people enjoy prosperity, peace, welfare, education, human rights and justice as seen in no other country. So letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s be honest: there is absolutely no reason to complain. Nowhere else is this life possible than in the European Union â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in other words: in the land of milk and honey.
PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN
Dominic Hung
Max Volmar
Rising unemployment, government debt levels never seen before, banks struggling for survival, companies going bankrupt, political incompetence. Sounds like things are going bad in Europe. Still, on 10th December 2012, JosĂŠ Manuel Barroso, Herman Van Rompuy and Martin Schulz will receive a fancy prize on behalf of the European Union. The EU will then be one of many to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Most recently Al Gore, Muhammad Yunus, the United Nations and Barack Obama (which caused confusion as well) had the honour to receive the Prize. There are probably few people who do not experience a slight feeling of wonder hearing the EU and the Nobel Peace
Prize in the same sentence. Are they right? 25th September 2012. Protests all over Madrid churn the Iberian Peninsula. Similar scenes occur in Greece, Italy and other countries in Europe. Many countries are factually bankrupt. Great parts of the European population are uprising against EU decisions. The views of national politicians like Angela Merkel, Francois Hollande, Mario Monti and David Cameron vary heavily when it comes to the future of the EU. Even clearer is this picture on the board of the ECB, where the head of the German Bundesbank and the Finnish central bank (the guys who pay the bill) form a small minority opposing current monetary policy. So if there may be peace in Europe in terms of armed FRQŕŽ&#x2039; LFWV VWLOO WKHUH DUH YDVW
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The Beaver 23.10.2012
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How long is your neck?
Benedict Irving H[SODLQV GLà¼HUHQW W\SHV RI VWXGHQWV WKURXJK JLUDà¼HV
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ew university students are, in many ways, like JLUDà®&#x2030;HV $QG XSRQ ZLWQHVVLQJ WKH LQVXUJHQFH RI IUHVKHUV LQWR WKH /6( DQG WKHLU VRFLDO KDELWV , KDYH EHJXQ WR VHH WKH XQLYHUVLW\ VRFLDO FDOHQGDU DV VRPHWKLQJ RI D 'DUZLQLVW VXUYLYDO RI WKH à®&#x160;WWHVW %HIRUH , JR RQ , VKRXOG LQIRUP \RX WKDW JLUDà®&#x2030;HV DUH YHU\ SDWLHQW DQG WKHUHIRUH , WUXVW \RX ZLOO EHDU ZLWK P\ REVHUYDWLRQ DQG SDWLHQWO\ UHDG RQ GHVSLWH WKH DGPLWWHGO\ ULGLFXORXV SUHPLVH 6R OHW PH H[SODLQ $W WKH EHJLQQLQJ RI WKH \HDU ZH DOO IHHG RQ WKH VXFFXOHQW IUXLW RI RQH KXJH WUHH ZKLFK KDSSLO\ OLHV FORVH WR WKH JURXQG 7KLV LV IUHVKHUVâ&#x20AC;« Ú&#x2018;â&#x20AC;¬ ZHHN 7KH QHZELHV DUH HYHU\ZKHUH SDUWDNLQJ HQWKXVLastically in every event that WKH /6( KDV WR Rà®&#x2030;HU ZKHWKHU LWâ&#x20AC;«Ú&#x2018;â&#x20AC;¬V &UXVK )UHVKHUVâ&#x20AC;« Ú&#x2018;â&#x20AC;¬ %DOO HYHQWV RUJDQLVHG DW KDOOV RU DOWHUQDWLYH HYHQWV KHOG DPRQJ D IHZ IULHQGV 7KLV LV ZKHUH IUHVKHUV DUH PRVW SURPLQHQW DW WKHLU
PRVW URZG\ DQG KDSSLHVW DOO VXIILFLHQWO\ VXFNOHG RQ WKH PHWDSKRULFDO WHDW RI WKH PHWDSKRULFDO WUHH %XW DOO LV QRW ZHOO LQ WKH XUEDQ VDYDQQDK 6RRQ HQRXJK WKDW GHOLFLRXV IUXLW DW WKH ERWWRP RI WKH WUHH LV JRLQJ WR EH HDWHQ XS DQG WKLV LV ZKHUH WKH DOO LPSRUWDQW QHFN OHQJWK NLFNV LQ 6RPH RI WKH JLUDà®&#x2030;HV IDOO DW WKH à®&#x160;UVW KXUGOH 7KH\ UHWLUH IURP WKH VRFLDO VFHQH XQDEOH WR UHDFK KLJKHU XS WKH WUHH 7KH PHPRU\ RI WKDW (GHQ OLNH IUXLW IDGHV DQG WKH\ HPEDUN RQ WKHLU VWXGLHV 7UDJLFDOO\ WKH\ DUH ORVW IRUHYHU FRQFHDOHG E\ HQGOHVV SLOHV RI SDSHUV DQG QHYHU WR EH VHHQ DJDLQ <HW PHUFLIXOO\ WKRVH JLUDà®&#x2030;HV JLIWHG ZLWK ORQJHU QHFNV FRQWLQXH UHYHOOLQJ ecstatically in the sweet, MXLF\ IUXLW DYDLODEOH KLJKHU XS WKH WUHH 7KH IRUWXQDWH PLQRULW\ ZLWK WKH PHGLXP OHQJWK QHFNV DUH WKH SHRSOH ZKR UHJXODUO\ VRFLDOLVH 7KH\ DUH QRW DIUDLG WR HPEDUN RQ DQ RFFDVLRQDO QLJKW RI SUHSRVWHURXVO\ KHDY\ GULQNLQJ
DQG FOXEELQJ WKH QLJKW EHIRUH D D P DFWXDULDO VFLHQFH FODVV EXW KDYH UHDOLVHG WKH QHFHVVDU\ FRPSURPLVH EHWZHHQ ZRUN DQG SOD\ DOEHLW IRU D IHZ LQHYLWDEOH VOLS XSV ,W LV WKHVH VWXGHQWV WKDW KDYH DFKLHYHG WKH RSWLPDO EDODQFH DW XQLYHUVLW\ 7KH\ PDNH WKH PRVW RI WKHLU XQLYHUVLW\ OLYHV ERWK VRFLDOO\ DQG DFDGHPLFDOO\
SOXQJHG LQWR SRYHUW\ <RXU HQWLUH OLIH ZLOO SDVV ZLWK QRWKLQJ WR EUHDN WKH EOHDN SDVVLQJ RI GD\V EXW WKH PRQWKO\ YLVLW IURP \RXU UHODWLYHV WR VPHDU GULEEOH LQ \RXU KDLU <RXâ&#x20AC;«Ú&#x2018;â&#x20AC;¬OO JURZ ROG DQG JUH\ SODJXHG ZLWK GHVSDLU DQG JXLOW :K\ RK ZK\ GLG \RX FKRRVH WR JR RXW WKDW HYHQLQJ" 2EYLRXVO\ \RX VKRXOG KDYH UHYLVHG
The fortunate minority with the medium length necks are the people who regularly socialise. They make the most of their university lives, both socially and academically. %XW DIWHU D \HDU KHUH ,â&#x20AC;«Ú&#x2018;â&#x20AC;¬YH QRWLFHG WKDW WKHUH H[LVWV D QHJDWLYH VRFLDO PLQG VHW DPRQJ PDQ\ VWXGHQWV ,W JRHV URXJKO\ WKXV LI \RX VRFLDOLVH RQH HYHQLQJ DQG GRQâ&#x20AC;«Ú&#x2018;â&#x20AC;¬W UHYLVH WKHQ DQ\ KRSH RI D GHJUHH LV EDQLVKHG <RX DUH D IDLOXUH (YHU\ HPSOR\HU LQ WKH ZRUOG FOHDUO\ NQRZV WKDW \RX ZHQW RXW WKDW RQH WLPH VR JRRG OXFN à®&#x160;QGLQJ D MRE <RX ZLOO EH
FULPLQDO ODZ FDVHV IRU WKH WKLUG WLPH WKDW ZHHN +RZ FRXOG \RX EH VR VWXSLG" 1RZ \RXâ&#x20AC;«Ú&#x2018;â&#x20AC;¬UH FRQILQHG WR DQ HPSW\ OLIH RI SOD\LQJ ;ER[ DQG HDWLQJ SRSFRUQ LQ \RXU XQGHUSDQWV 6OLJKWO\ K\SHUEROLF , DGPLW EXW DW OHDVW LI SHRSOH JHQXLQHO\ EHOLHYHG WKDW WKHQ WKH GHFLVLRQ QRW WR VRFLDOLVH ZRXOG EH HDVLHU WR XQGHUVWDQG 6RFLDOLVLQJ LV
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à®&#x160;QDOO\ WKH WDOO JLUDà®&#x2030;HV WKH VRFLDOLWHV ZKRVH XQJDLQO\ HORQJDWHG QHFNV DOPRVW WRSSOH WKHLU HTXLOLEULXP , VDOXWH \RX DQG \RXU XQHQGLQJ HQWKXVLDVP ,W PD\ QRW LPSUHVV WKRVH FRPPHUFLDO OLRQV LQ &DQDU\ :KDUI EXW KH\ LI DOO HOVH IDLOV DW OHDVW \RX KDYH D UHDOO\ ORQJ QHFN
28
Social
23.10.2012
| The Beaver
Swinging London, Lindy City
R
ewind to the eighties and London played a surprisingly pivotal role in reviving these forgotten dance forms, as Swing Patrol teacher Scott Cupit explains: â&#x20AC;&#x153;One of the dancers who found the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;King of Swingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Frankie Manning forgotten and working in a New York post office was Ryan Francois, a leading London teacher at the time. He brought Frankie out of dancing retirement and helped kick-start a global Lindy Hop revival, just in the nick of time. These dances were on the brink of being lost.â&#x20AC;? London is a city that thrives on the thrill of the new, but for many of its hippest inhabitants the past seems to have been where it was at in 2012. From fashion and design to culture and cooking, this cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trendsetters have been looking to their grandparentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; era for inspiration. :DQGHU LQWR FRŕŽ&#x2030;HH VKRSV or clubs in certain parts of the city and it feels like you have stepped back to the 1940s or 1950s, if you ignore the smartphones and iPads littering the tables. Handlebar moustaches, tea-dresses, braces and brogues are almost de rigueur now in some East End quarters. The Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Speech and Mad Men have helped to bring the smarter, more grown-up, so-to-speak, fashLRQV RI WKH IRUWLHV DQG ŕŽ&#x160;IWLHV back onto the high street.
Indeed, the vintage look is now so mainstream that Topman is selling tweed suits and brogues alongside their T-shirts and jeans. In the design world, fifties inspired furnishings and forties fonts are in. The wartime Keep Calm and Carry On posters have proven a surprise recent hit â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ripped off and reproduced on souvenir tat and office notice boards across the country. This revival came at a good time for the Queen, who celebrated her Diamond Jubilee over the summer. In contrast to the SilYHU -XELOHH WKLUW\ ŕŽ&#x160;YH \HDUV ago, when punk was at its peak, this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s celebrations seemed to somehow capture the zeitgeist. When the Sex Pistols were snarling â&#x20AC;&#x153;God Save the Queen, Fascist Regimeâ&#x20AC;? at the top of the charts, it was seriously uncool to celebrate the monarchy. This time round, the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hipsters were hanging up their bunting and baking cupcakes with only marginally less irony than the Chelsea Conservative Club. $QRWKHU ELJ EHQHŕŽ&#x160;FLDU\ of the retro revival was Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s swing dancing scene. This summer it seemed that no Diamond Jubilee street party was complete without a swing dancing demonVWUDWLRQ â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x201D;â&#x20AC;Ź6ZLQJ LV EHQHŕŽ&#x160;Wing from a larger popularity for all things vintage,â&#x20AC;? according to Rowena Howie, a young entrepreneur whose swing dancing hobby
NOEMIE R FOR SWING PATROL
Nicholas Robin on why heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s glad he gave swing a go
led her to open the Revival 5HWUR ERXWLTXH RŕŽ&#x2030; &DUQDE\ Street. She thinks it is â&#x20AC;&#x153;the glamour and decadence of those beautiful bygone HUDV WKH PXVLF WKH ŕŽ&#x160;OPV the fashions, the dancingâ&#x20AC;? that are inspiring so many young people to take it up. Since 2009 over twentyŕŽ&#x160;YH QHZ VZLQJ FODVVHV KDYH opened across the capital â&#x20AC;&#x201C; including two on University of London campuses â&#x20AC;&#x201C; teaching the Charleston, Lindy Hop and the other partner dances of the 20s, 30s and 40s. These dances originally started out in the smoky jazz palaces of Harlem in the twenties, but by the late thirties white musicians like NOEMIE R FOR SWING PATROL
Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey had got in on the act, helping to make syncopated swing beats seem less threatening to segregated middle America. Swing swept the country and beFDPH WKH 86â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹV ŕŽ&#x160;UVW PRGHUQ teenage dance craze. But when big bands gave way to guitar groups and rock â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; UROO LQ WKH ODWH ŕŽ&#x160;IWLHV SDUWner dancing gradually went out of fashion. Thirty years on and thousands of people are swing dancing regularly across the UK. The growth in classes has been matched with an explosion of venues where dressing up and swing dancing is part of the appeal. From the fun forties-themed Blitz parties to the serious swingers at the Black Cotton Club thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something for every level of dancer. The choice can be bewildering, but one enterprising guy has made it easier for Londoners to swing by listing all of the competing events on one site. Duncan Graeme Macdonald, the creator of SwingOutLondon.co.uk, believes it is a great time to be swing dancing here: â&#x20AC;&#x153;London has probably one of the biggest swing scenes in the world. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really diverse with a wide variety of styles and nights â&#x20AC;&#x201C; anything youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s probably a night to suit you.â&#x20AC;? 0\ ŕŽ&#x160;UVW GDQFH ŕŽ&#x2039;RRU DGventures were to house music, indie pop, and R&B in the dire local discos of my hometown. But I always felt WKDW ŕŽ&#x2039;DLOLQJ DURXQG RQ \RXU
own wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t quite as elegant or exciting as being able to twist and swirl a partner round like in the old movies. It wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t until I moved to London that I had the opportunity to give swing a go. It is no overstatement to say it has changed my life. It took me quite a while to get my feet to do what my brain was telling them, and even longer to overcome my anxieties about getting out on the social dance ŕŽ&#x2039;RRU %XW RQFH , IRXQG WKH FRQŕŽ&#x160;GHQFH WR ODXJK RŕŽ&#x2030; P\ mistakes and get out there, I fell in love with it. The energy and momentum you can generate when you really connect with a partner is intense. And Lindy Hop is such a joyful dance that laughter and smiles are never far away. Along the way Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve performed and danced at festivals, fashion week and other big events around the capital and I have met many wonderful people I now count as close friends. This summer my swing adventure hit a high note when one of my best friends â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ZKRP , KDG JRQH WR P\ ŕŽ&#x160;UVW class with â&#x20AC;&#x201C; married a man she met through swing. LSE students who suspect that learning swing dancing might be more fun â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and a better way to meet SHRSOH â&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2039;â&#x20AC;ŹWKDQ ŕŽ&#x2039;DLOLQJ DERXW randomly down the local disco have a wide variety of options, including LSEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very own Swing Dance Society, with classes held on campus every Tuesday night. Those interested can contact su.soc.swingers@lse.ac.uk
The Beaver | 23.10.2012
Social
29
Networking without the work
Ieva Lekaviciute explores an exciting new form of short-term renting
A
s a new MSc student at the LSE I was quick to grasp the importance of the magic word that is â&#x20AC;&#x153;networking.â&#x20AC;? Honestly, there are days when I seem to hear it more often than Moodle, course pack and key readings. As students in a leading university we are naturally ambitious and eager to enter the vibrant and competitive world of business or politics as soon as possible, both of which I am constantly reminded of when crossing Waterloo Bridge on my way to the School, with views of Westminster on one side and the City on the other. However, if you look into the word â&#x20AC;&#x153;networkâ&#x20AC;?, you will see that it is constructed of two parts: â&#x20AC;&#x153;netâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;work.â&#x20AC;? It is certainly the latter. Just think of the crowded career fairs, where students surround representatives of top companies like a swarm of bees waiting for the possibility to ask the one question that has been bothering them, or to introduce themselves with relatively no chance of being remembered in a couple of weeks. Usually
you end up with a bunch RI OHDŕŽ&#x2039;HWV VHYHUDO EUDQGHG pens and maybe a couple of chocolates. Your contact base, however, stays more or less the same. Sound familiar? Well, the good news is that networking does not have to be all work and no play. Actually, the most successful instances of networking occur outside the formal environment. The latest trend has been to combine networking with travelling, using your vacation to establish connections. One example of this trend LV WKH )ODW &OXE RŕŽ&#x2030;HULQJ short-term renting within trusted social networks. At ŕŽ&#x160;UVW JODQFH LW PLJKW VHHP like another peer-to-peer renting site, but there is a twist. Renting within social networks means that anyone who signs up using their university or company email is automatically added to the club for their institution, so there is a club for the LSE, Harvard, McKinsey and many others. When looking for apartments you can choose to stay with people from your university or other universities and companies. Needless to say, not only is
it cheaper than staying in a hotel â&#x20AC;&#x201C; I recently managed to ŕŽ&#x160;QG D QLFH DSDUWPHQW LQ %DUcelona near Sagrada FamĂlia for just â&#x201A;Ź12 per night â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this opens the door to networking opportunities. After all, ZKDW EHWWHU ZD\ RI ŕŽ&#x160;QGLQJ out about your ideal future employer than staying with one of its current employees? â&#x20AC;&#x153;During the course of eighteen months we have witnessed a major growth of interest in our site â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we started from just 5 rooms in London and now have more than URRPV RU ŕŽ&#x2039;DWV LQ PRUH than 20 cities around the world, including New York, Paris, Barcelona, Milan and others,â&#x20AC;? says Nitzan Yudan, the founder of Flat-Club. He adds that the site is mainly aimed at students and alumni of top universities, giving users the opportunity to meet new people from networks they can trust. The response from users has been overwhelmingly positive. Puneet from London Business School (LBS) described his experience of staying with an LBS alumnus as absolutely fantastic: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Searching for places is very simple and best of
all you end up making new friends during the process! , ZLOO GHŕŽ&#x160;QLWHO\ EH GRLQJ this again and would recommend it to anyone looking for short-term accommodation.â&#x20AC;? Emmanuel from Columbia University claimed he was so happy with his guest that they stayed in contact after the visit came to an end. Other students mentioned tours of the apartment and neighbourhood from their KRVWV EHLQJ OHIW ŕŽ&#x2039;RZHUV DQG simply enjoying nice company as their top reasons for enjoying renting within these networks. Many reported staying in contact with their hosts or guests afterwards. Besides the obvious benHŕŽ&#x160;W RI PHHWLQJ LQWHUHVWing people, renting within trusted networks might offer some other perks. We often wish to sublet our properties, but we are uneasy about letting strangers in. Since this experience is all about networking, guests will want to leave a good impression, as Erin from LBS explains: â&#x20AC;&#x153;This ZDV P\ ŕŽ&#x160;UVW H[SHULHQFH OHWting my apartment, and not only was it easy, the guest left the apartment cleaner
than when we left! I felt comfortable letting my apartment to him and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll do it again the next time Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m out of town.â&#x20AC;? According to the FlatClub estimates, people who let their apartment using their service earn $1,500 (ÂŁ935) on average. Having stood in the seemingly endOHVV OLQH IRU IUHH ŕŽ&#x160;VK DQG chips at our student hall, I would expect the average VWXGHQW WR ŕŽ&#x160;QG WKLV DPRXQW quite substantial. Users reported spending their money on things like a holiday, visiting family abroad, having a splurge in an Apple store, or just using it to pay IRU GDLO\ VQDFNV DQG FRŕŽ&#x2030;HH In a world where social capital seems to be the most important of all capital, renting within social QHWZRUNV LV GHŕŽ&#x160;QLWHO\ DQ DWtractive opportunity for expanding your contact base. Of course, that does not mean you should stop going to careers and networking events and just embark on a journey around Europe, but taking a break from the â&#x20AC;&#x153;workâ&#x20AC;? of networking can prove to be useful from time to time.
Sexism for sport?
Georgia Grayson on why banter is no excuse for sexism
W
e have all heard the football stereotype: arrogant, womanising, vulgar, sexist creatures who plague the green pastures of this pleasant land. I am pleased to say that this had not been my personal experience of the footballing community at school or at university, until now. I believed these vices only took root once players won themselves a professional contract, earning grotesque salaries and tainted by the plague of celebrity. Those of you who donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t play for the LSE football team are not likely to be following them on Twitter. After all, the LSE is hardly a breeding ground of world class footballing talent, so we can safely assume the players in question are more David Blunkett than David Beckham. You are also unlikely to have combed through hundreds of their tawdry tweets. But fear not, I have done the hard work for you. What I found was
tweet after tweet saturated with sexist and degrading language. Apparently the â&#x20AC;&#x153;LSEFC has no time for girls who cry in zoo or get their boobs out in shoreditchâ&#x20AC;?, while the secondsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; captain, Charlie Elsom, was torn because there is just â&#x20AC;&#x153;so much butters gash, so little time.â&#x20AC;? The football club also lamented that there are â&#x20AC;&#x153;so many sluts in zoo tonight hashtaggetsomeselfrespectâ&#x20AC;? whilst Elsom wished â&#x20AC;&#x153;girls wouldnt bend their knees in pictures when I wanna assess how fat their legs are.â&#x20AC;? Both parties have been patrolling â&#x20AC;&#x153;camPUSâ&#x20AC;? and keeping the Twittersphere updated on the level and prevalence of women (warning to readers: apparently there is â&#x20AC;&#x153;So little V at Acton Streetâ&#x20AC;?). Elsom, somewhat ironically, invites us to â&#x20AC;&#x153;Call [him] sexistâ&#x20AC;? and that is exactly what I shall do. Now, it is inevitable that the classic excuse of â&#x20AC;&#x153;itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just a bit of banter!â&#x20AC;? will loom large at this point. The problem with this notion is that â&#x20AC;&#x153;banterâ&#x20AC;? requires genu-
ine wit, a combination of humour and intelligence sorely lacking in comments like â&#x20AC;&#x153;camPUS in togas #stilldrinkit.â&#x20AC;? If these individuals do fancy their chances as the next Ian â&#x20AC;&#x153;bantersaurusâ&#x20AC;? Wright, I would strongly suggest they spend some time on Twitter paying close attention to real comedic luminaries like David Mitchell or Charlie Brooker, who have carved out hugely successful careers in comedy without once sinking into the mire of lazy sexism, or that they should go away and familiarise themselves with well-gauged comic footballing creations like Simon Brodkinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jason Bent,â&#x20AC;? whose sexist comments serve only to highlight the stupidity and myopia of modern sportsmen. And you never know, after a few weeks of solid research, a modicum of actual wit may spill over into their tweets. Put the champagne on iceâ&#x20AC;Ś Alternatively, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s picture the sexist shoe on the other foot. Imagine the net-
ball team established a Twitter account and proceeded to litter the Twittersphere with biting hashtags like â&#x20AC;&#x153;#chinsupforimpotenceâ&#x20AC;? or â&#x20AC;&#x153;#2inches:(â&#x20AC;?. Not only would this be very upsetting for any guys mentioned, much as the footballersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; real tweets might prove damaging to any women who are subject to their insults, but it would also highlight that the men are not alone in possessing the ability to resort to sexist taunts, and that this sort of abuse is not intrinsic to male discourse. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Boys-will-be-boysâ&#x20AC;? is not an excuse â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it is a sad indictment of certain individuals. Bear in mind that the football club uses the LSE logo on their Twitter feed and these comments are the third result on a Google search of â&#x20AC;&#x153;LSEFC.â&#x20AC;? These tweets were open for the entire world to read and to judge our university by. 7KH\ UHŕŽ&#x2039;HFW EDGO\ QRW RQO\ on those involved but they also project a negative image about the student body
as a whole. We are a tolerant student body, tolerant of GLŕŽ&#x2030;HUHQW RSLQLRQV QDWLRQalities, sexual orientations and genders. This is what makes the LSE a fantastic place in which to study, and I speak for myself an others when saying that this was part of the appeal of coming to study here. LSEFC has apologised to the Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Union for their comments and deactivated the Twitter account in question. General-Secretary of the SU, Alex PetersDay, told the Beaver in a statement: â&#x20AC;&#x153;As a Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Union we take a zero tolerance approach to sexism â&#x20AC;&#x201C; along with all other forms of discrimination.â&#x20AC;? With any luck this will put an end to such matters, yet in a world where masculinity LV RIWHQ GHŕŽ&#x160;QHG E\ KRZ GHgrading and disrespectful one can be towards the opposite gender, I doubt that this will be the last article in this vein. I just hope that it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to happen again at the LSE.
30
Sport
23.10.2012
| The Beaver
The Ultimate victory If you wondered/forced your way through Clementâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Inn during freshersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; fair this year, you will have probably heard repeated cries of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ultimate Frisbee â&#x20AC;&#x201C; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s less ridiculous than it soundsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Remarkably, this was persuasion enough for a decent number of people new to the sport, who not only DWWHQGHG WKH ŕŽ&#x160; UVW IHZ WUDLQ ing sessions in Regentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Park, but also came to Hyde Park on Saturday 13th October to compete for LSE in the annual London Ultimate Beginnersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Tournament. For the many individuals out there unfamiliar with Ultimate Frisbee (officially called simply â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ultimateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for trademark reasons) I can FRQŕŽ&#x160; UP WKDW WKH VSRUW LV LQ deed less ridiculous that it sounds. Ultimate is played on a ODUJH ŕŽ&#x160; HOG ZLWK HQG ]RQHV â&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2039;â&#x20AC;Ź think of a rugby pitch without the posts â&#x20AC;&#x201C; with seven players on each team. One
The games may have begun at uni with hockey successfully ruining their freshers and the AU Exec adapting the Welcome Party Olympics into an equally competitive, but purely alcohol based event. The real scoring, however, was to take place later, with those still able to stand making their toga-clad way to Leicester Square. Jumping the gun in the quad were two hockey freshers whose Roman hands brought them much attention, whether it was the raw egg in her hair or the Basics vodka, neither of them made it to Zoo. With alcohol from the brutal initiations combining with genuine heatstroke, it was a messy evening for most, made slightly PHVVLHU E\ WKH JOLW]\ SULQ
canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t move when holding the disc and to score one must catch the disk in the RSSRQHQWVâ&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹHQG ]RQH Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let the fact that the
almost constantly during the course of a match. Search â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;UltiVillage Highlightsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; on YouTube and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see this very clearly
America (where Ultimate is LQŕŽ&#x160; QLWHO\ PRUH SRSXODU WKDQ in the UK) LSE Ultimate is one of the universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most successful teams, reaching
game is played with what some people would consider a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;toyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; fool you. Ultimate is one of the most physically demanding sports out there, requiring its players to be strong, well conditioned, incredibly skillful and moving at high speed
for yourself. Jumping hori]RQWDOO\ WR FDWFK WKH GLVF or â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;laying outâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; as itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s known, can be as painful as it looks â&#x20AC;&#x201C; see our resident bleeding Canadian. With its regular imports of postgraduate and general course students from North
the National stages of the annual BUCS tournaments every year since its inception. Last Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tournament was all about blooding those that had taken the blind leap of faith into the sport but two weeks be-
cess and her use of a semipermanent marker. With cameras steaming up, physical contact with anyone was best avoided by most Zoo-goers. But this did not keep the cougars away. The two not so young ladies who returned to =RR ZHUH GHŕŽ&#x160; QLWHO\ RQ WKH prowl, taking advantage of two somewhat innocent young footballers coincidentally sharing the same name. Only one pair managed to convert the Zoo romance despite the other FRXJDUâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹV EHVW HŕŽ&#x2030; RUWV 7KH Welsh Lovely taken home like a lamb to the slaughter clearly enjoyed his night as the pair spent the following day together. The start of a romance or will this man-eater leave him
broken-hearted? Another member of football doing well for himself and not being left asking for more was Mr Twist, hooking up with netball fourth beauty, though the couple parted ways at the end of the evening. One hockey Cat, escaping from the heat of the LSE, but not avoiding the attention of those in the smoking area, enjoyed the company of a mystery brunette. Rowing again stepped XS ŕŽ&#x160; QGLQJ .DQH SDUWLFX larly able with one of our wilder netball girls. The extremely drunken state of said young lady should not be underestimated and credit should be given to KHU IRU KHU JDOODQW HŕŽ&#x2030; RUW LQ making it to Zoo. The same cannot be said
for a considerable number of hockey freshers who barely made it to the Welcome Party, managing to stumble into the Tuns but little further. The toga dress code confused the generally inept FC and resulted in some unfortunately tight \RJD RXWŕŽ&#x160; WV DV WKHLU DW WHPSW DW KXPRXU EDFNŕŽ&#x160; UHG for many including Malibu, whose skin-tight pink lacy top unsurprisingly failed to charm the young ladies at Zoo. The birthday boy did much better, being treated to a lap dance by General Mateer on the sofas. Such a treat clearly wore the poor boy out as he persisted in attempting to nap for the rest of the night, both events being well photographed!
CALLUM BALLARD
Callum Ballard
fore - the tournament rules VWDWHG WKDW ŕŽ&#x160; YH RI WKH VHYHQ players on each team had to have played for less than two months. Inexplicable October sunlight shone down upon eight hours of proceedings where - despite a narrow opening loss against Imperial College - LSE fought to progress through the initial pool stages and the quarter ŕŽ&#x160; QDO E\ EHDWLQJ 8&/ WZR Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s College teams and Kent, before taking revenge RQ ,PSHULDO LQ WKH VHPL ŕŽ&#x160; QDO They then produced an outstanding performance WR HGJH RXW ,PSHULDOâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹV ŕŽ&#x160; UVW WHDP LQ WKH ŕŽ&#x160; QDO Although the team will partake in far more competitive tournaments over the coming season, the victory Saturday before last was incredibly encouraging and is a certain sign that there are great things to come from LSEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ultimate team this year!
White togas clearly identifying the freshers awaiting corruption presented the Lux with fresh meat and an easy pull, VWXPEOLQJ RŕŽ&#x2030; WKH VRIDV DQG into the arms of a womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rugby newbie. A new personality in rugby, Noddy McIlroy - ordered by his superior in red - made serious attempts with General Mateer. But even in her intoxicated state she managed to resist his advances, getting neither near her pitcher nor her bed. With only rowing initiations to go, theoretically the worst of the damage should have been done, but unfortunately for some there is much more of the term to go and many more tempting hours to be spent in Zoo Bar.....
Sport
The Beaver | 23.10.2012 Continued from back page â&#x20AC;&#x153;For years, football has been doing all it can: governing its own house. It can use bans, pass legislation... but it wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t change a thing. Sport canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t change a thing in racism. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All it can do is, for 90 minutes on a Saturday, ban all racist chanting and all racist slogans â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but for the other six days a week, you can be as racist as you like and football canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do anything about it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So how can football do anything? How can banning Serbia do anything? â&#x20AC;&#x153;All other countries do is what they saw us do in England 30 years ago: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ooh, ooh, monkey chantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In America, Britain and France, we have huge black communities and we now feel superior to others and say â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;look Ukraine and Poland weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not racist, how great are we?â&#x20AC;? It takes but a matter of moments to realise Barnes is a passionate speaker. Never an
average footballer, Barnes is also far from your average exfootballer: intelligent, articulate and determined to make his point. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The only way we can truly stop racism is through education,â&#x20AC;? he continues. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Only through learning why people are racist can we stop it. If you have a cold can you cure the cold? In football, we have to cure the problem not the symptom. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We need to understand why people do what they do; if weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to just treat symptoms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; John Terry, Luis Suarez, Serbia â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing is saying â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;right, for 30 years, all weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been doing is treating symptomsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We need to go to school and understand why people are behaving the way they are. When my kids were young and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d go to a school play... all the angels were blonde haired and blue eyed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Is that a subliminal message? Why arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the black kids the angels? All these mes-
sages are weighing us down and the only way forward is by getting rid of them.â&#x20AC;? He alludes to a trip to South Africa with Liverpool in 1994; people were shocked to see white beggars, but accepted it as second nature to see black people begging. He also recalls a conversation where a friend said â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;imagine 100,000 white kids dying on the streets of New Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, admitting this would affect him more than if it were 100,000 white children â&#x20AC;&#x201C; even as a black man himself. â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x201D;â&#x20AC;Ź+DYH \RX VHHQ WKH ŕŽ&#x160;OP â&#x20AC;ŤÚ?â&#x20AC;Ź$ Time to Killâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;? Matthew Mcconaughey says at the end: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;imagine a little girl being raped and beaten... now imagine she was white.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; That resonated with everyone and it resonated with me.â&#x20AC;? Like a university professor, his theory is clear: the groundwork has been laid â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the probOHPV LGHQWLŕŽ&#x160;HG But what of his methodology? On top of his initial notion
of education, Barnes is adamant a more open society will be the starting point for real change. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The key is to be much more open so we can talk about things without being accused of being racists. Alan Hansen said the word â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;colouredâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; on Match of the Day and everyone wanted him sacked. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But he is old enough to remember the 1970s when that phrase was used and there was no racist intention there, so why is there a problem? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Real racists are more careful with what they say, whereas unconscious racists will say things in the heat of the moment. Things slip out â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you call someone a name and you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yet if you really believe and mean it, you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be stupid enough to say it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Though â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not calling John Terry stupid,â&#x20AC;? he quickly adds with a laugh. Another issue Barnes bucks the trend with is quo-
31
tas increasing the number of black people in sport. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not a fan of the ruley rule and getting quotas because that would defeat the object of it,â&#x20AC;? he says with some authority. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That way, instead of changing the way people think, we are saying it will never change so we are just going to give someone the job because they are black and that is not the right way.â&#x20AC;? Strong words. But like many in history, Barnes no doubt feels these words need to be said. And heard. I ask him about his current plans. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I do television work with ESPN and around the world: South Africa, Abu Dhabi,â&#x20AC;? he replies. Is that the future, then? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Oh no, I want to go back into management! Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what I want to do.â&#x20AC;? And if Barnesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; desire to PDNH D GLŕŽ&#x2030;HUHQFH LV DQ\WKLQJ to go by, some great moments in the dugout surely await.
The rise and rise of Belgian football Belgium was a nation borne out of the shadows of its near neighbours. Geographically saddled between the great powers of the Netherlands and France, the latter of which it seceded from in 1830, it has at times been the dominated rather than dominating. Yet one characteristic ingrained within the Belgian psyche is the belief in its ability to punch above its weight. As a footballing power, the nation achieved its â&#x20AC;&#x153;Golden Eraâ&#x20AC;? during the 1980â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and early â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;90â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where a second SODFH ŕŽ&#x160;QLVK DW (XUR â&#x20AC;Ť Ú?â&#x20AC;ŹZDV arguably the pinnacle of its success. Renowned as a physical and well-organised outŕŽ&#x160;W %HOJLXP ZDV GLIILFXOW WR break down and provided a banana skin for many of footballâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s elite. But since its success under Guy Thys, the national team faded into a gradual decline, hitting its nadir in 2007 with a 71st placing in FIFAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rankings. Belgium have failed to qualify for the European championships outright at any time since 1984. So the more recent emergence of Belgiumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crop of wonderkids is therefore exWUHPHO\ GLŕŽ&#x152;FXOW WR H[SODLQ Belgiumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population size is restrictive on its talent pool and it is heavily reliant on its near neighbours for training and coaching expertise. The Ajax Academy, rather than its Belgian counterparts, was largely responsible for developing the talents of Jan Vertonghen (now at Tottenham) and Toby Alderweireld.
Moreover, the ability to draw on its colonial heritage as a further source of sporting talents is no more advantageous today than it was 30 years ago. So why this upsurge? The explanation for the renaissance seems to have its roots mainly in the mediocrity to which Belgian football had sunk. With no â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;old guardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;to cement their places both domestically and internationally, coaches have been free
Rio. Many of the precocious Belgium talents developed at home and in neighbouring countries have now been deemed worthy of places in WKH ŕŽ&#x160;QHVW WHDPV LQ (XURSHDQ football. Hazard, Dembele, Fellaini and Kompany are household names in England - and the continent is also being taken by storm. The Standard Liege Youth Academy is largely responsible for the uncovering of Steven Defour and Axel Witsel.
last summer will do much to alleviate the reputation that has overshadowed Witselâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s undeniable talent. Last summer saw a further Belgian invasion of the English game. It is perhaps too early to judge the impacts that Lukaku, Mirallas and Benteke but if the form of other notable Belgians based here is anything to go by it is likely to be something of a revelation. Thomas Vermaelen has seemingly proven a rock to
to pick and retain younger players in their teams. When you look at the major domestic teams, (Anderlecht, Standard Liege, Club Brugge), they all possess youthful squads with average ages varying between 23 and 25 years. Compare this to a big Premier League team like Chelsea, who until last year KDG DQ DYHUDJH ŕŽ&#x160;UVW WHDP DJH that was pushing 30. It would not be outlandish to tip Belgium as an outside bet for the 2014 World Cup in
The formerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rise to prominence led him to the 07/08 Golden Shoe Award in the Belgian League and constant rumours of an imminent move to Manchester, with Ferguson courting the young star. Witsel is unfortunately EHVW NQRZQ IRU KLV KRUULŕŽ&#x160;F tackle on Marcin Wasilewski during a game with Anderlecht, which left the Pole with a severe leg break. One would hope the 40 million Euros Zenit were willing to part with to secure his signature
the Arsenal defence that has been notoriously shaky in recent years. And in Vincent Kompany, it is clear City have a player who satisfy Sheikh Mansourâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ambition for years to come and one who shows refreshing loyalty to both club and country, something which the game is sadly devoid of at the moment. So what can England learn from the Belgian miracle? The passing of the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Golden Generationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of English Foot-
BEN SUTHERLAND
Ollie Bishop
ball - who all too often sadly fell short of our hopes and expectations - has left us with a YRLG LQ GLUH QHHG RI ŕŽ&#x160;OOLQJ Englandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current talent crop is simply not good enough, and we run a huge risk of falling further down the international pecking order. The likes of Milner, Cleverley and Henderson are, put EOXQWO\ QRW ŕŽ&#x160;W UHSODFHPHQWV The majority of people would WDNH D PLGŕŽ&#x160;HOG RI 'HPEHOH Fellaini and Witsel any day of the week. Roy Hodgson is the man with the unenviable task of trying to forge some sort of new dynasty out of the ruins of the last; the emphasis needs to be on grass roots football. We simply donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t create the young talent that other nations do - and when we do WKH\ DUH XQDEOH WR ŕŽ&#x2039;RXULVK LQ the greatest league in world sport or on the international stage. Without undermining the status and standard of the Premier League, we urgently QHHG WR ŕŽ&#x160;QG D ZD\ RI HQFRXUaging home grown players through the ranks of local FOXEV LQWR ŕŽ&#x160;UVW WHDPV XS DQG down. If not, we risk losing a generation of talent and our standing as a major international footballing nation. Only time will tell if the Belgian miracle will develop a crop of players who realise their potential and make it at the highest level. But the youthful focus of Belgium is one to be both envied and replicated - a notion I hope that is at the very heart of FA planning in the coming years.
Sport
32
Sport
23.10.2012
| The Beaver
Inside
â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x161;â&#x20AC;Ź/6( 6SRUW â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x161;â&#x20AC;Ź7KH ULVH DQG ULVH RI %HOJLDQ IRRWEDOO â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x161;â&#x20AC;Ź:KDW KDSSHQV LQ =RR EDU
Solve the problems - not the symptoms Liverpool legend talks exclusively about tackling racism Rather, it is something he calls â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;unconsciousâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; racism. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Unconscious racism hinâ&#x20AC;&#x153;In football, you can never ders everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chances of choose any one great momaking it in life. In sport, ment.â&#x20AC;? black people can be successThese are the words of ful as a boxer or a sprinter, John Barnes MBE as he sits but do you see many black back in LSEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very own CLM managers or journalists? â&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2039;â&#x20AC;ŹUHOD[HG DQG FRQŕŽ&#x160; GHQW â&#x20AC;&#x153;We talk about John Terâ&#x20AC;&#x153;You look at things over ry and others being racist, periods of time when you but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s because history has were successful,â&#x20AC;? he continshown us that black people ues. are inferior, not sporting wise â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no one great mobut intellectually and morally. ment for me, but lots of indiâ&#x20AC;&#x153;We see it everywhere. vidual moments â&#x20AC;&#x201C; like winning When you go to watch AladP\ ŕŽ&#x160; UVW OHDJXH ZLWK /LYHUSRRO din â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Aladdin has an Amerior scoring that goal against can accent, whereas the evil Brazil.â&#x20AC;? Jafar would have an Arab acAnd no wonder. If memocent. ries of joy and success were â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not going to beat a barometer of wealth, two people because they are terleague titles, 79 England caps rible and say they are racist, and three Player of the Year Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going to blame society awards in four years would for what people have been make Barnes one of the richtaught.â&#x20AC;? est men in football. In 2009, Barnes experiBut despite every game HQFHG ŕŽ&#x160; UVWKDQG WKH SOLJKW won, every run made and that faces black coaches every goal scored, Barnesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; career was still plagued by the during their European quali- cheered me â&#x20AC;&#x201C; I know that while in charge of Tranmere Rovers. ŕŽ&#x160; HU@ KDSSHQHG HYHU\ WLPH ZH 100%.â&#x20AC;? ugly vice of racism. Barnes left his role as Ja)URP WKH RŕŽ&#x2030; RQH LGHD No more will fans remem- played in England; and it was ber his jinking run at the Ma- accepted â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this is the way so- takes importance above all maica manager to take the others for the former Liver- MRE DQG MXVW ŕŽ&#x160; YH PRQWKV ODWHU racana in 1984 than a haunt- ciety was. found himself unemployed afâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x201D;â&#x20AC;Ź7KDWâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹV ZK\ , WKLQN GLŕŽ&#x2030; HU pool man. ing photo of him kicking a Barnes doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe ter a run of poor results. banana thrown by Everton ently about getting on our The case of him and Tranhigh horses to talk about the explicit racism is the issue. IDQV RŕŽ&#x2030; WKH WXUI
Tim Poole
â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I was playing, overt racism was terrible. What happened in Serbia last week [fans allegedly racially abused England U21 players
Serbs. When we talk about racism in football â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and that banana was a very poignant image â&#x20AC;&#x201C; had I been playing for Everton, they would have
mere fans, he says, is a classic example of unconscious racism. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They say if I had won PDWFKHV LW ZRXOG EH ŕŽ&#x160; QH Of course if I won matches LW ZRXOG EH ŕŽ&#x160; QH â&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2039;â&#x20AC;ŹEHFDXVH theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not racist, right? â&#x20AC;&#x153;But, having lost matches - compared to my white counterpart - the questions will be asked of my capabilities a lot sooner. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t understand it but they are unconsciously racist; they ask themselves is he losing because heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s black? â&#x20AC;&#x153;What people donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t realise is that â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;can black men make good managers?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; is a racist question. Anyone who considers the possibility that people canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be good managers based on the colour of their skin is a racist.â&#x20AC;? Inevitably, the topic of Serbia comes into conversation once more. Yet when I ask Barnes his stance on the matter, his response is far from conventional. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You can ban people as long as you like but are we trying to get rid of racism or do we just not want to hear it? If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hear it anymore, does that mean itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s okay?â&#x20AC;? Continued on Page 31, Column 1
Armstrong not the only villain in this sorry tale Question: What do Jimmy Savile and Lance Armstrong have in common? The answer: they have both had their reputations destroyed by public revelations that have come out after their time in the spotlight. Apparently, the evidence against both is both solid and numerous. This begs me to ask the question: why did these revelations - if so important and so unanimousonly come out several years after they happened? Armstrong has long been admired as a sporting great who battled cancer and a stream of competitors to win Tour de France after Tour de France, ending with a record seven titles. But now it has come to light that he cheated throughout his career and never deserved those titles
LQ WKH ŕŽ&#x160; UVW SODFH I am open to the idea that he was successful in keeping it a secret all these years. But what displeases me is constant talk of how it was clear from the very beginning that he was cheating. If that was the case, why did no one say anything while it was happening? All throughout his career, Lance Armstrong was revered and respected and there was no word about his cheating; sure there were claims and allegations, but none were proven as quickly as they should have been if the evidence was as clear as they claim. The media say there is a serious issue in cycling and that a cheating culture pervades the sport. But they are wrong; the real issue is over the hypocrisy of the professional cycling community in claiming they
had all the evidence against Lance Armstrong when they clearly didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. If they really did have sufŕŽ&#x160; FLHQW HYLGHQFH WKLV VWRU\ would have come out a long time ago. For anyone arguing this was an isolated issue, I return you to the story of Savile. He too, was revered - in his case, for his ability to inspire children all over the country throughout his career. However, claims have now materialized that he is a serious criminal and - whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more, the evidence for his crimes was widespread throughout his life and career. Again this begs the question as to why nothing was revealed before. Shockingly, most of the evidence only formed three months after his death. Another similar case is that of Dominique Strauss-
Khan in 2011. His reputation was also ruined by a crimiLARRYOBRIEN
Rayhan Chouglay
nal scandal with evidence of further crimes coming out RQO\ DIWHU D ŕŽ&#x160; UVW VFDQGDO WKDW supposedly happened many
years ago. Clearly something is amiss. While there may actually be very valid reasons - legal or otherwise - for these cases only being revealed at a speFLŕŽ&#x160; F WLPH WKH ZD\ WKH FDVHV have unravelled leaves a sour taste not only for the central ŕŽ&#x160; JXUHV EXW WKH SHRSOH LQ volved in revealing evidence. 7KH FHQWUDO ŕŽ&#x160; JXUHV FHU tainly deserve what has now come to them. However, those who possessed the reqXLVLWH HYLGHQFH DW VLJQLŕŽ&#x160; FDQW ly earlier stages also have to be scrutinised - so too the media. Armstrong has been punished for a very serious issue, but it has happened so late that it has created an even bigger issue: that the way of the world is too slow to put a stop to wrongdoing before it is too late.