The Beaver: Week of October 30th, 2012

TIME TO END THE ABORTION DEBATE | FINDING MY MOTHER IN INDIA | EXTRADITION AND POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY

TheBeaver

30.10.2012

Newspaper of the LSE Students’ Union FREE

ELECTILE DYSFUNCTION

LENT ELECTIONS // BEAVER ARCHIVES

Jason Wong has been banned from campaigning for 24 hours after a complaint was made to the London School of Economics Students’ Union (LSESU) Returning Officer, Friday. During this time period, starting on Monday at 9:00am, Wong was unable to promote his candidacy on social media, such as Facebook or Twitter.

The complaint relates both to WKH SURPRWLRQ RI D VSHFLனF YLGHR the Unapologetic Truth Part II, as well as a tweet Wong sent out before campaigning officially start-

ed. According to the Returning Officer, Rachael Quah, Wong “has been banned from making use of social media... as a result of his early and unauthorised campaigning.â€? :RQJ ORQJ NQRZQ DV DQ DGYHUsary of the LSESU and its leadership, issued a statement condemning the ban, saying “The SU establishment is fearful of the fact that more and more students are னQGLQJ RXW DERXW WKHLU VFDQGDOous dealings as highlighted in the YLGHR DG ‍ ڕ‏:RQJ FRQWLQXHG ‍ڔ‏7KH

Student Union is getting desperate and has begun to unleash their bully-boy tactics on me. But when your opponents are attacking you personally, as opposed to attacking your message, you know you are winning the debate.�

Wong led a successful RON campaign last term for the position of Trustee of the Students’ Union, focusing on what he says is “a Student Union that holds democracy in contempt.�

Alex Peters-Day, General Secretary of the Students’ Union, de-

clined to comment, saying “As this is an election issue, it is not my place to comment at this time.�

ZKHQ WKH %HDYHU FDXJKW XS ZLWK her at the National Union of Students (NUS) conference in Manchester, Monday.

Other candidates in the Court RI *RYHUQRUV UDFH DUH CHRIS ANGUELOV, DAN MARTIN, DUNCAN MCKENNA, EDEN DWEK, EMILY LEROUX-RUTLEDGE, HASSAN ARIF, JOSH NEWLOVE, MATTHEW PENNILL, MUSTAFAEN KAMAL, TOLA ARIYO, RICHARD SERUNJOGI, STEPHEN HELLIER, THOMAS MEADEN, TOM PRIOR. Manifestos on page 22.

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ELECTION

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| The Beaver

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Attribution necessary.

Meet us Halfway It’s as regular as clockwork, every year the Students’ Union (SU) struggles to get anyone to attend the weekly UGM, secure candidates to run in elections and get students to vote in said elections. There is a disconnect between the organisation responsible for representing LSE students and the students themselves.

A lot of this, no doubt, stems from the fact that most people at the LSE don’t really have that much of a need to use the SU. There are sports teams and clubs, but they tend to operate in a sphere outside the full control of the Union. You will never get every student taking part in the SU, that’s just a characteristic of this university as a whole.

But the Union are not doing themselves any favours.

The pure ‘hackiness’ of

the organisation no doubt scares many away. The number of people involved at varying levels of the SU in creating more and more bureaucratic red tape is something that should be taken very seriously. It seems as though the Union is run by people who enjoy, nay, relish, bye-laws, articles and mind-numbingly boring and useless procedure.

Case-in-point, this newspaper. Many within the Union believe that we should not be allowed to publish the names of candidates during elections. On the surface it seems like a relatively well-meaning ruling, but when you delve deeper it becomes apparent just how inane this request really is.

Candidates can post on Facebook, send emails and even put posters up on SU property, like in the Quad

- but have their name mentioned in a legitimate news article - oh yes, that’s going to completely unbalance the election.

These hacks need to get a grip. We are a newspaper and we will do our utmost to ensure fair and balanced coverage, especially during an election. But you don’t see the Voice of America or the BBC, both government broadcasting networks, being forced to replace candidates names with the XQVSHFLன F ‍ڔ‏HOHFWLRQ FDQGL dateâ€? name-tag.

We feel it would be unfair to our readers to keep the important stories and news away from them. The Union hacks may not have faith that our readers can make up their mind fairly on SU election day, but we do. We will be including candidates’ names in our stories.

2ŕŽ‰ HQGHG" (PDLO us! editor@thebeaveronline.co.uk

8QLRQ %DVKÄ?

Election Time Candidates on stage.

The end of autumn is nigh.

New season, new Sabb.

News

The Beaver | 30.10.2012

Postgraduate hustings at UGM weekend.

The few that did have knowledge of the AU said that it was something that they would consider campaigning over.

Another question was posed by Alex Peters-Day, General Secretary of the Student’s Union, asking what candidates’ favourite and worst thing was about the London School of Economics.

Diversity was cited by most candidates as the best, with one individual going so far as to describe the LSE as D ‍ڔ‏PDJLF SODFH‍ ڕ‏ The failings of the LSE included structure and commuQLFDWLRQ DQG ன QGLQJ VRPH

Attendance at the UGM saw a boost this week as candidates running for Postgraduate Officer took part in the Michaelmas Term election hustings.

Thirteen candidates stood for the hotly contested position and gave short speeches on why they should be elected.

Ideas from candidates ranged from more recruitment events, to improving post-graduate academic experience, or boosting the social life of Masters students.

A range of students stood, with some already having studied at the LSE for their undergraduate degree.

Eyebrows were raised when one individual running for the post arrived late and had failed to prepare a speech.

After the speeches, the audience were encouraged to put forward their questions to candidates.

Virginia Sentance, a former undergraduate student, raised the issue of participation in the Athletics Union. “I want to be involved with the Athletics Union, but I have classes on Wednesday afternoons.

Would you campaign to have Wednesday afternoons RŕŽ‰ "‍ڕ‏ Many people running appeared to have no knowledge of the Athletics Union and so proposed post-graduate sports sessions over the

where to sit for lunch.

Yet again, the issue of poor attendance at the UGM cropped up, with Eden Dwek asking those on stage how they would get people to attend.

Bribery was encouraged by candidates, in the form of food, as well as changing the time to the evening and increased promotion.

Although the post of Post*UDGXDWH 2IILFHU LV ன HUFHO\ competitive, candidates remained respectful and good natured throughout the hustings.

Joe Anderson, on the Democracy Committee said: “From hearing from the

postgraduate officer candidates who attended the hustings, it was clear that the calibre of people standing this year is very high.

I am really glad that so many are standing, because it means that we have a really big, yet good, pool to FKRRVH IURP ‍ڕ‏ Campaigning began after WKH 8*0 ன QLVKHG DW SP DQG voting for the election takes place on Wednesday 31st October.

Results of the Michaelmas term elections will be announced the following Thursday.

LEON PUPLETT

Nona Buckley-Irvine

ISLAMIC SOCIETY CHARTIY WEEK There will be donut sales, a pick n mix sweets sale, a charity sale on Tuesday of old books, clothes and other odds and ends, as well as cupcakes with Arabic icing so you can get your name iced in Arabic, in addition to a dominos pizza sale on Friday and bucket collections around campus.

The money raised will go towards the most needed projects now, so the emergency appeals to aid refugees in the up heaved Arab ZRUOG VSHFLன FDOO\ 6\U ia and Yemen, as well as the food crises in East and West Africa.

The theme will be ‘Lion King’ so look out IRU 6LPED 5Dன NL DQG other animals from The Pride Lands running around Houghton St.

UNION JACK Jack was feeling in a regal mood when he was roused from his porcelain throne to attend the Biannual All-Oz Beauty Pageant.

There was only one category this time round, with the winner taking home the prize of Representative of Aged Munchkins.

There was brief excitement when the Guardian of the Gates mentioned sushi, but instead of being fed, it turned out we were being allowed to watch a parade RI GHDG ன VK JR E\ -DFN FRXOG have assured the Guardian that ZH‍ڑ‏G KDYH EHHQ DEOH WR ன OO WKH full hour, as there were thirteen contestants in the Pageant, all of whom desperately wanted to show us their twirls.

It would be singularly otiose of Jack to give you his opinion of particular candidates - as you know, your humble reporter regards all human with the same level of contempt - put he will WU\ WR JLYH \RX D ŕŽ‹ DYRXU RI WKH

3

event. Does this rag smell of HWKHU WR \RX" Two of the entrants must have been having a bad hair day, as they didn’t even bother turning up. Quite a few of the rest forgot to write down their answer to the questions “how would you EULQJ DERXW ZRUOG SHDFH"‍ ڕ‏DQG “are you sure this rag doesn’t VPHOO RI HWKHU"‍ ڕ‏ Several of the speakers seemed to be aping one Mr D. Cameron, electing to speak without notes while walking around the stage and, in one case, performing an impromptu double salto with pike. Certainly, more than a few seemed more than willing to enter a career in the world of beauty pageants.

Anyway, they all told us how much they love Munchkins and Munchkin Rights, and how’d they’d bend over backward or, as the case may be, forward to satisfy Munchkins’ demands.

Jack is a bit worried that Aged Munchkins are still having trouble choosing their classes. Jack is a bit more worried that all the candidates seem to think that all Aged Munchkins are all work and no play and need the help of Whippersnapper Munchkins to have fun. We may have to remind the candidates that Munchkins either stay another year in Oz to avoid leaving, or come back because the outside world is so scary. Either way, Jack is sure that the new batch of Aged Munchkins will manage to develop borderline alcoholism without the assistance of the All-Munchkin Council or any young Whippersnappers.

All that needs to be said by Jack is that a candidate who says they will be able - for inVWDQFH WR ன [ FRXUVH FKRLFH FKD os had better have a very solid understanding of the relations between departments, academ-

ics and central administration.

Jack is absolutely sure that they all absolutely have absolutely all of the necessary skills.

Jack suspects things will continue much as before, but he has his own best and worst things about LSE to suggest. The worst is, of course, the lack of our own Tube station. The best is the sight of trustafarians pretending to be poor in the queue on the Yellow Brick Road for free boiled vegetarian, or whatever is being served from the Hippy Fair, clutching environmentallyfriendly bags emblazoned with the logo of their investment bank of choice. Never was there a truer representation of the LSE spirit. ‍ڔ‏-$&.‍ڕ‏

4

News

30.10.2012

| The Beaver

Ramadan discusses faith in politics Rachel Browne

Last Tuesday, the London School of Economics Students’ Union Islamic Society hosted a conversation with Tariq Ramadan, Professor of Contemporary Islamic at the University of Oxford, entitled “Faith in Politics.�

In his talk, Ramadan spoke about how faith could inspire and impact one’s political activism. The subject of free speech and religion was also brought up, following the backlash from the controversial “Innocence of 0XVOLPV‍ Ú•â€ŹŕŽŠOP Ramadan, who has been referred to as the “Muslim Martin Lutherâ€? by some and “reactionary bigotâ€? by others, is at the top of many

‍ڔ‏PRVW LQŕŽ‹XHQWLDO LQWHOOHFWXalsâ€? lists and is grandson of Hassan al Banna, the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood.

In 2004, Ramadan made international headlines when his U.S. visa was revoked. He was prohibited from entering the country again until 2010 when, after years of accusations and legal proceedings, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had the ban lifted.

The head of the Islamic Society preceded Ramadan’s introduction with a Muslim prayer, beginning the evening “in the name of God.�

Addressing a packed New 7KHDWUH னOOHG ZLWK VRFLety members, students from many universities, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, the always-polished Ramadan

emphasized the importance of coming together to critically discuss the current challenges and changes faced by Arab and Western Muslims. :KDW GLŕŽ‰HUHQWLDWHG WKLV presentation from the LSE’s public lecture series was its inherently religious perspective, its reference to political and cultural issues from an explicitly Islamic framework.

However, Ramadan argued that it is important for Muslims to challenge their own principles and objectives “from within� in response to dominant, secular discourses.

Ramadan proceeded to discuss the tradition of Muslim interaction with politics -“part of our legacy�- arguing that Muslim practition-

Stevenson on the relevance of International History

ers and leaders must look beyond the scripture and jurisprudence to include ideas of philosophers and other thinkers who may reside outside of the fold.

Near the end of his introduction, Ramadan emphasized his main objective, which was to highlight the distinction between political principles and models. Muslims cannot and should not replicate political ways of life from past Muslim societies, but should instead extract and apply the principles behind these models. These principles, he said, can be used to improve current education systems, government corruption, and job market inequality in the Arab world.

Following the conversa-

tion portion, during which Ramadan argued that Muslims should be critical of simply “qualifyingâ€? something as Islamic, i.e. “Islamic Finance,â€? was the Question and Answer session. Ramadan JUDFLRXVO\ னHOGHG DXGLHQFH questions, and responded to a question regarding how secular notions of freedom of expression should be reconciled with the recent Innocence of Muslims riots by repeating his assertion that Muslims ought to “ignoreâ€? and “take [a] critical distanceâ€? toward such insults.

Shaheen Sattar, studying International Politics at King’s College, tweeted that the talk was “fantastic� and thanked LSE for making this event publicly available.

Third world economy by 2014

tatively, about a nation that’s slipping a few ranks down Controversial journalists Lar- the Premier League equivary Elliott and Dan Atkinson lent of world economies, discussed their novel “Going we’re talking qualitatively; South: Why Britain will have the transformation from dea Third World Economy by veloped to undeveloped.�

Following up with exam2014â€? in the Old Theatre. base. “Contrasting traditions drawing on examples of imples, Atkinson drew upon Dubbed as the “Lennon Danai Pagoni had existed since the found- portant statesmen, including and McCartney of the writ- Britain’s long-standing BalProfessor David Stevenson’s ing of the disciplineâ€?, said John F. Kennedy and how he ing world,â€? Dr Jonathan Hop- DQFH RI 3D\PHQWV GHனFLW DV inaugural lecture as Ste- Professor Stevenson. These approached the Cuban Mis- kin, the chair of the event, evidence of Britain being venson Chair this Thursday are highlighted by Webster sile Crisis of 1962, 50 years introduced the two speakers. chronically unable to pay evening in the Sheikh Zayed and Temperley’s focus on ago this month. The parallels Elliott began by analogising their way in the world. ReTheatre, New Academic political relations between between the crisis of 1962 Britain’s economy to Oldham ferring to the “capriciousBuilding, examined the ‘Rel- states and foreign ministries, and that of 1914 are undeni- Athletic’s decadent football nessâ€? of economic policy, Atevance of International His- which contrasted with Toyn- able and indeed this analogy team: “once successful, now kinson went on to state that bee’s examination of civiliza- was crucial in Kennedy’s own failing miserably; a condition Britain’s engines of growth, tory’.

Professor Stevenson, Ste- tions and cultural relations decision-making process. that deluded fans are oblivi- which should be consumer In closing the lecture, ous to.â€? venson Professor of Interna- between European and nonand mortgage lending, have tional History and author of European nations. A “sym- Professor Stevenson remindElliott gave a summary of EDFNனUHG DQG OHIW XV LQ DQ With Our Backs to the Wall: biotic relationshipâ€? between ed us of how the process of the grave decline of Britain’s economy that requires unVictory and Defeat in 1918, the two is needed, maintains “learning from the pastâ€? was economy over the last cen- precedented levels of montook the audience on a grip- Professor Stevenson. It is the “both enormous and under- tury in.

HWDU\ DQG னVFDO VWLPXOXV ping journey through the successful combination of examinedâ€?. As the world Amid references of Britain “Britain needs a developfounding of International WKHVH GLŕŽ‰HUHQW DSSURDFKHV moves into new and ominous as a “giant hedge fund whose ment bill.â€?

History as a discipline in WKDW FRQWULEXWHV WR IXOனOOLQJ FULVHV VXFK DV WKH FRQŕŽ‹LFW bets have all gone wrong,â€?

Elliott prescribed BritBritain after World War One. Sir Daniel Stevenson’s goal between China and Japan Elliott was highly critical of ain’s economy a remarkably He re-assessed the origins of of longevity for the discipline, over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Is- the British banking system, simple neo-liberalist remthe war in light of the sub- of it serving generations, if lands, Professor Stevenson which he described as a edy. “We need to wise up to ject’s on-going debate, and not centuries of individu- asks, “Can the study of in- “potential liability�. He also our country’s predicament, questioned whether the as- als looking -and needing- to ternational history still be of highlighted the social condi- remove the starry-eyed outguidance?� pirations of its founders may learn from the past. tion of the nation: “a pension look propagated by the poThe founders of the disciProfessor Stevenson con- time-bomb, and a country full litical parties in power, play still be applicable today.

Professor Stevenson be- pline saw history as a school veyed a passion for his sub- of debt-addicts, illiterate and to our comparative advangan his talk by deconstruct- of statesmanship. It is why ject, combining fact, analysis unemployable citizens who tages, rely on trade and free ing two departmental myths it comes as no surprise that and humour to deliver an in- believe they are guaranteed market forces. “There is no about the Stevenson Chair the discipline emerged in the formative, entertaining and a welfare state.� substitute for putting in hard of International History. aftermath of the First World inspiring speech. For histoElliott spoke of “quack- work,� Atkinson added.

The chair was founded not War, as a way of analysing rians and students of inter- doctor remediesâ€? that failed Mathematics student Abin 1932, but in 1925 by the the origins of the events and national history like myself, WR SUHYHQW WKH னQDQFLDO FULVLV biraam Indran said, “despite Lord Provost of Glasgow preventing repetition of past it was a valuable lesson in and called for the need of eq- it being a somewhat techniUniversity, Sir Daniel Ma- mistakes. At this point Pro- the history of our subject. uity withdrawal to stimulate cal lecture, I found it to be caulay Stevenson, and the fessor Stevenson highlighted One member of the audience Britain’s austerity measures. very topical and the speakனUVW WR KROG WKH WLWOH ZDV QRW the changing nature of the called it “fantasticâ€? and all “There is no other country ers met my high expectahistorian Charles Webster, debate surrounding the ori- those with questions preced- in the world in such a dire tions. I particularly enjoyed but Arnold Joseph Toynbee. gins of the First World War, ed their queries with words situation. We need a reality the question and answer sesHowever, Webster was one and how trends can be distin- RI SUDLVH 5\DQ &ODUN னUVW check.â€? sion.â€? of the men who set the dis- guished throughout the 20th year History student, echIf the state of the British Taking on the more percipline on its trajectory, to- century, particularly in terms oed my own feelings. “It was tinent frontier of the discus- economy is as bleak as Elgether with Toynbee and of arms expenditure preced- greatâ€?, he said of the speech. sion, Atkinson went on to liott and Atkinson propose, ‍ڔ‏,W FHUWDLQO\ UHFRQனUPHG ZK\ provide a well-reasoned ar- perhaps it is best, as one auHarold Temperley. All three ing major crises.

That the study of history I took History.â€? men saw International Hisgument supporting the idea dience member pointed out, tory as being of utmost im- can help us learn from the of Britain as an ‘undevelop- that “we all just leave.â€? portance and deserving a past is not just a clichĂŠ, Proing nation.’ VWURQJ VFLHQWLனF DQG IDFWXDO fessor Stevenson reminded, “We aren’t talking quantiHayley Fenton

News

The Beaver | 30.10.2012

5

General Course celebrates 103 years of diversity KHUH FRPHV IURP VXFK GLŕŽ‰HUent backgrounds,â€? she said.

The 320 students from across ‍ڔ‏0\ URRPPDWH LV IURP 7DLthe world currently enrolled wan and one of my neighbors as full time as London School is from Lebanon. At [home] I of Economics students ZRXOG QHYHU JHW WKDW H[SHULthrough the General Course ence.�

For the 2012-2013 acaprogram may not realise how demic year, the LSE selected increasingly rare it is for college students to enjoy a full VWXGHQWV IURP DSSOLyear at a study abroad insti- cants for the General Course, up slightly from 312 in 2011tution.

LSE’s program, now in 2012 and 318 a year earlier. its 103rd year of existence, This increase, albeit small, is னOOV ‍ڔ‏D YHU\ VPDOO QLFKH LQ important in light of the fact the study abroad market,â€? that the percentage of stuaccording to William BreareHall, the school’s study abroad manager.

At the time of the General Course’s inception in 1909, the program aimed to bring FLYLO VHUYDQWV IURP DURXQG the empire to London for VKRUW FRXUVHV UHOHYDQW WR UXQning Britain’s empire internationally. This mission has WUDQVIRUPHG FRQWLQXDOO\ RYHU the last hundred years, and is now the only opportunity for student from any country to study at LSE during the academic year.

Hannah Ferris, a General Course student from Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, said she was looking for an opportunity to study abroad for an extendHG SHULRG RI WLPH DIWHU KDYLQJ WUDYHOHG WR 7XUNH\ DQG Greece.

For Ferris — a double major in Political Science and Economics— the General Course program was an ideal match because she was looking for an academically rigorous study abroad program in an English-speaking city.

Although students from RYHU LQVWLWXWLRQV LQ countries applied for admission to the program this year, certain trends mean that some populations are more well-represented than others, according to Brearedents in the United States Hall. ‍(ڔ‏LJKW\ SHUFHQW RI RXU who study abroad for a full General Course students \HDU LV QRZ RQO\ SHUFHQW ‍ڔ‏$OWKRXJK WKH RYHUDOO PDUcome from North America, and of those 66 percent are ket for study abroad in the from the northeastern region U.S. is growing, the percentof the United States,� he said. age of them that go for a year ‍ڔ‏$IWHU WKDW WKHUH‍ڑ‏V D KXJH is falling,� Breare-Hall said. drop down in terms of num- ‍ڔ‏%XW ZLWKLQ WKDW GLPLQLVKbers with places like France, ing percentage, we hold our Germany and Brazil sending own.�

Breare-Hall attributed the a handful of students.�

Ferris said that while it is KLJK RŕŽ‰HU WR DSSOLFDWLRQ UDWH hard to ignore the dominance for the General Course to the of American students in the ‍ڔ‏VHOI VHOHFWLQJ‍ ڕ‏QDWXUH RI WKH General Course program, students who apply. ‍ڔ‏6WXGHQWV LQWHUHVWHG LQ WKH GLYHUVLW\ RI WKH /6( DV D the General Course tend to ZKROH KDV SURYLGHG KHU ZLWK EH PRWLYDWHG PDWXUH VHOI a distinct and culturally enJDJLQJ OHDUQLQJ HQYLURQPHQW reliant and academically foWKDW KDV EHHQ ‍ڔ‏H\H RSHQLQJ ‍ ڕ‏cused, and its quite a distinct ‍ڔ‏7KHUH DUH VR PDQ\ PRUH group of students that we opportunities to meet peo- னQG னWWLQJ YHU\ ZHOO WR WKH ple here and I want to talk to school because they share so HYHU\ERG\ EHFDXVH HYHU\RQH many of the qualities our deDiana Ming and Amelia Acosta

JUHH VHHNLQJ VWXGHQWV KDYH ‍ ڕ‏ KH VDLG ‍ڔ‏%HFDXVH VWXGHQWV GR HYDOXDWH WKHPVHOYHV DSSOLFDQWV KDYH DURXQG D success rate.�

According to Breare-Hall, WKHUH DUH DOVR VLJQLனFDQW trends in the areas of interest for General Course students RQFH WKH\ DUULYH DW /6( +H claimed that ‍ڔ‏D ORW RI RXU DSSOLFDQWV DUH looking for economics, management, accounting, maths DQG JRYHUQPHQW PRGXOHV WR a lesser extent than before,â€?

GLGQ‍ڑ‏W KDYH P\ WLPHWDEOH XQtil just a couple of days ago,�

VKH VDLG ‍ڔ‏$QG WKH FODVVHV DUH FRPSOHWHO\ GLŕŽ‰HUHQW KHUH For example, my economics class is a lot more quantitaWLYH WKDQ , DP IDPLOLDU ZLWK ‍ڕ‏ Josh Andermarch, a Babson student who studied under the General Course last year, has more of a mixed response, claiming that LSE LV ‍ڔ‏YHU\ GLIILFXOW DFDGHPLFDOly and the workload is larger.â€? ‍ڔ‏+RZHYHU DOPRVW DOO RI

taking courses that study across the spectrum instead.

One of the few limitations on enrollment for General Course students comes out of concern for their academic success, Breare-Hall said. ‍ڔ‏:H DUH D WKUHH \HDU LQstitution, so our third year is not the same as an AmeriFDQ WKLUG \HDU ‍ ڕ‏KH VDLG ‍ڔ‏2XU WKLUG \HDU FRXUVHV DUH YHU\ DGYDQFHG DQG FDQ RIWHQ EH too demanding.�

According to Ferris, getting accustomed to academic life at the LSE was initially difficult. While Ferris said VKH EHOLHYHV VKH GLG QRW UHFHLYH PXFK IRUPDO JXLGDQFH through her orientation proFHVV VKH KDV KDG D SRVLWLYH classroom experience so far. ‍ڔ‏7KH KDUGHVW SDUW ZDV னJXULQJ RXW P\ VFKHGXOH ,

the work at LSE is booklearning, whereas at my preYLRXV VFKRRO ZH DFWXDOO\ SXW it into practice,â€? Andermarch VDLG ‍ڔ‏, ORYH /6( IRU FKDOlenging me academically, but LW FRXOG QHYHU UHSODFH WKH H[periences and life lessons I OHDUQHG DW P\ SUHYLRXV XQLYHUVLW\ ‍ڕ‏ Outside of the classroom, social dynamics and the ‍ڔ‏/RQGRQ H[SHULHQFH‍ ڕ‏IRUP DQ essential part of the General &RXUVH ZLWK /6( RŕŽ‰HULQJ D ‍ڔ‏VXEVLGLVHG VRFLDO FDOHQGDU‍ ڕ‏ Breare-Hall said. Throughout WKH \HDU VWXGHQWV ZLOO KDYH access to trips in the city and the wider UK and nights out in London. For the longer and PRUH H[SHQVLYH WULSV /6( will sponsor up to 50 percent of the cost. ‍ڔ‏:KLOH WKH LQWHQWLRQ LV

to integrate them fully and not treat them as a separate group, we do recognize that they want to get the most out of their time in London,â€? %UHDUH +DOO VDLG ‍ڔ‏:H ZDQW WR JLYH WKHP WKH RSSRUWXQLW\ WR H[SORUH DQG EHQHனW IURP DOO WKH FRXQWU\ KDV WR RŕŽ‰HU without breaking the bank.â€?

Breare-Hall also noted an increased interest in internships among General Course students. ‍ڔ‏7KH HFRQRPLF VLWXDtion has led to an increasing awareness of the importance of internships, and the General course is a potential LVVXH EHFDXVH LW RYHUODSV with the recruitment cycle,� %UHDUH +DOO VDLG ‍ڔ‏%XW /6(‍ڑ‏V reputation and location places students in a good position to get these internships.�

Ferris said that studying in London through the General Course program has ZLGHQHG KHU SHUVSHFWLYH RQ future career opportunities and she hopes to get an internship in London this summer.

Similarly, AnderPDUFK SUDLVHG WKH YDVW UHVRXUFHV RŕŽ‰HUHG E\ /6( &DUHHUV ‍ڔ‏7KH\ JLYH YHU\ JRRG DGYLFH DQG VHVVLRQV RQ HPployability, and there are also tons of openings listed on CareerHub.â€?

Though Ferris has only been at LSE for about one month, she said that she has already felt she has gained much through General Course. ‍ڔ‏7KH FODVVHV DUH KDUGHU EXW , KDYH PXFK PRUH LQFHQWLYH WR GR ZRUN KHUH ,‍ڑ‏P learning a lot about myself here, and that’s something I can’t complain about.�

Despite claiming that his SUHYLRXV XQLYHUVLW\ LV ‍ڔ‏E\ QR comparison, far betterâ€? than the LSE in terms of facilities, atmosphere and support, Andermarch has since transferred into LSE’s regular degree programme, and will EH UHFHLYLQJ KLV /6( GHJUHH next year. ‍ڔ‏$W WKH HQG RI WKH GD\ /6( is just such a prestigious inVWLWXWLRQ ‍ ڕ‏KH VDLG ‍ڔ‏WKRXJK , KDYH WR VSHQG P\ 6DWXUGD\V in the library just to get by, it has been a worthwhile expeULHQFH RYHUDOO ‍ڕ‏ %UHDUH +DOO VDLG ‍ڔ‏2QFH *HQHUDO &RXUVH VWXGHQWV னQish their year, we will consider them an LSE alumni for the rest of their life. If you look at some of the school’s leaders around the world, WKH\ KDYH RIWHQ EHHQ *HQHUDO Course alumni.â€?

6

News

30.10.2012

| The Beaver

Maltese PM advocates Mediterranean cooperation with a “young population that is yearning to goâ€? and A packed Shaw library saw which has demonstrated this Maltese Prime Minister Law- in their active participation UHQFH *RQ]L JLYH KLV னUVW on the streets and on social public talk since bringing networks during the Arab together ten Mediterranean Spring, North Africa might states for the historical 5+5 be on the rebound. However, he added that this was unSummit.

In his lecture entitled “The Mediterranean – An Opportunity?�, the PM advocated cooperation amongst Mediterranean countries to achieve a common goal: a democratic, stable and prosperous North Africa. He argued that this will be pivotal for the region’s future political and economic well-being.

Gonzi has high hopes for WKH UHJLRQ DQG MXVWLனHG WKLV hope by describing the Summit to the audience, which, in his opinion: “embodied the spirit of regional transformation with three democratically elected Presidents who replaced long-standing dictalikely to happen without edutors.â€?

In his speech, the Maltese cation.

In fact, in a twitter post af30 LGHQWLனHG IRXU PDLQ RSportunities for the region: ter the lecture, the PM stated a young population, private that: “The opportunities in sector and SME (small and the Med lie in educating the medium enterprises) devel- millions of children, creatopment, renewable energy ing the right conditions to and the Mediterranean itself. create jobs for the youthsâ€?.

In fact, he continued that Similarly, at the 5+5 Summit,

Tunisia’s president Moncef Marzouki called European countries to invest in both vocational and academic education for North Africa’s young generation.

Malta itself is a success story in this ambit as it recently opened a branch of its

EPP SUMMIT

Matteo Lenzi

highly successful vocational college in Tunisia. Education is key for these countries to diversify away from natural resources into manufacturing and services, resources which Gonzi called a “curse� in some cases. He invites these countries to make the most out of the sun, for both

renewable energy production and tourism. In fact, these North African states have beautiful coastlines which could attract many more tourists than they already do and there is much empty desert space which could be used to generate solar energy thanks to the hot and dry climate.

Tourism forms a large part of Malta’s economy with 1.2 million tourists visiting Malta each summer, 3 times the resident Maltese population. Gonzi, whose sense of humour never disappeared throughout the lecture despite the seriousness of the topics treated, joked that: “If China did that the world would empty!�.

Nonetheless, the prime minister is well aware that the challenges facing the region are big. Macroeconomic instability, pervasive unemployment (especially amongst the young and female sections of the population), lack of private sector development, irregular migration and endemic corruption are only some of the barriers to the process of democratisation, growth and development in the region ZKLFK ZHUH LGHQWLனHG LQ WKH

lecture.

The Malta Declaration signed at the end of the Summit might be the beginning of a process of strong cooperation between Mediterranean countries, a process which *RQ]L WKLQNV LV EHQHனFLDO WR countries both in Europe and Africa. This on the one condition that Europeans “try not to teach or preachâ€?.

Christelle Gannage, a Lebanese Masters in Accounting and Finance student at the LSE, strongly agreed with the PM’s claim, stating that “an efficient collaboration between Europe and Arab states is conditioned on the respect of the dignity of the people in these regions (because indeed Arab people are very proud)�.

Another Lebanese student, Tara Mikhael studying for her Masters in Local Economic Development, said that the event “was of great interest and importance to me as it is a real life example of what is development and how can a country achieve a level of development although faced with political and economic challenges�.

Annual fund continues to support students bers and their alma mater.â€? “The yearbooks were Despite the end of the gov- RŕŽ‰HUHG WR RXU PHPernment’s Matched Fund- bers free of charge,â€? said ing Scheme, the LSE Annual Anthea Choo, co-editor of Fund continues to contrib- the yearbook, “the project ute hundreds of thousands would not have been posof pounds to initiatives sible without the support across the school. Gather- from Annual Fund, which ing donations from alumni, we greatly appreciates.â€?

The Annual Fund also VWDŕŽ‰ JRYHUQRUV SDUHQWV played an important role in and friends, the Fund successfully raised ÂŁ729,138 from 2,656 individuals for the 2011-12 academic year.

The fund was distributed to 93 initiatives across the school, including projects furthering academic excellence, support for students to HQVXUH னQDQFLDO KDUGVKLS LV never a barrier to education and funds for the many student-led clubs and societies.

Among the many projects funded by the Annual Fund was the LSESU Creative Business Series, which hosted a series of seminars and workshops featuring distinguished LSE’s participation in global speakers for students inter- events. In 2011, the Africa ested in careers in the arts. University Forum and the The Annual Fund also Africa Talks Seminar Series funded a yearbook project received ÂŁ40,000 from the for The Singapore Society, Annual Fund to help these which “serves as a memento initiatives foster relationof SingSoc member’s time at ships with African peers and the School that helps to forge universities and thereby falasting bonds between mem- cilitate positive change in

Abigail Malortie

the region, as well as providing a platform for African voices to speak on contemporary issues, thus shaping the global debate.

In pursuit of academic excellence, the Annual Fund awarded ÂŁ10,240 to the newly-launched Programme for the Study of Religion and Non-Religion, in support of its work in facilitating

study of and public debate in issues of religion, humanism and post-humanism.

On widening access to university, ÂŁ150,000 was contributed to the New Futures Fund, which provides support to existing LSE students IDFLQJ னQDQFLDO KDUGVKLS WR HQVXUH WKDW WKH\ FDQ DŕŽ‰RUG

to

continue their studies.

A further £45,000 was given to provide housing for academics and researchers whose freedom of thought and safety is not guaranteed in their home country, so that they can freely DQG FRQனGHQWO\ SXEOLVK their research at the LSE. The amount raised in 2011-12 was lower than the

amount raised in the preceding three years, where ÂŁ902,196 was raised in 2010-11 and ÂŁ1,043,348 was raised in 2009-10.

A spokesperson from the 2ŕŽŒFH I RU ' HYHORSPHQW D QG Alumni Relations ascribed this to the end of the government matched funding

scheme. The three-year, £200 million initiative, which ended on the 31st of July 2011, supports all Higher Education institutions and directlyfunded Further Education colleges in England. The project pledged to match every £3 private donations made to the LSE with £1 of government funding, and it has in general dramatically ERRVWHG WKH னQDQFLDO VXSport available to universities.

The spokesperson added WKDW DOWKRXJK D ORZHU னJure was raised in 2011-12, they were positive in their overall assessment, pointing out that the level of funding had increased substantially in 2011-12 compared with the £667,405 raised in 2007-08 before the matched funding scheme began.

The Annual Fund is currently inviting applications for funding from student-led projects and initiatives including LSE Students’ Union societies and activities. The late Michaelmas term round of applications for student led projects and initiatives closes at 9am on Wednesday 7 November 2012.

News

The Beaver | 30.10.2012

Harry Burdon

MARLENE BECA

As the LSE think tank ‘Ideas’ released a special report on “Governing the Global Drug Wars,� a conference was held that argued for a new drug policy.

The panel discussed the history of drug controls. The causes of the drugs that are banned, and those that are not, was examined. Historian David Courtwright likened the tobacco and alcohol industries to the modern investment banks, saying “they were too big to fail.�

This was illuminated upon by the fact that at in the early twentieth century, an eighth of people in France “worked in some way shape or form for the alcohol industry, or GHULYHG SURன W IURP LW ‍ ڕ‏7KH LQGXVWULHV ZHUH KLJKO\ LQŕŽ‹ X ential politically, and they furthered this power by bribing politicians and journalist.

In contrast, “most opium and coca came from poor and OHVV SROLWLFDOO\ LQŕŽ‹ XHQWLDO UH gions.â€?

Ethan Nadelmann, founder of Drug Policy Alliance and campaigner for the legalisa-

tion of drugs, criticised the American incarceration system. He stated that whilst America consists of less than 5% of the worlds population, the country has “almost 25% of the worlds incarcerated population.� He claimed the main reason for this was the war on drugs. Nadelmann also said that “it’s probably still true and I know it was until a couple of years ago� that the US “lock[s] up more people for a non-violent violation of a drug law,� such as sale and distribution, “than all of Western Europe... locks up for everything,� even though the US has 100 million people less.

The racial imbalances of drug-related imprisonments was also highlighted by Nadelmann. “When you look at who’s behind bars, it’s overwhelmingly and disproportionately young people of colour.� Furthermore, he said black people may only be roughly 13 or 14% of the US population, but represent half of the prison population. “You randomly stop a hundred black kids, brown kids and white kids on a street in

American, roughly the same percentage have marijuana in their pocket. Which ones are getting arrested three, ன YH VHYHQ WLPHV WKH UDWH RI everybody else? Black kids.â€? “My understanding is that in the UK, your racial disproportion is even worse than in the United States.â€? Furthermore, he disputed the legal ranking of drugs, arguing “it had to do a lot with who used, and who was perceived to use, these substances.â€?

He claimed in addition to the political powers of industries, the decisions were racially driven, The problem of aids from drug needles was also raised

by Nadelmann.

He spoke of the needle exchange programme brought about by the Thatcher government, which provides drug users with needless and syringes.

This “kept HIV rates among injecting drug user[s] under 5 or 10%, while in [America] and many others, it shot up to 30, 50%.�

Furthermore, the war on drugs has a high death toll.

Nadelmann said the drug war in Mexico has claimed 60000 lives without showing signs of success. He described the FXUUHQW VLWXDWLRQ DV ன IW\ RU a hundred times prohibition era Al Capone. He described drugs as “a global commodities market which cannot be suppressed... in the way that we’ve been trying.â€? “What it’s about is shifting the policy debate and the policies, from the most draconian policies... the Saudi $UDELDQ 6LQJDSRUHDQ FXW RŕŽ‰ their heads, to at the other extreme the free market, you know Milton Freedman’s wet dream.â€?

Nadelmann proposed reducing the “harsh

MARLENE BECA

LSE calls for a new approach to drug control

penalties� and “treat[ing] addiction as a health issue.�

He cited the Portuguese decriminalisation of drug possession, and the resultant fall in aids and hepitus C, without drug use rising.

He also felt positively about dispensing pharmaceutical heroin to addicts, to prevent them getting it from worse sources, which is currently being done in many countries including UK. Nigel Inkster, who was previously Assistant Chief and Director for Operations at MI6, spoke on the conŕŽ‹ LFWV GXH WR WKH GUXJV WUDGH He quipped that in comparison to James Bond, he had never had a Vodka Martini or Aston Martin, or “endless supply of sexually compliant female assistants.â€? Describing the harm to the world, Inkster spoke on Ghana, “which seemed well on their way to meeting their Mil-

lennium Development Goals [but] may now not do so, due WR WKH GDPDJLQJ HŕŽ‰ HFWV RI the drugs trade.â€?

Nadelmann argued that the competitive advantage of those involved in the illicit drugs trade is in violence. If the prohibition on drugs was ended, he expects the power of the criminal organisations involved would be greatly diminished. He would like to see a legalised and managed approach to drugs.

The report produced by LSE looks at the history of how the drug control system developed. It also explores changing the current approach. It argues the current system can worsen the situation and increase violence.

Columbian President Juan Manuel Santos has described the report as “a valuable contribution to this healthy and necessary debate.�

Pakistani singer holds concert at the Quad Shu Hang

Last Tuesday, the LSESU Pakistan Society, in collaboration with Union of Pakistani Youth (UPY) organised a live performance by up and coming Pakistani singer Qurat-ul-ain Balouch (QB) at the Quad.

The 24-year old singer, popularly known as QB, won the “Pakistan’s Youngest Achievement Award UK and Europe 2011� in Britain last year. She also sang the title song of one of the most popular drama series in Pakistan, “Humsafar�.

The concert, which saw

a turnout of around 500, featured several opening acts, including Mehak Taherani , Heer, Eice M.Khatana, Ahmed Ali Butt and Tom. Cultural dances were also performed by a fresh group of student artists, adding variety to this show.

Throughout the night, the electrifying QB captivated the audience with songs like “Ankhian Nu Ren De�, “Humsafar�, “Fix you� (by Coldplay), “Dhamak�, “Tere Ishq Me�.

The musical show received wide media coverage from its official media partners including TvApex,

GeoTV, BBC Asian Network and TheAsians.

Kazim Raza, president of the Pakistan Society said that he was “pleased to have had the opportunity to help showcase Pakistan’s young talent and hope to continue hosting events such as this one in order to help project Pakistan in a more positive light.�

Similarly, Matt De Jesus, Activities and Development Officer felt that the night went “very very well� and was a “great success.�

7

8

Comment

30.10.2012

| The Beaver

Comment

Extradition and political expediency Throwing a disquieting light on the Home Secretary’s decision to block extradition UKHOMEOFFICE

Jimmy Watkins

The Home Secretary, Theresa May, has been described as brave for standing up to the US for the rights of Briton Gary McKinnon. His extradition to the US for trial was requested following accusations that he hacked into US government computers. She blocked the case by invoking Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (“No-one shall be subject to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishmentâ€?) on the grounds that McKinnon, who has Asperger’s syndrome, would be likely to commit suicide were KH WR EH H[WUDGLWHG $W ன UVW glance, the blocking of the extradition suggests that Britain VWLOO GRHV KDYH WKH ன QDO VD\ RQ whether to surrender a British citizen to US jurisdiction, contrary to previous criticisms of the extradition treaty.

Extraditions between the UK and the US have been described as a “one way systemâ€? by some because the Extradition Act 2003 allows the US to extradite those who have FRPPLWWHG RŕŽ‰ HQFHV DJDLQVW 86 ODZ HYHQ LI WKH RŕŽ‰ HQFH ZDV committed in the UK . The treaty is non-reciprocal. However, a government review has been conducted on the Act, which concluded that the treaty is “fairâ€? to both sides.

McKinnon’s case received

an extremely high amount of media coverage, including a campaign rally by the Daily Mail. In recent months the Conservative Party’s popularity has been slipping, with recent poll results indicating that they are now seven percentage points behind labour.

One cannot help but wonder if Theresa May would have VWRRG XS WR WKH 86 VR ன HUFHO\ had the McKinnon case not been so widely reported. The decision has certainly done wonders for her popularity.

May had her odds to become the next Leader of the Labour Party slashed from 16/1 to 12/1 with bookmakers Paddy Power, and from 23/1 to 14/1 with Betfair, following her involvement in the extradition case.

This position comes immediately after the extradition of Abu Hamza to the US, and the timing may not have been coincidental. In addition, a London man, Talha Ahsan, who had also been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, was recently extradited to the US. This has led to accusations of double standards and racism in the UK’s policies concerning extradition.

It is perhaps ironic that Mrs May is invoking the Human Rights Act to prevent Gary McKinnon’s extradition when she poured scorn on the HŕŽ‰ HFW RI WKH $FW DW WKH &RQ servative Party conference last year. Could Mrs May’s

decision to block McKinnon’s extradition be a calculated attempt to gain public sympathy at a time when support for the coalition government is falling? The amount of public exposure given to the case meant that allowing Gary McKinnon to be extradited could have been a disaster for the coalition in terms of public opinion.

Former Home Secretary Alan Johnson has criticised the decision by Mrs May. He has referred to the basis of the High Court’s decision, in July 2009, when Lord Justice Burton said that Gary McKinnon’s case “didn’t even approach Article 3 severity.� So why has Mrs May now cited “extraordinary� circumstances to support her decision to overturn the court’s ruling?

Johnson accused May of making a decision that was in the interests of her own party, but not in the interests of the country. He also claims that she told US authorities in July that there were no legal or medical grounds on which she could block the extradition of McKinnon, and that there ZRXOG EH UDPLன FDWLRQV IRU QD tional security if she blocked McKinnon’s extradition because it could set a precedent that would allow suspected terrorists to rely on the same argument.

While we will probably never know the answers to these questions, it can be fair-

O\ FRQன GHQWO\ SUHGLFWHG WKDW this step will be detrimental to UK-US relations. The US State Department has stated that they are “disappointedâ€? in Mrs May’s decision, but a report in The Times on October 19th suggested that the US Attorney’s office would be “furious.â€?

Under the treaty terms, it is clear that the US was perfectly within its rights to demand McKinnon’s extradition for a crime that has been described as “the biggest military computer hack of all time.�

It should be noted that McKinnon has admitted to the most serious offences alleged against him.

The growth of technology and the worldwide reach of the Internet now means that a person does not necessarily have to be physically present in the country against which a crime is committed. The Internet transcends borders so Internet criminals should not expect to be protected from justice for their actions by reason of their not being present in the country where WKH HŕŽ‰ HFW RI WKH FULPH RFFXUV That the Extradition Act 2003 is unbalanced in favour of the US to the disadvantage of certain British citizens, may be true. However, this is besides WKH SRLQW VLQFH ன UVWO\ %ULWDLQ agreed to it and, secondly, the Home Secretary appears to be exercising double standards. If Britain is not going to

uphold the terms of a treaty that it has agreed to, then the agreement should be formally rejected.

Talha Ahsan did not get anywhere near the amount of publicity that McKinnon did.

However, if it had, and McKinnon’s had not, would Mrs May have blocked his extradition instead? To be sure, British popular opinion, especially in papers that supported McKinnon, such as the Daily Mail, would be highly unlikely to have supported a man accused of setting up a pro-Jihadist website. But therein lies the hypocrisy: the law should be applied objectively and equally to all, while Mrs May seems WR KDYH EHHQ LQŕŽ‹ XHQFHG E\ WKH subjectivity of the press.

McKinnon’s case has been going on for seven years. Extradition has been recomPHQGHG RQ ன YH RFFDVLRQV LQ GLŕŽ‰ HUHQW FRXUWV LQFOXGLQJ the High Court , Court of Appeal and the European Court of Human Rights, and has been permitted by three previous Home Secretaries (Alan Johnson, John Reid and Jacqui Smith). That throws a disquieting light on the Home Secretary’s decision. This decision is to the discredit of the Government, suggesting that international treaties and the decisions of properly authorised senior courts can be disregarded when political expediency demands it.

Comment

The Beaver | 30.10.2012

10

A progressive view of taxation

7KH 3UHVLGHQW RI /6(68 )RUXP MXVWLŕ­˝HV VWULQJHVW WD[HV RQ WKH ULFK Jon Allsop

Without wishing to reference Bill Clinton’s serially over-quoted campaign mantra, it really does seem to be all about “the economy, stupidâ€? among British politicswatchers at the moment. Inaugural members of LSESU Forum’s “Great Britainâ€? working group voted almost unanimously to debate the topic this term, singling it out as the issue most in need of discussion in the present climate. The global economic crisis has changed our whole perception of how we do economics, dispelling aspirational notions of endlessly multiplying prosperity by revealing the shockingly unstable foundations on which growth was being built. The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition would have us believe that we must act now WR UHPRYH RXU EXGJHW GHனFLW and pay down our debts, using the cover of the crash to exercise a radical ideological agenda designed to pare back the state. In week seven of this term, members of LSESU Forum will discuss what spending we should prioritise in an age of austerity and how we can rebuild the state in a sustainable way looking forward. This week, however, the subject of our conversation will be on the other side RI னVFDO SROLF\ DV ZH ORRN DW tax.

As much as they seek to HPSKDVLVH WKHLU GLŕŽ‰HUHQFHV both parties in the coalition are rooted in ideological traditions opposed to excessive taxation. Whereas the Conservatives have historically favoured low marginal rates of income tax at the top end of the spectrum, the Lib Dems have prioritised alleviating the tax burden on some of the poorest in society, with their unease at their partners’ attempts to ease the payload of the richest rooted more in their recent social democratic heritage (even if their fervent yet thus far fruitless arguments for various forms of land tax have rich origins in their liberal history). Both agree absolutely that the EUXQW RI GHனFLW UHGXFWLRQ should be borne by a bloated DQG SURŕŽ‹LJDWH VWDWH VHFWRU LQ urgent need of recalibration than by the hard-won wages of innocent citizens.

The Lib Dems’ attempts to remove the very lowest earners from income tax are progressive indeed, although it seems clear to me that the idea of stringent taxes on the ULFK FDQ EH MXVWLனHG E\ D PRUal argument grounded in the contingent nature of opportunity at birth. While many on the right would have you believe that a high top rate of tax punishes those who have worked hardest to build their personal wealth, it is undeniably apparent that people’s earning potential in adult-

hood is grossly correlated with educational opportunity in childhood, something itself linked to circumstances of birth outside the control of the individual.

The reason that many of the richest in our society come from rich stock is not down to a culture of fecklessness amongst the poor but UDWKHU UHŕŽ‹HFWV WKH IDFW WKDW these individuals are better supported in their pre-school years by parents able to send them to nursery and read to them at home, more likely to go to schools (often private) in better areas with better resources and discipline and consequently more able to get the best degrees from the best universities. This isn’t to indulge in some fantasy that the rich themselves are workshy aristocrats; in fact it is obvious that very few with real wealth have accrued their fortune through no tangible HŕŽ‰RUW RI WKHLU RZQ :KDW , DP instead claiming is that the EHVW RŕŽ‰ DUH DEOH WR KDYH WKDW HŕŽ‰RUW UHZDUGHG LQ D ZD\ LQDFcessible to all but an exceptional few of the poorest, a situation surely at odds with any coherent conception of fairness. The rich should be taxed highly not because of jealousy or spite, but because they owe to others in society an opportunity to advance themselves, independent of arbitrary conditions of birth.

Even those who agree with this need for progressive taxa-

tion may disagree vehemently RQ KRZ WR PRVW HŕŽ‰HFWLYHO\ UHdistribute wealth from rich to poor. Probably due to its dominant position in our current னVFDO VHWWOHPHQW D VOLGLQJ WD[ on income is often viewed as the best option in this area.

If you stretch the argument I’ve outlined above to its logical conclusion and abide by my social contract-esque approach to taxation then this view has much merit; after all a high top rate of income tax would seem to force those who have done well with society’s help to repay their debt based on a clear assessment of the quality of job they have EHHQ DEOH WR னQG LI LQGHHG ZH FDQ GHனQH TXDOLW\ RI MRE by mere economic indicators alone). However, the idea of some form of asset-based wealth tax has become increasingly attractive to me recently for two reasons; its symbolism and its practical enforceability.

2Q WKH னUVW FRXQW ZHDOWK tax appears to demand contributions based on what people have rather than what they do. This is an important distinction to make: whereas critics of income tax argue that it appears to penalise hard work, wealth tax can be levied against material possessions (in particular land) that seem a luxury at a time of mutual hardship. Although these assets will clearly normally be paid for from income, the politics of a tax on

them cannot be ignored.

Secondly, assets tend to be altogether harder to move RŕŽ‰VKRUH PDNLQJ LW KDUGHU WR avoid paying tax on them. In a globalised capitalist economy, it is a sad reality that individuals can and sometimes do exploit legal loopholes or even leave a country in order to pay less income tax, with action to clamp down on legal tax havens unlikely to progress without overwhelming international agreement.

While I do believe claims about the extent of this practice to be exaggerated and certainly wouldn’t claim its possibility should rule income tax obsolete, ways of enforcing collection should be carefully considered if viable.

My view on tax, then, is a progressive one, holding that the richest should be obligated to give back to a society which has (normally) rewarded them since birth. I also believe a wealth tax should be considered as a supplement for income tax, based on its philosophical symbolism and WKH GLŕŽŒFXOW\ RI DYRLGLQJ LW On Thursday at 6pm in OLD YHQXH WR EH FRQŕ­˝UPHG please see www.facebook.

FRP OVHVXIRUXP \RX‍ڑ‏OO JHW a chance to have your say. &RPH DORQJ JHW LQYROYHG DQG JHW WKLQNLQJ EHFDXVH WKHVH LPSRUWDQW TXHVWLRQV DUHQ‍ڑ‏W JRLQJ WR JR DZD\ DQ\ WLPH soon.

Letters to the Editor Dear Sir, Regarding Hayley Fenton’s musings on the implications of the rise of “cloud computing� (Up on Cloud Nine - the digital age, 23rd October 2012), much has to be said regarding the attitude of the Features editors in their review of pieces that they receive.

The paper has, particularly in recent years, had much WURXEOH ZLWK WKH LGHQWLனFDWLRQ RI IDFW DQG னFWLRQ ZLWK this article’s publication serving as another example.

Aside from, and perhaps more important than in this case, the potential legal implications involving the UK’s particularly stringent responsibilities placed on publishers with regard to defamation, it makes the paper look amateur: “looking amateur� is something that the paper has consistently fought against, and is indeed something that it can be proud of with respect to other student publications. This is something that I would hate to see come to nothing, given my past personal investment in the paper’s operation.

As much as “the Cloudâ€? in concept is little more than a marketing buzzword from the likes of Capgemini and Accenture to sell companies more things that WKH\ GR QRW QHHG DQG WKHUHIRUH ODFNV D WUXH GHனQLtion, Fenton’s citing of the examples of Hotmail and other web-based mail services as “cloudâ€? services is a little stretching. Unless one were to run all of the necessary software locally, any email service could be considered to be a “cloudâ€? application the data does not exist “on your computerâ€? and has not in a widespread manner since the inception of IMAP in 1986. Is this the sort of cloud computing

that is being discussed when Fenton talks of the erosion of privacy? Most likely not: the data is not as public as, say, that provided to Facebook, and thus the argument drawing parallels with Kweku AdoboOL IDOOV ŕŽ‹DW 2Q D IDFWXDO OHYHO VWDWLQJ WKDW &ORXG software is run on another company’s machines in the corporate space is also not necessarily true.

Further to this, Fenton describes medical records and banking records as being “in the Cloud.â€? At OHDVW LQ WKH 8. PHGLFDO UHFRUGV DUH GHனQLWHO\ QRW available through a public-facing Cloud application: the case study given when anyone discusses UK public sector IT failures is that of the attempting centralisation and digitisation of patient reFRUGV E\ WKH 1+6 DQG WKH னJXUH JLYHQ IRU ZDVWHG money ranges from ÂŁ9bn to ÂŁ12bn depending on who you ask. Resoundingly, then, this project was a failure and was never made live. As for banking, the records are held under tight security: they are GHனQLWHO\ QRW SXEOLF DQG WKHUHIRUH SUHVHQW QR UHDO threat to privacy. Whilst using such examples does play well to a sense of dread about the digitisation of personal information, their use is somewhat disingenuous.

Talk of “harmonisation� of the legal requirements for operation of internet services is also unnecessary: if you are on the Internet, you can be bound by the laws of practically any country that your home government is friendly with. Take the struggle of Gary McKinnon over extradition to the United States as a case in point on Internet law in practice across countries as an example of this. Saying that you have “no control� over your data in this context, then, is untrue: any data

handled would be under the terms of Data Protection Act (or other relevant international legislation) which has several mechanisms for the control of one’s data.

There is a feeling that runs through the article that its entire purpose to draw out a painful 1984 reference, and in this regard the article is a success: it is there, in all of its incomplete glory. No mention is made of doublethink or the more perverse aspects of the book’s state, just a slight Ludditism that is really not becoming of someone who probably used a ‘corruptible’ cloud service provider in submitting this article - merely overtones of “technology has enabled these encroachments into our privacy, therefore technology is bad.� To turn such a reference to 1984 into a post hoc, ergo propter hoc fallacy is, however, something to be lauded.

It is somewhat shocking to see that someone pursuing a degree at the LSE with a component part RI 3KLORVRSK\ /RJLF DQG 6FLHQWLனF 0HWKRG PDNLQJ such egregious misrepresentations of fact and logical errors. I would recommend to Ms. Fenton that she take the time to undertake PH220: Evidence DQG 6FLHQWLனF 0HWKRG EHIRUH JUDGXDWLQJ WKH /6(

Regards, Alexander Young.

Ex-Beaver Features and News Editor, Gmail user.

10

Comment

30.10.2012

| The Beaver

Drawing comparisons: Thatcher and Miliband Why Margaret Thatcher is the best precedent for Ed Miliband’s success Liam Hill

In the early months of Ed Miliband’s leadership, MPs and political commentators derisively drew a parallel between the newly elected Leader of the Labour party and Iain Duncan Smith. The latter fought a close leadership election after a disastrous election and beat the candidate many had expected to win. His leadership was besmirched and tainted by LQனJKWLQJ D GULIW LQWR WKH SDUty’s ideological comfort zone DQG WKH SDUW\‍ڑ‏V ODFN RI FRQனdence in its leader. The circumstances of Ed Miliband’s election to become leader of his party may seem similar to Iain Duncan Smith’s but, as many predicted it would, the circumstances of his leadership have not.

The Labour Party is united behind Ed Miliband. Miliband may have received criticism for his style and his supposed lack of charisma, but the Labour leadership is in the process of forming a coherent LGHRORJLFDO QDUUDWLYH WR னJKW with at the next election. A government with an uncertain mandate is in turmoil and is IDLOLQJ WR GHDO ZLWK D ŕŽ‹DW OLQLQJ economy with millions of people still out of work. No, Ed Miliband’s leadership is unlike that of Iain Duncan Smith, who was a weak opposition leader facing a competent govern-

ment presiding over a growing economy. Remarkably, the better parallel for Ed Miliband’s leadership is Margaret Thatcher’s.

The government Thatcher opposed presided over the Winter of Discontent, while the current recession doubledipped under David Cameron’s watch. In the wake of the Sun headline “Crisis? What Crisis?â€? Jim Callaghan was accused of being out of touch with the concerns of the majority of people: this is a charge levelled at David Cameron and his Ministers on an almost daily basis, especially in the wake of the Andrew Mitchell “PlebJDWH‍ ڕ‏DŕŽ‰DLU Thatcher, too, was criticised during her tenure as Leader of the opposition, from 1975 to 1979, for being uncharismatic and having awkward mannerisms. However, she undertook lessons in presentation and adopted the style with which we now associate her. Ed Miliband, too, has evidently made DWWHPSWV WR EH PRUH ŕŽ‹XHQW DQG engaging than earlier in his leadership and is regarded to have improved his communication skills.

On an ideological level, of course, there are fewer similarities between Thatcher and Miliband in comparison with Thatcher and Blair. Indeed, Thatcher once described New Labour and Tony Blair as her “greatest achievement.� Miliband characterises his major

LGHRORJLFDO GLŕŽ‰HUHQFH ZLWK New Labour as Blair and Brown’s lack of willingness to stand up to vested interests, DOEHLW WKH னQDQFLDO VHFWRU WKH Murdoch press or politicians’ interest in their own power.

What Thatcher did that Miliband will hope he can do in reverse is unite the right behind her and divide the left.

The split between Labour and the Social Democratic Party is what gave Thatcher her huge majority at the 1983 election, despite a small decline in the share of the vote she achieved.

With Cameron’s backbenchers attempting to haul him further to the right, leftRI FHQWUH /LE 'HP YRWHUV ŕŽ‹RFNing to Labour and the potential rise of UKIP in the polls, Labour will hope that it can repeat that feat in reverse, uniting the centre and the left behind Miliband’s vision of “One Nation.â€? Doing so would undoubtedly provide Labour with a huge electoral advantage and, depending on the circumstances and the time taken for the Tories to recover, could put Labour in power for a generation.

Like Thatcher, Miliband’s focus is on engaging with working-class voters who have abandoned Labour. Miliband’s objective is to win back voters who no longer feel that Labour represents them or who do not feel that Labour is very GLŕŽ‰HUHQW IURP WKH 7RULHV +H will have to reinvent the aspir-

ing “Essex man� who helped Thatcher win three elections if he wants to replicate Thatcher’s electoral success. He will have to create a consensus behind his vision of “One Nation,� just as Thatcher won over a large enough constituency to put faith in her brand of economic liberalism.

2QH GLŕŽ‰HUHQFH ZKLFK FRXOG prove to be a thorn in Ed Miliband’s side is his relationship with the tabloid media. Given his opposition to News International’s bid for BSkyB, the intensity with which he pursued the issue of phone hacking and his call for a breakup of the Murdoch empire, it seems unlikely that Labour under Ed Miliband will receive the backing of the Murdoch press, who have supported the eventual winner of every election since 1974.

Hopefully for Ed Miliband, the decline of print media will mean that even if the Murdoch press does relentlessly attack him it will do no damage to his credibility in the eyes of voters. Indeed, standing up to a powerful institution where others have failed to do so and challenging vested interests are highly redolent of the kind of language Ed Miliband has used about the themes he ZLVKHV WR GHனQH KLV OHDGHUship. In reality, if Ed Miliband is attacked and ridiculed by the Murdoch press, it will be an opportunity for his to prove to the nation that he is willing

to practise what he preaches.

Miliband’s conference speech when he claimed the Disraeli mantle of “One Nationâ€? for Labour was made possible by the ideological revolution Thatcher imposed on her party in the 1980s. Thatcher all but eliminated the “One Nationâ€? Heath-ite “wetsâ€? from her party. Ed Miliband’s opportunity to brand his party in a way that suggests the interests of the entire country are at its heart is a result of Thatcher turning the Tories into freemarket radicals who have litWOH FRQFHUQ DERXW WKH HŕŽ‰HFWV of the unrestrained market on families or the institutions valued by society. If Miliband can monopolise on this opportunity, he may be able to prove himself a politician as adept as Thatcher herself.

So what will Ed Miliband’s equivalent of Thatcherism be?

Will we, a generation from now, talk about Milibandism as the ideological tent into which all our mainstream politicians, OHIW DQG ULJKW PXVW னW" :LOO this ideology prevail over our political orthodoxies and for how long? We must remember that wide-scale privatisation and economic liberalisation were not implemented until Thatcher’s second term, so perhaps we should not expect answers about what “One Nationâ€? under Ed Miliband looks like yet.

Ignore the noise: Obama will win

:K\ WKHUH‍ڑ‏V QR FKDQFH RI 0LWW 5RPQH\ JDLQLQJ PRPHQWXP LQ WKH ୽QDO ZHHNV Ed Szymanski

Over the next few weeks, there ZLOO EH D GHVSHUDWH ŕŽ‹XUU\ RI spending and campaigning from both presidential canGLGDWHV LQ D னQDO DWWHPSW WR convince the electorate to cast their ballot in their favour. It will largely be in vain. Most voters have already been persuaded, and so almost all of the politicking will be done in a few swing states which, as the name suggests, hold the key to the White House. I hope the people of Virginia, Florida and Ohio (no Republican has ever won the presidency without winning Ohio) are ready for their airwaves and billboards WR EH ŕŽ‹RRGHG ZLWK QHJDWLYH advertising, much of which will be misleading at best, and quite possibly just untrue.

However, given the amount of money on hand (Obama and Romney both have over $100 million left to spend), each candidate’s propaganda will cancel the other’s out, and so I will save the suspense and call the election now.

Barack Obama will win a second term. There has been, and will continue to be, a lot of noise about how Obama’s OHDG LV VOLSSLQJ ‍ ڋ‏PDLQO\ னFtions espoused from the Romney campaign HQ (known in

America as Fox News) that Mitt is “gaining momentum,â€? an entirely arbitrary phrase that appeals to emotion and has no basis in empirical analysis. The theory goes that if a candidate does well in one month, he will continue to do well in the next. The polling evidence says the contrary – if the candidate has a positive or negative bump in one week, there will be a regression to the mean in the next. From this, Romney’s impressive, authoritative performance in the Denver debate, where Obama looked weak and clueless, gave Mitt a bump large enough to wipe out the losses from his arrogant and ignorant SHU FHQW JDŕŽ‰H E\ WKH ZD\ if you feel like you’re entitled to healthcare, then you’re in the 47 per cent), but in the last two debates Obama has been much better, and he has regained his narrow lead. There is no evidence of a magical, unstoppable train that is carrying Mitt to the White House, and so the “objectiveâ€? journalism that claims otherwise is both abhorrent and morally corrupt. Nate Silver, whose model correctly predicted 49 states in the 2008 Presidential election, gives Obama a 73 per cent chance of winning, up from 61 per cent at the start of October, and other statistical measures are in the same

ballpark – an Obama victory is certainly not assured, but it is probable.

In my opinion, the debates KDYH KDG OLWWOH QHW HŕŽ‰HFW President Obama is a known quantity – the American people have had four years of his leadership, and cannot learn PXFK PRUH IURP னYH KRXUV‍ ڑ‏ arguing with a manicured, pearl-toothed businessman.

They have more purpose for the challenger – and gave Mr Romney a chance to look pres-

don’t care as much about it as they do about jobs or abortion or gun control laws. Instead, then, the debates have been amusing theatre, and much more a display of character DQG FRQனGHQFH WKDQ UHDO VXEstance.

If President Obama does win, it will be good for both the America and the American people. I would posture that many people who will vote for Mr Romney do so out of a visceral hatred for Mr. Obama,

“Most voters have already been persuased and so DOPRVW DOO RI WKH SROLWFNLQJ ZLOO EH GRQH LQ D IHZ VZLQJ VWDWHV ZKLFK DV WKH QDPH VXJJHVWV KROG WKH NH\ WR WKH :KLWH +RXVH ‍ڕ‏ LGHQWLDO DQG FRQனGHQW ZKLFK he did (he most certainly has the hair of a President), but since he has been campaigning for over a year, most people know where he stands on the issues that will decide the election. One interesting point, which David Dayen pointed RXW LV WKH LVVXH RI WKH GHனFLW – which both candidates have paid a lot of lip-service to, but was not touched on once by an audience question. Perhaps the electorate is already fully informed about the issue, but I would argue that they simply

stemming from a stagnant economy -- which is a misallocation of blame -- or that they have been tricked into believing Republican lies. Firstly, the poor recovery (which has still been better than anything we have seen in Europe) has more to do with congressional gridlock than Obama policy – if anything, Republic partisanship has stopped a more robust recovery. Secondly, as Romney proposes, repealing WKH $ŕŽ‰RUGDEOH &DUH $FW DQG voucherising Medicare, would lead to the unnecessary deaths

of lower-income Americans, a demographic whose life expectancy has declined over recent years. Reducing taxes on the rich and imposing unnecessary austerity under the IROO\ RI னVFDO UHVSRQVLELOLW\ will harm America’s recovery and increase unemployment.

On social issues, a Romney administration would ostracise gay people and relax gun restrictions, when there are already monthly massacres in high schools across America.

His foreign policy may well be even worse – though it is probably hot air, the aggressive rhetoric about pre-emptive strikes on Iran is not a viable or mature solution.

So, when you hear the spurious opinions of pundits calling this election in Romney’s favour, remember that momentum only applies in the world of physics, and that by November 6th the Ohioans and Floridians who will decide the election will probably have forgotten the debates, and that Mitt Romney has binders full of women sitting on his desk. And if you are fortunate enough to have the right to vote in America, please don’t take us back to the 1980’s by voting for Mr. Romney – the music back then was terrible.

Comment

The Beaver | 30.10.2012

11

Acknowledging the F-word Barry Jongkees discusses how a federal Europe could re-invent itself Barry Jongkees

Over the coming term, the European working group of LSESU Forum will be debating the direction the European Union should be heading in the near future. This question is more relevant today than it has been at any other time of the near 70 years of European cooperation.

For the majority of the European project, there had been a clear purpose driving integration, an understanding of what the European Community (now Union) is, and what it ought to be doing. In the direct aftermath of the Second World War, European cooperation was driven by the desire for prosperity and peace in Europe. Over time, the maintenance of peace and stability became less salient, as the newer generations grew up without having experienced the horrors of war. Europe was to focus on fostering prosperity for its people, mainly driven by the internal market, which ZDV னQLVKHG LQ ZLWK WKH signing of the Maastricht Treaty establishing the European Union. The single market has contributed greatly to the economic growth in the European Union. It allows for free trade, product standardization and the freedom of movement and labour. My presence in the UK as a student without a visa is a testament to this achievement;

the ability to work and study anywhere you want without restriction.

Despite these achievements, the EU appears increasingly unsure of its identity, its purpose and its future. Its inability to overcome the crisis in the eurozone, the absence of a European identity and the apparent obstacles to forming a common foreign policy are all signs of a deeper political crisis.

I believe that the only way out of the current crises in identity and politics is for the EU to make progress towards a federal union. Critics of this view raise several points DJDLQVW WKLV LGHD WKH னUVW EHing that the idea of a European federation is unlikely, owing to the loss of sovereignty the Member States would incur.

Secondly, critics argue that such a federation would be undesirable, for the EU is supposedly an opaque and undemocratic body.

7KH னUVW RI WKHVH FULWLTXHV VHHPV UDWKHU SODXVLEOH DW னUVW but must be discarded under closer examination. I argue that the EU is in many aspects already a federal state. Yes, you read that right, a federal state. I write this knowing that this surely appears to be a rather bold and unfounded claim, but let us examine the GHனQLWLRQ RI D IHGHUDO V\VWHP 7KH 2[IRUG GLFWLRQDU\ GHனQHV it as follows: “having or relating to a system of government in which

several states form a unity but remain independent in interQDO DŕŽ‰DLUV‍ڕ‏ Lets take Germany as an example: it has a central federal government, which is in FKDUJH RI PRVW DŕŽ‰DLUV DQG has exclusive competence to legislate in these areas. At the regional level (the Bundesländer), there remains a degree of autonomy in several policy areas, with the freedom to develop policy. When we examine the relation of the EU with its Member States, we see exactly the same relationship.

There are several policy areas in which the EU has an exclusive competence to develop legislation, binding upon its 0HPEHU 6WDWHV DV GHனQHG E\ $UWLFOH RI WKH 7UHDW\ RQ WKH Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). Simultaneously, there are areas where the competencies are shared, as well as areas where the Member States have full autonomy.

Skeptics would argue that there are still many areas typically situated at federal level that are still dominated by the Member States; think for LQVWDQFH RI IRUHLJQ DQG னVFDO policy. And what success do ZH VHH LQ WKRVH னHOGV 7KH (8 could not respond swiftly and coherently to the Arab Spring; heads of state, EU Commissioner, President of the European Council and the EU High Representative for Foreign AfIDLUV DOO PDGH GLŕŽ‰HUHQW SXEOLF statements. The sovereignty

RYHU னVFDO SROLF\ LV DFNQRZOedged to be one of the root causes of the Eurozone crisis through rampant overspending without sanctions. Although recognized as an economic crisis, the eurocrisis is LQ IDFW YHU\ PXFK D UHŕŽ‹HFWLRQ of political crisis in the EU; an EU that is still under construction and prone to weakness.

The hesitation to surrender VRYHUHLJQW\ KDV OHG WR KDOI னQished institutions and projects, rendering the EU and Member States weaker rather than stronger.

Now, let us turn to the critique that argues that a federal state requires democracy and legitimacy. It has been argued WKDW WKH (8 VXŕŽ‰HUV IURP ZKDW LV WHUPHG D ‍ڔ‏GHPRFUDWLF GHனFLW ‍ ڕ‏,W LV KHUH WKDW , DUJXH WKDW the EU should reinvent itself.

7KHUH DUH னYH EDVLF FODLPV insufficient parliamentary control over the executive, European Parliament is too weak, no electoral contest on EU policy, the EU is too distant and, lastly, there is a gap between what citizens want and what they get from the EU. In “What’s wrong with the (XURSHDQ 8QLRQ KRZ WR ன[ LW ‍ ڕ‏3URIHVVRU 6LPRQ +L[ /HFturer at LSE, argues that four HOHPHQWV RI WKH GHனFLW DUJXment are incorrect.

First of all, national parliaments never held full control over the executive; the executive holds a majority in parliament and can thus make policy with relative ease. Secondly,

the European Parliament colegislate with the Council of Ministers, giving it veto rights over nearly all legislation.

Third, the EU is more transparent than most national governments, giving insights in minutes as well as adopted and proposed legislation. The னIWK FODLP LV DOVR LQYDOLG IRU the checks and balances of EU institutions cause policy to be in the center as compromise, close to the wish of the majority of citizens.

The only valid claim is that there is no political contest in the EU. This is how citizens are tied to national politics; they vote for a party, hoping that if elected, government policy ZLOO UHŕŽ‹HFW WKHLU YRWH $W WKH EU level, there is no such connection; European Parliament elections do not lead to a visible change in EU policy, partly due to the fact that the EU Commission (the executive) is not elected. As Professor Hix argues, connecting EP elections to the election of Commission officials would link citizens to EU politics, creating an identity and paving the way WRZDUGV D GHPRFUDWLF HŕŽ‰HFtive and legitimate federal EU. Barry Jongkees is vice-president of the European Sphere working group at lsesu forum.

Come along on Tuesday at 5.30pm in TW2 1.01 (venue to EH FRQŕ­˝UPHG WR JHW LQYROYHG with a debate on the future direction of EU.

Neoliberalism and leadership Georgios laments the lack of leadership in today’s crisis-hit world Georgios Barzoukas

I recently decided to adorn the walls of my new bedroom with a poster of a young and cool Barack Obama. Rather than being my way of showing my endorsement to Barack in the race against Mitt, it was more of a desperate realisation that President Obama is unfortunately the only charismatic leader operating in the global political scene. , னUVW WKRXJKW DERXW ZULWing this article having just witnessed the French Presidential debate between the rather uncharismatic Mr Hollande and the rather guilty Mr Sarkozy. I shan’t go way beyond the French candidates in order to justify my anxiety about the drought in our world’s leadership by including other potential heads of State.

One could start, though, with the rather unpromising and untalented line-up in the Italian elections which will replace Monti. Move on to the intellectually unfortunate former Republican candidates which remain unconvinced by

the evolution theory and the existence of climate change, or perhaps look to the choices in the past, Greek Elections.

I don’t consider Barack 2EDPD WR EH ŕŽ‹DZOHVV EXW rather an example of the best we currently have. If my previous thoughts were to be correct in that the quality of the governments that are currently not up to the task that we have bestowed upon them, would that give me the appropriate moral legitimacy for me WR ‍ڔ‏FRPH RXW‍ ڕ‏DV D SDUWLVDQ IRU Neo-liberalism?

disregard for solidarity to the working classes: hence my need for appropriate moral legitimacy in order to be allowed to carry the term without anyone excommunicating me to the depths of irrationally crude anti-statism and elitism. Secondly, I would like to explain the term the way I perceive its meaning in its initial, uncontested form, as an approach to the organisation of the economy: An idea which constantly enhances the role of the private sector as opposed to state interference.

“Given the Greek experience, I believe that it is not about hoping that the Head of State does not jeopardise the functioning of the State and the economy, but rather making sure that the Head of State is institutionally unable to do so.�

There are two things which require some adequate explanation before I proceed. Neoliberalism has become a vilifying term thrown against any approach supposedly underlined by the quest for a New World Order and a complete

Acknowledging the lacking ability and calibre of current leaders, shouldn’t we bet on the market and the invisible hand to guide the economy?

Given the Greek experience, I believe that it is not about hoping that the Head

of State does not jeopardise the functioning of the State and the economy, but rather making sure that the Head-of State is institutionally unable to do so. If he were to have the managerial capacities of a Mr. Papandreou and be as morally driven as Mr. Berlusconi. I feel surprisingly close to both the modern marxian view that the னQDQFLHU HOLWH LV GLVSURSRUWLRQDWHO\ LQŕŽ‹XHQWLDO LQ JRYHUQment, and the views that Von +D\HN DQG )ULHGPDQ னUVW XWtered in Chicago.

But how can these two be reconciled? Rolling back the 6WDWH LQ LWV LQŕŽ‹XHQFH RYHU WKH economy whilst strengthening institutions which are relevant to Justice, would ensure that the market is guided by those who operate within it, while at the same time allowing the Government to focus on the legality of transactions rather than having control over these transactions. In practice, this would translate into Kenneth Lay, founder of the infamous Enron giant, not having any incentive to support through campaigning funds someone DV ‍Ú?‏LQŕŽ‹XHQFHDEOH‍ ڑ‏DV *HRUJH W. Bush.

Such a move towards neoliberalism would essentially cut the umbilical cord which connects IFI’s and large corporations to governments. There should be a cost for the private sector as well however: Its responsibilities must increase radically. With regards to IFI’s, furthering a division of the investment banking sector and that of retail banking while increasing reserve ratios would DOORZ IRU னQDQFLDO LQVWLWXtions to absorb, through their own strengths, cyclical bursts rather than through taxpayer money; a proposal somewhere DORQJ WKH OLQHV RI WKH Vickers Commission. This article is but a simple guess on what needs to be done to minimize leadership-less factor ZKLFK VWURQJO\ DŕŽ‰HFWV VHYHUDO States. Nevertheless, a one VL]H னWV DOO LGHRORJLFDO UHFLSH as the one previously argued for, won’t do; systems need to be shaped in accordance with ZKDW ‍ڔ‏WLFNOHV‍ ڕ‏WKH LQJHQXLW\ of the people that live under them. But one thing remains sure, States need to be shielded from those leaders who are simply not up to the task.

12

Features

Features

30.10.2012

| The Beaver

Carandiru: A Lesson Learned?

Lizzie Craig investigates the segregation of gangs in prison The problem of gang-related violence in jails has long been an eyesore on the record of the international prison system. Following the 20th anniversary of the Carandiru massacre in Brazil, thousands of civilians took to the streets in protest against police brutality and violent prison officers. The massacre of 1992 claimed 111 lives: all inmates. What started as a row between two prisoners over a football match escalated into a bat-

them to overcome them. Of course, the aim of reconciliation between certain gangs appears a bit far-fetched for the prison system to achieve but encouraging prisoners to embrace their gang association through segregation seems counter-productive when considering that most members are imprisoned for gang-related crimes. The ‍Ú?‏SRZHU LQ QXPEHUV‍ ڑ‏UXOH RIten attributed to gangs also places a serious restriction on the success of segrega-

tempts to protect the inmate population by sending ‘hard FRUH‍ ڑ‏JDQJ PHPEHUV WR GHVLJQDWHG SULVRQV 2XU னUVW instinct may be to assume that this would merely relocate and, ironically, intensify the problem as the nations most prominent gang members come together in one institution. Contrary to this perfectly rational assumption, the state of Arizona KDV UHSRUWHG D னIW\ SHUFHQW decrease in gang-related incidents following the imple-

mistic and suggests that the prison system slightly underestimates the loyalty of some gang members. Thus far, no techniques have sucFHHGHG LQ SUHVHQWLQJ D ŕŽ‹DZless approach and none have proved efficient in reducing prison violence to the point that facilities worldwide look to adopt them.

In Britain, where the gang population has commonly been perceived as being smaller and less of a threat to the entire prison system

pable of housing all these inmates? Whilst this would release some of the pressure on prison systems across the world, it does not even attempt to address the source of the issue: gang culture.

7KH VRXUFH RI FRQŕŽ‹LFW at the Carandiru massacre was clear and the scale of the reaction demonstrates the urgent need for a solution. Covered in the media globally and talked about for years, the tragedy could hardly have gone unnoticed

mentation of consolidation.

Whether this method can be transferred globally remains to be seen as many countries have their doubts about its credibility.

Bus therapy presents another alternative to segregation and involves frequently moving gang-affiliated inPDWHV DPRQJVW GLŕŽ‰HUHQW prisons. ‘Out of State TransIHUV‍ ڑ‏DUH VHHQ DV D ZD\ RI GLVUXSWLQJ WKH LQŕŽ‹XHQFH DQG solidarity of the gangs with the expectation that they will disintegrate without consistent leadership. This method appears rather opti-

than in the Americas, a strikingly similar problem with a new twist has come to light.

Instead of the segregation XQLWV னOOLQJ XS ZLWK NQRZQ gang members, they have become inundated with unaffiliated prisoners requesting isolation out of fear for their lives. This problem has developed to the extent that it is now becoming difficult WR னQG HQRXJK ‍&Ú?‏DWHJRU\ $‍ ڑ‏ accommodation to separate the inmates.

So whence comes the initial problem?

Does it all boil down to the need for larger, more expensive prison systems ca-

but what was learnt from the experience? Other than increased awareness concerning the scale of the problem, the implementation of segregation has hardly come in leaps and bounds across the globe. Whether this is due to individual countries taking GLŕŽ‰HUHQW URXWHV WRZDUGV EDWtling gang violence or not, an efficient solution is yet to be found. For now, prisons worldwide continue to be held at mercy by the unpredictable impulses of gangs as their stunted understanding of gang culture hinders DQ\ VLJQLனFDQW SURJUHVV

7KH ŕ­žDZV DVVRFLDWHG ZLWK VHJUHJDWLRQ DUH E\ QR PHDQV IHZ LQ QXPEHUV DQG KDYH SURPSWHG PDQ\ SULVRQV WR SXUVXH RWKHU PHWKRGV tle between gang members, highlighting the need for segregation or some other IRUP RI ‍Ú?‏GLŕŽ‰XVLRQ‍ ڑ‏DW OHDVW Far from being the only example of such serious prison JDQJ ‍Ú?‏ZDUIDUH‍ ڑ‏WKH HYHQWV at Carandiru reveal a fundamental failure of the judicial and prison systems all over the world: unrecognized gang affiliations lead to improvised and unconditioned responses to violent outbreaks from law enforcement officers. Whilst racial segregation in prisons runs the risk of bearing resemblance to the infamous ‘sepDUDWH EXW HTXDO‍ ڑ‏GRFWULQH

tion as it creates a hub for gang activities, allowing WKHLU FLUFOH RI LQŕŽ‹XHQFH WR expand and include previously unaffiliated inmates.

Here arises the issue dubbed the ‘revolving door phenomHQRQ‍ ڑ‏LQ ZKLFK SULVRQ JDQJV EHJLQ WR KDYH D VLJQLனFDQW LQŕŽ‹XHQFH RQ VWUHHW JDQJV DV opposed to it being a oneway system. Being part of a gang in prison, even if an inmate was never in one before, increases their odds of joining a street gang when they are released and ultiPDWHO\ UH RŕŽ‰HQGLQJ ,Q WKLV sense, isolated prison gangs pose a threat not just to the

7KH Hŕ­źHFWLYHQHVV RI LVRODWLQJ HDFK JDQJ LV TXHVWLRQDEOH DV LW RSHQO\ UHFRJQL]HV WKHLU GLŕ­źHUHQFHV and would undoubtedly instigate claims of racism and prejudice, the system should recognize that most gangs are formed along racial lines and the likelihood of outEUHDNV LV VLJQLனFDQWO\ UDLVHG ZKHQ LQPDWHV RI GLŕŽ‰HUHQW races and gangs are mixed.

In theory, gang segregation should therefore put an end to the problem of gangrelated violence. In practice, however, the solution is not VR VLPSOH 7KH HŕŽ‰HFWLYHness of isolating each gang is questionable as it openly UHFRJQL]HV WKHLU GLŕŽ‰HUHQFes instead of compelling

safety of other inmates but also to the general population.

Given the many devastating events that have occurred as a result of gangrelated violence over the years and the danger of leaving this problem unsolved, it comes as no surprise that prison systems all over the world have tried to implement ‘intervention proJUDPPHV‍ ڑ‏7KH ŕŽ‹DZV DVVRFLated with segregation are by no means few in numbers and have prompted many prisons to pursue other methods. Consolidation at-

Features

The Beaver | 30.10.2012

5(1‹( 6

Yves Saint Laurent has dropped their lawsuit against Christian LoubouWLQ ŕŽ&#x160;QDOO\ FORVLQJ DQ H[WHQVLYH GUDZQ RXW FDVH RYHU the simple issue of red-sole shoes. In fairness, Louboutin did seem to have a baVLV IRU ŕŽ&#x160;OLQJ WKH VXLW EDFN LQ $SULO FRQVLGHULQJ DV D VSRNHVPDQ VDLG â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x201D;â&#x20AC;ŹXQOHVV \RX DUH OLYLQJ LQ D FDYH WKH FRQVXPHU PRVW GHŕŽ&#x160;QLWHO\ UHFRJQL]HV D UHG soled shoe as a LoubouWLQ â&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2022;â&#x20AC;Ź7KHUHIRUH PDQ\ V\Ppathised with Louboutin, ZKR DSSHDUHG WR PHUHO\ EH VHHNLQJ WR SURWHFW â&#x20AC;ŤÚ?â&#x20AC;ŹWKH UHG VROH â&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹZKLFK KH LQVLVWHG UHSUHVHQWHG KLV â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x201D;â&#x20AC;ŹOLIHâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹV ZRUN â&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2022;â&#x20AC;Ź $ OLIHâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹV ZRUN ZKLFK FRPHV DW WKH PLQLPXP SULFH RI ŕŽ&#x160;YH KXQGUHG SRXQGV SHU pair. Nevertheless, the waters were muddied more VR ZKHQ <6/ FRXQWHU VXHG Louboutin, raising the larger LVVXH RI FDQ DQ\ IDVKLRQ GHVLJQHU PRQRSROL]H D FRORXU" /RXERXWLQ WRRN OHJDO DFWLRQ DJDLQVW <6/ IRU â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x201D;â&#x20AC;ŹFRSingâ&#x20AC;? the red sole in 2011, and sought more than one million dollars in damages in a Manhattan federal FRXUW IRU DOOHJHG WUDGHPDUN LQIULQJHPHQW DQG FRXQWHUfeiting of his shoesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; most GLVWLQFWLYH IHDWXUH $ MXGJH ruled against Louboutinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s UHTXHVW WKDW <6/ FHDVH selling red soled shoes in $XJXVW RI WKH VDPH \HDU However, after an appeal to the US Federal Court of Appeals in SepWHPEHU WKH\ UXOHG WKDW /RXERXWLQ FRXOG LQ IDFW SURWHFW LWV LFRQLF UHG VROHG VKRHV IURP FRS\FDWV H[FHSW when the shoe itself is red.

Ian Wood, partner in ,QWHOOHFWXDO 3URSHUW\ DW &KDUOHV 5XVVHOO //3 VWDWHG WKDW â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x201D;â&#x20AC;ŹWKH ODZ UHFRJQLVHV WKDW LQ WKH ULJKW FRQWH[W D VLQJOH FRORXU FDQ EHFRPH GLVWLQFWLYH RI SDUWLFXODU JRRGV RU VHUYLFHV â&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2022;â&#x20AC;Ź:LWK SURGXFWV VXFK DV &DGEXU\ ZKR DUH NQRZQ IRU WKHLU FRORXU SXUSOH RU %3 VHUYLFH stations with their green, WKH FRXUW DJUHHG WKDW WKH FRORXU UHG PD\ EH DVVRFLDWed with Louboutin. However, â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x201D;â&#x20AC;ŹLW LV DOO DERXW FRQWH[W â&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2022;â&#x20AC;ŹSDUWLFXODUO\ FRQVLGHULQJ WKDW LQ WKH ULJKW VLWXDWLRQ â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x201D;â&#x20AC;ŹUHG PLJKW EH DVVRFLDWHG H[FOXVLYHO\ ZLWK /RQGRQ EXVHV EXW QRERG\ ZRXOG WKLQN WKDW D UHG SLOODU ER[ ZDV FRQQHFWHG WR /RQGRQ EXVHV â&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2022;â&#x20AC;Ź 7KXV WKH 1HZ <RUN FRXUW held that, in the right situDWLRQ D â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x201D;â&#x20AC;ŹFKLQD UHGâ&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2022;â&#x20AC;ŹVROH on heels entitled Louboutin WR WUDGH PDUN SURWHFWLRQ

However, at the same time, it was also held that it was WKH â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x201D;â&#x20AC;ŹŕŽ&#x2039;DVK RI WKH UHG VROH â&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2022;â&#x20AC;Ź RU WKH FRORXU UHG FRQWUDVWing that of the rest of the shoe, that was an important IDFWRU LQ PDNLQJ WKLV DVVRFLDWLRQ )RU /RXERXWLQ ZKR OLNHQHG KLV UHG VROH WR WKDW RI 6SDQLVK EXOO ŕŽ&#x160;JKWHUâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹV FDSRWH FDSH WKH DOOXULQJ â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x201D;â&#x20AC;ŹŕŽ&#x2039;DVK RI UHGâ&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2022;â&#x20AC;ŹZKHQ D ZRPDQ ZDONHG GRZQ WKH VWUHHW in Louboutins, or on the red FDUSHW RI DQ HYHQW LQVSLUHG H[FLWHPHQW DQG GHVLUH Therefore, the New <RUN FRXUW KHOG WKDW <6/ FRXOG QRW EH SUHYHQWHG IURP VHOOLQJ PRQRFKURPH UHG VKRHV DV WKH\ GR QRW give the impression of D VKRH ZLWK D UHG ŕŽ&#x2039;DVK For YSL, being able to FRQWLQXH WR SURGXFH WKHLU PRQRFKURPDWLF VKRHV WKH\ GHFLGHG WKDW WKH\ ZHUH UHG \ WR â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x201D;â&#x20AC;ŹHQG ZKDW ZDV OHIW RI WKH OLWLJDWLRQ DQG UHIRFXV its energies on its business DQG LWV FUHDWLYH GHVLJQV â&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2022;â&#x20AC;Ź However, although it was WHFKQLFDOO\ D YLFWRULRXV GD\ IRU <6/ /RXERXWLQ EHOLHYHG WKDW KH DOVR DFKLHYHG UHVXOWV UHVXOWV ZKLFK KH VRXJKW ZKHQ KH ŕŽ&#x160;UVW VXHG YSL eighteen months ago.

Louboutin, who founded his brand in 1992 when he painted red nail polish on the EODFN VROHV RI D SDLU RI KHHOV EHOLHYHV WKDW EHFDXVH â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x201D;â&#x20AC;ŹWKH ruling deprived Yves Saint /DXUHQW RI LWV FODLP IRU FDQFHOODWLRQ RI RXU WUDGHPDUN â&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2022;â&#x20AC;Ź LW ZDV WKH VDWLVIDFWRU\ RXWFRPH RI D ORQJ WULDO DQG RQH LQ IDYRXU RI KLV FRPSDQ\ +RZHYHU LW VWLOO EDŕŽ?HV PDQ\ ZKHQ WKLQNLQJ WKDW D FRPSDQ\ DQG LQ SDUWLFXODU D IDVKLRQ KRXVH FDQ WUDGH PDUN D YHU\ VSHFLŕŽ&#x160;F FRORXU Shoes with a red sole have EHHQ SURGXFHG IRU GHFades, even before LoubouWLQ SRSXODUL]HG WKH WUHQG E\ GUHVVLQJ FHOHEULWLHV LQ his shoes. Furthermore, even after this long trial, WKH IDFW UHPDLQV WKDW WKHUH ZLOO DOZD\V EH FRS\ FDWV 6WRUHV OLNH (QJODQGâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹV TopShop, or Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s *HQHUDO 3DQWV RU $PHULFDâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹV 8UEDQ 2XWŕŽ&#x160;WWHUV ZLOO SURGXFH VKRHV ZKLFK PLPLF /RXERXWLQV IRU DV ORQJ DV WKH\ DUH SRSXODU And this is something ZKLFK /RXERXWLQ ZLOO KDYH WR DFFHSW DQG PD\EH MXVW WDNH DV D FRPSOLPHQW /DVWO\ ZKDW /RXERXWLQ PXVW GR is to have faith in his own SURGXFW DQG WUXVW WKDW FRQsumers will be able to distinguish between a pair of IRUW\ SRXQG 7RS6KRS KHHOV DQG WKDW RI D ŕŽ&#x160;YH KXQGUHG pound Christian Louboutin.

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13

14

Features

30.10.2012

| The Beaver

Time to end the abortion debate This past fortnight has seen the abortion debate sensationally re-emerge after several Conservative members of the Cabinet, including the Prime Minister, expressed their wish for a reduction in the termination limit, which currently stands at 24 weeks. Despite the routine appearance of this issue in British politics, it remains that few debates can elicit such fervor, as moralists take to newspapers, radio and the twittersphere.

One would assume that such recurrent furors could only derive from an issue so deeply polarising in society that the opposing moral views were beyond any form of reconciliation. Not by the majoritarianism of our democracy, nor by a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;matters of conscienceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; free vote parliamentary convention, and without even the remotest possibility of a broad consensus amongst the public.

However, such an assumption would in fact be incorrect.

Paradoxically, abortion â&#x20AC;&#x201C; by political standards at least â&#x20AC;&#x201C; is a perennial valence issue in British politics. There is a substantial majority in favour of a womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right to chose. The issueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tendency to provoke heated debate is understandable, but the impassioned coverage within the media is not proportionDO WR LWV VLJQLŕŽ&#x160; FDQFH WR WKH wider electorate, or indicative of any broad desire for legislative change.

Abortion was not prominently featured in any of the major three partiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; election manifestos in 2010, nor is it regarded as an issue widely raised on doorsteps across the country. Since its passage in 1967, The Abortion Act has been amended only a single time. The modest four-week reduction of the abortion limit in 1990 corUHVSRQGHG ZLWK VFLHQWLŕŽ&#x160; F advancement, resulting in the increased viability of feotuses in the 24-28 week period, and was substantiated by valid evidence and the opinions of medical professionals.

Contrary to the impression that may be given by our media coverage, the prochoice consensus in Britain is broad and robust. A 2006 Ipsos Mori poll found that only 27 per cent of people disagreed with the statement that â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;abortion should be made legally available for all who want itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Vocal mi-

norities are not representative of the wider public to whom the abortion debate is an anachronism.

7KH VLJQLŕŽ&#x160; FDQFH RI FRP ments made two weeks ago

by Equality and Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Minister Maria Miller, expressing her preference for a reduction of the abortion limit from 24 to twenty weeks, is that the prenatal scan that takes place at twenty weeks is often the one to indicate early signs of disability. However, a British Social Attitudes Survey in IRXQG WKDW RQO\ ŕŽ&#x160; IWHHQ

ists and fervid moralists took the bait, even when assured that the government has no legislative plans. Furthermore, with awareness that the abortion limit reduction ODFNV VFLHQWLŕŽ&#x160; F EDVLV DQG that such measures lack the necessary public backing.

Regardless of the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plans or lack thereof, British parliamentary culture is such that on issues pertaining to the morality of MPs, parties do not employ the whip. Our parliament â&#x20AC;&#x201C; like the rest of the country â&#x20AC;&#x201C; is generally pro-choice, and

:K\ WKHQ GR ŕŽ&#x160; JXUHV LQ the Conservative Party in particular repeatedly reignite the debate? Political expedience.

Contentious issues such as abortion detract from the current media narrative, which at present is focused primarily on the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic malaise and putative Tory snobbery. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, in an interview with The Times, revealed his preference for the abortion limit to be halved. Whilst satiating the moral conservatism

per cent of people believed it is wrong to terminate a pregnancy if there was a strong chance the baby would have a serious defect. Others supporting the reform have impugned the 24-week limitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s VFLHQWLŕŽ&#x160; F EDVLV SRVLWLQJ WKDW the point of viability for a feotus is earlier. These suggestions have been quelled by citing the British Medical Association, whose members voted to uphold the 24-week policy in 2011.

What seems curious is cabinet ministersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; insouciance in publicly divulging their incendiary moral beliefs, given the inevitable media frenzy.

Unsurprisingly, journal-

therefore fearing restrictions on a womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to choose is irrational, and attempts to do so largely futile.

Given the unlikely nature of revised abortion legislation and the degree of public consensus, one can only question why the issue seems to perpetually resurface. Since legalisation, there have been numerous Private Memberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bills attempting to alter the law, with four resulting in debate, in 1975, 1977, 1979 and 1987, respectively. Support for the status quo received affirmation most recently in 2008, when MPs voted to uphold the current law.

of the Tory backbenches, Huntâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s comments allowed David Cameron to juxtapose himself, appearing moderate, centrist and electable in asserting his own moral inclination towards merely a â&#x20AC;&#x153;modest reductionâ&#x20AC;?.

Political moves to arouse moral consternation, particularly amongst workingclass voters are in keeping with the Conservative Partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s drift away from metropolitan social liberalism, and towards a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;White-van conservatismâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, that the party hopes will secure majorities in marginal urban seats in the 2015 general election.

These tactics vaguely echo those employed by the Re-

FIBONACCI BLUE

Alex Skirvin

publicans under Karl Rove in 2000 and 2004, delivering Bush victories by mobilising a working-class that is suspicious of creeping social liberalism. Though thankfully, unlike in America, our society does not make fertile enough ground for the importance of moral issues to grow and permanently dominate national politics.

The Tory right is also adept in invoking moral debates for political gain. In 2011, Conservative backbencher Nadine Dorries ERRVWHG KHU RZQ SURŕŽ&#x160; OH LQ tabling an amendment to the Health and Social Care Bill, proposing a change in providers for pre-abortion counseling and advice services. The fate of amendment was obvious, and was overwhelmingly rejected in the Commons. Liam Fox, a potential contender for postCameron party leadership, publicly backed a campaign for tougher abortion laws the same year â&#x20AC;&#x201C; much to the delight of the party right.

This group contained many of those who supported reforming abortion laws, but dismissed gay marriage and constitutional reform as remote, displacing the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;bread and butterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; issues that the electorate is supposedly truly concerned with.

Though it is not merely the Right that capitalise on the abortion debateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s continuance.

Mere expressions of a politician or journalistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personal beliefs can be unfairly depicted by members of the Left as a rabidly conVHUYDWLYH DŕŽ&#x2030; URQW WR ZRPHQâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹV rights or indications of crypto-misogyny.

Winner of Editorial Intelligenceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Twitter Public Personalityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; award, Laurie Penny, branded a pro-life stance as â&#x20AC;&#x153;inherently sexistâ&#x20AC;?. It can certainly be in the political or professional interests of people of either persuasion for the abortion debate to be perpetuated.

It seems that despite a public pro-choice consensus, a secular and tolerant society, and without a scienWLŕŽ&#x160; F UHYHODWLRQ WKLV GHEDWH ZLOO UHPDLQ D SHUPDQHQW ŕŽ&#x160; [ ture of British political life, so long as members of our political class are prepared to create the perfect media storm to serve their own ends.

Our public discourse deserves better.

Features

The Beaver | 30.10.2012

15

Gold glistens in a grievous grip Martin Walsh, :RUOG $ŕ­ź DLUV &ROXPQLVW

tating a transition which improves medical access and assists in a dramatic lessening of the exposure is obviously the logical way IRUZDUG 1RQHWKHOHVV ŕŽ&#x160; nances â&#x20AC;&#x201C; as always â&#x20AC;&#x201C; remain D VLJQLŕŽ&#x160; FDQW REVWDFOH :LWK funding coming mainly via foreign philanthropy, coun-

ta oil, it would seem that the next step to be taken by international organisation such as MSF and Oxfam should be the persuasion of the Nigerian government to re-prioritise its policies.

That is, of course, easier said than done. Indeed, JLYHQ WKH GLŕŽ&#x2030; HUHQFHV LQ

trafficking or â&#x20AC;&#x153;debt bondageâ&#x20AC;?. VeritĂŠ, a US-based campaign group, notes WKDW WKH IRUPHU LV FKLHŕŽ&#x2039; \ prevalent in the west of Africa more generally, whilst the latter is considered a paradigm Latin American problem. Historically agricultural areas in West Africa â&#x20AC;&#x201C; such as Zamfara State â&#x20AC;&#x201C; have such levels of abject poverty that human trafficking is merely a fact of life. Unable to access proper forms of healthcare and without a respectable and appropriate employment framework, children, women and men all face the possibility of ingesting lead dust as a result of gold extraction each day â&#x20AC;&#x201C; some without even knowing the dangers that it entails.

Compounding such a tragic reality, Zamfara State is governed under Sharia law meaning that women staying at home

publication.

This all begs the question what can be done. Naturally, it is difficult to see how banning such practic-

tries such as Nigeria must look at their internal arrangements and innovate new ways in which they can dedicate funding to isolate

HV â&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2039;â&#x20AC;ŹZKHQ VXFK ŕŽ&#x160; QDQFLDO LQ centives exist â&#x20AC;&#x201C; would be a productive attempt at resolution of the issue. Facili-

the dangers of work and relocate them from domesticity. With a strong natural resource income from del-

countriesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; natural resources, this approach cannot be uniform across all nations where these problems are persistent and endemic.

In this case, perhaps it is also helpful to look at what we as ordinary citizens can do; one petition protagonised by the No Dirty Gold Campaign and Oxfam America has called on jewellers to reassess their ethical standards and procure gold only from sites they know are compliant with international standards.

It can perhaps be reassuring to purchase from these companies when such a need arises, for example.

An increasing number of child deaths as the cost for the extraction of a precious metal is possibly one of the more grotesque elements of international actuality.

Henceforth, we must do more to prevent its continuance.

RANTES

whilst working inadvertently worsen the collective health of the family. In this way, it is perhaps unsurprising â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but clearly no less depressing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that in one Nigerian village, 50 per cent of children exposed to high levels of lead had died as a result, according to a Yale

RICKZ

Gold may be a precious metal, but its process of extraction leaves precious little to desire. Mined inareas of the world where health and safety regulations are sparse, employment rights are little ornon-existent and where, often, work is in very close vicinity to the home, gold is merely but a curse for some. As if being linked with forced labour was not enough to satisfy revulsion, the devastating impact on health ŕŽ&#x160; JXUHV VWURQJO\ LQ WKH FDVH against illegal and/or marginal extraction mines. The terrible degree of consequences is felt particularly in Nigeria and Niger in West Africa where, due to spikes in gold prices since 2007, the lingering grip of extraction has seen at least 400 child deaths in the past few years.

For those who are not aware of the process involved, gold is mined through either hard-rock or alluvial mining and is carried out in some parts of West Africa through the forced labour of young children. Concerned principally with artisanal and small-scale mining, it takes place in areas where poor locals are in a position to access the appropriate lands â&#x20AC;&#x201C; if that is not possible, it also occurs in mines which are coming close to depletion. Whilst on larger sites gold is extracted from its ore mechanically, in small-scale mining where such equipment is sorely lacking such provisions are patched over with a manual oversight. Resultant levels of dangerous exposure may be argued to be negligible by those who operate these practices illegally or recklessly, but the very fact that in some circumstances these lands are in the immediate vicinity of individualsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; homes enhances the levels of lead, mercury and cyanide to which these workers are made vulnerable. The toll it takes on workersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; health has always been clear to suppliers of labour and operators, but information of this kind is very rarely communicated to those working whose increasing neurological degeneration was not until recently understood to

have man-made origins by organisations such as MÊdecins Sans Frontières (MSF).

Subject to a susceptible situation from the very outset, men, but also mothers and children, are often interred to such circumstance due to either human

16

Features

30.10.2012

| The Beaver

With the debates over, the election looms '21.(<+27(<

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Features

The Beaver | 30.10.2012

17

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Good news for the government on unemployment?

Liam Hill, Politics Columnist

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18

Features

30.10.2012

| The Beaver

CONSERVATIVE PARTY

in 2001, would be unlikely to stand. Even if Hague did stand, his party would be sceptical about giving him a second chance: Tory MPs are hardly known for their lenience.

Education Secretary Michael Gove has denied any ambition for the job. He has gone as far as to say that he would sign a pledge in his own blood saying so. But such disavowals can easily be disavowed as loyalty to the incumbent. Once Cameron is gone, Gove might well pounce. He would relish the job. Gove shares many of Cameronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s qualities: his effective communication skills and his assertive but courteous demeanour. His background â&#x20AC;&#x201C; he is the adopted son of a Labour-voting Aberdeen couple who went to his local state-run primary VFKRRO â&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2039;â&#x20AC;ŹLV UDGLFDOO\ GLŕŽ&#x2030;HUHQW from Cameronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and this is a VLJQLŕŽ&#x160;FDQW DGYDQWDJH ZKHQ class is such a toxic issue for the Tories: see â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Plebgateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

Gove is socially liberal and at the next election, but such has hawkish views on foreign Liam Hill, Politics Columnist UHSRUWV DUH XQFRQŕŽ&#x160;UPHG policy, which might put him If and when Cameron loses and could be pure specula- at odds with social conservain 2015, who will the Tories tion. News of Boris standing tives and isolationists in his would also have practical party, but his credentials, replace him with?

The economy is still strug- implications for David Cam- should he choose to take gling, more cuts are having eron: such news would in- them, are strong.

Jeremy Hunt was proto be made, the government evitably prompt reports that moted to Health Secretary in the Tories have given up on is an â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;omnishamblesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; whose &DPHURQâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹV UHFHQW UHVKXŕŽ?H the 2015 election, expect ministers insult Police officAs Culture Secretary, he was Cameron to lose and want to ers, the voters trust Cameron and Osborne less and less replace him with Boris â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this embroiled in scandal conwith running the economy, would not be good for Tory cerning News Internationalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Labour is united and in the FRQŕŽ&#x160;GHQFH DQG ZRXOG JLYH bid for BSkyB and the comprocess of moulding a coher- extra impetus to Labour. An munication of special advient â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;One Nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; policy nar- MP giving up his or her seat sor with officials working rative, Ed Miliband is looking after the election in order for News International. He more electable than ever, and for Boris to take over might was accused of breaking the David Cameron is losing the not be able to do until after ministerial code and appeals faith of his party: many back- a Tory leadership election were made that he should rebenchers are demanding a had taken place. While many sign.

If he does have ambitions (further) rightward shift in Tories may relish the prospolicy. All of this means the pect of Boris Johnson as their to lead his party, Hunt will Conservativesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; chances of leader and their prime minis- KDYH WR VKDNH RŕŽ&#x2030; WKLV UHSXwinning the 2015 general ter, a Boris bid seems unfea- tation. Handling the health brief could make-or-break his election are deteriorating. sible. political ambitions: if it is as George Osborne, the But who, if anyone, can they disastrous as Andrew LansChancellor of the Exchequer, replace David Cameron with is too married to the Cam- leyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time at the helm then in 2015.

Boris â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the only modern eron project. He would un- Hunt should discount what%ULWLVK SROLWLFLDQ LGHQWLŕŽ&#x160;- doubtedly be perceived as ever leadership ambitions he able by his forename alone a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;no changeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; candidate. He has now. If he is successful at â&#x20AC;&#x201C; has all the credentials: he also lacks Cameronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s com- winning over votersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; trust on is electable, enormously pop- munication skills, but brings the NHS, a truly vital task to ular â&#x20AC;&#x201C; admittedly, not in Liv- with him all Cameronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bag- the Toriesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; electoral chances, erpool â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and would unite the gage: the policies, the private then MPs and Tory members Conservatives. Our mayorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s schooling and the Bullingdon might well conclude that he problem with succeeding Club. With this in mind, it is deserves a reward.

Iain Duncan Smith is very &DPHURQ LV WZRIROG ŕŽ&#x160;UVW KLV a struggle to see how Tories popular among grassroots could regard Osborne as an WHUP ŕŽ&#x160;QLVKHV LQ D \HDU Tories for his sweeping relater than the next election improvement on Cameron, forms to the welfare state. can take place. Quite wheth- even after a potential loss in While he may be popular as a 2015.

George Osborneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only er Boris could be London result of his work in cabinet, hope is if the economy picks mayor and Tory leader of the Tories with memories going up, if the government loses opposition at the same time, and whether he would do in 2015 despite a healthier back a decade will be wary of so, is problematic. Secondly, economy, rather than due to the possibility that a second Duncan Smith leadership he needs to be an MP to be- an ailing one. would once again turn the Foreign Secretary William come leader of his party. He SDUW\ LQWR D GLVPDO LQ ŕŽ&#x160;JKWHague, having already been would have to stand in a Loning, unelectable shambles. leader of his party and havdon, for practical reasons.

Zac Goldsmith has appar- ing led it to a second con- )XUWKHUPRUH KH ZLOO EH HQWO\ RŕŽ&#x2030;HUHG %RULV KLV VHDW secutive landslide defeat in 2015, which, by modern

BACKBORIS2012

Who is the next Tory leader?

standards, is too old to be a party leader. Cameron, MiliEDQG DQG &OHJJ DUH and 45, respectively.

Theresa May, the Home Secretary, has carefully cultivated a reputation as a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;safe pair of handsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. In truth, for a Home secretary, this reputation isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wholly undeserved, particularly given her deft handling recently of Gary McKinnonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vetoed extradition. /DERXU KDG +RPH 6HFUHtaries in 13 years so Theresa May managing two-and-ahalf without any serious humiliation counts as a positive record. Apart from her altercation with Ken Clarke about a cat being grounds against the extradition of an immigrant who had violated the terms of his visa, forgetting what day it was at one stage of the attempted deportation of Abu Qatada and blunders at the Border Agency, her performance as Home Secretary has been marked by stability uncharacteristic of the Home Office. However, at just two years junior to Iain Duncan Smith, she too might consider herself too old for party leadership.

There are other cabinet ministers who could potentially succeed Cameron. Maria Miller, the recently-promoted Culture Secretary and LSE alumnus, reasonably could stand. Grant Shapps, Tory Chairman, could stand, but whether he will do so as Grant Shapps or â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Michael Greenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is as yet undecided.

Theresa Villiers, Northern Ireland Secretary, might also be a plausible Tory leader.

Former Defence Secretary Liam Fox could even come back from the backbenches

and run again, 10 years after KLV ŕŽ&#x160;UVW DWWHPSW $OO DUH FRQceivable candidates, but lack the backing of enough MPs and grassroots Tory members to appear likely challengers at this point.

So what of the 2010 intake? Five of the highHVW SURŕŽ&#x160;OH \RXQJ 03V ZKR might consider leadership are the authors of Britannia Unchained, a controversial book promoting radical free market policies, which made headlines for calling Brits â&#x20AC;&#x153;among the worst idlers in the world.â&#x20AC;?

Elizabeth Truss, Dominic Raab, Kwasi Kwarteng, Chris Skidmore and Priti Patel are DOO VHHQ DV ULVLQJ ŕŽ&#x160;JXUHV LQ the party with leadership potential. Also mentioned are: Sajid Javid, a Treasury MinLVWHU 0DWWKHZ +DQFRFN D NH\ 2VERUQH DOO\ 5RU\ 6WHZDUW 6DP *\LPDK &DPHURQâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹV 336 DQG 5HKPDQ &KLVWL 2015 might be too early for them, but David Cameron was an MP for just four years before becoming Tory leader.

It is perhaps more likely that some of these will become big names in British politics in the near future, but none as Tory leader before CamHURQâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹV VXFFHVVRU ŕŽ&#x160;QLVKHV KLV or her tenure.

If Boris Johnson is not an MP if and when David Cameron loses the next election, then who will succeed the prime minister has Tory leader is a veritable mystery.

Many Tories will hope that Michael Goveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aversion to the prospect of leading his party is a fabrication. It might well be their best hope.

Manifestos

The Beaver | 30.10.2012

19

ELECTION MANIFESTOS NUS CONFERENCE DELEGATES (2) JAY STOLL: ****Hi, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m JAY STOLL, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m hoping to be your #1 NUS DELEGATE**** LSE is a small university. We must be represented FAIRLY amongst bigger student institutions, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vital that we have STRONG AND LOUD REPRESENTATIVES who ensure our needs are not ignored. I have been a VOCAL PRESENCE on this campus in my 2 years here and am currently YOUR Chair of the Union General Meeting, which means I am constantly engaging with the BIGGEST CONCERNS AND DEMANDS of LSE students.. My priorities: ***REPRESENTING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS*** At NUS Conference last year, International Students were SHAMEFULLY IGNORED, we have to PRIORITISE VISA ISSUES and COURSE COSTS and we need a STRONG VOICE to do so - I will be that voice. ***PROTECTING HIGHER EDUCATION*** Push the case for a publicly funded education, whereby London Students

TRUSTEE OF THE STUDENTSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; UNION (1) BHAVIK VORA: Fellow students, as Trustee I will make sure that our Student Union will remain ŕŽ&#x160; QDQFLDOO\ VHFXUH 'R \RX WKLQN our Student Union is inefficiently spending? Could our money be better used elsewhere? Let me

RESEARCH STUDENTSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; OFFICER (1) CHRIS MOOS: No manifesto received.

COREY JENTRY: Today the most accurate acronym for PhD is: Probably Heavily in Debt. As research students we spend most of our time researching the ways we will get by on a day-by-day or, if we are lucky, week-by-week basis.

As a second year PhD student in the Government Depart of LSE and recent graduate of its MRes program, I am all too familiar with the hardships and trails of trying to be a research student whiling living in London. Being an American student living abroad makes me intimately accustomed to the stresses and expenses associated with the pursuits of advanced degrees. Therefore, my platform

FDQ EH FRQŕŽ&#x160; GHQW WKHLU 678'(17 LOANS will comfortably cover living expenses. So, for a premium, KLJK GHŕŽ&#x160; QLWLRQ /6( VRXQG DW 186 conference, VOTE JAY #1 for some serious BEATS BY JAY.***** MUSTAFAEN KAMAL: No manifesto received.

RAYHAN UDDIN: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all in this togetherâ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;Śin jeopardy that is. Despite the rhetoric of the Coalition government, make no mistake about it, education is under attack. Be it the monumental rise in home tuition fees or the increasingly stringent criteria for international students to study here, the government is stigmatising higher education. Elect me as your NUS Conference delegate and I will channel these broad conFHUQV ZKLOVW DOVR UDLVLQJ VSHFLŕŽ&#x160; F needs. These include: Single touch discounts for 18+ Oyster cards, as well as further reductions on travelcards. Extending the NUS Extra card to cover essential books and stationary from leading stores (Amazon, WHSmith etc). Making SRVWJUDGXDWH VWXG\ PRUH DŕŽ&#x2030; RUG able. More competitive rates for international money transfers by international students. These are VSHFLŕŽ&#x160; FV ZKLFK , WKLQN QHHG WR EH addressed, but I understand there are many more issues which you would like to raise with the NUS. As your delegate, I will listen to

your concerns throughout the year and make sure to voice your opinions. VOTE RAYHAN, THE MAN WITH A PLAN! ROSS SPEER: Experience Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been an NUS delegate twice before. I know how the NUS works, and I know how to make the NUS work for LSE students. Defending Education Last year I voted for the NUS to hold a national demonstration against fees, cuts and privatisation in our education system.

This year, I want to make sure the 186 FRQWLQXHV WKDW ŕŽ&#x160; JKW LQ FR RU dination with other campus unions such as UCU and Unison. Antifascism, anti-racism, anti-islamophobia Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m proud to be a member of Unite Against Fascism, and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m proud the NUS also supports UAF. The two organisations must work closely together to keep fascists, such as the BNP and EDL, RŕŽ&#x2030; RXU FDPSXVHV DQG WR PRELOLVH students to take part in demonstrations when fascists come in to their local communities. Together we can beat the threat of the farright. Palestinian Liberation British Students Unions once played a role in defeating South Africa Apartheid, now they should take up the cause of Palestinian liberation. I want the NUS to take part in campaigns to put pressure on Israel to this end, such as working with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.

know and I will work hard to address it and then re-allocate that money to somewhere more meanLQJIXO :RXOG DQRWKHU FRŕŽ&#x2030; HH NDUW be useful? Do we want more funding for our societies? These are all suggestions that I will put forward on behalf of us, the student body!

I have been heavily involved with YDULRXV VRFLHWLHV RYHU P\ ŕŽ&#x160; UVW WZR years at the LSE. As a treasurer of the largest society budget on campus, I have consistently delivered surpluses. They have then been UH LQYHVWHG IRU WKH EHQHŕŽ&#x160; W RI WKH members. This is something I hope to do for the SU, ensuring that the surpluses are directed to our facilities requiring a long-awaited

upgrade. I have had many interactions with the SU and as a result learnt all about how it works. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve established strong connections with key individuals and will not be scared to voice your concerns to them! Vote Bhavik Vora #1 for 7UXVWHH DQG VHFXUH D ŕŽ&#x160; QDQFLDOO\ fair future for our Student Union.

and reason for running this position is simple â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to make the life research students at LSE a little easier. I plan to do this in three VSHFLŕŽ&#x160; F ZD\V 0DNH WKH VFKRO arship application process simpler for incoming and continuing students, 2.) Work to improve and expand the facilities for research students, such as kitchen and study room areas, and 3.) Look to create special library privileges for research students, such as extended loan privileges on course ERRNV DQG UHGXFHG ŕŽ&#x160; QHV IRU UH search students. I hope you will allow me the pleasure of serving you this academic year.

teaching work for taught students, teachers, and administrators alike; I have already spoken with Craig Calhoun on this. Ensure the new fully-funded PhD model doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exclude or disadvantage anyone. Facilitate more interdisciplinary research student networking (LSE and inter-school).

Improve research student working conditions (i.e., better chairs, kitchen). Establish a LSE bike-towork scheme for GTAs. Initiate an outreach program utilizing email, Facebook, events so that I can hear your ideas and feedback on the issues that matter to you. , ZLOO DOVR ZRUN RQ LVVXHV EHQHŕŽ&#x160; W ting the broader LSE community: Minimize student loan currency conversion costs born by all students. The LSE is dehydrated â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we should increase the number of water fountains on campus.

Improvements to LSE Public Lecture technology (i.e., better audio/ video quality, one-click calendar add) Towel program for the LSE gym Thank you for your time and support!

GARRICK HILEMAN: I have a proven track record of keeping my election promises. As undergraduate student body president I worked with the University of Washingtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s faculty and administration to improve access to teaching evaluations, brought greater efficiency and accountability to student government, and minimized an attempted tuition increase. If elected I will: Make VXUH QHZ HŕŽ&#x2030; RUWV WR LPSURYH *7$

-VOTING OPENS-

10AM ON WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 31ST

CHRIS ANGUELOV: No manifesto received.

MUSTAFAEN KAMAL: No manifesto received.

-VOTING CLOSES-

TEMUJIN LOUIE: No manifesto received.

7PM ON THURSDAY NOVEMBER 1ST

VOTE AT: LSESU.COM/VOTE

20

Manifestos

30.10.2012

| The Beaver

POSTGR ALIN FOULADVANG: No manifesto received.

ideas into action.

BEN GREEN: The LSE is amazing. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s make it even better. Hi, my nameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ben, you may recRJQLVH PH IURP VXFK SODFHV DV WKRVH ŕŽ&#x2039; \HUV \RX didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really want but felt obliged to take, or a preachy speech at the beginning of your lecture.

Sorry about that, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only for a week, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s for a good cause. There are a lot of us running, so you might be struggling to tell us apart. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why you should vote for me: ? I have experience in navigating University and Union bureaucracies. ?

I have a proven track record in actually getting things done. ? I pretty much live in a suit. Suits are cool. What I really want is to hear from you, about things you would like to see change, and not just after the election but right now. In the meantime though, here are four things Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll start with: 1. Sort out course selection â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it takes far too long to get started. 2. More, better, and much better advertised postgrad events. 3. Campaign for better access to funding for Masters courses.

4. Campaign for fairer pay for Graduate Teaching Assistants. Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re an undergraduate or postgraduate, you can vote, and you should vote (even if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not for me). Vote at www.lsesu.com/ vote between 10:00 on Wednesday 31 October and 19:00 on Thursday 1 November. Want to talk WR PH" 3OHDVH GR \RXâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹOO ŕŽ&#x160; QG PH DURXQG FDPSXV RU you can: Email â&#x20AC;&#x201C; b.a.green@lse.ac.uk Tweet - @ ben_a_green Facebook â&#x20AC;&#x201C; search â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ben Greenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

ERIC WALDSTEIN: BE KIND. WORK HARD. EXPERIMENT! Life requires balance. For me, this is achieved through a foundation of kindness, hard work, and the drive to experiment. My experiences as Vice-President of Student Issues as an undergraduate, teaching inner-city students in Washington DC, and working with Bill Gatesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; office on an innovative education curriculum are a few examples of how I have put my ideals into action. As your Postgraduate Representative I plan to maintain this balance through this three-part approach: BE KIND â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Mentoring disadvantaged primary school students We are fortunate to have WKH EHQHŕŽ&#x160; WV RI HGXFDWLRQ DQG H[SHULHQFH â&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2039;â&#x20AC;ŹOHWâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹV share. I will work with Stand-Up and other societies to establish or enhance a mentorship program in which postgrads tutor students in London. WORK HARD â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Postgraduate speaker series As students of the LSE, we are the future leaders of this world. We work hard and deserve to be heard. I will create a postgraduate speaker series in which we will present our ideas and work in a vocal and purposeful forum. EXPERIMENT â&#x20AC;&#x201C; LSE/UAL Partnership Progress evolves through experimentation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; meeting new people, trying new things. I will establish a partnership with University of the Arts London to collaboratively host events exhibiting art, local djs and creative thought.

CLARA DAVIS: My name is Clara Davis and I am standing for Post Graduate Student Officer. Our /6( H[SHULHQFH LV QRW GHŕŽ&#x160; QHG VROHO\ E\ RXU WLPH RQ campus. Instead, it encompasses our backgrounds and our futures. If elected, I will bring these pieces together through three initiatives. First, I will work with administration to improve scholarship opportunities for graduate students. Education is an investment many of us take on our own shoulders, so letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expand the scope and value of scholarship WR VXSSRUW RXU VWXGHQW ERG\â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹV ŕŽ&#x160; QDQFLDO IXWXUHV Second, I plan to launch a Graduate Symposium to showcase our accomplishments - a platform for graduate students to present published work, comSOHWHG UHVHDUFK SURGXFHG ŕŽ&#x160; OPV DQ\ RI WKH PDQ\ ways our peers are already contributing to the world. Finally, I will work to improve career services at the LSE by expanding a mentorship program between current graduate students and alumni in WKHLU GHVLUHG ŕŽ&#x160; HOG D OLQN WKDW VHUYHV ERWK VWXGHQW career paths and alumni recruitment needs. I will be available and receptive to peer needs, supporting our student body from their acceptance letter to their alumni status. I will funnel your ideas through the proper channels and I will turn your

ESWAR RACHOORI: An impactful advertising message for master card reads â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are some things money canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t buy. For everything else, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s MasterCard.â&#x20AC;? My Admission to LSE is one of the priceless things in life and I delivering the Vote-Canvassing address is a great responsibility; Only one thing that comes to my mind now is, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Elect me because I am youâ&#x20AC;?. For a leader Experience counts, Enthusiasm counts more. Knowledge counts, Acknowledgement counts more. Presence of mind counts, perseverance counts a lot more.

My aim as an office holder would be to 1. Organize Entrepreneurial sessions with the best leaders in the Industry and to make sure that the best 2 projects get fully funded. 2. Organize an â&#x20AC;&#x153;Alumni weekendâ&#x20AC;? which will bring our esteemed alumni GLUHFWO\ WR XV DQG FUHDWH D WHUULŕŽ&#x160; F DWPRVSKHUH WR bond with some of the present and future stalwarts of the industry. 3. Create a platform to enhance the exchange of ideas between students of the other 4 prominent colleges like Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial and London Business School. 4.

Appoint Student Academic advisers to help fellow students with their academics and other activities. The way we Vote and voice our opinion will

decide the future of how we will contribute to the growth of LSE. Given a chance I would thrive towards the betterment of our future and making life in LSE as memorable as possible by bringing in positive changes. As I said â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am youâ&#x20AC;?. Trust me with your support and I will not fail you.

GEORGE PLACHTCHINSKI: Hi, my name is George and I have stood for social interests since 2006 as a leader of the youth movement â&#x20AC;&#x153;Initiativeâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it struggled for human rights and led a campaign to free political prisoners after the fraudulent election in Belarus. Then I chaired the International Students Association at the most renowned international relations school in Russia for 3 years, where I represented more than 1,000 students and initiated democratic reformation of the studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; self-governance. Now I run for Postgraduate Officer to defend studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; interests and ensure that your opinions are valued. If elected, I promise to Keep the Best: Cooperation with the National Union of Students on freezing the fees and limiting visa restrictions to study; Regular Postgraduate Assemblies; Daniel Kroopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s TIPS comentoring programme; More part-time jobs and ŕŽ&#x160; JKW DJDLQVW XQSDLG LQWHUQVKLSV $QG WR ,PSURYH the Rest: University-wide survey of postgrads about the existing issues to resolve them; Social integration and networking: more vibrant events for postgrads, including opportunities to meet alumni from their courses; Distribution of Weekly 3RVWJUDGXDWH 1HZVOHWWHUV DERXW GLŕŽ&#x2030; HUHQW HYHQWV and opportunities. This list is not exclusive: I am open-minded and approachable, so you can be sure that your ideas, initiatives and concerns will always be considered properly. VOTE GEORGE PLACHTCHINSKI #1 FOR POSTGRADUATE OFFICER â&#x20AC;&#x201C; I Promise to Keep the Best and Improve the Rest!

JOSEPH MONTANO: Postgraduate students comprise more than half of the LSE student body and LWâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹV WLPH IRU WKH LVVXHV WKDW DŕŽ&#x2030; HFW XV WR ŕŽ&#x160; QDOO\ UH ceive the attention that they deserve. My objective is to enhance the quality of life here at LSE for all current postgraduate students and for those that come after us. If elected, I aim to create partnerships with local businesses and staffing agencies VR VWXGHQWV FDQ ŕŽ&#x160; QG HPSOR\PHQW PXFK IDVWHU DQG easier. I would also aim to have more recruiting events on campus. For future students I plan to have departments incorporate Moodle and LSE IRU <RX GLVFXVVLRQV GXULQJ 2ULHQWDWLRQ LQ DQ HŕŽ&#x2030; RUW to avoid confusion during course enrollment. The biggest mistake in any profession is forgetting who you are working for. Although I have many ideas about ways in which to improve on the LSE

STUDENTS

Manifestos

The Beaver | 30.10.2012

21

RADUATE experience it is imperative that YOU are able to voice YOUR opinions. It is the concerns and feedback of those that I represent that will guide the other projects that I will aim to complete during my tenure in this position. I will be as accessible as possible to my constituents both via email and there will be an â&#x20AC;&#x153;open door policyâ&#x20AC;? in my office so students are able to voice their concerns directly to me. This isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t something that I take lightly or just want for my CV â&#x20AC;&#x201C; I sincerely want to make the lives of LSE postgraduate students better both this year and for the years that follow. Thank you.

social provisions. I will run monthly surveys and we will together select one â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Issue of the Monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

I will strongly take up the issue with the Student Union and the School. I will hold one to one sessions to discuss your concerns. To start with, some key issues I wish to take up: Since our exams will be in the Summer Term, we should have mock exams before that. Special assistance for visa and work permit to work in the UK after completing the programme, and access to country and proJUDPPH VSHFLŕŽ&#x160; F DOXPQL GDWDEDVH IRU QHWZRUNLQJ and job opportunities.

improve YOUR academic experience* ¡ Fair working conditions for GTAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s- currently underpaid and undervalued. We need to emphasise teaching awards to ensure their hard work is recognised. Better treatment for teachers means better teaching. ¡ Standardised feedback across departments: I will work with the Pro-Director for Teaching and learning to ensure departmental consistency with both quantitative and qualitative feedback we receive. *To improve YOUR social and community experience* ¡ More tailormade events: from careers networks to national and cultural events as well as postgraduate club LAURA AUMEER: Postgrads deserve better. The SIMONE MARINO: Hello! My name is Simone nights. ¡ Events and meet-ups over summer start of the year has seen poor communication, Marino, I am a Social Policy student, and I would to build our community *To defend YOUR educaGHSDUWPHQWDO SUREOHPV DQG ZLGHU LVVXHV DŕŽ&#x2030; HFW be honoured to be your next Postgraduate Officer. tion* ¡ Campaign on Post-Study Work Visas ing both international and home students across I am Italian, grew up in Sicily but spent most of and state-backed postgraduate loans. ¡ Lobby the UK. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m Laura Aumeer and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m standing to P\ â&#x20AC;ŤÚ?â&#x20AC;ŹDGXOW OLIHâ&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹLQ GLŕŽ&#x2030; HUHQW SODFHV PDLQO\ (QJODQG and demonstrate against education cuts and govmake sure YOU receive the support you need. I Japan and Italy). I believe a key part of my role ernment policies which hit students hardest. **** spent the last 3 years here as an undergraduate. would consist of being a bridge between the dif- ************************************************** In my time on my hallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s committee, working on fering needs and perceptions of various groups. ****************** *So for an inclusive, supportive The Beaver and working for LSE Careers and the I worked for my previous University as a Culture community vote Sophie number 1 and make your alumni office, I have got to know the school, its Mediator resolving daily disputes among students vote COUNT* union and the things that make it great as well as well as representing their core interests withas the things that need changing. *** If you elect in the University. Drawing from this experience STEPHEN HELLIER: No manifesto received. me, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll elect someone who will 1) BE LOUD: Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll I would work on the following fundamental isshout for postgradsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; needs when the school is not sues: Set up the AGORAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Forum a completely new TINA SALIH: 7 ,1 $ 7587+ ,1 $&7,21

listening, say no to the poor organisation that left program of informal and free discussions about Hi! My name is Tina Salih and I would be privistudents without supervisors and make sure all burning issues that YOU will decide with the par- leged in representing you as Postgraduate Studepartments deliver 2) LISTEN: Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll hold regular ticipation of experts from our University. Devel- dent Officer. I just completed my BSc in Socioldrop-in sessions and be available whenever you RSLQJ HŕŽ&#x2030; HFWLYH VWXGHQW LQWHJUDWLRQ E\ LPSURYLQJ ogy with Psychology at City University, where I encounter problems 3) ENGAGE: Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get post- eventsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; coordination among national societies and graduated top of my class and acted as student grads more involved with the SU and make sure organizing new opportunities for interaction. In- representative for my course. I fought to improve you know what we are doing for you; Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll help you creasing the interdisciplinary nature of our edu- the student experience for local and international get involved throughout the school, from cam- cation by creating weekly pub meetings among students by ensuring their voices were heard in SDLJQLQJ IRU :HGQHVGD\ DIWHUQRRQV RŕŽ&#x2030; IRU VSRUW VWXGHQWV IURP GLŕŽ&#x2030; HUHQW GHSDUWPHQWV 0DNLQJ WKH matters concerning their academics, social life, to having more postgrad events 4) INTEGRATE: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Student Saloonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; an useful and more joyful space, and peer to peer relationships. I am also curIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll increase mingling and mentoring opportuni- with free access to microwaves to reheat your rently my course rep for MSc Social Policy and ties for taught postgrads interested in research lunch and save money. Improving the condition 'HYHORSPHQW ,I , DP HOHFWHG , DLP WR 2ŕŽ&#x2030; HU and for postgrads to help undergraduates 5) REP- of the common rooms, transforming them into PRE-SESSIONAL COURSES for students to unRESENT: Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll stand up for you on the big issues real social spaces where students can meet and derstand the system**: **Inform students how from visa nightmares to the cuts in education and socialize. Inspiring the postgraduate creative and programmes are structured **Advise students of research *** Vote Laura Aumeer: supporting you entrepreneurial spirit by inviting professionals as expectations throughout the year **Optional prethis year. well as everyday people to talk about their needs sessional essay writing and dissertations courses and experiences. Opening up the London School 2.**Encourage EMPLOYABILITY prospects for NEERAJ AGARWAL: Did you stress over selecting of Economics to the City of London. students** **Create social events with recruiters optional courses, feeling you might not be acceptto allow for networking **Create free interview ed into your chosen ones? Why pay high tuition SOPHIE SMIDGEY-COUNT: EXPERIENCE: As an and CV workshops 3. **Create a postgraduate fees if we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t study what we want? Why should MSc Social and Cultural Psychology student, who STUDENT LOUNGE** **Allow for integration of such problems become an obstacle to achieving studied at the LSE as an Undergraduate, I believe students between and within courses **Have a our dreams?

I have a unique insight into LSE life. Whilst an personal space to use at your own leisure 4.**PubI am appealing to each one of you. Stand up and undergraduate I was heavily involved in the AU licise FREE SOCIAL EVENTS** **Introduce stuspeak out. Our voices should shape what we study and RAG, and my experience of LSE life and event dents to Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dynamic scene **Encourage and how. I have worked with CNNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sister net- organisation gives me the skills required to be undergraduate and postgraduate students to take work in India for more than 4 years as a television YOUR postgraduate officer â&#x20AC;&#x201C; so make your vote part in mutual activities journalist reporting against injustice. If you elect COUNT. ***************************************** PH , ZLOO ŕŽ&#x160; JKW IRU \RXU DFDGHPLF ULJKWV IRU EHWWHU ********************************** POLICIES: *To

Sâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; OFFICER

22

Manifestos

30.10.2012

| The Beaver

MANIFESTOS CONTINUED COURT OF GOVERNORS MEMBERS (5) CHRIS ANGUELOV: No manifesto received.

DAN MARTIN: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I decided to stand for election because of the low number of candidates in the last elections. Disappointed, I felt the LSE could do better.

This is an opportunity for me to continue trying to make the LSE an enjoyable place to be. I want students to feel they have equal treatment, both from other students and in terms of teacher contact time and quality. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a big fan of the LSE, but I know many students ŕŽ&#x160;QG WKH SODFH GLIILFXOW 7KDWâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹV RQH RI the reasons I decided to become a Peer Supporter, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of the reasons Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve formed a group of students interested in â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;alternative careersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. I have experience of working on committees in large organisations, having sat on one of the British Medical Associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s for the last two years. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the plan, so vote Dan. Gracias.

DUNCAN MCKENNA: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;mDuncan McKenna and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m the Education Officer in the Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Union this year. This position gives me a unique insight to the issues that will be discussed at meetings of the Court of Governors. As part of my role, I sit on many committees and boards within the LSE, and therefore have a depth of knowledge and understanding of many of the important issues and details that will be discussed, which would make me a valuable member of the Court. I know the inner workings of the SU and the School well and will be able to give detailed and informed summaries of student opinion to the board. , FDQ RŕŽ&#x2030;HU VWURQJ YDULHG DQG ZKHQ necessary, impartial representation to the Court, and will also approach the WDVN LQ D SURIHVVLRQDO DQG HŕŽ&#x2030;HFWLYH ZD\ as many similar committees lie within my remit as a sabbatical officer. I care deeply about the student body and wish to represent them in as many ways as possible, and the Court is a vital mechanism for student representation at one of the highest levels possible. Vote for Duncan â&#x20AC;&#x201C; because â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;We still Dun-can!â&#x20AC;&#x2122; EDEN DWEK: Hi, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m Eden Dwek and I am running for a position on the Court of Governors. As a member of the Court of Governors, I will work hard to ensure that OUR VOICE and OUR OPINIONS are at the forefront of decision-making at LSE. For two consecutive years

GENERAL COURSE PRESIDENT (1) CHRISTOS KATSOURIS: I am Christos Katsouris from Athens, Greece but my home university is Babson College.

My agenda is clear how to make this the best year of our lives: 1. Academics. Everyone mustnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have problems with his/her classes. Because we are GC students doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean we are â&#x20AC;&#x153;secondclass studentsâ&#x20AC;?. I will make sure you are given the resources to excel since WKHUH DUH WUHPHQGRXV GLŕŽ&#x2030;HUHQFHV ZLWK the way of the teaching here. 2. Two GC parties! I have talked to a friend who runs a very prestigious nightclub in central London and we discussed of hosting two big GC parties (maybe more if they

I have been elected as one of LSEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s NUS delegates, and have worked with students to ensure that they are represented on a nation scale. I now want to use this understanding to ensure that students at our university have the best experience possible. I will represent you in the following ways â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ****I will ZRUN WR KHOS VWXGHQWV IDFLQJ ŕŽ&#x160;QDQFLDO difficulties, particularly with the further cuts in higher education. ****I will work further to fully represent international studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; welfare, particularly at the highest levels of LSE management. ****I will appeal for support in improving cultural and social cohesion at all levels of the school. I will also ensure that the Governors are in touch with the interests of the student body and that they uphold the values that we, as students, stand for. ****Vote EDEN DWEK #1 for an ALL HANDS ON DWEK APPROACH. EMILY LEROUX-RUTLEDGE: No manifesto received.

HASSAN ARIF: Represent student Opinion on the Court of Governors ¡ Be open with Students about decisions made on the Court ¡ Campaign for no discrimination on campus ¡ Pledge to improve teaching quality.

JASON WONG: Too often candidates running for student union elections care more about getting the job, than doing the job. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m running out of a genuine belief that as students of Britainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top university, we deserve better. We deserve more than a corrupt, incompetent and out-of-touch student union.

This campaign isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t about politics. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not interested in moving our student union to the left, or to the right. My only interest is in moving our student union forward. LSE Sabbatical officers are paid ÂŁ26,500 a year, which according to the Guardian is the highest in the country. This isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t right, especially when students are paying record high WXLWLRQ IHHV , ZLOO ŕŽ&#x160;JKW WR ORZHU 6DEbatical Officersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; pay. Some Sabbatical Officers are spending our money staying in Hilton hotel during â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;conferencesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and got reserved seats for the Dalai Lama lecture, when we had to queue IRU LW , ZLOO ŕŽ&#x160;JKW WR JHW ULG RI WKHVH special privileges. LSE100 is deeply XQSRSXODU ZLWK VWXGHQWV , ZLOO ŕŽ&#x160;JKW to make LSE100 optional. Change can happen, but it takes a candidate with the proven courage, conviction and determination. Join me and letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s win our student union back.

JOSH NEWLOVE: I have always believed that when it comes to decision making at LSE, students donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just simply need representing. We need to be represented in a way that is cooperago well!) one in November and one in February. 3. Careers and Internships.

Facilitate the process for those seeking employment here. 4. Trips and Events.

Improve communication and planning WR RUJDQL]H WULSV DQG HYHQWV HŕŽ&#x2030;HFWLYHO\ 5. Access all the time! Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be there for the slightest issue you might have: academic, professional or even personal.

I might create 2 official (or unofficial) deputy positions to ensure that you are represented 24h/day. The agenda can be extended! I assure you, am 100% serious to make this a year we will be telling our grandkids 50 years from now!

DULARA DE ALWIS: Every day, I look around and see the General Course students stretching themselves with tough courses, playing distinguished roles in respective LSE societies and sports teams, networking nonstop, and representing our identities in a gracious manner. But, correct me if I am wrong, as eager as we are to pursue our passions, and enjoy our time in London, our

tive, a way that is positive and engaging not only amongst the student community, but indeed with other elements of the School as well. This is why I also believe that as a progressive choice to represent you on the Court of GoverQRUV , FDQ EHVW ZRUN WR LQŕŽ&#x2039;XHQFH GHcisions which can genuinely improve the welfare of all. We are turning a new chapter at LSE, and whilst ethics in decision making should be constantly scrutinised, we should be hopeful yet realistic about our future. Being realistic is why I am not campaigning on over-optimistic and undeliverable pledges. I am asking for your vote on the grounds that I want to listen to your views right throughout the year. It is your views that matter, and it is your views that will form my agenda for a better deal for students on the Court.

You can even have your say now by tweeting @VoteNewlove!

MATTHEW PENNILL: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The difficulty lies not in the new ideas but in escapLQJ IURP WKH ROG RQHV â&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2018;â&#x20AC;Ź$V D ŕŽ&#x160;UVW \HDU student, I hope to bring these new ideas and a fresh approach to the Court of Governors. My priorities can be summarised by ROR â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Representation, Originality and Reform: Representation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; as your elected representative RQ WKH &RXUW P\ ŕŽ&#x160;UVW REMHFWLYH ZRXOG be to promote your views and I would remain open to any and all suggestions from you. One of my recommendations if elected would be to look at ways to make it easier for all students to propose and push for change at LSE. Originality â&#x20AC;&#x201C; having been heavily involved in clubs, societies and student representation at school, I will bring RULJLQDO LGHDV WR WKH WDEOH LQ DQ HŕŽ&#x2030;RUW to improve and enhance the LSE experience. Reform - from graduate teachersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; pay to reforming LSE For You and LSE 100, I will concentrate on pushing for improvement in those areas of LSE which donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t currently meet the level of excellence we expect and deserve.

For a representative, original and reforming student member of the Court of Governors, I ask you to vote for me and show your support For A Fresh Approach.

MUSTAFAEN KAMAL: No manifesto received.

TOLA ARIYO: Get some balls, vote for Tols. How best can we all work togethHU RQ LVVXHV WKDW DŕŽ&#x2030;HFW XV" ,QWHJUDWLRQ is my answer. Being in charge of Black History Month for the Afro Caribbean society, I have been able to take an integrated approach to the events that have been organised. Through working with the Anti-Racism officer in the school and Afro Caribbean socieground for expression here at the LSE could be 100 times better! To break it down, short and brief, my pledges are as follows: 1. Events hosted and administered by the General Course Student Body: GC Social with Beer Pong, Flip Cup & Kegs (Financed by LSESU) GC Sport Tournaments every termâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; eg:American Football (GC vs. Freshers, GC vs. Third years) 2. Close-knit general course class groups: Tough AssignPHQWV" 'RQâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹW :RUU\ )DFHERRN KRVWHG class groups for all courses. 3. An everlasting Network: Build a foundation for GC alumni that will be in touch wherHYHU \RX DUH LQ WKH ZRUOG :K\ PH" I prize integrity more than anything. 2.

As a previous Student Council member, I delivered through with all my promises. 3. I believe that Together, We can!

RIAN WATT: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hello, everyone. My nameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rian â&#x20AC;&#x201C; yes, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spelled funny â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m here at the LSE after stops in Belgium, Chicago (where I grew up) and Massachusetts. My mother and

ties in other universities, we have had a vibrant period of Black History that would have been impossible without working together. I want to take this approach to greater lengths on the PRVW LPSRUWDQW LVVXHV WKDW DŕŽ&#x2030;HFW WKH school. This would be invaluable to the UROH EHFDXVH \RX ZLOO EH FRQŕŽ&#x160;GHQW WKDW I will defend or attack positions which EHQHŕŽ&#x160;W RU XQGHUPLQH RXU FRPPXQLW\ RICHARD SERUNJOGI: Richard Serunjogi - Life Experiencer, Community Inspired â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Love Life and Peopleâ&#x20AC;? I believe we are tomorrow today, our ambitions, talents and potential have no limit and every day spent at LSE should be a step towards our dreams. Real Life ExperiHQFH , ZDQW \RX WR EHQHŕŽ&#x160;W IURP WKH H[periencer Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve gained working for and with the following organisations at Executive/editorial level. Google, London Mayor Campaign, UNICEF UK, The Guardian, London Citizens, Spirit of London Awards, National Participation Forum. LSE Experience LSE RAG Committee, Beaver News reporter, DJ at Crush, ACS Committee, Energy Society Committee, Social Policy Course Rep Priorities 1. Jobs & internships â&#x20AC;&#x201C; opportunities for LSE students to sample and discover a wider variety of industries, outside of the stereotypical banking DQG ŕŽ&#x160;QDQFH VHFWRUV )RRG *UHDWer student input and choice on food served in halls of residence 3. Fair Pay ensuring Graduate Teachers are paid a rate that recognises and rewards their hard work and will result in even better quality teaching for undergraduates To ŕŽ&#x160;JKW WKH FRUQHU RI VWXGHQWV RQ %RDUG of Governors we need someone with a track record of getting things done, in and outside of LSE. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Your choice!

STEPHEN HELLIER: No manifesto received.

THOMAS MEADEN: My name is Thomas Meaden and I want your vote for Court RI *RYHUQRUV /6( LV VXŕŽ&#x2030;HULQJ IURP D fundamental lack of communication between the school and students. The AU Budget is too small, the student satisfaction ratings too low and the average student forgotten. If elected I promise to be a loud, unapologetic voice for the vast majority of LSE students who are currently disenfranchised. Policy objectives 1) Lobby the school for a bigger AU budget. My own rowing club are having our growth throttled by a ODFN RI IXQGV 7R FRQWLQXH WKH ŕŽ&#x160;JKW WR get every lecture recorded and all past papers and solutions published 3) To work tirelessly to pull student politics back towards the centre ground.

TOM PRIOR: No manifesto received.

father are from India and Scotland, respectively, which gives me the happy choice of â&#x20AC;&#x153;kilt or kurtaâ&#x20AC;? every morning.

Anyhow, enough about me. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m running for General Course President: Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to make sure that we as the General Course have (a) a voice and a presence on this campus, and (b) a wide variety of events and activities to attend, including those that bring folks IURP GLŕŽ&#x2030;HUHQW KDOOV WRJHWKHU :Hâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹUH RQO\ here for a year, and we have a whole lot to contribute. I want to make sure we make our mark. This means that any events we put on should be exciting enough that everyone wants to attend, cheap enough that everyone can attend, and varied enough that every single one of you feels thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something for you.

It also means that you need a General Course President whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be open to your suggestions and voice. I hope to be that President for you, and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d love to have your vote. Thank you!â&#x20AC;?

Manifestos

The Beaver | 30.10.2012

23

MANIFESTOS CONTINUED DEMOCRACY COMMITTEE MEMBER (1) ANNA WARM: No manifesto received.

HAMZA JAWAID: FORTY, I saw forty SHRSOH LQ WKH ŕŽ&#x160; UVW HYHU 8*0 , DWWHQGHG at LSE. A stark contrast to the hundreds I see on the Street or hogging the Library computers. Reasons? Lack of AWARENESS, Lack of INTEREST. (not mutually exclusive). It is time to JHW <28 LQYROYHG ,W LV WLPH WR JHQHUDWH interest. If you can VOTE, so can you stand for a post next time around. It is

STUDENT MEMBERS ON THE ACADEMIC BOARD (2) ANNA WARM: No manifesto received.

EMILY LEROUX-RUTLEDGE: No manifesto received.

MARCO WONG: 30 6HSWHPEHU 21, 2011. Vancouver, Canada. You are sitting in a quaint, cozy, cafĂŠ, waiting IRU D SKRQH FDOO QRW MXVW DQ\ SKRQH call, but a teleconference meeting with four other like-minded volunteers from across your country. The goal is twofold- to work with them in improving FRPPXQLFDWLRQV EHWZHHQ DQ 1*2 DQG its volunteers on a national scale, and to ensure that the needs of your home SURYLQFH DUH PHW 0\ QDPH LV 0DUFR Wong, and what you read was an ex-

Mature/Parttime Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 2૿ FHU

ALEX HALL: 0DWXUH DQG SDUW WLPH VWX dents are more likely have concerns DERXW SDUW WLPH ZRUN FKLOG FDUH GLŕŽ&#x2030; HU ing course structure and may feel uninformed of upcoming social opportunities and welfare information. If you were to elect me as your mature and part-time VWXGHQWVâ&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹRIILFHU , ZRXOG UHGUHVV WKLV problem of inclusivity. I will bring about greater social inclusivity for mature and part-time students. By creating useful events that directly address relevant

DIWHU DOO D 6WXGHQWV 8QLRQ , KDYH VHHQ more people promoting Deloitte and .30* GD\ LQ DQG GD\ RXW DW RXU VFKRRO WKDQ RXU RZQ 8QLRQ $V D PHPEHU RQ the democracy committee, I seek to change all that. As evident from my sloJDQ WKH 8QLRQ QHHGV D FRQVWDQW SXVK from the Freshers to freshen it up, to UH HQHUJLVH 7KH 8QLRQâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹV MRE LV WR FUH ate an ownership between the School and its students, to create a drive and the ability to take initiatives. Not everything at LSE has to yield a strong point on that all important CV. It is time, the 8QLRQ VWDUWV WR OLYH XS WR LWV QDPH ,W is time to vote for Hamza Jawaid, A )5(6+(5 6((.,1* $ )5(6+(5 $3 352$&+ 72 7+( 5811,1* 2) 7+( 81,21 JADE SYMONDS: Oscar Wilde stated that â&#x20AC;&#x153;Democracy means simply the cerpt of my experiences serving with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. The reason why this story is important is because representing you on the Academic Board is, in many ways, similar to my responsibilities in that role. Representation, communication, integrity- all qualities that both positions demand, in order for the CNIB to VHUYLFH WKRVH VXŕŽ&#x2030; HULQJ IURP YLVLRQ ORVV and for LSE to facilitate our learning. As your student representative, I intend to be your voice, raising questions and expressing concerns about how the school is run, ready and willing to challenge the accepted norms. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to email me at m.y.wong@lse.ac.uk, I would love to hear from you!

MUSTAFAEN KAMAL: No manifesto received.

NONA BUCKLEY-IRVINE: LSE is ranked WKLUG RYHUDOO LQ 8. XQLYHUVLW\ UDQNLQJV \HW LW GRHVQâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹW PDNH LW LQWR WKH WRS ŕŽ&#x160; IW\ for teaching quality. That, I feel, summarises the problems that lie with the LSE and its academic provision for students. Having been a student for a year issues, such as part â&#x20AC;&#x201C;time work opportunities, I feel we could create a more inclusive environment. I will frequently contact students with relevant updates about LSE life. I demand greater welfare support for mature and part-time students. I will campaign for the Counselling Service to address the unique LVVXHV WKDW DŕŽ&#x2030; HFW PDWXUH DQG SDUW WLPH students. I will ensure that students are given support, practical advice and that special arrangements can be made taking into respect the unique position of part-time and mature students. I will ŕŽ&#x160; JKW IRU SHUVRQDO VXSSRUW IDFLOLWLHV IRU mature and part-time students. I will launch a system that links local, parttime employers and part time students looking for work. For mature students, I will establish targeted support from the Careers Service. LSE FOR ALL. VOTE HALL.

bludgeoning of the people by the people for the peopleâ&#x20AC;? and honestly, I disagree. Democracy provides a platform for even the smallest voice to be heard and recognized. If elected I WILL ensure that our elections are OPEN, FAIR DQG ,1&/86,9( WR JXDUDQWHH WKDW HYH ryone wishing to stand is given their fair chance to participate and are EN&285$*(' WR GR VR )RU WRR ORQJ PDQ\ vital LIBERATION campaigns have run XQFRQWHVWHG LQ /6(68 (OHFWLRQV , EH lieve that by working with the relevant societies and departments we can INCREASE interest, candidate numbers and participation for these crucial roles.

I WILL guarantee that the work of the Democracy Committee is transparent, the executive is held to account and efforts are being made to increase attendDQFH DW 8*0V ,I HOHFWHG , :,// SURYLGH &200,70(17 3$66,21 DQG ,0

PARTIALITY- traits that I have already demonstrated in my role as a Treasurer RI DQ /6(68 VRFLHW\ , EHOLHYH WKDW P\ IDEAS, PASSION and DRIVE will provide the momentum necessary to enVXUH '(02&5$&< DW /6( UHDOO\ LV IRU the people, by the people! VOTE JADE )25 $1 23(1 ,03$57,$/ $1' ,1 &/86,9( '(02&5$7,& 678'(17â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;Ź6 81,21

at the LSE and now starting second year, I feel aware of these problems.

Course packs are limited to certain subMHFWV ZH GR QRW KDYH D UHDGLQJ ZHHN and classes are increasingly being led E\ XQGHU SDLG DQG RYHUZRUNHG *UDGX DWH 7HDFKLQJ $VVLVWDQWV 0\ DLP LV WR give us, the students, a true voice on the Academic Board in order to bring these issues to the forefront and make the School place more emphasis on us and our education. I have been a part RI 5$* VLQFH P\ ŕŽ&#x160; UVW \HDU DQG ZULWH for the Beaver, as well as sitting on the 6WDŕŽ&#x2030; 6WXGHQW )RUXP IRU P\ GLVFLSOLQH I feel that these positions have given me knowledge of how LSE operates and also enabled me to meet a lot of students. I am friendly, approachable and ready to listen to your concerns.

I genuinely believe that we deserve more, and if you vote for me, I will deliver that.

more emphasis on skills development for students, like more IT, writing, language and numeracy sessions. These should be as cheap and as regular as possible, for postgrads and underJUDGV DOLNH 0DNLQJ VXUH DOO DFDGHPLF VWDŕŽ&#x2030; DUH DW OHDVW DV JRRG DW WHDFKLQJ DV WKH\ DUH DW UHVHDUFK 0RUH FRXUVH FRQ tent online and lecture capture across DOO PRGXOHV *HW ULG RI /6( :HOO maybe reform it and make it less time consuming. However, I know there will EH PRUH WR WKH MRE WKDQ WKHVH LGHDV , SURPLVH WR SXW WLPH DQG HŕŽ&#x2030; RUW LQWR SUH paring for each Board session, reaching out and reporting back to the community via the internet, the media group, DQG IDFH WR IDFH PHHWLQJV , ZRQâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹW EH D rubber stamp, agreeing to everything WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ SURSRVHV EXW ,â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹOO FRQVLG er every proposal carefully. So vote for someone you can talk to all year round.

Elect someone who will work hard for \RX *HW EHWWHU *HW %DUQHWW

SAM BARNETT: ,â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹP 6DP DQG ,â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹP D second year History undergraduate. If elected, I will aim to be the most dynamic and accessible student member WKH $FDGHPLF %RDUG KDV HYHU KDG 0\ priorities for the Board include: Putting

ROSIE DUNLAVEY: No manifesto received.

SAMEERA MEHRA: No manifesto received.

STEPHEN HELLIER: No manifesto received.

TEMUJIN LOUIE: No manifesto received.

STEPHEN HELLIER: No manifesto received.

TEMUJIN LOUIE: No manifesto received.

24

Advert

30.10.2012

| The Beaver

Some people know precisely where they want to go. Others seek the adventure of discovering uncharted territory. Whatever you want your professional journey to be, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for at Oliver Wyman.

application deadlines 1st November for November 2012 offers 16th December for January 2013 offers 20th January 2013 for summer internships Discover the world of Oliver Wyman at oliverwyman.com/careers

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An equal opportunity employer.

The Beaver 30.10.2012

PartB

MUSIC JEREMIH//PANGAEA VIDEO GAMES POKEMON WHITE II

25

26

30.10.2012 PartB

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PartB

) PANGAEA release

K

evin McAuley, better known as Pangaea, has just released an 8-track â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;double-EPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; via the Hessle Audio imprint, which he cofounded with Pearson Sound and Ben UFO. Pangaea is a man of few words and his discography is equally limited, sporting just 8 releases since 2007.

After his self-titled EP, which came out in 2010 this is his most lengthy work yet, however interestingly he refuses to call it an album. The reasons for this become apSDUHQW XSRQ ŕŽ&#x160;UVW OLVWHQ DQG it is clear that this is a collection of his recent output sprinkled with some experimental tracks that he would have refrained from releasing on a two-sided 12â&#x20AC;?.

Pangaea, and indeed most artists that have appeared on Hessle Audio, is well known for blending together variRXV LQŕŽ&#x2039;XHQFHV VXFK DV FODVVLF two-step garage sounds and 90s jungle, encapsulating it all at a dubstep tempo.

The opening track, entitled *DPH UHŕŽ&#x2039;HFWV WKLV DV ZHOO DV Pangaeaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s typical minimalist approach and features FUDIW\ SHUFXVVLRQ WRSSHG RŕŽ&#x2030; ZLWK DQ HŕŽ&#x2030;HFWLYH 0LVV\ (OOLott sample. Moving on, the title track develops from what sounds like an interlude into D IXOO ŕŽ&#x2039;HGJHG VWRPSHU ZLWK an industrial feel. It sets the stage for the next couple of tracks by acting as a middle ground between headphone listening and a club track.

Next up, Trouble, is classic Hessle material with its wooden percussion, obscure vocal sample and menacing bass line, a calm before the

5RXQGLQJ RŕŽ&#x2030; WKH UHOHDVH LV what is in my opinion a lackluster track â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a poor attempt at something that Aphex Twin would do much better. High is not your average tune, and certainly not danceable, with an extended buildup composed of a monotonous kick drum and an equally uninspiring, heavily edited vocal sample, before disappearing into nowhere leaving the listener wondering why this track was included at all. It sounds more like a lazy experiment in the studio rather than anything, which could possibly evoke an emotional response.

5HOHDVH LV QRW D EDG HŕŽ&#x2030;RUW but neither does it stand out amongst the vast amount of percussive dubstep hybrids that Hessle and other labels have been putting out lately.

Few of the tracks develop into something cohesive and are what you might call Credit: Hessel Audio â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;percussive workoutsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. This â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;stormâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; that is the 4th track â&#x20AC;&#x201C; dynamism of Majestic 12 and ZRXOG KDYH EHHQ ŕŽ&#x160;QH LI WKH Majestic 12. sounds constrained, lacking tracks possessed the raw enMajestic indeed, this has energy. ergy that is needed to move to be the most thought out The 6th track, Middleman, a crowd, but instead they track on the double-EP and ŕŽ&#x160;WV LQ QLFHO\ LQWR WKH SDFNDJH feel lazy and undeveloped. frankly the only one I can combining harsh drum work Kevinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s previous releases are imagine actually dancing to. DQG D ŕŽ&#x160;WWLQJ EUDVV VDPSOH ,W far more elaborate and varFully showcasing McAuleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brings the EP to a conclusion, ied. skills in drum programming, being suited better for home supported by a writhing and listening and showcasing Buy Release now on doumutating bass line, which the deeper side of dubstep. ble 12â&#x20AC;? vinyl, CD and digital drives the track forward. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t bother playing Aware if download. Catch Pangaea at Moreover, upon listening to you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t got a subwoofer the Brixton Academy on the Majestic 12 you get the im- â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this track is all about the 2nd of November with Four pression that the track â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;goesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; deep sub bass, held together Tet, Caribou and Pearson somewhere, something that by sparse tribal-like drums. Sound cannot be said about the rest. As is always the case with Time Bomb speaks for itself â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Pangaea, the track features Ć&#x2030; Dmitry Feoktistov an explosive track with heavy, small intricate details such Blawan-like drums and an as the occasional bleep or the infectious melody. Neverthe- lush background pads, which less, it fails to replicate the work together seamlessly.

JEREMIH late nights

T

he album sits comfortably in the blossoming electronic take on neosoul that has spread ad astra thanks in no small part to Frank Ocean. Yet whilst Ocean deals with the sublime and veiled, Jeremih addresses the union of humans directly; the ultra-smooth â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;F*ck U All The Timeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; plays like it has been crafted out the distilled sweat of Usher on valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s night. The track encapsulates the theme of this album and indeed Jeremihâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oeuvre as a whole: copulation.

Brilliantly, this mixtape is free and stands testament to the disconnect between price and value. The quality and attention in production is substantial enough to prick the ears of many in circles wider than the R&B world, with tracks from the record appearing in mixes of British DJs Joy Orbison and Oneman. Indeed, it even includes guest spots IURP VRPH RI WKH ŕŽ&#x160;QHVW 0&V LQ the US such as Twista, and unfortunately one of the worst, 2

Chainz. However, they are all united in doing what they do best, which is penning odes to PatrĂłn, cars and women.

Like any good record, Late Nights, is able to carry the aesthetic and theme through D YDULHW\ RI GLŕŽ&#x2030;HUHQW VRXQGV without losing cohesion; it concerns itself with the laidback in essence but still manages to move beyond the languid. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ladiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Girls Go Wildâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; bottle-up so much bounce that trying to resist shaking your head would be fruitless.

Once again, cop this ridiculously good record for FREE (legally) online.

Ć&#x2030;Emir Nader

Credit: Jeremih Promo

Artist -HUHPLK Album /DWH 1LJKWV :LWK -HUHPLK 0L[WDSH Website GDWSLŕ­ź FRP -HUHPLK /DWH 1LJKWV :LWK -HUHPLK PL[WDSH KWPO

27

The Beaver 30.10.2012

DEADMAU5

T

Credit: deadmau5

he basic way to explain deadmau5 is: he sounds like electro/progressive house but feels like trance.

Plug in some decent earphones, play some mau5, let go of your basic inhibitions and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll know what I mean.

In consideration of the previous statement, deadmau5â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest LP, (awkwardly) titled <album title goes here>, is both hit, and miss, though more of the latter.

2QH RI WKH WUDFNV , ŕŽ&#x160; UVW UH member hearing when I started going out clubbing was â&#x20AC;Ť*Ú?â&#x20AC;ŹKRVWV Q 6WXŕŽ&#x2030; â&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹE\ GHDGPDX Those haunted mansion stabs, and crazy bass swivels hooked my mind like no previous electronic music had before.

Subsequently I delved into deadmau5â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s repertoire. I discovered, and fell in love with the ability of tracks such as Strobe (2010), Slip (2008), and Faxing Berlin (2008), to mesmerize me within their respective cocoons of warm buzzing basses and layered melodies brilliantly crafted over 5+ captivating minutes.

7KH ŕŽ&#x160; UVW WUDFN RI WKH DOEXP â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Superliminalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, adequately ticks the mesmerism checkbox. The tree-trunk-thick oscillating bass line brings you all the way from the get-go to the breakdown. Supplied by a space pad and an ingenious reverse snare sample, the track explodes back into the ULŕŽ&#x2030; OHDYLQJ \RX LQ D PXVLFDO stupor.

The lead single of the album, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Professional Griefersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;,

THE PULSE LIST Each week we catch up with a PuLSE DJ and see what they have to say for themselves.

Hello Michelle, Hi! Whats the name of your show?

Into the Space Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the big idea?

To showcase some awesome spoken word (maybe some poHWU\ ERRN DQG ŕŽ&#x160; OP H[HUFHSWV

DQG GHŕŽ&#x160; QLWHO\ VRPH PXVLF where the lyrics are more WKDQ MXVW D WLPH ŕŽ&#x160; OOHU

is what you would expect it to be: a club destroyer. Imagine the song in a context of a small dark alcove setting of 200W amps blasting gigajoules of sound waves through your body and you might glimpse the meaning of this song dropping in a club. The song shines especially in the verses; kudos to MCR frontman, Gerard Way, for delivering the taut, biting vocals. Combined with the fast attack, escalating bass ULŕŽ&#x2030; WKH V\QHUJ\ LV LPPHQVH and if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not bobbing your head then shame on you.

For all the love that â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Veldtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; has received as a progressive house track I personally detest it with the vehemence of a thousand electro-bass-lines. The production is generic, and the lyrics are just ridiculous; lions and children in the wild?

The rest of the album suffers from either the aforementioned lacklustre or accidental construction e.g. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Fn Pigâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

Skip the cheesy trance buildup to 3:45 in â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Fn Pigâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and you get a crazy-ass workshop electro ostinato; the progressive aspect builds on with snares, reverse noise, and some extra OHDG ULŕŽ&#x2030; V SXOOLQJ RXW RI QR where. Unfortunately by 5:20, the songâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s budding genius dies as the breakdown occurs and the chopped up vocals are tactlessly introduced; it subsequently veers into discomŕŽ&#x160; WXUH As a whole, the albumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;themeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of space, void, and automation meanders without

GIGS

One reason why we should tune in?

I think some artists are still saying interesting and sincere things which are worth listenLQJ WR DQG , P JRQQD WU\ ŕŽ&#x160; QG them.

If your show was a tube station which one and why?

Kilburn Park, always soothing music playing.

DUOLOGUE & THROWING SNOW 3 NOVEMBER

DIANNE REEVES 6 NOVEMBER

ROBERTO FONSECA 3 NOVEMBER

6 NOVEMBER HAMMERSMITH APOLLO

ELECTROWERKZ

RONNIE SCOTT'S

MARTIN CARTHY 3 NOVEMBER

When?

Thursdays 6-7pm every other week starting 1st November (Wk 4)

EXMOUTH ARMS (STARCROSS ST.)

Ć&#x2030; Emir Nader

ALT-J & STEALING SHEEP 5 NOVEMBER

3 tracks we will hear?

Kate Tempest - Give, LCD Soundsystem - Home, Mos Def - Umi Says.

ELECTRIC BALLROOM

RONNIE SCOTT'S

SEAL

DON GIOVANNI (ENO) UNTIL 7 NOVEMBER LONDON COLISEUM

BON IVER 8 NOV

WEMBLEY ARENA

JULIAN LLOYD WEBBER & TAMSIN LITTLE 8 NOV

SPIRITUALIZED 5 NOVEMBER

ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL

ASHER ROTH 6 NOVEMBER

8 NOV O2 ACADEMY BRIXTON

ROUNDHOUSE

Credit: Katetempest

THE GARAGE

M83

striking succinctly. Although there are brief moments of hypnosis to be found, I discovered a certain idiosyncrasy between past tracks and the songs in this album. For example, the melodic tune Strobe (from 2009â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s For Lack of A Better Name) is miles better than its <album title goes here> equivalent, The Veldt.

Similarly hard track Animal Rights (from 2010â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 4x4=12) is multiple times punchier than Channel 42 (with the same DJ, Wolfgang Gartner, who worked with deadmau5 on Animal Rights). â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;album title goes hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is decent as a stand-alone album, and there are certain moments of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;tranceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; like moments to be found but in comparison to the potential that is dying to leap out of Joelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s head it is lacking so very much.

As a mau5head I will be listening, and re-listening to the DOEXP DQG , ŕŽ&#x160; JXUH LW ZLOO HYHQ tually grow on me; however I pray that deadmau5 will rise again in the future, to shake RŕŽ&#x2030; WKH \RNHV RI MDGHG PLVGL UHFWLRQ WKDW KDV EHHQ DŕŽ&#x2030; HFW ing him recently as evidenced by his lack of touring and uninspiring work, to take the throne of EDM as he should.

I will mess my pants if deadmau5 headlines Tomorrowland 2013 with some new tracks.

Ć&#x2030; Andrew Njoo

WANTTO WRITE FOR MUSIC? You  could  interview  or  review  albums  and  concerts!

CAN'T IMAGINE ANYTHING BETTER? Submit articles or just get in touch with Emir and Tom at: music@thebeaveronline. co.uk

28

30.10.2012 PartB

RUST AND BONE

STUDIOCANAL

F

Marion Cotillard and Matthias Schoenaerts in Jacques AudiardтАЩs Rust and Bone.

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IN CINEMAS 2 NOVEMBER 2012 Director Jacques Audiard Writer Jacques Audiard, Thomas Bidegain Cast Marion Cotillard, Matthias Schoenaerts, Armand Verdure Run time 120 minutes

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The Beaver 30.10.2012

% SHELF LIFE

' SEALAND

I

ROBERT PRESTON / THEATRE DELICATESSEN

S

helf Life begins as soon as you enter the disused BBC London studies in Marylebone, new home of Theatre Delicatessen, an innovative company committed to turning traditional theatre on its head. In a mock hospital waiting room two nurses are kissing ferociously, they stop to give you a balloon and booklet entitled â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;record of achievementâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the absurdity is just beginning.

Following â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;the lightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; through the dark basement FRUULGRUV â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x201D;â&#x20AC;ŹSXVK SXVK \RXâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹUH almost there!â&#x20AC;? rings loud and two large hands pull you through a pink hole â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you are born (again). This is promenade theatre close to the heart, the rest of the show is spent merely â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;livingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from school to work to the retirement home and beyond. The cast needed to be on top form for this to work â&#x20AC;&#x201C; quick, relevant, and witty interaction is a must if the audience is to suspend belief and let them-

selves into HalfCutâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s world.

Sadly this did not happen throughout, some characters were shaky in often laboured scenes. Mairi Hayes and Ayesha Tansey in particular carried the show past this though â&#x20AC;&#x201C; convincingly assumLQJ GLŕŽ&#x2030; HUHQW FKDUDFWHUV DQG roles without having to stop and think. Hayesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; primary school lesson was entirely believable, her fake chirpiness coupled with the audience on beanbags reminded how patronising we (adults) can really be. Some slick wordplay then coolly turned the lesson into high school sex education, it took the audience a while to realise that we had moved on from faces to fallopian tubes.

Equally brilliant, if slightly unnerving, was Tanseyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role at the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;university partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ZKHUH VHW GHVLJQHU .DWKDULQH Heath had perfectly emulated a typical Manchester halls of residence kitchen/living room combo â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we all know the scene. $IWHU VRPH VFULSWHG ŕŽ&#x2039; LUWDWLRQ I was pushed into an empty bedroom only to be interrupted by a jealous boyfriend (played by Thom Mitchell)â&#x20AC;Ś just as things were escalating.

We were then rushed on to a wedding reception â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the show at its best when scenes were

so swiftly linked. These moments, amongst some others, went far to confuse reality and were great examples of what can make this kind of theatre one of the highest forms of escapism.

Something should be said of the building itself, a sprawl of offices that lends itself to Shelf Lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own billing as a manifestation of the meaningless of life â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the rat race is on the whole set in these kinds of spaces; yet the show was all so merry that I hardly felt the weight of life until the mood WRRN D VRPEUH WXUQ LQ WKH ŕŽ&#x160; QDO scene.

The production is certainly more suited to those of us who have not quite embarked on our journey yet as it did seem to be for the older members of the group a bit of old hat, indeed sitting in a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;retirement homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; next to a couple who had the option of a free bus home was a little tense. Yet this gamebook-brought-to-life has enough charm to entertain and although it dragged itself to an end it was fun while it lasted.

Laurence Vardaxoglou

THEATRE DELICATESSEN until 10 November 2012 Directed by Luke Clarke Written by Luke Clark Starring Adam El Hagar, Seamus Bradford, Janet Etuk, Ed Pinker, Jessica Stone 83 minutes

I was really looking forward to seeing Sealand having missed it at the Edinburgh Fringe festival this year, where a slick marketing campaign coupled with favourable reviews had created enough of a buzz to sail it down to London for a run in the Arcola Tent - one of TimeRXWâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹV WRS ŕŽ&#x160; YH â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x201D;â&#x20AC;ŹKRW QHZ WKHD tresâ&#x20AC;?.

It was a shame, then, that the show did not justify the hype. There is a former WWII sea fort of the same name, which has been occupied by a family since 1967 who claim it to be an independent sovereign state â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this is also the basis for the play; Ted (Adam El Hager), his son Alex (Ed Pinker) and another family leave broken Britain to establish a new community â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ideally utopian.

On stage an obviously competent group of actors played out a series of dull and clumsily-written family dramas that appear to bring down the state â&#x20AC;&#x201C; oh and someone is killed towards the end.

El Hager, playing captain/ leader/explorer/president Ted, seemed straight from the RŕŽ&#x2030; GHVWLQHG WR JR GRZQ ZLWK the ship â&#x20AC;&#x201C; spouting line after line of pious nonsense includLQJ â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x201D;â&#x20AC;ŹVRQ QRWKLQJ ZRUWK GRLQJ LVQâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹW KDUG ZRUNâ&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2022;â&#x20AC;ŹDQG â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x201D;â&#x20AC;ŹQR RQH missed England more than I doâ&#x20AC;?. To avoid a cringing audience, all director Luke Clarke need to do was to sit El Hager down, make him seem more sincere. Instead Every. Sentence. Was. Very. Deliberate.

And. Very. LOUD. We were treated to a series of politically-naĂŻve, lazily put together, and overly preachy sermons.

Typical problems with a commune were presented, such as not everyone contributing the same or required amount, but overall this amounted to nothing more than a basic notion of autocratic utopia.

29

5HJXODU DUWLŕŽ&#x160; FLDO DQG cheap laughs helped to keep 6HDODQG DŕŽ&#x2039; RDW â&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2039;â&#x20AC;ŹWKH PDLQ FXO prit is Alex. Not a normal 16 year old by any means but his occasional toddler-like behaviour, to gain a few laughs it seems, was an obvious inconsistency in the script and frankly inexcusable.

Jess Stoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance as the archetypal teenager Sarah was nothing short of perfect however â&#x20AC;&#x201C; possibly one of the best young actors I have seen over the past two years. Her presence commanding, character impeccable â&#x20AC;&#x201C; her character is this generationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s anVZHU WR +DUU\ (QŕŽ&#x160; HOGâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹV .HYLQ Typical problems with a commune were presented, such as not everyone contributing the same or required amount, but overall this amounted to nothing more than a basic notion of autocratic utopia.

5HJXODU DUWLŕŽ&#x160; FLDO DQG cheap laughs helped to keep 6HDODQG DŕŽ&#x2039; RDW â&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2039;â&#x20AC;ŹWKH PDLQ FXO prit is Alex. Not a normal 16 year old by any means but his occasional toddler-like behaviour, to gain a few laughs it seems, was an obvious inconsistency in the script and frankly inexcusable.

Jess Stoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance as the archetypal teenager Sarah was nothing short of perfect however â&#x20AC;&#x201C; possibly one of the best young actors I have seen over the past two years. Her presence commanding, character impeccable â&#x20AC;&#x201C; her character is this generationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s anVZHU WR +DUU\ (QŕŽ&#x160; HOGâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹV .HYLQ

Laurence Vardaxoglou

ARCOLA TENT until 10 November 2012 Directed by Luke Clarke Written by Luke Clark Starring Adam El Hagar, Seamus Bradford, Janet Etuk, Ed Pinker, Jessica Stone 83 minutes

30

30.10.2012 PartB

& PETER

H

ave you ever heard of Peter Llewelyn Davies?

What about Peter Pan? Therein lies the concept of this play. Peter Pan was in fact named after Peter Llewelyn Davies by the eccentric playwright J.M. Barrie (who eventually became Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s adopted father). This play explores the LQŕŽ&#x2039; XHQFH RI WKH IDQWDV\ WDOH of the boy who never grew up on Peter Daviesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (played

by Martin Richardson) real and ultimately tragic life. The VHW UHŕŽ&#x2039; HFWV WKLV WKHPH ,W LV mainly naturalistic (split down the middle between an indoor room and a park bench) but black and white photos of Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s past intrude on every scene. In the second act we see Peter Pan himself stalk Peter around the stage, whereas LQ WKH ŕŽ&#x160; UVW DFW WKH UROH RI IDQ WDV\ LV SHUVRQLŕŽ&#x160; HG E\ WKH FUHD tor of the Peter Pan story: J.M. Barrie (Stewart Marquis).

The character of J.M. Barrie is sublime and the writing UHŕŽ&#x2039; HFWV WKH GHHS XQGHUVWDQG ing of a literary mind that only another skilled playwright can expose. There are many witty one liners summarising the tragedy of youthful fantasy imposing on real life (or the hard facts of real life destroying oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dreams depending on how one looks at it), including â&#x20AC;&#x153;the end of boyhood is the end of a life worth livingâ&#x20AC;?.

This could be the thesis of the entire play. Stacy Sobieskiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

POKEMON WHITE II

I

tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rather difficult to review a PokĂŠmon game nowadays. Anyone who grew up in the 90s is familiar with PokĂŠmon.

Since most will know what to expect from this game, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve decided to highlight some particularly good and bad points.

Please remember that this game is, overall, as good as can be expected, and a worthy addition to one of the best gaming series of all time.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rather refreshing to me WKDW , ŕŽ&#x160; QDOO\ KDYH DQ LQ JDPH rival who isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just training for the sake of becoming the strongest trainer in the world, just like the 10 other rivals Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been trouncing since I was 7 years old. Your new rival, who I went ahead and called â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Cataractsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, has believable motivations for what he does. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s training so that one day he can defeat the villains of the

game, Team Plasma, who once stole his sisterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pet or something. The thing is, it makes the character very endearing.

I enjoyed encountering him, constantly hoping that the VSHFLŕŽ&#x160; F NLWWHQ SRNHPRQ KHâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹV looking for isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t one of the 15 I knocked out in the previous patch of grass.

At times in this game I was shocked by how ugly, deformed or downright ridiculous-looking some of the newer pokemon look. Remember the days where you could JHW D WXUWOH DQG ŕŽ&#x160; IW\ OHYHOV later be shocked and in awe as it grew some frigginâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cannons on its back? Well, in this game you can get a shrunken Easter-Island head with a giant red nose. What does he evolve into? A shrunken Easter-Island head with a giant red nose and no legs. Where, Gamefreak, did you go wrong?

)URP \RXU ŕŽ&#x160; UVW WUHN LQWR the knee-high wilds of Unova region, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be impressed with how much the battle graphics in PokĂŠmon have improved. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot of individuality and sheer color to attacks now, and even a lot more variety in the battle cries your team will make. Things only get better when you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t attack. The camera will move around, and your PokĂŠmon will do cute little dances as they wait for their designated turn to unleash their inner fury. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get much better than this.

There isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really much to say about this. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good concept to have the seasons change, and for the pokemon you can catch to change accordingly, but are people seriously going to wait 3 months WR VHH WKH EHQHŕŽ&#x160; WV RI WKLV" ,W seems presumptuous that any

dialogue is fantastic â&#x20AC;&#x201C; going far to highlight the themes of the play whilst remaining entirely believable and often funny. Stewart Marquisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; acting completes Barrieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s characWHU DV ZHOO DV D ŕŽ&#x160; QH DQG FRQ ŕŽ&#x160; GHQW SRUWUD\DO RI WKH OLQHV Marquis adds subtle idiosyncrasies which make the character by far the most intriguing and believable. This is not to take away from the other performances in the play; Evelyn Campbellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s versatility is obvious â&#x20AC;&#x201C; she plays, equally convincingly, Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brother Jack and his wife Peggy. AdPLWWHGO\ WKH ŕŽ&#x160; UVW KDOI RI WKLV play involves very little of Peter himself, but that is part of the point of Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story â&#x20AC;&#x201C; so much of Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life was determined before he was even old enough to walk.

The second half of the play is far more ambitious and allows both actors and the diUHFWRU WR VKRZ RŕŽ&#x2030; WKHLU WDOHQW to much greater extent. All is forgiven in the second act as Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life begins to fall apart as his fantasies begin to impose further and further into his life and play a larger role on stage. The last scene allows the two to become one and makes the most tragic scene of the play by far the most beautiful.

Tom Maksymiw

LOST THEATRE until 10 November 2012 Directed by David Hutchinson Written by Stacy Sobieski Starring Martin Richardson, Stewart Marquis, Jemma Hines

of us will still be playing by then, discounting hard-core gamers of course, with their forums and such.

Of all the things you could

think of for making player interaction in a PokĂŠmon game fun, Gamefreak thought that being able to make and share surveys would get the kids ex-

cited. Supposedly itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so that you can get to know players, but personally there are two kinds of people Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll meet with in a PokĂŠmon game: people I know in real life who I want to beat for the sake of winning a pint, and computer generated AIs who can give me experience points. If I want to ask a stranger what their favourite pokemon is, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ask them on match.com, thank you very much.

And so ends a review for a game people will buy regardless of what any critics say. Overall, good show, Gamefreak. Just remember that you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get a free ride forever. Emphasise the good points, and for godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sake play through enough times to weed RXW WKH OLWWOH ŕŽ&#x160; QLFN\ EDG SRLQWV thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll disappoint your older fans!

Philip Gallagher

31

The Beaver 30.10.2012

I

philandering, alcoholic arsehole.

The show is not easy viewing, and the themes it deals with are incredibly dark, but there is a reason everyone is still talking about it seven years after it finished. Firstly, it’s exciting and addictive.

There’s sex, drugs, violence and a lot of good swearing – the most famous scene is in Season 1, Episode 4, where Officers McNulty and Bunk carry out a crime scene investigation, communicating solely in variations of the fword. There’s suspense, and humour, and it makes compulsive viewing. But this isn’t exactly special – True Blood has all this stuff, and, fun as it is, is not exactly a classic, generation-defining TV series. The Wire has something extra. It’s intelligent. Every character, relationship and plotline is intricately wrought and so brilliantly told that no matter how far removed it is from your own reality, there is no question of not believing or understanding. The characters are complex, confused and not drawn in black and white – to put it simply, they are real. From Stringer Bell, the drug dealer who goes to business school, to Bubbles,

f you have ever had a conversation about TV with anyone, ever, chances are someone will have mentioned The Wire. The conversation usually follows a certain pattern, with Person 1 raving about it and secretly judging Person 2 who hasn’t seen it, whilst the Person 2 feels stupid and is eventually shamed into downloading the first series. Just so we’re clear, I am Person 1 in this situation, and this is me, shaming you into watching The Wire.

The series focuses on Baltimore and the various sections of society which make up the city – in particular, the complex world of organized drug crime and the police that are supposed to deal with it. With a sprawling cast of characters that changes with each season, the only real constant is the city’s permanent state of decay and the people who are desperately trying to hold it back from utter chaos. There are no good guys or bad guys, and often those who are supposed to be helping the city, like its police and politicians, are the ones with the most obvious personal flaws – take Officer McNulty, for example, who is utterly dedicated to his job and yet is quite frankly a

HBO

! REVISITED: THE WIRE

open your mind, and you find yourself loving and accepting every character, despite and because of their flaws.

For those who have seen The Wire, this will all be nothing new. And to all those who haven’t yet seen it; please, I beg you, watch it. It will open

the heroin addict and police informer, to Omar Little, who robs the drug dealers, lives by a strict moral code and is gay – you believe in all of them, understand all of their motivations and reasoning, no matter how skewed it may be. The show forces you to

your mind. It will make you really good at swearing. And you will never feel ashamed in a conversation about TV ever again.

Isabella Silver

WATCH THIS WEEK LV EDFN DQG ORRNV OLNH LW LV ஊ nally regaining some of the JORU\ RI WKH ஊ UVW VHDVRQ 7KH story-lines are getting a little less theatrical and a little more grown-up as the Grantham family tries to deal with the V 7KH ஊ UVW IHZ HSLVRGHV have had some wonderful moments, especially the one with (sob) Lady Sybil’s death. The actors seem to be improving before our very eyes as they ஊ QDOO\ JHW VRPH SURSHU VWRU\ lines – Elizabeth McGovern in particular is shining as the grieving mother and enraged wife. Robert James-Collier, who plays Thomas, is equally brilliant as his character is ஊ QDOO\ JLYHQ VRPH VKDGHV RI grey and stops being simply

HOMELAND SUNDAY 9PM CHANNEL 4

HBO

After the explosive (though, of course, not literally) ending to season 1 of this brilliant drama, it became clear that all those people dismissing Homeland as just another 24 could, quite frankly, shut up. As season 2 progresses, the show gets better and better, with Clare Danes quickly topping everyone’s ‘Greatest Person Ever’ list. Managing to be both kick-ass and crazy simultaneously, she is one of the most compelling and well-drawn female characters currently on our screens and she is the reason Homeland leaves 24 in the dust. Carrie Mathison beats Jack Bauer any day. This episode sees Agent Brody locked up once more, this time in the US. Don’t miss it.

GIRLS MONDAY 9PM

DOWNTON ABBEY SUNDAY 9PM ITV1

After a ridiculous, soap operaesque second series, Downton

CHANNEL 4

SHOWTIME/CHANNEL 4

SKY ATLANTIC

There has been much hype about this genre-defying show, and most of it is deserved.

Quirky, funny and poignant in equal measures, Girls is a realistic – sometimes uncomfortably so – peek into the worlds of twenty-something women living in New York. At times the show makes unbearable viewing as it hits a little too close to home, and often you will ஊ QG \RXUVHOI VTXLUPLQJ DV \RX LGHQWLI\ ZLWK WKH KHDYLO\ ஋ DZHG characters, but this is part of what makes it so great. It is a EUDYH DQG XQ஋ LQFKLQJ ORRN DW

the girls’ struggle to live with the disappointment of their lives not quite resembling the Sex and the City dream. This episode is not one of the best – Hannah gets felt up by her boss, Jessa loses the kids she is supposed to be babysitting and Shoshanna almost loses her YLUJLQLW\ ‫ ڋ‬EXW LW LV GHஊ QLWHO\ worth persevering: it improves ZLWK HDFK HSLVRGH DQG WKH ஊ nale is worth the wait.

a villain. The most important development, however, is that 0DU\ DQG 0DWWKHZ DUH ஊ QDOO\ married, which means we no longer have to endure their pasty, will-they won’t-they courtship. This week’s episode sees the annual village cricket match, and a visit from Violet’s great-niece from London.

ALSO...

IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA THURSDAY, 10PM

Apparently Charlie and Dee ஊ QG ORYH

MADE IN CHELSEA MONDAY 10PM, E5

32

30.10.2012 | The Beaver

PART Bâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GINGER HISTORY SPECIAL REDHEADS OF THE WORLD UNITE

Ginger Whoreby The LSE has celebrated Ginger history month in the most glorious of fashions. An entire month long celebration being held in the underground dungeon of the LSESU building was LQLWLDOO\ VFRŕŽ&#x2030; HG DW KRZHYHU organisers maintain that it was a phenomenal success.

Despite no-one actually being able to see how many gingers there were down in Putin-Dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sex-dungeon at DQ\ RQH WLPH RZLQJ WR WKH need for any and all light VRXUFHV WR EH UHPRYHG OHVW VRPHRQH JHW EXUQW WKH % is reliably informed tens of carrot-tops attended.

The SU shop also indicated that sales of OrangiQD LQFUHDVHG VLJQLŕŽ&#x160; FDQWO\ and that they will soon be stocking Terryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chocolate Oranges.

Ginger Whoreby commented â&#x20AC;&#x153;that it was great that the weather really worked out for us. What ZLWK DOO WKH KHDY\ UDLQ I only had to use SPF 60

RQFH WKH UHVW RI WKH WLPH , free tickets to Australia. could use SPF 10!â&#x20AC;? Whore- 6WDWLVWLFV VKRZ HYHU\RQH LQ by goes on to state that stead bought rail tickets to

â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x201D;â&#x20AC;ŹWKH HYHQW ZDV UHDOO\ ZHOO UHFHLYHG E\ WKH $OGZ\FK FKDSODLQ QRUPDOO\ ZHâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹUH not allowed within ten meWUHV RI D KRO\ EXLOGLQJ EXW this year he let us get right up to the windows!â&#x20AC;?

(YHQWV VXFK DV â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x201D;â&#x20AC;Ź+RZ to hide your frecklesâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x201D;â&#x20AC;Ź+RZ WR JHW \RXU SDUHQWV WR ORYH \RXâ&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2022;â&#x20AC;ŹZHUH UHSRUW HGO\ YHU\ ZHOO DWWHQGHG LQ GHHG WKH RQO\ HYHQW QR RQH showed any interest was ZKHQ D ZHOO NQRZQ WUDYHO FRPSDQ\ ZHUH JLYLQJ DZD\

6FRWODQG DQG ZLWK D UHFRUG OHYHO RI SUHFLSLWDWLRQ SUH GLFWHG LWâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹV WKH SODFH WR EH for anyone who is melanin GHŕŽ&#x160; FLHQW One cause of consternation at the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rangas Uniteâ&#x20AC;?

HYHQW ZDV WKH FRQVWDQW XQ dermining of redheads by the Union. In particular the RYHUZKHOPLQJ SURYLVLRQ RI OLJKW LQ WKH QHZ 6DXF\ +DZN Student Centre. Putin-Day LV \HW WR FRPPHQW EXW DOO SDUWLHV LQYROYHG KRSH IRU D swift resolution.

LOOK-A-LIKE BOTTOM OF PAGE TO FILL SPACE AS I AM LAZY THIS W

Keeley

Putin-Day

Duncan McKenna

$GULHQ %URGH\

The Beaver | 30.10.2012

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33

How the other half live R

Kriti Paul-Gera crosses the Indian class barrier

esma started working in my Dadiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home on P\ ŕŽ&#x160; UVW GD\ LQ ,Q dia this summer. She would come to my grandmotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house seven days a week to wash dishes, dust the furniture, and clean the ŕŽ&#x2039; RRUV DQG EDWKURRPV 6KH ZDV D EHDXWLIXO ZRPDQ with smooth, dark skin and D EULJKW VPLOH +HU IHHW adorned with silver anklets, she stood tall as she worked in front of the kitchen sink. , ZDQWHG WR JHW WR NQRZ KHU EHWWHU VKH VHHPHG WR EH D VWURQJ DQG WHQDFLRXV ZRP an with stories to tell.

My father did not feel the VDPH ZD\ +H RQO\ QRWLFHG the hasty and uncaring way she cleaned the house, and KH EHFDPH DQJU\ +H DVNHG me to watch over over and tell her how to clean.

7KH QH[W PRUQLQJ , watched Resma do the GLVKHV ,Q P\ KHDYLO\ DF FHQWHG +LQGL , VWRSSHG KHU as she washed a glass and suggested she do it more slowly. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Okay, Didi,â&#x20AC;? she said.

7KHUH ZDV XQGRXEWHGO\ D FRPPXQLFDWLRQ JDS EH WZHHQ XV â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x201D;â&#x20AC;Ź,â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹP GRQH QRZ â&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2022;â&#x20AC;Ź And she left for the day. $V WKH GD\V ZHQW RQ , PDGH D SRLQW RI JRLQJ LQWR WKH NLWFKHQ ZKHQHYHU 5HV ma arrived in the morning. , KDG WZR SXUSRVHVâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x152;â&#x20AC;ŹRQH was to continue to gently SXVK KHU WR GR KHU MRE ZHOO and the other was to get to NQRZ KHU EHWWHU , ZDQWHG

to close the communication JDS EHWZHHQ XV , KDG D KXQFK ZH ZHUHQâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹW YHU\ GLI ferent. , KDYH DOZD\V EHHQ IDVFL QDWHG E\ WKH ORZHU FODVV LQ ,QGLD PDLQO\ EHFDXVH WKH\ DUH VR EODWDQWO\ LJQRUHG E\ PRVW ,QGLDQV 7KH SHRSOH ZKR VZHHS WKH ŕŽ&#x2039; RRUV LQ RI ŕŽ&#x160; FH EXLOGLQJV WKH YHQGRUV WKDW VHOO SDSGL FKDDW DQG JRO JDSSDV LQ WKH VWUHHWV WKH ZRPHQ ZKR VLW LQ SXE OLF EDWKURRPV DQG ZHDULO\ JHW XS HYHU\ QRZ DQG WKHQ WR FOHDQ WKHPâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x152;â&#x20AC;ŹWKH\ DUH VR JRRG DW DSSHDULQJ VPDOOHU WKDQ HYHU\RQH HOVH SUDFWL FDOO\ LQYLVLEOH 7KLV LV SDU tially due to the way they DUH 2WKHU LVHG E\ ,QGLDQ VR FLHW\ DQG SROLW\ ZKLFK KDV resulted in many of them DFWXDOO\ EHOLHYLQJ WKLV WR EH the truth of their existence. <HW WKH SRRU PDNH XS SHUFHQW RI ,QGLDâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹV SRSXOD WLRQâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x152;â&#x20AC;ŹWKH\ DUH QR PLQRULW\ (DFK RQH RI WKHP KDV VWR ULHV WKH\ KDYH D SDVW WKDW makes them who they are, DQG WKH\ KDYH KRSHV DQG IHDUV , KDYH IRXQG WKDW WKH UHODWLRQVKLSV ,â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹYH IRUPHG ZLWK WKH SRRU LQ ,QGLD KDYH PH FRPH FORVHU WR XQGHU standing myself and this massive and enigmatic FRXQWU\ ,QGHHG P\ LGHQWLW\ DV DQ ,QGLDQ LV FKDOOHQJHG HDFK WLPH , UHWXUQ WR ,QGLD EHFDXVH , KDYH VSHQW PRVW RI P\ OLIH DEURDG , RIWHQ IHHO OLNH , GRQâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹW EHORQJ 3HU KDSV WKLV ZK\ , KDYH IRXQG it most satisfying to engage ZLWK WKH SRRU LQ ,QGLD WKH\

WRR DUH IDPLOLDU ZLWK EHLQJ made to feel that they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t EHORQJ 0\ ŕŽ&#x160; UVW ORQJ FRQYHUVD WLRQ ZLWK 5HVPD ZDV DERXW KHU IDPLO\â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x152;â&#x20AC;ŹD JRRG ZD\ WR FRQQHFW ZLWK DQ\RQH SDU WLFXODUO\ LQ ,QGLD â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x201D;â&#x20AC;Ź, KDYH ŕŽ&#x160; YH GDXJKWHUV DQG D EDE\ ER\ â&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2022;â&#x20AC;ŹVKH WROG PH â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x201D;â&#x20AC;Ź:K\ VR PDQ\ NLGV"â&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2022;â&#x20AC;Ź, DVNHG KHU VKRFNHG â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x201D;â&#x20AC;Ź, ZDQWHG D VRQ â&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2022;â&#x20AC;Ź VKH UHVSRQGHG â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x201D;â&#x20AC;Ź$QG LW ZLOO EH QLFH WR KDYH D GDXJK WHU LQ ODZ WR WDNH FDUH RI PH DQG P\ KXVEDQG ZKHQ ZH DUH ROG â&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2022;â&#x20AC;Ź,Q ,QGLD WUD ditionally the son and his wife move in with the sonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s SDUHQWV DQG FDUH IRU WKHP 6WLOO , FRXOGQâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹW LPDJLQH JR LQJ WKURXJK VL[ ELUWKV IRU this form of security. But this was the only â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;social securityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Resma could rely XSRQ , UHDOLVHG LQ D QD WLRQ WKDW GLG QRW SURYLGH adequate safety nets to its SRRU GLVDEOHG DQG HOGHUO\ And clearly, Resma did not EHOLHYH WKDW KHU GDXJKWHUV would have the resources to take care of her.

Over the next few weeks, , ZDV DEOH WR JDLQ D URXJK understanding of Resmaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s situation. Together with her KXVEDQG VKH PDGH DERXW UXSHHV RU *%3

D PRQWK 6KH FOHDQHG ŕŽ&#x160; YH houses every day, seven GD\V D ZHHN DQG KHU KXV EDQG ZDVKHG FDUV DQG GURYH D ULFNVKDZ 6KH KDG UH FHQWO\ PRYHG WR )DULGDEDG IURP D YLOODJH QHDU .DQSXU DERXW NLORPHWUHV DZD\ She lived in a slum near my

grandmotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house, with KHU KXVEDQG DQG IRXU RI KHU FKLOGUHQ +HU ROGHVW WZR daughters cleaned houses WRR DQG OLYHG LQ WKRVH IDPL liesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; homes. , ZDQWHG 5HVPD WR KDYH KRSH 2QH HYHQLQJ , VDW GRZQ next to my grandmother and asked, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dadi, can we send Resmaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s children to school?â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x201D;â&#x20AC;Ź8VXDOO\ , SD\ IRU RQH child of each of my maids to JR WR VFKRRO EXW VKHâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹV EHHQ GRLQJ VXFK D SRRU MRE , ZDV WKLQNLQJ RI ŕŽ&#x160; ULQJ KHU MXVW WKLV PRUQLQJ â&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2022;â&#x20AC;ŹP\ JUDQG mother said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t VHHP WR FDUH DERXW WKH ZD\ VKH GRHV KHU MRE â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2022;â&#x20AC;Ź â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x201D;â&#x20AC;Ź,Wâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹV EHFDXVH VKH KDV WR FOHDQ ŕŽ&#x160; YH KRXVHV D GD\ WKDW VKH ZRUNV WKDW ZD\ â&#x20AC;Ť Ú&#x2022;â&#x20AC;Ź, UH VSRQGHG ULVLQJ WR 5HVPDâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹV defence. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you think if ZH SDLG 5HVPD PRUH VKH could clean fewer houses DQG GR KHU MRE EHWWHU"â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2022;â&#x20AC;Ź ,W PDNHV HYHU\RQH IHHO OHVV JXLOW\ WR EHOLHYH WKDW SRYHUW\ LV DQ LQFRQWURYHUW LEOH UHDOLW\ %XW D QDWLRQ WKDW FODLPV LWVHOI WR EH WKH worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest democracy DQG DQ HFRQRPLF VXSHUSRZ HU FDQQRW LJQRUH PLO lion of its citizens that have WKH OHDVW RSSRUWXQLW\ WKH OHDVW ULJKWV 7UXH GHYHORS PHQW KLQJHV RQ WKH SRRUHVW individual starting the race IURP WKH VDPH SRLQW DV WKH most fortunate. , KDG WKH RSSRUWXQLW\ WR visit Resmaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home on my ODVW GD\ LQ )DULGDEDG ,W

30.10.2012 The Beaver

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ZDV D URRP QR ELJJHU WKDQ my grandmotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kitchen, located in a crowded slum RŕŽ&#x2030; D PDMRU KLJKZD\ 7KH ZDOOV ZHUH PDGH RI EULFN and a thin curtain hung from the doorframe. One ŕŽ&#x2039; LFNHULQJ OLJKW EXOE KXQJ from a wire against the wall â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x201D;â&#x20AC;Ź:H KDYHQâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹW KDG HOHFWULFLW\ in four days,â&#x20AC;? Resma told PH DQG D JULP\ JDV VWRYH was wedged in the small VSDFH QH[W WR D EHG WKDW WRRN XS PRVW RI WKH URRP 6L[ SHRSOH VOHSW LQ WKDW EHG Resmaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s three daughters DQG EDE\ VRQ HDFK FDPH LQ and out of the room, eying PH VK\O\ ,W ZDV D ODVWLQJ ŕŽ&#x160; QDO LPSUHVVLRQ RI P\ VWD\ LQ )DULGDEDG 7KLV VWRU\ KDV D KDSS\ HQGLQJâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x152;â&#x20AC;ŹZLWK P\ JUDQG PRWKHUâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹV KHOS 5HVPD HQ UROOHG WZR RI KHU GDXJK ters in school and now SD\V WKHLU PRQWKO\ VFKRRO fees. My father, who still OLYHV LQ ,QGLD WHOOV PH WKDW when Resma comes to the KRXVH QRZ KH VHHV VRPH WKLQJ GLŕŽ&#x2030; HUHQW LQ KHU GH PHDQRU 7KH H[SUHVVLRQ LQ her eyes has changed, and she cleans the house more FDUHIXOO\ ,â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹYH VSRNHQ WR KHU RQ D YLGHR FDOO DQG , VHH LW WRRâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x152;â&#x20AC;Ź, WKLQN LW LV KRSH %XW it is also my fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s way of seeing Resma that has FKDQJHG KH VHH KHU QRZ DV D ZRPDQ ZKR EHFDPH friends with his daughter, and a mother who cares for her daughters the way he cares for his.

The Beaver | 30.10.2012

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35

Take a walk on the wild side

Jiayi Fan on what sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gained from taking a step out of the fast lane

L

ondonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s public transportation is regarded as the most expensive and yet the slowest in the world, just ask international students or tourists. With an oyster card, it costs ÂŁ1.35 for a single bus trip and ÂŁ2 for a tube journey within ]RQH RQH 'HVSLWH RŕŽ&#x2030;HUV IRU students, even with a Young Personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Railcard, you make a saving of just 70p RQ DQ RŕŽ&#x2030; SHDN WXEH MRXUney, making the total cost still ten times more than an equivalent trip on Beijingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s subway. But rather than incessantly moaning on the matter, my friends and I decided to consider another option: walking!

Butlerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wharf is the farthest halls of residence from school. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on south bank, close to Tower Bridge. The journey took me 30 minutes by bus, 20 minutes by tube, and 45 minutes on foot. Un-

til we discovered a beeline route that weedles through the backstreets. Along our route we enjoy the Queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s path on south bank before we cross over London Bridge, up via Cannon Street onto Fleet Street, XQWLO ŕŽ&#x160;QDOO\ /6(â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹV JUH\ buildings emerge upon the skyline. Along this path we save ten minutes, making RXU MRXUQH\ MXVW ŕŽ&#x160;YH PLQutes longer than the bus.

We call ourselves a walking commuter group, joining the army of hurried white collars every morning.

Being a walking comPXWHU KDV PDQ\ EHQHŕŽ&#x160;WV It might not be faster than taking a bus or getting the tube, but you experience an HQWLUHO\ GLŕŽ&#x2030;HUHQW MRXUQH\ Your mind is enraptured by the elaborate and picturesque views and architecture you might have formerly had missed.

So Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cloudy

rainy days may get you down. Sometimes the big smoke is engulfed by fogs so heavy that standing on London Bridge, I feel like I could have lost the Tower Bridge entirely. Being the self righteous species that we are, we may feel too great to face the drizzle.

However, may I enlighten you on the revolutionary invention we call the umbrella.

Leaving home early for morning lectures, I can witQHVV WKH PDJQLŕŽ&#x160;FHQW VFHQH on London Bridge. If you stop for a moment amid th large hoards of white collars dressing in occupation suits with their laptop case in one hand and umbrella in the other. Everyone is in black; everyone is serious; everyone is in haste. I imagine what kinds of things are on their minds: efficiency, working, and making money. These hurried white col-

lars are the best proof that London is indeed the world ŕŽ&#x160;QDQFLDO FHQWHU ,W H[FLWHV me everytime that I am reminded that I have the priviledge to study in such a vivacious city, that I one day could be amidst them.

Further on my way to school, I pass the Monument and St. Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cathedral. Seamlessly I drift from the middle of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;nowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, workers shaping the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s today and tomorrow and into history over 300 years old.

I gaze into shop windows, enhaling the scent of fresh ŕŽ&#x2039;RZHUV ODLG RXW E\ VKRSkeepers. The purple and EOXH ŕŽ&#x2039;RZHUV VWUHWFK WKHPselves freely in the autumn wind. Gift shops take out their shelves full of colorful postcards. These garish paper products make me stop to see their cheesy images.

The most beautiful moment is observing the seasonal changes. My favourite

time of year is as summer turns into autumn. Trees on Cannon Street speckle GLŕŽ&#x2030;HUHQW FRORUV HYHU\ GD\ blackish green, light yellow, and bordeaux. Each time I go by, I sigh, at the sight of these pretty colors and the changing season.

Some days I help tourists take photos or direct those who are lost. I am proud to call this my home.

Walking to school has enabled me to learn so much more about this big city I now live in. Along my walk I embrace every day its hustle and its traquility spread out before me. On arrival at school I feel calm, I am well excercised and ready WR ZRUN 1RW WR PHQWLRQ WKH little bit of extra change left in my wallet. Why not give it a go and try being a happy walking commuter? The EHQHŕŽ&#x160;WV PD\ VXUSULVH \RX

Why itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good to be bad

Chloe Kim talks the good, the bad and the ugly this Halloween alloween is the one night a year when girls can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it.â&#x20AC;?

That may have been all well and good back in 2004 ZKHQ 0HDQ *LUOV ŕŽ&#x160;UVW FDPH out, but eight years on, it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t only other girls who can say anything, but everyone involved in Halloween.

To question, is there really a point in participating in this hyped up business marketing campaign? Especially when with all its festive antics, billions of dollars are spent for this one night.

Yes thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right, all those slutty costumes, shitty candy and the silly excuse for decorations have made Halloween a multi- billiondollar industry, coming to eight billion this year in the US alone. In comparison to 2004, when it was three billion dollars, I feel however, that the real question is not whether there is a point to Halloween? But why do we celebrate a day of horror?

I personally love Halloween. I will not stop contributing to the billions nor cease to celebrate it even if my American friends insist that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m â&#x20AC;&#x153;doing it wrong.â&#x20AC;?

In fact, I only realised my commitment to the cause following a trip I spent costume shopping. With a friend, we spent a combined WRWDO RI HLJKW\ ŕŽ&#x160;YH SRXQGV and sixty pence. And what did we get in return? Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the depressing bounty: one Red Riding Hood costume, one Dorothy costume and three bottles of blood (fake, I should add).

That was only for our RXWŕŽ&#x160;WV :H DUH \HW WR JHW started on decorations, candy and alcohol. But laying our purchases out on WKH ŕŽ&#x2039;RRU ZH GHFLGHG WKDW the best way to rationalize having spent the little money we had as students was, â&#x20AC;&#x153;itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Halloween- it had to be done.â&#x20AC;?

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the mentality of holidays like Halloween, where instead of buying normal sized Mars Bars, we feel the need to buy the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fun size.â&#x20AC;? It is because Halloween is not a business, but it is a lifestyle. As Peter Block, president and general manager of FEARnet stated, â&#x20AC;&#x153;thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a reason adults spend so much moneyâ&#x20AC;Ś we want to revisit what we loved as children.

It transcends cinema, with music, fashion and dĂŠcorâ&#x20AC;Ś

[because] of a constant thirst for it. People love being scared, and they love being scared together.â&#x20AC;?

Whether it was the commercial success of Twilight that started it all, there has been an undeniable insurgence in this need to be scared.

7KH KRUURU ŕŽ&#x160;OP JHQUH KDYH SURGXFHG ŕŽ&#x160;OPV like â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sawâ&#x20AC;? which earned $873,319,880, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Exorcistâ&#x20AC;? with $661, 478, 540 and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Screamâ&#x20AC;? with $605,365,245. (The latest obsession is Sinister.)

There are also many, many TV shows like The Walking Dead, True Blood and Vampire Diaries. The list goes on.

However, in the past two years, this fascination with fear has reached a new level. Seemingly catching up with technology, scary Iphone apps have been developed not into mere games, but exercise apps. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Zombies, Runâ&#x20AC;? is an â&#x20AC;&#x153;ultra- immersive game and audio adventureâ&#x20AC;? while you run and exercise. A story is delivered through your headphones and it instructs you to sprint when chased by â&#x20AC;&#x153;wavesâ&#x20AC;? of zombies, and pick up health packs while

you jog, while making sure that you are not at risk of being eaten alive. Categorised under Health & Fitness, this app is a clear indicator that people are wanting to incorporate fear into every aspect of our OLYHV QRW MXVW WKURXJK ŕŽ&#x160;OPV and games, but also in daily routine such as exercise.

(If anyone is interested, Zombies, Run is on a â&#x20AC;&#x153;special Halloween saleâ&#x20AC;?: 50% RŕŽ&#x2030; XQWLO 7KXUVGD\ VW 1Rvember) So, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Halloween tomorrow and no doubt, that means that the vast majority of us have already *$8',5$021(

H

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

spent a hefty amount on costumes which are too embarrassing to be worn on any other night of the year, candy which will silently gather dust in the backs of our cupboards and litres of fake blood which will probably get confused for some cranberry punch. But at the end of the day, even if we regret spending so much money on one night, we have to remember that the VSLULW RI +DOORZHHQ UHŕŽ&#x2039;HFWV a lifestyle looking to be frightened. To achieve what we really want, sometimes, you just need to throw money at it.

36

Social

30.10.2012

I found my mum in India

| The Beaver

Cleo Pearson UHGHрн╜QHV WKH UHODWLRQVKLS RI PRWKHU DQG FKLOG

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e all have unusual habits.

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Sport

The Beaver | 30.10.2012

37

LSE Runners out in full force The LSE Running Club was out in full force at Parliament Hill park for the the роК UVW UDFH RI WKH /RQGRQ &RO leges League 2012/2013. $QG GHVSLWH WKH ERXWV RI UDLQ WKDW GUHQFKHG WKH VORSHV LQWR VOLSSHU\ PXG RXU UXQQHUV PDQDJHG WR VHFXUH D роК UP IRRWLQJ LQ WKH роК UVW UDFH RI WKH VHDVRQ 7KH PHQтАл┌СтАмV WHDP ZDV OHG E\ 1DWKDQDHO 7DPDLOOLRQ ZKR FRPSOHWHG WKH PLOH course in a stunning 28 minXWHV DQG роК QLVKHG VW RYHU DOO DQG QG RI DOO 8QLYHUVLW\ RI /RQGRQ SDUWLFLSDQWV +H ZDV VXSSRUWHG E\ -RHO 5RVHQ $QWRLQH -DPHV /DX UHQW /LRWH 4L =LPR 6HEDV WLDQ .RK *HRроЙ +LOO ,DFRSR

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LSEBASTIANKOH

Sebastian Koh

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Jay Stoll

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38

Sport

30.10.2012

| The Beaver

From the Eyes of a Ginger Matthew Worby the best league in the world.

I understand there is a problem of implementation, Unfortunately the beautievery good plan invariably has ful game is being tarnished. to deal with problems like this.

After a bout of hand wringBut since football has decided ing over racism and t-shirts, to stick its head in the sand, which was painfully poorly LQVWHDG RI ŕŽ&#x160;QGLQJ LWV RZQ ZD\ managed, we get a redux of I think we can drag it kicking the long running diving saga. and screaming down the well 1RZ UHIHUHHV DUH ŕŽ&#x160;UPO\ LQ trodden path of technology in the spotlight. other sports. This technology Personally, I think two would be used to prevent abof these issues can be dealt solute howlers of decisions, with in the short run, the isbut could be extended to help sues of diving and poor refcrack down on diving. ereeing decisions are not One option would be to use deeply rooted problems in a system akin to that used by society that will require a the NFL, which for the uninishift of outdated attitudes tiated involves, every scoring and opinions. My solution play to be reviewed (in this for these problems that are case all goals to be reviewed solely on the pitch would IRU RŕŽ&#x2030;VLGH DQG FURVVLQJ WKH be to use some of the many goal line), every play within boons that modern technoltwo minute to the end of each RJ\ KDYH DŕŽ&#x2030;RUGHG WKH KXPDQ half to be automatically rerace. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m of course talking viewed (any freekick, corner, about a video referee. It is penalty or goal in extra time) inconceivable to me that this and the ability for coaches to is not already well instituted challenge a call made by the in the world of professional UHIHUHH E\ WKURZLQJ D ŕŽ&#x2039;DJ football. I could understand RQWR WKH ŕŽ&#x160;HOG 2I WKHVH WKUHH it, were we talking jumpers facets, the most difficult for goalposts in Lincolnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Inn one to implement would be Fields, but this is meant to be and I think this is a great way to go about doing so, at Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been several years since least, it was a great way to go the NFL started the interna- about attempting to extend tional seriesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; yearly trip to the reach of the sport. UnforLondon, and by my count this tunately, in what I can only ZDV WKH ŕŽ&#x160;UVW GHFHQW JDPH LQ assume is a practical joke at least three years. It might IRXU RI WKH QH[W ŕŽ&#x160;YH PDWFKHV have been a blow out, but in Wembley will feature the getting to watch Brady per- Jacksonville Jaguars. Someform his typical surgeons one forgot to tell Goodell performance against the that if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to try and Rams is demonstrably better expand your product it helps than the past two matches to give potential customers a decent product to try. here in dear old blighty.

In ther unlikely event of The NFL wants to expand, an actual Jaguars fan read-

I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to be a party pooper, but I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think Team Sky will be anywhere near as dominant in the coming year, for several reasons.

Primarily, I think the issue will be the Froome and Wiggins issue, that wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go away. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very easy for the Modfather to state that he will be the Froome-Dogâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s domestique in late September.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s even easier to state that his aim this year is Giro dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Italia, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m unconvinced.

The course doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t favour him, and he really has nothing left to prove, while Wiggins will complete his assigned tasks, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think his heart will be in it quite as much as Froomeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s was in the last tour.

Then there is the secondary issue of doping, and the allegations therein leveled at the team sky leadership,

Sean Yates, the lead director of Sky has recently quit, following Bobby Julich, a coach.

This will unsettle the team, and no matter how much Brailsford tries to calm the seas, it is clear there is an element of battening down the hatches. Even if this had no HŕŽ&#x2030;HFW WU\LQJ WR ŕŽ&#x160;QG D TXDOity director or coach from the pack that support the peloton who is completely squeaky clean is a very difficult task to complete. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not that every coach was part of the doping era, or actively participated in it, probably far from it. But many had to cut their teeth in teams where that spectre has loomed, and when you just canned two key memEHUV RI VWDŕŽ&#x2030; WR WU\ DQG SXW WKH ŕŽ&#x160;UH RXW WKH UHSODFHPHQW canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be cut from the same mold of dubiousness.

On a more positive note, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m pleased that the Manx missile got out while he could. In 2013 Cav will be rid-

WYLL PHOTOGRAPHIE

American Football

Cycling

WKDW RI ŕŽ&#x2039;DJ WKURZLQJ LW MXVW wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work for â&#x20AC;&#x153;Soccerâ&#x20AC;?, and I can foresee reviewing decisions in extra time being problematic. It would interUXSW WKH ŕŽ&#x2039;RZ RI WKH JDPH and lead to extra time taking considerably longer.

DUH GLŕŽ&#x2030;HUHQW VSRUWV HQWLUHO\ It would be fun to see a comSXWHU JHQHUDWHG ŕŽ&#x2039;LJKW SDWK leading to a glorious animation of just how far the ball made it into the net, but using this to determine whether a goal had been scored

Looking to another type of sport entirely, the use of hawkeye in cricket and tennis is clearly the yardstick for best practice, however these

would be insane.

Perhaps rugby is the most directly translatable, where the referee has the ability to call on a video referee and ask

whether there is any reason not to apply the punishment, or try he is about to dish out.

This system is superior to that of American football because it maintains the speed of the game, an essential reason why football is so enjoyable.

I would also go so far as introducing the sin-bin system present in rugby, for divers in football. Were a referee to suspect a player of diving he can has his video referee if there is enough evidence for them not to send them to the bin for ten minutes. This would not only give a tangible disadvantage to the team on the pitch immediately, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a lot harder for a man in a booth to be LQŕŽ&#x2039;XHQFHG E\ WKH ELJ QDPHV on the pitch.

It would be naive to suggest that this would be a panacea for footballâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ills, but I think it would be a start, but who are we kidding, it will probably have to wait until a change in the heads of the world governance of the sport before we get anywhere near the kind of technology I want implemented.

ing this I apologise, but that team is a bottom feeder, and will be so for the foreseeable future. The best case scenario is that the NFL gives them one of the top three teams, and we get treated to four blowouts and one decent game when the Steelers play the Vikings next year in the other international game.

In more positive news, Peyton Manning is back, and by that I mean not only is he suited and tossing the ball around, but he is doing so in a sublime fashion.

In the past four games peyton has strung together a 75.4 per cent completion rate, twelve touchdowns to one interception, and racked up 1289 yards with a rating of 127.9. On top of this he is only the second player to complete four consecutive games of 300 yards and three touchdowns in each. The legendary Steve Young having ŕŽ&#x160;YH LQ D URZ EHLQJ WKH ŕŽ&#x160;UVW In still think it will be the 49rs who win the Superbowl this year, but now I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t choose between the Patriots,

Texans and Broncos for the honour of being runners up.

Personally, bit the Ravens and Steelers are just a tad to beaten up for this year.

Each have their obvious ŕŽ&#x2039;DZV DW WKLV SRLQW ,â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹG VD\ WKH Patriots are the least likely, that defense is just as thin as last year, only this time both the Broncos and Texans could keep up.

Week fourteen, when the Texans make the trip to the Gillette stadium will be a crucial preview of the potential SOD\RŕŽ&#x2030; RXWFRPH

PAOLO CAMERA

Football

ing for Omega Pharma-Quick Step, with some familiar faces from HTC including Bert Grabsch, Peter, Velits, Martin Velits and, Tony Martin.

While he will need to take time and adjust to this new leadout train there, is enough quality in that team for him to get back to being utterly dominant, despite not having Mark Renshaw to lead him out. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to get carried away, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot of road between now and next years Tour de France, but I would not be surprised to see Cav take at least three sprints, WKH WZR IRU WKH ŕŽ&#x160;UVW WKUHH ŕŽ&#x2039;DW stages, and then if he survives the particularly mountainous course, look for the big number 5 on the Champs Elysee. Peter Saganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s had his moment, but now that Cav has a unit looking out for him, and he doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to bring Wiggo his water bottles itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be business as normal.

Sport

The Beaver | 30.10.2012

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Sport

40

Sport

16.10.2012

| The Beaver

Inside

â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x161;â&#x20AC;Ź/HWâ&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x2018;â&#x20AC;ŹV 7DON 7DFWLFV â&#x20AC;ŤÚ&#x161;â&#x20AC;Ź/6( 6SRUW â&#x20AC;Ť)Ú&#x161;â&#x20AC;ŹURP WKH (\HV RI D *LQJHU

Five stars of 2012-13

Raheem Sterling, Liverpool Regardless of who you support, you cannot deny that Raheem Sterlingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s burst onto the grand stage this season has been a thing of revolution.

Sterling, only 17, has immense pace and an eye for a pass. He currently holds an 84% pass success rate DQG UHFHQWO\ VFRUHG KLV ŕŽ&#x160;UVW goal against Reading. His brilliant link-up play and passing ability have shone despite his teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s uninspiring performances.

Sterling has even re-

Bertrand - now able to play at both left back and left wing - has featured at club level predominantly LQ PLGŕŽ&#x160;HOG +H UHJXODUO\ interrupts play, while his FURVVLQJ DELOLW\ DQG RŕŽ&#x2030; WKH ball movement has allowed players like Ramires, Mata and Hazard to be more creative and help form a danJHURXV PLGŕŽ&#x160;HOG

Ryan Betrand, Chelsea

Michu, Swansea The reason Michu is such a revelation is because of his price tag. Signed for only ÂŁ2m, the Spaniard had previously been sought by the likes of Manchester United before Swansea signed him.

Last season, Michu was the highest scoring midŕŽ&#x160;HOGHU LQ /D /LJD ZKLOH playing for Rayo Vallecano.

Since joining Swansea, he has continued his rich goal scoring form and has SHUIHFWO\ ŕŽ&#x160;W LQWR WKH 6ZDQVHD PLGŕŽ&#x160;HOG FRPLQJ GHHS to defend and hold possession brilliantly.

With six goals in eight games, Michu has really stepped up to the Premier League with ease. The dominant nature of his play has helped him and

Ryan Bertrand spent much of his early Chelsea career on loan at lower league teams. But he surprised everybody when he made his Champions League debut - and in no less an occasion than the Final - to combine with Ashley Cole to silence Bayern Munichâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Arjen Robben, Philip Lahm and Franck Ribery.

his Swansea team mates WDNH FRQWURO RI WKH PLGŕŽ&#x160;HOG in most of the games they have played. $W e P KH LV D GHŕŽ&#x160;QLWH bargain.

Romelu Lukaku, West Brom

WHJACKSON

With the Premier League nearly 10 match days old, the time has come to identify those that have made an impression on the most exciting league in the world.

A mix of youth and veterancy has both stunned and pleasantly surprised fans in equal measure - and it will no doubt be enthralling to see whether this can carry on for the duration of the season.

Here, I cast judgement on just a few of this seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest revelations.

FHLYHG KLV ŕŽ&#x160;UVW (QJODQG call-up, clearly impressing national boss Roy Hodgson.

For someone so young, Sterling has been held in expceptionally high regard amonst the Liverpool management. It has been a phenomenal rise for the teenDJHU VLQFH KH ŕŽ&#x160;UVW PRYHG WR the Merseyside club from QPR at the age of 15.

%(1 687+(5/$1'

Ameya Badwe

Lukaku, the big Belgian on loan from Chelsea, has been a revelation of sorts for West Brom under the guidance of former Chelsea assistant manager, Steve Clarke.

Lukaku has earned himself the tag of an impact substitute, coming on to change the game for West Brom against Tottenham and he even scored in his

ŕŽ&#x160;UVW DSSHDUDQFH DJDLQVW Liverpool.

Lukaku has been given the right amount of game time to help him ease into the league and with every game he looks more like Didier Drogba - but with more pace and an amazing eye for a pass.

Tom Cleverley, Man United Unfortunately, injury last season meant the ManFKHVWHU 8QLWHG PLGŕŽ&#x160;HOGHU made only 10 appearances for the Red Devils.

However, the 23-yearold has already made four this term, already getting a goal to his name, as well.

6R IDU WKH PLGŕŽ&#x160;HOGHU has started well, having been eased back into the ŕŽ&#x160;UVW WHDP DQG ORRNV PRUH like the player who will be a long term replacement for United legend Paul Scholes.

Cleverley, although small in stature, has pace and even the attitude to take control of Unitedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s PLGŕŽ&#x160;HOG

VRPHWKLQJ theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve lacked, leading to quite a few well-publicized defensive problems.

Should we cry for those twenty-something millionaires?

AmĂŠlie Perron

Last Friday, the opening of the 2012-13 National Hockey League season was postponed yet again - much to the frustration of millions of hockey-loving fanatics.

The collective agreement between the Playersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Association and NHL team owners expired on July 15th, 2012, and given that both parties were unable to agree on terms of renewal, the owners declared a 2012 NHL lockout.

Now, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be mistaken - labour disputes in professional sport are remembered solemnly by North American sports fans. Indeed, while I remember vividly where I was the day I learned Lady Diana was killed in a car accident, I also clearly remember where I was when the Major League Baseball (MLB) strike was declared in Au-

gust 1994.

My beloved Montreal ([SRV ZHUH RQ WUDFN WR ZLQ the World Series before the postseason was cancelled due to the strike. They susWDLQHG KXJH ŕŽ&#x160;QDQFLDO ORVVHV and never fully recovered, and were then purchased by the League and moved to Washington D.C. in 2004.

Of course, not all lockouts or strikes have such dire consequences; but for some individual players or VSHFLŕŽ&#x160;F PDUNHWV ŕŽ&#x160;QDQFLDO impacts can be hugely sigQLŕŽ&#x160;FDQW -XVW DVN 0LFKDHO Jordan, who gave up his dream of being a Major League Baseball player in 1994 and resumed his basketball career.

In the current case of the 2012 NHL lockout, the core of the disagreement resides around the salary cap which is provided as part of the collective agreement.

This salary cap is expressed as a percentage of the leagueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s total revenues, which is available to be paid to players as salaries by their respective teams.

Under the terms of the most recent collective agreement, players were entitled to approximately 57 per cent of the leagueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s total revenues. However, the initial renewal proposal made by the league this summer was to reduce that share to just 43 per cent.

Yet no player would actually have seen their salary decrease, because a rollback mechanism would ensure they received at least the same salary as under the prior collective agreement.

So Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m dying to ask: should we really cry for our heroic hockey players - those twenty-something multimillionaires?

As per the latest nego-

WLDWLRQV WKH RŕŽ&#x2030;HU FXUUHQWO\ tabled seems to approach a 50/50 split of revenues between teams and players.

This this begs the question â&#x20AC;&#x201C; should we empathize with the fact that playersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; current average salary of $2.9 million per year will not grow proportionately with the leagueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s revenues?

Or should they just deal with it and thank God, their parents and their kindergarten teacher that they are guaranteed to keep earning such a lavish average wage?

7KH ŕŽ&#x160;UVW DVSHFW WKDW needs consideration is what motivated the league to request a reduction in the salary cap.

Is it a case of the NHL VKRZLQJ SRRU SURŕŽ&#x160;WDELOLW\ and thus trying to remain DŕŽ&#x2039;RDW E\ FXWWLQJ GRZQ RQ salary costs?

Well, no. It isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. As a whole, the league has

seen its revenues and profits increase over the past decade and, according to Forbes magazine, the valuation of NHL franchises in 2011 soared to its highest in history.

However, there exists a heavy imbalance. While some teams perform extremely well and have exSHULHQFHG VLJQLŕŽ&#x160;FDQW UHYHQXH DQG SURŕŽ&#x160;W LQFUHDVHV several teams show poor revenue growth and generate operating losses.

Whereas it is obvious that teams such as the Toronto Maple Leafs, the New York Rangers and the Montreal Canadiens are doing very well for themselves, teams such as the Phoenix Coyotes and the Columbus Blue Jackets do not earn sufficient revenue to cover their costs.

So a pattern emerges Continued on pg. 30, column 1.