The Beaver - #938 (11 December 2024)

Meet the Team

Executive Editor

Janset An executive.beaver@lsesu.org

Managing Editor

Oona de Carvalho managing.beaver@lsesu.org

Flipside Editor

Emma Do editor. ipside@lsesu.org

Frontside Editor

Suchita epkanjana editor.beaver@lsesu.org

Multimedia Editor

Sylvain Chan multimedia.beaver@lsesu.org

News Editors

Melissa Limani

Saira Afzal

Features Editors

Liza Chernobay

Mahliqa Ali

Opinion Editors

Lucas Ngai

Aaina Saini

Part B Editors

Silvia Cassanelli

Jessica-May Cox

Review Editors

Arushi Aditi

William Goltz

Sport Editors

Skye Slatcher

Jo Weiss

Social Editors

Sophia-Ines Klein

Jennifer Lau

Illustration Heads

Francesca Corno

Paavas Bansal

Photography Head

Celine Estebe

Ryan Lee

Podcast Editor

Laila Gauhar

Website Editor

Rebecca Stanton

Autumn Term Wrapped

Sylvain Chan

Multimedia Editor

In lieu of the disappointment that was Spotify Wrapped this year (what did anyone expect from a corporation that laid o its creative sta in favour of nothingburger AI features), we present e Beaver’s better Autumn Term Wrapped to celebrate our achievements thus far and excitement for another successful term ahead.

Social Media Editors

Krishav Arora

Su a Jafri

Social Secretary

Sahana Rudra

In all seriousness, the late hours spent losing our collective minds in the Media Centre all ended up being worth it with every issue that came out. Not just because formatting ended up being okay, but more so because of the silly moments we shared. With the debut of e Beaver’s spam Instagram account (brownie points to whoever can nd it), our ‘Beaver quotes out of context’ catalogue, and the occasional trauma-dumping session, I’m really thankful for being able to get closer with everyone on the team.

If Suchita hadn’t encouraged me to apply for the Multimedia Editor role last year, I would’ve been spending my year two life thus far cooped up playing and failing at Cuphead. is position has given me a lot of experience with editing, leadership, and Adobe (derogatory).

Here’s to another whimsical term with no legal scares <3

ECONOCOMICS 3: Scarcity

By Paavas Bansal Illustrations Head

PART B Photography Competition

Whether you use a fancy camera or just your phone, capture the joys and traditions of the holidays. Send your entries through this QR code or through the link in our Instagram bio!

Any opinions expressed herein are those of their respective authors and not necessarily those of the LSE Students’ Union or Beaver Editorial Sta

e Beaver is issued under a Creative Commons license. Attribution necessary. Printed at Ili e Print, Cambridge.

Room 2.02

Saw Swee Hock Student Centre LSE Students’ Union

Celebrating Movember at LSE!

Ann Vu Contributing Writer Illustrated by Sylvain Chan

In November, LSE saw students growing moustaches as a sign to kick o Movember, as they participated in a variety of events and fundraising activities hosted by LSESU clubs and societies. Over the course of the month, more than £3,880 was raised for charity.

Originating in Australia in 2003, Movember has found its way to becoming a global movement advocating for men’s mental and physical well-being, especially in the areas of mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer.

Several AU clubs organised runs and exercises to raise

News Editors’ Digest

Melissa and Saira’s X-mas picks:

• Southbank Christmas market

• Mulled wine. Full stop.

• Electric Cinema’s Christmas movie showings (Portobello, White City).

• Just being two chill guys.

awareness of the cause. On 18 November, LSESU Hockey started a 24-hour relay, doing di erent forms of exercises throughout the day and night. ‘4 Marathon 4 Movember’ was also held by LSESU Lacrosse, running four di erent marathons during the month of November.

LSESU Raising and Giving hosted a push-up challenge at the She eld Street stand, with a £2 donation for a chance to compete and enter the top 10 leaderboard.

Some clubs also introduced incentives to encourage more participation in the movement. e LSESU Men’s Rugby team arranged a set of targets for fundraising, each corresponding to a commitment, ranging from leg waxing to a tattoo.

New opportunities to stay t and healthy were also on o er. is year, the LSESU Dance Club held a ‘Bring a Guy to Dance’ workshop for beginners, while the LSESU Pole Fitness Club held a ‘Bring Your Own Boy’ session. Jessica-May Cox, a beginner at Pole Fitness, said there were a “surprising number of boys there”.

On 13 November, Josh omas, Treasurer of the Athletics Union, also embarked on a 26mile marathon walk from the LSE campus to the LSE sports ground – the Berrylands – and back. To draw attention to the rate of mortality for alcohol-speci c causes for men being double that of women, he scored a di erent non-alcoholic schooner at each mile.

On the LSESU Men’s Football Club Instagram story, he said: “I know it’s been a good ex-

perience and a bit of fun, but mental health is a very important cause, and I wanted to do this today to raise awareness.”

health in the past, and still do right now. It’s really important to get talking, get your mates to talk, make sure they’re okay,

Women in Diplomacy Panel Stresses Need for Women in Global Decision-Making

Carla Schanz Contributing Writer

Diplomacy has long been a male-dominated eld, but on 18 November 2024, LSE shone a spotlight on the women reshaping it. Hosted by the Department of International Relations, the Women in Diplomacy event brought together a distinguished panel to explore the challenges faced by women in international relations and the transformative changes they are driving forward.

e panel featured Kirtbir Chahal, Head of Infrastructure Partnerships for Africa and the Middle East at the Department for Business and Trade; Katharina Rauscher, Deputy Ambassador of Austria to the UK; and Nadia eodore, Canada’s Ambassador to the World Trade Organization. e discussion was chaired

by Professor Karen E. Smith, a leading expert on women in foreign policymaking.

Among the 70 attendees, just four were men—a stark reminder of the gendered interest in women’s participation in diplomacy. e panellists did not shy away from addressing these disparities.

ey stressed that women currently account for only one- h of the world’s ambassadors and are signi cantly underrepresented in global negotiations, from peace agreements to climate change. is underrepresentation is not merely a matter of fairness but has real-world consequences.

“If women are not at the table, their needs and perspectives are le out of policy decisions,” eodore said, underscoring the importance of diverse representation. e panellists agreed that including women and other marginalised

groups in diplomacy results in more e ective and inclusive policies, encapsulating this idea with the phrase “nothing for us without us”.

Sharing personal stories, the panellists re ected on navigating a eld still shaped by rigid, traditional norms. Chahal admitted she had not initially considered diplomacy as a career. “I didn’t feel like I was a suitable candidate,” she said, citing a lack of visible role models and pervasive gender biases.

Furthermore, Professor Smith stressed the importance of data in driving progress. “If we don’t track these disparities, how can we hold anyone accountable?” she asked.

A recurring theme was the need to rede ne what success looks like in diplomacy. e traditional image of diplomats attending late-

night dinners and working round-the-clock in remote postings doesn’t suit everyone – nor should it have to.

e panellists advocated for structural changes, such as accommodating maternity leave and rethinking rigid schedules, to make diplomacy more accessible to all genders.

e evening highlighted the vital role of women in global decision-making. As eodore aptly reminded attendees, “ is isn’t just a women’s issue it’s everyone’s.”

While the journey toward gender equity in diplomacy is far from over, conversations like these are critical steps forward.

LSE Students Protest Event by Professor Accused of Sexual Misconduct

Amy O’Donoghue

Contributing Writer

Photographed by Ryan Lee

An LSE professor’s event has drawn out students to protest on campus. On 14 November, around 60 students gathered outside LSE Library to express their dissatisfaction with LSE’s response to allegations of sexual misconduct made against the professor, whilst members of the LSE Radical Collective staged a walkout of the professor’s talk. e allegations were rst published in a Beaver article last year, prompting an internal investigation by LSE. e professor was temporarily suspended. However, the investigation found that they did not need to be removed from the LSE, and they were reinstated to their position.

HandsO LSE, LSE Radical Collective, and LSESU Palestine Society jointly objected to the university’s handling of the professor’s behaviour. e groups believe that the investigation was not thorough enough, as the previous Beaver article detailed, and that it is inappropriate for the accused individual to continue to be employed and promoted by the university.

Find out more about the HandsO protest on our Instagram using this QR code. In collaboration with LooSE TV.

A change.org petition, which was posted in March 2024 and has gained over 1000 signatures, called for “an independent review of LSE’s sexual misconduct procedure” and the resignation of the accused individual. HandsO members expressed disappointment that these demands had not been met, with LSE conducting an audit by KPMG rather than an independent review in the style the group had asked for.

LSESU Palestine Society added that LSE’s treatment of the LSE 7 – a group of students who remain suspended indefinitely for protesting against the university’s economic ties to Israel – proves that LSE has a problem protecting students. e general sentiment at the protest was that LSE chooses to protect their own interests over the interests of students.

Multiple group leaders and SU representatives made their feelings known at the protest. LSESU’s Welfare and Liberation O cer asked “what is LSE doing to safeguard students from the people they are meant to be taught by?”

HandsO President claimed there is a “lack of protection for survivors” and a “lack of safety on campus,” whilst a new student remarked they were beginning to see that LSE has a

“structural problem” with their handling of potential injustices on campus.

Gathered students chanted passionate slogans such as “stop the silence, stop the shame! Hold abusers to their names!” A representative of the LSE Radical Collective also spoke to the crowd, encouraging students to get involved in their e orts to hold LSE to account.

LSE has repeatedly stated that their investigation of the accused professor was thorough, and that their maintained employment is justi ed. Similarly, they have defended their decision to suspend the LSE 7, claiming that this student went beyond the limits of peaceful protest. Some eyewitness accounts have contested this claim.

Student groups continue to resist the LSE administration, calling for improvements in their responses to incidents on campus and better protections for students.

An LSE spokesperson said:

“LSE is committed to a working and learning environment where people can achieve their full potential free of all types of harassment and violence. We take reports of sexual harassment extremely seriously

and encourage any member of the LSE community who has experienced or witnessed this to get in touch via one of our many channels, which allow students and sta to make anonymous reports and access specialist support.”

“While we do not normally comment on the details of individual disciplinary investigations, we want to assure both students and sta that the allegations in this particular case were investigated very extensively and in light of specialist advice. We are con dent that the investigation was robust and that the outcome, in which the allegations were not upheld, was the correct one in light of the evidence presented.”

“LSE has developed, and continues to develop, a number of measures to ensure that any allegation of misconduct receives a trauma-informed, robust and compassionate response.”

e spokesperson highlighted LSE’s Report + Support sys-

tem, and also said LSE plans to make “greater use of external investigators in the future.”

e spokesperson said: “We have also commissioned Rape Crisis South London and Survivors UK to run an Independent Sexual Violence Advisory service for the School. is will provide practical and emotional support for any student (or sta member) who needs it, and will support them through a reporting process and/or the criminal justice process if they wish.”

e spokesperson said LSE have “implemented an all-sta online training course on addressing harassment and sexual misconduct a ecting students, developed with Advance HE, tailored to LSE’s needs and linked to our policies.” is will be mandatory training across LSE.

“Alongside this, in close working with the Students’ Union, we have redesigned our Consent Ed programme to set out clearly to students what is, and is not, acceptable.”

UN Special Rapporteur Speaks to Students on Palestine Crisis

Vasavi Singhal

Contributing Writer

Photographed by Luka

Lacey

LSESU’s Grimshaw Club and Palestine Society (PalSoc) collaborated on 11 November as part of PalSoc’s ‘Palestine in Conversation’ Speaker Series, inviting Francesca Albanese to speak at LSE. Around 100 students attended the talk in the SU basement venue, hosted by Gerry Simpson, the Chair in Public International Law at LSE.

Francesca Albanese is an international lawyer, academic, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Her mandate is to document and report on the violations of international law

committed by Israel. It was a signi cant event for the organisers Kaviesh, Tasneem, and Ahmad. Ahmad, the president of PalSoc, considered this event important particularly in the context of LSE’s “vague guidelines around free speech” and the subsequent disciplinary procedures faced by the LSE 7. He praised Albanese for being “very vocal about the Palestinian issue”. Ahmad wanted Albanese to “reinforce…the right to protest on campus… and let us know what that entails”.

Kaviesh, Grimshaw Club’s president, emphasised the importance of keeping up the momentum from last year and creating a space for student voices: he wanted to host discussions that were “respectful, professional … [and not] anti-Semitic,” but still recognised the rights, sovereignty, and self-determination of Palestinians.

Tasneem, Grimshaw’s vice-president, wanted

the talk to be “a form of resistance”. “Learning about the state of Palestine, the Palestinian ag,” were small actions Tasneem believed could bring people into “continual existence”. She expressed hope that hearing from someone who had engaged with legislative and systemic barriers in the UN and media would give students a framework to “make more meaningful change”.

Albanese praised the student movement for its “huge impact in awakening…a sense of how the injustice in Palestine is not just a local crisis, it’s a global crisis”. She highlighted how societies in the global North “contribute to … the maintenance of the occupation”.

Her message to LSE’s protestors was: “Stay strong, continue but always maintain a higher ground.” She said protestors should remain “peaceful” and “rational”, resisting provocation. Albanese urged protestors to “understand the system” they stand against, because “injustice in Palestine is a re ex of more global structural issues”, such as capitalism and imperialism.

Albanese went on to praise the

LSESU’s LGBTQ O cer Hosts Trans

Day

“exemplary” work of LSE students and sta for their “huge contribution” in writing the ‘Assets in Apartheid’ report, saying she would use it in her own work. She thanked students for doing the job of their own institutions and the PalSoc President for “doing amazing work”.

She was insistent on the importance of divestment in universities, asserting that “universities should be apartheid-free zones”. She added, “universities should not invest in anything that is connected with illegal activities”. Albanese criticised the “institutional [neutrality]” of LSE, arguing that the “genocide” is not about politics and is instead about human life and dignity.

Her visit invited ‘#BanFran’ protests from the Campaign Against Antisemitism. is was met with pro-Palestine counter-protests, with dozens of police o cers forming a ‘thin blue line’ to separate the two groups. Loud shouting and sirens were heard across campus.

An LSE spokesperson said: “LSE is committed to strength-

ening our approach to responsible investment in line with the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Policy and we are currently inviting submissions to the ESG Policy review taking place this academic year. Alongside other matters, this review will consider current policies related to investment in fossil fuels and arms manufacturing. All students and sta are invited to share their views and ideas through LSE’s dedicated online form.”

e spokesperson said LSE does not “take positions on political controversies in order to preserve space for free expression and thought on campus”, and to “protect academic freedom” for sta and students.

According to the spokesperson, LSE’s free speech policy is “designed to protect and promote peaceful freedom of expression on campus. is includes the right to protest.” e spokesperson said LSE would only take measures against protestors if it crosses into the line of illegality, is threatening students, or signi cantly disrupts the community.

of Remembrance Vigil

Photographed by Anonymous Attendee

On Transgender Awareness Week (13-19 November), LSESU’s LGBTQ o cer and LGBTQ Society held a Trans Day of Remembrance vigil to commemorate those lost to transphobic violence. e vigil, held on 20 November in the CBG Plaza, hosted multiple speakers from the student community. Mourners also held a minute’s silence and lit candles in memory of the victims.

LSESU’s LGBTQ o cer, who delivered a speech at the vigil, stated the vigil’s purpose was to “honor trans people” and ght transphobic violence.

ey highlighted the racial aspect of transphobic violence, noting that 93% of reported murders of transgender people were of Black and Brown people. e o cer also addressed mental health disparities within the queer community, explaining that Black and Brown individuals are disproportionately a ected.

e LGBTQ o cer criticised LSE for fostering a “hostile environment” for trans individuals, tying into a larger “culture war” against trans people in the UK. e o cer highlighted how young trans people cannot access puberty blockers and gender-afrming care that they need.

ey discussed how Conservatives like Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conserv-

ative party, “rallied” against trans people by pushing for a biological sex binary within the existing 2010 Equality Act. e o cer accused LSE of being “complicit” in this culture war, through the protection of “gender critical” speakers on campus. ey argued that President Larry Kramer’s “academic freedom” comments are a “hostile piece” against trans people.

Finally, the LGBTQ o cer addressed trans people in the audience by rea rming they were “not alone”. ey encouraged students to apply for the LSESU’s Gender Expression Fund, and to reach out to organisations for trans people if they are struggling and need support.

An LSE spokesperson said:

“Our School is a place where we come together to discuss, e ect change and challenge through education practices, academic research, and rigorous debate. Freedom of speech and expression for all on campus is essential to this. Our free speech policy is designed to protect and promote peaceful freedom of expression for all on campus. LSE has clear policies in place to ensure the facilitation of debates and enable all members of our community to refute ideas lawfully, and to protect individual’s rights to freedom of expression within the law. is is formalised in our free speech policy and in our Ethics Code.”

e spokesperson highlighted LSE’s Anti-Bullying and

Anti-Harassment policy that “promotes an environment free from discrimination”, as well as the Report + Support system to deal with harassment allegations from both students and sta

Saira Afzal News Editor

Beyond Holiday Spirit: Building a Year-Round Culture of Solidarity at LSE

Mahliqa Ali Features Editor

Photographed by Ryan Lee

Christmas is a time of giving. Driven by holiday spirit, many start considering meaningful causes to support as the year draws to a close. While this season brings a surge of charitable donations, some individuals on campus, such as Sachin Bhopal-Myers, commit to giving back all year round. Awarded LSESU’s 2024 Activist of the Year for his fundraising, activism, and community-building e orts, Sachin exempli es how we can consistently enact change at LSE and beyond.

Sachin is Co-President of LSESU Student Action for Refugees, which he re-founded to advocate for refugees, migrants, and displaced people. He is also Vice President of LSESU Raising and Giving. Beyond campus roles, Sachin is a volunteer humanitarian aid worker for refugees in Northern France.

Sachin’s commitment to refugee rights began as a student activist with Citizens UK,

joining community advocacy against deportation of a 16year-old Sudanese student, ultimately resulting in the recent overturning of the deportation decision. is led him to a leadership role in the End Child Detention campaign, which tackles children being detained for immigration reasons. Compelled to witness the conditions of displacement rsthand, he travelled to Northern France to volunteer with Care4Calais, which directly supports refugees.

is experience brought the reality of the situation into sharp focus. ‘‘I realised how badly they needed volunteers, how important the work is of distributing humanitarian aid to people living in dire conditions,’’ Sachin explains.

“What motivates me is that I can see the injustice on such a huge scale. It’s very blatant –you see in the media every day that people are dying in small boats. ere’s been one death every ve days this year, at least 72 deaths this year in the Channel.”

He adds, “I’ve been to more vigils than I can count, and

rather than having that stop me because I have to see things I don’t want to see, it motivates me to carry on, because I can see the situation’s only getting worse. It’s a humanitarian catastrophe.’’

e Christmas season brings an in ux of donations and volunteers to charities, a trend he attributes to multiple reasons, and views with mixed feelings.

He also highlights the multifacetedness of Christmas goodwill, remarking that holiday generosity bene ts charities desperate for money. “Charities can bene t from people being more willing to donate at Christmas, such as the ‘Donate £25 to Buy a Coat for a Homeless Person’ campaign. eir marketing denitely plays on that Christmas spirit of giving, and that’s fair enough: essentially organisations have to capitalise on the opportunity to get funding.’’

However, Sachin observes that “it can also feel very super cial and capitalistic”. While Christmas carries the sentiment of giving, it also carries the sentiment of consumerism. Under late-stage capitalism, Christmas has become a highly commercialised economic event,

with businesses pushing aggressive marketing campaigns to encourage purchases. e spike in charitable donations at Christmas may come across as super cial philanthropy.

Sachin recommends considering o -peak times of the year when demand for help is higher. “You can de nitely go over the Christmas period and be really helpful, but maybe look at when else they need volunteers, because a lot of people go during the Christmas

money. “If you have an idea, just ask questions. Get in touch with the president, or someone you know who’s in the society, and just suggest things we could try.’’

Sachin’s work underscores a broader vision for the future: a campus, and a society, rooted in a culture of giving. “I try to make an e ort because I have the privilege that I’m in a place

‘It’s about creating a culture around giving where you help those who have less money or access to resources. If you have that money, you should be part of the solution, because that’s collective solidarity.’

period, whereas if you’ve got a few weeks you can spare in the New Year, or the rst few weeks of January and February, it might be more impactful.’’ He encourages donating yearround, when charities usually lack holiday funding.

For Sachin, getting involved with campus fundraising and volunteering o ers an accessible way for anyone at LSE to make a di erence, recognising that volunteering abroad requires signi cant time and

where I can do that. ere’s a lot of people who are in that position, who don’t realise how much of an impact they could have,’’ he notes.

Considering LSE’s corporate reputation, he advocates for a mindset shi away from capitalistic wealth accumulation and towards a culture of consistent mutual aid. “A lot of people, particularly at LSE, come from wealthy backgrounds, and can a ord to donate to crowdfunders, charities, or to volunteer. It’s a choice about what they do with their money, and it’s about creating a culture around giving where you help people who have less money or access to resources. If you have that money, you should be part of the solution, because that’s collective solidarity.’’

As he prepares for another trip to Calais, Sachin’s dedication reminds us that the spirit of giving does not have to be seasonal. It is a call to action: to re-examine the year-round comforts of our lives and consider how we can share our privilege. Whether on campus, in Calais, or elsewhere, there are always ways to make an impact that counts.

See full article online for more information on organisations supporting refugees in Calais.

‘Hangouts in the Heart of the Community’: Is Post-Lecture Boozing Losing its Fizz?

Molly Triscott Contributing Writer Illustrated by Sylvain Chan

As the Autumn Term draws to a close, students scramble to check out the last library books and lecturers linger over PowerPoint’s exit button. Universities across the country are wrapping up in anticipation for the Christmas break: Less humdrum ‘home-to-work’ routines and more time to spend with friends at ‘ ird Places’, using Sociologist Ray Oldenburg’s term. In his 1989 book, e Great Good Place, Oldenburg stresses the social values brought forth into the community by our chosen “hangouts”.

Let it be known, however, that ird Places are nothing new. Patrons of Qichaguan Teahouses during the Song Dynasty o en escaped the woes of work to play chess and sip from porcelain bowls. Centuries yonder above Saxon soil, taverns, alehouses, and inns began serving nights of merriment to fatigued Romans.

Such lark, it seems, trickled onward into the 21st century and fermented into a millennium of foam parties, bar crawls, pub quizzes, and much to the delight of ABBA fans, karaoke. Seen as a space away from halls and reading lists, many students queued for a glass.

Quickly, ird Places of similar elks began opening shop near universities putting drinking on the agenda. Take our own campus for example, LSE students would be hard-pressed to miss the trio of pubs sandwiched between the lecture halls.

Not your cup of tea?

It’s not everyone’s, as I came to nd out. Vanessa, a Bar Assistant at LSESU-governed bar e ree Tuns recalls, “ ere are de nitely people who will have one pint, then another

and so on, but I’m noticing a lot of people will come up and order a so drink or ask me what non-alcoholic drinks are available.”

In 2023, YouGov reported that 44% of 18–24-year-olds surveyed regularly drank non-alcoholic drinks at the pub – a 15% increase from 2022. Findings from the Student, Drug and Alcohol Survey 2023/34 also discovered that “27% of students didn’t drink anymore” and 83% didn’t feel the need to drink when socialising. Perhaps alcohol is taking a gap year?

Alas, Vanessa adds, “Although we’re seeing a rise in sober and sober-curious lifestyles, we live in a society that is still pretty alcohol-centric, and this plays out in people’s everyday attitudes towards not drinking.”

it cost money to get there?” When ree Tuns is on the other side of a two-hour seminar in December, the allure is palpable. Additional draws such as pub quizzes and karaoke, “give people something else to do apart from just standing around drinking”, says Vanessa.

While celebrating Tuns as “a thriving hub of student life where people can get drinks that are a lot cheaper”, she suggests promoting “non-alcoholic drink options, whether in the bar or something like the SU’s newsletter” as well as advocating for “more spaces where students can gather, whether

involved, but I’m not even kidding, every single Labour Party event [at LSE] has been surrounded by drinking,” she says.

“I’m friends with the coordinator. I was like, come on do something that’s not in a pub because I really want to come, I really want to network with these people,” Aleena adds.

e typical response received follows the trope, “It’s the easiest place to meet, there’s nowhere else in the uni.” Are Blair’s Cocaine Socialists having a second wind? For Aleena, ird Places are usually “faith-driven or those that don’t have a culture around drinking”.

Faith Centre at LSE was indicative of the conversation that ensued. “Not everyone knows how to approach the conversation [of faith],” leading to “someone’s faith being seen as separate from their identity.”

“I think in the West and Britain in particular,” adds Flora, “religion and what you believe in is so ingrained to stay within the realm of the private.”

Drinkers and non-drinkers: Can the twain ever meet?

Wondering if Vanessa’s observations echoed through the multistorey halls of residence, I asked two rst-year LSE students.

“I de nitely didn’t expect it [alcohol] to be as pervasive as it was and the pub is the daily space for socialisation,” explains one student whilst conceding, “I don’t think people go to pubs loads for the alcohol so much as the social and friendship aspects. When I haven’t wanted to drink, I haven’t felt judged about it or pressured.”

So why are Student Union bars popular ird Places? One student I spoke with cited accessibility, and before committing to plans, they regularly consider: “Are drinks expensive, does

that’s a lounge or café-style spot that stays open late”.

‘Every single event has been surrounded by drinking’

For abstinent and infrequent drinkers, university events can feel akin to missing the punchline whilst everyone else keels with laughter. Aleena is Muslim and studying Politics at LSE. She doesn’t drink alcohol and speaks of the barriers between exploring her interests whilst feeling comfortable in ird Places.

“I’m a member of the Labour Party and I really want to get

Muhammad Zainuddin’s 2022

student-led project ‘Exploring Muslim Students’ Experiences of Inclusion at the LSE’ cites respondents of faith groups feeling disincentivised from attending society or department events where alcohol was omnipresent. ey were quoted saying, “Our beliefs, our principles, are kind of seen as ‘the other’, and everything else is kind of seen as ‘the default’,” and illustrates this point when recalling the lack of unawareness among peers during Ramadan.

Speaking to Flora, the Communications Lead for the

Well, of course. With students from 150 countries and over 250 societies to join, LSE stands as one of the most diverse universities in the world – a testament to its inclusivity.

Perhaps, as Vanessa mentioned and reinforced by our earlier rst-year student, LSE might just “need more social spaces which facilitate random interactions with other students”. Amplifying alternative ird Places could quieten the pub crawlers.

Liza, a third-year Social Anthropology student, shared her tried-and-tested tips for navigating social circles without compromising her authenticity. “ e key here is to nd your people and cultivate wholesome friendships which centre on human connection.”

Like other members in her community, Liza rarely drinks and adds, “I have quite a gastronomical soul, so I enjoy meeting my friends over lunch or tea… When choosing how to spend my time with friends, I naturally keep their interests in mind.”

Considering the 3,535 pubs open in London, the merry crowds of Friday night endeavour to clink across the city and perhaps they should prevail – as should alternative ird Places. “A er all,” Liza concludes, “it’s not the drink in your hand that matters, but the people you surround yourself with.”

e Trigger and Beyond: A Closer Look at LSESU Homeless Action

Ryan Lee

Photography Editor

Second-year Politics student Jack Baker still remembers the day he walked by a familiar spot on campus. It was just outside of the Shaw Cafe in the Cheng Kin Ku (CKK) building, at the corner of Kingsway and Sardinia Street. A man would be there, sitting and sleeping. But on this particular day, a sign marked his place – a sign for the man’s vigil.

It was the death of a homeless man outside CKK last year. “He would always stay there, and then he wasn’t there one day,” Jack said. “ at was the trigger for me.”

For second-year Law student Ruby Sweetman, Jack’s “trigger” was an issue that hit close to home. Born in Whitechapel, she grew up in a family that emphasised giving back to the community. Although Ruby herself was raised middle-class, her grandparents and mother had lived in temporary housing, leaving their family with a core lesson: “Never forget what it’s like to be poor.”

Together, Jack and Ruby’s experiences led to the new student society, LSESU Homeless Action Society, where Jack now sits as president and Ruby as secretary. For Ruby, their goal was to provide what, in her view, LSE was missing when it came to addressing homelessness: “A more grassroots organisation.”

Homeless Action’s rst term has been headlined by their Giving Tuesday initiative, ‘Clothes for Christmas, a clothing donation drive for the homeless. Working with the LSE Volunteer Centre and eight di erent academic departments, Homeless Action collected clothes from 25 November to 6 December 2024.

Jack speci ed that donations are scheduled to be collected and distributed to a network of food banks and clothing banks in Camden or Westminster, although the ultimate destina-

tions are yet to be nalised. At times, the society’s growing pains were starkly visible. At Homeless Action’s Giving Tuesday booth, Jack expressed dismay that there weren’t as many clothes as he had hoped.

Simultaneously, the two leaders were pleasantly surprised by the wide student interest throughout their rst term as a society. Ruby re ected upon their initial worries about membership numbers, volunteer turnout and their budget to sustain society initiatives –something that she does not lose too much sleep over now.

“I feel that something like [Homeless Action] gives a sober reality or a di erent perspective,” she said when asked about the organisation’s appeal to the student body. Ruby juxtaposed Homeless Action with “the LSE bubble,” which she de nes as an environment that is “so fast-paced, so commercial-heavy and money focused”.

e contrast was stark with her secondary school life in Norwich. She tried to tone down her assertiveness – “I’m not trying to be too political,” Ruby led o . But her diction soon sharpened into a more serious tone as she detailed her observations: shopfronts closing, overwhelmed food banks and a general lack of resources.

“I have known many, many friends and many neighbours who have really struggled and [know] how close the poverty line is,” Ruby said. “For a lot of people, it’s seen as this kind of mystical thing, but it is so easy to slip below it.”

LSE was an insulated environment in Ruby’s eyes. She discussed various reasons for this, from the amount of funding societies receive, to the sheer amount of wealth some students have.

“Just 100 meters away, there are people at night, every night, looking for food trucks, food [and] shelter,” she said. “It was a culture shock coming

Jack also noted a contrast between home and LSE, but one coming from the opposite direction. Born and raised in Surrey, Jack’s move to London exposed him to a drastically di erent environment.

“ ere’s not really a lot of homelessness [in Surrey],” he said, pointing out the relative wealth of the area. According to the Surrey County Council’s 2024 Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, Surrey’s rate of homeless households is less

term. “We’ve had lots of conicts with diaries, and there are bigger issues or more publicised issues that they [potential speakers] could go to... a student homelessness society is not going to take the top [spot].”

Ultimately, Jack and Ruby see two possible visions for Homeless Action as a campus organisation, rst as an organisation with a strong membership and student appeal. Before ‘Clothes for Christmas’ even concluded, Homeless Action began making plans for the upcoming

‘I have known many, many friends and neighbours who [know] how close the poverty line is... For a lot of people, it’s seen as this kind of mystical thing, but it is so easy to slip below it.’ here.”

than half of the English average. “Moving to London, you see [homelessness] rsthand.”

Jack and Ruby’s work was sparked by a convergence of interests, each with their unique backgrounds, stories to tell and sources of motivation. But as they round the corner on their rst term, they also share dismay toward the de-prioritisation of homelessness, and a vision to tackle this in politics.

“It’s not an election-winning issue, is it?” Ruby questioned, referring to unresponsive politicians and speaker events that have been cancelled this

term, and even years ahead.

For the politically-minded, Jack and Ruby expressed strong intentions to expand speaker events, engaging in the policy sphere and possibly even lobbying MPs. For the philanthropically-minded, Homeless Action’s short-term goals are to create tangible change on a local level.

“We want to set up a social hub,” Jack said, calling it “the big agship project” that Homeless Action wants to start by the new year.

With SU funding (application pending), a semi-permanent

space will be set up on campus for weekly hot drinks, socialising and helping the local rough-sleeping population seek the support they need.

Ruby spoke with con dence about the transitional continuity of their society, even following their departure. “ ere’s an established membership of this year, which will carry over to next year, and [we’re] working with other societies as well to get frequent volunteers.”

But the second, more longterm future that these students see is paradoxical: they dream of a day when the UK doesn’t need Homeless Action anymore.

“As a society, I think we’re trying to support charities that were already overstretched… maybe it is grassroots action through students now that has to make up the bits missing,” Ruby admitted. “But hopefully one day, if there’s su cient funding and action from the government, our role won’t be that signi cant anymore.”

Frustrated, Jack juxtaposed the a uence of British society with the number of rough sleepers, expressing anger at the government for allowing homelessness to spike.

He bluntly characterised Homeless Action: “What we do is great,” he said. “But it should not need to happen.”

DEBATE: Has Film Become Elitist and Over-Intellectualised?

Elsa Barbier Contributing Writer

Illustrated by Paavas Bansal

‘Watching lm’ has taken on a new meaning in our modern society. One cannot just claim they ‘like lm’ anymore without backing this up by listing Quentin Tarantino’s entire lmography, having a ‘tasteful’ Letterboxd account and, exclusively watching culte, deep, cinematographic masterpieces that critique society. Labelling yourself as someone who enjoys lm carries with it the assumption that you are an intellect who has watched every underground lm ever created, of course with the ability to regurgitate the director’s exact intentions and its deeper intellectual meaning.

It would be interesting to trace back to the moment when mov-

ies, phenomena invented for the purpose of leisurely storytelling and entertainment (even social commentary), were turned into weapons against the non-intellect.

A possible contributing factor to this over-intellectualization of lm could be the increased availability of media. CDs, streaming services online, TVs–the fact that lm now largely surrounds us opens up the opportunity to engage in critical and rigorous scholarly discussions, and to relish those famed ‘iconic lms’. Of course, this is in no way a bad thing; using our time to watch culturally signi cant lms and unearthing their impact or meaning is a great way to gain important knowledge. But the extreme to which this has been taken is the troubling part; individuals now cannot fathom how one who claims to watch lm wouldn’t have anything to say about its deeper meaning and doesn’t immediately

Sophie Alcock Contributing Writer

Cinema is a hub of brutal and vicious debate, but isn’t that true of all art?

Some argue cinema is a new realm for cinephiles, critics and academics to demonstrate their cultural dominance over general audiences. eir cultural capital, accumulated through watching renowned classics and reading academic literature, is said to be used against the average lm enthusiast, turning it into a class debate.

However cinema, like all arts, is subjective and aims to evoke emotion or interest, therefore it will not be equally impressive to everyone, critics included. Perhaps what we see is a democratisation in the distribution, consumption and criticism in cinema and lm theory on a broader scale than other art forms. e more participation there is, the more perspec-

adopt a critical angle. is vast availability in lm allows even elitism to become further entrenched due to individuals’ di erential access.

Although it may seem lm is everywhere–is it really? Unfortunately not. Vast access to highbrow culture is severely limited by one’s social standing and class. Not everyone can afford to attend revival cinemas, or even what seems like a basic Net ix subscription. us lm elitism subtly evokes class inequalities, shaming those less able to a ord notable lm exposure and overlooking that gaps in lm knowledge are o en not deliberate or within one’s control. In sum, it seems lm as a hobby has become over-intellectualised, and has taken an elitist turn.

is arrogance now embedded in lm culture has led lm to evolve almost as a niche industry. Being able to call yourself

tives represented – and with it, more arguments about those perspectives.

While leaving a screening, hearing an audience member ask ‘what was the point of that?’ is a marker of a bad lm. If an audience member cannot understand its intention in any form, it is wise to question how successful the lm is in the rst place. It may sound esoteric, but at the end of the day every lm is created as an experiment or exploration into a subject or theme, such as a study on humanity. is extends to lms we perceive to have not so high brow themes, such as Scott Pilgrim vs the World (2010) or any Marvel movie: they can be considered as explorations of genres, namely the exploration of lm as an adaptation medium for comic book source material. If a lm fails to make these subjects and themes easily understood by the viewer, then it frankly fails at the premise

a ‘ lm person’ has become increasingly challenging with its exclusivity now ossi ed. I can’t recall a time where I’ve said I studied IB Film and wasn’t expected to ash my Letterboxd account like a cop to their badge. rough this lm-rating app, the competition of intellectualism is encouraged, enabling lm bros to judge your opinions and evaluate your lm expertise. If one doesn’t have it, then they simply can’t be a genuine lm person.

I long for a world where I can say ‘I like lm’ without facing disapproval for saying I didn’t like Taxi Driver, or haven’t watched e Godfather. Of course I’ll get to them eventually, but I shouldn’t be watching them out of peer pressure, and watching them shouldn’t be the deciding factor of whether or not I’m a lm enthusiast. I long for a world where showing interest in lm doesn’t become a competition of cultural assets, but one where lm is appreciated for its original intent.

of cinema as art. In this way, everyone is a critic; if a lm fails to capture your attention or is di cult to interpret, perhaps it is simply a bad lm.

Even the cinephiles are split about the inherent ‘value’ of a lm. For example, e Room (2003) is undoubtedly a fan favourite, but is also known as one of the worst lms ever made, packed with terrible dialogue, melodramatic performances and strange directorial choices. Although you may have the ‘cultural capital’ allowing you to analyse lms, cult classics and fan favourites are not necessarily chosen using this capital.

is leaves us to question, who determines rankings or awards for lm? Many would argue the Academy Awards is the most prestigious or valuable prize, however it is just one metric of accomplishment based on members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and

Sciences.

If you look around, there are cult classics lurking in every corner. As popular lms search for large box o ce returns, they choose not to alienate the general audience. General audience reactions are also important for what gets produced when studios choose which scripts reach the box o ce.

At the same time, I can appreciate that lm critics may come o as ‘elitist’ and intimidating to the average person. However, the realm of symbolic violence might not stem from elitism, but rather from the arrogance and in exibility of opinions from a few. ere is nothing wrong with a favourite director or lm, but the problem stems from believing you, and only you, hold the right opinions. Art is about experimentation and expression. If someone is unwilling to try seriously viewing a lm, then are they truly acting in

good spirit?

At the end of the day, you have the same access to lms as lm bu s; don’t your Letterboxd reviews hold the same weight as theirs? Don’t let arrogant people spoil enjoyment over your hobby of watching lms, for it is your personal enjoyment and the lms that resonate the most with you that counts.

Cinema, like all art, has been democratised with the advent of the internet, with free or cheap mass access to video essays or other lm critiques online as a venue for people to educate themselves on lm theory. ere will always be levels of capital in the arts, in the same way we as university students are gaining the capital in our respective subjects. is does not mean, however, that cinema is inherently elitist as a subject.

Economics Is Out, Swi nomics Is In!

Ishani Datta

Contributing Writer

Illustrated by Francesca Corno

Whoever said money doesn’t buy happiness clearly hasn’t been to the Eras Tour. Ask anyone who has, and I’ll bet my two cents it was the closest they had ever been to Heaven. Of course, that is if Heaven was a seat at the most serotonin-inducing, gut-wrenchingly, childhood-ful lling sparkly collection of songs by one of the greatest artists of all time: Taylor Alison Swi !

Whether you love or hate her, you can’t deny that she can put on an ‘era’-de ning show, the currently best-selling concert tour of all time. I can’t name many artists who can perform over 40 songs, 16 out t changes, endless dance routines (including a certain Midnights Era chair that could very well be the most expensive chair in the world right now), about ve genres of music, no breaks, for at least three-to-four nights every week. Did reading about everything she does in a single concert – let alone multiple nights in a row – leave you exhausted? Same. is is notwithstanding the fact that the Eras Tour has been going on for over a year and a half. And let’s not forget that the tour has had 4.3 million attendees in the past 20 months.

Ms. Swi is a dedicated per-

former and an incredibly savvy businesswoman. I mean, who else has amassed $1 billion in revenue from a single tour? And it’s not even over yet!

In the UK, her concerts in London, Edinburgh, Liverpool, and Cardi generated £1 billion for the economy (with the London stop solely responsible for a third of that money injection)—ajaw-dropping accumulation of ticket sales, tourism boosts, hotels, restaurants, and plane tickets. And let’s not forget that a substantial portion of the revenue was stacked by the merch sold outside each concert: according to Forbes, since early 2023 (the start of the Eras Tour) Swi racked up over $1 billion from ticket sales at her concerts alone, in addition to the $240 million she had already made from merch sales that year. e only other tours that have reached anywhere near this marker were Coldplay’s Music of the World tour (grossed $1 billion post-completion) and Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour (grossed $939 million post-completion).

Swi ’s contribution to individual and global economies across the globe has been so profound that a new economic phenomenon has developed to explain it: ‘Swi onomics’!

Swi onomics is the economic phenomenon that describes the impact of Swi ’s streaming and concert sales in local and global economies, notably the ones she performs her con-

Opinion Editors’ Hot Take Highlights

Lucas and Aaina say...

• “Winter Wonderland is overrated”

• “ e build-up to Christmas is so much better than actual Christmas day”

• “TfL should o er Tube services on Christmas day”

• “Turkey is very dry and mediocre”

certs in as of 2023. Beginning with the USA in March 2023, Swi performed 53 shows in 20 cities, generating over $4 billion for America’s GDP according to Bloomberg and Business Insider. Four billion dollars—let that number sink in before we get to the foreign policy incident in Singapore (yes, literal governments got involved). Spoiler alert, even Harvey Specter wouldn’t take a risk to cash in the way they did.

As many South Asian and South East Asian Swi ies would tell you, getting a ticket to the Eras Tour in Asia was harder than clearing the Gaokao Exam in China, or the JEE entrance exam in India. It’s no secret that Asian Swi ies have cried foul about the lack of diversity in Swi ’s tour stops, but it’s with the Eras Tour that we got to see the true brunt of it. Fans across Asia were disheartened and

angered when the tour announced just one Southeast Asian stop—a six-night run at Singapore’s National Stadium. For any non-Singaporean Swi ie, the price to attend (or even have a chance to attend) just increased past doable thresholds. e Guardian also revealed that Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, closed a deal with Swi ’s tour management with an incentive of over $2 million per show for Singapore to be

da, expressed his displeasure at this move, remarking that ‘ is isn’t what good neighbours do’. According to Time magazine, the former Prime Minister of ailand, Srettha avisin, commented on Singapore’s shrewdness and said: ‘If I had known this, I would have brought the shows to ailand’. While PM Loong has defended this decision, one can’t help but respect the shrewdness needed to pull o something of this nature.

‘Whether you love or hate her, you can’t deny that she can put on an “era”-defining show, the currently best-selling concert tour of all time.’

the only stop on the Eras Tour in Southeast Asia. is set o an angering chain reaction in the neighbouring countries, with fans and political leaders alike slamming this decision. Filipino lawmaker, Joey Salce-

He clearly understood Swi ’s worth: the six nights in Singapore alone contributed almost half a billion dollars to the city-state’s GDP, adding to their thriving tourism industry that was already worth over $200 million. According to Bloomberg, Swi ’s arrival in Singapore alone boosted the GDP by 0.2% in the rst quarter. It, however, came at the cost of South Asian Swi ies elsewhere who had to ght an uphill ticket battle against the ai, Indonesian, Chinese, and Korean Swi ies (and more).

To put it simply, Taylor Swi has been revered as a ticket to economic heaven, leaving national economies across the world begging for more. Swi onomics in uenced Singapore’s decision to be the only stop in Southeast Asia; Swi onomics in uenced Lisa Gillmor, Mayor of Santa Clara to appoint Swi as Honorary Mayor during her Eras Tour in the city (also renamed as Swi ie Clara), and it was Swi onomics that gave the US economy a $4.5 billion boost— all from a single tour. For any university thinking of adding a Master in Swi onomics degree anytime soon, I think I’ll risk my life savings and do it. Would you?

Did Social Media Really In uence the US Election?

Victor Destang Contributing Writer

Can a TikTok dance video, a Twitter meme, or an Instagram post push people to vote for one candidate over another? A er speaking to youth from all walks of life while covering the US election, my answer is: not exactly.

An impressive 92% of the people interviewed immediately said social media played a huge role. But how? e simple answer would be to examine what people do on social media: share and receive information. Indeed, 78.5% of the respondents said that their primary source of political information was platforms like Twitter or TikTok.

Consequently, the intuitive conclusion might be that candidate exposure pushed voters toward a speci c choice. However, I argue that this is unlikely. 71% of the people admitted they primarily consumed content that matched their pre-existing beliefs—some

where individuals reject information that contradicts their beliefs, and the engagement-based algorithms which pushes people towards echo-chambers.

Hence, if voters are con ned in their informational bubbles, the more content they consume, the less exposure they have to opposing perspectives. at being so, it is di cult to argue simply that social media exposure or campaigns genuinely changed voting patterns. In most cases, it seems candidates are merely preaching to their believers.

Yet a shi in voting patterns remains evident: despite Kamala Harris’ e ort to appeal to young voters through (mostly) female celebrities or viral internet trends, Donald Trump managed to gain ~8% of womens’ votes compared to 2020. For younger voters, the trend was similar. Harris lost ≈11 points among the 18–24 demographic compared to Joe Biden’s performance in 2020 and her only gains were limited to vot

ers aged 65 and older—a group not very present on social media.

Explaining the Youth Shi

If social media presence cannot explain this decline, then what does? Perhaps it was the Israeli-Palestinian con ict, an issue raised by almost 30% of those I interviewed. Harris’ ambiguous position faced harsh criticism on social media from her traditionally young voting base. While some voters questioned their support, others voted for Jill Stein, the Green Party candidate who publicly called to end the genocide in Gaza. us, controversial foreign policy positions amplied on social media might have partly explained the Democrat’s decline.

Nonetheless, if we look at the results, however, this dynamic had minimal impact on the election outcome. Stein garnered approximately 769,000 votes—0.5% of the total share. Even in the unlikely event that all Stein voters had supported Harris, it wouldn’t have secured her a single additional swing state.

Conclusively, the youth decidedly voted for Trump, but it couldn’t have been about foreign policy. Even with peace promises, Trump’s long-standing support for the Israeli government and disputed policies make it improbable that social media coverage of Middle Eastern issues fully swayed young voters to him.

Divide in Social Media Strategy

So what caused the shi ? Perhaps the answer lies not in the candidates’ outstanding social media exposure, but in how they strategically used it.

If we look at the numbers, Trump’s and Harris’ ocial TikTok accounts had close levels of engagement. Yet Trump had 1.5 times more followers than Harris, which suggests that he retained his audience more e ectively. But how?

We can nd that answer when analysing their content. Harris’ campaign strategy emphasised three types: opposition to Trump, o en using slogans like never again, celebrity endorsements, and videos showcasing her rallies across the country.

In contrast, Trump’s content is not in opposition to Kamala. His videos are focused on himself, his campaign promises, and some celebrity endorsements. ey were typically short (15 seconds), dynamically edited, and centred on catchphrases tied to what he announced—“Remove tax out of tips”, “Make America safer”, “End wars” to name a few.

Meanwhile, Harris’ program-focused videos were longer (1.30+ minutes) and less dynamic, o en campaign excerpts, which struggled to resonate with Tiktok users. In fact, Harris’ ‘brat’ campaign content may have even back red on her voter base. e more popstar multi-billionaires aligned with her, the more she seemed disconnected from everyday voters.

Trump’s superior reel per-

formance extended to longform content as well. On YouTube, Harris’ most-watched interview – a 26-minute exchange with Fox News –reached 6.5 million views and 139,000 likes—a like-to-view ratio of 1:43. By comparison, Trump’s most-watched interview, an impressive three-hour conversation with Joe Rogan, amassed 51 million views and 2.2 million likes—a near doubled ratio of 1:23. Notably, Kamala Harris refused to appear on the program without conditions, arguably a missed opportunity.

Kamala’s social media campaign failed to create a meaningful dynamic and likely further demotivated uncertain democrats-leaning voters while increasing Trump’s attractiveness. e combination of the short videos to attract attention and longer ones to convince seems to have proven right for Trump. His sheer engagement, even for a lengthy format, demonstrates the e ectiveness of his social media strategy in emphasising his program and willingness to talk about it.

Final oughts: How It All Played Out

Considering the evidence now, the popular assumption that voters can be swayed on social media by a candidate’s cool factor, celebrity endorsements, or polarizing foreign policy position appears unfounded. Instead, the decisive factor on social media wasn’t only social media presence; rather, it was the nature of its content which attracted voters.

Read the full article online.

THE BEAVER DINER

Pickyeaters

Suchita and Emma asked

MAINS

Wrapping up Autumn Term, the editorial board of The Beaver sums up their thoughts and feelings so far as represented through food!

Beef Pho

Representative of our Executive Board’s newfound bond and commitment to The Beaver: From late nights spent arduously tweaking over formatting (yet still have minor imperfections turn up in the fnal print), to the endless back-and-forth email negotiations.

(Specifcally, we also went out to eat pho at Viet Eats in celebration of Flipside

Pancakes

Pancakes drizzled in maple syrup with fruits on the side. Representative of the fun, hot goss, and x0.5 pictures taken during our socials.

Pizza

14-inch Margherita pizza. Representative of our whole team’s collaborative effort and hard work in making it to issue 938 in one

CUSTOMER REVIEWS

The Beaver Editors select and explain the drink that best represents themselves.

Paavas: “Finally decided to have a social life in third year!”

Saira: “Made many new friends and connections in my third year, which is making up for the academic stress.”

Ryan: “Making the most of being in the Media Centre! Doing my best to get out there and socialise.”

Liza: “Meeting my closest friends over matcha practically saved me from going insane this term. L-Theanine + deep life chats = peace for the soul.”

DRINKS

Blossoming Bonds

Strawberry matcha latte served in a fower-shaped mug. For social butterfies and those who enjoy recharging with friends.

Suchita: “Missed the frst snow because I was passed out (It was my third consecutive night going to bed at 6am).”

Lucas: “Falling behind on formatives while everyone else is probably done applying to internships :( “

Francesca: “Third year.”

Hanging by a Thread

Locked In

Cold brew served in a tall slender glass. For the ambitious folk who don’t have time for dilly-dallying, chitchat, or addressing their declining mental health.

BEAVER BEST SELLER!

16 espresso shots and one shot of vodka, served in a chipped off-white cup. For the anxiety-ridden and caffeine-driven.

Everwinter Blues

Butterfy pea fower tea served by the pot (with a dash of melatonin). For the somber souls yearning for some peace and time to themselves.

Jessica-May helping Buster the Beaver down a pint.

Rebecca, Janset, Paavas, Ryan, and Syl coming out of a top secret but very unfruitful meeting.

SPORT

EDITED BY SKYE SLATCHER AND JO WEISS

2024 - A Year in Sports

by SKYE SLATCHER & Illustrated by PAAVAS BANSAL

We have enjoyed a rich year of sports. From international events to LSESU success at BUCS xtures, the past 12 months have been incredible.

e Paris Olympics saw 329 events in 32 sports. e US came out on top, with 126 medals in total. e Brits nished in 7th, with Team GB featuring LSE alumnus and diving nalist Kyle Kothari (read my interview with him online!). Team GB nished second in the Paralympics, behind China.

At the Euros, we saw football fail to come home to England once again, with the men’s team losing to Spain in the nal. In Copa América, Argentina won their 16th title, defeating Colombia 1-0. Fans around the world spent days, evenings, and weekends in front of screens and in stadiums fangirling over their national teams.

In F1, Max Verstappen secured his fourth world championship in Las Vegas in November. Finishing in h, he found the points gap needed to ensure his victory over Lando Norris. Before the end of the year, we will know who will win the constructor’s championship too – McLaren or Ferrari. We will soon see Lewis Hamilton’s nal ever race with Mercedes, who together won six drivers and seven constructors championships.

LSE sports have been thriving this year too. A number of teams are currently rst in their BUCS leagues: Men’s 1s Fencing; Women’s 1s Football; Women’s 1s Badminton; Men’s 1s Table Tennis; Women’s 1s Tennis; Men’s 1s Hockey; Men’s 2s Hockey; Women’s 1s Hockey. And in LUSL, Men’s Saturday Intermediate 4s Football; Mixed Intermediate 1s Hockey; Men’s Intermediate 1s Squash; Mixed Competitive 1s Lacrosse; Mixed Intermediate 1s Tennis.

e LSESU Sports team wanted to give a shout-out to some of the other amazing achievements we’ve seen this year: Rowing 12-hour Erg for Mo vember raising lots of charity funds for Men’s Health; Dance and Pole Fit ness AT showcase; Ultimate Frisbee Women’s team qualifying for na tionals; Taekwondo autumn Championships with Soufyaan Timol coming rst in their category and Vilte Barakauskaite coming sec ond in theirs, a National competition; Various trips such as Net ball x Football trip to Liverpool, BJJ to Warwick for competition, Floorball to Durham for competition; e Athletics Union on planning Carol and their upcoming events such as Fight Night and AU Ball.

We have teams competing at the highest level. Women’s 1s Table tennis, competing in Premiership South, managed to qualify for the European Universities Games over the summer. Qinan Li, Yuvathi Kumar, Gauri Duhan (Captain), and Lewis Dixon (LSESU Sports Coordinator) headed to Debrecen, Hungary to compete not only for LSE but also

for Great Britain. What an achievement! Yuvathi continues the legacy and captains this year’s team with competition still underway. ( ank you to Lewis Dixon and the SU Sports Team for all of this information!).

2025 will bring a host of new sporting delights. Hamilton in Ferrari red, the Women’s Rugby World Cup and Cricket World Cup, and many more. And more LSE sporting success!

What Does the Election Mean for the World Cup? by IMANI ADESANYA

e election of convicted felon Donald Trump to be the 47th President of the United States has consequences for states and citizens around the world. Whilst some congratulated Mr Trump on his historic victory, many global leaders are concerned about what a second Trump term means for their countries. ere has been much discussion about the implications of this election on international relations, but it also has a signi cant impact on world sports.

It is o en argued that politics should be kept out of sports, but in reality, the two are intertwined. Sports have historically been a platform for political expression and societal change, making it nearly impossible to separate them entirely. With the US set to host the 2025 Club World Cup, the 2026 men’s World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games, it will be at the centre of the sporting world during Trump’s second term meaning that his policies and leadership will inevitably shape the global perception of these events.

Tournaments like these are o en celebrations of culture, diversity, and inclusion values that arguably stand in contrast to what Trump represents. roughout his election campaign, Trump spewed anti-immigration rhetoric, promising the mass deportation of undocumented migrants, and to complete the building of a wall along the country’s southern border. As the US is set to co-host the 2026 World Cup with Mexico (and Canada), these policies could complicate collaboration as they are likely to increase diplomatic tensions with Mexico.

During his rst term as President, Trump imposed a travel ban on predominantly Muslim countries. A policy like this would no doubt cause concerns among fans from these countries who wish to travel to the US to watch their country participate in the World Cup. Whilst Trump previously reassured FIFA that fans of teams that quali ed would be allowed to enter the US, his promise to restore the controversial ‘Muslim travel ban’ raises concern about the potential restrictions on fans, players, and o cials.

Despite this, FIFA’s president Gianni Infantino, known to be close to Trump, seemed pleased by his return to o ce. “Congratulations Mr President! We will have a great FIFA World Cup and a great FIFA Club World Cup in the United States of America! Football Unites the World!” he wrote on social media. is suggests the FIFA president is optimistic about Trump and does not consider his divisive and in ammatory rhetoric about immigrants to be of particular concern.

Many people, however, will continue to be concerned about their prospects of being able to go to the World Cup. Current wait times for visa interviews run into several hundred days for those applying from some of the nations likely to qualify for the tournament. With Trump vowing to reduce immigration, wait times will most likely get longer. Given Trump’s rhetoric and what he represents, many people might choose not

to attend these events as a matter of principle.

e issue of human rights may also come into play. During the last FIFA World Cup, many people criticised Qatar’s alleged violations of human rights, and speci cally migrant worker rights. However, many also accused the media of Western hypocrisy arguing that similar scrutiny tends to be absent when Western nations host major events, despite their own human rights issues or controversial policies.

Trump is a convicted felon and has been described by organisations like Vox as a threat to democracy. is may lead many to question the US as a host nation in the same way they questioned Qatar. Also, his agenda contradicts some of the pledges outlined in FIFA’s 2026 Human Rights Framework. e framework highlights a commitment to support di erent groups, including women, ethnic minorities, disabled people, immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers, migrant workers, LGBTQ+ people, and journalists. ese are all sections of society that Trump has attacked either through his rhetoric or his policy.

Trump’s reelection raises many questions with the success and inclusivity of upcoming global sporting events being among the most signi cant. Ultimately, the success of this tournament will depend not only on the ability to deliver world-class entertainment but also on fostering an atmosphere of inclusivity and collaboration.

by JOSH THOMAS

Men’s mental health is an incredibly important cause. It sounds stupid putting that into writing because it’s as obvious as it sounds. But I’ll say it again: men’s mental health is an incredibly important cause. It’s important because 12.5% of men in England have a mental health disorder (NHS Digital, 2024). It’s important because men are three times more likely to die by suicide in England than women (Samaritans, 2023). Mental health challenges can a ect anyone, but men face unique social barriers in addressing these struggles.

Priory, a mental health and social care service, revealed troubling insights: 40% of men in the UK have never spoken to anyone about their mental health. eir most alarming nding? 77% of men reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety, stress, or depression, with a signi cant proportion leaving it unaddressed.

e message is clear: men need to start talking.

Having struggled with mental health issues in the past, and occasionally in the here and now, this is close to my heart. Some of the hardest conversations I’ve ever had were with friends or family about my mental health, yet those discussions have also been the most important.

ere are times I’ve wished close mates felt able to open up. I know how heavy the burden of coping alone can be. At the same time, I know it can be terrifying to admit that you need help and can’t handle it all on your own. But I can assure you, your friends and family would rather have that dicult conversation, no matter how long it takes, than know you’re su ering

in silence.

at kind of self-honesty can be life-saving. A simple conversation with a mate could help them turn a corner and start a journey to a happier life. No one has to counsel their mates 24/7, but I’d encourage you to create an environment where your mates feel empowered to talk.

Movember is the perfect time to raise awareness. I wanted to do something that raised funds and encouraged men to talk and check in with their mates. To support the cause, I joined the LSESU Men’s Football Club (FC) Movember page and set myself a challenge alongside other AU committee members: walk a marathon to the Berrylands and back alongside Ava Kondazi, Women’s Football Social Secretary.

is route holds special signi cance: it was run last year by one of LSESU Men’s FC’s nest alumni, Jack Berry. Jack articulated the sentiment perfectly: “I embarked on this challenge because marathons are hard, but waking up and not wanting to live out the day is harder […] Currently I feel blessed to choose the hardship in my life, the hardship that will hopefully help someone who struggles without choice.”

Running a marathon is incredibly impressive,especially with minimal training. However, recurring back issues mean that running is impossible for me, and while it is mentally draining to walk for that length of time, it is ultimately easier.

Naturally, I decided to embrace the theme by dressing as a berry – both in honour of Jack and our halfway destination, the Berrylands. To add an extra twist, I challenged myself to drink 26 di erent so drinks, one for each mile of the marathon, as quickly as I could. At the time, it seemed funny and achievable. Two weeks of gut issues later, I’d de nitely think twice about doing it again.

e aim of the so drinks was to highlight the relationship between alcohol and mental health, particularly prevalent within a university setting. So, the challenge began at 8am on 13 November with a lime soda at Shakies and ended some 11-and-a-half hours later with a J20 at Tuns. A er mistakenly extending the route to 31 miles, I nally arrived at 7.30pm, having sampled everything from Lipton Iced Tea to Irn Bru along the way. Each ‘schooner’ (drink) was recorded for the LSESU Men’s FC Instagram, and the account I was imitating while recording each drink (@schoonerscorer, with c.240k followers on Instagram) even reposted the 25th video and donated £50! As I write this, my fundraising page sits at £1069, and I’m grateful for everyone who has supported me.

e walk was largely enjoyable, and I raised far more money than I ever expected. However, if I inspired even one person to turn to a mate and admit they’re struggling, then that’s what it was really about. ere should be no stigma, no feeling of embarrassment in discussing your mental health, yet it continues to be a root cause of a global pandemic. Suicide was the third leading cause of death among 15-29-year-old males globally in 2021 (WHO). is stigma needs to be broken down. ings won’t improve until that happens.

I’ll nish by quoting myself, recording the nal drink of the marathon, at Tuns: “I know it’s all been in good spirits and a bit of fun today, but men’s mental health is a really important cause, and I just wanted to do this today to raise awareness. I’ve struggled with my mental health before, I still do sometimes now, but it’s really important to keep talking, get your mates to talk, make sure that they’re ok, maybe even go for a schooner...”

Score a Schooner!

SOCIAL

EDITED BY JENNIFER LAU AND SOPHIA-INES KLEIN

e LSE Library: A Microcosm of Foucault’s Disciplinary Society

by PHILIPPI ROUPA & Illustration by JESSICA CHAN

If one manages to see through the all-pervasive swarm of quarter-zips and chinos that dominate the LSE Library, one may discern the striking spiral staircase spanning ve oors. Perhaps ‘stepped ramp’ would be a better way to describe it: the awkwardly-sized steps make it impossible to go up or down with even a sliver of grace.

You realise too late you should have taken the li , but the meagre two li s for ve oors never seem to be able to service the demand. Besides, you only wanted to go to the second oor, and can’t help but wonder if your fellow li -peers will detest you for shu ing past them to get o —for choosing the idle route.

So now you are faced with a crucial decision: one step or two? Should you make outlandishly goofy leaps and go up each step with only your le foot, or instead take an unnecessary quasi-step so as to alternate feet?

As you traverse each oor, you are met with watchful eyes from every angle. A giggle would reverberate throughout the building and may be met with disapproving glances; you’d know you’ve stepped out of line. Or maybe it’s all in your head: as per Foucault, this power is unveri able. Regardless, you wouldn’t want to look silly.

According to the architects that designed the library, the lower ground oor was remodelled to foster a “more welcoming and exible working space”. Instead, the cool-toned arti cial lighting makes you feel even more scrutinised, like the cross-section of some invertebrate in a lab, magni ed and picked apart by med students. In the words of Foucault, the old schema of con nement has been “replaced by the calculation of openings [...] and transparencies”. e architectural design and spatial arrangement of the library only amplify the feeling of “constant and permanent visibility that ensures the automatic functioning of power”.

But unlike in Bentham’s panopticon, you are not a convict in a cell, the library is not a prison institution, and there isn’t a tower or a watchman observing you. In fact, no one is watching. In line with Foucault’s theory, it is you who has internalized the feeling of authority. ere are no laws dictating how you should act; you could very well prance or dance or skip up the stairs. But your behavior categorizes you in the stark dichotomy of social etiquette and aesthetic standards, “between the normal and abnormal”. You are self-policing, self-monitoring, and ensuring you conform to social norms. You are your own watchman. Is this not but another iteration of a regime of disciplinary power? Are you not painfully trying to reach “a minimal threshold”, with an optimum of normalcy and conformity in mind?

As Foucault tells us, this “surveillance rests on individuals”, and functions in the library metaphorically and literally “from top to bottom, […] from bottom to top and laterally”. is machinery is so seamless and well-oiled that

supervisors themselves are being supervised. e result of this panopticon is the homogenising e ects of power: “docile bodies” are normalised and disciplined. In other words, less prancing and dances and giggles.

Hot Chocolate for Adults

by LIZA CHERNOBAY & Illustration by SYLVAIN CHAN

‘Hot Chocolate for Adults’ could very well be the title of a naughty cabaret show or an awkward attempt at re-conceptualising ‘boozy hot chocolate’ on a café menu. But this article is neither about cabarets nor about adding brandy to an otherwise demure drink. Rather, it is a mini-guide to embracing your inner child through the ritual of making hot chocolate. Call it a meditation by means of thoughtful indulgence.

Every corner of LSE campus seems to advertise the act of growing up before most of us are ready for it. Get an internship, convert it into a job, move out with your atmates, get jolly at Carol… While these life projects are central to the student experience, and some are indeed crucial for future stability, sometimes I feel like my right to be a twenty-something-human-in-the-process-of-exploring-the-world has been stolen away from me. Can one truly appreciate the colours of nature, enjoy the avours of a home-cooked meal, experience the butter sensations are being clouded by grown-up things we ‘have to’ do to of somehow failing in life?

As I approach the end of my undergraduate degree, I real ise that sadly, we can’t reverse societal expectations over night. A er all, each of us will have to become an adult one day: get a job, learn to budget, and pay the bills. In fact, many of us are doing these things already. Yet, it is crucial to relieve this pressure every now and then: to let ourselves feel like carefree kids again and indulge in the sensations of being in the

world, without worrying about convincing your landlord to pay for xing yet another broken thing in your student at.

So this brings me to hot chocolate. It’s usually regarded as a children’s drink, perhaps because it’s sweet and untainted by alcohol or ca eine. You can also add marshmallows or cream on top, which makes it even more fun! Crucially, most of us would associate hot chocolate with buoyant childhood memories - which is the main point of this meditation. By tuning in to your senses and inviting playfulness into your life, it becomes easier to see what truly matters.

So here is what you need to do:

1. Slip on a snuggly knit jumper, and feel the bres gently tickling your skin.

2. Prepare your hot chocolate (I like adding warm spices, like ginger and cinnamon), and pour it into your cosiest mug.

3. Make yourself cozy on a sofa or bed, surrounded by blankets and cushions.

4. Li the mug to your nose, and inhale the sweet-nutty scent of chocolate and spices. Let the aromas disperse throughout your body, and imagine tasting the sweet uid inside your mug. Exhale.

5. Be still for a moment, tuning into your senses. Imagine your younger self holding this mug of hot chocolate: how would they feel at this moment in time? What would they want to tell you?

6. Finally, take the rst sip. Let the warmth ll your body with a sense of play, relief, and child-like joy!

Turning the Page to the Runway: Bridging Fantasy and Function in Fashion

by ISHANI DATTA

When I think about fashion, I think about gorgeous but terribly uncomfortable pieces of clothing—designed to please the eye, not the person wearing them. What’s the point of cra ing a stunning, wearable masterpiece if the wearer has to starve or struggle to the brink of exhaustion just to t into it? ey say beauty is pain; I say it shouldn’t be. Fashion should be designed to t and celebrate a body, not contort and agonise it into tting a piece of clothing that can only cause pain and discomfort.

Couture has a history of being in uenced by various forms of art, both past and present, and most notably, fantasy and mythology. But with it sitting in the utmost status of luxury and lack of wearability, couture’s value in fashion can feel constrained. In recent years, both well-known and up-and-coming designers have taken a stand and are challenging the norms of what wearable couture looks like. E orts of celebrated creative directors like Daniel Roseberry of Schiaparelli, Virginie Viard of Chanel, and Maria Grazia Chiuri of Dior are seamlessly blending the opulence of these established fashion houses with functional wearability.

While it’s no secret to us that fantasy and mythology have in uenced notable fashion houses as far back as Elsa Schiaparelli in 1938, it’s only in recent years that we’ve noticed a resurgence of the classical in uences of Greco-Ro-

man, Chinese, and Indian mythology. e products of such inspiration blend the beauty and elegance of fantasy and mythology with a higher degree of the wearer’s comfort.

Jean Paul Gaultier’s Spring 1994 show in Paris was certainly one for the history books, and one that in my opinion, is being referenced as an example for newer designers. e collection was a refreshing change from clothes that frankly made my stomach and back hurt just by looking at them. For the rst time, I saw clothes that resembled my history as an Indian woman, on women who looked like me, on a global stage. e best part? ese clothes were designed to celebrate women, not to reshape them. ey weren’t made to force women into dangerous, unrealistic sizes but to embrace and highlight the natural beauty of their lines, curves, and everything in between. On the runway, the women looked dent and at ease, as though the ts were an extension of their elegance rather than uncomfortable shackles of fashionable suffering. e garments enhanced their beauty, allowing their individuality to shine through e orte silhouettes, one-of-a-kind prints, and the gorgeous use of tribal and local pieces of jewellery further added to the cultural references to key gures in Indian mythology such as Goddess Lakshmi. It goes to show that high fashion with a rich cultural inspiration doesn’t have to require popping painkillers to wear.

I’m a sucker for fashion inspired by fantasy gures like the fairy queens and sirens. ey evoke a surreal reality that I o en nd in my escape into books and dreams. My adoration for fantasy fashion leaped out onto the runway of Chung anh Phong’s show in Vietnam. His intricate bridal collection, aptly titled ‘I Dreamed a Dream’, featured couture pieces that were nothing short of dreamy, ethereal, and most importantly functional. e backdrop of butter ies in every article of clothing looked like it was taken straight out of a fairytale. While largely composed of bridal pieces, some of them truly resembled out ts that would be worn by powerful women in fantasy universes. I could see characters from the Game of rones and Shadow and Bone wearing them, and it warmed my reader’s heart. e divine white, gold, and silver palette is made for enchanted attendees, both in-person and virtually.

Phong’s designs began trending globally for the way he respected and celebrated women through his designs. He went viral under the ‘When a designer loves women’ trend. e clothes were designed for the women who wore them, and it was overwhelmingly clear how much Phong respected the women who wore his designs while bringing another meaning to fashion and its wearability. Vogue Singapore praised Phong’s fairytale e orts to challenge the boundaries of fashion and haute couture.

e industry’s evolution is fuelled by fantasy-inspired silhouettes and mythology-based designs, which are rede ning the narrative of toxic ideals of body types. Individuality, diversity, and imagination are the essence of fantasy—and so should be the couture it inspires. For too long, fashion has con ned the body to a fragile glass box, precariously balanced on the edge of conformity. By embracing these imaginative forms, designers and fashion houses can transform high fashion into a true celebration of individuality, creating garments that honor and amplify the wearer rather than forcing them to conform.

PART B

EDITED BY JESSICA-MAY COX AND SILVIA CASSANELLI

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk

by LABEENA HANIF & Illustrated by NANDITHA EADALA

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk is told through the eyes of the Narrator, an eccentric older lady who lives by the stars, and the poetry of William Blake (from which the title is taken). Believing she is the only one who knows the culprit, she takes it upon herself to investigate the recent string of deaths in her isolated Polish village.

e joy of this novel lies in its dark, compelling narrative, and equally in the privilege of inhabiting the Narrator’s perceptive mind. It feels like a conversation; fans of Han Kang’s e Vegetarian might nd in it a complement and an inverse. Gorgeously insightful, strange, and magical, the world that Tokarczuk creates is all too easy to get lost in. It drives us to ask ourselves: who do we believe is innocent? Who do we believe deserves to live?

Through the Frosted Lens

Photography Competition

e Beaver invites you to dive into nostalgia and pick up your camera –whether it’s a top-tier DSLR or your phone – to capture the essence of growing older during the holiday season. From the magic of decorations and the warmth of a replace to the joy of family meals, quirky traditions like eating twelve grapes under the table, or even your disdain for the holidays—let your lens tell the story.

Submissions are open until 20 January 2025. Enter now via the link on e Beaver’s Instagram (@beaveronline) and share your unique perspective. e top three entries will be featured in our January issue. Let your creativity shine!

You Should Be Angry

by ZOE BOCQUILLON & Illustrated by SYLVAIN CHAN

Everydeathinanalley, Everymeltdown?Weknow Wewouldn’tbemuch,ifthorns Didn’tdrivelightintowetblooms

- Yusef Komunyakaa

I am tired of the self-help books telling me to let go, because I am not tired at all. I’m angry. e wellness industry can respectfully shut up. It’s a multi-billion dollar circuit that pro ts o our pain. It does not sell tions. It prescribes a version of who you should poses behaviours – forgiving, positive – and patholo gises anything otherwise. is isn’t to say you should not meditate, but too o en the recommended products gloss over the messiness of real life, like being angry.

Yet I do not know how to be angry so I am tired, and I am sad. And ultimately, I write. at is how I let anger take over. I let it crawl all over the white page, a pressing need. Let me write. I have ts of rage where I bring justice to scenarios. My face is in a lmic close-up, mouth open, drooling and screaming and kicking everything around. I am on the tube, my knees pressed together. Narrow and on the side. Can the man on the tube stop staring when I am wearing blue tights? I raise my voice until I see in his eyes the disgust, as my sts dance around the silent air. I scream, again and again until my breath is sharp and my guttural echoes. I peel o my skin and my blue tights and frantically rip the book in his hand. I am an animal that has learned to live again. I learn of my existence in his eyes and return to my skin. Every single page pulled apart erratically, the wagon thrashing about, and me in the middle.

But, ultimately I fail. I do not know how to be angry. When is it safe for me to be? I am tired of being a sad girl—the poster child for girlhood everywhere. Like my tears are crystals in an aesthetic Reubens painting, where I play the role of the Virgin Mary. Crying is the ultimate catharsis, I know I will feel better a er. But where do the meltdowns and ts of rage take me? Nowhere. ey do not happen and instead, I cling to words and argue with the little loud voice in my head. As a woman, anger is easy for me to suppress because that is all I know. A history of mediated hysteria reminds me that it might not be better to sit down, be quiet, and smile pretty. I want to be like Toni Collette in Hereditary or Scarlett Johansson in Marriage Story. So relentlessly, I am trying to destroy that small and fragile image of me. Repressed anger causes all sorts of horrid and useless things, from depression to eating disorders. So a er all, maybe I should be angry, and so should you.

Anger comes for us all, and has in the past too. Anger can organise and rage creates change. Do not get too caught up in feminism being wrapped in shiny neoliberal packaging. If you think feminism is passé, think again— Rosalind Gill and Christina Schar ’s collection on New Femininities helps us to rethink gender, race, and class in a world where nothing is as ‘liberating’ as it seems. Because monitoring yourself constantly makes you silent. Let’s not do this. Anger is underrated. Without it you could not say ‘ at is not okay’—it’s not impolite, it gets things done. e most transformative moments in history started with women being furious. If we were all still sitting around drinking Earl Grey and politely telling each other how great it is to vacuum well, we would probably still be today. Anger gives us the audacity to ask to be heard, to exist in our own ways.

So let’s be a little angry... or maybe a lot angry, because you should be. You should be angry.

How to Look at Art: A Conversation with Sculptor Håkon Anton Fagerås

by ANGELIKA SANTANIELLO & Illustrated by JESSICA CHAN

How does art exist in the crevices of day-to-day life? For LSE students, art is intertwined with our daily campus routine. From Wallinger’s e World Turned Upside Down’ and Blokhin and Kuznetsov’s tympanum ‘Finale Sale’ framing the entrance to the Old Building to Vandegaast’s ‘Penguin’ outside the library, the campus is imbued sensory language of art. is central question: How should art be approached?

an answer to this to Norwegian, sculptor Håkon in Oslo, Norway, Fagerås subverts ble – the pinnaclements of a contemporary school of art and the classical gers a

rst glance, a viewer is either fully immersed or entirely extraneous to an artwork. Conversely, Fagerås suggested the boundary between art and the viewer is more permeable: “I aim to evoke a sensory atmosphere, where the rst response is a sensation rather than words - a personal, emotional connection that draws the viewer into an intimate space.” “ e viewer completes the artwork,” he remarked, illustrating that approaching sculpture requires a dynamic relationship between the viewer and the artwork.

When it comes to marble sculptures, our perception can be tainted by idealism as we are faced with an idea of ‘perfection’ rooted in classical antiquity. Fagerås o ers an alternative perspective on marble as a medium, focusing on its “fragil-

Fagerås is renowned for his public commissions. His 2022 bronze sculpture ‘Cecilie – Woman with Incurable Breast Cancer’ powerfully depicts Cecilie, a single mother of three diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. e sculpture, being the rst to depict a woman with incurable breast cancer, is displayed in central Oslo. Fagerås places Cecilie’s identity at the forefront of the piece, using bronze – a more durable and robust material than marble—rendering the sculpture as an emblem of strength. In memorialising an ordinary individual like a public gure of authority, he creates a potent statement against society’s tabooed discussion of breast cancer.

Commenting on his life-size sculpture, Fagerås stressed the necessity to depart from anatomical precision to truly capture a person’s essence. He said, “Empathy, rather than anatomy, is central […] muscles are less compelling to me than the act of attempting to truly see another person.” is emphasises the importance of Cecilie’s individuality and the lasting impression she le him. “ e e ect – and

take countless forms [and] understanding the subtle transi tions that create the essence of ‘pillowness’ brings so ness and life to the piece.” Moreover, he noted their ability to allow him to revisit “fragility, harmony in contrasts, the eeting moment, and the everyday”.

What I learned from my conversation with Fagerås is that the way art is thought about needs to be reconsidered. ere is an interplay between an intimate, emotional appreciation of art and an awareness of its nature as an artefact. Having spoken to a sculptor who wholly attends to the intricacies of all forms of art, it is clear that art’s public and private boundaries are blurred. So, how should someone look at art? Maybe something more is needed—something more than just looking.

LSE Drama Soc’s Romeo and JulietProduction Review REVIEW

EDITED BY ARUSHI ADITI AND

by ISHANI DUTTA

Few love stories are as iconic – or as tragic – as Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. e LSESU Drama Society’s nal performance on Friday, November 22nd, was a breathtaking portrayal of love, miscommunication, and inevitable heartbreak.

No love story was ever quite as e ervescent as this one, and LSESU’s Drama Society did not disappoint in their dreamy, dramatic, and delightful production of one of Shakespeare’s best! eir nal performance on Friday, November 22nd was one for the records. Ellie Harrison’s poised and moving portrayal of Juliet won hearts and broke them at the same time. Kai Porter’s emotional monologues were just as heavy on the audience’s hearts as were the words he delivered. I would like to give special recognition to a few characters: Raesang Dalu’s delightful and incredibly witty performance of Mercutio had me cackling far past the socially acceptable limits. India Nicholson’s thoughtful portrayal of Tybalt was a standout, while Toby Owers gave Friar Lawrence a measured gravitas that grounded the production. Finally, Arthur Chan’s commanding presence as Prince Escalus was a powerful anchor in the midst of chaos. I was moved, humoured, and le heartbroken when this production ended.

Anora - Film Review

by AMARA SALGADO

De ated, hopeless, lost. e ending of Sean Baker’s Anora le me speechless. A dire depiction of the reality of an industry that is simultaneously stigmatised and romanticised by the media. As the credits rolled silently in over a black screen, I must admit I didn’t quite know what to do with myself.

e lm expertly balanced comedy with melancholy, and hope with impending doom. A few memorable scenes had the entire theatre laughing out loud. e absurdity laced into the plotline provides an escape from the underlying atmosphere of foreboding. Somehow, Baker manages to create a plot that o ers just enough opportunity for hope whilst still reminding the audience that this is too good to be true.

at Anora didn’t start desperate to escape the life she leads as a sex worker in NYC is refreshing. Her life is not portrayed as tragic – as is common in lm and the media – and instead, she is making a decent living for herself in a way that she appears to enjoy. Granted, when she returns home a er work to her dingy at that she shares with her roommate, exhausted and cigarette in hand, we see the other side of this life. And on a few occasions, she points out to her boss and coworkers the lack of care and bene ts a orded to her and her colleagues. But, on the whole, Anora seems content.

However, when Anora meets Ivan (son of a Russian oligarch) as a customer at her place of work, she is presented with an opportunity to choose a different life, and she takes it. roughout the movie, we see Anora try to navigate this relationship and new lifestyle. e audience is dazzled by glamorous parties, sparkles, ice sculptures, drugs, and champagne, and it truly feels at some points that this will last forever… or will it? Baker manages to maintain this niggling doubt throughout. ough at points it is almost unnoticeable, in hindsight, I can see that it was there the entire time.

is is perhaps the reason that the ending feels like such a gut punch. Whilst I knew that it was too good to be true, I allowed myself to have hope and be excited about a future of love and luxury for Anora, and I ended up kicking myself when the inevitable happened. What is so gripping about this lm is how it takes the audience along this journey with Anora, and we feel it too when the glimmer of hope is squashed smaller and smaller and eventually just stamped out.

Ultimately, Anora provides a more realistic depiction of sex worker life than the likes of Gary Marshall’s Pretty Woman of 1990. Whilst there are elements of romanticism in Anora, these serve to contrast and highlight the reality of the sex-work industry, which is far from the overly sanitised and idealised portrayal in Pretty Woman. Furthermore, the ‘Cinderella narrative’ is not seen through. e lm feels like something of a Cinderella story at times, but in the end, Anora is never ‘rescued’. Moreover, she never longed to be. Whilst, yes, she did jump at the chance to lead a di erent and glamorous life, she was not sitting around waiting for this to happen. Instead, she was advocating for herself and drawing attention to the struggles she faces. Anora does not need to be saved.

is was an incredible e ort, spearheaded by the remarkable creative efforts of directors Jess Edwardes and Joe Johnson. eir deep understand ing of Shakespeare’s cra and their commitment to encapsulating a moving production of one of Shakespeare’s most well-known and performed plays deserve to be recognised and celebrated. I look forward to attending their future productions.

Anora is an emotional, hilarious and captivating lm which destigmatises an industry that is so o en looked upon negatively, whilst bringing atten tion to systemic issues faced by sex workers and providing a more realistic portrayal of the realities of the industry than the romanticisms of previ ous—a welcome addition to the running commentary on sex work in the

Why Where Eagles Dare is the Best Boxing Day Movie Ever Made

by WILLIAM GOLTZ

I think by now we have to admit that the eternal search for the perfect Christmas lm has gotten stale. Every year we relearn just how set our loyalties are and just how little we can do to change them. It isn’t even fun to argue in favour of Die Hard anymore. e Holidays need another mildly ironic cinema debate to keep us on our toes and I think the successor is pretty obvious. We all need to nd the perfect Boxing Day lm. Here are four reasons why that movie absolutely has to be Where Eagles Dare:

e plot

In some ways there is nothing worse than a lm that takes itself too seriously. In this case, I disagree. Sometimes there is nothing funnier than watching a lm ght against its own in ated importance. With its macho title pulled straight from Richard III, Where Eagles Dare, is, on the page at least, achingly self-serious and full of the passion of its veteran author, Alistair MacLean, whose only goal in writing seems to have been to make clear just how much he loved explosions and hated Germans. ere is intrigue around every corner, a ‘secret traitor’ to be unmasked and an entire garrison of comically ine ective German soldiers to be blown up. Clint Eastwood’s rst reaction to the script was a resigned ‘terrible.’ No one wants to think too hard on Boxing Day but it is always nice to feel smart. Eagles lets you do both in peace.

e snow

Snow is the only thing that makes winter bearable a er Christmas. Now that

it’s gone in this country, it looks like we will have to settle for the screen. Where Eagles Dare does its best to make up for the loss, being almost entirely composed of various kinds of chasing over ice. All major methods of transport are covered, from planes and motorbikes to school buses and cable cars. With the exception of the brief cozy interlude of the nal castle sequence, Eagles is perfectly cold.

e acting

e two lead performances at the centre of where eagles dare o er their own unique comforts to the Boxing Day viewer. Richard Burton was so perpetually drunk over the course of lming that he simply kept disappearing o of set, halting production for days at a time. Your hangover, by contrast, cannot be that bad. Clint Eastwood, nding new ways to squint with dramatic emphasis in every scene, o ers his own lesson in the power of silently agreeing to what everyone else around you suggests doing. If the weight of the post-Christmas crash becomes too much, remember that much of the lm does not even feature either of the leads actually playing their characters. Eastwood and Burton were famously reliant on their stuntmen, jokingly dubbing the whole production ‘Where Doubles Dare’. You can a ord to take a nap if you need to. No one will notice.

It’s not all that bad really Ridiculous as it can be, Eagles is inescapably a certi ed action classic. It’s Spielberg’s favourite war lm and Tarantino has given it his blessing. What the lm lacks in emotion, dialogue or accent coaching, it really makes up for in pioneering putting blood and explosions into snow and on top of cable cars. If you need some proper cartoon violence to nally knock you out of your Christmas stupor, you might as well get it here.

‘I’m never stopping.’ ‘I’m never stopping.’

interview by EMMA DO photography by RYAN LEE

interview by EMMA DO photography by RYAN LEE

I stood quietly outside the LSESU studio on the 6th oor, waiting as a yoga session wrapped up. Inside, Oxana, the instructor, gathered her students for a group sel e—a signature shot o en seen on her Instagram stories, where every smile is wide. Oxana started teaching at LSESU and LSE halls before I came to university, so I’ve heard about her since my rst year. For some reasons, I’d always wanted to speak with Oxana. Perhaps it was the energy she exudes through social media, or the way her passion for yoga seemed to transcend physical exercise, delving into deeper, more meaningful dimensions of life. Yoga is a fascinating practice to me, so this felt like the perfect chance to connect with someone who embodies it so profoundly. Either way, we settled into the now-empty studio, the warm yellow lights ampli ed in the air, and we were both excited to get started.

We kicked o the interview by going all the way back to when Oxana rst knew about yoga, which was 20 years ago. “Yoga came into my life when I was 15. I went to a yoga class without much expectation, but the way the teacher led the class spoke to me and resonated so well that I thought “I want to be like her”. I started to try out yoga by myself and didn’t mean for it to become a profession.” Yet, when Oxana moved to London from Russia, a fresh start forced fresh takes on life to transpire and for new paths to unfold. “Apart from yoga, I didn’t have anything in my life that I was really passionate about.”, Oxana told me.

And so, she decided to go for it. Oxana enrolled in two yoga training programmes, one in London, and the latter in India. Curious, I asked her about what was involved in the training and why she felt the need to study yoga in a di erent culture. “I would call the training [in London] Western yoga approach because all the instructors were from the West. Despite knowing about India’s heritage, it still felt like something was missing. So, a er a year, I decided to move to India for a month and completed 300 hours of training.” Even when the day stretched from 6am until 10pm, for Oxana, getting to do what she loves is what gets her up in the morning. “[ e training] was so profound for me both in terms of personality and career development. Until now, it feels like I’m still trying to process everything.”

“When I came to India, we dived more into this spiritual aspect of yoga apart from physical exercises. ere were practices o the mat as well like Yama and Niyama, which are sets of moral codes and rules that I can align my personality with to live accordingly. Meditation helps me to know myself and my mind. Once you start seeing yourself, things can change amidst this fastpaced world. at’s why I’m teaching more and more about breath work because the breath is our ultimate guide towards the inner world.”

Teaching yoga, however, is a completely di erent art from practicing it alone. It’s not just about mastering the technicalities but also about sparking a connection—creating an experience that resonates meaningfully enough to inspire students to return time and time again. For Oxana, “ ere’s so much room for creativity in teaching”.

“I don’t do any class which is similar to the previous one. ere are beautiful, amazing, and talented teachers out there who enjoy repeating the same sequence for a month, but that’s just not the case for me. Yes, there is a theme for the week, but I will change my lessons here and there, adding a di erent breathwork technique or so. Yoga has its foundational poses, but even within those, there’s endless potential to cultivate something new.”

What, then, is the most inspiring aspect of teaching yoga? People de ne yoga di erently, sometimes as a sport, sometimes as a lifestyle, sometimes as a daily discipline, or even as an occasional indulgence. Yoga, therefore, is never just one thing, and neither are its impacts. ere are so many techniques that can be integrated into our daily routines which enrich mindfulness and self-discovery, all intrinsic to personal growth . Oxana does this by teaching her students how to focus on breathing and tune into their own rhythms.

Among the lessons yoga imparts, she believes one stands out as universally valuable: learning how to care for your health, both physically and mentally. “If you don’t understand your body or recognize its signals, you can’t fully grasp how you’re coping with stress or an overwhelming lifestyle,” she explains. “ at disconnect can lead to burnout or even illness. So, yoga teaches you to slow down, listen, and be mindful.”

She adds, “Equally important is the practice of self-love. It’s easy to forget that pure, unconditional love exists—not egotistic or narcissistic, just a deep, over owing adoration we o en neglect to give ourselves. at pure love is always present and within us. e best part is that I can see it in my students a er spending time together. ey started to love and appreciate themselves more, which I think is the most meaningful impact I’ve achieved while teaching yoga.”

We moved on to talking about Oxana’s time teaching yoga at LSESU and LSE halls for the past three years. “I started during Covid-19, so there’s a stark contrast compared to the sessions we have now.”, she reminisced about organising classes during the pandemic. “ e biggest difference was that I couldn’t walk around and do physical adjustment because this is critical to yoga. By helping students to get the right posture, they’ll remember the teaching better and feel more connected to their body. It’s also a way for me to get involved instead of purely talking to them.”

Apart from the actual teaching and practising of yoga, Oxana also puts a big emphasis on and shows gratitude to her students as well as colleagues at LSE. “My students, they are young people, young adults, who are incredibly open-minded to embrace new things and genuinely want to progress. I’m also surrounded by wonderful colleagues and managers. is is what drives me altogether to push forward. Classes and schedules can sure be hectic at times, but really, I’m grateful.”

Working with university students de nitely brings about unique perspectives and experiences compared to other types of client such as

o ce workers, as Oxana mentioned. “Students can be quite vulnerable and this vulnerability is what di erentiates them. Apart from helping students with improving their physical health like teaching them to open their shoulders or how to relieve lower back pain or any aches caused by stress, I try to embrace the idea of worthiness in my classes. I want students to rst believe that they are deserving, especially in these younger years when they are still trying to nd themselves. Once you believe that you are worthy of many things and you can achieve those things, you’ll start to feel more empowered.”

“I wouldn’t say anyone was particularly skeptical when they rst joined my classes,” Oxana shared. “But there were people who doubted whether they could do yoga because they didn’t feel exible or ‘stretchy’ enough. I explained to them that yoga isn’t purely about getting into shape. It’s not a trend nor a fashion. It’s about connecting—with yourself and with others. Yoga is about showing up and doing something that makes you feel better. When people understood that, they stayed for another session. ey came, and they kept coming.”

“Some people made me feel so happy last year when I saw the lights and love in their eyes. at is the type of moment when something truly beautiful ignites within them. ey’re loving the practice and loving what’s changing inside.”

e journey in yoga is never-ending. For Oxana, she remains a student of the practice far more than she could ever claim to be a teacher. Each step o ers a new opportunity—to unpack, unlearn, and discover fresh perspectives. “I’m never stopping, and I think none of us are.”, she said. “My teacher used to tell me that there is no yogis who actually stepped out of the journey. Once you’re in, it will guide you, even during times when you may not resonate with yoga the most.”

“I’m still pushing myself harder every day to learn more. It can get tough especially when you live in a bustling city like London. It’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind and simultaneously feeling guilty for missing out on things. But allow yourself to be slow if you need to.”

ere’s a sense of calm and serenity that lingers in everything Oxana shares. ey are no rocket science, but are what is near and dear to our hearts, the lessons that hit too close to home. Regardless of how your term has unfolded this academic year, you are always free to breathe and take up space, as Oxana has reminded me. Take a break. Hug someone. You’ll be surprised at how the right person can ll your life with the right light and the right love e ortlessly. Sometimes, that person is you.

Oxana Ershova Oxana Ershova

mindfulness mindfulness beyond the mat beyond the mat