Gaudie - 6th October 2009

ARCTIC MONKEYS

The University of Aberdeen

The evolution of the Sheffield band MUSIC

Gaudie 6th October 2009

gaudie.editor@abdn.ac.uk

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Est. 1934

Council Refuse To Rule Out Compulsory Purchase Order

News

King’s College turns 500 - page 2

Features Rupert Williams looks back on his Chile experience - page 5

Arts

Balmedie Dunes: the beauty spot is under threat due to Donald Trump’s proposals Xander Brouwer If you are new to aberdeen this story might not be known to you yet, but for locals, Donald trump has been causing issues to the area for far too long. the american billionaire wants to build a £1 billion golf resort at Menie estate, Balmedie, north of aberdeen. trump has outraged both locals and nationals by bypassing the democratic system and ignoring the area’s environmental classification as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). trump

requested

the

construction of the two golf courses, large hotel, 500 houses and 1,000 holiday homes in november 2006. aberdeenshire Council considered the SSSI classification to be more important than the proposed economic benefits.

In December 2007, Scottish first Minister alex Salmond decided to give the call that trump was allowed to construct the resort. according to arthur Vincent, a student at the university and a coordinator of tripping up trump (tut), Salmond flew over the area in trump’s private helicopter. this was after Ian Paisley had

contacted trump, giving him the construction of the golf the freedom to build what resort. But this is not yet the he liked, where he liked, in end of the issue. northern Ireland. three months ago, trump Compulsory the Scottish wildlife trust, requested the Botanical Society of the Purchase orders (CPo) for British Isles and the royal those who are refusing to sell Society for the Protection of their homes and land. Since Birds (rSPB) jointly issued this development, Michael a statement urging the forbes has become the face reporters to refuse the plans or of the movement against make demands which would trump and the CPos. the not damage the protected Scottish native, labourer area. this may not matter as and fisherman, has lived in Scottish ministers considered the area for more than forty the economic benefits for the years and no matter what the area to be more important offer is, he is refusing to leave than the environmental his home. In recent days, issues. In november 2008 organisations have protested the green light was given for against the CPos by giving

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statues of famous Scotsmen the face of trump: to show how trump is walking over Scotland.

Despite offers from trump International that would give homeowners over 15% more than the market value for their homes, four houses and farmland have not yet been sold. Last thursday the aberdeenshire Council voted over the request for CPos. to the disappointment of protesters, the Council did not rule out the use of CPos but has not given permission yet either. the council first wants a full report before taking a final decision.

A review of (500) Days of Summerpage 7

Opine Student media, Vox Pop and the curfew are amongst the topics up for discussion this week - pages 10 and 11

Sport At Keith Park to watch our football team - back page

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News

Gaudie 6th October 2009

gaudie.news@abdn.ac.uk

Students Left Without Accomodation Again for tHe tHIrD year in a row, aberdeen university’s accommodation has reached full capacity, forcing students to be placed in temporary accommodation until spaces become free. around 100 new students, who had been expecting to be staying in university run halls accommodation, will be staying indefinitely in the Premier Inn. a similar situation occurred in both 2007 and 2008. In 2007 some students were left sleeping in camp beds set up in tV rooms at halls of residence.

my roommate.’ thomas, from Portugal, asks, ‘How are two people supposed to study here when there is only one usable chair and one desk?’ Students are also being asked to pay £5 per hour for internet, having been promised free wifi in all university accommodation. an international student: ‘I’m worried that this will mean that I will have less contact with my family’. another student who wanted to stay in self-catering accommodation, ‘the university is providing food for us during the week, but we have nowhere to prepare the university has also food at the weekend: this is block-booked large surely going to cost us’. amounts of privately-run accommodation to cope with at the same time, a recent the record intake of over 5000 survey by Spareroom.co.uk new students. has shown that costs for student shared accommodaStudents at the Premier Inn tion have risen in aberdeen have expressed concern that by 10.4% since 2007. this is their current temporary partly driven by aberdeen accommodation may affect having some of the highest their studies and have a HMo (House of Multiple negative impact on their occupation) licence costs student experience. ‘we’re in the uK, with a single limissing out on the first-year cense costing £1000. Student experience, missing out on President, robin Parker, ‘the meeting friends’. Students Council is erecting barriers had applied for single rooms to stop landlords from apbut find themselves sharing plying for something which twin rooms. one student is a safety measure, designed said ‘My parents had to go to protect residents, thereby and ask reception to change putting people at risk.’ the double duvet for two singles, before I had even met the Student association

run private housing list currently has only about 15 opportunities available for students to let rooms from private landlords. the Sa’s Info & advice centre has seen an increase in the numbers of students seeking financial advice, accessing hardship funds to pay rents and using their overdrafts to pay for their rent.

Student President, robin Parker said, ‘aberdeen has done really well to attract a brilliant set of new students, but if this growth is to be sustained then both the university and the City council urgently need to look at how more affordable accommodation can be provided. otherwise students will be put off from studying here, as this is fast becoming one of the most expensive places in the uK to study.’

room 103, the Hub elphinstone road old aberdeen aB24 3tu tel: 01224 272965 web: www.ausa.org.uk email: gaudie.editor@abdn.ac.uk Printed by BaM this edition was produced by: editors: Alex Lewis & John Braid news: Keira McFadden, Jenny Smith features: Rupert Williams, Joe Luksza arts: Katy Campbell, Amy Russell Music: Gordon Wallace, Chris Regan opine: Louise Ret, Joseph Blythe Listings: Hugo Mills Sport: Jack Arnold advertising: Shannon Tubby, Ross Brechin editor-in-chief: Robin Parker we voluntarily adhere to the Press Complaints Commision Code of Conduct (http:// www.pcc.org.uk/) and aim to provide fair and balanced reporting of local, national and international affairs. we are always anxious to correct any mistakes that may occur during publication. If you find any errors, please inform the editor by e-mail or phone.

‘this is only one area where we are seeing the record intake affect the University’s ability to provide adequate resources. we have also heard about shortages of tutors, academic advisors, and teaching rooms. the Xander Brouwer university simply failed to see whether there was enough KIng’S CoLLege CHaPeL resources before it accepted was built between the second new students’. of april 1500 and the second half of 1509, according to an inscription on the chapel. therefore this term marks the 500th anniversary. Last Sunday, King’s College Chapel celebrated its quincentenary with a range of activities including an archival talk, a virtual tour of the building,

King’s College Celebrates 500 Years and a roman Catholic Consecration anniversary Mass. the latter event included uK Cardinal Keith Patrick o’Brien, archbishop faustino Sainz Muñoz from the Vatican, and Bishop of aberdeen Peter a. Moran.

to preach. these services will continue until December the 13th along with other events including organ recitals, an alumnus carol evening and three tuesday night lectures, held on the first tuesday of the month starting on the sixth

the series of celebratory events started on the 27th of a full schedule of events can September. this was the first be found on the www.abdn. of several events and was held ac.uk/events. with a special guest present

Shared Planet Society

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Hillhead: some students have been put in hotels instead of halls

Interested In FaIrtraDe? Social justice? environmental and green issues? If so, we have just the thing for you. give us two minutes of your time and read this. go on - we dare you! the Shared Planet Society is all about raising awareness of the issues just mentioned. we’re a grassroots organisation, passionate about actively making the change we want to see in the world. to make those big changes, we understand that we need to start with small steps. our main small step involves holding a fair-trade Café and shop every wednesday from 12-2. Surely you’ve smelt the aroma of butternut and potato soup while walking past no.25 on the High Street?

aren’t you tempted to follow get yourself a free soup and toastie. as an added bonus, the smell? the kitchen guarantees fun Do It. there you’ll find a and chat with a diverse group hub of creative activity. of people! grab yourself some organic, homemade soup and a If you feel inspired by what toastie (£1.50). take a seat you see, or even if you really in our cosy cafe setting and just like the idea, and want chillax and chat. In this space to find out more, there are you will also be able to lis- a few things you can do: ten to live music, share your 1. Come to the Shared Planet own art work and ideas and meeting at 2pm on wednesday find out about recent envi- 14th october, 25 High Street. ronmental and social cam- 2. Check out our facebook paigns that Shared Planet group (‘Shared Planet is involved in. we also sell Society’ group) and sign up fair-trade products and are to get the weekly newsletter. in the process of creating 3. Volunteer at the café between 9a book exchange scheme. any-time on a wednesday.

Strapped for cash and can’t 3 fork out £1.50? give us half an Can’t wait to see you all hour or so of your time, work- this wednesday from 12-2, ing in the kitchen and you’ll 25 High Street. follow your nose!

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Gaudie 6th October 2009

Features

gaudie.editor@abdn.ac.uk

Got Itchy Feet? Then Go And Climb Mount Kilimanjaro If you’re looking to spice up your summer holiday whilst doing something worthwhile then look no further. This summer a group of intrepid Aberdeen students joined a host of others to climb the beautiful Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, all in the name of charity. Hugo Mills gives the low down on this year’s trip and information for those who may want to take part next year... tHIS SuMMer, 54 university of aberdeen students joined hundreds of university-going adventurers from across the uK and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in tanazania in support of the children’s charity, Childreach International. at 5,895 metres, Mount Kilimanjaro is the world’s highest freestanding mountain, as well as being the tallest peak in africa. each participant was required to raise a minimum of £2,200 for the charity, resulting in a grand total of over £110,000 being raised altogether. the auSa friends of Childreach International Society was founded last year in order to facilitate the needs of those volunteers fundraising for the climb. with the President Hugo Mills, now VP for Charities, and a highly capable committee at his side, 2010 looks to be even more successful than 2009!

this year, the society is not only leading groups up Kili, but also leading several smaller groups to trek to everest Base Camp in the Himalayas. this awesome experience, like Kilimanjaro, simply requires the volunteer to raise £2,200 with all flights, accommodation and food included during the treks.

Childreach International was founded in 2003, and registered as a charity in 2004. their work focuses mainly on the grassroots of local communities in order to make sure what they do has a lasting effect on the children. this includes repairing schools, training teachers and setting up Vocational training Centres for young people who have left the primary school system. Currently, the charity works in tanzania, India, ghana and Mount Kilimanjaro: The world’s highest free-standing mountain Google Images nepal, with project funding soon to be extended to Bang- this year, auSa friends of numbers to 120 people, so of aberdeen Kilimanjaro/ out regularly about times for ladesh, Sri Lanka, uganda, Childreach International if you’re interested, join the everest Base Camp 2010’ and information meetings in the guyana and Pakistan. have capped their volunteer facebook group ‘university email updates will be sent up-coming weeks.

What are you going to do with your degree?

Joe Luksza “tHIS joB requIreS compassion, lots of energy, a logical mind and an ability to carry out tasks which involve an element of counselling,” said Dr. roger Mugford to BBC correspondent alexis akwagyiram, concisely outlining the qualities required in the medical profession. But Dr. Mugford is no ordinary doctor: he is a dog psychologist. where do you see yourself ten years from now? Surely not as a business consultant in the city? Come now, where is your imagination? Be a Badger Consultant in the countryside instead. then there is always a growing market for horse masseurs or ostrich babysitters. not good with animals? How about becoming a whisky

Badger Consultant: ambassador cannonball?

or

human

what does it take to become a Badger Consultant? the job has no relation to exapprentice applicant ruth Badger’s consultancy, instead

the BBC that introduce Dr. Mugford also cover the career choice of Diego Zeman, human cannonball from Brazil, an occupation he describes as “nice.” But before dropping out of university, donning your hardhat and hailing a taxi to the Cottle & austen circus, there are a couple of considerations to be made. firstly, diet is highly important. too many pies (or too few) and the weight difference will skew the delicate calculations of your trajectory, which could be rather dangerous. Secondly, it is not well paid; Zeman is the ideal graduate job?

Wikipedia Commons doing it “for the enjoyment, not the money.” requiring an inside-out be it for construction or pestknowledge of the Protection control. In essence, you must So if you have perhaps of Badgers act of 1992. really like badgers. decided by now that you the purpose of a Badger are neither a natural Badger Consultant is to ensure that for the action-seekers among Consultant nor a human the proper procedures are you, the field of unusual cannonball, do not despair followed when removing careers delivers again. the quite yet; you might be perfect badgers from their habitat, same series of articles on

as a penetration tester. not quite as exciting as it might sound, a penetration tester is a programmer given legal sanction to hack into bank accounts and multinational banks pay good money for the privilege. Hacking into the bank’s systems highlights the weak points in security so that they can be fixed, and the programmer can pretend to be tom Cruise in Mission Impossible - dangling from the ceiling optional. there are always unusual jobs out there for the really inventive. you really can earn a living doing anything, just choose carefully as most of them are not as good as they sound. after all, would you really, genuinely want to be a snake milker or Cornish pasty crimper?

Features

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Gaudie 6th October 2009

gaudie.editor@abdn.ac.uk

Travel While Working Or Work While Travelling?

Although the term has only just begun, some students are no doubt thinking what to do next - whether it be a year out after graduating, some summer fun, a career direction or just a break from studies. And with graduate jobs at a premium it’s a great time to flee these shores and look outside of Europe for some work and experience. This week in features, Rupert Williams talks about Chile, South America’s fastest growing economy, and the prospects that await those who venture to that part of the world...

Chile: the South American country is one of beauty and enormous variety Rupert Williams tHe engLISH oPenS DoorS (eoD) programme began as a small scale initiative from the newly elected, more left-leaning president of a country that had spent much of the preceding two decades under a brutal military dictatorship. the president in question is Latin america’s 4th democratically elected female head of state and the country is Chile.

Chile is at a fascinating point in its history and development. through the 20th century it, like many other Central and South american countries, suffered strife and struggle at the hands of a merciless dictator, neo-colonial powers and lady luck dealing them a bum hand. However, throughout the 1990s, after the infamous dictator augusto Pinochet handed over power to a democratically elected successor, Chile has gone

from strength to strength.

Pinochet’s free market policies laid the foundations for what is now the most successful economy in South america. Bordered by the poorer argentina to the east, and Peru and Bolivia to the north, Chile supplies 85% of world copper stocks from its mines in the atacama Desert, which just happens to be the world’s driest. while down south the stable year round climate and (unlike many other famous wine producing nations) absence of the two most destructive grapevine pests, enables Chile to produce quality wines year-round which are enjoyed around the world.

Infrastructure is on the up and the capital, Santiago, resembles a european capital. foreign investment is also on the up: the tourist trade is booming, from the glaciers in Patagonia in the deep south all the way to the atacama Desert in the north, the whole country flanked on one side by the

andes Mountains, with their twinkling european owned observatories pointed at the abnormally clear skies, and on the other by the roaring south Pacific which contains a rich array of fish and shellfish. Overall, Chile has a lot to offer in natural resources, tourism and business opportunity. thus it is the ideal moment to pay the country a visit and there is no better way to travel than to get involved with the people and systems of the country, rather than ‘backpack’ from hostel to hostel, eating expensive ice creams. this is where the english opens Doors programme comes in. founded in 1994, the programme began as a way to introduce native english speakers to public schools in Chile so as to aid english learning not only for the students, but for the english teachers as well who often have had little contact with native speakers. furthermore, the presence of people

of native english speaking countries would help create a more culturally aware and cosmopolitan country. So the eoD programme was born. the programme, funded by the united nations Development Programme, is run by the Chilean government and recruits volunteers from english speaking countries (primarily the united States and Britain but also australia, new Zealand and Canada) to come to Chile, live with a local family and work in a local school alongside the existing english teachers. Volunteers are just that; it is not a job so individuals have to pay their own airfare and transport costs to arrive in Chile. But living costs are taken care of by way of living and eating with a local family, for which the family receives a small monthly stipend from the government. Volunteers are given training to teach english as a foreign Language (tefL) and the particulars of the Chilean education system, but are given a lot of

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freedom to develop classes in their chosen style. By teaching small groups of around 10-15 students, volunteers focus on the better students by reinforcing listening and speaking skills taught by the Chilean english teacher.

Volunteers work around 30 hours per week, comprising teaching in class, planning lessons, organising extra curricular activities and interacting with students and teachers. In return volunteers can expect to learn Spanish (albeit ‘Chilean’ Spanish which is akin to english spoken in fraserburgh!) and have a very rich and rewarding travel experience as the students and teachers are genuinely happy to receive support from outside their country.

means the more far flung a placement; from Punta arenas in deepest Patagonia to arica just a few miles from the Peruvian border in the north and everything in between, the opportunities going are incredible.

Having just returned from the programme I can wholeheartedly recommend the experience for anyone looking for a gap year plan, summer fun, teaching experience or merely a richer travel experience than interrailing around ridiculously overpriced europe. and as an ambassador of the programme in aberdeen I am more than happy to help anyone who would like some more info or is interested in applying. just drop me an email at r.williams.06@ aberdeen.ac.uk or check out the programme’s website www.centrodevoluntarios.cl

Placements range widely depending on the length of programme preferred; the programme can organise for volunteers to stay for 10 weeks, 6 months or a Viva Chile! year. the longer duration of the programme usually

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Arts

Gaudie 6th October 2009

Britain’s Next Top Milliner homes, so my style will be very discerning and to a very high level in both design, service and customer satisfaction. I had my own party planning business, which I adored. Millinery is fabulous, and I guess managing or being front of house at my own designed boutique hotel would be magical. I would split my lifestyle between many projects so everyday is a goal-achieving, inspiring moment… In fact I guess it already is!

BrItaIn’S next toP Model judge Louis Mariette is one of London’s most prominent hat designers, making hats for the likes of Sophie Dahl, jerry Hall, and Isabell Kristensen. gaudie was lucky enough to have been given the chance to interview Mariette, and find out more about his business and his muses.

Katy Campbell, Gaudie: Hi Louis, thank you very much for agreeing to be interviewed by us. It’s really nice to meet you. So, let’s start, what was it that originally drew you into the world of hat design?

Louis: I grew up in Malawi surrounded by natural beauty. Luscious flowers and amazing animals were part of my daily backdrop.

G: wow, that sounds amazmillinery was clearly your ing. Perfectly idyllic. calling! So like every designer LM: It wasn’t until we got a you must have fashion idols, television that I was exposed who would you say your to Dynasty and programmes fashion idol/s are/were, and where fashion was so promi- why? nent! My first career was in events management and LM: you can’t fault Carla some of my table centre piec- Bruni on her immaculate es were outrageous enough taste, her husband must be to be worn as hats. However, the luckiest man waking up it was when creative director, next to her. although, my inMichael Dye commissioned spiration for looks, style, and me to make hats for a fashion philanthropy is HrH queen show at Milan Central Sta- rania of jordan. tion about 9 years ago with the theme ‘1950s orient ex- G: we agree with your taste, press,’ that I found my calling those are both very beautiful as a milliner. after the Milan and sophisticated women. as show (my first foray into pro- oleg Cassini (commissioned fessional hat design), the en- as jacqueline Kennedy’s dress tire collection was picked up maker), once said; “fashion and stocked at a boutique in anticipates, and elegance is Milan! I returned to London a state of mind ... a mirror of and launched a studio and the time in which we live, a the next thing I knew, Har- translation of the future, and rods was on the phone, and should never be static.” from I’ve been making hats ever this, if you were to pick any era to live in when would it since! be and why?

G: that’s great, it sounds like your path has been pretty LM: the 1950s. I love that smooth so far (touch wood), women always tried to look

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their best – with nipped to be rather popular, what do in waists, gloves, beauti- you think it is about hats that ful handbags, and of course people find so fascinating? hats.

LM: when a lady makes her G: Oh yes, definitely, elegance entrance into a room wearing and opulence. It’s clear how a headpiece creation, there that would be great inspira- is a gasp of delight. onlooktion to a designer. for you, ers watch the wearer flitter what is it that usually inspires around the room like an exyour collections? otic bird of paradise; sometimes being overtly flamboyLM: My childhood among ant or in contrast, elegant, the flora and insects is always chic and demure. whatever reflected in the rich colours the outcome, a hat is in imand designs. I also pull from peccable taste. films, art, my exotic travels, fashion, and friends.

G: that’s true. you only have to look at the royal ascot to G: It sounds almost like the see how much a hat has influworld is your muse, which is ence on the press and social very fortunate for you. In all status. Hats have changed your designing history who’s so much throughout the the best person that you’ve centuries, such as a cloche, ever designed for? escoffin, and fontage. so, if you were to design a hat for LM: joan Collins someone from history, who would it be for, and what G: Lucky! what a character! would it be like? you have designed for some amazing people: alek wek, LM: Kristin Scott thomas.

Paris Hilton, Kate Moss and She has natural elegance, gwen Stefani. Hats do seem style, refined looks, and she’s

‘The Beautiful and Damned’ Katy Campbell Book Review relationship and marriage jazz and cocktails. with Zelda fitzgerald. while I haven’t read much the tale deals with morals, of fitzgerald’s work, and I or the lack thereof in most of know that many know him the characters’ cases. I found for The Great Gatsby and The it gripping, and passionate. Curious Case of Benjamin In my opinion, it really is a Button. I stand by my opinion page-turner. I could hardly that The Beautiful and the put it down, and got drawn Damned really is one of his in completely with the finest pieces of work. characters, and their plights. the story is based largely If this book did anything for on fitzgerald’s turbulent me, it reinstated my love for f. SCott fItZgeraLD’S novel tells the story of 1920s socialite anthony Patch and his wife gloria. Prominent themes within the story are jazz, debauchery, and alcoholism. the novel gives the reader a great insight into society’s elite, and the jazz age that would soon engulf all the classes.

a fantastic actress. She plays an aristocratic role with ease and carries off extraordinary outfits as if she were born in that era. the first time I was drawn to her was the giant hat she wore in Four Weddings and a Funeral...marvelous! Carla Bruni would be an amazing Louis Mariette ambassador as well. Her taste is immaculate.

G: ah! Four Weddings and a Funeral, what a film, what a hat! If you weren’t designing hats, what do you think your career would be?

LM: I intend my label “Louis Mariette” to branch out into many areas. of course my passion has always been hospitality: an exclusive club, spa, boutique hotel, homeware, scents and endless other areas of lifestyle are initial thoughts.

G: It seems that you would really enjoy a life of decadence and opulence! Something that we all wish we could be so fortunate to experience. what do you think it is about your designs that makes them stand out from the rest of crowd?

LM: My style is boldly avantgarde and fabulously adventurous. I love experimenting with new techniques…a bit like a mad scientist! My designs have elements of theatrical drama and much of what I do is unconventionally surreal, but completely wearable. Ladies feel amazing and empowered in my hats...and of course enjoy the attention that they draw!

G: we love a good hat here at gaudie! finally, what advice would you give to budding student milliners out there?

LM: Know no boundaries, break tradition, express from within the heart, submerge yourself in the depth of markets for unique trimmings, and master your craft.

G: thank you so much for your time, and we hope to see much more of your hats, and I have travelled extensively of course yourself on Britain’s and been honoured to stay at Next Top Model. some of the world’s most exclusive locations and private

COMPETITION.

Katy (left) and Amy (right) - Go forth and find them! your chance to win free tICKetS to the opening of Cineworld at union Square Mall. gaudie have 200 tickets to give away for the opening on the 29th of october. In order to blag yourself free tickets, you must touch either Katy or amy on the elbow if you see them!

Cineworld will offer ten screens, plus pound for parking after six pm. the mall is situated in the centre of town, which makes this the perfect night out!

Arts

Gaudie 6th October 2009

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gaudie.arts@abdn.ac.uk

(95) Minutes Of Mediocrity Lara Allcott Film Review So Boy MeetS gIrL. Boy and girl like each other. But “this is not a love story”, so you know there’s going to be a hiccup, right? well, in (500) Days of Summer the hiccup comes in the form of Summer’s total antipathy to the ‘L’ word, and tom’s complete faith in it. Disillusioned by her parents’ divorce, Summer (Zooey Deschanel) is determined that love doesn’t exist; whereas tom wants the whole shebang and is looking for his soul mate. united by a love of Britpop, there is instant chemistry between workmates tom and Summer, but he wants more than she can give him.

Despite her insistence that she doesn’t want anything serious, tom can’t help but become totally infatuated with her, and we can pretty much guess what happens from there. It’s about the complications that arise when people want different things from their love lives, and the awkwardness that will eventually surface. this movie dragged at the beginning for me, but was helped by a brilliant soundtrack and some hilarious karaoke. anyone who saw and liked Yes Man will enjoy seeing Zooey Deschanel as another kooky female lead. joseph gordon-Levitt puts in a good performance as tom, but his character’s self-involvement and self-pitying get more than a little wearing. Chloe Moretz totally steals the show as rachel Hansen, tom’s little sister; the straight-talking, much cooler than tom, levelheaded school kid who guides him through his relationship dilemmas.

On the whole the film is likely to have something for most people, and the nontraditional set up is a relief from the usual pattern – the film jumps about in the 500 days, which disrupts the normal flow of a movie but is a refreshing change from the usual linear pattern. the desire to break away from romcom cliché is very evident, and the film nearly succeeds, but then instead falls into the trap of being another Juno, as two co-reviewers pointed out: “I was pretty excited about seeing this movie, solely because Zooey is completely stunning!” said Katy Campbell. “However, I felt I was completely let down. yes, I enjoyed the unusual ending, but it was rather slow and became slightly predicable half way through. If you’ve seen films such as Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist and Juno and loved them, then you’ll most likely enjoy this film! It gets 3 stars.” the Juno-esque nature of the film also irritated niall Crossan: “I thought the film had an interesting structure as it moved backwards and forwards through time. I also thought it was interesting that it is not a conventional love story.

However, the story wasn’t as unique as the introduction suggested.

While this film was well produced, and had a well chosen soundtrack, it lost credibility through its fashionable vanilla style, and similarity to films like Juno.” all in all the film was good, but if you don’t like romcoms it will do nothing to convince you otherwise. 6/10.

Tuesday 6th

Week 1: What’s On?

Cinema Quiz Belmont Picturehouse – win merchandise, DVDs and assorted booze 8.30pm Nerina Pallot Lemon Tree 7:30pm Bloc Party Aberdeen Music Hall £22.50, 10pm

Friday 9th

Saturday 10th

Wednesday 7th Electrique Boutique Presents Crush! Snafu Adventureland Belmont Picturehouse 3.30pm, 8.50pm Café Scientifique, Waterstone’s, Union Street free, 7pm

Thursday 8th Flirt Divert: Doctors & Nurses Liquid 9pm £3 students Back to the Cavern (Gerry & the Pacemakers, Len Hawkes, The Complete Beatles) Music Hall £17.50-£19.50, 7.30pm

Dorian Gray, Vue Cinema 11.35pm

Sunday 11th

Monday 12th

Burlesque Night Tunnels 7pm

Falling Red Moorings Bar 8pm

Keith Jack Aberdeen Arts Centre 8pm

Vodka Island TigerTiger 10pm

Tiger High TigerTiger 10pm

Tosca Belmont Picturehouse 8pm

Franz Ferdinand Aberdeen Music Hall £20, 7.30pm

Tim Minchin Aberdeen Music Hall 7.30pm

Mixtape Funk D’Void, Lunik, Gibby Snafu £7, 11pm

Everything Else Sucks Presents Shadow Dancer (Boys Noize Records) Origin 10pm

Week 2: What’s On?

Tuesday 13th Putting it Right: poetry, songs and music of struggle and healing Aberdeen Arts Centre 7-8.30pm

Cagedbaby (Southern Fried Records) Giles Walker Aberdeen Music Hall 11pm Kamikazi with DJ Psydoll Warehouse 10.30pm

Wednesday 14th

Thursday 15th

Shared Plant Cafe 25 High Street 12-3pm

Stiff Little Fingers Warehouse 8pm

ARTIST ROOMS: Ron Mueck Aberdeen Art Gallery 12.30-1pm

Flirt Divert & Waster Liquid 10.30pm

Snafu Comedy Club 8pm

Doll & the Kicks Tunnels 7.30pm

Oxjam & Dirty Hearts Club Snafu £3 before midnight, £4 after, 11pm

Saturday 17th

Sunday 18th

Monday 19th

Wave Pictures and Stanley Brinks Café Drummond 9pm

Bruce Watson from The Jam Moshulu 8pm

Vodka Island TigerTiger 9pm

Beethoven Five Aberdeen Music Hall 7.30pm

Enter Shikari Aberdeen Music Hall 7:30pm

Motown Night Exodus 8pm

Friday 16th

Latin Night with DJ Yuri Tunnels 7pm

Latin Night with DJ Yuri Tunnels 7pm

Granite City Rocks Rock & Blues Night in aid of C.L.A.N Tunnels 7.30pm

Gaudie Arts is on the pull There’s a whole lot going on out there: movies, books, DVDs, plays, poetry, galleries, fashion, food... In fact, if you think it’s ‘Arts’ worthy then so do we.

So if you want to rant or rave about a film you saw, review an art exhibition, big-up a play you think everyone should see or muse about the crazy outfits the kids are wearing these days, this is the place to do it.

Or, email us to find out what arty goodies we have for reviewing: gaudie.arts@abdn.ac.uk

Music

Gaudie 6th October 2009

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Flying Cans and Frying Pans

The Prodigy: not exactly playing those ‘confrontational’ allegations down, Keith Flint’s audition for The Firm went too far

Alice Lavelle Festival Report ‘oxbox to fire tower 4…’

Having attended the relatively new Leeds festival for the past four years, I decided to take a different approach this year and volunteer for oxfam as a steward. Stewarding means three eight hour shifts from wednesday to Monday which can vary from 2 – 10 in the morning to missing all the headliners from 5 – 1 am. you get three meal tickets for the Oxfam Café, a fluorescent orange jacket with the words ‘steward’ emblazoned on the back, an arena crew wristband and a lanyard-pass combination.

So we arrived on wednesday night, when it chose to absolutely throw it down as we erected our tents – great start.

Subsequently we attended the briefing and realised we had missed out on a staff handbook which included a handy line-up and map. things were looking up. the next day we were up and out for our 9-5 shift on one

of the main gates to basically shift the queues coming in for their wristbands. eight hours of standing? Sore, but bearable. It was entertaining watching everyone lug sledges, wheelbarrows and other such devices piled high with beer, and in one strange instance, about 10 loaves of bread. on friday, the bands start and I force myself to get up and see a few before my shift.

I see fightstar – who were ok, if you ignore Charlie from Busted’s voice which is pretty bad live. after them are the rakes who are kind of camp and over-americanised but fun and get the audience going. then eagles of Death Metal take the stage and bore everyone with their middleof-the-road rock and roll, but liven things up with their witty banter, and then finally it’s enter Shikari where – in the early afternoon – a moshpit is formed and we all get crushed, resulting in me being able to see nothing and getting tons of people crowdsurfing over my head. note: duck down so you don’t get kicked in the face.

from 5 until 1 a.m. I am pacing uselessly outside the over-18 wristband booth, receiving loads of requests for campsite directions and band names for the nMe tent opposite – all of which fall on deaf ears as I have neither a line-up or a map. But I gesture vaguely towards the main entrance. you can’t go wrong that way right? I get a break around 11 from ‘Supervisor ollie’, who seems clueless and either extremely nervous or on speed. from this I am sent to a random gate with another steward and we sit (yay!), chat and listen to the oxfam radio, which from time to time reveals points of hilarity. one of these is a miscommunication between base and a steward where a festival-goer has been hit with a ‘flying can’. as things progress, the ‘oxbox’ misunderstands and it’s broadcasted that apparently someone has been hit with a ‘frying pan’ and provides everyone listening with some amusement.

main stage, and reports filter through of people having heart-attacks, fainting, breaking their collar-bones and getting teeth-butted in the back of the head. ouch. the darker side of festival life.

yeahs are a band I’ve never liked, but hats off to Karen O. for her bizarre outfit and the whole band’s set-up, which has a glittering blue spiralling backdrop, centred with an eye. Bloc Party are second to the top, and although they start off fairly quietly, Kele has charisma and stagepresence which isn’t present in their CDs. ‘flux’ is one of their best, and their new stuff is very catchy. radiohead are also rather strange, but mind-blowing with their own camera set up consisting of 6 different screens in a collagearrangement, contrasted with a light show that reflects every song, almost every different verse with a different coloured display.

I’m not a massive rH fan, but if this isn’t quite enough to fully convert me, it definitely leaves me very impressed.

However, I am freezing so I leave just before the end, get some food, and catch Lost Prophets’ last song ‘Burn Burn’ in the nMe tent where Ian watkins is diving into the crowd, still singing. a fun day.

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again, so again I get up to see the earlier bands and catch Madina Lake, who are damn good, then head for the festival republic Stage for my favourite band jack’s Mannequin. to my delight they are fantastic live, and this makes my weekend. too soon we are checking wristbands on the main entrance, and get many drunken comments such as: ‘you look Delicious!’, which are funny. It’s not long now until the end of the night and we hope we’re allowed off early, but apparently the Silent Disco – where everyone wears headphones – needs support and all 34 of us are sent there. However, this turns out to be a lie and we’re discharged to our own devices. now, it’s true that there are fires and riots on the last night at Leeds festival – but it’s up to you if you get involved or not. you can just avoid these and find other activities to do, such as put the empty sledges to good use or paint your face blue for charity…

By 1am I am freezing and dying for sleep, but want to be up early for the bands on saturday, as it is my day off.

Saturday morning and the weather is still pretty rubbish but I go into the arena anyway and head for the main stage, ready to station myself at the barrier until the headliners – radiohead – come on later. noah and the whale are up first and calm everyone with their talented acoustic folk set, then it’s the Living end who seem to be a bit pastit and odd with their token double-bassist. the View are good, and are pretty much pitch-perfect, then it’s Brand new who I personally think are that bit over-dramatic and emotional, but their intensity is admirable and the singer’s voice is fantastic. there’s also horror, though, Vampire weekend are ‘oxbox out.’ in the form of the results of energetic but samey and fail the Prodigy playing on the to impress. the yeah yeah Sunday we are working 5-1

Hey you! Yeah You! Ever wanted to shout “Stop the press!”, wear a trilby and hoist your trousers round your chin? Bad luck, none of that happens at gaudie music.

What does happen is super-slick music journalism and, fortunately for you, we’re hiring. So if you fancy some free cds, free gig tickets and possibly the odd interview opportunity, get in touch with us at gaudie.music@abdn.ac.uk

Music

9

Gaudie 6th October 2009

gaudie.music@abdn.ac.uk

You Me At Six Thrill New Venue sign of the band’s momentum stalling. Having graced the cover of Kerrang! magazine more than once, and having seen the crowd numbers increase substantially since the last time they played at the venue, things are looking up for the band.

be light on innovation, but it is heavy on hook-driven charm. Catchy pop anthems litter the set (including a biting rendition of Lady gaga’s “Poker face”), ending with crowd-pleaser “Save It for the Bedroom” and the ever-stirring “the rumour”, both inciting mass crowd tonight the newly christened sing-a-longs. warehouse venue is sold out, as evidenced by the sauna Many bands ten years their levels of humidity that hit senior would kill for the upon entering the venue. amount of charisma exerted though you can’t shake by you Me at Six. Clearly, the feeling that most of the a stint on this summer’s audience are relatively new warped tour did wonders for to the live music scene, the their confidence, something atmosphere is nothing short that they were never short of of electric. in the first place.

Gordon Wallace Live Review You Me At Six

Me vs Hero, Not Advised The Warehouse Sunday 13th September tHe aMMunItIon that you Me at Six freely provide for the critical music snob makes any scorn directed towards them a non-event.

It is almost too easy to throw around accusations of style over substance: to say that their fusion of emo-lite poppunk is an embarrassment to the progression of rock music; to point out that their fan base seems predominantly made up of teen girls who

You Me At Six: keen proponents of the patronising head tilt

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you Me at Six don’t profess Definitely a guilty pleasure to swoon at every flick of the But while it is easy to be worse, this band is going to to be leading any ground- anyone over the age of twenty, lead singer’s carefully crafted cynical, there is mounting explode within the next two breaking musical revolution. but a pleasure nonetheless. evidence that, for better or for years. Certainly there is no their brand of pop-punk may haircut.

Darwin Proved Right: Monkeys Evolve Robert Henthorn Album Review tHIrD aLBuMS are notoriously ‘difficult’, but rarely does that maxim ring true for the fans as much as the artist. the new direction taken by arctic Monkeys in their late-summer release ‘Humbug’ is, however, tricky in exactly this sense. the album’s gritty, yet curiously restrained, atmosphere comes as a stark contrast to previous outings - gone is the jukebox cheeriness of ‘Dancing Shoes’ and the radio-friendly guitarthrashing of ‘Brianstorm’.

Showcased in opening track ‘My Propeller’, alex turner’s once enthusiastic vocals barely stretch to more than a Doherty-esque moan for the album’s opening half, and the measured, pounding pace of tracks like ‘Dangerous animals’ only serves to emphasise the band’s unfamiliar level of straightjacket-tight composure. the production input from queens of the Stoneage front-man josh Homme is evident here, his

customary driving guitar riffs and drum flourishes largely responsible for the overtly aggressive nature of mid-album track ‘Potion approaching’. after covering ‘red right Hand’ at a number of shows this year, it seems nick Cave’s influence has also stuck with arctic Monkeys, the downright sinister ‘Dance Little Liar’ sharing more roots with australian postpunk than the sheffield indie scene. fans looking for catchy singa-long tunes are likely to be disappointed, a fact made plain by the mass departure of crowds during their set at reading and Leeds festivals. the more subdued new material fell flat with an audience hyped up by the Prodigy just moments before, and the arctics’ reluctance to play old hits sealed the verdict. though it’s easy to blame lack of familiarity with the songs, or the band’s distant performance style for leaving fans cold (not to mention the fact that turner was clearly hammered), the simple truth is that this isn’t arctic Monkeys as we’ve come to know them. Despite the media hype and its obvious

musical qualities, new single ‘Crying Lightning’ is not a match for ‘fluorescent adolescent’, and certainly not a new ‘Bet you Look good on the dancefloor’. that’s not to say that the band has wholly abandoned the formula which brought them stardom. alex turner’s lyrical abilities continue to go from strength to strength, the thinly veiled allusions to his VIP lifestyle in ‘Secret Door’ wittily scorning paps, the media and the entire cult of celebrity in sharp castigations - a spiritual successor to ‘fake tales of San francisco’. Some old sound still remains too, most obviously in ‘Cornerstone’, a heart-wrenchingly sincere lament blending the narrative genius of ‘when the Sun goes Down’ with the crooning intensity of ‘only ones who Know’. the penultimate track, ‘Pretty Visitors’ even manages to reincorporate jamie Cook’s signature brand of frantic guitar, the song’s violent passion expressed in youthful energy rather than subdued loathing. Longterm fans may even notice the album’s parallels with pre-signing ‘Beneath the

Arctic Monkeys: They used to wear shellsuits. Seriously.

Boardwalk’ releases, when far from recreating a grungy garage sound, the band recorded demo tapes on crackly equipment between shelves of paint and a family saloon. the quality of Humbug in its own right is indisputable - a tight, polished and thoroughly mature album for music lovers amenable to a

modern grunge revival. More pressing is the question ‘is this the sort of album arctic Monkeys should be making?’ the ongoing development of the band from guitar-jangling adolescents to future titans of rock has transformed the group’s music with them, and hopefully brought a few fans to discover new sounds with them. though likely to initially split fan

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opinion, familiarity with the album will doubtless reward persistent listeners with a wealth of sonic discovery from one of the country’s most competent combos.

Clouded preconceptions about what an arctics’ album should consist of, however, will leave fans alienated, and the mainstream media thoroughly uninterested.

Podcast To Peruse: our fortnightly recommendation of the best podcasts around the Beatles Podcast

what with all this Beatles hoopla being bandied about it felt only natural to have the fab four feature in this week’s podcast focus. Brought to you by the good people at absolute radio, presenters Pete and Geoff do their best to exort the last puffs of life out the flayed corpse of the Beatles estate-mule. some fairly pleasant if safe interviews with yoko ono and Macca himself make up the brunt of the half hour show. Light on scandal and heavy on the backpatting.

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Opine

Gaudie 6th October 2009

gaudie.editor@abdn.ac.uk

Aberdeen’s Curfew: A Critique Greg Herman So Here we are: one month has passed and the aberdeen nightclub curfew of 2am is still being enforced. the international oil conference has been and gone, freshers’ week is over, and thousands of visitors, residents, new and returning students alike are feeling disillusioned by the draconian measures that have been imposed on the granite City. of course the logic behind this new by-law (a by-law which was tried, tested, and abandoned in both glasgow and edinburgh more than a decade ago) is clear: prevent entry to nightclubs after 2am, increase the minimum prices of alcohol, outlaw all drinks promotions and both alcohol-related violence and binge drinking shall be reduced if not eradicated. a genius idea on the part of

the city council. one small the casinos and “gentlemen’s” quibble: it does not and it clubs shall remain open until the early hours, untouched will not work. by the curfew – a very strange when one the only thing that this coincidence curfew will change is the considers the extortionate hour at which scores of taxes and fees which these disgruntled, small-minded, types of venue must pay, idiotic people, having given directly into the council some poor door-steward an coffers, in order to maintain earful of abuse, roam the and renew their licences. streets, picking fights both with the flower pots which this said however, the line union Street and with council has acted in good each other. and they won’t (if misguided and ignorant) be any less drunk. for now, faith. aberdeen, Scotland instead of consuming one and the uK are blighted bottle of wine before heading by alcohol, and our love into town, they shall drink affair with the bottle. Other two. Instead of drinking five nations can go out and have shots as quickly as possible to fun without consuming seven get (more) drunk before the pints, five double vodkaclub closes, it’ll be five shots cokes, nine jägerbombs, a as quickly as possible to get kebab of dubious origins (more) drunk before the pub before ending the night by closes and the decision has to moving anything that isn’t down (shopping be made as to where to queue nailed for the next hour in the vague trolleys, signposts and traffic hope of getting into a club cones spring to mind), and before the bells of St. nicholas vomiting on some poor Church strike two. of course, bloke’s front door. However there is another option: for a curfew is not the solution. both the doors and bars of the only winners in aberdeen

at the moment are those above-mentioned casinos and “gentlemen’s” clubs which shall undoubtedly see an upsurge in profits. By contrast, the student working in a bar unable to retire to some favourite haunt at the end of his shift, the reveller, trapped in the same club after 2am (realistically 1am when one considers the time spent walking between one venue and another and then queuing outside), and the door-stewards, police officers and paramedics who are left as normal to pick up the pieces; they, as well as us, are the losers.

So what is the solution?

Perhaps it is a little extreme but I would propose the following: abolish the curfew; increase pressure on bars and nightclubs to refuse service to anyone suspected of being drunk; increase police visibility in the streets; increase penalties on those morons who need to rip up flowers to prove their own

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virility; increase education in schools as to the effects and dangers of alcohol; and impose and rigorously enforce city centre bans on anyone found acting irresponsibly or criminally whilst under the influence of alcohol. Yet all this will undoubtedly cost a huge amount of money; money which in the current economic climate, the government and the various councils of the uK will be unwilling to stump up. thus my final and most extreme proposal would be this: the nHS should refuse to help those who fall victim

to their own drunkenness. for why should the nHS, and by extension us, (well, the taxpayer anyway), have to pay £2.7 billion a year, on average, to look after “adults” who brought about their own misfortune? Instead, channel this money into education, into the police, and back into the nHS for those who really need it. whilst in the short term, I fully admit that there would be carnage on the streets, in the long term, we might, at last, learn and have to learn to take responsibility for our own actions and our relationship with alcohol.

A Fresher’s Expectations of the University of Aberdeen Bright Amponsah freshers’ week: clubbing till you drop, booze, booze and booze; joining a society or a club; spending money; making friends; more spending.

Did I forget anything else? oh yes, studying and surviving on beans and toast! (Someone call my mama!) this appears to be the main concern of many freshersforgetting that university is also about responsibility.

It’s a rite of passage from childhood to adulthood, dependent to independent, ‘mum or dad will do it’, to ‘I now need to do it myself’ and most importantly, it is about preparing ourselves and taking our chance in securing our place in the future market. But can you blame us for ignoring all the above mentioned? no!

I mean, we are so glued to the idea of moving away that our minds refuse to focus on anything else. for the majority of us, it might even be the first time that we will

be living away from home, so to be life in the granite city. it’s all about freedom and the now that my expectations newly found liberty! button has been pressed, you see, I am one of those I spend most of my day people who tend to follow dreaming of how my new the school of thought of life in a new city and in a ‘swing along’, which means new country will be. I try to I normally tend (or try) focus only on the positive not to expect and create an side of things, intentionally impression of a future event, ignoring the likes of being but instead stay calm and cashless or falling too deep collected and patiently wait into the clubbing and partying for the event to happen and mood at the expense of my go with whatever happens. degree. as much as I hate to Maybe it’s because I hate admit it, the truth is that I disappointment or because am scared of succumbing to I like the idea of being peer pressure or conforming against my will. surprised.

and love acting more mature than my real age. I’m also aware of how sometimes my flamboyancy and pseudoreligious ideologies don’t do me any favours. I’d rather not mention how I am frightened about how my fellow students and professors will keep asking me to repeat myself, because they did not understand my franco- afroItalian- anglo- almost posh but not too street-accent. and I dread the reaction on people’s faces when I tell them my epic and hippie-like name (Bright, yes, I know, I get it all the time).

just like every other fresher, I am nervous, but yet I am disguising it by looking on the bright side of things, I am a little agitated, but yet I’m sugar coating it with all the fun the university web site promises me, but one thing still remains of major concern to me: I want to fit in! and I want to do this as soon as possible. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not one of those sheep who loves to be seen among the flock. But, I know how opinionated I can be at times, how I look

the reality is that these things are part of life and are bound to happen. I suppose, in their own way, these ‘obstacles’ contribute to the fun of being at university. they make good memories.

I’m sure one day, just like my other follow students, I will remember our pre-university emotions and laugh, either because they were too surreal or because they had elements of a child’s nightmare.

I did try adopting this technique for going to university as well, but, it didn’t work. and I have no one but facebook and yougofurther to blame for that; these two technopiazzas have permitted me to meet some of my soon to be flat, course and uni mates. and the more I chat and email these people, the more I am forced to visit that part of my mind which deals with expectation affairs, thus I start to create impressions and expectations of my soon

But until then, I am sticking with my fears and hopes.

Gaudie

Opine

Gaudie 6th October 2009

11

gaudie.editor@abdn.ac.uk

VOX POP

The Voice Of The People?

The arrival of Vox Pop on campus has sparked much debate on the subject of student media.

David Boyle has his say... according to the Press emblem Campaign (PeC), ninety-five journalists worldwide were killed for exerting their right to free speech in 2008. fortunately, none of these deaths occurred in the united Kingdom.

Indeed the uK has some of the best statutory protection for journalists in the world.

It seems strange then, that a small group of individuals at the university of aberdeen are claiming that their rights to free speech are being undermined. Surely no one would be cynical enough to exploit such a serious global issue for their own political ends? the organisation, known as Vox Pop, is attempting to create an independent student newspaper. the founding principles of this enterprise centre on the idea that gaudie is being censored by the Students’ association.

It’s generally agreed that over recent years gaudie has lost the diversity and professionalism that once made it the envy of university newspapers across the uK. Indeed, Vox Pop has gained respect from much of the student body for simply highlighting this fact. yet, whilst students have been quick to embrace the idea of a fresh, independent newspaper, questions have been raised about the underlying aims and methods of the Vox Pop organisation itself.

Much of this uncertainty hinges on the fact that there is little evidence to suggest there is a lack of free speech on campus.

If anything, university of aberdeen student media is suffering from a general apathy within the student body rather than a lack of freedom.

even if we accept that there is a conflict of interest in having the Student President as the editor-inChief of gaudie, scratching at the surface of the Vox Pop hierarchy reveals similar conflicts. along with several other members of the Vox Pop team, the self-appointed editor-in-Chief, alexander j. ryland, is an active member of the Liberal Democrat youth movement as well as

“If anything, University of Aberdeen student media is suffering from a general apathy within the student body rather than a lack of freedom.”

being the secretary of the Liberal Democrat Society.

Mr ryland also writes an overtly political blog under the curious title: ‘a lamp of liberty’. whilst a political consciousness is an obvious asset to any journalist, this knowledge has led to further questions about the impartiality of the group itself.

In striving to create an image of Vox Pop as a subversive, ‘anti-authoritarian’ newspaper, the editorial board has cleverly drawn attention away from the way that it will actually operate. without funding from the Students’ association, Vox Pop is currently looking for private sponsorship. a recent advert in the Private eye newspaper read: “aberdeen Student free speech newspaper needs funds £1000+.”

there is something ironic in the knowledge that aberdeen’s supposed ‘free-speech’ newspaper is seeking corporate sponsors.

Indeed, a group so versed in the merits of free speech will surely be aware that the main threat to freedom of speech in the uK is from corporate entities striving to protect their brands by pursuing cases of defamation. when questioned on whether this corporate sponsorship or political bias undermined the fundamentals of freespeech, Mr. ryland commented: “we shall continue to seek endorsements as well as sources of funding, indiscriminately of the type of organisation or individual.” whilst the concept of an independent student newspaper is valid and surely welcomed by all students, it has become apparent that the methods which Vox Pop have been forced to adopt will fundamentally undermine any proposed notion of free speech. every sponsor that puts forward the requested £1000+ will want to ensure that their product will reach that all important student demographic.’ any articles which portray sponsors in a negative light will not be printed for fear of jeopardising the future funding of the newspaper.

Despite their thinly veiled cynicism, the Vox Pop enterprise is to be commended for its pragmatic approach to improving the dire state of student media in aberdeen.

However flawed or biased their organisation might be, any group that is willing to spark debate and increase involvement in student affairs is a welcome addition to campus life.

The Royal Bank Of Scotland Bobby McLeod anyone walking through campus last week would have been faced with an unusual sight. the royal Bank of Scotland [rBS], aided by university grounds staff, had erected a huge billboard right on elphinstone Lawn.

Since rBS didn’t have a billboard big enough to detail all the environmental and human rights abuses of their company, they opted instead for that classic line to hook us all in: ‘Student Discount.’ fortunately, unlike the university administration, gaudie receives no sponsorship from rBS and so we are free to discuss some of truths that lie behind their (literally) inflated marketing campaigns. firstly let’s look at the company’s environmental credentials. the rBS group owns natwest, Direct Line and Churchill, as well as several other smaller financial service companies that make up the rBS conglomerate. until recently, rBS promoted itself as ‘the oil and gas Bank’ with a website of the same name and an international team devoted to profiting from fossil fuels. this team helped to pump £116 million into the Scottish oil company Cairn energy, with a goal of ‘accelerated drilling’ in arctic greenland. a culture of profit before environmental sustainability within rBS was highlighted in research carried out by a coalition of environmental ngos, including friends of the earth Scotland, Platform and the student group People & Planet.

their report, released in 2008, found that the annual emissions embedded within rBS’ oil and gas finance project reached 36.9 million tonnes of carbon – equivalent to the emissions of onequarter of all uK households, and almost as much as the entire emissions output of Scotland.

billions on a bank with a track record of financing energy companies’ dirty and destructive projects,” said julian oram from the world Development Movement.

She continued: “we’re launching this action because the treasury has displayed a blatant disregard to the government’s own questions have also been commitments to tackling raised about rBS’ policy of climate change, and its rules indiscriminate lending with for spending public money.” the spotlight being placed a treasury spokeswoman on deals linked with dubious defended the stance of political regimes around the the government, claiming world. that they remained “fully In january 2009, rBS helped to raise £400 million for the Irish company tullow oil and subsequently formed part of a consortium of 14 banks that lent a further $1,890 million. this company is involved in the exploration and extraction of oil on the border between uganda and the Democratic republic of Congo (DrC) an area that has seen fierce, resourcedriven fighting.

committed to our ambitious environmental policies.” “our shareholdings in banks must be managed on a commercial, arm’s length basis if we are to achieve those aims and ensure the best return for the taxpayer,” she said.

the groups involved in pursuing this case are currently awaiting permission to proceed to London’s High Court. alongside the proposed legal action there rival armies and militias in has been a marked increase this area struggle for control in direct action against rBS. of the land and oil, leading to thousands of civilian deaths Bronwen Smith-thomas, and refugees. the problem Campaigns officer of People has been exacerbated by & Planet remains upbeat tullow oil in their desire to about the student response build a suitable pipeline for to the debate: “Students the transportation of oil to across the country are demanding that rBS pull out the international market. of fossil fuels and focus their there has also been investments and experience growing pressure on the into supporting renewable uK government since the energy development. If rBS recapitalisation of rBS in 2008 continues to fund climate to prevent the company from change, students are prepared facilitating deals that have to boycott.” negative environmental or regardless of their view of human rights implications.

In june 2009 legal action was the company, university taken against the treasury students throughout the uK which now owns 75% of can expect to be ‘courted’ by rBS with huge billboards, free rBS. gifts, tantalising discounts and whatever other means “the government has spent they have at their disposal.

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Nothing woolly.

Straight talking from KPMG. Graduate Programmes – All degree disciplines There are lots of good things about joining KPMG when you graduate. The fact we’ve been voted The Sunday Times ‘Best Big Company to Work For’ is just one of them.

Get ready to flock our way. Come and hear what life’s really like at KPMG. Visit www.kpmg.co.uk/careers to find out more.

Editorial

President’s Column of the year to spend on a £300, 9-month ticket. we will be meeting again with first Bus at the beginning of next week, and are hoping that first will give ground. If you feel strongly about this issue, then please do let me know, as some of you have, that first Bus will only lose student custom with these moves.

John Braid & Alex Lewis Gaudie Editors

“” Post hoc ergo propter hoc

“after this, therefore because of this”. Latin for the logical fallacy that just because that event followed this one, it must have been caused by this one.” tHIngS to note about this edition: the auSa President uses the “f” word in his column; we have a cool new cartoon strip called “andy Panda” and we have started attributing photographs to those who we got them from (never has google Images been mentioned so much in the space of a 16-page newspaper). we continue to make changes to your student paper. these are changes which we decided to make back in May when we were put in charge of gaudie (Vox Pop est. September).

on wednesday 30th September we had our gaudie elections, which were well attended - thanks to everyone who turned up to stand for a position or just to vote. we welcome 5 new sub-editors to our team who we hope will help us along the way to creating a better publication.

will be an event open to any student to attend, as well as staff, former editors and contributors of the paper.

we hope that you enjoy this fortnight’s publication: everything, from the most ridiculous pictureof Donald trump (and more specifically his hair) that we could find, to the pun in the we have also decided to headline on the back hold a “75th anniversary page, is there for you, of gaudie” ceilidh in and us, but mostly you. elphinstone Hall later in the term - the details anyway, all the best are still to be sorted out from our editorial but watch out for more team, and see you in a information in the next fortnight’s time. couple of gaudies! It

Robin J. Parker AUSA President I HoPe tHat you have all had a wonderful freshers’ week and that the first week of classes didn’t come as too much of a shock. I thought that this freshers had been the best that I had been involved with and a lot of that comes down to a good deal of hard work from all those behind the scenes – so a huge thank you on everyone’s behalf for that. It also comes down to all the enthusiasm of the volunteers and other people who were involved in stuff and finally I think all of the participants really added to that atmosphere with unbridled enthusiasm and ace banter. ok, gushing praise out of the way; onto the meat. rant 1: firstBus are still refusing aberdeen students’ demands that the Student Day ticket be reinstated at a reasonable cost. a number of local politicians have expressed their support for this, including Maureen watt MSP who wrote to the Chief executive of first Bus, pointing out that many students do not have a lump sum at the beginning

Second rant: as Maureen watt also points out in her letter to first Bus, ‘Students in aberdeen are already at a financial disadvantage because they face higher accommodation costs than students at other universities.’

Damn straight we do. a recent survey showed that the cost of student accommodation in aberdeen went up by over 10% in the last two years. and that is at a time when other parts of the housing market have seen falls in house prices, people have been crying recession and price inflation on other goods has been at about absolutely bugger-all. How many have had an increase in your student loan, your student support, your wages or your parental income of 10.4% in the past two years? tumbleweed. It seems that the university has offered accommodation to the students who were stuck in temporary accommodation in a hotel, but this is all in unite buildings (expensive) or selfcatering (also expensive). this year the university has been putting students who have applied through the accommodation office into private halls of residence, i.e. unite. this means these

are no longer an option for second year and older students, and significantly increases the pressure on other parts of the rental market. which means prices go up, it’s economics stupid. at a time like this, you’d think that the City Council should be helping where possible, eh? wrong. at the beginning of last year the Council put up the charge for a HMo licence, which allows a landlord to rent a house to three or more people who are unrelated, to a £1000.

I am yet to come across a higher charge anywhere in our united Kingdom. and this is a council which is doing nothing to encourage affordable accommodation, instead it’s closing schools and burning money on big projects like a bypass and a city centre plaza. nice, perhaps, but is it what we, as students here, need? you tell me. sapresident@ abdn.ac.uk , office on the top floor of the hub, facebook, and I have a new phone-in radio show, tuesdays at 8pm online aberdeenstudentradio.org. oh, and there are elections nominations ending right about now. Check out ausa.org.uk and finally, to prove a point: the President of the Students’ association is the dishevelled spawn of a mackerel and a mongoose and, above all, a complete fucking cock. note to editor-in-chief: this is neither a libellous nor a defamatory statement, since I happen to know the guy and I know for a fact he is.

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Sport

Gaudie 6th October 2009

gaudie.sports@abdn.ac.uk

Successful Summer For Aberdeen Rowers Women’s double ends the summer in impressive style in Poland Christine Duncan President for Sport gB squad, selected from universities from all over the uK. after a week of training, race day arrived and, facing a gruelling heat, they finished third, winning them a place in the repechage. after another exhausting race, they fought hard and were awarded the last qualifying place for the Steph, who has just graduated final. from aberdeen university with a 2:1 degree in english, the day of the final race has had a string of successes arrived, along with great since joining the boat club anticipation and a strong in 2005 and has this summer wind across the course. managed to complete her During the majority of the time at aberdeen university race jenny and Steph sat in with another impressive 4th position, however with sporting achievement. jenny, 500m to go they put in a spurt who, like Steph, learnt how to and raced for the line. the row at school in edinburgh, finish line was closing in and has just completed 2nd year the girls were unsure of their geology and is going to be placing until the umpires taking over from Steph as told them of their bronze the boat club’s women’s medal position. they beat captain for the coming year. the Imperial College London jenny paired up with Steph double by only 0.34seconds! in the summer to create a very competitive double as Maybe a windy, rainy summer shown by their performance proved to be an asset to the at BuCS. aberdeen double who coped with the conditions well and they had a busy regatta paced themselves in order to season competing nearly achieve their medal position. every weekend in races McDowall said: “we got the across Scotland as well last qualifying position in the as at women’s Henley on final so I think in some ways the river thames. Steph that helped as there wasn’t so continued on through the much pressure on us going summer to compete at the into the race. we were able Home International regatta to stay relaxed and row to representing Scotland, the best of our ability.” jenny as well as racing at Men’s added: “with 500m to go we Henley in a Scottish girls’ knew it was now or never, and composite eight whilst jenny we both really went for it. I’m focused on her own training really glad the training has back in edinburgh. within paid off - it was really hard a few weeks they were both at times but it was definitely back in aberdeen training worth it in the end’. several times a day out on the river Dee, in what has the double are now taking turned out to be a rather a few well-earned days off rainy and windy summer. before the new season starts.

Steph is heading to glasgow undeterred by the weather university to start a Masters jenny and Steph kept a degree, whilst jenny is gruelling training schedule heading back to aberdeen for to make sure they were on top her third year. their success form for their competition is a great way to start the in Poland. at the beginning new season and hopefully of September, jenny and aberdeen university Boat Steph headed out to Poland Club will see similar successes along with the rest of the in the years to come.

fo L Low I n g tHeIr success at the BuCS rowing championships, jenny Chambers and Stephanie McDowall were selected to represent great Britain at the european university Championships in Poland this summer.

Medal Position: Aberdeen rowers Jenny Chambers, left, and Stephanie McDowall finished in the bronze medal position in Poland after a strong final 500m.

AUSA Sport

Sport

Gaudie 6th October 2009

15

gaudie.sports@abdn.ac.uk

Three In Top Ten For Aberdeen Uni In Local Race Jack Arnold Sports Editor

Starting Line: a swarm of athletes anticipate the start of the 3km race on Friday

anyone taKIng a walk by the beach on friday lunchtime may have been surprised to encounter a sea of athletes sweeping down the promenade. the race, organised by Metro running Club, was the first in a series of races that take place at the beach on the first friday of every month over the winter period. offering a completely f lat three kilometre course, the event has always been popular with athletes attempting to run fast times as well as offering new runners the chance to experience a race atmosphere without having any daunting hills to climb. over the course of the five races, athletes’ three fastest times are calculated and eventually organised into a results table

with prizes being offered to the winners of various categories. friday’s race saw a dozen aberdeen university athletics Club members line up at the start line and all twelve finished in impressive times, with three athletes finishing in the top ten positions. this was an excellent result for the club and the presence of the athletes in their au colours was certainly noticed. the participation of eight new members suggests a positive start to the year and the performances recorded by these athletes has added to the club’s aspirations of success in future races. with the first away fixture of the season being a 3k crosscountry event in Stirling in a couple of weeks, the club are looking to take a large squad to the race and repeat the success achieved on friday.

Gaudie Sport

Keeperless Lacrosse Girls Lose To Glasgow Diana Mennie eVeryone in the women’s Lacrosse team was ready for the first match of the seasona road trip to glasgow.

However the full team was reduced to 8 people by 9.30am on wednesday due to freshers’ flu and compulsory Maths classes. So with a team of 8 instead of 12 we travelled down south, only realising that we were entering the city on the day that glasgow was hosting the MoBo awardsa traffic nightmare. as we drove closer to glasgow, the clouds become darker and our spirits began to wane.

However with the odds against us due to our reduced numbers and lack of a keeper, we battled on against glasgow (who agreed to play 8 a-side), who had the advantage of continuous substitutes to relieve their tired legs. the first half started well with everyone running enthusiasticly, however we easily tired and relied on our passing rather than our legs. glasgow university picked up their points easily with an open goal, however captain Charlotte Bascombe avoided triple and quadruple tackles and secured a hat-trick within the first half. aberdeen dominated the second half, giving the defence a

well-deserved break. new members of the club Corey fast and Lizzie Hill showed true determination and shone in midfield, linking passes up to goal scorers Dizzy white and Diana Mennie. In the end it was a well fought match, with the final score at 15-8 to glasgow. we are looking forward to the return match at home, where we will have a full team and more importantly a goalkeeper. on our return to aberdeen we joined the Men’s Lacrosse team for our welcoming night out for all of our freshers. Like previous years we decided to have a graffiti night where everyone arrives wearing white t-shirts, and you wake up the following day with some interesting comments and even numbers written all over your shirt. the night was greatly successful, starting off in jP’s Bar and grill and ending in our club sponsor, Liquid nightclub. Many memories were made and lost in that night!

If you are interested in playing for the women’s Lacrosse team please come along to one of our training sessions, Sundays 12-2pm and wednesdays 2-4pm on Kings Pitches, or email the club at aberdeenunilacrosse@ hotmail.com

AUSA Sport

Van Persie “Goes Down To Help Referees” arSenaL forwarD robin van Persie claimed last weekend that he “exaggerates falls” to convince the referee to award him free-kicks and penalties. the Dutch international told reporters that he did not believe that overacting to minimal contact was “really cheating.” He then went on to contradict himself by announcing that

he “always wanted to play honest football”.

Claims that players should act in a way which tells the referee what decision he should be making are proof that the sport has been badly affected by diving and playacting.

If van Persie holds this belief, that he is doing the right thing by “helping

the referee” to get the big decisions right, who knows how many other players are doing the same thing. His comments are the latest talking point in the ongoing debate on diving in football.

It will be interesting to see whether match officials develop a mistrust of the arsenal player after these comments.

Wikipedia Commons

Sport Gaudie

Inside: the athletics club perform well in local race

6th October 2009

Aberdeen Hit For Six By Locos Aberdeen Uni Inverurie Locos

0 6

John Braid Football on tueSDay, September 29th, aberdeen university took on Inverurie Loco works in the first round of the Morrison Motors aberdeenshire Shield at Keith Park.

Beaten: Keeper Craig Stephen is all smiles despite conceding six to Locos

Robin Parker

Rio Wins Race For 2016 Olympics Jack Arnold Sports Editor after a CLoSeLy fought contest, rio de janeiro emerged victorious with their bid to host the olympic and Paralympic games in 2016. whilst Chicago had been considered early favourite to claim the honour, it was the Brazilians who proved

the eventual winners, taking a majority of the 95 votes.

By hosting the event, rio de janeiro will have the honour of being the first South american city to hold the competition. Brazil will also claim the accolade of being only the fourth country in history to host the fIfa world Cup and the olympic

games in proximate years. the success of the bid is believed largely to be due to the incredible success of the xV Pan american games that the city hosted in 2007, revealing their ability to stage a large-scale multisport event. rio de janeiro will repeat their strategy

of holding all of the competitions within the city.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva emphasised that the event would be not be purely Brazil’s games, but South america’s. He suggested that the olympics would serve to inspire the 180million young people who inhabit the continent.

Interested in going out to report on sporting events? gaudie.sports@abdn.ac.uk

minutes of the second half as the student team lost all belief. neil McLean set up the third with an impressive run past four players before cutting the ball back to neil gauld who calmly finished off for his second of the aberdeen were always the night. underdogs for this match, and were trying to keep it Michael Morrison then tight early on, but it was only controlled gauld’s free kick eight minutes into the match on his chest before smashing when Locos took the lead home Locos’ fourth of the through neil gauld with a night. fine finish from twelve yards out.

Craig ross then scored the fifth after racing clear of aberdeen withstood heavy the defence amid claims of pressure for much of the first offside, and lofted coolly over half, and carved out a good the advancing keeper from chance of their own when twenty yards.

Callum Lamont made space for himself at the edge of the aberdeen keeper Craig box and forced Locos’ keeper, Stephen was starting to andy reid, to produce a fine enjoy himself and pulled off save. some impressive saves to stop Locos from scoring many four minutes into first half more. neil gauld finally stoppage time, Inverurie completed his hat trick, this found a much needed second time from the penalty spot, goal to all but secure the after being brought down by result. Michael Morrison aurlea Champion. headed in from neil McLean’s corner. the goal had been the result comes as no coming and was deserved, surprise, with the score-line of but aberdeen will have been 0-6 perhaps not doing justice disappointed to concede the to Inverurie’s dominance. second on the stroke of half this was down in part to time. their own wastefulness but also due to some fine displays the second goal deflated of goalkeeping from Stephen. aberdeen considerably, and Locos were simply too strong at the start of the second for aberdeen university, who period the goals started to will be hoping to take some fly in for Locos. they scored positives and learn from their three in the opening eleven mistakes in this defeat.