The Gown : 08/04/2014

TheGown.

The Independent Student Newspaper at Queen’s University Belfast, Established 1955

HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR GIVES QUEEN’S TALK

GIG OF THE MONTH: ALAN IRWIN’S PARTY HARD

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Tuesday 8th April 2014

QUEEN’S AFC IN OVAL SEMI FINAL BATTLE

Council Support for Marking Boycott The Gown Staff Members @thegownqub

Queen’s University’s Student Council has voted to uphold a motion of solidarity with staff members affiliated with the University and College Union (UCU), in the eventuality of a marking boycott this summer. The boycott – the latest tactic in an ongoing dispute between UCU and the University and Colleges’ Employers Association (UCEA) over “Fair Pay in Higher Education” – was proposed

by UCU last month, in the scenario that the Union’s demands for a pay increase aren’t met before a cut-off date of April 28th.

The motion – proposed by Union President Niall McShane – was the first of two opposing sentiments put forward at a meeting of Student Council on March 20th. Motion 12.8 proposed that the Council, “Extend solidarity to the marking boycott action”, while the following proposal, also brought by Mr McShane, called on UCU, “To call off the marking

boycott action".

Mr McShane told The Gown, “The reason we put forward the two motions was really just to create a debate where students could air their views, being conscious that at the meeting before that, there were a few questions to individual members of the Executive Management Committee, asking why we were in support of a motion which... the terminology used was “detrimental to the student body” and “targeting students””. He noted he was pleased at what he felt had been a “healthy debate on both sides”. While he acknowledged that, arising from the decision of Council, the Student Executive would be “fully in support of a marking boycott”, Mr McShane commented, “I hope that in advance of a marking boycott, there’s an agreement [between UCU and UCEA] so that it won’t impact upon Queen’s students”, saying that this would be “The most beneficial outcome for Queen’s students”.

Those to speak against the motion of solidarity with the marking boycott

action included Sabbatical Officers Tiernan McAteer and Caoimhe MacNeill, with students Niall Robb, Katy Waller, Sarah Wright and Ben Christman amongst those who spoke in favour of such action. Speaking to The Gown after the meeting, PhD student Mr Christman reiterated, “From a student’s perspective, a marking boycott isn’t ideal - from a lecturer’s perspective too”. He continued by saying that one could argue, “Tactically, the Student Council’s support of the boycott may help to prevent it. Their vote has hopefully sent a very clear message to Queen’s that the student body is unsupportive of skulduggery against Queen’s employees. Student support should increase pressure on Queen’s to enter into negotiations with UCU, helping to resolve the dispute ahead of any boycott. Strong student backing for the boycott may be the most effective way of ensuring that it does not go ahead”. Reflecting on the debate itself, Mr Christman noted that he had found it “entertaining” and acknowledged the meeting had, “Showed that democracy is very much alive here at Queen’s, with

some very passionate and intelligent arguments given from both sides”.

He concluded by stating, “We were delighted that the Student Council narrowly supported the motion in favour of the marking boycott”.

A spokesperson for UCU said: “It is because of the intransigence of the employers that we are facing a marking boycott. We first took strike action back in October and there have been plenty of opportunities for them to resolve this dispute. We hope that, finally, things can be sorted before the need for a marking boycott. We have been really encouraged by all the support we have been receiving from students in our fight for fair pay.

Students and staff need to continue to work together to defend education”.

It is unclear if a marking boycott will take place. Following what UCU have termed a “positive and constructive” meeting with UCEA on March 26th, the two bodies will return to the negotiating table on April 15th to attempt to find a resolution before the date a boycott is scheduled to begin.

Students Snubbed at Clinton Talk Kylie Noble News Editor @Kylie_Noble94

Niall McShane, President of Queen’s University’s Students’ Union, has spoken of his regret that a recent talk at the University by former President of the United States, Bill Clinton, remained largely inaccessible to students. Speaking to The Gown, Mr McShane admitted, “I think it’s really disappointing that there weren’t more students able to avail of the inaugural William J Clinton Leadership Institute lecture at Queen’s”.

His words follow an outpouring of discontentment from the student body, upon the realisation that Bill Clinton’s March 5th lecture (coinciding with the foundation of the William J Clinton Leadership Institute at Riddel Hall) would not be open to the public at large. Indeed, in the days following the event, The Irish News reported that “Tickets for [the] exclusive lecture by Bill Clinton at Queen’s University Belfast cost a jaw-dropping £1,000 a head”.

Student Councillors Paul Loughran and Cliona McCarney were amongst

those to express their dismay at the event’s exclusivity, each bringing forward motions which dealt with the visit in the most recent meeting of Queen’s Students’ Union Student Council on March 20th.

Speaking to The Gown following the meeting, Mr Loughran reflected, “I was shocked to hear that the Clinton visit was organised specifically with the intention of selling tables at the event to wealthy businessmen, for thousands of pounds. Clinton spoke before his visit about the importance of creating a new generation of leaders within our youth – so why was this word only heard by middle-aged businessmen? Scholarships and bursaries are cut every year by the University, whilst our tuition fees go up. Queen’s have questions to answer”.

Ms McCarney’s motion further argued, “This Council condemns the recent actions of the University in regards to the privatisation of the speech of former US President Bill Clinton at the opening of a new department at Queen's University named in his honour”. Both motions passed.

Despite initial reports that Mr McShane had been the only student in attendance at the event, the Union President confirmed that this had not been the case, telling The Gown that he had spoken to a Law student at the event (who had participated in the Study USA program and had the chance to meet President Clinton during his time at Queen’s). Mr McShane did, however, state that to the best of his knowledge, only two students (himself included) had been present, elaborating: “It was anticipated that there would be more students who would be

able to hear from Bill Clinton, because they were going to have, or had requested, an additional event to take place at the university that would be open to students. That was through the meetings I had with the Director of the event. But unfortunately, the staff members involved with Bill Clinton himself had decided that they weren’t going to be able to do that due to his schedule and timetable. Therefore the only event that went ahead was [the lecture], as he was coming for the sole purpose of opening the William J Clinton Leadership Institute”.

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The Gown

02 The Gown Editorial The Gown is the independent student newspaper at Queen’s University Belfast, established 1955.

The Gown Team 2013/ 2014 Editor Tara McEvoy editor@thegown.net General Manager Megan Liddy business@thegown.net News Editors Kylie Noble Fiachra O’ Maolcraoibhe news@thegown.net Assistant - James Douglas Arts Editor Peter McGoran arts@thegown.net Assistant - Conor Kerr Correspondents Film- Patrick McAnea Music - Hayley Gault Theatre - Colm Doran TV - Adam McAllister Features Editor Matthew Law features@thegown.net Assistant - Níamh Marley Lifestyle Editor Sonia Benhassine lifestyle@thegown.net Health Correspondent Michael Grant Sports Editor Michael Doran sports@thegown.net Assistant - Conor Coyle Opinion Editor Brian Martin info@thegown.net Photography Editor Darragh Hobbs Assistant - Desmond Eastwood Business Manager Orry Robinson business@thegown.net Web Manager Anna Growcott Social Media Manager David Stewart Design Editor Matthew Morete Contributors Claire Murray Niall Coleman Anna Cafolla Andrew Doherty Gaibhin McGranaghan Aaron Rainey Amy Slack Tommy Greene Freddie Clark Josh Watts James Smith Chantelle Frampton Vanessa Taaffe Meadhbh Bermingham Kaity Hall

@TheGownQUB /TheGownQUB letters@thegown.net The Gown Queen’s University Belfast Students’ Union University Road Belfast BT71NF 028 9097 1057

Tara McEvoy Editor @tara_mcevoy

So, once again, we find ourselves entering the final stretch of the university year: the slow march towards summer, and, for some, graduation. Before all that, though,

we’re met with the prospect of the Easter holidays: variously interpreted as the perfect time to catch up on readings and get cracking on revision, and the perfect time to catch up on reading Buzzfeed and crack open a few Creme Eggs.

Either way, we here at The Gown hope you enjoy your time off.

As for our paper, it’s time to appoint a new editorial team. On page five, you’ll see a call to action for next year’s team: I truly hope as many of you as possible apply to avail of what really is a remarkable opportunity, and ensure your student publication thrives in its 60th anniversary year.

In the meantime, we’ll continue to keep you up to date with everything going on around campus – make sure to keep an eye out for our final issue of the year, next month!

The Hood The Hood The Hood is The Gown’s anonymous whistleblower cum satirist. Founded in 1976 by a generous donation from the Sir Humphrey Hood Foundation, the Hood has consistently broken news of wrongdoing in the elected officials of the Students’ Union, as well as the wider student movement and the university itself. Loved by people who care too much about SU politics and despised by officers who should care more, the Hood delivers the news and the schmooze on those who waste your union dues. @upthehood

I’ve commented before that SU politics is rather like watching Shakespeare: the lines are the same, the characters are the same, the outcome is the same and only the actors and costumes change.

I realise now is that it’s more like Shakespeare performed by the Newtownards Amateur dramatic society: the same as above, but with the additional clause that nobody seems to care. Evidence of this can be seen in the results of the latest round of the critically panned reality-TV show Sabb-factor. Many of our young hopefuls faced off against the savage RON, who got almost 5,000 votes between all elections. When added

Letters

to the hundreds of votes given to the more successful of the joke candidates running for President, this equates to a sizable (and unprintable) gesture to the second floor.

There was a lot of heated gibberish before the elections, stating that a poor turnout would be the fault of the now-infamously banal “Super Seven” campaign. Naturally, it didn’t help matters too much, but when you’re painting a burning house no particular shade of Ecru will stop it from becoming a smouldering ruin. Some of our Sabbaticals have decided that this is the result of a wider apathy or laziness

among the student body, with the rest of them sticking to the usual “No idea Guv” line of argument. The first argument holds water about as well as a levee made of secondhand colanders: students do care, just not about the tawdry claptrap of sabbatical elections. Look at the turnout to save the DCs, or even the RON campaign.

For those of you expecting something to be done about the elections, abandon your optimism. The only way change can be made is through Council, and they’ve proven to be as active as jellyfish after a hearty Sunday dinner. The last Council

meeting was sparse, with even most of your Sabbs neglecting to turn up.

Those that did attend shilly-shallied about supporting the proposed marking strikes by the UCU, with the campaign to vote against being led by the few attending Sabbaticals.

The dismal attendance meant that the motion scraped past, but the dismal attendance also meant that nothing properly relevant could be discussed. I have it on good authority that in the olden times, Councillors would ensure a healthy turnout by tabling a controversial motion on the future of Northern Ireland maybe their modern counterparts could do the same.

Want to have your say on the issues covered in The Gown or those matters affecting students more broadly? Get in touch with us at info@thegown.net!

Letters reflect the personal beliefs of their authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gown’s editorial team.

“Students’ Union elections – a future from the past?”

I was interested to pick up on Megan Liddy’s and Fiachra O’Maolcraoibhe’s two articles in the March 3rd edition of The Gown. In particular, I was struck by the ideas of re-introducing paper ballots for SU elections in Megan’s article, and the use of the term “Student Officers” in Fiachra’s – as well as the other comments elsewhere in the paper on what is driving the apparent apathy in student politics.

I was one of the apocryphal alumni of the end of the 1960s, and can confirm that there were a number of practitioners of what we called “managed democracy”. At the polling station on the Royal Hospital campus, set up to meet the needs of medical and dental students, there were more votes cast than there were students in the medical faculty. This was during the first election for Student Union President by general franchise among the student body (of about 5,000 undergraduates and about 1000 postgraduates). Prior to that, the system was one in which the President and other office holders in the Executive were elected by members of SRC only, and only the President and Deputy Presi-

dent were sabbatical (supported by a standard student grant).

So – was this a less “democratic” system than that which prevailed from 1971 onwards, in which every student voted? Having graduated with my first degree in 1972, I returned to Queen’s as a full time student exactly 40 years later, to find the representative landscape utterly transformed – and not for the better. I was canvassed face to face outside the McClay Library by a very pleasant and earnest young man who was running as part of a ‘ticket’ who wanted me to vote for him and six of his friends.

Apart from a paragraph or two of his self-penned description of his track record and boundless capabilities, I had no evidence on which to base my decision – and I knew even less about his colleagues.

To be selected as a candidate by your peers on SRC required a nomination quota that itself required you to be at least known by about 10% of the members - and then to have to convince them, on the basis of things they had actually seen you do, that you could provide a service to your fellow

students. This seems to me to have a better chance of meeting the needs of the student body. Though there have doubtless been many energetic and talented SU postholders in the new, financially supported dispensation, I have read enough reports in The Gown in recent years to persuade me that, for many, it has been a convenient CV-builder and a wholly subsidised path to indolence for a year.

So – radical (or conservative) as it may seem, I would suggest that the SU might fruitfully consider a number of questions. What is student representation for? Is it to effect real change for real students – or otherwise? Are the “portfolios” of the present executive appropriate? For example, what is the purpose of a Clubs and Societies Officer, and what positive impact would it have on the lives of all students? What is the role of the Welfare Officer, beyond looking after the personal welfare of the incumbent? Is there only one model of democracy that works? The USA model is very different from the Dutch or Belgian models - yet they share a common nomenclature. In the UK we don’t allow the general populace to vote

directly on the death penalty; it is left to Parliament – to the benefit of all.

Finally, on the method of voting, if I might paraphrase the dictum on justice, seeing democracy being done is a very powerful token of its importance. If you doubt that, look back at the images of long lines voters in the first free elections in South Africa in 1994.

Electronic voting, while it might be fashionable, removes the act from its consequences, and the comments in The Gown suggest that few are currently happy with those.

Yours, Mike Moran SRC Member 1969 – 72 Defeated Candidate for Deputy President 1970 (old system) The Gown Journalist and Editorial Team Member 1970 - 72 BSc (Hons) Botany 1972 MA History 2013

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CLAIRE MURRAY | Holocaust Survivor Gives Queen’s Talk THE GOWN | Niall McShane Runs for RAG NIALL COLEMAN | Bill Clinton Opens Queen’s Leadership Institute ANNA CAFOLLA | Library Rolls Out Unpaid Ambassador Scheme ANDREW DOHERTY | PSNI Face Investigation After Leaving Woman In Bus Lane

News

KYLIE NOBLE | USI Elects Laura Harmon President 2014/ 2015

Gallagher Presidency Sets Sail The Gown Staff Members @thegownqub

Ciarán Gallagher has been elected President of Queen’s University’s Students’ Union for the academic year 2014/ 2015, beating off competition from rival candidates for the post – current Vice President Clubs and Societies Martin Lilly, and Katie Matthews. The presidential race marked the only contested office in 2014’s sabbatical elections, with the remaining six vice presidential positions each secured by members of the seven-person “Breaking Thru” ticket, which had been headed by Mr Lilly.

In conversation with The Gown following his victory, Mr Gallagher remarked, “Post-shock, there is a mix of excitement and continuous thought on priorities, strategies, policies and more. But what is clear is somewhat

The Gown rounds up the events of 2014’s election season, and looks forward to the year ahead.

in keeping with the style of my election campaign: I intend to employ less traditional methods of sparking students' imagination in their Union.

On top of that I hope to be (like the pirate stereotype suggests) fierce when it comes to student rights and interests”.

“But then”, he added, addressing students at large, “It's also up to you.

You are all my bosses after all!”

too low and that’s the key challenge for the new officer team coming in: to re-engage people in a meaningful way, to enable them to feel more positive about putting themselves forward for student representation, particularly full time student representation. So, that will certainly inform the development of the officer plan of work over the summer, for the 2014/ 2015 academic year”.

Dominic Doherty, Deputy Director of the Students’ Union, also spoke of his anticipation of the forthcoming year, saying, “It’s another exciting year ahead, and I’m looking forward to it as much as I ever did”.

He did, however, point out the positives to be taken from 2014’s election – not least, that voter turnout had risen marginally on the same figure last year (finally standing at 4162, in comparison to 4104 in 2013): “In terms of the actual turnout, it was very encouraging, given that six of the seven positions only had one candidate”.

He continued, “I was really pleased to note that for the first time ever we had three Student Officer candidates who each polled more than 1000 first preference votes – that had never happened before. That’s a big positive. Clearly that race largely drove to turnout – to a level which actually exceeded turnout in 2013 and 2012.

So that was certainly a positive to take from the election period, but we’re not kidding ourselves that that in any way compensates for the fact that the six vice presidential positions only had one candidate”.

Describing the presidential election, Mr Doherty noted that it, “clearly

Questioned on the popularity of the option to Re-Open Nominations

Reflecting on the year’s election season, Mr Doherty commented, “I think general disappointment was felt in relation to the number of people who put themselves forward for election.

The number of candidates was much

caught the imagination” involving as it did, “Three strong candidates, three very different and distinct candidates, running campaigns that certainly had a lot of clear blue water between them”.

(RON) in this year’s voting breakdown, Mr Doherty maintained that all Student Officers found themselves “comfortably elected”.

“I said before the elections that RON wouldn’t win”, he reiterated: “RON didn’t win, and didn’t come close to winning, in my opinion. Obviously there was a bit of a protest. Some students were frustrated that they had what they believed to be a lack of choice in terms of candidates, and they chose to express that by voting for RON”. Noting that those in the Union would have to work to counteract such perceptions, the institution’s Deputy Director sought to assure students: “I’m sure the whole team will be looking to move on getting people more fervently engaged with democracy across the board, and have more candidates and even more voters next year”.

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05 News Holocaust Survivor Gives Queen’s University Talk 72 year old Holocaust survivor Joanna Millan recently addressed the staff and students of Queen’s University Belfast, discussing her experiences.

Claire Murray Contributor Holocaust survivor Joanna Millian was hosted by Queen’s students Julia Whitehouse and Lisa Boedt, alongside the Students’ Union’s Vice President Equality and Diversity Caoimhe McNeill on March 12th, in the Space at Queen’s Students’ Union. Attendees – numbering in their hundreds - learned of her experiences inside a concentration camp and those as an orphaned child living in post-Second World War England.

Ms Millan’s mother died as a result of the harsh conditions of the Theresienstadt camp and her father, separated from his wife and daughter, was one of many killed in Auschwitz. Ms Millan, along with five other children, was liberated from Theresienstadt camp in 1945 and entered England an orphaned

child. At the age of five, Ms Millan’s memories of her family (prior to the war) were minimal - and in her later years, she embarked upon a journey of discovery. Ms Millan contacted distant relatives; from this contact she was able to stitch together the details of her family’s lives, previous to the atrocities of Nazi Germany. She shared an image of her mother’s signature on the 1939 census which recorded each individual’s “age, sex, residence, profession, religion, profession and race”. This information was later used to create the Jewish Registry which, under the Nazi regime, was a functional method of locating Jewish victims.

Ms Millan’s two years inside the Theresienstadt camp were spent with five other orphaned Jewish children. She recalled a Jewish woman, whom the Nazi guards had

sent to work in the vegetable patch, named Litska Shallinger. Ms Millan attributed her survival and that of the other five children to Litska’s brave act of hiding fresh vegetables in her clothes and delivering them to the children. Litska, like Ms Millan, survived the Theresienstadt camp.

The speaker disagreed with the specificity of the name “Holocaust Memorial Day”, which occurs annually on January 27th. Instead, she proposed that the date should remember all genocides and the worldly victims of genocide and thus, Ms Millan argues that January 27th should be remembered as “Genocide Day.” However, she described the Holocaust as unique among genocides as the Nazis were extremely “strategic” in their attempted elimination of the Jewish people. She also argued that it was

an “active choice” for the German people and for Europe to ignore the reality of Nazi Germany. She described the Rosenstrasse protest which was a significant act of opposition on the part of non-Jewish wives, who protested against the deportation of their Jewish husbands.

The Rosenstrasse protest led to the release of the Jewish men and this, for Ms Millan, was an instance that showcased resistance as a viable option.

Ms Millan said she was “aware of the extra time” she had been granted and her goal is to bring life to the pages of historical textbooks.

For example, Ms Millan contextualised the conditions of the camps by asking her listeners to imagine a lecture hall filled to seven times its normal capacity - demonstrating the extent of overcrowding in the camps. She stressed that our genera-

tion must learn about the Holocaust from primary resources like the book of survivors accounts We Remember, adding that fictionalised accounts of the atrocity (such as the novel The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas) are produced for entertainment purposes as opposed to educational purposes.

Ending with a reflection on the importance of not standing idly by while injustice occurs, Ms Millan concluded with the words of theologian Martin Niemöller: “First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out - because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me - and there was no one left to speak for me”.

Niall McShane Runs for RAG Queen’s Students’ Union President Niall McShane is undertaking four runs in the space of four weeks, to raise money for the Raising and Giving (RAG) society’s four featured charities.

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Niall McShane, President of Queen’s Students’ Union, is half way towards completing a fundraising initiative that will see him undertake four major runs in the space of two months. Mr McShane has completed both the Omagh half marathon and Great Ireland Run in the past few weeks, and intends to take part in full marathons in both Belfast and Newry during the next month.

Speaking to The Gown about his motivations for getting involved in these events, the Union President noted, “I always wanted to do something for RAG but couldn’t think what to do. Eventually I came up with a fundraising idea of doing a run, but the difficulty was that there are four charities [supported by RAG].

It expanded from one run, to four.

It’s turned into four runs across four counties for four charities and £4000”.

When asked how he had been progressing thus far, Mr McShane commented, “It’s been going well: I’m enjoying it, I’ve been doing quite a bit of training”, adding that he had raised around £1300 of his £4000 target at present. He stated, “It’s positive to raise the profile of the charities, to raise the profile of RAG. I wouldn’t say that I’m an active runner, but I try to keep myself fit. I’ve always said I wanted to do a

marathon, so why not do four runs in eight weeks, and why not include two marathons in that”.

Speaking more broadly on the society’s place within the Union, Mr McShane noted, “We try to support RAG as best as possible”, and commended the charitable work of Students’ Union Vice President Community Sarah Louise Baird. Mr McShane further applauded the motion recently passed by Student Council, mandating the current Vice President Community, “To convene a meeting with the RAG Committee and the Deputy Director of the Students’ Union before the end of this academic year to link RAG to a member of Union staff or department to ensure that the activities of RAG are safeguarded in the long term and to determine what that staff support should look like – the outcome of which should be reported to the Inaugural Meeting of the Students’ Union Council during its 2014/15 sitting”.

“All students, all people”, enthused Mr McShane, “have the opportunity to give, in some shape or form. It’s just how they do that, how they put themselves forward. I don’t think, before, I’ve done anything notable in terms of fundraising or charity work, so you know, this year was an opportunity for me to do that”.

You can follow the Union President’s progress on Twitter: @RUN4RAG.

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News 06 Bill Clinton Opens Queen’s Leadership Institute Continued from page one. Former President of the United States, Bill Clinton, last month visited Queen’s University to unveil a plaque at the institution’s Riddel Hall, newly renamed the William J Clinton Leadership Institute.

Niall Coleman Contributor Former US President Bill Clinton returned to Northern Ireland on 5th March, following previous visits during his time in office. The highlight of his 2014 visit to Queen’s was marked by the unveiling of a plaque at the William J Clinton Leadership Institute, located in Riddel Hall, Stranmillis.

Earlier in the year, Queen's acting President and Vice Chancellor, Professor James McElnay, welcomed the President's visit, and, in reference to the new centre said, "It provides a focus at the heart of the local business

community, supporting economic growth and the ongoing development of the knowledge economy”.

Hosting the Queen's Foundation event was newly appointed President and Vice Chancellor of Queen's, Professor Patrick Johnston. Speaking at the inaugural lecture at the William J Clinton Leadership Institute, Professor Johnston said, "Once again he [President Clinton] is demonstrating his belief in Northern Ireland and its people, as he has done with such dedication and commitment in the recent past. Now he is giving his support to an Institute that will provide our community with the leaders of the future, in business and in public life".

Professor Johnston's words echo the warm welcomes frequently extended to the former President by much of Irish society. The politician is often seen as one of the driving forces behind Northern Ireland’s peace process.

President Clinton's active role in Northern Irish affairs began in 1995, as he spoke at a massive rally outside Belfast City Hall - during which he highlighted his support for the peace process and condemned paramilitaries as "yesterday's men".

Amongst both the people of Northern Ireland and his Irish-American supporters, he is recognised as having provided a catalyst for the steps

towards reconciliation in the region.

President Clinton's visit to the North followed a call to Taoiseach Enda Kenny, after which he paid a visit to Derry - crossing the symbolic Peace Bridge (along the footbridge of the Republican City side of the River Foyle to the Loyalist Waterside area with former SDLP leader and Nobel Laureate John Hume and his wife).

Addressing a crowd at Guildhall Square in Derry, President Clinton implored the people of the North to "finish the job" in regards to peace in Ireland. "This economy is coming back, we need to get this show on the road”, said President Clinton. "So I implore you, for the sake of the

young people, and all those who did so much, like John, for so long - finish the job”.

President Clinton's remarks come at a time when relations between Northern Ireland's power-sharing executive are at an all-time low, following the failure of the five parties to resolve the contentious issue of the country's past, flags, parading, and the legacy of The Troubles. His suggestions have been welcomed in light of the disappointment surrounding recent visits by US Diplomat Richard Haas, whose talks with Northern Irish party leaders failed to result in any lasting agreements.​

Library Rolls Out Unpaid Ambassador Scheme Queen’s University’s library is to recruit a new intake of unpaid ambassadors, to take up their posts this autumn.

Anna Cafolla Contributor The McClay Library has announced plans to recruit library “ambassadors” for the 2014/ 2015 academic year.

The role is detailed on the library’s

blog as a position to assist others with self service facilities and resources, provide guided tours of the building, photocopying and printing, provide "roving, practical support" and to be present as a point of contact within the library. Successful candidates are

expected to attend training sessions in June and September, and from then on to commit to six hours a week for three weeks from 22nd September. In the same blog post, it is highlighted that the role is unpaid, but that it can contribute to the Route

B pathway of the Degree Plus scheme.

Unpaid ambassador schemes such as this have been heavily scrutinised – alongside similar unpaid internships and placements – by those who view such positions as “free labour” and

argue they are inaccessible to those who cannot afford to work for free. A survey conducted by YouGov, alongside the National Union of Students, has shown that up to 10 times the number of those currently aged 18-24 have worked unpaid.

PSNI Face Investigation After Woman Left In Bus Lane The Police Ombudsman is to investigate a video which reportedly shows members of Derry/Londonderry PSNI leaving an unconscious woman in a bus lay-by.

Andrew Doherty Contributor A video appearing to show two police officers dragging a woman to a bus lane during Derry's St Patrick's Day festivities has sparked an investigation by Northern Ireland's

Police Ombudsman. In the video, the woman is seen being dragged into a busy bus lane on John Street, before being left there by the officers.

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable George Hamilton claimed that

the actions of the police involved were "well below the standards we expect from our officers in dealing with vulnerable people whether the vulnerability is due to alcohol or anything else”, in an interview with The Guardian newspaper, adding, “Suspension will be a consid-

eration but the police are awaiting Ombudsman recommendations”.

The man who filmed the incident, Sean McCallion, claims the woman had suffered a head injury resulting from an assault prior to the police arriving. Speaking to the

same newspaper, he commented that police, "Lifted her and dragged her onto the bus lane. They didn't drag her onto footpath which was about three feet away”, claiming, "She could have been run over or anything”.

USI Elects Laura Harmon President 2014/ 2015 The Union of Students Ireland (USI) has elected its first female President in two decades, at 2014 Congress - former UCC student Laura Harmon.

Kylie Noble News Editor @Kylie_Noble94

Laura Harmon, an alumnus of University College Cork, has been elected as the USI President for 2014/ 2015. Harmon - previously USI Vice President for Equality and Citizenship - was elected with a large majority. Three other candidates ran for the position of President: Denise McCarthy USI Deputy President and USI VP for Welfare, Kevin Donoghue USI VP for Border, Midlands and Western Region (BMW) and Stephen Fleming, a student from St Patrick’s College, Maynooth Students’ Union.

Speaking of her plans for the year

ahead, Ms Harmon commented, "It is an absolute honour to be elected as USI's next President in a race with such high calibre opponents. I look forward to working with the incoming team”.

She added the Union will, “Continue to oppose the idea that education is a private commodity. USI will continue to mobilise students in the battle for higher education as a public good [and] will continue to work with trade unions and organizations that have similar values to achieve our collective goals”.

“USI”, she continued, “Has turned a corner and it is my intention to assert the student voice at the

forefront of social justice and social change. We have a proud history on campaigning for equality and we cannot afford to be an insular organization. We will continue to take a holistic approach in how we represent our members both in education and in society”.

The rest of the USI Officer Board 2014/ 2015 consists of Feidhlim Seoighe for Leas Uachtarán Gaeilge (VP for Irish Language), Conor Stitt for VP BMW, Martin Lynch for VP Southern Region, Annie Hoey for VP Equality and Citizenship, Glenn Fitzpatrick for VP Campaigns, and Greg O'Donoghue for VP Welfare.

Nominations will re-open for VP Academic Affairs and Quality Assurance.

USI President Elect Laura Harmon. Photo by Andrea Duncan Photography.

Queen’s was represented at USI Congress 2014 by NUS-USI President Rebecca Hall, Students’ Union President Niall McShane, VP Community

Sarah-Louise Baird, VP Welfare Tiernan McAteer and Students’ Union Councillors Niall Robb and Kathryn Waller.

The Gown

T U E S D AY 8 TH A P R I L 2 0 1 4

07 News Budget Offers Little Aid to Students and Young People George Osborne has released this year’s government budget – but will his proposals have any tangible impact on the lives of students?

Gáibhin McCranaghan Contributor Chanceller of the Exchequer, George Osborne, insisted, “This is a Budget for the makers, the doers and the savers”, upon announcing the annual UK budget on March 20th.

Attempting to raise something of an olive branch to a public who have borne the brunt of three years’ worth of cuts, the Chancellor promised rewards for pensioners, savers, and low-to-middle income earners.

Announcing the budget to the House of Commons, Mr Osborne’s message was, “You have earned it; you have saved it and this Government is on your side”. Yet Labour leader Ed Milliband slammed it as giving with one hand, whilst “taking a lot more” with the other.

Perhaps the most eye-catching proposals for students and young people in the budget are its tax reforms and welfare plans. The income tax threshold was raised to £10,000 – up £3,525 from when the coalition took office – with it set to increase to £10,500 in 2015. It means people will receive around £800 more in income each year, compared to the 2010 allowance.

The extension of the Help to Buy scheme until 2020 marks a further concession, which has been criticised as something of a two edged sword by financial analysts. The government considers it a big help to first-time home buyers (of which graduates constitute a substantial proportion), offering governmentbacked loans of up to 20 percent for buyers looking to purchase newly-

built properties. Yet critics suggest it could spark an unsustainable boom in house prices, defeating the very purpose of the scheme.

Another carrot the Chancellor and Conservative press office are keen to promote is the freeze in spirit duty and cut on beer (standing at 1p a pint). On the surface it might sound like good news - but in the grand scheme of things, does just 1p really add up to being one of the bulwarks of someone’s savings?

On the whole, it seems clear that the real benefits of the budget were targeted towards a much older, more professionalised echelon of the electorate. With the majority of students working part-time and largely on the minimum wage, it is difficult to see any of Mr Osborne’s proposals

Mr Osborne presents the budget. Photo by HM Treasury. translating into meaningful change for our generation. And one can’t help but detect a whiff of populism in Mr Osborne’s suggestions. With the EU elections just around the corner, who’s to say some of these

measures aren’t electoral play? With UKIP soaking up the southern protest vote, one isn’t hard-pressed to surmise that the grey vote is being wooed by the Conservatives.

Parties Debate UK Membership of European Union In the run-up to this year’s European elections, Aaron Rainey considers British parties’ stances on the European Union issue.

Aaron Rainey Contributor The idea of the United Kingdom having a referendum on the European Union (EU) has recently been a major issue within British political debate.

A referendum has the potential to change the fundamental relationship the UK has with Europe - and even raises the possibility of the UK withdrawing completely from the European Union. This exit from Europe is the ambition of so-called “Eurosceptics”, who see Europe as intruding increasingly in our daily lives, and desire a return of powers from Brussels to Westminster. Pro-Europeans see UK withdrawal from the EU as

being catastrophic, and argue it would result in British isolation and damage to the economy, if the Kingdom were to exist outside the European common market for the first time since accession in 1973.

The Liberal Democrats are the most united over the issue of the three main parties. They position themselves as the staunchly pro-European party. The Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg stated in a recent speech that, “The Liberal Democrats are now Britain's only party of in. The only party out there explaining the clear benefits of Britain's place in Europe.

The only party giving people the facts”. The Liberal Democrats have ar-

gued the threat of British withdrawal could result in damaging the economy by driving off possible investment.

The Conservative party appear to be the most eurosceptic of the three main parties. Their leader, David Cameron, has pledged an in/out referendum in 2017 if the Conservative party gain a majority at the 2015 General Election. David Cameron personally believes Britain should remain within the EU, but wants a renegotiation of the relationship between the two entities, and desires powers to be returned to Westminster from Brussels.

Some of David Cameron’s backbench MPs are amongst the most vocal “Eurosceptics” in parliament. Back-

bench MP Mark Reckless suggested that as many as half of the 306-strong Parliamentary party were privately in favour of Britain withdrawing from Europe.

Finally, Labour has the most confusing position on Europe, reflecting the internal split within the party on the issue. Labour leader Ed Miliband has recently said a referendum was “unlikely” if Labour gained a majority in 2015. He also appeared to promote the UK’s continued membership of the European Union, championing the “overwhelmingly economic case”. Yet the party leader - somewhat confusingly - claimed he would “guarantee” an in/out referendum, in the event of

Britain being asked to transfer more powers to Brussels.

Looking outside the three main established parties, the UK Independence Party (UKIP, led by Nigel Farage) offer the staunchest opposition to the European Union in the country.

UKIP chastise the European Union for “eroding British sovereignty” and argue that the union has led to “mass, uncontrolled immigration from Eastern Europe”.

European elections are being held on Thursday May 22nd. It will be interesting to see the results of this election, with many predicting UKIP will top the polls.

Ukraine In Turmoil: What Caused The Chaos?

Amy Slack reports on the fraught political situation facing Ukraine at present - and explains the recent referendum held in Crimea.

Amy Slack Contributor

Over the last few months, Ukraine has undergone major political upheaval, with violence escalating in the capital, Kiev. With so much happening, it can be difficult to keep track of events, let alone understand background context as to why the country is undergoing so much political change. Ukraine has been autonomous since 1991, when 90% of the population voted for independence from the USSR. The current crisis echoes 2004's Orange Revolution, a period of civil unrest and mass protests, after the year's presidential elections were found to have been rigged. Pro-Russian winner Viktor Yanukovych was soon replaced

by opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko. The ousted Mr Yanukovych returned to win the 2010 presidential elections, beating then Prime Minister Tymoshenko. This time, the elections were ruled to be legal by outside observers. Several months later, Mr Yanukovych's government accused Ms Tymoshenko of having criminally exceeded her prime ministerial powers.

She was soon arrested and imprisoned, with many (including the European Court of Human Rights) regarding the accusations as unlawful and politically motivated.

Last November, Mr Yanukovych's government abandoned an important EU-Ukraine trade agreement, instead opting to strengthen ties with Russia.

Over 100,000 Ukrainians protested the move in Kiev. Protests continued from then on, and included occupations of Kiev's Independence Square, City Hall, and other government buildings.

In early 2014, the Ukrainian parliament passed anti-protest laws intended to put an end to the continuing unrest.

Instead, the demonstrations took a deadly turn - as two protesters were fatally shot during police clashes on January 22nd. Soon after, the antiprotest laws were repealed, with an amnesty offered to all protesters on condition they left government property. These measures were rejected by opposition groups. February 20th saw Kiev suffer its worst day of violence in almost 70 years, with at least 88 people

killed. The next day, Mr Yanukovych signed a compromise deal with the opposition, but disappeared soon after.

Within days, an arrest warrant was issued for him. Meanwhile, an interim government was set up with Olexander Turchynov as President, and Ms Tymoshenko was freed from prison.

Partly due to Mr Yanukoych's pro-Russian stance, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared Ukraine's takeover to be an “unconstitutional coup”. Attention soon turned to Crimea, an autonomous Ukrainian region which has particularly strong Russian ties: 58.3% of Crimeans identify themselves as Russian, as opposed to only 24.3% identifying as Ukrainian. On February 28th, supposedly pro-Russian gunmen moved into

Crimea, and stationed themselves outside the region's airports and capital, Simferopol.

The Crimean government held a referendum about the region's future on March 16th. 97% of voters backed a plan to join Russia, and on the 18th, Mr Putin signed a bill which officially incorporated Crimea into Russia. It is the first time since the Second World War that Russia has expanded its territory, and many world leaders have reacted negatively to the move, imposing sanctions on Russia as a result. The situation in Crimea, and Ukraine in general, continues to develop. While it is easy to subscribe to a Western perspective towards events, in reality, the situation is much more complex.

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The Gown

08 Arts GOWN ABOUT TOWN Peter McGoran Arts Editor @PeterMcGoran

Theatre Quietly, fresh off a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, is being brought to the Lyric by the Abbey Theatre from April 8th to 16th. Starring two of Ireland’s best loved actors, Declan Conlon and Patrick O’Kane, this story about truth, forgiveness, violence, and the past is likely to strike a particular chord with Belfast audiences. See the Lyric’s website for details.

Music Armed as always with an eclectic bunch of live acts, the Limelight has lined up British indie-rock musician Miles Kane and uniquely brilliant beatboxer Beardyman on different stages on April 2nd.

Following this, Limelight 1 will play host to Irish rock and roll band The Strypes on the April 10th. Fans of alternative music will rejoice as Louisiana group Neutral Milk Hotel visit the venue next month, for a show on May 15th.

PETER MCGORAN | Gown About Town PETER MCGORAN | Gig of the Month: Alan Irwin’s Party Hard VARIOUS | Reviews

Gig of the Month: Alan Irwin's Party Hard The Gown has its funny bone tickled by Queen’s student – and Station Manager of Queen’s Radio – Alan Irwin.

Peter McGoran Arts Editor @PeterMcGoran

It’s a strange, difficult, and unusual thing to spend a whole hour in a café bemoaning your life: your age, your flaws and all the things you hate – even harder to make it sound funny.

But Alan Irwin’s rollicking Party Hard hit the right note from the start -and had the entire audience in stitches for the full sixty minutes.

Beginning his set in the Black Box’s Green Room by setting up long, drawn-out anecdotes which led to criminally deflating puns, Irwin might have been in danger of making weak comedy - if it wasn’t for how well his jokes were executed, and how much they pleased the crowd. The jokes were made so naturally, the yarns told in such a casual way, that the gig felt less like we were at a comedy night and more that we were listening in on a stranger at a bar relaying tales of his hilarious life.

And the laughter was increased by how outrageous some of the sketches were. World War II history was retold by a passive-aggressive, defeatist Hitler trying to convince everyone that everything was fine; the persona of Scarlett Johansson attempted to resolve the Middle-Eastern conflict and two – yes two – failed marriage proposals informed the set (one literally taking place on stage, during a section in which my +1 for the night found herself participating).

Irwin’s demeanour, his confidence on stage and his ability to just go with the mood of the night would have made him seem at home at somewhere like the Apollo, sharing a stage with some of the heavyweight stand-ups of the day. Even when he found himself backtracking from jokes which didn’t land, he managed to keep his nerve, laughing along with the crowd, and genuinely seemed to enjoy the night as much as we did. I laughed harder than I ever thought I would - Irwin is sure to go down a storm on his next comedy outing here.

The poster for comedian Alan Irwin’s most recent set.

Reviews

The Gown gives you the run down of the music, theatre and cinema to check out over the coming weeks (and what you might want to avoid)!

Film (Columbia Pictures) Under The Skin

Product (Google) Google Chromecast

Gig (Limelight 2) The Jezabels

Album (Fiction) Elbow - The Take Off and Landing of Everything

By Tommy Greene What are the essential ingredients for a successful UK independent horror flick? A disconcerting score that reacts to the story’s events? That’d be a good starting point. A devastatingly attractive and predatory alien monster, with a seemingly endless carnal appetite?

Yes. A bleak satire on modern life and Western culture? Could very well be. A cold, menacing Glaswegian and Highland Scottish setting? Perhaps. Scarlett Johansson? Erm…yeah, sure.

By Freddie Clarke Google Chromecast is proving to be the biggest step forward in student technology since Tinder - and it’s about to revolutionise home media. Released in the UK on March 19th, nearly a year after its US debut, Chromecast is a dongle – about the size of a memory stick – that allows wireless streaming of audio/video content from your smartphone, tablet or laptop. It also supports a small range of native apps including Netflix, Youtube and BBC iPlayer, which have been tailored for “casting” (Googlespeak for streaming).

However, the dongle’s biggest plus is its price - at just £30 direct from the Google Play store, it is likely to be attractive for students. The Youtube app even has a party feature in which different devices can queue videos for the one TV, putting an end to the awkward gathering around laptop screens.

By Anna Cafolla Champs, a folk pop duo consisting of brothers Michael and David Champion, took to the stage to open the proceedings. Their hymn-like vocals and dreamy harmonies recall the likes of Fleet Foxes and Simon and Garfunkel; a sound that wouldn’t be amiss floating over the tents at a festival during high summer. The Jezabels plunged into “The Brink”, a tight harmonious arrangement complemented by Pixiesdriven bass lines. Vocalist Hayley Mary contorted lithely to the music, haunting falsetto floating between our ears.

The set then moved seamlessly from the edgy (“Time”) to “Dance” - a cool synth pop piece and the racing guitarled “Endless Summer”. The obvious connection between the quintet is empowering, and their technical brilliance shines through - cementing the band as a real live performance act.

By Peter McGoran With a three year wait for The Take Off and Landing of Everything, fans were eager to see if Elbow would be able to transfer their innovation and emotion into a new album. It’s undeniable that Elbow have achieved this. The infusion of jazz riffs alongside running motifs of reflection and escape allows the lyrics to be read as poetry – these aren’t just simple songs to which to click your fingers.

A prime example of this is the fourth track, “New York Morning”.

With most band members nearing middle age, Elbow’s changing musical style mirrors the changes that life seems to bring our way.

“The Blanket of Night”, a song brimming with emotion and nostalgia, recalls the band’s history in the North of England. The dramatic orchestral overtone creates a stunning ending to a truly fantastic album.

Literature Far from being an inaccessible affair, “Seamus Heaney: A Commemorative Reading” (which takes place on April 10th at the Ulster Hall) comes at the affordable price of only £3. Bringing together some of the UK and Irelands’ most admired poets (including British Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy), the event is sure to feature some lively and engaging readings - all in celebration of the work of Queen’s University’s own Nobel Laureate. With tickets so cheap, it’s worth giving poetry a chance.

Festivals Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival is back for a fifteenth year, and as ever boasts a remarkable lineup of talks, visual arts, and music – to name but a few areas of interest. This year, the festival will run between May 1st and 11th, with some early highlights including comedy from Simon Amstell and a celebration of 25 years of hiphop from legendary trio De La Soul. Grab tickets while you still can!

Jonathan Glazer’s ambitious third film sees him pull together all this in adapting Michael Faber’s millennial sci-fi novel Under the Skin, with hugely successful results. This film is dark, disquieting, a bit “out there” and genuinely upsetting at some moments. But it’s also filled with human compassion and a powerful emotional intelligence.

The Gown

09 Features

T U E S D AY 8 TH A P R I L 2 0 1 4

JOSH WATTS | Queen’s Students Launch Games Studio JAMES DOUGLAS | Avoid Getting Piste Off While Skiing!

JAMES SMITH | Bitcoin: The Next Dollar?

Queen’s Students Launch Games Studio Over the past six months, a team of Queen’s students have been working hard to develop their own games studio, based in the Students’ Union. With one game released already, they are starting to gain an international following. Team member Josh Watts offers his insight into the company and encourages students to nurture their entrepreneurial side.

Josh Watts Contributor

As a History and Philosophy student, I was told by everyone that I should either apply for teaching, or a PhD. With a background in my own businesses, I went looking for something completely different to what I had previously done. I found Pandara’s Box and started working with the founders, Dicky Li and Conall MacCanna in January. Conall and Dicky are currently on their placement year (as they study the Computer Games Development (MEng) course

at Queen’s). Most students on this course are forced to travel to Dublin, Edinburgh or London for opportunities available to games developers, however Dicky and Conall took matters into their own hands and formed their own company - Pandara’s Box. Dicky, our Creative Director, said he often gets asked what the name means.“To be honest”, he says, “We wanted something original and memorable. In the creative industries you want to come up with something that won’t be forgotten.”

Pandara’s Box had been gaining a social media following before any games were released. Social media has been vital to gaining support: we have found that anyone can develop a game, but it takes entrepreneurial flair to sell the game to a wider audience. Thanks to social media, we have sold our first release, Slimebow (available on all major smartphone stores) to sixteen countries in total.

Conall is our Technical Director, and explained to me the reasons for setting up a new business in Belfast: “There isn’t enough opportunity for

students to go straight from their degree into a local job which would allow creative freedom. We created our own company, based in Belfast to develop the games we wanted”.

With Pandara’s Box, we are creating a new institution at Queen’s, which will provide a platform for games developers to spend their placement years creating their own content.

Furthermore, you don’t have to be a games developer to work with the company. I joined the team as a Business and Project Manager and have been managing the financial,

marketing and sales side of things.

The Students’ Union has been brilliant at supporting us as we have developed our idea into a profitable business. Lynne Weir, the Enterprise and Development Support Officer guided us through the early stages of business development and The Hatch has given us a space to work.

All of these resources are available for free for students to use, and I would encourage any student who has a business idea to contact the Students’ Union for advice. Create your own career and enjoy it.

Avoid Getting Piste Off While Skiing!

Thinking of hitting the slopes this Easter? Check out our guide to having the best skiing experience possible.

James Douglas Assistant News Editor @JCDouglas11

So we’re into the middle of term and Christmas is just a distant memory, but before you heave that heavy sigh, remember this does mean one positive thing: it’s prime time for students to go abroad as the usually expensive ski breaks are just that little bit cheaper. For first-timers, skiing can be daunting. Whether you’re on the slopes of the Alps, or even further afield, there are many things to take into consideration before you don your Dad’s garish salopettes and throw yourself down a slippery mountainside.

You certainly need to be well prepared for every situation, and aware of all the risks. Finding and booking the correct holiday is undoubtedly one of your top priorities, however, at the risk of sounding parental, a look at the more practical side shouldn’t be ignored either. In fact,

according to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s (FCO) website, two out of five winter sports enthusiasts have injured themselves at least once when on a skiing holiday. A worrying statistic and definitely one to avoid being part of.

Top of the practical list, and rightly so, is travel insurance. Whatever package you decide to go with, make sure you’re covered for every eventuality, the FCO has a list online of what to look for in insurance.

A European Health Insurance Card, or EHIC, is also essential. In fact, many travel insurance providers won’t cover you unless you have one.

It negates many of the costs incurred from treatment in the European Economic Area and Switzerland, but will not cover everything. For this reason travel insurance and an EHIC card should not be seen as interchangeable - rather, both are essential. And just because the country is in Europe doesn’t necessarily mean it’s in the

The right equipment can be life-saving for skiers. Photo by Sjoerd van Oosten, from Flickr.

EU. Take Andorra for example, make sure you know before you go!

Something you will definitely require with you when skiing, no matter how silly it might sound, is sun cream! If you’re new to skiing it may surprise you that there’s the possibility of getting a tan while on the slopes, it’s worth remembering that even though it’s cold getting sun burnt is a possibility. A minimum of SPF25 is recommended, as the UV rays are strong.

Bitcoin: The Next Dollar?

James Smith Contributor

The idea for Bitcoin was first published in 2008 under the title, "Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System", by the mysterious "Satoshi Nakamoto" whose identity or identities remain in doubt to this day. The paper sets forth a basic idea for a system in which people can make online payments of electronic cash sent directly from one party to another without going through a financial institution.

It argues that the current system of a trusted third party may work well enough, but that the cost of including the third party as a mediator increases transaction costs, and limits the minimum practical transaction size - thus cutting off the possibility for small, casual transactions. To correct this, it argues for an electronic payment system based on cryptographic proof, allowing any two willing parties to transact directly from each other without the need for a trusted third party - thus reducing costs.

Make sure to invest in – or rent - a good quality helmet: you only have to be up to date with the press to know how important they are, following a spate of recent skiing accidents.

Skiing is an extremely fun way to spend the Easter holidays, but it can be pretty costly if you don’t take the necessary precautions. Make sure to budget for travel insurance before booking your trip. It’s fair to say that an expensive medical bill is a terrible

way to end any trip abroad, especially one that involves winter sports!

You can apply for your free EHIC card at www.ehic.org.uk .

Check out the FCO’s Winter Sports Checklist at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/ file/35555/winter-sports-checklist.pdf .

Finally, follow @FCOtravel on Twitter for region-specific updates, including weather and transport warnings.

It’s the tech-friendly new currency that’s making global waves. But does Bitcoin have the staying power of its physical counterparts?

The system itself seems better designed to protect the seller rather than the buyer, as by its very nature the Bitcoin system does not allow reversals of payments. This is most likely what led the European Union to warn that Bitcoin carries virtually no consumer protections.

Where the real furore and controversy comes into play is with regard to the buying and selling of actual "Bitcoins" (the name given to units of the digital currency). The problem is that these Bitcoins have no intrinsic value - and

so are prone to wild variations in worth. To give an example, at the beginning of 2013, a single Bitcoin was worth just under $20. By January 2014, it would have been worth nearly $800.

Some would argue that the massive fluctuations in value are due to the lack of backing behind the currency (i.e. its not backed by any central bank, state etc) however in our modern, freeflowing capital world this is unlikely.

Money is founded on two things: trust and labour power. And, in this respect, Bitcoins have no more worth than the Dollar or the Euro. As long as

people believe in it, and are willing to exchange labour power for it, then it is technically a real currency. The more likely cause of the crazy highs and lows is that the young currency is ripe for speculators who make millions off its highs and lows.

So what is the future of Bitcoin? The business press seems divided over whether Bitcoin will revolutionise the world or be the biggest ponzi scheme in years, but all seem agreed that Bitcoin poses a tremendous challenge to the financial world as we know it.

T U E S D A Y 8 T H A P R I L 2 0 1 4

The Gown

10 Lifestyle

e

Belfast Street Style

Jade Coat - River Island Shoes - Urban Outfitters

Nico Jacket - River Island Top - Topshop

SIOBHAN SHEPPARD | Belfast Street Style CHANTELLE FRAMPTON | Facebook Philanthropy and No Makeup Selfies MICHAEL GRANT & AMY WOOD| Giving a Spit for Bone Marrow VANESSA TAAFFE | The Year Of Matthew McConaughey

Siobhan Sheppard Contributor

Johnny Jeans - Primark Jacket - River Island

The Gown takes to the streets of Belfast to get the lowdown on the latest in fashion.

Tommy and Paul All Zara and Topman

Fiona Shoes - Dr Martens Jacket - Customised

Facebook Philanthropy and No Makeup Selfies Whatever your thoughts on the trend of “No Makeup Selfies”, the social media craze has raised a staggering amount of money for Cancer charities.

Chantelle Frampton Contributor

When the “No Makeup” hashtag emerged on social media sites, it was met with initial scepticism, as it was seen as another toothless social media trend. However within two days the campaign went viral - and Breast Cancer charities saw a surge in donations, raising over £2 million in just a few days.

The #nomakeupselfie campaign

consists of someone posting a photo with no makeup on, then nominating others to do the same thing.

This “nomination” aspect of the photos is a refreshing change from the recent “Neknomination” craze of recent months; a craze which caused the deaths of a number of young people. The amazing phenomenon of the “No Makeup Selfie” is receiving a massive amount of media coverage for all the right reasons (unlike the previous alcoholrelated nominations).

Kath Abrahams, Director of Engagement and Income Generation at Breakthrough Breast Cancer, stated, “Breast cancer is not yesterday’s problem; every ten minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer. Anything that gets the public behind this important cause is to be celebrated. It isn’t too late to get involved, so go ahead and text PINK to 70300”.

As the campaign continued, we saw celebrities becoming involved - with

stars such as Holly Willoughby, Kym Marsh and Michelle Heaton doing their part for Breast Cancer awareness. Furthermore, Breast Cancer charities aren’t the only ones that have seen a massive surge in donations over the past week; many other Cancer charities have reported higher numbers of people donating.

Despite the undeniably positive effect that the campaign has had, however, a fair few people still

remain sceptical about the “No Makeup Selfie” as they feel that it’s the donation that counts. However, the campaign was started in order to raise awareness of Breast Cancer.

The huge number of donations marks a remarkable outcome for what began as a humble awareness campaign. And not only has the “No Makeup Selfie” had a positive effect on Breast Cancer charities - it has also allowed many girls to confront a fear of going bare-faced.

Giving a Spit for Bone Marrow The Year of Matthew McConaughey?

You don’t have to be a superhero to save someone’s life - and Lucy Francis is proof!

Michael Grant Health Correspondent @mickgrant

Amy Wood Contributor

In August, Queen’s student Lucy Francis donated bone marrow to save the life of a woman diagnosed with Leukemia. She had never met this woman, or had any personal connection with her, so why did she do it? The Gown met with Lucy to find out.

When Lucy began her second year at Queen’s she was passing the Students’ Union and was approached by Belfast Marrow about joining the bone marrow register. Having had no experience of Cancer, Lucy was surprised to find out how a simple spit sample could be analyzed to match her to someone who was in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant.

Belfast Marrow is a student-run branch of the Anthony Nolan charity. They

work to put as many people on the bone marrow register as possible.

Joining the register is as simple as coming along to one of the recruitment events and giving a saliva sample, with up to 1% of the registry selected for donation.

Bone marrow donation isn’t as scary as it sounds, as Lucy was able to tell us – it’s as easy as sitting back and having blood taken while you watch films.

Lucy’s donation journey started at the beginning of June. Stepping off a plane, she received a text telling her she was a match for a very sick woman with Leukemia, in need of a bone marrow transplant. She had mixed feelings of excitement as well as understandable anxiety about what was to come. Following a blood test and a series of injections to tease stem cells out of her bone marrow, she was taken to London on the 12th August 2013 to change someone’s life forever.

When asked her if it was worth it,

Lucy’s reply was poignant: “All I could think the whole time was: what if it was my mum or sister and there was one person who could save them? I would want that one person to step forward and save their life”.

McConaughey captured our hearts after an amazing return to Hollywood - and a clean sweep this awards season.

Vanessa Taaffe Contributor

By coming along to one of Marrow’s recruitment events, you too could be a lifesaver. Marrow recruits 16-30 year olds, all of whom could potentially be a match. More young people joining the register means more people with Blood Cancer can be saved.

Before he burst back onto our screens in 2013, Matthew McConaughey’s big screen successes included flicks like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days starring Kate Hudson and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past with Jennifer Garner, helping establish him as a desirable leading man. Fast-forward to 2012 and McConaughey took on the role of stripperextraordinaire Dallas, in the hugely successful Magic Mike. Before this, Matthew’s other commercial but less buzzed-about successes included The Paperboy and The Lincoln Lawyer. Then, in 2013, he undertook a shocking three stone weight loss.

In Lucy’s own words, “Why wouldn’t you do it?” Three days of Lucy’s life has potentially given someone else a lifetime.

Dallas Buyers Club propelled McConaughey back into the public eye. In it, he played Ron Woodroof, a Texan diagnosed with AIDs who begins

Lucy shared that she thinks about the woman she helped almost everyday and wonders how she is. They have both decided to one day meet one another. Lucy - looking forward to the day – said, “It’s not thanks that I want, but to know how she is and that she is getting better”.

illegally smuggling unapproved drugs into the USA to fight the disease.

McConaughey’s performance earned him numerous awards - including a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Golden Globe and the coveted Best Actor Oscar.

If big screen success wasn’t enough, Matthew McConaughey is currently starring in television’s most talked about show, True Detective. The HBO murder-mystery chronicles McConaughey and Woody Harrelson’s investigation of a ritual murder in the bleak wilds of Louisiana. The transition from big to small screen is only temporary, as McConaughey gears up for his next big budget film. Interstellar, set for a November 2014 release, will see the actor take to the screen with fellow Oscar-winning actresses Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain, directed by Christopher Nolan.

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The Gown

T U E S D AY 8 TH A P R I L 2 0 1 4

Opinion

The following articles are based on the personal beliefs of their authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gown’s editorial team.

“IWD Rally Hijacked by Flag Protesters” An International Women’s Day rally held in front of Belfast City Hall was intended to offer speakers a platform to discuss women’s issues. Meadhbh Bermingham relays her experience as one such speaker.

Meadhbh Bermingham Contributor

decision making procedures regarding the policies that affect them most.

On Saturday March 8th, Belfast marked International Women’s Day in its own unique way. A rally was organised to march from the Art College to City Hall, allowing women’s organisations and feminist groups to visibly raise many of the contemporary issues hindering true financial, social and political equality for women. I was one of the speakers that day at Belfast City Hall, alongside Anna Lo MLA and representatives from Reclaim the Agenda and the Shankill Women’s Centre. I spoke as a member of Out and About, a project within Youth Action’s Gender Equality Unit that works with young women aged 16-25 who identify as other than heterosexual. Out and About works to empower these young women while raising equality and visibility issues around such topics as sexual and mental health, bullying and discrimination, enabling young LGBT women to place their own voices on the public agenda and influence

Unfortunately, rehearsing my speech in front of my friends a few times did not prepare me for the reception I was about to receive. While everyone has their right to protest and the right to have their views heard in a public domain, respect remains essential for those involved, as well as an atmosphere of peaceful recognition within a shared public space. International Women’s Day is a day for women’s voices to be heard - for collective women’s stories to be told on women’s terms - and this was not respected by the small minority of “flag protesters” within the crowd. Anna Lo’s message of the lack of women’s political representation in Northern Ireland was muted by racist and sectarian chants - ignorant and aggressive heckles were shouted while protesters blocked the audience’s access to the sign language interpreter on the stage.

I shouted over loud, misogynistic jeers and through louder, supportive cheers

from the women and allies in the crowd as I spoke about the increased sexual attacks and assaults on young women in the university area and the need for inclusion of lesbian priorities within the women’s sector. Eventually, my speech had to be cut short as I could barely hear myself speak over a middle aged man hurling abusive comments, while International Women’s Day supporters tried to stop protesters flooding the stage.

Ms Bermingham speaks at March’s rally. Photo by Gail Neill.

The events of International Women’s Day 2014 and the images it created reveal the true and complex reality of the feminist struggle within a Northern Ireland where the voices of strong, passionate, feminist activists are often suppressed by the dominating “male, stale and pale” arguments of green and orange. While I believe that powerful messages of equality, accessibility of choice and greater domestic violence awareness were communicated through the rally that day, it is bitterly ironic that the two voices who found themselves

drowning deepest in the sectarian chants were those of LGBT women and women from ethnic minority backgrounds – two groups that have at times been ignored from within the women’s movements themselves.

These voices provide a critical element of the modern feminist movement, challenging normative ideologies of womanhood and the status quo of politics in Northern Ireland, helping to expose the inherent misogyny often found within homophobic policies and the normalization of sexist and

homophobic language that has served to censor young women’s voices.

Women of all backgrounds came together to celebrate the diversity of the growing women’s voice within Northern Ireland on International Women’s Day this year. I hope that this collective strength and solidarity continues to widen the conversation surrounding greater recognition of women’s issues and the continued oppression of minority women’s voices within our decision-making institutions.

“An Antiquated Response to an Alternative Event” Stormont’s recent "Alternative Ms Ulster" event garnered masses of press attention – but was it for all the wrong reasons?

Kaity Hall Contributor Northern Ireland's Green Party this March hosted an “Alternative Ms Ulster” event in Stormont, to mark International Women's Day. The event had 25 women speakers who talked about the changes they wished to see for women in Northern Ireland and beyond. The event has garnered a great deal of recognition in the media in the weeks following - but not over the speeches delivered. It was over the outfit which one speaker wore.

The press reported on the supposed “audacity” of one speaker, performance artist Cara Park, who they deemed to have been “scantily clad”, with broadcaster Stephen Nolan lamenting her actions as a “cheap publicity stunt”. Is the public completely missing the point of “Alternative Ms Ulster” as a result of how the media has reported it?

It isn't often that the word topless becomes something subjective but, having been at the event, I can confirm that I didn't even notice the fact

that, aside from a feather necklace covering her chest, Ms Park was barechested. In order to see that Northern Ireland is pretty far from gender equality, we needn't look further than the very way the event was reported.

Being remembered simply for an outfit epitomises the overt trivializing of what was a radical and progressive event, hell bent on a vision of change for women. We shouldn't let media coverage undermine that vision.

Speakers tackled issues such as the under-representation of women,

ethnic minorities and disabled people in politics, abortion and the idealised image of women in the media. Some argued that Ms Park dressing as she did, in a revered setting such as Stormont, undermined the entire event - and that the media shouldn't be to blame for reporting on this. Perhaps some may find what Ms Park wore offensive. But as Green Party leader Steven Agnew (who sponsored the event) outlined on a BBC Radio Ulster Podcast, “Those minorities that were offended should not dictate how we should act”.

The idea that Ms Park was dressed inappropriately is completely subjective – and the ensuing discussion completely proves her point that, as a woman, she will be judged on the basis of appearance (another speaker wore wellington boots and brought a watering can with her for her speech, to upturn expectations of what is appropriate attire for a woman to wear).

It should be realised that Ms Park and the 24 others who spoke that night had great, considered points to make.

Fixating on dress code shouldn’t come in the way of that.

Sports Queen’s Underdogs Bow Out with Heads High Queen’s AFC put up a good fight in a historic Irish Cup semi final match, but ultimately couldn’t beat a dogged Ballymena United.

Michael Doran Sports Editor @MichaelDoran_

Having made the semi final stages of the Irish Cup for the first time in their 104 year history and with bookies pricing them at 8/1 to win on the day, even the most optimistic of supporters weren’t anticipating a Queen’s AFC win against Premiership opposition Ballymena United at the Oval on

April 6th. Speaking before the game, Queen’s Manager Peter Thompson nonetheless assured supporters, “This is an Irish Cup semi final, we will go for it”.

And go for it they did, from the first whistle. In the opening half hour it was the men in white who had all the play - and showed that the occasion was not going to get to them. However it was minutes later, quite against the

run of play, that Ballymena’s Davidson, his side’s outstanding player, produced a thunderous shot into the far top corner of Brown’s net. The students were unfazed, going straight back on the offensive with the long throws of Culbert and direct wing play repeatedly causing moments of panic for the opposition back four. As Queen’s pushed for an equaliser before the break, a low Prenter shot forced a corner which was initially cleared. However, from

the second cross Culbert’s powerful header produced a save of the highest quality from keeper Shanahan. Had it not been for the Ballymena keeper’s heroics, things might have been so different. Queen’s were unlucky to go in behind at the break, but the Antrim side turned things up a notch in the second half and it didn’t take long for Davidson to get a well taken second.

Queen’s battled well in the second half, with smart saves by Brown and

hard running at midfield, but lacked a cutting edge in the final third. An 89th minute third left the score at 3-0 to Ballymena.

The Queen’s players and management left the pitch to a standing ovation from the fans in the main stand; knowing that their Cup dreams were over but with their heads held high, having outlasted giants like Linfield and Cliftonville in the competition.

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