The Gown Edition October 2015 by The Gown

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1st October 2015

Northern Ireland’s Only Independent Student Newspaper, Established 1955 TRUMPED UP:

LEGEND:

Is Donald Trump Taking Over America?

Tom Hardy Takes On The Notorious Kray Twins

BELFAST’S BEST BITS: A Fresh Guide To The City

PLATFORM: QUB Fossil Free Why QUB Needs to Divest

QUB DISCUSS PLANS TO DEMOLISH SU (Photo, Niamh Mc Govern)

Niall Coleman Deputy Editor

The Gown has learnt of plans by Queen’s University to demolish the current Students’ Union building, to be replaced in the future with an “Integrated Student Centre”. The news comes in response to a Freedom of Information request which was submitted in July 2015. QUB’s Information Compliance Unit released a response to this request, confirming rumours which had circulated around the student body as the academic year 2014/2015 came to a close: “The University has initiated a project, which is very much at

the pre-feasibility stage, to explore the potential development of an Integrated Student Centre on the site of the current Students’ Union”. Former QUBSU Vice President for Welfare Adam McGibbon submitted the request, demanding the University to disclose any documents or information relating to potential future demolition of the current building, as well as all proposals and correspondence regarding a replacement building. Included was the demand for the University to release all documents over the past twelve months which deal with the potential ‘decantation’ of the Students’ Union to alternative premises. However, the University has avoided releasing such information under the protection of Sections 43 and 36 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which provides that information is exempt from disclosure if it would

be likely to “prejudice the commercial interests of any person, including the public authority holding it”. In a statement the University highlighted the financially sensitive nature of the project: “In this instance, some of the information requested relates to financing arrangements, funding and procurement options, in what is an ongoing process for the potential development of an Integrated Student Centre. Disclosure of this information would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of the University itself, in so far as the ability of the University to develop this project, in conjunction with relevant third parties in a cost effective manner, would be negatively affected”. Elaborating upon the provided statement, the University spoke of their caution of where the balance of public interest lies in sharing information surrounding plans for an

Integrated Student Centre. Following discussion with relevant staff, it was determined that Queen’s “weighed the prejudice caused by disclosure of the requested information against the likely benefit to the wider public”. The discussions surrounding the building of an Integrated Student Centre come at a time when the current Students’ Union building continues to decline in condition. The building originally opened in 1967, constructed to accommodate only 6,000 students, and was struggling to function with a huge growth in student population to 25,000 in 2005. Following a £9 million refurbishment, the building reopened in March 2007. Plans to demolish the building to be replaced with what was called “Lanyon II” were denied planning permission years earlier, requiring the University to instead redevelop the existing

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building to meet modern standards. Funding for this facelift largely arose through large loans being taken out by the Union, aided by some donations from the University and its alumni. Student’s concerns at this point surround the possible implications the move could have upon student representation and council democracy. Despite the Union holding the largest membership of any other campus Union in Ireland (totalling 24,560), the independence of the body is severely limited, owing its own existence to University Statutes. This fact means that any amendments to the constitution must, despite any referendum or vote, be approved by the University Senate - as demonstrated early in the year when the Academic Standing Motion was rejected. (Continued on page 4)

THE TEAM

NIAMH MCGOVERN- EDITOR

NIALL COLEMAN- DEPUTY EDITOR

Whatever kind of person finds themselves reading the inside cover of this newspaper, there are probably a number of assumptions we can make about the reader. One - you’ve chosen Queen’s as your new home; a community of thinkers, learners, explorers, friends and happy drinkers. Two - old or young, student or staff, experienced or novice, you picked up this paper hoping it would be worth your time. If you keeping turning the pages, we can only hope it will be. For the political debater, the music lover, the movie buff, the socialite, the environmentalist, the science nerd, the sports fan, or the book lover, we will strive to write something that is worth your time at Queen’s. If you happen to be a certified QUB novice, welcome to the best three to five years of your life. Make friends, go out, do an all-nighter at the library, stress about exams, argue in class, travel Europe, volunteer your skills, take too many photos, and most importantly, accept failure, successfully. Our writing can only hope to become a part of your memories and happiness at Queens - but you make the experience ‘exceptional’.

If you’re reading this, you have made a couple of great decisions, first being that you have chosen Queen’s as your stomping ground for the next few years. Secondly - you have picked up a copy of The Gown, the longest running student publication in the United Kingdom, and the bastion of student journalism in this institution. This is our 61st year in publication, continuing to do what we do best - reporting news that matters to you, debating issues that you care about, and holding your university to account for its actions. My own time as a ‘fresher’ feel like just yesterday. I can still remember the student vultures surrounding the Domino’s distribution points, clutching more slices of pizza and “Please Join Us” fliers than their hands could grab. I remember the awkward small talk with my new, fresh faced classmates, who are now not so fresh, and have sprouted more than one grey hair - the joys of student life. More than anything I remember waltzing into my first lecture, attracting the stares of my fellow students. This wasn’t due to my ravishing good look (for once), but thanks to the massive size stickers and price tags attached to my rear end. Learn from my mistake - look at yourself in the mirror before you go to class! Last, but not least, I would like to welcome each and every one of you to Queen’s University. Work hard, play hard. Enjoy yourself - and write for The Gown!

Enda

Paul Mc Cabe, Inkpot Editor, Features Editor gownfeatures@outlook.com, gown.inkpot@outlook.com

Gaibhin McGranaghan, News Editor gownnews@outlook.com

Niall McKenna, Arts Editor gownarts@outlook.com

Fionn Bridges, Science Editor gownscience@outlook.com

Sean Hutton, Sports Editor gownsports@outlook.com

Hannah Mullan, Lifestyle Editor gownlifestyle@outlook.com

Enda Doherty, Business Editor

Ruth Maxwell, Social Media Editor gownmedia@outlook.com

Ronan Rodgers, Web Design

Vanessa Humphrey, Photographer

Amy-Leigh Shaw, Design Editor gowndesign@outlook.com

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NEWS NI UNIVERSITIES’ FINANCIAL FUTURE UNCERTAIN

The funding of Northern Ireland’s universities has been thrust into precarious uncertainty, following fresh cuts from the Department of Employment and Learning (DEL)’s budget. Up to six courses are expected to be rationalised from the University of Ulster’s curriculum, against the backdrop of an £8.6million cut in its subsidy from DEL – with interior design and its School of Modern Languages at Coleraine confirmed to close down entirely. UU’s funding has been steadily reduced by nearly £20million in the past five years, with an additional £5.5million cut facing it later in the year. Given that the University (QUB included) are reliant on DEL for 40% of their annual funding, such measures are predicted to inflict serious consequences over future student places and jobs in higher education. Amongst the six courses identified; computing, business management and marine science are candidates for rationalisation. Professor Alistair Adair, acting Vice-Chancellor, was unequivocal in citing “…decisions, or the failure to take decisions, at Stormont,” as the root cause of the university’s response to their financial predicament, undermining what Prof. Adair identified as UU’s ability to compete on a national and international level and “giving our students the best student experience.” Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Deirdre Heenan went further, saying that she did not “think the penny

has dropped” with politicians that “universities are a critical factor in growing any economy.” For its part, QUB has warned its faculty that it may be forced to make compulsory redundancies. Despite announcing that it was cutting 236 jobs through a voluntary redundancy scheme in April, the university has confirmed that “the required pay savings... have not been fully achieved,” in a staff email. As a result, staff members who have not already applied for voluntary redundancy have now been invited to apply. They will have until early October to come forward. Speaking to the Assembly earlier this month, DEL Minister Stephen Farry said that the current model for university funding in NI was “untenable,” going on to say that this was the only part of the UK which is actively “disinvesting” in higher education. In response to concerns raised by Sinn Fein’s Phil Flannigan and the TUV’s Jim Allister over further increases in tuition fees, Mr Farry announced that his department will be launching an extensive public consultation. The ‘Big Conversation’ will attempt to reach a consensus as to how Northern Ireland’s universities should be paid for, ending on the 23rd October. Mr Farry states that he plans to present the consultation’s findings to the Assembly later in the autumn term. (Photo, Public Domain)

Gaibhin McGranaghan News Editor

(Continued from page 1) The omission of the term “Union” in the future building’s title could potentially signal an end, or at least dilution of university democracy. According to the Information Compliance Unit, “The University is, however, of the view that, in this particular case, any public interest in its plans for the development of an Integrated Student Centre

is already met by the existing consultation process with the various stakeholders, including the Students’ Union”. Speaking to The Gown, QUBSU President Caoimhe Mac Neill said “Both in my role as VP Equality & Diversity and as President I’ve been very involved in the conversations around a rebuild of the Students’ Union. It is in the very early stages of discussion but my priority will of course be to ensure

that the new Students’ Union is best serving our students.Transparency is of course key and I will communicate to students the progress of the project while also ensuring I am representing their views. The new build offers a real opportunity for improved facilities and improved access to key services that students often need to avail off. I will work with the university to ensure that the building is student focused and providing students with the best facilities and opportunities possible”.

CRISIS AT STORMONT LEAVES YOUNG PEOPLE’S FUTURES HANGING IN BALANCE “Legislative progress in the Assembly has been deadlocked for months over budgetary matters”

Gaibhin McGranaghan News Editor The ongoing impasse at Stormont accumulated an additional layer of complexity this summer, as the two major unionist parties all but resigned from their Executive seats in the wake of allegations over the Provisional IRA’s continued existence. Legislative progress in the Assembly has been deadlocked for months over budgetary matters, following nationalist objections to the Welfare Reform Bill’s contents; proposing similar austerity measures that have been enacted elsewhere in the UK. The bill’s progress through the Assembly was blocked due to an application of a petition of concern made by Sinn Fein and SDLP MLAs in March earlier this year. Since then, relations between the major parties has been particularly tenuous, with Sinn Fein accusing the DUP of scaremongering with its budget forecasts; and the DUP’s Arlene Foster retaliating with criticisms that nationalist demands would result in a £600million gap within the next budget. The crisis’ complexity was further complicated when in August the PSNI claimed members of the Provisional IRA were involved in the murder of Kevin McGuigan Snr, a former member of the organisation. In response, the Ulster Unionists withdrew their Executive minister and announced their intention to form an opposition. Whilst this did not trigger an immediate crisis, it applied pressure on the DUP to follow suit, with DUP leader Peter Robinson warning that

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the continued existence of IRA structures had “pushed devolution to the brink.” DUP Executive ministers, including Mr Robinson as First Minister, all but resigned their own seats, following the defeat of a motion to adjourn the Assembly in September. Sinn Fein said the DUP’s move was a “grave mistake”, with DFM Martin McGuinness accusing the UUP of playing partisan politics with Northern Irelands’s political stability and peace process. Whilst the fullscale consequences of this stalemate have yet to fully manifest, key policy areas – namely higher education – have already begun to convey serious difficulties with their finances. Speaking to the Gown, we asked three of Executive parties’ youth wings their thoughts on what the ongoing situation meant for Northern Ireland’s young people and their future. Mike Shaw, DUP: “The situation should be of grave concern to us all, both in terms of the impasse around welfare reform and in terms of the continued existence of a terrorist organisation linked to an Executivemember party. I’d imagine a lot of young people are apathetic, but the crisis could have negative effects on our generation. If Direct Rule was reintroduced… students could end up paying an extra £6,000 a year, as an example of something young people could lose out on if Stormont were suspended. It’s positive to see discussions around these issues, but it’s important that the blame for the crisis is appropriately attributed… only then will we see some of the damage starting to be repaired. By addressing the continued existence of the IRA, among the other issues contributing to the crisis at

Stormont, we can begin to turn a corner in terms the continued mission of moving Northern Ireland forward.” Joshua Lowry, Young Unionists: “The current crisis has the possibility to have major effects on the education system and tuition fees. The refusal to implement welfare reform has our budget severely limited; we already see the Minister of Employment and Learning launching a consultation on how higher education is funded, we know officials at QUB are planning staff cuts and with the budget due to run out next month, other avenues for income will have to be considered. At the same time, these decisions could be taken out of our hands if questions regarding paramilitaries aren’t answered and the Assembly collapses, the Conservative government will have little issues raising fees, considering they have nothing to lose electorally.” Conal Browne, SDLP Youth: “I feel disheartened by the current political situation. The better future promised in 1998 has been hollowed out by brinkmanship and doublespeak…Eroding the potential of our young people’s lives and opportunities, mismanaging our economy, underinvesting in our graduates, continuing threats of rising tuition fees and cuts in student numbers are symptomatic of the current failure of big players to live up to their mandate to deliver a better future.” Alliance Youth and Sinn Fein Oige Phoblachtach were unavailable for comment.

SCIENCE

MAN FEELS AGAIN WITH PROSTHETIC HAND

Niall McKenna Arts Editor

A major breakthrough has been made in the field of prosthetics; researchers at DARPA, Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency, have developed a prosthetic hand that can ‘feel’ physical sensation and relay that information to the brain. The technology was successfully trialled on a 28 year old man who had been paralysed for over a decade due to spinal cord injury.

This breakthrough means that people in future with paralysed or missing limbs will be able to perform more intricate manoeuvres with their prosthetics, they will be able to actually sense what they are touching. Program manager Justin Sanchez stated that “prosthetic limbs that can be controlled by thoughts are showing great promise, but without feedback from signals traveling back to the brain it can be difficult to achieve the level of control needed to perform precise movements. By wiring a sense of touch from a mechanical hand directly into the brain, this work shows

the potential for seamless bio-technological restoration of near-natural function.” Clinical work involved placing electrodes on the volunteer’s sensory cortex (the area of the brain responsible for identifying tactile sensation) and the motor cortex, which were then connected to a mechanical hand. The hand, developed by APL at John Hopkins University, contained torque sensors that converted the physical feeling of pressure into electrical signals, which were then routed to and interpreted by the brain. In the first series of tests researchers gently touched each of

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the prosthetic fingers while the volunteer was blindfolded. He reported with nearly 100 percent accuracy which mechanical finger was being touched. He was also able to recognise when two fingers were pressed at once, and described it almost as if his other biological hand was being touched. DARPA is also working on Restoring Active Memory program, or RAM, with the intention of helping sufferers of traumatic brain injury or TBI. This condition results in an impaired ability to retrieve old memories or to form and retain new ones, and affects millions of people. This couples with the fact

that few effective therapies exist to tackle the issue, and so the organisation is attempting to develop a neuroprosthetic to bridge lacunas in the brain, with the end goal being to develop a wireless and fully implantable neural interface device. It sounds like the stuff of science-fiction, but these advancements offer many new opportunities to the afflicted, giving them a better chance of returning to functional normal lives. (Photo, DARPA)

FEATURES

TRUMPED UP: IS DONALD TRUMP TAKING OVER AMERICA?

Paul Mc Cabe, Features Editor

With Donald Trump’s sudden and outlandish rise to political popularity in this year’s Republican elections, one cannot help wonder at his ability to tap into the notion of spectacle and pageantry in the current American political stage. Trump seems, at times, less of a presidential candidate and more of the reality show host that we know him to be. With much of the same bravado and arrogance that categorized him in “The

Apprentice” so too has his presidential bid been a whirlwind of bombastic and bizarre rhetoric. Noted early in the race as the frontrunner of the Republican bids it is precisely Trump’s distance from perceived presidential language, and his no nonsense style of debating, that has galvanised many republican supporters to his campaign, instead of to the likes of the more conventional Jeb Bush or Scott Walker. Trump often seems like Teflon and despite his often offensive language and medieval notions of policy nothing seems to faze him. With each debate more focus is drawn to him and his one liners and obfuscating deflections than to his policies or

plans for the presidency, creating a maelstrom of political one-upmanship and digs among candidates. The American political system is, under Trump’s influence, becoming more and more like a reality show with each day of his campaign. Sold as the very definition of the American success story, billionaire Trump connects with the public on the basest level of capitalist dogmas. Who better than the filthy rich to “Make America Great Again!”? Trump can say all he wants without consequence it seems. He can equate vaccines and autism, he can retweet comments calling Megyn Kelly a “bimbo” or “loser”, he can do all this because despite these offenses

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Trump carries an almost comedic quality to his discourse, and an unorthodox rhetoric to his campaigning, one that finds support in many American voters. When a voter looks at his floppy hair, hears his outrageous language, they can’t help but find themselves down the rabbit hole where it seems voting for Trump sounds like a good idea, where it all seems too much fun to ignore. Regardless of your views on his politics, it is undoubtable that Donald Trump had tapped into some powerful kinship with the American public. Something about him just draws voters, and leaves his political rivals in his shadow, and with each debate he gains

further popularity. What we may see now, thanks to Trump, is a new breed of politics, one where spectacle and image are more important than policies, one where the ludicrous and fantastic are rewarded greater than the dour and serious, and one where the billionaire might just become the President of the United States. (Image Source, Getty Images)

JEREMY CORBYN: The Difficult But Necessary Path In Front Of Labour Bradley Allsop, Contributor

Jeremy Corbyn has just won by a landslide larger than that of Labour’s most electorally successful leader (and fierce anti-Corbynite) Tony Blair. To say the bearded socialist is divisive is an understatement: opinion seems to swing between him being almighty panacea to appalling poison for Labour, and now the country too, with few individuals remaining on the fence. Reporting on Corbyn by the press has been equally devoid of nuance. Headlines scream that polls find Corbynites are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories and are out of sync with the public’s policy views, but neglect to mention that the same poll also revealed that demographically Corbyn supporters are very similar to the

general public and the fact that the general public are more likely to describe themselves as left of centre than anything else. The same headlines accepted the low approval ratings of various left-wing policies without question too, despite a considerable polling tradition showing approval is actually much higher. This follows the now established tradition of describing Corbyn’s economics as ‘bonkers’ or ‘radical’, despite actually being mainstream economics, endorsed by many prominent academics and economists. To be sure, Labour is now facing a momentous task on the road to 2020. They must gain 94 seats to win an outright majority, a feat rarely achieved from such a low starting point. Looming boundary changes and the SNP factor will only make this more difficult. Whilst support is higher for Corbinomics than some

polls suggest, by electing Corbyn Labour has undoubtedly chosen the more demanding of the four leadership options. With Corbyn at the reins, Labour must now make the difficult, nuanced, but above all necessary arguments against austerity if it is to win. Investment is a word Labour has yet to embrace. Polls suggest that a pitch that emphasises education and investment goes down well with the public. The biggest single factor that stopped people voting Labour was that they didn’t see them as competent enough on the economy. Far from this meaning having to ape an economic policy that has hampered growth and destroyed lives, it should suggest a bold and alternative economic vision that can actually offer people a better quality of life. Fighting against austerity means fighting

for publically retained services, for struggling families and for social mobility: it is those who think this won’t win votes that are living in a bubble protected from the harsh realities of Tory rule, not the Corbynites. The real path for sustained electoral success for Labour is in directly challenging the straw man the Tories have erected around governmental spending, not caging themselves into a stifling economic paradigm that offers little room for innovation and investment. Expenditure is not a shackle from our recent past, but a bridge to a better future, and done properly is the choice of both a compassionate and a responsible government. It is this most important of fights that Labour must now undertake, and Corbyn might just be the man to help them do it.

THEIR FAILURE, OUR REGRET Ruairi Lavery, Contributor

On September 10th 2015, Stormont finally reached the height of political failure. When Peter Robinson and other DUP Ministers announced that they would be resigning their positions, it initiated a game of ‘pointing fingers’ among parties. Sinn Féin and the DUP blamed each other for the collapse. The UUP blamed both. The SDLP accused Sinn Féin of not taking responsibility for IRA activity and the DUP of being unable to settle the dispute. The Alliance Party chastised most of everybody, demanding peace and cohesion among the leaders of Northern Ireland. And Jim Allister protested the inefficiency of Stormont

as a whole, as he often has before. What are the people of Northern Ireland to make of this experience? According to Gerry Kelly, the acting First Minister, Arlene Foster, is not to be trusted. “She is a Minister and if she’s doing the First Minister’s job, she’s supposed to be serving all the people,” he said on UTV Live Tonight, in response to Ms. Foster’s assertion that she was serving in her capacity as ‘gatekeeper’ to ‘safeguard the Unionist community’. These were controversial comments, as Ms. Foster also highlighted the possibility of “rogue and renegade Sinn Féin and SDLP Ministers” damaging the Executive in the absence of the DUP. For Peter Robinson, this was a serious issue and required Ms. Foster to continue in her role as

Finance Minister, as well as stepping up to the task of acting First Minister simultaneously. “There was the potential for Sinn Féin Ministers and SDLP Ministers to do all sorts of things and we weren’t prepared to let that happen,” he said, explaining his decision to place Ms. Foster into her dual role. “The party needs time and space,” said former Health Minister Simon Hamilton. For many DUP Ministers, it would appear that the murder of Kevin McGuigan was the last straw in their fragile, working relationship with Sinn Féin. “We have a responsibility to sit down and work out all the issues,” said Mr. Kelly at a later time, echoing his party’s desire for talks to happen. Sinn Féin firmly believe that these talks are needed before the

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Executive can resume its role as law-making authority in Stormont, but the DUP refuse to capitulate until their nationalist counterparts reassess their position on IRA activity. It is the people of Northern Ireland who will be relied upon to take action if elections are called. How do they muster the willpower to vote into legislative authority politicians who, to all impressions, do not understand the importance of cooperation? Voters should not have

to cast their ballots for the age-old nationalism versus unionism debacle, but if the whole Executive has failed, then long and careful decision-making appears to be essential if change is to be incurred. The shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland, Mr. Ivan Lewis, said that the political institutions have been left “hanging by a thread once again” and on current evidence, that is a hard statement to refute. (Image source, Getty Images)

A Lost Paradise By Becky Warde Rose’s ruby nails bounce off the keys of her typewriter. Inky black letters appear across the ivory sheets of paper. The mahogany desk is littered with the corpses of inked paper, scrunched up and abandoned. Sighing with frustration she reaches for a fingerbowl of amber liquor, drawing it to her lips. The shape of her full lips press onto the gleaming glass and make their mark. The bronze face of a clock is set in smooth grey marble; it watches her as its shaky hands pass the hour of eleven. Picking up a packet of Lucky Strike she saunters over to the glass doors that run from the ceiling to the floor. The morning sunlight flows into the room through the velvet drapes as Rose steps out onto the balcony. Resting a cigarette between her lips, the tobacco ignites and burns with a soft glow. Inhaling, she tilts her head back as the nicotine and alcohol begin their daily dance throughout her veins. The pavement below is dotted with automobiles and lined with palm trees; the black electric cables seem to melt together in the heat as they fall between the posts. Her eyes follow the crimson cigarette butt as it twirls to its concrete grave below. Inside, her slender hands wrap themselves around the gleaming bottle of liquid. It flows into her glass and in the sunlight it was liquid gold. The cold, stained glass meets her lips again as she tilts her head back, swallowing all of her medicine. Her eyes shut tight as luminous stars spin around the darkness. With a deep breath she steadies herself and shoos the wrinkles from her dress with her warm palms. From the depths of a drawer she pulls out a bunch of papers; “‘A Lost Paradise’ by Marie Crane” is printed boldly across the front. She plucks the page from the pile and tears it violently. Tucking the remaining sheets under her arm she exits her suite briskly and heads for the lobby. The elevator door looming before her is so intricately designed that it resembles a handwoven lace gown; the curves of the black coated metal and the shine of the panes of glass show the finest attention to detail. Rose steps inside and pushes the button engraved with a ‘G’; it glows like a firefly at twilight. Her reflection stares back at her through the whiskey induced haze. Her dim blue eyes are blurry and bloodshot, the red vessels popping against the clean whites. The doors slide graciously open, welcoming her to the lobby. An aging man in a pinstripe suit reads the L.A. Herald whilst sitting in a large velvet arm chair. As Rose reaches the reception she lifts a silver pen and shakily scrawls ‘R. Duboir’ across the top of the first page. She drops the pen like a hot coal and it hits the stone floor with a thud. The man looks up from his newspaper. “Rose dear, I expect you have what you promised?”

I’ve never unavoidably

Metamorphosis By Caolan Quinn Flutura had been asleep for as long as she remembered, wrapped up cosy in her bed. It was tight in the silky sheets that surrounded her, but that was her doing. It was like the memories of her birth that she didn’t know if she dreamed up or not. She thought she could remember the warmth of it all, the feeling of being special and loved. In her childhood, her mother had left her food, and she had crawled to it eagerly, her stomach rumbling and aching for something sweet to fill it. Flutura had devoured the food left to her, and continued on her path with a love of food. Her food sustained her, and she kept eating and eating, growing bigger and longer as each day passed. It was a happy time in her life, filled with exotic foods and smells and a taste of the world around her. But Flutura had grown tired and sleepy. When her belly was full, she wrapped herself up and dove into a deep sleep that lasted for years. Well, for Flutura, it felt like years. That was the heralding of the third stage of her life. She called it the sleeping stage, because that was all Flutura did. She did not eat anymore. The food she had gathered in her belly now sustained her as she slept. Some weird things happened when she slept. Flutura couldn’t explain what exactly, but at times she felt looser, like she fitted into the exact shape of her bed, and at times she felt like she was changing in her sleep. It was a strange era for Flutura, but she was asleep for the whole time. She opened her eyes and yawned, finally the haze of the sleeping stage was lifting off of her. She felt the sheets tear, and a pin-size hole appeared. She felt the whisper of cold air breathe onto her neck and it inspired Flutura to move. Her arms were down by her sides and they were completely stuck. Flutura struggled with the sheets, pushing against them and pulling them to her. She cried out in frustration. She slowly pulled herself up using the silky sheets that vowed to work against her. When her short arms reached the tiny hole, she poked at it until it grew larger and larger. Finally she poked her head out and the air tickled the hairs on her head. She pulled her body out of the sheets and climbed onto the wood she vaguely remembered lying on before her sleeping stage. But now she felt completely different. It was as if the sleeping phase had changed her, she had gone through a metamorphosis. Flutura stood there for a moment, letting the sweat dry from her new body. She felt herself flutter. She jumped off the branch and flew into the sky, her wings spread out in a beautiful shade of blue. Finally Flutura was an adult.

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Charlie had one contact on his mobile phone; his big brother, Thomas. Thomas had given him the phone in secret, their parents didn’t know. Thomas was so cool. He had his own phone and used it all the time. He was always texting, his fingers swishing over the screen so quickly they hardly touched it. Charlie was amazed when Thomas did that. He pleaded with his parents for one of his own, but they said eight was too young. But Thomas knew better. He knew Charlie was old enough. He gave Charlie his old phone that even flipped open and taught him how to text. Of course, Thomas was the only person Charlie knew with a phone. So he only texted Thomas. Every night before he went to bed, Charlie texted his big brother, a few doors away, “Hey big bro!” Sometimes Thomas even texted back! But when Thomas died crashing his car while using his mobile phone, Charlie put his phone away. He didn’t want it anymore. One night, a few days after Thomas died, Charlie was crying in his bed when his cupboard buzzed. Still sniffling, Charlie slumped out of bed and opened a drawer. Inside, the phone had a warning on the screen: LOW BATTERY. Thomas had told him to plug it in now. Of course, Charlie was an old-hand with mobile phones, and had done this before, he recognised the sound of the bleep; the only other sound his phone ever made was a bloop-bleep when he got a message. But Thomas was the only person who knew to send him messages. And they said his phone was broken when he died. So the phone would never make that noise again. Charlie started crying again, and crawled into bed, cradling his phone. He didn’t know why Thomas had crashed his car. Dad had said it was because he wasn’t concentrating, because he was using his phone. But that made no sense? Thomas used his phone all the time, he was a master at it! And one time Mum had even let Charlie have a go with Thomas in the car and he was a master at that too! How could he have crashed? The phone vibrated again in Charlie’s hand, reminding him the battery would run out soon. Charlie opened the phone, and wrote a clumsy, tear stained text. “Hey big bro!” He sent it to Thomas. And waited. His bedroom was dark. There was no noise… Then – Bloop-bleep Charlie ripped the phone opened, stunned. On the screen the message was different now: NEW MESSAGE – THOMAS. Charlie tried to open the message but then – “Charlie! Why aren’t you asleep yet? What is that? Give that here…” But Dad wouldn’t listen. He came from the bright hallway and took the phone. And Charlie was left crying in the dark again. He never knew what Thomas had texted to him. Without a phone to type on, every night, Charlie whispers into the darkness, “hey big bro…”

Reus Incendiorum Colin Rice

liked Sherlock Holmes, not just his unbearably pretentious personality, reminiscent of damp cardboard, nor the dominance he holds over his y likeable pawn Watson. It’s the actual adventures he has. Honestly the man scares me, he’s like some monster from legend, omniscient and arrogant, preaching his knowledge and deduction like a self-proclaimed god.

he man’s dangerous, too smart for his own good, unlikeable in all respect, something that doesn’t faze him. He has no real fear for his own own health or skin. A robotic dictionary that ultimately does good. And that’s terrifying, not just to an average human but to those guilty of a o knows, your local police force might have someone working under them with the exact same qualifications, the Dolly of Deduction, they’re probably called by co-workers, a haughty loner with piercing eyes and a burning stare but someone who never gets it wrong.

ese thoughts blur around my head as I lay on my bed, running my fingers over and over themselves, feeling the chalky soot and soft blistery k have I left anything behind, anything that ties me. A blade of hair as a genetic passport, maybe a parchment of skin, the tiniest fragment, ecreate my face, or maybe a breath on a pane of glass, who knows what that haughty lonesome stranger can know. Maybe a whiff of my BO snagged on a piece of fabric underneath a bed, the dog nosed stranger tracking me down with Scooby Doo senses.

maybe the smell of burning off me will be enough; maybe he’ll smell the pages of “The Complete Sherlock Holmes” in the air. Vaporous words es from the cindering pages might have hooked onto my jumper, a walking novel of guilt. Funny thing is he can probably tell what story was the phases of the moon or something crazy like that. He’ll know I started with “A Study in Scarlet”, funny how I expected the pages to burn t the expectant orange they did burn, poignant really, Holmes’ first adventure. Then followed by “The Sign of Four”, the peg legged criminal’s mb set alight like tindering, spreading through the rest of the story, literature turning into gas no longer immortal, beheaded and burnt as one to a common vampire. The sacrificial pyre to Doyle finished with “The Hound of the Baskervilles”, the supernatural acting as kerosene and to the curtains of the house, to the carpets, the smoke strangling me with watery hands. I backed out of the room, stumbling and coughing, I’d just done, scrambling from the building, leaving behind the thread of hair, the papyrus of skin and the breath on glass and running home to ed, dropping the empty hardback shell of Doyle’s greatest collection, Holmes no longer hiding insides the leather bound prison, free in the form of a monster of black smoke.

Paul Mc Cabe, Inkpot Editor gown.inkpot@outlook.com

Want to write a poem, lyric, short story or flash fiction for the Gown? Email your creative pieces to gown.inkpot@outlook.com.

ARTS

LEGEND; STUDIOCANAL (2015) Niall McKenna Arts Editor

The Kray Twins were the most notorious criminals in British history, their involvement in robbery, extortion and assault making them the leaders of organised crime in London during the 1950’s and 60’s. But what goes up must comes down, and Director Brian Helgeland brings us an enjoyable if slightly bizzarre rendition of their glamourous rise and tumultous fall. If Legend at all lives up to its name, it’s down to Tom Hardy’s

performance. His dual performance of the twins is brilliant and entirely convincing, his Reggie cool and cruel and his Ronnie certifiably insane; we first meet him latter in a psychiatric hospital, describing his desires to steal another man’s sausage. He offers the more absurd of the film’s deadpan humour, the tongue-in-cheek a welcome relief from the extreme (but necessary) violence. Simultaneously, Hardy gives a genuinely frightening performance, constantly simmering with barely-contained rage. These are not

good men, but their one redeeming trait is the loyalty and compassion they show to one another. It is this that is threatened by the arrival of Frances Shea – the uneasy relationship between the three drives the narrative. The script (written by Helgeland) is not entirely immune to cliché but it produces some colourful East End players (like Jack ‘The Hat’ McVitie and Edward ‘Mad Teddy’ Smith) who with Reggie and Ron beat and sway to a heady soundtrack through the era, kicking off with ‘Cissy Strut’ by the Meters and peaking

with Timi Yuro singing in the Flamingo (played by Duffy). We always know how its going to end (even Ron can see it) but while it lasts we can luxuriate in the lavish and the ill-gotten, if we don’t mind getting our hands dirty. Although the relationship between Frances (played by Emily Browing) and Reggie doesn’t entirely engage she generates enough pathos to provide emotion in an otherwise brutal film, loving Reggie but hating the life he leads. Small as his role may be (given that the film is over 2 hours long) David Thewlis as Leslie Payne is great,

a weasel who foolishly attempts to reason with the entirely unreasonable Ronnie. Paul Bettany’s brief appearance is also great, but Christopher Eccleston is underutilised, simply acting as ‘cop’, a thin foil to Reggie’s ‘gangster-prince’. Legend is by no means a perfect biopic, but Tom Hardy’s stellar (and often funny) performance as well as a glitzy setting and a bouncy tone make for a highly enjoyable gangster film. (Photo Source: Hugh Russell)

FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE - HOW BIG TOUR SSE Arena, Belfast; 09/09/2015 Sarah Hughes Contributor

Kicking off her “How Big” tour in the SSE Arena in Belfast Florence and the Machine showed how a grounded woman could perform an astronomical set. The support of the English sister trio The Staves entranced the audience with their opening song “Wisely & Slow”. Their tight and beautifully dissonant harmonies silenced the crowd, leaving them in awe. Their creative use of the loop pedal in their final song expertly primed the crowd for Florence’s set, like the

tuning of an orchestra - we knew something magical was about to happen. With a glittering backdrop, a barefooted Florence burst on the stage wearing a red waistcoat and matching silk trousers, waving her arms in a bat-winged cream blouse. Welch opened with “What The Water Gave Me” from her 2011 album Ceremonials. With impeccable range the song built and built until everyone was jumping to its heavy bass and screaming out the words. Alike to her Glastonbury performance she urged the crowd to be her ‘choir’, and her rhapsodical running from one end of the stage, thrusting the

microphone to her fans meant the crowd were hanging on her every word. With new album hits such as “Ship to Wreck” mixed with the universally crowd-pleasing “Shake It Out” the performer never faltered for a second, keeping the crowds attention throughout. Welch came across as humble and good-natured as she apologised for not playing in Belfast from her last album release but graciously thanked us for making her “feel so at home”. It was obvious she wanted the whole audience to be part of her show, singing ‘Rabbit Heart (Raise it Up)’ she urged the crowd to “climb as high as you can, get on

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each other’s shoulders”. Welch herself ran to the back of the crowd and balanced on top of the metal barriers, whilst still delivering a first rate rendition of the song. Her set was wonderfully balanced with a modest yet powerful brass section, most notably in her tour-titled song, “How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful.” With her graceful backup singers and delicate harp “The Machine” was just as powerful as Welch herself. For her encore she drew the crowd in with her quieter song from the new album “Long and Lost” before an emotional performance of ‘What Kind of Man’ throwing herself across the main barrier and picking out

a (probably bewildered) man from the crowd, grabbing his face and singing the song’s hook, “what kind of man loves like this?” . She ended her set with the majestic ‘Drumming Song’ as she put her whole body into it, convulsing with each beat of the bass drum and closing the show, infecting the crowd with a delirious sense of freedom and unity. Her performance as a whole brought everyone from the arena floor to the stalls on their feet, begging for more, and left the crowd feeling they really were part of something really big and really beautiful.

Gown About Town Theatre Two Sore Legs: 29th September - 3rd October at the Lyric Theatre Gulliver: 29th September - 17th October at the MAC Sunset Boulevard: 7th October - 10th October at the Grand Opera House The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time: 13th October - 17th October at the Grand Opera House The Night Alive: 6th October - 31st October at the Lyric Theatre The Merchant of Venice: 20th October 24th October at the Grand Opera House RSC Live: Henry V - 21st October at the QFT NT Live: Hamlet - 24th October at the QFT Leper & Chip: 27th October - 29th October at the Lyric

Film

Fionn Bridges Contributor

Entering its eighth consecutive year, Culture Night 2015 showcased the diversity and talent within Belfast’s creative scene. An inclusive experience for all ages, Belfast’s denizens flocked to the cathedral quarter for an evening of entertainment, art and food - all free of charge. With over 250 events and over 50,000 attendees, the city centre became a whirlwind of celebrations. Events and entertainment before were generally family orientated, as children raced around without fear of oncoming traffic or a swift telling off. The organisers intended to encourage a younger generation to pick up an art or hobby, as streets and shops were filled with story tellers, interactive music classes and messy paint sessions. Some great events for children included the ‘cinemagic’ of ‘Around the World in 80 Minutes’, ‘The Big Culture Night Drum Circle’, and the ‘KidsSpace’. There was a real feeling of comfort and safety. Stewards and security wandered among the revelers, providing directions and assistance to the lost or

intoxicated, while budding flaneurs were able to truly appreciate the Cathedral Quarter, as the absence of vehicles allowed freer movement. Many events were age inclusive; ‘The Campervan of Dreams’ on North Street allowed attendees of all ages to confess their hopes and dreams, which would then be placed on a giant dream catcher. ‘World peace’ was the most popular choice, a point of humour for staff who claimed they had heard enough of it. Similarly, street countdown was attended by all, and though slow moving, was very enjoyable. The organisers also encouraged a feeling of Northern Irish pride, with traditional Irish music, dance and art presented to the public. The Titanic Pub and Kitchen showcased traditional Irish music and folk, while a marching band of pirates toured the city streets, grooving listeners in tow. Even Tesco got involved, with their Taste Festival advertising a wide range of Northern Irish produce. Belfast’s reputation as a ‘foodie’ city was justified during Culture Night, as countless independent food stalls displayed an enormously delicious variety of cuisine. Social Activism was also prevalent, as Oxfam, the RSPB, men-

tal health organisations, and gender equality groups each had workshops or exhibitions to encourage further open mindedness and goodwill. Belfast’s LGBT community were out in full force, with a ‘Big Fat Gay Wedding’ staged in protest to Stormonts fourth rejection of same-sex marriage earlier this year, and the Mac Culture Night After Party unleashing ‘all things disco, queer and fierce’. As the evening drew on more dancing revelers appeared, with numerous small rigs and stages set up around the city streets. Kent Street Carpark became a mammoth street party, as Belfast’s native DJ’s played a fabulous mix of house and techno, with sprinklings of garage in-between. One of the final tracks of the evening was a remix of The Streets ‘No More Heroes’, with the line ‘we all smile, we all sing’ - capturing the essence of Culture Night. (Photo from the public domain)

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Macbeth: 2nd October at major cinemas The Martian: 2nd October at major cinemas Reservoir Dogs: 4th October at Dublin Road Movie House Sicario - 9th October at major cinemas Monty Python and the Holy Grail - 40th Anniversary - 14th October at the QFT Crimson Peak: 16th October at major cinemas Suffragette: 23rd October at major cinema The Lobster: 23rd October at the QFT Spectre: 23rd October at major cinemas

Gigs More Than Conquerors: 2nd October at Mandela Hall Girls Names & Documenta: 2nd October at the Empire Vengaboys: 5th October at Limelight ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic: 7th October at Limelight Editors: 9th October at Limelight Darwin Deez & Guests: 15th October at Limelight One Direction: 20th October at the Odyssey Father John Misty: 23rd October at Mandela Hall Beach House: 24th October at Mandela Hall

Arts Belfast Comedy Festival: 23rd September - 4th October Jamie Does… 40: 8th October at Black Box Bill Bailey - Limboland: 4th-5th October at the Ulster Hall Cinemagic International TV and Film Festival: 9th October - 4th November Midweek Magic: 14th October at Black Box Chivalry is Dead: 14th-15th October at the MAC Jimeoin - Is It?!: 24th October at the Waterfront

LIFESTYLE

FRESHERS! BELFAST’S BEST BITS A handy guide for fresh new faces at Queen’s

This handy guide will help all you freshers from beyond Belfast understand the ways of the students at Queen’s University. In our ‘start fresh’ guide, we will show you the best food, societies, and of course, bars and clubs - all things student orientated to help you feel a little less lost as you begin to make your home in this small city in Northern Ireland.

A great way to make friends is to sign up to clubs and societies during Queen’s Students’ Fair on Wed 30th September and Thurs 1st October. It has over 190 different clubs and societies, so there really is something for everyone. Traditional Irish sporting clubs are available to everyone, such as Gaelic football, Hurling, or Camogie. Head along to the fair in the Students’ Union and sign up for some of these fantastic clubs. Last but not least...what all Belfast students like to do best: socialise in some of the best bars and clubs in the city. Because Belfast is occupied by a few universities, it is always student orientated. This means that there is a different student night on nearly every day of the week, meaning cheaper entry and prices for all students. Keep an eye out for the events hosted in ‘Mandela Hall’, the Students’ Union’s own club and concert venue. During Freshers’ week, brilliant nights such as the Foam Party take place; a fantastic way to enjoy a cheap night fuelled with fun and foam with your friends. (Source, from top to bottom, tripadvisor.co.uk, discovernorthernireland.com

First up is food, and nothing is more important to the quaint city of Belfast than the unprecedented Ulster fry. Students usually chow down on this after a night out to cure the inevitable hangover. It is not just a fantastic hangover cure, however, it can be eaten for breakfast to keep you fuelled throughout the day, a must-have for the typical Belfast fresher. It consists mainly of potato bread, soda bread, bacon, sausages, beans, mushroom, and egg. Don’t worry if you are a veggie lover, as you can swap the meat for vegetarian friendly options like fried tomato. You can find brilliant Ulster fries in the famous ‘Maggie Mays’ on Botanic, or on the Malone Road, just a 10 minute walk from Elms Village. (Photo source, Maggie May’s, Belfast)

Other popular Belfast student cuisine consists of crisp sandwiches - usually Tayto cheese and onion crisps inside a Belfast bap. Various Irish stews are popular during the colder months, which are available in most restaurants, the best available being ‘French Village’ on Botanic. (Photo Source, seriouseats.com)

A Freshers’ Guide to Basic Cooking The first time away from home is daunting. With parents no longer there to help make meals, the Gown has stepped in to help the hapless freshers with a basic guide on how to cook quick, handy, and (possibly) healthy meals. No fuss, no stress. Eggs are an essential basic ingredient to have in your cupboard. They can be used to make many very quick meals that take a matter of minutes to cook-up, and here is just one to get you started.

Omelette What you will need: · 2 large eggs · a dash of milk · a pinch of salt and pepper · a knob of butter (for the pan) · whisk, or fork · a bowl · a frying pan · a spatula

place the pan upon the cooking hob, on a medium setting, and add the knob of butter

add salt and pepper for seasoning

whilst the butter melts in the pan from the heat, whisk the eggs with the dash of milk

when all the butter has melted in the pan, pour the egg mix into the pan and let it cook

when the mixture is a golden yellow colour, flip it over using the spatula, and cook the other side until the same colour appears

Extra tip Omelettes are versatile and dead handy for breakfast, lunch or a light snack for supper. To beef up the omelette, why not add a handful of cheese, mushrooms or tomatoes? Serve with a side of rocket, or salad of your choice. Dress it up!

OPINION PLATFORM: “WE ARE EXCEPTIONAL? PROVE IT”- FOSSIL FREE QUB

WHAT IS DIVESTMENT? “Do the math!” urges Bill McKibben, father of the global fossil fuel divestment movement. McKibben’s ‘math’, however, is no simple algebra exercise - his call to calculations concern climate science. Bill’s atmospheric arithmetic warns us that we can only burn one fifth of the remaining global fossil fuel reserves if we want to avoid climate change pushing beyond the ‘safe’ 2 degrees celsius limit. McKibben’s ‘math’ is a subject we cannot afford to fail, the old ‘the dog ate my homework’ excuse won’t work. Simply put, to keep the planet liveable, most of the remaining fossil fuels must stay in the ground. The oil must stay in the soil, the coal in the hole, the shale in the grass and the tar sands in the land. Fossil Free QUB is just one of Bill’s many offspring. We formed in early 2015, a group of staff and students seeking to persuade QUB to ‘divest’ from any investments held in companies which extract

and/or produce fossil fuels. This would entail the University selling any fossil fuel investments, and reinvesting those funds elsewhere. We have the support of QUB’s Students Union, which endorsed the campaign in May of this year following a Student’s Council vote. Our support has grown significantly since then, and our voice is getting louder. Campaigns like ours draw inspiration from the movement which targeted companies operating in South Africa during apartheid in the 1980’s - and we are not alone. Hundreds of global, national and local campaigns are arguing for fossil fuel divestment. Thanks to those campaigns, several universities and public institutions have divested. Notable divestors include the British Medical Association, The World Council of Churches, The Guardian Media Group and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. The University of Glasgow became the first university in the United Kingdom to divest from fossil fuels in October 2014. Since then, five other universities have followed. Sadly Maynooth has beaten Queen’s to become the first on the Emerald Isle to divest, but if we’re quick, we can still get ahead of Ulster!

Michael Donaghy, Gown Cartoonist

Stir Fry Another versatile dish is the stir fry, which can be served in numerous ways. It can be served as a vegetarian option, or with prawns and shrimp for those less inclined to chicken or pork. Courtesy of BBC Food Recipes. What you will need: · 1 tablespoon olive oil · 1 garlic clove, chopped roughly · 2 chicken thighs (or breasts) · 1/2 a red pepper (remember to remove the seeds) · 1 tablespoon of soy sauce · 30g of green beans · 100ml chicken stock · 1 nest of egg noodles (cooked usually 2-3mins depending on brand)

DOES QUB INVEST IN FOSSIL FUELS? The University’s investment policy for long term equity investment was last reviewed in October 1998. Interestingly, the policy allows consideration to be given to investments of an ethical nature. Indeed, investment advisors have been advised that “if more than one investment of similar merit is available the manager should opt for the one which has the most ecological or environmental attraction.” We know that Queen’s invests in fossil fuels. How much it invests, and exactly where this money goes, is at this point unclear. QUB’s latest annual accounts show endowment funds of approximately £52m. Despite the fact that this is a huge amount of money, no details are publically available as to where these investments are held. On average, ~4% of UK University endowments are invested in fossil fuels. Based on this information, we can roughly estimate QUB’s fossil fuel investments at £2.1m. I made a Freedom of Information request in late 2014 for details of Queen’s investments. In response to this request, I was politely told to sling my hook. I appealed, and again the University declined. On appeal, Queen’s provided some details as to where the endowments are invested. From this glimpse into the financial bowels of the University, we established that Queen’s invests in the Legal and UK Index Trust, which currently has significant investments in oil and gas - with 5.6% of this fund invested in Shell, and 3.9% in BP. Bingo! The freedom of information appeal is ongoing, and is currently with the Information Commissioner’s Office. We hope for a decision which will force the University

to fully disclose its investments. Its reluctance to do this suggests there may be other horrors to be undiscovered (e.g. arms or tobacco). WHY DIVEST? There are a number of arguments for fossil fuel divestment, the clearest of which is ethical. The extraction, production and use of fossil fuels leads to untold numbers and deaths and illnesses every year. Climate change, caused largely by the burning of fossil fuels threatens health and human rights such as such as the rights to life, food, water and shelter. Furthermore, the consequences of climate change are profoundly unjust; the richest countries in the world have largely caused the problem, whilst it is the world’s poorest who suffer the most from its effects, and this suffering will intensify if we do not mobilise to combat this issue. The ethical logic of fossil fuel divestment is that investing in, and profiting from climate disaster is immoral and unjust. What strengthens our campaign is that we do not make our case on ethical grounds alone. Fossil fuel divestment makes economic sense too. The industry is currently valued on the premise that all of their fossil fuel reserves can be used - but McKibben’s ‘math’ shows this to be a reckless assumption. Sensible action on climate change should limit extraction - meaning that fossil fuel investments risk becoming overvalued ‘stranded assets’. QUB must divest to avoid being caught out, losing the value of its investments when the ‘carbon bubble’ bursts. Ethical and eco-

Heat the oil in a large frying pan or wok and fry the garlic and chicken, until browned all over. Add the pepper to the pan and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes

Stir in the soy sauce, green beans and chicken stock. Continue to stir-fry over a mediumhigh heat for 3-4 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Add in the cooked noodles and stir to combine

nomic arguments aside, this is an issue of consistency for Queen’s. As the marketing slogan daubed over campus boasts, “We are exceptional!”. Queen’s has a rich history in human rights and medical research - yet our rights and health are endangered by the University’s ethically suspect investment strategy. The University is also committed to becoming a ‘low carbon organisation’. The inconsistency between aiming to reduce its own emissions, while simultaneously investing in Shell and BP question the sincerity of its climate commitment. Fossil Free QUB is part of a global campaign with political goals. Divestment won’t solve climate change itself - but it creates the conditions for strong global action and regulation of the fossil fuel industry. Divesting challenges the industry’s legitimacy and opens the political space for strong climate action which tackles the business as usual approach to fossil fuel extraction head-on. As Bill McKibben recently put it: “if the fossil fuel industry fulfills its business plan, the planet will break”. We can’t let this happen: join us to confront and change this business plan. WHAT CAN YOU DO? SIGN OUR PETITION TO FORCE YOUR UNIVERSITY TO REVEAL ITS INVESTMENTS, AND TO DIVEST FROM THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY. ‘LIKE US’ ON FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook. com/FossilFreeQUB FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @FossilFreeQUB

Photo Source: mhpstrong.com

Ben Christman, FFQUB and Contributor

TRAVEL THAILAND Sarah Mullholland Contributor

Last month, I travelled to Thailand with my boyfriend. We booked it through Gap360 so we could met other people and travel with them. We arrived at Bangkok airport and within half an hour of arriving we ended up on Thai TV as we got caught up in a protest (after a 22 hour trip it felt like we hadn’t even left Belfast). Part of our trip was to visit an elephant sanctuary, and as the protest was about the sale of irony, it really shocked us how

anyone could poach such amazing creatures. We trekked a jungle for two days and one night; a dog, with ribs showing, followed us the whole way in the hope that he would get fed - I was not prepared for how poor parts of Thailand were so it really opened my eyes. We ate egg fried rice out of bamboo leaves, washed in rivers, slept with insects and managed to ruin every single item of clothing we wore because of monsoon season but it was the best experience of the trip. When we reached the islands I thought I was in paradise – we spent our last day snorkelling in crystal clear water

followed by a beach party that night. However, Thailand wasn’t all beaches and parties. We visited a school to paint for children and built a small dam to maintain clean drinking water for a village. We visited ancient ruins and temples and were blessed by monks. My top tip is not to bring your boyfriend to a ladyboy show because the ladyboys are gorgeous. Bring toilet roll every wear and be prepared for a hole in the ground. I would go back tomorrow – everything is cheap and Thai people have a wonderful sense of humour. (Photos, Sarah Mullholland)

BERLIN Paul Mc Cabe Contributor

When one thinks of Germany, of Berlin in particular, one finds it hard to exactly pinpoint something that is quintessentially German. That was true at least for me. Beer, bratwurst, lederhosen, these things all appear in Berlin, often in large amounts, but they somehow seem divorced from the city around them. That was perhaps the essence that I got from Berlin, of a disconnection between what the city was and what I thought it would be. Berlin is filled with a plethora of sights to see,

Page 14

all of them beautiful. The Tiergarten is sprawling, like a miniature German forest in the middle of the city. The Brandenburg Gate is wonderfully ornate and imposing. There is a heavy air over the Holocaust Memorial, one that is suitably grim and yet the memorial itself is something to be admired. The strange thing that happens with all these sights is that, unlike cities like Paris or Prague which keep alive their pasts alongside their people, these sights are surrounded by a hulking metropolis that seems at odds with the grandeur of the attractions. The streets are huge thoroughfares filled with shops or dramatic tow-

ers and the people seem buzzing with vibrancy. There is an emphasis within Berlin that I have never encountered before, and that is the emphasis on its own modernity rather than on its history or arts. Berlin prides itself on its state as a ‘new city’, on its attempt to heal itself from its own chequered history. The result is this massive sprawl of modernity, interspersed with golden relics of its past, a model of the ‘new city’ of society, that possibly forgets some of its own history but gains a new foothold in the future of the world. Cabe)

(Photos, Paul Mc

SPORT SPOTLIGHT SPORT: QUB BOXING

Sean Hutton, Sports Editor

As the first semester of the academic year sets upon us, so too does the annual Freshers’ Fair. Many of our students will be attending the event for the first time whilst others return knowing what to expect. Regardless, all students will enter the Fair with that fresh conquering mentality we know. Beyond the freebies, there are numerous clubs and societies to immerse yourself in at Queen’s. This spotlight focuses on Queen’s Boxing Club. First and foremost, Boxing at Queen’s is available to all students. The opportunity to learn and participate in the sport is open to everyone regardless of experi-

ence or skill level. Former President of Queen’s Boxing Club, Rahul Patel, commented: “All are welcome to the club. As long as it’s about the sport and self-improvement rather than being ‘the man’. It’s not about being naturally good. It’s about helping people learn the value of progress and hard work.” Boxing is renowned for its intense and rewarding training. Rahul, an undergraduate studying Physics with Astrophysics, highlighted his personal affair with boxing: “Having lost a lot of weight through boxing I realised how it helped my confidence and I try help other people do the same.” Whether you wish to lose weight, maintain your fitness or even compete; Queen’s Boxing Club provides you with the appropriate foundations to strive toward your goal. Rahul’s approach of prioritis-

ing students is practiced throughout the club and is the ethos which many of the members echo when asked about the general mentality within the club. As a result, it remains a tight knit family. The small unit offers the student the opportunity to flourish in confidence whilst developing skills and enjoying their training. Joe Brannigan, a recent History graduate from Queen’s, commented: “You get fantastic training from experienced coaches. The sparring is good too. I’ve been around a few gyms but Sandy Row is probably the friendliest club I’ve been to.” Not only will you recognise faces around campus as a result of joining QUB Boxing, more importantly you will create solid friendships based on sweat and breathlessness. Queen’s Boxing Club is facilitated in a

nearby boxing gym located less than a five minute walk from the university. The training and conditioning is housed by Sandy Row Boxing Club who have been warmly hospitable to our students for a number of years. oe said: “Beforehand I was edgy about going because of the location of the club compared to where I’m from, but I was immediately overwhelmed by the friendly and neutral nature of the guys running the club.” Trainers such as Ian McSorley teach students the fundamentals of boxing and encourage them to attend club night trainings during the week also. Through joining QUB Boxing you are well and truly immersing yourself in the Belfast experience; a rich component of the university. The prospect to compete is obtainable by all students given that

they are willing to train accordingly. Queen’s Boxers regularly participate in charity events which are devoted to raising awareness and money for children with learning disabilities. Rahul said: “Depending on how many people we have join this year we would love to set up a QUB Fight Night in Mandela Hall. That’s something we’re working towards. It would be great.” If you are interested in joining Queen’s Boxing Club, visit the Facebook page at ‘Queen’s University Belfast Boxing Club’, attend the stall during Fresher’s Fair or feel comfortable enough to approach any of the team members around campus. QUB Boxing Club looks forward to seeing you soon! (Photo Source, QUB Sports)

AN END TO FOOTBALL’S HARD MAN? Diarmuid Cregan Contributor

Sitting to watch the Chelsea-Arsenal match, Diego Costa has stuck again this summer. Costa had rattled another cage and enticed Gabriel Paulista into the first red card of his Arsenal career. Sadly for the rather senile looking 26 year old Chelsea forward, the FA had video evidence proving that Costa, who had not committed an official foul throughout the game, was no Mother Teresa.

Facing a 3 match ban, Premier League fans must now ask, is this the end of ‘the hard man’ in football? Every club has one, when the chips are down, there’s no one you’d rather have than the resident fighter to crunch an opponent, get the fans off their feet and rally the troops. Does victory requires such grit and determination? One need only look to Roy Keane’s self-sacrifice away to Juventus in the semi-finals of the Champions League 16 years ago. After scoring the goal to give United hope in Turin, Captain Keano chopped down Zidane

who was through on goal, earning himself a booking and a suspension from the final. United went onto win 3-2 in the final and the suspended Roy reluctantly took to the pitch to parade with his team mates in his suit. The same can be said of his old enemy Patrick Vieira who for years dominated the middle of the park in Arsenal colours. For the sake of fairness, we include Claude Makélélé and Martin Skrtel in this list. Such men are looked back upon fondly because they were admirable, playing in a position which required brute

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force on occasion. Costa however does not. This “Old Fashioned Number 9” which Chelsea seem to favour is loathed by most other fan-bases (and by some of their own). Costa is yet to score in the league for Chelsea this season but his own personal quest to antagonise other professionals has vastly improved. It was a style brewed in Simeone’s Athletico team before being unleashed onto the Premier League last year, and to great effect with the Brazilian-born Spaniard netting 20 times in the league alone.

However Diego Costa is nothing new to a league which has seen true powerhouse goal scorers in Shearer, Suarez and Henry come and go and so like all things, Costa has simmered. The goals have dried up but the force has not. Rather than work on his finishing however to end this goal drought, Costa prefers to stand on the heels of the defenders who consistently shut him out. When violence becomes the sole talking point of the player every week, not the goals they score, one must question if any of the aforementioned tactics are needed at all.

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