The Gown: 29/10/2013

TheGown.

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

SPECIAL FEATURE: LOYALISTS AGAINST DEMOCRACY

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Tuesday 29th October 2013

BLURRED LINES SPARKS CAMPUS DEBATE

New VC Backs Lift on Fees Cap Fiachra O’ Maolcraoibhe News Editor @fiachra1992

In a recent interview with BBC Radio Ulster, newly appointed President and Vice Chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast, Professor Patrick Johnston, said that he would support lifting the cap on university fees for local students. The cap currently sits at around £3500, however students from England must pay fees of up to £9000 to attend university in Northern Ireland.

Speaking on Radio Ulster’s flagship Good Morning Ulster programme on October 9th, 2013, the incoming Vice Chancellor expressed his belief that it was “absolutely right” that the current cap on fees should be lifted. He added, “Indeed, if we [Queen’s University] are not going to be able to charge more … we’re going to lose our competitive edge”.

Professor Johnston’s remarks follow similar comments made recently by Vice Chancellor of the University of Oxford, Professor Andrew Hamilton. Earlier this month, Professor Hamilton had argued that the cost of fees should reflect the standard

of education students receive from a university. He further stated that he wanted to see the cap on fees in England, which currently stands at £9000, lifted so that universities could charge students fees of as much as £16000 per annum.

The Russell Group of universities – of which Queen’s is a member – later released a statement in support of Professor Hamilton. The body’s Director General, Wendy Piatt, commented, “Professor Hamilton is right to highlight the problem of the cap on tuition fees. Increased income from fees in England has largely offset significant government cuts to public teaching grants. Fees should certainly increase with inflation in 2014-15... Our leading institutions cannot continue to be internationally competitive, provide a firstrate teaching experience and offer generous support to disadvantaged students without access to increased funding”.

Plans to lift the current cap on fees have received much criticism from the student body in Northern Ireland. When asked for comment, Queen’s University issued the following statement:

“The University has consistently maintained that any decisions regarding the funding of higher education, including the level of student fees, are a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive.

Investment in higher education is critical to growth and rebalancing the Northern Ireland economy. A strong higher education sector is crucial to maintaining the competitiveness of Northern Ireland in ensuring that our young people are fully equipped for the high quality jobs required to grow a successful knowledge economy”.

Queen’s University Students’ Union President, Niall McShane, made his position clear to The Gown, stating, “Queen’s Students’ Union is categorically against any increase in tuition fees. I have made this explicitly clear to incoming President and Vice Chancellor Professor Johnston. It is the view of Queen’s Students’ Union that there should be an increase in the level of funding available for Higher Education in Northern Ireland to ensure that all students can benefit from the highest possible quality of education”.

Professor Patrick Johnston. Photo from Queen’s Communications Department.

Tuition fees for Northern Irish students were capped at £3500 after a decision made in 2010 by the Northern Ireland Executive (NIE) not to raise fees to £9000 per year. Despite

NIE’s decision to cap fees in 2010, the future of funding for higher and further education in Northern Ireland - and indeed the rest of the UK – remains uncertain.

Students’ Union’s Bar Sub Rebranded ‘VIP Area’ Kylie Noble News Editor @Kylie_Noble94

Controversy has arisen over the creation of a VIP area in the Students’ Union, on its flagship ‘Connected’ Monday club night. Bar Sub is the area of the venue to have been rebranded as a VIP section. Before the decision came into effect at the beginning of the autumn semester, all students had full access to all venues within the union building (Mandela Hall, the Bunatee Bar and Bar Sub). Since September 2013, only students who are approved to be on a ‘guest list’ in advance of Monday night’s ‘Connected’ are able to access the VIP area.

The change has prompted some strong reactions within the student body. Ciaran Galway, a Master’s student at Queen’s, was so outraged by the rebranding that he launched a petition on online campaigning site Avaaz calling for signatories to help, “Abolish the ‘VIP’ area in Queen’s Students’ Union”.

It was during Freshers’ Fortnight that Mr Galway became aware of the new plans for Bar Sub. “My initial reaction was one of disbelief, then bewilderment, as to why any Students' Union would implement such a divisive structure”, he told The Gown.

Niall McShane, President of QUBSU, commented on the reasoning behind the introduction of a VIP area: "Queen's Students Union aims to provide every Queen's student with top quality venues, entertainment and events throughout the academic year. It was decided during the summer months, based on student feedback, that each Monday at Connected, Bar sub will be a special events venue where all Queen's students are welcome to enjoy and celebrate with friends - whether it’s a birthday party, a win for a sports team, a social for a club or society or just a general get-together, at no extra cost to the normal entry price. Any student can also purchase a pre-sale entry

pass to Connected at SU Reception and save up to £45 for the semester”.

To date Mr Galway’s petition on the VIP area has accumulated 265 signatures, a figure he says he is content with, “considering how many Queen's students are disengaged with Queen's Students' Union and student politics as a whole”.

In presenting a student petition to the QUBSU Executive Management Committee, normal practice deems that student numbers must be provided as well as names. Mr Galway’s petition does not contain student numbers; however, he feels this is only a minor point overshadowed by the message of his campaign,

claiming, “The onus is on the Executive Management Committee to take on board the fact that a significant number of their Union members are opposed to the notion of a 'VIP' area within QUBSU”.

He continues, “The issue is important to me for a number of key reasons, not least the fact that all members of QUBSU are equal. No one individual Queen's student, or group of students is any more or any less important [than another].

I am a proud member of our Union and regard this recent initiative as an embarrassment. I feel that our reputation has been brought into disrepute in the wider student sphere of Ireland and Britain”.

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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 Joanne Savage Gáibhin McGranaghan Tiarnán Ó Muilleoir Niall Coleman Dr David Magee Dr Gareth Mulvenna Brian John Spencer Michael Devlin Michael McAlinden Ryan Muldoon Charles Cook Padraig Regan Hannah Greenfield Ryan McGroarty Phil Green James Smith Amy Slack Liam Cassidy Katie Matthews Alicia Clarke Michaela Clarke Vanessa Taaffe Aisling Gallagher

@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

As is often the case in life – even more pronouncedly so in the bubble of the academic world – the more things seem to change, the more they remain the same. Nowhere is this notion as clearly evident as in the on-going battle surrounding fees. It seems that we can barely make it through a semester at university without the threat of an increase in fees manifesting. Unsurprisingly, this year is no exception – with the Vice Chancellor

of the University of Oxford, the Russell Group, and the newly-appointed Vice Chancellor of this very university lending their backing to the current cap on fees being lifted.

talent, to teach our young minds and ultimately, pass on the skills that will enable future generations to build more prosperous economies and, by connection, societies.

Of course, funding for higher education has to come from somewhere – like the rest of us, the majority of universities have taken a financial hit with the onset of the credit crunch.

But isn’t it completely counterproductive to attempt to generate this funding through increasing fees?

Education is perhaps the only thing that will overcome the devastating global recession in which we find ourselves. It is crucial that we seize the current moment - to foster creative

With this is mind, a rise in fees represents an attack on the values of equality and fairness on which any progressive society should be built. Raising the financial barriers to prospective university students risks exacerbating the existing disparity between rich and poor – and lumping all those who do make the choice to come to university with a lifetime of crippling debt. We live in an era where a third level education is seen as a means to an end. No longer do

we prize learning for its own sake – instead its value is reduced to that of the commercial. Degrees are assessed on the employability of their graduates, not the intellectual fulfilment they’re likely to provide.

As a student body, we’re familiar with the name Mandela – we see it every day, emblazoned across the walls of our Students’ Union building.

Perhaps we might ruminate, then, on a statement attributed to the venue’s namesake: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. What a terrible shame it would be if that weapon were deprived to all those who could not afford it.

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

Hello readership, and welcome to this spooktacular all-hallows column - featuring the mindless shambling hordes of councillors, bloodsucking university officers and baby eating NUS-USI officers. The horror, the horror.

The first subject in our ghoulish gallery of rogues is sabbatical officer [REDACTED]. After making much trumpeting of their role in increasing the electoral turnout last year, turnout has slumped back to the pre-abortion hoo-ha levels, so that must be their fault too. The officer in question decided that absolute silence was the best response to all of the major issues last year, and doubtlessly has lots more interesting

silences planned on both this and the looming fees issue. The above mentioned officer might get called out in the assembly of the damned on November 7th, but I doubt it, as there are still vital womb related issues which will prevent any other meaningful topics being discussed.

However, if he is called out, I’m sure all the other newbie sabbs will blink their Bambi-esque eyes in relief, as there’s no spotlight on them, for now.

Turnout may have slouched, but the number of zealots is just as high as ever, and with the Marie Stopes clinic having passed its first birthday, there's no sign of the trench between the two alliances being

filled in anytime soon. Not that anything Council says matters worth a damn. Last June, one student in particular was officially canned and banned from representing the SU by the former President and the pro-life rabble based on some very shaky interpretation of the statutes.

Over the summer, Council’s decision was overturned, and [REDACTED] will doubtlessly enjoy her moment in the sun at the inaugural meeting of Council on November 7th. And of course, yours truly will be there.

Laughing.

Finally: at this time of year, you're bound to be inundated by the Union and University telling you to be sensible and not get too drunk. Not

for your own sake, of course - they couldn't care less if you're extricated from a ficus in Botanic Gardens smelling of stale beer and dressed as a sexy terrorist, as long as it stays out of the papers. If only that worry about negative press was equally present a little further up the ranks.

Two of the University's high brasses from across the road have had their names splayed across the rags (The Gruaniad and Private-Eye, always worth a look for news you won’t hear elsewhere) for various offenses, so keep an eye open for more news.

The SU MAG probably won't be allowed to keep you in the loop – that is, if it ever makes an appearance anyway - but we sure will.

Votes Drop in Student Council Elections SU Student Council elections have this year witnessed a striking drop in the number of votes, compared with those of last Kylie Noble News Editor @Kylie_Noble94

The elections took place on October 16th and 23rd - for faculty and postgraduate representatives, and open and open first year representatives respectively.

In addition to a decrease in voter turnout, the number of students to run in the elections was also lower than the number who ran last year. 207 candidates stood for council elections this month, down 39 from 2012. This marks a percentage decrease of 16% in the number of candidates. This year, 1765 votes were cast – down 1054 on a figure of 2819 last year. The results therefore represent a 37% decrease in voter turnout between this year and last.

Within the School of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences, there was exceptionally low interest in Student Council. The school is allocated 15 seats on Council, and with only 15 students nominating themselves all

were automatically elected.

Dominic Doherty, Deputy Director of the Student’s Union, nevertheless felt that this year’s turnout and participation were very encouraging: “Last year’s turnout was exceptional, but elections last year coincided with the opening of the Marie Stopes clinic, which resulted in much stronger campaigning on both the pro-life and pro-choice sides. Those who were here last year will cast their minds back to the NUS-USI referendum which was held on the same day as the open elections. These factors resulted in a surge of participation and interest. I feel the story is positive; this year we had almost 2000 students voting which is the same turnout for many Sabbatical Officer elections in Unions throughout Great Britain”.

Connor Daly, Students' Union VP Campaigns and Communications, also felt there were many positives to be taken away from this year’s elections, noting, “I am delighted to say that the past two years have

A visual represntation of the decrease in voter turnout. witnessed record high turnouts in our Student Council voting. In addition to last year’s elections, our Student Officers led two referendum campaigns, on NUS-USI affiliation and our 2012-15 Students’ Union Strategic Plan. This year we continued to promote our elections through all media avenues, and this is where our new website will play a crucial role in coming years. I myself made sure to do lecture shout outs every hour, on the hour during the days of open

nominations and of polling. Unfortunately there was not an election in the Medicine, Health and Life Science constituency, which inevitably took away hundreds of votes which otherwise would have been cast. The number of first-time applicants to Council across all disciplines at Queen’s, however, is very promising, and the Students’ Union will continue to place a high priority on engaging with new and returning students throughout the academic year”.

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JOANNE SAVAGE | Student Council Asked to Vote on ‘Blurred Lines’ Ban THE GOWN | Canadian Senator Condemns Actions of QUB Chancellor GÁIBHIN MCGRANAGHAN | UK Universities Introduce Fingerprint Scans THE GOWN | Poots Hits Back Against NUS-USI Criticisms TIARNÁN Ó MUILLEOIR | Northern Ireland Hit Hardest by Welfare Reforms

News

TARA MCEVOY | An Interview with Lord Mayor Máirtín Ó Muilleoir

QUB Lecturer Doubts Extent of NI Human Trafficking A Queen’s University lecturer, Dr George Ellison, has aired his opinions on human trafficking in Northern Ireland, in an article published in the News Letter.

Claire Murray Contributor

Dr Ellison stated he was doubtful of the intentions of “smaller organisations”, with “anti-trafficking at their core”. In his opinion, such organisations existed to propagate a “myth”.

Democratic Unionist peer Lord Morrow recently proposed a widelydebated human trafficking bill to the Northern Irish Assembly. The ‘Human Trafficking and Exploitation Bill’, which, “contains the provision to criminalise paying for sexual services”, was supported

by First Minister Peter Robinson.

Mr Robinson stated that victims of trafficking were, “exploited in a modern-day version of the slavery of centuries ago”.

Justice Minister David Ford opposed the criminalisation of paying for sexual services. This opposition was reiterated by Dr Ellison, who claimed that the bill, “is premised on what, to my mind, [are] very narrow, under-researched and under-evidenced workings”.

Aisling Gallagher, Women’s Officer of the National Union of Students – Union of Students Ireland (NUSUSI) student movement, was also amongst those to express concerns with the bill. In a press release published on behalf of her organisation, Ms Gallagher stated, “Lord Morrow’s Bill has tried to bring the issue of sex work into dealing with human trafficking. This could send out a very dangerous message to women sex workers in Northern Ireland”.

She continued by saying that this clause – concerning sex work – could, “drive sex work further underground, and could endanger the safety of women working, in addition to potentially making it more difficult to leave the industry if they choose to”, noting, “human trafficking is a serious problem, but it will not be addressed effectively through kneejerk policy responses and flawed legislation”.

Dr Ellison vouched for the existence of only four victims of sex trafficking, and three of forced labour, in Northern Ireland. The Department of Justice’s figures for victims who go through the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) tell a different story. The NRM was first established in 2009 and since

Photo courtesy of Flickr. its establishment has recorded, “a total of a hundred and four referrals of potential victims of human trafficking from Northern Ireland”.

A spokesperson from non-governmental organisation No More Traffik stated that the NRM statistics represent what the PSNI have referred to as, “the tip of the iceberg”.

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The Gown

04 News Student Council Asked to Vote on ‘Blurred Lines’ Ban Following the decision of a number of Students' Unions across the UK to ban the song 'Blurred Lines' from the airwaves, Queen's will soon become the lastest to vote on the issue.

Joanne Savage Contributor

QUBSU’s Vice President Equality and Diversity, Caoimhe MacNeill, has confirmed that the issue of a ban on controversial song ‘Blurred Lines’ is to be brought before Student Council this November. Speaking to The Gown, Ms MacNeill noted that the viability of a ban on the Robin Thicke song had been discussed at a meeting of the Executive Management Committee (EMC) on Wednesday October 23rd,

2013, stating the following: “The Executive Management Committee believes that the Council should determine the Students’ Union’s policy position in relation to this matter. Accordingly, a motion shall be brought forward to the first Statutory Meeting of Council on the 19th November, 2013 in order to enable this”.

Were the proposed ban approved, QUBSU would not be the first Union to remove the song from its airwaves.

The divisive chart topper was first

banned by the Student Council of the University of Edinburgh, who deemed the hit to be offensive to women students. Some have argued that the song’s lyrics suggest that there are ‘blurred lines’ when it comes to what constitutes sexual consent. Coupled with a contentious music video, these ambiguous lyrics have fuelled the argument that the song promotes misogyny.

Universities including Leeds, Derby and the University of West Scotland

followed Edinburgh’s lead in banning the hit from their campuses. Holly O’Connor, President of the University of Derby’s Students’ Union, explained the reasons behind the ban: “All the students I’ve spoken to are really offended by the song because it promotes rape and lad culture”.

The video’s director also defended it, stating that the women it contains were not being objectified and were instead, “subtly ridiculing” the men in the video.

Robin Thicke responded to the criticism surrounding his hit by stating that the song and its lewd video are ironic and intended to, “make fun of the culture of degrading women”.

To read an opinion piece by NUS-USI Women’s Officer Aisling Gallagher on the subject, please turn to Page 15.

The Gown will continue to cover this story as it unfolds.

Canadian Senator Condemns Actions of QUB Chancellor Canadian envoy to the Commonwealth Hugh Segal has spoken out against Queen’s University’s Chancellor, His Excellency Kamalesh Sharma.

The Gown Staff Members @thegownqub

Mr Segal accused Mr Sharma, who also acts as Secretary General of the Commonwealth, of “acting as a shill for the Sri Lankan leadership, defending their every mistake”. His remarks come as the Commonwealth prepares to hold its biennial heads of state meeting in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo next month – despite the fact that the country’s governing regime currently stands accused of a series of human rights abuses.

Clarifying his criticisms in conversation with The Gown, Mr Segal stated, “I like Kamalesh Sharma, have enjoyed working with him and wish him well. One can admire someone without always agreeing with them... Despite Sri Lanka's clear violation of human rights, rule of law and judicial independence standards consolidated in the new Charter of the Commonwealth, little has been done to improve Sri Lanka's performance - a performance severely

criticised by Amnesty International, the UN, the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative and Commonwealth Lawyer and Magistrates’ Societies around the world. Aside from a few Commonwealth symposiums and memoranda, the Secretariat has done little to uphold Commonwealth standards”.

Concerns about Mr Sharma’s record on human rights have previously been raised by members of the student body at Queen’s. In 2009, student anxieties were piqued when a leaked Commonwealth memo appeared to document the Secretary General telling his staff it was not “their job” to speak out against human rights abuses. At a meeting of Student Council on November 25th, 2010, former councillor Lorcan Mullen proposed the following motion, which was seconded by then-sabbatical officer Adam McGibbon: “Council notes with concern media reports illustrating the performance of the Chancellor, in his role as Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations. Reports suggest

that under Mr Sharma’s leadership, the Commonwealth of Nations has adopted an unacceptably equivocal approach to human rights abuses committed by its member states....

Council therefore seeks correspondence from Mr Sharma explaining the actions and omissions of his organisation. If Council does not receive a satisfactory response before the next Statutory Meeting, it will be the policy of the Students’ Union to seek the removal of Mr Sharma as Chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast”.

The motion was passed. Reflecting on its impact, Mr McGibbon told The Gown, “I wrote to [Mr] Sharma representing the Union, as the motion mandated us to do, and asked him to explain himself”. Following the receipt of a response from Mr Sharma deemed by the Council to be unsatisfactory, Mr McGibbon acknowledged that, “I have to say that no further action ended up being taken on this – at the time we were at a fairly critical stage in the successful battle to stop tuition fees, so it fell off the radar a bit”. Mr

University Chancellor Kamalesh Sharma. Photo courstey of Queen’s Communcations Office.

McGibbon does note, however, that, at that point, the motion dictated that Union policy would have been to seek the removal of Mr Sharma.

At this time, the current Student Executive’s stance on Mr Sharma’s position within the university remains unclear.

The Gown has contacted Queen’s University’s Communications Department, President of the Students’ Union Niall McShane, and the Press Office of the Commonwealth seeking comment on this story.

At time of going to press, no reply had been received from any of the aforementioned parties. Find more on this story as it unfolds on thegown.net.

UK Universities Introduce Fingerprint Scanning to Monitor International Student Attendance The National Union of Students has condemned recent actions by universities forcing international students to prove their attendance with fingerprint scans.

Gáibhin McGranaghan Contributor In early October, the University of Sunderland installed fingerprint scanners for lectures in its London campus, replacing traditional pen and paper registers. Ruth Davison, the university’s Student Relations and Compliance Manager, justified the devices’ installation on the grounds of streamlining and modernising procedure; saying that the previous swipe-pass system was subject to easy

abuse. The devices had been installed because the campus was “entirely international” and the Home Office demanded all international students’ attendance be closely monitored.

Ms Davison went on to insist that the fingerprint data collected would be promptly deleted upon students’ graduation from the university. She further added that students were “really comfortable” with the measures taken, and that the Student Council had no issues with them.

But the University of Sunderland’s Students' Union President Carl Taylor begged to disagree. He stated that as far as he knew, the Students’ Union hadn’t been consulted at all on the matter. Mr Taylor made it clear that while he appreciated the concerns of the university and Home Office over the issue of immigration, his “initial instinct” was that other students would see this as a serious “limitation of freedom”. He added that students should have been thoroughly consulted on the matter beforehand,

along with representation from the SU liaising with the university staff.

students in implementing monitoring procedures”.

NUS International Student’s Officer Daniel Stevens echoed these sentiments, criticising the measures as both “incredibly unwelcoming” to international students and as “unfairly targeting one group” out of the whole student body. He added that it was “appalling that certain institutions have required physical checks of any quantity and have discriminated against international

The University of Ulster introduced its scanning devices on its London and Birmingham campuses in January of this year. A spokesman said it had done so to comply with the government’s requirements on monitoring student attendance. Newcastle University had initially planned to introduce biometric scanners, but decided against this after a student vote against the proposal.

The Gown

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News 05 Poots Hits Back Against NUS-USI Criticisms Following NUS-USI President Rebecca Hall’s condemnation of Edwin Poots’ stance on same-sex adoption, The Gown invited the Minister to respond to his critics.

The Gown Staff Members @thegownqub

Ms Hall of NUS-USI last month stated her belief that Mr Poots’ plans to oppose adoption rights for same-sex couples in front of the Supreme Court were an “absolute disgrace”.

Her comments came after the Health Minister announced that he would contest the Court of Appeal’s ruling that prohibiting gay and lesbian couples from adopting is unlawful.

Speaking to The Gown at the annual QUBSU Freshers’ Fair, Mr Poots reaffirmed his position on the issue.

Critics have accused you of wasting public money on a private agenda – how would you respond to such opposition?

We had a survey, in 2006. The Direct Rule Minister held a public consultation and that public consultation indicated that more than 95% of the people opposed same sex adoption.

More importantly, we have a recent survey by Queen’s University Belfast, in association with the British Association of Adoption and Fostering (BAAF). That found that children in adoptive circumstances, 99% of them

found stability. And that is something which is absolutely crucial, children need love but they also need stability. And the survey was run from 2003 and just published [this year]. It identified that the rigorous assessment process we carried out was one of the key elements to actually achieving that. In essence what we have is a system that delivers good adoption practice to young people that needs refinement, needs amendment, needs change to further improve it, but does not need radical upheaval. What we’re about is the rights of the child.

The President of NUS-USI has recently condemned your actions over plans to implement same-sex adoptions in Northern Ireland. Do you feel that your stance on this issue will alienate younger voters?

I don’t think it will. I don’t think that Students’ Union are necessarily speaking on behalf of all students on that issue. Certainly, they will be speaking on behalf of some students, that might be the viewpoint that they have, but you’ve got very widespread and very strong views, and support for the position that I

adopt, and that is something that I’m absolutely confident about. I believe that many, many people support the view that I am taking here in Northern Ireland.

It was last week announced that Mr Poots will not be allowed to challenge the High Court’s ruling that same-sex and unmarried couples should be allowed to adopt. The Supreme Court has refused the request on the grounds that the argument put forward by the Department of Health did not meet their criteria for appeal.

Northern Ireland Hit Hardest by Welfare Reforms A recent study commissioned by the NI Charity and Voluntary Association (NICVA) outlines the impact of the Government’s welfare reforms on the region.

Tiarnán Ó Muilleoir Contributor Following similar research on Scotland and Great Britain as a whole, academics from Sheffield Hallam University have confirmed Northern Ireland as the UK region worst affected by the changes.

The annual loss to the economy is estimated at £750 million, equating to an average of £650 pound for every adult of working age. The latter figures compares to the loss of £480 per head in Scotland, £550 in Wales, and £470 across Great Britain as a whole.

Reliance on benefits to supplement lower average incomes - as well as the relatively high levels of DLA and

incapacity benefit claimants - go some way to explaining the severity of the loss in the region.

While welfare reform will save the UK Treasury almost £19 billion when fully implemented, the report’s findings suggest that it risks consolidating the long-standing economic disparity between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. The report further reveals that three of the top four, and seven of the top twenty UK district areas worst affected by cuts are in Northern Ireland. This distribution is clearly disproportionate, given that NI includes just 26 of over 400 UK districts surveyed.

Belfast is the worst affected major city in the UK, losing approximately

£150 million per annum, while Derry and Strabane are also considerably impacted.

With the most deprived local areas facing the greatest losses, existing regional inequalities are likely to be reinforced. This is underlined by figures showing that the average working-age adult will lose up to £900 annually in Derry, while the equivalent figure is £450 in North Down.Welfare reform will affect students including those in receipt of housing benefit and disabled students claiming Disability Living Allowance.Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland has welcomed the report but suggested the headline £750m figure is misleading - as it relates to controls in future uplifts of individual benefits.

Welfare reform, spearheaded by Iain Duncan Smith and the Department of Work and Pensions, is intended to reduce the public deficit, simplify the benefits system, and ensure that ‘work pays’. The reforms are comprised of controversial measures including more stringent means testing, a freeze on increases in payments above inflation, and the replacement of multiple benefits with a combined payment known as Universal Credit. Charities, trade unions, and the Opposition have voiced their concern over the reforms, with critics alleging that they will serve to deepen poverty and inequality while hindering fragile economic recovery.

Minister McCausland, supported by the Stormont parties as a whole, has been locked in extended nego-

tiations with the Treasury over the implementation of the changes in Northern Ireland.

Concessions on measures such as the so-called ‘Bedroom Tax’ have been granted, and other cuts absorbed within ministry budgets; difficult choices now face the Assembly if they are to avoid a costly £60m fine by the end of the financial year.

Another option - if agreement is not reached between the Assembly and Coalition - would involve London imposing cuts unilaterally. Underlying political divisions within the Assembly parties on the issue may well be exacerbated under pressure, particularly in the wake of a summer of discontent over flags and marches.

An Interview with Lord Mayor Máirtín Ó Muilleoir The Gown catches up with the city’s Lord Mayor Máirtín Ó Muilleoir to discuss his time in office so far, student debt and Belfast’s new horizons.

Tara McEvoy Editor @tara_mcevoy

What do you consider your greatest achievement so far, in your role as Lord Mayor?

I don’t know that I’ve achieved anything yet, but I said on June 3rd that the priority of any Mayor of Belfast is to build the peace – to bring our people, who are sometimes divided, together, and to really put an emphasis on jobs. I have dedicated myself to those key principles since we started.

I was the first Mayor ever to lay out a modest vision of the areas we tackle, so people knew what the main themes would be. We have really tried to stay focused on those themes.

I took the decision to appoint the first ever Belfast Poet Laureate, and have appointed eight chaplains - I think that really acknowledged the work of the faith communities in Belfast.

Why do the arts play such a central role in your vision for

Belfast?

You can’t put a price on the ability of artists to make the soul and heart soar. And some of the greatest explanations of life – why we’re here, what we do – and some of the greatest responses to life have come from our artists. Whatever we do, we should make sure that the arts are nourished and nurtured. As well as that, we had a good run with the bankers and the financiers, we let them try and run the country to the betterment of everyone, and that didn’t work. So I think it is certainly appropriate to say, well, why don’t we let the artists have a bigger say in society?

What are your thoughts on current Government plans to privatise student debt?

I believe that people should be educated depending on their ability to learn, not on their ability to pay. I believe the less tinkering with student debt, student loans, the better. I think the move towards £9000 annual loans is crippling - young people today

don’t realise how horrified those of us who went through Queen’s University in the seventies and early eighties are at seeing them leave university with debt which is bigger than the first mortgage I took on. I would be concerned at any attempt to allow the private sector to start dictating who gets to university and who doesn’t, and how the debt is handled.

As a former student of Queen’s, what advice would you give to current students?

I will say, tongue-in-cheek, don’t study anthropology. No, I think the greatest years of my life were the three years I spent at Queen’s University, despite the darkness in the city at that time. I’ve a real, abiding love for Queen’s – the quad is one of my favourite places in Belfast. Though this may not come as welcome advice, I think people should work hard, focus on education, and later on you’ll realise just how fortunate you are to be a Queen’s man or a Queen’s woman.

Belfast Lord Mayor Máirtín Ó Muilleoir. Photo courtesy of the Lord Mayor’s Office.

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The Gown

06 News Special Feature: Loyalists Against Democracy A parody Facebook page established in the wake of December’s Belfast ‘Flag Protests’, Loyalists Against Democracy has attracted fans and opponents in equal measure - and has been written about in publications from the Daily Mirror to the Sunday Times. In a special feature, The Gown runs an exclusive interview with one of the group’s administrators, and invites commentators to offer their own views on the site shaking up Northern Irish politics.

An Interview with Parody Group Loyalists Against Democracy The Gown speaks with an administrator behind Loyalists Against Democracy – the social media phenomenon which began on Facebook before expanding onto Twitter, and recently gaining its own website. In this exclusive interview, we learn about the group’s ideology, views on sectarianism – and the message they’d like to relay to Stormont.

Niall Coleman Contributor Why have you chosen to utilise parody?

We see the use of satire and parody as a potentially powerful mechanism for change. By reaching as wide an audience as possible by making people laugh, we aim to challenge preconceptions, encourage people to take politics seriously and challenge the current sectarian status quo.

The L.A.D. Facebook site has been shut down on numerous occasions. Can you tell us about this?

Facebook’s systems are designed to

protect users from bullying, harassment etc. Sadly some individuals use these reporting systems as a means to remove something with which they disagree, by mass-reporting the page and triggering Facebook's automated systems.

Loyalists Against Democracy have been said to be sectarian or ‘onesided’ in your approach. What is your response to that?

Absolute b*****ks. We abhor sectarianism and merely highlight and try to shame the sectarian bigots amongst us. All we do is make public the vile hate speech they seek to keep private and they don't like it. LAD is created

and supported by individuals from both so-called 'sides'. A lot of unionists understand and champion our cause.

Those who criticise us in this manner are frankly blinded by their own prejudice and sectarianism.

What do you have to say to our elected MLAs at Stormont?

Resign. With a few notable exceptions our MLAs have let the electorate down. No wonder so few people have registered to vote. It's time for a new generation who will deal with real issues instead of banging on about f***ing flags and marching up and down.

Loyalists Against Democracy Logo.

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.

“Part of the Problem”

Community worker, peace activist and blogger Dr David Magee expresses his views on LAD. When done properly, satire is a powerful (and funny) tool for critique that speaks truth to power. LAD, on the other hand, is about speaking half-truths and having cheap laughs from a position of power, while hiding behind a mask.

critique of capitalism, our education system, sexism, or the crippling affects of cuts in welfare to disadvantaged communities, to name a few.

Interestingly they are also highly selective about what political parties they chose to parody.

LAD often claim they are ‘exposing sectarianism’ through the online shaming of individuals that they decide need shaming. Aside from this not being very democratic (another irony lost on them), I wonder how many of these individuals have been convinced by LAD’s methods and now hold a different world view? Probably not many. In reality, instead of contributing to peace-building, they have succeeded in whipping up sectarian tension in both Loyalist and Republican communities.

Lastly, LAD partake in the utterly deplorable ridiculing of poor literacy levels and educational underachievement. Instead of laughing at people who struggle to read and write LAD could pour their creative energy into setting up or helping out at homework clubs in Loyalist areas where there is educational underachievement, in order to tackle the poor literacy levels they like to highlight.

When you scratch under the thin veneer of parody, LAD’s message is about as sophisticated as a Daily Mail editorial.

For example, they offer no

LAD have become part of the problem. They need to become part of the solution.

That way they could really start to address the problems facing Loyalist communities instead of laughing at them.

“LAD Won’t Fix Anything”

“No Satire, No Hope”

A Visiting Research Fellow at Queen’s, Dr Gareth Mulvenna has previously written for The Guardian on the issues facing Loyalist communities. Here, he offers his opinion on LAD.

In an extract from his Huffington Post blog on LAD, writer, artist and former Gown contributor Brian John Spencer shares his belief that LAD’s brand of satire is a force for political good.

Loyalists Against Democracy may claim to be the creation of a cross-section of our community, including working class Protestants, in an attempt to satirise the perceived revanchist attitude of the protesters, but one wonders what it actually adds to the debate.

Rather than move things forward, this type of parody only serves to reinforce liberal, middle-class, stereotypes of a community which is felt to be holding the ‘peace process’ back.

More out of step with modern society are dissident Republicans yet we rarely see social media being used to the same extent to highlight the ridiculous, but more threatening, nature of their activities.

The Loyalist flag protestors, like the white working class ‘chavs’ which Owen Jones

wrote about in England, are easy meat for those who have a delusional sense that Belfast begins and ends in the Cathedral Quarter. The dissidents are harder to challenge and pose the most severe threat to the peace due to their violent nature.

Flag protestors, particularly the younger ones, should be given the opportunity to be understood – what are their social and economic concerns? Can we educate them about the welfare state and the best aspects of their British culture? That way we can move forward. Laughing and sneering at the Loyalist community won’t fix anything.

We don’t have a political opposition in Northern Ireland.

We have one giant, self-serving, aberrant sectarian mill.

Young people don’t have jobs or a meaningful future, but talking-clock politicians debating the tribal politics of Protestant versus Catholic. A remarkable historical anachronism in these days of enlightenment.

As a young person I ask: How do you build an economy, opportunity and a future on a two-pronged shower of one, barbaric sectarian leaders and two, cultural and economic vandals? Well you can’t. As Fintan O’Toole wrote, “Dumb politics don’t create smart economies.”

You’d think there was no hope for Generation Y in Northern Ireland. Then emerged Loyalists Against Democracy. A social media and online parody group committed to unveiling and assailing naked sectarianism.

Finally Northern Ireland has an opposition. Finally Northern Ireland has a ray of hope that civil society is willing to push back and fight the forces of barbarism.

It’s all so harmless - irony, humour, satire - but all so powerful. All LAD does is hold up a mirror.

And so Northern Ireland needs LAD. Loyalists Against Democracy have done what has long been needed and said what everyone else was thinking and too scared to say - that you cannot behave like a barking-mad pack of ideologues. But if politicians won’t stand up and oppose brutality and barbarism, LAD will. LAD will speak up for the normal people of Northern Ireland. We need them.

The Gown

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07 Arts GOWN ABOUT TOWN Peter McGoran Arts Editor @PeterMcGoran

Festivals Not to be outdone by October’s Belfast Festival, November sees the return of the fourth annual Belfast Music Week which runs from the 11th - 17th.

The highlight will undoubtedly be Van the Man’s free gig at the Waterfront Hall (keep an eye on the Belfast Music Week Facebook page to find out how to apply for tickets).

Other highlights will include a series of special Ulster Hall concerts, showcasing the best in local acoustic, heavy metal and dance music, culminating in a concert from the Ulster Orchestra on Sunday, November 17. Check out the website for more details: http://www. belfastmusic.org/

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PETER MCGORAN | Gown About Town HAYLEY GAULT | An Interview with Lewis Watson CONOR KERR | An Interview with KT Tunstall

An Interview with Lewis Watson

An Interview with KT Tunstall

Indie-pop, self-taught singer-songwriter Lewis Watson speaks to The Gown about touring with Birdy and turning 21.

Ivor Novello-Award winning musician KT Tunstall takes time out of her touring schedule to chat to us about her new album, working with Andrew Bird, and moving into film.

Hayley Gault Music Correspondent @hayleygault1

When did you first get into music?

My family are big fans of music.

Travelling anywhere with my parents we would listen to music like Queen and Bon Jovi. I asked for a guitar on my 16th birthday.

to take my brother to Vegas on his 21st, but I never got the offer!

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

When Birdy asked me to support her on her Australian tour, that was a highlight. It was two weeks on the other side of the world, and she could have just got a local support but she asked me to do it and it meant a lot. We played 3 nights in Sydney opera house and it was just incredible.

Conor Kerr Assistant Arts Editor @CKerr_92

What ideas or themes do you explore on new album Invisible Empire // Crescent Moon? How much of the material was drawn from personal experience?

All of my music has an element of personal experience, but this album particularly so. Mortality, truth, love, re-birth, trust - all the big ones!

that depend on where you’re playing?

I'm loving playing 'Made of Glass', it's a great vocal workout! The whistle solo was performed by Andrew Bird, a great US singer-songwriter, and I really think my whistle is improving after trying to copy it. I also love playing the distorted guitar solo in 'Feel It All'.

Music

Who are your biggest influences?

I would say [earlier] my biggest influence was a guy who's not that well known, Dallas Green. I spent a lot of my time listening to him. He really shaped how I played guitar and how I write, because I taught myself guitar by learning other peoples’ songs.

Unique, haunting and lyrically brilliant, The National are on the UK & Ireland leg of their world tour and will grace The Odyssey on the 9th of November. This concert is absolutely not to be missed.

With your 21st birthday coming up, have you got any plans?

Just to have a day off and spend it with my family I guess. Maybe have a few drinks, but I don't want to go wild because I'll be working the next week. My dad actually offered

Theatre

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)!

Album (EMI) Artic Monkeys - AM

Film (Columbia Pictures) Captain Phillips

Game (Rockstar Games) GTA V

Gig (Limelight 1) Everything Everything

By Michael Devlin So much of this album is Alex Turner and his crew ramping up the sleaze. The seedy lyrics sprawled over twelve tracks deal with a number of issues; namely sex, drunken lust, woozy frustration and sex again. And it’s utterly fantastic.

By Michael McAlinden Some people are saying this is Tom Hanks’ return to form. It’s not clear that he ever left it behind, but regardless, he is well and truly on form in Captain Phillips.

By Ryan Muldoon Five years since the last instalment of the Grand Theft Auto series, the hugely popular game is back. It’s hard to see how it could possibly live up to the hype which preceded its release, but GTA V has actually exceeded expectations - in short, the game is a masterpiece.

By Charles Cook From the moment that Everything Everything step onstage, you can tell they mean business. Quirky synth-pop songs with names like ‘Photoshop Handsome’ and ‘NASA Is On Your Side’ have lured in a cohort of hipster-teen fans.

From October 31 – 10 of November, Adrian Dunbar will play Brendan Behan in Brendan at the Chelsea, a warm and funny drama based on an Irish national treasure.

The Lyric Theatre production opened at the Naughton Studio in 2011 to great acclaim, and is being revived for a limited run.

Following on from the success of Planet Belfast, Tinderbox returns to the MAC this season with Summertime - a dark, bold new play from the awardwinning David Ireland.

Film From the 1st of November onwards you’ll be able to see Philomena at Movie House Cinemas. Already receiving critical acclaim, it tells the story of a journalist who picks up the story of a woman’s search for her son – after he’s taken from her when she’s forced to live in a convent.

‘Do I Wanna Know’ opens what is a truly terrific album, and its 70’s rock riff and grinding groove instantly make it a classic. ‘R U Mine’ likewise has drums shattering and dirty guitars wailing all the while. The Josh Homme influence is apparent just as much as Turner’s recent affinity for 90’s hip hop. ‘No 1 Party Anthem’ is a graceful hangover hit, while ‘One For The Road’ is another fine account of drunken after-party antics that would strike a chord with many of the nation’s student population. ‘Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High’ is the album’s masterpiece though; a masterful beat. The album that is sure to elevate Arctic Monkeys from sound of the moment to sound of the generation.

Finally, any plans to come to Belfast?

I'd love to! We have a couple of times in the past few years. Hopefully we will be coming back to Ireland soon. I'm a big Guinness drinker! Well...I don't have a problem, but I'm a big fan and the best Guinness is in Ireland. So hopefully soon!

Lewis Watson is currently recording his first full-length album, due for release early next year.

Despite certain objections from the actual crew of the ship regarding the facts as they appear in the film, it is based on a true story. The long and short of it is as follows: Richard Phillips, played by Hanks, is captaining a boat through Somalian waters when pirates attack and board the ship.

Not your funny, Disney-approved Johnny Depp pirates, though the audience could have done with a laugh like that. These pirates are more believable, more psychotic, and overall more cinematic. The film deals with the pirates taking over the ship, their violent negotiations with the heroic Captain Phillips, and the subsequent kidnapping of Hanks’ character.

Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable film, well worth the watch. But go see it in the cinema. For God’s sake don’t pirate it.

What’s the one song from Invisible Empire // Crescent Moon of which you’re proudest?

I'm proud of different songs for different reasons, but 'Crescent Moon' is special for me as it was very liberating to write and record. It has unusual form, constantly shifting arrangements, and the whole thing speaks to me regardless of whether there are words being sung or not.

Do you have a favourite song or songs to play live, or does

The attention to detail is jaw-droppingly stunning, made even more impressive given the size of the in-game map. For the first time in the series, the game offers three main characters instead of just one, with players switching back and forward between each at will – keeping things fresh and exciting. Exceptional voicing and character animations, along with sharp, funny dialogue, bring the game’s three main protagonists to life.

And, as always with the GTA series, the game’s soundtrack consists of a great collection of songs from numerous genres and eras that will suit nearly every fan’s music tastes.

Do you have any projects planned after all the touring?

Absolutely. I have written a film script with my friend and producer of 'Tiger Suit', Jim Abbiss, for which we will also do the soundtrack.

Ridiculous amounts of fun.

KT Tunstall plays Belfast’s Ulster Hall on October 31st.

For more interviews and reviews please visit our website: www.thegown.net

Melancholic opening tune ‘Undrowned’ highlights the impressive musical prowess of lead vocalist Jonathan Higgs, but the first real treat comes only two songs later: an infallible rendition of smash-hit ‘MY KZ UR BF’ sets the room awash with shaking hips and waving hands.

Unfortunately it’s downhill from there; the audience seems apathetic to the subsequent lesser-known material, despite flawless deliveries from the band.

The night, however, ends on a high: fair-weather-fans who have left to go to the bar return for the encore and hear Everything Everything’s highestcharting singles ‘Cough Cough’ and ‘Weights’ played back-to-back, making for a truly beautiful moment.

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The Gown

BELFAST FESTIVAL The Royal Ulster Academy 132nd Annual Exhibition Padraig Regan explores a mixed bag of visual art - and investigates a controversial omission - with the opening of the 132nd annual RUA Exhibition.

Padraig Regan Contributor The RUA is essentially the fun greataunt of Northern Irish art: pleasant, sometimes entertaining but, at heart, still stuck somewhere in the mid20th Century (and not the exciting mid-20th century of Beat poetry and abstract expressionism, but the dour, grey old days of ration books and rosaries).

That does not, however, make for a bad exhibition. The Academy’s aesthetic is summed up in the first room by three large scale works by RUA stalwarts Colin Davidson, Basil Blackshaw and Brian Ballard. All three are

impressive; Ballard’s colours are as vibrant as ever and Blackshaw’s use of torn up paper to suggest the petals of a flower is a nice touch. However there is a nagging sense that we have seen all this before.

Your eye is instead drawn to a few works of real strangeness in this room. Graham Gingle’s ‘Angel’, a sculpture made of Perspex and bits of pigeon is the most difficult image to wipe from your head. Mathieu Goussin and Hortense Le Calvez’s underwater photograph of what appears to be a wig attached to a submarine is both comic and troubling at the same time.

The way in which the exhibition is curated gives an unfair advantage to the sculptures. They are presented in the centre of the room and each is given enough space for the viewer to properly engage with it. There are a number of comic works here. Rita Duffy (who brilliantly curated the RUA exhibition a few years ago) is represented with a genuinely funny work, ‘B-Special Honey’, a stack of honey jars with specially designed labels that extoll the peace-keeping benefits of honey. The sculptor who steals the show is Brendan Jamison who is represented by two works: a scale model of 10 Downing Street in sugar, and an interactive performance work where the viewer is invited

to build their own sculptures out of sugar cubes.

Near the end of the exhibition there is a plaque explaining the Academy’s decision not to show ‘The Kiss’ by local artist Paul Walls. This painting of two women engaged in the titular act was removed from the exhibition because it was of “an adult nature” and they feared it would make the show less accessible to younger viewers; a decision some interpreted (before they saw the image) as possibly homophobic. They were right to remove it. It’s essentially the centrefold of Nuts rendered in various shades of mushroom grey. However, the reason the Academy gave for

removing it is a cop-out. It should not have been shown because it is a male (possibly even misogynistic) fantasy of lesbianism, not because they think it might be too much for parents to explain to their kids.

It is a conservatism that mires the whole exhibition; the best works have to struggle for attention with countless paintings whose main purpose seems to be simple decoration. On the whole, this is not a bad exhibition, but it is too safe.

The RUA Annual Exhibition runs at the Ulster Museum until January 5th, 2014.

An Interview with Simon Singh On the eve of his Belfast Festival talk, we caught up with author and mathematician Simon Singh to chat about his new book The Simpsons and their Mathematical Secrets.

Hannah Greenfield Contributor

that, in the past, people haven’t seen - and then tried to explain them.

What is it about The Simpsons that lends itself to showcasing mathematical concepts?

You noticed examples of Fermat’s Last Theorem cropping up in The Simpsons - do any further concepts appear?

It’s completely unique. The thing about The Simpsons is that its writers are mathematicians. Not just one but several of the writers are mathematicians, and by that I mean people who have Master’s degrees and PhDs - have written research papers and so on. They have then take that interest in maths and put it into their comedy writing, so there are concrete examples of mathematics in The Simpsons. Therefore, it’s not that it lends itself to mathematics; it’s that it puts the mathematics on a plate and says here it is. If you can see it, do you understand what it means? I looked for all those things

There’s Euler’s equation, which is maybe the most beautiful equation in mathematics. It appears in an episode called ‘Money Bart’. There’s another equation - P versus NP - which appears in a segment called ‘Homer Cubed’. There’s a twisted version of Pythagoras’ theorem, which appears in an episode - there are many, many more examples. Also, as many of the writers of The Simpsons also write for Futurama, similarly there are many mathematical concepts here. You would expect there to be science because it’s a science fiction series, but there is also lots of maths.

An Interview with Bernard MacLaverty Tara McEvoy Editor @tara_mcevoy

Are you glad to be back in Belfast for the festival?

It’s where I was brought up. It’s my home-place. To be invited to come and talk to an audience in Belfast is always a pleasure.

You now live in Glasgow: are there parallels to be drawn be-

tween your new city and Belfast?

When I first went to Scotland, I lived in Edinburgh – I felt it was a very British city. Lots of white moustaches and regimental ties. Then I came to Glasgow and found it a very Irish city.

It’s like Liverpool – it has that westcoast way of talking, way of joking.

And it’s all a hangover from the days of the famine, when people came to that side of the country to get something to eat – and stayed.

Your book brings life to a subject that lots of people may find intimidating - or perhaps uninteresting. How do you help people engage with maths?

The book works in two ways. It works for people who love maths and The Simpsons. It’s aimed at nerds and geeks and mathematicians. It also works for people who are curious about maths but a little bit scared by it. I think it works for them as it’s a way for people to engage with mathematics through a TV show that they love. So it’s a genuine introduction for the curious, and a fun adventure for those who are already more knowledgeable.

There are ideas in this book that are more complicated than ideas I talk about in Fermat’s Last Theorem, but there are also concepts like Pi which are concepts which you would have studied throughout school.

The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets by Simon Singh. Photo courtesy of Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s.

Queen's alumnus Bernard MacLaverty speaks to The Gown about returning to his old hometown, overcoming sectarianism in his work, and his university days.

You’ve previously spoken about Belfast’s green/ orange divide: have you made a conscious effort to resist such simplistic binaries in your work?

I hope that my material doesn’t just have to be based in the Troubles.

It has human beings in it. Many journalists came in and saw what was happening and wrote fiction about it.

I was living here and it’s a different thing to be writing fiction out of your own experience. I’m delighted that it’s all... well it’s not all over, but at least they stopped killing each other.

But there’s a residual hatred. I would

like to see it disappearing. I don’t know how to do it – writers can’t solve problems, they can only reflect them.

Can you tell us about being part of legendary literary collective The Group while at Queen’s?

Nobody knew the talent that was in The Group at that time. There were very many people doing lots of good work. I was trying to write prose; there weren’t many who were doing that at the time. I remember trying to write poems but they were awful.

I’d given Seamus Heaney some poet-

ry, and he said, stick to the stories. So I stuck to the stories. If it was just a general Monday night, you’d sit there on the sofa, take pot shots or admire.

You’d drink coffee. The only thing they didn’t allow was drink. That was a good idea – drink and criticism don’t go together. People strike each other! The meetings would be different on the night you were on – you’d be sh*t scared! Maybe once in twenty groups, you’d go along, have all your stuff printed out. You’d be nervous, wonder if people were reacting truthfully to it. But it was a learning process – a good learning process.

The Gown

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AT QUEEN’s Efterklang at the Elmwood Hall Belfest at the QFT Danish rock group Efterklang graced an Elmwood Hall stage as part of the festival’s Music Club initiative. Here, we explore what all the fuss was about. the crowd engaged between songs.

White lights blink along with Tatu Rönkkö's snare drum and the ethereal quiver of Katinka Fogh Vindelev soars above everything.

Efterklang. Photo courtesy of Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s.

Ryan McGroarty Contributor Tonight the Elmwood Hall is dimly lit and dusky; tables, chairs and candlelight set the scene. It’s a fine place to be. Conor O'Brien sings softly over the PA and as his voice swells, so too does the attendance.

Arborist walk out to a full room and begin. We're hooked from the first kick-drumbeat of ‘Incalculable Things’. Frontman Mark McCambridge has surrounded himself with a local dream-team of musicians to

flesh out his melancholic folk-tinged pop. Or as the man himself puts it, “Here's another song about death and murder”. It's well-received and talked about long after the band has left.

At 9pm, the child-like percussion of ‘Hollow Mountain’ starts. The members of Efterklang appear incrementally. Frontman Casper Clausen, last to the stage, is immaculate - clad in cream, pompadour and bow-tie galore. Displaying a mixture of charm and self-deprecation, he jokes throughout the show, keeping

The next song, ‘Sedna’, is wonderful.

It's sombre and effortless, driven by the cool-as-hell melodic bass-line of Rasmus Stolberg. This band is the sum of many disparate parts and their strength is in unifying these factors. Tonight they are playing the role of rock band. Their sound is at once intelligent and dream-like - but it's not ever only indie, classical, or sound art. It can be all these things at once. The band reimagine songs from 2012's Piramida - a collection of brave, elegant pop inspired by the barren isolation of former Soviet mining town Pyramiden.

Their music has an ability to transport one from uncertainty to reassurance in four minutes. It is gratifying and wholly inclusive. So much so, that, for the final encore, the band invite the audience onstage to dance, sing and clap along with them. Their unpredictability, both sonically and theatrically, is their real strength.

The Conquest of Happiness Acclaimed Bosnian artist Haris Pascovic directs this powerful performance: using theatre, music, spoken word and dance to recreate some of the worst atrocities of the 20th Century.

Peter McGoran Arts Editor @PeterMcGoran

Drawing upon the writings of philosopher Bertrand Russell, The Conquest of Happiness is audacious, unabashed and utterly forthright in what it has to say.

We begin outside massive former shipbuilding complex T13, where a Palestinian family causally play football and hang clothes outside a small cabin. We aren’t told what is going on or what to expect. After five minutes or so a massive CAT digger emerges, with an Israeli man hanging off its side. The Palestinians are roughly shooed to the side, dramatic music playing loudly over the speakers. The digger pulls out and is driven off without a word being said.

This is the theme for tonight’s production. The great conflicts, tragedies and injustices of the last 100 years are held up for us to view. Someone raises a banner say-

ing “Civil Rights Association” and we realise the participants in the play have now become Civil Rights protestors. We are lead inside the complex where masked snipers, army trucks and green camouflage mesh let us know where we are.

We are in Derry on Sunday January 30th, 1972.

Ultimately, Pascovic’s take on these events is likely to be controversial (especially regarding Bloody Sunday and the events in the Middle

Focus on Swiss Film: Jump

This month the QFT hosted a season of classic and modern noir films as part of the festival – including Sundance Award winning Brick, which we went along to check out.

The film theatre also teamed up with the Embassy of Switzerland to ‘Focus on Swiss Film’.

Bindu de Stoppani’s directorial debut, Jump one of the highlights of the season - is here reviewed.

Phil Green Contributor

Michael McAlinden Contributor

This entertaining tribute to noir’s past has compellingly updated the genre with its setting - a contemporary high school. Some might imagine Brick a modern remake of Alan Parker’s somewhat cringeworthy Bugsy Malone. The former, however, manages to capture both the smoky elegance of classic film noir and the pubescent teenage slang typical of high school drama.

The film is a revelation for a first time director, with an engaging, accessible story and some first class visual flair and cinematography. Set in an Italian-speaking mountainside village in Switzerland, the film follows a twenty-something Londoner as she explores this village - where she grew up - and discovers more about her family than she had expected.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Brendan is simply superb. His wry smile and hard-boiled delivery allow him to portray both the high school geek and the fearsome, 'badass' detective.

The story, as I have said, is easy to follow, and you may be able to predict where the film is heading, but that’s not the point of this type of cinema. The director herself has noted that she made this film in keeping with her own cinematic preferences - namely for feel good movies - and this movie certainly delivers on that promise. Taking artistic cues from Amélie and the like, Jump is an easygoing, old fashioned look at a beautiful part of the world.

Indeed, the visuals may be the most captivating part of the film, with the Swiss region of Ticino almost assuming the role of a character.

The variation between classical noirs and this spin on the genre is most obvious when Brendan is dragged into the principal’s office after a fight takes place. He’s questioned by his headmaster in the way a police lieutenant would grill his detective: "If you’ve got something on me, write me up”, Brendan grumbles.

"See you at the parent conference”.

From here we move to Chile under the brutal dictatorship of Pinochet, to Vietnam in the midst of war, to Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge, to Auschwitz, then Yugoslavia, then Rwanda. Each harrowing scene is recreated shockingly.

Perhaps the childish musicality of the ending is a symbol of the innocence and the desire to be creative found in every human spirit; whether it works as a suitable ending - given all that has gone before - I’m not so sure.

My Noir: Belfast Brick

The Conquest of Happiness. Photo Courtesy of Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s.

East) but whatever basis he uses, he does so to show that human beings can rise above conflict. In his argument for an end to human destruction, he has created an incredibly significant work of art.

Such ‘teen’ dramas have always been uniquely capable of boldly adult themes, and it is possible to read Brick as a stylized dream-metaphor for the pain of young love and the agony of drug abuse. But it is difficult to care much about these strangely contrived characters.

Ultimately, Brick is more a smart experimentation in style than a film that tugs at the heartstrings, albeit an experiment maintained with great enthusiasm and consistency.

Further coverage of the festival - including interviews with Gary Younge and Kirmen Uribe - is available on www.thegown.net: check it out!

The Gown

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JAMES SMITH | The Past: Who Owns It? AMY SLACK | Malala Yousafzai: One Girl Among Many CLAIRE MURRAY | Has The Nobel Peace Prize Lost Its Signifcance?

LIAM CASSIDY | Lad Culture Makes a Move into the Mainstream JAMES DOUGLAS, MICHAEL GRANT | What’s Happening on Capitol Hill?

Features

MATTHEW LAW | Grunge VS The Government

The Past: Who Owns It? As Richard Haass continues talks with NI Politicians in the hopes of aiding the progress of peace, James Smith examines the important role the past has to play in shaping our future.

James Smith Contributor George Orwell once wrote that, "He who controls the past controls the future. He who controls the present controls the past”.

While he was referring to a dystopian future in which the past was re-written almost daily to conform with the all-powerful party line, the fact remains that control over the ‘official’ narrative of a given country’s history is still prized. No wonder, then, that here in Northern Ireland, where our politicians

would happily fight over a packet of mouldy custard creams, the battle lines are well drawn out - and the war for control of history is already an established fact.

Both ‘sides’ of the sectarian divide have their own ideas about what Northern Ireland's past is - recent scuffles over parades, flags and, perhaps most palpably, the collapse of the Maze Peace Centre have brought these divisions to light.

With recent events culminating in the arrival of American diplomat Richard Haas to Northern Ireland, we’re finally facing the issue of our

history. A former US envoy to the region, he has been deployed to lead cross-party talks on advancing peace in the province.

As usual the truth resists simplicity, and it’s unlikely any real consensus will be reached on these issues by Mr Haas’ Christmas deadline. (Incidentally, why are deadlines always struck at Christmas? Don't these people watch films? Don't they know how terribly unlucky it is to say it'll be over by Christmas?).

It mightn’t be an easy conversation, but the past cannot be white-

Malala Yousafzai: One Girl Among Many In the build-up to the announcement of the recipient of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, the world’s media was focused on Malala Yousafzai. Although she didn’t win, we examine the factors that make Malala one of the most inspirational leaders of our generation.

By telling the world what was going on in the Swat Valley, Malala had made herself both a champion for education and a target for the Taliban.

Malala Yousafzai. Photo by United

Amy Slack Contributor It came as a surprise to many to find that the 16 year old Pakistani activist had lost out on winning the Nobel Peace Prize, after the incredible year she has had. Only last October, Malala was fighting for her life, having been shot in the head by the Taliban.

Why? For speaking out against the Taliban’s occupation of the Swat Valley, her homeland. In 2008, aged only 11, Malala began to blog for BBC Urdu about her experiences under Taliban occupation. She discussed her experiences and fears, as schools were closed and girls’ education was banned. She also spoke of her hope for Swat’s future, as well as her desire to study.

On the 9th of October last year, aged 15, Malala was shot as she travelled home from school with her friends.

She was rushed to hospital where she underwent emergency surgery.

To relieve swelling on her brain, doctors had to remove part of her skull.

Despite her life-saving operation, Malala was still unconscious and in a critical condition. Needing intensive aftercare, she was flown to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, where she then spent several months recovering.

In February 2013, international media watched as Malala finally left hospital. Unable to return to Pakistan for fear of further attacks, the Yousafzai family remained in Birmingham, and in March, Malala began attending Edgebaston High School.

No-one would have blamed Malala for having shied away from activism after such an ordeal. Yet, rather than be silenced, she used her attack to bring yet more attention to the issues she found important. On the 5th April, she launched the Malala Fund, a charity dedicated to girls’ education.

Its first target was to send 40 girls to school, with the aim to eventually educate 40 million.

Then, on the 12th July this year, Malala celebrated her 16th birthday by addressing a specially convened youth assembly at UN headquarters. In her first public speech since the shooting, she described how the attack only made her more convinced of her need to act: “So here I stand, one girl among many. I speak, not for myself, but for all girls and boys. I raise up my voice – not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard”.

Malala’s activism over the last few months has indeed given voice to the state of global education today. Recent studies by Unicef and Global Partnership found that a staggering 57 million children of primary school age are currently out of school. Girls make up the majority of this number, with 31 million going uneducated. These statistics, along with the fact that women make up nearly two-thirds of the world’s illiterate, have motivated Malala to speak up.

Last month, Malala was awarded the International Children’s Peace Prize, in recognition of both her courage when speaking out about the Taliban occupation of the Swat Valley and her continued efforts in bringing education issues to the forefront of global discussion. While she did not win the Nobel Peace Prize, it is clear that Malala Yousafzai will continue as an international symbol of peace, education, and women’s rights for many years to come.

Stormont Parliament Buildings. Photo from Wikipedia. washed, buried or told emotionlessly. It’s too dangerous a weapon to just ignore. We can’t stand back and hope future generations will right

our wrongs – our history has to be faced by us, here and now.

Has The Nobel Peace Prize Lost Its Significance?

It may be seen as a benchmark for those working towards world peace – but does the Nobel Peace Prize still have any meaning?

Claire Murray Contributor Since the inception of the Nobel Peace Prize, debate has ensued following the annual decision of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. The winner, known as the Nobel Laureate, is awarded a $1.2 million award, a diploma, and a medal. Amidst other Nobel Prizes in the fields of Medicine, Physics, Chemistry and Literature, the Peace Prize never fails to invite controversy.

The Nobel Peace Prize was founded by the chemist, innovator and engineer Alfred Nobel, who somewhat ironically invented dynamite and had established 90 armament factories by his death in 1896, despite his support of pacifism. The final prize described in Alfred Nobel’s will was the Nobel Peace Prize which was to be awarded, “to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses”. Throughout the prize’s history, it has been awarded to a range of individuals working towards different visions of peace, and the committee appear to appreciate all individuals who strive to promote peace in any context.

Yet in 2012, complaints from a Norwegian peace researcher resulted in an

official investigation into the decisions made by Nobel Peace Prize officials.

It was believed that Nobel Laureates such as US President Barrack Obama (2009) had not met the requirements stated in Nobel’s will. Obama’s campaign for military action in Syria has caused many people to question the validity of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Although unprecedented, if it was discovered that Nobel Peace Prize officials had strayed from Alfred Nobel’s stated wishes, award decisions going back three years could be suspended.

The Stockholm County Administrative Board’s ability to investigate and rebuke decisions made by Nobel Peace Prize officials aim to ensure the validity of the Peace Prize.

The 2013 Nobel Peace Prize was controversially awarded to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons “for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons”.

Alfred Nobel said “I intend to leave, after my death, a large fund for the promotion of the peace idea, but I am sceptical as to its results”. The intent behind the prize is undeniably honourable, but the list of recent winners suggests that it may be at risk of becoming too politically-motivated - instead of truly honouring those attempting to bring peace to the world in which we live.

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The Gown

12 Features Lad Culture Makes a Move into the Mainstream As ‘lad culture’ becomes ever more ingrained on university campuses, Liam Cassidy reports on the social media platforms aiding a new dawn of sexism.

Liam Cassidy Contributor ‘Lad culture’ is slowly seeping into the university experiences of many students at Queen's. Previously, this culture existed on the fringes - but is now turning into a regular part of student life.

Casual sexism and the objectification of women is prevalent amongst those immersed in socalled ‘lad culture’, with little regard for the impact these practises may have on individuals. Most of

the controversial behaviour takes place on the pages of Facebook.

You may argue that those who do not wish to be exposed to such sexism could easily boycott this offensive material.

But it becomes hard to boycott when it moves onto the streets and into the bars.

The rapid expansion of the culture is evidenced by the popularity of the Holyland LAD Facebook page, a localised page based on the activities of ‘lads’ in the Holylands area

of South Belfast. A nod to how the page has taken off, Holyland LAD has begun recruiting PR workers for future events.

lar updates on ‘walks of shame’ in the Holylands – a humiliating campaign targeted almost exclusively at women.

Those in charge of such pages argue that they enhance the university experience for their subscribers. However, the casual sexism that takes place on these Facebook pages is a high price to pay for the ‘enhancement’ of some students’ experiences. There is solid evidence of sexism to be found on the Holyland LAD page in particular. The page posts regu-

The option to simply ignore this type of behaviour on social sites is still there. However, is it appropriate for pages that act as a social hub for up to 26,000 students to endorse this ‘LAD culture’? Objectors feel that plainly boycotting this type of activity is not enough - and that this culture is one that needs addressing. Nationally, campaigns by groups such as UK Femi-

nista and Object have been calling for the removal of lads’ mags from Tesco shelves since the end of May this year, and have gained ground over the summer months.

The difficulty in applying this type of campaign to social media sites cannot be understated, but the path is ultimately one worth following if pages like those discussed in this article can be prevented from bringing sexism further into the mainstream.

After the Shutdown: What’s Happening on Capitol Hill?

The US Government shutdown may have ended, but let us take you on a whistle-stop tour of everything you need to know about US Politics at the moment.

James Douglas Assistant News Editor @JCDouglas11

Michael Grant Health Correspondent @mickgrant

Tuesday October 1st saw the United States federal government enter a shutdown after Congress failed to pass either an Appropriations Bill or a Continuing Resolution, forcing large numbers of federal agencies to close. But, what exactly was happening and what does it mean?

The shutdown, which has affected hundreds of thousands of federal employees, as well as a variety of Government services, came about as the result of an impasse in Congress over the passing of a new Appropriations Bill. This annual legislation determines how federal agencies

and services are funded. The passing of an Appropriations Bill is always a difficult process, but Congress has previously been able to agree on a Continuing Resolution, a stopgap measure which can be passed in lieu of an Appropriations Bill. This year, however, Congress was unable to reach an agreement on this, largely due to the political tension surrounding the funding of the Affordable Care Act. Republicans are seeking to delay or defund Obama’s healthcare legislation by rejecting the new budget, a tactic which has been described by President Obama as “taking Americans hostage”.

It's easy to forget, having grown up in a country with a publically funded health service, that a number of countries do not provide free healthcare to its citizens and, hence, those citizens are required to pay to gain

access to a private health sector. So, for many people who need medical treatment in countries such as the United States, they face a difficult question; can I afford to be sick? As it stands in the USA, medical care is a private sector affair – with people buying their healthcare policies from privately run insurance companies. While this works for those who can afford it, it means that the 50 million uninsured Americans either have to avoid medical treatment or rack up massive bills if the former isn’t an option.

President Obama ran on a political platform of hope and change, with health care reform among his top priorities. During the Democratic primaries, he disagreed with Hilary Clinton’s suggestions that a public mandate for healthcare was the best option, instead insisting that

Grunge Vs Government

single-payer option – much like the NHS – was the best option. However, given the massive political opposition, the Affordable Care Act (since rebranded as Obamacare, by political opponents) takes the form of an individual mandate. It will work by setting up government services to facilitate the purchase of private insurance policies by citizens while providing subsidies to those in lower income brackets in an attempt to reduce the numbers of uninsured.

One of the main criticisms of the

act from conservatives is that the USA cannot afford it in the current economic climate. Yet independent analysis has suggested that the access to preventative medical care will result in a $210 billion reduction in the deficit over the next decade. The USA currently spends more per capita on healthcare than any other country - despite this it remains ranked at 50th in the world in terms of life expectancy.

Following Eddie Vedder’s scathing attack on US gun control laws, Matthew Law examines musicians’ power to challenge politics.

Matthew Law Features Editor @Nantan_Cochise

Veteran rock and roll frontman, Eddie Vedder, along with his Pearl Jam bandmates, has engaged in a series of interviews for new album Lightning Bolt, which at one point sees Vedder speaking out on the issue of gun control in the United States: "The fact that we’re living in a country where 90 percent of the people want further gun laws, to maybe somehow put a dent in some of this insanity that’s happening, and yet there’s no further legislation taking place - it’s very frustrating and upsetting”.

Eddie Vedder. Photo by Anthony Abbott, Flickr.

Capitol Hill. Photo from Wikipedia.

Vedder went on to say, "I get so angry that I almost wish bad things upon these people...But I don't have to because it seems like they hap-

pen anyways. It seems like every week I'm reading about a 4-year-old either shooting their sister, their dad, their dog, their brother or themselves, because there's guns laying around. But I guess it's 'fun’”.

The singer's comments have been met with mixed receptions: praise from many Pearl Jam fans and gun control supporters, criticism and anger from those on the right of American politics and in particular from conservative pundits. Fox News laid into the singer in a recent report, saying, amongst many other things, “screw Pearl Jam” and, “he’s probably on acid...who cares what he says”.

This isn't the first time Vedder and his Pearl Jam bandmates have courted controversy due to their views on government action. In 1992,

during the recording of an episode of MTV Unplugged, Vedder stood on a stool and wrote "Pro Choice!" on his arm in marker pen.

The song "Bu$hleaguer" from the band's 2002 release, Riot Act, was met with cold reception from Republican commentators and conservatives due to its anti-George W. Bush sentiments. The song included such lyrics as, "A confidence man, but why so beleaguered? He's not a leader, he's a Texas leaguer...Drilling for fear, makes the job simple”.

Vedder’s most recent comments come at a time when Republicans are trying to gain the support of those on the fence with regards to gun control laws. His remarks have been taken as a threat by those who see him as an influential figure on the Obama PR bandwagon.

The Gown

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T U E S DAY 2 9 T H O C T O B E R 2 0 1 3

KATIE MATTHEWS | The Art of Time Management ALICIA CLARKE| Making Your Loan Last Longer VANESSA TAAFFE| Fashion Week Glam on a Student Budget MICHAELA CLARKE | Eating Healthily as a Student MICHAEL GRANT| Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Lifestyle

MICHAEL GRANT | Keeping a Stiff Upper Lip for Men’s Health

The Art of Time Management: Working Hard, Playing Hard “There are never enough hours in the day”. How many times have you said or heard that?

Katie Matthews Contributor

With 168 hours in a week, there’s definitely enough time in which to lead fulfilled, healthy and diverse lives at university. However, as students we live in a completely different time zone. We operate in a sphere and on a body-clock that is completely our own. There is no ‘normal’ student experience. For some of us, staying up till 5am is ‘normal’.

For others, getting up at the crack of dawn and being in bed by 10pm is ‘normal’.

However, time management and prioritisation of tasks are skills that must be developed and refined at university. We’ve all heard it a hundred times before, but learning to balance your time is a vital part of our transitions from teenagers to fully-fledged, independent adults. Each of us has some kind of commitment outside of our studies; whether this is a parttime job, involvement with clubs and societies, or simply a regular appointment with Mr Jack Daniels!

Whatever it is you’re involved in, it’s important to sit down and allocate

your time wisely. What is important today, this week or this month? Is it necessary to spend six hours a day trawling through Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr? Is it an effective use of your time to go out four nights a week, returning with a kebab and traffic cone in hand? There are no right or wrong answers to how you should allocate your time. Only you know what the true priorities are in your life, and where you need to focus your efforts. It’s simply a case of making yourself get on with what you need to do, so that you have time for the things you want to do.

Time Management. Photo by Desmond Eastwood

Making Your Loan Fashion Week Glam on a Last Longer Student Budget Does it feel as if there’s a hole in your pocket? Check out The Gown Guide to having fun... frugally!

Alicia Clarke Contributor After finding yourself skint for what seems like forever, the arrival of the first instalment of your student loan seems like the perfect excuse to treat yourself. However, it’s easy to forget that this money needs to last until January - and cover your Christmas shopping.

Here are a couple of tips, then, to help make your loan stretch: Always ask for student discount A lot of shops offer it, but few advertise it. If you don’t ask, you won’t save!

Fill out a HC1 form No-one likes going to the dentist - especially not when it costs a fortune. HC1 forms are available at the reception of your dentist or optician, and allow students to get dental or optical care at a fraction of the standard price.

Smart grocery shopping Supermarkets offer up a host of temptations, so unsurprisingly, they’re the site for much of our overspending! Make a list and stick to it. Never go shopping when you’re hungover or hungry - and keep an eye out for the reduced section.

The glitz and glamour of September’s Fashion Weeks may have faded but the styles of Paris, London and New York have generated an array of new trends for SS14.

Monochrome

Use the internet to save money Check out sites such as Groupon for bargains, and magicfreebies. co.uk for free goodies.

Classic black and white was everywhere from Marc Jacobs to Fendi. Many designers opted to keep it chic, alternating black and white tailored trousers with blazers. Boohoo.com and New Look have an extensive range of monochrome to match any budget.

French designer Isabel Marant will launch her debut (monochromeheavy) collection for H&M this November.

Avoid eating out Going out for lunch every day can easily cost up to £35 a week, so making a packed lunch is a great way of saving money.

Get a Ylink card Invest in a Ylink card will and you’ll begin to see savings on public transport fares right away.

Faux Fur Nights out Consider only taking out as much money as you can afford to spend, and no bank cards. That way you won’t be tempted to buy that round of shots for the whole bar!

Hopefully these tips will help you become thriftier with your student loan. However if you’re experiencing financial problems, it’s important to stop pressing ‘No’ on the ATM when it offers to show your balance. Ignoring the problem won’t make it go away - and our Student Guidance Centre can offer help to those facing monetary difficulties.

Ohne Titel’s SS14 monochrome-heavy runway. Photo by Christopher Macsurak.

Vanessa Taaffe Contributor While most of us, as students, can’t afford to buy directly from the design houses, there are many ways to incorporate this season’s top tends into our wardrobes: Print Tartan - Favoured by Viviane Westwood and Marc Jacobs, tartan dresses and skirts are available for as little as £20 from Missguided. co.uk.

Graphic floral – Featured by Mulberry and Christopher Kane at London Fashion Week. Alberta

Feretti displayed an incredible line of simple white feminine dresses with minimal floral appliques.

Primark already have numerous similar styles for sale at a fraction of the cost.

Subtle hints of faux fur will ensure you don’t look like a bear this season. Keep it minimal by opting for a fur collar, hood, scarf or earmuffs. This trend will keep you warm and add texture to your look.

Pastels

Heart Print

Lilac, purple, powder blue and yellow hues were dominant on the Topshop Unique, Burberry, Matthew Williamson, and Versace runways. Wearing a pastel cardigan with a white t-shirt and jeans is the best way to replicate this trend.

The Topshop Unique collection will be available to buy later this year if you want an actual piece from the runway.

This micro-trend from the Burberry Prorsum and Victoria Beckham collections has seeped into the High Street. For an exact Burberry replica, Topshop have a heart print shirt, while Oasis and New Look have featured heart design dresses, skirts and shirts in their winter collections.

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The Gown

14 Lifestyle Eating Healthily as a Student Busy with class and a host of extra-curriculars? It’s important not to lose sight of your health – luckily, The Gown is here to provide you with some handy hints on maintaining a balanced diet.

Michaela Clarke Contributor For the past few weeks we’ve splashed our student loans on many things - amongst them over-indulging our palate. Sooner or later, constant dinning out begins to take its toll on your waistline and your bank account.

For those who want to lose the pesky ‘Fresher’s Fifteen’, or even those who’d like to establish a better routine, we would like to offer a rough guide to eating affordable, healthy meals.

Breakfast – ‘The most important meal of the day’, yet most of us tend to sacrifice it for an extra ten minutes in bed. If you’re pushed for time in the mornings, some fruit and low fat yoghurt is a great way to start the day.

If you have more time, something like

eggs (poached, boiled or scrambled) and/or grilled bacon and sausages are a great source of protein and a healthy alternative to a greasy fry up.

Lunch - If you have afternoon class, it’s important that your lunch isn’t particularly heavy in order to avoid yawning the whole way through lectures. Soup is a great option especially as the days get colder – and couldn’t be easier to make.

Dinner - After a heavy day of class, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the temptation of oven pizzas and ready meals. However making dinner can be as simple as grilling a chicken breast (or vegetarian substitute), with baby boiled potatoes and some vegetables.

You’ll probably need a treat day to diverge from healthy eating - whether

this is at the weekend or following a night out, when that greasy fry is calling for you! Just remember, keep everything in moderation to ensure a balanced diet. It’s hard to stick to a healthy eating at university - especially at times of stress - but give it a go and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the results.

Additional Healthy Eating Tips: • Use lemon juice – combined with a little light mayonnaise - as salad dressing.

• Use rapeseed or coconut oil for cooking.

• Make sure to eat every two or three hours.

• Drink 2 litres of water per day.

• Use herbs, salt and pepper to flavour foods and stave off blandness.

Healthy Eating. Photo by Desmond Eastwood.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: The Facts As breast cancer awareness month draws to a close, resident Health Correspondent Michael Grant debunks some myths about the disease.

Michael Grant Health Correspondent @mickgrant

Ten minutes isn’t a long time, is it?

It’s about the time it takes to have a cup of tea or get a shower - not long at all really. However, for some people, ten minutes can make all the difference in the world, because every 10 minutes – in the UK alone – someone is diagnosed with breast cancer.

Beyond just raising money for the research into and treatment of breast cancer, this month is about raising awareness and public knowledge into the condition. Even though the survival rate for breast cancer is steadily increasing – thanks, in no small part, to the activism and advocacy of the charities involved with the disease – catching it early is incredibly important. So with that in mind, it’s time to bust a few myths about breast cancer.

October is breast cancer awareness month, and has, so far this year, been one of the biggest fundraising years in recent history.

Breast cancer isn’t just one singular disease: It can be caused by almost any of the different cell types within that tissue – meaning that the dif-

ferent types of breast cancer can have very different appearances and levels of malignancy.

There isn’t always a lump: 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer over the course of their life; but it’s not always as obvious as a lump – and, contrarily, even if there is a lump on someone’s breast it isn’t always cancerous. Breast cancer can present as subtly as persistent pain, a change in size or swelling around the breast and armpit, change in skin texture or colour, or even discharge from the nipple.

Men get breast cancer too: Don’t

think that Y chromosome will keep you safe, lads. Around 500 men a year in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer.

What cannot be stressed enough is the importance of regular self examination. There are some great resources online that can help guide you in the art of the breast selfexamination (such as the five-point code on breastcancercare.org.uk) that are really worth a read. However, arguably the most important part of self-examination is simply knowing what is normal for you. Not everyone is the same, so knowing how your own breasts appear normally is

key when it comes to spotting when something is changing and potentially becoming cancerous.

While there is a wealth of information out there for anyone concerned, it is extremely important to seek advice from your local GP if you begin to see any of the changes talked about above – especially if there is a history of the condition in your family.

Breast cancer can be beaten; but there is still a long way to go. This October, do what you can to help fight breast cancer.

Keeping a Stiff Upper Lip for Men’s health Love it or loathe it, you’ll be seeing a lot of facial hair this coming November but – aesthetics aside – remember that it’s all for a good cause.

Michael Grant Health Correspondent @mickgrant

Having grown exponentially since its humble origins in 1999, the philanthropic growth of facial hair for the benefit of men’s health charities during the month of November has gone global.

Image by the Movember Charity.

Like many great ideas, it all started in a bar. The origin of the term Movember and the fundraising associated with the cultivation of lip foliage can be traced back to a pub in Adelaide, South Australia, in the autumn of 1999. The idea gathered momentum in Australia and New Zealand until 2004, when the official Movember Foundation charity was established. Since then the charity has gone on to raise over $200 million in aid of Men’s Health awareness and research, with a specific focus on cancer (especially testicular and pros-

tate cancer) and depression in men.

In 2012 alone, over 1 million men participated in November worldwide raising a colossal $95 million in aid of the charities associated with the foundation.

Two of the largest, local beneficiaries of the Movember campaign are Prostate Cancer UK and the Irish Cancer Society’s Action Prostate Cancer.

Prostate cancer affects 1 in 8 men in the UK, making it the most common form of cancer in men in the country.

It is also the second most common cause of cancer related deaths for men, with one man dying per hour from the disease in the UK alone.

If this wasn’t reason enough to support the cause, consider the contributions that the Movember Foundation has made to Queen’s University directly. Our very own Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology (CCRCB) has been leading the way in

Prostate cancer research and, in aid of the CCRCB’s efforts, the Movember charity has donated £500,000 to QUB for use in further research to understand and combat the condition.

With this support in mind, it should come as no surprise that QUB is to be the first university in the UK to launch a university-wide Movember campaign. Queen’s is encouraging students, staff and alumni all to get involved to try to make this year’s Movember the biggest ever. Mo’ Bro’s can even form fundraising teams that will compete to secure the biggest amount of donations for their follicular forays. For more information on QUB’s Movember operation, go to http://go.qub.ac.uk/Movember.

So whether it’s a handlebar, a pencil or a handsome set of muttonchops – support a local Mo’ bro’ or Mo’ sista’ by sponsoring a pair of whiskers this Movember.

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The Gown

Opinion

16

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.

Work to Live or Live to Work?

Brian Martin Opinion Editor @BrianMartin2010

For many of us, the placement year or start of employment can be the most exciting time of our lives. It represents a myriad of possibilities - an opportunity to show our worth, display our skills and get our feet on the first rung of the employment ladder. However for Moritz Erhardt of Staufen im Breisgau (Germany), a summer placement at US bank Meryll Lynch would result in his death on the 15th of August this year.

The pressures of an internship. Photo by Desmond Eastwood.

21 year old Moritz was completing a prestigious placement at the esteemed bank when he was found dead in his shower. It is thought, though not confirmed, that the gruelling shifts expected of interns, coupled with Moritz’s chronic epilepsy, resulted in his death. Police are not

Our Opinions Editor examines the culture and ethics of internships in an increasingly competitive job market. treating it as suspicious. However I question the culture of high pressure, high risk and ultimately, the overly competitive nature of placement and employment for young graduates or students.

Being in final year, I understand the importance of securing good work placements, experience and even actual training/employment contracts. But many of those who have already entered into the world of work have made me aware of the unspoken rule of FILO, “First in, last out”. That is, to make an impression on your new employer, you have to be the first person to arrive at work (perhaps before 7.am) and last to leave, long after your contracted hours. Whilst this is supposed to display dedication and hard work, it has resulted in a race to the bottom – who will do the most outrageous hours in order to look good?

Quality of work must be waning under this schedule and the quality of life of any employee is drained. It is this attitude, instilled by employers, of cut throat competitiveness that has resulted in a deplorable relationship among young interns.

Each intern eying up the competition – trying to beat one another, out-work one another, out-shine one another.

The work of interns should be based on quality, not quantity. They should be encouraged to work together, not in competition. And above all, the idea of job satisfaction should be at the heart of employment - if only to save another student or graduate from what sadly became Moritz’s fate. I think the real tragedy would lie in not learning anything from the promising, hardworking – but exploited - young man from Germany.

There Are No ‘Blurred Lines’ in Sexual Consent Aisling Gallagher voices her belief that the song should be banned from campus. Trigger warning: this article discusses rape and sexual assault.

Aisling Gallagher NUS-USI Women’s Officer aisling.gallagher@nistudents.org

rape victims, a society which has the

Unions across the UK have taken the

time at university, and playing songs

not be made to feel victimised when in

audacity to ask victims what they were

decision not to play the song in their

that degrade women sexually isn’t

their Students’ Union.

wearing or how much they had to

union buildings.

exactly making the building a safe

This isn’t an argument about free

drink, acting like the rape was some-

Why are Students’ Unions across the

space. Many Students’ Unions across

speech - it’s about safety, and making

Out of every 100,000 cases of rape that

how their fault.

UK choosing not to play this song?

the UK have a Zero Tolerance to Sexual

a stand. It’s opened up a conversa-

are known or reported, only 1000 of

What has this got to do with Robin

Students’ Unions are supposed to

Harassment policy in place, a policy

tion about music lyrics and popular

these rapists are prosecuted. This is,

Thicke’s ‘Blurred Lines’? The song

be safe spaces for women students.

which aims to make the Students’

culture, what they can mean, and why

at best, a conservative estimate- many

lyrics and music video trivialise rape.

Research undertaken by the National

Union a safe and inclusive environ-

it is crucial that the issue of consent

victims do not come forward, are

Contrary to what Thicke thinks, there

Union of Students (NUS) highlighted

ment for all students. The song can

is incorporated into sexual health

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Sports London 2012 Stars Lead QUB Scholarship Class The inaugural class of ‘Elite Athletes’ to grace Queen’s feature a host of big names, writes Michael Doran.

Michael Doran Sports Editor @MichaelDoran_

Paralympics competitor Lawrence McGivern and Katie Kirk, who helped light the Olympic Flame at the London 2012 games, are amongst the athletes from a variety of sporting backgrounds who make up the first ever intake of scholars to the Queen’s ‘Elite Athlete’ initiative.

The seven student-athletes selected to participate in the prestigious scheme will each reap the rewards of a £50,000 investment by the university, which represents a significant foray into more rounded, American-style athletic scholarships alongside the pre-existing Academy and Ulster Bank Sports Bursary initiatives. Participants will receive a

substantial contribution towards tuition fees with accommodation and travel to international competitions also included. They will able to avail of top quality coaching, performance advice and lifestyle management support, alongside individual academic help and career advice.

The program has been tailored with a focus towards allowing students to strike a parallel between top level achievement in the field of play and in the classroom. It comes in the wider context of an ongoing multimillion pound investment in sport at the university to offer arguably the highest quality facilities in Northern Ireland.

The full list of scholars is as follows: Katie Kirk (Athletics/Food, Quality, Safety and Nutrition); Lawrence McGivern (Swimming/Accounting

with French); Christopher Colvin (Rugby/Psychology); Sammy-Jo Greer (Hockey/Social Anthropology); Lorcan Dow (Rugby/Psychology); Caroline O’Hanlon (GAA and Netball/ Clinical Anatomy); and Tiernan Oliver (Rowing/Law with French).

Queen’s Sport Development Manager, Karl Oakes, launched the program by stating that, “following Queen’s £20 million investment in sport, students studying and competing at the University have access to truly world-class facilities. As a result, Queen’s is now in a position both locally and internationally to attract the very highest achievers in sport and academia across these islands and further afield”.

the development of these athletes throughout their time at Queen’s and long after they graduate”.

He added that he hopes the university will, “play a major role in

The announcement of this year’s inaugural intake has coincided with

London 2012 Olympic Games. Photo by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Flickr. the launch of the entry process for the next edition of the scheme.

Applications are now open for current and prospective students, with more information available at www. queensport.com.