The Gown: November 14 2014 by TheGown

The independent student newspaper at Queen’s University, established 1955.

Friday 14th November 2014

FREE

QUB’s 250K man: pay ‘a very poor motivator’ for staff Kylie Noble Editor @Noble_Kylie

Vice Chancellor Patrick Johnston was appointed on March 3 2014. On a yearly wage of £249,000 he is the highest paid public official in Northern Ireland. Mr Johnston enjoys a £19,000 increase in his pay compared to predecessor, Sir Peter Gregson, and has a complimentary residence on the Malone Road. It is a life that contrasts greatly to many of his staff. Speaking to The Gown last year whilst on strike, PFC cleaner for 22 years Catherine Mallon spoke of how “as one of the lower paid staff, it’s hard when you’re struggling with mortgages and everything else to take this for 5 years in the face of austerity.” Staff last year went on strike due to an initial pay rise offer of 1%. University College Union (UCU) stated that staff’s wages had remained stagnant since October 2008 and their members were losing out on a 13% increase, to match inflation. Yet in an interview with The Gown, Mr Johnston rejected that levels of pay for staff, were of utmost importance. When asked if he did not feel that all staff are entitled to a living wage and would

its full implementation not help with his 2020 Vision to improve Queen’s, Mr Johnston defended the stagnant nature of pay levels arguing that “in terms of staff at all grades- that was part of a national agreement which we’re part of.” Disagreeing that the level of pay is linked to satisfaction at work, Mr Johnston said that “pay is actually a very poor motivator in of its self” and that “the greatest motivator is actually being able to develop yourself and develop those around you... in terms of the overall things that really matter to staff, it’s actually the environment they work in and opportunities there for them to develop themselves and others around them and to work in teams which have harmony.” A spokesperson from UCU disagreed with Mr Johnston commenting “the level of pay is the key factor in attracting the best staff and in motivating them.” Although commenting that the 2% pay rise was “very welcome” after “several years of real pay declining” the spokesperson opposed Mr Johnston’s view that job satisfaction is not interlinked to pay levels. “Worries about poor pay and job insecurity demotivate everyone and override other

factors. At some stage most academics have struggled, often for years,

at the lower end of the pay scales on insecure fixed-term contracts. The

permanent academic paid positions offered to the fortunate few provide better job security and this is also a very important motivator. It provides the environment that encourages confidence in being able to do more imaginative research and teaching. ” In a report published by the Young Greens of England and Wales in October 2013, it was found that Queen’s then rated as the 31st most unequal university in the UK out of 113 UK universities, in terms of staff’s pay ratio between the lowest and highest salaries. At the time of publication, Sir Peter Gregson was on a salary of £239,604, and 23 members of staff were paid a yearly salary of , or above £140,000. In an interview with BBC Ulster last October, Mr Johnston was recorded as saying that, it was absolutely right that the current fee on caps should be lifted. Mr Johnson refutes that he was misinterpreted. “I actually don’t have the view that fees should be raised. My view is actually that we need to fund higher education properly...the real challenge currently is that compared to our comparators we are already at a 20% deficit.”

Stormont cuts raise fears of increase in fees and loss of student places Pete Hodson News Editor

Queen’s University Belfast, Ulster University and the Open University Ireland face treasury contribution cuts of up to 15% for the 2015/16 academic year. Department of Employment and Learning (DEL) Minister Stephen Farry – whose department is facing 10.8% cuts– warned that Stormont’s contribution to Northern Ireland’s universities would likely be scaled back. In a heated exchange during a sitting of the Northern Ireland Assembly on 28 October, Mr Farry speculated a “four figure reduction” in places in each of the Northern Ireland universities and “many thousands of places being lost within further education” should

the proposals take effect. Queen’s and Ulster University are facing accepting 1100 fewer students in September 2015. Pro Vice Chancellors from both universities have struck back, arguing that many of the brighest students will be forced to leave Northern Ireland. QUB has made significant strides in recent years in terms of self-funding and securing corporate sponsors, but at present, almost £100 million of QUB’s £286 million annual budget is procured from government sources.It remains unclear at this stage where cuts within Queen’s will bite hardest if the funding reduction plans are enacted by the DEL. At the inaugural meeting of SU Council, VP Campaigns Colin Stevenson proposed a success-

ful motion instructing the Student Officers “to priorities the engagement of students and allies in order to make clear the Students’ Union strong opposition to the draft budget, with the purpose of dissuading the government from imposing such drastic cuts to the sector.” The SU is currently in conversation with student and staff unions across Northern Ireland in deciding the best manner in which to tackle cuts. SU President Ciarán Gallagher commented that “we have various ideas which are being finalised and are encouraging other SUs to act as urgently and effectively as possible. The SU is writing a consultation for the notification of the executive on the Union’s position and why we believe cuts would be so deeply unwise. We will be

encouraging students to write to their own elected representatives from their home constituencies to explain their concern over the proposed cuts.” Courtney Robinson, recently elected President of Belfast Metropolitan College SU, has urged students to take “to the streets in a major demonstration” on 19 November – also the date of a student rally against cuts taking place in London. During this day of coordinated protest, students across the United Kingdom are being encouraged to resist government spending curbs. NUS-USI President Rebecca Hall has also added her voice to the growing chorus of criticism. Ms Hall was unequivocally condemnatory, arguing that “any cuts could have

a very significant and detrimental impact upon student numbers, education quality, students’ unions and services for students, as well as staff and the institutions”. In an interview on BBC Ulster Inside Politics on 7 November, First Minister Peter Robinson did not rule out seeking to increase fees. “There may well be an opportunity for us to look at tuition fees and see whether that cuts some slack to the universities.” In the Assembly on 12 November Finance Minister Simon Hamilton said he was willing to look at raising “some” fees. A motion forwarded by Sarah Wright, and passed on Thursday 6th November at Council places the SU in the position of opposing all possible fee increases for the next five years.

Friday 14th November 2014

The Gown

Editorial Kylie Noble Editor @Noble_Kylie

Fresher’s Fortnight is a distant memory of too much alcohol and regret, the loan is waning, deadlines are looming and the days are getting rapidly chillier and darker. With the initial excitement of seeing friends and of spending Monday nights in Connected wearing thin, many of us are nostalgically looking back to days of summer freedom. For our Student Officers the past month has been a holiday. Their real challenges are about to begin. On Thursday 6th Council sat for the first time this year. Although mostly a humdrum affair of electing committees,

two motions were passed.: one opposing cuts from Stormont and another related motion, opposing any proposed increase in fees for five years. These words remain feeble platitudes unless there is real action on the ground from Officers. Time will tell. Unusually this year, before council sat, we have seen a flurry of political activity on campus with the unity and neutrality referendums. Many have lamented that it is disappointing to have seen such strong activism focused on the constitutional future of this country. Indeed it would be commendable to see such energy dedicated to issues related to student welfare. Yet for a period, the SU was alive with activity and passion. The referendums reached beyond that of “SU hacks’”, with it becoming commonplace to hear the

referendums mentioned in passing conversation. The SU has fallen back into a quiet existence but with Council the Department of Employment and Learning facing cuts of 10.8%, I don’t expect it to remain so for long. Throughout the referendums there was much debate around the quality of student politics but it should, I hope, be clear that student journalism continues to go from strength to strength. The Gown was proud to collaborate with Tori Watson and Paul Wyatt of QR’s news show “The Scoop” in hosting The Big Referenda Debate and offering students a chance to hear arguments from both campaigns. Although The Scoop may be our rival, they are a worthy one. The Gown were the first media outlet to break the story on QUB Sinn Féin’s

plans to hold a referendum on Irish unity and it was rewarding to have the mainstream media notice this. I was fortunate to be able to represent The Gown on BBC Sunday Politics and UTV. This week several members of the team are taking part in a video editing course. We hope that we will soon be able to implement video reporting within our increasing online coverage. Keen readers will note that this issue is rather late in going to print. I apologize for being unable to get the paper out in October. Due to the resignation of our designer and thankfully the acquiring of a new one, we have been slightly set back. The Gown is run entirely by student volunteers and without the hard work of the rest of the team, this paper would not be possible.

The Hood

Now that the hurly-burly’s done, and the referendums lost and won, it seems an appropriate time to gather the ragged crones of thatwhich-is-passed, that-whichis and that-which-shall-be and look at the state of the union. To the surprise of nobody, the neutrality referendum passed, but surprisingly, the United Ireland referendum fell by a 21 vote margin, especially galling given that their referendum was submitted first. In the democratic refractory period, the usual accusations of electoral malpractice, voter intimidation and outright lying abounded, but nothing seems to have come of them. Indeed, the lack of complaints about ipads and other gimmicks seem to indicate that even hot-button

cillors indicates that perhaps the scales are falling from a few eyes. Not that anything will come of it, beyond a few stern letters. Council sat for the first time last week, heralding another year of careerists who won’t turn up to half the meetings and bleeding heart activists who are hopelessly trying to change the world from the modest confines of The Space. The race for speaker was contested between an NUS-USI mandarin, and a joker from RAG. This suggests that the union has partially moved away from pro-life, pro-choice tribalism, but the number of party mouthpieces on the council list indicates to perhaps something altogether worse. When a twitter bio includes ‘DUA cllr at QUBSU’; the times could be a’-changin’. Meanwhile, across the road, UCU has declared a marking

boycott over the perennial issue of their atrophying pensions, and the university admin-team has given the traditional response of ‘piffle’ from atop their moneythrone. Further, the university are amid the hunt for a new chancellor. The long list contained former US president Bill Clinton, potential future president Hillary Clinton, Former Irish leader and QUB graduate Mary McAleese, a whole slew of actors and media personalities and ‘Lil B’, a rapper from Berkeley, California. None of these figures, however, were deemed to be sufficiently advantageous for the university so the short list is populated entirely by financial magnates, at least one of which evades taxes like a rejected Matrix character played by Nicholas Cage.

Queen’s student tragically killed In the early hours of Monday 15th October Enda Dolan, 18 and a first year student in the School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering was tragically killed. Mr Dolan from Killyclogher, Omagh died after being hit by a white Renault van at approximately 2.25 am on the Malone Road. Two men were arrested. One man, aged 19, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs. He was later released on police bail pending further enquiries.

Wilma Fee, Director of Academic and Student Affairs emailed students on the morning of 15th October: “The University has been informed of the death of one of its students in a road traffic accident this morning. The Queen’s community is here to support any student who is impacted by this tragic event, in the immediate aftermath as well as the weeks to come. Queen’s and University of Ulster students can access either counselling, or just a listening ear, by calling Carecall, on 0808 800 0016. This is a 24 hour line, free from

The Gown Team: 2014/15 Editor: Kylie Noble editor@thegown.net News editors: Liam Cassidy Pete Hodson Assistant- Niamh Mc Govern gownnews@outlook.com Features editors: Amy Slack Niall Coleman gownfeatures@outlook.com Arts editor: Laura Shields Assistant- Charles Cook Assistant- Joe Gilson gownarts@outlook.com Lifestyle editor:

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

‘sectarian’ issues are fought with more dignity than our sabbatical elections. Being an anonymous pseudo-observational ivorytower commentator, I take the opinion of other, lesser APOITCs very seriously, and one running theme throughout the commentary is that the referendum was some kind of song-and-dance distraction, orchestrated to distract from the crippling partisan deadlock in Stormont or the university’s complicity in implementing cuts which will simultaneously harm both teachers and students. Although Hanlon’s razor would dictate against such conspiratorial origins for the thing, a lot of parties are using it to bury their own ineptitude. Nevertheless, the flurry of emergency motions being put forward to council by both our Officers and Coun-

The Gown is an Independant Student Newspaper at Queen’s University Belfast, established 1955

mobile or landline, and you can speak to a counsellor immediately by telephone, or arrange an appointment for a one-to-one appointment. You can also request an appointment by emailing qubstudents@carecallwellbeing.com. For this week and next week, students can drop-in to Carecall without an appointment between 12noon – 2pm for an immediate discussion with a counsellor. Some students may wish to come together as a group, facilitated by a counsellor – please just talk to us about what support is best for you. If you are concerned for a friend, or a

Chantelle Frampton gownlifestyle@outlook.com Opinions editor: Kaity Hall gownopinion@outlook.com Sports editor: Ryan McDowell gownsports@outlook.com Business manager: Philip Barr gownbusiness@outlook.com Design editor: Amy-Leigh Shaw Contributors: Peter Brennan Rachel Ireland Deborah Dawson Claire Louise Mallon Laura Fulton Laura Sproule Julie Adams Kathryn McElhatton Kerry Campion James Smith Hannah Gowdy Rory Carson

With thanks to our printers, The County Down Spectator.

@TheGownQUB /TheGownQUB Letters@thegown.net

Photo from belfasttelegraph.co.uk

group of friends, then please speak to Carecall, your School, staff at Elms Village or one of the Chaplains, who will work with Student Welfare to make contact and provide support.”

The Gown Queen’s University Belfast Students’ Union University Road Belfast BT7 1NF 028 9097 1057 thegownatqub.wordpress. com

Friday 14th November 2014

The Gown

News

Advertorial: MA Journalism at Ulster University Want to train as a journalist at one of the UK’s leading NCTJ accredited MA courses? We have a great tradition of Queen’s graduates coming to us to learn practical skills, taught by journalists. Many of our students have gone on to work at BBC Northern Ireland, UTV, The Irish News, The Belfast Telegraph and many other news organisations. You’ll learn: •How to write for print, broadcast and online •Shorthand up to 100 words per minute •Essential law for journalists •Public Affairs •How to use a camera, edit your own pictures and sound, and put to together Radio and TV news programmes. We are looking for enthusiastic, bright and highly

motivated candidates with a love of news and current affairs. Closing date for applications is Friday 27th February, 2015. Apply online at www. ulster.ac.uk/applyonline Further information from the Course Director, Maggie Swarbrick mm.swarbrick@ulster.ac.uk

UTV “During my summer work placement at Citybeat and Downtown Radio/ Cool FM I was given the opportunity to act as a broadcast journalist. It was exciting to hear my voice being broadcast nationally for the first time. This course is hard work but it pays off!”

This is what some Queen’s grads had to say about our course…. Jayne McCormack, BA English and Politics, QUB 2011, now at BBC NI “The reason I chose UU was that it was the only course here that got me the much-needed NCTJs as well as an MA, not to mention the proximity to home, top-class teachers with a wealth of contacts and the placement opportunities. I can say hand on heart it was the best choice I ever made.

Worth the investment and the hard work, would do it again in a heartbeat. “ Ciaran Bartlett BA Ancient History QUB 2008, MA, PhD 2014 “You will learn the skills to have a serious shot at getting a job in media before

you hand in your dissertation. You will make great professional contacts and have some of the best craic you’ll ever have at Uni. Give it a lash. You won’t regret it.” Niamh Ferguson, BA English QUB 2011, now at

QUBSU takes stance of neutrality on constitutional question Kylie Noble Editor @Noble_Kylie

After much heated debate and intense campaigning for both referendums, the Keep QUB Neutral campaign narrowly secured being the only referendum to pass into binding SU policy. Keep QUB Neutral had posed the following statement to the student body; “This Students’ Union is a shared space that is inclusive for all students and should therefore have a neutral stance on the constitutional position of Northern Ireland - do you agree with this statement?” They secured a strong majority in favour of neutrality receiving 2,596 YES votes and only 409 NO votes. 2,335 votes are required in order for a referendum to become official SU policy. QUB Yes-Irish Unity drew much more polarising results. Activists narrowly missed out on their proposal ‘Should Ireland be a united and independent country?’ becoming policy by 21 votes. The question

Photo taken by Kylie Noble

received 1,264 YES votes and 1,285 NO votes. Seán Fearon, chair of QUB Sinn Féin, felt that “ultimately, there’s a victory in the sense that people came out and voted and they debated Irish unity. That’s 2,400 students had their voice heard on an issue that is directly relevant to them; about the future of the North” and com-

mented that “Neutrality ran a great campaign, a very fair campaign.” Chair of SDLP Youth Shannon Downey was also feeling positive after the results were announced. “It was a great campaign, we engaged in mature debate on the constitutional future of our country and I’m really proud of everyone at Queen’s. It shows that we

as students are grabbing hold of our future and trying to influence what our future will look like” she commented. Keep QUB Neutral campaigner and UUP member Cathy Corbett was ecstatic being “absolutely delighted” and “on top of the moon that our student body voted for a positive campaign and voted to

keep our students’ union inclusive of everybody.” QUB Alliance Chairperson Stephen Donnelly, also an activist within Keep QUB Neutral said: “This is a victory for those who believe the SU should continue to be inclusive, shared and welcoming of all people.”

Friday 14th November 2014

The Gown

News

Students’ Union to pay to hear apathetic students’ views Niamh Mc Govern Assistant News Editor @mcgovern_niamh

Student officers have taken up a new approach to engage with students and encourage involvement from their student body, under the campaign “Spill the beans...” commencing this month. Operating through organised focus groups, the SU have invited those students potentially isolated, or simply not intrigued by the Students’ Union, to speak out. With recent cause to highlight and reintegrate those groups possibly isolated by the referenda, the SU aim to rouse feedback from these particular members of the university, to provide feedback on the reputation, and failures of their Union. With particular encouragement for those students previously disengaged with the Council elections, clubs and so-

cieties, SU organisers are offering a £10 payment for the attendees of focus groups. SU President, Ciarán Gallagher, spoke on the decision to fund these feedback incentives. “We have incentivised every member of each focus group as it essential to get tightly controlled numbers for our feedback for it to be used as credible data.” “It was advised by the marketing department that as these students were less engaged that they would less attracted to, for example, a free lunch which entailed sitting with strangers as an incentive. Previously groups of under-engaged students that were not incentivised to attend resulted in groups that were attended by only half of the confirming students.” The resulting feedback hopes to reverse the culture of disinterest within the student body, with possible change in the structure and en-

UCU begin assessment boycott Liam Cassidy News editor @cashdee

The University and Colleges Union (UCU) is set to begin a marking boycott from Thursday 6 November. This latest round of industrial action is in response to the breakdown of pension talks between UCU and employers and will affect 69 universities across the UK, including Queen’s University and the Ulster University. According to UCU, the current row “centres around the employers’ proposals that would see scheme members lose thousands of pounds in retirement”. UCU claims that the proposed changes to retirement and pension schemes are based on inaccurate and misleading research which “has been discredited by statisticians, universities and UCU”. Last year both academic semesters were affected by UCU industrial action as fair pay negotiations between the University and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) broke down on several occasions. This resulted in three separate strikes and UCU members undertaking a ‘work to contract’ scheme, that is, doing nothing more than what is contractually required of them. This industrial action aimed to highlight the

number of staff members at UK universities who were not receiving a living wage in proportion to inflation, as well as the prevalence of extra-contractual work. UCU’s continued action was supported throughout by Queen’s University Students’ Union. A marking boycott was scheduled for May 2014 but was prevented by a last minute offer of a 2.2% pay rise to UCU members, sidestepping mass disruption throughout the exam period. However, the breakdown of these most recent talks on pensions has resulted in UCU using what they have previously called their “ultimate sanction”, causing disruption to thousands of students’ degrees across the UK. UCU General Secretary, Sally Hunt, outlined how “members have made it clear they are unconvinced by the employers’ arguments” and hopes “employers will come back to the table for genuine negotiations” to resolve the issue. Talks between UCU and employers’ representatives are scheduled to resume Frida

gagement of VPs, Student Council and outlets for clubs and societies. In light of a Yes result for a neutral stance on the Irish unity referendum, Mr Gallagher and his executive have further cause to promote QUBSU as a space for all students, and to invest money in student opinion. Mr Gallagher also introduced the focus campaign as a cultivator for the SU’s five yearplan; “The purpose of the

current focus groups is to inform the new Students’ Union Strategic Plan. Strategic Plan will outline the mission, aims and ambitions of the Students’ Union for the next five years and it is important to get as solid a basis of feedback as possible.”

QUB GAA forced to remove posters Rachael Ireland Contributor

On 10 October posters appeared around the university advertising the QUB GAA “County Colours Night”. Some students found these posters – which depicted a highly sexualised female player – sexist and offensive. The VP for Equality and Diversity, Caoímhe MacNéill, was swiftly contacted by a member of the Feminist Society who was then able to notify the VP for Clubs and Societies, Niall McKenna, about the issue. QUB GAA was asked to immediately remove all physical copies of the poster from the Students’ Union and the wider campus, as well as removing the digital copy from the society’s Facebook page. Other students were condemnatory about the issue elsewhere online, including Twitter. Members of the Feminist Society were relieved to see the Students’ Union take the issue of sexism on campus so seriously. Anna Freiesleben, president of QUB Feminist Society, expressed she was “happy to see the SU take a stand against sexism by immediately removing the GAA posters, which blatantly objectify women. The sexualisation of sportswomen is a serious problem in the

struggle to be taken seriously in their profession, an issue which must not be downplayed. These posters are simply one example of the misogyny that women are faced with at university every day.” The GAA Society declined to comment. The poster at the centre of the controversy advertised QUB GAA’s “County Colours Night”, organised to raise funds for all four clubs involved in the society. The offending photograph featured a picture of a female sports player in a highly sexualised outfit, and it was this image that numerous students found degrading. The poster was spotted in multiple locations around the Students’ Union, and could be found in other campus buildings including the Peter Froggatt Centre and the McClay library. The posters were also not officially recognised by the Students’ Union, another contributing factor as to why they were taken down. However, Ms MacNéill assured members of the Feminist Society that the posters were removed primarily because of the percieved unacceptable and misogynistic message, rather than because their presence contravened SU regulations.

Friday 14th November 2014

The Gown

News

UUSU forced to apologise for selecting controversial Halloween costume winners Pete Hodson News Editor @PeteHodson

The joint winners of ‘Best Costume’ at the Ulster University’s Magee campus Halloween Ball triggered a groundswell of opposition when their victory was announced on social media last week. Organisers of the UUSU-sponsored Halloween Ball, held on the evening of 30 October, encouraged student revelers to indulge in fancy dress with prizes on offer for the ‘best dressed’. On the afternoon of 31 October a message appeared on the UUSU Magee Facebook page announcing the competition results, congratulating the two winning students on their “fantastic costumes”. The accompanying winner’s photograph depicted two female students dressed as the Jamaican bobsled duo popularised in the 1993 film Cool Runnings – complete with black body paint. After receiving numerous complaints, the photograph was quickly removed with the winners, presumably, forfeiting their prize. UUSU Magee issued a response later the same day, stating that the Stu-

dents’ Union “unreservedly apologises for any offence caused by photographs of student costumes at our Halloween Ball event last night…... this incident will be fully investigated, and referred to Student Council for further action”. Debate on Facebook has gathered momentum since the apology was issued, with the ethics of applying black body paint for the purpose of racial imitation being called into question. Student opinion appears deeply divided on the issue, with some judging the decision to withdraw the photograph “political correctness gone mad” and others castigating UUSU Magee for allowing the “overt, crass racism” to be tolerated at the ball, let alone be selected as ‘Best Costume’. UUSU Magee was subject to further heated criticism and accusations of hypocrisy when a Facebook user discovered that the UUSU Magee had liked a photograph of another group of students wearing black body paint posted below the official apology, provocatively captioned “get a life people”.

With student views diametrically opposed, many UU students are asking who was responsible for selecting the winning costume and whether the person(s) will be identified and held to account. The Gown contacted Magee Campus VP, Micky Quigg, asking him to furnish details of the investigation process – but has thus far received no response.

Screenshot from UUSU Magee Facebook page

SU Council elections could mark changing political attitudes Peter Brennan Contributor

Queen’s has once again played host to an array of Students’ Union Council elections, with six different online votes taking place on 14 and 21 October. The first round of elections, or Group A, comprised the main academic faculties at Queen’s, which include Engineering and Physical Sciences; Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Medicine, Health and Life Sciences along with a postgraduate section. The less specific Group B vote allowed for cross-faculty nominations through the Open and Open First Year sections.

The Students’ Union Council is charged with delivering feedback directly from the student population to the upper echelons of the university administration and holding the six sabbatical student officers to account via 102 Student Councillors. This year, students could nominate themselves to run for council before 8 or 15 October, depending on their group. They are elected to represent their faculty by other students within that faculty or can gain a council seat through the Open section, available for all nomination and voting purposes to all registered students. During The Troubles, Council was oft accused of over-politicising

the Union and of harnessing sectarian sentiments. The main ‘controversy’ surrounding the elections in 2014 appears simply to be over-subscription; of the 98 applicants to represent Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, only 22 can gain seats, while the number of applicants within the Open category was more than four times that of the available positions. Across the board more students put themselves forward to Council this year. 242 students stood for a seat whilst in 2013, 207 did. 2013 saw a lower voter turnout too with 1823 votes cast this year as opposed to 1765 in 2013. A possible explanation for this small surge of

electoral enthusiasm lies in the revolt against the remarkable lack of candidature for the Student Officer elections earlier this year, when six of the ‘Super Seven’ positions were uncontested and the only running candidates were, in turn, elected. This sparked much public backlash, from within and outside the university, with blame being largely apportioned to the controversial new advertising for the positions which firmly highlighted the expected salary, while only giving a loose idea of the duties which await a Student Officer-to-be. While this rather staid Student Officer election was chalked up as a further addition to the growing trend of political apathy among students,

this month’s council elections appear somewhat to break the mold. Rioghnach Kavanagh, a second year student of Law with Spanish and newly-elected Student Union Council member, agrees that the incongruous level of applicants for the Union’s most recent elections do relate to the disappointing turnout for the sabbatical posts, “I think it’s encouraged people to think, ‘Why not?’ and strips the vulnerability associated with putting yourself forward”. As for her own success, Ms Kavanagh describes herself as “absolutely thrilled” to have been elected to the Council, a position she sees as “a responsibility to address real issues happening to students”.

Friday 14th November 2014

The Gown

Features

Harry Potter and the tolerance of millennials Amy Slack Features Editor @amyizzylou

The Harry Potter series is a cultural phenomenon. Since the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in 1997, the books have collectively sold around 450 million copies. Meanwhile, the eight films made about the boy wizard have generated $7.7 million. Even without the huge numbers, the series’ impact is undeniable. Seven years have passed since the final book was published, and three since the final film instalment, yet Potter popularity continues. In 2014, High Street shops are selling Hogwarts-branded merchandise, while universities around the world take part in intervarsity Quidditch matches. If this wasn’t enough, a recent study by an American political science professor has found evidence that Harry Potter has had an even more profound effect on those who read the series growing up. Anthony Gierzynski claims that children who read the Harry Potter books are more tolerant towards others as a result. According to Gierzynski, “reading the books correlated with greater levels of acceptance for out-groups, higher political tolerance, less predisposition to authoritarianism, greater support for equality, and greater

opposition to the use of violence and torture.” It may seem implausible that a book series, no matter how popular, could have such an impact on a person’s views in later life. But, when you consider some of the issues featured in the series, the idea begins to make more sense. Readers are immersed in a world where ‘pure-blood’ characters, such as the Malfoys, show extreme prejudice against Muggle-born witches and wizards. Another inequality, the treatment of magical creatures, is directly addressed by Hermione in the series when she sets up the Society for the Promotion of Elvish Welfare (or S.P.E.W for short). A generation of children read the Harry Potter series, and spent their teen years watching the film adaptations. If ‘Muggle’ is so widely known nowadays that it has its own definition in the Oxford English Dictionary, then perhaps it Source-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter isn’t surprising that other, Alliance was set up in the The HPA have more complex, ideas from US in 2005, and attempts to received support from Rowling’s works have make “activism accessible Evanna Lynch, who played become part of the cultural through the power of story.” Luna Lovegood in the film consciousness of today’s Addressing everything from series, and even J.K. Rowling twenty-somethings – ideas human rights and equality herself, who has donated like tolerance and equality. issues to promoting literacy, signed books to auction for While most millenthe HPA uses Rowling’s the HPA’s various campaigns. nials might not make a books as inspiration for their The group have raised connection between their campaigns. They have even over $150,000 to reinvest favourite books and their directly tackled Warner Bros., in equality initiatives, and attitudes towards marginthe studio behind the Harry during their most recent “Acalised groups, others have Potter films, on their use of cio Books!” drive, members actively drawn parallels non-Fair Trade chocolate in donated more than 30,000 between the real injustices the Chocolate Frogs sold at books to children’s literacy of today and the fantasy ills the Harry Potter Studio Tour charities. of Rowling’s magical world. and the Wizarding World For the HPA, success The Harry Potter theme park in Orlando. is “showing [young people]

around the world how to apply the themes of their favourite stories to important issues in the real world.” But, if Gierzynski’s research is to be believed, this is already happening. Millennials are already applying Harry Potter thinking to the real world – even if they aren’t aware of it.

Media refuse to dance to ISIS tune Rory Carson Contributor

“On Friday a decent, caring human being was murdered in cold blood. Our thoughts are with his family. He was killed, on camera, for the sole purpose of propaganda. Here is the news, not the propaganda.” That was the headline from The Independent on Sunday 5th October, in the wake of Alan Henning’s brutal beheading at the hands of the terrorist organization known as Islamic State. A deluge of images, videos and movies produced by ISIS have dominated the web since the organisation began its propaganda campaign back in June. But with their refusal to publish the images from Alan Henning’s beheading The Independent and The Sun, who both adopted a similar approach, fought back in the propaganda war being waged between IS and the rest of

the world. ISIS has presented Western media outlets with a difficult problem. Journalists and media co-operations have a responsibility to report the truth and inform the public. That includes reporting on atrocities, mass genocides and murders. However, this responsibility does not include giving oxygen to brutal, callous and dangerous terrorist organizations. ISIS is responsible for arguably the most sophisticated propaganda campaign in history. They use various social platforms, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, to promote their message of hate. This message manifests itself through various images, videos and movies streamed onto the Internet on a daily basis. They have a bank balance of an estimated £200 million and have invested it in producing professionally made videos, equipped with top-of-the-range graph-

ics, logos and slow motion effects, depicting murders, bombings and declaration of war against Western countries. Videos and movies include French, German and English subtitles and directly target countries outside of the Middle East. The only way Western media should respond is by following the example set by ‘The Independent.’ ISIS has three clear objectives: to create fear and terror throughout the world, to provoke a reaction from Western countries in the Middle East, and finally to entice new recruits to join their forces. All three are working. ISIS brutality is dominating Western consciousness, bombing has been ongoing in the Middle East by the United States and her allies for the past two weeks and citizens from countries involved in the bombings have departed to join ISIS forces. Every time media outlets publish links to videos or display images

of ISIS fighters engaged in terrorist activities, they unwittingly aid ISIS. Therefore, The Independent’s refusal to publish ISIS propaganda serves to limit the control and power they have over societies outside of the Middle East. The other major problem with sharing this propaganda is that it makes them seem more powerful than they are. Yes, ISIS are a terrorist organization whose intent is to kill, but their support base is relatively small. Terrorism expert JM Berger suggests that ISIS carefully planned and coordinated strategy is designed to magnify the group’s message and make it look stronger than it really is. They have the same number of online supporters Jabhat al-Nusra, a relatively unknown branch of Al-Qaeda also active in Syria. With only an estimated 25,000 supporters, and noting the recent territory lost to the Kurds, it appears

that they are not as ‘all-conquering’ as their propaganda suggests. It remains clear that, despite their recent rise to prominence, the murderous reign of ISIS is not sustainable. In order to hasten its demise the press must follow the example set by ‘The Independent’ and ‘The Sun,’ and choose not to breathe life into terrorist organizations.

Friday 14th November 2014

The Gown

Features

Jim Wells courts controversy in latest remarks on abortion Deborah Dawson Contributor

Recently appointed Minister for Health, Jim Wells caused controversy when he stated in an interview with BBC News NI that he will allow his religious beliefs to influence his approach to policies on abortion. His comments have heightened discussion about abortion policy in the province, which differs from the rest of the UK. Unlike the rest of the United Kingdom, the 1967 Abortion Act does not apply to women in Northern Ireland. Instead, policy dates back to the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act and the 1945 Criminal Justice Act, which carries a life sentence for illegal termina-

tions. Legal terminations include those due to the mother’s life being at risk, or if permanent damage to an individual’s mental or physical health is detected. According to the BBC, more than 1000 women annually travel to other parts of the UK in order to obtain abortions. The law established here does not allow abortion in cases of foetal abnormality, or in cases of sexual violence, rape or incest. Wells expressed this opinion during Radio Ulster’s Steven Nolan Show in 2012: “That is a tragic and difficult situation but should the ultimate victim of that terrible act [rape] – which is the unborn child – should he or she also be punished for what has happened by having their life terminated? No.” Wells goes on to say “these instances [demand for abortion under circumstances of rape] are

extremely rare in Northern Ireland”. Regardless of the rarity of the situation, there have been reported instances of this stance being highly damaging to victims of rape. In the Republic of Ireland this summer, despite The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act (January 2014), a woman was denied the right to an abortion despite having been raped and at risk of suicide. After going on hunger strike, the child was delivered prematurely at 25 weeks and put into the care of the state. The woman in question could not travel to seek abortion elsewhere because of her immigration status, but given the ruling by the High Court in London denying Northern Irish women the right to free NHS abortions, one does not have to look hard to see similar obstacles standing in the way of women this side of the

border. Amnesty International focuses directly on NI in their paper, ‘Guidance on the Termination of Pregnancy in Northern Ireland,’ stating that abortion to prevent physical or mental health issues and in cases of sexual violence, rape or incest is “in line with international human rights standards”. Policies which do not permit abortion under these terms, as exists in NI, are in direct opposition to human rights laws and are highly damaging, as seen in ROI this August. The impact of religious views influencing abortion policy is dangerous, as it abdicates the individual’s right of choice. Since Wells’ comment, Justice Minister, David Ford, has launched a Public Consultation which will continue through January 2015. Reactions to the consultation have

been mixed but, as a recent poll published by Amnesty shows, 70% of Northern Ireland agrees to change in abortion policy. This is corroborated by similar figures coming from the rest of the UK in support of change. These figures deem the religious principles behind current abortion laws to be out of touch and not representative of the voting public. However, should majority or popular opinion be the deciding factor when policy is already in direct violation of human rights laws? Surely the fact politicians allow religion to shape policy should be enough of a disservice to instigate change.

Channel 4’s Paedophile Hunter : vigilante justice or dangerous undermining of the law? Laura Fulton Contributor

Channel 4 has never shied away from tackling taboo topics. Captivating its audience with unconventional documentaries such as the ‘Sex Education Show,’ ‘My Big Fat Fetish,’ and ‘My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding’, their latest creation seems to be no different when it comes to its sense of controversy and intrigue. ‘Paedophile Hunter,’ which aired 1st October, saw online predators exposed by Stinson Hunter and his associates, who posed as underage girls and boys on social networking sites. Once caught out, Hunter passed along the evidence of their criminal activity to police, as well as posting it online. In fact, despite the questionability of Hunter’s methods, he has achieved moderate success, uncovering between sixty and seventy perverts and triggering the convictions of ten. The question, however, is not whether Hunter’s approach is successful, but whether

should he be attempting to bring about what he decides to be justice at all. Hunter claims that all of his actions are within the law. He, along with his associates, exercise a policy of “no hostility,” and never entice potential criminals into sending incriminating messages or images. He says that “if they choose to take the rope and hang themselves, it’s their choice.” Indeed, it does appear that the individuals targeted are all too willing to expose themselves as paedophiles. After arranging to meet for sex with who they believe to be underage, the individuals are startled to find themselves face-to-face with Hunter, who then reveals his intentions to deliver the details of their messages to the police. Twitter users were divided over the issue. Some posted praise for Hunter and his team, criticising the lack of policing of online grooming and expressing their satisfaction that these perverts, or “dirty scumbags,” as one Twitter user described them, were being found out. Others held more legalistic opinions, asserting that crime should be left to official bodies of law, and not self-appoint-

Image from stinson-hunter.com

ed “heroes.” Warwickshire Police also affirmed this opinion. Condemning Hunter’s actions, they said that vigilantes of this sort could, “be disrupting criminal investigations and compromising the safety of vulnerable victims who would best be protected by the police.” Even Hunter himself doesn’t condone this kind of activity. He said, “It might be irresponsible, but if I can help one person not be hurt, then it’s worth it and I’m prepared to take the fall for it.” The most extreme case to come about from this vigilante ‘justice’ is

the suicide of a 45-yearold man Hunter exposed online. Michael Parks was arrested in May 2013, on suspicion of agreeing to meet for sex with who he believed was a twelveyear-old girl. After the arrest and public exposure, Parks committed suicide a month later. His ex-partner, though not attempting to justify Parks’ behaviour, expressed her disapproval of Hunter’s actions. She raised questions of whether Hunter copycats would go on to enact unlawful and perhaps violent judgement on those they deem criminals. Additionally, she criticised his lack of

training and the irresponsibility of this activity. She said that “he had no idea that Michael had a history of mental health problems. I mean, God forgive, that Michael had our son the day [he killed himself ] and decided to take his son with him.” Regardless of this, Hunter remains steadfast in his convictions. He says, “I want [people] to focus on what I’m saying and what’s going on and what your kids are doing online – given the current climate with Rotherham. I want change, I want the government to do something.”

Friday 14th November 2014

The Gown

Arts

The Gown provides reviews of the must see theatre, cinema and music events for the coming weeks

Loud and Local - Down To Level

Down To Level Laura Shields Arts & Entertainment Editor

Down To Level are a five-piece alt-rock band from Belfast. In their younger years the outfit revelled in funk rock rhythms before honing their driving guitar riffs for a powerhouse sound. I met with Chris Byrne (Guitar/Backing Vocals), Stephen Cassidy (Lead Vocals), Sophie Loughran (Bass/Backing Vocals), Jamie Loughran (Drums) and Gavin Kennedy (Guitar) to talk about their musical progression and a new release. Firstly, give us some background. Where did Down To Level begin? Chris: We wrote our first EP [Bounce] 2 or 3 years ago now.

Gavin: Some of us were only 15. Stephen: I remember sitting in the music hallway writing those songs. Chris: We had our first gig and we decided, “Yeah, we need a name”. We literally had a full page of suggestions. Muse was already taken so we just narrowed it down to which sound[ed] the coolest so we settled on Down To Level. It wasn’t a great list to be honest. Sophie: We had like 3 days to go so we needed something. Chris: Desperate times call for… Jamie: Desperate names! Your latest song, “Chains On Me” has a different feel than those early Bounce tracks. Was there

a conscious decision to change your sound or was it a natural progression? Chris: It just sort of happened really. Jamie: We are can’t write a new song and then go back on ourselves. Gavin: I think it was due to our own influences. I was heavily in to Red Hot Chili Peppers so that’s maybe where the more funky stuff came from but now we as a band respond to different influences. Sophie: Everything is much more refined now. We know what we are feeling and what we want to contribute. So can we expect some new Down To Level release soon? Chris: We are actually recording at the minute. We were down at the studio last week just putting stuff together. It’s our mate’s house. He runs a studio but he just so happens to be a mate as well so we are just going up to him. It’s in a garage with like pizza boxes everywhere. Me and Gavin have been writing loads of stuff lately. We have like an albums worth of stuff so as soon as we are done with this one, we will just be focusing on the next thing! Gavin: This new EP

will be a lot more defined. From the first song to the last song, you will know it is us. The Bounce EP has stuff coming from different areas but with this new one we are a lot more focused so we are really looking forward to releasing it. So gone are the days of funky bass-lines and party tunes. Can you give us an idea of what the new Down To Level sound is? Gavin: Our old stuff very riff-y. This one has different time signatures, different choruses so it’s really exciting. We are trying to mix it up a bit. I think this new EP will be a great taster for what we are really becoming. Stephen: Lyrically I really like [unreleased track] “Hero” which will be on the new EP. I sat down and really thought about the lyrics with it. Chris: Well that’s good to know! Hopefully we will have a launch late November/December all being well. Sophie: Definitely before Christmas. Jamie: Gavin, guess what you’re getting for Christmas? Find Down To Level on Facebook, Twitter and Bandcamp for music and news.

Gig Review: Jake Bugg at the Odyssey Arena, Belfast Laura Fulton Contributor

Jake Bugg has come a long way from signing with Mercury Records at only 17 years old. In 2014 alone, the solemn alternative songwriter has been nominated for Best Solo Artist at the NME awards, British Male Solo Artist at the Brits, and contributed to the soundtrack of one of the year’s highest grossing films, The Fault in Our Stars. With the front of the stage already crowded with eager fans it is strange to think that only a few years ago Bugg was relatively unknown, just starting out his career at Glastonbury’s “Introducing” stage. All at once, the soft music filtering through the PA system is dropped, and the dimly lit stage goes dark. The crowd surge forward and the support act appears on stage. Southern, a brother-sister duo from Belfast,

begin with enthusiastic greetings and quickly get their moody, bluesy set under way. Thom and Lucy Southern are relatively lively. The duo makes use of the stage around them, but don’t disrupt their cool exterior. Even while playing dynamic rhythms and jaunty melodies in songs like “Just Think About It” and “World Don’t Shine” they manage to keep it up. Compared to Bugg, however, Southern are downright energetic. The crowd bellows and shrieks as the English indie rocker comes on stage. Under the opening lights he is a stoic figure - and remains a stoic figure until the very end. Of course, Bugg and his band are incredibly talented - the entire show is nearly “album” perfect. Opening with “Messed Up Kids” from 2013’s Shangri La, Bugg begins on an upbeat note. The song gathers momentum as the audience howls it back to the band. The rock rhythms contin-

ue with Oasis and Hendrix inspired tracks, “Seen It All” and “Trouble Town” from Bugg’s debut self-titled album. The mood settles and the band move off stage, leaving Bugg alone with his guitar and a single spotlight. Still, his expression remains unchanging. There is no chitchat with the audience other than to announce a new song or express a quiet “thank you”. The acoustic set which follows is sincere and moving. It begins with a new song, “Down the Avenue”, which has a haunting melody and thoughtful lyrics: “The skies never looked so tall/ And the clouds are all misplaced.” By the time Bugg plays his final acoustic song, “Slide”, arms are extended, while lighters and phones sway to the soulful sound. Bugg finishes on the high note that is his debut single, “Lightning Bolt”. The driving track receives a unique lights show in time to its beats

and Bugg is echoed word for word by his faithful audience. Yet throughout this fast-paced piece, he retains his sombre expression. No encore and no chanting for one. Once “Lightning Bolt” comes to its end, Bugg thanks the crowd and exits. House lights go up, people disperse and it seems as though Bugg has not smiled once during the entire performance. Despite his withdrawn stage presence, this 20-year old is somewhat redeemed by his musical talents. His performance is well-polished, just maybe a little too much.

Gown About Town by Laura Shields Theatre: Unhome: 11th - 22nd November at The MAC. Mistletoe and Crime: 22nd November – 11th January at the Lyric. Sleeping Beauty: 5th December- 4th January at the Lyric. Films: The Imitation Game: 14th – 27th November at Queen’s Film Theatre. The Intimidation: 14th November. Major Cinema Release. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1: 21st November. Major Cinema Release. The Drop: 21st – 27th November at Queen’s Film Theatre. Gigs: Twenty One Pilots: 17th November at Mandela Hall. La Roux: 19th November at Limelight 1. Mastodon: 20th November at Limelight 1. Ballet School: 22nd November at Voodoo. Arts: C.S Lewis Festival: 20th – 23rd November. (For full listing visit www.communitygreenway. co.uk/CSLewisFestival) Outburst Queer Arts Festival: 14th- 22nd November. (For full listings visit http://outburstarts.com ) New Art New Nature, Irish and International Art 1945-2014: 10th October – 28th June at the Ulster Museum. Costumes Parisiens: 13th June- 30th November at Ulster Museum. Order and Revolution: 27th June – 26th April at the Ulster Museum. Answer the Call: First World War Posters: 23rd May – 10th May at the Ulster Museum.

Friday 14th November 2014

The Gown

Arts

Film review: Serena Laura Sproule Contributor

Set in the mountainous region of North Carolina during the Depression era, Serena is a film firmly focused on the darker side of the human psyche. What starts off as a tale of love, hope and passion quickly spirals into one of jealousy, greed and violence. The film sees Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper reunited for a third outing, this time under Danish director Susanne Bier (of “In A Better World” and “Love Is All You Need”). However, the tone and pace of the piece is vastly different from their previous work together. In Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle director David O’Russell perfectly encapsulated two of Hollywood’s brightest and most vivacious stars, whereas here Bier’s attempt to recreate their previous magic falls a little flat. Although entitled Serena the story actually follows the perspective of

Poster from impawards.com

George Pemberton (Cooper), the owner of a struggling timber business. He meets and quickly marries the effervescent Serena (Lawrence), a beautiful but wounded woman, and from here the plot meanders around various obstacles such as disproving business partners, an attempt to shut down the timber operation and copious allegorical references to panthers and snakes before settling on the central tension of the film. The self-loathing, possessiveness and guilt that trouble the central characters throughout erupt into a climax, aided and abetted by the mysterious and not altogether likeable Galloway (Rhys Ifans). It is clear from the offset that despite her directorial clout Bier has no firm idea of how to marry the glamour of her two leading actors with the hopeless and barren setting of the film. Indeed the darker elements and the descent of Lawrence’s character from quietly damaged to fully malevolent are all that really give the film its real definition.

Were it not for Lawrence’s ability to be entirely captivating in the full spread of her character’s passionately emotional arc, it is dubious as to whether the film would resonate at all. Yet Serena is, in its own way, a masterpiece. Slow to build and heavily poetic, it is a film to be appreciated not enjoyed. The plot is very much internally focused and at no time alludes to the hope of a happy resolution. Whilst this is in many ways a welcome relief for those fed up with the Marvel offerings that have littered cinematic listings recently, for viewers who have little care for social and psychological realism it will hit a bum note.

Ulster Orchestra in crisis Claire Louise Mallon Contributor

Since its conception in 1966, the Ulster Orchestra has provided a service to the public and enriched the culture of Northern Ireland. However, with funding vastly diminishing, the musical collective is now facing extinction. The Ulster Orchestra is the only existing professional Symphony Orchestra in Northern Ireland and has often been described as a “cultural cornerstone”. Throughout their history, the Orchestra have participated in cultural events such as Northern Ireland Opera, Derry/Londonderry City of Culture and just this year the Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s. From their base in the Ulster Hall, their symphonies have toured Europe, Asia and America, reaching an audience of up to 100,000 people a year. The Ulster Orchestra’s mission is “to enrich people’s lives regionally, nationally and internationally through excellence in performance, ed-

Image from ulsterorchestra.com

ucation and community engagement, and creative collaborations across the arts.” In addition to regular concert performances, the Orchestra is involved in music education, visiting schools and providing children with the opportunity to get involved with classical music. In a recent tweet, the Ulster Orchestra pro-

vided information on their funding for the upcoming year; “UO doesn’t get £4m in subsidy. We get £1.8m from Arts Council Northern Ireland [ACNI] for all activities + £638k to supply music to the BBC for up to 28 concerts/ year.” Initial cuts were faced in March 2011 and since this initial slash in funding, grants from the

ACNI and the BBC have been cut by a total of 28%. As these grants constitute the entirety of the Orchestra’s sponsorship, the latest news leaves the group in a state of crisis. It has been estimated that by March 2015 the Ulster Orchestra will face a deficit of £400k. This deficit, combined with the in-year cut of 4 per-

cent from ACNI will eradicate the Ulster Orchestra’s reserve. The Belfast Telegraph reported that in a meeting with NI21 MLA Basil McCrea the speculation that “unless the orchestra receives assurances [of funding] by November 15, it would cease to exist,” was affirmed revealing the precariousness of the Ulster Orchestra’s future. Immense public support for the Ulster Orchestra has been summarised in a congratulatory statement, “We have set up our petition it has just shy of 3,500 signatures from all around the world. We have set up our twitter account, we have 500 followers and support is growing. Our Facebook group has 4250 members… You are incredible. Thank you for uniting and for helping us to #SaveTheUlsterOrchestra.” This huge amount of support is promising yet the future of the group of professional musicians who have been delighting audiences for almost 50 years remains uncertain.

Friday 14th November 2014

The Gown

Arts

Build it up to burn it down: Derry/Londonderry “Temple” project Laura Shields Arts & Entertainment Editor @LauraShields86

Burning Man veteran, David Best, is set to bring his work to Northern Ireland. The artist who builds huge wooden temples will construct his latest project in the Waterside area of Derry/Londonderry in March 2015. In conjunction with the Artichoke Trust, Best and the local community will create a beautiful structure to tower over the city before it is ceremoniously burnt down. A Kickstarter campaign has been launched to raise the £30,000 needed to stage this monumental arts event. The Artichoke Trust has recognised that there is a tradition of bonfire building in Northern Ireland which has often been criticised for dividing communities, at times along sectarian lines. As these bonfires reach new heights, concern has been raised about their safety and negative environmental impact. Best and Artichoke seek to quash these associa-

Image by Luke Szczepański

tions by inviting both sides of the community to participate in the creation of a safe and inclusive space. The hugely popular Burning Man festival which is set in the middle of Nevada’s Black Rock Desert has featured eight of Best’s temples. Here the temples feed into the festival’s celebration of art, self-reliance and freedom of expression. Visitors to the temple decorate the walls with letters and mementos. When the structure is burnt, these notes go with them in a hopeful ceremony. David believes that, “to fully let go of the past, nothing physical can be left behind”. Given Derry/Londonderry’s divided past, David’s words take on a new poignancy. The idea is that “Temple” will allow those involved to look to the future and move on. The temple will be constructed from recycled wood, cut into intricate designs by young people at the Nerve Centre’s “Fablab”. Here they will be trained in Computer

Aided Design. Further educational opportunities will also be provided through a backto-work scheme, apprenticeships and voluntary training. The entire structure should take two weeks to build. It will then open to the public who are invited to leave their own messages on the walls. A week later, “Temple” will be burnt to the ground. Partners include the aforementioned Nerve Centre along with the Department for Employment and Learning and the Waterside Neighbourhood Partnership. Support for the project has come from a range of sources thus far, including the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Community Relations Council. This will be the second Artichoke Trust project in Derry/ Londonderry. “Temple” will follow 2013’s “Lumiere” festival which saw over 180,000 people turn out to follow a magical “nocturnal trail of lights” as Derry/Londonderry ended its run as City of Culture.

want to] explore what is on these edges and who are the other people on the margins”. Asides from this year’s Queer Arts Festival, the registered charity organisation also hosts “queer creative projects and events” throughout the year. These encompass a tour of Northern Ireland which will see “Damage” reach a wider audience after its Belfast premiere on November 14th. Furthermore, Outburst

also nurtures a community performance group known as “The Queerlings” who will perform on the opening night in “The Queerlings with Le Gateau Chocolat”. The group consists of those new to performing as well as experienced artists, a crucial continual part in the mission to develop Queer Arts in Northern Ireland. Full listings and ticket information can be found at outburstarts.com.

Outburst Queer Arts Festival Laura Shields Arts & Entertainment Editor @LauraShields86

The 8th annual Outburst Queer Arts Festival is once again “boldly going” to new and exciting places as it continues to challenge notions of what it means to identify as LGBT. Festival Director Ruth McCarthy states that the main problem for LGBTQ people in Northern Ireland is not always or often homophobia, rather it is invisibility. The bold and progressive arts performances that will grace the city from November 14th-22nd seek to rectify this. In venues across Belfast a range of exciting film, theatre and visual arts projects will invite celebration of what is different about us all. Ahead of this year’s Festival, The Gown spoke with McCarthy, who believes 2014 to be one of the strongest programmes ever. With a number of plays and films premiering during the 8 day arts event, it is sure to be something special. So special in fact that a number of performances have sold out, including David Hoyle’s “Queer History Tour” and Panti’s “High Heels in Low Places”. A premiering piece that is still available (for now…) is Patrick J. O’Reilly’s “Damage”. Originally developed through the MAC’s Artist in Residence programme, “Damage” deals with the effects of the so-called “gay cure” in a provocative piece of theatre in three intimate

Dickie Beau’s Blackouts, The Queer Arts Festival

performances. For lovers of vintage Hollywood icons, Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland, “Blackouts: Twilight of the Idols” is not to be missed. The stunning performance focuses on drag artist Dickie Beau, who channels the ghosts of his aforementioned childhood silver screen heroes. With exclusive access to Monroe’s final interview before her death in 1962 and to Garland’s audio notes for a memoir

that never materialised, the moving piece considers exile from both the society and self. In essence Outburst is a community with a goal; to facilitate the sharing of LGBT stories and experiences but also to challenge ideas of what it is to identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender. The idea of “queer-ness” is wholly embraced as McCarthy explains; “Queer people have always been on the edge a bit. [We

Friday 14th November 2014

The Gown

Arts

QUB Jobs changing to September Recruitment Belfast Kylie Noble Editor @Noble_Kylie

In April 2012, Paul Walsh, then a final year student of Geography at QUB, set up a voluntary service ‘QUB Jobs’, aimed at helping fellow students gain part-time work and graduate employment. For close to 3 years now he has continued the service despite no longer being a student. Mr Walsh makes no money from his enterprise, but relishes in being able to help students find work. “It’s been heart warming to hear success stories. One student told me that after graduating

from their masters, my page helped them land their first job and another said they thought QUB Jobs was of more use than the careers service at Queen’s” commented Paul. QUB Jobs is being forced to change its’ format after amassing over 5000 followers since April 2012. Last year a motion put forward to SU Council seeking to close all pages using Queen’s name in the title, specifically mentioning QUB Jobs. Yet Mr Walsh has discovered that on this occasion it is Facebook who are behind the demands for a changed format. “I have to say that a warning message popping up to limit QUB Jobs wasn’t

much of a surprise. I have been waiting on it for 2 years in all honesty. It’s a new Facebook clamp down on people running sites or business off peronsal Facebook accounts. I’m not even sure if you could even have run this off a page 3 years ago. A profile was the only option when we launched.” QUB Jobs has been operating from a personal profile page in which you could add QUB Jobs as a friend. A sister profile QUB Grad Jobs is still running as per normal. “I was forced to rename QUB Jobs-so I chose a memorable cartoon character, Pat Pending, in order to keep the account open. However effective

immediately all QUB Jobs and QUB Grad Jobs services are operating under Facebook Search “September Recruitment Belfast” which opens our doors to being able to attract additional students from all HE & FE bodies, members and young people who seek local centraised jobs in an easy form.” Despite the recent setbacks Mr Walsh is optimistc of the future of his career service. “We are upping our game by adding research group mini jobs, offering more grad jobs and expanding our offering of jobs a little further than Belfast. We are on track to have 1000 members migrated to this new page

by the end of this week. The fight still goes on and all services continue as normal, but under a new name. We are approching 2015 with lots of extra service, no limits on what we can post and with an increased presence in this city. Thank you to anyone who has been a part of this over the past few years and please get in touch if you want to chat or contribute” remarked Mr Walsh.

Friday 14th November 2014

The Gown

Lifestyle

Chanel – wearing feminism this catwalk season French fashion icons, turned feminist? Julie Adams Contributor

Chanel. The single word that so beautifully encapsulates iconic, French design. Exalted for her classic, feminine minimalism, Coco Chanel is celebrated as a pioneer within women’s fashion. The innovative fusion of wearable elegance has created a range of apparel and cosmetics which are coveted by women throughout the world. Once again the world’s media scrambled to the front rows of Paris’ Fashion Week to shed light on the latest creations to grace the catwalks. Contrary to Stella McCartney’s recent controversial comments about the harsh and unattractive nature of a “strong woman”, this season’s Chanel show was interlaced with the theme of feminism and the celebration of women. Chanel’s models sauntered down the catwalk in Paris donning t-shirts and Pankhust-esk signs reading, “Boys should get pregnant too!” and “Be your own stylist!” The slogan clad entourage consisted of some of the heavyweights of the modelling industry such as Cara Delevigne and Gisele – all led by the Chanel deity that is Karl Lagerfeld. Some onlookers cried incredulity about the authenticity of the message in the wake of Largerfeld’s infamous

Source: marieclaire.com

comments about singer Adele being “a little too fat”. With recent high profile media figures such as Emma Watson and Jennifer Lawrence stepping out to declare the new era of feminism, critics suggested a tactical publicity move from Lagerfeld. An effective rebranding strategy by clawing onto the recently fashionable concept of female empowerment. The fashion industry is therefore undoubtedly one of most potent ways of delivering such a powerful message to the masses, as the collections

form the foundations upon which the podiums of mass consummation are built upon. Our high streets and glossy publications are filled with accessible forms of the creations which designers like Chanel create. This however gives rise to the crucial question – Does this accurately represent feminism? Post-catwalk, the internet was filled with distaste for the campaign’s almost parody like messages. Phrases such as, “Make fashion not war”, being more accurately placed on a playful, teen t-shirt opposed to

the intended purpose of making a socio-political statement. Once again with the fashion industry, the use of predominately thin, white woman failed to represent the vast amounts of female minorities that are so often the most heavily oppressed within society. Political issues occupying the sphere of women’s rights such as female genital mutation and abortion law benefited very little from the preppy messages of girl power “pour tous!” doused throughout the Paris Fashion Week.

Chanel have to be commended on their attempt to bring gender equality into the public eye in such an accessible and palatable way, but perhaps their approach has proved too whimsical and hungry of column inches to be regarded as a serious contender for change within the feminist movement.

Amnesty International NI launch #mybodymyrights Kylie Noble Editor @Noble_Kylie

1861; this was the year the Offences against the Person Act was passed in the United Kingdom. Section 58 of the Offences against the Person Act reads: “Every woman, being with child, who, with intent to procure her own miscarriage, shall unlawfully administer to herself any poison or other noxious thing, or shall unlawflly use any instrument or other means whatsoever with the like intent, and whosoever, with intent to procure the miscarriage of

any woman whether she be or be not with child, shall unlawfully administer to her or cause to be taken whatsoever with the like intent, shall be guilty of felony, and being convicted thereof shall be liable...to be kept in penal servitude for life.” 2014; under this law women in Northern Ireland could still be imprisoned for life for having an abortion. Northern Ireland is the only region of the United Kingdom in which the 1967 Act was not passed. Women living here seeking abortions have few options. To travel to the mainland and pay for the termination can cost as much as

£2000. Pills bought from Women on Web, and abortion services privately bought at the Marie Stopes Clinic, can only be administered up to nine weeks. On 21st October, Amnesty Northern Ireland launched their #MyBodyMyRights campaign in the MAC, aimed at alterating abortion law in Northern Ireland to allow abortion in cases of rape, incest and foetal abnormalities. At the launch, Grainne Teggart, Northern Ireland Campaigner, illustrated that indpendent research carried out by Millward Brown Ulster showed strong public support for reformed

abortion laws. The research found that 69% of people think abortion should be legal when pregnancy is the result of rape, 68% of people support abortion being legal when pregnancy is the result of incest and 60% of people think abortion should be allowed where the foetus has a fatal abnormality. The Northern Ireland Department of Justice is currently consulting on reforming the law to provide access to abortion in cases of fatal foetal abnormality, rape and other criminal sexual activity. The public consultation on abortion legislation will close next

January. Ellie Drake, NUS-USI women’s officer, spoke at a plenary on abortion rights in Northern Ireland, at the Amnesty International Student Conference in London on 2 November.

Friday 14th November 2014

The Gown

Lifestyle

The Rise of e-cigarettes Its growth and the concerns around its effects remain unanswered. Kathryn McElhatton Contributor

The swift rise of the electronic e-cigarette; otherwise known as ‘vaping’, has raised a diverse amount of social, economic and ethical worldwide discussions. So why have over two million people in the UK taken up the ‘e-cig’? On a basic level, it has been regarded as a ‘healthier’ alternative to smoking the traditional cigarette, but could this device be a new cultural trend? People of all ages are taking up vaping; from teens to the elderly. It has also been reported that young people, who have yet to try traditional smoking, have started using the e-cigarette, therefore this device has been viewed as gateway to smoking cigarettes. For some, particularly the youth, the ‘cool’ vibe that surrounds smoking may be more prevalent than ever.

Regardless of the individual’s choice in using the e-cigarette, do users really consider the long-term permanent effects it may have? In relation to the unknown chemicals that are yet to be fully tested, Glenn Thomas, of the World Health Organisation, has spoken out for a need in more extensive research. He stated, “We still need more research to know and understand what sort of impact on health and people these e cigarettes are having.” This position has put the e-cigarette in an unknown realm where the history of traditional cigarettes could be replicated. In the past, smoking was a glamorised part of everyday life. It was even believed that it was healthy and cleared the lungs out. Within a century, the popular phenomenon has been transformed from a fashionable social activity to one associated with danger and potential risk. Could it be that

within this next decade that we discover longterm health implications from the e-cigarette? Of course there is no real way of knowing this instantly; however people seem happy to take the risk. What we do know is that it is in fact a healthier alternative to smoking, so for those seeking to quit the cigarette, the e-cigarette is a ‘way out’ of smoking and benefits them. Instead the real issue is that children and young teens may end up developing nicotine addictions from the e-cig. Due to the plunge of tobacco sales, tobacco companies may want to regain control of this prevalent market; so some argue they’ve created a new device labelled with a ‘healthy’ stamp. Internationally its usage has been banned in public places; for instance LA City Council has banned them in restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Although the UK has yet to go to such

extremes, national and global companies such as Wetherspoons and McDonalds have banned usage on their premises. This may all simply stem from fear of the unknown, which will inevitably create sceptic responses. It may be too late to completely dispose of the e-cigarette. Within the last year, the Welsh Government was deliberating over seeking to ban its use in public places. However, as fatally shown in Spain, an outright ban of its usage in public areas resulted in a 70% decline in use, and encouraged

traditional smoking again. The current situation seems to be uncertain for smokers in the UK. They’re aware of the dangers of traditional smoking so have turned to the e-cigarette as a healthier solution, yet they have governments and companies questioning, scorning and even banning its usage in certain places. Therefore, until it is fully known that the e-cigarette is a completely positive solution to the smoking epidemic, its growth and the concerns around its effects remain unanswered.

Secondary Breast Cancer: standup in pink for more awareness Chantelle Frampton Lifestyle Editor @frampy_93

Breast cancer fundraising and awareness is very much at the forefront of media at the minute. With October being Breast Cancer Awareness month, people all over the UK have been raising money through various means so that this disease becomes history. However, metastatic breast cancer (more commonly known as secondary breast cancer) is relatively unknown among the public despite it claiming the lives of approximately 1000 women a month in the UK alone. So what exactly is secondary breast cancer? Well it is when breast cancer spreads to other parts of the body. Even though it may have spread around the body, it is still known as breast cancer. Chris Askew, the chief executive at Breakthrough Breast Cancer, stated “it is worrying that the public is unaware of how serious breast cancer really is […] This doesn’t

have to be a disease that kills, however, without more support, more awareness, more funding and more research, breast cancer will continue to be one of the UK’s biggest killers.” Breast Cancer Care has been working incredibly hard to raise awareness about secondary breast cancer. They dedicated a specific day during Breast Cancer Awareness month dedicated to those suffering the condition. Their webpage is filled with information about all aspects of secondary breast cancer. This not only helps patients but also their families in understanding how to live comfortably with the condition. With polls and questions about secondary breast cancer circulating, it has become apparent that patients suffering from this disease receive ‘second-rate’ care. A recent patient survey called “Here and Now” showed the public that those diagnosed with secondary breast cancer feel isolated from those around them,

as well as from others that have breast cancer that has not spread. Campaigner for Breast Cancer Care, Ismena Clout, who lived with breast cancer on and off for ten years and passed in September, stated that secondary breast cancer was “like the forgotten part of the disease. The focus is overwhelmingly centred on primary breast cancer and secondary, with end stages and dying, is largely unspoken about.” A further survey conducted by Breast Cancer Care showed that “the majority of patients coping with the condition where cancer has spread, and can be controlled but not cured – were experiencing pain ranging from severe to constant flu-like symptoms.” This is primarily due to a lack of awareness among patients and healthcare professionals as to what is available to sufferers to make their lives more comfortable. Breast Cancer Care has also stated that palliative care should be offered to more patients in

order to relieve these flulike symptoms. Although this does not cure the disease, it does help patients suffering from pain and sickness to feel more comfortable and able to perform daily tasks e.g. exercising. Presently, 41% of patients are not offered this form of care and a number thought it was only offered to those near the end of their life. Lack of awareness may not be the sole reasoning for this lack of care. Breast Cancer Care has launched a petition to show the government

how improving care for secondary breast cancer is an important issue that needs to be addressed. With a higher awareness and the type of care available secondary breast cancer patients will not be forgotten and be able to, as Ismena Clout stated, “make the most of what life has to offer”. To donate £3 to Breast Cancer Campaign text CURE to 70660 Or to sign Breast Cancer Care’s petition go to www.breastcancercare. org.uk

Friday 14th November 2014

The Gown

Opinions

Sexual consent classes: a step in the right direction? Kaity Hall Opinions Editor @kaity_hall

Sex – It’s a subject that isn’t particularly easy to discuss at the best of times, yet it is one that is unquestionably expected to be understood among young adults. Oxford and Cambridge introducing sexual consent classes however, is a direct challenge to the dominant stereotype of sexually promiscuous, sex savvy students. Our contradicting culture of overtly sexualised images in the media yet a simultaneous tight lipped reluctance for ardent conversation on the topic of sex has directly translated into problems for young people.

On the one hand it is appealing to forge an attitude of flippancy towards sex in order perhaps to fit in when there is a culture across campuses that promotes it, yet it is ultimately one that is having unnerving outcomes. Cases of rape and sexual assault on university campuses have been making headlines a great deal lately. Emma Sulkowicz, a Columbia University student and rape victim, has been carrying her mattress to all of her classes in a bid to attain justice by convincing the university to expel the rapist. American university culture thrives upon ‘frats’ or ‘fraternities’, the men who

join these fraternities are, according to CNN, three times more likely to commit rape. It seems the UK’s equivalent of fraternities is the LAD culture of booze, misogyny and casual sex. Having this as a positive social life to strive for within a university culture where minds are supposed to be broadened as opposed to narrowed is a sobering insight. Indeed, NUS research conducted has identified that 50 per cent of participants in a study on university culture confirmed that “prevailing sexism, ‘laddism’ and a culture of harassment” is evident at their universities. Oxford and Cambridge introducing sexual

consent classes therefore is a step in the right direction of forming a response to the harrowing social ideals of sex, relationships and gender stereotypes that are ultimately being formed by students themselves through LAD culture. These classes aren’t a patronising recap on sex education, they are about starting a positive and open discussion about sex, relationships and what constitutes sexual consent. As Charlotte Hempstead, women’s rep for St. Hugh’s University of Oxford has outlined ‘...we are discussing showing respect for your partner in all instances of intimacy. That was our key “takeaway” - respect your

partner and their needs as well.’ It may be construed as patronising to many but given the harrowing 2010 NUS ‘Hidden Masks’ report that outlines how 68 per cent of respondents had been the victim of ‘one or more kinds of sexual harassment on campus during their time as a student’ it appears to be high time the topic is broached upon and dealt with a sense of maturity. It is the safety of ourselves and those around us that is at the heart of the issue and that is always something to strive for. Hopefully Oxford and Cambridge will inspire other universities to follow in suit.

might find some egg and onion sandwiches to quickly satisfy my hunger, but it does get a little uninspired and boring after the third year of university. There is of course a pretty good pasta salad with pesto and feta cheese to mix things up with, so I usually settle for this (£2 also isn’t bad). However, if I was vegan? Forget about it. Egg in every sandwich (not to mention butter), cheese in the pasta salad and most of the snacks barring the fruit had either yoghurt or chocolate in them. For a university that prides itself on being keen to ‘support on-campus catering’, students with alternative dietary requirements don’t seem to be

adequately catered for. Now let’s take a jaunt to the SU shop. Unless you’re craving a sustaining meal of nuts or crisps, vegans and veggies might be slightly disappointed. Apart from the usual lacklustre egg-and-onion sandwiches, vegetarians may very well go hungry and vegans definitely so. I did spot a nice hummus, beetroot and goats cheese wrap and as much as this was perfect for me, the same cannot be said for my vegan comrades. The Speakeasy bar is definitely catered for the more carnivorous students with the majority of the menu focusing on burgers, chicken wings and meaty

pizzas. There is the usual token vegetarian pizza, but absolutely no vegan options. Believe it or not my vegan friends actually don’t like having to order food followed up with “but without the cheese/butter/ eggs.” Yet most people like to think us herbivores revel in creating awkwardness in the kitchens! If menus were slightly more accommodating we wouldn’t have to be those ‘awkward’ customers. The absolute absence of any vegan options and repetitive and uninspired vegetarian options is a serious disappointment from such an apparently cosmopolitan university. For those who will jump up and down to the chorus of

“then just eat meat/animal products” I surmise only this: I should not have to sacrifice my principles for convenience, especially in an institution which apparently prides itself on its diversity and inclusive principles. From now on I’ll probably continue to either go hungry while I’m at university or spend the extra money in cafes such as Black Bear that like to recognise the existence of alternative diets.

history tells us that the countries that develop fastest, develop themselves rather than wait to be saved by foreign investors. Of course drumming up support for international action for far off regions of the world is hard work (as the lack of media coverage at the beginning of the

outbreak shows). This is due simply to human empathy or lack of it, with those in the West fearing for their own lives rather than the losses of others due to Ebola.

Queen’s: a “cold house” for veggies?

Kerry Campion Contributor

After spending four hours in the McClay before attending a lecture and a tutorial, I want to eat. I want to eat but there is one problem: the university catering for vegetarians/ vegans is dire. My first stop is of course the new Krem set-up in the Peter Froggatt Centre, and as alluring as the soup does smell, I need something a bit more solid. So, I peruse the sandwiches and other more sustainable meal options. Chicken, chicken, and more chicken. Some egg... but wait... it’s with bacon. Every other day I

Why a poor Africa is no longer an option James Smith Contributor

There is, as is the case with many viruses, only one cure for Ebola - and it is money. More specifically, economic growth. It is telling that the World Health Organisation (WHO) recently rejoiced in declaring that Nigeria is officially free of Ebola after six weeks with no new cases, with WHO representative Rui Gama Vaz calling it a “spectacular success story”. Nigeria has the largest economy in Africa and also one of its fastest growing. The outbreak of Ebola that struck Nigeria was admittedly smaller than in other regions but the point still stands – money plays a large part in the antidote. Economic growth means more tax revenues, more tax revenues means more hospitals, better infrastructure and better sanitation. When we compare somewhere like Guinea where

the outbreak originated back in December, which has a per-capita GDP not even a fifth of Nigeria’s, we can see the huge difference economic power can make. It is fascinating that Africa has seen good growth, even in parts such as Sub-Saharan Africa, traditionally seen as a very impoverished region. However, the fact that growth occurred in the sixties and seventies means it has largely been forgotten. If Liberia, the worst hit country, had continued to enjoy the levels of economic growth it had in the seventies, it would have a GDP per capita higher than Nigeria currently has, instead of just a sixth of the size. It is questionable whether the virus would have been as destructive if this had been the case. How to reactivate this growth? Firstly, the outflow of capital from Africa has always exceeded the inflow of foreign aid by a wide

Photo from cdc.gov

margin. Secondly, the political consensus that a small state is best must stop being forced upon developing nations (it is telling that rich nations taking in thirty to forty per cent of national income in taxes demand that poorer nations not do the same). And finally, if growth is to be achieved,

Friday 14th November 2014

The Gown

Sport

In focus: Queen’s Knights Ryan McDowell Sports Editor @dowelly_

The Queen’s Knights cheerleader squad won the award for best sports club last year at Queen’s. The Gown chats with club captain Caitríona Keenan to find out what it means to be a Knight.

For anyone who maybe isn’t familiar with the Queen’s Knights cheerleader squad, tell us a little bit about the club. The Knights is in its fifth year at the university. However it is really only in the past two years that the club has turned around. I would even go to say it is unrecognisable to before. We train hard together and teach girls and guys a completely new skill. We give them opportunities that they never had before. We work hard to compete all over Ireland, the UK and Europe to bring trophies back to the university. We also play hard too with team trips away and the more than occasional social event. The Queen’s Knights won the award for best sports club last year, which must have been a great achievement for everyone involved. What did it mean to win the award? Winning the award, personally, was one of the highlights of last year. Myself and last year’s Captain worked incredibly hard last year to fight the stereotype and give the girls the recognition they deserve as dedicated and committed athletes. Receiving that award from the university really hit home that we had achieved our goals for the

year and changed the face of the club for the better.

Photo from Queen’s Knights facebook page

What would you say it is that differentiates the Knights from other clubs? We are not just a sports club, we’re not just an activity to get involved in while at university. Being part of the Knights means that you are part of a close-knit group of friends, I would even go as far to say that all of the Knights become your family away from home. We train hard together, we go out together, and we study together and take trips together. You aren’t just becoming a champion when you join the Knights, you’re becoming part of a family. The Knights established a partnership with the hugely successful Belfast Trojans, an Irish American football team. How did that come about and how will the experience of getting out there and supporting a local sports team help the club? The Trojans heard about us last year and got in touch. We were hugely flattered and so jumped at the chance to work with an American football team. It has been great for us in terms of publicity, more opportunities to perform and also for widening our group of friends. We recently accompanied the boys to Dublin and supported them while they became All Ireland Champions for the 3rd year in a row, and likewise the guys supported us at our NI Championships last year and cheered us all as we lifted the 1st place trophy. The amount of choreog-

raphy that goes into a routine must be immense, how long does it normally take to get it perfect? With a team of around 35 members you can imagine it gets pretty complicated. Weeks and weeks of planning and choreographing stunts, dance and gymnastics goes into perfecting a 2 and a half minute routine. I would be lying if I said it was easy. The team is so dedicated in playing their part, training 8 hours a week and a crazy 25 hours in the week before a competition. It is no exaggeration when I say that literal blood, sweat and tears go into creating a champions routine.

What sort of experience (if any) does someone need to have to join the club? We welcome both girls and boys ranging from no experience whatsoever to those who have been cheerleaders before. I myself came from a dance history but had never done cheer as a sport before. We tend to attract a lot of people from a gymnastics past as we cater for them through ‘tumbling’ in our routines, as QUB has no gymnastics club itself. But despite what people may initially think, we have no requirements for those wanting to join the club.

Finally, what are your hopes for the club under your captaincy? How can the Knights grow in the future? Last year we won our first ever competition. This year we hope to steal the same title again in Northern Ireland and also take another several trophies home to Queens from Mayo, the UK and Spain. However, even just to match last year’s success and win QUB Sports Club of the Year again would be an honour.

Friday 14th November 2014

The Gown

Sport

Historical victory for “the GAWA” in Euro Hannah Gowdy Contributor

Northern Ireland’s latest triumph, a 2-0 victory over Greece, proved to be a historical win for the Green and White Army on Tuesday 14 October, as the side celebrated winning three consecutive European Championship qualifiers for the first time ever. As well as adding another three points to their tally and defeating the highest-ranked team in the group, the conquest at Athens also marks the second victory away from home in the campaign for ‘the men in green.’ As a result the side go two points clear in Group F, topping the table with a total of 9 points

from an available 9. Their 100% record comes following a 2-0 victory over the Faroe Islands at Windsor Park and a 2-1 win over Hungary in Budapesttheir first away win in four years. Already, their success has matched the sum total of points they earned at their last Euro campaign. Manager Michael O’Neill was also impressed by the figure. “I said to the players if we had six points after four games we’d probably be relatively pleased, now it’s nine from three.” Captain Steven Davis puts their success down to a reduced number of mistakes. “It’s been unbelievable - the performances as a whole in the last campaign weren’t too bad but we weren’t pick-

ing up results, just having errors punished. We seem to have nipped that in the bud this campaign.” Helping to provide their side with a real chance to progress to a first major finals in over 30 years were goal scorers Jamie Ward and Kyle Lafferty. A deflection off Loukas Vyntra put Ward’s shot in the back of the net and in the second half; a break from Lafferty secured the win over Greece for only their second time in history. Despite the 2004 European Championship winners obtaining 76% possession, Northern Ireland were the more clinical of the two teams, with four of their six shots on target in comparison to Greece’s one of eleven. With reason to smile was Kyle Lafferty, having scored in each

game of the campaign so far, as well as being named man of the match in all three. “Kyle has been fantastic in the three games,” claimed O’Neill. “He’s facing international defenders who just can’t handle him.” Scoring his 12th goal for his country, the Fermanagh man was excited about the reality of the opportunity on offer. “We believe we can qualify for Euro 2016 and we have now sent out a massive message to the other nations in the group.” Faithful fans are also beginning to dream about a first European Championship appearance for the side. “We love to sing, we love to dance, in two years’ time we’re going to France!” rang the chorus around the Greek grounds. Co. Down golfer, Rory McIlroy was amongst

those ecstatic at the result, tweeting, “What a result in Greece!!” Northern Ireland are set to continue the campaign in Bucharest next, as they play nearest group rivals Romania on 14 November. A draw would ensure a top table finish for the side over Christmas, bringing them one step closer to achieving the ultimate dream. Manager Michael O’Neill is keeping a hopeful but focused approach moving forward to the next stage. “We just have to continue doing what we’re doing,” he said. “We are doing very well away from home. This is a tight group which I’m convinced will go to the final set of fixtures and we intend to be in the mix for that.”