The Lion - Issue 5 Volume 3

The Great Debate

7

Female Welfare Officer, or Female Welfare Officer?

Ordination

8

A not so Ordinary Ordination...

The Volume 3 Issue 5 20th March 2013 theheythroplion.co.uk

2013 Election Special

Game of Thrones Matt Peach gives his account of the latest cult series.

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Lion

Pink vs Blue Voting now open for Heythrop Students’ Union Elections

Daniel Tripp Acting Editor-in-Chief The election for the 2013/2014 Heythrop Students’ Union Executive is under way. Running for President are Peter O’neil and Jaz Omid, both of whom have undertaken an extensive poster campaign and each attempting to appeal to the the student body in a unique way. Peter O’neil has

focused mainly on his student union experience, and work he has already done for the college. Jaz Omid has focused on providing a fresh outlook and is campaigning as the candidate who cares. For the Vice-Presidential role, Sam English, who has deferred his masters degree to run for office, and Ash Loudhi, integral in various societies around college and in the latest Lokahi ‘Feastival’ event, are again promising two very different things. Sam is stressing that his ex-

perience on previous Unions will allow Heythrop students to maintain a strong presence on the wider student political landscape, and offered incitements such as organizing paid internships for students.

Ash has campaigned for encouraging and facilitating a more diverse union, including the possibility of a new ‘Diversity Officer’ on the Union Executive. She has also focused on various schemes such as an I.O.U system for Freshers’ Week to allow students to go to events they might

not have had the money for otherwise, due to late loan payments. Peter and Ash are running as a team, but tensions did show during SABB interviews undertaken by the Lion when Peter praised Sam English’s skills and experience, while Ash noted that Peter can often act a bit ‘crazy’. Jaz Omid was also questioned on Peter’s somewhat aggressive poster campaign, though aggressive should most likely be exchanged with the word ‘cheeky’, which featured a larger than life

Peter O’neil with a larger than life power-drill noting how the snap frames used by Jaz Omid for her posters had been put up by himself. Jaz Omid handled the question deftly, noting that the frames were put up for students, and as a student she was merely using them for their correct use. All candidates impressed in the interviews, and the Lion leaves it up to our readers to watch the videos online, and decide who deserves your vote.

(Continued on page 2)

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WEDNESDAY 20TH MARCH | THE LION

NEWS Write for us!

Make your voice heard!

Candidate Worries and Manifesto Scandal Daniel Tripp Acting Editor-in-Chief

(Continued front Front Page) The election has not been without controversy, with a campaign by Elliott Handley for the vole of female welfare officer, contesting an effective and equally visible campaign by his only rival Nori MacIntyre, head of the Heythrop W.I. Ms. MacIntyre also flirted with controversy when she undertook a demonstration on the lack of disabled access at the college, during a Heythrop Open day, which involved a minor verbal fracas with the security staff. A video of this is due to appear online soon.

As for Mr. Handley, however, his campaign has been considered by many to have crossed the line, with many citing one of his poster’s taglines, ‘Putting the Male in Female’, as implicitly and actively offensive, something he fervently denies.

The Union Executive has stressed, however, that the union operates as a democracy, and that it is not their place to say who and who cannot be elected as an officer, but up to the college to decide for themselves.

Our own Faye West has written an article about this issue and can be found on page three. More controversy occurred regarding the manifesto of Chris Page-Tickell; the Lion received an anonymous news article describing the events of that

débâcle, which can also be found on page three. More amusing than controversial, a misunderstanding between James Leighton and the Jewish Society resulted in him advertising that he was Vice-President of ‘J-Soc’, which turned out to be untrue. It latter transpired that the position was all but his, he only waited on a formal election. Nonethe-less he graciously removed the posters as they were technically untrue. The election continues, and at this early stage it is difficult to see who will emerge the victor, even in positions where RON is the only opponent. The Lion will be covering the voting week in full, including videos of Hustings and Question Time on its website.

in a very similar way, with Ms. MacIntyre noting at one question that she agreed with Elliott on the matter. Other than this, preceedings were reasonably subdued; with the majority a questions being directed to the events candidates, with James Leighton surprising many with an in depth understanding of the events team budget, something the rest of the events candidates could not produce.

Sabbatical Question Time was a more extravagant affair, with fine speeches from all candidates and an exceedingly rousing one from Peter O’Neil. Several hard hitting questions were asked, including “If Heythrop were an animal what would it be?”, and “Describe Heythrop in one word.” Some more cutting questions were asked by many, including the Lion, of interest were questions about Ash’s IOU

program and the fact it already exists, Peter’s flamboyant personality and how it might affect him working in a team, Jaz Omid’s experience at ULU, and Sam English on a recently acquired building at the College. Videos of both events are now available online, and we encourage you to watch them and see who you believe came out on top.

Husting and Question Time

f facebook.com/theheythroplion t twitter.com/theheythroplion Y youtube.com/theheythroplion : flickr.com/theheythroplion

Daniel Tripp Acting Editor-in-Chief

theheythroplion.co.uk

PLEASE RECYCLE YOUR LION AT ONE OF THE MANY RECYCLE BINS AROUND COLLEGE

Hustings and Question Time have been and gone, with fine performances from all the candidates involved. Non-Sabbatical Hustings was reasonably uneventful, apart from Elliott Handley’s speech, which almost transcended that of anything he had previously stated on the matter of his candidacy, and it was almost as if it came from someone else other than the rather slight figure in front of us. Nonethe-less, a powerful speech is not the same as a powerful argument, and many were still left dissatisfied with him, especially after Nori MacIntyre performed so well in regards to questions asked of her, though some have commented that Elliott did answer some questions

The

MEET THE LION EDITORIAL TEAM Acting Editor-in-Chief Daniel J. Tripp daniel@theheythroplion.co.uk

News Editor Samuel English* news@theheythroplion.co.uk

Acting Senior Editor and Comment Faye ‘Comment’ West faye@theheythroplion.co.uk

Features Editor Zahra Al-Kateb features@theheythroplion.co.uk

Senior Editor JT White jt@theheythroplion.co.uk

Societies Editor Rory Phillips societies@theheythroplion.co.uk

Senior Editor Joshua Ferguson josh@theheythroplion.co.uk

Acting Culture Editor Rob Leftwich culture@theheythroplion.co.uk

The Lion is the independent student newspaper of Heythrop College, University of London. We distribute at least 1000 free copies during term time around campus and to popular student venues in and around Kensington. * As Samuel English is running for the position of Vice-President he has not had any editing role in this election paper.

Editorial Team

NEXT DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS

To Be Decided Please send your submissions to: submit@theheythroplion.co.uk

The views expressed in this publication are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Editors or of the Heythrop Students’ Union. Every effort has been made to contact the holders of copyright for any material used in this issue, and to ensure the accuracy of this fortnight’s stories.

Founded by Alex Hackett and Gala Jackson-Coombs The Lion is published by HackJack Ltd. and printed by Mortons Print Ltd. All Copyright is the exclusive property of HackJack Ltd. No part of this publication is to be reproduced, stored on a retrieval system or submitted in any form or by any means, without the prior permission of the publisher.

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WEDNESDAY 20TH MARCH | THE LION

NEWS

Controvesy Over Candidacy for Female Welfare - Elliott Handley Runs for Office Faye West Acting Senior Editor First year undergraduate Elliot Handley is running for the position of Female Welfare Officer in the 2013 Heythrop Student Union.

No male student has run for the position of Female Welfare Officer in the history of The Heythrop Student Union. His decision to run for the position has been met with controversy and opposition. Labelled by some as ridiculous, Mr Handley has been accused of mocking the prestige of the election process.

Further concerns have been raised on Mr Handley’s suitability for the role of Female Welfare Officer. Traditionally until this point, the position has been held by a female. A large requirement of the position is pastoral care. Mr Handley’s suitability for these responsibilities and similar responsibilities is a subject of widespread discussion. When asked by The Lion on what his actions would be if approached in his capacityby a female student requesting a level of pastoral care, Mr Handley replied that he would refer the student on to the college. When asked why then the role was existed, he replied, “I didn’t write the constitution”, commenting that the pastoral care function was not the main aims of the welfare team, but that the awareness and campaigns functions of the position were the primary objectives of the position.

Mr Handley has defended himself

by arguing that there is a distinction between biological sex and gender identification, stating, “My gender identity is a personal matter, and one which ought not to be a source of discrimination against my campaign”. In responce to this and to Mr Handley’s overall campaign, The President of Heythrop’s LGBT Society, Heather Doon, told The Lion, “Gender should never be a source of discrimination, and Heythrop Pride does hold that gender identity is a personal matter. Someone’s ‘femaleness’ should never be questioned. Self-identity is a key element of trans* equality.

Another aspect of trans* equality is to respect women’s issues, as is the job of female welfare, so any candidate standing should be able to fully grasp the importance of taking these issues seriously. It would be in very poor taste not to do so.”

Mr Handley’s campaign for the position of Female Welfare Officer has most defiantly been identified as a source of amusement.

Another candidate running for a different position stated, “Elliot’s campaign is hilarious. However I would express some concern, as Female Welfare Officer is a serious and important role and deserving to be performed by someone with that in mind. Having said that, this is the ultimate “troll”.” Another candidate for a separate position expresses a less favourable view, stating “I take note of the job’s role in Heythrop and do not see Elliott as the candidate most fit”. The Lion

does not comment on the legitimacy of the sincerity of Mr Handley’s campaign, although Mr Handley has stated that he wishes for the Union to be “Taken less seriously”.

Also running for the position of Female Welfare Officer is first year undergraduate, Eleanor MacIntyre. She stated, “I think it’s hilarious he’s running” and, commenting on Mr Handley’s gender identity, “I agree that his gender identity should not be up for discussion, no more should mine be”. Ms MacIntyre continued “With something that is as important as welfare, it’s about whose best for the job and that’s for the student body to decide, it’s their welfare”. When asked on her opinions the nature of her opponent’s campaign, she stated “I think it’s funny that he’s running; I don’t think it would be funny if he was elected”. Mr Handley states that, “[My opponent] is the right candidate. I am the farright candidate”. Commenting on why students should vote for him, he stated, “I have a winning smile”.

What do you think of this story?

Write in to The Lion to continue the debate

Candidate’s inappropiate manifesto removed Lion Editorial Submitted Anonymously The Lion can report that the last of the HSU election manifestos to be handed in was that of Mr. Christopher Page-Tickell on Wednesday afternoon. The manifesto in question has been touted as perhaps more controversial than that of Mr. Elliott Handley (running for Female Welfare Officer) after it was removed from the HSU website’s election page by the returning officer and current President, Ashley Doolan, just hours after it was handed in, a full five days after the original manifesto deadline.

In his manifesto, Mr. Page-Tickell apologised for this tardiness, stating that it was not indicative of his general organisational skills. He also outlined some of his plans for

the future - including building a tennis court on the tennis court, a swimming pool under the Brinkman room, burning library books, and suspending a picture of the Empress Matilda in the common room by the power of prayer. Mr. Page-Tickell has been criticised for purportedly grandiose claims in the manifesto’s promises to those who would vote for him, including some of an arguably sexual nature. There has also been criticism of the manifesto’s frequent use of profanity and rough address of the student body, although there are no regulations prohibiting candidates swearing in their campaigns.

In contrast to an earlier claim that Mr. Page-Tickell agrees with all of the voter’s political, philosophical, religious and moral views, the last paragraph of the manifesto in question states: ‘I’m running

unopposed, meaning it’s either a vote for Chris or a vote for dear god anybody but Chris. If you elect the latter, therefore, you are a total fucking prick and I hate you.’

Mr. Page-Tickell has since apologised for any offence his flippancy might have caused, and has submitted an alternative manifesto in lieu of the one that was removed, which has been accepted by the returning officer.

(Editor): Chris Page-Tickell has provided the Lion with the following statement: “It would appear that my manifesto has raised more than one eyebrow in disapproval and I feel the only response I can decently make is to take responsibility for my poor judgement. To those whom I offended, angered or

upset I apologise. If I may address you further may I use this article to persuade you why, in spite of the somewhat colourful nature of my manifesto you should still vote for me?

One thing that I will maintain is that in spite of the abortive and unsavoury parts of my manifesto I have from the start been sincere in my desire to do a good job as male welfare officer and to serve the HSU in general. This is why alongside the objectionable parts of the manifesto was included a sober and sincere persuasion as to my understanding of the importance and nature of the role and how I intended to approach it. Included also were references to how I would seek to assist the student body

in general, going beyond my remit. My article on the subject in this same newspaper, also contains many of my key campaign points.

In spite of that the point I want to emphasise is that I am most sincerely sorry to those whom I offended. My new (improved) manifesto can be found online and I urge all to come to Hustings on 15th March, which I intend to use as a platform to redeem myself to those I dissuaded if possible.”

It remains to be seen how his manifesto will be recived by the public and whther it will have any effect on him getting into office. Mr. Page-Tickell currently runs unoppossed for office.

Read more articles on the Lion Website: www.theheythroplion.co.uk

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WEDNESDAY 20TH MARCH | THE LION

ELECTION

HEYTHROP STUDENTS’ UNION ELECTION The Lion Gives You The Low Down On All of Your Election Candidates

PRESIDENT

VICE-PRESIDENT

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

JAZ OMID

PETER O’NEIL

SAM ENGLISH

ASH LODHI

CHLOE MAY

I’m Jaz and I’m running for HSU president because of how much I love Heythrop! I really care about the reputation of the college and the well being of all of the students.

I think that more people should be able to get involved in the decisions made by union executives, so one of my main focuses will be to increase the opportunity for students to have a say by starting things such as online questionnaires. I also want to increase the transparency and approachability of our executives, and make the basement more of a fun place to be for everyone. Another thing I’d do is advertise associate membership to the students’ union so that after you graduate you can still come to all of our events and be a member of our societies. I want everything to feel more inclusive and inviting.

Obviously, I will do all of the other things that are included in the job, and I’ll do a great job because of how much enthusiasm I’ll bring to the role and how much I care about people’s university experience. I’m confident and passionate and good at talking to people, so I will be good at discussing things with the college and making sure that the students get as much as possible.

I’m a very friendly person and am good at working with and leading others. Vote Blue for a president who will listen to you.

I’ve been involved in the College life from my first weeks at Heythrop. As a candidate, I have experience both as head of the philosophy society and as this year’s academic affairs officer. I have the experience and know-how to be a productive and effective sabbatical, and I think this is what the union needs. From the very start of my term last year, I was involved in the planning and execution of what has proven to be an exceptional year for this executive, and this experience has given me the foundations, the knowledge, to be able to successfully co-ordinate the year to come. But on to the nitty details, as you’ll know, my manifesto is online at heythrop.su/peteroneil, so I won’t bother repeating myself too much. I’m really pleased to see that every single candidate is pushing for better disabled access, and it is about time the basement, and the rest of the college is brought into the 21st century with regards to facilities. On this note, I’m sure most students are immediately thinking of a bar, and this is currently moving its way through the College Board structure and could well be fully constructed and licenced by mid-summer, given the right sabs.

We also want better academics, after all, that’s what we’re here for, and I’m happy to deliver this! I received 100% approval at OGM for my role as academic affairs, having worked with the HSU to revamp the feedback system, provide better library hours, and bring the reps under the union and to get a student chairman on the staff-student liaison committee. The ‘why am I the right candidate’ seems to be because I’ve been there and done it all before!

As the only candidate with experience of ULU senate, governing body and the creation of a strategic plan, I am qualified to further the work of the current union , linking Heythrop to London whilst supporting the interests of students on site.

Having worked on ‘The Lion’ editorial board for two years, I am the only candidate running for VP with knowledge of InDesign. This may seem trivial, but such expertise is vital, as the VP is head of marketing; my skills allow me to improve the Union and society marketing immediately.

I am the only candidate standing for VP with an intimate knowledge of the college’s committee structure, allowing me to push through crucial developments such as the construction of the college bar. Development of college facilities is extremely important and I vow to lobby college thus ensuring students get their fair share of new spaces in college, like the building next to Halls. I was also the first Sabb candidate committed to making the college more accessible for disabled students, having consulted the current campaigns officer about the problem.

For societies I will speed up the expenses payment system and do necessary work to the Students’ Union website so students know what is going on.

I will also hold monthly ‘VP’s meeting’ which all students may attend with societies heads.

I am also committed to furthering the possibilities available to students both pre and post graduation. My experience enables me to secure amazing deals from ULU and the Kensington group. I will secure paid internships and wider choices from the Heythrop Careers dinner.

Hi I’m Ash Lodhi and I’m running for the position of Vice-president in the HSU exec. I’ve got a few points to make on the limited space I have here so let me cut the BS. If you vote for me, you’ll be voting for: - A diverse and cohesive union in touch with students.

- Continuing work on the basement renovations, making the student area even better.

- A boost to societies and HSU events.

- An exec who are available, appreciable and ready to do whatever we need to to back you up.

- Encouraging the great work for faith based societies within Heythrop.

- Systems in place for students to be able to go to events even when they don’t have the funds at the time.

You may have seen me around college at Open Mic Night, on stage with HEADS, at the Philosophy Society or perhaps you just heard an Australian accent booming in the background of your common room conversations. If we haven’t already met, my name is Chloe Westley and I believe that Heythrop students need an Academic Affairs Officer that they can approach easily and have confidence to confide in. This year I’ve heard of students having difficulty with getting referrals and communicating their academic difficulties to members of staff at the College. If elected, I endeavour to appeal decisions that students feel are unjustified and be there at those sometimes daunting meetings with members of staff. I will also be around college to help students with any problems they’re encountering with their academic work, as well as ensuring their voices are heard on all the committees.

I’m a team-player, work hard, and most importantly, like to help out people in any way that I can. Vote Responsibly Heythropians!

Thats the core of what I’m about.

You can read the rest of my manifesto online.

WEDNESDAY 20TH MARCH | THE LION

ELECTION

5

ALL YOUR CANDIDATES AT A GLANCE

Your Potential Executive Give You Their Reasons Why You Should Vote For Them: In Under Four Hundred Words

EVENTS

PUBLICITY

MILLY MAY BLENKIN

ALEX EWING

JAMES LEIGHTON

ROGER TAYLOR

HANNAH CROFTS

Hey, my name’s Milly and I’m a second year Philosophy student. I love Heythrop, and have enjoyed my time here so much that it has made me want to give something back.

Therefore, in running for Events, I feel like this will be the best way I can personally contribute something to Heythrop, and the HSU, in my final year here. I feel like I’m correctly qualified for the position of the Events Officer, as I have had the experience of being the Head Girl of a school of 1,500 students, voted for by my peers. With this came a huge amount of responsibility, for example, it was up to me to represent the student body at the meetings of the governing body of the school, and bring the voices and demands of the students to the people that could make a difference. This also means I’m thoroughly experienced in planning an array of different events. I think that Heythrop’s unique mix of students is a huge selling point of the college, I couldn’t imagine being at any other university and would love to have the chance to represent each and every student by doing my best to create events and memories that everyone will want to be a part of. I already have so many ideas for Freshers’ week and in general for next year that I would love to see put into action (Some of these are included in my manifesto.) So please help me, to help you to have a momentous and entertaining next year. Don’t be silly, vote Milly.

It has always been my dream to satisfy you all across London, give me the budget, we can make this happen. I want to see you all enough to the point where it’s time to have ‘the talk’, I mean, “we’re spending all our time with eachother and I feel like we should take it to the next level and maybe have a neon paint warehouse rave together”; I’m ready to make that commitment Heythrop, baby, you know you’re my world.

Events at Heythrop have been great, and making sure that next year’s events are enjoyable enough to forget for a minute that our clock is made of marker pen, or that you could fall through the felting in our pool table, is a challenge worth taking.

I want to share my ideas for a freshers’ week to remember, talk about all the great piss ups I’ll run, and the great non-piss ups too.

I want to run a freshers’ week to where each day offers a morning of sobriety and the chance to see one of London’s highlights and at the same time has drinking, dancing, and laughter to enjoy afterwards.

For any of you who like the sound of drinking, dancing, and laughter, but want to know more about what the piss ups I have to offer are, you need look no further than comedy night, the last BBQ you had under England’s all too abundant sun, or a great night out drinking somewhere new. There is more, but for those who want to really make next year their own I’ll place an anonymous suggestion box just for you.

What about those of us who don’t drink? Here I’m making the wild assumption you like pizza, restaurants and free lunch. If instead you came to London for the sights you’ll find no shortage of trips, and for anyone inclined towards the fairs and festivals, you need only look at the events I’ll put up on to a calendar at the start of next year, and check out where to go.

Well, if you don’t know, I’m Roger, and I’m running for events because – not to put too fine a point on it – I’m a whiskey-fuelled West End-trawling Epicurean rake-hell who cannot comprehend why anyone would ever do anything that wasn’t fun enough to tell their future grandkids about. I take my hedonism very seriously, ladies and gents, and in its pursuit I’ve explored every avenue London has to offer – from the traditional undergraduate past-times of debate, Scrabble and cheeseboards to pulling sparklers out of magnums of Moet with my teeth in South Kensington members’ clubs.

I’ve seriously explored our adoptive city, schmoozing the managers of the venues that brought me (and perhaps you) here in the first place and turning up the unique experiences only a world-capital can offer.

So, I reckon I’d make a great Events Executive for you because while music and mayhem have been my life’s work, I’m also a shark-minded businessman, constantly out to get the best for less. In my more lucid moments, I can put unmatched energy and connections at your service, whether you want a restaurant table, an intimate conference venue or a whole damn club. Give me and Alex a vote, tell me how you want to enjoy your time in London - and watch me stand and deliver.

Hey! Im Han, a second year PRE student and future Publicity Officer on the HSU (please vote for me!). I have one main ambition and that is to make this position a real role on the union. This year it has been down to the Vice President to fulfil the tasks of this role, thus giving him less time to focus on what he may have originally set out to achieve. I want to work closely with next year’s VP to make sure I can support them in this role so that they can focus on important tasks such as getting us a bar! Further to this, I have five other aims; to make sure every students knows about every event, to use every resource to ensure this happens (posters, facebook events, flyers, the blackboard in the common room…), to produce a more imformative freshers booklet, to create a section on the website where photos from past events can be seen and finally to have more publicity for societies and their events. I feel I am more than qualified for this job, I have vital experience in working in a team, I love SU events and have the drive to get more people to go and I have a lot of photoshop experience and have already started to learn InDesign!

Right now the time isn’t right, I don’t see you enough and it’s killing me, let’s go to the hot tub cinema together and then wind up at the top of the Heron tower to watch the sunrise. More events! No more excess in moderation, let’s worship this City all day, but maybe stop for a coffee in the mornings.

I’m out all night looking for what I think will be your favourite cocktail or new music that you can’t say no to. Whatever is your freak, I intend to find it, book it and enjoy it with you.

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WEDNESDAY 20TH MARCH | THE LION

ELECTION

HEYTHROP STUDENTS’ UNION ELECTION The Lion Gives You The Run Down On All of Your Election Candidates

FEMALE WELFARE ELLIOTT HANDLEY

NORI MacINTYRE

I, Elliott Handley, esquire, bring the following to the notice of all brave souls ready to fight the libertines in Heythrop.

My campaign is about access – and not just so that I can lark about in a wheelchair without hinderance – it’s about all Heythrop students being able to access all areas. If elected, I will make sure that students can not only better access college, but also their elections, their union, their events, their freshers’ week, their campaigns, and, most importantly, their welfare. I’m not just running because I too think I would look amazing arranged on the pool table, I’m running because I’m confident that I’m the best person for the job – I’m skilled, I’m passionate, and I can make this happen. Vote Nori, eh?

The revolutionary storm in the West profoundly undermined the mechanism of our society by detaching the intellectuals from the mainstream of national ideas and aspirations.

Led by the intelligentsia, both political-social and liberal-bureaucratic, the people -though in the depths of their hearts they remained loyal to King, Church, and Empire - started straying from the narrow path laid down by the whole development of national thought and life; for revolutionary thought flattered the vanity of the mob, but without teaching the people the first principles of freedom or construction.

Indeed, the crowd is a libertine, and acts as such on every occasion. As soon as the mob has secured freedom it speedily turns into anarchy, in itself the height of libertinism.

Yet fear not! For the Holy Prophet Daniel foretold of the cruel time when the corrupt and the unclean would be defeated and the days of peace would come: ‘And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.’

And as such, in emulation of Saint Michael the Archangel, I shall stand tall against the dragon, and, through my claim to become Female Welfare Officer, strike out in defence of the counter-revolution! Nihil

MALE WELFARE

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

CAMPAIGNS

CHRIS PAGE-TICKELL IAIN PERKINS

May I first of all thank you for the opportunity to use your powerful newspaper as a platform whence to roar my cause for male welfare.

My pledge is to do neither too much, nor too little, and to end the job with people saying “That Chris guy, he did alright.”

I present to your esteemed readers, therefore, the following remarks as to why I would be better than this Ronald fellow at the position of Male Welfare Officer.

My intention, first and foremost, is to fully realise my responsibilities as a first port of call for any student experiencing welfare issues of any kind. When one is under some burden, the worst thing is to have to bear that burden alone.

And for that reason I consider it fundamental to my role and a matter of first principles that my availability and willingness should be known to all. I will further do lots of things, such as provide contact information about groups that deal with welfare issues, work with the events team to raise awareness on particular issues (modelled, for instance, on such successes as this year’s mental health awareness week) and form subcommittees with other groups, such as LGBT and the various faith societies.

I could go on, but limitations in terms of space persuade me to recommend the following: If you go onto the HSU website, get the constitution up look at 1.4, the bit that starts “the welfare team shall…”

Basically I’ll do that.

My no. 1 pledge is that at the end of the term no one will be able to look at the constitution and say that I didn’t more or less do that.

May the spirit of the almighty be with you and all of your future publications. I have the honour to remain Yours, Mr C. E. G. Page-Tickell

On the 14th of March Heythrop College will be holding it’s very first Feastival, and by the time this article comes to publish we will already be celebrating the (hopeful) success of the event. The Lokahi Foundation has done a excellent job of bringing together all the societies, not just the faith based ones, and I have heard some excellent things about what the HEads society will be doing from the Lion’s newest editor, Rob Leftwich.

I think that the Lokahi Foundation are onto an excellent idea with this Feastival, getting all the societies together, and it’s an excellent way for the societies to advertise themselves and a perfect way for Heythrop to come together as a community. I believe that part of the role of the Activities Officer is to motivate societies into communicating with one another, helping both the society grow and the Heythrop community develop. If elected as Activities Officer, one of my aims is to be proactive in trying to get many more of these kinds of events to occur.

My other focus is to fundamentally develop the role of the activities officer and the clarity of the rules that societies follow, making it easier to start and maintain a society, while ensuring that everyone is treated fairly and equally.

My manifesto is now available on http://heythrop.su/election and I am also available to email at Iain.

Perkins@heythropcollege.ac.uk if you have any questions. Thanks for your support!

RON Re-open Nominations

WEB DEVELOPMENT

RON Re-open Nominations

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WEDNESDAY 20TH MARCH | THE LION

ELECTION

The Great Debate Debate Drives Society

Should the Female Welfare Officer Be Female?

YES (Sort of) Kate Tingle Female Welfare Officer At the NUS Women’s conference, which I was lucky enough to attend last week, I heard one of the candidates for the newly established sabbatical Women’s Officer Position at UCL deliver a speech. In it, she spoke about the problems she had faced running against a male candidate who had sought to devalue the position through an intensely misogynistic, negative campaign.

“But don’t worry,” she added, to rapturous applause, “I’m going to crush him.”

Her rather melodramatic piece of rhetoric articulated one of the two key concerns I have with the idea of a male candidate running for what is generally considered to be a role for females. The insincerity of the male UCL candidate’s campaign is emblematic of a culture of sexism directed at Women’s Officers and members of Student Union Executives concerned with the welfare of women and female-identifying individuals which is, sadly, still pervasive on campuses all over the United Kingdom. It is a culture which every woman I spoke to at the conference had faced and one which I have come up against during my time in this role.

I wish I was able to write a defense of male candidates running for this position in this article. I wish I was able to offer multiple examples of men and male-identifying individuals at universities and colleges all over the country who have stood for positions like that of the Female Welfare Officer, with sincerity, with a solid, empathetic understanding of women’s issues and who would have made

fantastic additions to Welfare teams. Unfortunately I have no such examples. In every instance I have heard of, the male candidate has undertaken a campaign which seeks to demean issues which concern women and have often conducted themselves in shameful ways, particularly in their propagation of “transphobia” (choosing to mock the choice of trans* women to self-identify or define as female).

My secondary concern about a male candidate running for such a position concerns the experience required to properly fulfill the role of Female Welfare Officer. In order to hold such a pastoral role, one must have experience of at least some of the issues faced by women. It is one thing, for instance, to understand that the majority of women have been in situations where they have felt threatened or intimidated, walking home alone. It is quite another to know that fear, to have made that walk on your own, in the dark, with coins clenched in between your fingers for fear of assault.

In order for a male candidate to be a serious contender for the role of Female Welfare Officer, I believe he must possess a series of qualities. He must be in possession of a radical sense of empathy, to identify and to understand the concerns of the different women on campus.

He must have an excellent knowledge of relevant campaigns, both within the NUS Women’s movement and at a local, national and international level. Most importantly, he must be sincere about the position. He must not seek to undermine the incredibly important work done by the Female Welfare Officer, in regards to the health and wellbeing of women at Heythrop College. This is nothing less than what I would ask of a woman running for this position.

If a male candidate could demonstrate he was capable of fulfilling all of these criteria, I believe he would have shown that he was up to the responsibility of such a role.

“The insincerity of the male UCL candidate’s campaign is emblematic of a culture of sexism directed at Women’s Officers and members of Student Union Executives concerned with the welfare of women and female-identifying individuals which is, sadly, still pervasive on campuses all over the United Kingdom.”

“But for all intents and purposes, Elliott Handley appears to be focused entirely on, and has full intention of, being elected for Female Welfare. And the HSU executives seem fine with it... when reading the role section it lists them as the “Welfare Team”. There is no indication of what qualifies “Male” and “Female” Welfare Officers- does one need to self-identify as that gender?

NO (Sort of) Iain Perkins 1st Year Undergratuate

should then be a choice of seeing a male or female Welfare Officer, whichever you feel will serve your welfare best. The fact that now we have a potential Female Welfare Officer, running for election who is not female, and that we seem to have problem with this simply means that we should have been clear in the constitution what was required for the roles. Ultimately, there can be no determining the answer to the question of whether the Female Welfare Officer should in fact be female until we understand and formalise the role of Female Welfare Officer, which should have already be outlined in the constitution. The only question I feel we should be concerned with is - if Elliott is elected, can we Handley it?

What appears to be a Sailor, a Scotsman and a Cat… Not quite the start of a bad joke, but some of the people running for the executive next year according to the deluge of posters I see as I go into the HSU basement. The Sailor and the Cat, Peter O’Neil and Jaz Omid respectively are both running for presidency and the Scotsman is running for Female Welfare Officer.

However the Scotsman is not in fact Scottish, he is, to many people’s concern, a man. It seems that the student body doesn’t really know what to make of this - is it just “trolling”? A bit of satire? The tone of his manifesto certainly suggests it.

But for all intents and purposes, Elliott Handley appears to be focused entirely on, and has full intention of, being elected for Female Welfare. And the HSU executives seem fine with it. Regarding the actual rules in the constitution in which there is a list of executive office titles, among them the Male and Female Welfare Officer Positions. However when reading the role section it lists them as the “Welfare Team”. There is no indication of what qualifies “Male” and “Female” Welfare Officersdoes one need to self-identify as that gender? Or perhaps the job title just indicates who you’re supposed to be providing welfare for?

This appears to be Elliott Handley’s perspective. So then the Male Welfare Officer will be providing welfare for the gentlemen, and the Female Welfare Officer will provide welfare for the ladies. Which interpretation should we have?

We should not prescribe who peo- “The purported portrait of Lord ple feel more comfortable seeing in Cornbury dressed as a woman.”

Wikipedia Commons. regards to welfare, however there

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8

WEDNESDAY 20TH MARCH | THE LION

COMMENT

An Extraordinary Ordination

John Woodhouse 2nd Year Postgraduate DanielDa

Over the years I have been involved in many ordinations and so when Xavier Tharamel asked me to come to his ordination I was delighted. Then I asked where it was and he said Kochi in Kerala, India! I first met Xavier at the planning meeting for the Heythrop interfaith sharing meetings and he is a member of my M.A. class in Christianity and Interreligious Relations class. His quiet smile and gentle comments are always welcome.

And so Liz and I set off before Christmas for three weeks in Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Udaipur and then to Kerala. During this time we went to five Masses. The ordination day January 5th itself was amazing! We arrived at Little Flower church in Pottakuzhi, Kaloor in Kochi to find large banners showing Xavier and the Archbishop, the Rt.Rev.Dr. Francis Kallarackal, the Archbishop of Veraploy archdiocese.The welcome was indeed warm and I was much amused to be greeted as Father by many of the priests, no doubt because I was wearing my small Palestinian cross. My reply was ‘Yes I am a father, but not that sort of father’.

Maud Matley a parishioner from Corpus Christi, Brixton, takes up the story. ‘We arrived in the church forecourt, just in time, yet most conspicuous in our Western attire, me in my trusty big white hat. A kindly nun called Sister Assunta scooped us up, introduced us to Xavier’s brother, Anthony, and we became aware of hundreds of other people waiting expectantly under glittery silver paper-chains.

A boys’ brass band was standing to attention. Also I saw a canopy held by four men in impressive ceremonial collars, rather like the Guild of the Blessed Sacrament. A red carpet led to the church door and we could already see that the whole event promised to be much bigger than we had anticipated.

Then, with great panache, the Archbishop’s shining black car pulled on to the red carpet, sporting a Vatican flag. As he stepped out, a salvo of fireworks erupted noisily and the band burst into music. I was totally overwhelmed!

We were ushered in the procession of VIPs into the Little Flower Church, a line of young boys in white suites flanking one side of the red carpet and little girls in white frocks and veils to the other side: all with hands piously folded.

They looked at us with solemn curiosity, very well trained, but did not move a muscle. Our Sister ushered us to good seats in the third row with the other European guests.

When I looked up at the altar I saw a breath-taking sight. Thick hedg-

es of flowers, white, marigold and green decked the altar, the statues, and edged the altar-steps. The tabernacle was the focal-point with long rays of bright white lights beaming out. A big realistic crucifix hung over the tabernacle. To the left was the Little Flower statue and to the right, Our Lady.

The procession to the altar had begun. First came the altar-boys, then our dear “Deacon Xavier Tharamel” all in white and looking very pure and young. He was carrying a neat pile of priestly vestments with great ceremony on his arms in front of him (this is different from English custom) and still wearing his deacon’s stole. He saw us and gave a very faint smile of recognition. His brother and sister-in-law followed him supportively. Then came two dozen priests in plain white chasubles, then the officiating priests, among whom was our “most beloved Father Michael Kirwan” from Brixton. As he passed, he handed us his shoulder-bag and asked us to look after it! Finally, came the Archbishop who looked most affable and stately.

Initially, Xavier sat with his brother and sister-in-law on the three chairs placed in a sea of children who sat on the floor with a few teachers and nuns. About one thousand in all were either in the church or walking around outside, visible through the open doors. A strange juxtaposition occurred: very loud lively amplified music blared out but was greeted with utter silence and stillness by the congregation. I was next to two old ladies in splendid gold saris who kept their hands folded in prayer and knelt during the solemn procession, maintaining intense piety throughout the proceedings.

Vincent had removed his shoes in accordance with local custom. In front of us sat a family from Germany (Xavier used to stay with them) and a couple from Heythrop’ (that’s us!).

‘The Mass started and the Liturgy of the Word was delivered by three young people in splendid attire (though the young man singing the psalm did appear to have jeans on!)’. (He sang beautifully) ‘Xavier read the Gospel.’(This was quite different to ordinations in England where another deacon usually reads.) ’The fans whirred busily on all sides and there was a sense of focus and grand occasion. We all sat in great expectancy. Xavier then moved up to a red plush seat on the altar to be addressed by the Archbishop in his homily. Fr Michael kept his eyes closed and it was good to see his so familiar English face.

It looked as if a little bed was being arranged for Xavier’s prostration, a thick rug with a cushion for his head. A very long litany of the saints was sung by the kneeling Archbishop in joyful spirit: Among

the saints invoked was Alphonsa, a Keralan saint. Xavier arose and knelt centrally in front of the altar, then all the priests came and placed their hands on his head with great solemnity. There seemed to be an endless circle of them and I hoped Xavier felt strengthened by their solidarity. Then the actual ordination took place.

Suddenly we were ushered to the back of the church to take part in the Offertory procession. Some people led the procession carrying candles with marigolds around their bases after which came the gifts. Vincent had a heavy basket of five loaves and two fishes while I had a basket of very white eggs.

We walked with great solemnity and handed our gifts to the seated Archbishop who extended his ring which we kissed reverently. He said, “Thank you”, in English to us.

The words were in the rolling cadences of Malayalam but of course, it was exactly as in England and quite easy to track, with the repetitions like “Holy, holy, holy”. The music continued to boom out and I was struck by the tremulous strings (on the keyboard) for the solemn prayers spoken by the Archbishop.

One of the most moving things was when Xavier spoke his first prayer as a priest. Of course I wondered how it felt to have consecrated for the first time.

At Communion, our Sister firmly ushered us into the two lines of people privileged to receive the host from Xavier. He was handed the host by an acolyte, tinctured it in the chalice and we received it on the tongue. I felt a little awkward about being in such a favoured position compared to the members of

Xavier’s parish, who had nurtured him for so long.

Before the final blessing Xavier made a speech, calmly, formally and with strong voice, thanking everyone.

The Mass came to an end and we were again summoned up to the altar steps where Xavier, the Archbishop, and officiating priests were being photographed. It was good to see Xavier’s little baby niece being held in arms next to him: that his family was fully acknowledged as a major part of his life. We returned to our seats but were again ushered up to the altar, this time to kiss Xavier’s newly consecrated hands.

The final excitement was the formal speeches in the parish hall (rather more grand than in Brixton). Here sat Fr Xavier and Fr Michael on a sofa under further garlands of flowers while speeches were made by various people in Malayalam and a little English.

Fr Michael beamed like a proud uncle and Xavier looked solemn, thoughtful and extremely still.‘ Among those present was Joseph Mathew Puthenpurackal, S.J., also a student at Heythrop. One major difference was that the priests greeted Xavier at the end of the liturgy. This worked much better than the practice in England where the new priest is greeted after the ordination.

The next morning January 6th we were back at the church for 9.a.m and Fr Xavier’s First Mass. Before the service 100s of children including teenage boys gathered in groups for catechism class. Women and men tended to sit separately At the peace everyone turns to their neighbour and bows with hands

joined. At communion the people turn to form two lines so the priest can move between them. This was much more orderly than the English practice. Xavier remarked that our presence spoke of the universal nature of the church. On return to England I was delighted to be at Xavier’s first Masses at Heythrop and Brixton where he preached without notes and with quiet authority. It was clear that he is much loved in Brixton.

I was most impressed by the number of churches in Kerala and the large devout congregations.

There is no illiteracy and unemployment is very low. Education is the key to this.

Musically the use of a small group singing into microphones accompanied by a keyboard with rhythmic backing was ubiquitous. Unfortunately the people do not join in much and there was no sign of movement to the drums. We did encounter hymn books in Udaipur and the Syro-Malabar church in Erakulam which showed much American 70s influence but otherwise there appeared to be no books to follow. We were able to follow the Syro-Malabar rite in English with booklets and there were many added prayers and Orthodox influence. This church holds that it was founded by St. Thomas and is in communion with Rome.

A special moment in Kerala was a visit to Kurisamala ashram where Bede Griffiths had been a monk.

We attended midday prayer sung by the monks in their simple brown robes.

All in all it was an amazing experience and we were so glad that we had accepted the invitation.

9

WEDNESDAY 20TH MARCH | THE LION

COMMENT

Bugger this modern nonsense.

Elliott Handley 1st Year Undergraduate

There I was, contentedly reading through the latest edition of The Lion (latest being the optimum word), when to my great alarm I stumble onto yet another antimonarchic tirade rearing its ugly head. And I must confess, I was so overwhelmed by the spirit of modernity held therein that my humours were thrown drastically out of balance, moreso than were I athwerp a celestial sphere inhaling torrents of miasma. The author seemed to have managed to view monarchism solely through a perspective possessing all the sophistication of daytime television.

Indeed, the criteria for evaluation therein were twofold: ‘Is monarchism compatible with the present state of affairs?’ and ‘Is the Divine Right of Kings viable as a foundation for a state?’ And what peculiar standards those are! The justification of monarchy has always been, is, and ought always to be: It works.

It is the most natural and efficient system of governance. Every other justification is subordinate to this.

Just consider the remark that the presence of a Monarch is incompatible with a country which hails as its ideals “secularism, equality for all, democracy, and all that fun stuff”. Well, no, frankly, it’s not incompatible at all, quite the opposite. These golden fetishes of the present mind are wholly reliant upon monarchy for their very survival; just ask the Shah how well secularism is doing in Iran ever

since the monarchy was toppled by republican upstarts, or remember the state of democracy in Spain before the restoration of King Juan Carlos. How about equality? Without a monarch, we have a mere equality of worthlessness before the eyes of a bureaucratic tyrant state: From the hysterical slaughter of the French Revolution under Robespierre (called La Terreur for a reason) to the institutionalised, genocidal contempt of Cromwell’s Commonwealth, we see what equality becomes when forced through the sterile mechanisms of an anti-monarchic state. And “fun stuff”? Oh I think I might be ill.

Y’see, the strength of a monarchy is that it grows of its own accord, with the strength of oak, the flexibility of bamboo, and numerous other naturalistic analogies which I haven’t the inclination to create.

Republics, on the other hand, are deliberate impositions, and bear all the hallmarks of heavy-handedness; namely crudeness, instability, and destructive tendencies.

I dare even to risk an ad Hitlerum by noting how the need for a leader manifests throughout history when the people are denied one, for, as Churchill observed: “If the Allies at the peace table at Versailles had allowed a Hohenzollern, a Wittelsbach and a Habsburg to return to their thrones, there would have been no Hitler. A democratic basis of society might have been preserved by a crowned Weimar in contact with the victorious Allies.”

The same could be said that there would be no Stalin with a Tsar, no

Mao with an Emperor, et cetera, ad nausium. A monarch is the ultimate ward against dictatorship; history has showed us how republicanism inevitably collapses into tyranny.

Skipping over the neglect of Salic Law in the issue of male primogeniture, I find the discussion has turned to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. “Kind of loveable in an old person sort of way, but I don’t want him as my king!” – And thank God we aren’t given the power to elect our monarch! The aristocratic electoral system for the King of The Most Serene Commonwealth of Poland-Lithuania was corrupt and inefficient enough, but a monarch chosen by the people? A hoi polloi king? His Majesty King Harald V of Norway said in 2005 “We [monarchs] try to be as little populistic as possible. We don’t do anything on the spur of the moment to win an opinion poll, or short-term popularity.” – Which is exactly why “Monarchy is the one system of government where power is exercised for the good of all” (Aristotle, by the way). As far as I’m concerned, the less power politicians have, the better we all are.

I don’t want my state in the hands of demagogues, - people with more persuasiveness than aptitude.

And moreover, we must remember this public monarchy is an invention of the last century, designed to pander to our superficial TV culture. Coronations, weddings, jubilees: these were nowhere near as public as they are today. And yet monarchy was the universal sys-

tem, until the turn of the 1900’s (when everything went wrong); Even the Most Serene Republic of Venice had a Doge for life. So since monarchy cannot be reduced to so base a reason as a cult of personality, why, then, did we and do we have so many of them? Simply put, as I stated earlier, they work. In all five republics, France was never so prosperous as when it had a King or an Emperor, the Czech and Slo-

of Conservatives. Conservatism is a genus, as is Socialism. The BNP, the Conservative and Liberal Unionist party, and UKIP, are species of Conservatism. Species inherent the traits of their genus, not the other way around – all BNP members are conservatives, not all conservatives are BNP members.

So two questions now arise.

Firstly, what is the nature of this particular genus and what distinguishes this genus from the other main genus? Secondly, why do I think that this one is superior?

The answer to the first question is it characterises a commitment to freedoms. These freedoms take many forms, most famously in the economic realm – conservatism has a large degree of belief in the separation of the state and the market. The market is generally considered to be better off selfregulating, as with Adam Smith’s famous metaphor ‘the invisible hand’. The freedoms also extend to sociality, but not in the usual liberal sense. Liberalism (or many forms of it at least) sees individual

freedom as the epitome and ultimate end of a good society. I think this is mistaken. Whilst individual (and market) freedoms are very desirable, they are not desirable solely as ends, but also as means.

This, I feel, is one of the more metaphysical commitments of conservatism, and indeed one of the better ones. It is based upon a further commitment to something which philosophers from Aristotle to Kant to Hegel have put foward.

That is, humankind’s desired place is the polis (Aristotle) or in a rational state (Hegel) or a federation of individual nation states (Kant).

To this end, then, freedom is not desired for its own sake, but for the sake of something else; that is, the further goal of a good society.

This is itself the defining aspect of conservatism, that what we desire is a rationally ordered state, which in its rational order preserves the freedoms, both social and economic, that it needed to get there.

The second question’s answer, then, is that I feel that conservatism is better because it attributes

the lasting value to freedoms which would not hold otherwise. Whilst liberalism values it for its own sake, which I feel is improper. Conservatism values freedom for the sake of another end, it would be more proper to say that conservatism values freedom not merely for its own sake. To explain, I would appeal to one of Kant’s principles of rational willing. This is one of the principles of means-end reasoning, or instrumental rationality. The principle is fundamentally this – if one desires end E, and Means M is a necessary means to E, then one must rationally will M, or give up E. This means also that there must be some value attributed to M. This is the value that is imparted for freedom. Freedom is especially key here, because whilst, strictly speaking, it is a means to a good society (desired for the sake of something else), counterfactually speaking, were X to stop willing M (freedom) to E (Rational society), then the possibility of E would be negated, even if E had been previously attained. This is because

vak republics pale before the Kingdom of Bohemia, and Russia…

Well, just look at it!

It’s high time we got over this trend of insubordination, and accept that maybe the short-sighted whim of mob rule isn’t the best way to run a country, and that even sheep of the human variety need a shepherd.

Now what do I say? Long live the counter-revolution, that’s what I say!

flickr.com/ladybugbkt

In Defence Of Conservatism

Rory Phillips Sports and Societies Editor

In this article, I intend to defend the side of the political spectrum broadly known as the right. I shall use the words ‘the right’, and ‘conservative’ interchangeably, unless I specify I am talking about the Conservative party. Both left and right are very broad banners which encompass many labels to which any one person may want to disassociate themselves from, even if they are under the same umbrella. This is something that is true of all ideology. However, with politics it needs to be addressed first and foremost.

For example, some may see the views of certain right-wring parties such as the BNP as representative of all conservative-leaning or right-wing people. Clearly this is not the case. Just as extreme forms of Baptism are not representative of all Christianity, these views, and those of people like UKIP, do not represent the views

E is (in this case) not an end that can be achieved in the usual sense.

The end, in this case, is an ongoing process, which means that the means is an ongoing means. This means, given Kant’s principle, if one were to stop willing freedom, then one would need to give up the idea of a rational or good society.

So conservatism means a commitment to freedom, both social and economic, as a necessary condition for the possibility of the good society.

That, I feel, is the defining trait of this particular genus of political belief. However, what I have defended is a species of it, a sort of Kantian-Hegelian conservative cosmopolitanism. Other forms of conservatism are rather odd to me, and indeed quite repugnant.

Of course I am a conservative, but that does not mean I align either with the current government or with any other conservative party active in politics today, merely with a common ancestor their views and my views share.

10

WEDNESDAY 20TH MARCH | THE LION

COMMENT

TYING YOU TO THE CHAIR AND SMACKING YOUR GENITALIA WITH A HEAVY MANIFESTOYOU HAVE TO READ THIS; YOU’RE TIED TO THE CHAIR.

Ben Mercer Comment Correspondent DanielDa

I’ve been given the unedifying task of writing something drab, dull, parochial and inoffensive.

So-- You might not be aware, and you might not care, but soon, there will be elections to the HSU. Statistically you are more likely to vote in these elections than your counterparts in other colleges 29% of those eligible do so, I’m told - which is at least impressive by comparison. But voters are still in the minority. Why, and does it matter?

Aside from its well documented, well reported (by this paper, at least) financial troubles, the college has yet to implode due to mismanagement on the part of The Students’ Union. Nor has the preference of the majority for apathy over the exercising of their democratic rights led to any great and calamitous turmoil or upheaval. It has even been acknowledged that the constitution that governs the HSU is inadequate in many respects. Does it then matter if you or I fail, or elect not to vote? And what of the rest of the 71% of fellow students who will not vote. Is the legitimacy of the HSU undermined when its members are voted in by less than 30% of the students they purport to represent?

It is a dilemma that rears its head each time a democratic election comes around, particularly when it is expected that a majority of the population will not vote. (This says nothing of the dilemma posed by

undemocratic elections to the presidency or chairmanship of corrupt, dysfunctional states or institutions with a claim to authority over people, like the Catholic Church, or Iran.) It has never been satisfactorily answered, it merely goes away once the new government is in place and people have new, immediate and tangible targets for their bile. Hints at the quandary are to be found in statements such as “Well I didn’t vote for them” and, as is particularly prevalent at the moment, “You don’t have a mandate to do that, you didn’t win the election.” People are rarely inclined to go further.

Whilst the general lack of interest in elections of recent times might prove a stumbling block for (some) arguments from the principles of democracy, I suggest that the pragmatist’s view does not suffer the same difficulties. Certainly not in their entirety. After all, it would be flat out wrong to suggest that a poor voter turnout is indicative of a lack of concern for politics, or a loss of love for the democratic way. It seems to be merely the result of our tendency toward a limited, insular worldview: we take for granted freedom, and the benefits of democracy, but are far less willing to engage ourselves with issues that do not seem to be of any tangible, immediate concern. As noted

by George Orwell: “The ordinary man is passive. Within a narrow circle, home life, and perhaps the trade unions or local politics, he feels himself master of his fate. But otherwise he simply lies down and lets things happen to him.”

The people are not always silent on the wider issues, of course.

They merely choose different times and places to express themselves.

We have just recently had the anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, and we have been reminded of the mass protest movement that followed. None of those who took part had voted for the invasion of Iraq - statistically, they were by no means all voters in the preceding general election - and yet they still expressed their dissatisfaction, to put it mildly, with the course of action taken by a government that had been democratically elected by a minority of the eligible citizens of this country. They exercised their democratic rights in this regard, and for the preservation of democracy itself. Furthermore, it is sometimes the case, if an election coincides with a period of a heightened sense of injustice, that voter turnout increases. Of course, such a trend relies quite heavily on an opposition party capable of capitalizing on the mistakes and misfortunes of the incumbent, and able to present it’s just alternative.

I’ll leave it to you to weigh up the failings of the vacuous, disingenuous carpetbaggers of the current opposition for yourselves.

Conveniently, the results of the Falkland Islands’ referendum have come through as I have been writing this piece. The referendum saw a 92% turnout, with 98.8% voting in favour of maintaining their status as a British Overseas Territory. The contemptibly opportunistic, colonialist attitude of the Argentine government has served

name of a Pope? Of course not.

They spend weeks in Rome talking to each other over dinners and researching Cardinals they’ve never heard of. They fill their heads with information so that they know what each man may bring to the Papacy. By the time they meet, each Cardinal has a pretty good idea of who he thinks would be best for the Church. But then comes the Conclave. Once they lock themselves in the Sistine Chapel all bets are off. 115 men argue and vote, take a break for lunch, then argue again and vote again. Once they go in, everything changes. As political as everyone thinks the process is, it tends to be as apolitical as possible. It’s as simple as this: the Cardinals go in, and a Pope comes out.

ordaining women, and you’re probably not going to see Priests allowed to marry. If you’re hoping that the new Pope will “bring the Church into the twenty-first century,” then give up right now.

The Church has never sacrificed its teachings in order to fit in with the times, and that has frustrated people (even to the point of violence) for the past 2000 years.

to damage their own cause. Whilst the result of the referendum was never in any doubt, the turnout would likely have been considerably lower, indeed the referendum might never have been tabled, had the rhetoric from Argentina and the actions and pressures imposed by its government not been so public and so considerable. Having had an unpleasant level of exposure to Ms de Kirchner’s amateur and harlot-like posturing on the world stage in recent times, I sincerely hope it hurts.

In any case, such a principle is true of any democratized state or institution, and the smaller the state, the more profound the effect. Heythrop, for example, does not need a fully fledged, fully functioning democratic apparatus. It does not need long and complicated procedures for filing complaints and airing grievances. If he is doing his job, you are just as likely to bump into the Union President walking around campus as you are any other student, and it can be argued that it is to the strength of the college community that opportunities to represent yourself, either to the HSU executives or to any member of the college staff, are so readily available. I would be willing to bet that, as suggested in the first article I submitted to The Lion, it is this “closeness” between students and their institutions that contributes to our relatively high voter turnout. And it is what makes the HSU important to us where ULU is not. Were the president or union as a whole to make a series of severe and well publicized gaffes,

and should a sense of fervour and unrest develop (yes, at Heythrop, I know it’s a laughable idea), then turnout at any subsequent election would likely increase.

Of course there is apathy, there always has been and always will be apathy; those who are simply not interested, or not capable of being interested even in the things that do impact on their lives. For the rest of us, voting in an election is second in importance to an awareness of the health of the democracy in which we live. It could be argued that a poor voter turnout suggests an unhealthy democracy, but I don’t believe that this is necessarily the case. It is important, less so at Heythrop but certainly as a general point, that we maintain our guard against any onset of totalitarianism, but a slavish devotion to the bureaucracy and institutions of the democratic system is not, I hope, a necessary defensive measure. Live as if you lived in a democratic state, live as if you are free, and call out anyone or anything that threatens to infringe or restrict that freedom.

If you care, and you think it is right; if there is a candidate that you can genuinely support and not simply because you prefer the giant douche to the turd sandwich, then you should vote. If you don’t care, or if you care but will not vote, then you owe it to yourself, and your countrymen, and to everything that “democracy” stands for to be able to argue for and justify that position. This, I think, is an approach that can be applied to all elections.

What’s the big deal with this Pope thing?

Josh Bathon Seminary

The new Pope; why does it matter? Well, I’ll tell you. The Catholic Church is one of the largest institutions in the world; a billion people call themselves Catholic. It is true that probably half of those people don’t actually practice their faith, but that still leaves that 500 million people, many of whom are in the fastest developing parts of the world, will be directly affected by this Conclave. Whether you yourself are an atheist, a Buddhist, or one of those “spiritual but not religious” types, this decision will affect you in some way.

But who will they elect? And what will the new Pope actually do? It is first important to know two things about the Catholic Church.

Catholics believe that the Holy Spirit guides the Cardinals. Does that mean that they all get together, hum some tune, and let the Spirit magically guide their pens across the page, miraculously writing the

The second thing you need to know is what the Pope will NOT do is make sweeping doctrinal changes and he won’t vastly restructure the Catholic Church. The Pope is not going to alter teachings like the immorality of contraception and homosexual practices. You’re not going to see the Church start

So what WILL the new Pope do? No one knows. John Paul II brought youth and international focus to the papacy. He inspired cultural upheavals in Eastern Europe, and gave us an entire theology of sexuality. Benedict XVI helped us weather a storm of controversy, while at the same time bringing a new focus to the wealth of beauty that can be found in the liturgy.

You might not like the Catholic Church, but this week is historic, at the very least. So pay attention: this decision is going to affect the world.

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WEDNESDAY 20TH MARCH | THE LION

Culture Academia: Religions For Peace John Woodhouse 2nd Year Postgraduate Religions for Peace organised a fascinating lecture by Professor Rabbi Dan Cohn-Sherbok who was Professor of Judaism at the University of Wales and is now a research Fellow at Heythrop. There was a large audience in the Westminster Cathedral hall and Bishop John Arnold chaired the meeting.

The Professor argued for a two state solution for Israel on Jewish biblical grounds. He began by outlining the history of Zionism as a political movement. Zionists wanted a “country from which we cannot be expelled”. He pointed

to Jewish anti-Zionism in the 19th and 20th centuries. Both Orthodox and Reformed Jews rejected Zionism.

The Orthodox saw Zionists as usurping God’s will that there would eventually be Messianic redemption in Zion. The Reformed Jews wanted emancipation and liberation in the societies in which they already lived.

Gradually the Zionist idea which had originally been supported by a few became the mainstream orthodox view. The Biblical concept of “The land is ours” led to the view that all the land belonged to the Jews.

Professor Dan went on to give his own view based on Jewish scrip-

ture. He based this on Exodus and the Kingdom of God. The message of liberation is that now we Jews are free, we must engage with all the oppressed. Who are the oppressed in Israel? The Palestinians.

The Kingdom of God concept points to divine justice for all. Crucial to this is the concept of the right to return. Jews have it, but Palestinians do not and they want it. The question of settlements must be addressed.

The Professor answered the many searching questions with humour and wisdom. He remains hopeful that a solution to a seemingly intractable problem can and must be found.

correct, and, to him, foundational question: How are synthetic judgements a priori possible?

We must note that Herr Kant is certainly revolutionary in his metaphysics and his epistemology, however. The influence of the great Herr von Leibniz and his successor Herr Wolff is evident, although Herr Kant makes a great deal of effort to distance himself considerably from these two and indeed all other Rationalists, whom he calls dogmatists. Before I go on, I must define a few of Herr Kant’s words, so as to give a not unfair reading.

When he says ‘transcendental’ he is concerned with conditions a priori for objects of possible experience.

So, transcendental knowledge, for example, is not concerned with knowing objects but how these objects can be known a priori.

The clearest example of this is the second of the ‘Analogies of experience’ where Herr Kant presents his most systematic refutation of

Mr. Hume. Herr Kant asserts that Mr. Hume failed to distinguish between what he calls the ‘general maxim’ and the ‘specific maxim’ of causation. Herr Kant says that we can know most certainly the general maxim that all events have causes and not know the specific maxim that from any given event we can a priori infer and know the cause. I find this a most excellent response to the pernicious and undermining atheistic scepticism of the so-called ‘great infidel’ Mr. Hume.

A lot of the arguments in the Critique run like this: experience is a given (who can deny that we experience things? Not even the most sceptical of sceptics!), then: what are the a priori conditions for this experience to be possible?

Herr Kant takes it as something of a hallmark of something that is a priori that it is both universal and necessary, thus, if he can show that it is the case that certain a priori conditions hold, then he has shown

flickr.com/ MATEUS_27:24&25

Literature: A Critique of The Critique of Pure Reason Gottfried Wilhelm Johann von Phillips Academic This new work by Professor Kant of Koenigsberg University presents his so-called ‘Copernican revolution’ in philosophy. It is a lengthy tome, encompassing some 700 pages approximately. In it are some rather intricate arguments, including what he calls a ‘transcendental deduction’ of ‘the pure concepts of the understanding’, an exposition of ‘transcendental logic’ and a response to the esteemed Mr. Hume’s earlier sceptical works, in a passage entitled the ‘Analogies of experience’. Herr Kant is clearly disenfranchised by all previous attempts at metaphysics, and at times rather scornful of them; there is a part where he claims that no one previous to him had even done metaphysics proper, because they had not asked the

that these conditions must hold.

Whilst I must say that the Critique of Pure Reason is an excellent work, it is a rather difficult one.

Herr Kant certainly has a talent for philosophical argumentation, but I fear that his talents do not extend into the realm of clear and (especially) succinct presentation. However, I also fear that the task that Herr Kant has set himself here – a complete restructuring of the very foundations of the oldest and most difficult set of concepts which itself is not yet a science, but may well be able to come forward as one soon – requires this length and intricacy of argument. To this end, then, Herr Kant has proved himself to be the most suited for this role.

This in itself is suprising, as Herr Kant is a philosopher that has not published what may be called significant works prior to now. Whilst putting forward interesting arguments concerning the vis viva debate between the Leibnizians and

the Cartesians, and critiquing the most common arguments for the existence of the Divine (arguments which reappear in this Critique of Pure Reason, although Herr Kant has changed his mind somewhat on the ability of pure reason to give a proof of God, which probably reflects the influence of the aforementioned atheist Mr. Hume), Herr Kant has not put forward much in the way of theoretical philosophy per se until now. However, with the publication of this Critique, Herr Kant will certainly be responsible for a radical change in the way philosophy is done, and this new ‘Critical system’ may indeed replace the dominant Rationalist model. I suggest everyone who considers themselves to be a Rationalist to read this work, as it may cause a fundamental change in the way they themselves view philosophy.

IF YOU HAVE A PASSION FOR FILM, LITERATURE, THEATRE, MUSIC, OPERA, PHOTOGRAPHY, FOOD, ANYTHING AT ALL, LET US KNOW! WE’D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR OPINIONS! CONTACT DANIEL TRIPP AT culture@theheythroplion.co.uk

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WEDNESDAY 20TH MARCH | THE LION

Culture Video Games: Lego Lord of the Rings Robert Leftwich Acting Culture Editor

DanielDa

I downloaded LEGO Lord of the Rings for three main reasons. It was 2:00 in the morning and I was bored and impulsive; I love the Lord of the Rings, and the LEGO Star Wars games were some of my favourite games of the 6th console generation or as I in my biased way call it, the PS2 era. If you’re unfamiliar with the LEGO series, it can be summed up by saying it takes a series of popular films, or alternatively Batman, and converts them into a platforming game having replaced all the characters with the ever-popular plastic choking hazards designed and marketed to nerds and small children alike. I played the PC version which is a decision I regret as the PC controls are unintuitive to put it charitably, and a big pile of shit to

put it uncharitably, so if you do decide to get it, either get it on console or shell out for an Xbox controller for your computer.

The platforming in this game is back on form for the series, and is on a par with the original LEGO Star Wars games in this regard, the puzzles are inventive, the interaction and combat satisfying, and the levels are engaging and appropriately lengthy. However, whilst the game-play has the strengths of the LEGO series at its best, it is also marred by the problems that the whole series has faced since its inception. For example, your characters can’t ever die permanently, meaning it’s impossible to fail the level and death ceases to have any consequence beyond losing a few of the coins (LEGO studs) that you have collected in the course of that level, which only matters if you’re bothered about 100% completion. Another problem is that the companion AI, whilst

Film: The Oscars Sartaj Singh Film Reviewer DanielDa

More than any other time in the past, the Academy Awards felt extra special to me this year, perhaps this was because it was the 85th, the primary theme of film music being celebrated or the fact that I have actually seen most of nominated pictures6/9 and still counting.

Keeping with their new tradition of appealing to a younger audience, this year the Academy chose Seth McFarlane of Family Guy and American Dad fame to host the award show.

Unlike colossal failures in the past, particularly the complete misfire of James Franco and Anne Hathaway hosting together. McFarlane proves that he is more then up to the task.

I firmly believe that out of all the hosting gigs that one can get in life that the Oscars are definitely the most difficult to oversee.

This is because a careful balance has to be struck between reverence to the past, which has to reflect in the host`s attitude and approach as well as something contemporary in order to show that the Awards are not

stuck in the past, this is particularly important in our information age.

McFarlane I think in his hosting really keeps this balance quite well, like a lot of the actors of old, he is a man of many trades which he shows of in spades, be it setting up old dance tunes, or coming off like a modern day Frank Sinatra, with his own twist of course. Perhaps the most criticized point of his whole hosting was his jokes which managed to fire and offend nearly anyone you can think of.

I personally did not mind his humour as I am a fan of Family Guy and its quirky and random comic interludes that can be red in the face funny at best and swear inducing at worst. His best moment was his opening monologue where he teamed up with Captain James T Kirk himself in a hilarious and self deprecating sketch which set the tone for the whole evening.

As I remarked upon earlier one of the primary themes of this year’s awards was the celebration of music in film. This gave way to some interesting and spectacular live performances

cleverer than in previous games, still occasionally does monumentally stupid things such as continually walking into lava flows or simply ceasing to move and standing around like lemons whilst LEGO orcs leisurely and repeatedly turn them into small piles of plastic giblets.

LEGO LOTR mixes up the formula from classic LEGO games in that instead of the levels being arranged in a very small hub structure, you “find” levels in a scaled down version of Middle Earth, which I thought worked really well at creating a realistic sense of scope and epicness to the adventure, it makes the game more like an RPG than previous titles. Traveller’s Tales have tried to continue the RPG theme with this game by including side-quests and more collectables than previous titles, however these elements disappointed me, Traveller’s Tale doesn’t have much experience in making RPGs and the inexpe-

“I personally did not mind his humour as I am a fan of Family Guy and its quirky and random comic interludes that can be red in the face funny at best and swear inducing at worst.” which ranged from Shirley Bassey belting out the show stopping “Goldfinger” to Catherine Zeta Jones performing the famous “And all that Jazz” from “Chicago”.

Furthermore, a funny gimmick was utilised with the theme from Jaws which started playing if a speech was going on too long. This rule was broken

by Quentin Tarantino when accepting his award, who proceeded to walk off when hearing the theme to run back seconds later with more to say, the result was quite funny.

In terms of music showcased, while the near three hour

rience shows, the “side-quests” are mostly fetch missions, i.e. go to level x, find item y, bring it to NPC z. This would be fine, but there’s really no reason to do them besides a few extras that make the game even easier, or more studs to buy additional characters, but the extra characters serve little purpose besides a skin change, as all the characters you need to use are unlocked in normal story mode.

Another mix-up is a change to a staple of the series: humorous, pantomimed cut-scenes entirely in LEGO. This is changed in this latest instalment in that Traveller’s Tales actually managed to get the licensing to use audio clips from the Lord of the Rings trilogy so the cut-scenes are now fully voiced. This to me sounded great on paper, but in the end I thought they would have better in pantomime, the cut-scenes in previous games had an excellent element of parody to them that full voicing

detracts from in my opinion, the scenes ended up being more or less re-creations of the original scenes from the film but in LEGO, rather than the hilarious hyperbolic piss-takes that I had come to expect from the series.

So in conclusion, what did I think about LEGO Lord of The Rings? I enjoyed it, but I couldn’t help but feel the game could have been better. What was good in this game is really good, but some of the attempts at innovation (whilst should definitely be applauded for trying) fell flat. If you’re a fan of the LEGO series, Lord of the Rings, or are a small child or equivalent, you should definitely check it out. If you are not a fan of the LEGO series already, I would recommend checking out LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga before getting this game.

show hit possibly every classic themes in film that one can think about, possibly the most glaring omission of the show was the Star Wars theme, this was at most a gross oversight considering that back in ‘78 the score for “A New Hope” won “Best Original Score” The presenters of awards they varied from George Clooney to Paul Rudd. Perhaps the most disappointing presenters were the cast of Avengers, which seemed like a great idea on paper but in execution it came across as awkward and not to mention quite time wasting as their jokes mostly fell flat. The best presenter by far was Christopher Plummer who came out with a twinkle in his eye and his usual humour that brought a sense of old time class to the show.

As for the winners of the night, this was quite a fair as awards shows go. Most if not all the major films mentioned in the “Best Picture” category got major awards. As for the predictable awards, Daniel Day Lewis won “Best Actor” for his superb performance as Lincoln and the public`s favourite “Argo” won “Best Film”. However the

most surprising awards came in the next big categories. The first was “Best Actress” going to Jennifer Lawrence which no one was betting on and “Best Director” went to Ang Lee for Life of Pi which was my personal favourite to win. The film went on to win 4 awards.

Overall the 85th Academy Awards were quite spectacular, quite possibly the best in years. This was because of the host who got the right balance between being reverent to having his own style comedically, the celebration of film music which was a nice personal touch as well as an eclectic array of award presenters.

Perhaps the only real problem of the show aside from pitfalls that usually bring down a show like this was the tribute to James Bond 50th anniversary. While it was nice hearing Adele and Shirley singing their respective themes for two great films in the cannon, the rest of it came across as quite amateurish with a clip reel that anyone with good editing skills could put together. In this case, the rumour of all the five actors being on stage together sounded better than the actual reality.

Lego LOTR is available on PC, Steam, PS3, PS Vita, Xbox360 and Nintendo DS and 3DS

Do you have a passion for films? Why not write us a review!

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WEDNESDAY 20TH MARCH | THE LION

edited by Rob Leftwich & Daniel Tripp Television: Game of Thrones Season 3 Matt Peach 2nd year Undergraduate The first two series of ‘Game of Thrones’ received unparalleled praise from critics and viewers alike. With a Metacritic average of 83, Game of Thrones is considered to be one of the best TV series to come out of HBO in years. Based on the a series of books called ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ by George Martin, the series has wowed viewers with gripping characters, excellent performances from adult and child actors, as well as a truly exceptional – bordering on believable - ‘world’. On March 31, the series returns for its third season.

For those unfamiliar with the show, the first series is loosely based on ‘A Game of Thrones’

by Martin. The show centres around Ned Stark, Sean Bean, who is summoned to be the King’s Hand after the untimely death of Jon Arryn. After receiving a letter from Lysa, his wife Catelyn’s sister, Ned has reason to believe that Jon’s death was not a coincidence and could be the result of a plot from the Lannisters. The Queen is a Lannister and will not have her secrets exposed by the Starks. This is

intertwined with the story of the Targaryens who believe they are the rightful rulers of the Iron Throne. Banished to a land across the Narrow Sea, Viserys marries off his sister, Daenerys, to the Dothraki leader, Khal Drogo. Viserys hopes that through using Drogo’s army he will be able to retake the throne. However, an unexpected love blossoms between Daenerys and Drogo that poses a significant threat to Viserys’ plans. Beyond King’s Landing, to the north of Winterfell, lies the Great Wall. Guarded by the Night’s Watch, mysterious happenings begin to occur. Jon Snow, Ned Stark’s bastard son, chooses to join the brotherhood in an attempt to carve out his own path in a world he feels he doesn’t belong in.

Following the events of the previous season, Ned Stark’s son, Robb, is on a quest to gain independence for his people and those of the Riverlands. However, the throne has landed in the hands of Joffrey, who has the backing of the incredibly rich Lannister family. He must fend off attacks from his uncle Renly, however Joffrey is reluctant to take the advice of his other uncle, the dwarf Tyrion. The former King’s brother, Stan-

nis, also lays claim to throne and with a merciless reputation against his opponents he is certainly a force to be reckoned with. Meanwhile, Daenerys Targaryen has hatched a truly terrifying force; their youth the only obstacle preventing them reeking havoc across the seven Kingdoms. She and her followers must attain new allies in order to fulfil her dream of sitting on the Iron Throne. At the Wall, Jon Snow ventures beyond the wall to search for missing rangers but is thrust into a life affirming position when he comes face to face with the wildings.

Game of Thrones has truly become a world-renowned phenomenon. In only two series it has been consistently nominated for a variety of awards, compared to the likes of Breaking Bad and brought unprecedented levels of tourism to Northern Ireland. Even if the fantasy genre isn’t your cup of tea, the performance of Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister is excellent and the series is worth watching for this alone. Whilst there has been some criticism of the frequent nudity, this is but a blemish on an epic fantasy series that is sure to have a well-watched and successful future.

Winter is coming.

Wikipedia Commons

Art: Exhibition Roundup John Woodhouse 2nd year Postgraduate There is an American theme this month!

A major exhibition Manet: Portraying Life has opened at the Royal Academy. Students £10. I was disappointed and it seemed a bit thin to the extent of an entire room devoted to a map of Paris! Still there are some fine portraits on show. George Bellows: Modern American Life opens on 16 March. Students £8.

A major retrospective of Roy Lichtenstein the pop artist has opened at Tate Modern.

Students £12.20 and book in advance! If you are visiting Tate Modern (nearest underground is Southwark and easily walkable from Waterloo or St Paul’s cathedral) do not miss The Tanks – all free.

At Tate Britain Schwitters in Britain is the first major exhibition to examine the work of the late Kurt Schwitters, one of the most important artists of European modernism.

Students £9.50. Looking at the view is a free exhibition.

At the Queen’s gallery, Buckingham Palace The Northern Renaissance: Durer to Holbein has been highly recommended. Student ticket £8.50 or you can get a combined ticket with the Royal Mews. Advance booking recommended. The exhibition is on until April 14.

The National Portrait Gallery is always a free treasure trove of interest and you can see the controversial first portrait of the Duchess of Cambridge. There are currently exhibitions about American poets and presidents, Man Ray portraits (students £12 advance booking required) and George Catlin: American Indian portraits (free!) Next door is the wonderful free National Gallery in Trafalgar Square. Barocci: Brilliance and Grace (students £6) and Through American Eyes: Frederic Church and the Landscape Oil Sketch (free) are the current exhibitions.

The British Library at St Pancras has a major exhibition until 2 April Mughal India: Art, Culture and Empire. Students only £5 and advance booking recommended. It is well worth a visit and the catalogue is excellent.

The advance publicity for Treasures of the Royal Court: Tudors, Stuarts and the Russian Tsars (students £6) at the Victoria and Albert museum suggests that this will be full of opulent items celebrating 500 years of exchange between Britain and Russia. Light from the East: New photography runs to April 4th. David Bowie Is opens on 23 March and runs until 28 July.

The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, The Strand, is free for students (with a student card) and Becoming Picasso Paris 1901 has opened there and there is also an exhibition of Picasso, Matisse, Malliol: the Female Model. The room on the ground floor has some lovely mediaeval paintings. A No. 9 bus will take you nearly all the way there!

If you are visiting Covent Garden which is always a fun place to be, do not miss the London Transport Museum (students £7.50). There is an exhibition of Poster Art 150: London Underground’s Greatest Designs. Hop on a No. 9 bus to the Strand.

The must see exhibition is sure to be Life and Death in Pompeii and Herculaneum at the Brit-

ish Museum! Advance booking definitely needed – students £12.50. While there, explore the Egyptian and Asian collections which are among the finest in the world and free. www.roh.org.uk/cinema has details of performances showing in local cinemas which are relays from the Royal Opera House.

Thurs 28 March Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland 27 May La Donna del Lago 24 June Gloriana http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/liveinhd/ uk.aspx for relays from the Metropolitan Opera House New York in cinemas.

For example check the cinema in Notting Hill for relays from the opera and the National Theatre http://www.picturehouses. co.uk/cinema/Gate_Picturehouse/film/Met_Opera_Francesca_Da_Rimini/ Francesca da Rimini 16 March 4.00 p.m.

Live from the Bolshoi 31 March 4.00 Rite of Spring 12 May 4.00 Romeo and Juliet All these films Concessions £15 (bring proof) Everybody seems to be performing Bach’s St

John Passion this Easter!

St Paul’s cathedral has a performance on 20 March 6.30 p.m. To apply for FREE tickets, send a stamped addressed envelope to Passion Tickets, The Chapter House, London, EC4M 8AD or email katherine@stpaulscathedral.org.uk On the same night 20 March at 7.30 p.m. there is a performance at Westminster Cathedral – tickets from $10 to £40. On Sunday 24 March for £15 you can attend a performance at St Mary Abbots church, Kensington. At the Barbican there is a performance on Good Friday at 3 p.m. £8 £35. Also at St Martin’s in the Fields on March 22nd and the Cadogan Hall on March 14th.

Have you been to an exhibition, seen a film or read a book that’s worth writing about? Write in!

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Societies

Edited by Rory Phillips

Sports and

societies@theheythroplion.co.uk

Lokahi Feastival Faye West Acting Senior Editor On Thursday the 14th of March, Heythrop held a Feastival, celebrating all things Heythrop. The event was hosted by The Lokahi Foundation, a charity who has its head-quarters on campus and concerns themselves with the promotion of diversity management and interfaith cohesion. The feastival, which lasted for the whole afternoon, was constructed of a series of dazzling mini events. There was a lunch time BBQ which ticked all the boxes of being kosher, Halal and vegan friendly. Heythrop Heads, the drama society, initiated the merriment with their sudden and brilliant improvised sketches, raising instant laughs and giggles.

They even managed to achieve the elusive audience participation, convincing two observers to join them. Singers and musicians’ serenades drifted around the Loyola Hall, floating above an array of stalls. The stalls belonged to

various faith and minority groups.

J-Soc, I-Soc, Heythrop Pride all made an appearance as well as the Dungeons & Dragons society. Each society brought something which represented them as a group of people. Some brought food from around the world. The amount cake stacked on one stall was impressive. Other scheduled contributions to the day were a TED talk, and a football match- philosopher vs. Theologians. The philosophers were regaled in togas, while the theologians made do with skull caps, prayer shawls and mitres constructed lovingly out of paper.

The theologians won 9-8, although the philosophers maintained they won on principle, the principle that they were wearing bed sheets and trying to play. Arguably the most successful part of the day was the fashion show. Our very own Heythroppers paraded themselves proudly, adorned in all manner of costume, to the cheers of a large crowd.

The day was a success and most defiantly celebrated the array of wonderful madness that is Heythrop.

Interfaith sharing at Heythrop Rocco Viviano SX Chaplaincy John Woodhouse 2nd Year Postgraduate The Heythrop interfaith sharing group was formed by Fr Rocco Viviano by bringing together members of the Jewish and Islamic societies with lecturers, students and members of the convent community. We planned the meetings to-

gether and held our first meeting in March 2012 which was supported by the Principal.

The meetings have been well supported and allow those of faith and none to share their thoughts. We begin with refreshments and then think about the theme for five minutes and are then asked to share this with one person. This usually leads to lively discussion and then there is an opportunity, if you wish, to share with the whole group. All

comments are to remain within the group and be treated as confidential.

The meetings usually last around an hour between 4.45 and 6, and one Flickr.com/HarshLight problem has been finding a time to suit everyone. This has proved to be problematic. We usually meet two or three times in each term and vary the day so that more can take part.

The dialogue of religious experience allows persons, rooted in

their own religious traditions, to share their spiritual riches, for instance with regard to prayer and contemplation, faith and ways of searching for God or the Absolute.

We are convinced that the others’ faith experience might shed light on our own and one’s own faith experience might shed light on that of anothers. The hope is that we will become a community of ‘Fellow Pilgrims, Seekers of the Truth’.

We began with the question “ If

spiritual life can be compared to a journey, at what stage on the journey do I find myself?” and then looked at the further question “What aspect of my religious belief/practice sustains me on my journey?”

Keep an eye on the weekly Chaplaincy newsletter for the date of future meetings. All are welcome!

ATTENTION SOCIETY MEMBERS! WE WANT YOUR ARTICLES, REPORTS, AND ARTICLES! SEND THEM TO societies@theheythroplion.co.uk

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WEDNESDAY 20TH MARCH | THE LION

SPORTS & SOCIETIES

Galen Strawson – ‘Real Naturalism’ Rory Phillips Sports and Societies Editor Last Wednesday, the Philosophy Society hosted Professor Strawson, who spoke on what he called ‘real’ Naturalism. It actually descended into lots of qualifications of the ‘real’ type, including, but not limited to: ‘real realism about experience and real physicalism’.

The event went very well indeed, although, about an hour beforehand, I did walk through the garden and see a man who looked exactly like him sitting and having some lunch. It was rather peculiar I must say. He was having a tremendous time though – it was actually him as well! He was rather tired,

the poor chap, having just flown over from Texas.

The talk itself was a reading of his paper of the same name as the talk, which delineated what exactly he felt real naturalism was. He prefaced this by telling us that although John Cottingham had told him that trying to reclaim the word in this sense was a lost cause, as so many people use the term ‘naturalism’ to describe their positions whilst believing in nothing of the sort, he still felt like putting up a fight. Good for him, I say!

It all turned rather odd in the last twenty minutes or so, especially when he started talking about panpsychism, a rather strange belief that in some sense everything is, or has a mind, or mental prop-

erties. His point was that any naturalist (who, in order to qualify to be a real naturalist, must also believe real realism about experience and real physicalism), should be open to the possibility of panpsychism.

Indeed, he offered, and seemed to endorse, his own model of panpsychism (he called it micropsychism, because it stands as a less radical belief).

It all turned rather odd in the last twenty minutes or so, especially when he started talking about panpsychism, a rather strange belief that in some sense everything is, or has a mind, or mental properties.

So having shown those pesky physicsalists (as he called people who believe that everything is reduc-

ible to physics) what for, Strawson showed us what exactly naturalism is, namely, that there is something irreducibly qualitative about the nature of everyday perceptual experience. All these not-rualists (a word he used for false naturalists) have got the entire thing wrong! By denying this irreducible qualitativity, they are denying the one certain concrete natural fact about the world! Very odd indeed, one might think.

Why is ‘Notrualism’ so prevalent?

From what I gathered, it is because people have the idea of ‘reductivism’ all wrong. To say that A is reducible to B (mental events to physical events, say) is to say that there are two equally valid ways of speaking about the same thing.

Whether one is in some sense more basic than the other is not the point.

In any case, the question of whether Strawson’s defence of real naturalism is likely to convince any notrualists is probably going to be answered in the negative. Having said that, real naturalism, on Strawson’s view, seems a most agreeable doctrine, as most of the room seemed to think, which led to a pleasing (and rare!) consensus of the society.

Dolf Rami – ‘Transfictional Comparisons’ Rory Phillips Sports and Societies Editor If the title sounds unfamiliar, that is something that is not unique to you. I found the title most perplexing until approximately 2:37pm on Monday 11th March. That is when Rami told us what they were – a transfictional comparison is a comparison made either between two fictional entities in the same fictional world, two entities in two different worlds, or one fictional entity and one real entity. Not that strange, really. Rami’s talk focused on the semantic problems faced by us if we want to say that something like ‘Sherlock Holmes is more intelligent than David Cameron’ can be both intelligible and have some truth value.

He led us through some alternatives, such as that we can have a common reference point, such as a separate and universal criterion of intelligence, markers of which we can infer from the text. This is per-

sonally, on reflection, my favourite interpretation of the matter. One problem with it, however, is that technically we are only allowed to infer from what is there in the corpus, but this is no real problem, because it is just the same as were are only inferring from what we believing about a real person (Mr. Cameron) which could be thought of allegorically as a corpus of sorts.

Other alternatives included figuring out the precise degree of intelligence, or even the range of intelligence that the two things being compared have. These alternatives were quickly dismissed, due to the rather obvious problem of determining a number to represent these accurately. There was also a rather Rami moved on to discuss his own solution to the problem.

This involved the application of a type of realism about fictional characters which supposes that they are objects of a type, referred to as artefacts. This is called artefactual realism, which is rather pleasant. The opposing view is ei-

ther referred to as irrealism, antirealism, or non-realism. The fact that this latter group gets to change their name a lot is a good reason to be suspicious of them I say! (Let’s not at this time mention how there are about 5 different names for Kantian Idealism...)

The talk ended with some good discussion and criticism, involving me making a reference to Dishonoured (my words were, ‘This fictional city in my story has more rats than London...’), when I was talking about how a lot of fictional entities are based on real things.

Peter fulfilled his usual role by bringing up the most famous of all possible philosophers – Thomas of Erfurt, and his great and masterful work (or so I am told) ‘Speculativa Grammatica’, and talking about how the question was not being approached in the correct manner. Apparently there is a school of thought originating with Meinong, which Peter may like. Hurrah! New philosophers to read and agree with!

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