The Journal - Edinburgh Issue 021

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EDINBURGH’S UNIVERSITY NEWSPAPER

ISSUE XXI

WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH 2009

INTERVIEW: JIM MURPHY » 19

AS THE SCOTTISH SECRETARY TELLS SIMON MUNDY ABOUT SALMOND'S DUBIOUS JUDGEMENT, AND WHY TOMMY SHERIDAN'S "COMMUNIST" REVELATION WAS NOTHING TO GET EXCITED ABOUT

Politics head threatens legal action against EUSA president

» IN NEWS

EDINBURGH CHARITY FASHION SHOW '09 » 2

NSA election results Napier Students' Association elects its second female president amid amid confusion over the workings of the Alternative Transferable vote system.

NEWS » 3

EUSA launches community campaign An independent survey is commissioned to reveal the causes of tension between Edinburgh students and local residents

Adam Ramsay retracts comments made in response to Professor John Peterson's controversial letter to politics & international relations students

Nick Eardley nick.eardley@journal-online.co.uk

Trams roll on...

the worst in the UK for feedback in the 2008 National Student Survey. In line with the university’s positive response, EUSA launched its teaching awards, aimed at rewarding lecturers and tutors for quality teaching and feedback.

In February a motion to the EUSA General Meeting highlighting ongoing problems with feedback attracted wide support from students.

But despite efforts to improve the feedback procedures at the university, some students have expressed concerns that Peterson’s comments would undermine attempts to improve the relationship between academics and the student community.

News 3

t complaints ion puts studen er & recess Lecturer bad weath down to

YOUR WORK: ASSESSINGFROM 'S LETTER EXCERPTS DR. PETERSON

all other stuto you and .I am writing on an extremely dents in Politics/IRWe would probably matter. important what follows if you read all benefit say that carefully.

I’d like to As a preface, is going well this work you I hope your that we consider and and to be full semester, SILVIA FOTEVA our students intellectual and all of of our valued members community. to me and social become clear It has recently a good enough not done of the that we’ve you aware to job of making we have in place that results procedures your assessment of your be sure that quality reflect the nis by accurately remedy this new intend to Paris Gourtsoyan when work. We job in future next l-online.co.uk doing a better at SSPS (starting paris@journa arrive you now. officials students writing to num[and] EDINBURGH who OF autumn) an inordinatefrom UNIVERSITY a head of subject I have received regardthis year have defendedstudent concerns essay by to ber of representations query their responded and academic feedback wishing to are multiple caused students there ing marking their anxiety was of awaremarks. I suspect economic besides lack the suggesting and the including reasons why, weather the procedures, edginess and by head of ness of our the downturn. of avoiding recession.

John Peterson, difficulty induced by Professor and international to all politics gloom inevitably ... via email for subject for a procedure a sent a letter saying: “I relations, course, have You have We do, of in his department, number of students an essay mark... you should an inordinate students appealing a mark, but have received s this year from appeal lightly: right to appeal marks. decision to representation their essay reasons not take the go up or down when to query multiple can wishing there are of our your mark in line with standard “I suspect of lack of awareness 2nd marked, the UK. why, besidesincluding the difficulty practice in or a ‘curve’ that ineviacademic gloom quotas and no procedures, edginess in a We have of marks the the spread avoiding by recession.” as the unidetermines The spread of marks comes tably induced year attempts single course. and in any given The letter—which across coursesrich variety of reasons. makes high-profile a of poor academic versity the issue showing can vary for us who teach you have a dismal to address of great a following Survey—was forNearly all of having feedback Student had experiences with many students a student the NationalThe Journal by who but having year in a course, to subject, high marks, warded Peterson’s whatever earning very when—for same within Prof. and remain anonymous. other years performances in the of politics by wished to of student reason—the not as good... It is rarely approached A number relations course were any student will produce their disinternational have expressed all of totally the case that quality across The Journalletter; one said: “It’s the work of identical if gust at the and completely misses their courses. a tremendous shame of patronising, the basis It would be letter: “We courses on kindly’, as point.” begins his you read chose your you ‘mark Peterson if would Prof. you. all benefit who you think subjects interest before quantiwhat all would probably comcarefully,” opposed to in your interest: we efforts to what follows department’s It is also not best work on subjects as consistfying his our feedback tend to do academic job in future when bat poor us. a better starting that excite ... ing of “doing arrive at SSPS tremendous you now.” work under new students[and] writing to We in Pols/IR have 4.5 times more concerned next autumn We students the pressure. than Sociology grades and Addressing » 23 WANTS CHANGE coursework Prof Peterson honours students more than Social IRVINE WELSH about their 3 times Another fiasco? ‘final procedures were assessed, and about No set of marks are way they have a Anthropology. mistake-proof.

“Your essay “you us 100% replies: I say Breaking news me when before warning, could make you should for now’,” you to trust seeing that a mark, but lightly: But I’d ask for Goodbye to appeal right to appeal Green belt that our procedures the decisionor down when 2nd equity is ensured not take done and and degrees can go up academic justice is of marks standard your mark than line with in the awarding at Edinburgh Edinburgh marked, in rigorous as other and UK.” talks are more in the at 20ish Showdownpressure intensifies practice

by The Journal Prowitnessed and beyond, as those I’ve letter, feedback When contacted in the UK Prof Peterson’s of School Universities, External Examiner. forwarded or Good, Head and to produce a lecturer want you fessor Anthony Political Science,of the implemented We genuinely degree of which and Head have already and for Social Sciand history reform April McMahon, the best marks and are 100% comand Social genuine you Professor literature defendHumanities English hopes for you are capable,all we can to help 1st such as College of a joint statement doing 2008 raised teaching all get a mitted to quality of departments in October We hope you ence, issued actions. weather, deliver the achieve that. (although I’m afraid after a meeting the bad that we are failed to to provide.” end ing Prof Peterson’s Despite improvements, to feedback say in general it is his job adds towards the or distinction! to why the But you need edu“I should of that a 1st of improving feedback baffled as should Prof. Peterson hope you all get that that is unlikely…) for your own the process Good was unawareThe Peterson both somewhat “We let- of by with the said Professor year,” Prof. that the take responsibility of his letter: – although I’m afraid contacted are to graduate letter from of any controversy,” responsuggestions the univer- this letter when first a copy. cation if you which you are capable. or distinction you need to take if you Answering to be sent the tive to of be a subject But say this and needed Adam Ramsay best results for a head the standard heard me is unlikely. your own education results ter is counterproduc Prof. Good. and Journal, president appropriate to improve but if you for best Peterson’s You’ve probably greater EUSA with the of Prof.

“It is entirely repeatedly…) sity’s efforts feedback, teaching and probto provide just stan- sibility Good to seek to graduate capable. You’ve before (maybeyou are likely to do academic assessment spoke damningly of academic relations, Profs are of subject maybe “The are letter regarding to improved is the that, eventuwhich you say this before, do the work, you of department.

Peterson’s attempts you his The transparency procedures, whichto poli- student-staff me I promise told said: “Prof. to helping stuthe recession fine. And do the work, ably heard dards withinone letter,” he McMahon and feedback of the letter sent will come, but if you I promise contribution feedback works ally, spring fine. And point isn’t is a useful how clear purpose John repeatedly, etc. to do just spring will come part of will ease, Professor are likely Journal. itself is dents understand tics/IR students. of subject, eventually, ease.” have fun. for a own discipline. the letter Profesto be focusing “As head you that, Work hard, will “In fact, within his appropriate you that, written because clearly needs he has recently that these allay student and the recession “It is entirely Peterson off: “I promise the recesJohn that feedback,was concerned however, to seek to clearly he spends He signs come, the time head of subjecteconomic climate so it on teaching; He sor Petersonwere partly misunderstood spring will hard, have fun.” some of The of research. the eventually, Work given up procedures in favour in for anxieties.graduate employability, ease, etc. to comment concerns teaching sion will refused by example by students.” it was appropriate stu- affects as on that student leading and feedback Prof Petersonby The Journal. be heightened is hardly Asked if discourage seems obvious teaching marks will students, above contacted subject to that their effort to improve over degree has when a head of in good faith, felt science assessed Mr Peterson result. Socialto be aware of this!”letter quality. a dents who, had been unfairly years, Good and “Over the all, are boundinsisting that “the part coursework an appeal, Profs need to explicitly Despite “Students up the from making clearly and replied: itself is quite and weigh McMahon information an appeal.” have this of making consequences

The Journal11 March 2009 Wednesday

ty "baffled" » Universi

at outrage

ve letter over dismissi

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WEDNESDAY

29 OCTOBER

2008

ISSUE XII

EDINBURGH’S

STUDENT

NEWSPAPER

it of guy then member type to win.” country club almost has old, white, think Obama page 20 elects the usual to democracy. I » Comment “If America disservice we really?

- but do will be a terrible protestors “We own

the banks,”

claim banking

IN NEWS

voting that in Electronic thousands vote disenfranchised Parliament 2007 Scottish for Edinburgh return is set to council by-election

» 15

NATIONAL POLITICS

10 of footage, and 3,000 hours Reuters an million images: up to deliver ITN team online research invaluable resource

ACADEMIC NEWS

» 10

projects housing Planned million leave worth £7.5 areas looking many greenbelt vulnerable

EDINBURGH

Last week’s

HBOS takeover

protests

saw angry

campaigners

demand

money back

from “greedy

bankers”

Mickael

Binon

NEWS » 9

US ‘08 SPECIAL ★ WHY AMERICANS BLACK WANT A PRESIDENT

★ NO COUNTRY MEN? FOR OLD IN GROUND ★ ON THE PENNSYLVANIA & FEY 2008: ★ BROLIN THE YOUTUBE TICKET

being problems » P16 one of the collect BUILDUP Conversely, opportunities to taken US ELECTIONS is that head of not being “We addressed feedback are the School of Jeff Haywood, Professor told the SRC: we individual Last year Services, what allowed nonup by students.

Information push to help us do Political Studiesthrough their to Social and to go need you very students IN BRIEF however,

by Guy Brohonours need to do.” with a tutor; was invited affairs & Guy Robertson THE EUSA SRC The Journal exam scriptsthis opportunity. of academic by this: Student up president puzzled Reprefew took mley, vice University as a Good is meetThe Students Professor attend a Council (SRC) 100 students at the Edinburgh these initiatives sentative the mea(EUSA), to representatives body of around existing to public “We introduced pressure but haven’t Association is an elected class of Edinburgh the university. represtudent of student so far clearly UNPRECEDENTEDover poor clear that at the University concerns to ing with by five concern on result IN AN student have taken SRC. It was pressure first proposed represent to student vice principals of sures we before the debate are this response the affairs, welfare,and were mountingon voicing the Topics for reinforced (external feedback, were hauled worked.” sentatives & learning academic principals need to work subcommittees and are intent are of Edinburgh CounThe vice services, teaching for the SRC the schools students. academic the University saying: “We Elections arrangto find out of Student Representative sentiment, representatives included postgraduates).in the second semester. concerns week. before the allow aren’t always meeting last rated the worst held annually Their initiatives meetings to with student concil (SRC) was feedback these opportunities to make in the recent ing cross-department The university some of successful informal why up, what can be done is at stake.” is of the utmost for feedback (NSS) measurand why taken the comparison University in the UK that it and submitting collect feedbackup more readily Student Survey tact and He declared the problem is addressed approaches National are taken in the that principals by students per possibilities student surveys. ing satisfaction. of the vice seriously importance effectively.

50 arranged A survey than others.” how showed that The attendance quickly and princiemphasised Department that their course highest 2 the vice felt at the SRC being taken at the on page meeting of a Finance the surconcern is Continued At the SRC on the importance The cent of students The results of the matter highlighted official cult. students. focussed was too diffi sent to course organisers. levels, and staff and reputation. Studies, pals been between vey have know immediately Political dialogue for the university’s said, must Social and said: “It’s a big Head of staff, they Good is unsatisfactory. to be Anthony feedback Professor it’s embarrassing of the when issue because The reputation in this position.

Katie Oakes

news@journal-online.co.uk

Tram bosses and project consortium finally reach deal in payment dispute

EDINBURGH NEWS »7

Lib dems call for minimum income Education spokeswoman leads motion on increased student support

NATIONAL POLITICS » 13

The Journal revealed details of the contentious letter earlier in March, alongside the scathing remarks from EUSA president Adam Ramsay

Peterson’s letter has attracted criticism for its “facetious” tone, particularly the warning that “it would be a tremendous shame if you [students] chose your courses on the basis of who you think would ‘mark kindly’, as opposed to what subjects interest you.”

However, Ramsay has since expressed regret for the comments he made in reference to Prof. Petersons article. Seeking to move on from the row, and towards more productive dialogue with the department, he said: “My comments about John were clearly a personal attack, and I have written to him to apologise for this. We are now meeting to discuss how EUSA and the politics department can work together to move forwards on feedback.”

Ramsay also refused to confirm whether Peterson had made any reference to legal action in correspondence with the EUSA president.

» IN FEATURES

Tunng with Tinariwen British folksters Tunng talk clashing cultures and experimental music with Dan Moss

ARTS »21

Top-up fees NUS President Wes Streeting argues for a fair and viable alternative to top-up fees in England

COMMENT »15 EDDIE FISHER

THE HEAD OF the University of Edinburgh’s politics and international relations department has threatened legal action against the president of the Edinburgh University Students’ Association over comments made about a letter sent out over assessments and feedback.

The Journal understands that Professor John Peterson sent a letter to EUSA President Adam Ramsay after Ramsay was quoted in the last edition of The Journal as saying that Peterson had “failed to deliver the quality of teaching that it is his job to provide.”

In the letter, Peterson allegedly demands a retraction, and is believed to have intimated that he will seek legal advice if this is not forthcoming.

According to a EUSA source, who wished to remain anonymous, Ramsay revealed the details of the letter at Monday’s Student Representative Council (SRC) Executive meeting. The announcement was made in line with the association’s protocol which requires all sabbatical officers to provide details of their engagements over the past week.

The row kicked off last month after Peterson sent a letter to students in which he attributed “an inordinate number” of student concerns over marking to reasons “including the difficulty of avoiding the edginess and gloom inevitably induced by recession.”

In response to a number of student complaints, Ramsay told The Journal: “The point isn’t one letter. As head of subject, John Peterson clearly needs to be focussing on teaching; however, he has recently given up some of the time he spends on teaching in favour of research.

“He is hardly leading by example in the effort to improve teaching and feedback quality.”

Vice principals at the University were hauled before the SRC in October last year after the university was rated

STUDENT NEWS » 11

2 News

The Journal Wednesday 25 March 2009

THIS WEEK AT JOURNAL-ONLINE.CO.UK

NOAH AND THE WHALE

ECA FASHION SHOW

More than just a twee modern folk band

Art college graduates to showcase their final collections

KEITH EDKINS

KB ROAD RACE

Runners take to the street for 5 km run around King's Buildings

PARTY CONFERENCE ROUND-UP- As Lib Dem and Labour recover from their annual conferences, David Livey discusses the keynote speeches from Tavish Scott and Iain Gray

STALEMATE @ EASTER ROAD

Hibs and Aberdeen frustrated in 0-0 draw

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Edinburgh Charity Fashion Show hailed a success EDDIE FISHER

Helen Broadfoot & Shaunie Brett helen.broadfoot@journal-online.co.uk ECFS 2009 TOOK place at the Corn Exchange, with a student night on Friday followed by a VIP evening on Saturday. Welcomed with champagne by ECFS ushers, kitted out in red military-style jackets, in keeping with the ‘revolution’ theme, the evening ahead had promise.

The venue was decked out spectacularly with a double runway, two mounted screens and a DJ booth. After a somewhat nervous opening speech, the show kicked off.

Nicole Farhi’s flirtatious spring/summer collection opened the show, the floral prints and dapper suits setting the tone for the evening. Jaeger boasted a range of hareem pants, safari-chic, and elegant modernised 1940s designs. Betty Jackson’s collection showed a command of colour-scheme, with abstract prints and stunning fabrics. The boys wore Walker Slater tweeds, and escorted their girls

down the runway with kitsch grins and kisses.

The highlight of the show was Artist Springboard’s selection of up-and-coming designers. Nostalgia met futurism, with longjohns made from parachute material (courtesy of Crista Leask) and exquisite reconstructed 17th century dresses by Najilaa Jabri.

Mary Mary London’s charming dresses were inspired, we are told, by childhood innocence and the English Countryside. Her collection was produced ethically, and added an element of delightful cake-shop cute. Other highlights included Bora Aksu’s draped and layered chiffons and Issa’s flawless gowns. These three women’s collections, however, were matched somewhat incongruously with men’s collections from Godiva (patchwork skulls on military jackets) and I Found This On The Street (streetwear mixed with comic masks and novel accessories).

Commendation should go to the styling, especially for the men’s collections.

21st Century Kilts, in tweed, leather and camouflage, were worn with hi-tops and graphic pop-star logo t-shirts. Yvette Jelfs’ millinery was set perfectly against the dresses.

The prodigious 22-year-old conjuror Drummond Money-Coutts provided hilarious yet utterly professional interval entertainment. He put punters on the edge of their seats with a tantalising magic trick and a raffle, engaging the audience with his witty one-liners. Saturday night—although he expressed his desire to be elsewhere, namely celebrating the Irish Grandslam victory—saw him continue the banter as he hosted the auction, helping to raise a staggering amount of money, including £6000 for a trip to Bali.

Perhaps the greatest achievement was the use of multimedia and different art forms. Dances, separating each collection, were sharply choreographed and accompanied by film montages showing the models posing atop Arthurs seat with a red “revolution” flag. An

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Editor Evan Beswick Deputy Editor Chris Williams Board of Directors Devon Walshe Deputy Editors (News) Nick Eardley, Matthew Moore Deputy Editor (Comment/Features) Simon Mundy Deputy Editor (Sport) Graham Mackay

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actor playing “matriarch” reacted as the clothes became more and more risqué.

These sections were beautifully edited – even if their purpose was not clear.

Dickie Drysdale provided a fantastic soundtrack: Boys Noize’s Feist remix, Paper Planes remixed by DFA, Skream’s remix of the Klaxons’ ‘Not Over’ with Santogold’s ‘Creator’ vs Switch and FreQ Nasty, MGMT with Justice, and a little bit of drum ‘n’ bass to complement the conceptual collections.

This year, a very moving charity film was shown instead of the traditional speeches. This was a great success, and the audience left with a much greater awareness of the charities involved: Maggies Cancer Care, Motor Neurone Disease Scotland and Cavernoma Alliance UK. After an exhilarating yet lengthy show, not finishing until 12:30 on the Saturday, it was off to Berlin nightclub on the Friday and Hawke & Hunter on the Saturday. Those with enough stamina were treated to a live acoustic set

by Hugh and Luke from the Kooks, who provided an intimate performance for a rowdy crowd.

The spectacle of ECFS 09 showed prowess in its organisation and style, although the “Revolution” theme remained secondary and rather unconvincing to the outsider. “Revolting in the name of charity” was a puzzling concept, and seemed merely a tenuous link between the cause and the concept.

Nonetheless, ECFS excelled in its comfort zone – it boasted glamour, style and creativity, and showed great generosity to its chosen charities.

The Journal is published by The Edinburgh Journal Ltd., registered address 52 Clerk Street, Edinburgh EH8 9JB. Registered in Scotland number SC322146. For enquiries call 0131 662 6766 or email info@journal-online.co.uk. The Journal is a free newspaper for and written by students and graduates in the City of Edinburgh. Contact us if you’d like to get involved. Printed by Morton’s Printers, Licolnshire.

Copyright © 2008 The Edinburgh Journal Ltd. Elements of this publication are distributed under a Creative Commons license - contact us for more information. Distributed byTwo Heads Media, www.twoheadsmedia. co.uk. Our thanks to PSYBT, Scottish Enterprise, and all who make this publication possible.

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News 3

The Journal Wednesday 25 March 2009

NSA picks new president » Napier Students' Association elects Kasia Bylinska as their next president amid confusion with the ATV voting system

DAMANPREET KAUR

Megan Taylor megan.taylor@journal-online.co.uk AFTER SOME INITIAL confusion regarding the voting system, the students of Edinburgh Napier University Students’ Association elected their new president.

Fourth year economics with management student Kasia Bylinska was delighted when she spoke to The Journal immediately after her victory: “I just can’t believe it! I just don’t know what to say, it’s still sinking in. I’m very surprised.”

She claimed a narrow victory from her main rival candidate Rik Carranza, who was also beaten in last year’s elections by current president Carys Evans.

Ms Bylinska acknowledged Rik’s efforts: “It was so close. I respect Rik and the others for such a clean race.”

Mr Carranza ran on a ticket with Stuart Campbell and Antony Harris for the positions of campaigns and representation officer, and treasurer, respectively.

Only Mr Campbell was voted in.

The role of treasurer went to Ollie Cruickshank, a fourth year sport and exercise science student. Carys Evans told The Journal that this is proof that running on ticket doesn’t always work.

The remaining two presidential candidates were commended for their brave battle as the lack of support from fellow students meant that, once the counting began, it was clear neither had a hope.

Arvydas Jadevicius gained only 133 votes and was visibly frustrated.

Mr Jadevicius, a first year property and management student, announced in good humour that his ballots were hardly worth counting before acknowledging that he was disadvantaged from the start with a very small campaign team.

Fellow candidate Idris Alagbe, a first year economics and management student, ran a respectable campaign based on bringing all students together despite racial or religious differences. Yet he was also faced with a disapointing lack of support.

After gaining a respectable 362 votes he told The Journal: “I am happy. I tried my best on my own but I needed people to work with me. I just need more support and more time. I’ll be back next year.”

The polls were open at five campuses across Napier including Merchiston, Craighouse and Craiglockhart. Students

had many opportunities to vote in the five working days before the count on Friday 13 March when the votes were painstakingly counted by hand via the Alternative Transferrable Voting (ATV) system.

In order to encourage students to have their voice heard, lollipops were handed out to each student who voted.

The turnout was impressive and was unofficially thought by Ms Evans to be the highest yet at Napier with 1704 voting for the presidential position alone.

The counting took place at Merchiston Place and The Journal was in attendance to record the proceedings. There were five positions to be decided including president and it took up to 12 volunteers four tension filled hours to hand count and double check all the ballots.

Due to an unsurprising human error during the third, and somewhat confusing, round of the presidential results, counting had to be started again from scratch – much to the annoyance of the nervous candidates who were permitted to be present.

When The Journal asked why they had not implemented an electronic voting system like the one EUSA used, it was explained that EUSA have an IT manager and unfortunately NSA can not afford this service. It was also suggested that EUSA’s athletics society alone has more money than Napier’s entire Students’ Association.

ELECTION IN NUMBERS TREASURER & STUDENT ACTIVITIES OFFICER

Top: The presidential candidates gather Left: Winner Kasia Bylinska celebrates

714

Ollie

ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT

840

900

Antony

842

800 682

582

557

556

600

698

655

653

700

Arvydas Idris Rik Kasia

500 400

382

363

362

300 200

CAMPAIGNS & REPRESENTATION OFFICER

669

133

100 0

0 First Round

Second Round

Stuart 841

135

Third Round

0

0

Fourth Round

Abdul

4 News

The Journal Wednesday 25 March 2009

DAVID HUNT

Canada bars 'Hamas proxy' Galloway OUTSPOKEN MSP GEORGE Galloway was denied access into Canada last week on the grounds that he poses a threat to the country’s national security.

A spokesperson for Canada’s immigration minister called Mr Galloway an “infandous street-corner Cromwell” and said that the decision was based on the fact that “he has expressed sympathy for the Taliban murderers who are trying to kill Canadian and British soldiers in Afghanistan.”

The decision was made following pressure from Canada’s Jewish Defence League (JDL). In a live Channel 4 debate Meir Weinstein, director of JDL, said: “Any man who supports Hamas and Hezbollah the way he does is in favour of educating children to become suicide bombers.”

Galloway was to give a speech to Toronto’s Stop the War Coalition later this month and has said he will fight the “idiotic ruling” barring him from the country in court. [Constantine Innemée]

Sunday Express publishes Dunblane apology ON SUNDAY, THE Scottish Sunday Express issued an apology for a story that ran on its front page two weeks previously.

Entitled: “Anniversary shame of Dunblane: internet boasts of sex, drink and violence as youngsters hit 18,” the piece was removed from the website days later. The article accused survivors of the Dunblane shooting of shaming the memory of their dead friends. It criticised them for posting “shocking blogs and photographs of themselves on the internet.”

Author of the piece, Paula Murray, befriended the teenagers on Facebook and used photographs they had posted.

The paper regretted that, “it had got it all wrong” and admitted the story was “inappropriate”. It maintained though that the paper had not misquoted anyone. The Scottish Sunday Express is being investigated by the Press Complaints Commission after receiving 30 complaints about the story that was published on 8 March. [Matthew Moore]

Billionaires hit by recession FORBES HAS PUBLISHED this year’s Rich List results, revealing that many of the world’s richest people have been significantly affected by the economic downturn.

The number of billionaires in the world has dropped to 793 this year from 1125 in 2008. With an average net worth of $3 billion—a fall of 23 per cent from last year—many of the individuals included have only just managed to remain billionaires.

Bill Gates sustained losses of around $18 billion, making his net worth $40 billion in total. Despite these substantial losses, Mr Gates moved up to the top of the list, taking over from Warren Buffet, who lost $25 billion. [Kim Hutton]

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OXFORD UNIVERSITY HAS failed to meet the benchmark for the percentage of state school pupils accepted.

The university did not meet the 76 per cent target set by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), calling it an “unrealistic” request.

Even though the statistics agency sets a different goal for each institution, Oxford said its high entry requirements hinder the acceptance of a higher amount of state educated students. The number of state school pupils accepted by the university did rise by two per cent last year, increasing the total amount to 55.4 per cent.

The University’s director of undergraduate admissions, Mike Nicholson, said: “We’re working hard to make sure all talented students can get hold of the information they need to consider applying to Oxford, but, despite offering podcasts and e-mentoring, the university can’t be with every student all of the time.

[Constantine Innemée]

News 5

The Journal Wednesday 25 March 2009

Belfast unites against dissidents » Thousands attend peace rallies after three killed in attacks by republican terrorists

FLICKR.COM/TBSTEVE

Sarah Clark sarah.clark@journal-online.co.uk THE KILLINGS IN Northern Ireland perpetrated earlier this month by dissident groups—the Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA) and the Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA)—with the goal to undermining the peace process, has had the opposite effect, not least among the nation’s students.

A police officer and two British soldiers were shot by dissident republicans in the space of three days at Craigavon and Antrim in Northern Ireland. The presence of the British army is regarded by some republicans as occupational, making it a target for dissident groups such as the RIRA. The murder of the police officer is the first since 1998 and the only time an officer of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has been killed by paramilitaries since the force was formed in 2001.

The CIRA and RIRA—who lack any sort of political wing—broke away from the Provisional IRA in 1998 after the paramilitary group accepted a peace deal and committed themselves to pursuing a united Ireland by democratic means.

Following this month’s attacks, however, politicians, church leaders from all Christian denominations, and the Irish public have demonstrated an unprecedented show of unity in order to neuter the dissident threat.

Valerie Hamil, a fourth year student from Northern Ireland studying journalism at Edinburgh Napier University told The Journal: “It’s a terrible thing what has happened but there are only 300 people in this group, a very small proportion of the 1.7 million population who are appalled and shocked at the killings.

“Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party’s (DUP) public condemnation has only served to unify the people of Northern Ireland who don’t want to see a return to the 30 years of violence.”

Loyalist representatives have assured Sinn Fein that paramilitary groups will not retaliate against the attacks.

Catholic, Church of Ireland, Presbyterian and Methodist clergy held special services; prayers were offered

for an end to violence and people were asked to wear purple ribbons in protest of the murders. Furthermore, thousands of people have attended peace rallies in cities throughout Northern Ireland; in Belfast more than 10,000 people congregated to show their support of the peace process.

Another student from Northern Ireland, Anthea Humphreys in her fourth year at Edinburgh University, shared Ms Hamil’s view, but was not surprised by the recent events: “It has been bubbling under the surface for quite a while now, and the killings have confirmed this.”

Indeed, Sir Hugh Orde, in charge of the police services in Northern Ireland, has stated that there have been 25 attempts to kill members of the police force in the last 18 months. A report published in November 2008 by the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC), the international group set up as part of power sharing, said: “CIRA was active in undertaking and planning attacks on PSNI officers.”

The IMC also concluded that “RIRA is a serious and continuing threat and that it is likely to remain so.”

Miss Humphreys added: “Most importantly, there is zero public support. Students are against these dissident groups, and are actively involved in the political processes and parties, believing in peaceful methods not guns and violence.”

One third year student at Edinburgh Napier, James Scott, also from Northern Ireland, agreed that students have a big part to play in Northern Ireland’s future: “Students are liberal and impartial and politicians should listen to them. Students at Queen’s University in Belfast have come together, regardless of whether they are Catholic or Protestant, and that is something I have never seen before.

“Even friends who are very extreme in their sectarian views have shown a united front and condemned the violence, supporting the peace process.”

However, Mr Scott suggested that, although the foundations of the peace process are strong, there may always be a small band of violent extremism: “Sectarianism still exists; many Protestants and Catholics don’t mix, living in separate communities. Unless schools integrate and communication

Thousands attended rallies in Northern Ireland to show anger at the murders of two soldiers and a policeman

is improved this will continue and there could be more murders, it will take generations to improve the situation in Northern Ireland.”

Despite a tightening of security, police investigating the shootings have come under attack from rioters. The arrest of Colin Duffy in conjunction with the murder of the two soldiers sparked a protest in which youths threw petrol bombs, bricks and bottles at police. Geraldine Taylor, a former IRA prisoner who represents the party in Catholic West Belfast said: “It’s always been on the cards while England remains here, and while they have their occupying forces here. It’s inevitable that you’ll have young people take up arms against the

occupation of this country, whether it be the armed force of the police or the British Army.”

St Patrick’s Day was further evidence of the need for non-sectarian environments. In the student area of Holylands in Belfast, regarded as a largely Catholic Nationalist area, students threw stones and bottles at PSNI riot lines and set fire to cars.

Worryingly, Police have also warned that dissident republicans are on a recruitment drive. Chief Inspector Chris Yates said: “These are dangerous groups. They are very much small in number, but they are very keen to increase their influence. The reality is they are out there in the communities, working, trying to recruit people,

trying to pervert people, trying to turn people to their cause and that’s very worrying.”

But one architecture student at Queens University Belfast dismissed this is as an issue amongst students, “Within the student community, as far as my class mates and friends are concerned, there is definitely no support for these dissident groups.

“I very much doubt it will escalate to the state of the previous ‘Troubles’.

However it would be naïve to assume that this is the last we shall see of these kind of incidents. I feel Northern Ireland will for the next few generations always have these underlying problems, it is not something that will simply go away with politics alone.”

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6 News

The Journal Wednesday 25 March 2009

Over 1000 police officers revealed to have criminal records » FOI request reveals almost 1 in 100 police officers have prior convictions - including least 170 in Scotland WILLIAM KEMSLEY

Sarah Clark sarah.clark@journal-online.co.uk MORE THAN 1,000 serving police officers have criminal convictions according to data obtained by the Liberal Democrats under the Freedom of Information Act. 1,063 police officers hold criminal records – approximately one in every 100 officers. The offences listed include assault (59), theft (36), dishonesty (96), and other crimes such as battery, perversion of the course of justice and forgery.

In Scotland, at least 170 serving police have committed criminal offences, with data revealing 107 offenders in the Strathclyde force—the third highest in the UK—34 in Grampian, 11 in Fife, and four in the Lothian and Borders area.

Northern Constabulary and Central Scotland police forces have refused to disclose any information.

Home affairs spokesmen for the Liberal Democrats, Chris Huhne said: “It is staggering that so many of the people entrusted to protect us from crime have criminal convictions themselves. It is even more worrying that so many police officers convicted of serious crimes involving dishonesty or violence have been allowed to keep their jobs.

“The public entrust the police with the use of legal force precisely because they are self-disciplined and restrained, which is why anyone convicted of a violent offence should be dismissed. I cannot see how a police officer convicted of dishonesty can perform their duty effectively.”

Mr Huhne added that, in addition to there being no vetting procedures for dealing with new applicants, the Home Office offers no guidelines regarding police officers who are convicted whilst serving.

Mr Huhne claimed: “There is a disturbing lack of consistency in how police forces deal with officers who are convicted of crimes. The Home Office recognises this decisive problem for applicants but not for serving officers.”

Indeed, one sergeant in Sussex was twice convicted of assault and dismissed, but re-instated by the Home Office, the data exposes.

Individual forces are left to make their own decisions if a serving officer is convicted; current government rules allow for alternatives to dismissal, for example, reprimands, fines and demotions. Indeed, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), has confirmed that officers convicted of crimes do not automatically loose their jobs.

Peter Fahy, the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester and head of workforce development for ACPO, said: “The police service expects good conduct and probity from its officers and staff at all times. Where wrongdoing is alleged, police officers are investigated and action taken as appropriate to each case.

“It should be remembered that there are just over 140,000 police officers in the country. It is very rare that a person with a criminal conviction will be recruited into the police service.”

The data also discloses that half of the police forces in Scotland have not sacked a single police officer with a criminal conviction.

The Liberal Democrats’ justice spokesman in Scotland, Robert Brown said the figures were “staggering”.

“The public entrust the police with the use of legal force precisely because they are self- disciplined and restrained,” he said. “This trust is undermined if serving police officers convicted of a violent offence are seen not to be dealt with strictly.

Mr Brown concluded: “Hiring and firing must ultimately be the decision of the chief constable but, given these revelations, the Scottish Government needs to review any guidance it gives to police forces.”

UN Chief predicts US Napping can increase climate "revolution" diabetes risk, claims report » Carbon cuts could lead to serious upheaval Demian Hobby

WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM

» Daytime sleeping may raise risk of disease by up to 26 per cent MARGARITA TORRES

Anthea Humphreys

demian.hobby@journal-online.co.uk

anthea.humphreys@journal-online.co.uk

THE CHIEF ADVISOR to the UN on climate change has claimed that a US revolution could come about as a result of proposed carbon cuts.

The head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Rajendra Pachauri, claimed that if Barack Obama commits to the carbon cuts campaigners and scientists say are needed, he could face a “revolution”.

In an interview with the Guardian, Pachauri said: “He [Obama] is not going to say by 2020; ‘I’m going to reduce emissions by three per cent’. He’ll have a revolution on his hands. He has to do it step by step.”

Obama has said the US aims to reduce its carbon emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, a target almost within the 25-40 per cent recommendation made by the IPCC to avoid dangerous climate change.

Pachauri’s comments come as researchers at the Copenhagen conference said that IPCC estimates of environmental effects on the likely rise of sea level need to be revaluated.

Despite Europe’s pledge to cut emissions greenhouse gas emissions by 20-30 per cent on 1990 levels by 2020, the IPCC has warned polar ice cap melting in Greenland could drive sea levels to rise more than a metre by 2100.

The US president’s new chief climate negotiator, Todd Stern, has also said that a US target of 25-40 per cent cuts is “not possible.”

NAPPING CAN SIGNIFICANTLY increase the risk of developing diabetes, recent studies have revealed.

Research conducted by the University of Birmingham has shown that regular lunchtime siestas may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 26 per cent.

Students who nap during the day risk disrupting night-time sleep patterns. Getting less than six hours sleep a night has previously been associated with type 2 diabetes risks. Late nights, a staple of the student lifestyle, also increase susceptibility to diabetes.

Dr Iain Frame, Director of Research at Diabetes UK said: “This new research could be another step towards explaining the possible link between disturbed sleep patterns and type 2 diabetes.”

According to the news service Medical News Today, awaking from sleep activates hormones and mechanisms in the body that stop insulin working effectively. This can result in a predisposition to type 2 diabetes in which there is an over-production of insulin in the body leading to insulin resistance.

As such, power-naps—the caffeine substitute and recommended stimulus to student productivity—now come with a health warning.

In the UK 2.25m people are diagnosed with having type 2 diabetes and another 500,000 are thought to be undiagnosed.

But this position could jeopardize a new Kyoto treaty, the first phase of which expires in 2012. Environmental campaigners have demanded a resolution must be agreed at the UN conference in Copenhagen this December.

Obama has announced long-term targets of an 80 per cent target on emissions by 2050, but critics say that shortterm pledges will be of more value in convincing other developed countries such as China to sign the treaty.

Pachauri echoed these remarks, saying that the US needed stricter involvement in the short term, but questioned whether this would be on the agenda by this December.

Students napping during the day risk disrupting night-time sleep patterns The disease is most commonly found in over-weight, middle-aged adults, although adolescents and young adults are developing type 2 diabetes at an alarming rate. It is the most common form of diabetes and can cause blindness, kidney failure and heart disease.

Jen Sutherland, history student and serial napper said: “It’s a bit worrying.

With dissertation and essay deadlines fourth years are constantly working through the night, so sleeping during the day is sometimes the only option.”

But Ms Sutherland also added that the possibility of developing diabetes

would not prevent her from sleeping during the day.

Dr Frame cautioned: “In terms of being major risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes, disturbed sleep or napping are likely to remain less significant than already established risk factors such as being overweight, being over the age of 40 or having a history of diabetes in the family.”

Dr Shahrad Taheri, a researcher on the study added: “As the number of people with type 2 diabetes keeps increasing, it is crucial that we do everything we can to help prevent people from developing the condition.”

GOT NEWS? NEWSDESK@JOURNAL-ONLINE.CO.UK

Edinburgh News 7

The Journal Wednesday 25 March 2009

Trams back on track after last-minute deal Nick Eardley nick.eardley@journal-online.co.uk WORK HAS FINALLY begun on the Princes Street phase of the capital’s tram network after project bosses and construction chiefs came to an agreement to end their month-long standoff over costs.

Work had been due to start on the latest stage of the infrastructure project in February, but council officials were forced to delay the plan after “unacceptable” demands were made

by BSC, the consortium responsible for

the laying of the tram infrastructure.

However, both sides have now come to an agreement and work began on Monday.

Jenny Dawe, leader of Edinburgh City Council expressed her relief that work can now proceed. She said: “I am delighted with this outcome and eagerly look forward with anticipation to the first sections of track being laid on Princes Street.

“The last month has been a frustrating period for everyone involved, not least the people of Edinburgh, and its great news that the consortium and Transport Initiatives Edinburgh

Limited (TIE) have finally been able to resolve the outstanding issues.”

Despite the delay, Princes Street has been closed to traffic since 21 February, with a sizable portion of the main shopping thoroughfare also closed to pedestrians.

Cllr. Dawe added “Everyone concerned is now focused on delivering a world-class tram service to the people of Edinburgh and the millions of visitors who visit our capital city.”

The tram project has been plagued by problems in the last six months.

The closure of the Mound junction in October 2008 caused major delays

in the city centre, and the following month the chief executive of TIE—the group responsible for administration of the project—resigned amid criticism over his handling of the scheme.

The Journal also reported earlier this month that two MSP’s had called for the auditor general to intervene in the row between TIE and BSC over costs.

However, it now seems that the project is back on track. A spokesperson for the construction consortium BSC, which consists of Bilfinger Berger, Siemens and CAF, also expressed relief that a deal had been brokered, saying: “We are pleased that an agreement for

Princes Street has been reached and look forward to progressing the works in a spirit of cooperation.”

Although the council has refused to reveal any financial details of the current dispute, it has been reported that an extra £50-£80m was demanded by the group. Negotiations continued beyond last Thursday’s deadline, but there has been a general agreement that the deal reached was satisfactory.

David Mackay, chairman of TIE, added: “I welcome today’s decision to proceed with the Princes Street section and I have very much appreciated the full support of Jenny Dawe.”

» THE TRAM JOURNEY SO FAR The Journal takes a look at the problem-plagued route to the introduction of Edinburgh's new tram system...

Feb 23 2009 Work begins on Princes Street after last-minute deal Feb 20 2009 Council announces delay to Princes street phase of tram infrastructure after “unacceptable” demands from contractor

Nov 13 2008 Gallagher resigns citing family reasons

December 2006 Council votes to reintroduce trams to the capital February 2008 Shandwick place shut to traffic to accommodate tram works

July 2008 TIE calls for rates reductions for businesses hit by tram-related roadworks

1 Oct 2008 Tram bosses apologise after significant delays on first day of Mound diversions

6 Oct 2008 Crisis summit held over potential Princes Street closure

TIE October 2007 Councillors approve final tram business plan

March 2008 Shandwick place traders reveal falls in takings of up to 60 per cent

August 2008 Haymarket diversions begin

3 Oct 2008 SNP council leader calls for resignation of TIE chief executive Willie Gallagher

» Land value of Leith project falls by £220m

Edinburgh festivals share £2 million funding boost

Lidija Liegis

Alice Stanes

Leith docks redevelopment hit by falling property values

lidija.liegis@journal-online.co.uk THE REDEVELOPMENT OF The Harbour, Leith Docks, appears to have been hit by the current financial crisis after it was announced that the market value of docklands has plummeted by £220m.

As part of the development project, over 15,000 new homes were due to be built in Leith in addition to commercial and retail space, as well as industrial facilities. However, this part of the project has been put on hold because the value of the docklands area has fallen so substantially.

Despite the value of the Forth Portsowned land plummeting, the company has downplayed the problems saying that the project is still within its original timescale of 25-30 years.

A spokesperson for Forth Ports, the current port operator, told The Journal: “The drop in value of the land will not delay the project because Forth Ports is not looking to sell the land. The property strategy is focused on Forth Ports retaining the land assets, setting up partnerships with developers and other bodies to create value from the land bank.”

In terms of affecting Forth Ports overall financially, the spokesperson said: “Property is a key part of Forth Port’s assets – developing the waterfront not only has a huge impact in terms of regenerating this area of the city, it will also deliver value for Forth Ports’ shareholders.”

The Bank of Scotland, which is currently financing the project, will only continue to do so until April, and some fears have been raised over future funding.

Labour Councillor for Leith Gordon Munro told The Journal: “Investment is going to have an impact on the timescale envisaged for the waterfront; it will need the full 30 years, but it could be longer, depending on the current economic climate.”

Overall land value in Edinburgh has dropped from £2m per acre to £500,000 in the past 18 months. However, Cllr.

Munro believes that there are still opporunities for progess. He continued:”It is an opportunity for the waterfront development as I have consistently argued that the affordable housing element should be developed, and I think some of the people could contribute to making the waterfront happen.

“And the housing associations – there are opportunities there, if either Waterfronts Edinburgh Limited or Forth Ports listen. In my view they are the only players on the market at this moment in time.”

He added: “I also think particularly Port of Leith Housing Association have shown themselves innovative when it comes to design and opportunities.

I think waterfront companies should be actively engaging with the housing associations.

“There is scope for development – but there needs to be better communication between the players.”

WILLIAM KIMSLEY

alice.stanes@journal-online.co.uk EDINBURGH’S CULTURAL SCENE is to benefit from a £2m investment after details of the Scottish government’s expo fund were announced last week.

This year’s allocation of £2.046m will be shared between the 12 main Edinburgh festivals – an overall increase of £740,000 on last years funding.

The provision comes as part of the £6m allowance set up in 2008, to be distrubuted between Edinburgh’s festivals by the Scottish Arts Council over a three year period. Announcing the details of this year’s allocation, the minister for culture Michael Russell said: “Our expo fund is designed to help maintain the global competitive edge of the festivals and to increase funding available to Scottish-based artists and practitioners.”

He added: “Last year’s funding enabled the creation of wide array of high quality artistic collaborations which premiered throughout the year, promoting the best of Scottish talent at home and abroad.”

The Edinburgh Art Festival received the first expo funding award of £250,000 which is to be spread over a two year period. Of this allowance, a £150,000 commissioning fund will be set up, while the remaining £100,000 will be used to work with visiting delegations, curators and media in promoting the work. It is hoped that with funding a range of new artists will be encouraged to contribute

to the festival, and allow the more “ambitious” projects of each festival to go ahead.

Mr Russell said: “I’m delighted to award £250,000 to the Art Festival over two years to establish a commissioning fund for new work by Scottish-based artists which will be premiered to an international audience at next year’s festival.

“This project will allow new creative and imaginative collaborations, promoting Scotland’s international reputation as a flourishing centre for the visual arts.”

Festivals Edinburgh, a group comprised of the directors of Edinburgh’s 12 major festivals, also welcomed the news. Faith Liddell, who leads the group which recommends projects for funding, said: “Festivals Edinburgh is enormously grateful for the Scottish government’s investment in the programming ambition of Edinburgh’s renowned Festivals and for the opportunities it continues to offer for the presentation of new and important work on the international

platforms that our festivals uniquely provide.”

She continued: “The Edinburgh festival expo fund will allow our directors to create a rich portfolio of projects that represents the largest and most important showcase of Scottish work and talent ever presented here.”

The expo fund has also recieved a positive reaction from other festivals.

Tim Hawkins, general manager of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, said: “The support from the Edinburgh Festivals expo fund will allow the Fringe to work in partnership with the Federation of Scottish Theatre and Scottish Arts Council to encourage and support performing artists based in Scotland.

“As cities around the world increasingly recognise the value of setting up and supporting festivals, the Festival Fringe is grateful to the government for recognising that this kind of investment is necessary so it can remain both the leading fringe festival and the world’s largest arts festival.”

8 Edinburgh News

The Journal Wednesday 25 March 2009

Commonwealth pool facing two year closure WILLIAM KEMSLEY

Amy Magowan Greene

THE ROYAL COMMONWEALTH Pool is to close for two years as part of a major refurbishment project. The popular Edinburgh Leisure facility will close 28 June 2009, meaning that regular users, including students at the University of Edinburgh’s Pollock Halls accommodation, will be forced to look elsewhere.

The refurbishment, according to planners, will extend and update current facilities, meaning a larger gym and better changing facilities, as well as refreshed reception area and café. When the pool reopens—projected to be summer 2011—the facility will also boast a new 25 metre teaching pool and 25 metre diving pool, both with moveable floors.

However, some concerns have been

raised over alternative facilities during the closure, and Edinburgh Leisure has admitted that users may face problems.

Their website reads: “We would like to run a learn-to-dive programme from another pool, however, with limited diving boards and pools of sufficient depth in Edinburgh, we do not yet know if it will be possible.”

Edinburgh Council hopes that the new facilities will be able to help Glasgow’s bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth games. Edinburgh Leisure have also said that athletes training for the games will receive support, and that alternative facilities will be provided.

Staff at the Commonwealth Pool have insisted that the closure has been well publicised for a number of months.

However, officials appeared doubtful whether any posters had been put up in nearby Pollock halls to publicise the

Napier investigates misuse of its email system for discriminatory promotions

Council announces scheme to combat housing shortage

Matthew Moore

Nick Eardley

a.magowan-greene@journal-online.co.uk

matthew.moore@journal-online.co.uk EDINBURGH NAPIER UNIVERSITY has come under fire after an undergraduate used its in-house email to send sexually discriminatory club offers to students.

At the end of last month an email entitled “Napier is VIP” was sent to around 1000 students. The missive contained details of a club night called “Vanity”, and urged students to go along to meet one another. The night organisers offer women a discounted £2 entry before 10.30pm. Men are charged between four and five pounds all night.

An Edinburgh Napier University spokesperson told The Journal: “The university is investigating possible inappropriate use of the university’s e-mail system and will take appropriate action if that has been the case. In respect of the offer contained in the e-mail, it relates to

a nightclub event that is entirely separate from the university.”

However, Chris Brown, the student who sent the email, said he did not think it was “inappropriate for club promoters to offer women a cheaper entry rate than men.”

Mr Brown wrote that “Napier is VIP!” was set up to bring students from the university together: “The group was started in response to the student union proving rather unpopular, largely due to its small size, therefore I have stepped in to offer students other venues to socialise in together.”

According to the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the club promoters are breaking the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 guidelines, as they are offering the same service for a different price based on gender.

A spokesperson for the Equality and Human Rights Commission said: “The university must ensure that it upholds

its Gender Equality Duty obligations and should take appropriate action in this instance.”

However, Carys Evans, the Napier Students' Association president was unwilling to condemn the offer: “I am happy with what this particular student is doing for Napier students in providing them with somewhere to socialise together – something which is not at present possible as the student union is too small and the license ends at 11pm.

I have myself attended some of these Napier VIP nights and I have been able to meet and greet lots of Napier students."

But one Napier law student, Katherine Phoong Turner has suggested that the disparity in prices breaks the law: “This action falls under the scope of sexual discrimination which is prohibited by article 14 of the European convention of human rights which was incorporated into British law with the Human Rights Act 1998.”

nick.eardley@journal-online.co.uk EDINBURGH CITY COUNCIL is to buy 19 newly-built homes in Craigmillar in an attempt to help first-time buyers struggling in the current economic climate.

The properties, which are part of the current regeneration scheme in south of the city, will be made available at belowmarket rent as the council tries to lessen the impact of the credit crunch on working households.

Councillor Norman Work, vice convener of the council’s health, social care & housing committee, said: “There remains an acute shortage of affordable housing in the city. This has been made worse as potential buyers find it more difficult to get mortgages in the current climate.

“These new homes will give a muchneeded helping hand to working households who are battling to find a home.”

closure, although they insisted that there are many other council leisure facilities across Edinburgh which will provide the necessary services for members whilst the Royal Commonwealth is closed.

Swimming memberships cost £26.50 per month as well as a £35 joining fee.

Students can also choose to purchase a £15 leisure card qualifying for discounted prices of £2 per swim.

Warrender Swim Centre is the closest Edinburgh Leisure facility to the Commonwealth. However, the 23m pool is a step-down in size from the 50m facility available at the Commonwealth, meaning that serious swimmers will need to look further afield for services. The Journal also understands that there will be redundancies across Edinburgh Council Leisure facilities in the next months, making an extension of opening hours or facilities highly unlikely.

He added: “This homes purchase is part of a wider strategy to meet the chronic shortage of housing in the city, which includes increasing the supply of affordable rented homes.”

The current Craigmillar regeneration will see the building of 1,300 new houses as part of a £200m investment.

The move has been welcomed by local tenants groups. Barry Stevenson, convener of Edinburgh tenants’ federation, said: “I’m delighted by the action the Council is taking, it’s an important first step.

In the present housing crisis, homes are even more desperately needed than ever before, especially social housing.”

The Scottish Government announced earlier this month that extra funding would be made available to provide more affordable housing in the capital.

The government will provide £41.5m to be invested over the next year – a £5.5m increase on last year’s allocation.

Student News 9

The Journal Wednesday 25 March 2009

Staff threaten strike as Liverpool University plans to close departments WWW.PETECARR.NET

English students voice concern over possible rise in tuition fees Constantine Innemée constantine@journal-online.co.uk THE NATIONAL UNION of Students (NUS) lobbied Parliament in London last week to oppose the possible rise in tuition fees in England.

The lobby followed a report by Universities UK (UUK), which showed that vice-chancellors across England believe a near doubling of tuition fees is necessary to meet the rising costs of running a university.

NUS president Wes Streeting said: “In the context of the current recession it is extremely arrogant for university vice chancellors to be fantasising about charging their students even higher fees and plunging them into over £32,000 of debt.”

The UUK report presented figures that showed raising the tuition fees cap to £7,000 might deter students, but a rise to £5,000 would merely be “maintenance of the status quo.”

At the lobby the NUS presented a new publication that presents various alternatives to raising student fees, whilst still generating the extra income universities need.

Students and lecturers protest against Liverpool University's suggestions that several of its schools may have to close

Kathleen Oliver kathleen.oliver@journal-online.co.uk ACADEMIC STAFF AT Liverpool University are threatening to strike after plans were proposed by management to axe its philosophy, statistics, and politics and communications studies departments following poor research results.

The Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) which judges the quality of research from universities and colleges revealed that certain departments at the university are in the “lowest quartile” of research input.

The controversial proposals have left academics, MP’s and students alike infuriated. At a meeting last week The University and College Union (UCU) voted to oppose the closures and possibly prepare for further action.

The UCU reported that the university’s vice chancellor, Sir Howard Newby, “refused to discuss a motion put to the senate by UCU calling for a decision on any closures to be delayed until there had been full and open consultation with staff and students.”

Dr Fionnghuala Sweeney, vice president of the Liverpool University UCU branch, said: “The proposals are the work of people who know the price of everything and the value of nothing. We are appalled by the contempt shown for staff and students by the university.”

The Liverpool Daily Post claims to have seen internal documents suggesting, “civil engineering, cancer studies, dentistry, American studies and sociology are in need of review ‘as a matter of urgency’.”

Last week the university senate met to discuss the proposed closures. According to official minutes, the university “amended clauses in its proposals to close three departments” resulting in no official confirmation of the closure of any department.

The campaign group Save Our Subjects (SOS) set up by students who oppose the plans, held a spirited protest outside one of the university’s main buildings last week while the university senate were meeting inside to discuss the proposals.

SOS received a huge level of support, with over six hundred students and staff participating in the protest, and over two and a half thousand members joining the Facebook group.

Josh Wright, 19, is in his second year at Liverpool University and a member of of SOS. He told The Journal of the importance of the campaign: “SOS opposes the strategic management team and vice chancellor’s plans because these decisions are not based on financial reasons but are instead based on one set of poor RAE results. There were strategic errors in the way the RAE was conducted in these departments.”

He continued: “It is agreed that these departments need to be improved in terms of research. We are in favour of improvement and this is because there were reasons why they performed badly.

These departments are under-staffed and under-resourced with very few, if any, staff dedicated wholly to research.”

Mr Wright also pointed out that Liverpool is “a city that has a history of social and political struggle, so it is imperative that these departments stay open.”

He added: “Many students from Liverpool cannot afford to live outside of the city, indeed many of them live at home, and as such it is wrong to deny them an education in these vital areas.”

John Pugh, Liberal Democrat MP for Southport and Liverpool University MA graduate, highlighted the importance of philosophy and other “intellectual based” subjects. In a blog on the Guardian website Mr Pugh wrote: “Studying has both intrinsic and instrumental value, and this is true of all intellectual academic disciplines. Yet this is increasingly being forgotten.”

Pugh described the proposal to axe departments as a “ploy to move up the league tables” and an act of “madness”.

Local Liverpool MP Peter Kilfoyle has “tabled a Commons Motion against the proposals”. A petition to Downing Street is also being gathered.

The shadow home secretary Chris Grayling has also recently visited staff and students in Liverpool, and expressed his concerns about the proposals.

The final decision will go before the senate in June.

“We will be talking to MPs about a number of radical proposals, including making higher education free at the point of use, with graduates making a contribution depending on how much they are benefiting financially from their own use of the system.

“We will also be calling for all financial support to be based around how much the student needs, not where they happen to be studying.”

Former education secretary David Blunkett joined the lobby and voiced his concerns about the proposals for lifting the cap on fees.

He said: “Whilst it’s clear that no government is going to pull the financial plug on the university sector by simply abolishing fees, it would at this time of global financial downturn be unacceptable to lift the cap and have a free-for-all across universities.”

Opponents of the increased fees have been further angered by a report earlier this week which showed that the average vice chancellor’s pay is over £190,000.

UUK defended the findings of the The Times Higher education survey, stating that the salaries are reflective of the workload.

Diana Warwick, Chief Executive, Universities UK, said: “The remuneration packages for ViceChancellors reflect what it takes to recruit and retain individuals able to run complex, multi-million pound organisations.”

The Universities and Colleges Union (UCU) expressed concern over the findings; general secretary Sally Hunt said: “When staff are being warned pay increases may lead to redundancies, it is quite incredible and rather distasteful that vice chancellors again have enjoyed such exorbitant pay rises.”

She added that the government and universities should not be surprised at the outrage of the public “when university leaders call for increased fees and greater student debt.”

Last week a BBC News survey showed that two-thirds of vice chancellors feel a rise in tuition fees is needed, suggesting levels between £4,000 and £20,000.

The results came from 53 vice chancellors, of whom two-thirds felt the rise in fees was needed to maintain university standards.

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10 Student Politics EUSA sabbaticals visit Palestine

The Journal Wednesday 25 March 2009

“We will tell our friends stories of torture“ » After five days in the Middle East with two of his sabbatical collegues, Adam Ramsay tells The Journal about their unique experiences

Laura McCaffrey laura.mccaffrey@sms.ed.ac.uk

GUY BROMLEY

Adam Ramsay adam.ramsay@journal-online.co.uk

W

E HAD A slightly bizarre week. Whether it was the people we met or the buildings being architectually similar to Edinburgh, everything seemed strangely familiar.

When we decided to take a week’s holiday to visit our twin student council in the West Bank, I don’t think any of us expected to feel quite so at home.

I met the president of the Birzeit Student Council on my first day there. We both had black and white striped jumpers on. We had both been politically active before coming to university. He had spent 8 years in prison as a result.

Naomi (Hunter, VPSA), Guy (Bromley, VPAA) and I spent one afternoon early in the week sitting in the canteen at Birzeit University. It was sunny, but at 1000m altitude it wasn’t especially warm – rather like Edinburgh at the moment. The canteen was something like a smaller version of the DHT basement.

We were sitting with two locals.

Ahmed is a social science student with rapidly paced English and a dark sense of humour. Semma is a journalism student with bags of common sense, a massive smile, and more charisma than anyone I have ever met.

They chatted for a while about what it’s like to have Israeli teenagers with sub-machine guns stop them at check points on their way to university. They explained how, once, they couldn’t get to their lectures because the soldiers had decided only people with hair gel would be allowed through that day. Another time only the pretty girls were allowed through.

Ahmed joked about how he had gone on a trip to Europe once. When he returned, he was arrested by Israeli special services. His hands were shackled to the floor between his feet so that he could neither stand nor sit. He was left like this in pitch black. For eight days.

He spent another week in a 1m x 1m cell with someone else and no light. He was so severely beaten that he has lost the nerve endings in his shoulder. In all, he was tortured for seven weeks. After this, he was imprisoned for six months without charge. He was never accused of committing any crime. Telling people in Europe what it’s like to be a student in Palestine is, apparently, enough.

His dark jokes about being tortured were surreal. What was more bizarre was the fact he was most angry about

was missing work and having to repeat a semester.

We stayed that night with a student and his parents in a lovely house in Ramallah. In the morning, the parents pointed over the valley – on the other side was an Israeli Settlement. In the distance is Tel Aviv. It used to take 30 minutes to get to there, they told me.

Now it takes three hours. Arabs are banned from the main road.

In Nablus we met a deputy minister in the Palestinian Authority for lunch.

He was a lovely man with a white moustache whose combination of an old fashioned sense of propriety and silly sense of humour reminded me of my dad. When his wife went to pray, we asked if he needed to do the same.

“No” he said, taking a deep puff of his cigarette, “I quit”.

As we left I asked if he had ever been locked up by the Israeli Defence Force. “Yes. I studied my masters degree in Iraq. They didn’t like that. When I returned, they imprisoned me and I was interrogated.” This is, it seems, a normal part of life as a Palestinian.

That night we dined with a Geography lecturer called Saed. He told us that he used to drink lots, but has given up – he was shot in the liver, and twice in the chest, by an Israeli soldier while he was at a peaceful demonstration. “It’s re-growing though” he said. “I’m OK.” We visited Najah University in Nablus. Male students expect to be beaten up by soldiers at checkpoints every now and again – one was pulled aside on the way to his lectures, recently. He spent

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MATCHING A TREND amongst past sabbatical officers to visit the Middle East EUSA student president, Adam Ramsay, recently returned from a fiveday trip to Palestine alongside VPAA, Guy Bromley and VPSA, Naomi Hunter.

The trip, aimed at raising awareness, incorporated a visit to Birzeit University hosted by the Right to Education Campaign.

Speaking to The Journal, Adam Ramsay explained his reason for the visit, which was paid for by the sabbs themselves: “In 2005, Edinburgh students voted at the annual general meeting to twin EUSA with the student council of Birzeit University in Palestine. That’s why we went there.”

The 2007/08 president, Josh MacAlister undertook a similar trip to raise awareness of the conflict when he visited Israel last year.

He told The Journal: “It was a fantastic experience that involved speaking to politicians, journalists, and academics who all had different views and experiences to share. I met Israelis and Palestinians and had the opportunity to visit the West Bank.

Mr MacAlister continued: “The debate on campus about the conflict in the Middle East is often very crude and I think it’s great that student union officers at Edinburgh have had the opportunity to see some of the situation first hand.”

Mr MacAlister stressed that his trip was in no way related to an affiliation agreement between the Labour Party—of which he is a member—and the Union of Jewish Students that occurred in the NUS in the mid 1990s.

He stated that: “The Union of Jewish Students is not affiliated to any political party or student political group and I was only invited on the trip because I was a student president.

“There were others on my visit who were not members of the Labour Party.

There is absolutely no link whatsoever between the trip I took part in and my own party membership.”

In other visits, Nottingham University Student Union president, Nsikan Edung was the recipient of an official censure from the student council after a debauched trip to Nottingham’s campus in China.

Mr Edung wrote on a friend’s Facebook wall that he was having a “totally inappropriate time” abroad. The council voted 28 to three, with one abstention, to censure the sabbatical after he publicly—if inadvertently—admitted to “getting smashed” and “wrecking the landscape” on the trip.

Adam Ramsay, Guy Bromley and Naomi Hunter spent five days in Palestine three hours being beaten by a stream of soldiers. It turned out they were new recruits being taught how to torture Palestinians.

Another student was recently murdered when soldiers stormed into his halls and shot him in the head. It later turned out they had “got the wrong person”.

At the end we spent a morning floating in the Dead Sea. Although the coastline is part of the West Bank, it is occupied by Israeli troops. They sell towels with maps of the Middle East.

These include The West Bank, Gaza, and the Golan Heights as part of Israel. An

expansionist, racist ideology symbolised on such a day-to-day object was bizarre.

And then we were back in surprisingly sunny Edinburgh. The cheery students we met have added us as Facebook friends. They will continue to study. We will continue to work for students at Edinburgh.

We will tell our friends stories of torture, an apartheid wall, roads in Palestine that Arabs are not allowed to travel on. And our harrowing morning on the old city of Nablus, where the walls are covered in photos of local children murdered by Israeli soldiers.

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Student Politics 11

The Journal Wednesday 25 March 2009

EUSA begins survey into the crumbling relationship between students and residents Amy Grant FORTH

amy.grant@journal-online.co.uk EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ Association (EUSA) has commissioned an independent survey in a bid to reveal the causes of tension between Edinburgh students and local residents.

EUSA’s president-elect and current external affairs convener, Thomas Graham said: “We’re speaking to local residents who are students and local residents who aren’t in order to find out what sort of thing is going on and to start addressing what leads people to call for HMO quotas.

“There are some people who are very vocal and we want to try to find out the reality of the situation.”

Last summer’s repeat attempt to introduce quotas on HMO licences— which would restrict the number of the properties available in the city centre— was defeated in the face of EUSA’s “Right to Rent” campaign, with the additional result that the council pledged £5000 to help discover the root of the problem.

Statistics obtained by The Journal show that there was an 11.9 per cent increase in the number of HMO applications recieved by the city council in 2008 compared with the previous year. Whilst 4622 license applications were recieved by the council in 2007, this number jumped to 5174 in 2008.

Almost 80 per cent of all HMO license applications are concentrated within three Edinburgh City Council wards.

Nearly one-third of HMO licenses applications were within the Meadows/Morningside area, which houses a number of students from Edinburgh and Napier universities.

Similarly, a quarter of applications for licenses were in the Southside/Newington area, whilst the City Centre ward accounts for 19.8 per cent of applications.

A spokeswoman for the Greenside Residents Association, which supports the introduction of HMO quotas, told The Journal: “I have lived next door to students who were really nice and respectful, but even if they try to be quiet they still come home late and have lots of people coming up and down the stairs; their lives are contrary to those who are working.

LEITH

0.9%

ALMOND

0.0%

2.3% LEITH WALK

6.2%

INVERLEITH

2.1%

DRUMBRAE/ GYLE

0.1%

SOURCE: COUNCIL FOI REQUEST

CITY CENTRE

CRAIGENTINNY/ DUDDINGSTON

19.8%

CORSTORPHINE/ MURRAYFIELD

0.5%

0.6%

FOUNTAINBRIDGE/ CRAIGLOCKHART SIGHTHILL/GORGIE

3.1%

SOUTHSIDE/ NEWINGTON

25.1%

5.7%

PORTOBELLO/ CRAIGMILLAR

0.4%

MEADOWS/ MORNINGSIDE

32.2%

LIBERTON/ GILMERTON

0.3%

COLINTON/ FAIRMILEHEAD

0.1%

PENTLAND HILLS

0.2%

HMO license applications received by council 6000

5000

4000

3000

2000

1000

0 2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

In 2005/2006 a phasing process was undertaken where applicants were granted licenses up to 23 months in length to spread the renewal dates. This had the effect that fewer applications required renewal in 2006.

“The simple fact is that they’re on a different schedule. I don’t think anyone has anything against students—most of us have been there—but it’s hard to have sympathy when you’re just trying to get some sleep at 3am.”

The research has received financial support from both EUSA and Edinburgh university itself. Organisers say it ought to show residents not only that students have an ear for their problems, but also aims to gather material for an impending living guide to be distributed amongst students leaving halls of residence or home, in order to help them become better neighbours.

Mr Graham continued: “The guide is going to include things like cards that students can hand out to their neighbours when they move in with their contact details and a number for their landlord.”

“One of the biggest complaints we receive is that people have no idea who

their neighbours are. Students who have never lived away from home before might not realise the impact they have.”

He added: “I’m not going to pretend that a booklet will solve all the problems but it’s one of many things we’re doing that will make a difference even if it doesn’t make a big impact.”

Development of purpose-built student accommodation by the UNITE Group, which houses over 36,000 students in the UK, is on the increase in Edinburgh. If quotas on HMO licenses are introduced, the number of these so-called “student ghettos” is expected to swell – something critics say will result in an influx of students into concentrated areas.

UNITE’s latest development on McDonald Road was approved last month, despite over 130 objections from local residents, Broughton Primary school and politicians. The proposed site was initially rejected by the council but planning permission was granted after the group agreed to a set of 18 conditions, including a donation of £91,457 towards the Edinburgh Tram scheme.

The GRA spokeswoman remains sceptical that either EUSA’s living guide or UNITE are the answers to their problem: “If there was a guideline, I don’t think students would pay attention, but any help is welcome. I think telling them in lectures would be more effective. I’ve spoken to quite a lot of residents about this and they all have horror stories.

“I’m not pro these kinds of ghettos, but perhaps students will understand what it’s like to live next to students. The problem with UNITE is that they build far away from campuses. There should be more halls of residence, the old system really worked; you should live closer to the campus. However I appreciate that it’s not always possible.”

In addition to investigating the causes of neighbourly disputes, EUSA are also trying to highlight the positive impact which students have upon their communities, ranging from the economic to the charitable – for example the Meadows marathon and the Dirty Weekenders, who undertake conservation work around the city. Mr Graham expressed his belief that students’ “massive role is undersold.”

EUSA’s guide is to be posted along with the matriculation packs at the beginning of the next university year.

NUS Scotland's next president decided by a coin toss EDDIE FISHER

Ishbel Eunson ishbel.eunson@journal-online.co.uk ELECTED DELEGATES FROM students’ associations across Scotland voted last Saturday for their new NUS Scotland president. In an agonisingly close vote Liam Burns, the present deputy, emerged victorious.

Incredibly, however, the result was decided by a coin toss after both candidates tied with 52 votes each. After his victory, Mr Burns claimed he’ll “be calling ‘heads’ for the rest of my life.”

Controversially, Mr Burns was running against the current President Gurjit Singh. He explained to The Journal that he decided to run for the position in January after becoming frustrated with the current NUS Scotland attitude to campaigns: “We have taken on a reactive approach to issues, which has resulted in us acting on other people’s

Liam Burns dresses as Santa last year to promote Heriot-Watt funding

agendas rather than our own.”

Pledging to be a more pro-active and realistic president, Mr Burns was “over the moon” with the result, but expressed awareness that the vote had been very close.

The figures of the original nominations for the election were not in Mr Burns’ favour, with the incumbent Mr Singh surpassing his 66 votes with 87.

Mr Burns acknowledged his underdog status in the election, and accepted Gurjit Singh supporters will have to be won over.

It has been suggested that one of the reasons for his campaign’s success has been a focus on keeping the tuition fee cap in England. It is an issue he feels strongly about: “Many people say to me, it only affects English universities, but it is not just a problem for English students. It could only be a matter of time before Scotland decides to follow suit.”

Mr Burns plans to make this concern one of his main priorities when he starts the new term as president. He said: “It is only luck so far that has kept Scotland from introducing top-up fees to Scottish Universities.”

Nevertheless, Mr Burns is confident that under his leadership NUS Scotland can successfully tackle this issue and others – although he admitted there may be some bumps along the way: “I’m sure there will be mistakes made. However, part of the fun will be learning from these mistakes.”

Speaking of the new sabbatical officers, Mr Burns said that the new NUS Scotland staff will prove to be “an incredibly good team.”

In particular, he commented that the new deputy, Elaine Ner, should be an asset to the team citing her experience of studying as a college student as likely to bring a “different, long overdue” dynamic to the team.

12 National Politics

The Journal Wednesday 25 March 2009

SNP's plan to curb anti-social behaviour unveiled Matthew Moore matthew.moore@journal-online.co.uk THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT have drawn up a new framework to combat anti-social behaviour with more preventative measures to be taken.

Fergus Ewing, community safety minister, announced the plans last week outlining his party’s intention to tackle the “blight” on communities through “intervention and prevention.”

He said: “This new framework is aimed at promoting positive outcomes, preventing antisocial behaviour before it occurs, resolving such behaviour effectively when it does occur and helping agencies work together more effectively.”

The report, published jointly with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities COSLA, reviewed national behaviour and found that early and effective intervention were key to the solution.

The new report aims to address the root causes such as drugs, alcohol and deprivation and not just the symptoms.

Another of the schemes aims to offer youngsters role models and mentors in a bid to positively influence them.

Mr Ewing said: “The work carried out by Scottish Sports Futures, is an example of the kind of initiatives we want to see.”

Scottish Sports Futures was set up in 2000 and is a charitable government organisation that aims to offer youth and communities opportunities to get fit and play sports.

In light of criticism from opposition parties Mr Ewing restated that it was not a complete move away from Anti-Social Behaviour Orders, saying: “It is not about abandoning what went before but about being smarter in how we tackle the problem. We should be focusing on tackling the symptoms of the problem and working together better to achieve shared outcomes.”

Opposition branded the move an “abandonment of responsibility” by the SNP government.

Paul Martin, Scottish Labour’s community safety spokesman, said the new framework was regressive and a step away from theASBO scheme introduced by the Labour-Lib Dem coalition.

He said: “Fergus Ewing talks about twilight basketball and cash-back for communities as a way of helping deal with anti-social behaviour—we agree— that’s why we set up the initial schemes.

But along with prevention you also need effective deterrents and this framework effectively sweeps those away.”

Mr Martin added: “When communities are put under pressure by antisocial behaviour, they’ll know which party was happy to offer no effective deterrent. The SNP are abandoning communities - Scotland deserves better.”

The National Council for Civil Liberties have praised the move towards “constructive intervention” however, they said they would “welcome” a move away from ASBOs for minors.

“Giving under-16s ASBOs stigmatises and criminalises them but frequently fails to improve their behaviour,” said James Welch, Legal Director of Liberty.

Ian Rankin: “I began my writing career as a student, when I should have been doing work. It’s good to see it’s paid off at last“

megan.taylor@journal-online.co.uk AS THE INITIAL excitment slowly fades away for the five newly-elected student presidents across Edinburgh, it is time for them to face up to the daunting job ahead of them. And where better to start than looking back on their predecessors trials and tribulations.

With their journey down the rocky road of student politics coming to an end, EUSA’s Adam Ramsay, HWUSA’s Ruth Bush and NSA’s Carys Evans, spoke to The Journal about their greatest challenges, achievements and disappointments.

Beginning on a light note, the trio were asked what they have enjoyed most about being President. Ramsay claimed: “The best bit is getting to work with great students.”

His sentiments were echoed by Ruth as she stated: “The best part about the role is the number of inspiring and passionate students you get to meet and work with each day,” whereas Evans enjoyed “representing and being the student voice.”

While student presidents are often widely criticised by the student body for various issues, the academic year could not pass without recognising some of the substantial achievements our presidents have celebrated.

Ramsay admits: “In this job, you don’t achieve anything on your own.

“We have organised the teaching

THE UNIVERSITY OF Edinburgh will enlist the help of Ian Rankin, Ron Butlin and other famous authors to help students with creative writing. The two are to receive an Honorary Fellowship, which the university feels, will “broaden the base of writers involved with the student tuition.”

Speaking to The Journal, Ian Rankin said: “As an exstudent of Edinburgh university, it’s a thrill to receive this award. I began my writing career as a student, when I should have been doing work. It’s good to see it’s paid off at last.”

The honorary positions were also awarded to Phillipa Gregory and Rona Munro, both accomplished fiction writers. Randall Stevenson, Professor of English Literature at Edinburgh University, said: “We are delighted that some of the most successful writers in the UK will be sharing their expertise with University students. These new positions will help extend our thriving creative community.”

The fellowships are supported by the Scottish Art Council and UNESCO World City of Literature.

Previous celebrity fellows include author Margaret Atwood and Australian novelist David Malouf.

[Constantine Innemée]

Fergus Ewing has denied that the plans are a total move away from Anti-Social Behaviour Orders

As the student election fever dies down, Adam Ramsay, Carys Evans and Ruth Bush reflect on their experiences this year awards, for which 2700 nominations have been received, got the council to report on insulating every house in Edinburgh for free and secured a real-terms cut in rent for university accommodation.”

Bush has also enjoyed a busy year: “There are so many things that we’ve worked on over the year that I hope have made a difference to Heriot-Watt students.

“What I’m probably most proud of is getting environmental and ethical issues on the agenda of the Students’ Association and the University.”

Evans, meanwhile, succeeded in her efforts to create social events: “We created a social space for students through our Passionate club nights, which allow students to come together in a way which was not previously possible.”

But, the world of student politics can be a fiery place, and each one of them has fallen upon challenging times.

Bush had to keep the peace as Heriot-Watt restructured their academic year: “This was the first year Heriot-Watt used a semester system and it left many students in difficult and stressful situations. We had to work extremely hard as a Students’ Association to make sure everybody’s problems were acted upon as quickly as possible.”

Ramsay admits that finding a new chief executive after the shock resignation of Graham Boyack in the first week of term was stressful: “Having

Rankin for honorary Edinburgh fellowship

FLICKR.COM/EDDIEDANGEROUS

Student presidents reflect on a year's work Megan Taylor

» IT'S ALL ACADEMIC

never recruited anyone to any job before, I had to recruit the head member of staff for an £8 million organisation with 400 odd employees.”

Evans spoke of the more general problem of attempting to please everybody: “Everybody wants you to do certain things for them but prioritising the needs and wants of students is difficult at times.”

When asked if they had any advice for their successors, Evans warned: “Don’t take insults personally, there will always be some students out there who think you should be changing the world in a year; but you simply can’t,” whereas Ramsay kept it short and sweet: “Don’t forget the big picture.”

Bush maintained that there were two principals any student president should stick to: “Include and encourage as many people as possible in the activities of the Students’ Association and listen and think carefully about what people are saying to you.”

All three agree that despite the everyday stresses, they have had an enjoyable experience.

Evans explained: “The past year has been the best year of my life. The ups and downs have been huge but I have never had two days the same.”

Bush would like to be remembered as “a principled and open president that tried her hardest to make life for students at Heriot-Watt as fun, active and exciting as possible.”

Ramsay joked: “If I’m remembered positively, I’ll be doing well for a student politician!”

Gene may provide insight for psychiatric care A STUDY CONDUCTED by scientists at the University of Edinburgh has found that a gene called DISC1 may control the way patients respond to psychiatric medicine.

The findings, which are confirmed by a separate academic investigation carried out by a team at the Howard Hughes Institute in America, shed light on experts' understanding of mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and mental bipolar.

The DISC1 gene is known to play a part in the development of mental illness and will aid researchers to understand how illness affects the brain.

Professor David Porteous, of the Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine at the University, said: "By understanding more fully the genetic processes of mental health and illness we hope to identify ways in which medication might make a real difference to the lives of those affected by these conditions."

Researchers, who based their work on existing data from the Human Genome Project, also discovered seven proteins that are vital to the growth of mental illnesses. Scientists hope to establish medicines that attack these proteins.

[Matthew Moore]

St Andrews and QMU appoint female principals IN AN EVENT the ancient university says is likely to draw a large crowd, St Andrews University will install its first female principal this month.

Dr Louise Richardson is to fill the position as the tenth principal of the third-oldest university in the English-speaking world.

Unlike her two predecessors Dr Richardson was not offered an honorary membership of the Royal and Ancient golf club. She said: “I haven’t had time to go to the gym since I got here, so the idea that I would have three hours to play a game of golf is unrealistic.”

Although founded in the fifteenth century, St Andrews did not appoint a principal until 1859, when Sir David Brewster was asked to fill the position.

Ewan Brown, senior governor of the Court of the University of St Andrews said: "St Andrews has chosen a scholar and academic leader of international repute to guide it into a seventh century of academic achievement and exploration – we look forward with great anticipation to a new era of academic leadership."

Closer to home, Dr Petra Wend, currently deputy vice-chancellor and deputy chief executive at Oxford Brookes, has been appointed the second female principal at Queen Margaret University. Dr Wend, who previously worked at London Metropolitan University, will begin her new role on 1 September 2009.

Chairman of the court of the university, Ian Percy, praised the strong candidates for the role and described Dr Wend as an asset: "Dr Wend brings with her experience in senior management of new universities, where the concepts of relevance, collaboration and community are central to academic development." [Constantine Innemée]

National Politics 13

The Journal Wednesday 25 March 2009

Cherie Booth enlisted in case against RBS » Former PM's wife to represent local authorities who are suing Royal Bank of Scotland Group to recoup massive losses David Stevenson david.stevenson@journal-online.co.uk TWO COUNCIL PENSION funds suing RBS for compensation can now include Cherie Booth QC, wife of former prime minister Tony Blair, amongst their legal team.

The Merseyside and North Yorkshire funds have hired legal firm Coughlin Stoia to pursue a class action claim in the US courts. Coughlin Stoia has previously acted on behalf of shareholders in a number of high profile cases, including those arising from the 2001 Enron fraud.

Ms Booth confirmed she has been brought in as a special advisor to the team, stating: “This is a significant case not only for the massive losses inflicted on local authority pension schemes and other UK institutions who were the largest investors in RBS, but also for the potential to protect investors in the future by significantly raising the standards for good governance in major UK companies.”

The class action states that directors “falsely reassured investors that RBS

PEPPER WATKINS

was well capitalized when, in fact, the company was effectively insolvent as a result of impaired assets, bad loans, and its disastrous partial acquisition of ABN AMRO.” The claim relates specifically to the information which the banks directors, including Sir Fred Goodwin, may have kept from investors throughout 2008.

Included in this period is RBS’s recent rights issue, when they offered additional shares for sale to existing stockholders.

Buoyed by confident messages from the board, at that time the banks shares were trading strongly at 243 pence.

However, five months after the bank had assured the investors of its capital strength, it required a £20billion rescue package from the government, which saw United Kingdom Financial Institution take a 58 per cent stake in the bank.

The share price has since collapse to 22.5 pence.

Peter Wallach, the head of the Merseyside fund, has said he is eager to find out the extent to which investors may have been mislead: “Our concern is that perhaps management didn’t indicate to shareholders the full extent of the

deterioration in the bank’s finances when it first came to share holders for additional capital.”

Patrick Daniels, a partner at Coughlin, said: “We will be pursuing this claim relentlessly in order to bring the executives, especially Sir Fred Goodwin, and this bank to book.”

US class actions allow courts to bring all comparable cases together under one action and as such it is believed that other UK pension funds will take this opportunity to pursue compensation for their own funds. Individual investors at the time of the rights issue are also being encouraged to make their interest known.

Peter Murphy, a partner at a specialist pensions law firm has said that the US is more suited to this type of claim: “US lawyers act on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis and plaintiffs do not have to pay for the other side’s legal costs if they lose.”

However, he also expressed surprise at Ms Booth’s involvement: “Her profile is mainly in UK and European human rights law, not US securities litigation.

Her involvement in the case will certainly add greater public interest to an all ready high profile media event.”

Scottish government alcohol price Lib Dem demands initiative hit by setback more cash for students JOSH STAIGER

Matthew Moore

Camilla Ainsworth

matthew.moore@journal-online.co.uk

camilla.ainsworth@journal-online.co.uk

THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT’S proposal to impose a minimum price per unit of alcohol looks set to fail as it does not comply with EU rules and is illegal under UK law, according to experts.

Plans to change the licensing law were scrutinised by the Law Society of Scotland who have judged that the right to impose price restrictions is a reserved power of Westminster since it concerns the sales of goods and not licensing.

Spokespersons for the society, said: “There is some doubt about whether these proposals can be dealt with under devolved legislation and further consideration is needed.

“For example limiting alcohol consumption by introducing minimum pricing could also breach the Scotland Act, depending on which legislation the proposals come under – licensing or the sale and supply of goods. Proposals to prevent retailers selling alcohol as a loss leader could breach competition law, which is reserved to Westminster.”

In addition, the Scotch Whisky Association advised the government that plans to regulate pricing are outlawed under Article 28 of the European Constitution treaty, which states that the restrictions on imported products are banned. The trade association argued that fixed alcohol prices would affect foreign drink companies and be in breach of EU law.

Gavin Hewitt, chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Association, said: “It is hard to believe any Scottish Government would bring forward proposals that are likely to be both illegal in international trade law and risk damaging the whisky industry. Regrettably, minimum pricing achieves both and undermines our success in breaking down illegal discrimination against Scotch whisky around the world.”

Mr Hewitt questioned whether legislation was the answer to the the country’s

THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS last week called for students to be guaranteed £7000 a year to help them through their studies.

Education spokeswoman Margaret Smith, MSP for Edinburgh West, has hit out at the SNP government, accusing them of breaking their promises in order to alleviate student debt.

Commenting ahead of the debate last week, Mrs Smith said: “The SNP have let down Scottish students.

“Instead of keeping their £2 billion promise, they allocated £30 million to start the process of switching from loans to grants which won’t put a single penny into student pockets right now.”

With the financial downturn affecting students, the Lib Dems want a £7000 minimum income guarantee to be available to students made up of a combination of grants, loans and parental contributions.

With students fighting the financial pressures, university and college hardship funds are also under severe strain.

Mrs Smith said: “The majority of them have had to ask for emergency inyear funds to cope with students’ pleas for help.”

Outgoing NUS Scotland President, Gurjit Singh said: “The Government’s promise of £30 million, through the Supporting a Smarter Scotland consultation, is wholly inadequate to meet the needs of Scotland’s students – needs made all the more urgent by the current economic crisis and the strain that has placed on hardship funds across the country.”

However, Robin McAlpine, a spokesman from Universities Scotland, openly declared that we should consider “a degree of student debt to not necessarily be a bad thing.”

Mr McAlpine said: “Forcing students to be aware of problems that they will inevitably face after leaving university,

Legal experts say SNP's minimum alcohol price plans may be illegal drinking problem: “We agree that attitudes to alcohol in Scotland need to change, but minimum pricing is not the answer.”

Alcohol Focus Scotland, a national charity for alcohol issues, unequivocally supports the minimum price per unit: “Is it too much to ask us to spend 11 pence more on a bottle of wine if that means a longer life for some, or a childhood recaptured, or a young person’s future assured?

Because that’s exactly what it means.”

The charity states that six people each day die from alcohol related disease in Scotland and estimates that 65,000 children have their childhood “stolen from them and their future blighted because of

someone’s drinking”.

Charity executives went onto criticise industry bosses for complaining about “lost revenue”: “It is vital that we don’t get distracted from tackling Scotland’s alcohol problems. We all have a responsibility to turn our alcohol culture around and recognise that sometimes our health and social well-being comes before commercial interest.”

Vince Cable, Liberal Democrat deputy leader, expressed his support for minimum pricing south of the border saying that the debate shouldn’t be trivialised and that the proposals were to encourage safe and sensible drinking not to penalise pub owners.

it will help equip those with good money management skills, office skills and effective time management. Undoubtedly, however, it is the case that too much debt and too much temp work is bad.

“It is important for universities to ensure that students get the most out of their experience without being saddled with unmanageable quantities of debt. However, it is for policy makers to decide on the right balance between ‘too much’ and ‘too little’ debt, and it is through good evidence-based surveys that we will be able to define such precise sums.”

In response to this, a Scottish government spokesperson, told The Journal: “We have recognised that the student support system was inadequately funded by previous administrations and that is why we have provided £38m to introduce grants for up to 20,000 parttime students and are currently consulting on a wide range of proposals, including a minimum income guarantee, that will see a further £30 million invested in student support.”

The spokesperson said: “The Scottish government believes that access to higher education should be based on the ability to learn, not the ability to pay.”

Property

Abbeyhill West Norton Place, 850, 3, 3D G CG Z, 0870 062 9688 Rossie Place, 560, 2, 2D G O, 0870 062 9384 Milton Street, 495, 1, 1D G CG O, 0870 062 9302 Milton Street, 450, 1, 1D E CG O, 0870 062 6604 Regent Place, 1200, 4, 1S 3D G PG O, 0870 062 9340 Royal Park Terrace, 1180, 4, 1S 3D, 0870 062 3700

Broughton Barony Street, 980, 3, 1S 2D G CG Z, 0870 062 9688 Dicksonfield, 670, 2, 2D G P, 0870 062 9302 Pilrig Heights, 595, 2, G P UF, 0870 062 9388 Papermill Wynd, 550, 2, 2D G P, 0870 062 9488 Broughton Road, 450, 1, 1D 1B CG Z, 0870 062 9326 Broughton Road, 450, 1, 1D G CG, 0870 062 9334 Broughton Street Edin, 1000, 3, 3D, 0870 062 9546

Bruntsfield Bruntsfield Place, 960, 3, 3D G O, 0870 062 9314 Hartington Place, 950, 3, 3D G PG Z, 0870 062 9594 Montpelier Park, 950, 3, G CG Z, 0870 062 8312 Bruntsfield Place, 940, 3, 3D, 0870 062 9316 Montpelier, 875, 3, 3D G O, 0870 062 9302 Viewforth, 700, 2, 2D G CG Z, 0870 062 9334 Mardale Crescent, 1650, 5, 5D G CG O, 0870 062 9558 Bruntsfield Place, 1640, 4, 4D G CG O, 0870 062 9302 Bruntsfield Place, 1380, 4, 1S 3D G O, 0870 062 9302 Viewforth, 1360, 4, 4D, 0870 062 3700 Montpelier Park, 1275, 4, 4D, 0870 062 3700 Montpelier, 1200, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700 Montpelier Terrace, 1100, 3, 3D G CG O, 0870 062 9558

Canonmills Rodney Street, 650, 2, 2D, 0870 062 3700 Broughton Road, 525, 1, 1D, 0870 062 3700

Carrick Knowe Saughton Road North, 1000, 4, 4D G PG O, 0870 062 9302

Central Elm Row, 900, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700 Grindlay Street, 820, 3, 1S 2D G CG Z, 0870 062 9234 Lothian Road, 700, 2, 2D G CG, 0870 062 9340 Warriston Crescent, 700, 2, 2D G CG O, 0870 062 9326 St. Patrick Street, 600, 1, 1D G CG Z, 0870 062 9448 Easter Road, 590, 2, 2D W CG, 0870 062 9688 Upper Grove Place, 550, 2, 1S 1D E O, 0870 062 9388 South Bridge, 400, 1, 1D W Z, 0870 062 9326 North Bridge, 350, 1, 1S E, 0870 062 7736 Brunswick Street, 1370, 5, 5D, 0870 062 3700

Chesser Saughton Avenue, 645, 2, 2D G CG O, 0870 062 6604 Chesser Crescent, 1100, 3, 3D G P, 0870 062 9478

Clermiston Alan Breck Gardens, 595, 2, 2D G PG P, 0870 062 9234 Rannoch Road, 595, 2, 2D G PG O, 0870 062 9594 Clerwood Park, 1000, 3, 3D G PG O, 0870 062 9558

Comely Bank Comely Bank Road, 990, 3, 3D G CG Z, 0870 062 9424 Learmonth Crescent, 575, 2, 2D G CG O, 0870 062 9326 Comely Bank Terrace, 550, 1, 1B CG Z, 0870 062 9300

Comiston Pentland Drive, 650, 3, 1S 2D G O, 0870 062 9560

Corstorphine Forrester Park Drive, 725, 3, 3D G CG P, 0870 062 9488 Carrick Knowe Drive, 695, 3, 1S 2D G PG O, 0870 062 8708

Craiglockhart Greenbank Gardens, 1295, 4, 4D G PG P UF, 0870 062 9488

Crewe Toll Ferry Road Grove, 750, 3, 3D G CG O, 0870 062 9302 Crewe Crescent, 525, 2, 2D G PG P UF, 0870 062 9384

Dalry Caledonian Road, 990, 3, 3D G O, 0870 062 9302 Hermand Terrace, 990, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700 Easter Dalry Drive, 960, 3, 1S 2D G P, 0870 062 9302 Murieston Crescent, 950, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700 Springwell Place, 930, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700 Gorgie Road, 915, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700

Easter Dalry Road, 670, 2, 2D G, 0870 062 9316 Cathcart Place, 650, 2, 2D, 0870 062 3700 Cathcart Place, 650, 2, 2D, 0870 062 3700 Murieston Crescent, 580, 1, 1D, 0870 062 3700 Caledonian Road, 575, 2, 2D G CG Z, 0870 062 8252 Cathcart Place, 550, 1, 1D, 0870 062 3700 Murieston Road, 550, 2, 2D G UF, 0870 062 9324 Cathcart Place, 500, 1, 1D, 0870 062 3700 Easter Dalry Drive, 1800, 5, 5D G P, 0870 062 9302 Easter Dalry Drive, 1800, 5, 5D G P, 0870 062 9302 Dalry Road, 1360, 4, 4D, 0870 062 3700 Easter Dalry Wynd, 1340, 4, 2S 2D G P, 0870 062 9302 Caledonian Road, 1300, 4, 4D, 0870 062 3700 Caledonian Road, 1045, 3, 3D, 0870 062 9316 Murieston Crescent, 1020, 3, 3D G Z, 0870 062 9302

Davidsons Mains Corbiehill Crescent, 675, 2, 2D G PG O, 0870 062 9234 Corbiehill Road, 475, 1, 1D G PG, 0870 062 9384

Drylaw Wester Drylaw Drive, 625, 2, 2D G PG P, 0870 062 9478

Duddingston Bridge Street Lane, 795, 3, 3D G O UF, 0870 062 9488 Bridge Street Lane, 620, 2, 2D G O UF, 0870 062 9488 Duddingston Park South, 575, 2, 1S 1D G P, 0870 062 9384 Duddingston Park South, 575, 2, 2D G CG P, 0870 062 3872 Duddingston Park South, 575, 2, 1S 1D G P, 0870 062 9384 Peffer Bank, 400, 1, 1D G CG P, 0870 062 9558 Mountcastle Drive South, 1200, 3, 3D G PG P, 0870 062 9594

Easter Road Hawkhill Close, 640, 2, 2D G P, 0870 062 9522 Easter Road, 525, 2, 2D G CG O, 0870 062 9326 Bothwell Street, 495, 1, O UF, 0870 062 9324 Easter Road, 480, 1, 1D, 0870 062 3700 Elgin Terrace, 475, 1, 1D W CG Z UF, 0870 062 9312 Easter Road, 1180, 4, 4D, 0870 062 3700 Easter Road, 1005, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700

Edinburgh Dalmeny Street, 915, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700 Bellenden Gardens, 875, 4, 4D G PG O, 0870 062 9302 Manor Place, 600, 1, 1D, 0870 062 3700 Oswald Road, 550, 2, 2D, 0870 062 3700 Slateford Road, 500, 1, 1D, 0870 062 3700 Fountain Place, 475, 2, 2D G P UF, 0870 062 9348 Fountain Place, 450, 2, 2D G P UF, 0870 062 9348 Seafield Road, 410, 1, 1D W CG O, 0870 062 9334 Grindlay Street, 1825, 5, 5D, 0870 062 3700 East Claremont Street, 1800, 5, 2S 3D, 0870 062 3700 East Claremont Street, 1700, 5, 1S 4D, 0870 062 3700 Montgomery Street, 1150, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700

Fairmilehead Pentland Drive, 650, 3, 1S 2D E O, 0870 062 9560

Ferry Road Ferry Road Drive, 625, 3, 3D G CG O, 0870 062 9302 East Pilton Farm Crescent, 595, 2, 2D G P, 0870 062 9320

Fettes East Pilton Farm Crescent, 550, 1, 1D G O, 0870 062 2018

Fountainbridge Murdoch Terrace, 830, 3, 1S 2D G Z, 0870 062 9234 Fountainbridge, 550, 1, 1D Z, 0870 062 6782 Dundee Terrace, 545, 2, 2D G Z, 0870 062 9560 Grove Street, 495, 1, 1D E, 0870 062 6782 Lothian Road, 1350, 4, 1S 3D G, 0870 062 9688

Gorgie Gorgie Road, 900, 3, 3D G O, 0870 062 9302 Gorgie Road, 900, 3, 3D G O, 0870 062 9302 Gorgie Road, 850, 3, 3D G CG O, 0870 062 9558 Wardlaw Terrace, 520, 1, 1D G CG O, 0870 062 3920 Robertson Avenue, 510, 1, 1D G CG O, 0870 062 9302 Gorgie Road, 500, 2, 2D G CG O, 0870 062 9592 Westfield Road, 495, 1, 1B G CG O, 0870 062 9234 Westfield Road, 495, 1, 1D G CG O, 0870 062 3768 Gorgie Road, 485, 1, 1D G CG Z, 0870 062 9424 Newton Street, 480, 1, 1D G CG O UF, 0870 062 9478 Wardlaw Street, 475, 1, G CG O, 0870 062 3704

HOW TO USE THE LISTINGS Meadows

Area Agent phone number

Buccleuch Street, 750, 2, 2D W CG Z, 0870 062 9434

Bedrooms Monthly Rent Location

Wardlaw Street, 475, 1, 1D G CG O, 0870 062 9560 Gorgie Road, 450, 1, 1D E O, 0870 062 9326 Smithfield Street, 450, 1, 1D G CG O, 0870 062 9334 Stewart Terrace, 450, 1, CG O, 0870 062 1316 Westfield Road, 450, 1, 1D CG O, 0870 062 3768 Smithfield Street, 425, 1, 1D E O, 0870 062 9560 Stewart Terrace, 425, 1, W, 0870 062 9560 Stewart Terrace, 425, 1, E O, 0870 062 9560 Stewart Terrace, 420, 1, 1D W CG, 0870 062 9688 Gorgie Road, 1600, 4, 4D E CG P, 0870 062 9314

Granton Granton Terrace, 550, 2, 2D G PG O, 0870 062 9302 Waterfront Park, 495, 1, 1D G UF, 0870 062 2414 Lower Granton Road, 450, 1, 1D G CG O, 0870 062 3768

Grassmarket West Bow, 750, 2, 2D G Z, 0870 062 9478 Cowgatehead, 650, 1, G, 0870 062 9300 West Port, 575, 1, 1D E, 0870 062 9560 Heriot Bridge,Edinburgh, 550, 1, 1D G P, 0870 062 5696 Spittal Street, 1250, 4, 2S 2D G Z, 0870 062 9302

Haymarket Richmond Terrace, 975, 3, 1S 2D G Z, 0870 062 9302 Grove Street, 675, 2, 2D, 0870 062 3700 Morrison Street, 625, 2, 2D G CG Z, 0870 062 2418 Morrison Street, 530, 1, 1D G Z, 0870 062 9560 West Maitland Street, 470, 1, 1D G Z, 0870 062 9558 Morrison Street, 400, 1, 1S G Z, 0870 062 9560 Morrison Street, 1550, 5, 5D, 0870 062 3700 Morrison Street, 1550, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700 Grove Street, 1450, 4, 4D, 0870 062 3700 Morrison Street, 1320, 4, 4D, 0870 062 3700 Haymarket Terrace, 1200, 4, G CG O, 0870 062 3780 Spittal Street, 1040, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700

Hillside Earlston Place, 990, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700 Montrose Terrace, 980, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700 Wellington Street, 950, 3, 3D G CG O, 0870 062 9558 Cadzow Place, 930, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700 Hillside Street, 900, 3, 3D E CG O, 0870 062 9558 Rossie Place, 675, 2, 2D, 0870 062 3700 Maryfield Place, 640, 2, 1S 1D, 0870 062 3700 Hillside Street, 1750, 5, 5D, 0870 062 3700 Hillside Crescent, 1550, 5, 5D, 0870 062 3700 Brunton Place, 1500, 5, 5D, 0870 062 3700 Montgomery Street, 1400, 5, 5D, 0870 062 3700 Earlston Place, 1300, 4, 4D, 0870 062 3700

Holyrood Viewcraig Gardens, 680, 2, 2D E P, 0870 062 9302 Royal Park Terrace, 595, 1, 1D 1B G CG O, 0870 062 9334 Viewcraig Gardens, 1340, 4, 4D G O, 0870 062 9302

Juniper Green Wester Hailes Road, 900, 3, 3D G PG P UF, 0870 062 9558 Lanark Road, 530, 2, 2D G P, 0870 062 9560

Kirkliston Glendinning Way, 995, 5, 4D 1B G PG, 0870 062 6776

Leith Portland Gardens, 995, 3, 3D G CG P, 0870 062 9234 Dalmeny Street, 990, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700 Easter Road, 940, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700 Easter Road, 930, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700 Largo Place, 930, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700

Leith Walk, 930, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700 Chancelot Terrace, 900, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700 Easter Road, 900, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700 Hawkhill Close, 900, 3, 3D G CG P, 0870 062 9558 Lorne Street, 900, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700 Smith’s Place, 750, 3, 1S 2D G CG O, 0870 062 9422 Easter Road, 725, 2, 2D, 0870 062 3700 Duke Street, 720, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700 Stead’s Place, 680, 2, 2D G CG O, 0870 062 9302 Hopetoun Crescent, 650, 2, 2D E CG Z, 0870 062 9522 Great Junction Street, 645, 2, 2D E CG O, 0870 062 6604 Giles Street, 625, 2, 2D E P, 0870 062 9456 Easter Road, 620, 2, 2D, 0870 062 3700 Portland Gardens, 610, 1, 1D G P, 0870 062 9424 Elbe Street, 600, 2, 2D W P, 0870 062 9424 Constitution Street, 600, 1, 1D W P, 0870 062 3768 Tower Place, 595, 2, 2D G, 0870 062 3768 Great Junction Street, 575, 2, 2D G CG Z UF, 0870 062 9424 Great Junction Street, 550, 2, 2D G O, 0870 062 9456 Buchanan Street, 460, 1, 1D, 0870 062 3700 Dickson Street, 450, 1, 1D E CG O, 0870 062 9558 Buchanan Street, 435, 1, 1D G O, 0870 062 9560 Sloan Street, 425, 1, 1D, 0870 062 3700 Thorntree Street, 425, 1, 1D CG O, 0870 062 9422 Duke Street, 395, 1, 1D W O, 0870 062 9312 Bonnington Road, 1425, 5, 5D, 0870 062 3700 Wellington Place, 1300, 5, 5D G Z, 0870 062 9478 Brunswick Street, 1300, 4, 4D, 0870 062 3700 Easter Road, 1280, 4, 4D, 0870 062 3700 Kirk Street, 1200, 5, 5D E Z, 0870 062 9478 Easter Road, 1200, 4, 4D, 0870 062 3700 Wellington Place, 1200, 4, 4D 1B G PG Z, 0870 062 9478 Pitt Street, 1165, 4, 4D, 0870 062 3700 Ferry Road, 1125, 4, 4D, 0870 062 3700 Great Junction Street, 1010, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700 Brunswick Terrace, 1000, 4, 4D G PG O, 0870 062 9468

Leith Links Links Gardens, 960, 4, 4D, 0870 062 3700 Thornville Terrace, 480, 1, 1D, 0870 062 3700 Bathfield, 460, 1, 1D G O, 0870 062 9522 Gladstone Place, 1550, 5, 5D, 0870 062 3700

Leith Walk Sloan Street, 990, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700 Leith Walk, 950, 4, 2S 2D, 0870 062 3700 Dalmeny Street, 930, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700 Leith Walk, 930, 3, 1S 2D, 0870 062 3700 Leith Walk, 900, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700 Albert Street, 725, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700 Dicksonfield, 700, 2, 2D G P, 0870 062 9320 Leith Walk, 625, 2, 2D G O, 0870 062 9234 Pilrig Heights, 600, 2, 2D G P, 0870 062 9488 Leith Walk, 575, 2, 2D G CG, 0870 062 9340 Springfield Lane, 570, 2, 2D W P UF, 0870 062 9334 Iona Street, 540, 2, 2D G CG O UF, 0870 062 9334 Balfour Street, 500, 1, E CG O, 0870 062 3872 Leith Walk, 495, 2, 2D, 0870 062 3700 Leith Walk, 1650, 5, 5D, 0870 062 3700 Albert Place, 1600, 5, 5D, 0870 062 3700 Gayfield Place Lane, 1000, 3, 1S 2D G P, 0870 062 9302

Liberton Malbet Park, 800, 3, 2S 1D G CG P, 0870 062 9558 Malbet Park, 795, 3, 3D G P, 0870 062 9424

PROPERTY LISTINGS PROVIDED BY WWW.CITYLETS.CO.UK

Bedrooms: Heating: Garden: Parking: Furniture:

Peffermill Road, 475, 1, 1D G CG O UF, 0870 062 9324

Little France Mains Of Craigmillar, 850, 4, 1S 4D 1B PG P UF, 0870 062 9342 Upper Craigour Way, 700, 2, 2D E PG P UF, 0870 062 9592

Lochend Craigentinny Road, 550, 2, 2D G CG O UF, 0870 062 9558

Longstone Parkhead Grove, 595, 2, 2D G PG O, 0870 062 9460 Redhall Crescent, 520, 2, 2D E CG O, 0870 062 9322

Marchmont Marchmont Crescent, 990, 3, 3D G O, 0870 062 9322 Roseneath Street, 900, 3, 3S G CG Z, 0870 062 9322 Marchmont Street, 1600, 4, 1S 3D G CG Z, 0870 062 1876 Thirlestane Road, 1600, 4, 4D G CG Z, 0870 062 9322 Warrender Park Road, 1515, 5, 5D G Z, 0870 062 9316 Marchmont Street, 1235, 3, 1S 2D G CG Z, 0870 062 1876

Meadowbank Moray Park Terrace, 750, 3, 3D G P, 0870 062 9488 Hillend Place, 700, 3, 3D G CG, 0870 062 9234 Hillend Place, 700, 3, 3D G CG O, 0870 062 9460 Wolseley Terrace, 620, 2, 2D G CG O, 0870 062 9594 Abbey Lane, 575, 2, 1S 1D G O, 0870 062 9560 Piersfield Grove, 520, 2, 1S 1D W O, 0870 062 9688 Comely Green Place, 1450, 5, 5D, 0870 062 3700

Merchiston Ettrick Road, 700, 2, 2D G P, 0870 062 9592

Morningside Falcon Avenue, 950, 3, 3D E CG Z, 0870 062 9558 Comiston Road, 840, 3, 3D G CG O, 0870 062 9322 Falcon Court, 675, 2, 2D E CG P, 0870 062 9558 Springvalley Terrace, 650, 1, 1D G CG Z, 0870 062 9478 Craighouse Gardens, 625, 2, 2D W P, 0870 062 9312 Jordan Lane, 595, 2, 1S 1D G CG Z, 0870 062 9334 Craighouse Gardens, 565, 2, 2D G CG O UF, 0870 062 9434 Balcarres Street, 475, 1, 1D W CG O, 0870 062 3768 Morningside Road, 1750, 5, 5D, 0870 062 3700 Morningside Road, 1700, 5, 5D, 0870 062 3700 Morningside Road, 1400, 4, 4D, 0870 062 3700 Morningside Road, 1400, 4, 2S 2D, 0870 062 3700 Balcarres Street, 1020, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700

New Town St Stephen Street, 930, 3, 1S 2D, 0870 062 3700 Dundonald Street, 900, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700 Barony Street, 875, 2, 2D 1B G Z, 0870 062 4830 Drummond Place, 800, 2, G PG Z UF, 0870 062 9300 Canon Street, 700, 2, 1S 1D G CG Z, 0870 062 9382 St. Stephen Street, 625, 2, 2D G CG, 0870 062 2418 Barony Street, 620, 2, 2D G Z UF, 0870 062 9388 Albany Street, 575, 1, 1D G CG Z, 0870 062 9326 Dundonald Street, 550, 1, 1D E Z, 0870 062 9320 Royal Circus, 1800, 4, 4D G Z, 0870 062 9314 Eyre Place, 1775, 5, 5D, 0870 062 3700 York Place, 1760, 4, 4D G Z, 0870 062 9314 Bellevue Crescent, 1700, 4, 4D CG Z, 0870 062 9558 Dundas Street, 1600, 4, 4D G PG Z, 0870 062 9314 Cumberland Street, 1500, 4, 4D G Z, 0870 062 9314 Scotland Street, 1500, 4, 4D G Z, 0870 062 9314 Eyre Crescent, 1340, 4, 4D G CG Z, 0870 062 9302 Royal Crescent, 1265, 3, 3D G Z, 0870 062 9316 Drummond Place, 1215, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700 Fettes Row, 1200, 3, 3D G Z, 0870 062 9314

S Single D Double T Twin B Box G Gas Central W White Meter E Electric PG Private CG Communal Z Zone O On-Street P Private UF Unfurnished

Dundas Street, 1120, 4, 4D G Z, 0870 062 9314 Barony Street, 1050, 3, 3D G Z, 0870 062 9460 Hart Street, 1050, 3, 3D G Z, 0870 062 4830 Brunswick Street, 1030, 3, 3D, 0870 062 9316 London Street, 1000, 2, 2D G Z, 0870 062 9592 Nelson Street, 1000, 2, 2D G PG Z, 0870 062 9320

Newhaven Ferry Road, 850, 6, 2S 4D G PG P, 0870 062 9558 Pitt Street, 850, 4, 4D G O, 0870 062 9312 Dudley Avenue South, 695, 3, 1S 2D G CG O, 0870 062 6604

Newington Dalkeith Road, 945, 3, 1S 2D G Z, 0870 062 9314 Dumbiedykes Road, 900, 3, 3D E Z, 0870 062 9302 Montague Street, 895, 3, 3D G CG Z, 0870 062 9302 Oxford Street, 800, 2, 2D, 0870 062 3700 Fountainhall Road, 675, 2, 2D G P, 0870 062 9316 Nicolson Street, 675, 2, 2D, 0870 062 9316 St. Patrick Square, 600, 2, 1S 1D W Z, 0870 062 9388 St. Patrick Square, 595, 2, 1S 1D Z UF, 0870 062 9388 St. Patrick Square, 550, 2, 1S 1D W Z UF, 0870 062 9388 St. Patrick Square, 550, 1, W CG Z UF, 0870 062 9388 Causewayside, 495, 1, 1D G Z, 0870 062 9312 Oxford Street, 1575, 5, 5D, 0870 062 3700 Dalkeith Road, 1500, 5, 5D G CG Z, 0870 062 9558 East Preston Street, 1400, 4, 1S 3D G Z, 0870 062 9312 Macdowall Road, 1400, 4, 4D, 0870 062 3700 Dalkeith Road, 1380, 4, 4D, 0870 062 3700 Sciennes Hill Place, 1370, 4, 4D, 0870 062 3700 West Savile Terrace, 1360, 4, 4D G Z, 0870 062 9362 West Preston Street, 1310, 4, , 0870 062 9316 West Preston Street, 1310, 4, 3S 1D G Z, 0870 062 9316 Fountainhall Road, 1300, 4, 4D E CG O, 0870 062 9558 Dalkeith Road, 1275, 4, 4D, 0870 062 3700 West Nicolson Street, 1230, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700 West Nicolson Street, 1200, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700 Oxford Street, 1140, 4, 4D, 0870 062 3700 Montague Street, 1050, 4, 4D, 0870 062 3700 Brown Street, 1020, 3, 3D G P, 0870 062 9302

Niddrie Cakemuir Gardens, 750, 3, 1S 2D G P UF, 0870 062 1312

Old Town Canongate, 900, 3, 3D G Z, 0870 062 9688 Drummond Street, 600, 2, 2D E Z, 0870 062 9558 Drummond Street, 550, 2, 2D E O, 0870 062 9558 Brighton Street, 1450, 4, 4D G CG Z, 0870 062 9340

Oxgangs Oxgangs Avenue, 675, 3, 1S 2D G CG O, 0870 062 8252 Oxgangs Bank, 550, 2, 2D G CG O, 0870 062 9424 Oxgangs Crescent, 550, 2, 2D G O, 0870 062 9424

Peffermill Peffer Bank, 580, 2, 2D G P UF, 0870 062 2414 Craigmillar Castle Avenue, 550, 2, 2D G CG O, 0870 062 9460

Pilrig Dryden Gait, 850, 3, 3D G P, 0870 062 9522

Pilton Pilton Avenue, 750, 4, G CG P UF, 0870 062 9384 West Pilton Street, 625, 2, 2D E PG P, 0870 062 9302

Pleasance Brown Street, 2040, 6, 6D G P, 0870 062 9302

Polwarth Polwarth Gardens, 995, 3, 3D 1B G CG Z, 0870 062 9312

Cowan Road, 950, 3, 3D G PG O, 0870 062 9558 Temple Park Crescent, 675, 2, 2D, 0870 062 3700 Tay Street, 625, 2, 2D G CG Z, 0870 062 9424 Temple Park Crescent, 595, 2, 2D G CG Z, 0870 062 3768 Ritchie Place, 525, 1, 1D G CG Z, 0870 062 3768 Temple Park Crescent, 525, 1, 1D, 0870 062 3700 Watson Crescent, 500, 1, 1D G O, 0870 062 9326 Bryson Road, 475, 1, 1D E, 0870 062 9560 Watson Crescent, 450, 1, 1D G CG Z, 0870 062 6782 Watson Crescent, 450, 1, 1D G CG O, 0870 062 9446 Bryson Road, 425, 1, 1D W O, 0870 062 9560

Portobello Southfield Place, 595, 2, 2D G CG O, 0870 062 1992 Adelphi Grove, 500, 1, 1D G CG O, 0870 062 3768 Seafield Road East, 475, 1, 1D G O, 0870 062 9340 Kings Road, 420, 1, 1D W CG O, 0870 062 9688

Prestonfield Prestonfield Road, 580, 2, 2D G PG O, 0870 062 9522

Restalrig Restalrig Road, 650, 3, 1S 2D G UF, 0870 062 9326 Restalrig Road South, 610, 2, 2D G CG P, 0870 062 9334 Restalrig Road South, 525, 2, 1S 1D W O, 0870 062 9424

Roseburn Roseburn Street, 925, 3, 1S 2D G PG O, 0870 062 7736

Saughton Saughton Crescent, 550, 2, 1S 1D G PG P UF, 0870 062 2414 Whitson Grove, 460, 1, 1D G CG O, 0870 062 9334

Saughtonhall Glendevon Park, 590, 2, 2D G CG O, 0870 062 9302

Sciennes Sienna Gardens, 680, 2, 2D G P, 0870 062 9322 Sciennes Road, 1300, 4, 4D G CG O, 0870 062 9558 Gladstone Terrace, 1170, 3, 3D G, 0870 062 3876

Shandon Hermand Crescent, 680, 2, 2D W P, 0870 062 3768 Hazelbank Terrace, 575, 1, 1D G PG O, 0870 062 3768 Cowan Road, 1150, 4, 4D G PG P, 0870 062 9334

Sighthill Broomhouse Street South, 825, 3, 3D G PG O, 0870 062 9302 Broomhouse Street South, 825, 3, 3D G PG O, 0870 062 9302 Broomhouse Street South, 795, 3, 3D G CG O, 0870 062 9302 Calder View, 750, 3, 3D G O, 0870 062 9302 Calder Road, 610, 2, 2D G PG O, 0870 062 9302 Calder Drive, 595, 2, 2D 1B G CG O, 0870 062 9234 Calder Grove, 595, 2, 2D G CG O UF, 0870 062 9234

Silverknowes Ferry Gait Place, 600, 2, 2D E P, 0870 062 9384

Slateford Gorgie Road, 990, 3, 3D, 0870 062 3700 Hermand Crescent, 750, 2, 2D, 0870 062 3700 Hermand Crescent, 575, 2, 1S 1D W P UF, 0870 062 9388 Hermand Crescent, 575, 2, 1S 1D W P UF, 0870 062 9388

South Gyle South Gyle Wynd, 575, 2, 2D G CG P, 0870 062 9326 South Gyle Park, 475, 1, 1D P, 0870 062 9384 Gogarloch Haugh, 1100, 3, 3D G PG P, 0870 062 9488

Stenhouse Stenhouse Crescent, 600, 2, 2D G CG O, 0870 062 9522 Stenhouse Avenue, 595, 2, 2D G CG O, 0870 062 8252 Stenhouse Drive, 550, 2, 2D G, 0870 062 9334

Comment 15

The Journal Wednesday 25 March 2009

Comment Discussion&Debate

Top-up fees:

A realistic alternative » Simply ranting about injustice will get us nowhere – it is time to engage in a serious discussion on university fees TOM HUNT

Wes Streeting

NUS President

w.streeting@journal-online.co.uk

L

ATER THIS YEAR, the government will launch their long awaited review into the future funding of our universities. On Wednesday 18 March, we held a lobby of parliament to present to MPs the basic foundations of what we consider to be a fair and viable alternative to top-up fees.

Despite claims to the contrary, NUS has not dropped its long standing opposition to top-up fees. Yes, we are prepared to accept the notion of a graduate contribution to the costs of higher education – but we remain absolutely opposed to the present system, which we believe is detrimental to students and has the potential to be hugely damaging to higher education if it is continued and extended. We want the forthcoming review to be about finding an alternative to top-up fees that is fairer for students, but still generates the kind of income the sector so badly needs. At the same time, we need to find ways to restrain and reverse the market logic that has been allowed to run riot within government policy during the last few years.

Delegates at our conference last April voted to stop simply arguing for “free education” in England, and decided instead that we should consult with our members and bring to the table some radical, imaginative solutions that will be better and fairer for students than regressive and damaging market forces. As a result of this consultation, we have now identified five fundamental principles upon which a fair funding system for higher education in England can be built.

Firstly, we need to reform the overcomplicated and unfair system of financial support. Loans and grants have to cover both living costs and tuition fees, and the extra financial support available in the form of bursaries varies hugely from one university to the next. NUS believes that all financial support should be based on how much a student needs it, not where they happen to be studying.

Students should not have to use any of this financial support to pay for course costs – it should cover their living costs alone.

Secondly, we call for a change to the current state of play, whereby students have to pay tuition fees and top-up fees up front – meaning that

they are accruing thousands of pounds of debt before they even start work.

NUS believes that higher education should be free at the point of use for all students. Graduates would then make a contribution to higher education while they work. The amount paid by graduates would depend on how much they are benefitting financially from their own use of the higher education system.

U

NDER THE CURRENT system, if a student leaves a course after, say, two years of study, they have nothing to show for the level of achievement they have already attained.

This brings me to our third point: more use should be made of flexible units of academic credit, so that a student’s past achievements are taken into account regardless of whether they have finished a full degree course. Parttime students would also benefit from more flexible forms of learning.

Fourthly, it is bad for the Government to be lending so much money to students in order for them to pay their fees – particularly in the current economic climate. Lending this money at a real-terms interest rate of 0% is especially unhealthy for the economy. NUS believes that an alternative funding system should avoid such inefficiencies, so that maximum resources can be put into teaching, learning and student support. One way to achieve this would be to adopt the post-graduation system of contribution outlined above.

Finally, we want to point out that, while students and graduates benefit hugely from higher education, so do the government and businesses. Without the high-level skills offered by graduates, our economy would grind to a halt.

Therefore, NUS believes that the government and businesses should make a greater contribution to higher education. If we accept that individuals should pay towards a world-class higher education system, then so should the other beneficiaries.

Top-up fees remain an appalling system, and NUS is going to work to bring them down. We now have the basis of a credible alternative to bring to the table: an alternative which means that we will not be sitting on the sidelines when the forthcoming review of fees is carried out. With your help, I firmly believe we can make a decisive difference.

Wes Streeting is the president of the National Union of Students

16 Comment

The Journal Wednesday 25 March 2009

G20 summit:

Concentrate, please » For all the upbeat talk, nationalistic stubbornness could mean the upcoming G20 summit is of little use Sam Karasik EUTC

s.karasik@journal-online.co.uk

O

N 2 APRIL, the Group of 20 advanced and emerging economies will convene in London for a summit on reforming the global financial system. As the number of days until the summit dwindle, presidents, prime ministers, and finance ministers have been touting the global consensus on issues of macroeconomic policy, financial sector reform and trade. There is no doubt that these 20 countries need to be on the same page if there is any hope of an effective short-term response to the global financial crisis that may not yet have bottomed out. One hopes that all the G20 camaraderie represents a genuine desire to cooperate – but underneath the rhetoric there are still plenty of differences to be ironed out.

As the host of this shindig, Gordon Brown has the opportunity to shape

the policy agenda significantly, having proposed something of a “global new deal” consisting of streamlined global financial regulation, further borrowing facilities for economic stimulus packages, an increased role for the IMF and a crackdown on offshore tax havens. Brown is effectively staking his reputation on this lofty set of goals, and has set the bar quite high for such a gamble. With an election a year away, Brown not only has to prove his mettle on the international scene but must also show the British public that he can address their hopes and fears – which may prove a significant distraction.

If there is to be an effective response to the financial crisis, three things need to happen at the G20 summit. For a start, governments need to coordinate fiscal and monetary policy in order to minimise further shocks and lending problems. Secondly, additional funds need to be pledged to the IMF so that it can deal with potential liquidity crises. Finally, it is vital that governments should avoid falling prey to protectionism, which would further

exacerbate the slowdown in international trade flows. If these points are agreed upon, we can hope for a shallower and shorter recession. However, there are many other policies being brought to the table that are both irrelevant to the immediate problems in the financial system and detrimental to the progress that could be made.

France and Germany are leading the charge for a tightening of global financial regulation that would affect all market participants, including private equity firms and hedge funds. Their aim is to prevent the circumstances that led to this crisis from occurring again – but promoting such a long-term goal as a first priority, when an immediate response is needed, does nothing to help minimise the recession. German Chancellor Angela Merkel told the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, that “the issue is not spending even more, but to put in place a regulatory system to prevent the economic catastrophe that the world is experiencing from being repeated.”

For all Mrs Merkel’s virtues, she is not a Nobel Prize-winning economist.

Nobel laureates Joseph Stiglitz and Paul Krugman have expressed dismay at the stimulus packages being implemented by G20 countries. Krugman has called EU stimuli “disappointing,” adding that the EU is “doing a bit less than half as much as the United States.” Of course, it would be arrogant to assume that a Nobel Prize bestows infallibility – but it is also arrogant for a politician to blatantly contradict two of the most respected economists in the world.

Suggesting that regulatory reform is the first and best response to this economic crisis is akin to suggesting a gunshot victim needs a new suit.

The United States and the United Kingdom are agreed on the need for a further, coordinated global stimulus, but key EU players remain adamantly opposed to Keynesian spending policies to the extent that they are needed.

This rift between fiscal stimulus and financial regulation could prove to be the downfall of the entire summit.

Nobody disputes the fact that regulatory failures are partly to blame for the intensity of the financial crisis; but the creation of an international regulatory

regime should be a secondary goal of the summit, or a topic for later discussion.

Gordon Brown has the awkward task of mediating the US-EU policy divergence, looking after his re-election chances and pushing his own policy agenda. The worst possible course of action for Brown to take would be to latch on to the current populist wave of anger directed at the financial system.

The popular calls for limiting executive pay, eliminating tax havens and neutering hedge funds may or may not have merit, but it is indisputable that they have little to do with the current risks to the global economy.

In order to make the most out of this opportunity, the premiers and financiers that assemble at next month’s G20 summit must have the clarity of mind to tell the difference between the policies that directly address the current risks and problems of the financial crisis and those that are long-term and beside the point.

Sam Karasik is the editor of Edinburgh University Trading and Investment Club

Child protection:

Be careful with the blame » The vilification of social workers after the death of Baby P shows the public ignorance of the challenges they face SHONA HARDIE

David Shemmings University of Kent

d.shemmings@journal-online.co.uk

W

HEN WE LEARNED the terrible truth about Harold Shipman murdering his patients, I suspect most of us didn’t think our own doctor was a potential mass murderer. But when a social worker is thought to have missed something when investigating a child protection allegation, the impression given by some of the media is that all social workers are incompetent.

The reasons for this are complex, but they include two key features.

Firstly, we all know doctors, teachers, nurses, even lawyers, personally; but most of us have never met a social worker. Secondly, and as a direct consequence, most of us have little idea of what social workers really do, especially in the field of child protection. Many believe—erroneously—that they can enter houses against occupants’ wishes, demand to see children and, if denied access, remove them to be examined by medical experts.

It would be inappropriate to comment on the situation of Sharon Shoesmith, former director of social services in Haringey – except to reflect upon the anger and hate directed towards her after the death of Baby P in her borough. She told Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour that she had considered suicide, and that the police had warned her not to stand too near the

platform at a tube station. In some respects Shoesmith seemed more despised than Shipman.

The real problem about doing child protection social work is that the signs and symptoms used to assess abuse are notoriously unreliable as future predictors. After studying 350 Serious Case Reviews of children who died or had been seriously abused at the hands of those meant to care for them, the researchers concluded that most cases were too complex for serious injury and death to be predicted. To witness domestic violence, serious drug or alcohol abuse is never optimal for children.

But if we were to remove every child where this happened it would result in a huge increase in residential care.

And most children would be deeply unhappy to have been taken away.

Fortunately, there are ways of knowing that a child is being abused which do not rely on visible signs, such as bruising. Where there are irrefutable signs, it is vital to act quickly; but in many cases of abuse and neglect there are no signs, because some abusers are good at covering their tracks. For example, sexual abuse is rarely accompanied by tell-tale physical indicators that a social worker would see during a visit. Similarly, emotional abuse involving persistent derogation or humiliation seldom produces unambiguous accompanying outward signs.

Experienced social workers know that asking a child if they have been abused is unlikely to produce an accurate response, because the child may

have been threatened with violence if they talk to anyone. And even the most inexperienced practitioner will be only too aware that many children are not able to speak about their unimaginable terror and sorrow. So what can social workers do to be more confident in spotting abuse and neglect?

The key lies in understanding that it is the way the child’s mind operates which holds the clues. When children are abused by those who are meant to love them, their brain “protects” them by creating a series of internal messages that effectively say: “This must be happening because I am unworthy and unlovable.” It is rare that a child being abused—especially in cases of sexual and emotional abuse—would actually blame the adult. And here is the true horror of child maltreatment: not only do these children suffer the abuse, they are very likely to believe it was their fault.

But it is precisely such pernicious and powerful internal messages that, if the social worker is trained to understand and recognise them, can provide some of the evidence needed to protect a child. A recent report on child protection by Lord Laming contains many sound recommendations.

But for me, the real test of its success will be when child protection workers are supported in the difficult work they do, both by manageable systems and sound supervision, and by a media that truly understands what they do – or at least does not seek to undermine it.

David Shemmings is chair of social work at the University of Kent

Comment 17

The Journal Wednesday 25 March 2009

School shootings:

No easy answers Dewey Cornell

comment@journal-online.co.uk

A

Taxi rapist:

“

Lessons to be learned Nicole Westmarland comment@journal-onlinet.co.uk

E

VERY DAY LAST week the number of women that have come forward after being raped or sexually assaulted

by John Worboys, the “black cab rapist”, went up. By the end of the week a special phone line had been established to record complaints from this one man, and almost 100 women are reported to have come forward. His modus operandi in each case remained fairly constant – saying that he was celebrating a win on the lottery and wanted the customer to join him in a drink. It was then that Worboys spiked the alcohol with another drug, causing the customer to lose consciousness.

The Metropolitan Police’s Sapphire team is the most experienced at rape investigations in England. Yet even here, Worboys kept getting away with rape and sexual assault – on a massive scale.

So just how did he get away with it for so long? Our disgracefully low conviction rate sends out a negative message to rape victims – that if you report rape it is very unlikely that it will result in any form of punishment for the offender.

But the conviction rate also sends out a very dangerous message to potential offenders – that it is very unlikely that

you will even be reported to the police for your crime, never mind punished through the courts; and that if the case is reported, the chances are that the investigation—if there is one—will be so poor that it won’t get anywhere near the court system. The police are still far too quick to believe the denials of any man accused of rape, and too dismissive of a woman’s report of rape – especially if she has been drinking alcohol.

Of course, these attitudes are not limited to the police, and in order to create real change within society we need to have a huge public shift in how rape victims are treated. This is why Rape Crisis Scotland this year launched a new campaign, with the slogan: “This is not an invitation to rape me.” One of the campaign images shows five young women in a bar, drinking alcohol and enjoying themselves. Rape Crisis Scotland state that until women stop being blamed for rape because they had been drinking alcohol, Scotland will continue to pay for the double standard applied to alcohol consumption.

In the Worboys case, women’s awareness of the low conviction rate, added to their fear of not being believed because they had consumed alcohol, undoubtedly contributed to their reluctance to report to the police. When one woman did report, no prosecution took place – no doubt adding to Worboys’ feeling of

invincibility.

However, there is another issue here that has gone relatively unnoticed. Here we had one man, raping and sexually assaulting women using a consistent ploy – yet the women of London were not warned. If there had been posters up and reports in the London papers about a serial rapist who was spiking women’s drinks in a black cab after saying they had won the lottery some of these cases could have undoubtedly been prevented.

The coverage might have made Worboys realise he could not continue to get away with it. Ironically, at the same time as Worboys was getting away with rape and sexual assault in his registered black cab, widespread general warnings were put out to women about how unsafe unlicensed minicabs are.

The Worboys case represents a series of missed opportunities to act. The police must learn from this case and never let it happen again. Women need to be warned if they are at an increased and specific risk that they are not aware of, the rape conviction rate must be increased as a matter of urgency, and the alcohol use double standard must be eliminated.

Dr Nicole Westmarland works as a criminologist at Durham University and is on the board of Rape Crisis (England and Wales).

Debate the issues online

If you have been affected by sexual violence at any point in your life, phone freephone Rape Crisis Scotland on 08088 01 03 02, open 6pm - midnight (voice & minicom, language interpreters available).

“

» How did the London ‘black cab rapist’ evade the police for so long?

journal-online.co.uk

FTER THE SHOOTING this month of twelve people at a school in Germany, there is a renewed drive to find some way to prevent similar acts of violence.

But if simple solutions existed, they would have been identified and implemented long ago. In the United States, where more than 30,000 people a year are killed by firearms through suicide and homicide, we have those who call for gun control and those who call for teachers to arm themselves. We have those who blame a society that glorifies violence, and those who decry our failure to help those with mental illnesses. There are elements of truth to each of these different perspectives – but none are sufficient to explain and prevent future shootings.

In my experience, studying violence over the past 25 years and interviewing many homicide offenders, I have found that school shootings are a complex outcome of social, familial and psychological influences. There is no single profile or set of warning signs that works in all cases. Some of the shooters have been bullied, but most victims of bullying are not potential killers. Some have been mentally ill, but most people with mental illnesses are not violent. This does not mean that these factors cannot play a role in edging some vulnerable individuals closer to violence; but they are not useful predictors.

The “threat assessment approach” pioneered by the FBI recognises that many students will make empty threats of violence, but only a few will engage in the planning and preparation that almost always precedes such events. A threat assessment approach is most useful to avoid over-reactions to students who make transient threats for attentionseeking purposes. A big problem in the United States has been that nervous school administrators have adopted “zero tolerance” disciplinary practices that can result in automatic school expulsion for even minor offenses, such as making an angry threat or bringing a miniature toy gun to school.

One virtue of the new approach is that it leads school authorities to identify many problem situations, ranging from persistent bullying to serious depression, that can be addressed before they grow more serious. The history of many US school shootings shows students whose complaints of mistreatment and other signs of distress were overlooked months and years before they resorted to violence. Although school shootings are statistically rare and unlikely to occur in any individual school, problems such as bullying are quite common and deserving of attention in themselves.

In response to the 2006 shooting at Virginia Tech that killed 33 students and faculty, our state government mandated its public colleges and universities to establish threat assessment teams.

We hope to encourage a threat assessment approach at all levels, because it recognizes that these shootings are not sudden and unpredictable events, but the culmination of problems and concerns that have not received adequate attention.

Shootings are most likely to be prevented when schools function as caring communities in which student anger, alienation and other signs of distress are cause for concern and intervention.

Dewey Cornell is the director of the Youth Violence Project at the University of Virginia

18 Editorial

The Journal Wednesday 25 March 2009

Letters letters@journal-online.co.uk EDINBURGH’S UNIVERSITY NEWSPAPER | ISSUE XXI

Edinburgh city council:

Failing to help IT WOULD BE a naïve man who thought himself capable of entirely resolving the squabbles between town and gown that have seasoned university life for the best part of a millennium. Nonetheless, it is safe to say that much has changed since February 1355, when bow and arrow wielding locals claimed the lives of 63 Oxford students at the Battle of St Scholastica’s Day. It is thus in the hope of further piecemeal advancements in student-native relations that EUSA’s newly announced plans for a thorough assessment of friction in the stairwell are to be welcomed.

The £5,000 of council money that has gone to support this endeavour is also appropriate. But given that the council is responsible for the welfare of all Edinburgh’s inhabitants, it is astonishing that it has not seen fit to perform such research itself at a far earlier date than this.

Edinburgh council has sought to make the revival of talk about HMO quotas an annual tradition in recent years and, as a result, the staving off of such proscriptive policy-making has become one of the major tasks for any students’ association president. As

this paper has noted before, knee-jerk punitive restrictions of this kind serve neither residents nor students in the cause of social cohesion. And yet the council’s plans to sequester students in pre-packaged, purpose-built accommodation continue unabated.

The worrying monopoly on such post-fresher halls that the developer UNITE is establishing across Edinburgh will spell trouble should HMO quotas ever find a back door to creep through. With prices in their cheapest accommodation starting at a hefty £527 per month, any move away from private tenancies could substantially increase student poverty. On page 13 of this issue of The Journal we report that planning permission for UNITE’s latest development was granted in the face of over 130 objections from local residents – and only after the company made a contribution of over £90,000 to Edinburgh’s beleaguered tram scheme. Edinburgh council must be made aware of the dangers that are inherent in this policy and should be embarrassed at opening themselves to suspicion by involving donations in this way.

Talk of student “ghettos” is clearly

excessive but, given that students form such a large proportion of Edinburgh’s population, it would be a loss for the city as a whole were students further discouraged from engaging with local communities by forcing them back into halls. Attempting to improve the relationships between students and their neighbours must make more sense than dissolving those relationships altogether.

Clearly, a profound shift is needed to assuage the grievances of many Edinburgh residents, whose vociferous objections to HMO flats no doubt spur the council on in its dubious dealings.

Fears of the loss of a sense of community are wholly understandable; just as picturesque villages, full of second homes, find themselves largely deserted outside weekends and holidays, so the summer holidays can leave swathes of Edinburgh all but abandoned for months at a time.

Whilst EUSA is apparently pulling out all stops, nothing that Edinburgh council has committed to thus far has done anything to temper anger in communities. A sea-change is needed on the Royal Mile before the stalemate can be lifted on the battlefields of Marchmont.

SIR, In your last issue I was quoted in an article about the head of Politics and International Relations, John Peterson. In this quote I criticised Professor Peterson in a number of ways relating to his position as head of the subject area, and his role in leading the delivery of quality teaching and, specifically, feedback. Since then I have written to Professor Peterson apologising for these comments, and for criticising him in such a public way. The comments were, in retrospect, inappropriate.

An editorial in the same issue of The Journal called on Professor Peterson to resign. I would like to make it clear that this is not the position of the Students' Association.

We have never called on Professor Peterson to resign, and are not doing so now.

Adam Ramsay EUSA President SIR, It was amusing to see an Edinburgh student, Nazry Bahwari, continuing his university's latter-day tradition of wanting non-peecee speech stopped and punished – just twelve years ago,

the University ended a year of inquiries into me (a lecturer in psychology for 27 years) by mounting a threemonth tribunal to adjudicate my "inappropriate" sayings about race, I.Q., eugenics, feminism and paedohysteria. But Mr Bahwari should be careful where his righteous zeal takes him.

Before committing effort to restricting the 1948 Declaration of Human Rights, he should reflect that a right to anodyne speech is not worth a bean. All criticism is bound to offend someone – especially, at least a few members of a precious minority that has been cocooned from the true views of others. The great British jurist and former Lord Chancellor, Lord Hailsham, put it in a nutshell in 1977: “There is no way of having a free society in which there is not abuse. Abuse is the very hallmark of liberty.” Is Bahwari himself proud of his university's refusal to give a job to Britain's greatest philosopher, David Hume, whose views on religion were doubtless as offensive to Scottish dominies of his day as would be his views on race to the peecee commissars of our own times?

Chris Brand Former lecturer in psychology

Crossword #13 - Quick

University of Liverpool:

It's economics or it's stupid THE UNIVERSITY OF Liverpool is currently bogged down in controversy after it was revealed to be considering scrapping three of its academic departments. It should be remembered that, in abstract, it is by no means unusual for a university to close or restructure “failing” departments. What it surprising here is that the departments at the centre of this furore include the key humanities areas of politics and philosophy.

While this remarkable situation has brought the attention of the national media, there are wider implications that could have an important impact upon universities across the UK. However unpopular it may be, we must recognise that there is an argument to be made derived from a strictly economic perspective. With Liverpool deans claiming that the university is unable to sustain below-par departments, the long-term insufficiency of higher-education funding is shown to be in stark conflict with the continual political pressure for excellence. If Liverpool is to hold onto its reputation as a key Russell Group institution, it is simply not good enough to maintain mediocrity; especially in an environment where prestige is everything.

Those of a strictly free-market persuasion could argue that Liverpool has the chance to pioneer a new model of subject specialisation – common among the post-1992 universities but not among

the older, more prestigious universities in the country. While such a restructuring would prove controversial and—as threatened strikes by Liverpool academics would imply—potentially ruinous to the careers of a large number of university staff, such a move may be necessary in the long run for a number of universities struggling financially.

Yet, in this circumstance, such an argument doesn’t sit well. For starters, it is based on a weak set of foundations.

An admittedly poor Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) result has little bearing on the overall profitability of a department; instead, it impacts solely on research funding for the upcoming RAE period. This may affect the jobs of academic researchers, but it by no means writes off a whole department—let alone three—as unsustainable, unworkable or “failing”. If there are still students coming in, so follows the money.

Moreover, there is increasing dissent among the academic community about the way in which RAE assessments are conducted. Do they give an accurate representation of a department’s fouryear body of work? As John Sutherland, an emeritus professor at University College London asked, are all the submissions even read?

Writing in The Guardian, he outlined the level of work involved in assessing all of Britain’s research output: “The maths of the operation looked daunting,

verging on superhuman. Take my subject area, English. Some 110 departments, with, on average, 25 fulltime or equivalent staff, each required to turn out four samples of published work: say an average of 200 pages per colleague.

Roughly half a million pages then, some 30,000 for each of the dozen-and-a-half members of the panel.” Stunningly, this represents the output of only a single subject area.

Professor Sutherland goes on to give anecdotal evidence that suggests much of the sizable volume of research goes unread, citing one department where “a third [of RAE submissions, sealed by administrative staff] looked exactly as they had when they were sent out. I saw them with my own eyes. What to make of it?”

If the University of Liverpool’s atrisk departments are in such a position on the back of RAE assessments alone, one has to wonder whether a sensible decision, based upon economic necessity, has been taken? The RAE assessment is not perfect—even if it is not flawed to the extent that Professor Sutherland might worry—and should not be taken to have any greater level of objectivity than, for example, the Mercury Music Prize or Man Booker Award.

Deciding to dissolve three departments on the back of poor assessment results smacks of knee-jerk reactionism; precisely the sort of action which academia is supposed to be above.

LETTERS@JOURNAL-ONLINE.CO.UK

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American novelty dance, popular in the 60s (7) ___ doble, fast-paced dance inspired

by Spanish bullfight (4) Test (4) Endearing (7) Sorcerer (4) Roald ___, Mathilda author (4) Calls seductively (like a cat) (5) Fundamentalist (6) The Nutcracker, for example (6) The Day the Earth Stood Still, for example (6) Spanish triple time dance – woman’s jacket (6) Assuage – dispel (5) Atmosphere – life force (4) Daze – impress (4) Slow-slow-quick-quick ballroom dance (7) 109 (Political) assistant (4) Just like they do in the countryside (7)

16 20 21 24 25 26 27

Volcanic secretion (4) Spy (4) Pious (6) Commuter belt (6) Requirement (4) Speed of sound (4) Lively Polish folk dance (7) Syntax (7) Minor illness (7) Disappoint – untie (3,4) Czech dance featuring short half-steps (5) Cabbage – London hotel (5) Alchemist’s grail (6) Measure of oil (6) Measure (of one?) (4) At a distance (4) Visit (4) Ctrl-Z (4)

Profile 19

The Journal Wednesday 25 March 2009

Brown’s man in Scotland » It's perfectly understandable that voters should be turning on Labour – but they should steer clear of the SNP's flawed logic, Scottish secretary Jim Murphy tells Simon Mundy

CHARLEINE BOIEIRO

Simon Mundy simon.mundy@journal-online.co.uk

R

EALITY TELEVISION, AS George Galloway will tell you, is a fabulous way for a politician to raise his public profile. Still, one imagines Jim Murphy could have thought of better ways to make his mark on the national consciousness than being outed as a former Communist by Tommy Sheridan on Big Brother, three months into his service as Scottish secretary. Murphy shows no sign of embarrassment when pressed on Sheridan’s revelation in January of his youthful flirtation with the Revolutionary Communist Party.

“It’s more than half my lifetime ago,” he says, sitting back with his feet up in his Melville Street office. “I went to a couple of meetings, thought ‘Nah, this isn’t my type of politics,’ and joined the Labour party.” Whatever the truth of allegations that he was once banned from a Labour students conference for being too left-wing, Murphy’s political energies these days appear firmly focused on the job in hand.

Shortly after accepting the Scotland portfolio, Murphy raised sceptical eyebrows with his insistence that his role was not “a party political one” – an assertion that looks to have been undermined by his frequent public disagreements with Alex Salmond’s SNP government. “I’d like a position where, on a day-to-day basis, we could try to find more common cause,” says Murphy.

“But the SNP seem to be committed to a policy of no compromise with economics. They’ve been robbed of an economic logic by their own words. The first speech Alex made as first minister was the arc of prosperity – Iceland, Ireland… He just overstretched himself; a wee bit too arrogant, a wee bit too cocky.”

Still, there’s no hiding his underlying affection for the gregarious first minister, whom he recently slammed for being more interested in Westminster than in Scotland. “Do you play football?” asks Murphy, the captain of the parliamentary team. “Play the ball rather than the man, that’s what I want to do. I don’t criticise him personally. He loves Scotland as much as I do – but it’s different political philosophies. I don’t doubt his patriotism; I doubt his judgment.”

Murphy implicitly alludes to a prime Achilles heel of his unionist cause: with his endless avowal of Scotland’s ability to prosper alone, Salmond can appear to have stuck a nationalist flag in patriotism itself, leaving unionists sounding downbeat by comparison. “It’s a harder argument to make,” concedes Murphy, “which is that I love my country so much that I know it’s stronger in the UK. I want Scotland to be a big player on the world stage. I want us to have an influence at the United Nations, the European Union, the World Trade Organisation. And that means being an equal part of the United Kingdom.”

This emphasis on the United Kingdom—in particular, on the abstract concept of “Britishness”—has been one of the hallmarks of Gordon Brown’s government, with critics sniping that it’s a simple ruse to deflect English mistrust of the prime minister’s Scottish roots.

But Brown’s semi-jingoistic rhetoric came back to haunt him at the recent wildcat strikes in protest against the use of foreign workers, where demonstrators were seen brandishing placards reading, “British jobs for British workers” – a

“Gordon Brown is a leader. I’m not being critical of anybody else, but which other world leader is as economically literate as Gordon Brown? Hopefully Obama gets there...“

phrase coined by Brown himself at the 2007 Labour conference. Has the government’s obsession with Britishness served to fuel xenophobia?

Murphy looks uncomfortable. “I don’t think so,” he says, “but then everyone has their own view. I mean you’ll have your view, but I mean my view is probably not…” He takes a deep breath. “I don’t know who’s against British jobs for British workers. You want British workers to get jobs.”

It can be taken to imply no British jobs for non-British workers, I reply.

“Yeah, okay,” says Murphy, engrossed in thought. “I guess the way I would argue it would be: British workers for British jobs. We’re not training enough people for a low-carbon economy; there aren’t enough people coming out of the factories and into green-collar jobs. So if we don’t get our act together—you can have all the technology and all the political will—but unless you get British workers for British jobs in things like this, we’re going to get left behind.”

As unemployment rises, politicians will likely come under more fire than ever for being out of touch – but Murphy should escape relatively lightly, after his tough early life. “I had a proud, good, but poor upbringing in a housing scheme in Glasgow,” he says, “where four generations of my family lived in the same two-bedroom flat. Then we emigrated to South Africa, and I saw a very different kind of poverty, in the vile racism of South Africa during apartheid. Kind of gives you a wee sense of right and wrong, a decent grounding.” That stood Murphy

in good stead as his political career got underway after his return to Britain: elected to parliament in 1997 after a spell as NUS president, he moved swiftly up the Labour ranks, attracting notice as minister for Europe during the wrangling over the Lisbon Treaty.

His promotion to Scottish secretary last October marked Murphy’s entry to the top tier of government – but many consider the role to have been emasculated after the transfer of many of its responsibilities to the Scottish executive in 1999. Is the job still as important as it was when Donald Dewar held it?

“I think it is,” says Murphy, “particularly at this time. Scotland needs a full-time voice around the cabinet table, and at the National Economic Council.

It would be peculiar if it didn’t.” But it didn’t, I point out, for more than a year before Murphy’s appointment, while Des Browne juggled the job with his responsibilities as defence secretary. Was that a mistake?

“Yes,” says Murphy bluntly. “He did it well. He did two jobs as well as any human being could do. But it wasn’t doable. I think it was wrong, it was a mistake, and we’re back to where it should be.” This unusually candid admission of an error of judgment on the prime minister’s part comes at a time when many are questioning his fitness to lead the country; one rumour has it that Brown may be considering taking up a job as a global financial regulator. Does Murphy think he’d be well qualified for that line of work?

“No, because he’s got a job.” Murphy

fixes me with an unblinking stare as a clock ticks noisily by his side. “Gordon Brown is a leader. I’m not being critical of anybody else, but which other world leader is as economically literate as Gordon Brown? Angela Merkel, Nicolas Sarkozy…hopefully Obama gets there— Obama’s a phenomenal, an amazing individual—but he doesn’t yet have the economic experience of Gordon Brown.

There just isn’t another world leader with that economic wherewithal.”

This argument seems to have been all but lost on the British public, whose estimation of the prime minister seems to be falling in all but direct correlation with the nation’s economic fortunes.

Murphy is a pillar of empathy. “People are rightly angry, anxious and frightened,” he says. “Because no-one’s lived through this before, there’s a great uncertainty. And understandably that affects the public’s mood. We’re the government, and it would be implausible to suggest a governing party could buck that trend.

“And politics gets harder the longer you’re in power. The Labour party has never been in power for two full terms in its history – and now we’re trying to get a fourth! In 1987 we’d have pinched ourselves at the idea of doing one.” During Murphy’s eleven years in parliament, his party’s most sustained period of electoral success has coincided with a rapid, constant upward trajectory in his personal career. If the polls are any guide, both are set for a tumble come next summer’s likely general election – but Murphy seems more than tough enough to take it.

20 Arts & Entertainment

The Journal Wednesday 25 March 2009

Art

Theatre

ARTIST ROOMS

Kyoto





Too much to cover in half an hour

Too much repetition, not enough interrogation

NATIONAL GALLERY OF MODERN ART UNTIL 8 NOV Richard Hanrahan

richard.hanrahan@journal-online.co.uk

Music

Jackmaster

 Wonky beats from a mixing master help define an emerging Glasgow genre

SNEAKY PETE'S 20 MARCH Joel Sharples

joel.sharples@journal-online.co.uk

THE EXHIBITION’S CONCEPT is that a new collection of internationally renowned artists—Alex Katz, Andy Warhol, Francesca Woodman, Ellen Gallagher, Vija Celmins and Damien Hirst—are exhibited within their own room, to be comprehended independently. The display approach is simple, providing a bite-size retrospective, a crib-sheet to major artists. But there just isn’t enough. For example, Warhol’s room has a collection of his Stitched Photographs – prints of the same image woven together, with thread hanging as testament to the artist’s touch. The series nicely plays homeliness against our preconceived knowledge of Warhol, as mighty critic of pop culture and celebrity. But then you leave the room and there’s nothing more.

The problem is all the more acute in the rooms of lesser known artists – Ellen Gallagher’s space has only three pieces: two large paintings, both covered with inexplicable silver lips and DeLuxe, a grid of collaged magazine images of black women, a conception STILL JUST 23 years old, Jackmaster is at the forefront of an exciting new scene emerging from Glasgow.

Through his two labels, Dress 2 $weat and Wireblock, and regular club night, Numbers, the prodigious DJ has been responsible for bringing a wide variety of forward-thinking, bass-heavy music into the public consciousness.

One such genre that Jackmaster has been particularly instrumental in promoting is the glitched up skewed hip-hop dubstep hybrid commonly known as ‘Wonky’ - best purveyed by fellow Glaswegians Rustie and Hudson Mohawke. It may be something of an acquired taste, with the intentionally asymmetric beats, implied by the name, hardly being conducive to dancing, but Jackmaster does just enough to hold a packed out Sneaky Pete’s in his palm for the full duration of his two hour set.

His impeccable technical skills allow him to mix in dubstep, hip-hop, bassline, bmore, electro bangers and pretty much anything else he wants, always keeping it fun and fresh with Dizzee Rascal acappellas and more well known recent tunes such as ‘Sound of Kuduro’ by Buraka Som Sistema and Surkin’s ‘White Knight Two’ amongst the more obscure bassline and wonky beats.

Jackmaster persistently teases the more knowing elements of the crowd with snippets of recent Dress 2 $weat releases, including ‘All Skate’ by Moves and ‘Giggle Riddim’ by Piddy Py, before finally dropping the full tracks to everyone’s delight. While the wide variety of the music in less capable hands could have alienated the crowd, Jackmaster’s skill in mixing different genres and his welljudged progressions mean that the dancefloor is hanging on his every tune until 3 am.

that denies their identity. Once again, that’s it – though this time, the less informed experience becomes unintentionally alienating.

Contrastingly, Damien Hirst takes up an inordinate amount of space.

Some of it is brilliant – Away From The Flock is worth seeing, and his selfportrait With Dead Head highlights Hirst’s morbid fascination superbly.

But then there’s a Spot Painting, a Spun, a Butterfly one, each supposedly conflicting life and death, and pieces from Pharmacy which show he’s replaced God with the modern myths of science – man overcoming death through pharmaceuticals. We get it. Don’t labour the point. There needs to be more balance – there’s too much repetition, needless padding and not enough interrogation. This is somewhat unfair – after all, it is not a retrospective and as such cannot hope to enjoy the same freedom and exploration. What’s more, it’s a free exhibition with some major names. However, ARTIST ROOMS lacks enough substance to justify the long trek.

TRAVERSE THEATRE 17 - 21 MARCH Richard Dennis

richard.dennis@journal-online.co.uk

WHAT’S WRONG WITH the world today? The polar icecaps are melting, the UN is an ineffective bureaucracy and a couple find out that ten years of repressed sexual desire end not with a bang but with a sort of “nmph” sound.

It’s a broad scope for David Greig’s thirty minute play Kyoto to cover, especially when the action takes place in a barely lit hotel bedroom between probable civil servant Dan (Matthew Pidgeon) and polar researcher Lucy (Vicki Liddelle). The pair are outwardly opposed politically but discover they have had a shared attraction since the Kyoto conference ten years ago, along the way making disparaging comments on former Soviet countries, prophesying the end of the world and comparing hotel beds to UN corruption.

At times this smudge of elements that are rammed and canned into thirty minutes come out shining. The relationship and sexual awkwardness between Dan and Lucy feels genuine— due in large part to the strength of the performances—and for the majority the writing steers clear of cheesy or saccharine language. Indeed, it is the wit and humour of the script that keeps the play buoyant during its more awkward moments.

Comments on global warming and symbols of capitalism versus thrift aim to provide some kind of easily absorbed backstory to the characters, but feel forced and tacked on. Still, without discussion of the issue the play would rapidly disolve into an unmemorable story of a couple who never quite get it together – no doubt something that Greig struggled with.

The play is part of the Traverse Theatre’s series of lunchtime plays in a joint venture with A Play, A Pie and A Pint which has had success at Glasgow’s Oran Mar. It is an intriguing idea, if only for the promise of a pie and a pint. In this case, Kyoto is the perfect thirty minute filler between the two.

Music

Tunng with Tinariwen

 Bold transcultural experiment wins with transparent performance

PICTURE HOUSE 21 MARCH Dan Moss

dan.moss@journal-online.co.uk

LONDON FOLK ACT Tunng look a bit odd dressed in elaborate face-covering Malian shawls, with decorative headdresses and playing an assortment of unusual tribalistic instruments. That’s because we’re not watching Tunng at all, but the “three Touareg gentlemen” comprising Tinariwen, who have ventured on stage to play a selection of their original compositions before the familiar faces of “folktronica”, as its come to be known, jump in to ably assist.

“I don’t know what you all thought this was going to be,” confesses Tunng’s singer, Mike Lindsay, “But this is it.” He introduces their new nomadic acquaintances as Abdalla and Eyadou, the principal vocalists and guitarists, and finally Said, percussion specialist. Their songs are electrifying; in his haunting vocal refrains, Abdalla marries the reinforcing repetitive despair of blues with the sublime Islamic trilling we might associate with the call to prayer.

Tunng’s occidental contribution is enjoyably restrained – they resist any impulse to dramatically alter the desert dwellers’ sound with lavish digital effects, but sparingly offer insightful English translations of Tinriwen’s choruses and add depth to their rhythm

section. The robed trio are fairly conspicuous by their absence in certain Tunng renditions, although they most memorably converge to perform a brilliant version of their song ‘King’. But even when they aren’t playing, Tinariwen are dancing and clapping to a receptive and forgiving crowd.

Tunng’s female vocalist Becky Jacobs shares this occasion with her birthday and after requesting a glass of red wine from well-wishers in the crowd, says: “I hope you’re all enjoying this experiment”.

We are, and she’s hit the nail on the head as to why. Despite the fairly grand size of the venue and sizeable audience, these two bands succeed in making this feel like an intimate performance, verging even on rehearsal. This comes across particularly in their triumphant collaboration on Tunng’s biggest release to date, ‘Bullets’, where the British vocalists and Tinariwen’s Said alternately sing the chorus in their respective languages.

It’s brilliant, bold, and a little unpolished. Lindsay apologises for “a bit of a technical slip up” early on in the set when a processed drum loop collides nastily with Tinariwen’s more manual percussive beat, but it’s this blend of transparency and musical innovation that make the evening a real success.

Arts & Entertainment 21

The Journal Wednesday 25 March 2009

Interview

Tunng with Tinariwen

BRITISH FOLKSTERS TUNNG TALK CLASHING CULTURES

Dan Moss

dan.moss@journal-online.co.uk

Art

Come [Perform]

 Tirelessly experimental club event

NATIONAL GALLERY OF MODERN ART UNTIL 8 NOV Rachael Cloughton

rachel.cloughton@journal-online.co.uk

WALKING PAST THE Picture House stage to pick the brains of Tunng’s hirsute frontman, Mike Lindsay, I’m staggered by the extraordinary range of musical gear strewn about. Among other paraphernalia, my curiosity is engaged by huge multicoloured woodwind instruments stood upright, transparent percussive domes borrowed from the realms of science fiction and tied-up bundles of straw that the more interior-conscious buy at IKEA. I ask Lindsay whether it’s perhaps this penchant for the fantastic and unlikely that prompted Tunng to collaborate with North African nomadic bluesmen, Tinariwen: “We’ve just been fans for ages, seen them at festivals. I was a member of the audience when they were on the Jools Holland Show and they blew everyone away. The Late Junction on Radio 3 asked us who we’d like to work with and it’s turned into this.”

In some ways the whole project is characteristic of the resourceful Soho-based collective who have, along with the likes of Fourtet, taken folk in unprecedented and exciting directions in recent years with their distinctive under-produced digital sampling.

Their most recent release, 2007’s Good Arrows, represents the climax of these progressions, finally bringing Tunng to deserved and widespread acclaim.

Such an intrepid experiment has not been without its challenges, though, as Lindsay reflects on a “crazy week” after taking a swig of coke: “A lot of it’s original but a lot of it’s not. We’ll try and fuse one of our tracks with one of theirs. There’s a couple of new tunes, but rehearsals have been difficult because of the language barrier.”

With the exception of their manager, none of Tinariwen’s number can speak English to any degree of discursive helpfulness; while of Tunng’s members, only vocalist Becky Jacobs can speak Tinariwen’s native French.

The unique nature of the exercise has clearly instigated a process of understanding and compromise between the laidback folk collective and the politically motivated refugees. “You know, we come from completely opposite schools of music and culture and things,” says Lindsay.

“They sit around a campfire, just jam on a groove and the guy who writes it will be the lead singer and the rest respond to that. Whereas we’re more used to spending time making tunes in the studio, then learning how to play them.”

But discovering commonality in their musical interpretation has been an enriching experience for both groups. “We are similar; I mean there are lots of similarities. There’s a lot of unison vocals, and call and response stuff, which we do anyway.”

Since they’ve hit it off so well, fans of both groups will be wondering if any recorded material could be on the way.

“Yeah, yeah,” Lindsay assents enthusiastically. “I don’t know when, but it would be great, playing festivals and what have you. But they’re a busy band as well, you know, so we’ll have to see.

We’ve been getting on really well with the three guys and we’re into it and up for it.”

The two bands had a whirlwind five days to generate enough content to sustain their UK tour and so, since their journey began, Lindsay describes an onstage performance that has “evolved massively. We’re getting

SIXTH IN A line of zany spectacle and improvised presentation, Come [Perform] provides its cult following with the fundamental agenda of art school mayhem and underground cool that underpins every one of their events. For Come’s cameo at the Bongo Club these consistent premises revolve around the axis of performance art and its namesake is as much an invitation to perform as it is to attend. The atmosphere is loaded with artistic energy, emanating from the group’s founders, Callum Monteith and Steven Morrison, who take centre stage on the decks and trickling through their make-shift plastic dance floor installation, to the face-painted, boiler-suit clad audience.

Whether it is through smashing a giant piñata or sophisticated finger-painting inspired by the heavy reverberations of the music accompanying it, the passive spectator fluidly morphs into the protagonist of proceedings. A sense of expectation, verging on apprehension as to whether the person adjacent to you will suddenly spark into an expressionistic feat of artistic performance commits the viewer to concentration, whilst the numerous disjointed video projections

drive them to distraction.

These jarring artistic elements are held together by the blaring music, pausing at intervals to emphasise fragments of narrative and momentarily exchanging the more familiar electro for Walt Disney to suit the images on screen. Its absolutely experimental nature demands that the outcome of proceedings cannot be known in advance; and this deliberate uncertainty is what shapes the events, transforming what could be perceived as simply a raucous club scene to the elite artistic category of the avant-garde - fortunately lacking the alienating white-cube space and inaccessible spiel.

Morrison describes his events as a challenge to the “stale and static” environment of the gallery. Rather than being isolated in silent contemplation, people scramble on the floor to get the sticky humbugs fallen from the piñata and admire their newly whitened teeth in the UV light. Events like Come [Perform] challenge and question every element of artistic practice and Monteith and Morrison’s ‘anything goes’ attitude to artistic experimentation is what makes them the edgiest element of Edinburgh’s art scene.

better and better basically.” So for the ultimate trans-cultural experience, would it be worth catching them in Birmingham at the conclusion of their seminal collaboration rather than at the beginning? Lindsay smiles. “Maybe the middle gig, where everyone’s like, ‘Wow this is great!’ The first gig, we enjoyed it but there were moments that hadn’t been rehearsed and ironed out.

We were just having fun on stage.”

It’s five hours before I get to

Theatre

Thriller Live

 Energetic dancers, a fantastic band and gifted lead vocalists create a vivacious and enthralling show

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REVIEWS

ON THE WEB

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TRAVERSE THEATRE 17 - 21 MARCH Richard Dennis

richard.dennis@journal-online.co.uk

witness the live manifestation of this musical experiment, and the tangible excitement of the shaggy-bearded songwriter has successfully whet my appetite. I recall a useful GCSE English quote attributed to Samuel Johnson, on the poetry of John Donne: “The most heterogeneous ideas are yoked by violence together.” In Tunng’s case, they seem able to unite musicians from the far reaches of the globe over a cuppa and a chat.

MICHAEL JACKSON, ONE of the music industry’s most enigmatic and mysterious figures, has led a life in the public eye and a career spanning over 40 years.

Thriller Live sees performance company Flying Music teamed with a group of young dancers and four lead vocalists to commemorate and document some of his greatest and most successful hits.

The show’s opening is not as fast, upbeat and energetic as might be expected, instead kicking off with the slower ballad, ‘Music and Me.’ 10 year-old MJ Mytton-Sanneh is stunning with his lead vocal solo; not only is his delivery secure and projected but his confidence and ability emanate from the stage to the crowd, leaving them enchanted in his performance. There are some noticeable slips in slower numbers such as ‘Ben’, but nevertheless this is still a stunning performance from such a young soloist.

Deserving particular mention is soloist Hayley Evetts, whose rendition of ‘Blame it on the Boogie’ has the entire audience dancing and singing along. With ease she reproduces Jackson’s famous vocals and intonates perfectly in every song. Another asset is soloist Peter Murphy, whose velvet and husky vocals present the familiar music in a new light. With vibrant and flamboyant costumes, invigorating choreography and faultless vocals from the four lead soloists, ‘Can You Feel It’ brings the first half to a resounding finish.

Central to the success of this production are the dancers, whose challenging routines, breathtaking stamina and obvious talent keep the audience enraptured throughout. The choreography is very cleverly thought through, mirroring Jackson’s evolution from the eras of swing and disco through to dance and pop. Unfortunately there is a rather irksome sing-through of ‘Heal the World’, but the production soon rights itself with three fabulously energetic and upbeat performances of ‘Billie Jean’, ‘Thriller’ and ‘Bad’ to close the show.

Perhaps the most intriguing thing about Thriller Live is its appeal to all ages.

With its energetic dancers, fantastic band and gifted lead vocalists, Thriller Live is a highly entertaining, vivacious and enthralling show.

22 Sport

The Journal Wednesday 25 March 2009

Edinburgh ladies advance to BUCS semis HOCKEY

AMADEUS FINLAY

EDINBURGH 1

1

WESTERN A

0

Amadeus Finlay amadeus.finlay@journal-online.co.uk IN THEIR SECOND match in as many days, Edinburgh University ladies 1st XI hockey booked a place in the BUCS semi-finals against Milne Craig Western A. In an uneventful game in which only a single goal was scored, it was the home side who progressed to the semis.

After a pressing attack from the flanks, Sue Davidson cut through the home defence to set Siobhan Prise in on goal for the only score of the match.

Edinburgh maintained the pressure on the away side, but were unable to turn chances into goals. Western also had a few good spells in the first period with several shots narrowly going wide, however it was Edinburgh who finished the half well with a strong shot from close range in the closing stages.

The second half began quietly with a midfield battle ensuing for twenty minutes, and the game closed in a thrilling fashion as both teams fought to find the back of the net.

Edinburgh, desperate to put light between them and the visitors, furiously attacked the opposition’s defence, but Western held strong. The visitors also had some dominant periods and Edinburgh’s defence, being put under pressure, gave away some penalties close to the goal.

These disappointing periods did not deter either side and the game ended with Edinburgh laying siege to the Milne Craig goal.

Edinburgh midfielder Ashleigh Corry commented: “We feel like we attacked well in the game, but sat back during some periods when we could have gone forward.

“The single goal situation has been a problem for us at times since we occasionally let a good lead slip after early scores.”

She continued: “We are very pleased with today’s result and, after playing yesterday as well, we feel the girls did a terrific job.’

The team have a well-deserved twogame Easter break to look forward to before the semi finals next month.

Edinburgh's ladies celebrate their progress in the BUCS championships

Runners turn out in numbers for Meadows marathon NIEL HODGINS

Natasha Heald natasha.heald@journal-online.co.uk SUNDAY 15 MARCH saw runners from far and wide congregate at Bristo square for the third annual Meadows marathon.

Some 730 participants, including students, local residents, charity workers and club runners, took part in the thirteen mile fundraiser, which began at Bristo Square and comprised a total of seven laps around the meadows, before returning to its starting point at the end.

Race winner Gareth Mayze crossed the finish line in an impressive 1 hour and 16 minutes, whilst 22-year-old student Tom Clough, running on behalf of the British Heart Foundation came up trumps in the five kilometre race which was also held on the day.

The half-marathon was characteristically coloured by a number of inventive costumes, including salmon, Smurfs, giraffes and condoms. However, the title of best costume was awarded to a trio of runners from the charity Scottish Love in Action (SLA), who combined to form an elaborately designed Loch Ness Monster.

Meadows Marathon founder Paul Hewitt crosses the finish line

As well as contributing to the festivities with a sophisticated form of fancy dress, SLA, who were raising money for children’s orphanages in India, were singled out for recruiting a total of 70 runners, 30 of whom headed north from Durham University.

Although the official figures are yet to be confirmed, the Meadows marathon committee are confident that the event will have surpassed the £30,000 raised last year.

Gillie Davidson, chairperson and founder of SLA charity said of the event: “SLA chooses to have so many runners in the Meadows marathon as I really believe in the power of students,” she said.

“I love the enthusiasm and energy that the committee has; young people are so willing to make the effort and go the extra mile. They never take no for an answer and this event proves that you really can achieve so much awareness of charity.”

Ms Davidson added: “I have thoroughly enjoyed the day; I have had so much fun and cannot praise the organisers enough for their efforts.”

Sport 23

The Journal Wednesday 25 March 2009

SPORT

SHORTS SNIPPETS OF SPORTS NEWS AND EVENTS FROM THE LAST FORTNIGHT WIN TAKES CAPITALS TO WITHIN A POINT OF PLAY-OFFS

A passage from India Graham Mackay

Deputy Editor

graham@journal-online.co.uk

C

RICKET’S MOST LUCRATIVE and star-studded club tournament, the Indian Premier League, is set to look significantly less Indian this year, and no, I’m not just talking about the players.

In what will be only its second season, the competition’s multi-national element will be taken to a whole new level as it has been decided that the tournament will not be held in India this summer, due to the country’s upcoming general election.

Although some might quite rightfully argue that this decision somewhat undermines the nation that puts the letter ‘I’ in ‘IPL’, there is little doubt that, in light of recent events, including a terrorist attack carried out on the Sri Lankan national team in Pakistan, not hosting the competition in India during a time of potential civil unrest can only be a good idea. Of the potential replacements, England, South Africa and Dubai have emerged as prospective host nations for the tournament which begins on 10 April; however, a decision is yet to be reached.

With three entirely different countries having been touted as possible venues for the 2009 IPL season, various issues are clearly at stake. I therefore invite you

to join me in a neutral analysis of the merits of these respective countries.

Let us begin with South Africa, a country where cricket is practically a religion. There is no doubting the enthusiasm for the sport from east to west, and the nation has clearly had a tremendous impact on cricket over the decades, producing a number of today’s finest players, including Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis and, lest we forget, Kevin Petersen.

However, I can’t imagine that I’m the only one who has noticed a fundamental flaw in the logic behind suggesting that the tournament be held in South Africa.

Wasn’t the point of not staging the IPL in India that politics and sport shouldn’t be mixed? We are talking here about a nation where government affairs have become so obsessively engrained in all areas of life that even the sports teams have a race quota, the mere existence of which reflects the fact that South Africa is at least as, if not far more, politically unstable than India.

Moreover, this is the same country that nearly lost out on the 2010 Football World Cup due to the nation’s horrendous crime statistics. If “fears of security” are indeed the principal issues that lie behind the decision not to stage the tournament in India, why it should be relocated to a country which boasts one of the highest rates of murder, kidnapping, political violence and armed robbery in the world is a mystery to me.

Then there is Dubai, a country where

it seems anything is possible due to the mind-blowing amounts of money being splashed left, right and centre by Sheiks and oil barons whose most complicated daily decisions revolve around inventing new ways of spending their billions.

However, despite the fact that the Emirates state has invested as heavily in sports development as it has in anything else, the impetus seems to have been on quality rather than quantity. Coupled with this is the fact that Dubai is merely a state which consists of little more than sand dunes outside of its comparatively small urban metropolis; thus the Indian cricket board’s insistence that “each team will have a home city and stadium” would need to be drastically rethought.

Then again, I’m sure if space is an issue, Crown Prince Al Maktoum could probably ring up his mates at Man City and ask if a couple of matches could be played in the Middle Eastlands. So that leaves us with England, that benevolent grandfather that brought cricket to the colonies back in the mid-nineteenth century; surely an appropriate choice with its plethora of world-class cricket grounds and deep-rooted love of the sport.

Ironically, however, England’s status as the birthplace of the gentleman’s game could turn out to be what prevents it from playing host to the homeless tournament, as just like pilgrims to the Holy Land, cricket lovers descend upon The Oval, Lords and Edgbaston as the three lions embark on their

annual summer attempt to give Johnny Foreigner a darn good licking. Indeed, such is England’s status as a cricketing haven that in addition to the three tests and five one-day internationals that the national team will be playing against the West Indies throughout April and May, the country will also be hosting the ICC World Twenty20 series beginning on 1 June.

What’s more, I feel that in suggesting England as a prospective host nation, the BCCI has ignored what could prove to be a far greater issue of concern: the fact that the Barmy Army, England’s hard-drinking band of loyal and devoted supporters, will have got so pissed during the Windies tour that they’ll have forgotten that the IPL was actually taking place in their own country, and no-one will show up to watch the matches.

I suppose at the end of the day the important thing is that the show must go on. Regardless of where the IPL eventually takes place, Nations and their politics will continue to throw repeated spanners into the works of global affairs, occasionally impacting on the world of sport.

I’m just glad to see that rather than abandoning the series altogether, the appropriate bodies are coming together to seek out alternatives that will insure that as many people as possible get their much-needed summertime fix of leather and willow as possible.

Cancel the tournament? Come on.

That’s just not cricket.

Napier rout St Andrews to claim BUCS 3A championship FOOTBALL

Mark Hurtubise fired the Edinburgh Capitals into genuine contention for an ice-hockey play-off slot, scoring twice as his side came from behind to beat Newcastle Vipers.

The win means that Edinburgh only require a single point from their upcoming two matched against Manchester Phoenix or Hull Stingrays.

Club director Tom Christiansen stated that the next two games are crucial for the Capitals, but claimed that both would be tough encounters: “We have a threepoint cushion over Hull and we only need a point – and we'll be going for it.

"Manchester are a very good team. They've got the better of us this season and they are really hard to play. We'll have to be at our best and be really focussed if we want to take the points.”

FETTES WIN SCOTTISH SCHOOLS RUGBY CUP Fettes College came from behind to secure victory over StuartsMelville in the Bell Lawrie Under-18 Scottish schools cup at Murrayfield.

In front of a crowd of over 5,000, Fettes came from behind, scoring an impressive six tries to three.

Although Stu-Mel took the lead, Fettes fought hard to bring themselves back into contention, with stand-off Kit Gammel playing particularly well, scoring Fettes’ first try and notching up a personal total of 19 points.

Despite surging ahead as the match progressed, Fettes’ lead was considerably reduced by a resilient performance from StuMel, but it was the Inverlieth side who came out on top, with winger Chris Griffin touching down to wrap up the game for Fettes.

LOTHIAN’S WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALLERS LOOK TO MAKE AN IMPACT

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Mark Pryde mark.pryde@journal-online.co.uk Napier’s 1st XI clinched the BUCS 3A championship in emphatic style by easing past title rivals St Andrews 7-0 at Saughton sports complex on Wednesday 18 March.

Ahead of the game, St Andrew’s needed four points from their final two games to snatch the league from leaders Napier, who only required a win to seal the title.

Despite their superior position in the league, Napier took nothing for

granted, using their superior strength and aggression to storm seven goals past their opponents in a superb team performance.

Powerful striker Chris Crookes was first to start the rout, firing Napier ahead after just two minutes. Finding himself in the box with no marker, Crookes managed to latch onto a cross before drilling the ball past ‘keeper Donal Gorman.

Napier soon grabbed another courtesy of Craig Magee’s clever positioning.

The midfielder was in the perfect spot to pick up the rebound after Gorman parried a powerful Chris McIntyre shot and he made no mistake, slamming the ball into the back of the net to double Napier’s lead.

The St Andrews players had clearly not been expecting such an early onslaught, and soon found themselves screaming at each other to tighten up.

However, this seemed to do them more wrong than good, and their classy

opponents were quick to exploit the lack of pace and power in the St. Andrews defence.

On 40 minutes, Napier winger Chris McIntyre managed to find space on the right before sending a high ball into his fellow winger Vito Volta who was lurking in the box. Despite being the smallest man on the pitch Volta managed to jump and loop a header over a stunned Gorman.

Napier had just enough time to score another before half time, this time thanks to defender John Stewart. The strong centre-half shook off his marker and rose above everyone else to head in Napier’s forth of the afternoon.

Despite early efforts from the visitors after the restart, a well-organised Napier defence prevented St Andrews from making any sort of threat, and St Andrews only looked like they were destined to fall even further behind.

It was not long before Napier grabbed their fifth goal, putting the

result, and the title, beyond question.

This time it was dead-ball specialist, Chris McIntyre, who stepped up confidently to a free-kick from 25 yards out, curling it over the poorly constructed wall and into the net.

The away side were now totally demoralised, and Napier looked to seek advantage, with two players in particular beginning to rule this now lifeless game. Orin Parkinson dictated the flow of the game from midfield, while Gavin Malin’s constant drives from deep had the shaky St Andrews defence in a fluster.

It was no surprise then that on 85 minutes the two combined to score a fantastic goal. A typically bullish Parkinson managed to hold off two defenders before threading a great throughball to Malin who just beat the offside trap. One-on-One with Gorman, Malin skilfully rounded the ‘keeper before calmly slotting the ball between the posts.

A recent convert to the sport, Edinburgh's Stephen Ross is aiming to help Lothian Phoenix gain promotion to the Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball Association's Division 1 (North) for the first time.

The Lothian side are in contention to progress to the top division, but will need to overcome tough opposition in the form of Liverpool Vikings and Celtic Warriors in order to achieve promotion.

Ross, who scored 17 points to contribute to Manchester Mavericks' 51-28 downfall in their last match, has been selected for the GB junior team and fast tracked

by Scottish Disability Sport into the East of Scotland Institute of Sport (ESIS) as the area institute network's first wheelchair basketballer.

24 Sport

The Journal Wednesday 25 March 2009

Sport Edinburgh's 2nds glide to victory over Strathclyde HOCKEY

CARLOS MARTÍNEZ

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Lewis Mallen lewis.mallen@journal-online.co.uk EDINBURGH’S HOCKEY 2NDS won comfortably against Strathclyde’s first team with Joe Gray scoring twice to separate the teams in a high-tempo match.

The home side began the game well with only acrobatics from the visiting keeper denying them the lead. However, Strathclyde’s first shot came on 13 minutes and was only marginally deflected past the post. The shot seemed to galvanise Edinburgh into action and the home side again seized the initiative, James Styles being amongst those who came agonizingly close to scoring.

Against the run of play, Strathclyde took the lead on the stroke of half-time.

While the home defence had repelled two strong shots from penalty corners, it proved to be third time lucky for the visitors, with the ball being coolly lifted over the out-rushing keeper Sam Trett to take the lead.

The quality and determination of the ‘Burgh side shone through at the beginning of the second half as they brought the game back on level terms just a minute after the restart.

Edinburgh’s pace proved too much for the visitors, with Styles and Luke Conlon combining well to create a scoring chance. Despite Conlon’s effort being saved, Chris Nicholls tapped the ball in from two yards from the deflected save.

Edinburgh continued to take the

game to the visitors and went ahead courtesy of Gray’s first goal of the match. From a penalty corner, the Edinburgh man powered the ball up and over the keeper 15 minutes into the second half.

The home side appeared to take its foot off the gas after going ahead, with only Trett’s quick thinking and a fine double save maintaining the slender lead. Slack ‘Burgh defence was finally punished during a goalmouth scramble which saw Strathclyde regain parity with a shot from five yards, blowing the game wide open.

Edinburgh immediately struck back, with Gray again adding to the goal tally. The Peffermill side were awarded a penalty due to the visitors illegally obstructing a goal-bound shot with a little over 10 minutes of the game remaining. Confident after his last strike at goal, Gray stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way with a calm, well-placed shot.

Strathclyde now appeared a dejected side, with the home side putting them under constant pressure. Edinburgh captain Styles scored almost simultaneously with the umpire blowing for a Strathclyde infringement, seeing the goal disallowed to the annoyance of the home support.

With only a minute left on the clock, the visitors found themselves a man down due to dissent, allowing Edinburgh to cap off an impressive overall display with a final goal. Fittingly, Styles was the scorer with the forward latching onto a long ball with the slightest of touches which left the visiting keeper red-faced as the ball ran into the back of the net between his legs.

With a final score of 4-2, Edinburgh will be happy with their competent display of attacking hockey and another SUSA victory.

Edinburgh's swimmers and water polo players make waves at BUCS championships Craig Meek craig.meek@journal-online.co.uk EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY SWIMMING and water polo club have rounded off a highly successful season at the BUCS team finals in Sheffield. The university’s swimmers, meanwhile, powered their way to a silver medal, whilst the men’s water polo team fought hard but ended up just outside a medal position in 4th place.

The polo players kicked off the final stage of their long campaign against Bristol, narrowly going down 4-6 in a gritty match. Edinburgh started well, diligently moving to 4-2 up at one stage,

before Bristol battled back, eventually winning the match.

But the team got over the disappointment of this loss quickly, and turned out the next day ready to face favourites Manchester, who had demolished Cardiff 20-4 in their first match.

Despite another strong start, the Edinburgh attacking plays again buckled, giving Manchester a number of counter-attacking advantages, which they almost always converted. Despite losing 12-4, the Edinburgh defence had put in a solid performance ahead of their final clash with Cardiff.

In a thrilling match, Edinburgh found themselves 3-0 down after five minutes but after taking a timeout to

rally, the offensive plays finally came together and broke back into the game to bring the score level by half time.

In an agonisingly close second half, Cardiff repeatedly went one ahead, only for their lead to be cancelled out by a resilient Edinburgh performance.

In the dying moments, captain James Scobie narrowly missed a scoring chance in the last second of the game, a chance which would have guaranteed Edinburgh a medal had it gone in. However, the game ended deadlocked at 9-9, which was not enough for the Scots.

In the swimming competition, Edinburgh hit the ground running, immediately establishing their presence as serious contenders. The team quickly

swam into 2nd place and opening up a gap between themselves and Manchester in 3rd.

Not prepared to settle for silver, the race was soon on for gold against the swimming powerhouse of Loughborough University. Judi Kilgallon brought the challenge to their doorstep with a superb 200m freestyle win in 2:04.:0, as she came from behind to claw victory from her Loughborough rival.

Mark Jaggs also swept to victory in the 50 and 100m butterfly, while Ross Johnston, fresh from the water polo pool, swam well to notch up the points tally in the individual medley and breaststroke events.

Despite a worthy performance

from Edinburgh’s swimmers, they were unable to pip Loughborough to first place but came away with a welldeserved silver.

Club president Chris Henning said: “I am delighted at all the effort put in by everybody this weekend. It is a pity that the polo players just missed out on a medal, but their 4th placing combined with the swimmers’ 2nd is still an excellent result for the club. This is something we can only aim to build on next year”.

Members of Edinburgh’s swimming squad will continue to compete after the BUCS finals, with several of them taking part in the British trials for this year’s World Championships in Rome.