The Journal - Edinburgh Issue 66

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16.11.2012

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PUBLICATION OF THE YEAR 2012 » Scottish Student Journalism Awards • PUBLICATION OF THE YEAR 2012 » NUS Scotland Awards

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EDINBURGH’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER

ISSUE LXVI

WEDNESDAY 23 JANUARY 2013

THE ANATOMY OF AUTONOMY

IN NEWS / 5 EUSA to campaign for removal of Princess Anne as Uni Chancellor ‘Policy against privilege’ sees union reject the appointment of the Princess Royal

IN ARTS / 21

The nature of nationhood • In our new series, The Journal explores in depth the issues and implications of the debate over Scottish independence • Today, we examine the nature of Scottish identity, and a leading academic discusses the future of higher education

From Death to Death and Other Small Tales The Journal casts an eye over the disturbing yet intriguing exhibition

IN FEATURES /

14-15

IN ARTS / 24 National Theatre Live Broadcasts prove a clever effort to make theatre more accessible

ALSO IN NEWS / 3-11

Scots Uni Champs report • Napier Knights eye varsity win • Lance Armstrong - what now?

• Paul the Octopus’ new column

IN SPORT /

27-31

Can you HEAR us?

New academic achievement record ignites furious debate amid threats of a formal boycott at EUSA

IN NEWS

3

• Prof Andrea Nolan appointed Napier principal • In-work poverty hits Scots • NUS election candidates beginning to emerge • EUSA sabb races underway • Polar bear protesters arrested at petrol station

Project8_Layout 1 07/01/2013 16:48 Page 1

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The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013 IN FEATURES / 12 Britain’s place in Europe At a time of conservative calls for an in-or-out referendum, where does Britain stand in the EU?

@EdJournal / journal-online.co.uk

STUDENT NEWS / 3

EUSA reps reject bid to boycott enhanced university transcripts Move to oppose new Higher Education Achievement Report defeated Rachel Barr & Callum Leslie

IN NEWS / 9 Special Report: Particle physics The Journal travels to Brussels as researchers convene to promote EU’s scientific development

IN FEATURES / 16 New Year’s disillusions What better time for Lydia Wilgress to explore the cultural phenomenon of self-reinvention?

ONLINE » Vox populi EUSA announce draft questions to be put forward in the next campus-wide referendum

Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA) Academic

Experience forum voted on Monday to reject calls by some reps for EUSA to boycott the new Higher Education Achievement Record (HEAR).

The policy would have prevented EUSA from passing on information about its members’ extracurricular activity to the university for the purposes of HEAR. The Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) is designed to provide a single comprehensive record of your achievements as a student at the University of Edinburgh. The report includes personal information, an in-depth breakdown of studies and — the issue central to EUSA debate — “additional” information on wider achievements gained during the course of study.

The debate centred around two key arguments: HEAR’s proponents contend that employers are increasingly demanding proof of achievements like elected union positions or society roles, and that the HEAR is vital to allow students to receive due credit for these achievements.

But some claim that it gives unfair weight to university based activities, ignoring volunteering and part-time jobs outside of the academic sphere, and is giving those students with the time to participate in societies an unfair advantage.

Opponents of the new record

argue that the HEAR is unnecessary, claiming that there is little evidence of employers asking for this sort of proof — or even for the current university transcript.

The motion, submitted by activist David Banks but reportedly drafted by Max Crema, vice-president services of EUSA, described the report as not “entirely unwelcome” but suffering from “significant flaws”.

Speaking after the meeting, Crema said: “I think it’s regrettable that we had the opportunity to set policy which was largely uncontroversial on the HEAR which will affect every single graduate for the next ten or twenty years...it’s now disappointing we don’t have a stance on it.”

The proposal highlighted the limited list of activities recognised, which do not include charitable work outwith the university, activism and part-time employment, as the flaws in the HEAR. This, the motion said, would favour students from “privileged backgrounds” while failing to engage with students who are harder to reach such as mature, international, postgraduate or “disadvantaged” students.

Over 100 students turned out to debate the policy, with many societies rallying members to attend and vote against the policy.

An amendment submitted by Crema offering students the chance to ‘opt in’ to the HEAR failed, while an amendment from likely EUSA presidential candidate Hugh Murdoch

David Selby

The offending document removing the sections calling for a boycott and instead calling on the union to seek a wider-ranging HEAR passed. But despite the amendment, the motion still failed amid concerns over its wording.

Murdoch expressed delight at the boycott’s failure, saying: “I’m really happy that the motion... didn’t go through. I think that it would have been really damaging to students.”

Stephen Donnelly, who spoke against the motion, was also pleased that the motion fell and that what he called the “small cabal” of students who wanted the boycott were defeated.

In an unusually heavy-handed move by EUSA’s professional staff,

society office bearers received an email from societies office staff titled ‘Your Recognition, Your Choice’, encouraging them to attend the meeting.

The debate continues the heightened tensions at EUSA ahead of the union elections later this semester, and which escalated with last week’s debate over EUSA policy towards Princess Anne’s position as chancellor of the university (see p5).

EUSA officers Andrew Burnie, vice-president academic affairs, and Max Crema are understood to have been at odds over both issues, though both Crema and Burnie downplayed these reports as policy disagreements, and not personal animosity.

NUS election candidates emerging Current vice-president leads pack to succeed Liam Burns as president

Callum Leslie Student Politics editor

With

incumbent

National

Union of Students (NUS) president Liam Burns nearing the end of his term, candidates are beginning to emerge to succeed him.

The president is elected by delegates to the NUS national conference, which are elected by the individual member unions.

Burns’ favoured candidate is current vice president (Further Education) Toni Pearce, a fellow Labour party member who is very popular among the student Labour movement.

She is also backed by other current VPs Dannie Grufferty and Rachel Wenstone, who are also Labour-affiliated, as well as NUS Scotland president Robin Parker.

Current vice president (Union Development) Vicki Baars has also launched her bid, and is backed by the far-left National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts (NCAFC) and its supporters, including Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA) president James McAsh. McAsh will also be involved in the upcoming elections, in the race to succeed Baars, a move which has garnered criticism from some within EUSA who claim it will distract him from his job as President in the coming months.

McAsh is running as part of the “united left” slate, backed by most of NCAFC’s student far-left member organisations, along with Rosie Huzzard, who is running for VP (Welfare), and former Liam Burns supporter Roshni Joshi who is running for

NUS Scotland

Liam Burns VP (Further Education).

The “united left” slate is backed by all members of NCAFC apart from the Socialist Worker Party, who have not backed but will not oppose the slate, and the controversial Student Broad Left (SBL), who have been criticised for supporting Julian Assange and other controversial individuals.

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Call our sales department on 0131 560 2830 or email ads@journal-online.co.uk The Journal is published by The Edinburgh Journal Ltd., registered address TechCube, 1 Summerhall Square, Edinburgh, EH9 1PL. Registered in Scotland number SC322146. For enquiries call 0131 560 2825 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.

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4 / ACADEMIC NEWS

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

@EdJournal / journal-online.co.uk

Glasgow academic named Napier principal Prof Andrea Nolan, currently a senior vice-principal at University of Glasgow, will take up new role in July 2013 Greg Bianchi News editor

Edinburgh Napier University

has named a new principal, following the announcement that incumbent vice-chancellor Professor Dame Joan Stringer intends to later retire this year after a decade in the role.

Professor Andrea Nolan, since 2009 the senior vice-principal and deputy vice-chancellor of the University of Glasgow, has been appointed to take up the post in July 2013.

In a statement Prof Nolan said: “I am very much looking forward to taking up my role as principal of Edinburgh Napier University.

“My delight at my new position is also tinged with a little sadness, having spent most of the last 25 years at the University of Glasgow.”

University of Glasgow principal Prof Anton Muscatelli said: “Although I am immensely sad that Andrea will be leaving Glasgow, I am also thrilled at the opportunity that her new

appointment as Principal of Edinburgh Napier University will bring for her.”

Prof. Nolan was also praised for her role in expanding ‘Glasgow 2020: A Global Vision’, an international strategy initiated by the university.

Over 30 per cent of Napier’s 17,500 students are international students.

In a statement, Napier’s governing body confirmed that Prof. Nolan was “the unanimous choice of our interview panel”.

Revd Dr Graham Forbes, chair of Napier’s University Court, called her “a worthy successor to Professor Dame Joan Stringer.”

He added: “We look forward to working with her to ensure the continued growth and success of the University.”

Student representatives at Glasgow spoke highly of Prof Nolan’s tenure.

Glasgow University Students’ Representative Council president James Harrison told The Journal: “She was great to work with. She would meet

with us regularly… and would work to ensure the SRC was listened to at meetings of senate.

“We will miss her but we’re sure she’ll do a great job at Edinburgh Napier.”

Prof Nolan, a veterinary surgeon specialising in animal pain who trained at Trinity College Dublin, became a professor of veterinary pharmacology at Glasgow in 1998.

She was later appointed dean of the faculty of veterinary medicine, before being promoted to vice-principal for learning and teaching. She is also chair of the Scottish Higher Education Enhancement Committee, part of the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.

Prof Stringer, a specialist in public administration and industrial training policy, was appointed principal of Napier in 2003, having previously served as principal of Queen Margaret University. She was made a dame in 2009 for “services to local and national higher education.”

Just keep Nolan, Nolan, Nolan

Edinburgh students launch Hopes high for uni academic coaching business stem cell research COFOS seeks to connect students with coaches, claiming that process can both improve academic performance and bolster employability Greg Bianchi News editor

A business aiming to link up stu-

dents with coaches to improve their future prospects has been launched by a group of Edinburgh students.

COFOS, an acronym for ‘Coaching for Students’, claims that their main aim is to “[connect] students with professional coaches… who can supply a one-on-one service tailored to individual student’s needs.”

COFOS claims to appeal to a wide base of students from first-year students to postgraduates looking for advice on both academic and career progression. This will involve students getting a better understanding

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of what their interests and strengths are, and working with coaches to ensure they capitalise on these strengths both while in academia and the world of work.

Kamilla Kvinge, a University of Edinburgh student and founder of COFOS, told The Journal: “The key principle is that every human being can benefit from personal development regardless of their age or stage in life.

“As students are fundamentally independent for the first period in their lives, finding the right balance and making the right daily decisions to drive them forwards in life can prove tricky.

“Everyone has personal setbacks MEN & WOMEN

that can prevent them from achieving highly. So through personal development students can learn to reach their ultimate performance, discover their true potential and have a fulfilled university experience. The main aim of COFOS is to build and provide a support base for students.”

COFOS is encouraging any students who are interested in a variety of business disciplines to take part and join a database linking them to events and speakers.

Students interested in getting involved with COFOS are encouraged to visit the website at www. cofos.org or to contact the team via email at team@cofos.org.

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Edinburgh University scientists pioneer new way to manufacture stem cells which could treat disease Eugene Brandon

Stem cells Benjamin Lebus Staff writer

Scientists at the University of

Edinburgh have made a breakthrough in the manufacturing of stem cells, according to a study published in Nature Communications, an online journal dedicated to the pursuit of scientific research.

The scientists involved have developed an innovative series of compounds that can support and aid the growth of human stem cells on a larger scale than has been possible before. Previously stem cells were grown on expensive biological surfaces and as well as being costly this method increased the risk of contamination.

Furthermore, the aforementioned process presented problems when trying to separate the cells from their surfaces.

The new compounds have transformed this ineffective method into a considerably more reliable and safe procedure. The new compounds, which are water-based gels, effectively act as a miniature scaffold on which the cells support themselves as they grow.

Once the cells have multiplied to the desired amount the gels can be cooled and the stem cells naturally drop from their scaffolding, as opposed to the mechanical process previously used to remove the cells from their biological surfaces. This new method of removing the cells significantly reduces the possibility of contamination and is far more cost efficient.

In order to find the correct compounds used in this process, the scientists at Edinburgh University had to analyse hundreds of potential compounds. They eventually narrowed their samples down to four, which can supposedly all be used in the manufacturing of stem cells.

Stem cells have been at the centre of scientific experiment and research over the past decade; they can be useful in drug screening and also in treatments for diseases such as Huntington’s or Cancer. According to Cancer Research the cancer incidence rates in Great Britain have increased by over a third since the 1970’s, and so this breakthrough in the manufacturing of stem cells has come at a crucial time.

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

STUDENT POLITICS / 5

@EdJournal / journal-online.co.uk

EUSA set to seek Princess Anne’s removal as university chancellor ‘Policy against privilege’ motion sees union reject legitimacy of princess’ appointment Rachel Barr Staff writer

Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA) has voted

to pursue the removal of Princess Anne as chancellor of the University of Edinburgh.

The controversial vote in favour of a ‘policy against privilege’ will see EUSA demand reforms to the way university chancellors are elected, stating that “all roles in the university should be filled through democratic selection processes.”

The position of chancellor is elected by the university’s general council, of which all Edinburgh graduates are members. However, critics of the appointment process say that graduates were not made fully aware of their ability to nominate other candidates.

The motion — proposed by EUSA vice president services, Max Crema — was debated at an emergency meeting of EUSA’s external council last week, ahead of an honorary graduation ceremony due to be attended by both the princess and EUSA vice president academic affairs Andrew Burnie.

Under the new policy, elected EUSA representatives are banned from attending events at which the chancel-

lor would be present, including graduation ceremonies, and must support “any and all” future protests against the princess’s continued presence in the role.

EUSA president James McAsh is also mandated to write to the princess asking her to resign to allow for a “fair and free election” to elect the university chancellor, and “spare no reasonable effort” in making these views and objectives known to the media.

Crema dubbed the policy as one drafted on principle, condemning the way the princess was appointed through an unclear and unopposed election that was not clearly publicised to students.

He said: “Graduates of the university — the body who elect the chancellor — weren’t directly notified of the opportunity to propose a new chancellor. There was a notice in The Scotsman newspaper and little else. They didn’t bother to tell any graduates that they could themselves nominate a candidate.”

The university strongly contest this however, telling The Journal: “The Chancellor was elected, not appointed to her position as Chancellor of The University of Edinburgh. The election of the Chancellor was overseen by the General Council and was conducted in accordance with regulations

Allan MacDonald

Protesters at princess’ installation in October 2011 in place at the time. The call for nominations was announced in a public notice in The Scotsman, as required by General Council regulations. This was repeated at the Half Yearly Meeting of the General Council on February 12 2011 and within Edit (the University’s alumni magazine).”

A Buckingham Palace spokesman declined to comment, saying that the policy was “entirely a matter for the student union.”

Despite its passage, the motion was the subject of much dispute among class representatives and students online, and at the meeting itself, which was attended by around 50 students. The motion received what was described as an “unprecedented” number of proposed amendments.

In addition to calling for the resig-

nation of the princess as chancellor of EUSA, one amendment expanded the motion to include a condemnation of the entire royal family, meaning that EUSA’s official policy is now to oppose the monarchy.

The chancellor’s duties are mostly ceremonial, and the princess is only the eighth chancellor since the position was created in 1859.

She is also the first woman to hold the position, elected in April 2011 to succeed her father Prince Philip, who had been chancellor since 1953. Her installation in October 2011 was met with vociferous anti-cuts protests.

A Facebook campaign to nominate Beyoncé Knowles for the role had garnered almost 600 ‘likes’ as The Journal went to press. Knowles’ management could not be reached for comment.

ANALYSIS /

GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS

Callum Leslie Student Politics editor

A lot has been said, both in the meeting and online, of the implications of the “policy against privilege” (now helpfully renamed “Policy for a Democratic Chancellor Election”). Some have said that EUSA reps will now no longer be able to go to their graduations, while others have said that the motion will not affect reps’ graduation attendance.

The truth is that it may affect whether or not a rep can go to their graduation, as the motion says that no elected EUSA representative can “take part in any ceremony or formal function which Princess Anne is present.” This does include some graduations, but not all. Whether or not a rep could go to their graduation without repercussions is very much luck of the draw.

The original motion did include a clause calling for all University positions to be elected, and some suggested this could be interpreted to include lecturers, cleaners and admin staff. However, this clause did not make the final text as passed. The motion did however include an amendment stating that “EUSA believes there should be no royal family”, meaning that EUSA now has official policy to campaign for the end of the monarchy.

Starting gun fired early on EUSA sabbatical races Politicos at Scotland’s most hyperactive students’ union are already lining up for tough campaign for full-time officer positions Callum Leslie Student Politics editor

Candidates for the Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA) sabbatical elections have begun to emerge, with the elections due to take place in March.

Though the elections are still many weeks away, the far-left Defend Edinburgh group have already selected their candidates for all four EUSA sabbatical positions at a members-only selection meeting, and other campaigns are well underway.

Though the group are banned from officially organising and advertising themselves during the election period,

they still organise and select candidates for their members to unite around.

Though these selections do not explicitly preclude those unsuccessful from standing independent of the group, or members choosing to campaign for others, members have spoken of pressure to follow the party line.

In a hotly anticipated contest, former SRC editor Mike Shaw edged out Students for Justice in Palestine leader Liam O’Hare for the presidential nomination, though O’Hare is still expected to stand with a number of more radical members of the group still backing him, and the support of the fringe far-left group the International Socialist Group (ISG). Feminist

in association with

society President Aurora Adams had been expected to seek the nomination but did not, amid rumours of internal pressure and tension.

Shaw and O’Hare will likely take on last year’s runner-up Hugh Murdoch, who many believe has a strong chance of winning the second time around, as current sabbaticals James McAsh and Andrew Burnie did.

For the other post Defend Edinburgh currently hold, vice-president (services), the group selected Jacob Bloomfield, who has stood twice previously for the position. Despite a strong second place showing in 2011 after promising to turn George Square into a roller rink, Bloomfield attracted far

fewer votes in 2012 with his promises of musical lectures, otter petting and a Kings Buildings gondola. Bloomfield was the only candidate to seek the nomination.

Charity campaigner Kirsty Haigh will also be running for the VPS position - despite previously being a member of the Defend Edinburgh group Haigh did not seek the groups nomination. Antiabortion campaigner Niall O’Coighlean is said to also be considering a bid.

Another returning candidate was selected by Defend Edinburgh for vice-president (academic affairs), with Alex Munyard winning the nomination unopposed. Munyard ran against Defend Edinburgh’s candidate last

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Scotland

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year for the same position in a strong showing as an independent, and will be hoping to also capitalise on the second attempt.

Munyard is expected to square off with Labour Student and EUSA stalwart Claire Rackley and international student campaigner Briana Adams for the position.

In the final selection Defend Edinburgh chose Nadia Medhi to run for the vice-president (societies and activities) position, with societies convener Arron Ashton and welfare campaign rep Tommer Spence said to also be considering runs, having both worked on the campaign team of current VPSA Hazel Marzetti.

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

NATIONAL POLITICS / 7

@EdJournal / journal-online.co.uk

Opposition parties back NUS campaign Union’s ‘Fund Scotland’s Future’ bid to reverse college cuts receives support from major Holyrood opposition parties Tristan Ryan

Scotland’s largest opposition

parties have declared their support for the National Union of Student’s (NUS) Scotland’s ‘Fund Scotland’s Future’ campaign to reverse planned cuts to college budgets.

The cuts will total £34.6m and the NUS is concerned that the loss in funding would increase already high youth unemployment rates and hinder wider economic recovery.

As The Journal went to press, the Scottish Liberal Democrats’ education spokesman Liam McArthur said: “SNP ministers are choosing to cut £34.6 million from the college budget at a time when youth unemployment remains too high... our colleges are pivotal to equipping people with the skills they need to get on in life, and to developing the skilled workforce needed to strengthen our economy.

“NUS Scotland’s Fund Scotland’s Future campaign is a great vehicle for existing and would-be students alike to make their voices heard.”

The Scottish Conservatives were first to announce their support in early January. Education spokeswoman, Liz Smith said: “Given the extent of youth

unemployment and the overwhelming need to stimulate jobs in the economy the Scottish Conservatives are pledging to reverse the college budget cuts.”

Early last week, Labour’s shadow education secretary, Hugh Henry, issued a statement of support.

He said: “If these cuts are allowed to stand, thousands of young Scots will have their life chances damaged because of political arrogance and ineptitude.”

The Journal spoke to Matthew Macleod, an Officer of the Watch in the Merchant Navy who qualified at the Glasgow College of Nautical Studies.

He said: “In my opinion the amount of money that the government gives to colleges has a direct influence on the amount, scope and quality of the courses and education that they can provide.

“Training for the Merchant Navy engineer course, there was little that could replicate the scenarios and experiences of being at sea in an engine room, but the college did have a simulator program that was installed on a very limited number of computers due to the high cost of it.

“The result of this was that despite being in the most academically

advanced class and studying for three years, we were on the simulators only twice in total.

“Additional funding would have improved this vastly as well as allowing students to experience real-life scenarios prior to going to sea for the first time.”

Joshua Gajree, a recent HND Television Media graduate of Edinburgh’s Telford College said: “I think it’s horrible that Scotland is willing to cut down the dreams of its children.

“Without college I would still be working a dead-end day job. I’m still working a day job part-time, but I’m a lot closer to my life’s ambition thanks to college.

“I was nowhere near mature enough in school to take the rest of my life seriously. College was a second chance.”

NUS Scotland president Robin Parker said in a statement: “As the budget vote draws closer, we urge people throughout Scotland to continue contacting MSPs from every political party about the college cuts through the Fund Scotland’s Future website. We also urge MSPs who are yet to join the campaign to listen to the many students, lecturers and community members contacting them every

NUS Scotland

Hello, is it me you’re looking for? day, and reverse the proposed £34.6 million cuts to colleges.”

This latest NUS campaign comes one year after the success of their Our Future, Our Fight initiative, in which 80,000 emails were sent to MSPs. That campaign resulted in an additional £40m restored to the college budget.

In response to the Fund Scotland’s Future campaign, a Scottish government spokesperson said: “Despite the

UK government cutting Scotland’s budget by over £3 billion in real terms the Scottish government has delivered on NUS Scotland’s request to protect the student support budget.

“This government is currently reforming the college sector. This will improve job opportunities for young people, better support local employers and generate annual savings of more than £50 million while maintaining the number of places.”

Salmond backs constitutional ‘In-work poverty’ right to universal free education hitting Scots students FM endorses written constitution for an independent Scotland

MSPs launch ‘underemployment’ inquiry

Johnney Rhodes

Daniel do Rosario Political editor

Malgosia Stelmaszyk

First minister Alex Salmond has

proposed that an independent Scotland should have a written constitution, which would include a guarantee of universal free education, in a speech to the Foreign Press Association last week.

His other proposals include guaranteeing the right of housing for all citizens, introducing measures to ban nuclear weapons and restricting the military actions of Scottish troops.

Unusually the United Kingdom does not have a written constitution.

Mr Salmond called this a: “democratic deficit that an independent Scotland should not repeat.”

Mr Salmond described what he calls Scotland’s: “distinct constitutional tradition — first expressed in the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320, reaffirmed by the 1989 Claim of Right for Scotland, and most recently restated by the Scottish Parliament just one year ago.

“That tradition states that the people of Scotland are sovereign and that they have the power to determine the form of government best suited to their needs. It stands in contrast to the UK principle that parliament has unlimited sovereignty.”

He stressed that an all-party panel would write the constitution with contributions from the public and civic Scotland, but he provided three examples to illustrate the kinds of issues that could be addressed in the constitution.

On social rights he said: “In Scotland, we have a policy of the right to free education in keeping with our

Salmond fishing history as the nation which pioneered universal education.”

A constitutional guarantee of free education could have a major impact on Scottish universities by making it unconstitutional to charge fees. It is unclear whether the same right would extend to citizens from the rest of the former United Kingdom. Critics have also questioned the viability of this policy with regards to questions over Scotland’s economic future upon independence.

He continued: “We also have homelessness legislation which is proving effective by granting rights to people who are made involuntarily homeless. There is an argument for embedding those provisions as constitutional rights.”

On nuclear weapons he said: “Scotland is currently the home of Western Europe’s largest concentration of

weapons of mass destruction. They are based on the River Clyde, within 30 miles of Scotland’s largest city. A constitutional ban on the possession of nuclear weapons would end that obscenity.”

His final proposal would limit the actions of the Scottish military: “In 2003, the Westminster Parliament was effectively misled into sanctioning the illegal invasion of Iraq. We should therefore explore what parliamentary and constitutional safeguards should be established for the use of Scottish forces.”

The speech set out the governing Scottish National Party’s wishes for an independent Scottish constitution, however this statement is in no way binding. There is no guarantee that Scotland would have a written constitution let alone one that fits Mr Salmond’s proposals.

The Scottish Parliament has set up an inquiry into the issue of ‘underemployment’, which is causing young people and graduates to suffer from in-work poverty in Scotland.

While the number of people in work in Scotland has recently risen, evidence suggests that the recession has led to an increase in people taking on part-time and unstable temporary work.

Murdo Fraser, the Conservative MSP and convenor of the committee staging the enquiry said: “Little is known about the impact of this trend on our economy and on those that are ‘underemployed’.

“The inquiry will also consider what actions business, the public and third sector and the Scottish Government can take on underemployment without having the unintended consequences of increasing unemployment levels.”

A number of organisations have submitted evidence to the enquiry, including NUS Scotland, the Scottish Trades Union Congress and the Joseph Rowntree foundation.

The NUS submission said: “NUS Scotland believes that underemployment is having additional effects on graduates. Although those with college and university qualifications are less likely to be unemployed, they often find themselves working in jobs that do not match their qualifications, which has a knock-on effect on job availability among those with fewer qualifications.”

It added: “Our colleges play a vital part in providing employment opportunities for young people, and we urge

the Scottish Government to reverse the proposed cut in funding in the upcoming budget. We also must make sure that the opportunities that universities deliver are open and accessible to all with the ability to benefit.”

A recent STUC report confirms that young people suffer the highest level of underemployment, with one in five 16-24 year-olds saying they wish to work more hours in their current job.

The Rowntree Foundation submission said: “We need a thorough, accurate look at today’s jobs market. Its features include a persistent problem of in-work poverty partly due to low pay as well as not enough hours.

“We all pay the price through tax credits to prop up this end of the jobs market. This might be bearable if most people in this position experienced a short spell of low pay before their earnings rose. But many are stuck in a revolving door, moving in and out of insecure work.

“The total number of people in parttime work has risen by 60,000, whereas the number of people in full-time work has fallen by 120,000. Moreover, almost the entire rise in part-time work is among people who say they want a fulltime job, from 70,000 to 120,000.”

David Bell, professor of economics at the University of Stirling, points to low levels of funding for science subjects as part of the problem: “For several years now, there has been quite a change in university funding for what are called the STEM [science, technology, engineering and maths] subjects. On the employers’ side, part of the issue is about making those jobs attractive to graduates.”

8 / LOCAL NEWS

@EdJournal / journal-online.co.uk

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

Alleged Basque Activists fined for petrol terrorist facing station polar bear protest Greenpeace members dressed as polar bears arrested in Edinburgh extradition — from Leith Trine Juel /Oxyman

Benat Atorrasagasti Ordonez accused of being a member of separatist group ETA Lydia Willgress Local News editor

A warrant seeking the extradi-

tion of Benat Atorrasagasti Ordonez, a 36-year old who was residing on Sloan Street, Leith, has been granted.

Mr Ordonez is allegedly a member of the Basque separatist group, ETA. He was previously sentenced to five years imprisonment at a court in France in 2008, however since 2001 Mr Ordonez has been living in Scotland and working as a driver for a wine importing company.

The Scottish authorities were not aware of Mr Ordonez’ continued stay in Leith. They were notified of his existence when he was arrested last July after two European Arrest Warrants were issued by France and Spain seeking his extradition. Mr Ordonez denies all allegations.

Under the French warrant, he will face being extradited to France, but on arrival will be able to apply for a new trial.

Under the Spanish warrant, Mr Ordonez will not be able to appeal.

During a hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court at the beginning of December, Mr Mungo Bovey QC, defence counsel for the client, said: “In relation to the French warrant I have no motion to make.

“In respect of the Spanish warrant, I invite you to continue the matter for two weeks.

“Our position is that we are a little surprised by the proposal to consider the Spanish warrant at this stage.

“I had no indication before this and therefore had taken no instructions in regard to this.”

In order to resolve the discrepancy between the French and Spanish

Artist’s impression. We were unable to verify the authenticity of this image - Ed. Christina Muller

Protesters who dressed as polar

B-ETA the devil you know warrants, Sheriff Noble continued the hearing until 21 January. Mr Ordonez’ extradition will be put on hold until the issue is sorted.

ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna), whose name means ‘Basque Homeland and Freedom’ in the the Basque language Euskadi, is a Marxist revolutionary group who have long sought to establish an independent socialist Basque country in northern Spain.

The group have pursued a decades-long campaign of violence and extortion, and have been widely linked to a long string bombings and political assassinations. Both the US State Department and the European Union classify the group as a terrorist organisation.

In January 2011, however, the group announced a permanent ceasefire and an end to their armed activity.

bears and managed to turn off the petrol supply at a Shell garage in Edinburgh have been fined.

Seven campaigners from international environmental organisation Greenpeace protested outside a Shell petrol station on Dalry Road in Edinburgh in July.

The protesters donned polar bear costumes after the oil giant announced its plans to drill for more fuel in the Arctic, something which Greenpeace has labelled an “environmental disaster”.

With police and fire crews attending the scene, six arrests were made and the polar bear costumes were confiscated.

Each protester pleaded guilty to

malicious mischief and were charged £200 each, with the organiser Simon Hackin, 47, of Niddry Street ordered to pay Shell £300 in compensation.

The protest, one of the first of those which began on 16 July, was one of many organised with petrol stations targeted in both London and Edinburgh.

While protesters wearing the polar bear costumes used bicycle locks to attach themselves to petrol pumps, other members of a Greenpeace group then prevented motorists from entering the establishment.

Ladders were used to climb up on to the top of the garage roof. Once they reached the top of the roof, they managed to turn off the petrol supply.

They then erected a small tent, establishing their intent to stay in position.

‘Aristotlean’ sex handbook sold Book of sex tips allegedly authored by classical philosopher sold in Edinburgh Greg Bianchi News editor

a sex manual banned from sale in the

“fresh, healthier food” Free can of juice with every baguette, baked potato, panini or salad box

An official Greenpeace statement said: “The US administration should stop licensing Arctic drilling and start protecting America’s coastline from Shell’s incompetence.

“Oil companies cannot operate safely in the pristine Arctic, where both the risks and the impacts of any industrial accident are too great to bear.”

While defence solicitor, Jim Brady, acknowledged that the public protest was “quite an effective means of bringing the matter to the public’s attention”, the Shell spokesman and prosecutor emphasised the potential harm Shell employees could have faced.

Passing sentence, Sheriff Isobella McColl told the protesters: “I recognise that this was a political protest, but you broke the law and caused a great deal of inconvenience to people.”

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United Kingdom for more than 200 years was auctioned by Lyon & Turnbull in Edinburgh for £550 on 16 January.

The Compleat Master-Piece, said to be by Aristotle, is over 330 years old and illustrates sexual positions, information about sex and advice on how to conceive.

Some believe that the book was used as a reference guide, both by midwives and by those trying to conceive, although the manual contains nasty warnings on what will happen if you have pre-marital sex.

The guide was originally banned in the mid-18th century due to its explicit content. This ban was not lifted until the 1960s however during the time the publication was banned, many editions

of the manual were printed and sold on the black market.

While the book is attributed to Aristotle, there is little of his work in the book.

Cathy Marsden, a book specialist at Lyon & Turnbull said: “It’s fascinating reading. It tells an amazing story about the changing perspectives on sex.”

She also asserts that it is the pictures in the book that are one of the main reasons it became a forbidden text: “To our eyes they’re not graphic at all, there’s one image of a baby in a womb and the woman’s torso has been ‘cut open’ to show the baby.

“There are other images of hairy children or children with their mouths where their navels are. They are very strange images.”

The edition being auctioned was printed around 1766, exceeded expectations after being expected to sell for up to £400.

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

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ACADEMIC NEWS / 9

SPECIAL REPORT: SCIENCE AND POLICY-MAKING

Particle physics, meet the rest of the world European Union to continue investment in science sector, as researchers and policymakers assemble in Brussels Oliver Gauld

Tuesday 27 November 2012 marked

the 11th annual Science and Technology Options Assessment (STOA) conference at the European parliament, Brussels. This year’s lecture featured a distinguished panel of speakers combining scientific, industrial and political backgrounds. The theme: exploring and explaining the fundamental role of science in society. Guest speakers included eminent theoretical physicists Prof. Peter Higgs and Prof. Francois Englert, as well as senior officials from CERN, the hub for elementary particle physics and home to the Large Hadron Collider.

In light of the discovery of the Higgs’ particle on 4 July 2012, the panel of science-sector representatives and politicians debated the role scientific research holds for future development and growth to a 400-strong and attentive audience. With this recent breakthrough paving the way for exciting future research, Prof. Higgs explained how elementary particle physics continues to shape our understanding of the origins of the universe - and ultimately, our perspective on understanding natural life.

Discoveries in fundamental science research have enormous potential to influence and extend present technology and medical therapies, as well as to push the frontiers of our knowledge and understanding. With scheduled EU budget cuts threatening serious reforms of resource funding for large research institutes such as CERN, the question that remains is a simple one – will scientific research and innovation suffer as a consequence and if so, what long-lasting implications might there be for the global community?’

A theme recurrent throughout the STOA conference, as outlined by CERN Director Rolf Heuer, was the vital role fundamental research plays in shaping the future of humanity – a facet that may often be inadvertently overlooked. The panel unreservedly agreed on the necessity to bring science into mainstream attention; by addressing the present limitations in communicative and ideological rivalry separating science and humanitarian spheres.

Despite the general concern expressed amid the scientific community over funding security, there is optimism in light of the projected ‘Horizon 2020’ proposal. This initiative aims to provide a stable seven-year plan, span-

ning 2014 to 2020, for the promotion and funding of science and technology innovation. With an estimated budget set at 80 billion euros, and plans for supporting the European Research Council (ERC) and overseeing smart investment into future technology, research and job opportunities, Horizon 2020 may epitomise a movement to a more scienceintegrative society on a macro-societal scale.

CERN’s operation and existence, in and of itself, represents an enormous scientific, technological and most importantly, human achievement – one that should by no accounts be ignored when debating cuts to large research institutes. The reality of the sheer scale of scientific accomplishment is only made evident when considering the level of human innovation and ingenuity that is being invested in top research facilities – the design and technological aspects are truly phenomenal.

Some claim that technical advances in science and informatics are taking precedence in modern society, and that it is imperative that science becomes appreciated and accessible by the wider community – as to not do so would be severely self-limiting. In this respect, STOA represents a European body

that promotes the need for science to be understood on a wider scale. The basic nature of annual STOA lectures further embodies an emerging concept of inter-disciplinary cohesion for the targeting of global goals. With the promising advent of popular science culture, increased media coverage, and the upsurge in information availability, it is claimed that society is progressing in the right direction. However others express doubts over whether these efforts will succeed in bridging the void between science and humanities studies on a fundamental level remains to be proven.

To sustainably and efficiently address on-going societal challenges, it is imperative that government policymaking encompasses contemporary technological and scientific perspectives. However with this in mind, scientific research does not naturally communicate well within the political and public domains. The European Science & Technology Options and Assessment (STOA) initiative has endeavoured to address this long-standing divide, and provide a platform for integrative, informed European policy.

Active since 1987, STOA provides practical insight into alternative, viable

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Party? Cool! and innovative solutions to present-day problems – recent reports addressing topical issues such as modern energy solutions development, sustainable water management and climate-change.

STOA focuses on assessing progress in modern science and technology and as of 2011, implements a two-fold beneficial MEP-Scientist pairing scheme.

With growing concern over a sustainable future, STOA is fast becoming an increasingly powerful voice in European politics.

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Further restrictions on international students possible, says minister Home secretary Theresa May suggests interviews could prevent bogus applications Charlene White Staff writer

International students could

be interviewed to prevent ‘bogus’ applicants from entering the UK, under proposals by a senior British government minister.

Home Secretary Theresa May has stated that more than 100,000 prospective international students would be interviewed to prevent false applicants from entering the UK. Since 2007 applications through UCAS for non-EU students have risen by almost 7 per cent each year.

However, figures from UCAS and the Office for National Statistics show a slump in the number of international applicants for the UK. Recent statistics available through the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) show an increase to 428,225 international students in higher education in 2010-11, an increase of 6 per cent from the previous year.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills having projected that the total brought into the British economy by international students will rise to £16.8 billion by 2025, it has been suggested by critics that any decline in

the number of international students could have a detrimental effect on the UK economy.

Edinburgh University students seem surprised at the move due to the large population of overseas students on campus.

Hannah Chandler, a student at the University of Edinburgh, said: “It seems that the Government are looking for more scapegoats and not enough solutions...it’s a shame really, if I were international I’d feel isolated and probably would be wary of studying in the UK.” However, speaking to The Guardian Mark Harper, immigration secretary, said: “too many institutions were selling immigration not education and since we have tightened our rules over 500 colleges have lost the ability to bring in international students.”

There has been much controversy over international students this year. An example of this is the case of London Metropolitan University, which lost its privileged status last year to accept international students over visa violations.

In the face of tightened regulations on overseas applicants, already 500 colleges in the UK have lost the ability to accept international students.

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STUDENT NEWS / 11

UCAS report fall University bosses open in applications fire on new education bill UK university applications fall by six percent SNP’s post-16 bill accused of eroding universities’ independence UCAS

UCAS are helpless in the face of falling applications Molly Hunt Staff writer

Figures taken in December sug-

gested a drop in university applications across Britain compared to the previous year.

UCAS statistics taken from a snapshot in December comparing the figures with application numbers from the same time last year have revealed that across Britain there is a 6 per cent decrease in university applications with Wales’ applications dropping by 11.7 per cent and England by 6.5 per cent. The situation beyond the EU is the opposite, however, with UCAS applications from international students outside of the EU having risen by 0.8 per cent.

In Scotland there has been a smaller decline with applications down by 3.9 per cent. This decrease in Scotland is still significant considering that the decline cannot be explained by the rise in tuition fees that is likely to have discouraged potential applicants in England.

Deborah Shepherd of the University and College Union (UCU) in Scotland voiced her concerns to The Scotsman.

“The predicted drop is concerning to UCU Scotland, and we’d encourage the Scottish Government to do everything it can to promote the benefits of higher education to the people of Scotland and school and college leavers.”

There has been considerable debate over the value of a university degree and whether the prospects offered are worth the debt that ensues even without the added burden of tuition fees facing students outside of Scotland.

Dr Wendy Piatt, Director General of the Russell Group advocates told The Scotsman the benefits of a degree from a reputable university: “Most graduates earn a considerable salary premium over those with two A-levels, and Russell Group graduates typically receive a ten per cent salary top-up over those who went to a modern university.”

These figures are however only speculative and whether the initial decrease in applications was an accurate sign of things to come is not known. The UCAS deadline closed on 15 January. Figures which will reveal exactly what the situation is both UK wide and in Scotland for university

Hannah Dowe Standring Student News editor

Scottish National Party (SNP) measures to overhaul the Scottish universities admission systems have come under increasing fire from university leaders in recent days.

Professor Sir Jim McDonald, principal of the University of Strathclyde, used a submission to the Scottish Parliament’s education committee to issue a stark warning to education secretary Mike Russell over the government’s proposed Post-16 Education (Scotland) Bill.

In his submission, Prof McDonald wrote: “Our strategy and innovative approach is due the fleetness of foot and flexibility of approach which the principle of ‘responsible autonomy’ and appropriate accountability — already in place — provides.

“I do not believe parliament needs to legislate in these area.”

He adds: “The bill should reinforce the principle of responsible autonomy which has served us so well in Scotland.”

Alan Simpson, chairman of the University of Stirling’s University Court and a leading figure in the umbrella group representing all university court chairs, criticised the bill as potentially eroding the independence of Scottish universities, allowing the government unprecedented influence over the way Scottish universities are run.

The proposals would allow for fines to be meted out to those universities who fail to meet targets designed to increase university participation of students from deprived backgrounds.

Mr Simpson told the Daily Telegraph that in expecting universities to fix the problem of social inequality “undue pressure” is being put on them to achieve “things they are not best equipped to do”.

He went on to express concerns over sections of the proposed legislation, labelling them “deeply concern-

Average age of students sky-rockets ing”, particularly in reference to a measure that would allow government ministers to impose governance rules on universities, as well as the proposal that the Scottish Funding Council be able to review the courses and research undertaken by universities.

The bill would have wide ranging effects, Mr Simpson said, and be “detrimental” to “the standing of universities in Scotland and the benefit to our students, the economy and the country in general”.

The comments come amid an inquiry into the bill by Holyrood’s education committee, in which a top government education official was on Wednesday forced to defend the bill as a measure to put “competition on a more level playing field”.

In response to questioning from Liam McArthur, the Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesman, Tracy Slaven, the Scottish Government’s deputy director for higher education admitted that some “displacement” of those applicants who under

the current system would gain a place, would be an inevitable consequence of widening participation.

Mr McArthur portrayed the legislation as a “trade-off” between desired “fairness” in the admissions process, and the inevitability that some students would now miss out.

Ms Slaven was unable to disagree, agreeing that the budget for funding places would not be increasing, and thus places for poorer students would not be additional ones.

She told the committee that the measures would ensure a fairer system, where academic potential rather than exam results would be the prime consideration in the applications process.

A government spokesman said: “The Scottish Government values and respects our universities, the work they do, and of course their autonomy.

The proposals in the bill are aimed at improving the university sector and ensuring we build on existing strengths.”

Minister: treat white male applicants as minority Tory universities minister expresses alarm at fall in universities applications from white, working-class males Benjamin Lebus Staff writer

David Willetts, the Minister of

State for Universities and Science, has called for a change in attitudes when dealing with male, white, workingclass university applicants.

In a statement, the Conservative universities minister argued that these applicants should be categorised in a similar way to ethnic minorities, as a primary group to be targeted by universities.

The call comes in the wake of recent figures showing a worrying decline in the number of applications from the aforementioned demographic.

University and College Admissions Service (UCAS) figures show a staggering 22,000 decrease in the academic year 2012/13.

Furthermore, there has been a worrying decline in the number of working class female applicants. In the figures published by UCAS it was found that more females in 2012/13 were accepted into university than the total number of male applicants.

Willetts believes that categorising this section of society as an ethnic minority would go some way in rectifying the obvious failure in the education market.

The Office for Fair Access (OFFA), which monitors university intake, look at “a range of disadvantaged

groups” according to Willetts, who goes on to say that he “[doesn’t] see why they couldn’t look at white working class boys.”

Natasha Rutherford, a sociology student at Edinburgh University, supported this argument, saying that this re-categorisation “would have a large effect on the way universities view the applications.”

Experts have warned, though, that this decision may result in the applications from middle-class males to be seen in a lesser light.

Universities could potentially seek favour with the Office for Fair Access by accepting a higher number of lower class applicants, which would result in them receiving greater finan-

cial aid from the government. This could potentially lead to another gap in the education market, and lead to unfair selection between two academically equal students who have different financial background.

William Richardson, the general secretary of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference, highlighted this concern, arguing that regardless of background, “each application should be looked at individually.”

Although there may be complications with any solution to this problem, there is clearly some concern that there is such a large discrepancy between male and female applications.

BIS

David Willetts: minority?

12 / EDITORIAL

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

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EDINBURGH’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER Edinburgh University Students’ Association

A polarised union will only alienate students EUSA has an image problem. At times it seems that its elected representatives are doing their damnedest to have their public think precious little of them.

Max Crema, vice president services, and Andrew Burnie, vice president academic affairs provide prime examples. Mr Burnie has watchdogged the two most significant university IT projects in a decade (upgraded university e-mail services and a new virtual learning environment), and Mr Crema has made progress in reforming the way EUSA buys its goods, and continues to push the university to invest in student facilities (for example, last year’s Potterrow refurbishment). Yet much of the talk around EUSA this week has been

of the rumoured animosity between the two, fuelled by their apparently opposing political views.

Obviously it would be naïve to expect that such a fantastically sensible positive as a revamped e-mail system might outstrip salacious gossip in the campus talking-point stakes, but the current situation not only stands out relative to those of other years but extends well beyond those two sabbs.

Divisions between representatives appear more pronounced than ever, but it is difficult to shake the suspicion that the battle lines are being drawn more because representatives have identified those they deem to be natural friends and natural

foes, rather than because of fresh disagreement based on fresh considered thought.

There is also the question of where the balance lies between a representative’s own politics and those of the student body.

Indeed, this factionalism is no mere imagining; the inclusion referendum question regarding election slates last year attests to their existence. Student apathy for campus politics is hardly a new problem, but with every feud – whether public or rumoured, petty or grave, real or exaggerated – EUSA’s officers distance themselves further from their constituents, and all the more readily does the average student dismiss the student politician as self-interested and

The coalition at half-term

Broken promises and forlorn hopes What becomes of the broken promises? Apparently, they’re forgotten, repackaged, re-evaluated and spun out to the public as the way it has to be. Who could forget the Conservatives’ stroke of advertising genius, in the runup to the 2010 general election, in turning David Cameron into the airbrushed saviour of The Britain We Love.

Yet it appears the prime minister’s party can easily forget the promises their billboards made: ‘We can’t go on like this.

I’ll cut the deficit, not the NHS.’ Then the coalition agreement was signed, and the new government was suddenly in thrall to the idea that it needed to “stop the topdown reorganisations of the NHS that have got in the way of patient care” - with a finger firmly jabbed in the direction of the Labour party. And the government’s

Fiddling while home burns

solution to this great bureaucratic tangle?

A top-down reorganisation of the NHS that pushed GPs into increased competition with one another, and forced them to purchase services from private suppliers with little regard for value for money.

It quickly became clear that other coalition promises weren’t to be kept.

The Tories had agreed that the debate surrounding electoral reform would not be argued along party lines. The naïve Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg took this as verbatim, and thus was one of the Lib Dems’ key election pledges kicked into touch for a generation. Then, as this newspaper well remembers, came the debacle of the Lib Dem u-turn on tuition fees which has toxified Mr Clegg’s party in the eyes of students.

But perhaps the most worrying of the

coalition’s broken pledges is the failure of the Child Poverty Strategy, which has resulted in the first ever Save the Children report on the UK itself. Regardless on where you stand politically regarding the economic crisis, the fact remains that any reduction in child poverty achieved under the previous government is likely to be reversed - an effect likely to be worsened still further by the incoming and spectacularly ill-considered cap on benefit rises. The coalition have attempted to dress up a cascade of depressing statistical forecasts and claim that poverty is multidimensional - and thus unable to be standardised. And to a certain extent this is true. But if there is to be any light at the end of this long tunnel of austerity, those in power shouldn’t expect the poorest children to give up the most.

by Jen Owen

unrepresentative.

The factionalism has promoted a progressively more skewed perspective and there are now several clear instances of representatives ‘crying wolf’, creating fuss where none was required. Need we question further student apathy for matters of actual importance?

Not only do the offices represent an opportunity for good but the association has the capability to attract good people to run for them. Bridging the gap to students begins with a reassessment of priorities, a lot less desperate factionalism and less rigid personal investment in policy matters. However, that kind of idealism feels quite flat at this current juncture.

// REACTIONS EUSA to campaign for Princess Royal’s resignation as chancellor What a joke - please don’t disgrace the University by actually writing to the poor lady, it wasn’t her fault she was appointed! Can’t you all just go deal with world hunger or something?? Just make sure the next election is better publicised. End of!

- Alex, via web.

‘No Platform’ for old men There are some valid points made in this article about the right for free speech but I think it should be noted that the three speakers mentioned in the beginning do not fall into the same category. NUS has no platformed Nick Griffin because he incites hate and George Galloway was no platformed for being a rape denier.

Significantly, the Israeli Ambassador is a man who has led the peace negotiation talks and has never been noplatformed by the NUS, that distinction isn’t made clear.

With debates over free speech you can take several different positions, one of which is outlined in this article. I would agree broadly with your point of the right for everyone to be able to speak and it is important that space is provided for those whose views you can challenge.

However, I think when a speaker abuses that platform to propagate hate, the university has a duty to ensure its environment remains a safe space - hence the distinction made by NUS in who should be no-platformed.

- John Clarke, via web.

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COMMENT// 13

DISCUSSION&DEBATE

COMMENT

Britain in Europe: privileged among equals?

The Journal explores Britain’s role in the European Union in light of right-wing calls for an in-or-out referendum Jon Vrushi Comment editor

The English Channel is not the

only thing that divides Britain from continental Europe; the UK has always had a difficult, if not awkward, relationship with the old continent. In a famous Yes Minister exchange, Jim Hacker, the minster for administrative affairs, tells his permanent secretary that Britain joined the European Community to strengthen the brotherhood of western nations. His cynical secretary, Sir Humphrey, then replies: “Really minster…?

We actually went in it to screw the French by splitting them up from the Germans.”

The 22 January of this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Elysée treaty, the pact that settled the postwar Franco-German relationship as friends and allies. Most French MPs will join their German counterparts in the Reichstag, which is to be followed by a concert at the Berlin Philharmonie, a performance that will most probably feature a rendition of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, Europe’s symbolic anthem.

Coincidentally, the 22 January was the date designated for the British prime minister to give a speech marked with Eurosceptic tones. The timing seemed ironic and Yes Minister fans must have had a good chuckle. The speech was then pushed forward to 19 January only to be pushed back again due to the Algerian hostage crisis. By now Mr Cameron must be on his 69th draft of this much anticipated speech.

Mr Cameron has promised to call for the renegotiation of the terms of Britain’s EU membership, in order to repatriate some of the political powers

from Brussels to London. A parliamentary Eurosceptic group called Fresh Start, claiming to have the backing of 100 backbenchers, has come up with a shopping list of powers that Britain should repatriate. Their driving principle is “More trade [with the EU] and less of the other stuff.”

Britain can’t be the only privileged member of the European Union; that is simply not fair on other member states, which abide by equal rules. “More trade and less of the other stuff” is simply not feasible. Britain has already opted out of many EU treaties. The UK is one of the ten out of 27 member states who don’t use the common currency. Last year Cameron and Osborne managed to keep Britain out of the Fiscal Compact treaty and EU-wide banking regulations.

A British repatriation of powers and renegotiation of membership terms would be the thin end of the wedge for the European Single Market. Giving Britain powers back would pave the way for more countries with protectionist tendencies to claim back powers, thus undermining the very structure and idea of the single market. The Department for Business, Innovations & Skills, has estimated that the completion of the single market in services would increase EU GDP by 14 per cent over ten years. Britain, as a major intra-EU trader might see even higher increases in the GDP if the single market is completed, rather than undermined.

One very disturbing argument presented by eurosceptics, especially in the ranks of the UKIP, is that countries like Switzerland and Norway benefit from free trade with the EU while not having to surrender their sovereignty.

Pietro Naj-Oleari

The EU member states are already regretting having completed that sort of deal with these two countries and probably the rest of the European Free Trade Association. The UK population is approximately five times the population of Norway and Switzerland put together and it is very unlikely that the EU would concede that sort of status for Britain, as it would be, among other things, giving up its main bargaining card.

Having ruled out a substantial repatriation of political powers, the remaining option for eurosceptics is outright exit. Leaving the EU would simply cause the UK domestic market to shrink from 500 million potential consumers to 62 million. That combined with the very slow economic growth, sometimes even negative, which has been a chronic symptom of

the UK economy since the global financial crisis of 2007, is simply not particularly economically astute. The EU is the world’s largest trading entity with 29% of global economic output. More importantly, the EU accounts for some 40% of the UK’s total exports destination. These exports would become significantly less competitive and would definitely drop in volume after the imposition of trade barriers and custom dues between the EU and Britain.

The position of the UK Labour party is that there are more immediate issues to deal with at this point in time. This is not a policy of postponing difficult decisions for the sake of it; it has more to do with the bad timing and circumstances. Given that the Conservatives can’t renegotiate the terms of membership without breaching the coalition agreement and nothing can be, realisti-

cally, done before 2015 when the next Westminster elections are due, having this debate now is simply destructive.

It undermines the confidence of British businesses, which would suffer tremendously under a British exit and the confidence of the financial markets in Britain as well as in Europe.

Whatever happens to Britain’s relationship with Europe, the driving principles employed should not be romantic ideals of self determination, that of ‘Britannia’ setting her own fate and so forth; the decisions should be a result of an astute and comprehensive cost-benefit analysis. Whether Britain joined the EU to strengthen the fraternity of western nations, or simply to screw the French by splitting them up from the Germans, the UK will have to abide by the rules if it wants to benefit from its EU membership.

A-corny bedtime tale: Squirrelling away the truth In our new feature The Journal invites readers to send in their favourite bedtime stories, with a modern twist There was once a group of squir-

rels and they lived high up in the trees far away from the ground dwelling squirrels that we are more familiar with.

These squirrels lived quite sufficiently and quite happily on nuts.

Like any normal squirrel society, there were some squirrels who had more nuts who generally lived on the right branches of the trees.

Then there

were some squirrels who had less nuts, who tended to live on the left branches of the trees.

Ever since they could remember every squirrel each year had given some nuts to a central pot which they wouldn’t touch and would be used to help those squirrels who had no nuts but obviously still needed nuts to survive.

Suddenly and very quickly things began to change for the squirrels. A nut shortfall across all the trees occurred.

It was believed to have been caused by evil squirrels from the past, apocryphal stories told of a squirrel with only one eye who had caused the nut crisis.

The squirrels with more nuts decided something had to be done to cut the nut deficit. This was despite the fact it

was abundantly clear to some squirrels that a nut deficit had occurred before and the squirrels had been fine.

It became apparent that some of those squirrels with more nuts believed they shouldn’t have to give their nuts away to the less well off squirrels. They believed – even though many of them only had more nuts because of their squirrel ancestors and the luck of the tree into which they were born – that they had worked very hard and as such shouldn’t be forced to give away their hard earned nuts.

Slowly the better off squirrels began to refer to those who needed the central pot of nuts as thieves.

“Nut Scroungers” they were called, and a taboo developed surrounding the central pot. This was despite the

system being one of the great achievements of squirrel society. They quickly started to persuade all the other squirrels - even those who had previously been living on the left branches of the trees - that those who had no nuts were a drain on squirrel society, and that the amount of nuts they received should be reduced..

Gradually those with no nuts at all began to die out and there was much more uncertainty about the future of the squirrel society. The actions of the better off squirrels began to cause unrest amongst all the other squirrels who heard tales of ‘second trees’ and ‘central pot avoidance schemes’.

Those with fewer nuts began stealing from those who had more just in order to survive. Despite the protesta-

tions from the other branches those on the right branches saw no correlation between their actions and the uncertain future which lay ahead.

It’s a pity because the moral of the story has completely deserted me.

14 / FEATURE

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The Anatomy of Autonomy

PART I: THE NATURE OF NATIONHOOD David Selby

WITH THE INDEPENDENCE referendum looming,

it is time to start weighing the pros and cons of the options available. ‘The Anatomy of Autonomy’ will dissect the different themes of the debate and present them to the reader in an interactive way. The most important thing for us is to equip the voters, and especially students, with the information required for them to make an informed decision.

We will strive to give equal space to different viewpoints and recognise that this is not a bipolar discussion between independence and unionism. There are many more nuances in the spectrum of the debate and our aim is to present them as comprehensively as possible. For each edition, we will invite the reader to join our online debate on our website via comments or on Twitter via the #indyjournal hashtag.

Every fortnight we will choose a different theme on which to focus. This week we start with a broad overview of the independence debate; we consider the long road through which Scottish identity has meandered since the Act of Union. Sheila Riddell from the University of Edinburgh explores the implications of independence under different constitutional settlements. And we give the Yes Scotland and Better Together campaigns the to open this special feature with a statement for our readers. We hope you enjoy it. - Eds.

Jon Vrushi Comment editor

The issue of Scottish independence

has been so central to Scottish politics since May 2011, when the SNP won an overall majority in the Scottish Parliament, that it feels almost like Scottish nationalism, as we know it today, has been around for time immemorial.

To understand where this Scottish nationalism comes from and how Scottishness grew as an identity inharmonious with Britishness for some Scots, I paid a visit to the National Museum of Scotland (NMS), more specifically a permanent exhibition called Scotland: A changing nation. As I go up the stairs leading to the exhibition, there are five framed pictures each with the respective heading: ‘Voice of the People’, ‘Daily life’, ‘Leaving Scotland’, ‘Industry’ and ‘War’.

The section ‘Voice of the People’ is what I am more interested in. The first thing I am confronted with is an eye-catching statement: “Scots have been always vocal in their political movements.” Indeed they have, and the British state provided with enough flexibility to accommodate those Scottish political aspirations. Not only that, but Scots started seeing themselves as equal partners with the English in big national projects.

Arguably, the first big project these two nations undertook together was the British Empire. By the 19th century

IN SEARCH OF A SCOTTISH IDENTITY The Journal’s Jon Vrushi sets out to map the long, difficult path of Scottish nationhood Scotland could see itself as a mother nation of the Empire as much as England did. This was, coincidentally, the time when Scotland was an unmistakably British entity, to the extent that the designated postcode for Scotland became NB (North Britain).

When the Empire started declining, the Great War came along – the war to end all wars. Scots volunteered in great numbers from 1914 until 1916 when conscription was introduced. 41% of Scottish men aged 15 to 49 fought alongside the English as part of the British Army.

Similarly, Scots regiments proudly took arms in the second world war against the ‘axis of evil’ fighting for the values of democracy and human dignity. Scotland found itself again in a big project under the framework of the United Kingdom – a project it could take pride in.

As the big imperial and global projects eventually ended, the UK started looking inward. As a foreign policy historian would furiously assess: “Free aspirins and false teeth were more important [to the British] than Britain’s role in the world.” The project of building a modern welfare state appealed to Scotland; not only did the Scottish people benefit massively from public housing, NHS, state benefits and so on, but they were also proud to be part of shaping this formidable social doctrine.

As the economic difficulties during the 1960s and 1970s affected people’s

in association with

quotidian lives, a clear revival of Scottish nationalism took place. Economic hardship made the welfare state less comprehensive and feasible, and a decade later Margaret Thatcher’s harsh economic policies were the last straw that broke the camel’s back. In 1988 the poll tax aroused considerable resentment. In the National Museum of Scotland I learn that during this same time, a lively cultural renaissance in the arts invigorated the notion of a Scottish identity and influenced ideas of nationhood.

These sentiments culminated in the devolution of power from Westminster to the Scottish Parliament. In a very emotive opening of the proceedings of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, Winnie Ewing, an SNP veteran declared: “ The Scottish Parliament, adjourned on the 25th day of March 1707, is hereby re-convened.”

The SNP has had an interesting history of ups and downs throughout the latter half of the 20th century.

However, the electoral successes of the SNP in the 1960s and 1970s are not to be confused with nationalism itself.

There are many reasons why people vote for fringe parties. At times this is the result of tactical voting or a protest vote or simply electing politicians who are efficient managers of regional government.

Similarly the electoral successes of the SNP in 2007 and 2011 are not a good indicator of the popularity of independence as a concept. Many SNP

voters do not agree with the idea of an independent Scotland. However, they may like to see a Scottish party govern Scotland, or may use their vote as a note of protest against the mainstream parties.

Scottish nationalism has come a long way and it has changed very much through the centuries. In the late 19th century and early 20th century Scottish nationalism meant “Home Rule” – devolved power to a regional government under the framework of the UK. Today, Scottish nationalism means full out independence. Semantic shifts notwithstanding, identity is a very fluid concept and every attempt at defining or framing it, leads to gross generalisations and over-simplifications.

An easy on the eye, nicely edited film, broadcasted on a screen in the NMS, shows Scottish citizens and residents being interviewed. They all have different definitions of what they are.

The majority say they are Scottish; however, some consider themselves Shetlandian or Glaswegian, or a combination of Hebredian and British or even Ethiopian and Scottish simultaneously. Sanjeev Kohli, star of the cult classic sitcom Still Game, interviewed for that film, confesses that there are a few places where you can get a haggis pakora, if you ask in the right language.

The point this film makes is quite unambiguous: identity is unique and a matter of personal interpretation.

It remains to be seen whether the referendum in 2014 will mark a water-

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‘Scots have always been vocal in their political movements.’

Indeed they have, and the British state provided enough flexibility to accommodate those Scottish political aspirations. Not only that, but Scots started seeing themselves as equal partners with the English in big national projects. shed moment for Scottish nationalism and nationhood. Whatever the result of the referendum may be, Scottish identity and nationalism should not be a facilitator of an isolationist attitude, especially in an ever globalising, unromantic society.

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

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FEATURE / 15

NEXT ISSUE (out Weds 6 February): FOREIGN POLICY Beth Chalmers

A vision for the Scotland in which I want to live Ross Greer

Yes Scotland

BORDERS AND BARRIERS

A leading academic considers the future of Scottish higher education in the context of the devolution settlement and the impending referendum on independence Sheila Riddell

University of Edinburgh In the run-up to the referendum in autumn 2014, it is important to think about what sort of society we want to create in Scotland and how we want to relate to our neighbours in the rest of the UK and Europe. Higher education is at the centre of this debate, since it has a strong bearing on individual life chances and social mobility. Higher levels of educational qualification are becoming increasingly important in the labour market, since EU and OECD projections suggest that the majority of jobs created over the next ten years will require higher levels of skills and qualifications.

If opportunities for social mobility are increasingly restricted, as appears to be the case in Scotland, the UK and much of Europe, then societies are likely to become more unequal and less cohesive. Scottish Government policy on the funding of higher education, which may be delivered in universities or colleges, is of central importance in widening participation, and the impact of fees regimes on different social groups across the UK will be examined as part of this project. We will also be looking at the impact of a range of widening access initiatives adopted by universities and colleges including outreach activity in schools,

admissions processes and criteria, support through student services and access to bursaries.

Higher education also impinges on many other important areas of public policy which are highly relevant to the debate on devolution and independence. For example, we will be discussing the possibility of Scotland developing a different approach to immigration compared with the rest of the UK, and the implications of Scottish immigration policy for overseas students. The future of shared services, such as UCAS and the Research Councils will also be discussed, as will the future of UK organisations with Scottish branches such as the NUS and the UCU. During the course of the project, we will be undertaking primary research and public engagement activities. We will be using UCAS data to explore the cross-border flow of students between Scotland, the rest of the UK and Europe to investigate the impact of different fees regimes. We will also be conducting key informant interviews with key players in government, funding councils and trades unions to examine different visions of the future of Scottish higher education. Public engagement activities will include a series of think tanks involving a cross-section of the Scottish public, with a particular focus on hearing the views of young people.

We also plan to produce a short film and teaching materials to be used in schools.

If opportunities for social mobility are increasingly restricted, as appears to be the case in Scotland, the UK and much of Europe, then societies are likely to become much more unequal and less cohesive.

Scottish Government policy is of central importance in widening participation.

Sheila Riddell is professor of inclusion and diversity at the Moray House School of Education at the University of Edinburgh. She was recently awarded a Scotland Senior Fellowship by the Economic and Social Research Council to study the future of higher education in the context of devolution and the forthcoming referendum on independence.

Scotland can have the best of both worlds Ross MacRae

Better Together

Michael Kelly, former Rector of Glasgow University, former Lord Provost & leading figure in the ‘No’ campaign, has laid out in stark terms his ‘vision’ for Scotland if independence is rejected in 2014.

He wrote recently: “There are many of us who do not feel that the ‘Better Together’ campaign has to be positive… With a ‘No’ win, little is going to change... You can see the kind of country we are going to be living in.”

If a No vote means that Scotland will get nothing in return, I agree with Mr Kelly.

But when one in five children are born into poverty, it is not a country we want to live in. Similarly when one in four youngsters remain unemployed yet the government spends £250 million a year on nuclear weapons, the sentiment is repeated.

Together, amazing progress is made in areas like education, where we control our own affairs. The least privileged are included, as opposed to excluded.

At the last Scottish election, four parties stood on no-fees platforms whereas at Westminster, all three main national parties now support fees.

Similarly, 47 Scottish MPs voted against Westminster’s savage welfare cuts. Yet a million Scots will face these because they had no effect on the overall vote.

Why settle for the status quo, when better is possible, and we can deliver it?

Together we define a new nation - fairer, progressive and a responsible member of the international community.

Governance would be closer to the people, more accountable and, crucially, able to reflect the values of Scottish society.

With economic potential and natural resources, independence is already affordable.

Scotland presently pays its way, having contributing £19 billion more than ‘our fair share’ to the UK since 1973.

I don’t believe that Scotland is superior to any other country - only that it is equal. With a Yes vote in 2014, that will be a reality.

I believe that the Independence Referendum in 2014 will be the biggest political decision any of us make in our lifetimes.

Young people in Scotland know that this isn’t a decision that will linger for four or five years, it is once in a generation decision. It’s not that the young people I speak to think that Scotland couldn’t go it alone, but that’s not the question. The question facing Scots is simply: will this be better for me and the people around me?

For me, a time when too many young people and even graduates are unemployed why would we want to limit the opportunities available to us here in Scotland?

But that’s only one example; I believe that right now Scotland gets the best of both worlds. Scotland already has significant decision making powers on vital issues such as education, our NHS and the environment but we also enjoy the security, stability and strength that comes with remaining part of the UK family.

As a part of the UK we fight for LGBT rights across the globe through the largest diplomatic network of any nation on Earth; we deliver the second largest aid budget in the world, from right here in Scotland. As part of the UK we have influence on the global stage and can ensure our shared values are implemented across the world.

When it comes to the anti-UK campaign I believe people are still waiting for the facts. Whether it’s talking about an independent Scotland’s membership of the EU or our currency or our relationship with the Bank of England, when it comes to facts the nationalists are left wanting.

I believe that most Scots don’t think we should have to choose between being Scottish and British, we can be both.

I believe that most Scots don’t think we should limit the opportunities we have, especially during these tough economic times.

I think, come autumn 2014, Scots will choose to stick together and be part of a United Kingdom that we have helped to build.

Ross Greer is youth & student coordinator at the Yes Scotland campaign.

Ross MacRae is volunteer and activism manager at Better Together.

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The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

Resolving the New Year’s disillusion At the dawning of 2013, Lydia Willgress investigates the cultural phenomenon of self-reinvention Lydia Willgress Features editor

It is that time of the year again for many people, when the scales get dusted off, the cakes are hidden at the back of the cupboard and the trainers are brought out.

Resolutions. Whether you want to lose weight, do more exercise, walk the dog more (instead of just letting it out the back door and hoping it runs around the garden enough to merit “exercise”) or do good deeds, resolutions are as intrinsically tied to New Year’s Eve as Auld Lang Syne, midnight kisses and too much alcohol.

Yet this year will be the same as any other. An article in Psychology Today made the claim that 25 per cent of people break their New Year’s resolution each year. I believe this estimate is a gross misrepresentation. If we are being realistic, most people fail. After three mornings of standing on the scales, and realising one may actually have to do something to lose 8 pounds, it is far easier to make pancakes and watch TV. Admittedly, there are people in the world who battle through the New Year with a face of steel and the determination of Iron Man. You can tell who they are by their ability to power-walk everywhere, read newspapers when standing up on the tube and subsidise themselves by only drinking smoothies. For the rest of us, New Year is a time for squashed dreams and failed attempts.

But why should we have to make promises to ourselves to change? Reso-

lutions no longer seem to be thought about in terms of dreams or something one hopes to achieve. Instead, they have become a task that we must conform to.

It wasn’t until the 29th of December that I was forced to think of my New Year’s resolution and it certainly didn’t come about through an epiphany. I was having a quiet drink when a friend brought the topic up and asked what we were all going to change in the New Year. Panic struck, and like almost every girl in the group, I spewed out the normal routine of: “lose weight, eat healthily and try not to gossip as much.”

Like everyone else for the first week of January I tried to not eat the remainder of the Christmas chocolate and did 10 minutes worth of sit-ups every morning.

But really, I wasn’t trying to please myself.

You see, I’m the sort of person who has numerous flings with many activities. For the first term of university, I was a rower.

I’ve been an athlete, a cooking-maestro, an artist, a stamp-collector and undertaken many other interesting tasks for, on average, three weeks at a time. So when it came to resolutions, I was merely keeping up appearances and doing what was expected of me. It is now the second week of January and yesterday, I did nothing. It was great.

Perhaps this is because, as many philosophers have argued, you cannot make a promise to yourself. Promises are socially born: you make them to others, who then in turn expect something of you. Making them to yourself is neither useful nor productive, because it doesn’t matter if you

Mac Dor

break them. If we neglect to do something based on personal gain, we may be disappointed for a bit, but this feeling is easy to dispel.

However, it is unsurprising that so many of us rely on resolutions and promises, as self-improvement can be akin to addiction. For those who are more concrete and determined, the desire to get

better at something can affect them as much as alcohol and smoking, as they strive continuously to become something better.

The whole notion of a resolution is based on the deal that one is not happy with who they are; they become yet another one of the “pressures” of modern life, in line with the stick-thin models, the

joys of amaranth and the warnings about eggs, pork, air freshener and any other household object that can be blamed.

So for the remainder of this year, I have given up on resolutions. In turn, I have decided to only do things that make me feel better, no matter what that involves.

And if someone asks what my New Year’s resolution is? Give me a cupcake any day.

‘Skivers v Strivers’: fighting nonsense with nonsense From obesity, through benefits, to the present socio-political nadir; the route we walk but refuse to view Sean Gibson Editor-in-chief

The theory that we are never more than six degrees separate from anyone in the world grows ever more doubtful as the Earth’s population rockets through the seven billions.

However, believers will be relieved to hear that obesity in the UK has tripled in the last 25 years; a much-needed reinforcement of the theory, if you accept that as we all get fatter the space between

us only decreases.

Flimsy though this premise may seem it is nevertheless the vehicle to brazenly cut a path from the government’s latest policy on obesity to the gravest problems endemic in modern politics and society in the UK. Perhaps, in order to finally broaden perceptions, we must stoop to contest with the government and the media in their own language – nonsense.

The government is planning to withhold benefit payments from obese people who refuse to exercise. Doesn’t sound too bad when you put it like that – a

touch unfair that all those middle-class and upper-class gluttons can feast unhindered, but not the worst thing in the world. There’s also the matter of those well-to-do fat people engaging in said feasting in an undertaxed mansion or a rent-free pied à terre, while the benefitsclaimant huffs in and out of a cramped home they struggle to afford – but these are just details really.

Unfortunately, the nation is now so obese that we cannot lithely side-step the implication that a sizable (sic) segment of society will be reduced to a state akin to

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infancy.

That definitive representation you’ve got in your head of the benefits claimant is nothing but a government-approved, one-size-fits-all, ‘bogey-man’ caricature – a character assassination of the lower classes. That claim can be backed up by the findings of a recent Trade Unions Congress (TUC) survey, but what good are statistics when we’re trading in nonsense here? Permit one to pass; only three per cent of the welfare budget goes to unemployed people. That’s some way beneath the average presumption of 41%, made by those questioned in the TUC survey.

Much as we would all love a monolithic work-shy villain against whom we can measure ourselves, there isn’t one here. This policy is merely one part of the new meta-nonsense-narrative, ‘Skivers versus Strivers’, which is being widely applied with neither meaning nor context.

In this case, the principle of taking money off obese benefits-claimants must be that, with no money left to spend on things, materialism will be shaken off in the throes of a fitness epiphany. Naturally, being forced to spend hours outside of work on exercise programmes will leave said claimants plenty of spare time and energy with which to be imaginative with their dietary plan.

Of course it cannot, at all, while the sole focus of society is consumerism.

We’ll all find a way to afford fast food and general gubbins, and the capitalists both in government and in the private

sector will find ways to let us, because it suits their higher interests. Yes, the NHS spending a truckload of money on obesity treatment is a nag, but it hardly compares with the stakes being played for in the consumer industries – take tax on fags and booze, for a start.

Withholding benefits from fat people, as with others, will simply diminish hope of escaping their predicament. The infrastructure just is not there. It is all people can do to stagger between days; betterment is a time-wasting dream.

The Welfare Uprating Bill, which sailed through the House of Commons a fortnight ago, is an effective reduction of benefits across the board; already, though, the UK already has one of the most meagre benefits schemes in Europe.

Most worryingly, if the economy is resuscitated prior to the next general election it will be these swathes of cuts which receive the bulk of the praise.

The best-possible outcome exemplifies how pitiful a state we are in; Labour win the next general election, are a degree less right-wing, then smile expectantly at us in anticipation of a flood of gratitude. It’s like when your dad presented you with your first car on your seventeenth birthday; you had all these dreams of learning to drive but, no matter your dad’s enthusiasm, an Austin Metro really doesn’t scream ‘fairytale ending’.

That’s a suitably bourgeois simile with which to conclude; fat poor people won’t be able to afford a car now, so they’ll have to walk everywhere and get healthy. Or just stop being so bloody poor.

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

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COMMENT // 17

‘Slut-shaming’: sex, lies and Instagram Simon Thornton examines a disturbing Facebook fad with sinister and occasionally deadly consequences Simon Thornton

I am sure that the majority of Face-

book users have at some point come across an image of a cat in a hilarious pose accompanied by a witty remark.

For those of you slightly bemused at this concept, these images are all part of the explosion of ‘meme’ culture: humorous images accompanied by text to reflect the world in which we live, and to generally satirise a social or cultural idea. Such images are spread from person to person through the likes of sites such as Facebook or Tumblr. Whilst many are harmless and do nothing but provide us with mild amusement, recently we’ve seen how some can be twisted and become something much darker.

The latest phenomenon to sweep the social networks through the form of memes is ‘Slut Shaming.’ As its name suggests, the term is derived from the act of shaming and criticising women for making choices about their sexuality and body that their peers and society do not approve. One of the most common ‘Slut Shaming’ memes I have come across online involves a young girl, who barely looks a teen, explaining ‘Hey Girls...Did you know?...That you spread Nutella...Not your legs’ across four accompanying images.

What is alarming here, and in other such memes, is both the fact that girls

of such a young age have clearly developed a sexual awareness, and that such images are being used to slam girls who adhere to what is believed to be ‘sluttish’ behaviour. This concept is what renders this recent ‘Slut Shaming’ culture so disturbing.

Indeed, this callous behaviour has led to the destruction of many girls’ lives, and in more extreme cases it has driven some to tragically commit suicide. One of the more high-profile of these cases was that of fifteen yearold Amanda Todd. Bullied and tormented online by fellow students for an incident on a webcam, Amanda took her life in October 2012. A month prior to her death, she uploaded a very raw and heartfelt video message explaining how she felt. Ms Todd felt she couldn’t escape the harassment caused by this naive incident in her early teens.

Reading about some of the anguish that her peers had so foully subjected her to, including being told she deserved to die and being punched outside of school, is gut-wrenchingly disgusting.

Obviously, the notion of women being ostracised for sexual transgression is nothing new; it has always been that women are not able to express themselves sexually without facing the criticisms of men and others of their sex, and ‘Slut Shaming’ plays

directly into this issue, as well contributing to so-called ‘rape culture’. In effect, although these memes set out to denounce promiscuity, the message they are sending is that women or girls are asking for whatever comes to them, whether it is sexual harassment or rape. Therefore, any girl known to be a “slut,” or behave in a way a “slut” would, are there for the taking. Amanda Todd blamed herself for her horrific ordeal and arguably, many victims of sexual assault or rape feel the same. If a girl is told that she is a slut and is getting what is coming to her, naturally she is going to feel a sense of guilt and humiliation which may ultimately lead to her silence.

There are numerous incidents of women who felt too ashamed of what happened to them because of ‘Slut Shaming’ to speak up about and report it. It’s harrowing to think of how many silent victims there are because of the cruelty and immorality of a thoughtless group in society.

However, it does seem that there are those willing to fight this craze.

Only this month we heard of the riots in Gothenburg, Sweden by young people who were angered and appalled by a local ‘Slut Shaming’ campaign. This specific onslaught used the photo-sharing app Instagram to name and shame victims, detailing their sexual activities and posting explicit

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photographs. It has been reported that some of the victims were, shockingly, as young as 12-years-old. While it is hopeful to see this sort of reaction generated, the culture of ‘Slut Shaming,’ especially within the world of social

media in which we live, has only just begun and if we are to truly eradicate this abhorrent behaviour, we need to radically look at the way in which we present sex to the youth of today.

C-auld Reekie for Dummies Fergus Murray

Edinburgh Anonymous Winter, Edinburgh, Misery.

January has often been described as the ‘marmite’ month in the Scottish capital. For the only reason being one can assume, that when spread out before you, it’s indistinguishable from shit.

Winter, that time when you wake up and it just gets darker. The sun.

Remember that ball of flame that for two days in May makes the meadows seem like Glastonbury just with more chinos. It becomes a mythical object, often talked about but never really seen. The bitter cold that embraces you as warmly as a slap in the face from a supposed friend. Then there’s the conversations about snow that reverberate around the library, will it fall, won’t it fall, it’s the meteorological equivalent of a tin pot dictatorship.

However, there is light, under this cloud of reflective 2012 Facebook status’ – which on a side note, it has never been okay to do, as the online equivalent of the obnoxious unsolicited Christmas letters some families send telling their friends of little Oscar’s wonderful flute recital and the eventful year they’ve had. Whether new to the city or a veritable veteran, there are lessons to be learnt about Edinburgh in 2013.

Queuing for the Bus This will never make sense to a hardy city student, but it’s a bastion of the city and cannot be ignored. Indeed there are stories of students being dragged by their collar to the back of the queue by elderly women whose main purpose in life, it seems, is to be the moral adjudicator of public transport. It doesn’t matter that everyone’s getting different busses making the queue somewhat pointless. It doesn’t matter that there’s no real bonus in getting on first. It’s just the way it’s done here.

The Bouncer is always right This point can be best illustrated by an anecdote told by a friend from 2010. The club was Cabaret Voltaire, before the ‘speakeasy’ and the fauxhipster overhaul, which essentially put a big pair of lens-less glasses over the front door. Having consumed a rather large quantity of alcohol, this friend used the urinals and followed another customer out of the restroom, all perfectly normal. He was then accosted by a bouncer and marched out of the club, despite protestations to the contrary, the bouncer insisted that he had been sharing a cubicle with the man who had left in front of him. Suspecting that the inference was that he had been taking illegal substances he questioned the bouncer on this, “No it could have been illegal gay sex” came the reply. Now being aware of the legality of homosexuality, the friend pointed out the logical inconsistency in this reply. Safe to say he wasn’t let back into the club.

Never underestimate its inhabitants The sheer variety of people that populate the capital never ceases to amaze. There’s Hunter square, which houses a live version of Jeremy Kyle every Friday night just without the oversized toddler himself. There’s Morningside and Bruntsfield that actually have more prams and delicatessens per square metre than the rest of Scotland. Then there’s Newington, which was the scene of the favourite story of Edinburgh’s inhabitants, two teenage girls were clutching a litre bottle of Scotland’s most exciting vodka. Their male friend not looking a day over 16 took it from them and in unison they shouted “Down it Kevin”.

Then one of them, worried perhaps that their friend would need a good enough reason to consume a hugely unhealthy quantity of Vodka piped up with “Do it! It’s a Sunday tomorrow!” Perfectly encapsulating the carpe diem mentality of the capital’s population.

If it’s a Sunday tomorrow, anything goes.

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

A&E / 19

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CULTURE&LIFESTYLE

ARTS&ENTS ARTS DECONSTRUCTING THE VIKING FABLE

David Selby

Art&design New exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland gives the Vikings a sleek, scholarly update on popular perception Laurie Badman Arts & Entertainment editor

Our contemporary perception

of the Vikings is derived from myriad sources. When Richard Wagner’s behemoth opera The Ring Cycle stormed onto the European stage for the first time in 1876, the Viking image underwent a serious revamp.

Wagner crafted his characters as a motley assemblage of cutthroat, hammer-wielding pioneers. Drawing exclusively from the iron protagonists of Norse mythology, this opera is a primal tale that surges and rumbles in poetry with the earth.

As a result, The Cycle presents one of the most wildly colourful interpretations of the old myths and was largely responsible for introducing their existence into popular vocabulary. Most importantly for this aesthetic refurbishment — atop the head of the character Hunding — was a helmet audaciously adorned with two horns.

Now, the National Museum of Scotland (NMS)’s Vikings: The Untold Story

aims to challenge misconceptions that perpetuate the Viking fable. Opened on 18 January, the exhibition arrives in partnership with the Swedish History Museum in Stockholm and presents over 500 objects, including jewellery, weaponry fragments, precious metals and household objects.

Curator of Early Historic and Viking Archaeology at NMS Martin Goldberg said: “Most will be familiar with popular betrayals of fearsome pillagers with a thirst for battle and those famous horned helmets. Those helmets are a fiction, a cliché with little or no basis in historical fact, and perhaps that reflects the main point that the exhibition makes — we are much less aware of who these people really were, where they came from and how they lived.

“This wonderful selection of material from their Scandinavian homelands will tell a more complex and subtle story, addressing a few myths along the way, not least those helmets.”

The exhibition dedicates a small section to following the retrospective manipulation of the Viking image throughout history: it wasn’t only Wagner that enjoyed meddling with the subject matter.

When Denmark lost territories to Prussia in 1864, a reassessment of Scandinavian identity began in light of their ignominious defeat. Characters from Norse mythology were common in popular vocabulary and became important to Scandinavians because of their portrayal as fearless warriors who relentlessly pursued their foes.

Following this was some kind of confusion between the Norse gods and their earthly counterparts. Admittedly, there seemed a natural relationship between the two - the Vikings were a

society notorious for expansion and exploration. Here, mythological whim was projected onto historical fact.

Narrated through fixture design

by Viennese firm Studio Exhibit, the organisation of artefacts at Vikings is clean, sharp and forensic in appearance.

In one corner, hundreds of iron rivets hang silently from transparent fisherman’s wire, forming the reconstructed shell of a burial ship.

In others, solid, white geometric forms tumble across the space, protecting sparks of gold and precious stones within their shells. Elsewhere, curator Gunner Anderson meanders through the exhibition in a black polo neck and blazer: the Vikings have arrived, and this time they are seriously svelte.

This modernist aesthetic is complemented by a masterful integration of the hi-tech into display fixtures. Interactive displays feature giant touchscreen tablets, allowing guests to dig up an excavation site, build their own ship and dress a Viking avatar.

“The main idea is to engage the audience by creating a clash between the traditional content and a modern design. You don’t see what you expect to see when you go into a Viking exhibition,” said project director Katty Kauptmann.

However, Studio Exhibit has been careful to avoid completely diminishing the importance of mythology to Viking society. Rather than overwhelming onlookers with dry historical narrative, visitors can sit in a small nook and listen to readings of Norse myths; these were important for Viking society both as a religious tool, but also as a means of drawing the community together.

It also appears that there is a darker side to Viking society, as an information

board reveals: in reality, the image of the magnificent Viking is seldom reflected in evidence from the graves.

For example, with the famous Viking raid came an abundance of unfree peoples and resulting slave labour.

Along with iron collars, shackles and fetters — in numerous excavation sites — are silver hoards which were commonly a product of a successful slave trade in the east.

Pathology also reveals the anxieties of everyday life for the unfree: commonly found ailments include repetitive strain injury on vertebrae, joints and teeth, as well as parasitic infections, persistent diarrhea and anaemia.

In June 2012, Walt Disney Pictures released their latest animation blockbuster. Entitled Brave, the film was a warm tale of Viking-Pict hybrids marauding around the Highlands and and avoiding sexually ambiguous bears.

Two years earlier, Dreamworks produced How to Train Your Dragon,, which follows a clan of cheerfully violent Vikings as they tackle a perilous hive of dragons in order to defend their settlement.

The existence of both productions is testament to the fact that, while the Vikings hold a fond place in the heart of modern storytellers, it is a position that lacks historical refinement and fails to utilise the wealth of material evidence that we have in our possession. Vikings: The Untold Story is a cold, daring insight into Viking culture and illustrates the ability of material evidence to tell a compelling tale.

VENUE: NATL. MUSEUM OF SCOTLAND DATES: UNTIL 12 MAY 2013 PRICE: £7.50-£9

ON THE HORIZON JANUARY

31

Scotland in the Viking World

(National Museum of Scotland, free) Exhibition curator Martin Goldberg explores Scotland’s place in the Viking world in this afternoon session.

FEBRUARY

22 Night of the Vikings

(National Museum of Scotland, £18)

NMS bring the latest in their RBS Museum Lates series with a Norsethemed evening event, to include a set from Edinburgh indie-folk band Broken Records, among myriad other surprises.

Box Office: 0845 874 3001

SUMMERHALL Upcoming Arts & Music | 14th Dec - 26th Jan

From Gaga to Gormley Transformations & Revalations

Throughout Summerhall, thirty-three large specially designed vitrines showcase the fascinating work of British Theatre designers on their creation of famous productions.Es Devlin’s stage and set designs for Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball World Tour are here, as are Antony Gormley’s more sparse settings for the Sadler’s Wells ballet, Sutra.

Joanna Scotcher’s reworking of the much loved Christmas classic film, The Railway Children, for Waterloo Station Theatre reminds one of a heroic and simpler past while Connor Murphy’s minimalist opera design for The Magic Flute, which bewildered South Korean audiences, can be mused over. Warhorse and Billy Budd are also shown here with original models, drawings and video clips from the shows.

www.summerhall.co.uk @summerhallery

www.facebook.com/summerhalledinburgh

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

A&E / 21

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Jitka Hanzlová The Scottish National Portrait Gallery plays host to a charming retrospective for the renowned Czech photographer

Art&design

From Death to Death and Other Small Tales Frequently disturbing, but always intriguing

Aideen Herron

Jitka Hanzlová’s first ever pho-

tographic retrospective is located on the first floor of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. Held in association with the Fundación MAPFRE, Madrid, the exhibit displays eight collections of the Czech photographer’s photos from 1990 to present day.

Hanzlová left Czech Republic to settle in West Germany in the early 1980s. Her first series, entitled ‘Rokytnik’, communicates to the viewer feelings of nostalgia for her homeland. In this collection of images of this small Czech town and its people, Hanzlová manages to successfully convey the tranquillity of each scene through her use of simple compositions.

Turning the corner into the other collections, the viewer is confronted with an array of different subject matters. Contrasting the idyll of ‘Rokytnik’ is ‘Bewohner,’ which depicts dark and sombre images of European cities and emphasises the sterility of urban life. Another two series, ‘Flowers’ and ‘Forest,’ counterbalance these somewhat depressing photos with beautiful pastoral images.

Hanzlová’s ability to approach subject matters innovatively is perhaps the most striking feature of the exhibit. In ‘There Is Something I Don’t Know,’ she has shot several

VENUE: SCOTTISH NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY DATES: UNTIL 3 FEBRUARY 2013 PRICE: FREE individuals in the style of Renaissance portraiture, endowing the images a sense of timelessness and authority. The originality of ‘Horses’ lies in its showing only parts of horses’ bodies, leaving the viewer to imagine the power of the rest of the animals’

movements.

This collection of Hanzlová’s photographs manages to be thought provoking with its originality, and yet still be aesthetically charming. Held from 17 October to 3 February, this exhibit is an absolute must see.

Harland Miller: Overcoming Optimism Edinburgh’s Ingleby Gallery presents a selection of works that will delight art fanatics and bookworms alike

Art&design Aideen Herron

In 2000, writer and artist Harland Miller received critical acclaim for his debut novel, Slow Down Arthur Stick to Thirty. One year later, he began painting manipulated reconstructions of the iconic Penguin and Pelican dust covers.

Now, the Ingleby Gallery in Edinburgh presents Harland Miller’s first exhibition in Scotland, Overcoming Optimism, open until the 26th January 2013. The exhibition comprises a combination of watercolour and oil pieces, and covers a range of work from the artist’s career.

The exhibition spreads the paintings over two floors of the gallery.

The ground floor holds slightly smaller paintings that are drawn with a three-dimensional quality, such as the charming ‘Fuck Art Let’s Dance’ (2011), alongside the deeper, ‘Love, A Decisive Blow Against If ’ (2012).

Even if one is not familiar with Penguin and Pelican publishing, what the paintings represent can be understood and provide a systematic frame for viewing the work.

The first floor provides a marvellous layout of six larger ‘books’ that fill the entire canvas with only the cover. The echoing gallery is a wonderful area to fully understand these paintings as one can step far enough away to appreciate each work in its sombre entirety, such as,’ Death, What’s in it for me?’ (2011).

The paintings are disconcertingly familiar. The iconic Penguin logo is ubiquitous throughout Miller’s oeuvre, appearing on almost every

canvas. However, like the work of Rauschenberg, these are not simply copies of the originals. Each work is individually crafted and obtains its own character, which is portrayed through a witty, sardonic and sometimes melancholy title.

The paintings have similarities in scale, but the layout of each cover changes, giving the exhibition an enjoyable diversity. A pristine pop art style of pinks, greens orange and blue is slightly smudged as dribbles and sweeps of bright paint reject the formality of a first edition book.

These covers have real stories to tell. Overcoming Optimism is an innovative collection, sure to be enjoyable to art fanatics and bookworms alike.

VENUE: INGLEBY GALLERY DATES: UNTIL 26 JANUARY 2013 PRICE: FREE

Art&design Zena Moore

On arrival at Edinburgh’s Modern One, viewers are amicably greeted with a painting of a woman’s pubic area, and text advising that ‘nudity and imagery of an explicit nature’ features in the exhibition. As much about life as it is about death, ‘From Death to Death and Other Small Tales’ is based on the theme of the body.

This year’s blockbuster at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art boasts contributions from 20th century stalwarts such as Marchel Duchamp and Salvador Dalí, showcasing around 130 pieces — including paintings, drawings, prints, photography, sculptures, films and installations — spanning over a period of 100 years.

The D. Daskalopoulos Collection is one of the prime collections of European contemporary art. Laid out across two levels of Modern One, pieces from the Greek entrepreneur’s renowned collection and others from the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art are displayed in conversation, in order to question the similarities and differences between the two collections.

The numbered rooms are easy to

navigate, but not titled; it is up to the viewer to decipher the individual themes.

The exhibition improves as it progresses. In the first room, which focuses on male perception of the female body, only a Picasso provides excitement.

However, the show quickly gathers momentum, with a scented sculptural piece by Brazilian artist Ernesto Neto providing further stimulation. The second level includes fun body prints by David Hammons, and the ‘Male and Female Genital Wallpaper’ by Robert Gober is reminiscent of adolescent classroom graffiti.

Graphic and unsettling pieces feature throughout. The materiality of some of the work is often disturbing, and being alone with some of the art works can make one feel a little uneasy. One of the last pieces of the exhibition is a film by Ana Mendieta, which includes a figure drawing with blood and gunpowder.

We can all identify with the body and the human condition without having to really understand each piece of art. Even if at times it is repulsive, ‘From Death to Death and Other Small Tales’ is always intriguing.

VENUE: MODERN ONE, SCOTTISH NATIONAL GALLERY OF MODERN ART DATES: UNTIL 8 SEPTEMBER 2013 PRICE: FREE

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The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

Authors being creative... with the truth The Journal takes a look at the problems presented by plagiarism in print, and the difficulties in defining intellectual copyright

books John Hewitt Jones Literary editor

Last year was an interesting year

for the discussion of the responsibility of the writer. Life of Pi has grossed nearly $500 million in box office sales, widely being hailed as the first ‘proper’ 3D film. In the furore there’s been little mention of the plagiarism controversy that surrounded Yann Martel’s novel when it won the Booker Prize in 2002.

Readers were swift to notice that the premise of Martel’s book — a young Indian boy ends up in a lifeboat with a tiger after the ship on which his family are travelling sinks — bears an uncanny resemblance to the plot of Brazilian author Moacyr Scliar’s story Max and the Cats, in which a Jewish boy is cast adrift in a boat with a panther following a shipwreck.

Martel was quick to respond to the allegation of plagiarism in an interview with The Guardian, stating that he knew of Scliar’s story, but never read it. Instead, explained the author, he had read a review of the book in The New York Review of Books by John Updike. The publication has no recollection of publishing such a review, however, and Updike himself cannot remember reviewing it.

Martel responded fiercely to this further allegation, stating, “If you think every author who borrows is a plagiariser, you clearly know nothing

about creativity.” Scliar chose not to pursue legal action, highlighting the fact that the line between using an idea as inspiration, and copying it wholesale as your own, is a fine one.

Proving in court that someone has stolen your idea rather than thinking it up of their own accord is difficult.

Martel has publicly explained that concepts from Scliar’s work came together in his head, while he was travelling abroad, to create something entirely new.

Canongate had to deal with a more clear-cut case at the beginning of the summer, when they published a new book by esteemed journalist Jonah Lehrer: Imagine: How Creativity Works. Within a week, question marks began to appear over the veracity of the Bob Dylan quotes used by Lehrer to substantiate his argument. It transpired that the author had in fact fabricated many of them (including, without apparent irony, the phrase “Stop asking me to explain.”)

With a previously-chequered record, having been caught recycling old articles online, the revelation resulted in the book being rapidly pulled from sale in both the UK and the US, and Lehrer having to resign from his staff post at The New Yorker.

Opinions over the gravity of Lehrer’s crime vary. How much creative license should the journalist or nonfiction writer have? To what extent does the verisimilitude of what they’re writing actually matter, if it serves its purpose in illustrating an argument?

It’s as much a point of principle as

Glasgow School of Art launch new Institute of Design Innovation InDI seeks to foster multidisciplinary collaboration

David Selby

it is about the pragmatic implications for the writer’s integrity. If a reader chooses to spend money on a book or a publication, it seems reasonable to expect that the content should be well-researched.

Over the summer, The Journal was dismayed to see copies of Lehrer’s book continuing to be sold in the Edinburgh International Book Festival shop, after being recalled by the publisher. If trusted institutions such as The New Yorker or Canongate

Books are going to use their brands to encourage people to consume their content, then they must be willing to defend the integrity of what they print. But exactly what action a newspaper or publishing house should take to deal with authors’ malpractice is difficult to define.

Some would argue that in a book market that’s moving faster than ever before, literary publishers can’t be held entirely accountable for the textual accuracy; editors can’t be tasked to

check the truthfulness of every detail.

Canongate Books declined The Journal’s request for comment on their plagiarism policy.

The New Yorker’s swift reaction to Lehrer’s creative license is certainly understandable. With the role of the journalist today focusing primarily on ascertaining the truth of news — rather than gathering it — news institutions have never had more of an incentive to be aggressive in preserving the trust of their readership.

Art&design

January, Swinney said: “The Glasgow School of Art is one of Scotland’s great hubs of creativity and this new Institute of Design Innovation will encourage businesses to realise their growth ambitions and stay competitive through applying design principles throughout their organisations.

“The GSA has a proven track record of success of working in partnership with business, including collaborating with Scott and Fyfe, and I am confident that this new centre of excellence will be a valuable contributor in strengthening Scotland’s economic success.”

The GSA has been collaborating with partners including the Institute of Directors on the Creating Cultures of Innovation pilot programme since 2010.

The partnership has seen specialists in design innovation from the GSA working with a range of companies and institutions to help enable and embed improved productivity within organisations.

Professor Irene McAra-McWilliam, institute director, said: “Through the new Institute of Design Innovation the GSA will show clearly how design skills and creative thinking can be embedded in organisations in such a way that innovation is sustainable.”

The Cultures of Innovation model has already been successful in the work undertaken by the GSA with Tayportbased industrial textile manufacturer, Scott & Fyfe.

Welcoming the launch of the Institute of Design Innovation Chairman of Scott & Fyfe, Nick Kuenssberg, said: “The work with GSA has helped the company look forward to a cross-cutting partnership between all staff, customers, suppliers and other technology partners to promote the new innovation-led strategy.”

The Institute of Design Innovation will be based initially at the GSA’s Skypark Campus and Horizon Scotland, Forres.

Gareth Llewellyn Deputy managing editor, Glasgow

The prestigious Glasgow School of Art welcomed Scottish Government finance secretary John Swinney to open their new Institute of Design Innovation last week.

By working with design as a ‘transformational tool’ the Institute of Design Innovation at the Glasgow School of Art (GSA) aims to create multidisciplinary collaborations, building collective capability and addressing jointly what cannot be achieved alone.

Speaking at the launch on 16

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The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

Books agenda

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by John Hewitt Jones & Vivek Santayana

The Journal goes undercover with three epics of espionage fiction THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD John Le Carré

for a demanding operation that will strike right at the heart of Soviet intelligence.

(Penguin Classics, £8.99) Le Carré has a knack for creating prose with lots of forward motion, The archetypal cold war spy diving swiftly from scene to scene, novel, Le Carré balances the subter- depicting Leamus’ chameleon-like ranean world of 60’s espionage, with talent for adapting to his environment. a compelling human narrative of gripThe master of the cold war espioping intensity. nage novel, Le Carré’s account of an After a network of agents in era of suspicion and deceit is engrossBerlin is seriously compromised, ing in its intensity.

Alec Leamus finds himself back in This is a world in which the ramiLondon, expecting to be put out to fications of failure are deadly, and grass. Within a matter of months, no sacrifice too great to ensure the however, he’s back out into the field success of the operation. (JHJ)

Les Misérables An unforgettable and immensely moving adaptation of the iconic West End production

THE SPIES OF WARSAW Alan Furst

secrecy. The detail is rich, and motives are withheld in a way that makes (Phoenix Books, £7.99) the slow pacing of the novel serve to ratchet up the tension. Characters’ Alan Furst’s gripping espionage- motives are never straightforward thriller follows Colonel Jean-François and their actions are usually a result Mercier as he runs a precarious opera- of coercion, blackmail, or desperation: tion to gather intelligence on the eve uneasy secrets are aplenty. of the German invasion of France; At times the momentum is deflated a relentless game of deception and by awkward euphemisms referencing subterfuge between agents and their frequent erotic encounters, and the handlers, with identities, motives and description of the historical period in morals veiled in mystery. which it is set at times appears rather The plot follows the build-up to shallow. Nevertheless, Spies of Warsaw the Second World War, slowly unfurl- is a gripping novel that employs careful ing a narrative that is compelling in its economy of information. (VS)

film Nathanael Smith

Two big problems face anyone

wanting to translate Les Misérables to the big screen. Firstly, it is one of the most popular musicals in history, running on stage for over 25 years.

Secondly, the musical is a divisive genre; singing about your emotions really isn’t everyone’s cup of cinematic tea. It is, therefore, something of a minefield to adapt, as it not only has to win over musical cynics, but also cater to a large and dedicated fanbase.

The solution, then, is to hire the director of critical smash The King’s Speech (2010) and a cast that most producers would kill for. Tom Hooper’s vision of Boublil and Schönberg’s iconic production sings its way into cinemas on a wave of Oscar nominations and a big stateside box

THE INNOCENT Ian McEwan

British identity. Leonard Marnham, a 25-year-old electrical engineer, has a (Vintage Books, £8.99) lot to learn as he finds himself posted abroad in 1950s Berlin, working on a This is an early, easily overlooked secret Anglo-American intelligence McEwan novel. With a slow begin- operation. Things don’t go to plan, ning and unconvincing chunks of dia- especially when he falls in love for the logue, it may not have the polish of his first time with a German girl. later books, but it’ll leave an impact The Innocent may not have the through a dramatic denouement that’s action sequences of a Le Carré novel, as gruesome as it is graphically violent. but for a convincing cold war read that McEwan takes up the theme deals with the messy tangle of human of much of his writing with a deft emotion, it’ll be hard to find a better exploration of sclerotic post-war choice. (JHJ) What are your spy novel recommendations? Tweet us @EdJournal and let us know.

ON THE HORIZON JANUARY

21-26 (Bedlam Theatre)

Bedlam Festival

Randolph’s Leap & Jo Mango Avalanche re-opens its doors for instore gig to celebrate local talent and the songs that inspire

music

The best of Bedlam and EUTC are showcased in a week of workshops and productions.

8

Patrick Wolf (Pleasance, £15.50)

Folk-pop artist Patrick Wolf delves into his 10-year back catalogue for his first ever show at the Pleasance.

office. Perhaps more surprising than its financial success is that it is a triumph cinematically, too.

Hooper’s big decision when shooting was to film all the singing live, meaning that while the actors aren’t as polished vocally as a West End cast, they are able to imbue each song with raw emotional power. The standout performance of the uniformly excellent cast is by Anne Hathaway, who reclaims ‘I Dreamed A Dream’ from the clutches of Susan Boyle, delivering it with a palpable sense of anger and rejection. It’s a phenomenal scene, and is representative of the entire film’s emotionally mature approach.

With a decade-spanning story that doesn’t shy away from death and poverty, Les Misérables is an exhausting ordeal, and, at twoand-a-half hours long, it’s unlikely to win over those who don’t like musicals. Nevertheless, the stirring songs and strong themes of forgiveness and reconciliation make this an unforgettable and immensely moving film.

Rebecca O’Malley Music editor

“Anything for Avalanche”: our thoughts are vocalised by Jo Mango as she took to the ‘stage’ of legendary Grassmarket record store Avalanche Records in support of Glasgow based e i g h t- p i e c e - t u r n e d - t h r e e - p i e c e musical outfit, Randolph’s Leap.

With the fate of high street record chains HMV and Fopp unclear, and the recent announcement from Avalanche’s owner, Kevin Buckle concerning the store’s uneasy financial situation and perilous future, never has it been more important to show support to

independent record shops.

After a brief post-festivities ‘reboot’ period, Avalanche Records tonight re-opens its doors to the city for a charming night of songs and chatter from Glasgow based musicians Randolph’s Leap and Jo Mango – its success a testament to the unwavering loyalty of its clientele and its consecrated status amongst Edinburgh’s music lovers.

Jo Mango opened the evening with her tender vocals and charming stories about geese. Headlining as a three piece, Randolph’s Leap proffer a taster as to the energy and harmless fun that befalls the stage during their eight piece live show.

Admittedly unrehearsed, their show was endearing and haphazard, but undoubtedly enjoyable; as a warm up to their February show at Queen’s Hall, alongside the lovely Jo Mango, their show offer its audience

an odd insight as to the personalities that lie at the heart of their peculiar twisting of the folk-pop genre.

Sunday’s gig stands as a tribute to the songs and success of Belle and Sebastian, Avalanche’s best selling band of all time, and upon the request of the organisers, both Jo Mango and Randolph’s Leap were to perform gentle covers of ‘Seymour Stein’, ‘We Rule The School’ and ‘I Fought In A War’.

Hailing from Glasgow in the mid 1990s, Belle and Sebastian’s musical know-how has left its mark on numerous music scenes across the world, and reminded the world that the creative output of Scotland is nothing to be sniffed at. The evening as a tribute somewhat contextualises the music of Jo Mango and Randolph’s Leap, forging continual links between the three groups as torch bearers of a music scene

that just keeps on giving. Exhibiting the talents of these musicians to an intimate audience within a comfortable setting, their performances were observed by the ever-attentive faces of Nick Cave and Bruce Springsteen, whose faces stand frozen in time upon the walls of Avalanche.

Admiral Fallow and Olympic Swimmers are the next artists to take to the makeshift stage of Avalanche Records on Friday 1 February for what will undoubtedly be an exciting opportunity to give back to the record store that has offered us so much.

Tickets for Avalanche’s instore series can be purchased on the website at www.avalancherecords.co.uk.

VENUE: AVALANCHE RECORDS DATES: 20 JANUARY 2013 PRICE: £5

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The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

• Christopher Kane bought by PPR • Scots take London Collections by storm • Glasgow label releases second fashion film Oliver Giles Fashion editor

After the spectacle of

Chanel’s arrival in Scotland last December, it was going to be hard for the Scottish fashion industry to start 2013 with a bang. However, against the odds, Scottish designers are already making fashion headlines, with three Scottish menswear designers enjoying huge success at the London Collections: Men shows.

A relatively new addition to the British fashion scene, London Collections: Men (LC:M) now attracts an international crowd of fashion editors, designers and buyers, who all joined the British fashion pack in London from 6-9 January. This January’s LC:M event is only the second to have been hosted; however, due to its success at drawing attention to emerging and established British menswear

brands it is fast becoming a staple event on the fashion calendar.

Scottish designers Jonathan Saunders, Christopher Kane and Patrick Grant (who designs for label E. Tautz) all took LC:M by storm. The three designers showcased critically acclaimed collections that brought international attention to the Scottish fashion industry.

For his show on Wednesday 9 January, Patrick Grant used flashes of bright colour and bold patterns to break up an otherwise classic collection.

Oversized checks permeated almost all the looks: a single breasted, tailored grey suit decked out in oversized orange checks definitely grabbed the critics’ attention. Fabrics were key to the collection, with the exclusively designed tartan being produced by Scottish company Johnstons of Elgin.

In November last year, Scottish talent Jonathan Saunders was honoured with the Emerging Talent for Menswear title at the British Fashion Awards, so he had a lot to live up to with this latest collection. Thankfully, Saunders did not disappoint. Simplicity was key to the looks, but the combination of his signature bright blues and greens with new, organic fabrics meant that the collection felt both edgy and elegant. Saunders stated: “I was more looking at outdoors fabrics and outerwear, saying the countryside sounds horrendous, but it’s a

play with traditional and natural fabrics and combining them with bounded finishing to give a technical feel.”

Out of the three designers, it is Kane who is best known for his use of colour: he burst on to the fashion scene in 2006 with a collection made up entirely of super-short neon bandage dresses.

However, much to critics’ surprise, Kane’s menswear autumn/winter 2013 collection is almost entirely monochromatic. The dark and brooding collection is broken up by Kane’s use of bold prints, including a surprisingly feminine leopard skin.

Kane also made headlines last week when luxury French conglomerate PPR, which owns stakes in Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney, bought 51% of his eponymous Christopher Kane label. PPR’s Chairman and Executive, François-Henri Pinault, stated: “in just a few years, he [Kane] has built a very distinctive and exciting DNA. Christopher Kane is already established as a luxury label and has tremendous intrinsic growth potential. We thus have great ambitions for the brand.”

It is rumoured that PPR are hoping to open the first stand-alone Christopher Kane store in London next year and also push for the creation of a second ready-to-wear line.

Back in Scotland, Glasgow-based label Obscure Couture have announced that they will be releasing their second fashion film later in the spring. The film is entitled Fake Believe and showcases their spring/summer 2013 couture and ready-to-wear lines. The design duo released their first fashion film last year - The Lithium Party - following a girl through a debauched night out. Aside from the release of Fake Believe in February, Obscure Couture are thinking even further into the future: they have recently announced their intention to be the next Scottish brand to try and conquer London.

Jenn, one of the Obscure Couture designers, exclaims: “we are looking at exhibiting our spring/summer 2014 Couture at Somerset House during fashion week in September, for years it has been a dream of ours to see Obscure Couture in that building!”

National Theatre Live A clever effort to make theatre more accessible Johan Persson

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theatre Lucy Arditti & Celia Dugua

The National Theatre have been broadcasting plays via satellite to cinema screens across the globe since 2009. Helen Mirren and Dominic Cooper launched with a dynamic performance of Phèdre broadcast to over 200 cinemas. Since then, NTLive has reached over 1 million people and tickets are increasingly hard to come by.

The appropriately theatrical Cameo Picturehouse in Tollcross hosts all NTLive events in Edinburgh. Their upcoming broadcast of Alan Bennett’s newest play, People, is already sold out.

NTLive allows for the consumption of high-quality theatre regardless of age, geography and income bracket - ticket prices are only slightly higher than a feature film.

These are vast steps in breaking down the troublingly elitist nature of London theatre and suggests that, quite simply, a good story performed by talented people should be available to anyone and everyone. That said, patrons attending these events in

Edinburgh aren’t members of the ‘livetweeting’ generation that could make these events dynamic and drive the NTLive cause.

On the January 17 broadcast of The Magistrate, though audience members politely waited for scene changes to be seated, we were far from the Olivier; filled with gasps and applause. The pop-up book inspired stage design and farcical acting were flattened by the screen, and couldn’t stand up to the theatrical value of Les Mis - touching audiences across generations.

To ensure the show is screen-ready, camera movements are built into the choreography, cast and designer have to be aware of the minutiae that cannot normally be seen from an auditorium.

The production value is almost too high for the broadcast to be consumed as a play, and somehow the life and breath of the stage is compromised.

Though we can’t deny the popularity of these events (VUE cinemas have recently begun screening Live MET and Royal Opera House productions), the theatre label alone seems to make the sale - riding off the back of The History Boys, War Horse and other National Theatre products turned into films.

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

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Castello Coffee Beef & ale casserole w/ horseradish cream

Gourmet New Town coffeehouse makes a welcome addition to the palpitating Edinburgh caffeine scene

Ben Kendall Food & Drink editor

Sam Stern Cook’s tips: don’t be tempted to rush the cooking. Low and slow ensures tender meat.

Don’t be tempted to use Guinness it makes for a bitter sauce.

Ask a friendly butcher if you’re not sure which cut of meat to buy. Sub in vegetables or beans if cash is tight.

1. Blot the cubes of beef on kitchen paper, use to dry thoroughly.

2. Slice onions thinly. Slice carrots into 2.5cm rounds. Chop potatoes/ parsnips into eighths. Brush mushrooms clean with kitchen paper, and roughly chop half of them.

3. Make up stockpot as instructions. Pre-heat the oven to 140C/gas mark 1.

4. Put a large heavy frying pan on medium heat. Add 15g butter, 1 tbsp oil.

5. Fry onions gently, stirring, for eight minutes or until soft and golden.

Add carrots. Fry for two minutes. Add chopped mushrooms and potatoes.

Turn for one minute. Tip the lot into a large casserole dish.

6. Heat 1 tbsp oil in the pan. Fry the

bacon for three minutes/until crisp.

Spoon it into the dish.

7. Tip meat into a plastic bag. Add the seasoned flour. Shake till beef is completely coated.

8. Increase heat under pan a little.

Add 2 tbsps butter/oil. Place the first batch of cubes in without piling or over-crowding. To seal and develop flavour, fry, turning swiftly, as the sides brown up lightly.

Add to casserole as soon as done to avoid overcooking/toughening.

Repeat until finished.

9. Stir contents, seasoning with black pepper, thyme, and minimal salt if not using your own stock.

10. Pour ale into the hot pan. Boil for one minute. Stir to capture flavour/ residue from pan. Add stock.

Add to casserole to cover, not submerge, but adjust amount if you added extra vegetables.

11. Place in oven to cook for 3-3½ hrs. The meat should be meltingly tender, the sauce rich.

12. 20 minutes before done, halve remaining mushrooms. Toss in a hot pan with a bit of butter for 2 minutes or until browned. Add to casserole with half the parsley, torn.

13. To finish, taste and adjust sauce.

Add lemon or a few drops of balsamic to lift the flavour. Add salt and pepper.

Scatter extra parsley. Mix horseradish and sour cream in a bowl.

14. Serve casserole from dish. Enjoy with floury potatoes like Maris Piper (boil, toss in butter, parsley, lemon, seasoning, or mash with butter, lemon juice, mustard), horseradish cream, green vegetables or salad.

INGREDIENTS Serves 6-8 1.3kg stewing/ braising beef e.g chuck steak in 5cm cubes 30g butter 2 large onions 350g small carrots 3 potatoes or parsnips or mix 275g white button mushrooms 3 tbsp plain white flour, black pepper, paprika Oil – olive/rapeseed/sunflower/lard/ dripping 6 rashers streaky bacon 250ml pale Ale – Scottish or Timothy Taylors * 250ml beef stock (possibly a bit more if needed) Small pinch dried thyme/sprig fresh Salt, pepper Bit of lemon juice or balsamic vinegar Flat leaf parsley Cream Pot of sour cream/half-fat crème fraiche 1 tbsp horseradish cream

• Hand Pulled Cask Ale Hobgoblin, Bitter & Twisted, Guest Ale • Food Served From Noon Until Late largest Probably the dinburgh! nachos in E

• 10% Student Discount On Food • Metal, Punk & Goth Jukebox Find Us in CAMRA’s 2013 Good Beer Guide

2013

23-25 St. Leonard’s Street, Edinburgh EH8 9QN •

www.theauldhoose.co.uk

Edinburgh is at risk of caffeineinduced tachycardia. Not a week slips by that doesn’t witness the birth of some independent coffee joint, and indeed many have graced these very pages. But submerged in this confluence of coffeeshops, how is one to decide? Castello Coffee has marked out its attentionwinning niche.

To elucidate, the Castle Street café is Scotland’s single proud purveyor of coffee by Allpress Espresso. Almost notoriously discerning, the company is as selective as a prep school in Primrose Hill; only the best beans go in, and only the very best cafés are granted the use of their precious product. Castello Coffee is one such.

The interior strikes a fine balance between cool and comforting. Smart lines in warm pine are cut here and there, with cheerful coruscations of cobalt blue. The counter swells with

cakes, sandwiches and a whacking great La Marzocco espresso machine, Florence’s finest. Light inundates the space through the outer wall’s floor-to-ceiling window.

The coffee itself – adroitly prepared by baristi, at once diligent and goodnatured – makes a fine addition to Edinburgh’s burgeoning crop of offerings.

Across a rich base tone flashed notes of sharp fruit and a lingering, creamy nuttiness. Far from bitter – as all coffee ought – it had a dainty sweetness of its own which only fools would taint with sugar.

Much as one might seem to, man cannot live on coffee alone. The soup of the day was a playful riff on corn chowder, spiked with the cajoling fire of chilli, and generously coupled with good bread. To finish, the carrot cake to end all carrot cakes. Dense and grainy with walnuts and slackened by that odd silkiness with which root vegetables elevate a cake crumb: frontier food for today’s desk-shackled champions.

7A CASTLE STREET, EH2 3AH

The Hanging Bat An intimate setting for a fine Edinburgh pilot brewery Tabitha Standish-Hayes Staff writer

In theory, The Hanging Bat has

little to recommend itself. From the outside, the eye could easily slip past it, sitting as it does demurely on Lothian Road. It is, moreover, only three months old – and we all know what threemonth-olds are like. Worst of all though, their website explicitly states that this little ‘beer café’ owns no tigers: it’s an outrage! What are bars for if not their exotic wildlife?

The Hanging Bat’s exterior is unfortunate, and yet its interior is a place of ingenuity and wonder. Despite its young age, this bar feels well-established and homely, as though it has – or should have – been here all along. Decorated in the modern/rustic style which has become so fashionable, the wooden floors and furniture glow warmly, offset by glass and chrome features. There are interesting little details dotted throughout, ranging from the artwork to the entertaining barrel-sinks in the bathroom.

This sense of an artisanal, bespoke design is not merely skin-deep, however.

The bar is dedicated primarily to the exaltation of gin and good draught beer (though many other drinks are available), with 31 samples of the former, and 20 of the latter. This is exciting in itself, but more thrillingly, The Hanging Bat has its own pilot brewery. Proudly visible in the bar, the small brewery ensures an ever-changing range of draughts and the titillation of seeing exactly from where said drink comes. In all, this bar is highly individual, welcoming and enjoyable. The same care and attention put into its beers is invested in its patrons, with extremely friendly, accommodating staff who are happy to discuss the particulars of any beverage and to offer recommendations.

One imagines such attention cannot be expected during The Bat’s busiest hours, but even so, there is the certainty of a warm welcome. With so many assets to its name, The Hanging Bat seems to have a bright, very popular future.

133 LOTHIAN ROAD, EH3 9AB

Abbeyhill Moray Park Terrace, 675, 2, G P, 0844 635 2418 Tytler Gardens, 580, 1, P, 0844 635 9334 Milton Street, 465, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 9320

P R O P E R T Y L I S T I N G S P R O V I D E D BY W W W. C I T Y L E T S . CO. U K

Property

Bellvue Claremont Bank, 900, 3, 1S 2D G, 0844 635 9332 Annandale Street, 900, 2, G, 0844 635 1423 Annandale Street, 835, 2, 2D G PG Z, 0844 635 4820 Cornwallis Place, 700, 2, 2D W CG Z, 0844 635 9320 Bellevue Crescent, 625, 1, , 0844 635 3364

Broughton Bellevue Road, 795, 2, 2D G Z, 0844 635 9434 Brunswick Road, 750, 2, 2D, 0844 635 4820 Papermill Wynd, 750, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 4644 Broughton Road, 725, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9446 Blandfield, 625, 2, 1S 1D E P, 0844 635 4820 Broughton Road, 725, 1, 1D G Z, 0844 635 4820 Bellevue Road, 595, 1, E CG, 0844 635 2418 Mcdonald Road, 525, 1, 1D E CG Z, 0844 635 9578 Broughton Road, 440, 1, 1D CG O, 0844 635 9320

Bruntsfield Montpelier Park, 995, 2, 2D G CG Z, 0844 635 9324 Montpelier Park, 775, 2, 2D G Z, 0844 635 9334 Montpelier Park, 775, 2, 2D G CG Z, 0844 635 9334 Gilmore Place, 695, 2, G, 0844 635 2418 Montpelier Park, 495, 1, 1D E Z, 0844 635 9320

Canonmills Ettrickdale Place, 1020, 3, 3D G CG P, 0844 635 9422 Rodney Street, 850, 3, 3D, 0844 635 3700 Powderhall Rigg, 850, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 4820 Rodney Street, 675, 2, 2D G Z, 0844 635 9448 Broughton Road, 415, 1, 1D, 0844 635 3700

Carrick Knowe Carrick Knowe Avenue, 695, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 9334 Carrick Knowe Drive, 665, 2, G PG, 0844 635 2418 Carrick Knowe Hill, 620, 2, 2D G PG O, 0844 635 9302 Carrick Knowe Avenue, 610, 2, 2D G PG O, 0844 635 9302 Fairbrae, 550, 1, 1D W CG O, 0844 635 2018

City Centre Simpson Loan, 3100, 3, 3D E CG Z, 0844 635 9300 Simpson Loan, 2950, 3, CG P, 0844 635 9308 Great King Street, 1600, 3, Z, 0844 635 9308 Haddington Place, 1500, 3, 3D G CG Z, 0844 635 9390 Nicolson Square, 1200, 3, G, 0844 635 9679 St. James Square, 1100, 3, G, 0844 635 3931 Hillside Crescent, 1075, 3, 3D G Z, 0844 635 9679 Shandwick Place, 1500, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 9300 Shandwick Place, 1400, 2, 2D, 0844 635 9300 Spittal Street, 1000, 2, 2D G CG Z, 0844 635 6872 North St Andrews Street, 950, 2, CG Z, 0844 635 9308 Leith Street, 895, 2, 2D G Z, 0844 635 6450 Jeffrey Street, 850, 2, 2D 1B G O, 0844 635 9478 North Bridge, 850, 2, E Z, 0844 635 9558 Roxburgh Street, 850, 2, 1B G Z, 0844 635 9679 Grindlay Street, 825, 2, 2D G Z, 0844 635 9322 James Court, 750, 2, 1S 1D W Z, 0844 635 9390 Johnston Terrace, 750, 2, 2D G Z, 0844 635 9448 Roseburn Maltings, 725, 2, , 0844 635 9308 Spittal Street, 675, 2, Z, 0844 635 9308 Simpson Loan, 1200, 1, 1D E CG Z, 0844 635 9300 Simpson Loan, 1100, 1, 1D G PG P, 0844 635 9679 Great King Street, 850, 1, 1D G Z, 0844 635 9390 New Johns Place, 850, 1, 1S 1D G CG P, 0844 635 9300

Jeffrey Street, 675, 1, Z, 0844 635 9352 Hopetoun Street, 650, 1, 1D G P, 0844 635 9362 Montgomery Street, 595, 1, 1D 1B G CG Z, 0844 635 9328 Lady Lawson Street, 550, 1, 1D Z, 0844 635 1424 Torphichen Place, 495, 1, 1D CG Z, 0844 635 9334 Fountainbridge, 425, 1, 1D E Z, 0844 635 9322

Comely Bank Comely Bank Grove, 925, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 9332 Comely Bank Road, 850, 2, CG Z, 0844 635 9308 Comely Bank Place, 750, 2, Z, 0844 635 9308 Orchard Brae Avenue, 750, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 4820 Comely Bank Place, 730, 1, 1D 1B G CG O, 0844 635 9362

Dalry Murieston Road, 795, 2, 2D G CG Z, 0844 635 9422 Murieston Crescent, 690, 2, 2D G CG Z, 0844 635 3337 Caledonian Place, 680, 2, 2D 1B G Z, 0844 635 9560 Caledonian Place, 675, 2, 2D E CG O, 0844 635 9468 Springwell Place, 660, 2, 2D G Z, 0844 635 3337 Angle Park Terrace, 600, 2, 1S 1D G Z, 0844 635 4820 Dalry Road, 595, 2, 2D G Z, 0844 635 9362 Orwell Place, 590, 2, G Z, 0844 635 4830 Caledonian Crescent, 500, 1, , 0844 635 0624 Murieston Road, 500, 1, 1D CG O, 0844 635 1312 Caledonian Crescent, 495, 1, 1D W, 0844 635 9332 Downfield Place, 495, 1, G CG, 0844 635 2418 Caledonian Crescent, 470, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 3780

Easter Road St. Clair Road, 750, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 6872 Albion Gardens, 725, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 4820 Hawkhill Close, 700, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 4820 Easter Road, 695, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 9332 Easter Road, 675, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 4820 Hawkhill Close, 675, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 4820 Hawkhill Close, 675, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 4820 Easter Road, 650, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9679 Hawkhill, 650, 2, , 0844 635 6450 St. Clair Road, 650, 2, 2D G PG O, 0844 635 9320 Drum Terrace, 595, 2, 2D E CG P, 0844 635 9679 Edina Place, 675, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 4820 Bothwell Street, 550, 1, , 0844 635 0623 Brunswick Road, 550, 1, 1D G, 0844 635 9332 Easter Road, 500, 1, 1D G, 0844 635 9332 Albert Street, 495, 1, G CG O, 0844 635 2418 Maryfield, 495, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 4820

Gorgie Gorgie Road, 1600, 4, G CG P, 0844 635 6450 Murieston Lane, 695, 2, E P, 0844 635 2418 Gorgie Road, 650, 2, 2D 1B G CG O, 0844 635 9318 Gorgie Road, 640, 2, CG O, 0844 635 9308 Gorgie Road, 510, 2, 2D, 0844 635 1312 Gorgie Road, 625, 1, 1D G P, 0844 635 4820 Stewart Terrace, 575, 1, 1D G P, 0844 635 1312 Wardlaw Street, 550, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 9594 Westfield Road, 549, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 1127 Stewart Terrace, 525, 1, 1D W CG O, 0844 635 9424 Westfield Road, 525, 1, 1D O, 0844 635 9679 Westfield Road, 525, 1, 1D E CG O, 0844 635 1424 Watson Crescent, 500, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 1312 Westfield Road, 500, 1, 1D E, 0844 635 3330 Wardlaw Street, 495, 1, CG O, 0844 635 2418 Wheatfield Terrace, 495, 1, G CG, 0844 635 2418 Stewart Terrace, 485, 1, 1D E O, 0844 635 4820 Wheatfield Place, 485, 1, CG O, 0844 635 9352 Stewart Terrace, 480, 1, 1D W CG O, 0844 635 9424

Wardlaw Street, 475, 1, 1D G, 0844 635 2287 Wheatfield Road, 475, 1, G CG, 0844 635 2418 Gorgie Road, 470, 1, 1D W, 0844 635 9560 Wardlaw Street, 465, 1, 1D E CG O, 0844 635 9434 Wheatfield Street, 465, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 3337

Granton Hesperus Crossway, 895, 3, 3D G P, 0844 635 9460 Lochinvar Drive, 770, 2, G P, 0844 635 2418 Hesperus Crossway, 725, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 4820 Waterfront Gait, 650, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9679 Granton Terrace, 550, 2, 2D CG O, 0844 635 9384 Saltire Street, 450, 2, 2D E O, 0844 635 9590 Waterfront Avenue, 525, 1, 1D G P, 0844 635 9384 Granton Road, 440, 1, G CG O, 0844 635 9578

A USERS GUIDE TO CITYLETS LISTINGS Meadows

Area Agent phone number

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

Bedrooms Monthly Rent Location

Bedrooms: Heating: Garden: Parking: Furniture:

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

Haymarket Morrison Circus, 1100, 3, 3D E CG P, 0844 635 9322 Caledonian Road, 875, 3, G Z, 0844 635 3332 Dalry Road, 850, 3, G, 0844 635 3332 Easter Dalry Place, 775, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 4820 Easter Dalry Wynd, 700, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9448

Leith Madeira Street, 1000, 4, O, 0844 635 9308 Western Harbour Way, 970, 3, 3D G P, 0844 635 4820 McDonald Road, 900, 3, 3D G P, 0844 635 9592 Ocean Way, 875, 3, 3D G P, 0844 635 9238 Portland Place, 875, 3, 3D, 0844 635 3700 Madeira Street, 815, 3, G CG O, 0844 635 2418 Johns Place, 750, 2, W O, 0844 635 9328 Leith Walk, 750, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 3330 Tower Street, 750, 2, G P, 0844 635 2418 Tower Place, 725, 2, , 0844 635 0623 Great Junction Street, 700, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 4820 Stead’s Place, 699, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 1424 East Cromwell Street, 695, 2, P, 0844 635 9308 Lindsay Road, 675, 2, , 0844 635 9308 Fox Street, 670, 2, 2D, 0844 635 3700 South Lorne Place, 670, 2, 2D W P, 0844 635 9592 Elliot Street, 650, 2, 2D E CG P, 0844 635 1424 Pilrig Street, 650, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9422 Yardheads, 650, 2, 2D O, 0844 635 6874 Edina Street, 645, 2, 2D, 0844 635 3700 Couper Street, 625, 2, 2D E O, 0844 635 9679 Timber Bush, 625, 2, E P, 0844 635 2418 Taylor Place, 620, 2, 2D, 0844 635 3700 Cadiz Street, 600, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 9332 Elbe Street, 600, 2, 2D W P, 0844 635 4820 Sandport, 600, 2, 2D E P, 0844 635 4820 Elbe Street, 595, 2, E P, 0844 635 2418 Lindsay Road, 595, 2, 1B G CG O, 0844 635 2418 Sheriff Park, 595, 2, , 0844 635 9338 Spiers Place, 550, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 1312 Dock Place, 515, 2, 2D, 0844 635 4820 Western Harbour Terrace, 675, 1, 1D G P, 0844 635 4820 Johns Place, 625, 1, , 0844 635 9338 Portland Gardens, 620, 1, 1D G P, 0844 635 9424 Portland Gardens, 615, 1, CG P, 0844 635 9308 Allanfield, 600, 1, 1D W CG O, 0844 635 4820 Salamander Court, 575, 1, 1D G P, 0844 635 9464 Leith Walk, 540, 1, O, 0844 635 9308 Albert Street, 525, 1, 1D W CG O, 0844 635 4820 Lindsay Road, 525, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 9446 Lindsay Road, 515, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 9474 Buchanan Street, 500, 1, 1D E O, 0844 635 9318 Trafalgar Street, 495, 1, E CG O, 0844 635 6450 Bothwell Street, 475, 1, O, 0844 635 9238 Giles Street, 475, 1, 1D E CG O, 0844 635 3780 Restalrig Road South, 470, 1, 1D, 0844 635 3700 Prince Regent Street, 460, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 9334

Buchanan Street, 450, 1, , 0844 635 9348 Seafield Road, 425, 1, 1D CG P, 0844 635 9334

Leith Walk Brunswick Street, 850, 2, 2D G CG Z, 0844 635 4820 Huntingdon Place, 750, 2, P, 0844 635 5503 Leith Walk, 715, 2, 2D, 0844 635 3700 Balfour Street, 700, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 6872 Dryden Gait, 675, 2, 1S 1D G P, 0844 635 4820 Jameson Place, 650, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9460 Springfield, 650, 2, , 0844 635 0610 Iona Street, 645, 2, 1S 1D G O, 0844 635 0859 Smith’s Place, 610, 2, 1S 1D G PG P, 0844 635 9316 Dalmeny Street, 575, 2, O, 0844 635 1312 Leith Walk, 600, 1, 1D W O, 0844 635 4820 Albert Street, 535, 1, 1D, 0844 635 4820 Springfield, 510, 1, 1D E CG P, 0844 635 3780 Albert Street, 495, 1, E CG O, 0844 635 2418 Albert Street, 475, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 9312

Marchmont Marchmont Road, 1400, 4, 4D W CG Z, 0844 635 9322 Marchmont Street, 1400, 4, 4D, 0844 635 9322 Marchmont Road, 1250, 3, 3D G CG Z, 0844 635 4820 Marchmont Crescent, 1150, 3, 1B G CG, 0844 635 2418 Marchmont Crescent, 1095, 3, 3D G CG Z, 0844 635 9322 Warrender Park Terrace, 1150, 2, 2D 1B G Z, 0844 635 4820 Marchmont Road, 1000, 2, 2D G PG Z, 0844 635 2214 Marchmont Crescent, 850, 2, G, 0844 635 9679 Marchmont Road, 850, 2, 2D G Z, 0844 635 9560 Beaufort Road, 825, 2, 2D E CG Z, 0844 635 4820 Marchmont Road, 800, 2, 2D G Z, 0844 635 4820 Marchmont Crescent, 750, 2, G CG, 0844 635 2418 Warrender Park Road, 750, 2, 2D G CG Z, 0844 635 9334 Arden Street, 725, 2, 2D G CG Z, 0844 635 9390

Meadowbank Parsons Green Terrace, 795, 2, G CG O, 0844 635 2418 Moray Park Terrace, 720, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9560 Dalgety Road, 685, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9322 Piershill Place, 630, 2, 2T G O, 0844 635 9434 Cambusnethan Street, 585, 2, 1S 1D G CG O, 0844 635 9422 Lochend Gardens, 540, 2, 2D G CG, 0844 635 9478 Willowbrae Road, 525, 2, 1D 1B, 0844 635 4820 Meadowbank Terrace, 610, 1, 1D, 0844 635 3700 London Road, 550, 1, 1D G, 0844 635 3780 East Norton Place, 520, 1, G CG O, 0844 635 2214 Wolseley Place, 475, 1, E CG O, 0844 635 2418

Morningside Craighouse Terrace, 975, 3, 3D G O, 0844 635 4820 Egypt Mews, 1000, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 4820 Myreside Court, 795, 2, G CG P, 0844 635 2418 Morningside Drive, 725, 2, G CG, 0844 635 2418 Craighouse Gardens, 630, 2, 2D E P, 0844 635 9316 Balcarres Court, 600, 2, 2D W P, 0844 635 9424 Comiston Terrace, 625, 1, 1B G CG O, 0844 635 2418 Craighouse Gardens, 595, 1, 1D W CG P, 0844 635 9679 Springvalley Terrace, 595, 1, 1B G CG, 0844 635 2418 Millar Crescent, 575, 1, G CG, 0844 635 2418 Balcarres Street, 525, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 2287 Millar Place, 525, 1, 1B G CG, 0844 635 2418

New Town Scotland Street, 1675, 4, 1S 3D G Z, 0844 635 4820 Eyre Place, 2250, 3, 3D G P, 0844 635 4820 Heriot Row, 1695, 3, PG P, 0844 635 9308 Cumberland Street, 1600, 3, 3D G Z, 0844 635 4820 Randolph Crescent, 1600, 3, , 0844 635 9338 Dublin Street, 1500, 3, 3D G Z, 0844 635 6872 India Street, 1495, 3, CG Z, 0844 635 9308 Broughton Place, 1400, 3, Z, 0844 635 9308 Howe Street, 1400, 3, 1S 2D, 0844 635 4820 Huntly Street, 1300, 3, 3D G Z, 0844 635 4820 Great King Street, 1250, 3, Z, 0844 635 9308 East London Street, 1200, 3, 1S 2D G, 0844 635 6872 Dundonald Street, 1150, 3, 3D G, 0844 635 4820 Queen Street, 1050, 3, G PG, 0844 635 2418 Broughton Street, 950, 3, 3D CG Z, 0844 635 9464 St Vincent Place, 1795, 2, PG P, 0844 635 9308 St Vincent Place, 1550, 2, , 0844 635 9308 Fettes Row, 1500, 2, 2D G Z, 0844 635 4820 Royal Circus, 1350, 2, CG Z, 0844 635 9308 Howe Street, 1300, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9464 Royal Terrace, 1300, 2, 2D G Z, 0844 635 4820 St. Colme Street, 1295, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 6450 Dundas Street, 1250, 2, 2D G Z, 0844 635 4820 Great King Street, 1150, 2, 2D G Z, 0844 635 4820 Gloucester Place, 1000, 2, Z, 0844 635 9308 Northumberland Street N W Lane, 950, 2, 2D 1B G PG P, 0844 635 4820 Hopetoun Crescent, 895, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9320 St Stephen Street, 875, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 4820 East London Street, 850, 2, 2D G Z, 0844 635 4820 Gloucester Square, 850, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 2287 Hopetoun Street, 825, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 4820

Barony Street, 790, 2, 2D W CG O, 0844 635 9560 East London Street, 775, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 4820 Perth Street, 700, 1, 1D 1B G Z, 0844 635 4820 Union Place, 650, 1, , 0844 635 1312 Rose Street South Lane, 475, 1, 1D E Z, 0844 635 4820

Newhaven Western Harbour Drive, 1850, 4, 4D G CG P, 0844 635 6450 Newhaven Road, 675, 3, 1S 2D G CG Z, 0844 635 4820 Western Harbour Brkwater, 950, 2, 2D G PG P, 0844 635 9320 Ferry Road, 525, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 9320 Newhaven Main Street, 450, 1, 1D G PG O, 0844 635 9679

Newington Nicolson Street, 3650, 8, 8D G Z, 0844 635 9679 East Preston Street, 2850, 6, 6D G Z, 0844 635 9679 West Preston Street, 2700, 6, G, 0844 635 9679 Hope Park Terrace, 2000, 5, 5D, 0844 635 3700 Montague Street, 1500, 5, 5D G Z, 0844 635 9679 Montague Street, 1960, 4, 4D G CG Z, 0844 635 9679 St Albans Road, 1650, 4, G PG P, 0844 635 2418 Blackwood Crescent, 1375, 4, 2S 2D, 0844 635 3700 St. Leonards Street, 1300, 4, 4D G P, 0844 635 9592 East Suffolk Park, 1100, 3, G CG P, 0844 635 2418 South Clerk Street,, 850, 2, 2D, 0844 635 3700 South Gray Street, 795, 2, 1B G P, 0844 635 2418 Dalkeith Road, 775, 2, 2D, 0844 635 3700 St. Patrick Square, 750, 2, 2D W Z, 0844 635 9320 Causewayside, 695, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 9602 Lutton Place, 600, 1, 1D G Z, 0844 635 4820 The Pleasance, 595, 1, 1D, 0844 635 3700 St. Leonards Street, 500, 1, P, 0844 635 1312

Old Town Ramsay Garden, 3250, 4, 1S 3D G Z, 0844 635 4820 Cockburn Street, 1800, 4, G Z, 0844 635 6450 Johnston Terrace, 900, 2, G, 0844 635 2418 Canongate, 850, 2, , 0844 635 9338 King Stables Road, 850, 2, G, 0844 635 2418 Blackfriars Street, 795, 2, 2D, 0844 635 3700 Old Tolbooth Wynd, 795, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9320 Tron Square, 775, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 9300 Jeffrey Street, 675, 2, 2D Z, 0844 635 9392 Websters Land, 700, 1, 1D E, 0844 635 6872 Tron Square, 675, 1, , 0844 635 0623 Tron Square, 650, 1, 1D G, 0844 635 4820 Candlemaker Row, 595, 1, 1D E, 0844 635 9679

Polwarth Dundee Terrace, 825, 3, CG Z, 0844 635 9352 Temple Park Crescent, 675, 3, , 0844 635 9338 Polwarth Terrace, 1125, 2, 2D G PG P, 0844 635 9302 Ardmillan Terrace, 825, 2, 2D G CG Z, 0844 635 9324 Harrison Gardens, 750, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9448 Dorset Place, 725, 2, 2D, 0844 635 3700 Temple Park Crescent, 630, 2, 2D E, 0844 635 9560 Tay Street, 625, 2, 2D E CG Z, 0844 635 6872 Temple Park Crescent, 595, 2, G CG, 0844 635 2418 Temple Park Crescent, 725, 1, 2D G CG Z, 0844 635 4820 Temple Park Crescent, 650, 1, 1S 1D E Z, 0844 635 4820 Temple Park Crescent, 575, 1, 1D G CG Z, 0844 635 9460 Mcneill Street, 560, 1, 1D G CG, 0844 635 3780 Watson Crescent, 525, 1, G CG O, 0844 635 6872 Ritchie Place, 495, 1, 1D E CG Z, 0844 635 9390 Ritchie Place, 475, 1, CG Z, 0844 635 3876 Polwarth Gardens, 465, 1, 1D E Z, 0844 635 3337

Slateford Moat Terrace, 800, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 4820 Slateford Road, 750, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 3920 Hutchison Cottages, 650, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9422 Hutchison Road, 625, 2, 2D G PG O, 0844 635 9424 Hutchison Road, 620, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 4644 Slateford Road, 585, 2, O, 0844 635 9352 Moat Drive, 550, 2, 2D, 0844 635 1312 New Mart Square, 595, 1, G P, 0844 635 2418 Moat Street, 550, 1, CG O, 0844 635 6450 Wardlaw Street, 400, 1, 1D, 0844 635 9318

Stockbridge Comely Bank, 800, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 4820 Raeburn Place, 795, 2, 1S 1D W Z, 0844 635 9324 Leslie Place, 695, 2, 2D O, 0844 635 3780 Dean Street, 675, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 1312 Dean Park Street, 650, 2, 2D G Z, 0844 635 4820 Leslie Place, 750, 1, 1D G, 0844 635 4820 St Stephen Place, 700, 1, 1D 1B W CG Z, 0844 635 4820 St. Stephen Street, 625, 1, 1D G CG Z, 0844 635 9392 Dean Park Street, 595, 1, 1D G CG, 0844 635 3780 Henderson Row, 475, 1, 1D W Z, 0844 635 4820

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The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

SPORT// 27

@EdJournalSport / journal-online.co.uk

Red or yellow, it has to be right first time around The FA needs to resolve matters on-pitch rather than babysit referees with all-too-easy post-game panels Ruth Jeffery Sport editor

When Vincent Kompany’s red

card was overturned last week, most football fans were pleased. His supposedly two footed tackle on Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere was by no means a conclusive sending off, and in fact, on closer inspection of replays, looks to deserve not even a yellow. However, there are plenty of problems with the number of decisions like this one which get turned over by the FA. The dismissals of Carton Cole and Darron Gibson in Everton and West Ham’s pre-Christmas clash were also overturned, the referee Anthony Taylor lambasted for two very shaky decisions.

Around the same time, Anthony Gerrard of Huddersfield and Adam Smith of Millwall received clemency after seeing red in their respective Championship games.

The problem here is not the individual cases, but that overturning one bad decision in one match has led to a flurry of appeals from elsewhere. For Kompany and Manchester City, the reversal of the red card is a relief - the defender will now not serve the threematch suspension, and will be available for games against Fulham, Queens Park Rangers and Stoke. For the rest of the Premier League, however, the trend of bad refereeing on the pitch rectified by an FA disciplinary panel is not ideal, and in fact, if allowed to continue in this vein,

may have a long-term negative impact on the game.

One of the main issues is the climate created by such practices. Of course bad decisions must be looked at, and of course referees should be held accountable. Nobody wants the referees’ word to become law, or above question. But there is a case to be made for a general feeling that the footballing mindset is slipping dangerously towards the whining, whinging, ‘I’m going to tell the teacher on you’ type of attitude. And this cannot be encouraged. Already much is made of the current culture of diving, a signal, apparently, of the sport going soft, and calling in the FA every time somebody feels hard done by on the pitch is not going to help that image. Clubs do have

OCEAN DWELLER

a right to appeal if they feel a player has been wrongly punished, but a huge worry for any football fan should surely be the sliding scale of more and more cases like Kompany’s, becoming increasingly ridiculous as the FA does its best to give everybody a slice of consolation pie.

Before this kind of culture is embedded in the sport, more support needs to be given to the referees. The FA has a policy on bad behaviour on the pitch, and what is considered to be a yellow or a red card. But the number of decisions that the FA has had to overturn recently points to a real discrepancy between their policy on bad play, and the referees’ ability to recognise it correctly on the pitch. Of course, refereeing is a job that few envy, and the level of difficulty in

making snap judgements on a fast-moving game without seeing replays cannot be underestimated. But the FA needs to identify this problem and make sure that all officials are as well-equipped as possible to make the correct decisions on the pitch. There’s no need for the plaster if you can avoid the fall in the first place.

And whether that means an extra official or new technology, some kind of change needs to be embraced.

If this clear discrepancy between FA policy and refereeing is not sorted out, the danger of referees becoming scared to make decisions increases. Sometimes a red card is the right answer, and referees need to be able to make those decisions properly and without fear of a comeuppance.

FORTUNE TELLER

Paul the Octopus will make you a few squid Robson beaten by Williams protégé Laura Robson left the Austral-

ian Open last week after a shoulder injury weakened her play during her contest with American Sloane Stephens. Robson, who was treated by a medic halfway through the match, was beaten 7-5, 6-3. She had beaten eighth seed Petra Kvitova on Thursday, and was expected to continue with recent good form that saw her reach the fourth round of the last US Open. 19 year old Stephens has been mentored

by Venus Williams and is currently world number 25. Robson, 18, put up a good fight despite her injury, winning four games in a row during the first set but ultimately not holding out for the win. The two are aparently good friends and were seen joking together during the post-match press conference.

Livingston-born speed skater gets gold Scottish short-track speed

skater Elise Christie got a gold medal in the 1500m at the European Championships in Sweden last week with a time of two minutes, 26.741 seconds. Arianna Fontana from Italy was second.

Christie, who is from Livingston, had previously won gold at the 2008 European Championships with the 3000m relay team, and also represented GB at the 2010

Winter Olympics in Vancouver. She came second in the 1000m at the World Cup in Saguenay, Quebec last October. Just 22 years old, she was asked to join the GB squad at the tender age of 15, and moved to Nottingham to train.

‘Black card’ proposed for Gaelic Games The Gaelic Games Football Review Committee (FRC) has put forward proposals for a new disciplinary measure after a review by Chairman Eugene McGee was released.

The new ‘black card’, awarded for cynical tackles, will see players being forcibly substituted. Three black cards for one team during a match will see the fourth receiver to be taken off with no substitute, and if one player gets three black cards in one season, they will be suspended for one match. This last rule does exclude an All Ireland Final, with the punishment then carried to the next match.

The FRC originally released plans to change the existing yellow card system, but these were scrapped after criticisms from managers called them ‘confusing’. The infractions for a black card include deliberately pulling down an opponent, to use abusive or provocative language and to remonstrate with match officials.

If passed by congress, the changes will be introduced next year. The FRC hopes that harsher punishment will see a reduction in aggressive play.

Matthew Dunne-Miles Staff Writer

“Twenty ten, there’s never been a

year so sweet. The glory days. We had it all back then, Cher Lloyd on X Factor, that woman binning a cat and Cristiano Ronaldo was still in the Premiership…or was that 2009? Oh balls to it, it had me.

Paul the World Cup predicting octopus, supernaturally seeing scores in South Africa, Mystic Megging my way to international celebrity, not bad for a cephalopod mollusc from Weymouth.

Sadly this was also the year I slipped off this mortal coil, so it was a fairly mixed twenty ten to say the least.

However, through my mastery of the spirit world and the wonders of science that made two of Dolly the Sheep, I’m back to make some predictions on future sporting events. Time to get my tentacles on some tarot cards…”

BARTON GOES GALLIC

*I predict a promising February

for Twitter-mogul Joey Barton, with his chameleon-like ability to shift from one language (Scouse-English) to another (Scouse-French), the Marseille Madman will be given his own TV show spin off, resurrecting popular 80s sitcom ‘Allo ‘Allo! . Each episode will end with Barton doing a rendition of the Morrissey hit ‘Suedehead’ whilst cycling through the streets of Paris. My foresight is cloudy as to whether this endeavour will be successful, but it has to be better than Splash! with Tom Daley.

PARROT FLOWN IN

*The pressure of Ranger’s descent

into the footballing leagues of part-

time mechanics and Gaelic team sheets will finally prove too much for loveable lump Ally McCoist. I see him replaced by old adversary from his Question of Sport days, John Parrot. Rangers chairman Charles Green will explain that Parrot ‘can’t botch things any worse, despite his experience primarily being in snooker. I mean, 1-1 with Elgin at the Ibrox? Really? Three of their players had to share one pair of boots’ MIDLANDS DOOMED

*There’s a storm coming. Alex

McLeish will sign as manager of Derby Beacon Radio

County, despite still being at the helm of Nottingham Forest, in the continuation of his plans to bring the whole of the Midlands football to its knees. After reducing both Birmingham sides to tears in consecutive seasons, McLeish hopes to speed up the task by taking on two at once, his justification for this onslaught is that he finds Midlands dialects ‘very annoying’ and will describe the move as ‘shan, but necessary’. Standing outside Pride Park, Alex will declare that ‘once the Midlands is ashes, you have my permission to fire me.’

28 / SPORT

@EdJournalSport / journal-online.co.uk

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

ATHLETICS >> SCOTTISH UNIVERSITIES INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

thatonemoment.co.uk

thatonemoment.co.uk

New track, same old score Glasgow win as Napier shine and Edinburgh fall just short Ruth Jeffery Sport editor

Glasgow University took home the Ian Cosgrove trophy for the third year running last Saturday in the Scottish Universities and Colleges Athletics Indoor Championships. 228 points across 28 events landed them the prize, with Edinburgh and Napier Universities hot on their heels with 197 points and 62 respectively.

Glasgow and Edinburgh tied on 120 points each in their own competition, and shared the Appleton Trophy, which was also previously been won by the westerners.

The day-long tournament was held in the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, a change from the usual venue of Kelvin Hall. Many competitors remarked on the better facilities- perhaps a nod towards Glasgow hosting the 2014 games- while others said they missed the tradition of the old location. The event had around 150 competitors from 13 different universities and colleges, and more than 300 entries were made across all events.

The highlight of the day was the

finale, which consisted of four relay races. The women’s 4x200m was the last to be run, with only Glasgow and Edinburgh competing. The home team was leading for the first lap, but Edinburgh’s Claire Taylor took the baton for the second and stormed into the lead.

The excitement in the stadium was palpable as Edinburgh’s win ensured they placed one hand on the trophy.

The other relay races were also thrilling to watch, with Napier victorious in the men’s 4x200m, Edinburgh claiming the men’s 4x400m and Glasgow women taking the 4x400m. The culmination of the days events, the relays were a raucous and exciting affair compared to the relatively sedate morning session.

The high jump event, which took place towards the end of the day, drew a crowd as two jumpers competed and consecutively scored higher and higher jumps. Ray Bobrownicki from Edinburgh and guest jumper Allan Smith were the last competitors in the event and alternately managed staggering heights which delighted viewers.

Smith retired with a score of 2.22m, whilst Bobrownicki, as a university competitor, won the event with 2.15m.

Edinburgh women’s Captain Nina Sajid said that the team were pleased to draw the Appleton: “I guess that’s good, because they won for the last couple of years, so it was quite good to draw.

Would’ve been nicer to have won, but we’re still happy with that.”

EUAC had some excellent runners who did well to pick up points. Kyle McLellan won the men’s 1500m with a time of 4.12.41 minutes, with James Morehen third in the same race with 4.48.35. Claire Taylor won the 60m hurdles event with a time of 9.03 seconds. Rachel Whittle from Glasgow came second with 9.05, and Emilia Brown from Strathclyde came third with 9.07. All three times broke the championship record. Taylor also ran the 200m for Edinburgh and achieved second place with 25.95 seconds, proving to be one of the team’s most influential competitors on the day.

Napier, who fielded a small team of very talented individuals, did well in the events they entered. Lauren Stoddart came third in the women’s 400m with 62.77 seconds, and Adam Jack came third in the men’s 800m with 2.02.17. As well as winning the men’s 4x200m relay, Napier also got two top

places in the men’s 60m. Oliver Lawson came third with 7.18 seconds, and Donald Tod came fifth with 7.31.

Tod, who also came second in the long jump, said he had not expected to get on the scoresheet: “I am happy. It’s not my main event, I will do it for fun, because I can sprint; and I can’t complain. I didn’t expect a medal, you know fifth in the finals is absolutely fine, and to be fair two of the people who beat me are training partners, I live with one of them. So, my friends, I had four friends in the final, so it was good fun.”

Glasgow’s runner Laura Muir won both the 400m and the 800m with times of 57.86 seconds and 2.10.01 minutes respectively. The team’s other major win’s came from Andrew Murphy in the 60m hurdles with 9.27 seconds, Niki Manson in the high jump with 1.75 metres and Rachel Pugh in the women’s shotputt with 8.32m.

Ruth Jeffery Sport editor

“We were still training a lot, but we didn’t have great facilities — we were over at the Jack Kane, which wasn’t the best place to train, but it was alright.

And now we’re over at Sighthill, and we have free membership for the Engage Gym. We have strength and conditioning sessions a few days a week and train indoors and out.”

The team has been using a website called ‘Hudl’, which enables players to look back at previous game and practice footage to help improve skills. This, combined with the new facilities and fresh blood in the team, should see the Knights’ season recover.

The varsity game is a chance to prove themselves against big rivals and a crowd of over a thousand fans, and Rzepkowski says they are up for the challenge: “Obviously the guys will want to get better, and if we want to do well we’re going to have to work out and go to the gym and get fit.

“We’ll have meetings together and see what we’re dealing with and what their tendencies are, and just try and be prepared for it and hopefully win. We lost last time which was a bit gutting to be honest.”

The next competition for the athletics clubs will be the BUCS indoors competition in February, and then an outdoors tournament in April.

AMERICAN FOOTBALL

Knights plan to escape clutches of Predators

City pride at stake in varsity matchup on Superbowl Sunday

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University Predators will clash in an American football varsity match on 3 February at Meggetland Stadium.

The annual fixture, last year won by the Predators, is part of the British Universities American Football League (BUAFL), with the winner getting the chance to progress to a UK-wide playoff.

Sponsored by Student Recommend and Edinburgh Council’s Activity Funding Programme, the varsity match coincides with Superbowl Sunday and will see the teams grapple for the Varsity Trophy.

Napier is currently bottom in the BUCS table; one place behind Edinburgh with a game in hand. The Knights have lost all three of their games so far this season, whilst their opponents have a tally of one win and three losses.

However, Simon Rzepkowski, cornerback for the Knights, told The Journal that improvements have been made during the three years he has played for them: “In my first year we were quite disorganised — we had no proper game shirts and it was all kind of amateur, but second year we got our own jerseys and team shirts and started looking the part.

The match will be held at Meggetland Stadium on Sunday 3 February at 2.30pm.

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

@EdJournalSport / journal-online.co.uk

SPORT// 29

FORMULA ONE

Old formula, new season...

The new formula one season is poised to roar into life and it could be the most hotly contested yet Ali Wollaston At the time of writing, it is 54 days since Sebastian Vettel lifted his third world driver’s title at Interlagos on 25 November, and for many formula one aficionados the withdrawal symptoms have persisted painfully through the holiday period.

Fortunately, salvation dangles palpably on the horizon — the opera of an engine, a flash of livery and five red lights.

The 2013 Formula One World Championship gets underway from 15-17 March with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, and — if this year can provide the unpredictability, the technical achievement and the drama of 2012 — it promises to be an exciting year for fans worldwide. The preparations are almost complete, and the show is taking shape.

In a sport where consistency is so often the key to success, champions Red Bull have unsurprisingly retained the same driver line-up that has dominated Formula One in recent years.

Reigning champion Vettel appears hungry to add to his growing collection of titles, and veteran Mark Webber can outpace any driver in the field on his day.

Perhaps just as importantly, Red

Bull can continue to call upon their notso-secret weapon; Design Chief Adrian Newey. If there is any advantage to be found in the design process, it is a safe bet that Newey will do so.

Red Bull’s challengers have assembled in their wake, but can any driver truly hope to deny Vettel a fourth consecutive title? A challenge from the garages of McLaren looks unlikely in 2013, with most experts predicting a difficult year following the loss of Lewis Hamilton to Mercedes.

Former champion Jenson Button will take on the mantle of lead driver, but has been scarred by inconsistency in recent seasons. New signing Sergio Perez remains an interesting unknown and has called for his new team to mount a serious title campaign, but questions remain over the Mexican’s long term ability to challenge the top drivers.

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso appears a far more likely challenger to Red Bull superiority, but the Spaniard’s brilliance in recent seasons has masked a poor Ferrari racing car. Having narrowly lost out on the championship in each of the last two seasons, Ferrari must now provide Alonso with the equipment to go out and consistently win races.

A big season also looms for number two Felipe Massa, who has struggled to find his form regularly in recent seasons.

With rumours of Sebastian Vettel’s potential arrival at Ferrari in the near future, Massa must fight for his future in Formula One. Mercedes — led by new signing Hamilton — will not be expected to challenge for the title in 2013, with new regulations in 2014 seeming to dictate their long term strategy. However, Silver Arrows boss Ross Brawn will be aware that Hamilton is never happy unless winning races and Mercedes will need to improve upon a disappointing showing in 2012.

Similarly, Lotus endured an inconsistent if promising season last year, and will be looking to convert their encouraging progress into race wins.Further down the grid, Williams’ debutant Valterri Bottas has replaced the unconvincing Bruno Senna, and will be looking to continue a proud Finnish tradition in Formula One. Swiss team Sauber will also be looking to build on a strong 2012 with a potentially quick new line-up featuring Nico Hulkenberg and Esteban Gutierrez.

Force India are yet to announce a partner for Scot Paul Di Resta — who missed

Patrick Gosling

out on a move to McLaren — and 2013 could prove a make or break season for Toro Rosso drivers Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniel Ricciardo.

Finally, Hispania Racing Team has left the sport after failing to score a single point in three seasons, and improvement will be expected from both Caterham and Marussia if they are to avoid a

similar fate, with Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone revealing his view that there are currently too many teams in the sport.

With little change in regulations from last year, and Pirelli continuing to supply a uniquely unpredictable array of tyres, Formula One 2013 is set up for another fantastic season of racing. Lights out.

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Aleksandr Melnyakov

Ollie Bunting

Stricken Scotland snap up Strachan The ex-Celtic and Coventry boss brought in with Mark McGhee alongside

in association with

Last week Gordon Strachan was appointed the new national coach for Scotland at Hampden Park.

The position is Strachan’s first in two and a half years since his stint as manager of Championship side Middlesbrough.

For the 55-year-old this will be his first step in international management having previously managed at club sides Southampton and Celtic.

Strachan’s assistant, it was revealed on Monday, will be Mark McGhee, who arrives off the back of successive dismal spells as manager of Aberdeen and, latterly, Birstol Rovers.

Speaking at his Hampden Park unveiling, McGhee said: “All I can do is give Gordon the support I can and prove to people that I’m worthy of the position. ““I’ll take all my cues from Gordon, he’s the main man and I’ll respect that.”

Strachan and McGhee inherit a Scotland side in utter disarray after an all but failed World Cup Qualifying campaign for Brazil 2014. The side are bottom of Group A with a meagre two points from their first four games. They feature in a particularly tough group with Belgium’s golden generation, an always tricky

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Croatia side and a Serbia team guided by their big name players.

However, two points from a possible 12 was an unforgiveable return from former manager Craig Levein and it has left Strachan to clear up the pieces with the SFA asking him to lead the team to a respectable position by the end of the campaign.

Strachan faces an immediate uphill task as he takes over the reins of a side that were dealt a harsh blow with the news that captain and star player Darren Fletcher will undergo surgery and miss the rest of the season as a result. For a team that has not reached a major tournament since 1998 that record does not look like being broken before 2014.

However, it is not all bad news for Strachan as he is arguably taking over a team with a lot of untapped potential that could, if nurtured in the right way, blossom into one of the best Scottish squads assembled in recent years.

This in particular is down to Steven Fletcher and Jordan Rhodes who if utilised in the correct way could be a potent force upfront for Strachan in years to come.

Additional reporting by Seán Francis McGowan.

30 / SPORT

@EdJournalSport / journal-online.co.uk

FOOTBALL

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

CYCLING

Malgosia Stelmaszyk

year’s eleventh place finish and their 5-1 demolishing by Hearts in the Scottish Cup Final has been miraculous, but without Griffiths the story would be very different.

Fourteen goals in twenty-one appearances in the league this season represent a conversion of fairytale proportions for the centre-forward; it is one short of doubling his total tally last year, in just over half as many games. Fenlon’s decision to play Griffiths in a central role has assisted here, unlike last year where he was deployed wide supporting Gary O’Connor, his frustration evident.

But for the team, what matters is that Leigh’s goals have killed off games that last season would have been drawn or lost. Hibs attack with pace, their defence proves solid and Griffiths is banging them in week after week. As their confidence blossoms in Fenlon’s second season, they stand a realistic shot at European football at the very least.

Some suggest Hibs could run Celtic close for the title. Eleven points behind at this stage would suggest otherwise, but the Champions clawed back nine last season. Hibs also defeated Celtic 1-0 at Easter Road in December thanks to an early Griffiths strike.

If Griffiths stays fit, and can keep up his form, second place is more than in reach. A challenge might be beyond them, but for the first time in a while, there is sunshine breaking over Leith.

Leigh’s Leith fairytale Hibs’ main man Griffiths has title hope Michael Mawdsley

Once upon a time in Leith, five

young men: Gordon Smith, Willie Ormond, Eddie Turnbull, Bobby Johnstone and Lawrie Reilly, known as ‘The Famous Five’, blessed Easter Road. Together, scoring 692 goals in the process, they helped carry Hibernian to three championships in five years, second place in two.

Sixty years on, the story is not of five men. Instead, after fifty years of darkness, it’s the industrious qualities and finishing ability of one that may help them challenge for a title once more.

Leigh Griffiths, on loan for a second season from Wolverhampton Wanderers, a deal extended to July last week, has performed a resurrection. Hibs’ resurgence following last

‘Sick’ Lance feels the strong-arm of the law Orla O’Muiri Staff writer

With a partial confession on

Thursday nights’ interview with Oprah, disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong kept up the facade. From hero to villain, his reign has come to an end in spectacular fashion.

For all its build up the two-part interview did disappoint. Instead of a heartfelt apology, the audience got what appeared to be a carefully choreographed delivery. He did confess to doping but no names were named, no mention of LeMond, Bruyneel, Kimmage et al; a hesitant apology to David Walsh and Emma O’Reilly; a ‘no comment’ on Betsy Andreu.

There was a certain lack of conviction to his words. He’s lost everything; sponsors, titles, medals, millions of dollars, and his right to compete in sanctioned races.

Now backed into a corner, he relents just a little, with limited admission of guilt and an ‘I’m sorry’ delivered via Oprah, who is no longer a journalist but a talk show host, one who knows nothing of cycling and who he knows will turn this into an emotional programme with a moral instead of getting

down to the nitty gritty and forcing him to face the hard questions.

Armstrong, in yet another marketing stunt tried to appeal to our emotions, forgetting that although he is charismatic and has always en admired, he has never been a particularly likeable character.

Now the Armstrong brand is disintegrating; the cancer survivor, who went on to dominate the world of cycling. When all along, behind closed hotel doors, stood Ferrari, painted as a creepy medieval doctor, performing blood transfusions and dishing out white lunch bags full of goodies. “That is a guy who felt invincible, he was told he was invincible. He truly believed he was invincible,” says Armstrong of himself during the interview.

He was the man who epitomised the American dream and now faces the nightmare. He yearns to compete again and thinks he deserves to be allowed.

He faces the ‘death penalty’; a lifetime ban on competing.

Armstrong needs to learn it is not all about winning and he needs to step away from all sport for a while to allow it to heal. If he can’t do that for cycling than he is not really sorry and his words are, once again, empty.

FOOTBALL

Minnows dare to dream

Cup puts perennial extras centre-stage Jonathan McIntosh

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Griffin Park: a small, traditional football stadium in West London, famous for having a pub on each corner — not famous for very much else. After years of waiting, Brentford Football Club will be welcoming European champions Chelsea for their FA Cup fourth round tie.

The life of a lower league football fan can often be a lonely one. In my lifetime, Brentford have barely survived, rattling buckets outside the gates to raise funds. We were relegated from League One with a record points low, and then we saw Terry Butcher’s best attempts to send us out of the Football League altogether.

This season though, we are third in League One with some of the best players that have ever donned the red and white stripes, and we are even getting a pop at Chelsea.

For a player, a good display against a Premiership club can ignite their career instantly. Brentford beat Sunderland in 2006 thanks to two superb DJ Campbell goals. Campbell went to Birmingham two days later, and our promotion hopes eventually faded without him.

For a club, any tie against a Premiership team will make for a massive payday. Our match against Chelsea, in front of the ESPN cameras, will be worth around £300,000 for the club.

At least £60,000 of that will be invested back into manager Uwe Rosler’s playing budget and we should be able to keep star players such as Harry Forrester, Adam Forshaw and Clayton Donaldson.

Ultimately, this plum FA Cup match could make the difference between us finally playing Championship football

next season or facing even more trips to Stevenage and Yeovil.

Although no official figures have yet been released, it is believed that Bradford City’s Capital One Cup exploits have netted the club in the region of £2 million. They have signed four players already in January, with no key players leaving. Should they hold onto their lead against Aston Villa, a trip to Wembley and a small possibility of Europa League football beckons for them. In recent years, the Bantams have hardly been free of financial crisis and have dropped from the Premiership to League Two, but the extra money should be enough to push them on to better things.

However, the Capital One Cup has proven a distraction for Bradford.

Having picked up just one point out of 12, they have dropped to ninth in League Two and now look set to stay put for next season. Before they played Arsenal, Bradford were fourth and pushing themselves into the automatic promotion spots.

Brentford’s match against Chelsea will hopefully not be our only big day out this season. We still have 20 huge matches left to get out of League One.

Matthew Wilkinson

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

SPORT// 31 SPORT

@EdJournalSport / journal-online.co.uk

SPORT /

Hacker:

Exploring the problems with reactionary refereeing

Refs to be pitch perfect

27 Malgosia Stelmaszyk

Fenlon ‘disappointed’ by draw Frustration for the Easter Road faithful as bottom club Dundee hold out for stalemate Scottish Premier League

HIBERNIAN

1

DUNDEE

1

Ruth Jeffery Sport editor

Hibernian came from behind

to draw 1-1 with Dundee United in a game which had plenty of opportunities for both sides to lead. Hibs are now

fourth in the table, but a win would have seen them leapfrog St Mirren into third.

Dundee went a goal up after just eight minutes on the clock thanks to John Baird’s strike after a one-two with Colin Nish inside the box.

Griffiths then evened the scoreline with a great free kick 20 yards out just a few minutes into the second half.

Wotherspoon stood over the ball, and feinted to the right as he let Griffiths fire a straight ball past Robert Douglas and into the net.

Hibernian manager Pat Fenlon described his team as “sloppy” and

“lethargic” and said: “I’m disappointed, we didn’t play well today and we know that. Ben Williams made some great saves today, but he does that every week. We shouldn’t need to rely on him as much as we did today to be honest.”

Dundee manager Barry Smith said: “We created chances in the first half and also in the second half. Overall I am happy with our performance in coming to a difficult place.”

In the first half Hibs didn’t look like a team hoping to secure second place in the SPL this season. Even nor-

mally fired up Leigh Griffiths looked less than lively. Dundee, still bottom of the table on 13 points, defended very deep and did not take the confidence from the goal that they needed to convert some of their chances.

Whatever Pat Fenlon had to say to the Hibs players during half time clearly had an impact, as the Leithers seemed fired up and eager for goals from the off. Griffiths and Wotherspoon in particular had not looked very menacing before the break, but came back energised.

Wotherspoon put on a show

and impressed the crowd in the last moments of the game as he dribbled the ball expertly past Jim McAlister, twisting away at the last second to deny the defender a tackle. Wotherspoon was relieved of the ball moments later, and within seconds the whistle signalled that that had been Hibs’ last chance to get the points.

The point gained for Dundee will most probably not be enough to save them from relegation, with the club stranded 11 points at the bottom of the table. Hibs, 13 points from the summit, should have pushed harder for a win.

FOOTBALL

Grand day out: football at its sumptuous best Jack Martini Decadence correspondent

Nobody should be able to say

that money is ruining football until they’ve enjoyed the matchday experience from an executive box.

No, not one of those portacabins Rotherham used to have set up at Millmoor; we’re talking Old Trafford – tickets better than anything money can buy, in the suite of major club sponsors Turkish Airlines. Such an indulgent day out certainly lends perspective to the nostalgia surrounding ‘terrace culture’.

Compelled to arrive at midday for the three-o’clock kick-off, a champagne reception marks the beginning of a three-hour pre-match build-up where, alas, there is little else to do but avail yourself of the fine food and wide array of liquor before you – on the house.

There were a few Manchester United legends doing the rounds

– and don’t they have so many to choose from! Whisper it quietly, but there were even one or two pre-1993 faces knocking around.

Banter in the box is heightened by a predictions competition to win a Manchester United shirt, signed by the legends. That’s just a bonus though – the ornately-decorated complimentary Manchester United mug will make a great gift should I ever deign to befriend a Red. Anybody fearing a diminished atmosphere behind the glass has the pleasant surprise of having the sweet music of the Stretford End piped into the box.

A debate ensues as to whether this is real-time or manufactured – given that we see not one ripple break the serene stillness of the crowd in the opening half hour – but the bemusement which greets a fluffed Chicharito one-on-one is enough to settle it.

The no-name away team are good sports – they make a decent fist of it.

It’s entertaining (that’s what football is all about isn’t it) but, happily, everyone gets their fairytale ending as Manchester United sweep through in the second half to a comfortable win.

Everyone, you would imagine, except the two young lads in the next box along who so wildly celebrated the away team’s goal earlier on. There really is no recommending the hospitality experience if you have so much

personal happiness invested in the result. Theirs was a miserable second half, mine was a rum-infused delight even as the scoreline swung the way of others’ predictions. No signed shirt for me, but plenty of cheese and crackers to accompany such a pleasingly competitive match.

Needless to say, anybody who has the opportunity to sample this luxurious medium between the armchair

and the terrace should grasp it with both hands. If you enjoy ‘being there’ but aren’t fond of loud noises, the cold, raucous singing, casual employment of profanities or queuing for a pie, then you might well find paradise in that corporate suite.

FOOTBALL

HOCKEY

Jack Martini attended Old Trafford Stadium courtesy of Turkish Airlines.

LEAGUE TABLES FOOTBALL

BUCS Scottish Conference Men’s 1A P W D L F

Stirling 2nd

6 4 1

Edinburgh 1st

1

BUCS Scottish Conference Men’s 2A

A GD Pts

14 5

P W D L F

BUCS Women’s Scottish Conference 3A

A GD Pts

P W D L F

A GD Pts

9

13

Edinburgh Napier 1st 6 4 2

0 13 6

7

14

Edinburgh 3rd

5 4 0 1 21 8

6 2

2 2 13 12 1

8

Abertay 1st

1 15 4

11

13

St Andrews 2nd

5 2 2

Heriot-Watt 1st

6 2

1

3 8

13 -5

7

Robert Gordon 1st

5 1

3 10 10 0

4

Edinburgh 4th

6 1

3

2 8

15 -7

6

Glasgow 1st

6 2

0 4 9

13 -4

6

Glasgow Caley 1st

4 0 2

2 4

11

-7

2

Heriot-Watt 1st

4 1

1

2 5

5

0

4

Aberdeen 1st

4 2

0 2 6

7

6

Edinburgh 2nd

5 0 2

3 4

15 -11

2

Glasgow 2nd

4 1

0 3 8

8

0

3

-1

6 4 1 1

1 7

13

12

13 -6

8

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