The Journal - Glasgow Issue 18 by The Journal

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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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GLASGOW’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER

ISSUE XVIII

WEDNESDAY 21 NOVEMBER 2012

SPECIAL REPORT

Russell under pressure as SNP education agenda stumbles • Education secretary branded “bully” after ousting Stow College chair for ‘spy-pen’ recording

New postgrad club finally open Glasgow Uni open Gilchrist Club, months after Hetherington was shuttered

• Salmond and Russell accused of ‘misleading’ parliament over cuts • Knives come out as unions attack college reform programme

IN NEWS /

4-5

IN MUSIC / 22 Brotherly love Introducing up-and-coming London rock experimentalists Brother & Bones

Partick Thistle’s rise • Scotland rugby • Hall of fame heroes • Cardonald badminton

IN SPORT /

27-31

Chris Dolan

The Glasgow author on new novel Redlegs and taking advice from Norman Mailer

IN ARTS /

IN NEWS / 3-14 • Hunterian-Kelvin Hall merger • Widening access at Strathclyde • Glasgow Uni student satisfaction • Gaza solidarity protests • Civil war at NUS

2 / CONTENTS

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THIS WEEK INSIDE THE JOURNAL...

The Journal Wednesday 21 November 2012

Students baring all A Glasgow student talks about her experiences working as an exotic dancer

StrathGuides to lead the way USSA president Malcolm Moir launches new volunteering and mentoring programme aimed at widening access

7 VIEWFINDER

The secret author The Journal meets prolific, award-winning literary translator Margaret Jull Costa

Stanley Liew

Police wrangle suspected SDL members attempting to enter the Gaza rally (p9)

For advertising information Cinematic Mastery Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘The Master’ may be one of the cinematic treats of the decade

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

The Journal Wednesday 21 November 2012

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LOCAL NEWS / 3

Hunterian and Kelvin New lab opened Hall to form cultural hub at Southern Redevelopment plans will see 1.5 million exhibits moved to West End General hospital Hannah Rodger Staff writer

Plans to move collections from Glasgow University’s Hunterian museum and hidden treasures from Glasgow museums to the Kelvin Hall offers a cultural delight for the city’s residents and tourists alike. After securing a first-round approval for a £4.8 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund earlier this year, plans to move items within the current collection held at the Hunterian on University Avenue are underway, with final arrangements still to be made. One and a half million items will be displayed on the new site, including the only complete set of interiors designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh – those from Ingram Street tearooms. Along with items from the Hunterian going to Kelvin Hall, Glasgow museums have 400,000 items currently in storage, including historical and archaeological objects which will be on public display. This will create a cultural quarter in the West End, with Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and the Kelvin Hall at the heart, along with the relatively new Riverside trasport museum nearby.

A spokesperson from Glasgow Life, the cultural branch of Glasgow City Council, said the redevelopments “will enhance Glasgow’s already internationally recognised reputation as one of the world’s leading cultural cities” and “it will undoubtedly boost tourism in the city”. The unique partnership between the university and city council is one of the first in the UK, and will offer members of the public opportunities to view rare items and access more facilities. Susan Ferguson, a spokeswoman for the Hunterian, said:“Our intention is to co-locate all our study collections for research, teaching and wider educational purposes at Kelvin Hall. “It offers huge opportunities to enhance access to our world class collections.” A research, teaching and training centre will also be set up, and new sporting facilities will be created at Kelvin Hall. The move comes as part of an overall redevelopment plan for the sporting venue due to the building of the Emirates stadium on the commonwealth site in the East End of Glasgow, which will soon be used for the majority of sport-

ing events that would have been held at Kelvin Hall. Glasgow City Council was unable to provide information on timescales for the project, but the works could create some disruption for the public. The sports facilities are set to close with the opening of the Commonwealth Arena and the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome. The athletics track will be moved to the Commonwealth Emirates stadium, and people will have to rely on the other fitness centres nearby, such as those at Scotstoun, Maryhill or North Woodside for exercise classes and gym facilities until redevelopments are complete. A spokesman for Glasgow Life said: “The new and improved facilities at the Emirates Arena will provide the people of Glasgow with a genuinely world-class athletics facility. As well as hosting existing events, the new arena will allow us to bring in additional events like the UCI Track World Cup.” With new sporting events coming to Glasgow, as well as the arrival of the Commonwealth Games in 2014, and the development of the cultural quarter in the west end, it is hoped this will boost tourism in the city and improve sports and recreation facilities for the public.

Health secretary Alex Neil official opens groundbreaking £90 million lab in Govan Gareth Llewellyn Deputy managing editor

A £90 million laboratory to develop

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life-saving treatments and diagnosis has opened on the south side of Glasgow. Located on the Southern General campus in Govan, the new state-of-the-art facilities enable groundbreaking services for biochemistry, haematology, microbiology, genetics and pathology. The centralised laboratories are expected to see analytical tests on blood samples processed quicker, new tests developed to aid the diagnosis of medical conditions as well as treatments tailored to a patient’s DNA makeup with patients seeing faster results. Speaking at the official opening, health secretary Alex Neil said: “This new facility will bring together a whole range of laboratory services under one roof and provide NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde with a modern purpose-built facility which will play a key role in supporting the New South Glasgow Hospitals Campus site. “In addition, it will bring real benefits for patients, by providing faster diagnostic

tests, and through the development of pioneering medical breakthroughs. Andrew Robertson, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde chairman, said: “The new laboratory building is the first stage of a building programme that will transform the Southern General campus into a world class facility. “It has been delivered on time and within budget and has created a multidisciplinary approach to laboratory medicine which will benefit patients now and in the future.” Over 700 staff made up of medical personnel, clinical scientists, biomedical scientists, technical assistants, administrative and clerical staff all housed under one roof. Abbott Diagnostics won the contract to provide a range of diagnostic services worth more than £100m over seven years. The £842 million publicly funded project will see an integrated children’s and adult hospital built on the site of the current Southern General comprising 1,109 beds, including a 256-bed children’s hospital providing maternity, paediatric and acute services.

Youth unemployment figures fall in Glasgow Glasgow is the only major city in the UK where unemployment figures have decreased, according to new statistics Keira Murray Local News editor

Glasgow is the only major city in the

UK where youth unemployment figures have fallen, it has been revealed. The three-month period from April to June has seen youth unemployment in Scotland fall by 5,000 with the rate falling by 0.2 percentage points to 7.9 per cent. For the 21st consecutive month of labour market statistics, the rate of employment in Scotland is higher than the UK rate. In this three month period, the youth employment rate in Scotland was 56.3 per cent compared to 50.0 per cent in the UK as a whole which is an increase of 2.3 per cent over the year. First Minister Alex Salmond said: “These figures show that Scotland has a higher employment rate — for the 21st consecutive month of labour market statistics — a lower unemployment rate, and a lower rate of economic inactivity than the UK as a whole.”

Youth employment minister Angela Constance said: “I am very encouraged indeed to see a rise in youth employment of 10,000 in the last year. “Clearly, there is much work still to be done, but today’s figures demonstrate that our efforts in this area are starting to pay off.” Speaking at the 15th State of the City Economy Conference earlier this month, Councillor Gordon Matheson said they are doing everything in their power to keep youth unemployment figures down. He said: “I am delighted to announce that from today, we complete our £25 million Glasgow Guarantee to fight youth unemployment in the city. “The Commonwealth Youth Fund goes live at noon today, providing employers with a 50 per cent wage subsidy and targeted training to help 16 and 17 year olds get ready for work. He added: “My administration will not lose sight of what needs to be done to give our city’s young people the opportunities they deserve. We are making a difference.”

4 / NATIONAL POLITICS

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The Journal Wednesday 21 November 2012

SCOTTISH FURTHER EDUCATION POLICY: A GOVERNMENT IN CRISIS

Russell under pressure over Stow scandal Ousting of college chairman who recorded meeting with education secretary Mike Russell prompts calls for his resignation Gareth Llewellyn Deputy managing editor

The resignation of a college chairman has raised questions of bullying by education secretary Mike Russell amid controversial college reform. The allegations surfaced during a public spat between Russell and Stow College chair Kirk Ramsay who stood down after an “unwarranted personal attack” by the SNP minister. The row began after Ramsay made a secret recording of a meeting with college chairs with a device dubbed a “spy pen”. A letter from Russell said: “It appears that an unauthorised audio recording was made of the event, without my knowledge or the courtesy of notifying those in attendance. I’m informed that this recording has now been distributed by Mr Ramsay. “I am afraid I do not regard Mr Ramsay’s actions as consistent in any way with the protocol expected at such an event or of the standards I expect [of the chairman of a board of management of ] any college.” In a statement last week, Ramsay said: “My resignation follows an unwarranted personal attack on me by Michael Russell MSP. “My passion and commitment for Stow College, and the college education sector as a whole, is too great for me to

allow any perceived error on my part to be allowed to inflict damage on the college, its students or staff, executives and board. “I remain firm in my belief that I have done nothing wrong and intend to clear my name.” Presiding over savage cuts to college teaching budgets, thousands of job losses, reduced student numbers with thousands of students unable to secure college places, the beleaguered minister took the unprecedented step of writing to every college principal and chairman in Scotland to highlight Ramsay’s recording. He then refused to apologise for questioning Ramsay’s suitability as chair of a college board of management and went on the offensive for a second time during heated exchanges at Holyrood with opposition MSPs last week. Russell said: “The Scottish Government believes the college sector, like any other, needs to be led and governed by people of the highest quality and standards. “Chief among their attributes must always be mutual trust and respect.” Ramsay’s justification for the recording was to ensure he and absent colleagues had an accurate record of the meeting and it was not submitted to outside parties. He said: “Rather than take detailed notes of Mr Russell’s speech, I recorded

his comments. This recording was solely for my own use and for others who could not attend. “I am extremely disappointed that Mr Russell has used his position to seek to exert such control, influence and power both privately, but also so publicly.” BBC Scotland have reported that opposition MSPs have seen their calls for an official inquiry blocked by the head of the education and culture committee, in a move that opposition members of the committee have called a “partisan” decision. The meeting, which Ramsay claims was attended by 80 people including college management and civil servants, was seen as an opportunity for college leaders to speak to the education secretary about the Scottish Government’s controversial college reforms which will dramatically reduce the number of colleges. Stow College’s future remains uncertain after it abandoned plans to join the City of Glasgow College merger in 2010, instead opting to remain independent, but college management are now in talks to merge with North Glasgow College and John Wheatley College reducing the number of colleges in Glasgow from seven to three by 2013. Additional reporting by Daniel do Rosario.

EDITORIAL

Why The Journal believes that Mr Russell has failed as education secretary, and should resign

Scottish Government accused of ‘misleading parliament’ over FE cuts

PROFILE // STOW COLLEGE Ric Glassey

First minister Alex Salmond is forced to apologise to parliament, after insisting at FMQs that there had been no cut to college budgets Daniel do Rosario Political editor

Stow College in the Cowcaddens area of Glasgow was Glasgow’s first purpose-built college, named after a Victorian philanthropist and one of the greatest pioneers in the history of Scottish Education, David Stow, in 1934. Described at the time as a ‘trades school’, the initially college provided evening courses to help the workers and companies of Clydeside towards economic recovery. More recently the college’s primary focus has been on training in management, computing, electronics, science and music. In January 2000, the college expanded its operation with a new £1.3 million campus development on the semi-derelict Shakespeare Street Primary School in Maryhill and opened a new £1.5m science learning centre in 2005 at its city campus.

Scottish Government

Stow College’s proximity to the city centre meant joining a merger of Glasgow’s Nautical, Central and Metropolitan colleges seemed inevitable and it was part of plans to join, but the troubled college abandoned the move in 2009 amid an internal audit by the Scottish Funding Council into the college’s 2007/08 accounts. Three years later, with Mike Russell’s regionalisation reforms ramping up across the coutry, the college was snubbed by the ‘Clyde’ merger with college principals and board chairs particularly concerned about Stow’s estates and financial situation. In June 2012 the college then entered substantive merger negotiations, this time with North Glasgow College and John Wheatley College, with a proposed vesting date in 2013.

The Scottish Government was accused of misleading parliament about cuts to college funding last week, when it emerged that figures quoted by first minister Alex Salmond and his education secretary Mike Russell were incorrect. Under questioning from Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont, Mr Salmond repeatedly stated that the resource budget for Scotland’s colleges for 2011-12 to the current financial year had seen an increase from £545 million to £546 million — what Salmond called “about as exact an answer as anybody has given in any parliament”. Shortly after first minister’s questions, Labour circulated documents from the Scottish Parliament’s Information Centre indicating that college funding had in fact fallen, and that the figures quoted by Mr Salmond were obtained by comparing the draft budget figures from 2011-12 to the final (revised) figures for the current financial year. The revised figure for resource funding in 2011-12 was over £555 million, which means the allocated

revenue spending for Scotland’s colleges has fallen by over £9 million this year. Mr Russell is also under fire for two contradictory claims — one in June claiming that there was no fall in college funding, and then a written statement in October that stated there had indeed been cuts. During FMQs, Lamont said: “It is no longer a question of whether Mike Russell has misled parliament, but rather, when”, before suggesting that this might be grounds for Russell losing his job. Alluding to the controversy between Mike Russell and the chair of Stow College in Glasgow, Lamont said: “This week Mr Russell told a college chair he should resign because he no longer had any trust in him — well presiding officer, no one can have any trust in Mike Russell after this week.” “Mike Russell has told a college chair he would sack him if he had the power — but Mike Russell has misled this parliament, and the first minister has the power to sack him.” Salmond responded by listing the large number of MSPs that Scottish Labour had previously called on to

resign, before saying “the only person they haven’t called for is my resignation — a totally extraordinary situation.” At around 5pm, Salmond appeared before parliament to clarify the government’s position and to apologise over the incorrect figures, which he claimed to have used ‘in good faith’. He admitted that the 2011-12 figures he had used “failed to take into account revisions to funding” and stressed that “there was no intention to mislead.” He argued that was made clear in the fact that Mike Russell had provided the correct figures in a letter to the education committee on 18 October. In the same FMQ’s, the first minister admitted that budgets for colleges were going to fall next year, but that capital spending was being allocated to help out. Revenue/resource spending is for day to day spending that an institution might need to do, for the delivery and purchase of services. Capital spending is spending allocated to improvements such as infrastructure and so on, which are expected to deliver a return. The Journal has pressed Russell over cuts to college spending before, but he ‘disputed’ our figures.

The Journal Wednesday 21 November 2012

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NATIONAL POLITICS / 5

Unions slam government’s college agenda Senior figures in Scottish staff and academic unions open fire on the government’s college regionalisation programme ANALYSIS Gareth Llewellyn Deputy managing editor

Education secretary Mike Rus-

sell’s actions since the SNP swept to power in the 2011 election have angered many in the education sector, particularly Scotland’s further education colleges. Funding cuts and aggressive sector reform which have resulted in numerous job losses, along with a tense debate around student funding arrangements have embittered the sector, leaving many in the education sector privately resentful of Russell and the SNP administration. College principals have talked a good game behind closed doors, regularly criticising Russell’s direction for education in Scotland, but their silence now is deafening, with many fearful of being out of a job this time next year when at least six mergers are expected to go through. Staff unions, however, have been more assertive; in The Journal today, two influential unionists take few prisoners (see right).

COMMENT: TRADES UNION ACTIVISTS COME OUT SWINGING

Address the issues; stop this party-political point scoring Larry Flanagan

While we want to see Scotland’s Further Education sector high on the news agenda, it was disappointing this week that this was based around personal spats and party-political squabbling. Scotland’s colleges are facing very serious and very real problems so Scotland’s politicians, both local and national, should be focusing on addressing these issues rather than engaging in party-

political point-scoring. Scotland’s FE colleges are in the midst of a cycle of deep cuts to their annual teaching budgets, which has cost thousands of jobs in our colleges and robbed thousands of prospective students of vital educational and training opportunities. Scotland’s colleges are key to Scotland’s economy and Scotland’s economic recovery, yet they are being forced to cut jobs and courses to

are no longer in dispute, we would argue that before decisions are taken about future spending on Further Education there should be an extended period of discussion during which the voices of those most closely involved in the provision and receipt of college education – the staff and students – are clearly heard. Larry Flanagan is general secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland.

We need openness, transparency and union representation Chris Greenshields

This row over the use of a recording

device at a meeting to discuss matters of vital importance to students and staff at Scotland’s Further Education

colleges was unfortunate, but it highlights wider issues of openness, transparency and union representation. Cuts, mergers and regionalisation are going ahead without full involvement of FE staff and their representatives in the process. There is a lack of

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balance their declining budgets. The grant for learning and teaching, which funds the core function of FE, has been cut by 20% in the last two academic years. Today there are many tens of thousands fewer college places (44,000 in the last year for which there are statistics) while the number of applications have soared. At a time of record youth unemployment, this is a scandal. Now that the true extent of the cuts

representation of unions at board level, despite the minister saying that he wished the unions to be ‘fully involved in the process of change’ in colleges. As FE colleges head into mergers, we must reiterate our call for democratically elected local officials of our recognised trade unions to be given places on the new boards. Such representation would ensure the transparency and accountability of government ministers in their dealings with the FE colleges, including Stow College. Over 1,300 jobs have been lost in Scotland’s colleges last year alone. The prospect of further damaging budget cuts means the sector is facing a diffi-

cult future. The number of jobs which have been lost in our colleges is unsustainable and damaging to the chances of our students successfully completing their course of study. All of our efforts should be on the disastrous implications of the current cuts to budgets, courses and jobs on our current and future students. Unions need to be able to represent college staff in the places where the decisions are being taken. Chris Greenshields is chair of UNISON Scotland’s FE committee and a steward at Stow College.

Unemployment in Scotland rises New figures from the Office of National Statistics show jobless numbers in Scotland are up in the last three months, but down overall across the UK

Positive discrimination to be allowed in university admissions Decisions by Universities Scotland represent move towards widening access

6 / STUDENT NEWS

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The Journal Wednesday 21 November 2012

New GU postgrad social hub opened Gilchrist Postgraduate Club finally opens at Glasgow University, in accordance with Free Hetherington Agreement Rebecca Day Student News editor

The University of Glasgow has

opened a new social space to accommodate the ever-expanding postgraduate community. The Gilchrist Postgraduate Club, that set the University back £800,000 to design and build, includes bar and catering facilities, a flexible study space and seminar rooms designed for both curricular and extracurricular activities. The club is exclusively for the use of postgraduates and staff of the university, and holds social events such as Whisky Tasting and Salsa classes. The new club is named in honour of Dr Marion Gilchrist, Glasgow University’s first female graduate and the first woman to qualify in medicine from a Scottish university. She was also a leading activist in the woman’s suffrage movement. Students from Glasgow University helped design and plan the club alongside the SRC to fulfil what they felt was a need for a flexible and comfortable work and study environment for those doing a masters. The building of the post graduate club was one of the conditions of the concession agreed between demonstrators involved in the Free Hetherington protests and university management in 2011.

During the protests, campaigners occupied the abandoned former postgraduate club for six months as a reaction to the proposed spending cuts made by the university management team. The occupation was a divisive topic, culminating in a physical fight that broke out between protesters and some fellow students, and the police were called to intervene. The occupation campaign ended with the protesters agreeing to allow the building to be converted into lecture space. Yet this was approved under the strict condition that the university made no further cuts to university courses or involuntary redundancies, students involved would go unpunished and be allowed to resume study, and a new postgraduate space would be created in 2012. Glasgow University Students’ Representative Council vice president of media communications, Craig Angus, said: “Many postgraduates are here for a short time and so accommodating them and integrating them into the community presents a challenge. “The new space is a significant commitment from the University and the SRC to address this. There is a dedicated manager of the space, which is a new role the SRC has created to ensure everything runs smoothly.” Joanna Tucker, a postgraduate

Rebecca Day

reading Medieval Scottish History is delighted with the new study space. Speaking to The Journal, she said: “What’s great about it is that it’s not strictly for academic activities, so I feel more relaxed coming here. “It really caters for the lifestyle of a postgraduate, which is different to an undergraduate in that studying is ingrained into every aspect of your lifestyle. This is about bridging a gap between the social and the academic.

“The university is really big and it’s easy to be overwhelmed by its size, so I think it’s great having a space allocated solely for the use of Postgraduates. “It’s great having a strong postgraduate identity, which I think the new space promotes…the cinnamon buns served in the cafeteria aren’t too bad either.” However, Tucker did not feel especially honoured having university money invested in a space designed exclusively for post graduates.

“If you think of how much money the postgrads bring, it’s actually not much to have a small designated space for socialising. “It is postgraduates that help drive the research that influences the reputation of the university. So giving us our own space emphasises the importance the university places on postgraduates.” The Gilchrist Postgraduate Club is open Monday to Saturdays: 10am to 11pm, and Sundays: 12pm to 11pm.

GUSRC gets international SAAS changes student seal of approval guidelines for Glasgow union tops satisfaction survey of UK international students Rebecca Day Student News editor

Glasgow University’s Student

Representative Council (GUSSRC) has come first in a satisfaction rating survey for international students across the UK. The university gained an overall satisfaction rating of 96.1 per cent, the highest among any in the Russell Group (the 24 leading universities in the UK), and ranked 5th in the world. Mesue Zheng, a student from China doing a Masters in International Accounting and Financial Management, spoke to The Journal of her personal experience at the university. “It was a little hard to get used to the lifestyle in Glasgow because of the culture and language mainly. But after a week or so, I settled in and started really enjoying living here. “The SRC really helped me with the geography of the university, and the welcome events they held taught me a lot about the history of the campus, which was really interesting. I love Glasgow. I would definitely recommend the university to my friends at home who are interested in studying abroad.” President of the SRC, James Harrison spoke to The Journal of the union’s success: “I’m absolutely thrilled that the international students at Glasgow have recognised the importance and value GUSRC has for their experience at Glasgow. Our strategic plan had a very

high target of an annual satisfaction rating of 95 per cent so we are pleased to have bettered this target and hope that we will continue to do so.” He accredited the high rating to the numerous services available for international students on campus, saying “with GUSRC’s services such as our advice centre, offering advice on housing, finance and academic issues; our minibus service; and our many opportunities for volunteering and representation, international students are well catered for. Glasgow University GUSRCs new Gilchrist Postgraduate Club also recently opened, and we hope that this too will cater for the increasing population of international stu-

dents at Glasgow.” He was quick to note the value International students have within the overall dynamic of the university, saying: “The University of Glasgow is a world class university, and it’s appropriate that this is reflected in its student population. International students really enhance the learning experience for all students as they can bring diversity and wider perspectives on certain issues.” The success of the SRC in the student survey can be viewed as a double win for the university’s unions, with the Glasgow University Union winning the Student Union of the Year award for the second year in a row in early November. Iain Farrell

hardship funding Funding agency responds to this year’s crisis by easing restrictions on emergency funding Aoife Moore Staff writer

The Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) has changed the guidelines for applying for hardship funding. The change comes after thousands of students in Scotland are still without their loans and bursaries. Students throughout Scotland have been forced to borrow money to pay rent and living expenses after SAAS admitted last week they had thousands of applications still to be processed. SAAS has said that the current eligibility guidelines were preventing those without their loans from applying for emergency money. “The current SAAS guidance around emergency funds and hardship funding says that in order to be eligible, students need to show their award letter from SAAS. “Unfortunately, in the current situation, those who may need access to these funds the most – those who have yet to receive their letter, and are waiting for SAAS to process their funding – aren’t eligible.”

Students had been put in a catch-22 situation as while they waited for their entitled loan, they were unable to apply for emergency money due to the fact they had not received their loan. SAAS has written to universities and colleges stating their changes, and providing interim guidance, so that students who may not have received their award letter or funding will be eligible to apply for these funds. Students will now be able to receive hardship when they provide proof that they have applied for their full entitlement, sent follow-up information to SAAS, and are still waiting on their main enance loan. SAAS has not discussed issue that people not currently attending university this year, but have proof of entitlement, could also apply for this emergency money within these new guidelines. As SAAS is a Scottish Government body, Holyrood have announced an inquiry into the problems that led to the backlog to prevent future issues. SAAS has also announced that the last of the applications will be processed this week.

The Journal Wednesday 21 November 2012

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STUDENT NEWS / 7

USSA launch widening access scheme Union president Malcolm Moir fronts launch of Scotland-leading ‘StrathGuides’ volunteering and mentoring programme Gareth Llewellyn Deputy Managing Editor

The University of Strathclyde Stu-

dents’ Association launched its new widening access scheme, ‘StrathGuides’ on Monday 5th November, with an event held at the union building. The initiative is the brainchild of union president Malcolm Moir, who led the meeting with a short speech about the progress of the programme so far. Moir stated that StrathGuides is “the first Scottish student association-led initiative of its type” and that it was “incredible to see” how fast things have moved since the scheme began. He gave credit for this to others within the association and NUS, who have helped to set it up. He was also very grateful to all the volunteers who are giving up their time to help the less fortunate. Moir told those assembled about a boy he had met, named Fraser, who had a great interest in law. Fraser was the initial inspiration behind the movement, designed to allow a more diverse cross-section of people to study at university, and provide opportunities for the disadvantaged. Student volunteers will act as mentors for secondary school pupils looking to apply to universities, giving them advice pointing them in the right direction for issues such as funding. The pupils will

also be given the chance to take part in workshops teaching them survival skills for university life. StrathGuides is also intended to work with pupils who may not be considering university, if perhaps they don’t feel it is the right thing for them, and show them that they might be suited for it after all. Volunteer Annabel Adamson, a firstyear student of primary teaching, spoke about her excitement at taking part in the project. She thinks it will provide her with good experience for working in her intended profession, and feels she is a good candidate for doing this type of work, partly because she applied to university through UCAS only last year, so she has recent experience. Adamson also said she was surprised at how fast the scheme has moved along. Having only applied three weeks ago, she has now finished training, knows which school she will be working in, and the volunteers are just awaiting the return of their PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) clearance forms before getting started. Glasgow MSP Hanzala Malik was in attendance, and he has already given his backing to the project in Parliament. “I am pleased to hear about the efforts of those involved in the StrathGuides project to help smooth the transition into further education for some of the more disadvantaged students of Glasgow,” said

the Labour Party member. “I’m sure that with the help of the volunteers, this project will allow every student of Strathclyde University to get the most out of their time at university.” Another Labour MSP, Anne McTaggart, is an alumnus of the University of Strathclyde, and she has also lent her support to the movement. In a press release, McTaggart said: “Widening access is an extremely important issue that universities must address, so I’m pleased that the scheme will work with schools in particular areas of Glasgow to make sure that access to university is fair. I wish the new scheme every success, and hope that it will ease the transition from school to university for all.” Speaking prior to the launch event, Moir described himself as “glad that StrathGuides has been taken up positively by everyone at USSA, the University, and students. I have been overwhelmed by the positive response from both students and schools, and look forward to the beginning of a very successful scheme”. It is still in the early stages, but so far, StrathGuides appears to be a big hit with everyone concerned, and is already working towards its admirable goal of helping the young people of Glasgow receive an education. Any Strathclyde students who wish to get involved in StrathGuides can find out how to do so on the ‘Volunteer Hub’ section of the USSA website.

University of Strathclyde Students’ Association

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New Ofcom rules anger student radio On-air discussion of drugs and violence banned Colm Currie Staff writer

New Ofcom regulations for student radio have left angered students at the University of Strathclyde. In compliance with these guidelines, student station Strathclyde Fusion Radio has issued its own set of rules, banning any on-air discussion of drugs, alcohol and violence before 10pm, while “adult sex material,” is prohibited at any time. Any such content airing after 10pm must be justified within the context of the broadcast. Fusion has also placed a ban on “all swearing and language which could otherwise be deemed offensive on air by presenters and in all music played before 10pm.” Gary Morton, a longtime contributor to and former committee member of Strathclyde Fusion Radio, has been one of the most outspoken about his concerns. He feels that his increasingly popular show, Skitzofrenik, will be negatively affected by the changes, stating that “the implementation of these guidelines has effectively forced [his show] off the air.” He concedes that part of this is down to his “unwillingness to sanitise the show,” but he believes that to do so would “fundamentally undermine the show and what makes it so unique and popular in the first place.” He added that he feels that the new rules are unfairly infringing upon freedom of speech.

Morton did however acknowledge that the committee had little choice but to enforce the rules, and registered his support for their decision. Fusion committee member Liam Greenshaw responded with sympathy, but emphasised the risk the station runs of being shut down if it doesn’t comply, citing the closure of four stations for infringements in recent months. Morton suggested that perhaps different rules ought to apply to student radio stations, as one of the main reasons behind them is to protect children from offensive language or content - an unlikely audience for student stations. Ofcom had previously taken a less-firm line with student stations, but evidently they have since changed their position. This is not the first time that Glasgow students have fallen foul of broadcasting regulations. In 2010, a show on the University of Glasgow’s Subcity Radio station was suspended after the hosts made repeated mention of their intoxication on-air, and also swore extensively. At that time, student radio was not governed by Ofcom, but Subcity Radio had a code of conduct similar to that of Ofcom, and took the matter extremely seriously. Most Fusion presenters seem intent on continuing their shows, adapting them to follow the rules if necessary, and Morton has said that he is “looking into” the possibility of continuing Skitzofrenik as a podcast, which would have different restrictions.

8 / ACADEMIC NEWS

@GlasgowJournal / journal-online.co.uk

The Journal Wednesday 21 November 2012

Shed Media scoop Scientists nearing GCU business award new spinal cord Award to production company underscores strong links between institutions Rachael McHard Staff writer

Glasgow Caledonian University presented their International

Award for Outstanding Achievement in Business to Shed Media last week. The media giant, producer of hit programmes such as Waterloo Road, received the award at the Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI) International Awards. Glasgow Caledonian University and Shed Media have established strong ties, together linking academic studies to industry professions. This relationship has been reinforced since the introduction of the MA in Television Fiction Writing (MATV) in 2010 which is offered to students by the Glasgow School of Business and Society. GCU’s prospectus describes the programme as ‘forging an exciting new partnership between industry and education to produce the next generation of television script writers’ and quotes Eileen Gallagher, CEO of Shed Productions, as having ‘experienced a real shortage of writers trained to work specifically for the television medium.’ Dr Catriona Miller, programme

leader of MATV, described Shed as being the ‘driving force’ behind the course which provides qualified and experienced graduates for the creative industries. She stated: “The programme came [to be] because of Shed Media and their willingness to give back to the industry. There weren’t enough writers being trained in fiction writing to provide for the industry.” She added, “Shed’s contacts bring a more serious element to the course and they are always involved in the programme’s content.” Three MATV students were given the opportunity to write for the script of Waterloo Road Reunited, an online spin off from the main series. Opportunities keep growing for students as the course comes to an end. Many graduates have gone on to work for large television producers such as Channel 4, the BBC and Shed Media itself. Graduate Mark Stevenson managed to gain a place at the prestigious BBC Writing Academy working on scripts for popular dramas such as Casualty and Holby City. By providing industry specific training to students with a passion for creative writing, both GCU and Shed

Media are giving the creative industry in Scotland the opportunity to thrive. The course has also attracted support from other media firms including Talkback Thames, Scottish Screen and MG Alba who all offer scholarships for students. Shed’s other ongoing commitments to creative industries include last year’s decision to move the production of Waterloo Road to Scotland. The move will produce around £25 million in direct investment over two years and has created 230 jobs. Shed Media has recently made a partnership with Warner Brothers, giving the company a firmer standing in global media and in turn creating more opportunities for those working in the profession. GCU Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Pamela Gillies stated: “For many years they [Shed] have been at the forefront of nurturing new talent, fostering creativity and driving economic growth through their production of original TV programming. “At GCU we are thankful that they used this expertise, and offered leadership and support, for the establishment of our unique Master’s degree in TV Fiction Writing.”

injury treatments Glasgow researchers hail promising leads

Mike Walmsley Staff writer

Scientists have found promising new leads regarding treatment techniques for spinal injuries. Damage to the spinal cord causes scar tissue to from, which acts as a barrier to healing. Researchers from the Universities of Glasgow and Liverpool are investigating the mechanisms around these processes and how we might be able to intervene. Medical research charity Spinal Research estimates that around 40,000 people live with paralysis in the UK, and that “there are currently no effective treatments for SCI [spinal cord injury]”. In a statement to The Journal Professor Susan Barnett, University of Glasgow, said “these studies could identify a novel treatment strategy” potentially improving the lives of sufferers. A potential treatment is transplanting cells from other parts of the nervous system to the damaged area. Unfortunately these cells, called Schwann cells, secrete heparan sulphate sugars that

promote scarring. But a closer investigation of the sugars found that by chemically altering them in the lab, they could actually be used to prevent scarring of the spinal cord rather than encourage it. Discouraging scarring leaves the way open for natural regeneration to take place, potentially with medical assistance. Because similar scarring mechanisms may take place as part of other forms of damage to the central nervous system, Professor Barnett writes that “any treatment that could potentially minimise this process could lessen disease outcome,” regarding a range of issues such as “Multiple Sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, stroke, Alzheimers disease, Parkinson’s disease [and] Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis”. There is still a great deal of work to be done to turn lab results into viable treatments. Professor Barnett cautions that “as with most lab-based projects translation to the clinic can take many years”. Nevertheless, the discovery marks a significant step forward towards helping spinal injury sufferers.

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The Journal Wednesday 21 November 2012

@GlasgowJournal / journal-online.co.uk

NATIONAL POLITICS / 9

Hundreds attend Gaza protest in Edinburgh Anger at Israeli action in Gaza draws crowds to Charlotte Square for ‘emergency national demonstration’ in solidarity Greg Bianchi News editor, Edinburgh

Hundreds of activists have turned out in Edinburgh to march from the first minister’s official residence at Charlotte Square to the Scottish Parliament, in protest against the ongoing crisis in Gaza and Israel. The ‘Free Gaza’ event on Saturday 17 November, described as an ‘emergency national demonstration’, attracted a diverse crowd, with students, residents and families present at the initial rally. A number of student leaders from across Scotland addressed the audience, including activists who had travelled from Glasgow. Liam O’Hare, president of Edinburgh Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) criticised the UK and Scottish Governments for hosting Israeli diplomats and supporting the Israeli government’s recent military action in Gaza. Addressing the crowd, Mr O’Hare said that the demonstration “saluted the courage” of the people of Gaza. Speaking to The Journal, Mr O’Hare said: “We’ve had to call this very short notice… and I think it’s important that people around the world and Scotland react immediately”. He warned against the threat of a massacre in Gaza, and said he was pleased with the high turnout at the protest. Asked about the possibility of further protests, Mr O’Hare added: “we will continue to react to this… we will stand with the people there and will escalate our actions here in solidarity with the people of Gaza Another SJP member that it had been a “promising start to an emergency demonstration.” Organisers said they expected between 700 to 1,000 demonstrators to attend throughout the day. The demonstration grew in strength throughout the morning, accompanied by a large police presence, though the relations between police and protesters were largely amiable, partly due to the number of families present. A small group of protesters believed to be affiliated with the Scottish Defence League attempted to infiltrate the crowd, but were soon removed by police and kept at a distance from the main body of marchers. Judith Flacks, campaigns director at the Union of Jewish Students told The Journal: “UJS’s main priority at this time is the welfare of Jewish students on campus. “We encourage our members to have constructive and balanced conversations regarding Israel and do not think that protests are an environment that allows for

this.”This demonstration comes amid an on-going military standoff in Gaza, which began with the assassination in an Israeli missile strike on 14 November of Ahmed Jabari, head of Palestinian militant group Hamas’ armed wing. Hamas have since fired rockets at the Israeli commercial capital Tel Aviv, sparking a rapid escalation of tensions which has seen Israeli military forces moved en masse to the border with Gaza and further Israeli military strikes against the city. Egypt have entered the fray, pledging to support Gaza against any Israeli aggression. As The Journal went to press, over 100 Gaza residents and three Israelis had been killed, according to the BBC. The death toll is expected to rise. Israel withdrew troops from Gaza in 2005. The blockaded city has since 2006 been governed by Hamas, following an effective coup against teh Fatah-dominated Palestinian National Authority. The demonstration in Edinburgh also protested at Alex Salmond’s decision to meet with the Israeli ambassador Daniel Taub, which was roundly criticised by activists and resulted in volatile protests. Last fortnight, The Journal reported on the fallout following a speech by Amb. Taub at the University of Edinburgh, which prompted a row between the university and a number of student groups after the talk was disrupted by SJP activists.

Stanley Liew

10 / NATIONAL POLITICS

The Journal Wednesday 21 November 2012

@GlasgowJournal / journal-online.co.uk

Coalition embarrassed in Corby by-election defeat Labour’s Andy Sawford sweeps to victory following the resignation of high-profile back-bencher Louise Mensch Gareth Llewellyn Deputy managing editor

The Westminster coalition gov-

ernment has been left embarrassed after a crushing defeat to Labour in the Corby byelection in Northamptonshire. Labour’s Andy Sawford enjoyed a 12.67 per cent swing to overturn a 1,951 majority from the 2010 election to win with 7,791 votes more than second-placed Conservative candidate Christine Emmett. The Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats saw a 15.63 per cent and 9.48 per cent drop in votes, while UKIP saw an increase of 14.32 per cent to comfortably finish third, ahead of the Lib Dems. Lib Dem candidate Jill Hope asked for two recounts as she received just 4.96 per cent of the 35,733 votes. Sawford claimed his victory was a “damning verdict” on the government and David Cameron as Labour took the seat from the Conservatives in a by-election for the first time since Wirral South in Febru-

ary 1997. “This result is a historic win for today’s one-nation Labour Party. “Today Middle England has spoken and they have sent a very clear message to David Cameron. This is truly a significant result.” Former MP Louise Mensch triggered a by-election when she stood down after just two years to relocate her family to New York. Labour took 17,267 votes to the Conservatives 9,476, UKIP won 5,108 votes with the beleaguered Lib Dems picking up just 1,770. Jubilant Labour leader, Ed Miliband, reiterated his autumn conference stance that Labour were the true “one-nation party” He added: “Middle England is turning away from David Cameron and the Conservatives because Middle England feels let down by David Cameron and the Conservatives.” Conceding defeat, Emmett said: “This was never going to be an easy by-election

to fight, but I’m really proud that we fought such a positive campaign.” David Cameron made reference to Mensch vacating the seat as part of the problem, but insisted it wouldn’t detract from his job. He said: “It’s a classic mid-term result and obviously made difficult by the fact that the Conservative MP left the seat in question. “What the government needs to do is keep going with the very important plans we have to get our economy and country back on track.” With the Liberal Democrats suffering a huge defeat in Corby and in the Police Commissioner elections, UKIP leader, Nigel Farage, claimed that his party were now the third party in UK politics. He said: “Third place and our best ever score in a by-election, so we’re very, very pleased about what’s happened here in Corby.” He added: “There’s a big change in politics. UKIP is now the third party.”

Labour

THE RESULTS 17,267 9,476 5,108 1,770 614

Andy Sawford (Lab) Christine Emmett (Con) Margot Parker (UKIP) Jill Hope (Lib Dem) Gordon Riddell (BNP)

Tobacco giant launches legal challenge to display ban Imperial Tobacco mount UK Supreme Court challenge to proposed Scottish legislation as ‘anti-competitive’ and ineffective Louise Wilson Staff writer

Imperial Tobacco last week

announced launching a challenge through the Supreme Court against the implementation of a cigarette display ban in Scotland. The Scottish government believe the ban on displaying cigarettes in shops will protect young people and discourage smoking. The move is expected to increase the health of Scottish people in future generations. Imperial Tobacco, who manufacture such brands as Lambert & Butler, Golden Virginia and Rizla, have launched the challenge to the ban due to concerns over the cost to retailers and a potential increase in illegal tobacco trade. Imperial believe the ban is “anticompetitive”, is “against the principle of adult choice” and also that, under the Scotland Act, only Westminster

reserves the right to implement this type of ban. A spokesperson from Imperial Tobacco said: “Imperial Tobacco is challenging the competence of the Scottish Government to legislate for a tobacco display ban and a tobacco vending sales ban in Scotland. “We believe that a proper interpretation of the Scotland Act reserves the power to legislate on these issues to Westminster.” Imperial Tobacco also announced that there was no evidence to suggest the bans would lead to a decrease in smoking amongst young people. The statement said: “There has been no reduction on smoking in countries where similar bans have been introduced.” The spokesperson added: “Display bans do, however, go against the principle of adult choice, they’re anti-competitive and – given the lack of evidence that they actually achieve what they are

intended to achieve – they’re an unnecessary cost burden for retailers. “Display bans also make it easier for the minority of rogue retailers who sell counterfeit tobacco to stock and sell illegal products. The criminals who seek to profit from the illegal trade in tobacco already make substantial profits at the expense of Scottish taxpayers.” The ban was due to come into force in April 2012 for larger stores, mirroring English legislation plans. Challenges from Imperial Tobacco and requirements to notify the EU have delayed this date. The Scottish government still hope to have the ban in place across the country by 2015, the same as the time-scale originally stipulated for small stores. It is estimated that refitting shops to comply to the ban will cost between £160 and £640, depending on shop size. It was announced in January that only 1 sq metre of tobacco or smokingrelated products can be opened at any

one time. This was increased from initial proposals of only 120 sq cm after concerns were raised by retailers about the practicalities of such a small space. The size of the display space is much smaller than the 1.5 sq metres proposed in England and Wales. A Scottish government spokesperson said: “We believe that this size of display, which is significantly smaller than the 15 sq metres allowed in the equivalent regulations for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, will be effective in reducing the attractiveness of cigarettes to young people. “The Scottish Government remains committed to implementing the regulations as currently drafted, once it is legally permitted to do so.” The ban will also see the distribution of tobacco products through vending machines made illegal, a step which was already taken in England in October 2011.

Chris Rubey

Scottish Government unveil high-speed rail proposals SNP aims to grow economy by providing fast rail links to England, but opposition say the plans are too vague and uncosted Keira Murray Local News editor

Scottish ministers have launched

proposals to boost the Scottish economy with high-speed rail linking Glasgow and Edinburgh to England. The SNP aim to create a faster service between Scotland’s two principal cities which could see journey times cut to less than 30 minutes. Deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon launched the proposal in Glasgow last week despite a lack of details concerning cost and the intended route. Speaking at the launch, she said: “We will not wait for Westminster to bring high-speed rail to us. We have already

made moves towards seeing a highspeed line in Scotland and the evidence is now in place that this is feasible long before the HS2 proposals. “The Scottish Government will now enter into talks with our partners in both cities and the rail industry to see how we can work together to see this vision realised: a Glasgow-Edinburgh high-speed line which can connect to the network from England.” Westminster has already revealed the route for HS2 between London Euston and a new station in Birmingham named Birmingham Curzon Street, adjacent to Birmingham Moor Street with spurs to new purpose-built stations in Manchester and Leeds, but plans have not been finalised to take the service to Scotland.

HS2 was costed at £33 billion and the London to Birmingham phase aims to be operational by 2026, with phase two completed by 2033. Despite plans to provide better links between Glasgow and Edinburgh, the Scottish Government spent £300 million on the Airdrie to Bathgate route providing a third route across the central belt linking Glasgow Queen Street Low Level with Edinburgh Park, Haymarket and Waverley stations. The Scottish Government believes extending high-speed rail to Glasgow could shorten the journey time to London by two hours and would generate £24.8 billion. Scottish transport minister, Keith Brown, said: “Scotland is more than

capable of taking the lead on innovation and partnership working, and local authorities north of London have already voiced their support for our proposals. “This will offer an opportunity to see how we can work together to have all our voices heard. “All local authorities which back the UK-wide line must surely see how that would positively impact on all areas along the way.” Scottish Labour MSP, Richard Baker, said: “The Scottish Government is now committing itself to a rail upgrade when it doesn’t even know how much it will cost. “Long-suffering passengers will also remember that the SNP has axed the previously announced plans to dramatically

reduce the travel time earlier this year. “There is a trail of broken promises and letdowns for the passengers of our most-used rail line. Until the deal is signed and work begins, Scots shouldn’t hold their breath. “The SNP has a long list of delayed and costly mistakes on transport deals, from the Borders railway to road maintenance. “It isn’t surprising that we should all be a little sceptical of flashy announcements when the SNP can’t get the basics right and commuters continue to suffer on their travels.” Council leaders and transport convenors in Glasgow and Edinburgh have both welcomed the proposal and aim to make it a reality.

265x340 ilan.pdf

CMY

16.11.2012

16:20

12 / BEYOND GLASGOW

@GlasgowJournal / journal-online.

The Journal Wednesday 21 November 2012

BEYOND GLASGOW: STUDENT NEWS FROM AROUND THE UK

Civil war breaks out at the top of NUS over demo route NUS president Liam Burns and outspoken left-wing Birmingham activist Edd Bauer engage in public spat Daniel do Rosario Political editor

into account in deciding the protest-route, before stating: “Whether you agree with this analysis in terms of politically effecA public spat has emerged from within tive protest routes or not is beside the the National Union of Students’ (NUS) point, your role as a trustee is to deliver inner cadre, ahead of an anti-cuts demon- the will of the NEC unless there are stration in London today. financial or legal risks incurred by a proEdward Bauer, member of the NUS posed action or view.” board of trustees, published an internal As for risk to NUS members, the letter letter allegedly from NUS president, Liam argues Bauer is encouraging participants Burns, reprimanding him for two twitter to protest away from sanctioned areas posts advocating a different protest route that can provide stewards, first aiders, than the one agreed upon by the union’s accessible toilets “or other features of an National Executive Council (NEC). accessible demonstration.” Bauer’s public comments criticised It goes on to suggest that encouraging the suggested route for allegedly avoid- deviation from the suggested route runs ing the seats of power, when he tweeted against the imperative of mitigating the “#NUS demo route looking rubbish, chance of police violence. misses Parliament Sq, Whitehall & In an implicit warning about the Milbank [sic], the places where all the insecure tenure of Bauer’s position as a tories are & shit.” trustee, the letter cites article 81 of the The reprimand letter sets out the NUS rules, which states that the office twofold implications of Bauer’s remarks of a Trustee shall be vacated providing as ‘political interference’ and ‘risk to that there is a two-thirds majority vote of [NUS] members’, and it demands a no confidence by the National Executive pledge “that making public comment in Council. such a way will not happen again.” Bauer pre-empted the letter’s threat In terms of political interference, the to make the spat public by posting a letter states: “It is deeply inappropriate strongly-worded public response on for a trustee, with no other status within Facebook setting out his position, and the membership such as student or providing a link to the private letter of student officer, to publically criticise the reprimand. decisions of elected officers.” He said: “In response to your letter It then lists the considerations taken threatening to remove me as a trustee. I

EUSA president criticised over Remembrance Day wreath snub James McAsh declines to lay wreath at university service Rachel Barr Staff writer

EUSA president James McAsh has

been criticised after refusing to attend a Remembrance Sunday event and lay a wreath on behalf of Edinburgh students. McAsh explained that his refusal was on the grounds of his personal belief that the official remembrance campaign “celebrates and glorifies” war and the people who should be blamed for it. This caused controversy among Edinburgh students after the president posted a comment reflective of this on his personal Facebook page. This was quickly followed by over 40 comments from both outraged students and defenders of the president’s decision. Critics of McAsh’s refusal gave opinions that his actions were ‘vile’, with others on Facebook calling for his resignation. One comment on the thread of the original status read: “It puzzles me why people run for representative positions when they aren’t prepared to represent people who may not agree entirely with their personal political views”. Some have advocated their support for the president’s decision. Former EUSA vice-president Mike Williamson defended his right to refuse for personal reasons, stating: “I really don’t think McAsh’s vision of a democratic university is one in which military groups get to decide what the EUSA

president gets to do on the weekend and what he says on his personal Facebook profile.” In a statement, McAsh re-iterated that this was a decision he had made on the back of his personal beliefs rather than the position of EUSA and emphasised that students had still been represented through the attendance of vice-president academic affairs Andrew Burnie. In commenting on the service, Burnie said that he felt it was necessary that he attended because it was something that was “important to a lot of people”. He also stated that people who make the day something political were “missing the point”. However, in commenting on McAsh’s refusal, Burnie made clear that he had not known much about the decision when he was asked to attend in replacement by email, commenting further that “everyone is entitled to their own choice”. McAsh has since apologised if he had offended people as a result of his own beliefs. He stated: “It was not my intention to offend or disrespect those who fell fighting in wars or those who chose to remember them in this way”. However, in commenting on McAsh’s refusal, Burnie made clear that he had not known much about the decision when he was asked to attend in replacement by email, commenting further that “everyone is entitled to their own choice”. McAsh has since apologised if he had

Students picket Edinburgh antiabortion event

offended people as a result of his own beliefs. He stated: “It was not my intention to offend or disrespect those who Greg Bianchi fell fighting in wars or those who chose News editor, Edinburgh to remember them in this way.”

David Selby

have read your letter and my position is this, I’m not impressed by threats to remove me as a trustee, it is completely out of proportion for two simple twitter posts. He went on to accuse the NUS Board of Trustees of being “completely out of student politics” and “having little democratic legitimacy.” Countering accusations of (illegitimate) political interference, he argued that he has other roles in the student movement under which he can legitimately issue statements, and that his statements were as secretariat to the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts (NCAFC) — not as an NUS trustee. As for putting NUS members in danger, he countered: “The only conceivable risk to a student who doesn’t march on the NUS route is that they may fall victim to police brutality. This isn’t a function of students exercising their right to protest on or off NUS routes but rather a function of very serious institutional problems with the police and political problems with the government. On Sunday night it emerged that the NCAFC is organising a campaign to defend Bauer’s position as a trustee by setting up a petition to counter the proposed vote of ‘no confidence’. Edinburgh University Students’ Association president, James McAsh is already on the preliminary list of signatories.

Student leaders and student groups turned out in Edinburgh city centre last week for a protest against a convention hosting a number of ‘anti-abortion’ religious and political organisations. The 14 November event was a fundraiser for the Alliance of Pro-Life Students (APS) who hoped to raise funds to start a pro-life student organisation across Britain. Speaking at the event Aurora Adams, president of the Edinburgh University Feminist Society said: “it is really inappropriate that this [the convention] is happening, abortion clearly should be legal.” Ms Adams also went on to claim that the groups meeting at the convention were trying to create an “antiwomen” movement and that they were here to protest the event “very vocally”. Ms Adams also claimed that the groups at the convention were trying to create an umbrella organisation to get pro-life societies on campuses. A number of student organisations were present at the march, with senior members of the Edinburgh University Students Association (EUSA) and the National Union of Students (NUS) in

attendance. During the protest it emerged that a Conservative councillor was attending the convention, resulting in his heckling by protesters upon his arrival at the event. In a statement, the APS said: “We wish to open up respectful academic dialogue on life ethics by encouraging pro-life student societies to organise events where students of all perspectives are welcome to attend and ask questions. There are some very important debates to be had. “Why is abortion permitted up until birth for the disabled? What about gender selective abortion? Is euthanasia really dying with dignity? “As young people, we need to be debating these questions which concern the fundamental right to life. “Universities, as hubs of debate on the tip of scientific discovery, are the ideal places for this discussion to rationally open up.” In a statement on the APS website, the group claim that their aim is to become a strong organisation on campus, providing a voice for pro-life students on campus while also aiming to “build university communities in England, Scotland and Wales that have a lasting and profound respect for human life from fertilisation to natural death.”

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Charing Cross Berkeley Street, 1375, 5, , 0844 635 6350 North Street, 1300, 4, , 0844 635 3357 Kent Road, 1000, 3, 3D G CG Z, 0844 635 9364 West Princes Street, 900, 3, 2D G Z, 0844 635 4471 Charing Cross - Newton Terrace Lane - Furnished, 750, 2, , 0844 635 6350 Lynedoch Place, 750, 2, , 0844 635 4471 Kent Road, 650, 2, 2D E P, 0844 635 3506 West Princes Street, 625, 2, 2D, 0844 635 4471 St. Vincent Street, 495, 1, 1D E P, 0844 635 9370 Dorset Stre, 475, 1, , 0844 635 6350 St. Vincent Street, 475, 1, 1D P, 0844 635 9368 Kent Road, 450, 1, 1D W, 0844 635 9368

City Centre Sauchiehall Street, 1400, 4, 4D, 0844 635 9364 Sandyford Place, 1250, 3, 3D G CG P, 0844 635 6450 Kennedy Path, 635, 3, , 0844 635 9348 Brunswick Street, 850, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 9364 City Centre - High Stret -, 850, 2, , 0844 635 6350 Merchant Exchange, 850, 2, G P, 0844 635 9372 Queen Street, 825, 2, 2D E, 0844 635 9364 Sauchiehall Street, 825, 2, 2D, 0844 635 9364 Virginia Street, 750, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 0072 Oswald Street, 735, 2, G P, 0844 635 9372 Fox Street, 725, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 9420 Holm Street, 725, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 9364 Renfrew Street, 725, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Sauchiehall Street, 725, 2, 2D E CG, 0844 635 9440 Oswald Street, 700, 2, 2D E, 0844 635 9370 The Bridge, 700, 2, 2D E P, 0844 635 9364 Argyle Street, 695, 2, 2D E P, 0844 635 9596 Renfield Street, 695, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 9230 Fox Street, 650, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Bothwell Street, 645, 2, 2D E, 0844 635 9470 Riverview Place, 600, 2, 2D E CG P, 0844 635 3762 Oxford Street, 565, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Wallace Street, 550, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 0072

Ingram Street, 575, 1, 1D CG, 0844 635 9364 Bell Street, 560, 1, W P, 0844 635 9372 Elmbank Street, 550, 1, 1D E CG O, 0844 635 3504 London Road, 550, 1, 1D G P, 0844 635 9420 Miller Street, 525, 1, 1D W, 0844 635 9482 Queen Street, 525, 1, , 0844 635 1986 Bridgegate, 475, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 9566 St Vincent Street, 475, 1, 1D E P, 0844 635 9364 Saltmarket Place, 450, 1, G PG P, 0844 635 9396 Oxford Street, 395, 1, 1D E O, 0844 635 4467 Sauchiehall Street, 350, 1, 1D E, 0844 635 9364

Dennistoun Armadale Street, 1140, 4, 4D, 0844 635 3357 Roslea Drive, 650, 3, 1S 2D G O, 0844 635 9542 Duke Street, 595, 3, 3D G CG O, 0844 635 9542 Edinburgh Road, 600, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9364 Craigpark Drive, 595, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 9542 Hanson Park, 595, 2, G P, 0844 635 9372 Kennyhill Square, 595, 2, , 0844 635 9350 Westercraigs Court, 595, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 3328 Garthland Drive, 575, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Hanson Park, 575, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9420 Firpark Close, 560, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9470 Hanson Park, 560, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Edinburgh Road, 550, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 9230 Edinburgh Road, 550, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9230 Garthland Drive, 550, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Hillfoot Street, 550, 2, 1D G P, 0844 635 9596 Meadowpark Street, 550, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Onslow Square, 550, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9440 Reidvale Street, 550, 2, 2D G PG O, 0844 635 1612 Whitehill Place, 550, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 8716 Whitehill Street, 550, 2, G, 0844 635 1612 Alexandra Parade, 525, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9454 Reidvale Street, 525, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9368 Golfhill Drive, 500, 2, , 0844 635 3894 Ingleby Drive, 500, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Bannatyne Avenue, 495, 2, G CG O, 0844 635 1872 Bellgrove Street, 495, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 0072 Forbes Drive, 495, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Ballindalloch Drive, 475, 2, , 0844 635 0830 Golfhill Drive, 475, 2, , 0844 635 1986 Garthland Drive, 450, 2, 2D CG O, 0844 635 9542 Armadale Path, 425, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Meadowpark Street, 495, 1, , 0844 635 9346 Armadale Street, 475, 1, , 0844 635 9348 Alexandra Parade, 450, 1, G O, 0844 635 4826 Birkenshaw Street, 425, 1, G CG O, 0844 635 9470 Culloden Street, 425, 1, , 0844 635 9348 Onslow Drive, 425, 1, , 0844 635 9346 Ark Lane, 400, 1, E, 0844 635 9596 Cumbernauld Road, 400, 1, 1D E O, 0844 635 0048 Forbes Drive, 385, 1, , 0844 635 9348 Thomson Street, 375, 1, , 0844 635 9348 Aberfoyle Street, 370, 1, 1D G, 0844 635 4467 Aberdour Street, 360, 1, E O, 0844 635 9396 Dennistoun - Cumbernauld Rd - Furnished, 350, 1, , 0844 635 6350 Meadowpark Street, 350, 1, , 0844 635 9348 Cumbernauld Road, 345, 1, 1D G, 0844 635 9542 Marwick Street, 320, 1, 1D E O, 0844 635 4467 Dennistoun - Aberfoyle Street, 300, 1, , 0844 635 6350

Easterhouse Errogie Street, 495, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Balcurvie Road, 375, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 1318 Cambusdoon Road, 325, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Glenelg Quadrant, 310, 2, , 0844 635 9348

Finnieston Elliott Street, 800, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9596 Argyle Street, 760, 2, G P, 0844 635 9372

Cranston Street, 675, 2, E P, 0844 635 9372

Gallowgate Charlotte Street, 650, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9230 Moir Street, 500, 2, 1D G, 0844 635 9596 Westmuir Street, 300, 1, 1D E CG O, 0844 635 3504

Garnethill

A USERS GUIDE TO CITYLETS LISTINGS Meadows

Area Agent phone number

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

Hill Street, 700, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Garnet Court, 595, 2, 2D E P, 0844 635 9230 Garnethill - West Graham Street Furnsihed, 475, 2, , 0844 635 6350 Buccleuch Street, 605, 1, G CG Z, 0844 635 9396 West Graham Street, 475, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 3504 West Graham Street, 475, 1, , 0844 635 6350 Cantyre Court, 395, 0, , 0844 635 9350

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

Glasgow Green Templeton Court, 735, 2, G P, 0844 635 9396 Turnbull Street, 625, 2, W P, 0844 635 9372 Greenhead Street, 575, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 9378 Silvergrove Street, 575, 2, 2D G CG Z, 0844 635 9440 Arcadia Street, 525, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 0072 Silvergrove Street, 475, 2, G P, 0844 635 9396 Templeton Street, 495, 1, 1D, 0844 635 9420 Turnbull Street, 495, 1, , 0844 635 9350 London Road, 450, 1, , 0844 635 9346 London Road, 395, 1, , 0844 635 9346 London Road, 375, 1, , 0844 635 9348 Stevenson Street, 350, 1, 1D E CG O, 0844 635 3504

Govan Peninver Drive, 525, 3, , 0844 635 9346 Burghead Place, 460, 3, G O, 0844 635 9396 Wanlock Street, 575, 2, 2D G CG Z, 0844 635 3774 Arklet Road, 495, 2, , 0844 635 4471 Wanlock Street, 495, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 3504 Golspie Street, 450, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 3504 Govan Road, 425, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 3504 Kennedar Drive, 425, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Orkney Place, 410, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Elphinstone Place, 380, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 9566 Burndyke Court, 365, 1, 1D G, 0844 635 9566 Govan Road, 365, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 0072

Govanhill Dixon Avenue, 675, 4, , 0844 635 0300 Dixon Avenue, 575, 3, , 0844 635 0300 Dixon Avenue, 500, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 3504 Garturk Street, 500, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Langside Road, 500, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Preston Place, 500, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 9584 Allison Street, 495, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 9584 Bowman Street, 495, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Garturk Street, 495, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Eglinton Street, 475, 2, , 0844 635 9350 Garturk Street, 475, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 9398 Garturk Street, 475, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 9584 Preston Street, 475, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Allison Street, 450, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Allison Street, 450, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 3504 Dixon Avenue, 450, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Chapman Street, 425, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Allison Street, 400, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Langside Road, 400, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Calder Street, 395, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Niddrie Road, 395, 1, , 0844 635 9348 Allison Street, 385, 1, , 0844 635 3894 Cathcart Road, 380, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 9398 Cathcart Road, 375, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Westmoreland Street, 375, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Westmoreland Street, 375, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 3504 Craigie Street, 365, 1, , 0844 635 9348 Westmoreland Street, 360, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 3504 Annette Street, 350, 1, , 0844 635 9348

Craigie Street, 350, 1, G, 0844 635 9596 Daisy Street, 350, 1, 1D W CG O, 0844 635 9398 Govanhill Street, 350, 1, 1D E CG O, 0844 635 3504 Annette Street, 295, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 8716

Hillhead Oakfield Avenue, 1920, 6, 6D G CG P, 0844 635 9378 Bank Street, 1300, 4, 4D G CG O, 0844 635 3504 Gibson Street, 1050, 3, 3D G CG O, 0844 635 3504 Alfred Terrace, 950, 3, 3D G, 0844 635 9596 Kersland Street, 775, 3, , 0844 635 9350 Hillhead - Otago Street - Furnished, 795, 2, , 0844 635 6350 Hillhead - Otago Street - Unfurnsihed, 795, 2, , 0844 635 6350 Gibson Street, 700, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 3504 Hillpark Drive, 450, 2, 2D P, 0844 635 8716 Park Road, 525, 1, , 0844 635 9346 Hillhead- Kersland Street-bedsit, 350, 1, , 0844 635 6350

Hyndland Hyndland Road, 2000, 6, 6D, 0844 635 5525 Falkland Street, 1095, 3, , 0844 635 9346 Falkland Street, 895, 3, , 0844 635 9348 Dudley Drive, 750, 2, 2D G PG O, 0844 635 9446 Blairathol Gardens, 725, 2, 2D G CG Z, 0844 635 9364 Polwarth Street, 625, 2, , 0844 635 1986 Clarence Gardens, 550, 2, , 0844 635 1986 Devonshire Terrace, 895, 1, , 0844 635 9350 Clarence Drive, 870, 1, 3D G P, 0844 635 0048 Chancellor Street, 695, 1, 2D G, 0844 635 3328 Airlie Street, 575, 1, , 0844 635 9350 Dudley Drive, 550, 1, G CG O, 0844 635 3714 Hughenden Lane, 475, 1, E CG Z, 0844 635 9470 Clarence Drive, 430, 1, , 0844 635 9346

Ibrox Brand Street, 575, 3, , 0844 635 9348 Copland Road, 560, 3, 3D G O, 0844 635 6372 Porter Street, 550, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 6372 Copland Road, 375, 1, G O, 0844 635 4826 Elizabeth Street, 375, 1, G O, 0844 635 6372 Merryland Place, 360, 1, , 0844 635 8716 Brand Street, 350, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 9226 Clifford Place, 350, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Elizabeth Street, 350, 1, G CG O, 0844 635 9226

Kelvindale Kelvindale - Dorchester Avenue Furnished, 575, 3, , 0844 635 6350 Grandtully Drive, 550, 3, , 0844 635 3342 Great Western Road, 1250, 2, , 0844 635 3342 Bellshaugh Road, 875, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 9364 Innellan Gardens, 595, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9368 Kelvindale Road, 550, 2, 2D E CG P, 0844 635 3506 Fortingall Avenue, 525, 2, 1S 1D E O, 0844 635 9368

Kelvindale Road, 500, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Dorchester Avenue, 475, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 4826 Kelvindale - Fortingall Avenue, 450, 2, , 0844 635 6350 Ascot Court, 495, 1, , 0844 635 3342 Fortingall Avenue, 475, 1, , 0844 635 9350 Fortingall Avenue, 475, 1, 1D W CG O, 0844 635 9368 Fortingall Place, 450, 1, , 0844 635 9346

Kinning Park Plantation Park Gardens, 625, 3, , 0844 635 9346 Plantation Park Gardens, 550, 3, , 0844 635 9346 Milnpark Gardens, 550, 2, 2D W P, 0844 635 9368 Milnpark Gardens, 500, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 0072 Plantation Park Gardens, 500, 2, E CG P, 0844 635 6372 Paisley Road West, 475, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Plantation Park, 445, 1, , 0844 635 9350 Paisley Road West, 375, 1, 1D W, 0844 635 6372

Langside Mansionhouse Gardens, 700, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 0072 Battlefield Avenue, 645, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9470 Lochleven Road, 595, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 9566 Overdale Gardens, 575, 2, , 0844 635 0300 Cartvale Road, 550, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 2154 Cartside Street, 520, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 4471 Dundrennan Road, 525, 1, , 0844 635 0614 Dirleton Drive, 425, 1, 1D P, 0844 635 9368

Maryhill Firhill Road, 599, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 9230 Lochburn Gate, 550, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Trossachs Street, 550, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Sandbank Avenue, 495, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Cumlodden Drive, 475, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9230 Sandbank Avenue, 450, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Lochburn Road, 375, 1, , 0844 635 9346

Merchant City Montrose Street, 850, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Blackfriars Road, 650, 2, 2D E CG, 0844 635 3786 Blackfriars Road, 650, 2, 2D E CG, 0844 635 3786 Charlotte Street, 550, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9398 Hutcheson Street, 650, 1, G, 0844 635 9596 Ingram Street, 625, 1, , 0844 635 1986 Brunswick Street, 585, 1, 1D E, 0844 635 9364 Albion Gate, 550, 1, 1D P, 0844 635 9368 Blackfriars Road, 525, 1, 1D E CG, 0844 635 3786 Candleriggs, 525, 1, , 0844 635 9348 Wilson Street, 510, 1, W Z, 0844 635 9396 Blackfriars Court Flat, 505, 1, W, 0844 635 9396 Saltmarket Place, 500, 1, , 0844 635 1986 Albion Gate, 495, 1, 1D E, 0844 635 9354 Blackfriars Road, 460, 1, E CG, 0844 635 3786

Blackfriars Road, 460, 1, E CG, 0844 635 3786 Blackfriars Road, 460, 1, E CG, 0844 635 3786 Blackfriars Road, 425, 1, E, 0844 635 9230 Blackfriars Road, 415, 1, E CG, 0844 635 3786

Mount Florida Prospecthill Road, 425, 3, 1S 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Cathkinview Road, 550, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Bolton Drive, 500, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Bolton Drive, 450, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 0072

New Gorbals Naburn Gate, 685, 3, G CG P, 0844 635 9396 Naburn Gate, 685, 3, G CG P, 0844 635 9396 Errol Gardens, 675, 3, 3D G O, 0844 635 9596 Cumberland Street, 625, 3, , 0844 635 9350 Old Rutherglen Road, 575, 2, G, 0844 635 3894 St. Ninian Terrace, 575, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9542 Thistle Terrace, 575, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Queen Elizabeth Gardens, 550, 2, G CG P, 0844 635 9396 Old Rutherglen Road, 495, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Moffat Street, 500, 1, , 0844 635 9348 Kidston Place, 425, 1, , 0844 635 1986

North Kelvinside Fergus Drive, 750, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9470 Oban Drive, 650, 2, , 0844 635 6350 Ruchill Street, 575, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 9440 Oban Drive, 525, 2, , 0844 635 1986 Wilton Street, 560, 1, 1D E CG O, 0844 635 3714 Hathaway Lane, 525, 1, , 0844 635 9346 Lyndhurst Gardens, 500, 1, , 0844 635 1986 Garrioch Road, 425, 1, , 0844 635 9346

Partick Muirpark Street, 750, 3, 3D G CG O, 0844 635 9378 Lawrie Street, 700, 2, G O, 0844 635 9378 Gardner Street, 695, 2, , 0844 635 3342 Beith Street, 650, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 3714 Beith Street, 625, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 3714 Lawrie Street, 595, 2, 2D G PG O, 0844 635 9368 White Street, 550, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Dumbarton Road, 550, 1, 1D, 0844 635 2422 Kennoway Drive, 495, 1, , 0844 635 9348 Merkland Street, 495, 1, , 0844 635 9348 Thornwood Drive, 495, 1, 1D G, 0844 635 0048 Hayburn Street, 460, 1, G, 0844 635 0048 Apsley Street, 450, 1, , 0844 635 9348 Thornwood Avenue, 425, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 3762 Dumbarton Road, 370, 1, , 0844 635 9346

Queens Park Dixon Avenue, 795, 4, 4D G CG O, 0844 635 3504 Albert Road, 625, 2, , 0844 635 9350 Balvicar Street, 625, 2, G CG P, 0844 635 9372 Albert Avenue, 550, 2, , 0844 635 1986 Albert Avenue, 550, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Balvicar Street, 525, 2, , 0844 635 1986

Maybank Street, 500, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9398 Victoria Road, 475, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 3504 Pollokshaws Road, 450, 1, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9454 Prince Edward Street, 395, 1, 1D G PG O, 0844 635 3504 Torrisdale Street, 350, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 9232 Torrisdale Street, 350, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 0072

Scotstoun Northland Avenue, 575, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Northland Drive, 525, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Dumbarton Road, 495, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 3504 Dumbarton Road, 460, 2, G CG O, 0844 635 9396 Larchfield Avenue, 450, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Plean Street, 425, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Dumbarton Road, 465, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 9398 Plean Street, 450, 1, 1D G, 0844 635 4471

Shawlands Pleasance Street, 650, 3, , 0844 635 1612 Pollokshaws Road, 625, 3, , 0844 635 0300 Skirving Street, 650, 2, , 0844 635 1986 Ledard Road, 595, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 3714 Riverford Road, 595, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 0072 Waverley Gardens, 595, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 9398 Barrland Street, 575, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 9470 Bellwood Street, 550, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 8716 Frankfort Street, 550, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 8716 Lethington Avenue, 550, 2, 2D W CG O, 0844 635 9566 Mannering Road, 550, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 0012 Strathyre Street, 550, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 8716 Tantallon Road, 525, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 8716 Deanston Drive, 500, 2, , 0844 635 1986 Woodford Street, 500, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9440 Deanston Drive, 475, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9542 Kilmarnock Road, 475, 2, 2D CG O, 0844 635 1872 Macdougall Street, 395, 2, G PG O, 0844 635 9454 Strathyre Street, 500, 1, 1D O, 0844 635 9364 Tassie Street, 495, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Bellwood Street, 450, 1, , 0844 635 9350 Deanston Drive, 450, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 9230 Minard Road, 450, 1, G CG O, 0844 635 1872 Minard Road, 450, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 8716 Deanston Drive, 425, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 9398 Eastwood Avenue, 425, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 4826 Lethington Place, 425, 1, 1D W, 0844 635 8716 Minard Road, 425, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 8716 Minard Road, 425, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 0072

Southside Wallace Street, 695, 3, 3D W CG P, 0844 635 4826 Mount Annan Drive, 650, 2, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 9364

Paisley Road, 499, 2, 1S 1D G CG O, 0844 635 4826 Craigie Street, 450, 2, 2D, 0844 635 5525 Craigie Street, 450, 2, 2D, 0844 635 5525 White Cart Court, 500, 1, 1D, 0844 635 9364 Camphill Avenue, 375, 1, CG, 0844 635 2422 Camphill Avenue, 375, 1, , 0844 635 2422

Thorntonhall Crathie Drive, 525, 1, , 0844 635 9346 Exeter Drive, 500, 1, G, 0844 635 9372 Thornwood Avenue, 450, 1, , 0844 635 9350

Thornwood Laurel Place, 575, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 3714 Kennoway Drive, 450, 1, 1D, 0844 635 3357

Tollcross Eversley Street, 450, 2, 2D E P, 0844 635 9542 Eversley Street, 450, 2, 2D W P, 0844 635 9542 Tollcross Road, 410, 1, , 0844 635 9348 Tollcross Road, 395, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 9542 Eckford Street, 380, 1, , 0844 635 9350 Wellshot Road, 375, 1, , 0844 635 9348 Fairholm Street, 350, 1, 1D O, 0844 635 4471

West End Southpark Avenue, 1575, 5, 5D E O, 0844 635 9378 Kelvinside Terrace South, 1500, 3, 3D G CG O, 0844 635 9364 Highburgh Road, 900, 3, 3D G CG O, 0844 635 4826 Argyle Street, 795, 3, 3D G CG P, 0844 635 3504 Cleveden Crescent, 1200, 2, 2D G CG, 0844 635 9364 Wyndham Court, 825, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 2422 Crow Road, 750, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 4826 Broomhill Drive, 700, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 9364 Glasgow Harbour Terr, 695, 2, 2D P, 0844 635 3708 Wyndham Court, 695, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 3504 Napiershall Street, 675, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 9370 Great Western Road, 650, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 3504 Greenlaw Road, 430, 2, 1S 1D E CG O, 0844 635 3504 Kennoway Drive, 550, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 9370 Amisfield Street, 495, 1, 1D, 0844 635 5525 Sauchiehall Street, 450, 1, CG O, 0844 635 9440 Primrose Street, 415, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 9470 Corunna Street, 360, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 4826 Wilton Street, 225, 1, E, 0844 635 9446

Yorkhill Kelvin Court, 1032, 2, , 0844 635 9350 Kelvingrove, 775, 2, G PG O, 0844 635 9372 Hastie Street, 625, 2, , 0844 635 9350 Ferry Road, 595, 2, CG P, 0844 635 9308 Kelvin Court, 760, 1, , 0844 635 9350 Yorkhill Street, 575, 1, W O, 0844 635 9372 Yorkhill Street, 525, 1, , 0844 635 9350 Kelvin Court, 456, 1, , 0844 635 9350

R GOT YOU ? IDEAL FLAT MATES

NOW FIND YOUR IDEAL FLAT. GOT A SPARE ROOM? ADVERTISE. FREE.

.co.uk

No.1 for student property - flats, rooms & houses

14 / EDITORIAL

The Journal Wednesday 21 November 2012

@GlasgowJournal / journal-online.co.uk

GLASGOW’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER

SU DOKU

Puzzle 1 (Very hard, difficulty rating 0.77)

The education secretary

Michael Russell’s reign of error We find ourselves here again. Fort-

night after fortnight, we have criticised the Scottish Government’s education secretary Michael Russell from these pages for a litany of missteps and bad policy that makes thoroughly bleak reading — the utter failure of this government on the issue of Rest-of-UK tuition fees; on the massive cuts to further education which have imperilled the whole sector; on the crude and bloody process of ‘regionalising’ Scotland’s colleges; and, most recently, on the government’s sluggish response to this year’s abject failure of the Student Awards Agency for Scotland to pay student bursaries and loans on time and in the correct amount. Now Mr Russell has gone and done it again. In the last week, we have watched him publicly hound a senior college official from his job for what is, placed in proper perspective, a minor professional breach. Kirk Ramsay, the chair of Glasgow’s Stow College, was reported to have covertly recorded a meeting with Mr Russell; for this transgression, the minister publicly demanded that the chairman resign — which he did, days later. But before the imagination leaps to leaked tapes of candid closed-door discussions, consider the following facts: Mr Ramsay recorded the minister’s remarks at a meeting which included over 80 college and union officials, government advisors and civil servants. He circulated the recording to a small number of fellow college chairs; it was not released publicly. The minister’s supreme arrogance in decrying a relatively minor professional faux pas as a breach of trust sufficient to warrant Mr Ramsay’s public flogging is appalling. There was certainly a breach of etiquette — all parties should

be made aware that their words are being recorded, but he should not have been publicly pilloried by a senior minister. Mr Russell has long been known as an uncompromising political operator. He is respected by many — but he is also feared, many sources say. There is a sense that he has significant power, given education’s place as perhaps the foremost of the government’s devolved powers, and that he is fond of wielding it. Mr Ramsay has even described him as a “bully” — an accusation not dismissed out of hand by those who have dealt with the minister. At a time when the Scottish education sector is so vulnerable, and so lacking in confidence about the future, they do not need a minister who is seen as a bully. Mr Russell’s hard-charging approach to his job has not helped calm the sector’s nerves; quite the opposite. A more general reflection on his twoand-a-half-year tenure gives little cause for confidence: although it is true that he came into the job at an enormously challenging time for the British education sector, even against such a miserable backdrop Mr Russell’s ministry has been notably devoid of successes. Rather, it has been a grim farrago of bad policy, notquite U-turns and political maneouvering masquerading as tough but honourable choices. These are not necessarily personal failures on Mr Russell’s part; rather, they are evidence that the Scottish Government under the SNP has failed dismally to articulate a coherent and progressive vision for education in Scotland. Indeed, first minister Alex Salmond made a fool of himself in the Scottish Parliament this week after insisting vigorously that college budgets were not being cut — only to return hours later and sheepishly

Smoking killed

admit that he had been quoting the wrong data. With each new bout of ‘reform’, we are told that we must suffer short-term pain for long-term efficiency. Yet many of these changes have dire long-term consequences: drastically increased RUK fees, allowing universities to charge undergraduates from outside Scotland up to £9,000 per year, deal a major blow to the vital efforts towards widening access, an injury compounded by continuing cuts to FE. The college mergers programme is hugely expensive, wildly unpopular with college lecturers and unions, and it remains unclear how it improves the learner experience given it is almost certain to result in course cuts. Massive cuts to bursaries were only lightly tempered by a partial U-turn; the government’s commitment to student support remains lukewarm at best. The new minimum income guarantee is a strong gesture in the right direction, for which the government deserves praise — but then, nothing is guaranteed when SAAS is involved. The agency continues to prove itself unfit for purpose, as we endure a second consecutive year of backlogs and pervasive administrative errors. Mr Russell has not only fronted a string of bad policies, but is also perilously close to losing the confidence of the sector altogether. Colleges are already resentful of him; universities seem ambivalent at best. The time has come for a change; we need an education secretary with fewer enemies, and with fresh ideas. The Scottish education sector needs a clear path forward; Mr Russell has not provided one. The time has come for him to go, and for the first minister to appoint a more diplomatic pair of hands to steer the ship.

by Jen Owen

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REACTIONS

Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/~jdhildeb/software/sudokugen/ on Mon Nov 19 15:26:29 2012 GMT. Enjoy!

‘Negotiating the right to live’

call out the helicopter gunships and the F16 attack fighters and the Besieged Palestinian Gaza is an heavy tanks and the guided misexperiment in provocation. Stuff siles, and destroy yet more of the one and a half million people into pathetic remains of infrastructure a tiny space, stifle their access to that the Palestinian state still has water, electricity, food and medi- left. cal treatment, destroy their livelihoods, and humiliate them regu- And then you can point to it as a larly...and, surprise, surprise - they hopeless case, unfit to govern itself, turn hostile. a terrorist state, a state with which you couldn’t possibly reach an Now why would you want to make accommodation. And then you can that experiment? Because the hos- carry on with business as usual, tility you provoke is the whole quietly stealing their homeland. point. Now under attack you can cast yourself as the victim, and - JohnWV, via web.

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COMMENT// 15

DISCUSSION&DEBATE

COMMENT Obama triumphant: now where next for the USA?

Obama for America

The US president’s second-term victory raises important questions about the what 2012 will mean for the future of American politics Dr Elizabeth Bomberg University of Edinburgh

Why did Barack Obama win reelection in 2012? Political scientists offer competing explanations. On one side are political forecasters who argue a few ‘fundamentals’ (GDP growth, presidential popularity, party control) determine the outcome of presidential elections, and they do so before the campaign commences. For forecasters, campaigns don’t matter much: examining only the ‘fundamentals’ months before the 6 November voting day, forecasters predicted the outcome: a (narrow) victory for the incumbent Obama. Their predictions were right. But does that mean campaigns don’t matter? Certainly not, insist other scholars of US elections. They argue that what matters is not the fundamentals themselves, but rather how they – and other issues - are presented, exploited or sidelined in the campaign. Moreover, when the national race is as close as a few marginal points (as predicted by most models) other factors such as the character of the candidates or the dynamics of the campaign can be crucial in determining the election outcome. If scholars and pundits disagree, what about students of US elections? This Autumn I asked a very engaged group of US Government students to investigate the explanations and factors shaping the 2012 presidential election. Their findings mirrored wider debates among election scholars. While the importance of the economy was central (as forecasters would predict) other factors mattered mightily. Below we highlight three features in particular. It’s the economy, but not as you know it. Forecasters are right: the ‘state of economy’ is absolutely crucial. But it alone does not determine electoral outcomes, because this ‘fundamental’ is ambiguous. For example, did sluggish overall economic growth favour the Republicans, or did a slight improvement mean Obama gained a ‘fundamental’ advantage? Drawing in part on exit poll data, my students argued that what matters is how voters interpret the economy and its health. Obama won not because of GDP or because he had the stronger record on economic growth, but because his team was able to depict the Republican candidate Romney as a ‘wealthy, out of touch plutocrat’. That image was cemented in voters’ mind

early on and the Romney campaign had difficulty shaking it. Demographics and voter appeals Voting demographics in the US are changing and the Obama team was far more effective in exploiting those changes. Ethnic minorities now make up a significant and growing segment of voting age population; the white vote is now 72 per cent, a drop of over 20 percent in the last two decades. According to exit polls the Obama team won 80 per cent of the non-white electorate. Particularly noteworthy was the Hispanic vote, 71 per cent of which went for Obama. Even Cuban Americans — traditionally a Republican party stronghold — opted for the Democrats this election. The Obama team assiduously courted these key voters, both by highlighting his stance on core issues (including immigration and equality) but also through a dedicated ‘Operation Vote’ turnout movement aimed exclusively at these constituencies. Secondly the women’s vote was overwhelmingly Obama’s. The gender gap was even wider than in 2008. Women favoured Obama by 55 to 44 per cent nationwide, with an even larger gap in key battleground states. Women traditionally favour Democrats, but Obama’s edge — heightened by his repeated emphasis on issues of reproductive rights and gender equality — as perhaps strengthened further by a series of unfortunate comments from Republicans about rape, birth control and abortion. Over 65 per cent of unmarried women favoured Obama (the percentage was even higher among women with a university degree). Finally, a clear majority (60 per cent) of the youth vote (18 to 29 years), opted for Obama. That young voters favoured Obama was expected; the question was whether they would bother to turnout. In the event youth turnout did increase slightly (to 19 per cent ) even if it remains low compared to other age groups. In short, Obama successfully appealed to women, youth and a racially diverse electorate; these were core constituencies in this election. As the party better able to appeal to this changing demographic Democrats enjoyed a distinct advantage in 2012. If trends persist that party advantage will continue well into the next election cycle and beyond. Ground game Because of US electoral rules, the successful presidential candidate is one who wins states rather than a majority of the overall vote. That means the campaign was won within so-called

battleground states — the handful of states still too close to call on election eve. Obama reached voters through a high tech, extraordinarily well-organised ‘ground game’ operation. As Alex Paul described earlier in this newspaper (‘Notes from the Campaign Trail’, 26 September 2012), Obama’s team ran one of the most datadriven, high-tech mobilisation campaigns in US history. Using a sophisticated knowledge base, social media as well as armies of trained volunteers the Obama team targeted and shifted the electorate in just enough constituencies to win victories (albeit often slight) in virtually every battleground state. What now? The election has several implications, not least for the Republican party. We’ll see much soul searching — if not internecine battles — within the GOP

“One irony of this election is that after all the drama, energy and cost of the campaign, Obama returns to a largely unchanged power balance in Washington DC.” in the next months and years. Was it the candidate, the pull of the Tea Party and shift to the right, the party’s inability to court constituencies, or simply a poor ground game that best explain its losses? Certainly the GOP’s failure to attract minority voters — including those with values more akin to traditional Republican values — will shape Republican party strategy and outreach, but might also render the party more amenable to calls for immigration reform. Expect also further debate about the role of money and campaign spending. An astonishing amount was spent by Romney donors (over $300 million by one group alone) with very little return on the investment. The loss has already sparked discussion of the practical (if not political) implications of donor spending within the GOP and more generally. At best this election

might mitigate concerns by those who fear US elections are simply ‘bought’ and inevitably won by the team with wealthier donors. What might Obama’s victory mean for US policy and politics? On one hand, Obama will now have four years to consolidate what his supporters see as his major first-term policy success (in health, financial reform, education) as well as tackle neglected priorities. Presidential scholars note how most second term presidents, freed from the shackles of re-election, begin to focus on their ‘legacy’ in domestic and foreign policies. That may well mean greater focus on foreign policy (including another attempt to address the Arab-Israeli conflict?) or bold measures at home, perhaps linked to immigration or even climate change, two urgent issues mentioned by Obama in his victory speech but sidelined in his first term. But presidents don’t make policy on their own, especially not in the US divided system of government. One irony of this election is that after all the drama, energy and cost of the campaign, Obama returns to a largely unchanged power balance in Washington DC. The Democrats held on to their slim majority in the Senate (the upper house of Congress) but the Republicans maintained control of the lower house — a key player in budget matters and which proved highly successful in stifling action in the last four years. The Obama Administration and Congress face immediate challenges in the form of tough budget decisions that must be agreed this year if swingeing spending cuts and taxes are to be avoided. A huge list of further domestic and foreign challenges await the reelected President and new Congress in 2013. Obama will need to find the right balance of confrontation and engage-

ment with Republicans in Congress. He will need to do a better job communicating to Americans his policy priorities and the confidence to pursue them. But policy success will depend not just on the President or his supporters, but on the willingness of Congress to engage in the constant, messy, bipartisan cooperation and compromise that makes legislative progress possible in the US. Dr Elizabeth Bomberg is a senior lecturer in the department of politics and international relations at the University of Edinburgh. Students A. Paul, H. Murdoch, T. Pakenham, R. Pont, A. Reynolds and G. Bianchi contributed to this paper.

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Summly set to triumph

The Journal asseses 17-year-old Nick D’Aloisio’s new mobile news app Summly

Dancing away the student debt

Aoife Moore speaks to a Glasgow university student who stripped to skip out on student scrimping

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The Journal Wednesday 21 November 2012

A life spent on Her Majesty’s Service The Journal talks to outgoing British ambassador to Afghanistan, veteran FCO diplomat Sir William Patey UK in Afghanistan

Jon Vrushi Comment editor, Edinburgh

When I call Sir William Patey,

among Britain’s most experienced diplomats, we start the conversation by talking about his early life, growing up in Edinburgh and going to university in Dundee. “University was best time of my life. It shaped my whole outlook. It was fabulous.” he says, “You should enjoy it while you’re there because you don’t appreciate it enough. Later on come all sort of worries and responsibilities.” He goes on to confess that he hasn’t always aspired to be a diplomat. “My main goal in life was to be a teacher and only in my last year did I consider other options. I fell into the Foreign Service as a result of beginning to think of these other options, when some friends of mine went down to London for interviews. “I was interested in politics and travelling abroad, and the career adviser at Dundee said ‘Why don’t you try the Foreign Office?’ And I said, ‘Oh they don’t want people like me. They want Oxbridge and public school types.’ And she said, ‘it’s quite the opposite; they are looking exactly for people like you.’” Sir William rejects the notion that the FCO only looks for a certain type of person to join its careers programme. “They are broadening the base” he says, “Women apply, ethnic minorities and so on.” Sir William held the post of Her Majesty’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary at Khartoum — Britain’s foremost diplomatic post in Sudan in 2005 when the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed. “It was very hard and challenging,” he confesses, “but that’s why you enter the diplomatic service. To help contribute to things that influence countries and help develop their future, so it was pretty exciting. We were trying to reconcile people who had been fighting each other for 50 years. Britain, US and Norway were playing a leading role in that, so for me there was lots of travelling to the south, talking to the rebels, to the government and so on.” His next ambassadorial appointment was in Iraq. From 2005 to 2006 he served as the chief British diplomat there. He was in Iraq during the time of the negotiations that forged the constitution on which the first democratic elections were based. “It was a roller-coaster year with a lot happening in a very difficult security backdrop,” he admits. But did he feel that the west was in Afghanistan and Iraq for a good cause? He responds very candidly and pragmatically: “Well that’s not how I would put it. We were in there because we were protecting our vital interest. We were in Iraq because we felt that Saddam Hussein was a threat to our interest and to his own people and we believed that he had weapons of mass destruction.” He adds that by the time he was there, the invasion was a fact and his task was to help consolidate Iraq. He jovially concludes: “It’s the job of the NGOs and the press to worry about good causes.” So if Britain intervened in Afghanistan and Iraq in the interests of secu-

rity, are we safer now after the intervention? He replies by emphasising that, “Our allies in the gulf are a lot safer than when Saddam was in power and it is more difficult for Al-Qaeda to operate. However, terrorist threats don’t just go away. They move, they get displaced. So whether we are safer overall is hard to say.” When asked to comment on the legality of the intervention in Iraq, Sir William argues that, “People who think the war was illegal will never be convinced.” He goes on to say that the British government certainly believed that it was legal. “We had a legal rationale for going there. It was voted by the British parliament, which people tend to forget about. This matter will never be adjudicated in a court, so you will have an endless debate among international lawyers.” He concludes by emphasising that the key thing is that the UK went to war “believing that it was legal”. What does he make of EUSA’s referendum on supporting Margo McDonalds motion to try Tony Blair for War Crimes? His response is very direct: “That’s ludicrous. Ludicrous. War criminals are people who deliberately target civilians or conduct wars in illegal ways. If Tony Blair is a war

“People who think the war [in Iraq] was illegal will never be convinced. We had a legal rationale for going there. It was voted by the British parliament, which people tend to forget about. This matter will never be adjudicated in a court, so you will have an endless debate.”

criminal then so are all our democratically elected leaders and therefore us. We have responsibility because we voted in the parliament which voted to go to war, that’s what democracy is all about.” The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been long, painful and costly and the west sounds more reluctant to directly intervene in places like Syria and Libya. So where does Patey stand with regards to future interventions? “Interventions should be very much a last resort option, because we’ve seen what happens. Reluctance to intervene is sensible. You shouldn’t embark on these things lightly. The experience of the past will convince people that it is much more uncertain and much more difficult than anyone would think.” As both a Scot and a diplomat, what does he think the diplomatic implications of Scottish Independence would be? “We’re better together in all spheres of life.” he states unequivocally, “The rest of the UK would not lose very much because it would still have 57 million inhabitants. So, from a diplomatic point of view it would affect Scotland much more than it would affect England. Scotland would have to re-join the UN, seek a membership of the EU and, I suspect, it would

have to adopt the Euro, despite Alex Salmond’s attempts to dissemble this. Also, the chances are that membership might even be vetoed by the Spanish who have worries about the Catalans. “As a Scot I think Britain would be better together, and as somebody who has an English wife and half Scottish, half English kids, I can’t see why we would have to make a choice. Scotland would not have a position of influence diplomatically. It would be a small nation like Denmark or Iceland or Latvia.” But does Scotland need to influence the world? Is it not good enough to be a small European nation, just like Denmark or Iceland? “That is entirely up to the Scots; do they want to be a small state in the fringes of Europe or be part of Britain and have a seat at the top table.” After over a decade of service as Ambassador, Sir William has retired from the diplomatic service. How is post-Foreign Office life for him? “It’s very challenging. I am very busy as an adviser to Control Risks” — an independent global risk consultancy. I am on the Board of HSBC Bank Middle East and Chairman of Swindon Town. I don’t have as much free time as I thought I would have in retirement.”

The Journal Wednesday 21 November 2012

CHOICE

DEBATE

COMMENT / 17

ABORTION RIGHTS AND THE ALLIANCE OF PRO-LIFE STUDENTS

Abortions are a right; they must be legal and safe for women who make that choice

Kirsty Haigh Edinburgh Univ. Feminist Society

Since 1967 women in Great Britain have had the right to access free and legal abortions, something which is vitally important not only for women but for the whole of society. Women have the right to this choice and it is not the place of the government, church or anyone else to decide otherwise. It is impossible to say that women are liberated if they cannot even be allowed to control their right to bare, or not to bear a child. The notion of allowing anyone other than the individual to decide whether they can have an abortion is patronising and illogical. The decision to have an abortion is no easy one but it’s quite clear that a woman who makes this decision knows what’s best for them self. rI have always been very interested in women’s issues and now find myself as campaign organiser for the Feminist society. My feminism is very much based on equality and while there are some issues, like quotas, I can be conflicted about, the right to legal abortion is, in my opinion, entirely black

LIFE

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and white. It is a case of ensuring the welfare of women both mentally and physically. Having a child is a massive commitment and not something that we should be forcing women into. It is nobody else’s place to make such a life-changing decision. It saddens me that across the world, and indeed even as close as Ireland, people are still fighting for the right to have an abortion and that here we still need to defend it. 2 weeks ago Savita Halappanavar died after being denied an abortion in Ireland. If Ireland legalised abortions then this death and the grief of her family could have been easily prevented. Earlier this week the ‘Alliance of Prolife students’ held a fundraising event in Edinburgh. While the number of pro-choice demonstrators outside greatly outnumbered those attending the event it is still worrying that these kind of events take place. The so called ‘Pro-life’ movement allows Savita, and many other women who have been in similar situations, to die. They are in no way defending a right to life. The ‘pro-life’ stance displays a blatant lack of trust in women to decide their own fate and yet are

encouraging these women to have children. If you can’t trust a woman to make a choice about their own life how can you trust them with the life of a child? The decision to have an abortion is no easy option and abortions are most certainly not used as a common contraception method, as some people suggest. It is a complex issue that can be very emotionally straining for all involved. If a women feels they are not ready, do not have the necessary provisions to support a child or any of the other reasons that women have abortions then we need to support them in this choice. It is unfair on the unborn child and all involved to not respect this decision. Only a few months ago Alex Neil made some very disturbing comments about limiting the time period in which it is legal to have abortions. A decrease would be a definite step backwards in women’s rights and should not even be a question in this day and age. Reducing the time limit will not stop women from having abortions but will simply lead to illegal and, more importantly, unsafe abortions. The length of the time limit can be problematic for some people. However, it is in fact quite rare

that abortions occur after the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Indeed despite the legal time limit of 24 weeks 87% of abortions take place within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. For a woman to make the decision at a later stage that an abortion is necessary it is clear that they are not ready or able to have a child. The pro-choice movement is not restricting anyone’s beliefs. Women are entitled to make the decision to not have an abortion. Pro-choice does not mean pro-abortion; nobody is calling for more women to have abortions, simply for women to have the right to choose. Moreover, there should not be pressure from the state or religion on

such a personal issue. Although I personally disagree with religious influence in such a personal decision, the legality of abortion does not affect an individual’s personal option to exercise their religious belief on this issue. Abortions should only be legislated in the sense of keeping it legal so as to keep the conditions safe for those who decide this is the correct option for them. Governments should uphold that abortions are a right and nothing should change that. We should trust and respect the decisions that women make about their own bodies and lives. Women are capable of making these choices and we must not deny them this, or any other, right. James McArdle

A pro-life alliance is a necessary measure

Maria Stopyra Alliance of Pro-Life Students

Wednesday 14 November saw the

launch of the Alliance of Pro-life Students (APS) at an event held here in Edinburgh. This is a group I have been helping in its start-up phase since I graduated from the University of Edinburgh in June. Quite simply, the organisation is a response to a need felt by pro-life students at universities from all over the UK. Starting and running any society at university is hard work. Starting and running a society with controversial and often unpopular views is probably among the most challenging tasks students could set for themselves. APS was started by students from five universities as a way to support and encourage each other. It is a way to connect pro-life students, and to share resources, information and experience. The launch event was the target of a pro-choice protest, including people involved in the National Union of Students Women’s Campaign. In the week leading up to this event the venue received emails pressuring them to cancel, and saying that it was a ‘disgrace’ that they were hosting APS. These emails created a huge amount of added stress not only for the team organising the event, but for the staff working at the venue. While I respect that in a democratic society people have the right to protest, that reaction to a perfectly legitimate exercise in free speech is

concerning. The emails I find disturbingly anti-democratic, a clear attempt to prevent an exercise in free-speech from even taking place. It is particularly disturbing that this happens at a time when precisely the issues the pro-life movement tackles, such as euthanasia and abortion, are so widely debated. These issues cut right to the heart of what it means to be human, and to come to any conclusion on them we must answer hugely challenging questions. Why do we value human lives? When does that value start and when does it end? Who gets to decide which human lives are valuable and which are not? And very importantly, if as a society we do not know for certain what the answers are, how do we proceed? Unfortunately life won’t wait for the philosophers to come up with the answers: I should know — I studied philosophy. While we struggle with those questions both as individuals and societies, we still have to make difficult decisions that crucially depend on answers we don’t always have. I cannot answer the question ‘how society should proceed?’ in all its complexity with any certainty. Very broadly, however, I would say this; we go with our best guess and constantly debate and discuss the issue in the hope that we will figure it out or at least ensure we are doing the best we can. Naturally, the pro-life movement has a particular kind of philosophy,

and a particular way of answering those questions. Being pro-life I have my own views on what the answers might be, though there is by no means a consensus within the pro-life movement. At its heart, I believe being prolife is to see an irreplaceable value inherent in every human life. It is about believing that every life is worth having, worth striving for, and that the value and dignity of human life cannot be lost. There is more to it than that, but the point I want to make here is not that abortion or euthanasia is wrong, but that there are important questions we must tackle when we address the morality of those issues. The philosophy that pro-lifers live by suggests answers to those questions, and they are answers that deserve consideration when we continue the discussion as a society that is not certain. This is why I found the emails to the venue pressuring them to cancel the launch event of APS so disturbing. Our organisation is run entirely by students and recent graduates, and we are dedicated to supporting prolife students and student societies in putting forward their views rationally and respectfully. We have every right to do this, and to hold events. I believe the protest was an overreaction, but I accept that the protesters had their own views and had the right to be there to express them. To try and block APS from holding its events, however, implies a worrying lack of willingness to allow

healthy debate on hugely important issues. University should be a place where opposing ideas meet, where debates are healthy and students encouraged to draw their own conclusions. To have healthy debate on issues surrounding the beginning and end of life, it is essential that all views are represented, and represented by people who are well informed. As students on one side of these debates APS aims to make sure we are well informed and able to contribute helpfully to the discussion. This kind of debate and discussion is not only an essential value of our educational institutions, but of our democratic society. To try and prevent a group with a different viewpoint from holding their events is an alarming attack on free speech. Such aggressive opposition is not the sign of healthy debate, and has

no place among members of any side. Unfortunately it is not uncommon, and it is one of the main reasons APS exists. As part of supporting pro-life students we would expect any group affiliated with us to act respectfully and sensitively, and at the same time work to make sure our members know their rights and are equipped to deal with the aggressive opposition they so often encounter. Thankfully when a member of the Edinburgh University Life Society, engaging with other students I always felt that my freedom of speech was respected and debate encouraged. Listening to the difficulties encountered by students at other universities, however, has made me feel incredibly lucky that this was the case. It is vitally important to open up these debates, and strive to discuss them calmly, rationally and respectfully.

18 / FEATURE

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The Journal Wednesday 21 November 2012

A cultural and linguistic sponge The Journal meets multiple award-winning literary translator Margaret Jull Costa to find out more about her work Katharina Dziacko Art editor

Margaret Jull Costa has been

working as a translator for nearly 30 years. Her translation work has allowed Englishspeaking readers to take part in the world of great Spanish as well as Portuguese writers and their literary works. She has received various awards for her works, including the Portuguese Translation Prize in 1992 for The Book of Disquiet by Fernando Pessoa, the 2000 Oxford Weidenfeld Translation Prize for All the Names by José Saramago and the Times Literary Supplement Translation Prize for The Accordionist’s Son by Bernardo Atxaga. Her latest translation Raised from the Ground by the Portuguese author José Saramago is due out at the end of November. Costa left school at the age of 18. She began spending summers in Spain and immediately developed a great fascination for the Spanish language. According to her, this is also the reason for her career and language choice. Learning Portuguese had to wait until she went to Bristol University at the age of 24, but before she went there her interest had already been awoken by seeing “an amazing Brazilian film Orfeu negro”. “I did my A-Level Spanish part-time, while working as a secretary in London, having decided at last, to go to university, and that was my first experience of translation. I simply loved it – love at first sight, you might say. And I still love it. I love writing and I love very close readings of texts, so translation is the perfect combination.” According to Costa, translation “relies on a very specific, and perhaps unusual, ability to transfer style, mood, colour, rhythm”, from one language into another. She lived in Spain for one year and in Portugal for two years and sees this as an experience she can draw upon when doing translation work. To refresh that experience she revisits both Spain and Portugal regularly. “When I translate, I draw on all kinds of memories and associations, some of which have to do with Spain and Portugal, others not,” she explained. “A translator needs to be a kind of cultural and linguistic sponge, soaking up sights, gestures, voices, expressions wherever she happens to be.” Costa translates novels as well as short stories and is just venturing into the field of poetry translation. “It’s wonderful to be able to hone a skill over years and years,” she said. Costa sees her translation work as a great opportunity to develop a deep knowledge of Spanish and Portuguese as well as English language and literature. It also enables her to discover cultures connected to those languages. According to Costa “translating does immerse you in another culture but it’s also essential to have an intimate knowledge of your own culture and literature. If you don’t master your own language, then, however well you know the other language or languages, you won’t be a good translator”. One translation Costa remembers as especially difficult is The Hero of the Big House by Álvaro Pombo, “partly because it was the first novel [she translated], and partly because [the author] has a very poetic, sometimes almost surreal style.” Costa continued: “I would ask him

what some particularly obscure image meant, and he would say: ‘Do you know, I can’t remember.’ That taught me the importance of having the confidence to interpret and possibly invent.” When asked whether every writer requires a different way of working, she replied: “I translate, among others, José Saramago, Javier Marías and Eça de Queiroz, who all have very different styles and vocabularies. I think that, just as actors or musicians relish new roles or new music, the good translator relishes tackling new or different styles of writing.” Asked whether getting to know a writer and their way of thinking has an impact on her understanding of their writing in any way, she replied: “I always like to make contact with any author I translate, since the relationship between author and translator is very much one of trust. I think it’s far more important, though, to read the whole of a writer’s oeuvre, to get a complete picture of the author’s style, interests and preoccupations. “I think I’ve been very fortunate in that, right from the start. I’ve been given really interesting authors to translate, but also I’ve been able to stay with several authors – Javier Marías, José Saramago, Eça de Queiroz, Bernardo Atxaga – over a period of years, and I really appreciate that

“A translator needs to be a kind of cultural and linguistic sponge, soaking up sights, gestures, voices, expressions wherever she happens to be.” continuity of contact with author’s work. “This is particularly important with a writer like Javier Marías, who often quotes from his previous books!” According to Costa, in the end “a good translator probably knows the original text better than the author, simply because, to make a good translation, you have to read and re-read and sift and ponder every word and sentence.” A common saying in the world of translation is that “‘as a translator you want to be invisible’”. Asked whether she agrees with this saying, Costa replied: “I want to be invisible in the sense that I don’t want a reader to be conscious of reading a translation, but I don’t want to be invisible in the sense that my translation is bland or dull or flat. “A good translation has to have personality – a combination, I suppose, of the author’s and the translator’s personality. I want the reader to take as much pleasure in reading my translation as they would if they were reading the original.” Far from simply being an ominous reminder of death, aptly stated on one gravestone (“Remember, man, as you pass by, as you are now, so once was I: as I am now, so you must be”), it is a window into Glasgow’s collective past, ensuring her successes and misfortunes cannot easily be forgotten.

The Journal Wednesday 21 November 2012

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FEATURE / 19

Dancing away from student debt Aoife Moore speaks to a Glasgow University student who turned to stripping to skip on student scrimping Aoife Moore Staff writer

Fees are through the roof, the cost

of living is rising and jobs are scarce. Being a student isn’t what it used to be, but some girls in Glasgow take the term ‘part-time job’ to new limits. In Glasgow city centre alone there are four high-profile strip clubs. Circumstance would dictate that at least a few of the girls working there are students. Beth (who asked for her identity to be protected), a former dancer in one of Glasgow’s most prominent strip clubs for a year during her time at a Glasgow university tells a story that may challenge many of the perceptions of strippers that people have. “I went to a pole-dancing fitness class to lose weight and keep fit, after a while the teacher told some of the girls that they were holding trials in a strip club. My flatmate was totally fearless and wanted to go for it, so I thought I’d go with her. “We walked in and sat down; the guy took one look at us and told us we were hired. I made £200 in my first hour.” The student life goes hand in hand with money worries, and whilst these are normally associated with struggling to fund a night out, it can be a frustrating and challenging time for any young person. Beth saw stripping as a practical way to banish her financial woes, and soon got used to the high life. “I just got tired of being skint, strip-

ping meant I could pay my rent, bills and still have money to go out with my friends. I could buy clothes and makeup — you have no idea how easy it is to get used to such easy money.” Strip clubs come with the burden of stigma, and in this country they still come under the mark of taboo. Beth however, maintains that her experience was far apart from the preconceptions many people have of lap dancing clubs. To Beth, the job even served to boost her ego. “I know in certain places it can seem really seedy and dangerous, but where I worked, it was nothing like that. It was clean and I always felt safe. It was actually really fun at times. “People tell you you’re beautiful every night and give you money just for talking to them. It’s confidence building if nothing else.” Beth’s account may seem a little too rosy to non-believers, and she admits that the job did have its shortcomings. Competition in the club was fierce and she describes a harsh and cut throat environment between her co-workers. “I didn’t make friends with any of the other girls there. I just saw it as a job, but most of the girls were really competitive. They would get annoyed if one girl made a lot more money in a night. “A gentleman came in who just wanted a chat. I spoke to him for an hour and made £300. Some of the girls were fuming, it was genuinely intimidating. “The Polish girls all seemed to be

friends with each other, they always looked out for one another, but the Scottish and English girls weren’t like that at all.” Other issues bothered Beth more than jealousy and bitchy remarks. In the dressing rooms, she saw a disturbing and accepted side to the lifestyle of a stripper. “A lot of the girls had serious drug issues. They weren’t junkies, they were functioning; they just couldn’t go out on stage without taking something. Lines of this, or that, I never asked, and it was never mentioned. It just went without saying. It became plainly obvious that some girls just kept stripping for the money for drugs.” Beth’s experience as a stripper has been forever shrouded in secrecy. She didn’t tell even her closest friends about her job. It’s been two years since Beth left the club, yet she still looks back on her part-time job with a definite sense of regret. “My main issue was anyone finding out. I come from a good family and my parents would be horrified if they knew. My boyfriend knew, and hated it, and told his mum, who eventually forced me to quit before I had even met her. “The main disadvantage is the stigma attached. I never want people to find out, and I only regret it now, just because I live in fear that it’ll come back to haunt me.” Beth also kept it from her university. While she managed to maintain her studies and consequently graduated with

Cap’n Monkey

honors, Beth kept her life as a student and life as a stripper far apart. Questions may arise surrounding student support. Should universities help their students, in order to stop them being exposed to experiences such as Beth’s? Or are the goings on outside of the campus none of their concern? A senior press representative from the university that Beth attended issued the following statement. “We are unable to discuss individual students or their circumstances but it is important to note that those who do find themselves facing hardship can contact

our Student Funding Team for advice. The Student Funding Team is responsible for the administration of various funds, including the Discretionary Fund for those in financial difficulty.” While times are hard, it is unclear whether experiences such as Beth’s will become commonplace. However, with the current economic climate, jobs such as stripping may seem like practical avenues for young people to combat financial problems. However, there is still support available to students from universities, perhaps a less radical way to combat being stony broke.

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN MANAGING A WEBSITE? The Journal, the UK’s

largest student media organisation, is seeking a passionate, talented student journalist to lead our award-winning web platform. As managing editor (online), you’ll work alongside the senior editors of our Edinburgh and Glasgow print editions to make our digital coverage fasterpaced, more responsive and more interactive.

You will be a valued member of our senior editorial team, reporting to the group editorial director and publisher, you will be our senior digital journalist, and will make a significant contribution to directing and defining our online presence. You’ll recruit and lead a team of digital journalists and work with the large editorial staff already in place to put out content faster and promote it better.

Our ideal candidate is a student based in Edinburgh; our newsroom is at Summerhall, on the east edge of the Meadows. Prior experience in student media is highly desirable, but editorial skills and experience with web publishing are crucial. We’re looking for a digital native with great news sense and a nuanced understanding of social media and web tools. Experience with live-blogging and tools like Storify are a definite bonus.

This is a volunteer position in line with most of our positions, but there is potential for it to become a paid role in the near future.

For more information or to apply, email

marcus.kernohan@journal-online.co.uk or call 0131 560 2826

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The Journal Wednesday 21 November 2012

CULTURE&LIFESTYLE

ARTS&ENTS

Sinead Grainger

Through the window Pane An audience with London rapper Mikill Pane, currently touring with Rizzle Kicks

MUSIC Razor-sharp London-born rapper Mikill Pane arrives in Glasgow

on 27 November. The Hackney-born street poet has already worked with Ed Sheeran, Paloma Faith and Example and is set to release his first major single, ‘Dirty Rider’, next month, with his first album Blame Miss Barclay coming out at the beginning of 2013. Fresh from taking Reading Festival by storm, Pane will support Rizzle Kicks on their winter tour. The Journal caught up with Pane to find out more. You’re about to release your first album Blame Miss Barclay on the Mercury label. At what points did thngs really start to happen for you, do you think? Well, it’s been more gradual than one single moment. The first couple of EPs were hosted by a blog called The London Grind, and that was the first sign someone was willing to take a leap of faith in me, because a blog stands or falls on the strength of the material it distributes. My live career really picked up after I did The Guinness And Blackcurrant EP with Seb Rochford - it made me realize I was able to do shows and make a living out of this. But if I had to pick one moment, it was going on tour with Ed Sheeran. That was a big step. Most people will know you because of the collaboration with Ed Sheeran, Little Lady. How did that come about? We’ve been friends for ages. We were both doing a session a few years back for a radio station and as soon as I heard him I was enthralled. His technique and delivery was amazing even back then. We got chatting a few days later and worked out that my manager Jake Gosling was also his producer and co-writer. We started following each other on Twitter and Facebook - and doing all that social protocol you have to go through now! Anyway,

he’d do a gig, end up on my couch afterwards, and ‘Little Lady’ just came from a long walk home we had late at night after one of those gigs. I’d written some lyrics a few years previously which I thought had a very similar subject matter to his song ‘The A-Team’, so I rapped them to him and we ended up recording it. I didn’t think it would end up on his EP because he wanted to work with grime heroes. And I was neither grime nor one of his heroes! Tell us about the new single ‘Dirty Rider’. Apparently it shows your lighter side and has been inspired by cycling around London, right? ‘Dirty Rider’ has an interesting history actually - it started as a dig at people who repeatedly pronounce my name as “Mickill” Pane, even when I’ve corrected them repeatedly. It’s more like Michael Pane, isn’t it? Yeah, which stems from being “ill on the mic” - A good MC in hip hop terminology. And Pane comes from the fact I’ve been wearing glasses for most of my life, so I’m looking through windows. It just so happens that it’s also sounds like “Michael Paine”, Paul Whitehouse’s spoof of Michael Caine in Harry Enfield And Chums. The kids don’t really get that reference though! And how does the song relate to riding around London? I’m a big fan of cycling - it’s my main form of transport. This song ended up focusing on my feelings about cycling around London. It can be almost a daredevil pursuit. You’ve got to have your wits about you - so I took it one step further in the song and say I own the road. Earlier this month, Plan B said he wasn’t ‘feeling’ British hip-hop. Would you agree with that? I understand what he’s saying. Quintessential British hip hop is quite moany. There’s not much fun in it. It’s fine to be observational, which a lot of British

   

hip-hop is, but it does get boring after a while. Sugarhill Gang, Afrika Bambaataa, and Grandmaster Flash may have had messages to some of their songs, but the tunes were so entertaining. They were still party songs. You still feel elated when you’re rapping along to ‘The Message’. In other words, soon as you do try and be a bit more ‘fun’, you get accused of being a sell-out? Exactly! You’ve got Rizzle Kicks, who hardcore hip-hop lovers hate. But I think they’re great; quite subversive actually. Jordan [Stephens] is a lyrical genius, once you look at the rhymes on paper. Because it’s so happy, because it’s all over the radio, people discount it. If the naysayers listened to Rizzle Kicks properly, they’d be totally surprised. The album will be called Blame Miss Barclay - who’s she? She was a teacher at the state shool I went to in Highgate. I started out at London Oratory but I was expelled from there and ended up at this state school. A lot of the teachers didn’t really like me because they either saw me as coming from a really posh school, or as a problem because I’d been expelled from it. But Miss Barclay treated me properly. She saw my creative writing talent, she pushed me to use it as much as possible. So if it wasn’t for her I don’t think I would have realized my potential. How would you describe the record? The album is a collection of intricate stories about everyday people whose lives are intertwined. You’ll hear about a character in one song, and then they’ll pop up in another. There’ll also be songs from my perspective too. It all came from a moment of clarity I had in a label meeting when they asked me what I wanted to do for my debut. And in a split second I realized that I could do something with all the characters I’ve written about, and build a story around them.

Experienced Qualified Insured Local

Rolo Tomassi Mathcore specialists are anything but confidential

MUSIC Kristy Allan

Here are some phrases that are (or at

least, should be) completely redundant in the music and gig scene: “It’s a boy’s club/male-dominated/women can’t play as well”. And here’s why these phrases are redundant; one band with one fierce front-woman, Rolo Tomassi and Eva Spence. They’ve been under the radar for the last 18 months following a line-up change due to the departure of bassist Joseph Thorpe and guitarist Joe Nicholson and also the production of their new album Astraea, out on 5 November through their own label Destination Moon Records. How will the mathcore collective fare with new material and band members on Rolo Tomassi’s first headline tour in over a year? There’s an incongruity to the evening. By Glasgow standards it’s a ‘pretty-miserable-trudging-to-the-famous-King-Tut’sWah-Wah-Hut-in-the-autumn-rain’ type of affair. It sums up the whole evening. The venue is sparsely populated and the first support band has already started. The support bands are talented, powerful and even enjoyable but, other than a few bobble-headed imitators, the crowd don’t seem suitably warmed up. It’s a shame that the wait for Rolo Tomassi feels like being in a queue at the bank. Thankfully it is worth the wait. Rolo Tomassi put life into an otherwise stagnant crowd. They demonstrate bursts of controlled chaos in their music, which sometimes explodes in an onstage spectacle that can chill those who witness it.

As the bass-skin bursts, there is a comedic interlude as stage hands and band members shuffle around extended chords being played. Commendably, they don’t lose their footing as they launch straight back into their raw screaming velocity. Eva Spence is a walking paradox, a slight woman who moves her limbs like wisps of air but with a sharp fluidity that is compelling to watch. Spence embodies a force of nature; in her petite frame rests vocals that make the hair on your neck jag into your nerves while she glides on stage to the bursting of the bass drum and quizzical synth. Rolo Tomassi’s new tracks are well received amongst the crowd, although their previous album Cosmology demonstrates the exciting texture to their music that champions them above any other branch of hard-core. Rolo Tomassi are not a novelty; their patchwork use of rock and expressive synth work is woven together through the threads of male and female screaming entwined with the gentle, haunting notes of Spence’s singing. “We realise 18 months is a long time to be quiet. We just want to thank everyone who came out tonight.” Spence addresses the crowd quietly and breathlessly and the sincerity in her voice resonates throughout the room. Their performance is energetic, although not entirely in sync with one another. With the release of Astraea alongside the rest of their UK tour however, Rolo Tomassi have a lot of potential to be one of the most musically exciting acts to hit the UK in recent years. VENUE: KING TUT’S DATES: 28 OCTOBER 2012 PRICE: £12.50

The Journal Wednesday 21 November 2012

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A&E / 21

(AWOLNATION)

Choice

Sailing into the UK, Los Angeles’ AWOLNATION outshine the rest with a stunning set at the ABC

MUSIC Tess Hokin

Given AWOLNATION’s stateside

success and the popularity of their minimalist epic ‘Sail’, it’s a bit of a shocker to see that they’re not even mentioned on the ticket for their support slot at O2 ABC. The band are backing up Toronto rocker Billy Talent’s UK tour, and are the second to perform to an enthusiastic crowd of scene kids and punk rockers. As the first support band, Bristol rock suit Don Bronco, leave the stage there is already a mini-moshpit forming, drinks are being spilled and security guards are getting itchy. It’s a pretty intense atmosphere for 8pm on a Wednesday night. Yet despite an immediate response from the crowd, it’s not obvious that anyone here knows what they’re in for as Aaron Bruno and his band take to the stage. “We’re all just fans of music here,” announces Bruno in his magnetic, gritty voice. “We don’t subscribe to just one genre, which is why we are so glad to be here tonight, sharing the stage with Billy Talent.” Indeed, the two bands aren’t quite an expected combination. AWOLNATION have concerts lined up for December with Passion Pit and The Shins, and

the five-piece begin their set with catchy synths and pop melodies which could sit comfortably on the periphery of alt-rock and indie-pop. Yet the harder elements of songs like ‘Burn It Down’ and ‘Wake Up’ keep the crowd head-banging and demonstrate the band’s versatility, making them just the right act for tonight. This probably has something to do with Bruno’s incredible vocal range. He has the audience swaying in each others’ tattooed arms with his smooth crooning in the uplifting piano ballad ‘All I Need’, before switching to anthemic rock yells in the catchy ‘Not Your Fault’, and melodic grimey distortion over springy piano sounds in ‘Guilty Filthy Heroes’. Their album, Megalithic Symphony is no less varied, featuring everything from Muse-like synths to an almost Maroon 5-esque chorus in ‘Wake Up’. There may be a slight lack of focus to AWOL’s sound so far, but there is no denying their brilliance as a live band. Bruno is in total sync with his audience, managing to persuade the whole crowd to crouch down on the floor before sending them into an explosive frenzy with the word ‘JUMP!’. However, as the set builds to a crescendo and the drum solo carries on, a slight sense of panic sets in. ‘They haven’t played ‘Sail!’’ screams a desperate voice (if you haven’t heard the song, go and listen to it right now with maximum volume). Just when it seems like it’s all over,

Bruno lifts his guitar high above his head, pauses for breath, and the iconic stringsynth of ‘Sail’ kicks in. The massive wave of bass that follows shakes the foundations of the building. This is a song that resonates, one that you can’t help but

love: a song that belongs in a headline show. As they leave the stage, newfound fans are left exhilarated and a little exhausted. One thing is certain, there’s more to come from Aaron Bruno and his band. AWOL-

Music Like A Vitamin 2012

NATION will be sailing into the 2013 altmusic scene in the UK in a big, big way. VENUE: O2 ABC GLASGOW DATES: 14 NOVEMBER 2012

music

A successful fifth outing in 2012 for Idlewild guitarist Rod Jones’ contribution to the Mental Health Arts and Film Festival Andrew Ferguson

Music Like A Vitamin, the Scottish

Mental Health Arts and Film Festival’s key music event, made its triumphant return to Edinburgh’s Picture House this month. The show, which has been coordinated by Idlewild guitarist Rod Jones since 2008, had taken a break from proceedings last year but returned after popular demand. The show has come a long way from its origins five years ago. Rod, who suffered from depression in the past, explains, “originally, I asked friends in other bands to do me a favour and we ended up selling out the ABC in Glasgow”. One of Music Like A Vitamin’s aims is to send a message that music can be key in the treatment of mental health issues. “Music has so much power, and it helps capture everyone’s imagination. It’s such a positive thing to have bands performing for such a good cause. The concerts help to raise awareness of the charity and get people talking about it. Mental health is something that is close to anyone’s heart, either through themselves, friends or family. It affects everyone and the show promotes what we want to do.” The success of the previous concerts spurred Jones on to create The Fruit Tree Foundation with singer/ songwriter Emma Pollock. The foun-

dation went on to release the critically acclaimed album First Edition, which featured ten musicians writing together for a week in Perth. Sparrow and the Workshop’s Jill O’Sullivan, Scott Hutchison of Frightened Rabbit and the Twilight Sad’s James Graham were just a few of the names involved in the collaboration. This year’s Music Like A Vitamin event was kicked off in tremendous fashion by Sparrow and the Workshop. Chicago-raised frontwoman Jill O’Sullivan’s eerie vocals combined cleverly with the group’s grunge/folk melodies to captivate the busy Edinburgh audience. The three-piece played a selection of tracks from their two albums, with O’Sullivan sarcastically dedicating her 2010 single ‘I Will Break You’ to someone special. “Would it be clichéd if I dedicate this next one to Donald Trump?” O’Sullivan questioned to the audience’s laughter. Second to perform were The Birthday Suit, throwing themselves into a fast-paced set with ferocious riffs reminiscent of Jones’ early days in Idlewild. The Birthday Suit stormed through a number of songs from their debut recording and soon to be released second album, A Conversation Well Rehearsed, opening the eyes of those who hadn’t heard The Birthday Suit previously. Rod Jones’ confidence as a frontman seems to be growing, as he

continuously engaged with the crowd. “Does anyone remember the nineties?” he asks, before bursting into a powerful cover of Snap’s ‘Rhythm is a Dancer’ - a particular highlight of the night’s proceedings. The group were later joined by Emma Pollock to showcase a series of tracks from The Fruit Tree Foundation’s album, and help raise awareness of the charities’ work. After a short break Withered Hand took to the stage, supported by a strong local following who would not be disappointed. Performing as a three-piece on the night and fresh from their European tour, frontman Dan Willson was accompanied by a violinist and an accordionist to give his fragile folk songs a fuller sound. Willson’s continuous jokes and anecdotes added to the pleasant atmosphere among those in attendance. The group’s performance of ‘Religious Songs’ encouraged the loudest sing-along of the night, highlighting Withered Hand’s growing popularity in the music scene. As well as organising events, The Fruit Tree Foundation has branched out its work in recent times, setting up a mentoring programme for hopeful musicians. One of the students to benefit from the scheme, Marie Collins, joined Dan Willson at the show to play a number of songs that she had written with the help of her mentors. Despite having only rehearsed the songs on the

stairwell prior to the gig, Marie’s performance was an excellent insight for the majority of the Edinburgh audience. Big things are expected from Kilmarnock based five-piece Fatherson, who closed this year’s Music Like A Vitamin. A blend of raw indie riffs and catchy vocals energized the large following the band had in attendance. The addition of live cello player Elaine Glass provided a greater dimension to Fatherson’s live performance, generating a terrific sound inside the Picture House. Set ender James closed the gig in rousing style, with a passionate, melodic chorus sung along by many sections

of the room. After another successful show as part of the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival, plans are already underway to continue the charities’ work into next year: “The Fruit Tree Foundation are trying to get more mentoring next year, with one session a month. This is the first year that the foundation has hosted the event and we plan to have a new Music Like A Vitamin next year too. There’s always a great community atmosphere for an extremely important cause and we want to keep it fresh each year.” www.fruittreefoundation.com/ anotherformofrelief

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MUSIC Introducing...

MUSIC Recommendations

Brother & Bones

Harris Brine Assistant music editor

Vincent Devine

Harris Brine Music editor

Brother & Bones are a five-piece band hailing from London. Most of them met at Guildford’s famous Academy for Contemporary Music, whose alumni include Newton Faulkner, Ed Sheeren and Chris Cape, and with teachers such as Guthrie Govan. Beyond the five-man band on stage with two drummers - that’s right two drummers - they also have an extended crew of photographers, videographers, film-makers and web designers; all of them must take credit for their part in the Brother & Bones project.

They made their first trip to Scotland last month when they played at the inaugural night of Glasgow’s newest music venue, Broadcast, on Sauchiehall Street. With the freshly painted walls still drying in the almost-opened venue, the band were one of the first to ever grace the stage. Glasgow’s Three Blind Wolves were the headline act, but you wouldn’t have known if you came in half way through Brother & Bones’ set. With virtually no one knowing who they were beforehand, they packed out the basement venue and gave us all a taste of what they are about. When asked to describe their music to the average jock on the street, lead singer

Singled Out MUSIC Jonathan Whitelaw Staff writer Dracula Lewis – ‘Marble Eyes’ (12 November, Souterrain Transmissions)

With an intro that sounds like

it belongs on an episode of Blake’s 7, Dracula Lewis delivers his latest track ‘Marble Eyes’. And the nostalgic throwback to British pop culture and wobbly set TV does not end there; the Transylvanian-born producer was clearly influenced by the morose and twisted side of human nature. ‘Marble Eyes’ is a noticeably dark track. As flagrantly obvious a cop-out that seems to describe music from a place with Transylvania’s reputation, it nevertheless aptly describes this effort. Hauntingly loud vocals that evoke the oddest screams from a sanitarium play well with the sub-sonic beat, itself an ominous trudge. This is by no means for everybody. Most will scratch their head at something deliciously ‘foreign’. But for the sake of diversity, Dracula Lewis deserves a chance. You never know, it might grow on you. Like a pair of fangs.

Daniel Inouwa - ‘Lay Now’ (14 November, RABB Records)

Singing about a broken heart is

always a popular choice. From some of the greats, Eric Clapton, Michael Jackson et al to anything ever released by the cast of Glee, love songs are as much a part of the musical landscape as Ronnie Wood’s dyed black hair. Bearing that in mind, Daniel Inouwa plumbs for a well-worn genre for his debut release ‘Lay Now’. To make things even more diabolically predictable, the track is a soft spoken, smokey-voiced acoustic number. The merest suggestion of finger plucking accompanies Inouwa’s velvet vocals, his song writing enough to evoke images of campus love affairs under swaying autumnal trees. Yes it’s just that soppy. And yes this is hardly the reinvention of the wheel. But there’s something unfathomably enjoyable about ‘Lay Now’. Pleasant background filler for any task, it hits the sentimental spot with a sledge hammer. Delilah – ‘Never Be Another’ (6 November, Atlantic Records)

From The Roots Up, Delilah, real

The Journal Wednesday 21 November 2012

Rich Thomas answers, “We were once described as Mumford & Sons meets The Dead Weather, but I’d say with a little more Biffy thrown in there too.” Their music would be the perfect soundtrack to a modern day western film. They manage to combine silk-like guitar playing with soulful singing and drum beats. Their nomination alongside Alt-J, Ben Howard, Emeli Sande, Lianne La Havas, Lucy Rose, and Dog Is Dead for Best Breakthrough Artist at The Live Music Awards 2012 proves that these guys are going places. With their album out next year it’s safe to say that we can expect to hear a lot more from Brother & Bones.

Each fortnight, The Journal badgers those involved in the Scottish music scene for their personal recommendations of up-and-coming homegrown acts. This issue, we’ve pestered a longstanding champion for new music in Jim Gellatly, self-titled noiseniks Bronto Skylift, Edinburgh’s harmonious sixpiece Broken Records and for our readers with techno tendencies, the founder of DJ Agency MUCK. Duo Iain Stewart and Niall Strachan take a break from making noise as Bronto Skylift to recommend three of the capital city’s settlers with a penchant for diversity: “Lady North are an Edinburgh based three-piece instruMENTAL band. We first came across them in 2010 and we have played some shows together since and every time the dirty tinks keep evolving! “They will make you laugh/cry/ dance/groove/remove clothing - all at the same time. Tight as a nun’s behind and blessed with more invention than a really great inventor... GO AND SEE THEM LIVE! “They will hopefully have their first album out soon and if they do not, we will throw toasted cheese at them.” Aside from holding a stake to the claim of ‘Busiest Man In Scotland’, Jim Gellatly also produces In:Demand Uncut, a radio show focused on introducing new music to its listeners. The Journal caught up with him to find out what band has stood out above the rest. “Uddingston’s John Wean are a band I’ve been keeping an eye on for a while now, sounding like a Scottish Arctic Monkeys, but certainly with their own thing going on. They seem to be going from strength to strength, and have been

building on the profile created from their first single. Their latest release ‘New York Doesn’t Love You’ is a total gem.” Still going strong after two excellent albums are Broken Records. The Journal asked the band’s lead vocalist Jamie Sutherland for a recommendation of a new band. Despite Jesus H Foxx being around for five years, Sutherland thinks this septet are that good, that including them was imperative. “Jesus H Foxx are a slightly strange choice as a ‘new’ band, as we have played shows with them for years, but with their debut album Endless Knocking now finally out through Song By Toad Records, they seemed a logical choice. Their previous Matter EP was one of the best things I have heard coming out of Edinburgh in the last few years, and ‘I’m Half The Man You Were’ is a song for the ages.” Last but by no means least, Paul McQueen, the founder of MUCK DJ Agency (which boasts Mirror People and Botnek on its roster) lets us know who’s been keeping him up late at night: “Highlander Polymath was raised on a diet of techno and shit nightclubs. In ode to his upbringing, he makes a skewed mix of disco/house/techno that is loved by electro heavyweights like Tiga, Fake Blood & Zombie Nation. He still attends the same nightclubs though…”

Six of the latest singles come under the scrutinising eyes of The Journal’s Jonathan Whitelaw name Paloma Stoeker, returns with a much anticipated new single ‘Never Be Another’. Mashing together two of the most popular styles of urban and soul, Stoeker has positioned herself as a growing superstar in the making. ‘Never Be Another’ drips with the style and sultry swagger that earned Stoeker a nomination for best newcomer at this year’s MOBOs. With more than a nod to the likes of Adele, this young woman has the potential, and more importantly the voice, to be one of the most recognised artists of her generation. The collaboration with grime artist Devlin also lends a much needed, individual streak to the vocals. Very much in the Rita Ora vein, Delilah offers a unique take on something wholeheartedly familiar. Not an easy task. Dog Is Dead – ‘Teenage Daughter’ (10 November, Atlantic Records)

Nottingham is a place famous for many things. Evil Sheriffs, double European Cup-winning football teams and of course, leather-lunged Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden Fame. It is not, however, widely known as a hotbed of indie talent. Seeking to put right what once went wrong is Dog Is Dead and their latest single ‘Teenage Daughter’.

Harmonic and heartfelt, the track is an ‘above the shop door’ anthem for the band as a whole. Guitars are aptly set to shimmer and quiffs very much gelled upwards; this is indie pop rock at its very best. With their debut album available on a major record, Dog Is Dead are on the verge of cracking the proverbial nut. Look out for them on their current winter tour, where ‘Teenage Daughter’ looks set to be the perfect anthemic calling card for the band. Sinkane – ‘Runnin’ (17 December, City Slang Records)

In an age of unnecessarily morose

and maudlin lyrics, songs that drone on for hours without much action and the seemingly endless stream of disposable pop starlets drunk on their own fame, it is easy to get down. We, in the 21st century, can be blamed for taking a life; the life of the party. But one man wants to change that. Sudanese/American groove artist Sinkane is responsible for injecting some funk and soul back where it once belonged. His latest single, ‘Runnin’, offers a slice of glittery, disco balltastic underground soul that would make Huggy Bear jive. Hip-grinding bass and a disco guitar whammy pedal

that would make your crotch-crushing flares ride up, ‘Runnin’ combines the best of nostalgia with good, all round fun in what can never be interpreted as anything but an old-fashioned floor filler. Plan B - ‘Playing With Fire’ (3 December, Atlantic Records 1 Star)

Oh Plan B, it was all going so well. Right up until you turned your hand to “acting” — and that term is used very loosely — the whole image of one of Britain’s hottest young talents went out the window faster than The Sweeney movie hitting the bargain DVD bin in Tesco. Seeking salvation, Ben Drew clings tooth-and-nail to the coat-tails of Labrinth in what may prove to be a last ditch attempt. New single ‘Playing With Fire’ is as drab and flat as the hackneyed title. Accompanied by a video that looks very much like an outtake from the outtakes of Lock, Stock and Snatch, the end seems mercifully nigh for Plan B. Lacking a distinctive style and clear direction, the single mixes urban, RnB and ham-acting in an almost comedically clumsy fashion. Begging the question, what happened to Plan A and can it be salvaged?

The Journal Wednesday 21 November 2012

@GlasgowJournal / journal-online.co.uk

A&E / 23

“Britain’s housing crisis can be saved” Richard Murphy Architects are solving the housing crisis through good design at Edinburgh’s Quartermile 10 Richard Murphy Architects

Art&design Laurie Goodman A&E editor, Edinburgh

Writing his Picturesque Notes In 1903, Edinburgh resident Robert Louis Stevenson described the city as ‘half a capital and half a country town.’ He added, ‘the whole city leads a double existence; it has long trances of the one and flashes of the other...it is half alive, and half a monumental marble.’ Drawing on the diversity of Edinburgh’s built environment, Stevenson’s comment is one of numerous references throughout history to a schizophrenic city that has difficulty integrating new architectural movements. Looming over the North side of the meadows, the Foster + Partners planned Quartermile development illustrates that this sentiment still bares resonance, over 100 years later. Combining glass giants with conversions of Edinburgh’s 1729 Royal Infirmary, Foster’s master plan provides the city with a sense of verticality that is usually only derived from 19th century church spires littered along the Royal Mile. Quartermile brings a mix of retail and office properties to the area, marked most noticeably by the presence of high-end market properties. However, developers are required to dedicate a portion of land on site to the creation of social housing (that which is governed by a housing association.) As a result, a section of the land on the West end of the site is currently home to a construction housing 170 properties under Hillcrest Housing Association. After a scuffle between owners of the site and Page/Park architects, the Edinburgh based firm and winner of 19 RIBA

awards Richard Murphy Architects were taken on board to spearhead the social housing project. The new ‘Q10’ building sits on the corner of Chalmers street and Nightingale Way, “What’s interesting about Foster’s design - whether you like it or not - is that the building’s are quite tall. So while this building is sitting in splendid isolation and looks rather large at this stage, by the time Fosters buildings catch up, it will just blend into the background.” The project arrives as part of a larger attempt to solve the issues of Britain’s housing crisis. In October, the Royal Institute of British Architects released a report from a year long investigation into the quality of newly built housing: the Future Homes Commission. Characterised by cramped, dark properties with a dearth of storage space, the Future Homes Commission (FHC) reported that homes in London were significantly lacking in floor space in comparison to their continental counterparts (also known as the ‘GIA’ - Gross Internal Area - of a home.) For example, the average GIA of a two-bedroom apartment for three individuals in London resided at 61m squared, in comparison to Germany’s 70. Q10 can be seen as an attempt at solving the housing crisis through good design. While Murphy claims to pay little attention to the demands of RIBA, the average GIA for a three-bedroom apartment in Q10 for five individuals towers at a staggering 97.4 metres squared, in comparison to the 86 provided in London. Paramount in the quest for good-quality homes is the provision of light. This is partially achieved through the plan of the building - a quadrangle

“It’s quite an interesting problem... you’re putting social housing next to some wealthy apartments. I’m pretty worried about night-time in this area.” with a south-west facing cut-out, allowing light into the interior courtyard. This also allows Murphy’s design to eradicate single aspect properties - those receiving light from one side. Murphy explains the programme at Q10: “The design is generated around the idea of getting the most number of flats in with the right amount of sunlight...You’ll notice that the building has four access cores with deep reveals so that when you’re waiting for the lift, you’re waiting in daylight. I hate those internal corridors in hotels. Q10 should feel like a residential property, not a hotel.” The FHC outlined the main cause behind Britain’s housing crisis: ‘the debate on housing has been distorted by focusing on cold figures such as the number of units or bedrooms. It must be recast a ro u n d homes, com-

munities and people.’ Murphy explains that previously, small housing associations provided a small, neighbourhood community approach to social housing. “These were set up because the larger associations were out of touch and not responding to their needs, and managerially top heavy... now, the smaller associations are being gobbled up by the big housing associations. It’s a bit of an Animal Farm situation: they’ve become what they were set up to replace” Q10 counters this with a landscaped courtyard, as well as public spaces services such as a nursery school and a cafe, in order to engender a sense of community. However, the proximity of Q10 to high-end market properties presents somewhat of an anomaly - clients will often buy land away from their site to develop the prescribed social housing in order to prevent a class-clash between home owners. Murphy ponders over the limitations of such an arrangement: “If it was up to me I would have distributed Quatermile’s social housing into two or three blocks...I wouldn’t have put it in one single complex, because there is always the danger in these situations that it become viewed as some kind of ghetto, which is very unfortunate. “It’s quite an interesting problem happening here because you’re putting social housing tenants next to some wealthy apartments. I’m pretty worried about night time in this area.” So while design can provide the solution to the problems outlined by the FHC last month, the obligation to provide social housing in new developments presents new issues.

Despite this, Murphy has attempted to solve the problem of social division through aesthetic integration: “Foster has covered his flats in aluminium. We couldn’t afford Foster’s materials, but we built Q10 in such a way that it felt like a part of a family of buildings on the site. It’s the first time in my life where I’ve created a building that is supposed to be associated with the language of another.” One could certainly be forgiven for thinking that Q10 was merely an extension of Foster’s, although not only for the skin on the exterior of the building: “These would be six-figure flats if they were market properties. Many have southwest facing roof terraces with views of the castle.” So hopefully the ‘double existence’ that characterises Edinburgh’s urban fabric will not extend to the new inhabitants of Quartermile. With that said, the FHC remain positive about the prospects of Britain’s housing market: “The housing crisis can be saved. The Commission firmly believes that, with determined action by everyone involved, the UK can build enough homes of high quality to meet the demand for housing.”

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The Journal Wednesday 21 November 2012

The Sapphires

The Master One of the greats of the year, possibly the decade, from Paul Thomas Anderson A feel-good gem driven by great performances

FILM Varia Fedko Blake

Paul Thomas Anderson has come

a long way in 16 years. From the underbelly of the 70’s LA porn scene in Boogie Nights to his masterpiece of greed and power There Will Be Blood, he has developed a style unto himself. The Master — though not as pitchperfect as his Daniel Day-Lewis tour de force —demonstrates that his ability to haul immense performances from his actors is second only to his visual flair and intelligence as a screenwriter. Joaquin Phoenix gives an unprecedented performance as Freddie Quell, the unlikeable, psychologically-tormented naval veteran, struggling to find a place on dry land following the end of World War Two. Animalistic and spontaneous, Freddie’s only skills are taking pictures and distilling alcohol. The film follows Quell from his early days in the navy, through his darkly comic, disastrous attempts to blend into

civilian life. As a wanderer he comes across Lancaster Dodd (Philip Seymour Hoffman), leader of a movement known as ‘The Cause’. In one of the best scenes in the film Dodd initiates Quell into The Cause via one-on-one questioning, uncovering the tragedy of Quell’s bleak life. It features some wonderful dialogue (“Are you lying?” asks Dodd. “No” replies Quell. “Are you a liar?” Dodd asks instead. “Yes” replies Quell). We’ve seen Phoenix’s abilities on display several times over the years, breaking free of his Gladiator villainy into films like Walk the Line and the experimental I’m Still Here. With The Master, he’s cemented himself as one of the most fascinating actors out there. Phoenix even manages to overshadow the great Hoffman, who’s brilliant as The Cause’s figurehead. The supporting cast is also excellent, featuring Amy Adams, Laura Dern and Ambyr Childers. Despite the media speculation in comparisons between the film’s ‘Cause’ and Scientology, The Master remains foremost a study of its two main characters, Freddie (the student), and Dodd (The Master).

The excellent, often harmonious soundtrack by Jonny Greenwood adds to the film’s atmospheric take on late40s/50s America, perfectly suiting the spontaneity of Phoenix’s Quell while often mocking his catastrophic life. The Master’s cinematography by Mihai Malaimare is gorgeous, and Anderson’s eye for absorbing photography blends fittingly into the often dark story. Though Anderson has practically abandoned the steadicam shots of his earlier films, he has not let go of his love for clever, patient camera work. This, alongside the editing, is a reminder of the influence of Scorsese, Kubrick and Jonathan Demme. The Master has got the same pace and look, of There Will Be Blood, but falls just shy of it, with an ending nowhere near as effective as the legendary “I drink your milkshake”. That said, The Master unfolds with the patience of late-Leone and the mood of early Scorsese, most of all proving that Joaquin Phoenix is among the best actors working in the industry today, and that Paul Thomas Anderson is a style in his own right, in much the same way that The Coen brothers are ‘Coenesque’.

FILM Connor Macgregor

The Sapphires tells the story of

four young indigenous Australian women as they become a singing group and tour across Vietnam, singing for troops during the Vietnam war. Based on the critically well-received 2005 stage play, this Australian film is set to follow in its path. Following a warm response in Cannes this year, the film has been released in several parts of the world. Recently arrived in the UK, it is a very well made film with a lot of heart and soul. Firstly, the performances are very good. Chris O’Dowd as Dave — who discovers the girls in a very intimidating situation — decides to form them as a band and get them a gig in Vietnam. O’Dowd performs the role well, giving the character real likability as well as a few laughs. Deborah Mailman as Gail, the oldest — and leader of the three sisters — is a very domineering, but caring character to her siblings.

EDITOR’S NOTES

Her younger sisters Julie and Cynthia (Jessica Mauboy and Miranda Tapsell) see this as an opportunity for fame and a better life from what they have back at home. They are joined by cousin Kay (Shari Sebbens), with whom there is a bit of bad blood, revealed brilliantly during an intense flashback. The supporting performances also make the film stand up well. What really gives the film spirit is the music and the feel-good factor it lets out. The songs are well performed and really capture the mood of the 60s. The third act of the film is also quite a moving and emotional piece as we see the sisters in a scary situation, letting out some raw emotions (which are very well acted out). It also tackles the equal rights movement in Australia, but very vaguely, unlike last year’s The Help. There is even a brief mention of Martin Luther King, giving all that is needed to keep the story exciting, as well as the audience emotionally invested us in what is going on. To sum it up, The Sapphires is an underrated gem for 2012. It carries with it a feel-good factor, as well as the potential for some surprise nominations at the next Golden Globes or Baftas.

by Lorne Jackson

Sick Of Mick

Let It Bleed or have a read? There’s only one thing to do when faced with the current crop of rock biographies, writes The Journal’s arts editor...

BOOKS

But I would forgive them all — every single one of the rocking-chair rockers — if it wasn’t for that hideous faux pas of writing bloody autobiographies. Wander into any bookshop this Christmas (okay, wander into Waterstones; there are no other bookshops) and you are liable to be assaulted by a barrage of bombast from the brittle-bone brigade. To your left, Pete Townsend is sobbing about his choppy childhood, then boasting about his art school leanings. Frankly, Pete, I don’t give a toss. Weren’t you that once proud young dude who hoped to die before you grew old? What a commendable sentiment that truly was. At least an early demise would have spared the world your biog,

Lorne Jackson Arts & Entertainment editor

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but

rock stars aren’t very polite people. Not at all. They’re liable to wretch, vomit and overdose while you’re attempting to conduct a pleasant conversation with them about the beastly British weather. Or they’ll hog the stash of crank all to themselves, even though respectable society deems it de rigueur to share the gear. Worst of all, rock stars just won’t

die when you want them to. A few of the better behaved ones have enough manners to pop their clogs (or 70s-style platform heels) at the socially acceptable age of 27. Jimi Hendrix went that way, in a blaze of glory — and a puddle of puke. So did Janis Joplin and Bob Dylan. (At least I think Dylan died years ago. He certainly sings as though he did.) If only every rocker was so sensible — and insensate. But unfortunately there are the others...The live ones. Geriatric gyrators whirling round Wembley Stadium when they should be spinning in their graves. Or those who persist in pulling supermodels instead of pushing up daisies.

filled, as it is, with chapter after chapter of charmless chatter. Yawn. Not every example of the current crop of rock tomes has been written by its subject, though it’s likely that the subject gave consent to the writer. Mick Jagger’s life story is lurking on the bookshelves, in all its glutinous glory. He comes across as a merchant banker whose hobby just happens to be aping elderly blues musicians. For Mick, music is a means to an end. And that ‘end’ is getting his end away. But who didn’t know that already? You don’t need a hardback to imagine Jagger bareback. His feast of flings have been exhaustively detailed by the tabloids. The truth is that no genuine music

lover wants to rest on a comfy easychair, reading a hefty book detailing an elderly rock star’s life. Biographies are for failed politicians to justify their doomed policies. But rock music? It’s never a good read — it’s a heady rush. Something to wiggle your body against; get drunk around...The backdrop for a kiss; a riot of jumbled emotions; the fizz and fervor of first love. And publishers think they can squish that sort of thing into a book? Yeah, right. Good luck with that. I’d just as soon watch a dying butterfly flutter inside a collector’s jam jar. Because that’s precisely the problem with every rock biog released this Christmas. Too much jar — and not enough jamming.

The Journal Wednesday 21 November 2012

@GlasgowJournal / journal-online.co.uk

Whites of Passage

A&E / 25 Vincent Devine

Novelist Chris Dolan discovers a heart of darkness running through the poverty-stricken pale people of Barbados

BOOKS Lorne Jackson Arts & Entertainment editor

It’s a bad idea to suggest that Chris

Dolan has ever had a bad idea. The Glasgow author is ready and willing to stomp round to a spiteful literary critic’s home to punch them on the nose. If they’re lucky. Otherwise he’ll go for the good old fashioned hardman heed-hammer; that savage smooch known as the Glesga Kiss. I’m kidding, of course. Chris — whose latest novel, Redlegs, is out now — is an affable fella. He doesn’t bear grudges. (And usually doesn’t have to. His writing is excellent, receiving mostly glowing reviews.) However, legendary literary rabblerouser, Norman Mailer, once advised him to become Dole-It-Out Dolan. Chris explains: “I met Norman about ten years ago. He was in his 80s then, but you could still feel the danger of him, even though there was a twinkly-eyed element to it. “My first novel, Ascension Day, had just come out. I got this pretty iffy review from one paper. Norman, he had also read my book. And then he read this review. “He said to me: ‘Do you know where he lives?’ I said: ‘Yeah’. Norman said: ‘Go round and punch him.’ “Norman said that when ever you get a bad review you should find the author, then go round and punch them, or head-butt them.” Chris laughs. Stormin’ Norman’s

method of debate is very different from the way Chris deals with problems. Quite the opposite, in fact. In 2002 he ran ‘Conflict Resolution’ workshops for both sides of the community in Belfast, using the art of story-telling as a bonding exercise. He also once worked for UNESCO, which is how he stumbled across the idea for Redlegs. “UNESCO sent me to Barbados to look into youth delinquency,” he says. “While out there I went on a walk with a group of about 20 people. About 18 of them were middle-class black teachers and lawyers. “But there was also another guy who looked just like a tourist. It didn’t seem that he could handle the heat too well, and he could very well have got off the boat from Kirkcaldy that morning. “I went and talked to him, and he spoke in the deepest Barbadian accent I’d ever heard. So I had to get one of the black middle-class guys to come over and translate what he said for me.” The man was a ‘redleg’, a member of a shrinking group of dirt poor white folk, based in the north of Barbados. The community settled on the island over two hundred years ago. A large number came from Scotland, and their history is a tragic one. “In the early days the poor whites sided with the blacks in slave rebellions,” says Chris. “But then the powers in charge played divide and rule. They got the poor whites on side and turned them into the local militia, hunting the blacks. “They ended up really, really poor. They still by and large believe they are

better than the blacks, and they feel they will get back on top. But that’s never going to happen. “They are desperately poor, desperately undereducated and inbred.” Chris’s memorable first meeting with a redleg was over twenty years ago — the novel had a long gestation period. But the wait was worthwhile. He has produced a moving and dramatic book about the effects of colonialism. At the core of the fiction, set in 1830, is Elspeth Baillie, a Scottish actress invited to Barbados by the owner of a sugar plantation. It’s appropriate that Chris chose to write about a thespian — he has a distinguished career putting words in performers’ mouths. As well as working on his own plays, he has penned episodes of Taggart and River City, and also adapts the Rebus novels for radio. Which does he prefer, the collaborative process of drama, or the god-like indulgence of the novelist? “I like prose because you can control more,” he says. “But I’m basically a social person, too. I’m not very good at sitting in a room alone, all day. So I couldn’t write novels for the whole of my life. “I want to sit in the room in the morning with the novel, then go out and do a play in the afternoon. It’s a bit like enjoying football but also liking cycling. Two entirely different things but both enjoyable and demanding.” Redlegs By Chris Dolan is published by Vagabond Voices (£9.95)

‘Fifty Shades of Shite’

Norwegian Wood

The Journal looks at the popularity and reception of erotic novels A look back at the book which made Haruki Murakami an international literary rockstar

BOOKS

John Hewitt Jones Literary editor

A history graduate from the Uni-

versity of Edinburgh has been snapped up by Penguin for a two-book deal, days after taking America’s e-book market by storm. Having self-published her work online over the summer, Samantha Young’s erotic novel On Dublin Street rapidly made it to number one in the American Amazon charts. Set in Edinburgh’s New Town, the book explores a number of famous locations in the city, recounting the tale of a young American woman’s rather steamy visit to the Scottish capital. But this news won’t please everybody. Much of the debate at the Edinburgh International Book Festival over the summer centred on the question of literary value, and the effect that this sort of easy erotic fiction is having on the publishing industry. Booker Prize-winning author Howard Jacobson was particularly outspoken in his fierce criticism of titles like

Fifty Shades of Grey, describing the book as “pathetic soft porn, for which the sex should hang its head in shame.” Scots Makar Liz Lochhead also waded in, dubbing the series “Fifty Shades of Shite.” Jacobson argues that titles such as this lack imagination and fail to engage the reader in any meaningful way; that filling bookshops with stacks of this type of book dupes people into thinking they are having a meaningful relationship with a text that is unchallenging and exists purely as an easy form of self-gratification: “Half the time they are describing a book, they are describing their inability to read, the shortage of their own imagination, and a lack of wide reading.” A quick browse of Amazon will demonstrate the extraordinary plethora of this steamy, self-published fiction which is now available for download. So why has this area of the book market expanded so exponentially over the last few years? The rise of the e-reader certainly has something to do with it. People can now indulge in their favourite erotica on the way to work without fear of being found out. David Robinson, book editor of Scotland on Sunday has suggested that the

format of the electronic book has actually affected the way that texts themselves are structured, and this seems a convincing hypothesis. If you’re reading a book on a kindle, you don’t want to, or can’t, flick pages backwards and forwards to check narrative details and re-examine character descriptions. This is a format that fosters an easyto-grasp style, with plenty of signposts for the reader so that they don’t have to work hard to follow the plot. Quantum leaps forward in the selfpublishing industry have also meant that the facilities for producing a professional-looking book and making it available for sale online are available to everybody, all with a minimal cost to the author. As a consequence thousands more people are using this as a way to expunge their own creative impulse, as well as to indulge in others’ fantasies. With online self-publishing growing so fast, it seems that the editor and the publishing house has a more crucial role to play than ever before in determining a writer’s commercial success. Whether or not we agree with what makes it from the slush pile is a different matter…

BOOKS John Hewitt Jones Literary editor

This is the novel with which Murakami carved his place firmly into the Japanese literary canon. Brimming with resonances of the author’s love of solitude, it is Murakami’s first ‘conventional’ novel, focusing on love and the complicated nature of human relationships. University student Watanabe reflects on his struggle to find a path through a life steeped in the tragedy and emotional dysfunction of others. Set in ‘70s Tokyo, this is a book that deconstructs the typical ‘comingof-age’ novel, as the protagonist’s honesty and cool reserve brings him into contact with unusual people and circumstances that elicit poignant moments of self-realisation. Murakami’s style is stark and clipped, portraying the messiness of human interaction and the awkwardness of natural dialogue with a cut-

tingly acute eye. This caused some of the author’s fans to react with dismay when it was first published in 1987, but the unique, uncompromising style is a key reason for the author’s international literary reputation today.

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The Journal Wednesday 21 November 2012

Nightwalk still a Emboldened local fashion Bold Souls return to the catwalk with a new collection of local designers’ work fashionable fixture Underground showcase of local talent at The Arches is set to be a date for your diary

fashion Nadine Walker Fashion editor

Nightwalk was created in 2010

as an underground platform for fabulous local fashion talent. Focusing on great music and an extravagant catwalk after dark- Nightwalk has gained respect from Scotland’s fashion pack as a special event for everyone’s diary. With a regular slot at Glasgow favourite cave ‘The Arches’, Nightwalk’s creator Angie Koorbanally had a vision to create an exciting event for the Scottish fashion industry. Offering an opportunity to discover new talent and a chance to keep up-todate with old favourites; Nightwalk is perfect exposure for models and fashion designers from all walks of life and with varied experience levels. DJ and designer of Fair Feathered Friend- an accessories line with Native America influences- Koorbanally walks to a different beat and Nightwalk is a fragment of that decision.

With the likes of Jennie Lööf, Betty Spoke and shoe-queen Dawntroversial as regulars on the bill, the event promises a wide variation of talent and inspiration. To keep up-to-date with all the latest Nightwalk news and event info, follow Nightwalk on twitter @NightwalkEvents or search for them on Facebook. Nightwalk

fashion Nadine Walker Fashion editor

AFTER securing their stamp on

Glasgow’s underground fashion scene during 2010 and 2011, Bold Souls are back and raring to go with a collection of outstanding local fashion talent. Bold Souls specialise in providing fashion fans with a fresh look into the independent fashion talent in Scotland. Popping up in bars and clubs around the city, Bold Souls have filled the likes of The Subclub to the brim with passionate and promising fashion talent. With selections of collections available to preview on the night, designers are offering a unique look at their pieces with their fashion-styling knowledge on hand to help style and restyle you on the day. The event will also feature a catwalk show, a fantastic opportunity to see the pieces on the Bold Souls Models. With usual sponsors Rainbow Rooms and Kopparberg involved, crisp fresh cider will help set the tone of the evening. Bonnie Bling, Jay McLean, MochMess, Vaslav & Lilly and Jazne Gowans are just a few amazing names added to the bill. Co-founder and designer of Chou Chou, Silvia Pellegrino continues to

Bold Souls

celebrate Glasgow and underground fashion talent. With a beaming smile and famous Hollyhood statement piece under her belt, Pellegrino is excited that Bold Souls is back in time for the festive period: “I am just so thrilled about this show, it’s always just a pleasure to put it together working with so much Scotland-based fashion talent! The last time we organised a Bold Souls event it was precisely one year ago and as our Pop Up concept has developed. “What I personally think really makes Bold Souls different and special is the chance to grab the pieces ‘off the models’ as our customers are able to see the look on the runway and purchase it there and then/have it adapted to fit their wishes directly from the designer. Anyone who has a true love for fashion appreciates this directness and the fact that everyone involved is always so lovely, approachable and passionate about what they do! Plus the pieces are great quality too.” With a 100 ticket limitation, the event on 22 November promises to be something really special. Ideal for a unique shopping experience, Flat 0/1 and Lucky 7 opens its doors to ticket holders from 18:00-21:00. With usual sponsors Rainbow Rooms and Kopparberg involved, crisp fresh cider will help set the tone of the evening.

Tickets are £10 and can be purchased from boldsouls.bigcartel.com, Flat 0/1 and Lucky 7; entrace at 162 Bath Street, Glasgow G2 4HW.

to do so. Packed with some of the best bars and clubs in the UK, James Bond would certainly be at home sipping a martini in Glasgow’s finest hotspots. But where is the best place to get a Martini? Places such as Humming Bird and Bunker specialise in the art of cocktail-making, with Martinis a classic staple in both. Whether you want your Martini shaken, stirred or just quickly guzzled down your throat, there’s no need to go dry. Glasgow bars are ready to show you that although The World is not Enough, a Martini comes pretty close. As any Bond fan knows, 007 likes a

game of poker. However, he has failed to cash in at Glasgow’s casinos, where Lady Luck may turn out to be your friend. The Corinthian Glasgow looks like it could easily have been a James Bond set from Casino Royale. With beautiful interior and an electric atmosphere you can be sure of an authentic JB experience. Some say movies are an escape from reality, but as any Scot knows, nothing is beyond their limits. In Scotland’s most sassy city, you too can create your very own super-spy experience. Let’s just hope Tomorrow Never Dies, because Glasgow is ready to show you a time you will never forget.

To Glasgow with Love We all dream of living in the movies — and in Glasgow you may be able to

fashion Kirsty Conway Staff writer

James Bond. The name alone brings with it connotations of glamour, mystery and a few fancy gadgets. For years Bond has graced our screens with his effortlessly cool style, while still managing to thrill audiences with his ability to catch the bad guy and get the girl. Bond flicks are set in some of the most glamorous locations in the world: Tokyo, Venice, New York and Madrid. Mr Bond certainly doesn’t do anything by halves. However, one place is missing from the slick city line-up: Glasgow. It may not be the first place to enter your head in reference to James Bond, but Glasgow is no diamond in the rough. And like they say Diamonds are Forever. Scotland’s most glamorous city can provide you with the James Bond experience without having to pay a fortune for a plane ticket…we are students after all. When you think of a Tuxedo, you probably think of the penguin suits made famous in the 1980’s, then went into fashion solitude as they became increasingly popular wedding attire. That is certainly not the case anymore thanks to 007 himself. Of course our James could put on a bin liner and make it cool. But there was something about that Tux adorned by Bond which became an integral part of what the character was about…powerful and sophisticated.

In the new Bond film, Skyfall, Daniel Craig was attired by former Gucci frontman, Tom Ford. The rest of us don’t have access to a fashion legend to help us pick out an outfit. But with a bit of Glaswegian spirit you too can recreate a look Bond would be enviable of. Slaters Menswear in Glasgow is famous for its formal wear attire and ability to transform a simple guy walking down Buchanan Street into the most stylish man in town. Here, you can get a slice of the James Bond action for £99. This may seem a bit expensive, but a Tux is also an investment. It can be used to create multiple outfits by wearing the jacket or trousers separately for a more casual look. If the thought of wearing a tux doesn’t rev your Austin Martin, fear not. More casual day suits, worn by Scotland’s very own Bond, Sean Connery, mean you can embrace 007 without looking like you are going to a wedding or court. TOPMAN’s current selection of suits integrates seasonal trends, including Tweed and Herringbone, which are similar to styles Connery wore in the film franchise between 1962 – 1971. Connery proved that a suit can be worn no matter what time of day, meaning you get a lot of bang for your buck when you decide to invest in such a timeless piece. TOPMAN’s Brown Puppytooth Skinny Suit is a perfect example of simple elegance at its finest. Although it retails at £160, you get a suit which never goes out of style. Furthermore, every savvy

student shopper has a handy gadget that even James Bond can’t get a hold of - a student card. Yes, this little piece of plastic means you get a 10% student discount in TOPMAN… I bet Q would have loved to have come up with that idea! Behind every good man is an even better woman. This is certainly the case with the Bond babes. Every girl wants to be them while every man wants to be with them. Bond girls are the definition of sex appeal with attitude - and this is depicted in their style. A perfect example of a Bond girl’s effortlessly sexy and classic style is Eva Green. The French actress, who played Vesper Lynd, showcased a sassy style which would even make Paris Hilton envious. Her style was dark compared to previous Bond girls, but still had that essence of cool associated with the Bond franchise. Any Glesga gal attempting to adopt that Eva Green groove should follow certain strict rules. Stick with darker colours. Black, violet and emerald green exude the vampy vibe which Green displayed so perfectly. Such shadowy shades are dominant in the high-street, thanks to the vampire-esque trend which includes dark as night velvets and beautifully crafted black lace. Shops such as Miss Selfridge have this trend down to a fine art with the Black Sheer Spot Maxi (£49) reminiscent of Vesper Lynd. You can be sure that even 007 would be more than a little flustered. What do you do once you have got a wardrobe to die for? Why show it off, of course. And Glasgow is the perfect place

The Journal Wednesday 21 November 2012

SPORT// 27

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Reduce prices or lose Scottish Premier League The SPL has seen drops in attendance that can only be reversed by making matches affordable Ruth Jeffery Sport editor, Edinburgh There is no doubt that the Scottish Premier League is an endangered species. Quite how fearfully endangered is debateable. On a scale from the panda at one end to the rat at the other, the SPL would be akin to the polar bear. Protected to some degree, but struggling to keep afloat on sparse finances which are ever receding into an ocean of debt. Despite optimistic arguments which say that the SPL is in the best health of its life, devoid of both Rangers and stagnation, competitive and more exciting than before; there is no denying that financially, it’s a mess.

Hearts’ recent headaches have exemplified the predicament, and the desperate measures such as asking fans to buy shares and hold fundraising events look ludicrous from one of the main clubs in the national league. As vicious as the prospect of losing yet another SPL club to the taxman is the circle which is created by the high prices and low attendance. Dropping attendance at matches means bumped up prices, which dissuades fans from turning out. Thus the stands grow ever more empty, and the coffers lighter. A tactic which should be taken by the Scottish clubs is to break said vicious circle; reducing prices, racking up attendance and slowly building finances. The Hearts v St Mirren match on Sat-

urday saw a nearly full Tynecastle, almost certainly a reaction to both the emotional turmoil surrounding the club as it struggles for survival, and the pleas from officials for fans to turn out. In a stadium with a capacity of 18,300, the average attendance for 2012/13 season so far has been 12,711. On Saturday it was 16,443. Whilst this is good news for the Jambos, it is a one off. A movement of loyalty sparked by fear of loss. The high attendances may last one more week, two at a stretch, but not until the end of the season. Would it not be better for Hearts to sell 18,000 tickets every week for £15 a ticket than 12,000 for the current cost which is £18- £28? And in the rest of the SPL the same story rings out. Celtic Park, home of what is now the most famous and suc-

cessful club in the League (after Rangers’ demise), has a capacity of 60,506 but an average attendance this season of 45,873. Whilst it is not reasonable to expect that the stadiums will be packed to the rafters every week, the comparative figure for the 2001/02 season of 58,618 does paint a picture of how numbers have declined. One cannot help but think that ticket prices must be taken into the equation, as the league has increased in competitiveness this season and the quality of football itself does seem to be improving. Celtic is an expensive day out at £23 for the cheapest adult ticket. Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga compares well with Celtic and Hearts’ prices. With an adult ticket costing just £12.30, the German club has almost sold

out every match this season. The average attendance is 80,045 in a stadium capacity of 80,720. Even though arguments can be made that the Bundesliga is more successful, lucrative and exciting, the correlation between affordable football and high attendances is there to see. If the SPL released an agreement for clubs to sign which dictated a required minimum price for tickets, the benefits would surely be seen in the long term. Not only would the clubs reap financial rewards after a few months with the almost certain rise in attendance, but the fans’ connection to their home teams would increase. Maybe an idea hard to sell to struggling clubs, but a reduction in ticket prices could over time bulk out those flimsy icebergs and keep the endan-

CYCLING

Oh, woe is Wiggins Redevelopment at Ravenhill

Bob’s your uncle for Zubkov in Placid

The home of Ulster Rugby in East

Ricky

Belfast will undergo major work to reconstruct the stands by summer 2014. The new capacity at the venue will rise from 11,400 to 18,000, surpassing the threshold requirements for hosting a Heineken Cup quarter final or a RaboDirect PRO12 final. Carál Ní Chuilín, the Culture, Arts and Leisure Minister, has officially released the £14.7million pledged to the revamp. The ground, first opened in 1923, will become one of the most modern stadiums in rugby, and will become Ulster Rugby senior squad’s training base. The club are now looking for a naming partner to sponsor the new-look Ravenhill.

Ricky returns to the ring Ricky

Hatton takes on Vyacheslav Senchenko this coming Saturday after three-and-a-half years out of boxing. The 10-round welterweight contest will take place in the Manchester MEN Arena, and is already a sell-out. Hatton has said he is ready to give his comeback his all: “I’m going to throw it all at Senchenko on the night and it could be a painful night for him.” The former light-welterweight and WBA welterweight champion has struggled with depression, drinking and drugs over the last few years, and will be gladly welcomed back into the ring.

Hatton

takes

on Vyacheslav Senchenko this coming Saturday after three-and-a-half years out of boxing. The 10-round welterweight contest will take place in the Manchester MEN Arena, and is already a sell-out. Hatton has said he is ready to give his comeback his all: “I’m going to throw it all at Senchenko on the night and it could be a painful night for him.” The former light-welterweight and WBA welterweight champion has struggled with depression, drinking and drugs over the last few years, and will be gladly welcomed back into the ring.

Sussex cricketers approached over match-fixing The team has confirmed that players were approached about fixing a Clydesdale Bank 40 match against Kent in 2011. Sussex were beaten in the match by 14 runs. The club said that an internal investigation had found no evidence of wrongdoing, and that they had informed the England and Wales Cricket Board of the situation. A book released last week details this controversy, among others, called ‘Bookie Gambler Fixer Spy: A Journey to the Corrupt Heart of Cricket’s Underworld’.

Star’s crash throws cycle safety into sharp relief Brendan A. Ryan

Orla O’Muiri, Ruth Jeffery

Three high profile cycling accidents in the past week have led to calls for road safety to be taken seriously. Last week, Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins was the first, knocked off his bike in Lancashire by a van. The Olympic gold medallist walked away with a bruised lung, fractured rib and a dislocated finger. The next morning, former pro cyclist and British Cycling head coach Shane Sutton was in a bike crash, diagnosed with bleeding on the brain and a fractured cheek.Then on Sunday Mark Cavendish collided with a van whilst training in Tuscany. He tweeted: “Went & hit the back of a car that slammed on today in training. Wasn’t ideal. Apart from a bruised arm, I’m relatively ok. If anyone cares.” The reaction from the press has been overwhelming. Stories have been springing up everywhere about cyclists’ safety and the need for reform, but as usual it takes a famous person to get hurt before the government, the media and the people stand up and take action. These accidents are happening too often and too many people are getting killed. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents’ figures show that 19,215 cyclists were either killed or injured on the road in 2011. Perhaps surprisingly, the figures also show that over 80 per cent of cycle accidents happen in daylight. 75 per cent happen at or near a road junction. This makes some of the advice given to cyclists regarding light-reflecting clothing not irrelevent, but due with caution. The government’s scheme for children and parents called ‘Bikebility’ is a step

in the right direction, promoting cycle safety and discussing biking issues. Figures from Transport Scotland disclose that there was a 13 per cent jump in the number of cyclists suffering serious injuries in 2011 when compared with 2010. Now, after these two high profile crashes, change is beginning to bloom. British Cycling has called on the government “to put cycling at the heart of transport policy to ensure cycle safety.”

They say cycle safety needs to be “built into the design of all new roads, junctions and transport projects, rather than being an afterthought.” The crux of the problem is the legal system’s lenient approach on sentencing for motorists at fault in accidents with cyclists. People’s mindset needs to change. Awareness is a word too often thrown around but here it must be pushed upon the world.

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The Journal Wednesday 21 November 2012

SWIMMING

Scottish swimmers aim for Turkish delight Teen sensation Craig Benson among four Scots in a strong 19-man squad heading in Istanbul next month Ben Cohen Staff writer

Scotland’s fastest swimmer has been included in Great Britain’s squad for next month’s World Short Course Swimming Championships in Istanbul. Craig Benson, 17, has enjoyed a fantastic year which included beating Michael Jamieson in the Olympic qualifying time trials and the Warrender swimmer is already being tipped for a long run of success. British Swimming have named 16 members of the London 2012 Olympic team in the 19-man squad, including world silver medallists Hannah Miley and Michael Jamieson. Other swimmers travelling to Turkey for the December 12-16 event include Olympic finalist and Strathclyde University student Robbie Renwick Glasgow-born Michael Jamieson. Bath ITC’s David McNulty, who

Scottish Swimming

will be the head coach for the competition, said: “Anytime our swimmers are up against the best in the world means it’s an important event. “Not everyone will be tapered and some swimmers will be in the hard stage of their training cycle, so they will have to swim tough but I know our swimmers will give their best on the day. “We will go there as a strong team and give everything we can to the meet and it will be an exciting start to the new quadrennial cycle for the team.” The British Gas GBR Swimming team: Craig Benson; Daniel Fogg; Michael Jamieson; Matthew Johnson; Ieuan Lloyd; Roberto Pavoni; Robbie Renwick; Chris Walker-Hebborn; Andrew Willis; Sophie Allen; Jazmin Carlin; Georgia Davies; Eleanor Faulkner; Fran Halsall; Georgia Hohmann; Jemma Lowe; Hannah Miley; Elizabeth Simmonds; Rebecca Turner.

SCOTTISH SPORTS HALL OF FAME

Scottish legends inducted into hall of fame Football legend Archie Gemmill and Olympic curler Rhona Martin are among six new hall of fame honorees Ben Cohen Staff writer

Six of Scotland’s most celebrated

sporting heroes became the latest inductees into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame last week. Football’s Archie Gemmill, curling’s Rhona Martin, rugby union’s Ken Scotland, golf’s Willie Anderson and swimmers Margaret McEleny and Belle Moore were recognised at a ceremony held at the National Museum of Scotland, in Edinburgh. Congratulating the 2012 inductees, Louise Martin, chair of sportscotland and of the Hall of Fame selection panel, said: “I am delighted to be welcoming another six sporting legends into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame today. “Scottish sport is currently on a massive high after the amazing performances of our athletes at London 2012 and Andy Murray’s first grand slam victory at the US Open, but it is also important to remember the significant contributions made by our past champions. “Throughout their careers Archie, Rhona, Maggi, Ken, Belle, and Willie have all shown the determination and dedication it takes to succeed in their chosen sports. “Each and every inductee is a credit to the country, fully meriting their place in the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame.” Launched in 2002, the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame sees sportscotland and National Museums Scotland to recognise and celebrate Scotland’s sporting heritage to inspire young people and promote a culture of celebrating Scottish success across a range of sports. As one of the most outstanding footballers of his generation, Gemmill became a Scottish legend in 1978 with a superb goal against the Netherlands in

the FIFA World Cup before winning a further 42 caps, 22 as captain. The Paisley-born midfielder began his career at hometown club St Mirren in 1964, before starring for a host of sides in England, including Derby County, Wigan Athletic, Birmingham City, and Preston North End. Gemmill enjoyed his greatest success at Nottingham Forest, guiding the side to European Cup glory in 1979 after winning the First Division title in 1978 as well as consecutive League Cup in 1978 and 1979. Speaking ahead of the ceremony, Gemmill, said: “Being inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame is up there with anything that I have achieved in my career because it’s not just for football, but for all sports. “And when you look at the standard of the footballers in the Hall of Fame – such as McCoist, Dalglish, Law, Greig, Bremner and Baxter – they are unbelievable players and to be associated with people like that really is humbling. “It would be nice to think that young people can be inspired by successful sportsmen and women, but anyone who gets to top of their sport has to be single-minded and have worked very hard to get there. “You can have all the talent in the world, but if you don’t put in the hard work then you will never get there and the talent will go by the wayside. And that’s what connects everyone inducted into the Hall of Fame, they all had the determination to succeed.” As one of the more recent celebrated Scots stars, the 2002 Winter Olympics provided Martin’s most notable sporting achievement as she skipped the Great Britain women’s curling team to a gold medal, the first time a Winter Olympics team had triumphed since Torvill and Dean in 1984, with her team receiving a heroes’ welcome on their return to the UK.

After retiring from competition in 2006, Martin became a coach and graduated from UK Sport’s Elite Coach development programme and is now the head coach of women’s curling at the sportscotland institute of sport. Martin, who is the first curler to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, said: “To be asked to be part of the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame is absolutely amazing and a huge honour. “I remember being at the launch of the Hall of Fame, just after we won our gold medal in Salt Lake City, and I was in awe at the people who were getting inducted – so now to be part of that is unbelievable. “To be the first curler in the Hall of Fame is great, and I suppose I’ve now

set a trend for the people I coach and given them something else to aim for.” Scotland, from Edinburgh, was considered to be a world class and gifted rugby footballer, renowned for his attacking flair, but he also represented Scotland at cricket. He said: “Over the years I’ve played with several hundreds of people and they have all played their part in helping me reach this honour. “If you are playing alongside really top-class players then that, in turn, helps your game. That was particularly true of playing on a Lions tour when everyone around you is playing to a very high standard and is on your wavelength. “So to be picked out from all these

great players and be put in the Hall of Fame alongside people like Gavin Hastings, Finlay Calder, and David Sole is a real privilege.” Dr Gordon Rintoul, director of National Museums Scotland, said: “I am delighted to welcome six prestigious new inductees to the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame. “Sport is an important part of Scotland’s culture and through celebrating the achievements of the past we can encourage the sportsmen and women of the future.” The Scottish Sport Hall of Fame has 93 inductees representing 28 sports with 15 footballers, 10 from athletics, 12 from swimming, 8 from golf, 10 from rugby and 6 boxers.

The Journal Wednesday 21 November 2012

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SPORT// 29

FOOTBALL

The rise of Partick Thistle

Matthew Wilkinson

Jags’ attractive football at home maintains unlikely promotion push Stuart Findlay Staff writer

When your football team is enjoying its best season in a decade, you don’t want to hear clichés designed to keep your feet on the ground. While long-suffering Partick Thistle supporters were out popping champagne corks after their side’s convincing 5-1 thrashing of title rivals Dunfermline their manager Jackie McNamara cut a much more grounded figure in his post-match assessment. “People will look at today’s result and say that we’re now favourites for the title, but to me I still think they [Dunfermline] are,” said the Jags boss. “If we don’t win our next few games then they can go back above us. It’s a massive lift obviously, but it’s only three points.” Unfortunately for Thistle supporters, McNamara’s comments show an uncanny ability to predict the future. He could be forgiven for getting ahead of himself considering his tremendous success so far this season. He endured an indifferent start to his managerial career at Firhill —

finishing a disappointing sixth place last year — but has managed to turn a team of also-rans into genuine title contenders. Not only that, but his team are playing the kind of football that puts bums on seats. A win at Hamilton on Friday night would have stretched their lead at the top of the first division to six points and piled pressure on Dunfermline ahead of their difficult derby at Raith Rovers. With the Pars engulfed by a financial crisis, their players have not yet received all of their wages for this month, it could have been an early nail in the coffin for their bid to return to the SPL. But debutant Jags keeper Graeme Smith — drafted in as a late replacement following injuries to Scott Fox and his young understudy Ryan Scully — comically fumbled a corner into his own net and his new team mates were fresh out of attacking ideas as Thistle stuttered to a surprise 1-0 defeat. The next day Dunfermline clinched a 3-1 derby win at Raith Rovers and joined the Jags at the league summit on 26 points.

It was a surprise blow, but the signs remain good for McNamara’s team. The attacking trio of Kris Doolan, Chris Erskine and Steven Lawless are causing problems for every defence in the league and Paul Paton has been a revelation as a holding midfielder since his switch from right back. Aaron Muirhead has been a rock in defence and must surely be the division’s steal of the season — the big defender was signed for a pittance from Annan in the summer. Six sides have come to Firhill on a league visit and every one has left empty-handed — thumping Airdrie 7-0 and Dunfermline 5-1 stand out as highlights. But it’s away from Glasgow that the problems start. The Jags are winless in their last four away league fixtures and seem to struggle to replicate the attacking verve that has lit up Firhill so far this season. McNamara knows that he will have to find a winning formula on the road if he is to lead the team back into the SPL after a nine-year absence. If he can manage it, there will be a queue of chairmen the length of Maryhill Road ready to lure him to England.

FOOTBALL

Madcap Mancini

A week in Scottish football

It’s all gone a bit Alan Patridge-shaped for the Manchester City manager

From the end of Levein’s tenure as Scotland manager to possible league reconstruction, The Journal recaps a busy week

Matthew Dunne Miles Staff writer

Gary Paul Staff writer

Is anybody watching Roberto? I mean, I know the whole world’s media is watching, in the way you watch a head on collision, unable to peel your eyes away from what you know is an oncoming horrific mess. But is there anybody actually watching him? It’s all gone a bit Alan Patridgeshaped for the Italian Stallion. “Why do you keep asking me this?” he pleaded with reporters a few weeks ago, after another woefully lacklustre performance by Manchester City in Europe. With his head in his hands and his silver locks fading ever greyer, it looked as though Mancini had finally had enough of being at the helm of one of football’s super clubs. As though after a few more hours he would break into a Network style breakdown; ‘I’m mad as hell! And I’m not going to take this anymore’ he might announce, before driving to Land’s End and crashing into the sea. However, last week saw a new stage in the Mancini saga. Deciding that surrealist theatre is the sign of steady management, he arrived at a press conference wearing a mask of his secondin-command David Platt. The humble Mancunian Platt must feel honoured that he has received some appreciation from his superior and might be counting his lucky stars that it’s not his actual face that Roberto is wearing. Is the pressure of life at the top proving too much for Mancini? The same pressure that saw Real Madrid’s Jose Mourinho eye gouge a Barca Coach

last season? Or perhaps this is a laddish bonding exercise with young tearaway Mario Balotelli in order to heal old wounds, showing that he’s just ‘one of the guys’? Or more interestingly this could all be a Joaquin Pheonix style publicity stunt, using his erratic behaviour to promote a movie. Watch this space, ‘David Platt : The Biopic’ in a cinema near you soon!

Scotland struggle to victory The national team took on parttimers Luxembourg at the Stade Josy Barthel last Wednesday, with under21s manager Billy Stark taking charge in the interim following Craig Levein’s eventual sacking at the start of the month. In typical Scottish fashion the team decided to do things the hard way; an early brace from Jordan Rhodes showed exactly what Levein had been missing throughout his miserable tenure, but a second half goal from the home side had the tartan army bricking it right into stoppage time. A victory in the end, but an alarmingly unconvincing one. Stark seemed to do his best to rule himself out of contention, bizarrely calling up Kenny Miller, wasting Steven Naismith at left wing and failing to provide a link between midfield and attack; all the hallmarks of Levein’s Scotland. The inclusion of Rhodes, SPL top scorer Leigh Griffiths, and the likes of Kilmarnock’s Liam Kelly are all moves in the right direction though. We can only hope Levein’s successor can learn from his countless mistakes and move forward while addressing the continuing frailties in the team, particularly in defence, and maximise the talents at their disposal. The wee house stays open Further to last month’s failure to pay players’ wages alongside a disputed unpaid tax bill, Heart of Midlothian was hit with a winding-up order

from HMRC unless they could settle an outstanding bill approaching £450,000. The club directors hit the panic button, admitting that the fans’ share set-up would be used to pay this bill, as well as pleading for any donations at all from fans. Club legend John Robertson supported the board’s pleas for ‘emergency backing’, begging fans to contribute in any way possible and get Tynecastle full in the coming weeks. The match there against St Mirren was forecast as the club’s final game but that worst-case scenario has been avoided and a deal was struck with HMRC to keep Hearts beating for now at least. The board have rejected an approach from one consortium and have opened promising discussions with Supporters Direct with a view to a more fan-central ownership of the club in the future. Reconstruction (again)

The perennial point of discussion in Scottish Football, league reconstruction, has reared its head again this week. This time it’s serious, allegedly. Following countless failed attempts and talk without action in the past, all three governing bodies have presented their thoughts for the future. Overlooking the ridiculous nature of three separate football governing bodies in Scotland, there are some interesting thoughts being tabled. The Scottish Football League are keen for a 16 team top tier, with playoffs for relegation and a champions league style league cup to make up for the reduction in fixtures. Their plans

The Sport Review

would also see the end of the SPL as a separate entity with just one body governing domestic matters (apart from the Scottish Cup which is overseen by the SFA, just to confuse things). The SPL are living up to their nickname as the self-preservation league; they don’t want to share with the SFL and have offered two alternative models for restructure. One of these promises a split format even more complex than the current one, while the other proposes ‘invitation’ of SFL clubs to an expanded top-tier Premier League. All very perplexing. What is clear is that change is essential to regenerate interest in the Scottish game and spread income evenly throughout; the SPL’s self-serving interests must not hinder the development of such alternatives.

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The Journal Wednesday 21 November 2012

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RUGBY UNION

After promising Test start, Scots collapse before Boks’ assault Occasionally spirited but often outgunned Scots crumble at home SCOTLAND

SOUTH AFRICA

Gareth Llewellyn Deputy managing editor

A bruising first-half from South Africa condemned Scotland to a fourth successive home defeat as the Springboks won 21-10 at Murrayfield. The Springboks were rampant in the first half, able to break the line with ease as Adriaan Strauss scored the only the only try of the half for a 14-3 lead. Strauss broke the line for a second try early in the second half to leave Scotland trailing 21-3, but substitute Harry Pyrgos got one back before South Africa’s defence held up against a waves of Scottish pressure. The visitors brought their powerful, if predictably direct, style of play to Murrayfield with Willem Alberts, Jean de Villiers among those to impress with lock Eben Etzebeth a one-man wrecking machine. Scotland were unable to cope with the Springboks physicality and gave up a number of penalties.

Hooker Strauss was an unlikely try scorer from a driving line-out, a muchlauded South African specialty which Scotland had prepared for but were unable to nullify the threat. Jerome Kruger rose highest at the line-out and drove with his fellow forwards before switching to Strauss who broke away before the Scottish defenders could pick up the threat. Scotland’s only real chance of the half came as Laidlaw produced a brilliant kick to the corner, but conceded a penalty on the drive just short of the try-line much to the frustration of coaches Andy Robinson and Scott Johnson. Down 14-3 at the start of the second half, Scotland’s misery was compounded five minutes in as Strauss intercepted a poor pass onehanded from Mike Blair and ran the ball in under the post uncontested for Lambie to add the extras. Such was Robinson’s anger, Blair was axed for Henry Pyrgos. The Glasgow Warriors scrum-half made an immediate impact, brimming with energy to convert another solid lineout won by captain Kelly Brown. South African kickers Ruan Pienaar and Lambie had kicks charged down as Scotland ramped up the pressure as they had done in the second half against New Zealand with Al

Kellock, on for the concussed Richie Gray, Brown and David Denton leading the charge with some strong scrummaging. The likeness to the defeat the week before was all too apparent, but this time Scotland were unable to break down the opposition defence as South Africa put up a competent wall against wave of attacks. Not even the sin-binning of Flip van der Merwe for repeated offside offences with minutes to go could provide an advantage despite Scotland’s scrummaging prowess and South Africa held on for a 21-10 win as they head to Twickenham to face England this weekend. Scotland: S Hogg; S Lamont, N De Luca, M Scott, T Visser; G Laidlaw (R Jackson 68), M Blair (H Pyrgos 47); R Grant, R Ford (D Hall 68), E Murray (G Cross 68), R Gray (A Kellock 22), J Hamilton, K Brown (capt), J Barclay, D Denton. South Africa: Kirchner; Pietersen, de Jongh, de Villiers, Hougaard; Lambie (M Steyn 74), Pienaar; Steenkamp (H van der Merwe 61), Strauss (Brits 76), J du Plessis (van der Linde 52), Etzebeth, J Kruger (F van der Merwe 68), Louw, Alberts (Coetzee 53), Vermeulen.

ANALYSIS / SCOTLAND’S FRUSTRATED PROMISE For the second match in succession, Scotland showed promise that they are building a side which should be capable of winning against the top eight sides, but at Murrayfield have failed to deliver in front of their passionate fans. Two stellar second-half performances so far gives Scotland head coach Andy Robinson hope that Scotland should completely avoid an unprecedented second wooden-spoon finish in next year’s Six Nations, but starting XV need to come of the blocks fighting and cut out poor game management and basic handling errors early in games to at least have a chance of competing. In Tim Visser, Scotland have a future world-class player, while the pace of Stuart Hogg gives Robinson two creative try-scoring players, something lacking in recent years, but they need to be given more opportunity to run with the ball in the opposition half long before the game is already lost. Scotland’s set-piece play has also been encouraging and will win them penalties

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and opportunities to score if they can remain disciplined in the final 22. Robinson still does not know his best XV and that has to be a concern at this stage with the 2013 Six Nations for some players being more about their own performances with a view to securing a place on the British Lions tour than their team’s performance. However, as the 2009 Lions tour proved, a strong performance by a team will all but guarantee the majority of their squad making the plane to New Zealand. Are Scotland capable of reaching the peak of the 2005 Wales side or 2009 Ireland side? Far from it, but there is a lot of rugby to be played before then and many of the Scotland squad players are still only just finding their feet at the much higher level of international rugby. The consequence of two defeats in their first two autumn internationals, as well as Wales’ defeat to Samoa, mean Scotland have finish outside the top eight, and will result in a difficult 2015 Rugby World Cup draw on 3 December with two other sides.

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YOUNG SPORTS PERSON OF THE YEAR

Young athletes shortlisted for prestigious award University of the West of Scotland student Kirsty Gimour on a strong shortlist with last year’s winner Craig Benson Gareth Llewellyn Deputy managing editor

A Glasgow-based badminton star has been shortlisted for a coveted Young Sports Person of the Year award in December. University of the West of Scotland student, Kirsty Gilmour, was one of three rising sports stars to make the shortlist for the annual Sunday Mail sportscotland Scottish Sports Awards, sponsored by Winning Students. The 19-year-old has already represented Scotland at the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games, took a silver medal at the 2011 Commonwealth Youth

Games and was crowned 2012 Scottish National Women’s Singles champion at the age of 18. The Film Making and Screen Writing student went on to represent Scotland and claimed three international titles in Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland and has already set her sights on the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Gimour faces tough opposition for the award from University of Stirling student and Scottish Amateur Golfer of the Year, Jack McDonald, with last year’s winner, swimming sensation, Craig Benson, also on the shortlist. McDonald is one of golf’s rising

Scottish Swimming

stars and recently competed at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, reached the British Amateur Championship semi-final and won the British Universities Championship while helping his student team become Scottish, British and European University champions. He said: “It is a great honour to be selected as a finalist named alongside such illustrious athletes and to win would be some way to round off an awesome year.” Winners will be announced at the Awards night on 6 December at the Thistle Hotel in Glasgow.

FOOTBALL

Race rows are damaging the beautiful game The persistent problem of racism in professional football defies superficial fixes; there is a systemic imbalance Ollie Bunting

The British public must open

their eyes to what is now very clearly apparent in football upon these shores. No longer can we gaze across at Eastern Europe or indeed even closer to home at somewhere like Italy and look down upon them condescendingly. 2012 has been a year unparalleled in controversy over race and it seems that even with just a month left there will be more to come. One cannot help but expect a new story to hit the news each Saturday since this is the most high profile issue in football at present. The cases have been numerous, with the likes of John Terry and Luis Suarez immensely high profile. Perhaps most shocking was the abuse that Danny Rose, the young English full back, had to face when on international duty for his country

against Serbia U21s. It was not just what Rose had to endure, but also the disgraceful manner with which the Serbian FA reacted to the accusations, with a released video clip of every touch Rose made during the match and arguing that no racism had taken place. They went as far as labelling Rose a liar and entitled the six minute clip ‘Danny Rose is lying to whom?’ It was a sheer repulsive act. Needless to say the clip cuts short 16 minutes from the end and fails to show or mention the ugly scenes that took place towards the end of the match. Equally worrying has been the recent accusations launched by Chelsea FC against referee Mark Clattenburg. Although police have dropped their investigation the scandal rumbles on and Chelsea players themselves are saying they want the situation to be dealt with quickly. Petr Cech

is obviously concerned, and has said: “I believe that if you come up with something like that, you need to have a really good case to say it”. It would not help the game if these claims against Clattenburg were in part a fabrication and would heap even more unwanted pressure on this situation. But surely, the most worrying factor that has to be addressed, something that runs much deeper than the likes of Suarez and Terry, is the reminder of Chris Hughton and Chris Powell. There are only three black managers out of 92 English Premier League and Football League clubs: Hughton (Norwich), Powell (Charlton) and Keith Curle (Notts County). This is despite the fact that 25 per cent of professional footballers in England are black or from ethnic minorities. It is worth, therefore, mentioning

the Rooney Rule, set up by Dan Rooney for the NFL which requires every franchise to interview at least one black or ethnic minority candidate for head coaching and senior football operation opportunities that become available. Importantly, it has had an effect on the

numbers in the NFL and there are now more black coaches than before. We cannot think that the problem starts with the players; it doesn’t. A hefty fine or match ban will not help the bigger picture when more serious facts need to be faced.

BADMINTON

Cardonald students net place in college badminton finals

HARIES HOST SUCCESSFUL BRAIDS

Four Glasgow students through to Aberdeen final of SSS competition

Edinburgh University’s Hare & Hounds cross-country club welcome student athletes from across Britain for longstanding tradition

Ben Cohen Staff writer

Students at a Glasgow college are

celebrating after reaching the finals of a national badminton tournament. Six Cardonald College students have qualified for the Scottish Student Sport College Finals to be held at the Aberdeen Sports Village on the 1 May 2013. Craig Rutherford qualified in the men’s singles tournament along with Kilmarnock College’s Gareth Allan with Carol Nicol reaching the finals in the women’s singles along with Kilmarnock’s Emma Cook. Health and Exercise student, Carol Nicol, said: “It is great to have got through to the next round and I’m really

looking forward to competing in Aberdeen next year.” Cardonald also enjoyed success in the doubles in an action packed West Region badminton qualifier, held at the Cockburn Centre in Glasgow. Aiden Melrose and Aaron Hobson qualified in the men’s doubles with Dale Roche & Megan White qualifying in the mixed doubles along with Gregor McVean & Shereen Spital from Kilmarnock College. NQ Sport Coaching student, Aiden Melrose, said: “My doubles partner, Aaron and I are really pleased to have qualified. The competition was tough but we work really well as a team and we are able to pull out all the stops when we need to.”

LEAGUE TABLES FOOTBALL

FOOTBALL

BUCS MARS Football Scottish Men’s 1A

RUGBY

BUCS MARS Football Scottish Women’s 1A P W D L F

Men’s Rugby Union Scottish 2A

P W D L F

A GD Pts

Stirling 2nd

5 3

10 4

Glasgow 1st

4 4 0 0 13 12 21

A GD Pts 8

Glasgow 1st

3 3 0 0 50 9

Edinburgh 1st

5 2

2 1

Robert Gordon 1st

4 2 1

1 7

Heriot-Watt 1st

4 3 0 1 19 9

-5

Heriot-Watt 1st

5 2

2 -1

Edinburgh 1st

4 2 1

1 2

Edinburgh 2nd

4 1

0 3 45 3

Aberdeen 1st

4 2

0 2 -1

-2

Abertay 1st

4 1

0 3 -7 3

Aberdeen 2nd

3 1

0 2 -15 3

Glasgow 1st

5 1

0 4 -6 3

-4

Aberdeen 1st

4 0 0 4 -15 0

Robert Gordon 1st

4 1

0 3 -99 3

-5

P W D L F

A GD Pts

Full standings available at: www.bucs.org.uk

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