The Journal - Glasgow Issue 19

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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 XIX

WEDNESDAY 23 JANUARY 2013

THE ANATOMY OF AUTONOMY

Open all hours The nature of nationhood Strathclyde’s Andersonian library to open 24/7 during spring exam diet

IN NEWS /

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

14-15

IN MUSIC / 21 Gary Numan The Journal meets the new wave legend, and discovers an artist with no apparent intention of slowing down

Six Nations preview • Gordon Strachan • Student athletics • Match reports

IN SPORT /

27-31

David Weir

IN FEATURES /

Paralympic hero talks about his an incredible summer and his plans for the future

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IN NEWS / 3-11 • Glasgow 2014 call for volunteers • Support for NUS Scotland campaign • Glasgow Uni Hive closure reaction • EUSA want chancellor resignation • International students latest

2 / CONTENTS

@GlasgowJournal / journal-online.co.uk

THIS WEEK INSIDE THE JOURNAL...

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

Enter Shikari The hard-touring St Albanites’ drummer talks to Jamie Brotherston

Glasgow students indy vote Glasgow University students will make history by being the first to vote on a campus-wide independence referendum next month

6 Django Unchained Tarantino’s new film is the gore auteur at his very best

Nursing wounds

Exploring the lot of the NHS’ overworked and underappreciated nurses

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For advertising information TeKlo

The Journal meets the fast-rising DJ and producer

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Call our sales department on 0131 560 2830 or email ads@journal-online.co.uk The Journal is published by The Edinburgh Journal Ltd., registered address TechCube, 1 Summerhall Square, Edinburgh, EH9 1PL. Registered in Scotland number SC322146. For enquiries call 0131 560 2825 or email info@journal-online.co.uk. The Journal is a free newspaper for and written by students and graduates in the City of Edinburgh. Contact us if you’d like to get involved.

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 23 January 2013

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LOCAL NEWS / 3

Council leader dogged by scandal Glasgow city council leader’s political future in the balance after his arrest last month for public indecency Aoife Moore Staff writer

Glasgow City Council leader Gordon Matheson’s political career is under threat after an arrest in December for an alleged indecency.

The 46-year-old was reported to the procurator fiscal after he was caught performing a sex act on another man in a car o the city’s south side.

Matheson, who The Journal believes was considering standing in the 2016 Scottish government elections, approached council leaders to inform them about the misdemeanour before they found out from other sources.

Glasgow city council has confirmed the incident was reported to them by the police, but no further action will be taken.

The openly gay Labour councillor who is in long-term civil partnership with Steven Wallace, who was not the other man involved in the incident, publicly apologised for his

transgressions.

Cllr Matheson said: “I have been having an affair. I have not lived up to my own standards and my loving partner deserves much better. I am sorry for the hurt and embarrassment this has caused and I will do all I can to make up for it.”

Matheson joined Glasgow City Council in May 1999, as the elected councillor representing the Merchant City ward and returned to the administration after the elections in May last year, leading Scottish Labour to an unexpected victory over the SNP. Labour is said to be standing by the council leader, however whether his position in council is safe has not yet been decided.

Labour councillor Ian Davidson told The Journal: “The party will stand by Gordon, and are treating this as a private matter.

“Gordon has publicly apologised, and no further action will be taken by the police. This is now between Gordon and his partner.”

A spokesperson for Strathclyde Police said today: “We can confirm that two men, aged 46 and 38, were the subject of a report to the procurator fiscal in relation to an alleged indecency in the Cathcart area of Glasgow on the 12th of December 2012.”

A Crown Office spokesman said: “The procurator fiscal at Glasgow received a report in relation to the conduct of a 46-year-old man and a 38-year-old man at Linn View, Glasgow on 12 December 2012.

“The matter was fully considered by independent Crown counsel who concluded that there was insufficient evidence that a crime had been committed.”

It is unknown if Matheson will face disciplinary action by the council for misconduct.

Matheson’s predecessor as council leader and leader of the Labour group, Steven Purcell, resigned the leadership in May 2010 following hospitalisation for “stress” and public revelations of cocaine use.

Harriet Brace

Caley and STV to launch Olympian collects Glasgow local TV station Glasgow Uni gong GTV partnership announced as part of first wave of new local TV licenses

Katherine Grainger is “young alumnus of the year”

Aoife Moore Staff writer

Hollie Jones

STV have won the licence to launch

a local TV station in partnership with Glasgow Caledonian University.

Two licences have been granted for Glasgow and Edinburgh and will see the channels broadcast on terrestrial television.

The channels will broadcast local news and current affairs programmes at peak times as well as magazine shows put together by both professionals from STV and students from the university.

Glasgow Caledonian University has welcomed the news adding another unique feature to their already impressive Multimedia Journalism School.

The university has said students working alongside members of STV will have many more unseen benefits than those already expected.

The channel hopes to provide invaluable experience for all students not just those studying journalism or broadcasting.

Media and Communications student Regan Young told The Journal: “I think it’s amazing. Imagine coming to university and getting to work alongside the people who you watch on TV every night.

“I’ve never heard anything like that in any other university. It will build confidence, being able to talk to professionals and ask them their opinion, how they got started and get to know them.

“To be able to put on your CV that you worked with STV at university is going to be invaluable. I can’t wait.”

Former STV broadcaster turned

Olivia Pires Glasgow Caledonian lecturer, Claire Dean, said: “It’s great news for Glasgow and for our journalism and media students at GCU. “Glasgow is a vibrant city with a rich history of storytelling and our students will be able to work alongside professional broadcasters to help entertain and inform Glaswegians in new ways.”

GCU is the only university in Scotland to hold both accreditations from the National Council for the Training of Journalists and the Broadcast Journalism Training Council.

Bobby Hain, STV Director of Channels, said: “STV is delighted to have been awarded the Local TV licences

for Glasgow and Edinburgh.

“The two services, GTV and ETV, will be delivered in partnership with Glasgow Caledonian University and Edinburgh Napier University.

“GTV and ETV will provide an innovative television service to the communities they serve, complementing STV’s existing broadcast, online and mobile services.

“These new ventures will also provide media students with opportunities to work and learn in a live broadcast environment.”

The channel will come as part of a new generation of local broadcasting services awarded in Scotland by regulator Ofcom.

The lauded Olympic gold medalist Katherine Grainger MBE has been given the University of Glasgow’s prestigious Young Alumnus of the Year Award 2012.

The award, which was presented in December, is accorded to graduates who have made a major contribution to the community, arts, sciences, business or sport.

Grainger is Britain’s most successful female rower, winning six World Championship titles and silver medals at three successive Olympic Games.

In London, she clinched Britain’s sixth gold medal of the summer in the women’s double sculls with Anna Watkins.

Speaking after receiving the award, Grainger said: “It’s incredible.

I felt the big focus for me this year would be the Olympics, and winning it was everything I wanted it to be.

“I kind of thought I’d won everything I could win, so to be awarded this on top makes the year even more special.”

Having already achieved so much, it is certain that the future holds much more for the Glaswegian sports star.

Professor Anton Muscatelli, principal and vice chancellor of the university said: “The university community was delighted to see her hard work being rewarded this year, with the achievement of her longheld dream of Olympic gold, and we are proud to count her among our alumni.”

Grainger was born and raised in Glasgow and returned to study for a Masters in Medical Law and Medical

Ethics after completing her law degree at the University of Edinburgh.

She added: “I wouldn’t have done a PhD if it hadn’t been for the Masters at Glasgow. I used to really look forward to seeing the people in my class who I absolutely loved to work with. I remember them all being hugely supportive.

“Time management is very challenging, but I’ve always found that I can do both rowing and studying.

When I can get outside it gets me awake and alert and then ready to go and do some thinking. So actually I do find that they’re a good balance for each other.”

Naturally, the BBC Sports Personality of the Year nominee is looking forward to seeing the upcoming Commonwealth Games take place in her home city.

She said: “I’ve been involved in the bidding process and I’ve seen at firsthand what a great sporting event can do to a host city.

“The wonderful thing if you’ve had a summer like we’ve just had is that it gives people a real hunger for sport. I’ve been up to Glasgow a few times since and that excitement is still there.

“I think there’ll be a very enthusiastic audience in two years’ time, wanting to go and see all the big names they’ve seen at the Olympics again. I’ll definitely be there in some capacity.”

Previous award winners have included world-record-breaking sporting stars Mark Beaumont and Emma Richards, acclaimed theatre director John Tiffany, and MOBO award-winning artist Emeli Sandé.

4 / LOCAL NEWS

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Anger over controversial George Square redevelopment

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

davydubbit

Winning bid announcement delayed amid criticism of design process Keira Murray Local News editor

New designs for the transformation of George Square in the centre of Glasgow city centre have angered local residents.

Plans are under way for a £15 million renovation of Glasgow’s premier civic square in time for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Residents have complained that the designs don’t reflect what Glaswegians want after only 42 opinions were sought during a consultation period.

The six shortlisted designs have been on display at The Lighthouse since 9 January with the public able to give their views ahead of the winning bid originally due to be announced on Friday 18

January.

The panel failed to reach an agreement and the result was delayed with an announcement expected this week.

Opinion on how George Square should look has been divided and the designs have faced a significant backlash with frustration shown on Facebook and Twitter, including the ‘I know this great little place in Glasgow’ page where many concerned citizens have criticised the plans.

Chris Simpson said that he believes that £15 million could be better spent and he doesn’t think that there has been any engagement with citizens of Glasgow of what they want from George Square.

Becky, a fourth year student at Glasgow Caledonian University, said that she was concerned that George Square would lose its unique quality that has

made it such an iconic place.

She said: “I love to come and sit here when the weather’s good and now that they are putting tarmac down instead of grass I won’t be able to do that.”

However, city worker John thinks that the plans could be beneficial for the city.

He said: “I think George Square could do with a change as it’s not very modern looking, but I think we should keep the statues as they are a vital part of Glasgow’s history.”

Glasgow City Council leader, Gordon Matheson, has praised the calibre of the designs that were submitted.

He said: “It is absolutely essential we choose the right team to create a new George Square - a George Square fit for the 21st Century.”

A total of 35 entries from around the

world were received, with contributions French architect Agence Ter, US company James Corner Field Operations, as well as UK firms including Burns + Nice, Gustafson Porter, JM Architects and John McAslan & Partners.

A poll has also been conducted to see which design the people of Glasgow would most like George Square to look like.

Design six came out on top with 26.9 per cent of the vote with a creative

waterfall feature in the centre of the square whereas design two was the least favourite with only 4 per cent of the vote.

However, 21.1 per cent of people surveyed did not like any of the six potential designs.

A demonstration against the is plans is planned for Saturday 2 February.

At the time of going to press, a new date for the announcement had not been revealed. Please visit our website for the latest on this story.

Glasgow streets ahead for world championships SECC and Clyde Auditorium will host the street dance world championships for the next three years Rachael McHard Staff writer

Glasgow is set to become the new home of world street dance for the next three years.

The city’s Clyde Auditorium as well as halls one and two of the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) will host the leading event on the global street dance calendar — the UDO World Street Dance Championships — later this year and again in 2014 and 2015.

The announcement was made on Tuesday 15 January by Councillor Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council and Simon Dibley, chief executive of the United Dance Organisation (UDO).

Councillor Matheson said: “Today’s announcement is fantastic news for Glasgow and marks the first step in positioning the city as the global home

United Dance Organisation

of street dance over the next three years.”

Around 6,000 people are expected to descend on the city each year for the championships, with almost £7 million projected to be added to the local economy over the event’s three-year cycle.

The decision to move the competition from Blackpool’s Winter Gardens to Glasgow was secured when Glasgow City Marketing Bureau approached the UDO in December 2011.

Dibley added: “Glasgow’s excellent presentation, coupled with the genuine warmth and distinctly stylish vibe of the city, really appealed to us.

“Street dance is a genre that has grown in popularity in recent years and one which is truly inclusive; attracting people from all ages, cultures and economic backgrounds.”

Ahead of the Worlds each year, Glasgow will first host the UDO Scot-

tish Street Dance Championships on Sunday 9 June at the city’s new Emirates Arena – the only Scottish leg in a series of 14 UK-wide World and European qualifying heats, which will earn the top performers a place at either the 2013 Worlds or the 2014 European Championships.

John Sharkey, SECC chief executive said: “The SECC is delighted that we have been chosen as the venue for the World Street Dance Championships and we are thrilled that we will be welcoming this prestigious event for the next three years.”

Individual dancers and dance crews from countries around the world, including from across Europe and as far afield as China, Japan, Australia, South Africa, Canada and the US, will travel to Glasgow this year to compete in the eighth annual World Street Dance Championships, which will take place over three days from 23-25 August.

Glasgow 2014 in search for Commonwealth volunteers Commonwealth Games organising committee announce drive to recruit 15,000 volunteers to staff events Rachel McHard Staff writer

The race is now on to find 15,000 volunteers for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow by March.

Glasgow 2014 will be the 20th Commonwealth Games where 17 different sports will be featured over 11 days of competition resulting in 261 medal events.

With 4,500 athletes to host, organisers are looking for voluntary Games makers to take on behind the scenes roles to ensure the smooth running of the games.

Roles vary from the general, welcoming athletes and working at the athletes’ village, to the more specific, such as specifically medical or sports trained.

Lord Smith of Kelvin, Glasgow 2014 chairman said: “I would encourage eve-

ryone — regardless of age or life experience — to think about being part of creating a Games success story for Glasgow and Scotland and apply now as a Glasgow 2014 volunteer.”

Taking place throughout the summer from 23 July-3 August 2014, a voluntary position would be a fantastic opportunity for any student while on holiday from college or university.

Kirsty McLean, a Glasgow Caledonian University student, told The Journal about her experience working at the London 2012 Olympic Games, describing it as the best experience of her life.

She said: “The community spirit of the nation was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Everyone involved with the games — athletes, volunteers, spectators — everyone only had one goal, to make the experi-

ence the best it could possibly be for everyone involved.

“To be part of that environment every day is unmatchable, every day felt like a world cup final.”

There are also many benefits of having such valuable experience on your CV, showing potential employers that you are a driven, motivated individual.

McLean added: “Everyone always asks what working at an event like that was like, and anyone who finds out I did it are incredibly interested in my experience. I would encourage anyone who can be a part of something amazing like that to do so.”

Although it is undeniably hard work, there are many perks of the job.

McLean said: “You have amazing experiences throughout Games time, from talking to four-time gold medal holders to

just having a ball with your friends.

“It is a once in a lifetime experience that most likely will not come about again and everyone and anyone should get involved in this amazing experience.”

Many students may have to consider their financial situation before putting themselves forward to volunteer.

However, understanding that those considering volunteering may be concerned about the affordability of doing so, the Scottish government and the Big Lottery Fund have launched a £500,000 funding programme to help people who want to volunteer for the Games.

The Legacy 2014 volunteer support programme will also offer financial assistance to help those people facing practical and financial barriers which might otherwise stop them from volunteering.

Olivia Pires

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

@GlasgowJournal / journal-online.co.uk

STUDENT NEWS / 5

Students and staff question Open all hours GUU redevelopment plans University source: current plans are ‘probably not a good idea’

Andersonian library to pilot 24/7 opening for the spring exam diet after student feedback

Rebecca Day Student News editor

Plans to knock down the extension of the Glasgow University Union to build a new gym and nightclub has divided opinions among students at the University of Glasgow.

The new building, which the university confidently asserts will be ‘visually stunning’ and ‘designed for the 21st century’ will include a competitive sports hall, viewing gallery and increased exercise studio space.

The new building has been designed to attract more members of the public and create more revenue for the university.

The university is quick to emphasise the contemporary design and feel of the new building, seeking to disengage itself from the current crumbling granite eye sore it is due to replace.

“The current GUU extension has all the hallmarks of 1960’s architecture and has reached the end of its effective lifespan,” the university said.

Yet students across the university demonstrate a less zealous attitude to the reconstruction of a building that has served as such a central feature in their university life.

The original plans for the space were designed solely to include an extension of sport and recreation facilities, a proposal that was met with uproar from members of the GUU. Former president Chris Sibbald took a sabbatical year from studies in order to fight against the closure of The Hive. As a result, the university agreed to incorporate a new nightclub area into the first floor of the new building.

Yet for many, the conclusions reached by management of the university still leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.

Jill Thompson, an MA Politics gradu-

ate, said: “It is a real shame as The Hive was such a big part of my life at uni.

“My boyfriend’s parents met in The Hive and I met my boyfriend in The Hive too. I think you can knock a building down and you can rebuild it with new plans for the new Hive, but you can never rebuild those memories.”

Claire Hughes, an MA Geography graduate, was also saddened by the news of the refurbishment: “It’s very sad as The Hive is where I met a lot of my friends at university.

“It was great as everybody would get together in one place every Thursday and so it was full of friendly faces. It was a real highlight of my week.

“It’s a shame that future students won’t share this experience as the new space will be so much smaller’.

A source close to the university, who wished to remain anonymous, spoke to The Journal of their concerns over the new plans.

“I think it’s probably not a good idea.

It’s a short term solution. If they want a university that has sports performers, it would make more sense to extend to Garscube.

“In terms of what attracts students to a university is a good union, it’s not an above average gym. The Union will suffer huge financial losses from downsizing.

“They aren’t offering anything exceptional in terms of sports facilities. They don’t have the facilities to train world athletes. The money they are spending isn’t going to make a huge difference to student experience.

“In fact, the new gym probably won’t even solve the issue of queuing for equipment (a regular complaint at the gym), as it will simply attract more customers to fill the space.”

Plans for the reconstruction are due to begin this spring and be completed by late 2014.

A model design of the new building and step by step plans are currently showcased in the foyer of the Stevenson Building.

Stats suggest higher education becoming increasingly unfeesible Cost of tuition and rising debt has meant thousands of would-be students have not applied to go to university, UCAS figures suggest Molly Hunt Staff writer

Figures taken in December sug-

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

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

In Scotland there has been a smaller

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

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

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

There has been considerable debate over the value of a university degree and whether the prospects offered are worth the debt that ensues even without

the added burden of tuition fees facing students outside of Scotland.

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

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

Olivia Pires Émer O’Toole

Strathclyde University library

have announced they will pilot 24-hour opening during the spring exam diet.

The move comes following a temporary 24/7 opening earlier this month after students requested extended opening hours.

Speaking to The Journal, university librarian, Dilys Young, said: “We are keen to work with students in developing library space and services which fit the ways they want to study and use information resources.

“To do this, we are increasing the ways in which we engage with students.

Our festive feedback tree was in place in December and elicited further requests for 24-hour opening.

“As a result, we have decided to run a short, targeted pilot which will cover the main spring exam diet — 9 April-31 May 2013.”

Last year, many students contacted the University of Strathclyde Students’ Association (USSA) over the opening hours of the Andersonian library on Cathedral Street.

The library also created a feedback Christmas tree during the festive period, asking students to give feedback on how the library could improve with 24/7 opening during term time a popular topic.

As a result of feedback from students, the library was open 24/7 for two weeks earlier this month.

Despite being a temporary measure during the exam diet, the move was a success and received positive feedback from students.

The library has now reverted back to its traditional opening hours, but the popularity of all-hours opening has prompted the library to explore the possibility of a permanent measure.

Young added: “We also had a lot of positive comments from students during the festive feedback campaign about how helpful library staff are and this reinforces our belief that the library service is rated highly by students: 89 per cent of NSS respondents agreed that the library resources and services met their needs.

“However, we are not complacent and are always looking for ways to improve.”

“Publicity for this initiative will start

later in the semester and the library is currently responding to the Festive Feedback through a ‘you said, we did’ campaign which will be promoted in the library, on Facebook and via Twitter.

“The library will also be developing an online comments and suggestions scheme to increase the ways in which students can feedback their ideas and which will inform service developments further.”

First-year law student, Haniyyah Iqbal, found the 24/7 opening times beneficial.

She said: “I found the library being open 24 hours a day to be very useful.

I could easily return to the library after breaks for lunch and dinner during the days before my exams.

“I knew it was open till late which gave me the reassurance and satisfaction that I could go to the library at any time during the day and night.

“I use the library around three or four times a week for test preparations, exam revision and to use the computer and printing facilities.”

Rebecca Maxwell Stuart, USSA vice president for education, said: “Having a 24/7 library would be great, especially during the times of exams and at the end of semester as many find studying at home difficult and the library should be, and is, the hub of studying at Strathclyde.

“If we have a 24/7 library this would improve student safety, as many find it difficult getting home when the library closes at 2am.”

Home to more than 2,000 reader places, 450 computer places and extensive wi-fi zones for laptop use, the library is a popular place for Strathclyde students to study.

Iqbal agreed that this should be a permanent scheme.

She said: “I think it would benefit all students if they were reassured that the library was open at times they most needed it, and so I think that the library should be open 24 hours most days of the week but not necessarily every day of the week.”

During the period of 24/7 library access, staffed service continued to end early with students still able to borrow and return books using self-service machines, replicating systems used at 24-hour university libraries at other institutions.

6 / STUDENT NEWS

@GlasgowJournal / journal-online.co.uk

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

GU students to get early indy Further restrictions on vote in campus-wide election international students possible, says minister February poll organised by student societies will be the first largescale survey of Scottish university students on Scotland’s future

Beth Chalmers

Rachael McHard Staff writer

Charlene White Staff writer

University of Glasgow students

are to hold a campus-wide referendum on Scottish independence next month.

The opportunity comes as a coalition of student societies will invite more than 20,000 students at the university to vote on 21 February.

The event will be the first largescale poll of Scottish university students on Scotland’s future.

Eight student societies, including the SNP, Labour, Conservative and Independent societies, are supporting the referendum.

Michael Gray, Dialectic Society president, said: “It’s a great idea to encourage debate and activism on campus.

“The result of the real referendum will impact students in Scotland for the rest of their lives, so holding our own vote is one way of finding out what young people think.

“Glasgow can lead the way and hopefully other students across the country will follow suit.”

The University’s two students’ unions, Glasgow University Union (GUU) and the Queen Margaret Union (QMU), have also confirmed their support for the event and will host the ballot boxes on the day of the poll.

The question being asked on a straight “yes” or “no” is “Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?”

Five specific debates and hustings, featuring local and national politicians, commentators and academics, will be held on campus in the run up

Home secretary Theresa May suggests interviews could prevent bogus applications

International students could

to the poll and will focus on a number of issues.

Colum Fraser, QMU president, said: “Through the process leading to a referendum, the students of the University of Glasgow will have the opportunity to learn and discuss this most important matter affecting the future of their nation by birth or, as many students from beyond our borders who pass through Glasgow choose, adopted.

“It gives me great pride that the unions are to be used as centres of learning and debate for the process, and I look forward with excitement to a series of events that will seek to include the facts, opinions and perspectives of all facets of the issue.”

Imogen Dewar, GUU Debates Convener, added: “The popularity of GUU’s Freshers’ Week debate on Scottish independence demonstrates how engaged students are in the impending national referendum.

“We are excited to help host this event and to hear the opinions of the students of the University of Glasgow.”

Glasgow has a close relationship with many key figures in Scottish politics. John MacCormick, former first minister Donald Dewar, Winnie Ewing, former Labour Party leader John Smith, former Liberal Democrats leader Charles Kennedy and Conservative MP and former defence secretary Liam Fox are among the university’s alumni.

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

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

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

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills having projected that the total brought into the British economy by international students will rise to £16.8 billion by 2025, it has been suggested by critics that any decline in the number of international students could have a detrimental effect on the UK economy.

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

Hannah Chandler, a student at the University of Edinburgh, said: “It seems

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

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

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

Home Office

RCS students set to play at Celtic Connections Music students to showcase their talents at the music festival for the fifth successive year Rachael McHard Staff writer

Students from Glasgow’s Royal

Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) will take part in a showcase alongside students from the Royal College of Music in Stockholm at this year’s Celtic Connections.

The BA degree in Scottish Music at the Conservatoire provides new artists to the music festival, each displaying the individual and collective talents of its students through an annual showcase.

It is the fifth year students from RCS have performed in Celtic Connections, and every year they are joined by students from another establishment. with KHM FOLK, an array of students from folk music department at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm will accompany RSC students, highlighting the success Celtic Connections has in linking and celebrating Celtic music with other cultures. Celtic Connections describes the collaboration as ‘an unrivalled opportunity to enjoy a profusion of fresh new talent’.

Professor Phil Cunningham, artistic

director of BA Scottish Music at RCS told The Journal how RCS students came to be part of Britain’s largest folk festival.

He said: “When I came here first of all, part of my remit was to create opportunities for students in the real world, so the first thing I did was speak to Donald Shaw, artistic director of Celtic Connections to see if we could establish an annual event.

“This gives students something to shoot for throughout the year, they all look forward to it because up until then, Celtic Connections was just something where you went to see people play.”

The showcase will also feature guests from the brass and string departments as well as seasoned professionals - drummer James McIntosh and bass player Ross Hamilton from band Texas.

Prof Cunningham added: “It is great for students to get a chance to play with them as they’re used to seeing these guys on television. Celtic Connections also gives students the opportunity to play in front of real people who are part of a paying audience.”

Now in its 20th year, the festival is renowned for bringing together one-off line-ups for creating what truly are one

night only collaborative shows.

The camaraderie between musicians continues into the wee small hours every Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout the festival at Celtic Connection’s Festival Club where fans can enjoy late night gigs hosted by Kevin MacLeod.

Ainsley Hamill, a fourth year BA Scottish Music student at RCS, said: “Celtic Connections is such a great time for folk musicians from around the world to come together and play fantastic music.

“It also acts as a platform for young musicians and bands, with things such as the Danny Kyle Open Stage which has given my band Barluath a good push in the right direction.”

Celtic Connections kicked off on 17 January with 2,100 musicians from all over the globe arriving in Glasgow for 18 days of concerts, ceilidhs and art exhibitions as well as free events such as talks and workshops.

The RSC student showcase will take place on 2 February in Stevenson Hall.

This is a special year for RSC as it is the first year the Conservatoire has managed to be included as an official venue.

Ann Tuite

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

@GlasgowJournal / journal-online.co.uk

BEYOND GLASGOW

Edinburgh union to ask Princess Anne to resign EUSA pass policy contesting Princess Royal’s election as university chancellor Rachael Barr Staff writer

Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA) has voted to

pursue the removal of Princess Anne as chancellor.

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

The princess became chancellor in 2011, succeeding her father Prince Philip who had been chancellor since 1953, and her instalment was met with vociferous protests.

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

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

The motion — proposed by EUSA vice president services, Max Crema —

was debated at an emergency meeting of EUSA’s external council last week, ahead of an honorary graduation ceremony that was due to be attended by the princess and EUSA vice president academic affairs, Andrew Burnie.

Under the new policy, elected EUSA representatives are banned from attending events where the chancellor would be present, including graduation ceremonies, and must support “any and all” future protests against the princess’s continued presence in the role.

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

The palace commented that the policy was “entirely a matter for the student union”, and refused to comment further.

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

Speaking on the motion, Crema said: “Graduates of the university — the body who elect the chancellor — weren’t

directly notified of the opportunity to propose a new chancellor. There was a notice in The Scotsmannewspaper and little else.”

Despite passing, the motion was the subject of much debate and disagreement among class representatives and students online before and after the meeting, and at the meeting itself, which was attended by around 50 students.

The motion received what was described as an “unprecedented” number of proposed amendments.

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

Other critics of the motion included Hugh Murdoch, expected to run for EUSA President next year, who saw the policy as “a waste of time”.

Both of the other expected candidates for the EUSA presidential role, Mike Shaw and Liam O’Hare, gave their support for the motion, with O’Hare describing the monarchy as “a symbol of... racism” in the run-up to the meeting.

Crema told The Journal that he was “delighted” with the result.

STUDENT POLITICS / 7

NUS sabbatical officer candidates emerge With NUS National elections two months away, candidates begin to emerge for the top jobs Callum Leslie Student Politics editor, Edinburgh

With current National Union of

Students (NUS) President Liam Burns nearing the end of his term, the race to succeed him is hotting up.

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

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

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

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

EUSA who claim it will distract him from his job as President in the coming months.

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

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

The SBL proposed a slate including one of their own candidates for VP (Further Education) instead of Joshi, but were voted down. The SBL publicly criticised the decision, accusing NCAFC of “blocking left unity.”

For NUS Scotland, whose elections take place at their annual conference in Dundee on 16 March, only one candidate has announced their bid for president - University of West of Scotland student and current NUS Scotland national committee member, Jamie Kinlochan.

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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

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8 / ACADEMIC NEWS

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The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

GSA open new Institute of Design Innovation Universities minister David Willetts opens centre designed to “create multidisciplinary collaborations” McAteer Photography

Gareth Llewellyn Deputy Managing editor

A new institute of design innovation in

Glasgow aims to support development of a creative, sustainable economy in Scotland.

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

It will also reinforce the GSA’s reputation as an international centre of excellence in the research and exchange of knowledge, and practices that improve work, wealth and wellbeing through applied creativity.

The institute was opened by finance secretary, John Swinney MSP, on 16 January 2013.

Swinney said: “Scotland has established an international reputation as being an innovative and creative nation, thanks to the work of generations of talented, enterprising Scots.

“The Scottish government recognises the importance of strengthening this reputation through ensuring businesses and entrepreneurs can access the support and services needed to realise the economic potential of their ideas.

“The Glasgow School of Art is one of Scotland’s great hubs of creativity and this new Institute of Design Innovation will encourage businesses to realise

their growth ambitions and stay competitive through applying design principles throughout their organisations.

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

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

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

Professor Irene McAra-McWilliam, institute director, said: “There is currently much talk about the crucial importance of design, creativity and innovation in developing successful businesses and services.

“However, the question that is seldom addressed in any practical detail is: how do you do that? Through the new Institute of Design Innovation the GSA will show clearly how design skills and creative thinking can be embedded in organisations in such a way that innovation is sustainable.”

The Institute of Design Innovation will build on the GSA’s existing, successful strategic partnerships.

A further two-year commitment to the Creating Cultures of Innovation initiative

with businesses, public sector and government is now under way. Working in partnership with the Institute of Directors Scotland, the GSA is now rolling out the success of the pilot project.

In the Highlands and Islands it will consolidate the success of the collaboration in its Centre for Design Innovation (Forres) with Highlands and Islands Enterprise, working with businesses and communities to generate economic growth and strengthen communities.

The institute will also take forward the GSA’s Design Innovation support for smalland medium-sized businesses.

The GSA is currently running a Scottish Enterprise funded programme supporting companies, encouraging them to have confidence in commissioning and working with design.

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

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

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

Senior University of Glasgow academic named Napier head

GCU awarded £1m grant for widening access

Senior vice-principal Prof Andrea Nolan will take up post on 1 July 2013

New Centre aims to promote increased uptake of Advanced Higher qualifications in Glasgow

Greg Bianchi News editor, Edinburgh

Edinburgh Napier University

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

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

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

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

University of Glasgow principal Prof Anton Muscatelli said: “Although I am immensely sad that Andrea will be leaving Glasgow, I am also thrilled at the opportunity that her new appointment as Principal of Edinburgh Napier University will bring for her.”

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

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

In a statement, Napier’s governing

body confirmed that Prof. Nolan was “the unanimous choice of our interview panel”.

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

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

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

Glasgow University Students’ Representative Council president James Harrison told The Journal: “She was great to work with. She would meet with us regularly… and would work to ensure the SRC was listened to at meetings of senate.

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

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

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

Michael Mawdsley Staff writer

Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU), Glasgow’s third biggest

university, has been awarded nearly £1 million by the Scottish Funding Council in an attempt to establish an on-campus centre to deliver Advanced Higher courses to secondary school students.

The Advanced Higher Hub is part of GCU’s ongoing commitment to widening access to higher education in Glasgow.

Approximately 34 per cent of GCU’s undergraduate students are from a disadvantaged background, while 73 per cent are the first in their families to go on to higher education.

The project is an ambitious step. Currently, only one in 10 students go on to study an Advanced Higher.

This comes despite the fact that an increasing number of students across Scotland and the city are staying in school till S6 and are leaving with at least Prof Stringer, a specialist in public one Higher qualification, if not more.

The project will be targeting 15 administration and industrial training policy, was appointed principal selected schools in an attempt to widen of Napier in 2003, having previously access to a higher level of education served as principal of Queen Margaret across the city and to reverse the low University. She was made a dame in percentage progressing to university or 2009 for “services to local and national college.

It is hoped that this will allow for a higher education.” new generation of Glaswegian children

to experience a very different approach to higher education.

The intention is that, with Glasgow city council’s assistance, the Advanced Higher Hub at GCU will be able to offer these courses as early as August 2013 to students who without such a centre would not be able to attain this level of education.

The council’s responsibility will be to assist in paying for travel between the respective schools and the centre, as the classes will be taught during the school day.

This means that the estimated 150 to 200 students in S6 in each respective academic year at the partnership schools will not be dissuaded from attending these classes by financial pressures.

Along with access to these courses, the students will also be able to use the GCU facilities, such as the library and computer labs. They will also be assisted with applications to university.

Another benefit of the project will be that students who then apply to GCU will be given advanced status, thus reducing the time they will have to spend at university.

Stephen Curran, a councillor representing the south side of Glasgow, said of the pupils: “This will stand them in good stead and will provide additional encouragement when they are deciding their further education plans.”

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The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

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

Scotland’s largest opposition

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NUS Scotland

day, and reverse the proposed £34.6 million cuts to colleges.”

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

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

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

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

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

MSPs launch ‘underemployment’ inquiry

Johnney Rhodes

Daniel do Rosario Political editor

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

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

Unusually the United Kingdom does not have a written constitution.

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

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

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

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

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

Malgosia Stelmaszyk

history as the nation which pioneered universal education.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

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NATIONAL POLITICS / 11

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

Molly Hunt Staff writer

Figures taken in December sug-

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hannah Dowe Standring Student News editor, Edinburgh

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

David Willetts, the Minister of

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BIS

12 / EDITORIAL

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

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GLASGOW’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER Devon Walshe EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Marcus Kernohan

Gordon Matheson

A sorry affair It might be comical, if it wasn’t so sad. The news that the Labour leader of Glasgow City Council, Gordon Matheson, was arrested last month after being found allegedly engaging in a sexual act with a man who was not his partner in a parked car in Cathcart prompted more than a few sniggers, chuckles and off-colour jokes from press, politicians and public alike.

Although no charges were eventually brought, Cllr Matheson emerges from the scandal more than a little politically bruised. As well as the private and personal tragedy of the strain the incident will no doubt place on his relationship with his long term

partner, there are political consequences. Unnamed Labour sources have lined up around the block to tell friendly journalists that the scandal has effectively torpedoed Cllr Matheson’s political ambitions, which apparently extended beyond City Chambers and towards the Glasgow Cathcart seat in the Scottish Parliament, which an insurgent Scottish National Party candidate managed to steal from Labour in 2011.

Cllr Matheson likely has paid the price for his indiscretion: the humiliation of having private failings dragged through the press in innuendo-laden terms cannot be easy. But we can’t

help but observe that he did somewhat bring it on himself: as a savvy political operator and as a prominent municipal leader, he should have been more discreet; but more pertinently, as a public servant, he should have known that his constituents expect a certain standard of moral conduct from their elected officials — one that does not include being caught (allegedly) in flagrante in deserted car parks.

Glasgow City Council has had a poor run of luck recently, when it comes to self-destructive leaders: Cllr Matheson’s predecessor, Steven Purcell, resigned in 2010, citing “stress and exhaustion” and after

The coalition at half-term

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

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

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

solution to this great bureaucratic tangle?

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

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

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

But perhaps the most worrying of the

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

Competitors in the 60m hurdles at the Scottish Universities Indoor Athletics Championships at the new Emirates Arena earlier this month.

allegations in the media that he used cocaine.

We will not comment on Cllr Matheson’s suitability to continue in his current job; but it is clear that Glasgow, as one of Britain’s most important cities, deserves leaders who conduct themselves with a little more decorum. Sordid personal scandals being hauled through the press are a distraction from government — and with the challenges already facing the city, and with the Commonwealth Games’ arrival imminent, surely the citizens of Glasgow deserve to have their local government leaders fighting fit?

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

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

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

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

- John Clarke, via web.

EUSA to campaign for Princess Royal’s resignation as chancellor

thatonemoment.co.uk

MANAGING EDITOR Olivia Pires DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR Gareth Llewellyn LOCAL NEWS Keira Murray STUDENT POLITICS Gary Paterson STUDENT NEWS Rebecca Day NATIONAL POLITICS Daniel do Rosario STAFF WRITERS Aoife Moore Rachel McHard Karen Thomson Lauren Simpson FEATURES Jamie Brotherston DEPUTY EDITOR (ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT) Lorne Jackson MUSIC Harris Brine ART Katharina Dziacko FILM Blair Dingwall FASHION Nadine Walker SPORTSWRITERS Jack McLuckie Michael Diamond MANAGING EDITOR (MULTIMEDIA) David Selby PICTURE EDITOR Christopher Rubey STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Jassy Earl Beth Chalmers LAYOUT DIRECTOR Alina Mika

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

SUBEDITORS Jonathan Langley Jenni Malloch Laura Matheson

- Alex, via web.

MARKETING DIRECTOR Andrew Robinson

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COMMENT// 13

DISCUSSION&DEBATE

COMMENT

99 problems, and the doctor is one Scottish NHS nurses are overworked and underpaid, but there is also a third problem in the mix: doctors Gemma Clark Staff writer

The eternally pondered question

of whether nurses are given the respect and pay to match the responsibilities they undertake, versus that of doctors, has been investigated by one undercover reporter.

In one Glasgow hospital, which shall remain unnamed, up to eight nurses can be seen on the ward at any given time, all working 12-hour shifts on rotation, on a 20-bed ward.

The faces are rarely the same two days in a row, meaning that 24 nurses are actually assigned to that ward alone. This figure excludes bank nursing staff, but includes specialist practitioners.

Yet despite this apparent plethora of staff, there is something missing: doctors.

Neither hide nor hair can be seen of a doctor for days at a time, not caring for a patient, not even speaking to another member of the team.

They each have a day when they attend a patients’ ward round meeting, as well as one other day to have a brief, often unnecessary, catch-up. Failing that, patients do not get the opportunity to discuss their care with their doctor, and are often finding that they do not even show up for the second weekly meeting.

“I have not seen Dr A for two weeks now,” says one patient. “It is just days before Christmas, and she has not even told me whether I can see my family or go home for the day. It’s a huge inconvenience for my family, and a huge worry for me.”

Nurses on the ward have also expressed their disgust at this sort of treatment.

A nurse, who wished to remain anonymous over fears of repercussion says: “They shouldn’t be allowed to leave

patients hanging until the last second like that. Being in hospital is stressful enough as it is, without that sort of uncertainty hanging over your head. It would have taken two minutes to let [them] know. It’s Christmas for goodness sake!”

Is this really the arrangement that patients want to see?

While nursing staff are generally considered more approachable than their acronym-laden colleagues, patients often wish to query their treatment with someone whom social assumptions deem more highly qualified, rather than a nurse who has a more intimate knowledge of the patient from spending far more time with them.

Another patient described meetings with their doctor as being very disappointing. “They are brief, impersonal, and often quite patronising and insulting.

They can have a very distant attitude.”

So, rather than having a dissatisfying medical experience, does it not, therefore, make more sense for queries to be first directed to the medical professional who knows you best?

Ward nurses are expected to deal with a huge amount of challenges, performing dozens of medical procedures in any given day. Trained nurses handle everything from taking blood samples to giving medication to administering nasogastric feeds and drips.

They can do everything a doctor does, and yet the battle of plain clothes versus uniform almost always ends victoriously for the more authoritative demeanour created from the button-down and slacks favoured by doctors.

Uniforms are designed to create a sense of equality, but in an environment where one is judged according to that very uniform, and often underappreciated as a result, is the desired result really being achieved? Patient feedback would suggest not.

Yet, despite this, patients still trust in nurses for many other tasks, including the running of the ward.

The general consensus as to whether patients are satisfied with seeing a doctor only once a week, twice if they’re very lucky, (or unlucky, as the case may be), seems to be “well, they’re doctors.

They’re busy...doing stuff.”

In an emergency, a junior doctor on the same team could be contacted, but in terms of continuity of care, it must be questioned as to whether this is suitable.

With the recent shocking revelations regarding the diabolical care provided at Alexandra Hospital in Worcestershire, with patients going 11 weeks without a wash, water being placed out of reach and, tragically, one patient even starving to death, it seems more prudent than ever that pressure be relieved from over- stretched nursing staff, so that they might focus on the jobs they were trained for.

Psychiatric nurses are currently paid least of all public sector workers.

For nursing staff to be treated with the respect and equality they deserve, more NHS funding should be spent on employing adequate numbers of nurses on wards to cover all tasks, as well as providing a pay rise.

Twelve-hour shifts take their toll, and as a result, over-tired staff may become fallible. There is the very real possibility of endangering a patient’s life or wellbeing in any number of ways, as the travesty in Worcestershire has thus proven.

Such abysmal levels of deprivation should never have been allowed, and they should stand testament as a lesson and a warning.

Money can be saved in so many little ways. Simple streamlining of spending and cutting waste. Any hospital employee would agree that excessive waste is a major shortfall of the medical

system.

For example, simply re-using the disposable medicine cups by assigning one per patient could save thousands every year. Tiny changes like this could go towards funding additional nursing staff.

One nurse with 26 years of experience spoke of how wards are desperately deficient in staff numbers. “A number of staff have retired from my ward over the past couple of years, and the NHS haven’t replaced them, all so they can save money,” he says.

“But now they are paying us less to cover the extra shifts and bringing in staff who don’t know the ward or the patients, instead of employing someone permanently.

“It’s not the proper standard of therapeutic care. Patients don’t develop relationships with these bank nurses.”

Forming these relationships is vital to patient care and can make all the difference to a patient’s welfare. We must trust, now, that the NHS will take notice of this warning.

Burchill’s transphobic rant is a monument to editorial incompetence The Observer shouldn’t have pulled Julie Burchill’s piece: it should serve as a warning to editors everywhere John Hewitt Jones Literary editor, Edinburgh

The Observer’s decision to publish Julie Burchill’s transphobic article entitled ‘Transsexuals should cut it out’ caused a brouhaha online last week, sparking a deluge of complaints along with protests outside the London offices of The Guardian.

This is hardly surprising, given the gratuitively offensive nature of the piece, which described the trans community with repugnant phrases such as “a bunch of dicks in chicks’ clothing”, and “a bunch of bed-wetters in bad wigs”.

Singularly mysterious, however, is the

response that ensued from The Observer.

The paper’s editor, John Mulholland, issued a timely apology, stating that “On this occasion we got it wrong and in light of the hurt and offence caused”, the piece would be taken off the paper’s website.

This might seem an understandable response from a liberal news organisation.

But in fact it’s highly problematic. As the readers’ editor Stephen Pritchard pointed out last week, more than 2,952 comments appeared online, the majority of which were fiercely critical of Burchill’s piece.

In removing the article from the website, The Observer fails to take full responsibility for its decision to publish the piece (which, according to Pritchard,

passed across the desks of several senior editors, including himself ). The Internet enables needlessly offensive content to be published at the touch of the button, and by the same token, it allows people from every corner of the globe to express their distaste.

Had the Burchill piece remained online, people would continue to be able to express their anger. The page on The Observer/Guardian website would have remained as a monument to remind senior staff on the paper to abide by paragraph 12 of the national Editors’ Code: ‘The press must avoid prejudicial or pejorative reference to an individual’s race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orienta-

tion or to any physical or mental illness or disability.’

Instead, however, The Daily Telegraph has taken upon itself to republish Burchill’s piece on its own website; a fact which surprisingly seems to have garnered relatively little publicity. Columnist Toby Young stated six days ago that Burchill had given him permission to republish the piece on The Telegraph’s website, suggesting that she shows little remorse for what she’s written.

In taking down the original page with Burchill’s article on it, The Observer have allowed it to be taken out of context and reprinted in a publication with a less tolerant readership.

Pritchard’s fawning apology, billed as the culmination of an internal enquiry at the liberal Sunday paper, was aimed primarily at allowing the news organisation to climb out of the hole it dug itself into.

Mulholland’s assertion that “There was no other option but to withdraw the piece and apologise,” is a load of rubbish. Apologise they must, but that piece should still be online.

In the same way, a cutting from the print edition should be sitting above Mulholland’s desk, a testament to editorial mismanagement. Burchill’s piece should remain as a monument online; a reminder to senior staff of their responsibility for what they publish.

14 / FEATURE

@GlasgowJournal / journal-online.co.uk

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

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

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

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PART I: THE NATURE OF NATIONHOOD

IN SEARCH OF A SCOTTISH IDENTITY The Journal’s Jon Vrushi sets out to map the long, difficult path of Scottish nationhood

Scotland could see itself as a mother nation of the Empire as much as England did. This was, coincidentally, the time when Scotland was an unmisThe issue of Scottish independence takably British entity, to the extent that has been so central to Scottish politics the designated postcode for Scotland since May 2011, when the SNP won an became NB (North Britain). overall majority in the Scottish ParliaWhen the Empire started declining, ment, that it feels almost like Scottish the Great War came along – the war to nationalism, as we know it today, has end all wars. Scots volunteered in great been around for time immemorial. numbers from 1914 until 1916 when To understand where this Scottish conscription was introduced. 41% nationalism comes from and how Scot- of Scottish men aged 15 to 49 fought tishness grew as an identity inharmo- alongside the English as part of the nious with Britishness for some Scots, British Army.

I paid a visit to the National Museum Similarly, Scots regiments proudly of Scotland (NMS), more specifically a took arms in the second world war permanent exhibition called Scotland: against the ‘axis of evil’ fighting for A changing nation. As I go up the stairs the values of democracy and human leading to the exhibition, there are five dignity. Scotland found itself again in a framed pictures each with the respecbig project under the framework of the tive heading: ‘Voice of the People’, United Kingdom – a project it could ‘Daily life’, ‘Leaving Scotland’, ‘Indus- take pride in. try’ and ‘War’.

As the big imperial and global The section ‘Voice of the People’ projects eventually ended, the UK is what I am more interested in. The started looking inward. As a foreign first thing I am confronted with is an policy historian would furiously assess: eye-catching statement: “Scots have “Free aspirins and false teeth were been always vocal in their political more important [to the British] than movements.” Indeed they have, and Britain’s role in the world.” The project the British state provided with enough of building a modern welfare state flexibility to accommodate those Scot- appealed to Scotland; not only did the tish political aspirations. Not only that, Scottish people benefit massively from but Scots started seeing themselves as public housing, NHS, state benefits and equal partners with the English in big so on, but they were also proud to be national projects. part of shaping this formidable social Arguably, the first big project these doctrine. two nations undertook together was As the economic difficulties during 265x50By ilan.pdf 1 16.11.2012 16:20 and 1970s affected people’s the British Empire. the 19th century the 1960s Jon Vrushi Comment editor, Edinburgh

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

@GlasgowJournal / journal-online.co.uk

FEATURE / 15

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

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

Yes Scotland

BORDERS AND BARRIERS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Scottish Government policy is of central importance in widening participation.

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

Scotland can have the best of both worlds Ross MacRae Better Together

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ross MacRae is volunteer and activism manager at Better Together.

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Charing Cross North Street, 1300, 4, , 0844 635 3357 West Princes Street, 895, 3, 2D G Z, 0844 635 4471 Kent Road, 1000, 2, 3D G CG Z, 0844 635 9364 Kent Road, 595, 2, 2D W, 0844 635 9368

Charing Cross - Granville Street, 600, 1, , 0844 635 6350 Berkeley Street, 495, 1, , 0844 635 9346 Dorset Street, 495, 1, , 0844 635 1986 Dorset Square, 475, 1, 1D E P, 0844 635 9368

City Centre Sauchiehall Street, 1400, 4, 4D, 0844 635 9364 Renfield Street, 1195, 3, , 0844 635 9350 Dunlop Street, 1150, 3, 3D G P, 0844 635 9542 St. Mungo Avenue, 695, 3, 1S 2D W, 0844 635 9354 Wallace Street, 650, 3, , 0844 635 9348 Glasgow, 875, 2, G, 0844 635 9372 Fox Street, 825, 2, 2D P, 0844 635 9364 Argyle Street, 750, 2, 2D E P, 0844 635 9368 Fox Street, 725, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 9420 Morrison Street, 700, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9364 Argyle Street, 695, 2, 2D E, 0844 635 9368 Renfield Street, 695, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 9230 York Street, 695, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 1872 John Knox Street, 650, 2, , 0844 635 9350 Parsonage Square, 625, 2, W P, 0844 635 9372 Cathedral Square, 575, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Oxford Street, 565, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Wallace Street, 550, 2, 2D O, 0844 635 9232 Daniel Mclaughlin Place, 450, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Carlton Place, 575, 1, 1D G P, 0844 635 9364 Sauchiehall Street, 565, 1, , 0844 635 9346 London Road, 550, 1, 1D G P, 0844 635 9420 Bell Street, 545, 1, , 0844 635 9350 Brown Street, 525, 1, 1D W PG P, 0844 635 9354 Elmbank Street, 500, 1, 1D E CG O, 0844 635 3504 Bridgegate Path, 485, 1, G O, 0844 635 9396 Saltmarket, 475, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 3328 Howard Street, 470, 1, W, 0844 635 9396 Cambridge Street, 450, 1, E, 0844 635 9396 Saltmarket Place, 450, 1, G PG P, 0844 635 9396 Sauchiehall Street, 350, 1, 1D E, 0844 635 9364

Dennistoun Armadale Street, 1140, 4, 4D, 0844 635 3357 Milnbank Street, 475, 3, 2S 1D 1B CG O, 0844 635 3894 Firpark Court, 625, 2, G P, 0844 635 9372 Firpark Court, 600, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 9364 Firpark Court, 600, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 0072 Finlay Drive, 595, 2, , 0844 635 9350 Dennistoun - Hanson Park, 575, 2, , 0844 635 6350 Golfhill Drive, 575, 2, , 0844 635 9350 Hillfoot Street, 575, 2, G P, 0844 635 9396 Alexandra Parade, 550, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Cumbernauld Road, 550, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 3894 Edinburgh Road, 550, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 9230 Edinburgh Road, 550, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9230 Finlay Drive, 550, 2, , 0844 635 1986 Garthland Drive, 550, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Reidvale Street, 550, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 1612 Reidvale Street, 550, 2, , 0844 635 1612 Alexandra Parade, 525, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9454 Duke Street, 500, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Hillfoot Street, 500, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 2154 Thomson Street, 500, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Craigpark, 495, 2, 2D G PG O, 0844 635 9542 Kennyhill Square, 495, 2, 2D CG O, 0844 635 9454 Onslow Drive, 495, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Garthland Drive, 475, 2, 2D 1B G O, 0844 635 9542 Meadowpark Street, 475, 2, , 0844 635 0830 Hillfoot Street, 470, 2, G P, 0844 635 9396 Craigpark Drive, 450, 2, , 0844 635 3894 Hillfoot Street, 450, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Roebank Street, 435, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Alexandra Parade, 550, 1, 2D G O, 0844 635 3328 Alexandra Parade, 500, 1, 1D G, 0844 635 9348 Broompark Drive, 495, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 9542

Golfhill Drive, 495, 1, G, 0844 635 9596 Roslea Drive, 450, 1, , 0844 635 9348 Roebank Street, 400, 1, G O, 0844 635 9596 Aberfeldy Street, 395, 1, , 0844 635 9348 Ark Lane, 395, 1, E, 0844 635 9596 Ark Lane, 395, 1, , 0844 635 3894 Sword Street, 385, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 4467 Appin Road, 375, 1, 1D O, 0844 635 4471 Aberdour Street, 350, 1, , 0844 635 9346 Aberfoyle Street, 350, 1, , 0844 635 9348 Aberfoyle Street, 350, 1, 1D O, 0844 635 4467 Meadowpark Street, 350, 1, , 0844 635 9348 Aberfoyle Street, 325, 1, 1D E CG O, 0844 635 3504

A USERS GUIDE TO CITYLETS LISTINGS Meadows

Finnieston Lancefield Quay, 900, 2, G P, 0844 635 5642 Finnieston - Argyle Street, 850, 2, , 0844 635 6350 Lancefield Quay, 800, 2, G O, 0844 635 9596 Elliott Street, 750, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9596 River Heights, 700, 2, E, 0844 635 9364 Stobcross Street, 675, 2, 2D, 0844 635 3894 Finnieston - Minerva Way, 650, 2, , 0844 635 6350 St Vincent St, 650, 2, G CG O, 0844 635 9372 Lancefield Quay, 600, 2, 2D E P, 0844 635 9596 Minerva Way, 625, 1, G P, 0844 635 4826 Lancefield Quay, 595, 1, , 0844 635 9350 Stobcross Street, 525, 1, 1D E, 0844 635 9364 Argyle Street, 375, 1, , 0844 635 9348

Garnethill Buccleuch Street, 795, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9470 Hill Street, 700, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Buccleuch St Flat, 610, 2, , 0844 635 9308 Garnet Court, 595, 2, 2D E P, 0844 635 9230 Mossvale Square, 495, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Garnethill Street, 575, 1, , 0844 635 3342 West Graham Street, 495, 1, , 0844 635 9348

Govanhill Westmoreland Street, 525, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Dixon Avenue, 500, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 3504 Allison Street, 495, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 9584 Dixon Avenue, 495, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 3504 Garturk Street, 485, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Allison Street, 450, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Bowman Street, 450, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Dixon Avenue, 450, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Annette Street, 425, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 3504 Annette Street, 425, 2, 1S 1D G O, 0844 635 8716 Westmoreland Street, 400, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 3504 Chapman Street, 425, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Niddrie Road, 425, 1, , 0844 635 9346 Chapman Street, 415, 1, O, 0844 635 8716 Allison Street, 400, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Cathcart Road, 400, 1, , 0844 635 9346 Allison Street, 395, 1, , 0844 635 9350 Inglefield Street, 395, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 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 Allison Street, 365, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Calder Street, 365, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 0072

Agent phone number

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

Bedrooms Monthly Rent

Dowanhill Hyndland Road, 1600, 6, , 0844 635 3342 Hyndland Road, 1250, 4, , 0844 635 9346 Ruthven Street, 850, 3, 2S 1D G CG O, 0844 635 3504 Rosslyn Terrace, 950, 2, , 0844 635 3342 Havelock Street, 725, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Hyndland- Novar Drive, 700, 2, , 0844 635 6350 Bowmont Terrace, 525, 1, , 0844 635 9350

Area

Location

Craigie Street, 365, 1, , 0844 635 9348 Craigie Street, 350, 1, G, 0844 635 9596 Daisy Street, 350, 1, 1D W CG O, 0844 635 9398 Chapman Street, 325, 1, 1D CG O, 0844 635 9440 Westmoreland Street, 325, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 3504 Westmoreland Street, 300, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 3504

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, 960, 3, 3D G CG O, 0844 635 3504 Alfred Terrace, 950, 3, 3D G, 0844 635 9596 Cranworth Street, 895, 2, , 0844 635 3342 Great George Street, 845, 2, 2D G CG Z, 0844 635 3762 Hillhead - Otago Street, 795, 2, , 0844 635 6350 Hillhead - Otago Street - Unfurnsihed, 795, 2, , 0844 635 6350 Hillpark Drive, 425, 2, 2D P, 0844 635 8716

Hyndland Hyndland Road, 2000, 6, 6D, 0844 635 5525 Hayburn Lane, 1400, 3, , 0844 635 3342 Airlie Street, 750, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 3714 Dudley Drive, 750, 2, 2D G PG O, 0844 635 9446 Hyndland, 750, 2, G PG O, 0844 635 9372 Clarence Gardens, 625, 2, 2D E CG P, 0844 635 6639 Chancellor Street, 650, 1, 2D G, 0844 635 3328 Hughenden Lane, 475, 1, E CG Z, 0844 635 9470

Ibrox Copland Road, 495, 2, G CG O, 0844 635 9372 Copland Place, 475, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Ibrox Street, 450, 2, , 0844 635 9350 Middleton Street, 425, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 3504 Harrison Drive, 395, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Cairnlea Drive, 375, 1, G O, 0844 635 6372 Elizabeth Street, 375, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 9440 Paisley Road West, 365, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 0072 Clifford Place, 350, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Middleton Street, 340, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 4467 Paisley Road West, 275, 1, 1D O, 0844 635 4826

Kinning Park Plantation Park Gardens, 575, 3, , 0844 635 9346 Mavisbank Gardens, 595, 2, E P, 0844 635 9372 Mavisbank Gardens, 550, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Milnpark Gardens, 550, 2, 2D W P, 0844 635 9368 Cornwall Street, 540, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Rutland Court, 525, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 0072 Rutland Court, 495, 2, , 0844 635 9346

Milnpark Gardens, 485, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 0072 Lorne Street, 485, 1, G Z, 0844 635 8716 Plantation Park, 440, 1, , 0844 635 9350 Paisley Road West, 395, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 9470 Harvie Street, 375, 1, G O, 0844 635 9368 Paisley Road West, 325, 1, 1D CG O, 0844 635 9454

Maryhill Kelvindale Gardens, 550, 3, , 0844 635 9346 Shuna Street, 610, 2, G P, 0844 635 9396 Firhill Road, 599, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 9230 Shuna Street, 595, 2, , 0844 635 3342 Lochburn Gate, 550, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Trossachs Street, 550, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Sandbank Drive, 525, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Kelvindale Gardens, 495, 2, , 0844 635 3342 Sandbank Avenue, 495, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Cumlodden Drive, 475, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9230 Sandbank Avenue, 425, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Burnbank Terrace, 450, 1, 1D G Z, 0844 635 9420 Maryhill Road, 375, 1, G O, 0844 635 8704 Maryhill Road, 325, 1, W CG O, 0844 635 9420

Merchant City Brunswick Street, 795, 2, , 0844 635 1986 Garth Street, 700, 2, E Z, 0844 635 9372 Blackfriars Road, 650, 2, 2D E CG, 0844 635 3786 Blackfriars Road, 650, 2, 2D E CG, 0844 635 3786 St Andrew`s Square, 650, 2, W P, 0844 635 9396 Moir Street, 550, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9398 James Morrison Street, 525, 2, , 0844 635 9346 King Street, 625, 1, , 0844 635 1986 Wilson Street, 550, 1, E, 0844 635 9372 High Street, 525, 1, , 0844 635 1986 Blackfriars Court Flat, 505, 1, W, 0844 635 9396 Parnie Street, 500, 1, , 0844 635 9350 Bell Street, 495, 1, , 0844 635 9348 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 Blackfriars Road, 415, 1, E CG, 0844 635 3786

New Gorbals Naburn Gate, 685, 3, G CG P, 0844 635 9396 Haughview Terrace, 650, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9542 Errol Gardens, 595, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Thistle Terrace, 595, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Errol Gardens, 575, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Thistle Terrace, 575, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Cumberland Street, 550, 2, G CG P, 0844 635 9396 Cumberland Street, 550, 2, 1S 1D G P, 0844 635 9368

Bedrooms: Heating: Garden: Parking: Furniture:

Cumberland Street, 545, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Moffat Street, 500, 1, , 0844 635 9348 St Valentines Terrace, 500, 1, , 0844 635 1986 Ballater Street, 395, 1, , 0844 635 9346

North Kelvinside Kelvin Drive, 800, 2, 2D, 0844 635 3506 Doune Gardens, 700, 2, G O, 0844 635 5642 Kelbourne Street, 670, 2, , 0844 635 9350 Oban Drive, 650, 2, , 0844 635 6350 Avenuepark Street, 625, 2, , 0844 635 9350 Lyndhurst Gardens, 595, 2, , 0844 635 1986 Oban Drive, 525, 2, , 0844 635 1986 Hotspur Street, 525, 1, , 0844 635 3342 Garrioch Road, 425, 1, , 0844 635 9346

Partick Muirpark Street, 750, 3, 3D G CG O, 0844 635 9378 Thornwood Avenue, 725, 3, G O, 0844 635 9596 Cooperswell Street, 950, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9364 Highburgh Road, 795, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 4826 Beith Street, 625, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0048 Gardner Street, 595, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9368 Byres Road, 650, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 9364 Keith Street, 630, 1, , 0844 635 9350 Dowanhill Street, 475, 1, , 0844 635 9348 Exeter Drive, 465, 1, 1D G, 0844 635 4826 Apsley Street, 450, 1, , 0844 635 9348

Pollokshields Nithsdale Road, 695, 3, 3D G O, 0844 635 9566 Melville Street, 575, 3, 3D G CG O, 0844 635 3774 Barrland Street, 725, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Pollokshaws Road, 650, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Nursery Street, 595, 2, G O, 0844 635 9596 Woodrow Road, 495, 2, 1S 1D G P, 0844 635 8716 Woodrow Road, 495, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 4826 Victoria Road, 475, 1, , 0844 635 9348 Maxwell Grove, 450, 1, 1D E, 0844 635 9364

Queens Park Dixon Avenue, 700, 4, 4D G CG O, 0844 635 3504 Queens Drive, 730, 3, , 0844 635 9350 Victoria Road, 650, 3, 1S 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9398 Queens Drive, 650, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Queens Drive, 595, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 4471 Albert Road, 525, 2, , 0844 635 9350 Balvicar Street, 525, 2, , 0844 635 1986 Dixon Avenue, 399, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 3894 Victoria Road, 400, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 3504 Victoria Road, 400, 1, 1D G, 0844 635 9542 Cumming Drive, 375, 1, 1D E CG O, 0844 635 4826 Chapman Street, 350, 1, 1D E O, 0844 635 3504 Niddrie Road, 350, 1, 1D E CG O, 0844 635 3504

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

Torrisdale Street, 350, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 0072

Shawlands Halbert Street, 650, 3, , 0844 635 6350 Pleasance Street, 650, 3, , 0844 635 1612 Pollokshaws Road, 625, 3, , 0844 635 0300 Skirving Street, 595, 3, 3D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Trefoil Avenue, 695, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 0072 Durward Court, 595, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 0072 Kilmarnock Road, 595, 2, G CG O, 0844 635 9396 Westclyffe Street, 595, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Barrland Street, 575, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 9470 Grantley Street, 575, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 2408 Frankfort Street, 550, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Kilmarnock Road, 550, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 8716 Ledard Road, 550, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 3714 Riverford Road, 550, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 0072 Tassie Street, 550, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9454 Deanston Drive, 500, 2, , 0844 635 1986 Woodford Street, 500, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9440 Ellangowan Road, 495, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Skirving Street, 495, 2, , 0844 635 9350 Kilmarnock Road, 475, 2, 2D CG O, 0844 635 1872 Westclyffe Street, 550, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 3714 Westclyffe Street, 525, 1, , 0844 635 0300 Macdougall Street, 515, 1, 2D G Z, 0844 635 8716 Strathyre Street, 500, 1, 1D O, 0844 635 9364 Deanston Drive, 450, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 9230 Lethington Avenue, 450, 1, 1D, 0844 635 8716 Minard Road, 450, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Norham Street, 450, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 8716 Skirving Street, 450, 1, 1D 1B G, 0844 635 9566 Lethington Place, 425, 1, 1D W, 0844 635 8716 Minard Road, 425, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Pollokshaws Road, 400, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 9454 Ettrick Place, 385, 1, , 0844 635 9350 Lethington Avenue, 365, 1, , 0844 635 9346

Southside Victoria Road, 625, 2, 2D E P, 0844 635 9440 Mount Annan Drive, 525, 2, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 9364 Annette St, 450, 2, 2D, 0844 635 5525 Calder Street, 450, 2, 2D, 0844 635 5525 Craigie Street, 450, 2, 2D, 0844 635 5525 Greenlees Road, 425, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9440 Westmoreland Street, 420, 2, 2D, 0844 635 5525 Camphill Avenue, 350, 1, CG, 0844 635 2422

Camphill Avenue, 350, 1, , 0844 635 2422 Springburn - Lenzie Place - Part Furnished, 495, 3, , 0844 635 6350 Hillkirk Street Lane, 450, 3, , 0844 635 9346 Auchentoshan Terrace, 550, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9368 Elmvale Row, 450, 2, 2D E P, 0844 635 9420 Lenzie Street, 425, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Springburn Road, 550, 1, 2D G P, 0844 635 9566 Kay Street, 395, 1, , 0844 635 9348 Springburn Road, 375, 1, 1D W CG O, 0844 635 2312 Barclay Street, 305, 1, 1D CG O, 0844 635 4467

St Georges Cross Great Western Road, 750, 3, , 0844 635 9348 Gladstone Street, 595, 2, 2D E CG P, 0844 635 4826 Hopehill Gardens, 550, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 9470 Grovepark Gardens, 500, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Braid Square, 495, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Gladstone Street, 490, 1, 1D E, 0844 635 9354 St Peters Street, 460, 1, , 0844 635 9350 St. Peters Street, 425, 1, 1D E O, 0844 635 9354

Strathbungo Barrland Street, 575, 2, 2D CG P, 0844 635 9398 Coplaw Street, 550, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 9440 Prince Edward Street, 500, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Pollokshaws Road, 495, 2, , 0844 635 1986 Prince Edward Street, 475, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072

Tollcross Tollcross Road, 495, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Wellshot Road, 475, 2, , 0844 635 9348 Kilmany Drive, 450, 2, , 0844 635 0614 Eversley Street, 410, 2, 2D E P, 0844 635 9542 Eversley Street, 410, 2, 2D W P, 0844 635 9542 Eckford Street, 380, 1, , 0844 635 9350 Causewayside Street, 375, 1, 1D O, 0844 635 4471 Tollcross Road, 375, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 9542 Fairholm Street, 350, 1, 1D O, 0844 635 4471 Wellshot Road, 325, 1, 1D, 0844 635 4471

West End Park Terrace, 2750, 3, 3D G CG, 0844 635 2422 Highburgh Road, 900, 3, 3D G CG O, 0844 635 4826 Argyle Street, 795, 3, 3D G CG P, 0844 635 3504 Park Terrace, 1400, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 9364 Cleveden Crescent, 1200, 2, 2D G CG, 0844 635 9364 Hughenden Road, 1000, 2, 2D G PG P, 0844 635 2422 Cleveden Drive, 950, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 2422 Crow Road, 695, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 4826 Dunaskin Street, 675, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 9496 Napiershall Street, 675, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 9370

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The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

COMMENT / 17

@GlasgowJournal / journal-online.co.uk

Only radical change will save Scotland’s high streets Daniel do Rosario calls for the high streets to embrace the freedom and playfulness of the digital age Daniel do Rosario Political editor

As our town centres slowly grow

vacant and die, it calls to mind that tired cliché, that capitalism (for good or ill) is a process of creative destruction.

A popular example is the spectacular shopping arcades of Paris that heralded the age of consumer capitalism in the 19th century, but were reduced to ruin when fashions and tastes changed.

Our high streets are crumbling while online retail booms. Popular entertainment retailers HMV and Blockbuster have both recently gone bust, and Christmas shopping figures were low, fuelling the reactionary fears in policy circles about saving the UK’s town centres.

Those entertainment retailers had their own problems, but they are characteristic of larger issues at stake here: the failure of high street stores to adapt to the digital revolution, and the bland restrictive approach to street life in the UK. The bankruptcy of HMV and Blockbuster is nothing special, they just add to the long list of companies that were unable to adapt to the digital age — record shops that failed to harness the energy and vitality of the Internet and social media, bookshops that failed to provide an online service to compliment their physical stores.

The overblown rhetoric and reg-

ulation – not to mention wallet – of the anti-piracy lobby hasn’t helped either. The Internet has brought astounding levels of free speech, openness and freedom to society — freedoms that people are not willing to see curtailed without a fight. The campaigns that stopped the US-made but globally-reaching Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), widely criticised for its attempts to curtail freedom of expression, are evidence of that.

And yet, the biggest capitalists blindly attack the freedoms brought by the digital revolution while spouting liberal economic rhetoric about liberty and freedom, apparently without irony. Certainly the digital revolution has made digital piracy of music and films a problem, but many companies have become hugely successful by embracing digital media and picking up the trail where energetic pioneers like Napster in the 1990s left off. Take the rise of Netflix, Lovefilm, iTunes, Spotify for starters.

This reactionary instinct isn’t new either. The publishing industry fought against the introduction of the photocopyer, film and TV fought videocassette recorders — but when embraced, these innovations ended up being helpful to those industries.

Music piracy might have reduced sales of music albums, but by failing to adapt positively (not just through restrictions) to the new digital reality, companies like HMV and Blockbuster will continue to fall asunder.

Then there’s the problem of street life. The death of high street retail-

ers is undoubtedly sad — hundreds of jobs are lost every time a chain store goes bankrupt. But as change thunders on, we should attempt something truly innovative on our high streets by encouraging a street life that mirrors the playfulness and freedom of the internet age, with all the physical interactions, sights and smells that public life can bring. Such a project might bring a new vibrancy to our dreary streetscapes, while leaving room for profit making.

There is something incredibly sterile about ubiquitous shopping thoroughfares like Princes Street, which are effectively just pavements to quickly scuttle down before diving into the next global retailer.

The problem is, much of the ideas in policy circles appear to encourage more of the same rather than trying to find something radically new.

A worrying trait is the transposition of US style developments to UK spaces. The UK has seen a rise of heavy securitisation and private management of nominally public spaces like pedestrian shopping streets.

Their emphasis on keeping out undesirables (read non-consumers) and attracting global flagship stores strangles the life out of exciting cities by making them just like anywhere else.

Exciting cities offer an unpredictable, interesting, and genuinely public street life that allows for both consumption and non-consumption. In Barcelona’s bustling narrow streets filled with unique shops, you are just as likely to catch people

shopping as you are to find streetperformers, kids playing cricket or football, people walking to work, or simply sitting and chatting.

We should loosen up and allow for non-consumption as well as retail in our city centres to draw people in. Get some public sheltered tables and chairs on George Street, chuck a free bandstand in the gardens, a children’s playground on Castle Street. A milieu of tourists, street performers, beggars, skateboarders, and people from all kinds of backgrounds would make our high streets more inclusive, vibrant and exciting. The more our town centres became known for a unique street life and bohemian vibe, the more people would flock to experience something real and vital.

Naturally this would require

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greater support for small businesses, scrapping dull restrictions on public performance and keeping a beady eye on the short sighted, purely growthdriven strategies that tend to take over as soon as any place becomes exciting. The famous artists’ lofts in New York lost all their charm when big developers came in and turned the former industrial area into another privatised shopping street.

If the Scottish Government’s own inquiry into town centre decline concludes that saving Scotland’s high streets means another variation on the dull and predictable globalised retail experience, they are simply putting off the inevitable. Our high streets are dying. Hopefully something vital and interesting will rise from the ashes.

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The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

Scotland’s greatest Paralympian Acclaimed wheelchair-racing gold-medalist David Weir talks to The Journal about his success at London 2012 Martin Owens Staff writer With the likes of Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis and Sir Chris Hoy seizing their moment during their home Olympics and, in doing so, becoming national treasures, the stage was set just 19 days later for Britain’s Paralympic athletes to become national heroes themselves.

One man seized his moment and never looked like letting go.

Competing, quite remarkably, in the 800m, 1500m, 5,000m and marathon in the T54 wheelchair-racing category, David Weir, nicknamed the ‘Weirwolf’, dominated every race to take home an astonishing four gold medals in his four different events.

“Surprisingly, the four events are not as bad as people imagine,” he says.

“I’ve been training and competing for years now and I’m lucky to be talented enough to be successful over them all.

“Competing over the four distances gives you the chance to bounce back in case something goes wrong in one of them, so in that sense it eases the pressure a little bit.”

And while Weir dominated each event on the track, the 33-year old admitted that his toughest battle was refocusing after each night in a packed Olympic Stadium.

“I think that for the first time in the history of the Paralympic Games... we were on an equal par with the Olympians, and that really helped push me on to my four golds.”

“It was really tough,” remembers Weir. “There are so many emotions to deal with after you realise what you’ve done. Winning a gold medal in that packed stadium was electric, but it did make it difficult to concentrate on the next race.

“There were many long nights of no sleep, with the race going through your head constantly. Those nights, followed by early rises, are not ideal when you’re

aiming for more gold. It was really quite stressful.

“You try to manage your time and prepare before the Games start, but nothing can properly prepare you for when the competition starts.”

If Weir was struggling to refocus after each race off the track, not once did he let his competitors see it, or indeed any sign of weakness; something which he credits competing in his home Games for.

“London 2012 was unbelievable. It blew me away. Lord Coe always promised that the Paralympics would be on a par with the Olympics and I think that for the first time in the history of the Paralympic Games, it was. We were on an equal par with the Olympians and that really helped push me onto to my four golds.”

When Weir first began his quest for Paralympic greatness in 1996, at the age of 17, he travelled to Atlanta with the rest of Team GB full of hope. However, the whole experience left him disheartened with the sport. The facilities at the athletes’ village were, at best, inadequate and the stadiums were empty.

“The difference from Atlanta in 1996 to London 2012 was incredible. It really was. The organisation, the stadium, the coverage, and the crowd were just perfect.

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“I was lucky enough to go to the Olympics last year as a fan and the Paralympics a couple of weeks later didn’t feel any different.”

And while, quite understandably, his four gold medals were his proudest achievement during the Games, Weir admits that seeing the Paralympics and the Paralympians finally receiving the recognition they deserve was a close second.

In what was arguably the greatest year in UK sporting history, three Paralympians were nominated for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award.

Bradley Wiggins walked away with the honour after his historic Tour de France victory and Olympic gold, however Weir admits that it was an honour in itself just to be nominated.

“To be in the top 12, especially when you look at the level of sporting success last year, and to be in the company of these sporting greats was amazing. It was a major accolade.

“The fact that there were three Paralympians in the running was remarkable. I would have loved to see a Paralympian winning, but I think Bradley deserved it more so than anyone else.

What he achieved last year was extraordinary and I’ve got nothing but respect for him.”

Even though Weir did not manage to rank inside the top three at the awards, he did finish 2012 on a high after receiving a CBE in the New Year’s Honours for services to athletics.

Now at the age of 33 and with the next Paralympics almost four years

away, the 10-time Paralympic medallist is unsure as to whether he will be competing in Rio in 2016.

“I like to take each year as it comes.

It’ll be tough for Rio to match the buzz and atmosphere experienced throughout the Olympics and Paralympics in London. Being a Londoner and being able to race and win in my home city blew me away and I really don’t know if Rio will be able to match that, but I really hope they can do it. If not for me, for the younger athletes who have only experienced the professionalism and success of London 2012.

After the most successful year of his life, the Weirwolf has now set his sights on creating even more history at the London Marathon in April. Weir won last year’s marathon to take his tally of wins to six, which moved him level with fellow Brit, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson.

“I want to win the marathon for a record breaking seventh time, but it’ll be tough. I started training in early January. I’ve left training until January before and it went quite well, so I’m hoping for a seventh.”

While Weir has not yet made a definite decision as to whether he will compete in Rio, he has made a definite decision that he will compete at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014.

“Glasgow 2014 is set to be incredible. I’ve never competed at a Commonwealth Games or represented England, so I’m definitely looking forward to that.”

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

@GlasgowJournal / journal-online.co.uk

COMMENT / 19

Britain in Europe: privileged among equals?

The Journal explores Britain’s role in the European Union in light of right-wing calls for an in-or-out referendum Pietro Naj-Oleari

Jon Vrushi Comment editor, Edinburgh

The English Channel is not the

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

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

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

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

Mr Cameron has promised to call for the renegotiation of the terms of Britain’s EU membership, in order to repatriate some of the political powers from Brussels to London. A parliamentary Eurosceptic group called Fresh Start, claiming to have the backing of 100 backbenchers, has come up with a shopping list of powers that Britain should repatriate. Their driving principle is “More trade [with the EU] and

less of the other stuff.”

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

A British repatriation of powers and renegotiation of membership terms would be the thin end of the wedge for the European Single Market. Giving

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

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

having to surrender their sovereignty.

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

Having ruled out a substantial repatriation of political powers, the remaining option for eurosceptics is outright exit. Leaving the EU would simply cause the UK domestic market

to shrink from 500 million potential consumers to 62 million. That combined with the very slow economic growth, sometimes even negative, which has been a chronic symptom of the UK economy since the global financial crisis of 2007, is simply not particularly economically astute. The EU is the world’s largest trading entity with 29% of global economic output. More importantly, the EU accounts for some 40% of the UK’s total exports destination. These exports would become significantly less competitive and would definitely drop in volume after the imposition of trade barriers and custom dues between the EU and Britain.

The position of the UK Labour party

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

I am sure that the majority of Facebook users have at some point come across an image of a cat in a hilarious pose accompanied by a witty remark.

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

The latest phenomenon to sweep the social networks through the form of memes is ‘Slut Shaming.’ As its name suggests, the term is derived

from the act of shaming and criticising women for making choices about their sexuality and body that their peers and society do not approve. One of the most common ‘Slut Shaming’ memes I have come across online involves a young girl, who barely looks a teen, explaining ‘Hey Girls...Did you know?...That you spread Nutella...Not your legs’ across four accompanying images.

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

Indeed, this callous behaviour has led to the destruction of many girls’ lives, and in more extreme cases it has driven some to tragically commit suicide. One of the more high-profile

of these cases was that of fifteen yearold Amanda Todd. Bullied and tormented online by fellow students for an incident on a webcam, Amanda took her life in October 2012. A month prior to her death, she uploaded a very raw and heartfelt video message explaining how she felt. Ms Todd felt she couldn’t escape the harassment caused by this naive incident in her early teens.

Reading about some of the anguish that her peers had so foully subjected her to, including being told she deserved to die and being punched outside of school, is gut-wrenchingly disgusting. She was a victim of ‘Slut Shaming,’ and regrettably, stories like this are all too common in this day and age.

Obviously, the notion of women being ostracised for sexual transgression is nothing new; it has always been that women are not able to express themselves sexually without facing

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

There are numerous incidents of women who felt too ashamed of what happened to them because of ‘Slut Shaming’ to speak up about and report it. It’s harrowing to think of how many

silent victims there are because of the cruelty and immorality of a thoughtless group in society.

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

Only this month we heard of the riots in Gothenburg, Sweden by young people who were angered and appalled by a local ‘Slut Shaming’ campaign. This specific onslaught used the photo-sharing app Instagram to name and shame victims, detailing their sexual activities and posting explicit photographs. It has been reported that some of the victims were, shockingly, as young as 12-yearsold. While it is hopeful to see this sort of reaction generated, the culture of ‘Slut Shaming,’ especially within the world of social media in which we live, has only just begun and if we are to truly eradicate this abhorrent behaviour, we need to radically look at the way in which we present sex to the youth of today.

20 / A&E

@GlasgowJournal / journal-online.co.uk

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

CULTURE&LIFESTYLE

MUSIC

ARTS&ENTS A splitting of the mind The Journal ventures into the dangerous world of emerging DJ and producer TeKlo

Harris Brine Music editor

In the last 12 months, the momen-

tum for TeKlo appears to be picking up drag-car speed and is symbolic of his live performances: potent, high-octane and unapologetically hurled forward at a frightening velocity. The Journal thought being hand-picked to headline T in the Park’s coveted T-Break, asked by reputable artists to mix their tracks and being tipped as the next big thing by a major newspaper would have gone to his head.

Something has, but success doesn’t seem to be it...

Hello TeKlo...During the week, The Sun picked you out as the next Calvin Harris. How do you feel about that comparison and can we expect you, in five years time, to have collaborated with everyone under the sun and live on a beach somewhere in the Bahamas?

“Hey. I obviously really appreciate what The Sun said, but I think that comparison is maybe a bit misleading, purely ‘cause my music is so different from Calvin Harris’ stuff. You have to remember though, a lot of its readers might not be aware of ‘big bass’ music artists that would be more suited, and they’re just trying to make me look good to as many people as they can I guess.

“I am actually dead-set on collaborating with everyone under the sun over the next five years, but the issue is that because the sun is in the vacuum of space, you need a reference point to determine what actually counts as ‘under the sun’. The sun doesn’t really have an underside; you could take our north pole as the upper-side of the solar system, and then assume any volume of the sun’s mass above its plane (I’m not even sure if the planets orbit on an exact horizontal plane to be the top half ).

Then with that as a reference, anyone below the 2D circular area of the sun is game for a collaboration. If anyone reading knows with absolute certainty which direction up really is, please get in touch pronto.”

Your most well-known track, ‘Mutilate’, is downright terrifying.

And unapologetically so too. What film would you consider licensing it to? We can see it easily slotting right into 28 Days Later...

“Maybe something with more energy and fun, cause although it’s heavy it’s not like, evil. Like District 13 or another parkour film. I had a parkour team (Treehouse) do a video for ‘Mutilate’ but the director/editor turned out to be really unprofessional and he never finished it. I prefer films like Moon, or Primer but they don’t really fit the music.

If they ever make a Crash Bandicoot film, I want ‘Mutilate’ to be the music

that comes on when he gets three masks and runs fast as hell.”

Make it happen. If you had to choose between either producing or playing and releasing as TeKlo for the rest of your life, and you had to give up the other one as a consequence, which one would you choose and why?

“Tough call, I’ve never thought much about that. On one hand, I’d absolutely love to be a producer like Ross Robinson: he produced some of my favourite albums ever, like Slipknot’s Iowa.

“Supposedly he sat in the studio, threw potted-plants at Joey Jordison, and made him re-do all the takes until Joey was hitting the drums so hard, his hands started bleeding. The crying/ screams in the intro to Iowa are Sid Wilson being locked in a vocal booth after he just found out his grandfather died. You can totally hear real, raw aggression and torment on the album, I’d love to draw that amount of feeling out of people and channel it into their music.

But when it comes down to it I’ll always write my own music, and I couldn’t ever stop that. So if I really had to choose, playing and writing definitely.”

When The Journal interviewed Boyz Noize, Alex Rihda stressed the importance of a DJ forging his own sound and at least attempting to be different from the rest. Is this something you’ve also been conscious of?

“Yeah, very. I was really conscious of that while writing the Mutilate EP, cause at the time dub-step was full of use-once, hype-ridden tracks that really didn’t sound like anyone had spent much time on them. Everyone was just trying to rip off whoever was in the BeatPort charts, so I decided to try and make some mental sounds that didn’t fit into the wobble or ‘growly robot-noise’ category. ‘Mutilate’ got such a good response, and a lot of people still tell me it’s unlike anything they’ve heard in the bass music scene almost a year on, so I think it definitely pays to try and do something to set yourself apart. I can rep at 300lbs by the way.”

Impressive. Now, DJ’s are renowned for their insane parties and unrivalled ability in easily procuring members of the opposite sex. Can you tell us any outrageous related stories....

“At an after-party once, some girl told me my set was crap, so I made some kinda’ joke and stole her beer. She got upset, I assumed she was joking around, but obviously was just being a bitch. I apologised anyway, because I felt bad.

Later, her boyfriend came and told me she was crying. By this point I’m thinking “Bro, do you even lift?”. So I got off my Harley, took out my chainsaw and swiftly put an end to his moaning. Everyone freaked; they tried to hold me down

Joe Peden

till the police came. They couldn’t. I’m too strong. The police did eventually handcuff me though, but then let me off on the grounds that I was ‘totally badass’.

‘Borat high-fives’ were exchanged. Okay, this part of the story is actually true. One time, after a free bar all night, I passed out on the floor at seven am and woke up a few hours later because there was a screaming peroxide blonde who’d woken up naked on the other side of the room. “AAAAARGGHH WHAURS MA CLOATHES?!?!” Poor girl. I bet she didn’t even have any clothes in the first place...

“As for procuring members of the opposite sex, I recently had to upgrade my iPhone to 32GB ‘cause I maxed out the 16GB memory card with girl’s numbers...”

Yikes... “Split personality music”?

We like your music’s description.

So, split personalities... If you had to possess two split personalities, what people would they be and why?

“I’m gonna go with Glen Benton from Deicide who shouts with a really low dog voice, and the guy who does the voiceovers for Disney. Can you imagine how good that would be if you were a frontman? “’HAY KIDS, we have a super-duper

special song for you today about BUNNY RABBITS. Now, do you know what it’s called? It’s called... GO NOW YOUR LORD IS DEAD...’ *Hi-hat counts in* “ ’ B L E E E E E E U U U U URRRRRRGGH’. That is what I think about when I wake up in the morning and when I go to sleep at night.”

We bet. Your music, is at times, psychotic, such as ‘Mutilate’. We want to know what makes TeKlo angry?

What makes you want to go home and create a track laced with fury and menace?

“I try to capture panic in my tracks more often than anger to be honest.

When I’m actually angry myself though, I write dark and grungey stuff usually.

Part of the reason is that I’m quite impulsive and I try to squeeze the most out of things. For example, I like to do things like buy everyone drinks to make my mates happy when I can’t really afford to. That eventually ends up with me at my laptop with two hours to a deadline, trying to throttle every last drop of energy and every little minute detail I can out of a song. I think that’s how it ends up over-the-top and frantic. But I’ve always been drawn to aggression in music, partly because it has the sort of ‘listen or leave the room’ authority to it.

Playing to a big crowd losing themselves to really heavy stuff is amazing, because usually everyone’s into it. There’s something primal to it, like a big clan chanting to war-drums or something... It gets a certain mania about it that nothing else does.”

On the flip-side, tracks like ‘City/ Street’ are deep and calming. What does TeKlo do when he’s calm?

“I love ‘City/Street!’ I sort of moved away from that stuff though, because I don’t enjoy playing it live as much. I still write it, but not as TeKlo. I’m not really calm very often, cause I always have something to work at and improve on. I relax a lot when I wake up though, I take ages to get out of bed. But when I am calm, I either pretend I sing for Deicide or I’m the Disney voiceover guy.”

TeKlo, it’s been a pleasure. So you’ve worked with Benny Banks, Profisee and Miniature Dinosaurs, and are heralded as ‘one-to-watch’ for 2013. What does Teklo want from the next year?

“CASH. LIQUOR. BITCHES. “[Laughs] In all honesty though, a booking agent, more festival slots and a device to stop my muscles from ripping my clothes. Also, I could use a manager if anyone’s interested...”

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

A&E / 21

@GlasgowJournal / journal-online.co.uk

He’s had 19 top-40 singles and 16 solo albums — but Gary Numan isn’t ready to settle into a ‘greatest hits’ rut yet...

Tom Collins Staff writer

When we look back at the state of Britain 30 years ago we can’t help but remind ourselves of all the negative events that took place during that time. The coal mining strike, the Falklands war, and who could forget the Sinclair C5?

For the latter, everyone actually, but there is one thing that Britain produced throughout that troubling period that has endured, evolved and blossomed. It is of course, Mr Gary Numan.

Something of a cult hero, he shot to fame in 1979 with his famous No. 1 hit ‘Cars’. A pioneer of the New Wave genre, Numan has managed to cement himself in the hearts of many.

So what does a 54 year-old music legend do after a career which has spanned 35 years? Why, go on tour again, of course. And where better to do so than in his home country, to play to fans both old and new? With a wealth of material to draw from, Numan stresses the importance of finding the balance between old and new.

“When I tour, I normally tend to play my new stuff. Songs I’ve been working on. I’m not really keen on playing old stuff all the time. I understand that there is a certain part of the audience that would prefer to hear the old stuff, so every once in a while I’ll play a Machine Music tour, which has a lot more old stuff or a classic album tour. These are all things I do because

I realise I have a debt to the original fans. They’re good fun, but not top of my list of things to do because you feel like you’re going backwards a little bit.

It’s more exciting playing new music.

I would hate to be in a position where my career stagnated and I’m doing ‘greatest hits’ tours all the time, I’d fucking hate that. What you do next is always more exciting than what you’ve already done, it’s a natural process.”

In the early nineties, after 14 studio albums and nearly 40 singles, Numan decided to take a whole new direction, exchanging his neon lights, make-up and keyboards for darkness, more make-up and heavy-metal. The result was four new studio albums from 1994 to 2003, breathing a whole new life into Numan’s career. In 2006 he released his fifth album since the genre change, entitled Jagged. This record was produced on the label Cooking Vinyl, the same as Marilyn Manson who states he was inspired by Numan before starting out. Numan attributes the change in direction to necessity, and asks The Journal if we’ve listened to his 1992 effort Machine and Soul.

“Well don’t, ‘cause it’s a huge pile of shit. I remember thinking when I made it, ‘I don’t like what I’m doing, I don’t like what I’m singing about’. I just took a huge chunk of time out. Up until then, I was writing songs to get radio attention and in a sense, I sold out and I’m really ashamed about it. It was everything against what I got into the music business for. So I went back to the studio and started writing more instinctively. More from the heart.

That’s what led to the change.

“It’s a necessary evil. I know its not going to get radio interest, but if you really want to make the music that you want to make, then you’ve got to stick with it. You just have to accept the fact that it won’t go on the radio.”

With 19 Top 40 singles, Numan is well-versed in radio play. Even after 34 years, his debut album, The Pleasure Principle, still retains a 5/5 rating in Mojo. As one of the leading lights of new wave and electronica, Numan reveals a blasé attitude to today’s incarnations of the genre.

“I’m not massively familiar with it anymore to be honest. It’s hard to say what’s right and wrong. If it’s success-

“If you really want to make the music you want to make, then you’ve got to stick with it.

You just have to accept the fact that it won’t be on the radio. "

ful and lots of people love it then who am to judge? But it’s just a very different way and when you’ve got a lot of people with input, you start to wonder if it’s being guided along a certain path just to be successful, rather than making it the best bit of music it can be.

“To be honest, I don’t know and from someone like me it might start sounding like sour grapes ‘cause I’m not in chart. I do know that I have a great deal of respect for people who go their own way in music.”

Numan provided the soundtrack for the 1991 film The Unborn. However, due to complication with his label at the time, IRS, the soundtrack was not released as an album. He laughs as he discusses possible future projects.

“I don’t think I’d be any good at comedy. My music is pretty dark and heavy, so it would have to be something that suited that. A friend and I were actually just asked to do an animated film over here, which is really dark. It’s a sequel, so I watched the first one last night, and it’s really dark, really upsetting. If you’re in the wrong frame of mind it could be utterly depressing. So I think I’m very suited to making the music for this!”

As well as being a musician, Numan is also a keen aviator and holds an amateur pilot’s licence. In the early eighties he attempted to fly around the world, however, after having to land in India, the singer was arrested on suspicion of spying and smuggling. The charges were later dropped. Of all his adventures, one stands out.

MUSIC

Emerging from the rubble

“I’ve been to the North Pole...

“No, just saying that to make myself sound more interesting. I have been in the Arctic Circle though, but actually, the answer, is probably here in LA. There is something happening every day. There are opportunities to walk out your front door and an opportunity will fall at your feet. It’s the most amazing place for getting on with life, for making something with it. Sorry it’s not very interesting.”

Numan’s family encountered trouble from youths in his former hometown in England, and after seeing the devastation caused by the London riots, he made a snap-decision to emigrate his family to Los Angeles with the safety of his family firmly in mind. Although sickened at the state of affairs back home, Numan has still retained a fondness for his home nation.

“I love Britain. I’m very British, very passionate about Britain, but I have to say, I have three little girls and when I think about their future I still think there are obstacles put in the way for women in Britain which are far less obvious here.

“I think over here they have a far better chance of doing what they want and succeeding at it. There are more opportunities and willingness.

Not that it’s shit in Britain, there are opportunities there too, it’s just even more so here.”

Gary Numan is currently working on his 17th solo studio album, Splinter, due for release later this year

22 / A&E

@GlasgowJournal / journal-online.co.uk

MUSIC Recommendations

Kendrick Lamar

This week, we seek musical tips from Scots music blogger Peenko, folk hero Kris Drever, and more

Loyalty takes precedence at much-tipped Compton rapper’s exceptional Scottish debut

Harris Brine Music editor

Sam Kolinski

After what was an inevitably

expensive Christmas and the quintessential alcohol-fuelled Scottish Hogmanay, we figured our readers were in much need of taking it down a notch. Ardent blogger (and Scottish institution) Peenko, folk musician Kris Drever, The Xcerts’ Jordan Smith and Nick Packer from Sparrow and the Workshop have all kindly offered their recommendations of mellow Scottish music which will help soothe those bitter January and February nights without the aid of the demon run.

Even though he probably possesses more Scottish music than that which appears on his blog’s wallpaper, Peenko found no trouble in selecting a Scottish band that has him excited... “I am currently on a bit of a one-man campaign to tell the world just how great Behold, the Old Bear are.

“Formed from the ashes of quirky indie popsters Mitchell Museum, the Glasgow five-piece sees drummer Raindeer taking up the singing and song-writing duties. With a sound which is reminiscent of bands such as The Dodos and old-school Modest Mouse, I am sure I won’t be the last one to fall for the charms of the Bear.”

Fast becoming a master in contemporary Scottish folk and one third of the outstanding LAU, Kris Drever is well-versed in music which rests on the tranquil side... “I’d recommend William Douglas and the Wheel.

From Edinburgh, he’s a powerful and charismatic singer with a really economical writing style and an eye for a good muso. The near-legendary

Stuart Nisbett has been known to sit in on pedal steel and Austen George (also a great writer) was playing bass last time I saw them.

“Check out the song ‘I’ll Be Your General’ on YouTube for a reference point.”

Although partial to making plenty of noise in their own music, The Xcerts are no strangers to the soothing sounds of Elliot Smith and Bon Iver. The band’s bassist Jordan Smith manages to sneak in two serene Scottish recommendations... “Admiral Fallow, from Glasgow, are a great example of a hard-working Scottish band. Formed a few years ago, but helmed by a true exponent of the Glasgow scene: Louis Abbott.

“Louis has been making music in Glasgow since we were kids. His old band Brother Louis Collective opened for us at our first ever Nice ‘n’ Sleazy’s show and he’s just always been around. For someone like that – a true local hero – to end up with his songs on NBC dramas, playing shows all over the world, it is the most satisfying thing to watch, because they truly deserve every bit of it.”

With new single ‘Shock Shock’ out in March and an album to follow later on in the year, Sparrow and the Workshop have certainly been busy. Bassist Nick Packer took time out to let The Journal know why everyone should be listening to the wonderfullynamed John Knox Sex Club. “This is music that makes everything in its shadow appear like a crooked sham.

Intelligent, melodically skewed, muscular and beautiful, it is lyrically on par with The Smiths.

“A band totally out on a limb; if your neck was a limb, John Knox Sex Club would be your head.”

When a musician’s popularity

surges and they pierce through into the mainstream, outrage and disapproval always seems to follow suit.

Normally, such acrimony is reserved for fans who have long supported and listened to the particular artist — from the lowly demos and EP’s — towards those who have more recently discovered the music through the breakthrough album and beyond.

Frustration at the growing success of a personally admired artist is a peculiar reaction for a fan to have, but it undeniably occurs. What is even more peculiar, however, is when artists themselves exhibit a similar annoyance towards their newer-found admirers.

24 year-old Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar arrived in Glasgow with an ax to grind. Throughout a set-list which leaned more heavily on his previous efforts than his platinum-selling breakthrough good kid, m.A.A.d city, the rapper persistently tested the crowd to see if they were well-versed

in his debut Section.80, and thanked them when they demonstrated they were.

Ironically, straight after ‘A.D.H.D’, a distracted Lamar requested the lights be put up, so he could find out a girl in the audience’s name. Upon learning it was ‘Sarah’, he dedicated the following song to her, before wryly asking the rest of the audience what particular song from Section.80 he was alluding to. The shouts of ‘Tammy’s Song’ seemed to pass his initiation and Lamar, somewhat relieved, continued on with his set.

Several similar moments occurred on the night, scattered in between outstanding deliveries of ‘Money Trees’, ‘m.A.A.d city’ and ‘The Recipe’. At points he looked hell-bent on ostracizing his new fans: relentlessly tearing through ‘Look Out For The Detox’, he refused to stop when the beat did, instead opting to freestyle about his ascension to fame and those who supported him through it. A thunderous version of ‘Backseat Freestyle’ snatched the reins from the grasp of Lamar’s commercial hit ‘Swim-

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

MUSIC ming Pools (Drank)’, and his singular encore, the lesser-known ‘Cartoons & Cereal’, gave the impression it was intended for those who’d been following him from his humble beginnings.

Lamar has already made a dramatic impact in the ten months since he ceased to be an independent artist, with good kid, m.A.A.D city settling at the peak of many media publications’ albums of 2012, but the rapper seemed fixated on emphasizing significant effort and commitment has attributed heavily to his success. He capped off his Scottish debut by stressing “the mainstream came running to us, not us to them”.

Lamar was proficient and his set was exceptional, and good kid, m.A.A.D city’s success is representative of the positive re-emergence of stimulating, sociologically-conscious rappers, such as Danny Brown, Hopsin and New York’s Pro Era. However, due to its methodical delivery, Lamar’s insecurity could easily be interpreted as contrived.

Only time will tell if he’s also mastered the art of the double-bluff.

VENUE: O2 ABC DATES: 16 JANUARY 2013 PRICE: £6.00 Tom Cairns

Fatherson The Killie rockers show their softer side with an intimate acoustic show at King Tut’s

MUSIC Seán Francis McGowan Staff writer

When a band has sold out King Tut’s for an alternative set, they must be doing something right — but this isn’t the case with seasoned regulars Fatherson; they’re doing everything right. The band delivered a show-stopping performance at the renowned venue, proving to all that they’re not just about some great alt-rock music, but they’re also extremely talented musicians with a penchant for surprising you.

What isn’t a surprise is the staunch following that continues to support this band through thick and thin as they steadily grow more popular, but this time the stage was just as packed as the floor with the addition of brass

and strings for this new “unplugged” session.

The original trio have always been renowned for their live gigs, from lead singer Ross Leighton’s soaring vocals to infectious beats and delectable bass lines from Greg Walkinshaw and Marc Strain, fans are always guaranteed a good time. Now, with the addition of guitarist Chris Beltran and cellist Elaine Glass — a peculiar addition for a rock band, but one that works magnificently — the band has only progressed further.

Opening the eagerly awaited set with band classic ‘James’, a doubletake was needed to make sure it was Fatherson; gone were the edgy guitar riffs and thunderous drum beats, replaced with haunting vocal harmonies and soothing acoustics, giving the band an entirely different sound and feel that was just as enjoyable as their original work.

Continuing with more fan favourites such as ‘Sailor’s Son’ and ‘Gone Fission’, the band displayed an

uncanny ability to make something old feel new. The addition of strings and brass turned quite heavy material into layered, climactic melodies that the likes of Mumford & Sons would do well to produce.

With an album expected this autumn, the band took this opportunity to showcase some of their newer material, such as the enchantingly melodic ‘Lights’ and intimate ballad

‘Dust’ – performed by Ross alone, leaving his voice to echo through the room and captivate the audience.

Fatherson were already much-loved throughout Glasgow, and the rest of Scotland, but with this unique acoustic session they displayed how far they’d come and proved just how versatile they can be.

If this is a sign of things to come, then you can expect big things from

the humble Scottish five-piece. Their album can’t come soon enough.

Fatherson will support Glasvegas at Kilmarnock’s Grand Hall on 2 February.

VENUE: KING TUT’S DATES: 16 JANUARY 2013 PRICE: £6.00

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

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Shikari’s Rob Rolfe talks to The Journal about relentless touring, friendship and why this is the greatest era in history

MUSIC

Entering the world of Shikari Jamie Brotherson Assistant Music editor

“I remember the days where we were driving around in our old post office van playing to rooms of kids, A drummer is the backbone of a they’d be crawling up the walls and band. They command with rudiment stuff, it felt absolutely fantastic. and rhythm, snapping the snare and The first time we played main stage flicking the pedals. With a click of at Reading, where we’d always been sticks, they herald the beginning and punters before then, was an incredible with a clash of the symbols, bring feeling. When we were recording this about the end. album, I was lying on a lilo in the pool There are few bands that require in this tropical paradise in Thailand the services of a steadfast beat man where the studio was, thinking ‘what more than Enter Shikari. The St. the hell am I doing here?’.”

Albans natives have been unleashing The Journal has heard Rou likes their hurricane style of post-metal to buy classic cars and wreck them, electronica for nigh-on a decade and can you elaborate? drummer Rob Rolfe is at the heart of “Haha, where the hell did you hear the storm. that? That’s brilliant, he’s going to love that. He doesn’t even have a car, never Hello Rob, how are you doing? mind lots of cars.”

“Not bad. Right now I’m waiting for We take it a lot of your earnings a mate before a DJ Set, I have to keep go back in on the set-up and equipmyself busy inbetween tour dates.” ment, rather than trashing vintage You guys are currently on an Ferraris, then? Shikari has quite an absolutely massive world tour to elaborate live show. promote A Flash Flood of Colour; “We have an extremely dedicated do you get up to any mischief ? crew. They probably know more about “I usually can’t remember. You our electronic set up than we do. When might as well enjoy yourself, other- we’re recording and our crew aren’t wise what’s the point in being alive? around we have no idea what to do In the UK we’ve always got friends in with it all. We spend far too much on most places we go to, so there’s always light shows and stuff, arena-sized proa good excuse for a night of carnage.” ductions squeezed into club venues.

So after almost a decade of Enter When we headlined The Astoria Shikari, the candle is still burning [Shikari, along with The Darkness, bright... the only two unsigned bands ever to “We were all friends before we were sell out the famous venue] we had the a band, which I think is one of the option for big lights or a big laser show. main reasons we’re still a band today. We had both. We put everything we get We know each other inside out, when back into the gig. It’s how it’s gone ever to push each others buttons, when since.” to back off a bit...We’re still all good The constant live shows must mates.” be exhausting, especially for a That must benefit the whole cre- drummer. Is it draining? ative process?

“It is, but at the same time, when “Yeah, Rou [lead vocals] is still the you get on stage adrenaline wipes the main driving force behind the creativ- slate clean and you go for it. You just ity in Enter Shikari. We’re very much get into gig mode.” open to each other’s interpretations Is your sound best enjoyed live, though, that’s what we’re all about.” then?

So you’ve conquered the world “Well, yes and no. We’ve always with your band, who also happen been a live band; we were playing for to be your best mates. Lucky you. three years before we recorded anyWhat have been the memorable thing. You can’t compare live music points along the way? to recorded. In the studio you can get

sounds, rhythms and stuff that you cant physically do live, yet the intensity of a live show can’t be recreated on a CD.” Was Santa good to you?

“Yes, I spent Christmas with my sister in Abu Dhabi, and I’m on the way to the European dates of the tour.

We seem to be constantly touring. At some point we’re hoping to go in to the studio and get an EP, some form of new material out there... We’re always itching to get back into the studio.

“At some point we will have our

1,000th show, well, officially. We’ve done gigs where there’s only been one guy sitting at the bar, so unofficially we’ve already passed that. I don’t know if you can count them. It’s a big landmark.”

Moving on, The Journal is prepared to lend you our time machine; what era would you go to?

“I don’t think I’d go anywhere. I think we’re in the most exciting time our species has ever seen. We seem to be, scientifically speaking, at a stage where we know more about our planet

Chris Devotion and The Expectations The Journal looks at the popularity and reception of erotic novels

MUSIC Jamie Brotherston Assistant Music editor

The best thing about rock’n’roll is that it does not discriminate. You can be tall, small, as round as a bowling ball or as thin as a drainpipe; you don’t even need all of your limbs.

All that’s required is a collective understanding of the fundamentals.

Get a few guitars, a set of drums and a microphone. Write songs: they don’t have to make sense as long as you can drizzle chords over them. Sort out

your vocals: anything from the style of seventh century Byzantine Monks to Bryan Johnson. Put it all together and make sure you sing in tune (strutting around in latex on stage is optional).

It’s not easy, but it’s not fussy. There you have it, rock’n’roll.

Chris Devotion and The Expectations pay homage to the genre, entertaining a busy crowd of Friday night revellers. Their performance, part of King Tut’s New Year Revolution, showcased them at their best.

If crooning teenage sex-hammer Harry Styles has any plans to win back the heart of country bumpkin Taylor Swift, he can rest assured that Chris and his Expectations will not be amongst those on her rebound list to hinder him. Devotion is tall and gangly,

his guitar slung low, and The Expectations are distinctly unremarkable in their appearance. It doesn’t matter a damn as they thundered into a set that encapsulates what makes rock’n’roll timeless.

The Glasgow quartet are a rammy of rock greats. There are hints of The Hives, echoes of Elvis Costello and ripples of The Ramones. The guitars are plugged in and turned up, the riffs crunch with distortion and Devotion’s vocals punch through the smog of unpretentious noise with panache.

The confines of Tuts can be a double-edged sword with bands being up close and personal. However, Chris Devotion and The Expectations thrive in this basement box; the gloom adds grunge to numbers from their

acclaimed debut album Amalgamation and Capital. Their music is what it is, and there’s swinging hips and sloshing pints as the crowd rolls with the vibe.

It’s a blistering show. The band are tight and there are no illusions as to what they are about. It’s straight talking, straight-shooting punk pop. In an era of soulless synths, boat shoes and quiffs, Chris Devotion and the Expectations keep old-fashioned rock fresh and alive; their sound a two-fingered salute to anyone who may say otherwise.

Whether or not we agree with what makes it from the slush pile is a different matter…

VENUE: KING TUT’S DATES: 11 JANUARY 2013

and our universe than we ever have before. We seem to be at a really pivotal point, I couldn’t think of a more exciting time to be in than now.”

Thanks for your time Rob. Finally, would you fancy going back in time and letting any historical figures listen to Enter Shikari?

“Maybe Hitler. If he listened to our lyrics he might have changed his mind about the whole mass-murder thing.”

Enter Shikari will play Kilmarnock’s Grand Hall on 16 April.

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Les Misérables

Django Unchained

Tom Hooper’s star-studded big-screen adaptation of the critically acclaimed West End musical is surprisingly unique and effective

FILM Varia Fedko Blake

Famously trashed by critics when

it first appeared on the stage in 1985, the film version of Les Misérables has arrived. However, loosely based on Victor Hugo’s immense novel set among the poor in 19th century France, the production has thrived ever since. It now stands as the longest-running musical in the West End and the show has been relished by over 60 million people around the world.

Les Misérables follows the tale of Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman), a proud and decent man imprisoned for 19 years as a result of stealing a loaf of bread to prevent his sister’s family from starving.

Once released, he is maliciously pursued by police officer Javert (Russell Crowe) for breaking the terms of his parole.

However, Valjean assumes a new identity as he becomes mayor of Montreuil and a factory owner. This is where he meets Fantine (Anne Hathaway) whose daughter Cosette (Amanda Seyfried) will eventually fall in love with Marius

(Eddie Redmayne) while Paris erupts in violence during the anti-monarchist uprising of 1832.

There are so many reasons not to even attempt the monumental task of converting this musical into a film, but none were enough to deter Tom Hooper, the director who shot to glory following The King’s Speech in 2010.

It is no secret that Hooper opted to shoot the actors singing live on set as opposed to lip-synching to a prerecorded vocal. It is a bold move to deliberately focus our attention on the singer, rather than the scene in general, by always filming them, their faces and their mouths in particular, in extremely close-up shots.

This is remarkably effective when Hathaway delivers Fantine’s ode to selfpity, ‘I Dreamed a Dream’. You may not be a fan of Hathaway, but as the desperate, martyred mother Fantine, deprived of hair, back teeth and dignity, her version of the song is delivered in one tremendous, tear-jerking take.

The cast have been the focus of great speculation—even more so than you would expect with ordinary blockbusters—on account of the demanding vocals required for each part.

Fortunately, the decision to cast Jackman as Valjean turns out to be a

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

wise one. Jackman’s stage work has been much admired, but with Les Mis, he has found a project that really puts that reputation to the test.

His rendition of ‘Who am I’ was particularly effective, really drawing out Valjean’s desperation. Eddie Redmayne has pretty much only one expression, tremulously questing, but that’s appropriate for idealistic French student Marius, whom he makes touching, so you’re in there, wanting him to choose the forlorn Eponine (Samantha Barks) over the insipid Cosette.

The star, however, more in his initial appearance than in later scenes, is Sacha Baron Cohen as the dodgy innkeeper Thénardier, singing ‘Master of the House’ with unexpected gusto, in a surprisingly good French accent.

Primarily, there are three things that make this film appealing. Firstly, love both sacred and cruel, and its ability to transform and transcend. Secondly, our need to fight for change and social justice in a brutal world that resists revolution or is quick to undermine and divert it.

Above all, Les Misérables is about holding on to hope in the most desperate conditions, and it climaxes in the victory of love in a context of political defeat.

Django Unchained has you in tears of laughter before silencing you as only Tarantino can

FILM Seán Francis McGowan Staff writer Quentin Tarantino returns to our screens with his latest feature, Django Unchained. An intense, visually stunning character-driven story set in the deep south two years before the American civil war.

Jamie Foxx (Ray, The Soloist) stars as titular character Django (the D is silent) in a film that redefines the western, giving it a modern feel, dazzling dialogue and completely changing the compass point.

Introduced within minutes is Dr King Schultz, played by the scenestealing Christoph Waltz (Inglorious Basterds, Carnage), who acts as Django’s master and friend. Dr Schultz is a dentist-turned-bounty hunter who needs Django to help him identify two bounties, promising him his freedom once the deed is done.

But as the film continues, we learn more about the characters as their relationship grows stronger: Django

intends to find and rescue his enslaved wife, Broomhilda (Kerry Washington), once he is set free.

Upon learning of his plight, Dr Schultz concludes that it would be immoral of him to let Django do this alone, so they decide to partner up to rescue her. There are many parts of this film that deserve mentioning, from a hilarious scene with Jonah Hill, to uncomfortably graphic punishment following a slaves recapture, Django Unchained has you in tears of laughter before putting you deathly silent; one of Tarantino’s uniquely consistent trademarks.

Add in a few show-stopping performances from the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio as maniacal plantation owner, Calvin Candie, and Tarantino-regular, Samuel L. Jackson as the wretched, scheming head house servant and you’ve got yourself a masterpiece.

From the beautiful landscapes to the mesmerising performances, Django Unchained is an absolute must-see, as Tarantino provides the audience with yet another deliciously entertaining film. If you love westerns, if you love Tarantino, if you have any sense at all; then this will not disappoint.

The Journal casts an eye forward to this year’s eagerly-anticipated Glasgow Film Festival, set to include almost 400 screenings

Blair Dingwall Film editor

The Glasgow Film Festival is

nearly upon us, with the line-up newly unveiled for 2013.

This year will feature 368 film screenings in total, including 57 UK film premieres.

The bulk of the festival runs from 14 February for ten days, beginning with a Valentine’s day screening of French rom-com Populaire and ending with Joss Whedon’s Much Ado About Nothing (a modern retelling of the Shakespeare classic).

However the events will begin earlier with the Glasgow Youth Film Festival on 3 February and the Short Film Festival on 7 February.

Allan Hunter, co-director of the festival, said: “We are extremely proud of an ambitious 2013 programme that promises unforgettable moments in venues all across the city.”

This year will also see cast members of HBO’s Game of Thrones introduce the first episode of season three to eager fans at the GFT and a ‘50 years of Doctor Who’ celebration on 17 February, featuring series writer Tom MacRae and — poten-

tially — a cast member.

A host of famous guests are lined up to appear at this year’s festival, which will also celebrate the new cinema of Brazil and feature a retrospective of American screen legend James Cagney.

Among the well-known faces will be Scots actors James Cosmo and Gary Lewis, comic book writers Mark Millar and John Wagner, American DJ Jeff Mills, members of Channel 4’s Fresh Meat, First Minister Alex Salmond (introducing his favourite geek movie at the GFT on Tuesday 19 February) and Burnistoun’s Robert Florence.

Hunter added: “Glasgow Film Festival has grown into a massive celebration of every aspect of the moving image.

“We all spend part of our lives watching films, playing games or catching up with television but there is still nothing to match sharing the experience with fellow enthusiasts, meeting the filmmakers and finding fresh inspiration.”

The GFF is maintaining its trademark originality with the screening of a secret film within the Glasgow Subway System and screenings of Jaws and Dead Calm on the River Clyde itself aboard the Glenlee at

FILM

Preview: Glasgow Film Festival 2013

Glasgow’s Tall Ship museum.

The latest film from the Wachowskis, Cloud Atlas, will also screen for the first time in the UK at the festival on 17 February, but this is not being credited as the official premiere.

EventScotland’s Paul Bush said: “Glasgow Film Festival continues to grow year on year and it is hugely exciting to see it sporting its biggest ever programme for 2013.

“Scotland is the perfect stage for events and in GFF we have a festival that engages, excites and challenges its audience, which is testament to the hard work and talent of the team.”

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

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DECONSTRUCTING THE VIKING FABLE

David Selby

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

Our contemporary perception

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Narrated through fixture design

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ON THE HORIZON JANUARY

31

Scotland in the Viking World

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

FEBRUARY

22 Night of the Vikings

(National Museum of Scotland, £18)

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

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The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

Being creative with the truth

David Selby

The Journal takes a look at the problems presented by plagiarism in print, and the difficulties in defining intellectual copyright

Books agenda

books John Hewitt Jones Literary editor

Last year was an interesting year for

the discussion of the responsibility of the writer. Life of Pi has grossed nearly $500 million in box office sales, widely being hailed as the first ‘proper’ 3D film.

In the furore there’s been little mention of the plagiarism controversy that surrounded Yann Martel’s novel when it won the Booker Prize in 2002.

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

Martel was quick to respond to the allegation of plagiarism in an interview with The Guardian, stating that he knew of Scliar’s story, but never read it.

Instead, explained the author, he had read a review of the book in The New York Review of Books by John Updike.

The publication has no recollection of publishing such a review, however, and Updike himself cannot remember reviewing it.

Martel responded fiercely to this further allegation, stating, “If you think every author who borrows is a plagiariser, you clearly know nothing about creativity.” Scliar chose not to pursue legal action, highlighting the fact that the line between using an idea as inspiration, and copying it wholesale as your own, is a fine one.

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

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

Canongate had to deal with a more clear-cut case at the beginning of the summer, when they published a new book by esteemed journalist Jonah Lehrer: Imagine: How Creativity Works.

Within a week, question marks began to appear over the veracity of the Bob

Dylan quotes used by Lehrer to substantiate his argument. It transpired that the author had in fact fabricated many of them (including, without apparent irony, the phrase “Stop asking me to explain.”)

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

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

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

Over the summer, The Journal was dismayed to see copies of Lehrer’s book continuing to be sold in the Edinburgh International Book Festival shop, after being recalled by the publisher.

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

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

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

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

by John Hewitt Jones & Vivek Santayana

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

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

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

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

THE SPIES OF WARSAW Alan Furst

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

THE INNOCENT Ian McEwan

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

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

SPORT// 27

@GlasgowJournal / journal-online.co.uk

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

When Vincent Kompany’s red

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

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

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

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

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

OCEAN DWELLER

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

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

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

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

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

FORTUNE TELLER

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Matthew Dunne-Miles Staff Writer

“Twenty ten, there’s never been a

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

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

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

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

BARTON GOES GALLIC

*I predict a promising February

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

PARROT FLOWN IN

*The pressure of Ranger’s descent

into the footballing leagues of part-

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

*There’s a storm coming. Alex

McLeish will sign as manager of Derby Beacon Radio

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

28 / SPORT

@GlasgowJournal / journal-online.co.uk

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

FOOTBALL

Mean City announce open training session Team seeks to recruit more players to boost Scottish roller derby league Callum Carson

Mean City Roller Derby has announced they will hold an open training session in an attempt to boost

numbers. The ‘fresh meat’ training session will take place on Saturday 26 January at Glasgow Caledonian University’s ARC. Roller derby is the fastest growing

INFOBOX - WHAT IS ROLLER DERBY? • Two teams of up to 14 players, who play for 60 minutes, over two halves.

sive players called ‘blockers’.

• The two halves are broken into ‘jams’ that can last up to two minutes.

• The idea of the game is to get the jammer to pass the opposing players as often as possible. For each person the jammer passes, a point is scored.

• On every jam, each team fields five skaters. This consists of one scoring player with a star on their helmet known as a ‘jammer’ and four defen-

• In true sporting fashion, the winner is the team with the most points at the end of the 60 minutes.

sport in the country among males and females, with five teams in Scotland formed in the past 12 months.

Mean City founder Jason ‘Bruise Dog’ Crawford, said: “Roller Derby is one of the most misunderstood sports in the world. It is a fast-paced fullcontact sport. It’s one of those sports where people seem to be either totally hooked or not at all. There seems to be no inbetween.”

“The rise in the sport in the last year has been remarkable and I only see it growing exponentially this year too.”

The Jakey Bites were the first all-

male roller derby team in Scotland formed in January 2012, but Crawford admits that travel constraints led to the almost instant desire to create regional teams.

He said, “It wasn’t ideal asking people from all over Scotland to travel to Perth for 9am on a Sunday morning, so we knew that once the numbers increased we would look at creating regional teams and using the Jakey Bites as a kind of all-star team that would travel to play teams in England.

“We just didn’t really expect it to happen so quickly.”

Now there are four regional

teams on the go: in Glasgow, Falkirk, Edinburgh and Dundee/Perth. It is expected that 2013 will see regular Scottish bouts.

Crawford said: “At the session we will take on new skaters at any level of skating experience and give them an introduction to roller derby plus teach them some of the basic skills needed to play the sport.

“Those that are interested can follow up on this and join in our full newbie intake program where we can train them to pass the minimum requirements exam to be able to play the sport.”

HEINEKEN CUP RUGBY

Warriors steal overtime win against sinner Saints Northampton Saints snatch defeat from the jaws of victory at Scotstoun meeting Ben Cohen Staff writer

Glasgow Warriors won their

first European game of the season in a thrilling 27-20 win over Northampton Saints.

Peter Horne scored an impressive overtime try as Glasgow ended Northampton’s Heineken Cup at Scotstoun Stadium after Waller was sent to the sinbin with a minute remaining and the score level at 20-20.

Two penalties from Warriors standoff Ruaridh Jackson in the opening ten minutes gave the hosts the lead, but a Dominic Waldouck try and a conversion and penalty from Stephen Myler put Saints 10-6 up.

Warriors’ Josh Strauss and Saints’ George Pisi traded tries before Nikola Matawalu crossed with Scott Wight converting both home tries.

Ben Foden’s late unconverted try looked to have secured a draw to give Saints a reasonable chance of qualifying for the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter finals, but Horne’s 50-metre burst gave Glasgow victory as 4,200 Warriors fans roared him over the line.

Northampton dominated most of the first 40 minutes, but could manage just one try despite aiming for four to keep their Heineken Cup dreams alive.

The Warriors emerged for the second half a different side and Saints’ problems were compounded when impressive second row Courtney Lawes was taken off after a blow to the head.

The visitors were soon back in the lead as Samoa centre Pisi stepped inside and powered over out wide but Ryan Lamb missed the conversion.

The game yo-yoed through the

second half as Fijian international Matawalu continued his recent impressive scoring streak, stealing the ball from Foden before burning 50 metres to score.

With 15 minutes remaining, Glasgow led 20-15, but Northampton continued to attack and Foden went over again to make up for his earlier error.

Lamb missed another conversion to leave the score level at 20-20 and Northampton were unable to get the much-needed bonus point before Horne evaded four Saints players and went on to convert his own try.

BASKETBALL

Sheffield Sharks prove no match for crushing Rocks Seán Francis McGowan Staff writer

Health One Sheffield Sharks were left humbled after suffering a crushing defeat at the hands of the Glasgow Rocks. This was the Rocks’ third meeting with the Sharks as they, having lost both previous ties against the Sheffield team, looked to redeem themselves ahead of the BBL Trophy game between the two this Friday, and they did just that.

It was a tightly contested first quarter, as both teams paced back and forth, struggling to get more than a few points ahead as they wrestled for possession.

The Rocks’ showed great ability when attacking, but their lackluster defence continued to let the Sharks back into the game time and time again.

New signing, Jamie Venderbeken, was brought on for his debut just as the sides drew even, but failed to make an impact before the end of the first quarter.This back and forth continued throughout the rest of the quarter as the lead changed sides a total of seven times, before ending two points in the visitors’ favour.

The high tempo continued into the

second quarter as the Rocks attacked relentlessly until Venderbeken scored a hard-fought two-points to bring the sides even. It was midway through the quarter that the lead changed in the Rocks’ favour for a final time, as Mike Ringgold completed a determined assault on the Sharks’ defence with a stylish putback. From then on, the Glasgow side were firmly in the driving seat as they maintained the lead throughout the rest of the match.

Having won four of their last five Championship games, it was clear to see that the Rocks’ planned on continuing their good form as they tore into the Sheffield ranks and increased their lead through sheer domination. The Sheffield side put up a valiant fight, particularly Michael Tuck, who seemingly refused to give up on the match, but to no avail.

Throughout the second half of the match the Rocks looked unstoppable and, if not for the giving away of needless fouls and free-throws, it looked like they could have done a lot more damage than they did. Needless to say, they could afford to give away a few points here and there as their lead continued to grow with several baskets each from Mike Ringgold and Brice Fantazia,

including two sublime three-pointers from the Portuguese guard.

In the end, the Glasgow sides free-flowing play was too much for the Sharks as the gap increased to an astonishing 20 points before the final siren went, with an end-score of 85-65.

Speaking after the match, player-coach Sterling Davis was very pleased with the performance, as he felt it showed how the players intend to continue their recent good form and that it meant a lot going into Friday’s trophy tie: “I think it was good for us, especially with the way things have gone against Sheffield this year and hopefully it will continue on Friday”, he said. “We have it on tape now to see how we played against Sheffield so hopefully we can duplicate that.”

Davis also put down any rumours of a replacement to cover the recent departure of forward, Owen McNally: “We’re not necessarily looking to bring in anyone for him, we have got Venderbeken now so he steps in on that role anyway.”

Whether or not the Rocks can take their blistering performance down south for the reverse trophy tie against the Sharks this Friday is unclear but, judging by today’s match, they clearly have the potential to do so.

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

SPORT// 29

@GlasgowJournal / journal-online.co.uk

STUDENT ATHLETICS

Glasgow University on a high after athletics Athletics competition ends in glory for Glasgow, but Edinburgh’s universities put up a good fight Ruth Jeffery Sport editor, Edinburgh

Glasgow University took home the Ian Cosgrove trophy for the third year running last Saturday in the Scottish Universities and Colleges Athletics Indoor Championships.

228 points across 28 events landed them the prize, with Edinburgh and Napier Universities hot on their heels with 197 points and 62 respectively.

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

The day-long tournament was held in the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, a change from the usual venue of Kelvin Hall.

Many competitors remarked on the better facilities - perhaps a nod towards Glasgow hosting the 2014 Commonwealth Games - while others said they missed the tradition of the old location.

The event had around 150 competitors from 13 different universities and

colleges, and more than 300 entries were made across all events.

The highlight of the day was the finale, which consisted of four relay races. The women’s 4x200m was the last event of the day, with only Glasgow and Edinburgh competing.

The home team was leading for the first lap, but Edinburgh’s Claire Taylor took the baton for the second and stormed into the lead. The excitement in the stadium was palpable as Edinburgh’s win ensured they placed one hand on the trophy.

The other relay races were also thrilling to watch, with Napier victorious in the men’s 4x200m, Edinburgh claiming the men’s 4x400m and Glasgow women taking the 4x400m.

The culmination of the day’s events, the relays were a raucous and exciting affair compared to the relatively sedate morning session.

The high jump event, which took place towards the end of the day, drew a crowd as two jumpers competed and consecutively scored higher and higher

jumps.

Ray Bobrownicki from Edinburgh and guest jumper Allan Smith were the last competitors in the event and alternately managed staggering heights which delighted viewers. Smith retired with a score of 2.22m, while Bobrownicki, as a university competitor, won the event with an impressive 2.15m.

Glasgow Captain Sam O’Kane won the men’s shotputt event and said that he was pleased with his winning team: “I’m really proud of them; they’ve all pulled out really strong performances. I think everybody’s been around PBs, if not got them, and then the folk that haven’t have either just come back from injury or something like that. I am actually genuinely really proud of them.”

Glasgow’s runner Laura Muir, who O’Kane described as “world class”, won both the 400m and the 800m with times of 57.86 seconds and 2.10.01 minutes respectively.

The team’s other major wins came from Andrew Murphy in the 60m hurdles with 9.27 seconds, Niki Manson

thatonemoment.co.uk

in the high jump with 1.75 metres and Rachel Pugh in the women’s shotputt with 8.32m.

EUAC had some excellent runners who did well to pick up points. Kyle McLellan won the men’s 1500m with a time of 4.12.41 minutes, with James Morehen third in the same race with 4.48.35.

Claire Taylor won the 60m hurdles event with a time of 9.03 seconds. Rachel Whittle from Glasgow came second with

9.05, and Emilia Brown from Strathclyde came third with 9.07.

All three times broke the championship record. Taylor also ran the 200m for Edinburgh and achieved second place with 25.95 seconds, proving to be one of the team’s most influential competitors on the day.

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

CRICKET

Strathclyde cricketers aim for indoor finals glory Robert Gordon University will host the six-team finals on 2 February, including defending champs Edinburgh Ben Cohen Staff writer

University

of

Strathclyde

cricketers will travel north to Aberdeen next weekend in search of indoor cricket glory.

The annual Scottish Student Sport (SSS) Indoor Cricket 6s Champions Trophy finals day takes place at Robert Gordon University.

After three regional qualifiers around the country the national finals day will be hosted at RGU’s first rate facilities.

Defending champions, the University of Edinburgh, will be led by medical student and first team captain, Keith Allen.

Joining the title holders in Group A are Aberdeen University, who were humbled last year after a sound defeat to Perth College.

Completing Group A are West regional qualifiers Strathclyde, who will again be led by the highly rated Nick Martin.

Group B features the Edinburgh University 2nd VI, who won through in the East qualifier after tense

decider against a strong Heriot-Watt side.

Dundee University and St Andrews University complete Group B with all-rounder Ed Kneale expected to be the main man for the Seagulls as they look to continue their impressive tradition in indoor 6s cricket.

Dundee University will fancy themselves as outsiders if Stephen Dathorne and Vihar Shah play to their ability with bat and ball.

The finals day brings an end to the Scottish Student indoor 6s season for 2012/13, although some teams have involvement in other indoor competitions as the demand for indoor 6s cricket from students continues to grow outside of the traditional cricket season, which often conflicts with the spring exam diet.

Edinburgh’s first team begin the tournament as favourites for the tournament, with St Andews also expected to again perform well in the indoor environment.

LEAGUE TABLES FOOTBALL

FOOTBALL

BUCS MARS Football Scottish Men’s 1A

OPRAH: ‘DANCE, ARMSTRONG’

The launch of the disgraced cycling champion’s ultrachoreographed bid for redemption was a nauseating spectacle

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

1

1

5

10 4

7

Glasgow 1st

4 4 0 0 13 12 21

A GD Pts 8

Glasgow 1st

3 3 0 0 50 9

10

9

Edinburgh 1st

5 2

2 1

3

8

0

6

Robert Gordon 1st

4 2 1

1 7

7

7

Heriot-Watt 1st

4 3 0 1 19 9

-5

4

Heriot-Watt 1st

5 2

1

2 -1

7

2

4

Edinburgh 1st

4 2 1

1 2

7

62

5

Edinburgh 2nd

4 1

0 3 45 3

0

3

Aberdeen 1st

4 2

0 2 -1

6

-2

3

Abertay 1st

4 1

0 3 -7 3

16

5

Aberdeen 2nd

3 1

0 2 -15 3

0

3

Glasgow 1st

5 1

0 4 -6 3

-4

3

Aberdeen 1st

4 0 0 4 -15 0

33

5

Robert Gordon 1st

4 1

0 3 -99 3

-5

1

9

P W D L F

A GD Pts

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

30 / SPORT

@GlasgowJournal / journal-online.co.uk

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

FORMULA ONE

Old formula, new season...

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

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

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

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

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

Perhaps just as importantly, Red

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Patrick Gosling

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

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

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

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

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Aleksandr Melnyakov

Ollie Bunting

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

in association with

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wednesday 30 January 1.00pm – 4.00pm • Teviot Row House Meet representatives from leading universities across the UK & Europe seeking to fill their postgraduate course places for 2013/14 Get one-to-one expert advice on how you can fund your postgraduate study

Scotland

targetcourses.co.uk/fairs/scotland

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

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

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

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

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

Additional reporting by Seán Francis McGowan.

The Journal Wednesday 23 January 2013

@GlasgowJournal / journal-online.co.uk

SPORT// 31

RUGBY

Six nations went to war...

With the Six Nations looming, we examine the orders of battle

ENGLAND Michael Mawdsley Staff writer

Last season under then-

SCOTLAND Michael Mawdsley Staff writer

Less than a month after his

announcement as coach Scott Johnson has announced a youthful side, with 10 uncapped players to take into the 2013 Six Nations Championship.

The ambition with such a move is bold; the squad itself however offers a significant amount of ability for their youthful age, and the inclusion of large swathes of the in-form Glasgow Warriors side will bring unity to the team.

The recall of Johnny Beattie at No 8, exiled by Andy Robinson, is key.

He has been playing sensationally for Montpellier in France since last year, and has recovered his composure and form.

The potential for the killer Bs, Johnny Barclay, Kelly Brown and Beattie, to reunite is a big plus for Scott Johnson - rambunctious in the back-row for Glasgow two years ago, they can prove devastating at the break-down, where Scotland has lacked an edge recently.

Barclay is presently out with a torn ham-string, but has been given

the opportunity to prove his fitness for later in the tournament.

In his stead, Glasgow’s backrow starlets Ryan Wilson and Chris Fusaro may be given the opportunity, despite both being involved for the first time in a Scotland side.

At half-back, the next issue for Johnson arises.

Greg Laidlaw, Edinburgh’s captain and scrum-half has had a solid season, and Johnson has stated he views him as “more of a 9/10 player, as opposed to a 10/9.”

This leaves a vacant berth at flyhalf for Ruaridh Jackson, whose form for Glasgow is excellent, as well as Duncan Weir, his understudy.

The tragedy of this however is that Henry Prygos, arguably Glasgow’s best player in a campaign that has taken them second in the Rabo Direct will not be able to start at nine.

His impact off the bench however has proved excellent, and something that Johnson will consider a positive.

Outside of them, Scotland are blessed with attacking flair and talent.

Glasgow’s centre partnership of Peter Horne and Sean Lamont has been excellent this year.

The former last minute winner against Northampton last weekend was an example of his ability, as well as his utility skills, as the try came from fly-half, rather than centre.

If he is left on the bench, Matt Scott will fill in at 12, providing a solid base from which to operate.

Stuart Hogg, Scotland’s player of the tournament last season, is likely to start at 15, but his hat-trick against Munster from outside-centre in September for Glasgow may influence Johnson’s thinking, especially since both his club colleagues Sean Maitland and Peter Murchie can fill in there.

Tim Visser, Edinburgh’s “flying Dutchman” has scored all season, despite Edinburgh’s dreadful form.

He will be an automatic shoe in on one wing.

As for the other, Maitland, whose speed and vision are attributes in the space allowed at international level is a likely choice, if not selected at full-back.

Prediction: Unlike last year, this Scotland squad should not be whitewashed. Expectations are low, but those have been the best times in recent years for them.

Third place or less beckons.

ONLINE journal-online.co.uk

France Anxious for retribution after last year’s debacle, the hands-down favourites.

Ireland A young squad struggling to find their feet; is a title challenge feasible this year?

LEIGH’S LEITH FAIRYTALE Hibs’ main man Griffiths has title hopes

Italy Former underdogs; could this year see a serious Italian Six Nations challenge?

interim coach Stuart Lancaster despite an inexperienced squad they managed to come second in the Championship.

And his selection is again youthful and has come with a few surprises and potential gems or, alternatively, banana skins.

In the forwards, there are three fully promoted players in the form of back-row Joe Launchbury and front rows Mako Vunipola and Calum Clark. All three should be given opportunities, even Clark who spent 32 weeks on the sidelines following a ban for breaking an opponent’s elbow.

But it is the fly-half position, the heart of their team, that provides the crux of the tournament for England; and in Owen Farrell, Toby Flood and Freddie Burns they have a difficult selection choice.

Uncapped centre Billy Twelvetrees’ call up into the squad might imply the latter’s selection, as the two have combined well this season. However both are relatively inexperienced and will come off the bench.

Whilst Flood is the most senior

of all three and his form is good, he has been outshone all season by IRB-nominated player of the year Farrell, who will most likely start.

They are strong up front, which is integral for their game plan. In particular the ball retention skills of captain and back-row Chris Robshaw will be key. Tom Youngs could be an interesting selection at hooker, but overall they must have clean quick ball.

If that comes, Farrell has an excellent back-line to play with.

Maurading centre Manu Tuilagi’s presence is essential. Weighing 17 stone, he is a human battering ram. Guaranteeing yard in contact, he distracts defenders to create space on the overlap.

There are devastating runners in Chris Ashton, Ben Foden and the recalled David Strettle. The posse’s pace can damage defences and rack up points.

Prediction: This season, with three home games, they have an almost guaranteed 4 points on their cards with ties against Scotland and Italy. France also visits, and if they can dismiss them, and take an away win against a transitional Ireland, it sets up a very tasty final day showdown with Wales in Cardiff.

WALES Michael Mawdsley Staff writer

Rob Howley’s selection for his

debut season in charge of the Welsh international side, is one of experience but blighted by injury and a 7 match winless streak.

Fly-half Rhys Priestland, locks Alun Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris and Bradley Davies, hooker Huw Bennet and back-rows Aaron Shingler, Ryan Jones and Dan Lydiate are all injured for at least the opening weekend.

Front rows Adam Jones and Craig Mitchell, returning also could prove integral, with top-flight pedigree adding to an inexperienced front row.

At lock, two new call ups Andrew Coombs and James King will be offered their chance against Ireland.

In their back-row Toby Fatelu, a key player in last year’s championship remains, and his skill and power at the breakdown are options that Howley will be pleased with.

New call-ups Josh Navidi and Andries Prestorious will be potential options to cover for the injured Shingler and Jones, while Captain Sam Warburton will be essential to any success.

Thankfully for Howley, whilst their forward pack is decimated by injury, their back-line remains relatively untouched.

Gigantic winger George North has recovered fully, and will once again damage defences. The same applies for Scott Williams, whose pace has been one plus for the Scarlets this year. Alex Cuthbert may face a fight to retain his spot.

In a tournament defined by hardhitting centre partnerships, Jonathan Davies should partner Jamie Roberts in the centre, and if they can remain defensively together, they can assist Wales on back-to-back Championship wins. Eli Walker, a new call-up could also play a role.

The return of full-back Lee Bryne, out last season, is a significant call.

His experience and ability should put him in pole position for a starting jersey, if Leigh Halfpenny is not at 100 per cent fitness, but Halfpenny’s goal-kicking makes him a certain on Howleys team-sheet.

At fly-half, Daniel Biggar, the Ospreys 23 year old starlet will come in for Priestland, deputised by James Hook.

While he has been capped previously, including in the Autumn, his lack of experience could play a role.

Alternatively he could prove fresh impetus.

Prediction: Wales are wounded, but not out. They cannot be under estimated, and will damage teams. 2nd place finish.

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