The Journal - Glasgow Issue 23

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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 XXIII

WEDNESDAY 20 MARCH 2013

ALL CHANGE AT NUS SCOTLAND

“The disputes committee doesn’t exist to police bourgeois morality.”

IN NEWS /

Inside the Socialist Workers Party rape scandal

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IN SPORT / 20-23

» ‘Fairly left-wing’ Aberdeen University welfare sabb, Gordon Maloney, defeats challenger Jamie Kinlochan 74-61 in ballot of conference delegates » Glasgow Caledonian University students Robert Foster and Sinead Wylie elected to vice-president (education) and vice-president (communities) spots

IN NEWS /

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• Saints claim first League Cup • Six Nations review • Comment • Basketball Trophy Final • Braehead Clan round-up • Sport & Tweet

GLASGOW TAXIS CUP

IN ARTS / 15-19

• Fashion: Fortnight in fashion • Film: We Are Northern Lights • Stage: Scottish Opera special • Books: Calcutta • Music: Bastille/Desaparecidos

Fightback against GUU misogyny Former GUU board member hits back in sexism row, criticising feminist society over campaigning

IN NEWS /

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GUSA secure record cup win Uni win for third consecutive year, becoming most successful team in cup history

IN SPORT /

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NEWS SHORTS

THIS WEEK INSIDE THE JOURNAL

REVOLUTION ON THE ROCKS Socialist Workers Party leadership accused of covering up rape allegations

ERIC JOYCE, WHO was held by police following an alleged drunken brawl at a bar in the House of Commons, has written a blog denying he is an alcoholic.

The 52-year-old Falkirk MP was arrested by police on Thursday night after an altercation in the Sports and Social bar, causing the premature end to a karaoke night enjoyed by MPs and staffers.

On his website, Joyce claimed he had consumed “a very modest amount of alcohol” and a nurse had pronounced him fit for police interview.

The independent MP was released on bail on Friday evening to return to a central London police station on 28 March.

RAMZAN KADYROV, THE leader of the Russian republic of Chechnya has apologised for using a stadium public address system to insult a football referee during a match.

Kadyrov, who has ruled Chechnya since 2005, later said sorry to fans but not to the official, insisting he deserved to be called corrupt.

The incident occured when Terek Grozny captain Rizvan Utsyev was sent off on Sunday. Kadyrov grabbed an announcer’s microphone and shouted: “You jerk!”

Mr Kadyrov, is an avid football fan and served as president of the club from 2004 until late 2011.

Local media reported that Terek Grozny could be fined up to 500,000 roubles ($16,300) or forced to hold matches behind closed doors.

The Russian Football Union is to hold a disciplinary hearing later this week.

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Falkirk MP ‘no alchie’

Chechnyan leader apologises for knee-jerk

SU DOKU

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New route for WeegieBurgher boat race THE ROUTE OF the annual Glasgow Edinburgh university boat race will see the historic contest finish at the Riverside Museum to enable more spectators to witness the finale.

The race between two of Scotland’s oldest universities will take place on 25 May and pass under four of Glasgow’s iconic bridges en route to the finishing line.

The competition is the second oldest of its kind after the Oxford – Cambridge Boat Race on the Thames.

The Journal Wednesday 20 March 2013

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RETHINKING ‘LAD’ CULTURE

RODIN’S ‘THE KISS’

NUS women’s officer Kelley Temple takes on the contentious issue of ‘lad’ culture and misogyny in 21st century Britain

Daring sculptural masterpiece is undiminished by its new inelegant display at the Scottish National Gallery

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DESAPARECIDOS

The Journal meets Jonathan Mills, director of the Edinburgh International Festival

Nebraska post-hardcore band fronted by Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst speak exclusively to The Journal on their first UK tour

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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 Edinburgh and Glasgow. Contact us if you’d like to get involved. Printed by Morton’s Printers, Lincolnshire. Copyright © 2013 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.

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STUDENT NEWS / 3

2013 NUS SCOTLAND CONFERENCE

You’ll never walk Malone ‘Fairly left-wing’ Aberdeen University Students’ Association welfare president will succeed Robin Parker as NUS Scotland prez from 1 July

Gareth Llewellyn Deputy managing editor

Gordon Maloney has been elected

president of NUS Scotland for 2013/14 at the union’s conference in Dundee.

The 22-year-old Aberdeen University Students’ Association welfare and equal opportunities president polled 74 votes ahead of University of the West of Scotland student Jamie Kinlochan, 61 and one vote to Re-open nominations.

There were 136 valid votes, with a winning quota of 68 as over 176 delegates from colleges and universities came together to elect national officers and set the union’s national policy.

Maloney, who was also educated at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on Skye, said: “It’s been a great honour to have been elected NUS Scotland president. I’ve been incredibly inspired by the students and union officers that I’ve campaigned with over the past few years, and can’t wait to get to work this summer on changing students’ lives.

“I’m proud of how positive this election was, focusing not on whether to prioritise issues that affect just college students, or just university students, but how to improve the lives of both.

“Our movement faces another challenging year fighting against college cuts and for fairer access to universities for those from deprived backgrounds. I’ve no doubt, however, that we can continue build on the many wins we’ve achieved in recent years and build an even stronger student movement.”

Maloney will succeed fellow University of Aberdeen graduate Robin Parker who is stepping down after two years in post.

Parker said: “Gordon is one of the

most enthusiastic, principled and dedicated student campaigners I’ve had the privilege to work with. Over the past few years, he has campaigned tirelessly to improve college and university students’ lives at a local and national level, and will no doubt continue to do so in the coming academic year.”

Maloney, who was favourite to win election, was endorsed by Parker and current vice-president (education) Graeme Kirkpatrick.

Glasgow Caledonian University student and current Scottish Executive Committee education campaign convener, Robert Foster, was elected vice-president (education) with 123 votes in another uncontested election for the position, with just seven votes to Re-open nominations.

Sinéad Wylie, current vice-president wellbeing at Glasgow Caledonian University Students’ Association, was elected vice-president (communities) in the second round with 67 votes to Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA) vice-president Max Crema with 59.

Kat Bateson and Re-open nominations were eliminated in the first round.

Later on Sunday, NUS Scotland elected the additional six members of its Scottish Executive Committe for 2013/14.

Edinburgh College Students’ Association’s (ECSA) Kelly Parry was re-elected to serve as priority campaign convener with Xander McDade of Perth College UHISA causing the upset of the day to defeat Aberdeen University’s Megan Dunn 62-61 in the second round to also be elected to the priority campaign.

Herior-Watt’s Conor MurrayGauld defeated EUSA president-elect Hugh Murdoch and University of the Highlands and Islands Students’

Kristellys Zolondek/NUS Scotland

New NUS Scotland presidential team to lead the Scottish student movement Association’s (UHISA) Lydia Crow to be elected as education campaign convener along with ECSA’s James Moohan who was uncontested for the FE place.

Langside College’s Vonnie Sandlan defeated ECSA’s John Martin and Cumbernauld College’s David Cooke to take the FE place as community campaign convener along with University of Strathclyde student Gary Paterson. who defeated UHISA’s Euphemia Matheson 65 to 45.

In the final elections of the day for the Scottish Procedures Committee, the ever-popular former EUSA vicepresident Tim Cobbett was joined by current Heriot-Watt Students’ Association president Mike Ross, ECSA’s Jim Hein and Glasgow Caledonian University’s Liam McCabe.

PROFILE // GORDON MALONEY THE GAELIC-SPEAKING LINGUISTICS graduate is a known National Campaign Againast Fees and Cuts activist and describes himself as ‘fairly leftwing’.

He boasts an impressive record in succeeding as an experienced campaigner through roles at Aberdeen University Students’ Association (AUSA) and NUS Scotland and will be at the forefront of a more active student movement over the next 15 months.

Some of his achievements in office include a guarantee from the Scottish

government not to legalise premium fees, an end to plans to introduce HMO quotas in Aberdeen, votes at 16 in the referendum, anonymous marking at Aberdeen, a city-wide commitment from Aberdeen nightclubs on zero tolerance, creating more ethical university at Aberdeen, and divesting almost half a million pounds from arms companies and big polluters.

Through his work as welfare president at AUSA and vice-president (communites) at NUS Scotland, Maloney brings a desire for inclusivity for all while standing up for society

ANALYSIS: WHERE NEXT FOR THE SCOTTISH STUDENT MOVEMENT? With education in Scotland at various stages of transformation in an era blighted by economic problems, Gordon Maloney will lead NUS Scotland at arguably one of the most difficult, but exciting, times with the build up to 2014’s independence referendum likely to be at the forefront of many debates in the next 15 months – an issue on which he believes NUS Scotland should not take a stance, but maintain a position to shape the debate.

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The leadership of the largest student movement in Scotland under Robin Parker has seen a number of highly successful campaigns, with wins on guaranteed minimum income and reduction of college funding cuts just some of the victories students have won in the last two years, but the organisation has continued to have an over-reliance on politically-active students, predominantly affiliated to left-wing political parties, each pushing their own

Referendum 2013 The Journal brings you the results from this week’s voting on three questions proposed to the membership the University of Strathclyde Students’ Association

agenda and ideology and, the reality is, it will not be much different for the foreseeable future.

The president-elect is a NCAFC activist and will continue to lead the fight against the introduction of tuition fees in Scotland as well as potential funding cuts in the next budget, but also appears to want to remind politicians and students of the wider societal role students play.

Indeed, his manifesto talked up action on the social value of educa-

tion and about students as ordinary people, like the millions of parttime workers; prioritising funding for further education and improving the reputation of higher education courses within further education colleges and ensuring that payments are made on time after shambolic administration by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) in recent years.

The biggest change expected of the student movement over the next

15 months will be to see a more visible, more active movement. Maloney’s vision is that NUS Scotland should not be just an Edinburgh-based office with a troop of keyboard warriors email-bombing campaigns to MSPs, despite their part in recent successes and, ably backed by a Scottish Executive Committee of proven campaigners, will be the leader to take the student fight back to the streets of Scotland and the doorsteps of politicians to seek results for students.

YOUR DEMOCRACY Log on to the website and follow @GlasgowJournal on Twitter for updates from student elections across the city and at the 2013 NUS conferences

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The Journal Wednesday 20 March 2013

GU FemSoc criticised over GUU press Former Glasgow University Union board member hits out at ‘unfair’ publicity in ongoing misogyny row Rebecca Day Student News editor .

Members and supporters of the

Glasgow University Union have spoken out against what they deem unfairly negative press coverage.

The scandal over the sexist heckling at the Ancients debate earlier this month refuses to die down after erupting across social media and hitting national newspapers.

A group, entitled ‘Everyday Niceness at the GUU’ has been created as a reaction to the national backlash against the union, inviting anonymous bloggers to share stories about positive personal experiences at the union.

Eilidh Munro, a History graduate and former board member of the GUU, told the The Journal of her anger over the response of the feminist society.

She said: “In terms of the way the feminist society has spoken about the GUU, it angers me that all the good work and actions of GUU females and males over the last few decades has been totally ignored.

“I have never heard of or received any support from this body during the time I was on the Board or involved in [the GUU], and unfortunately their fight against misogyny on campus appears to me as being a host of extreme-leftish rants against a range of “laddish” behaviour that has taken place over decades but that is being pinned on two particular individuals.

“I have and always will be a feminist and have consistently fought against the behaviour of a group of GUU members — who tend to be older graduates as opposed to current students — alongside my female and male friends.”

On Friday 8 March — International Women’s Day — the Glasgow University Feminist Society organised a rally to highlight the problems with a culture of sexism at the university.

Over 200 people marched from the university library to the GUU, chanting “however we dress, wherever we go, yes means yes and no means no”.

The GUU locked their main doors in anticipation of the rally.

Ailsa Donaldson Clark, a final year English Literature student spoke to The Journal about her reasons for attending the rally.

She said: “I was there covering it for Glasgow University Student TV station (GUST). It’s been a very, very controversial issue on campus so, naturally, all the student media outlets have been keen to cover it.

“Despite being there for GUST, it’s an issue that I’m very passionate about and think the media, students and non-students, have unearthed a very shocking, yet equally unsurprising, side of the GUU. “I don’t think the GUU has dealt well with the scandal at all. They say they are conducting an internal investigation, which essentially means an investigation between friends which might ban one or two members before inevitably letting them back in once the fuss has died down.

“The fact that the GUU closed its doors to the demonstration on International Women’s Day represents, for me, a huge cultural problem within the union that really needs to be addressed.”

The National Union of Students published research this month on women students’ experience of sexism in higher education, with the problem not limited to the University of Glasgow, and Munro agrees the problem goes beyond the doors of GUU. She said: “The biggest problem at Glasgow Uni — and, in my opinion, universities across the UK — is that lad banter and misogyny exists initially due to peer pressure to get involved and latterly due to the acceptance that it is ‘just a laugh’ so, I’m sure you can imagine how difficult it was for us to stand up against misogyny in the GUU. “Not only have these actions been totally ignored in the recent press, but I am yet to hear one piece of support or acknowledgement from the GU Feminist Society, which I find disappointing.

“Of course bad press is always much more interesting to read about, but actually my posts on blogs against the GUU have actually yet to be accepted by moderators.

“Probably the most notable change the board of management I was involved in made was banning the Stenhouse dinner.”

The Stenhouse, formerly the 139 Club, celebrated the number of men who voted against allowing women to join the union in 1980, but was only banned in 2011 with the union’s future under threat under sex discimination law.

Munro added: “This has been recog-

Rebecca Day

UNION UNDER SIEGE: Glasgow University students protest against GUU nised in the press, but mainly as part of suggestions that it was done by the men of the union to cover their backs against bad press so that they could carry on their boys’ club behind closed doors.

“In fact, the reason the Stenhouse was finally disbanded is because of the sexist comments made by two male dinner members against a female board member and myself.

“The majority of the men present at the dinner were actually so upset that the incident had happened that they left the building. Following this, we decided as a board — which included five girls — to disband the Stenhouse because of the connotations it held and the behaviour its history encouraged.

“We also banned the rugby club from the union because their presence at that time and the things they were doing made a lot of people, both male and female, really uncomfortable.”

Despite the notoriety surrounding men-only clubs and societies like the 139, Munro also points out that there are two separate female dinners within the GUU. She said: “One exists to celebrate women of the union and the other is a generational dinner. People very easily overlook these when they rant about the 139 and LAMB (Last All Male Board) Club.

“I would never excuse sexist or misogynistic comments being made. It’s been

a long time coming that real opposition came against socially-accepted sexism, so I’m glad that people are finally taking this seriously because there is definitely a problem.

“According to reports by the girls at the Ancients this is a debating problem, it is also a GUU problem, but unfortunately this is a UK university problem.”

Highlighting a fear that some female students have at Glasgow University, Clark argues that the GUU sometimes goes against the ethos of a union and called on fellow students to take it back.

She said: “Since first year, the GUU has never been somewhere I’ve felt comfortable spending time at. What place do I have in what is essentially managed by an old boys’ club, summed up by the LAMB dinner, where they seem, through some sense of entitlement, to do and say whatever they like to those they consider inferior to them, including women.

“A union, by its very definition, is supposed to unite and represent all students, and to me the GUU couldn’t be more divisive.

“I do think, given the nature of the GUU and student politics, any change needs to come from the inside out. I think the discipline of naming and shaming of those responsible for what happened will go a long way to showing that this is not an acceptable way to behave, nor is the

culture it represents.

“However, I do think the real change will come if the women, and others who feel marginalised by the way in which the GUU is ran, engage with the wider student community and become elected onto the GUU board.

“I think the responsibility really lies in the individuals not to let this go on any longer, and to take back their union on their own terms.”

Both the GUU and Glasgow University’s Senate are investigating the allegations against students at the Ancients debate.

The negative press last week forced university principal, Professor Anton Muscatelli, to release a statement to students.

He said: “The Senate of the University has a responsibility for student conduct issues. The Clerk of Senate yesterday instructed the Senate Assessors for Student Conduct to initiate an investigation.

“If University students are found to have breached our code of conduct, then appropriate disciplinary measures will be taken.”

Glasgow University Scottish Nationalist Association, the Glasgow University Labour Club, Glasgow University Coalition of Resistance, Glasgow University Politics Society and the Glasgow University Feminist Society have disaffiliated with the GUU as a direct result of the scandal.

Strathclyde students enjoy engineering success Innovative team of Strathclyde University students scoop prestigious BP Ultimate Field Trip prize Émer O’Toole Staff writer

Students from Strathclyde Uni-

versity won BP’s Ultimate Field Trip competition earlier this month at the Royal Institute of Great Britain.

Team Hydra made up of Eric Brown, Hugh McQueen and Theo Scott impressed the BP judges and celebrity science enthusiast, Dara Ó Briain, with its innovative ideas on how to develop a mode of transport that reduces the cost of passenger travel in a selected country by 2030.

Team Hydra’s proposal was to develop a Hybrid Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) car solution to reduce the

cost of Passenger Kilometres Travelled in Germany.

Eric Brown, Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering student said: “Pakistan, India and Brazil are the main locations right now. Germany is our target.

“Our innovation is much cheaper than petrol or diesel, it’s an expanding fuel. There are already 90,000 CNG cars in Germany and 44,000 worldwide; owners will save 1000 a year.” Ó Briain said: “Innovation and science is the key that unlocks potential in a vast amount of industries. Science has become cool again and just in time; its importance today is greater than ever before.”

Dr Angela Strank said: “This com-

petition attracts brilliant, enthusiastic, motivated students. It shows the importance of being able to apply scientific engineering excellence the world of today. We believe in education and developing talent from school age to university.

Team captain, McQueen said: “We never thought we’d get this far in the competition and we are ecstatic to have won. It’s a great stepping stone and we would recommend the competition to anyone.”

Brown added: “Our favourite part of the process was making the film. It was really rewarding to see it as it condensed four months into four minutes.”

Team Hydra won cameras and

travel books as well as a rare opportunity to visit BP’s on-shore control room, at Stavanger in Norway and spend time with BP engineers.

Emma Judge, Head of Recruitment at BP spoke about how tough the competition was.

She said: “It was genuinely a difficult decision to make. Team Hydra proposed a great solution for the country they’d chosen and they have been strong throughout the entire competition.”

Runners up, Team HUNgineers, made up of Tamás Lukács, András Kovách and Gabor Piukovics, students from Glasgow and Strathclyde universities said: “When the competition

came up we thought that it was a great opportunity and we are glad that we got involved, even though we didn’t win.”

The judges of this year’s final were David Eyton (Group Head of Technology), Dr Ellen Williams (Chief Scientist), Trevor Garlick (Regional President of BP North Sea) and Dr Angela Strank (Head of Group Chief Executive’s Office).

BP is one of the biggest graduate recruiters in the UK and their school links programme was established in 1968.

A £4.5 million scholarship was funded for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) students last year.

The Journal Wednesday 20 March 2013

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Baton relay revealed Glasgow 2014 baton will visit 71 nations over 190,000km Keira Murray Local News editor

Organisers have unveiled the route for the Queen’s Baton Relay ahead of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Visiting 71 nations in seven months the route is 190,000km - far longer than that of the London 2012 Olympics at just 12,800km.

The relay will begin in the capital at Buckingham Palace on 9 October travelling through Australia, Canada, South Africa and some smaller places such as St Lucia and Dominica before reaching Glasgow in July.

Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport Shona Robinson after the unveiling said: “The Queen’s Baton Relay puts Glasgow and Scotland on a world stage, inviting international athletes of the Commonwealth to come to Glasgow to compete.”

The baton will spend between one and four days in each nation with seven days in Wales, two weeks in England and forty days in Scotland. It will also spend the Christmas period in Vanuatu in the South Pacific and bring in the start of the Commonwealth year in Sierra Leone in West Africa.

This event will mark the 20th edition of the Commonwealth Games.

Canada were the first nation to hold the event in 1930 under the title “British Empire Games”. Scotland have also hosted the event twice in 1970 and 1986

LOCAL NEWS / 5

Radio Caley broadcasts Comic Relief marathon Student radio stays up all night in bid to do its part for one of UK’s most-loved charities

Kieran Thomas Staff writer

AROUND THE WORLD IN 71 STATES: 190,000km in Edinburgh.

4,500 athletes will compete for 261 medals in 17 sports including cycling, gymnastics and swimming. Famous venues in the city will be used to accommodate these events. The SECC and newly built Hydro arena will host gymnastics, boxing, weightlifting and wrestling whereas Hampden Stadium will accommodate the popular track and field events. Emirates arena, Scotstoun, Tollcross and Kelvingrove will also be used as venues.

Speaking to some citizens of Glasgow regarding the baton route

announcement one citizen was keen for Scotland to be involved with igniting the nation’s sporting spirit.

Shop worker Paul said: “I will certainly be there when the baton reaches Glasgow. I think the involvement of other countries will bring Scotland onto the map a bit more.”

Shona Robinson agreed that: “By visiting every nation who will send a team, the Queen’s Baton Relay is a great example of why the Commonwealth Games are known as the ‘Friendly Games’ and we are sure that 2014 can be the friendliest yet.”

entertained through the day and night with music, guests and comical competitions including innuendo Caledonian University’s bingo and cinnamon challenge. student radio station Radio Caley Comic Relief uses comedy to have held a 24-hour broadcast encourage people to give and raise spectacular. money for causes at home and Africa.

Starting at 10pm on Thursday 14 Launched in 1985 by comedians March, the time the station usually Richard Curtis and Lenny Henry in goes off-air, special shows were response to famine in Ethiopia, the broadcast non-stop until 10pm the charity has raised over £750 million following day in a bid to raise money through televised fundraising for Comic Relief. appeals featuring the nation’s top The marathon hosted a number comedians and media personalities. of different shows, all with a comic Radio Caley’s fundraising twist, and all with the aim of raising account on the JustGiving website; as much cash as possible for the the station announced on Facebook charity. just after the marathon wrapped Broadcast online at www.radio- up “we broadcast 24 solid hours of caley.com, the site also held a live presenters (with shows all the way webcast of the marathon, showing through the night!) for Red Nose not only the various goings on in the Day, raising an incredible £263 recording booth, but a look behind in the process! An amazing few the scenes giving an insight into days. Thank you to everyone who what it takes to run the radio station contributed!”. located inside the GCU Students’ Association building.

You can donate to Comic Relief As well as encouraging listeners throughRadio Caley’s page at www. to dig deep and donate, presenters justgiving.com/radiocaley

We’re looking for people to join our editorial team for the 2013/14 academic year: if you’re a student at any of Glasgow’s higher or further education institutions with an interest in journalism, design or photography, The Journal is the place for you!

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We have won awards for print excellence and digital innovation, and our alumni have gone on to work at — among others — The Guardian, The Scotsman, The Financial Times, Daily Mail, STV and the BBC. For more information or to apply for any position, please

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The Journal Wednesday 20 March 2013

Glasgow University launches Gaelic plan Commitment to raise profile of one of Scotland’s ancient languages in Glasgow and on a global scale Ben Cohen Staff writer

The University of Glasgow has made

a five-year commitment to Gaelic with the launch of its first Gaelic Language Plan.

The policy sets out ongoing support for Gaelic language and culture with an aspiration to increase the profile and use of Gaelic within its day-to-day operations, both in Glasgow and abroad, recognising the importance of Gaelic in modern society.

It will involve the development of Gaelic language and culture within the context of key functions identified by Bòrd na Gàidhlig, the National Development Agency for Gaelic, including communications, staffing, publications and identity.

Fiona Dunn, Gaelic Language Officer at the University of Glasgow said: “It has been a pleasure to develop this important and significant plan with colleagues from within the university, with our students and alumni, the general public and others who have an interest in the language.

“Our consultation work with key stakeholders has allowed us to prepare a Plan which we believe is relevant and inclusive to the University of Glasgow and I believe it will make a very meaningful contribution to the ongoing revitalisation of Gaelic.”

The university has also identified a number of commitments to incorporate Gaelic into the student experience at

Discover why pharmaceutical companies are seeking advice from Glasgow Caledonian University

Needle research secures funding

GU ultrasonic department secures EPSRC cash

Delanie Clarke Academic News editor

The University of Glasgow’s Ultrasonic department has secured funding for revolutionary surgical tool development.

It’s School of Engineering has been leading a project to make a needle to vibrate at ultrasonic frequencies.

Glasgow University has been working with researchers from the Universities of Dundee and Edinburgh on the project and has been granted £982,000 funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

The ultrasonic needles would allow doctors to penetrate bone more easily and areas of hard tissue without damaging the soft tissue around the area.

Professor Lucas said: “We’ve been working for several years to explore the applications of ultrasonic vibrations to allow surgeons to cut through

bone more quickly and easily, and we’re excited about the potential of applying similar technology to needles.”

“We’re grateful to EPSRC for their support and we’re looking forward to developing this technology further.”

The advantages would allow drugs to reach areas of the body which are blocked by bone more efficiently, and would increase the effectiveness of biopsies.

These developments will improve both the diagnosis and the treatment of serious illnesses like cancer, help severely disabled people and improve patient outcomes.

Professor David Delpy, CEO of EPSRC spoke of why the money has been funded to this particular project.

He said: “EPSRC funds projects which are both world leading research, and can make a real difference to people’s lives.”

It is one of 15 engineering projects to receive a share of £12.2million from the EPSRC.

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Glasgow which take forward the work of the pioneering Gaelic Language Initiative established in 2009.

Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, Professor Anton Muscatelli added: ”Gaelic is a significant part of Scotland’s cultural and social identity.

“We are justifiably proud that it has been taught on campus for more than a century. Given the recent resurgence of interest in Gaelic across Scotland and especially within the city of Glasgow, now is the right time to launch our Gaelic language plan for the University of Glasgow.

“We look forward to implementing the plan and building upon our achievements to date in terms of both Gaelic academia and Gaelic language development. The University aspires to securing the status of Gaelic as an official language of Scotland.”

Glasgow University was asked to prepare a Gaelic Language Plan by Bòrd na Gàidhlig under the terms of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 and has developed the plan both within the university and with external organisations across the country.

A six-week public consultation was conducted in July 2012 when staff, students and the general public were invited to comment on the proposals set out in the plan.

The University’s Gaelic Language Plan was formally approved by Bòrd naGàidhlig on 10th December 2012.

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Property

Battlefield Grange Road, 525, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Morley Street, 450, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 8716 Cartside Street, 575, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072

Bridgeton Tullis Gardens, 490, 2, 0844 635 9400 Dalmarnock Drive, 495, 2, 2D G CG Z, 0844 635 2312 Dalmarnock Drive, 550, 2, 0844 635 9348 Main Street, 480, 2, 0844 635 9348 Main Street, 475, 2, 0844 635 9348 Main Street, 450, 2, 1S 1D E O, 0844 635 0072 Tullis Gardens, 495, 2, 0844 635 9348 Main Street, 450, 2, 0844 635 9348 Dalmarnock Drive, 460, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 9542 Tullis Gardens, 395, 1, 0844 635 9346 Dalmarnock Drive, 450, 1, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 3328 Main Street, 325, 1, 1D E O, 0844 635 4467

Broomhill Crow Road, 595, 2, 0844 635 9350 Crow Road, 650, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 3506 Broomhill Drive, 795, 2, 0844 635 9346

Calton Millroad Gardens, 425, 1, 0844 635 9348 Claythorn Court, 495, 2, 0844 635 1996

Cambuslang Hamilton Road, 350, 1, 1D G P, 0844 635 2422 Strathclyde Gardens, 425, 1, 1D G CG P, 0844 635 3762

Cardonald Kinnell Path, 450, 2, 2S E O, 0844 635 4471

Cathcart Old Castle Gardens, 650, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 0072 Clarkston Road, 575, 1, 0844 635 0300 Clarkston Road, 500, 1, G O, 0844 635 9372 Castlebrae Gardens, 550, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9542 Old Castle Road, 415, 1, 1D O, 0844 635 3328 Old Castle Road, 395, 1, 1D G CG P, 0844 635 0072

Charing Cross Dorset Street, 550, 2, 0844 635 9350 Kent Road, 675, 2, 2D E P, 0844 635 3506 St. Vincent Street, 450, 1, 1D PG P, 0844 635 9354

City Centre Berkeley Street, 495, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 4826 Merchant Exchange, 895, 2, G P, 0844 635 9372 Gibson Street, 535, 2, 2D E O, 0844 635 8716 Holm Street, 650, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 9596 Oswald Street, 895, 2, 2D E P, 0844 635 6450 Ingram Street, 900, 2, 0844 635 9364 Cambridge Street, 450, 1, E, 0844 635 9396 Kennedy Street, 495, 1, 1D P, 0844 635 9230 Wallace Street, 750, 3, 3D E P, 0844 635 9232 Ingram Street, 550, 1, 1D W, 0844 635 9566 Lancefield Quay, 725, 2, 2D E, 0844 635 1455 Dunlop Street, 795, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9542 Oxford Street, 550, 2, 2D E, 0844 635 9596 West Regent Street, 650, 1, 0844 635 1986 Dunlop Street, 885, 2, 0844 635 9346 Maxwell Street, 700, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 3506 James Watt Street, 575, 2, 0844 635 9486 Howard Street, 475, 1, W, 0844 635 9396 Daniel Mclaughlin Place, 450, 2, 0844 635 9348 Castlebank Place, 695, 2, 2D G PG P, 0844 635 1455

Stockwell Street, 450, 1, 1D E, 0844 635 9420 Turnbull Street, 495, 2, 1D 1B E P, 0844 635 8704 Cook Street, 875, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 9364 Hutcheson Street, 850, 1, E, 0844 635 6450 Hutcheson Street, 875, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9364 Fox Street, 725, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 9420 South Frederick Street, 525, 1, 1D E O, 0844 635 9354 Sauchiehall Street, 1400, 4, 4D, 0844 635 9364 Ingram Street, 575, 1, 1D CG, 0844 635 9364 Clyde Street, 1250, 3, G P, 0844 635 9596

Croftfoot Kirkconnel Drive, 445, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 3328 Crofthill Road, 495, 2, 2D G PG O, 0844 635 9542

Crosshill Daisy Street, 475, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Calder Street, 400, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9482 Boyd Street, 525, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Govanhill Street, 425, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 0072 Daisy Street, 375, 1, G O, 0844 635 0072 Dixon Road, 495, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072

Dennistoun Reidvale Street, 525, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 1612 Whitehill Street, 650, 2, 0844 635 0830 Hillfoot Street, 550, 2, 2D P, 0844 635 9440 Firpark Close, 650, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 9364 Reidvale Street, 525, 2, 0844 635 1612 Duke Street, 550, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 9542 Cumbernauld Road, 400, 2, 0844 635 9348 Aitken Street, 400, 1, 0844 635 9346 Roslea Drive, 495, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9454 Kennyhill Square, 550, 2, 0844 635 9350 Ingleby Drive, 495, 2, 0844 635 9348 Aberfoyle Street, 350, 1, 1D O, 0844 635 4467 Craigpark Drive, 550, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9542 Cumbernauld Road, 395, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 9542 Hanson Park, 595, 2, G P, 0844 635 0048 Hanson Park, 595, 2, 2D P, 0844 635 9596 Finlay Drive, 525, 2, G P, 0844 635 9396 Onslow Drive, 495, 2, 0844 635 9346 Appin Road, 375, 1, 1D O, 0844 635 4471 Alexandra Parade, 550, 2, 0844 635 9348 Duke Street, 550, 1, 0844 635 9348 Alexandra Parade, 500, 2, 0844 635 9346 Whitehill Court, 595, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9542 Alexandra Parade, 575, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 4471 Finlay Drive, 560, 2, G CG O, 0844 635 4471 Marwick Street, 375, 1, 0844 635 0830 Cumbernauld Road, 340, 1, 0844 635 9346 Duke Street, 570, 2, 2D, 0844 635 5525

Dowanhill Rosslyn Terrace, 850, 2, 0844 635 1986 Dowanside Road, 1050, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 9364 Westbourne Gardens, 495, 1, W O, 0844 635 9368 Highburgh Road, 1200, 3, 0844 635 3342

Finnieston Lancefield Quay, 900, 2, G P, 0844 635 5642 Corunna Street, 685, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 4826 Cheapside Street, 495, 2, 0844 635 9346

Gallowgate Moir Street, 550, 2, 1D G, 0844 635 9596 Charlotte Street, 650, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9230 Westmuir Street, 450, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 3504

Garnethill Garnet Court, 595, 2, 2D P, 0844 635 9230 Buccleuch Street, 775, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9470

Glasgow Green Watson Street, 1000, 3, 1S 3D G CG P, 0844 635 3506 City Centre - Moir Street - Furnished, 650, 2, 0844 635 6350 London Road, 365, 1, 1D CG O, 0844 635 4467 Greenhead Street, 695, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 0072 London Road, 450, 1, 1D E CG O, 0844 635 3504 Mcphail Street, 575, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 9420 London Road, 395, 1, 0844 635 9346 Templeton Street, 730, 2, 0844 635 9350

A USERS GUIDE TO CITYLETS LISTINGS Meadows

Area Agent phone number

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

Glasgow Harbour

Bedrooms

Meadowside Quay Square, 725, 2, 2D, 0844 635 2018 Castlebank Place, 795, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9542 Castlebank Place, 845, 2, G P, 0844 635 4471 Castlebank Place, 540, 1, 1D E, 0844 635 9470 Beith Street, 670, 2, 0844 635 1986 Glasgow Harbour Terr, 900, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 3714

Monthly Rent Location

Bedrooms: Heating: Garden: Parking: Furniture:

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

Govan Merryland Place, 475, 2, 0844 635 9348 Burghead Place, 370, 1, G CG O, 0844 635 9372 Govan Road, 425, 2, G CG O, 0844 635 9372 Burghead Drive, 365, 1, 0844 635 9350

Govanhill Annette Street, 395, 1, 0844 635 1996 Allison Street, 450, 2, 0844 635 1996 Allison Street, 325, 1, 1D CG O, 0844 635 9440 Allison Street, 450, 2, 0844 635 9346 Westmoreland Street, 415, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 9420 Govanhill Street, 325, 1, 1D E CG O, 0844 635 3504 Westmoreland Street, 500, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Chapman Street, 325, 1, 1D CG O, 0844 635 9440 Robson Grove, 475, 2, 0844 635 9346 Niddrie Road, 400, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 4826 Coplaw Street, 425, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 3504 Govanhill Street, 300, 1, 0844 635 9440 Annette Street, 425, 2, 1S 1D G O, 0844 635 8716 Boyd Street, 500, 2, 0844 635 1996 Westmoreland Street, 395, 1, 0844 635 1996 Calder Street, 500, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072

Hillhead Hillhead - Otago Street- Furnished, 750, 2, 0844 635 6350 Alfred Terrace, 650, 3, 0844 635 3342 Gibson Street, 850, 3, 3D G CG O, 0844 635 3504 Hillhead - Otago Street - Furnsihed, 950, 2, 0844 635 6350

Hyndland Dyce Lane, 750, 2, 0844 635 6350 Airlie Street, 750, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 3506 Novar Drive, 550, 1, 0844 635 9348 Novar Drive, 550, 1, 0844 635 1986 Turnberry Road, 895, 4, 4D G CG O, 0844 635 0822 Airlie Street, 575, 1, O, 0844 635 9308

Ibrox Copland Place, 475, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Paisley Road West, 365, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 0072 Cairnlea Drive, 350, 1, G O, 0844 635 6372 Merrick Gardens, 380, 1, 1D 1B E CG O, 0844 635 3504 Middleton Street, 349, 1, 1D W CG O, 0844 635 9440

Jordanhill Helensburgh Drive, 595, 2, 0844 635 3342 Whittinghame Drive, 650, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9364 Crow Road, 575, 2, 2D G PG P, 0844 635 9454

Kelvinbridge Henderson Street, 425, 1, 0844 635 9346 545, 2, 0844 635 9400

Kelvindale Dorchester Avenue, 500, 2, 0844 635 9346 Kelvindale Court, 725, 2, G CG, 0844 635 1564 Grandtully Drive, 525, 2, 0844 635 3342

Kelvingrove Regent Moray Street, 675, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 1872 Argyle Street, 450, 1, 1D W, 0844 635 9368

Kelvinside Kelvindale Road, 520, 2, 0844 635 9350

Kinning Park Milnpark Gardens, 525, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 0072 Rutland Court, 500, 2, G P, 0844 635 6372 Paisley Road West, 625, 3, 0844 635 1996 Milnpark Gardens, 495, 2, 2D E CG P, 0844 635 3504 Langshot St, 350, 1, 0844 635 1996

Knightswood Avenel Road, 550, 2, 2D G PG P, 0844 635 3506 Knightswood - Banner Drive - Furnished, 450, 1, 0844 635 6350 Hermitage Avenue, 595, 2, 2D G PG O, 0844 635 3506

Lambhill Balmore Road, 550, 3, 0844 635 9346 Lochburn Gardens, 595, 2, 0844 635 3342 Maryhill - Viewmount Drive, 500, 2, 0844 635 6350 Lochburn Gardens, 950, 3, 0844 635 9350 Hillend Road, 400, 1, 1D G CG, 0844 635 3714

Langside Linthouse Govan Road, 595, 2, G PG O, 0844 635 9230 Hutton Drive, 450, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072

Maryhill Ruchill Street, 525, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 9454 Sandbank Crescent, 495, 2, 2D G PG P, 0844 635 3328 Grovepark Street, 595, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 0012 Wester Common Drive, 700, 5, 1S 4D G CG O, 0844 635 9472 Balfour Street, 360, 1, 1D G CG P, 0844 635 9454 Murano Street, 500, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 9368 Shuna Crescent, 600, 2, 0844 635 9350 Sandbank Drive, 500, 2, 0844 635 9346

Merchant City Blackfriars Road, 445, 1, E CG, 0844 635 3786 Candleriggs, 520, 1, W, 0844 635 9372 Blackfriars Road, 625, 2, 2D E CG, 0844 635 3786 Bell Street, 575, 2, 2D W P, 0844 635 9354 London Road, 650, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 9230 High Street, 650, 2, 2D G CG, 0844 635 9230 Ingram Street, 550, 1, W, 0844 635 9372 Blackfriars Road, 585, 2, 2D E CG, 0844 635 3786 Garth Street, 700, 2, E Z, 0844 635 9372 Albion Street, 575, 1, G, 0844 635 9372

Blackfriars Road, 445, 1, E PG P, 0844 635 4471 Blackfriars Street, 525, 1, 1D CG O, 0844 635 9440 St Andrew’s Street, 900, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9364 Blackfriars Road, 400, 1, E CG, 0844 635 3786 Canada Court, 460, 1, 0844 635 9346 St Andrews Square, 750, 2, 0844 635 1986 Virginia Court, 795, 2, 0844 635 9346 Ingram Street, 550, 1, G, 0844 635 9372

Mount Florida Cumming Drive, 395, 1, 0844 635 9346 Mclennan Street, 425, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9440 Florida Street, 550, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 9370 Prospecthill Grove, 625, 2, 0844 635 0300

New Gorbals Errol Gardens, 575, 2, 0844 635 9350 Old Rutherglen Road, 625, 2, 0844 635 1986 Old Rutherglen Road, 675, 3, 0844 635 9348

North Kelvindale Hotspur Street, 575, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 9496

North Kelvinside Garrioch Road, 375, 1, 0844 635 9346 Hotspur Street, 495, 1, 0844 635 3342 Oban Drive, 595, 2, 0844 635 9346 Avenuepark Street, 625, 2, 0844 635 9350 Oban Drive, 650, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9420 Kelvinisde Drive, 575, 2, 0844 635 9350 Garrioch Road, 550, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 1456 Malloch Street, 600, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 3328

Park Partick Bridge Street, 850, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9596 Royal Terrace, 700, 1, 1D G CG Z, 0844 635 9370 Park - Lynedoch Street, 1050, 3, 0844 635 6350

Partick Exeter Drive, 450, 1, 1D G, 0844 635 4826 Peel Street, 925, 3, 0844 635 9350 Crathie Drive, 395, 1, G CG O, 0844 635 9454 Beith Street, 695, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 4826 Apsley Street, 470, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 3714 Church Street, 400, 1, CG O, 0844 635 9440 Fortrose Street, 1100, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 9364 Benalder Street, 850, 3, 1S 2D G P, 0844 635 9370 Beith Street, 595, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0048 Thornwood Road, 575, 3, 3D G O, 0844 635 9566 White Street, 680, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 9560 Muirpark Street, 750, 3, 3D G CG O, 0844 635 9378

Pollokshaws Pleasance Street, 550, 2, G P, 0844 635 9372

Pollokshields Woodrow Road, 460, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 4826 Melville Street, 575, 3, 3D G CG O, 0844 635 3774 Albert Drive, 950, 3, 0844 635 9346 Barrland Street, 650, 2, 0844 635 0300 Maxwell Drive, 425, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Maxwell Gardens, 525, 2, 2D, 0844 635 1612 Mcculloch Street, 650, 3, G CG O, 0844 635 9232 Nursery Street, 575, 2, G CG P, 0844 635 1455 Glenapp St, 595, 2, 0844 635 1996 Nursery Street, 595, 2, G O, 0844 635 9596

Port Dundas Speirs Wharf, 600, 1, W O, 0844 635 9596 Hamiltonhill Road, 525, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 9378 Craighall Road, 525, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 9420

Queens Park Torrisdale Street, 330, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 9232 Niddrie Road, 330, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 3504 Albert Avenue, 600, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072

Rutherglen Melrose Avenue, 599, 3, 3D G P, 0844 635 9230 Main Street, 450, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 9542 Wardlaw Drive, 350, 1, 1D CG O, 0844 635 9440

Scotstoun Northland Avenue, 550, 2, 0844 635 9346 Fore Street, 350, 1, 1D CG O, 0844 635 9440 Plean Street, 425, 2, 2D W CG O, 0844 635 1872 Dumbarton Road, 450, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 9354 Scotstoun Street, 425, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 3506

Shawlands Mannering Court, 425, 1, 1D P, 0844 635 9230 Millwood Street, 480, 2, 2D G PG O, 0844 635 9454 Waverley Gardens, 575, 2, 0844 635 9350 Waverley Gardens, 575, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 4826 Deanston Drive, 450, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 9230 Deanston Drive, 550, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Deanston Drive, 475, 2, 0844 635 1986 Grantley Street, 575, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 2408 Kilmarnock Road, 550, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 8716 Deanston Drive, 595, 3, 0844 635 0300 Minard Road, 450, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 8716 Afton Street, 375, 1, E O, 0844 635 4826 Pollokshaws Road, 550, 2, 2D G, 0844 635 8716 Riverford Road, 500, 1, 1D G CG P, 0844 635 9230 Tassie Street, 550, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 9454 Durward Court, 595, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 0072

Mount Stuart Street, 515, 1, 1D E CG O, 0844 635 9470 Deanston Drive, 425, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 9368 Lethington Avenue, 345, 1, 0844 635 9346 Afton Street Glasgow, 670, 2, 2D W P, 0844 635 9470 Norham Street, 595, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Grantley Gardens, 595, 2, G O, 0844 635 3714

Shettleston Old Shettleston Road, 425, 2, 2D E CG P, 0844 635 9542 Dalveen Street, 500, 2, G O, 0844 635 5642 Shettleston Road, 450, 2, 0844 635 9348

Southside Victoria Road, 595, 2, 2D E P, 0844 635 9440 Annette St, 450, 2, 2D, 0844 635 5525 Moness Drive, 550, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 4826 Camphill Avenue, 350, 1, 0844 635 2422 Camphill Avenue, 350, 1, 0844 635 2422

Springburn Ayr Street, 525, 2, 0844 635 0012 Kay Street, 395, 1, 0844 635 9348 Lenzie Place, 425, 2, 0844 635 9348 Gourlay Street, 450, 2, 0844 635 9348

St Georges Cross Braid Square, 495, 2, 0844 635 9346 St George’s X - Gladstone Street, 500, 2, 0844 635 6350 Gladstone Street, 475, 1, 1D E, 0844 635 9354 Glenfarg Street, 575, 2, 2D W P, 0844 635 9354

Strathbungo Annette Street, 525, 2, 2D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Niddrie Road, 385, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Meldrum Gardens, 525, 2, 0844 635 9400

Thorntonhall Fairlie Park Drive, 495, 1, 0844 635 9346 Exeter Drive, 520, 1, G, 0844 635 9372 Exeter Drive, 400, 1, 0844 635 1986

Tollcross Wellshot Road, 550, 2, 0844 635 9348 Fairholm Street, 340, 1, 1D G, 0844 635 4471 Tollcross Road, 395, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 9542 Tollcross Road, 495, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 9542 Trainard Avenue Glasgow, 465, 2, 0844 635 0012 Welshot Road, 475, 2, G P, 0844 635 9596 Shettleston Road, 450, 3, 0844 635 1996 Shettleston Road, 500, 2, 0844 635 0830 Tollcross Road, 495, 3, 1S 2D G O, 0844 635 9542 Tollcross Road, 425, 1, 0844 635 6350

Tradeston Wallace Street, 590, 2, 2D E PG, 0844 635 9596

Wallace Street, 550, 2, 2D, 0844 635 9542 Morrison Street, 650, 2, 0844 635 9350 Wallace Street, 525, 2, 1S 1D E P, 0844 635 9596 Morrison Street, 600, 1, 0844 635 9350 Riverview Drive, 700, 3, 0844 635 9346 Wallace Street, 575, 2, 2D P, 0844 635 9596 Wallace Street, 700, 3, W O, 0844 635 9596

Waterfront Lancefield Quay, 650, 1, G P, 0844 635 5642 Mavisbank Gardens, 525, 1, 1D E CG P, 0844 635 9470

West End Cleveden Crescent, 1200, 2, 2D G CG, 0844 635 9364 Raeberry Street, 625, 2, 2D E CG O, 0844 635 4826 Regent Moray Street, 565, 1, 1D G CG, 0844 635 4826 Highburgh Road, 1100, 3, 3D G CG O, 0844 635 4826 Dumbarton Road, 450, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 9232 Braeside Street, 1095, 3, 3D G, 0844 635 9560 Oakfield Avenue, 2050, 5, 5D, 0844 635 5525 Maule Drive, 485, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 9496 Laurel Street, 575, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 4826 Kelbourne Street, 695, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 9364 Partickhill Road, 895, 2, 2D G CG P, 0844 635 2422 Maryhill Road, 645, 2, 2D G O, 0844 635 4826 Beith Street, 1065, 3, 3D, 0844 635 5525 Hughenden Lane, 475, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Nairn Street, 550, 1, 1D G, 0844 635 9364 Rotherwood Avenue, 500, 2, G PG, 0844 635 2422

Whiteinch Curle Street, 500, 2, 1S 1D G CG P, 0844 635 3762 Squire Street, 475, 1, G O, 0844 635 4826 Medwyn Street, 660, 2, G P, 0844 635 9396

Woodlands West Princes Street, 475, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 0072 Montague Street, 875, 3, 3D G PG O, 0844 635 8704 Carnarvon Street, 625, 1, 0844 635 1986

Yoker Dumbarton Road, 450, 2, 0844 635 9346 Dumbarton Road, 400, 1, 1D G CG O, 0844 635 3506 Glanderston Drive, 550, 2, 0844 635 9346

Yorkhill Kelvinhaugh Street, 600, 2, 2D G P, 0844 635 3506 Old Dumbarton Road, 500, 1, 1D G O, 0844 635 9470 Kelvinhaugh Street, 650, 2, 2D W P, 0844 635 9378

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8 / NATIONAL POLITICS

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The Journal Wednesday 20 March 2013

Tenants unaware of deposit scheme Survey reveals more than half of private renters in Scotland are unaware of new deposit protection schemes Ben Cohen Staff writer

A survey carried out by SafeDepos-

its Scotland estimates more than half of private tenants are unaware of new deposit protection schemes.

Scottish regulations require private landlords and letting agents to transfer deposits to an approved third party for safekeeping to prevent landlords from keeping tenants’ money on false grounds.

The recently-commissioned survey suggest 55 per cent of respondants did not know about them.

Rebecca Johnston, director of operations at SafeDeposits Scotland, said: “With just under two months to go to the day until all deposits for privately rented properties in Scotland need to be secured in a tenancy deposit scheme, these figures show a worrying low level of awareness.

“At a time when the private rented sector is growing, we need to provide safe, secure renting. And the new tenancy deposit protection legislation goes some way towards this, but only if tenants know about their rights.”

The Scottish government has said there had been a “strong uptake” for the schemes which runs one of three approved tenancy deposit schemes operating in Scotland.

A Scottish government spokesman said: “Up to the end of January this year, Scotland’s three tenancy deposit schemes have protected nearly 112,000 deposits with a total value in excess of £74 million.

“This is in advance of the final deadline for private landlords to lodge all eligible deposits by 15 May. “However, we will continue to work with the three approved tenancy deposit schemes — who have a legal responsibility to promote their schemes — to increase understanding and awareness of the schemes amongst tenants, landlords and their agents.”

The survey also indicated that 76 per cent of respondants were not aware that money from deposits needed to be placed in a tenancy deposit protection scheme.

And less than a fifth of those renting from a private landlord said they knew that deposits needed to be lodged with such a scheme by the final deadline of 15 May. Johnston added: “We urge all landlords to sign up to the scheme to make sure their tenants’ deposits are securely held, avoid financial penalties and help to make the private rented sector in Scotland the best in the world.”

SafeDeposits Scotland is one of three schemes set up to handle tenants’ deposits.

Ben Cohen Staff writer

CONSERVATIVES HAVE DEFEATED a Labour motion to

introduce a mansion tax in a House of Commons vote.

The debate made a call to add a levy onto properties worth more than £2 million was defeated by 304 votes to 241 as the Labour Party tried to destable the coalition by forcing them to back a key party policy, opposed by the Conservatives.

A government amendment, outlining the coalition’s differences whileattacking Labour’s record, was passed by 301 votes to 246.

Business Secretary Vince Cable, the Lib Dem leader of the mansion tax policy said: “This amendment allows Liberal Democrats in parliament to back our long-held policy of the mansion tax. We created it and will continue to champion it.

“The amendment also makes it clear that although we are in coalition with the Conservatives, we have

different views on the desirability of a mansion tax.”

Despite the deliberate attempt by Labour to force Liberal Democrat MPs to side with them, the majority of Lib Dems voted with their government partners.

Liberal Democrat communities minister Don Foster said: “However much Liberal Democrats want a mansion tax, we know that the country’s economic future would be in severe jeopardy if the coalition fell apart on this issue.”

Labour leader Ed Miliband believes a mansion tax could lead to the reintroduction of the 10p lower rate of income tax scrapped by the coalition.

After the debate, shadow Treasury minister Chris Leslie said: “The Lib Dems have not only failed to support a straightforward motion calling for their flagship policy of a mansion tax, they actually voted against it.

“Instead they voted for David Cameron’s amendment which neither called for a mansion tax nor did anything to help secure one.”

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The Journal Wednesday 20 March 2013

@GlasgowJournal / journal-online.co.uk

NATIONAL POLITICS / 9

SPECIAL REPORT: SEXUAL MISCONDUCT CRISIS IN THE RADICAL LEFT Microwave Chef

Revolution on the rocks: rape scandal splits SWP Party leadership accused of whitewashing rape allegations Rachel Barr Local News editor, Edinburgh

Britain’s largest far-left politi-

cal party remains engulfed in turmoil this week, after an emergency conference intended to quell a rebellion over claims that its leadership covered up charges of rape and sexual harassment against senior members.

The Socialist Workers Party, which claims over 7,000 members, called an emergency ‘special conference’ on Sunday 10 March, to address a scandal which has split the party faithful and prompted over 100 resignations in protest.

Speaking exclusively to The Journal, a former SWP national committee member has today revealed that the resignations of almost 40 members in early 2011 which resulted in the founding of dissident ‘International Socialist Group Scotland’ (ISG) - was directly linked to the sexual misconduct crisis (see next story).

ISG organisers had previously said only that the schism was related to the SWP’s complex and increasingly bitter internal factional politics.

The SWP platform published on the party’s website includes a pledge “to campaign for real social, political and economic equality for woman [sic].” But their commitment to women’s liberation

has been called into question following outrage over their handling of a string of damning allegations against two prominent SWP activists.

The scandal dates back to 2010, when a young female member, identified only as ‘W’, lodged a complaint of sexual harassment against a senior party member dubbed ‘Comrade Delta’. That complaint was subsequently expanded to include an allegation of rape.

A ‘disputes committee’ was convened by the party’s central committee to investigate the allegations, but ‘W’ has since criticised their questioning as leading and irrelevant, saying she was traumatised by the experience and made to feel like “a slut who asked for it.”

The committee unanimously concluded that it did not believe ‘W’ had been raped by Delta. But critics claimed the panel was a “kangaroo court” comprising friends and colleagues of the accused.

Further rape allegations from multiple women were subsequently levelled against another member of the SWP leadership. Several of these women have claimed they were also subject to inappropriate questioning by the investigating panel, including being asked whether they had been drinking and whether they “were ‘sure’ that they’d said no.”

SWP sources told The Journal that one

woman’s party branch was contacted by the committee asking whether an apology from the member accused of raping her “would do”.

None of the allegations were turned over to the police. SWP transcripts leaked from the 2010 conference which discussed the decisions of the disputes committee justified the insular nature of proceedings because of a deep rooted distrust in the “bourgeois” police.

‘Candy U’, who sat on the committee, reportedly said: “We’re not a law court.

We are here to protect the interests of the party, and to make sure that any inappropriate behaviour of any kind by comrades is dealt with, and we do that according to the politics of a revolutionary party...

“The disputes committee doesn’t exist to police moral, er, bourgeois morality.”

Both men were acquitted of all charges by internal panels. Delta voluntarily resigned “to a standing ovation” from supporters, while the second man was handed a temporary suspension for the party for minor offences unrelated to the sexual assault allegations.

The scandal has threatened to tear the party apart, with a furious conflict continuing to rage on socialist websites and blogs. A 500-strong opposition bloc, the “In Defence of our Party” faction, launched a bid to reform the party from

within, prompting the leadership to call this month’s special conference.

The national committee claims that the faction has now been dissolved and the majority of the over 1,000 attendees at this month’s conference in London expressed “overwhelming” support for the motions passed.

However, this has been damned as a “bureaucratic victory” by its opponents and the war of words has continued apace. Over 100 members resigned en masse after the conference, publishing an open letter in which they state: “We are not prepared to accept or abide by the decisions of the special conference.

The conference is a bureaucratic victory which will only lead to the demise of the SWP.” They add that the party’s reputation “is irreparably damaged as a result of the handling of these complaints... and the leadership’s determination to protect one member rather than to develop a clear perspective on rape.” The letter continues to gather new signatures.

Some of the women involved have since spoken out publicly against the party. One told The Guardian she was too afraid to go to the police, saying: “They said, if you go around calling him a rapist, you’ll be in trouble... They’re not the kind of people to get on the wrong side of.”

The transcripts report that another woman was shunned by her local branch for coming forward during the internal grievance proceedings. In the hearings, a panel member said: “Shortly after the hearing Candy referred to, a second woman came forward with an allegation of sexual harassment, and she will speak herself in this session.

“I think it’s important to say that she’s been moved from her party job following giving that evidence, and that she’s been told her presence at the centre would disrupt the harmony of the office. I think this constitutes punishing her for making a complaint of sexual harassment.”

An SWP spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment as The Journal went to press.

Socialist splinter: we quit over sexist culture International Socialist Group founder reveals in Journal interview that allegations prompted them to leave SWP EXCLUSIVE Rachel Barr

A former member of the SWP’s

national committee has today revealed that his public resignation alongside dozens of other Scots activists from the party was directly connected to the ongoing sexual misconduct scandal and the party’s “sexist culture”, joining the mounting attacks on the party’s culture of secrecy and factionalism in the radical left.

In early 2011, 39 Scottish members of the SWP resigned from the party to form the dissident International Socialist Group Scotland (ISG). In a public letter of resignation, the group attacked the party’s approach to combating the coalition government’s cuts programme, and condemned the rival factions inside the SWP which forced the resignation of Right to Work campaign leader Chris Bambery, saying that the ouster “means we can no longer trust a section of the Central Committee.”

But James Foley, a prominent figure in the dissident International Socialist Group Scotland, has now told The Journal that the decision to split from the SWP was also motivated by “the cultlike way that they handled the claims of sexual harassment”.

Foley confirmed that the group knew of some of the allegations against Comrade Delta, saying: “When we left,

we were aware of a case of sexual harassment against Comrade Delta by W”.

However, the group were unaware of the extent of these allegations. Foley said that the allegations of rape only emerged after members’ exit, saying: “I genuinely believed that this was a case of aggressive text messaging and harassment. That was all that anyone knew at the time.”

Although the scandal exploded into the mainstream political conversation following widespread national media coverage in January, the issue of sexual misconduct has dogged the party’s internal discourse for years, with the initial harassment allegations against Delta discussed at length during the party’s 2011 conference.

Foley, who was elected to the party’s national committee during that session, described the account of the allegations given to the membership during conference as unclear and euphemistic.

He claimed that this lack of information, and W’s desire that the issue not be taken further, are why the matter was not taken to the police or press until now.

Calling the alleged offences “inexcusable and vile”, Foley said he was unsurprised by the party’s handling of the affair in light of their “cult-like secrecy.” He told The Journal that the party structure means “members can’t openly have their own ideas. All opinions must go through the paper [The Socialist Worker], an artifact from the ‘50s.

They’re completely behind the times, especially in terms of gender equality.”

He claimed is likely to prove “terminal” for the party, saying: “I support all those opposing from within the party and wish them all the best. However, it is my belief that ‘SWP’ is now a toxic name and many groups on the left have joined the widespread boycott against working with the party.

“For the opposition [faction] to win they would have to remove the toxic elements, the secrecy, the lack of concern for other socialist groups and, by then, there’s no SWP left... In the long run, the bureaucratic force of the central committee will force everyone decent out.”

The group has since released a public statement expressing their ‘disgust and dismay’ on the way that the SWP investigated the rape case against Comrade Delta.

An SWP spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment as The Journal went to press, but speaking before this month’s special conference, national secretary Charlie Kimber told The Guardian: “The woman concerned brought serious accusations to our attention, we investigated, found against the accused and took prompt action.

Those are the facts of this case.” He did not provide further information, citing confidentiality concerns.

In a move to further distance themselves from the founders’ former party, the ISG have made combating sexism

a cause celebre, passing policy during their inaugural meeting explicitly stating that they are “a feminist organisation”.

ISG member Alice Bowman told The Journal that the group has “really tried to distinguish itself from the allegations made in the SWP through its women’s

liberation work.”

Though not previously a member of the SWP, Bowman said the party’s handling of the allegations was “appalling”, adding: “I can’t see how you can have an anti-capitalist organisation without it also being a feminist one.”

10 / EDITORIAL

The Journal Wednesday 20 March 2013

@GlasgowJournal / journal-online.co.uk

GLASGOW’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER The SWP rape scancal

Behind the barricades, a sad betrayal The ongoing saga of the Socialist

Workers Party’s apparent whitewashing of a series of allegations of rape and sexual harassment against senior members is a particularly sordid tale, even by the standards of sleazy British politics. The allegations levelled against ‘Comrade Delta’ are incredibly serious, and warrant a full investigation by both the party and the police — not simply an internal ‘disputes committee’ whose impartiality is in serious doubt and whose treatment of the issue appears to resemble a kangaroo court.

The facts of the case are still only intermittently clear. We know, for example, that the fiasco dates back to 2010, and the initial allegation of sexual harassment against Comrade Delta by a young party member, ‘W’, which was later expanded to

also allege rape. And we know that several other women later lodged complaints of sexual harassment and rape against another senior SWP figure known as ‘X’.

Yet there appears to have been relatively little substantive action; only a dubious investigation which concluded that nothing untoward took place. There has been no acknowledgement that a string of serious complaints against high-ranking figures in the party implies a culture of misogyny which desperately needs redress.

Almost as reprehensible as their alleged connivance to protect sexual predators within the top echelons of their organisation and their abject failure to properly investigate and address those accusations is the shameless manner in

which the SWP’s central committee have attempted to redirect the entire conversation, and make the salient issue the factional divides within the party. The inane squabbling of factions on the left should take a back seat to even the most mundane political issues — let alone the question of severe sexual misconduct by party leaders.

The miserable mishandling by the party of this entire scandal represents a failure on two fronts: first, and foremost, it suggests an abdication by the party of the commitment to liberation groups which is meant to be a fundamental priority of leftwing politics. The protection and advancement of traditionally marginalised or oppressed groups in society is a basic tenet of socialism, and the prevention and punishment of sexual violence against women

NUS Scotland elections

A new start, with the same old clique Recent students’ association elec-

tions have demonstrated a fundamental problem with the student movement in Scotland: that cliques and factions can prove uninviting and impede previously-considered apolitical students from getting their voices heard.

The elections at last week’s NUS Scotland conference in Dundee also showed that long-existing problems are still prevalent in the student movement at a national level with the top positions within the organisation failing to attract much interest with the majority of candidates being students who already occupied positions within NUS Scotland or their students’ associations.

As has been pointed out by some delegates prior to the conference, the presidential race again saw just two candidates, neither of whom were women, or selfdefined as BME, while was particularly vocal about the backgrounds of previous

leaders.

Again, the important position of vicepresident (education) was uncontested, with the only candidate a familiar face in the student movement and strong ties – the reality being only another candidate with a similar profile could hope to have a chance of election.

Just 136 students voted on the leadership of the union for the next 15 months and, while it might indicate that more colleges and universities are sending more delegates to shape the Scottish student movement, it is still not absolutely representative and omits potentially hundreds of students from participating because of external factors which could prevent them from standing to become a delegate at their college or university, not least the complex methodology for determining delegate quota for each institution.

NUS Scotland is widely recognised as an

Equality in action at the Socialist Workers Party...

influential campaigning organisation in this country, particularly through its work under the leadership of Liam Burns and Robin Parker, but it has a long way to go to truly represent all students, to be a union of which any student, irrespective of background can really be a part of as an equal.

As the union considers how best to implement the latest policy motions passed last weekend, its primary concern should be with breaking down the barriers to inclusivity and levelling the playing field for those students disadvantaged by not having been part of the movement for years or being particularly active in their students’ associations.

Widening access to higher education, including postgraduate studies, is just one priority area NUS Scotland is campaigning heavily on at the moment but, next academic year more than any other, it should mandate to widen access to its own organisation.

by Jen Owen

and the dismantling of institutionalised or culturally entrenched sexism should be in the very first rank of liberation priorities. If the SWP truly have sought to sweep this issue under the carpet, then they have betrayed their own principles in the most shameful manner.

But in a broader sense, the Comrade Delta debacle, and the infighting which has accompanied it, offers in one depressing package an illustration of why the radical left in Britain is a functional political irrelevance, and has been for years. The British left has always shown a tendency towards factionalism, and that inclination has proved enormously damaging time and time again. Not only is the navel-gazing an unnecessary distraction and a farcical waste of energy and intellect, it also does a grand disservice to the millions of Britons who so earnestly want and deserve a credible left. When is the revolution going to stop eating its own young, and focus on making a credible political case?

// REACTIONS The Twilight Sad: Ten Year Rule You’re the musical discovery I’m most proud of in my life, when I have kids and they’re growing up you’ll be the band I tell them about x - Candace Higgins, via web.

GUU supporter fights back after feminist rally At last some sense is spoken-the whole thing is absolutely absurd and turned in to a complete and utter witch hunt!

I graduated 4 years ago and had only ever positive experiences in the union.

Its a union where elected students both male and female work hard together as a team to make the union a safe place to spend a night out.

Having been a board member myself I know how dedicated everyone is and these allegations simply undermine that.

Girls have the same opportunities as males within the union and are treated with the same respect. I wander how many from the rally have actually ever spent any time in the GUU. - Ruth Campbell, via web.

Glasgow Uni students vote ‘no’ to Scottish independence Good grief... so because a politician attended an event, the vote was lost because it was taken away from the students... rather a rational argument about the actual facts of self governance. Makes one question the whole notion of entrusting democracy to anyone under 30.

- Gordie Ross via web.

Please direct all letters, complaints, threats and general rants for publication to letters@journalonline.co.uk. Letters may be edited prior to publication. Alternatively, follow us on Twitter (@EdJournal and @GlasgowJournal) and like us on Facebook.

PUBLISHER Devon Walshe EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Marcus Kernohan MANAGING EDITOR Olivia Pires DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR Gareth Llewellyn MANAGING EDITOR (DIGITAL) David Selby LOCAL NEWS Keira Murray STUDENT NEWS Rebecca Day ACADEMIC NEWS Delanie Clarke NATIONAL POLITICS Daniel do Rosario STAFF WRITERS Aoife Moore, Rachael McHard, Émer O’Toole, Hannah Rodger, Colm Currie, Hollie Jones, Gemma Clark, Stef Millar, Lorne Gillies COMMENT Aynsleigh Hollywood FEATURES Katie O’Hara MUSIC Harris Brine, Jamie Brotherston FILM Blair C. Dingwall BOOKS John Hewitt Jones STAFF WRITERS Ailsa Clark, Jonathan Whitelaw, Lauren Simpson, Ross Miller, Cait Gillespie, Daniel Lawson, Connor Macgregor DEPUTY EDITOR (SPORT) Craig W. Ritchie ASSISTANT EDITOR (SPORT) Sean McGowan SPORTSWRITERS Callum Carson, Kierran Allardice, Kieran Thomas, Mark McGeever, Michael Mawdsley PICTURE EDITOR Christopher Rubey STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Jassy Earl Beth Chalmers Malgosia Stelmaszyk LAYOUT DIRECTOR Alina Mika GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kristin Yordanova MARKETING DIRECTOR Andrew Robinson SALES Arran Walshe Charles Beare

The Journal Wednesday 20 March 2013

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COMMENT// 11

DISCUSSION&DEBATE

COMMENT

Fight the campus devaluation of women Douglas Alexander MP calls for the creation of a National Convention if the Scottish electorate votes ‘No’ to independence Kelley Temple Women’s officer, NUS I got involved in student politics

because I was sick of women’s contributions being devalued at my students’ association. I was bored of seeing women being under-estimated in wider politics and tired of the way women’s liberation is sidelined.

While working as women’s officer I’ve learnt a lot about the problems female students face while at university.

Research completed by the National Union of Students (NUS) has shown that one in seven female students have been a victim of serious physical or sexual harassment while at university.

Female students are also more likely to be working for lower wages than men, and student carers (who are predominately women) are more likely to have considered dropping out of university due to time and financial pressures.

Research by NUS sheds further light

on the issues affecting women at university. ‘That’s what she said: Women students’ experiences of lad culture in higher education’, a report published on International Women’s Day by the NUS, reveals that 50 per cent of study participants identified ‘prevailing sexism, ‘laddism’ and a culture of harassment’ at their university.

The report has also gathered opinions and statistics from The Everyday Sexism Project and Equalities Challenge Unit, as well as gaining support from Universities UK and British Universities and Colleges Sports (BUCS).

All of these parties are committed to a summit which will aim to tackle ‘lad culture.’ NUS is calling on Jo Swinson to convene the summit as Women and Equalities Minister. I hope she will answer it.

Even in the student movement women are woefully under-represented. Women currently make up almost 57 per cent of the UK higher education student population, but just 18 per cent of student union presidents are women. It’s depressing.

But although these figures do not

‘Women currently make up 57 per cent of the UK student population, but just 18 per cent of student union presidents are women.’ make for a pretty picture, there are plenty of students making change happen. Susana Antubam, from the Royal Holloway Students’ Union, was named Inspirational Woman Student of the Year by the NUS Women’s Campaign.

Susuana is a full-time student and President of the Royal Holloway Feminist Society. She founded the London Student Feminist Network and played a major role in organising the Student Feminist Conference; an exciting conference bringing together women with

a vision to learn about different issues and create an important informal space for female students to come together and develop their own campaigning capacity.

The University of Edinburgh Feminist Society, who have worked against anti-choice groups and affiliated Edinburgh University Students’ Association to Abortion Rights, have done some amazing work discussing the effects of lad culture on their campus.

I think it’s really important that we recognise that great women like Susana

are on campuses making a real difference for female students. Not only is it vital that as women, we realise that we have the power to shape our education, but also that we can challenge the sexism and prejudice which women have to navigate in pursuit of an education and wider student life. By working together and supporting each other we can challenge this ‘lad culture’ and make our universities a better place for women.this National Convention would look beyond an agenda of constitutional change.

Lads, do not go gentle into that good night... LASH LASH LASH For their penultimate column, Edinburgh Anonymous rather lazily hands over to Oliver Asquith-Jones, a belligerent student who barged into the newsroom drunk last Friday night, for a rare defence of the ‘lad banter’ phenomenon Edinburgh Anonymous This is a call to arms. Men, Women, Children gather yourselves and prepare to defend the last vestige of masculinity. Lad Banter. Is nothing sacred anymore? Can we really trust no one to uphold the banter?

In an age where we have to moisturise, where mutton chops are an absolute no-no and where we are forced to wear sickeningly skimpy Y-neck shirts just to turn a girl’s head, true lads must do everything in their power to reaffirm their identity and preserve a legacy for the next generation.

On entrance into an overcrowded pub during a rugby match, any selfrespecting red-blooded male would dream to hear the chorus of “LAD LAD LAD” as he proceeded to expertly demolish ten pints of bitter before the second half had even started.

I, Oliver Asquith-Jones, am prepared to stand up for that dream and for the rights of a young lad to have a bit of fun.

It’s a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man (such as

myself ) in possession of a good fortune (did I mention Daddy’s estate?) must be in want of a bit of banter. What else are we poor lads - with such unfulfilling male role models as we have today - supposed to do?

Banter, of course, is really just harmless. A bit of fun. All this talk about sexism and misogyny, its missing the point. The ladies down at the polo club back home - they’d never hear a bad word said about what we lads get up to.

Indeed, some of them join in.

Cressida’s been known to drink with the best of us and we’ve welcomed her with open arms into the fold - well, at least Barney did, if you know what I mean.

And yes, sure, Smithy did have to have the little toe on his left foot reattached last weekend, but I’m sure he’d be the first to join in the post-lash air rifle banter again when we have our next rugby social.

“Hunting the Banterlope” is a bastion of our times and a tradition that we should continue to uphold - just maybe get out of the way a bit quicker next time eh Smithy?

The drinking never gets too heavy when we’ve got class the next day, and we’re always careful as true lads should be, to look after one another.

Even when one of the lads pulls, we always remember to take a picture of the girl in question just in case he doesn’t return the next day. Anything ould happen to him, on his own like that. In this day and age it’s a team building exercise more than anything.

The key to a good team is good banter.

Something that never goes amiss is the travel banter - the absolutely hilarious stunt where we force a youth, barely of drinking age to hop on a train from Edinburgh to Timbuktu because he failed to drink that urine fast enough.

Top class banter when it takes him

three weeks to return with a note from the French and Malian forces declaring ‘Banter prime!’

So I come to the point of the motions to curtail our beloved patter and launch my rallying call to our masses with these four words... ‘It’s Just Banter Mate’.

12 / COMMENT

@GlasgowJournal / journal-online.co.uk

The Journal Wednesday 20 March 2013

The Anatomy of Autonomy PART V: ENERGY & CLIMATE CHANGE // IN THE PENULTIMATE of our considerations of the independence debate, before tackling the contentious economic and fiscal policy, we will look at energy policy and climate change both as self-contained dimensions of the independence discourse as well as linked to the economic considerations.

Back in the 1970s, the discovery of oil in the North Sea was one of the factors responsible for the reinvigoration of the Nationalist movement. Today, 40 years later, as the independence referendum approaches, the issue of oil and gas ownership has emerged again. Professor Peter Cameron, director

Peter Cameron Director, Centre for Energy Petroleum and Mineral Law & Policy It is forty years ago since the rally-

ing cry was first heard: ‘It’s Scotland’s Oil! What a very different energy world it is today and how odd such a cry would sound now. Amid all of the talk of independence, the global energy landscape has been transformed by the large-scale production of shale gas in North America and in some places at least the introduction of large-scale wind farms, on-land and offshore. None of this has made oil less important but somehow the connection between Scotland and

The lack of passion about the oil and gas issue in Scotland is explained to some extent by the fact that the oil is a long way offshore, and has few visible on-land effects if you do not live in Aberdeen.

of the Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law & Policy explores the issues around the ownership of oil as well as new avenues for consideration such as the overheating effect that oil revenues could have on an independent Scottish Economy.

Lastly, an assessment of the devolved Scottish Government climate change policy, provides a prognosis of what the environmental commitments of an independent Scotland would be.

Feel free to join the our online debate by visiting the Anatomy of Autonomy page in The Journal website or tweet with the hashtag #indyjournal.

Oil has become less obvious or even interesting to the general public.

Yet ownership of oil still arouses passions in many parts of the world.

It is one of the reasons the Chinese and Japanese have come to blows in the East China Sea and is the source of a myriad of disputes before international courts and tribunals about claims to offshore waters.

Recently, with global warming this has extended to the potential for oil exploration in the waters now accessible as a result of the melting ice cap of the Arctic.

The lack of passion about the issue in Scotland is explained to some extent by the fact that the oil is a long way offshore, and has few visible on-land effects, if you do not live in Aberdeen that is. It is also attributable to the pessimistic refrain from many sources, some in Westminster, that the oil is in decline and will run out very soon. To date, this has proved wrong. Declining production from a peak some years ago has still not deterred investors from piling in recently, from large to small companies, foreign and British owned.

In the context of the independence debate, one of the issues is how much of the oil and gas in offshore waters would an independent Scotland inherit? If we were to engage in a division of the offshore oil, the available legal materials would now be much greater to hand than a few decades ago. There is now much more customary practice in demarcating offshore waters than there was in those days. A settlement would probably come about quite quickly as both parties would be keen to ensure that the oil kept flowing and that investors were not deterred by lengthy and acrimonious debates between the new Scottish state and the rest of the

NEXT WEEK: Economics and monetary policy

TILTING AT WINDMILLS What does Scotland’s future energy policy look like?

UK. But that would be the start of another debate. Nowadays there is much awareness of the negative side of oil development: the so-called resource curse associated with Black Gold.

This brings us to the question – which has not escaped the Scottish Government – of what an independent Scotland would actually do with the revenues. How would they be managed? Perhaps it seems an odd question to present as a problematic issue but many oil-producing countries are all too aware of the risks of overheating their economies with

too rapid an influx of revenues, of embarking on expensive infrastructure projects that produce whiter elephants than city tram networks, or distributing shares of the revenues directly to citizens as the Governments of Alaska and Mongolia have done to the delight of their citizens, leading to statistically proven increases in alcohol consumption.

The Norwegians have built up an enormous sovereign fund for future generations and – some would say as usual - have probably taken the most sensible route. To their credit the Scottish Government have studied this idea of an oil fund and have

viewed it positively.

As an issue ownership of oil has given way to a much greater understanding of the real challenges of managing a resource to benefit present and future generations. The legal issues of who owns what are probably a lot easier to resolve now than people think.

The next stage – avoiding the downside of oil development as the UK has done to date – would present an independent Scotland with a challenge that has faced many other new countries, only a few of which have been successful. But it could certainly give it a good try.

The weather-vane: which way are the government leaning?

Independence could well prompt positive moves Jon Vrushi Comment editor, Edinburgh

The Scottish Government is considering climate change policy as an integral part of the Scottish Constitution, which would be Scotland’s main official document if independence is achieved. Other countries such as India, Poland and Argentina also have environmental and climatechange principles enshrined in their

constitutions.

On 5 February the Scottish Government published a report called ‘Scotland’s Future: from the Referendum to Independence and a Written Constitution’, which maps out the next steps if the majority of the electorate votes ‘Yes’ in the independence referendum in 2014.

One of the issues considered is the future of climate change policy. The document states: ‘Scotland’s natural resources are vital to the future success of an independent Scotland.

We believe a constitutional convention should examine how principles on climate change, the environment and the sustainable use of Scotland’s natural resources should be constitutionally protected to embed Scot-

land’s commitment to sustainable development and responsible and sustained economic growth.’

On 29 January the Scottish Government declared that it would continue tackling climate change and allocated £1.14 billion on measures to address climate change in the next three years. On the occasion, the minister for Environment and Climate change, Paul Weelhouse, said: “Scotland is at the top of the European league table for emissions reductions and is recognised for leading the way across the UK, Europe and the rest of the world in tackling climate change.

Our concerted action to tackle greenhouse gas emissions has seen Scotland achieve greater reductions in emissions than not only the UK, but

other nations recognised for their high ambition, such as Germany and Denmark.”

He then went on to add: “We are taking strong action on renewables, zero waste, peatlands and tackling fuel poverty with ambitious new plans to decarbonise production of electricity and heat.”

Contacted by The Journal, the press officer of the department for Environment and Climate Change stated: “We have set world-leading targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and are over halfway to meeting our target of cutting emissions by 42 per cent by 2020. We are also championing climate justice on the international stage, with a dedicated £3m Climate Justice Fund

which is helping communities in Malawi and Zambia most impacted by climate change access clean and safe water and we will host an international conference on climate justice later this year.”

The Scottish Government has consistently shown good will and commitment to tackle climate change.

Examples such as the development of renewable energy sources as well as the Climate Justice Fund, illustrate the responsibility that Scotland is taking in the global environmental effort. Whether this direction would be kept under an independent Scotland is difficult to tell, but the commitment of enshrining environmental principles in a Scottish constitution are promising indeed.

The Journal Wedenesday 20 March 2013

@GlasgowJournal / journal-online.co.uk

FEATURES// 13

“Fidelio is your world...”

Sydney-born director of Edinburgh International Festival Jonathan Mills delves into his 2013 programme Laurie Goodman A&E editor, Edinburgh

When Jonathan Mills was

appointed director of EIF in 2006, he was dismissed by cultural commentator Norman Lebrecht as a ‘minnow’ in the sea of the British art world. Lebrecht stated, “Mills arrives naked at the high table, an innocent among panthers who have no need of his patronage.”

Seven years, two contract extensions and several programmes with record-breaking amounts of funding later, it would appear that Lebrecht is in need of some critical revision.

Spanning 9 August – 1 September and bringing 2,200 artists together from 35 nations, Mills explains that this year’s EIF is “about the ways in which artists use the technology of their time to completely reinvent the world and give us a new slant on the way we experience our lives.”

Key to this idea is the theme of invention: “I don’t care if something was invented yesterday or 500 years ago, I care if it is compelling, if it speaks to me and actually contributes to my understanding of my life.

“You have to ask yourself, ‘What is the nature of art?’ ‘What is the nature of innovation?’ This programme deals with that spirit of curiosity.”

Mills’ programme encompasses and approaches everything from Beethoven to Broadway, burlesque and ballet. What’s vital, however, is that the classics are presented with contemporary twist. For example, in an exhibition entitled The Mechanics of Man, Leonardo Da Vinci’s studies of human anatomy are juxtaposed with the most up-to-date medical imagery, such as CT and MRI scans.

Having announced the 2013 schedule six days before our interview, Mills is ostensibly a difficult man to acquire. In reality, he seems delighted by the prospect of reaching out to a student audience. He explains attendance from younger audiences at EIF is usually hindered by fallacies concerning the accessibility of ‘high art’ and the pricing of EIF in comparison to the Fringe.

This year’s programme attempts to subvert these preconceptions, Mills explains. “This is a period in which we can actually move across cultural and historical divides: what seems to be high art is actually accessible, and what seems to be low brow is sometimes more experimental than it seems to be.

“That’s what the festival is doing this year: It’s not about arbitrary political distinctions, it’s about artists getting down and dirty, exploring their world and using the tools at hand in unusual ways.”

In this context, one of Mills’ major blockbusters this year is a 21st century reimagining of Beethoven’s only opera, Fidelio. Featuring video projections and searing light effects, director and contemporary media artist Gary Hill’s production sees Beethoven’s narrative unfold on the spaceship ‘Aniara’ as it hurtles into space.

Speaking directly to The Journal

as a student audience, he said, “This is a story for your age. It’s a time when habeas corpus is suspended, when there are all sorts of shenanigans by government, of extorting information under torture and duress, and when there are secret trials without juries. That is exactly the story of Fidelio.

“Never been to the opera? Come to Fidelio: It is your world. It is a world I think you need to engage with Beethoven’s insight into in order to understand how to live your own life.”

Fidelio is one of eleven world premieres that Mills has scheduled into the lineup for this August – all of which, he explains, carry substantial risk.

“The great thing about a live festival is that, there’s no guarantee of it arriving fully packaged without

“I don’t care if something was invented yesterday or 500 years ago, I care if it compelling.

‘What is the nature of art?’ ‘What is the nature of innovation?’

This programme deals with that spirit of curiosity.”

flaws. The festival is about immersing yourself in ideas, arguing with them, debating with them, being challenged by them, disagreeing profoundly with them.”

I question Mills on the act he thinks could make or break the festival - and the answer comes as no surprise. “I would suggest that in terms of the greatest single challenge and controversy, it would probably be Fidelio. There will be heaps of purists saying ‘that’s not opera!’…Bring it on! Bring on the argument.

“I think that’s exactly what opera is about, about throwing different areas of art together… It came out of artistic discussions in places of political protest - of incredible intensity and passion. I think a production like our Fidelio is suggesting that the values that underpin

Beethoven are incredibly relevant to our lives today.”

A searing blend of the classic and the cutting-edge, Mills’ 2013 programme is one that can perhaps finally indicate to the general public that the modes of opera, dance, classical music and theatre are not the dusty grandparents of the cultural spectrum.

“60 or 70 years ago there was a much clearer division between classical art and popular culture, and I think the single thing that blew that apart was the Internet. I think that it’s not a question of us competing with a couple of other festivals any more, I think it’s much more revolutionary and broader than that.

A deep breath rattles down the line. “Unless you address that, you’re going to get left behind. It’s a huge existential challenge.”

14 / FEATURES

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Exhibiting PINCH

Ailsa Clark

Ailsa Clark speaks to curator of exhibition celebrating female artists in Glasgow Ailsa Clark

This

year’s

International

Women’s Month has certainly been a controversial one. As a national outcry erupted over sexist remarks made at the annual GUU Ancients debate, many feminist voices in Glasgow have been left tending towards anger, if not downright doom and gloom.

Nevertheless, it’s business as usual for Glasgow School of Art graduate Rosie Roberts who, to coincide with this month-long celebration of the social, political and cultural achievements of women worldwide, is curating an exhibition showcasing some of the most exciting work by up and coming female artists in Glasgow.

Featuring the work of eight artists currently practicing in Glasgow, PINCH includes work by both graduates and current GSA students, and presents a variety of new work; exhibiting painting, print-making, video work and sculpture, as well as collaborative pieces between the artists.

After putting out a call for submissions last month, Roberts was astonished by the overwhelming amount of work submitted, leading her to narrow the scope of the work presented significantly. PINCH, Roberts explains, exhibits work which she felt “was made by women, but didn’t necessarily have to have women as the subject. Instead I’ve focused on work that was made by women but which was a little bit more

gender ambiguous.” Roberts, who graduated in Painting from GSA last year, explains that narrowing the focus of the exhibition was an important part of the creative process: “A lot of the people who put forward work that was very overtly feminist, but we were really looking for something which was a bit more subtle. Sometimes people only associate the art made by women with that sort of work and, instead, I wanted to showcase that women in Glasgow are, in fact, doing a very diverse range of artwork outside of that”.

The diverse nature of the work selected by Roberts has also allowed for PINCH to exhibit a number of collaborative pieces, including one between Roberts herself and textile designer Meg Held. This collaborative spirit, Roberts says, has allowed both herself and Held to explore new areas of work: “Meg is predominantly a textile designer, but we are also working on a piece where she has printed one of her textiles onto a canvas for me and I’m painting on top of it, combining the textile object and the painted surface. Meg works a lot in upholstery so instead using her textiles for a painting has been a really interesting process for both of us.”

As well as collaborating with other exhibiting artists, Roberts has also worked closely on the exhibition with Glasgow women’s collective TYCI. The collective, who run a blog, a zine and a radio show, as well as putting on

monthly live music events at Bar Bloc, were keen to include more art based events, Roberts explains: “TYCI didn’t have an awful lot of art stuff going on and I’d been thinking about organising an exhibition which was all women, so International Women’s Month gave me the perfect time frame to combine the two.”

The collective, Roberts suggests,

also echoes the diversity of PINCH through their own endeavors outwith the gallery: “TYCI is a new collective of women set up and run by women and there are all sorts of different ladies involved, and a lot of different takes on what being a women means. It’s a great forum for creative young women in Glasgow and beyond to be able to write, have a say, and work together. TYCI also

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creates great channels between different areas, with a lot of the girls having a lot to do with music, or theatre production, and artists like me creating work and collaborating with one another to put on great events like PINCH’.

PINCH opened on Saturday 16 March at Studio 41, 41 West Graham Street, Glasgow G4 9LJ.

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The Journal Wednesday 20 March 2013

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CULTURE&LIFESTYLE

ARTS&ENTS

• Tilda Swinton face of Chanel’s Paris-Edimbourg collection • Iona Crawford named creative director of city of Stirling • Scots fashion figures featured in British Vogue supermodel and Edinburgh International Fashion Festival Founder Anna Freemantle.

Styled in a Fair Isle cardigan, beaded organza top and argyle stockings, finished off with a Chanel-issue leather sporran slung over her shoulder, Freemantle looks every bit the stylish Scot in the Vogue feature.

Speaking exclusively to The Journal after the shoot, Freemantle explains: “it is a very positive thing for Scotland that Chanel, Vogue and others are celebrating the Scottish aesthetic and history.I’m delighted to be a part of this but, more importantly, it is good to see that the recent energy that has been injected into the local fashion scene is getting noticed.

She added, “The Edinburgh International Fashion Festival is part of this, but there are other positive forces at play as well. Add to this the current energy surrounding the Scottish art scene, particularly in Glasgow, the prognosis is very good.

We’re looking forward to adding to this further with the Fashion Festival this year: we’re announcing the programme in June, so watch this space.”

As well as international fashion houses, Scottish student designers were also making headlines following the Glasgow School of Art (GSA) undergraduate fashion show on the 5th of March. Students have hosted the event since the 1940s, but this year’s third-year students had the added pressure of fundraising for their trip to the New Designers exhibition in London in July 2014, which aims to introduce the next generation of designers to established business leaders.

This year, the show was hosted in The Arches in front of an audience of

The Journal recaps an unusually exciting fortnight for the Scottish fashion scene Oliver Giles Fashion editor

Although

Chanel

debuted

their Scottish-inspired Metiers d’Art collection last December, Karl Lagerfeld’s unique take on tartan and tweed is once again at the forefront of Scottish fashion news.

At the end of February, Chanel announced that they had chosen Scottish actress Tilda Swinton to be the face of the Metiers d’Art collection and that the campaign would be released in full in May. Discussing his choice of Swinton for the campaign, Lagerfeld stated: “Tilda perfectly embodies the Paris-Edimbourg collection. She is of course Scottish, but more than that, she is a modern woman, a timeless icon of elegance.”

However, the choice of Swinton as the face of the collection was not the only news bringing Chanel’s Paris-Edimbourg collection back into the spotlight.

The release of British Vogue’s April issue sparked a flurry of excitement in the Scottish fashion industry due to a leading feature entitled ‘Great Scots’, which showcased leading Scottish models and industry insiders swaddled in Chanel’s Scottish-inspired collection.

A few of the many faces featured in the shoot are Scottish models Amanda Hendrick and Idina May Moncrieffe, enfant terrible of Scottish fashion design Louise Gray, and

Books agenda

fashion press, established designers, fellow students and supporters. This year’s theme was a celebration of the Ballet Russes, but with an incredible fifty-five designers showcasing their work the range of looks was mindblowingly large.

The six fashion design students’ projects were based around the theme of ‘androgyny’ and showcased contemporary application of the Scottish material Harris Tweed.

The textiles students had a range of specialities including print, embroidery, weave and knit. Catherine MacGruer’s knit collection stood out due to her innovative combination of geometric detailing and oversized tassels; she was also one of the few students to showcase both menswear and womenswear.

Print speciaist Vanessa Hindshaw is also a young designer to look out for, with her clever use of layered colours and repeating patterns clearly impressing the audience.

Scottish fashion designer Iona Crawford, who was sitting front row at the GSA undergraduate show, was also in the news this week when it was announced that she will take up the position of Creative Director for the city of Stirling in 2014.

Crawford has had a busy couple of weeks: just back from hosting a showroom at London Fashion Week, she is soon off on business trips to New York and Beijing. However, she explains “being appointed Creative Director for Stirling 2014 is undoubtedly the highlight for me. 2014 is a big year for Scotland and Stirling with the Commonwealth Games, Ryder Cup and the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn. As the heart of Scotland, I feel this is a great opportunity to raise Stirling’s profile world-wide.”

Oliver Saillant

by Vivek Santayana

The Journal takes a look at Amit Chaudhuri’s new novel, Calcutta CALCUTTA: TWO YEARS IN THE CITY Amit Chaudhuri (Union Books, £16.99)

Amit Chaudhuri’s travelogue

about his two years in Calcutta is a remarkable feat. On the surface, it’s a poignantly-crafted narrative that takes the reader on a ramble cross the old city. From the homeless quarters and the stately colonial buildings, to the

modern architectural eyesores threatening the elegant landscape, the intricate local details give create a vivid depiction of the capital of West Bengal.

As well as creating a vivid image of the cityscape, Chaudhuri also traces the history of Calcutta all the way back to the 17th century, before the Battle of Plassey, when what is now Calcutta was the capital of a French colonial administration in Chandannagar.

What is singular about Calcutta is its intelligent exploration of the city and all of its contradictions and associations in a seamless narrative:

Chaudhuri’s heartfelt descriptions of the landscape of the city and memories from his youth are suffused with the story of his own personal development as a writer.

His focused investigation of the history of the city is an oblique comment on the roots and origins of the cultural and economic conflicts which still exist today — a brief interlude on Marxist terrorism in Naxalbari and the emergence of the Naxalite movement is most telling.

The author adores the city for its grand heritage, and this is evident as

his prose generally has a seamless flow to it — although there are times when the imagery used to describe the quotidian comes across as disproportionately romantic.

Apart from anything else, this may well be a problem presented by language. The author employs several Bengali idioms, translated quite roughly into English — in a way that appears to bleach out much of the meaning. Nevertheless, Chaudhuri captures the historic, literary and cultural richness of Calcutta without resorting to hackneyed oriental clichés.

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The Journal Wednesday 20 March 2013

MUSIC

Raising a hand Nebraska’s Desaparecidos rail against a society afraid to speak out Harris Brine Music editor

If Western society was a classroom

and capitalism a stern and unforgiving teacher, then Nebraska’s Desaparecidos would unquestionably be the bolshy, argumentative student in the corner; quick to raise a hand to question, criticise and challenge the modus operandi of its dominating tutor.

“If you go into the American suburbs, everyone’s miserable, and self-medicating on something, be it pharmaceuticals for depression or alcohol. Then you go into some of the poorest townships in South Africa, and people are smiling,” the band’s guitarist Denver Dalley says, pushing back a mane of flopping blonde hair.

“It’s symbolic, you know? More money, more problems.” Much has changed in the eleven years since the post-hardcore group released debut Read Music/Speak Spanish. Two questionable wars, in Iraq and Afghanistan, have embittered the public conscious.

A black president has been elected, Gadaffi, Bin Laden and Hussein eradicated; alongside the events of the Arab Spring and the incredible rise of the inter-

net, rapid advances in technology and our ever-increasing demand for material wealth.

Spearheaded by prolific Bright Eyes frontman Conor Oberst, Desaparecidos (literally ‘disappeared ones’ in Spanish) have returned, and The Journal caught up with them on their first visit to the UK, under the bricks and mortar of The Arches.

“In smaller countries, people can protest and get results. In America, we live under this fear. The media controls so much. A lot of people are worried if they protest, they’ll lose their jobs. Jobs are so scarce. If they lose their job, then what do they do?”

Irrespective of financial woes, Dalley still believes people should take to the streets. “I’d personally much rather see people go out and protest than vote; show the government they’re not afraid to voice their opinion. They have that right, but Americans right now, like you guys, are just not exercising that right”.

Dalley concocts melodies, Oberst writes lyrics, and the whole group assemble songs together, which they write in the hope of evoking “conversation, learning and activity, because you never know who’s going to grow up listening to this

who could then go on to be politically active”.

The interview also shares the same day as the birthdays of reputed writers JM Coetzee and Alice Walker, who both tackled racism through their respective novels ‘Disgrace’ and ‘The Color Purple’.

Desaparecidos’ 2012 release ‘MariKKKopa’ witnessed Oberst ditch wordplay in place of an acerbic attack on Arizona state governor Joe Arpaio’s controversial immigration policies, citing him as racist.

“Oh yeah, ‘AmeriKKKopa’ definitely a big ‘fuck you’ right there,” he smiles, tackling the issue with a laugh. “They say eventually all the races will integrate.

Even with that, they’ll still dislike each other. People are always going to find a way to dislike each other. It reminds me of the Dr Seuss book; the two factions go to war over whether they buttered the top of their bread or the bottom of their bread,” he grins.

One half of the the band’s doublesided release, ‘The Left is Right”, has Oberst screeching “If one must die to save the 99/Maybe it’s justified”. On the surface, it’s easily interpreted as an incitement of violence on the one per cent of the world’s ruling wealthy. However, Dalley reveals its duplicity and uncovers a posi-

Storming the charts Chart-topping Bastille initiate their own revolution Daniel Lawson Staff writer

Recent chart entrants Bastille prefer their new tour bus to the backstage area of the Oran Mor, which is apparently “heated like a sauna and stinks of funny food”, so that’s where they met The Journal before the only Glasgow appearance of their sold-out UK tour. The four-piece indie-poppers were touring debut album Bad Blood.

Bastille, the brain-child of singersongwriter Dan Smith, were also celebrating the success of their latest single, ‘Pompeii’, which debuted at second place in the UK Top 40 and second only to Justin Timberlake’s ‘Mirrors’.

The Official Charts Company revealed ‘Pompeii’ was the most purchased song in Scotland, and Bad Blood has since went on to reach number one in the album charts.

The group — Dan, bassist Will Farquarson, Kyle Simmons on keyboard and drummer Chris Wood — are doing their utmost to concentrate on the job in hand. Fresh from an appearance at Edinburgh’s Liquid Rooms the previous evening, described as “my favourite gig in a long time” by Dan, the Bastille boys are looking forward to testing out the Oran Mor’s limitations.

“I like it when it’s a bit smaller, it’s more intimate with the crowd and we’re all packed in,” explains Kyle.

Unavoidably, conversation begins to drift in the direction of this bigger Bastille picture and the unexpected, all-of-a-sudden fame that current chart esteem may provide them.

“We’re excited about the album being out finally, and all the things it will allow us to do,” says Dan. “I don’t

tive message hiding in plain sight.

“In the Middle East, a young girl (Neda Agha-Soltan) was out protesting and she caught a stray bullet and bled to death, in the street, on camera. It made everyone furious, enough to revolt. Of course, what happened was horrible, but it’s amazing out of a tragedy like that, it becomes a powerful force.”

In the last decade, the internet has revolutionised the world; its sweeping, unregulated waves have continually resisted control in the name of freedom.

Recently however, in acts of centralisation, ugliness has began to wash up on shore: WikiLeaks, contentious piracy and censorship laws and Desaparecidos are not the only ones to speak out.

Activists Anonymous, recently named

by Time Magazine as one of the most influential groups in the world, have since became the unofficial spokespeople for the disgruntled, frustrated and oppressed;

and thrown their weight through online hacking activity, breaking through the encryptions of the major banking corporations and The Pentagon.

‘Anonymous’, the other half of Desparecidos’ latest anger-laden release, is a nod to the eponymous ‘hacktivists’.

Although uncertain of how potent their activity is it’s clear Anonymous, ironically, also instil fear.

“We half-joke when we talk about Anonymous because it’s hard to tell how big or powerful they actually are. We don’t want to invoke their wrath,” he cackles. “Anonymous are symbolic of today. Coetzee and Walker used their pen to spread their message. Nowadays, Anonymous use the mouse,” Dalley trails off, emitting a subtle, uncertain laugh, again reverting, for solace perhaps, to the absurd elements of our modern Western culture. “Nowadays, the mouse is mightier than the sword”.

Introducing...

Flutes Jamie Brotherston Assistant music editor

In Scotland, the word brings

think we really care about how it does, maybe a bit nervous, but we’ll leave the people at our label to worry about that.”

Raising the subject of their recently released single ‘Pompeii’ and its performance jostling with US superstar Timberlake extracts a more meaty response from the band. “Our new single is doing well. We were hoping to take Timberlake!” says Kyle, a hopeful smirk on his face.

“I never thought we’d have beef with Justin Timberlake”, Dan jokes. “I mean its beef that he’s definitely not remotely aware of, but entirely one-sided beef.”

Such successes also come with some strange side-effects, as Bastille are in the middle of discovering. “[This Geezer has] been in Edinburgh last night, but doesn’t have a ticket for today so was just hanging around the bus. I went outside and he caught me, had me signing album stuff, and then individually got everyone else for a chat. He wouldn’t leave. It’s a bit funny.

“It’s our very first experience of all of that,” continues Dan. “Obviously it’s bizarre, but then also nice to have some-

body caring that much. It’s just a bit weird for us.”

When Bastille take to the stage, it is to an instantaneous rapture that never ceases among the crowd for the entirety of their show. Stalwart tracks ‘Icarus’, ‘Bad Blood’, ‘Silence’ and ‘Overjoyed’ all make welcome appearances, as well as a rousing response to new single ‘Pompeii’, which has clearly appealed to Bastille’s existing fanbase as well as swelling its numbers.

Bastille, as well as other commentators, have great difficulty defining what category they belong in. “Our influences are so varied, and we’re not trying for a particular genre”, says Dan. “I don’t think we’re hugely pioneering, but in my mind we just play what we play.

“We’ll definitely be back in Scotland, hopefully Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen,” Dan assures us. “It might even be a bigger venue next time, or it could be smaller, depending on how the album does.”

Kyle adds, through a smirk, “We might just have to do a gig in that Geezer’s living room.”

to mind marching bands, but the advance of Fife quintet, Flutes, may well give cause to change that.

Hailed as the next Frightened Rabbit — put alongside Chvrches by Jim Gellatly of Amazing Radio as his Ones to Watch 2013 and praised for their blend of atmospheric jazzinfluenced post-punk — they are moving in double time.

Flutes’ upcoming single, ‘Kilburn’, is an instantaneous plunge into their eclectic blend of musical influences. With wailing guitars, overdrive and muffled vocals, alongside a distinct feeling of dread, ‘Kilburn’ ghosts forth with a gloom that is similar to fellow miserable Scots, The Twilight Sad. ‘Kilburn’ is a track about one of north-west London’s less recognised and more prickly neighbourhoods, and explores the scenario of Robert Burns and Lord Byron at play in seedy surroundings. There is the same powerful aura about Flutes’ wall of noise, combined with the yawning vocals of front man Godfrey McFall, that makes bands such as their Kilsyth compatriots so impressive.

Last year was one of activity for the band, and with the release of their self-titled vinyl only album, FLUTES, the pace was set with a column of followers behind them.

Rapturously received track ‘Auld Archie’ is the perfect showcase; with

groaning saxophones, a beat that turns the song from a saunter to a full on charge, and a thick, tidal wave of noise with McFall’s voice riding above on the crest.

With acclaim building, a telling measure of appreciation came from Scots heavyweights Frightened Rabbit, who named ‘Auld Archie’ as their track of the day on Clash Magazine’s website, but Flutes’ success has not been immediate. Together for almost a decade, they have travelled far and wide, and for seven years played under the moniker, Tourette’s, before settling into their current incarnation.

Flutes are a band on the move, and have taken their time to experiment and harness their ambitious and tremendously disarrayed sound, even producing their previous album in exile within a static caravan in Craigenmuir.

This year has already been one to celebrate for Scottish music. A triumphant album from Frightened Rabbit, a decade of The Twilight Sad, and the rise of Chvrches will all be highlights, but Flutes may well be set to join them at the front of the procession.

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LIVE MUSIC

Frightened Rabbit

Kat Gollock

The Selkirk folksmiths celebrate ten years with an extraordinary performance at the Barrowlands

MUSIC

Cait Gillespie and Harris Brine

Looking out over a packed Bar-

rowlands, Frightened Rabbit’s frontman Scott Hutchison is awestruck. The iconic Glasgow venue is at capacity, with bodies spilling out on to the stairwell. For a band who, in their 10-year career, have encountered significantly more intimate performances on home soil than sold-out shows, tonight’s gig is something of a momentous moment.

“We’ve been waiting a long time for this,” Hutchison says, grinning.

The slow-burning ascendancy of Frightened Rabbit has generated something of an addictive, symbiotic relationship between the band and its fans.

Following last month’s release of the long-anticipated fourth album Pedestrian Verse, tonight feels like a muchneeded sweet reunion.

Frightened Rabbit gel old and new songs seamlessly like they belong together, and their set list effortlessly navigates its way through the latter three of their four albums. Pedestrian Verse’s ‘Holy’ whets the appetite for 2010 single ‘The Modern Leper’ and the infectious ‘Old Old Fashioned’, the latter perfectly fitting in an anachronistic Barrowlands.

In keeping character with the new album, older numbers ‘Heads Roll Off’ and ‘Backwards Walk’ swell in sound, and while ‘State Hospital’ could be accepted as the little brother of their

Scottish Alternative Music Awards 2013

older work, it is a live versions of ‘The Woodpile’ and ‘Late March, Death March’ which exemplifies Frightened Rabbit’s future direction.

Halfway through the evening, Hutchison reverts to his acoustic guitar for the delicate ‘Poke’. In an instant, the frontman manages to envelop the venue in haunting, attentive silence; red and blue strobe lights scan across hundreds of heads, illuminating enraptured faces as if a lighthouse towered above. The light beams reveal a woman standing in the middle of the crowd, tears rolling down her face.

At its end, the crowd’s unexpected, stirring chorus of ‘Loneliness and the Scream’ is a rising wave of catharsis. Hutchison, wonderstruck, is self-

admittedly also moved to tears. It is an unforgettable experience.

Frightened Rabbit’s potent attraction lies within Hutchison’s innate ability to rouse using his own strikingly honest subjects of personal torment; of relationships; of break-ups; and of existence, which are all easily identifiable, but delivered in a profound and wounded manner.

Foals

ONLINE

An encouraging evening for Scotland’s

Oxford outfit canter off with it in commanding Barrowlands performance

alternative scene

MUSIC

MUSIC

are clearly enjoying the hype over their new EP Heart & Soul Pt II, and keep up the night’s momentum with a incendiary set replete with stirring saxophone solos.

Glasgow’s frightening mask-adorning electro trio Roman Nose are the penultiDaniel Lawson mate act of the night, and are accompaStaff writer nied by a lengthy table of numerous pieces of electronic wizardry. Of all of the equipA superb blend of comedy, concert and ment, the drum pad is a blessing, allowing the best of the nation’s alternative music a semblance of recognisable rhythm to scene provided the perfect mixture for exist in a set lingering not far from all out the fourth Scottish Alternative Music insanity. The trio unleash a series of heavy, Awards. Ever-increasing in popularity, dark and pounding tracks, full of synth this year’s awards attracted 23,000 public and smoke and impressive synchronisavotes, one million online hits and filled tion that nearly stun the crowd.

Glasgow’s Garage to capacity.

Following the final awards and Kick-starting the event with a fierce, announcements, the unreserved denim roaring set, Dundonian three-piece Fat clad figures of The OK Social Club arrive Goth, themselves Best Rock/Alternative to close the show. The four Edinburghnominees. Drummer Mark Keiller bared based indie rockers have just picked up his teeth throughout their show, fitting the award for Best Live Act, fending off given their carnal set, but it wasn’t until Vigo Thieves, and finish with a storming new single ‘Surf’s Down’ did the crowd set which more than adequately justifies reciprocate Fat Goth’s frenzied energy. the decision.

Next up, the hotly-tipped Vigo Perhaps comparable to early MaccaThieves, are natural crowd pleasers and bees with elements of The Vaccines, The have no trouble galvanising the crowd in OK Social Club are ones to watch, and action. With two recent sold-out gigs at brought a faultless end to an encouraging King Tut’s as evidence for their Best Live evening for Scotland’s often overlooked Act nomination, the Wishaw-based outfit alternative scene.

Daryn Jones Williamson

Jamie Brotherston Assistant music editor

The momentum of Foals has pro-

gressed from trot to full-on gallop, as the indie-thoroughbreds from Oxford entertain the bustle of a packed Barrowlands.

An intriguing and detached support slot from Mercury-nominated outfit The Invisible, who opened with their ambitiously epic pop to a fired up and freshfaced audience, is an impressive appetiser for the main course.

Foals kick things off without delay and are more wallop than whinny, prancing on stage to a cacophony of acclaim. The crowd radiate excitement, with t-shirts being whirled overhead like lassos even before frontman Yannis Philippakis bolts into a set that traverses their discography.

By visiting their early material from the off in a simple and effective ploy, Foals immediately command the ballroom.

With the warped and weathered floorboards reverberating to the beat of pounding feet, numbers such as ‘Olympic Airwaves’ set the tone; and Foals trample over their hipsterish past with surprising intensity.

After warming up the crowd with some odds-on favourites, Foals don’t horse around with an exhibition of their more explorative and ambient material. ‘My Number’ and ‘Late Night’ run free to every corner of the room, perfect examples of Foals ability to produce tracks with real kick as well as enterprise — a new drive coming through heavier basslines and skittish guitars of tracks from new album Holy Fire.

A real highlight of the night comes with ‘Providence’, a heavy track that

As the band conclude with ‘Swim Until You Can’t See Land’, the crowd belts out the song’s illustrious lyrics with a deafening roar; Hutchison’s attempts to get everybody to sing in harmony are futile. But this is the only time that Frightened Rabbit and the crowd are out of sync. Otherwise, the evening is one of a beautiful and harmonious symbiosis.

blends a prohibition-era moonshine haze with the upbeat pop beats and synths that have seen Foals set the pace for British indie music.

Philippakis proceeds to whip up the crowd to an even higher level, and launches himself with parabolic trajectory into the fray. Returning for a brief respite with the dreamy ‘Spanish Sahara’, he bucks against gravity and flies once more.

A crunching finale with ‘Two Steps, Twice’ ends a full-on show, and Foals are impressive in their untrembling confidence and dazzle the Barrowlands with much more panache than many of their current compatriots on the indie scene possess.

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Sigur Rós

Read why we gave the Icelandic rockers five stars, only online

Tom Odell Elizabeth Morrison reviews the BRITs Critics’ Choice winner when he played King Tut’s earlier this month

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The Journal Wednesday 20 March 2013

FILM

We Are Northern Lights Collaborative documentary of work from 121 different Scots showcased

FILM Blair C Dingwall Film editor

A groundbreaking collaborative Scottish documentary has begun

touring the country, following plaudits at its Glasgow Film Festival premiere.

We Are Northern Lights combines footage shot and submitted by 121 different co-directors from all corners of Scotland, and combines their stories into a sweeping, 95-minute snapshot of the country in 2012.

The project is the brainchild of University of Edinburgh senior lecturer Dr Nick Higgins, collaborating with Glasgow-born editor Colin Monie.

Director-producer Higgins said: “What we were delighted about, but it was absolutely not a foregone conclusion, was that we had a fantastic response.

“We ended up with over 300 hours of footage, which is pretty much more than three times what we thought we would get.”

The We Are Northern Lights submission process took their team three months to collect, and five to edit.

Higgins added: “We just didn’t know how the public would respond at all. We ended up with over 1,500 submissions, which to give you some idea means in terms of editing, our poor assistant editors had to log over 14,000 clips.

That’s an enormous amount of material.”

The end film, introduced by culture secretary Fiona Hyslop, went down a storm with the Glasgow audience on Saturday 16 February.

Hyslop said: “We Are Northern Lights presents a fantastic insight into modern day Scotland. It shows what can be achieved when the individual creative impulses of people from across Scotland are brought together.”

Higgins added: “We’ve got 121 codirectors in the final film and that’s 121 different perspectives of who we are.

“It’s not just seeing ourselves as others see us, it’s seeing ourselves as we see ourselves.”

The film has now undergone a tour of Scotland, beginning this week with screenings at the Edinburgh Filmhouse cinema.

The tour will continue in Aberdeen on Sunday 10 March, and following this screenings at Stirling, Inverness, Dundee and Dumfries.

Higgins added: “As a communal viewing experience [it] is very enjoyable because there is all these moments of recognition within the cinema.

“It’s not just about places but about characters. You might not know the people on the screen but you know their type, you know who they are, you recognise the humour; and that’s a very pleasurable sort of experience.”

This film is the first of its kind in to be made in Scotland, and was new territory for Higgins himself following years of documentary work on human rights and cultural issues.

Higgins’ field is visual and cultural

The Look of Love

studies, for which he believes documentary filmmaking is the most effective means of communication to the public.

He said: “I teach practice, practicebased research, which basically means you learn through doing things. And if you want to learn something about Scottish identity then the vision here is rather than read a lot of books and a lot of theories, why not go out and ask people to sort of share with you what they think their identity is, what they think is important to them; what they think are the important places in their life?“ A massacre in the Mexican town of Acteal while working in the country acted as a catalyst for the director into film-making as a medium. The brutality of the killings became the subject of his award-winning 2007 documentary A Massacre Foretold.

Other works include The New Ten Commandments for which he worked with Tilda Swinton, Irvine Welsh and Douglas Gordon.

On making a film which celebrates Scotland’s identity and diversity, Higgins added: “We went for this idea about Scotland itself. Who we are, where we’re going and where we come from. And those three questions about the past, the present and the future were [the] basic, rough structure for the whole project.”

And Higgins believes their approach to We Are Northern Lights harks back to cinema’s routes.

He said: “This goes back to the foundations of cinema, this goes to the Lumiere brothers filming people leaving the factories.”

FILM

The Paperboy

A sweat-soaked swamp-noir impresses with its mixture of romance and thrills

FILM

Bless; she is the object of Jack’s (Zac Efron) affections even though she has pledged her heart to the incarcerated Van Wetter (Cusack).

A grainy documentary style accentuCharlotte Keeys ates the visceral elements of the plot and Staff writer establishes a visual context to its 60s setting.

Just as Charlotte’s bright, tacky dresses The Paperboy, selected for last year’s seem alien compared with the reporter’s Cannes Film Festival, finally opens in UK dreary shirts, so the swamps of Florida are cinemas glistening with sweat. like another planet and the people living A reporter returns to his hometown to there seem of another world. investigate the hasty trial of a man (John The casual racism of the time is quietly Cusack) accused of murder and sentenced and effectively acknowledged; the narrato death. This dark crime investigation is tion by the main character’s black servant the background for a portrait of an unre- gives a certain insight into the difficulties of quited love affair and more than a few the era and the kindness of some in society. secrets, all set in the boiling summer of The Paperboy is a strange mix of 1965. romance and thriller, but it is fascinating The interesting and diverse cast works to the end; the characters are interestingly well together. Nicole Kidman particu- erratic and the plot provides more than larly shines as brilliantly trashy Charlotte enough twists and turns to intrigue.

Michael Winterbottom’s film is a lot more than just ‘arbitrary displays of naked flesh’ Blair C Dingwall Film editor

Unfolding with humour and style

is this very British story of family, smut and mischief.

Few directors possess the talent

Michael Winterbottom displays with The Look of Love in adding elegance and warmth to a tale of sleaze and excess. In this fast-paced drama, cocaine, threesomes and nudity are a befitting backdrop to the story of Paul ‘The King of Soho’ Raymond’s life in perhaps the most energetic and captivating film to hit our screens this year.

Raymond (Steve Coogan) reflects in later life on his heyday in his beloved Soho, where the boy who came from Liverpool with just “five bob in his pocket” has cut his teeth in “members only” strip clubs, property investment and awful stage productions with unabashed female nudity.

Raymond is an amoral smooth-talker who shamelessly cheats on his wife (Anna Friel), disregards the needs of his children and capitalises on notoriety and bad press.

Above all else, he’s a fascinating character, played with charm by a brilliant Coogan.

A flood of British acting talent contribute to this tale (James Lance, Chris Addison, Simon Bird, David Walliams), but it’s tricky not to be fixated by the bizarre, destructive relationship between Coogan’s Raymond, and his troubled daughter Debbie (an incredible Imogen Poots).

The drama of the film’s plot is not overplayed or pretentious, and most effec-

tively of all, it is not drawn-out. Often, The Look of Love completely skips over dramatic moments, adding to the idea that Paul Raymond himself was not good at confronting his personal problems. This is put on display when he unceremoniously leaves his wife for the flirtatious and gorgeous Fiona (wonderfully played by Tamsin Egerton) — who we see transform into UK glamour model Fiona Raymond.

Another compelling scene involves Raymond meeting a long-lost son named Derry, whom he greets like a business associate and quickly erases from his life.

Raymond’s egotism and love for selfflattery play a crucial part in the narrative

of Matt Greenhalgh’s script, which never veers away from its main character for too long — a facet of the film that works brilliantly with Coogan at the forefront.

The Look of Love uses montage and visual grace to set the time-sweeping story, barely stopping for a breather from its opening dive into sleazy Soho and not emerging until the credits roll.

Winterbottom, for many years the underdog of British filmmaking, has brought his fluid, inimitable style to a career peak with The Look of Love, with fine camerawork and razor-sharp editing helping him towards an emotionally dense, oddly beautiful ending.

The Journal Wednesday 20 March 2013

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OPERA

Dutchman finds Scottish roots Much-anticipated Wagner opera set to open at Glasgow’s Theatre Royal in April Gareth Llewellyn Deputy managing editor

Scottish Opera’s new production

of The Flying Dutchman revisits Richard Wagner’s original libretto which premiered at the Saxon State Opera’s Semperoper in Dresden in 1843.

In researching the piece, director Harry Fehr uncovered a copy of the original score which set the story in a remote Scottish coastal community.

Senta, a young girl unversed in the ways of life and love, daydreams obsessively over a picture of the legendary Flying Dutchman, a tormented soul cursed to roam the seas with his ghostly crew until he finds a woman who will love him until death.

Out in a violent storm, Senta’s father meets a charismatic stranger and invites him home, little knowing that his daughter’s fixation is about to become unsettlingly real.

Fehr, whose recent directing credits with Scottish Opera include Craig Armstrong’s Edinburgh International Festival hit production of Henrik Ibsen’s The Lady from the Sea (2012) and Handel’s Orlando (2011), is shaping the Dutchman as a very real person.

He said: “The Dutchman’s predicament is that he needs to be fulfilled; he is looking for a wife, a child, a hearth.”

The relationship between the Dutch-

man and Senta, usually portrayed within the realm of the mythical, will come to life through two flesh-and-blood characters with baritone Peteris Eglitis, known internationally for his Wagnerian roles, as the Dutchman.

Soprano Rachel Nicholls, tipped by The Times as the name to watch in 2013, sings the role of Senta for the first time.

Francesco Corti, Scottish Opera’s Director of Music and conductor, said: “Wagner was in his 30s when he wrote the piece and it shows. The music is ridden with the power and energy of a young man and Act 3 is still one of the most incredible operatic moments ever written.

“The score is bursting with romantic notes which are much more incisive than his previous music, and with a rich naturalistic texture; in it you can hear the wind blowing, waves crashing on the shore and the throwing of anchors overboard.”

Marking the 200th anniversary of the composer’s birth, this is the Company’s first foray into Wagner since the 2003 production of Ring Cycle and is generously supported by The Alexander Gibson Circle and the Peter Moores Foundation.

The Flying Dutchman runs from 4-9 April at Theatre Royal Glasgow and 13-19 April at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh.

scottishopera.org.uk Registered in Scotland Number SCO37531 Scottish Charity Number SCO19787 Registered Office: 39 Elmbank Crescent, Glasgow G2 4PT

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Opera.

From Edinburgh to South Bank success Scottish Opera wins Sky Arts award for Ghost Patrol Gareth Llewellyn Deputy managing editor

Scottish Opera and Music Theatre Wales have scooped the prestigious South Bank Show Sky Arts Opera Award.

Their co-production of Scottish composer Stuart MacRae’s gripping one-act opera Ghost Patrol, beat strong competition in the section from the Royal Opera House’s production of Les Troyens and Oliver Knussen’s Barbican production Where the Wild Things Are. The opera received its world premiere at the 2012 Edinburgh International Festival as part of a critically acclaimed double-bill before transferring to Glasgow and touring extensively through England and Wales last autumn.

Accepting the award from singer Amanda Echalez, MacRae said: “It is an exciting time for new opera in the UK, with so many companies and artists getting involved in renewing and developing this living, breathing, richly collaborative art; and it’s a privilege to be able to play a small part in this, presenting new, contemporary work to the public with such wonderful colleagues.

“I am deeply grateful to the South Bank Sky Arts Awards for recognising Ghost Patrol, and for giving us encouragement to keep making work

that engages with our contemporary world.”

Ghost Patrol brings together MacRae with acclaimed Scottish crime novelist Louise Welsh to examine how the harsh reality of civilian life collides with the corrosive effects of war.

The piece is set in a modern day bar where two soldiers and a woman trying to escape their past come together, uncovering a terrible secret and unleashing inevitable tragedy.

The production was directed by Matthew Richardson and designed

by Samal Blak with lighting by Ace McCarron.

Music Theatre Wales’ Music Director and Joint Artistic Director Michael Rafferty was the conductor. James McOran-Campbell sang the role of Alasdair, Nicholas Sharratt played Sam and Jane Harrington sang the role of Vicki.

The awards were announced at a ceremony at London’s Dorchester Hotel on Tuesday 12 March, fronted by Melvyn Bragg.

The South Bank Show Sky Arts Awards are among the world’s most coveted arts awards, celebrating the best of British culture and achievement across visual art, theatre, opera, dance, comedy, classical music, pop, TV drama, literature and film.

The awards were broadcast on Sky Arts 1 HD on Thursday 14 March 2013 at 9:30pm, presented by Melvyn Bragg.

20 / SPORT

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By Adam Gordon

Managing in the Premier League is a walk in the park

GUSA seal Glasgow Cup hat-trick Dominant intervarsity performance brings record fifth title in nine years The University of Glasgow Sports Association secured a record fifth Glagsow Cup win with a crushing victory over rivals Strathclyde and Glasgow Caledonian.

The 13 March intervarsity showdown saw the West End university win 13 of 18 events to pull ahead of historic rivals Strathclyde.

GUSA secured early victories in swimming, netball and women’s volleyball as they built an impressive momentum with a third-successive title on their radar Strathclyde taking gold in cricket, badminton and women’s football as well as coming second to GUSA in a number of other events.

Having won the Glasgow Cup for the last two years by just one point, GUSA president Chris Millar had a right to be cautiously confident ahead of the competition, but need not have worried as his teams cruised to a well-deserved victory.

Over 700 athletes competed and, for the first time, paid a registration fee, with the money raised going to the Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice.

Stephen Flynn, vice-chairman of Glasgow Taxis said: “The event was successful and the organisers from the universities have done a great job in putting it all together.

“It’s great to see so many students

getting involved in sport, with some future Scotland stars in their team colours.”

Colin Evans, University of Strathclyde Sports Union president, said: “All of our guys played really well and the feedback from the event has been great. The Emirates is such a fantastic venue.”

This year also featured three exhibition sports with a view to becoming full featured sports in future games. Track cycling, won

by Strathclyde, took place at the Sir Chris Hoy velodrome with fencing also competed at the arena with Gaelic Football taking place at Coatbridge GAA pitches.

BASKETBALL

Sharks take late bite out of Riders to win BBL Trophy Sean McGowan Assistant sport editor

The Sheffield Sharks gave their

all to snatch a win from the Leicester Riders to secure the BBL Trophy.

The underdogs won the game with a final score of 69-71, an improbable result given that the Riders had bested them four times this season by an average of 20 points. But it’s in games like these that stars emerge, with match MVP BJ Holmes burning brightest with a final point score of 25 - including the game-winning free-throw.

The Sharks went into the game without point guard Micah Williams, who has been integral to the majority of their wins this season, which - combined with their recent form against the Riders - resulted in them being largely written off. But they beat the

odds with a well-deserved win through grit, determination and poise.

Attempted to go ahead early and break down the Riders zone defence with some early shots from outside the 3-point arc, the Sheffield outfit managed to edge ahead maintaining a very tight lead for the majority of the game. It almost looked like it was going to be a clear win as the Sharks gained a 10 point advantage before the Riders clawed their way back into the game, with commendable performances from Jorge Calvo and J Couisnard to bring their team back into the game with just over a minute to spare. BJ Holmes made all the difference though; topping both sides in the number of assists and number of points.

In true final fashion, it came right down to the wire as the victor was decided in the dying embers of the

game as BJ Holmes won a free and duly converted it to put the Sharks two points ahead with eight seconds to spare.

When asked how he thought his team had finally managed to defeat the Riders this season, Holmes modestly replied, “Riders have beaten us four times, but it’s hard to keep beating someone over and over. We just needed to be better than them for one night, and we were.”

The victory will do a lot of good for a club that’s had a particularly rocky season, currently sitting at the lower half of the table. One the other hand, the Leicester Riders will be bitterly disappointed to have missed out on the chance of taking home two pieces of silverware this year as the sit at the top of the the BBL League table and were heavily tipped to win the trophy.

AS THE BATTLE for survival in the English Premier League intensifies and managers began to fall at the wayside, the latest example being Brian McDermott at Reading this week, spare a thought for poor Giuseppe Sannino, who, on Monday, took over as coach at struggling Palermo who currently reside at the foot of Serie A. If the pressure of managing a relegation threatened team wasn’t enough to contend with, then the unpredictability of Palermo owner Maurizio Zamperini surely is. Zamperini’s appointment of Sannino means that Palermo have fired their coach on four occasions this season, if that alone doesn’t seem strange then it’s probably wise to point out that Sannino actually started the season as coach, only to be replaced by former Inter man Gian Piero Gasperini. Gasperini was then sacked as Alberto Malesani came in for all of three games, before Gasperini returned to take charge again. The club’s predicament at the bottom of table led Zamperini to take action once more; sacking Gasperini for the second time and bringing back in Sannino thus the circle was complete.

In roughly the same time that Alex Ferguson has been in charge of Man Utd, Zamperini has hired 43 different coaches during his time as club owner of first Venezia and now Palermo. Who said Premier League managers have it tough.

Forgot the water hazards WHEN PLAYING a round of golf most players are likely to focus their energy on trying to avoid placing their shot in a lake, perfecting their tee shot, or even keeping their distance from the odd

camera-friendly alligator that happens to reside near the course. Mark Mihal encountered a far greater problem after falling down a sink hole, while playing in Illinois. The amateur golfer was thankfully rescued with a ladder and some rope from the hole, which was thought to measure up to 18ft wide and 10ft deep, after around 20 minutes. Mihal sustained a dislocated shoulder.

Greek Nazi salute ban AEK ATHENS’ GIORGOS Katidis has been banned from playing for Greece after making a Nazi salute in a match at the weekend.

The midfielder, whose actions came in celebration for scoring the winning goal against Veria prompted Greek football officials that the former Under-19 captain should be barred from playing for the senior national team for life.

The statement said: “The action by the player to salute spectators with a Nazi salute defies common sense, profoundly shows disrespect to all the victims of Nazi atrocities and injures the peaceful and deeply human character of football,” said the Greek football federation.

“The federation condemns unequivocally and categorically such actions,” the body added in a statement.

Katidis, who only turned 20 last month and who led Greece to the final of last year’s Uefa Under-19 Championships in Estonia, has denied knowing the significance such a salute and was fiercely criticised on social media for the salute.

Claiming to have been pointing to a friend in the crowd, Katidis tweeted: “I’m not a racist -- no way. Ihate fascism. I wouldn’t have done it if I knew it meant something like that. I know the consequences.”

AEK Athens have ordered Katidis to explain his actions at a meeting this week. AEK’s German coach Ewald Lienen has backed his player.

He told Reuters: “He is a young kid who does not have any political ideas. He most likely saw such a salute on the internet or somewhere else and did it without knowing what it means.”

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SPORT// 21

Fireworks at the football as Hampden rocks Entertainment was off the pitch as well as on when St Mirren beat Hearts to the Scottish League Cup Ruth Jeffery Sport editor, Edinburgh

Passion, excitement, tensions

running high and then a brutal low when one team misses out on a trophy… a cup final is always a big day for all involved.

Sunday’s League Cup Final at Hampden Park had all the ingredients for a classic, and the atmosphere in the ground prior to the match was unbelievably intense.

Joyous, too, for St Mirren fans, to finally get their hands on some silverware after the disappointing defeat to a ten-man Rangers in the 2010 final.

Beating Celtic in the semi-final and then coming from behind against worthy opponents Hearts certainly makes for a great story, and the jubilation in the

stands showed how much the whole of Paisley wanted the title.

Getting the train to Glasgow and back from Edinburgh was an experience and a half on the day. Waiting in Queen Street Station on the way back, surrounded by Hearts fans whose singing filled the platform and yet was not rowdy was quite something. The words were ones they had been hollering this time last year after defeating Hibs in the Scottish Cup final, and they probably all wished they were about this year’s match: “It was only 5-1, it was only 5-1.”

Danny Lennon said after the match that he was “delighted to see St Mirren fans and Hearts fans together”, and indeed the rivalries on the train ended up being between fans of the same crest.

BASKETBALL

An argument broke out between two fans about which was the more loyal Jambo, one claiming “I haven’t missed one Hearts’ home match in 40 years,” and the other saying “my watch cost more than your house, pal.” After having a beer together, one said he was from Aberdeen, the other used the word “sheep” in a sentence and suddenly fists were flying faster than St Mirren’s comeback goal in the second half. The offender who had thrown the first punch, a rounded older man with a surprising combination of both Barcelona and Hearts gear on, was deposited in some godforsaken train station with nought but a wooden fence and a creaking sign. He no doubt had to make his own way back to Edinburgh.

This incident was as bemusing as it

was frustrating. On the platform fans had been united in their songs, but individuals showed that hearts aren’t always filled with love.

Elsewhere, it has to be said, flags of both maroon and black and white were flying high. Jim Goodwin, solid defender and sterling captain of the Saints, commented after the match: “From a personal point of view it’s fantastic, but obviously it’s more about the team and Paisley as a community and the supporters. I said earlier in the week what we lack in fan base and budget we make up for in team spirit. And I mean not just the team as players but collectively with the supporters and backroom staff and directors.”

Goodwin said of the nervy last five

minutes: “We showed a lot of courage.

Many other teams might have crumbled — the Hearts fans were right behind our goal, cheering their boys on and full credit to Hearts as well. I thought they made a great game of it.”

One particular image stands out from the day; Central Station in Glasgow after the match. Four grown men of average height, one on the tubby side. All dressed in maroon leotards with the Heart of Midlothian crest on the front, little maroon pumps and gigantic afro wigs of the same shade, eating burgers. And on the opposite side of the station a group of outlandishly dressed Paddy’s day revellers in green versions of the same costume. It was a day of glory, yes, and of triumph too.

But it was also a day of fancy-dress.

ICE HOCKEY

Rocks crush Giants

Clan outmuscle Stars to snatch victory

Player-coach Sterling David leads by example against Manchester side at Emirates Arena

Dundee Stars go home humbled against Braehead Clan

Kierran Allardice Staff writer

Mark MacGeever Staff writer

The Glasgow Rocks took to the

main hall of the Emirates Arena to faceoff against the Manchester Giants in the British Basketball League.

The Rocks 83-65 win sees them move into third position in the league as both of their main rivals for the position, Surrey Hear and Plymouth Raiders, lost.

An inspired performance from player-coach Sterling Davis saw the forward pick up a game-high 22 points, six rebounds and three assists.

The win secured a whitewash of the Giants this season for the Rocks having already won their previous three encounters with the Manchester outfit.

The game got off to a slow but scrappy start with neither side being able to assert themselves in the opening few minutes.

A mix of stern defensive work from the Rocks and poor shooting from the Giants saw the home side take a 27-13 lead into the end of the first quarter.

It was a tale of two quarters however as the Manchester Giants began to take control in the second, going on a 12-0 scoring run.

Four minutes passed before EJ Harrison got the Rocks first point of the quarter and, despite the change in dominance, Glasgow Rocks held on to their lead.

Clumsy fouls cost the homeside dearly, as the Giants stepped up to the line time and time again to scrape back some points and reduce the Rocks’ lead.

The home side’s lead was cut to just six points by half-time.

Despite a slow start to the third quarter the Rocks managed to find their rhythm once more and take control of the game.

One particular play from the Rocks’ deserves mentioning, as a stunning counter-attack saw Donald Robinson finish it off with an acrobatic slam-dunk.

The end of the third quarter came just in time as a scrappy Giants comeback looked likely, with the Rocks going into the final quarter with an 11-point lead.

Some stellar counter-attacking play saw the Rocks tear the Giants at several points throughout the quarter, but a lacklustre Rocks’ defence gave the away side some hope.

The Rocks held strong late on in the quarter as they began to pull away from the visitors and the game ended 83-65 in favour of the home side.

Despite a shaky second quarter, the Rocks managed to hold on for the victory.

The Rocks put in a solid defensive display throughout and finished with 27 defensive rebounds, six steals and five blocks.

Speaking after the game Rocks’, Rocks’ guard EJ Harrison said, “It was a decent performance. It took us four quarters to try and extend the lead but you’ve got to be happy when you win by eighteen points. We got the job done.”

The Rocks now have two tough games on the road as they take on both BBL Trophy finalists in the coming weeks, with away games scheduled against the Leicester Riders and the Sheffield Sharks.

Nails were bitten ragged in this crucial contest between two teams still side-by-side in the Conference title race with only one week to go. A first minute opener from Clan’s GB international forward Robert Farmer eased tensions within the home support but the Glasgow club would again put their fans through the ringer.

Farmer coolly steered home after 28 seconds, pouncing to convert the rebound when Stars goalie Nic Riopel denied Braehead captain Ash Goldie from close range. Dundee drew level midway through the opening period when an odd-man rush allowed ex-Clan player Mike Wirl space inside the Braehead zone to shoot into the roof of the net.

The purple army have endured a rollercoaster ride this season and many feared the worst when Sammi Ryhanen put Dundee in front shortly into the second period.

With his back to goal and wide of the target there seemed little danger, but his backhand shot somehow squirmed into the net from an improbable angle.

Stars inflicted what should have been a killer-blow after 34 minutes when Tristan Harper raced up the ice and, with the defence hot on his heels, sent a pinpoint accurate drive over home keeper Mike Will’s glove and into the top corner. A win for Dundee would have been almost fatal for Clan’s confer-

Al Goold

ence hopes and to their credit the team refused to give up and immediately laid siege to the visitor’s goal.

Goldie gave them a lifeline two minutes after Dundee’s third and within seconds of the final period starting Matt Hanson completed the comeback, with Farmer having a hand in both goals to demonstrate his importance to the side’s attacking prowess. The momentum was with Clan and roared on by a boisterous crowd they searched for a fourth.

Steve Birnstill set up Goldie to reclaim the lead in the 48th minute and the Braehead Arena was in raptures 90 seconds later when Matt Schepke slammed the puck home from the edge of the crease. The powerplay strike always looked to be a winner with a

resurgent Clan determined to claim a regulation time win and deny Dundee a bonus point.

Goldie capped a man-of-the-match performance with his hat-trick 13 seconds from time, scoring into the empty net from almost 40 metres after Dundee swapped their goalie for an extra attacker. The result leaves Clan top of the Gardiner Conference on 35 points, with Dundee two behind but with two games in hand.

Stars are back in Glasgow on Friday for what is a virtual grand final encounter. A Braehead win in regulation time would leave them in pole position for the conference crown, but Dundee know taking anything from the visit will make them clear favourites in the race to the flag.

22 / SPORT

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ORDER OF BATTLE: HOW THE SQUADS MATCHED UP St Mirren

Saints break Hearts to lift League Cup » St Mirren 3-2 Hearts » Paisley side come from behind in thrilling Hampden final Sean McGowan Assistant sport editor

A new chapter in the history of St.

Mirren has begun after they came from behind to be crowned Scottish League Cup champions over Hearts.

A cruelly deflected shot from Ryan Stevenson in the 10th minutesent the ball curling into the St. Mirren goal and put Hearts in the driving seat. Another 25 minutes of play saw the Saints desperately defend to avoid going 2 down, with narrow misses from John Sutton and Mehdi Taouil and some sensational goalkeeping from Craig Samson.

Against the run of play, St. Mirren netted an equaliser as Esmael Goncalves coolly slotted the ball into an open net following a perfectly weighted through ball from Gary Teale. The Saints suddenly sprang to life following the goal as the Jambos found themselves with their backs to the wall before the referee called for halftime.

Respite for the Jambos was in short supply though, as the Saints doubled their tally almost as soon as they stepped back onto the pitch and put themselves in front with a superb finish from Steven Thompson after

some stellar offensive play from the Paisley side.

St. Mirren remained largely in control with the majority of possession and closing down well and throwing themselves into challenges while Hearts were nowhere to be seen.

A third goal followed as the Saints exploited a flat-footed Hearts defence once more with an incisive one-two between Conor Newton and Goncalves which resulted in the former driving the ball past Jamie MacDonald from 16 yards.

It felt like St.Mirren had 12 players on the pitch as the fans engulfed Hampden with rapturous applause, confident that their team had sealed a victory. Then in the 85th minute, Ryan Stevenson netted his second of the day with a well-composed finish, silencing the opposition fans and bringing his own team’s back to life.

What followed was an incredibly tense 8 minutes as the Jambos forced St. Mirren’s into some last gasp with attack after attack, desperately trying to net an equaliser but to no avail as the match ended 3-2 in the Saints’ favour.

St. Mirren manager Danny Lennon was full of pride for his players, grateful that they’d taken this chance to put their names down in history: “Many

players can go through their whole careers and never get the opportunity to play in a cup final,” he said.

“In reality this could be some of ours players only final, and I said that to the players; to go out there and make it an extraordinary occasion, make it something special and grasp it with both hands. In the first half we didn’t do that, we got caught up in the occasion and forgot there was a game of football to be played. Second half, different story.

“We always knew that Hearts would bring a bit of quality, and I’ve got to give them credit for how they started the game when we didn’t.

They got off to a flier and had a good few opportunities after it, but then we got out of jail and managed to get in at 1-1, which deflated them and gave us a good lift. Once we’d reminded the boys that there was a game of football to be played it soon went differently in the second half.”

“It was great, 17,000 to come out there,” he continued. “I’d planned in my head that I was going to enjoy it with them, and just to see the excitement it gave them will live long in my memory. To deliver that for them and the people of Paisley – the ones that were at the game and the ones that

couldn’t make it. It’s a community club and it’s great to be taking this piece of silverware home for the first time in this club’s wonderful 135 year history.”

Official man of the match, Paul McGowan, was understandably overjoyed that St. MIrren had been crowned champions. Whilst they had been tested hard throughout the game, it was the Paisley side that took the cup home, and McGowan couldn’t quite find the words for it: “I can’t describe it; it’s a great day for the club,” he said. “It’s my first major cup final, and when they scored the first goal it looked like it wasn’t going to be our day. But we dug in and took it in the end. It wasn’t an ideal situation to go a goal down, but I think it helped us in the end. You can see what it meant to the fans, they were outstanding. It’s a great day for everyone involved.”

Speaking on being selected as man of the match, McGowan felt that it was undeserved but was more than happy to take the honour home either way: “I was a bit shocked, I thought I had an alright game but I’m delighted. It’s just a bonus; I would’ve taken anything out there as long as we won. I just thank whoever picked it – one of the boys said it was Stevie Wonder.”

Stevenson leaves Hampden broken-hearted Hearts star Ryan Stevenson reflects on cup final defeat Sean McGowan Assistant sport editor

There was no consoling a despondent Ryan Stevenson following his side’s 3-2 cup final defeat at the hands of St. Mirren. Having netted two goals himself and hit the woodwork twice, the Jambos’ midfielder felt that the cup was theirs for the taking, but that they had failed to capitilise on a great started and allowed the Saints to snatch the win from their fingertips.

With the loss denying Hearts some much-needed merriment following a rocky season, Stevenson felt that they St. Mirren’s goals, and in turn Hearts’ loss, could have been prevented: “They were poor goals by our stand-

ard - probably sums up the season.

Usually scoring two goals in a final is something good to look back on, but this is probably the lowest point of my career. Looking at the fans, the season that they’ve went through and everything they’ve done, regardless of the result, they were outstanding.

“All the boys are disappointed that we couldn’t repay them. The chances we had weren’t really half-chances; balls flying across the goal looking for tap-ins. We just couldn’t get anybody on the end of them and it’s come back to bite us. Losing two goals as quick as we did killed the game. I think in a cup final to lose the goals the way we did was cheap. But credit to St. Mirren, they’ve taken their chances and they deserve the win.”

“It’s still a bit raw and it’s going to take a couple of days to sink in. You don’t normally get to a final without one of the bigger teams being in it, so it’s probably a chance that we might never get again.”

Alastair Middleton

Craig Samson: Gave a performance worthy of a cup final and defended the St. Mirren goal admirably with some excellent saves. Was unlucky to concede - 8 Paul Dummett: Played well throughout, and was unfortunate to deflect the ball into his own net. Superb cross to set up St. Mirren’s second - 7 David Van Zanten: Could have been quicker to close down Hearts’ threats, but had a decent game overall - 6 Jim Goodwin: Lead by example and was an inspiration to his teammates.

Made the game very difficult for both Ngoo and Sutton - 9 Marc MacAusland: Combined well with Goodwin to contain the threats of Ngoo and Sutton and closed the ball down well - 7 John McGinn: A hugely impressive performance from such a young player.

Chased every ball and was a constant threat - 8 Conor Newton: Couldn’t have chosen a better game for his debut goal. Linked up well with the front two and looked dangerous throughout - 8 Paul McGowan: Won official man of the match, and deservedly so. Showed extreme grit and determination, integral to his side’s win - 8 Gary Teale: Looked dangerous whenever in possession. Made some great runs and showed unbelievable selflessness to tee Goncalves up for the goal - 9 Esmael Goncalves: Didn’t start too well, but ended up making some great runs and did well to get both a goal and an assist - 8 Steven Thompson: Had a fantastic game, helping set up the first goal and superbly netted the second - 9

Hearts Jamie MacDonald: Couldn’t have done much to prevent any of St. Mirren’s goals, but didn’t look confident - 6 Danny Wilson: Defended well in the first half, but could’ve done better in the latter stages of the game - 6 Darren Barr: Was found flat-footed for the third goal, but did well to close down St. Mirren throughout - 7 Andy Webster: Played well, but showed his frustration towards the end with some cynical challenges - 6 Kevin McHattie: Was continually under attack from Teale and did his best to nullify the threat, but to no avail -6 Dylan McGowan: Could’ve done better to close down Dummett for the second goal, but played with determination - 6 Ryan Stevenson: Easily one of Hearts’ best players on the day, could have netted a few more - 8 Mehdi Taouil: Had an excellent game and looked dangerous whenever on the ball - 8 John Sutton: Looked desperate for a goal, but failed to capitilise on any chances. Was unlucky to hit the woodwork - 7 Michael Ngoo: Had a terrific game, set up Stevenson’s second and created several chances - 8

The Journal Wednesday 20 March 2013

@GlasgowJournal / journal-online.co.uk

Rocket rivals ready

SPORT// 23 mhoeffken

The Journal cues up the contenders to take Ronnie O’Sullivan’s world championship title in Sheffield next month Ruth Jeffery Sport editor, Edinburgh

The snooker World Championship is coming round again from 20 April to 6 May and for the avid fans who dream of day-long BBC coverage of the ‘Theatre of Dreams’, it can’t come quick enough.

This year promises to be as exciting as the last, even with Stephen Hendry retired. Of course, Hendry might once more take to the commentary box, an ill-advised move considering his uninspiring stint last year.

Ronnie O’Sullivan, last year’s champion, has returned from his sabbatical, ensuring that all eyes will be fixed on the Crucible to see if he can claim a fifth title. Only Steven Hendry (seven) and Steve Davies (six) have a better

record in Sheffield.

We look at the three biggest names in snooker at the moment; and the three most likely to steal Ronnie’s crown.

Ali Carter was the runner-up of last year’s World Championships, losing to Ronnie O’Sullivan 18-11.

Carter also lost to the fellow Essexlad in the final of 2008, beaten 18-8.

However, his success in both tournaments was much applauded, especially as he has suffered off and on with Crohn’s disease. In February this year Carter won the German Masters, beating Marco Fu in the final to clinch his third ranking title. He won the Welsh Open during the 2008/09 season and the Shanghai Masters during 2010/11. He is currently 17th in the world rankings, and will surely

be lusting after a Crucible win and hoping to make it third time lucky if he reaches the final.

Mark Selby is the current world number two in rankings, despite being thrust out of the Welsh Open in February this year by Joe Perry. He won the UK Championships in December last year, beating Shaun Murphy 10-6 and claiming the biggest title of his career.

He also won the Welsh Open in 2008, beating Ronnie O’Sullivan in the final, and overcame Mark Williams in the Shanghai Masters final in 2011. Also winner of four minor ranking tournaments- including this year’s Munich Open- and four non-ranking tournaments, Selby is a formidable opponent across the board. In last year’s Sheffield outing he exited early to Barry Hawkins, something he will want to

Christopher Rubey

better this year.

World Number one Judd Trump could well be the favourite to win this year’s World Championships, especially as O’Sullivan is out of practice.

Both Trump and Selby suffered early exits in the first round of the PTC Finals in Galway last week. Trump won this season’s International Cham-

pionship, claiming his third ranking title. His other titles are UK Championship, where he beat Mark Allen in the 2011 final, and the China Open three years ago. Trump’s campaign at the Crucible last year was brought to a halt by Ali Carter, but being the world number one this time round he might be able to find some extra confidence.

SP RT & TWEET

By Sean McGowan

The Journal delves into the world of social media to see what sports stars have been up to this fortnight...

Lee Mair @LMairzo: It’s all downhill after yesterday!!

Nothing can come close to that!!

no escape from Joey Barton.

Esmael Goncalves @IsmaGoncalves : lol look my face too much party

I’m Gutted I had to pull out of england squad, but it was the right decision for my intricate pre-planned programme.

Wales and Confused

St. Mirren players Lee Mair and Esmael Goncalves bask in the glory of their stunning Scottish League Cup over Hearts. The Paisley side took some silverware home for the first time in 26 years, a fitting end to a campaign which saw them fend off league-leaders Celtic with a 3-2 victory in the semi-finals.

The Journal looks back on ups and downs from this year’s Six Nations

David van Zanten @VanzyD: @GaryMilligen haha get it up you

With three straight losses at the beginning of the tournament, the French were almost instantly cast aside. A draw against Ireland and a While it may not have been the home victory against Scotland in their most entertaining Six Nations, it has final match offered little consolation definitely been one of the most unex- for what was a dismal start to the pected, with Wales bouncing back year for the French, as the media tear from defeat to Ireland to steamroll the team and, in particular, the head England to defend their title, while coach apart. There’s little doubt that a tournament title contenders were swift change in leadership will follow humbled as they finished bottom. The a forgetful Six Nations performance. bookies must have made a killing.

Ireland limped through the tourHaving gone into the tournament nament, bedraggled with injuries, a on the back of seven consecutive pity seeing as this could likely be defeats after their Grand Slam success Brian O’Driscoll and Ronan O’Gara’s of 2012, Wales’s defeat to Ireland in last Six Nations. What followed an their opening match meant few could excellent first half display against have predicted the four consecu- Wales was a disappointing series of tive wins that followed it. Finishing lacklustre performances. A lot of with an incredibly 30-3 victory over work needs to be done if they hope to England on Saturday, the Welsh have regroup and rebuild. definitely re-established themselves Scotland produced one of its best as a force to be reckoned with. results yet to finish third in the chamFrance, on the other hand, had pionship despite an interim head an absolutely atrocious tournament, coach. Scott Johnson’s squad showed taking home the wooden spoon for a huge amount of grit and determinathe first time since 1999 - when it was tion to eke out results against Italy still the Five Nations. and Ireland — how they managed to

St. Mirren defender David Van Zanten enjoys some ‘rapport’ with a Hearts fans after being berated on Twitter.

Sean McGowan Assistant sport editor

win that game, no one will know — but they’ll be kicking themselves for losing out to France in their final match.

A somewhat promising performance from an extremely young side, England can take quite a few positives for this year’s Six Nations campaign.

Playing a side with less than 300 caps overall, to be in with a chance of winning a Grand Slam in their final game shows their potential, Even though they were thrashed in the second half by Wales, such a young squad will take a lot from the experience. However they do need to learn how to score more tries, having scored just one in their final four games.

Finally, the Italians can go home with their heads held high after an impressive display throughout the tournament. Doing well with wins over France and Ireland and a close contest against England, as well as showing some hugely entertaining offensive plays, Italy will be looking to the future to see if the can continue to improve.

Joseph Barton @Joey7Barton: If I offended anybody before.

Good. That was the aim.

Where would Sport & Tweet be without Joey Barton? The outspoken Englishman shows just how much he cares whether or not he has insulted the masses. Maybe he ought to go back to practising his French accent?

Lee McCulloch @jiggymacc6: For the record I didn’t agree with bartons tweets and not having a go at anyone or anything,if I was I would come out and just say,later It looks like Barton’s influence reaches far and wide as Rangers midfielder Lee McCulloch finds himself in a spot of bother. It seems that, thanks to social media, there is

Rio Ferdinand @rioferdy5:

Rio Ferdinand speaks out about his exclusion from the England squad, a topic of much debate that’s been in the spotlight ever since Roy Hogdson chose not to include him in his first team selection. Maybe if he had been chosen, Hodgson would still have one of the best defenders in the world.

Scott Brown @ScottBrown8: What a result. Shows the lads never give up :) Scott Brown shafter his pride after Celtic beat Aberdeen 4-3 in a thrilling contest. Watching from the sidelines - due to injury - as his side came from 3-1 down to beat the Dons and prove that they haven’t grown complacent without the presence of their Glasgow rivals, Rangers.

Chris Kamara @chris_kammy: When I had my horse Unbelievable Jeff the mrs said what U going to do with him? i said race him!

She said by the look of him you will win:) Hopefully Chris Kamara has good luck with horses with his aptly named Unbelievable Jeff looks to help the sporting legend cash-in.

Have you seen any 14o-character gems from your sporting heroes?

Tweet us @GlasgowJournal and let us know. We’ll consider the best suggestions for inclusion in this column!

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