The Journal - Glasgow Issue 005

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GLASGOW'S STUDENT NEWSPAPER

ISSUE V

WEDNESDAY 16 NOVEMBER 2011

MUSIC IS THE BEST MEDICINE

»3 Met haunted by memory of Millbank as students march Scottish singer and chart-topper Emeli Sande sits down with The Journal to discuss success, studying and stardom

IN NEWS >> 7

Candidates prepare for crunch vote Liberal Democrat stalwart Vince Cable arrives in Glasgow ahead of Hillhead byelection

Officers criticised over aggressive policing at demure student demonstration in London EMMA ELLIOTT-WALKER

IN ARTS >> 14

David Hayman Renowned Scots actor and director speaks to The Journal about experiences both on and off the stage

IN ARTS >> 15

Liam McDougall

'YOU'RE SEXY, YOU'RE CUTE, TAKE OFF THAT RIOT SUIT' Police officers outnumber marchers in London, as major student anti-cuts protest passes largely without incident

»»17 6

Exclusive

Exiled Glasgow student president in Ritch form

IN MUSIC >> 23

Former leader of student body defends tenure in the wake of his recent resignation

Winning Students

Alan Robertson Managing editor THE FORMER LEADER of Glasgow University Students' Representative Council (GUSRC) today delivers a resolute defence of his time in office after being forced to resign under increasing pressure from within the student body.

In an exclusive interview with The Journal a fortnight on from his

departure as GUSRC president, Stuart Ritchie lifts the lid on the reasons behind his resignation, the campaign waged against his presidency and the final few days leading up to his exit.

And the embattled leader has insisted his behaviour over the course of four months at the helm of the ancient institution's core student body was far from inappropriate with recent events leaving it

"impossible for future SRC Presidents to make the right decision even if it is unpopular" with particular parts of the student community.

The decision to step aside came after an embattled Ritchie lost the support of his fellow three executive members over a series of revelations relating to his stance on rest-of-UK fees together with a close relationship shared with university senior management.

In an open letter to Glasgow students, the three GUSRC vicepresidents — James Harrison, Amy Johnson and Iain Smith — confirmed they had asked Ritchie to abandon his role after it "became apparent... that Stuart's position had become untenable".

"We are aware that this news will not be universally welcomed, and Continued on page 4

The Journal uncovers the Glasgow student athletes set to enjoy boost from sports scholarships

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New award scheme for student societies

THIS WEEK INSIDE

Almost £100,000 of funding to be made available to enterprising student groups Tom McCallum

Occupy Glasgow on the move » 12 The Journal charts the move of anti-capitalist camp from George Square to Kelvingrove Park amid mounting council pressure

Lost and Refound

» 19

The Journal unveils one shop taking interior design to a whole new level

A NEW SCHEME has been launched to reward students with entrepreneurial talent.

The Enterprising Students Societies Accreditation (ESSA) sees RBS and Find Invest Grow (FIG) stump up £95,000 of prize funds to reward students who run the most effective student societies.

The idea behind the competition is to encourage business skills among students. A spokesperson for the competition said: "To compete in this environment, students will need to differentiate themselves. Employers are going to be looking for them to have gone that step further. They will be looking for certifications and accreditations that will separate the applications.

"They are also looking for enterprising streaks in candidates.

Students with a track record of successful planning and management will have a competitive edge.

"Starting a business is becoming a rising trend for graduates looking to crystallise business ideas they formed at university, or to address the difficulties of finding employment. This scheme is vital in helping them focus on and develop the skills needed."

There are three different categories accredited societies can compete in.

The bronze award offers £10,000 pounds to the society with the most viewed video on YouTube, the silver award offers £20,000 to the best fundraising event or £10,000 to the best series of events and the gold award offers £25,000 to the most enterprising society, £20,000 for entrepreneurial use of funds and £10,000 for best events.

Students who think their society is worthy of a prize can enter on the ESSA website, the competition is open UK-wide to over 100 universities.

Glasgow remembers Citizens turn out to pay respects on Remembrance Day

LMFAO

» 16

Highly-acclaimed duo arrive at The Arches with The Journal om hand to deliver the verdict

Basketball stars left in a Blaze

Craig Turnbull

GLASGOW CITY CENTRE was brought to a standstill last week as people paid their respects to the fallen heroes of previous conflicts.

In George Square an Armistice Day ceremony was held with a two-minute silence at 11am to commemorate the end of World War I 93 years ago.

With the Union Jack at half-mast, a poignant mood swept across the square where hundreds of people turned out to reflect on the servicemen and ex-servicemen who had fought for the nation’s freedom.

Everyone was proudly wearing the poppy, which has served as a symbol for the date 11 November for 90 years.

The poppy appeal, run by the Royal British Legion (RBL), raises millions of pounds for those who have fought in wars, and their families.

President of RBL Scotland Jim Richardson, 86, who was a prisoner of war in a Japanese concentration camp, said his experiences still linger with him to this

» 23

University of Glasgow Men's team slip to third successive defeat against newcomers emerging out of the capital

day: “I mentioned to someone before that my experiences in the service have ruined my life. I have never been able to forget them and they are constantly with me every day.

"I would rather I did not have these memories. The pain never goes away."

However, the war veteran believed the symbol of the poppy is still as powerful as ever – and has had a revival with the conflict in Afghanistan.

“We’ve helped several hundred young servicemen and women with accommodation, employment, pension, health and getting their lives back together. A lot of them depend on the help they get,” Richardson added.

Royal Fusilier Rory Carrey, who has served in Afghanistan, insisted the day was not only to remember those who died in World War I and II but also to reflect on soldiers who gave their lives fighting in more recent conflicts.

Carrey said: “From Iraq, Kosovo, Northern Ireland and Afghanistan – it’s real. It is not just remembering the old soldiers, it is now, it is here. And people should not forget that.”

The Journal is published by The Edinburgh Journal Ltd., registered address 37 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, EH8 8AQ. Registered in Scotland number SC322146. For enquiries call 0131 651 6057 or email info@journal-online.co.uk. The Journal is a free newspaper for and produced by students in the City of Edinburgh. Contact us if you’d like to get involved. Printed

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Music is by far the best medicine Three years ago Scottish born singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé dropped out of medical school to pursue her musical career. Now, some may say the risky decision paid off

Olivia Pires Comment & Features editor AT JUST 24, platinum coiffed Emeli Sandé has already written for number of prominent artists and featured on a UK number 1 track. With her single ‘Heaven’ debuting at number 2 in the charts and an album due for release early next year, the singer is on a celestial mission to bring the music business back to raw emotional reality.

Born and raised in Alford, Aberdeen, and one of the only mixed raced families in her town, Sandé cites her father’s culture and background as a strong influence on her musical leanings. Originally from Zambia dad Joel immigrated to Scotland in his early twenties to continue his education and she remembers him playing "real power singers" Nina Simone and Anita Baker on the car stereo.

"Some of the things I didn’t like at all but there were a lot of things that really just made me pay attention and in retrospect it was a great introduction to some great artists", says Sandé admitting that she listened to Mariah Carey’s Music Box album "over and over" when she was younger.

Her dad whom she describes as "quite musical and good with harmonies" was in charge of her school choir and plays guitar. She inherited his good ear and a passion for music and although she feels she benefitted from receiving formal training she believes it’s more important to "trust your ear and how something makes you feel".

Education is incredibly important to Sandé and she postponed going into the music business in order to finish her studies and attend university. However when an opportunity to get back into music arose three years into her medical studies Sandé chose to cut her time at university short opting to finish with an intercalated degree in neuroscience.

"I’d love to get back into medicine and get my degree but I don’t know if my brain can retain that much information anymore. I feel like I’ve switched on creative mode and it would be so hard getting back into study mode."

She is currently sitting at number 1 in the UK Charts after featuring on Professor Green’s track ‘Read All About It’ and penned the lyrics to chipmunks ‘Diamond Rings’ while hoovering her bedroom as well as having written for the likes of Tinie Tempah, Leona Lewis and Susan Boyle.

Emeli’s astounding achievements were recognised by the University crowning her their 2011 Young Alumnus of the Year much to her elation.

"I was really really happy. It was just really lovely to know that they appreciated what I was doing in music even though I didn’t finish my medical degree. It was just great to know that they had been watching out what I was doing. My parents

Sande, this month chosen as the University of Glasgow's Young Alumnus of the Year 2011, has enjoyed resounding success after departure were really proud, it was incredible."

That same evening after receiving her award, Emeli kicked off the Scottish leg of her UK tour with a gig in the west end’s Oran Mor. "Glasgow is so vibrant you know, even if you are just hanging by yourself there’s always a gig that you could go see, there’s always something happening, I loved being a part of that", she says recalling her student years in Glasgow, a place where she was free to express herself musically.

"I’d always play at like Nice 'n' Sleazy’s on Mondays, I loved doing that. There was just no pressure.

It was just purely to enjoy music. I really enjoyed that freedom and it just allowed you to be so creative.

It’s a great place for musicians."

The Sauchiehall Street venue recently celebrated its twentieth birthday is one of Glasgow’s musical institutions with the likes of Franz Ferdinand drummer Paul Thomson and Mogwai guitarist Stuart Braithwaite still regular customers.

"I’ve had a great time. It’s just been cool to see how people react to songs they’ve never heard in their life. It was so nice see people really listening to what I was saying. I think (the tour's) gone really well."

She also performed at Edinburgh’s The Caves in the heart of the city’s

Old Town before heading across the border to a gig in Manchester.

Her Debut album ‘Our Version of Events’ which includes the hit single ‘Heaven’ is out next February. "All the songs have been written in the past two to three years. All the writing is very honest and a real reflection of who I am so I hope it can say something different that isn’t being said at the moment in popular music and can speak for people that want to say something more."

Torn between all the songs on the album it’s hard for her to choose a favourite but she cannot wait for people to listen to the track ‘My Kind of Love’ and see how they react to it.

When asked what inspires her she’s loyal to the classics of her childhood but expressed an interest in collaborating with Andre 3000, Nikki Minaj, John Legend and Ed Sheeran as well as Frank Ocean, member of alternative hip hop collective Odd Future whom she eagerly told me she was going to watch perform that evening.

"There’s lot of old stuff. Records that I would listen to forever. Until something excites me I kind of just stick to that but a lot of new urban stuff that’s coming out I’m really excited about because the lyric is really smart. I think that’s quite a

new thing in pop, to take a bit more care in the lyrics."

The past couple of months have been a whirlwind for the singer having performed on ITV’s X Factor and later with Jules Holland as well as a gig at the infamous Abbey Road Studios in Liverpool. It was also announced that she will support Coldplay in their upcoming tour but nevertheless Sandé recognises the importance of remaining true to one’s self.

"I stay sane by writing, reminding myself why I’m doing it in the first place. All these things are amazing, like getting to go on X Factor and being in the charts. But I think if you can’t forget why you’re here.

"If I can’t sit at a piano and write I think I would go absolutely insane so that’s how I kind of chill out. You know, just kind of take a minute to breath."

Sandé takes inspiration from everything. A tattoo of the painter Frida Kahlo, who was also pursuing a career in medicine, on her forearm reminds her of the artist’s bravery and honesty and how completely self exposing her artwork was.

"I think that the more you read, the better your writing becomes. I just love reading and learning about all different kinds of art because it’s

all an expression and I want to bring more thought into pop music. That would be the ultimate mission."

Although the singer recognises the wealth of talent currently out there, she is critical of the direction music industry is taking. "As the music industry is changing everything’s so fast now. Everything’s like ‘put it on YouTube you can get it straight away and then you can order if off iTunes'. Everything’s just fast fast fast with albums becoming less and less important. That kind of continuity of music and really thinking about a whole body of work I feel is being lost a bit."

She commends the likes of Ed Sheeran and Labrinth for their dedication to thoughtful compilations and argues that there is a market for honest expressive "real"music.

"Coldplay are still like the biggest band in the world so obviously people still want to hear real artistry but it would just be sad if that was lost.

"Not everything but a lot of things are quite disposable and I don’t think that’s what music should be and I don’t think that’s what should be out there for kids to hear too much. The lyrics, that’s just the most important thing for me."

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The Stuart Ritchie saga

Ritchie: Record needs set straight Ritchie has last word in drawn out conflict that has reduced GUSRC executive team from four to three

GUSRC

Continued from page 1 apologise to students for uncertainty during the process which led to Stuart tendering his resignation,"the trio added.

However, in a letter published in The Journal today, Ritchie offered a resounding rebuke against his critics, maintaining his resignation would not go hand-inhand with an apology.

The ancient institution last month elected to enshrine fee levels of £6,750 a year for students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland, taking the total cost of a four-year degree to £26,000.

A series of emails between Ritchie and Glasgow University's Corporate Communications chief Susan Stewart intimated that the GUSRC leader initially lobbied for an alternate structuring of £9,000, though, prompting a backlash within the student media and campaigners on campus.

But Ritchie said: "Initially I found it difficult to see the benefit in a four-year fee structure compared to three years at nine thousand pounds. Primarily because the fee wasn’t lower, just spread out further.

"In essence the university would appear cheaper compared to its competitors in the Russell Group, whom with the exception of the London School of Economics decided to charge £9,000 over three years.

"My concern was that applicants would equate cost with value and therefore consider Glasgow inferior to other World 100 Universities. However, at the end of the process the working group was unanimous in its decision.

"Again following the announcement of fees my feelings have remained consistent, that ideologically fees should not be introduced and that the promises which the university made to continue to widen access to university and to support RUK students made be met.

"The confusion around fees and my role in the decision lays firmly with me and I take full responsibility for not communicating my actions more effectively to students."

The former main man at GUSRC remained less contrite over his close contact with members of senior management at the university, though, labelling those who sought a less consensual relationship as "misguided".

He said: "The second criticism levelled at me refers to my relationship with University Senior Management and staff members. On this matter I offer no apology for my actions.

"I have worked tirelessly to build a strong working relationship with the University to further the interests of students. The SRC is only relevant to students if it is actively engaged in the work of the university.

"I firmly believe my influence was far greater in meetings, committees and in correspondence as a result of the trust

and support I build up. Any student who believes that they would be better represented by a President who stood opposed to the work of institution is sadly misguided."

Ritchie added: "I believe every student is perfectly entitled and should have the right to question my conduct; however I did not warrant nor deserve the level of personal abuse and victimisation which I suffered publicly and in a viral internet campaign.

"I believe the attack on my ability to represent students will make it impossible for future SRC Presidents to make the right decision even if it is unpopular."

The letter

Read the full text of Ritchie's response to former colleagues at Glasgow University Students' Representative Council (GUSRC) and wider student population

No by-election to replace Ritchie Remaining sabbatical officers will divide presidential workload, though sources warn they are likely to be spread too thin Marcus Kernohan

THE STUDENT BODY which represents 24,000 students at the University of Glasgow will continue without a president for the rest of the academic year following the departure of controversial leader Stuart Ritchie earlier this month, it has been revealed.

Ritchie resigned as president of Glasgow University Students' Representative Council on November 2 amid a scandal over his relationship with university senior management. The SRC's

three remaining executive officers have now announced that a byelection will not be held to fill the presidency..

In an open letter to students on the day of Ritchie's exit, the VPs said that instead "responsibilities which normally fall to the GUSRC president are to be shared amongst the remaining executive members."

Iain Smith, vice-president for media and communications, said that after "a turbulent period for the organisation, we're now keen to focus on core issues and activities... without further disruption which would be caused by the near two-month election process."

But some have raised concerns over the wisdom of the move, fearing that the three exec members are likely to be spread thin.

A source close to the SRC told The Journal: "They will manage in as far as there is very little expectation but they are not going to do anything ground-breaking.

"And not because they’re not capable but because simply there are not enough hours in the day.

"There are not enough hours in the day to do the work they’re going to be expected to do and things will slip. The ball will get dropped in things and that is just inevitable.”

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News 5

GUSRC leader leaves free of regrets Former president sits down with The Journal to comb over four months in office

» RAGS TO RITCHIE

Alan Robertson Managing editor

March

STUART RITCHIE is adamant. “For me, personally I walked away quite relaxed because the minute they didn’t support me there wasn’t any other option,” he says between sips of coffee while sitting opposite in a cafe in the heart of Glasgow city centre.

Ritchie, a University of Glasgow graduate who took to office in July this year after edging out Anti-Cuts campaigner, James Foley, had been forced to abandon his daily venture into the John McIntyre Building after the beleaguered president opted to depart discreetly amid growing controversy shrouding his position.

Two weeks on and Ritchie is keen to set the record straight on how his term atop the Glasgow University Students' Representative Council (GUSRC) crashed to a halt just four months in.

“I don’t hold a great grudge," admitted Ritchie over the decision by his fellow executive members to request he stand down as president.

"For me, it came down to the fact that it is all very well to go to SRC Council and explain yourself and to have to potentially face a vote of no confidence – in which I think I would have won.

"But it is a very different story if the other three members of your executive team say, ‘Well, actually, we don’t sup-

Ritchie is elected SRC president, narrowly defeating anti-cuts candidate James Foley.

September

Shortly after Ritchie takes office, campus magazine qmunicate files a Freedom of Information request seeking access to his correspondence with the university. Emails released by the university suggest that Ritchie went to pains to see vicepresident for media and communications Iain Smith excluded from meetings with senior university officials.

October

A second FOI request sees the release of further emails demonstrating a close relationship between Ritchie and Glasgow University senior management, particularly PR chief Susan Stewart.

'Regrets? No. Apart from 'don't write emails'.' port him’. I think that changes your vote.

“The meeting was very short. They said to me, ‘We feel this has gone too far. We don’t think we can repair it. And you need to go’. All I asked was are you in agreement about that and they said ‘Yes’."

In an interview with The Journal just 48 hours before tendering his resignation, Ritchie identified a small band of activists on campus as being behind the campaign to force his departure from the GUSRC top table.

Resignation, according to the embattled head, was not an option. This was a "witch-hunt" waged by a minority on personal rather than professional grounds.

That was until the afternoon of Wednesday November 2.

“If you're watching all of these media feats, you could get the impression that the ground was falling from beneath you," he added.

"Actually, if you went out onto campus and said to people ‘Do you know anything about this?’ they said ‘No’.

"And that is the problem – you end up absolutely engulfed by it and it was immensely stressful and I didn’t think they [fellow executive members] thought there was a way forward.

"For me, personally I walked away quite relaxed about that because the minute they didn’t support me there wasn’t any other option. I didn’t see how it would play out differently.

"There is no formal mechanism to remove me but how do you then operate.

Your ability to make decisions and your credibility is completely undermined.

"And if you say something to the university they don’t like is there an answer immediately back that students agree. Your whole position is undermined the minute your team aren’t with you. If I had been them under the circumstances I might have done the same.”

Claims were rife within the University of Glasgow student press Ritchie enjoyed an ill-advised 'cosy' relationship with university senior management, including communications chief Susan Stewart.

Reference to colleague and

vice-president, Iain Smith, as the "media man" in private emails, calling for the former QMU official not to be privy to all high-level discussions, did little but fuel speculation of increasing friction within the corridors of John McIntyre.

Constant contact with senior officials was not a reason to apologise, however, the man at the centre of the saga asserted.

“I don’t regret that," said Ritchie of his relations with those governing the higher education institution.

"I still fundamentally maintain that if you look at RUK fees, for example, look at the bursaries, the incentives, the provision we made for lower income households, they are there because constructively I was able to scrutinise the proposals.

"You can’t do that if you’re outside the room picketing. The decision is made anyway.

"If you look at the fact that the SRC was given control of that postgraduate centre building, the fact that our offices are finally being moved – we are involved in every aspect of policy-making, of

committee work, court decisions.

"If there is a Court working group we’re on it. I can’t turn around and say to you that I think that relationship is detrimental to students because I fundamentally don’t. I think students at Glasgow got a much better deal as a result of that than without it."

Asked to sum up his term in office, the 22-year-old offered the simplest of replies. “Short-lived."

A moment or two passes before he ventures a more measured response. "I think it was efficient," he said.

"I think it was focused. I thought I brought a huge amount of drive and energy to the SRC moving forward. "But four months isn’t long enough to see all those things through."

With his cup now emptied and reaching for his jacket, the former GUSRC head offers one last observation before heading for the door.

Asked if any personal regrets haunt him in the wake of the affair, he even manages to serve up a joke with a smile.

“No. Apart from don’t write emails.”

The release leads to revelations that Ritchie initially lobbied the university in favour of RUK fees of £9,000 per year for three years, as opposed to the £6,750 eventually agreed. As a result, a campus campaign seeking his resignation begins.

In late October, Ritchie tells The Journal he has no plans to resign. That week, a petition calling for his departure gathers over 500 signatures in three days. An emergency general meeting is called so that Ritchie can face questions from students. But on the day of the meeting, he resigns after his three fellow executive members failed to back him any longer.

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Track ace arrives in Glasgow for Strathclyde visit

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Police criticised as London student march passes without incident Scottish students travel to join first major student march since 2010's Millbank riot EMMA ELLIOTT-WALKER

SOUTH AFRICAN STAR sprinter Oscar Pistorius enjoyed a special visit to Scotland last week as a guest speaker at a Strathclyde University event.

Pistorius, who made history earlier this year as the first Paralympic athlete to win a medal at the IAAF able-bodied World Championships, joined a number of high profile speakers at the institution's Sporting Prosthetics Conference held at Hampden Park, Glasgow.

Paralympics GB and Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) also turned out to explore the latest developments in research, technology and design ahead of the Olympic Games in London next year and the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

He said: "Sport can inspire us all and the more we can do to promote how anyone with any ability can become active will encourage current and future generations."

Glasgow Uni students set to raise money for Disability Sport

STUDENTS AT THE University of Glasgow will be running, cycling and rowing 1,000 miles between now and Christmas to raise money for Scottish Disability Sport (SDS).

The challenge is being organised by Scottish Student Sport (SSS) with universities from all across the country taking part.

The 1,000-mile target is based on the distance from the Scottish Universities Sport (SUS) offices in Edinburgh round all the participating institutions and back again.

Students can get involved individually or in groups of three, and are able to cover the distance on any cardio-vascular machine in their university gym.

Leo Howes, president of Glasgow University Sport’s Association, said: “Disability sport can be a difficult aspect to promote at individual universities because of the relatively small number of disabled students.

“At a national level there are wider opportunities available and hopefully we can develop that side of things – especially with the Olympics, Paralympics and Commonwealth Games coming up."ble to the public, sold out quickly.

Emma Elliott-Walker Marcus Kernohan THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS once again flocked to central London last week, in a day of protest which saw the Metropolitan Police criticised for what was widely seen as an excessive policing effort.

Around 3,000 students joined the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts (NCAFC) demonstration on Wednesday 9 November, to protest ongoing cuts to higher education funding and the lingering spectre of dramatically raised tuition fees.

The march follows the publication of the coalition government's White Paper on higher education which many fear will lead universities to operate more as businesses than institutions of learning.

The heavy police presence at the demonstration, which saw students march from the University of London Union in Bloomsbury to London Wall in the East End, has been widely criticised as "disproportionate" by campaigners.

Reports that police had sought and received Home Office authorisation to use rubber bullets and water cannon if trouble erupted led organisers to accuse police of attempting to "precriminalise" protest.

Around 4,000 officers from across several forces were drafted in to police the march, amid fears of a repeat of last year's Millbank riot, which saw the Conservative Party's headquarters ransacked by protesters at NUS' Demolition protest.

In a statement, NCAFC condemned police crowd-control tactics, including the controversial practice of 'kettling' as "brutal and inhumane, barely legal and counterproductive."

Reports that police kettled striking electricians attempting to join the march led to a brief stand-off between police and protesters at Fleet Street.

But despite tense scenes between

Caption Over 100 Edinburgh University students, including many EUSA officials, joined the march in London police officers and an increasingly agitated crowd, the situation was quickly defused.

Officers warned protesters that deviation from the planned route, negotiated with local authorities by NCAFC and NUS, would be treated as a criminal offence, and were quick to enforce an order made under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act which effectively outlawed the wearing of masks or face coverings at the march.

But despite aggressive policing, student activists have claimed that the march was largely self-regulated, with

student marshals directing demonstrators and encouraging adherence to the agreed route. Stephen Donnelly, one of EUSA’s NUS Scotland delegates, said: “The absence of any serious disruption or damage to property helped keep our message credible and resonant with the wider public.”

Police reported 24 arrests, mainly for public order offences, while an attempted occupation which saw protesters pitch tents in Trafalgar Square, was quickly closed down.

Around 120 University of Edinburgh students — reportedly the largest

student contingent from outside London — travelled through the night on coaches subsidised by Edinburgh University Students Association to take part. EUSA president Matt McPherson told The Journal he was “really proud that Edinburgh students were leading Scotland’s fight against fees."

Additional reporting by Dominic Sowa and Lydia Willgress.

Face-to-face hours with students at Strathclyde to undergo cut University faces criticism over change in drop-in times for student finance Alan Robertson Managing editor A LEADING GLASGOW university has come under fire from student leaders over plans to slash the number of hours set aside for face-to-face advice on student finance by more than half.

Student financial support at the University of Strathclyde is to be made available on a drop-in basis for 13 hours a week from this month onwards under new arrangements trialled by the higher education institution.

The University said the move was part of efforts to refocus attention on processing a large number of

applications from students for support around this time of year.

However, the University of Strathclyde Students' Association (USSA) labelled the decision "detrimental" at a time when financial concerns continue to dominate students daily lives.

The Student Support and Wellbeing Team, of which Student Financial Support is a part, offer advice and support on a range of financial issues including council tax, grants and emergency aid.

USSA vice-president for services, Cat Morton, said: “The reduction in studentfacing hours that the finance service will be moving to is a detrimental move for student support at this time.

"When student are finding the issue

of funding and financial support more prevalent than ever we should be ensuring that we are doing all we can to offer them advice and support.

"This move of reduction in advising hours will adversely impact students experience at University.”

Alterations to the service arrangements are to be trialled over the next eight weeks with feedback sought from students on their experience, the University said. In the meantime, Student Financial Support staff will still be on hand between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday to handle email and phone enquiries from students.

A spokeswoman added: "At this time of year, we receive a large number of

applications from students for support from funds including the Discretionary Fund, Childcare Fund and the Emergency Aid Fund, and we aim to turn these applications around as quickly as possible so that eligible students receive the financial support they need as quickly as possible.

"However, while we work through the processing of applications, it remains essential for us to be able to offer an information and advice service to students and we are keen to create a balance between the two which supports both acceptable waiting times for students wishing to access information, and an appropriate turnaround time for applications for financial support."

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News 7

Liberal Democrat Vince Cable rolls into Glasgow Bags of cash for Business secretary takes a tour around west end ahead of decisive by-election date Glasgow gallery SIAN DAVIES

Turner Prize candidate Karla Black gives back in bid to help future Stephen Walsh

Liberal Democrat stalwart Vince Cable enjoys a short spell in West End florists as politicians take to the campaign trail in Hillhead

Siân Davies GOVERNMENT MINISTER VINCE Cable arrived in Glasgow last week ahead of a by-election for the City Council.

The UK business secretary joined local Liberal Democrat and Hillhead by-election candidate Ewan Hoyle on the campaign trail to highlight the vital role local businesses will play in Scotland’s economic future.

Cable visited florists, Native Flowers, in the west end of the city where he underlined the need for strong and successful local businesses to help the

country’s economy flourish in the years ahead.

He said: “Small businesses are vital because these are where the jobs are created. The big multi-national companies are important but this is where the jobs are and they have got to succeed.

That is why we have got to have policies that help them.

“It’s really about getting the British economy growing again and people more confident to spend without fear of losing their jobs, and once they do that they will come out and support shops.”

Mr Hoyle is one of seven candidates contesting the Hillhead by-election, which will take place this week

following the death of Councillor George Roberts aged 68.

Ken Andrew (SNP), Charles Baillie (Britannica), Neil Craig (UKIP Scotland), Maya Forrest (Scottish Conservative and Unionist), Stuart Leckie (Scottish Green Party) and Martin McElroy (Scottish Labour Party) are also in the running.

He said: “At a council level I am very keen for there to be people that small businesses can go to for support and advice, and for help to be given to them, especially when they are starting up, so they have the best possible chance of surviving in these difficult times.

“Small businesses really contribute

to the character of places like Hillhead and I think it is really very important that we support the ones that exist and nurture the ones that want to start up.”

Mr Hoyle also spoke about his plans to help students, should he be elected, with a key focus being placed on raising the standards of privately rented student accommodation.

He said: “There are an awful lot of students living in private rented accommodation that isn’t very well maintained.

“It is important that students have someone they can go to and who can help them particularly in regards to security and heating issues.”

Glasgow residents suffer blackout Thousands of homes left in the dark following blaze near Braehead

Collette Cullen

MORE THAN 50,000 homes and businesses across Glasgow were left without power last week after a “deliberate” fire near Braehead shopping centre.

The fire was believed to have started around 7.30pm with two high-voltage power cables being set alight by

vandals in an underpass under the M8 in Renfrew.

Both the motorway and A8 had to be closed while the blaze was handled by fire crews.

Gordon McCrae of Paisley CID is leading the police investigation into what he described as a thoughtless act.

“It was an incredibly dangerous and very selfish thing to do. Thousands of homes were affected and there was

disruption to the traffic on the M8 which was closed for over four hours to allow emergency services to deal with the fire,” he said.

Thirty fire fighters tended to the fire while residents in Govan, Mount Florida, Battlefield, parts of Shawlands, Cathcart and Rutherglen were all shrouded in darkness.

Guy Jefferson, Operations Director at ScottishPower Energy Networks,

said: “This looks like a mindless act of vandalism that has caused a huge amount of disruption for homes and businesses in the South of Glasgow and also for motorists.

“Our engineers worked flat out to get power restored to homes as quickly as they possibly could.”

Anyone with information regarding the incident can contact Paisley Police Office on 0141 532 5900.

THE TURNER PRIZE-NOMINATED Scottish artist Karla Black is demonstrating that, despite her success, she still remembers her roots.

The former Glasgow School of Art student has donated four signed limited-edition bags from her latest exhibition to a silent auction, the proceeds of which will go to the Glasgow Project Room.

The Project Room is a non-profit making gallery, running since 1997, which exhibits the work of both aspiring and established artists outside the constraints of council funding. It thus ensures artists’ work is not overlooked through fear of its being unprofitable.

Instead, a committee of artists who are members of the Project Room look at individuals’ work and decide who will exhibit – something the organisation takes great pride in.

Black’s current exhibition is a project commissioned by 'Scotland + Venice' – a partnership between the national arts organisation Creative Scotland, the National Galleries of Scotland and British Council Scotland – and is showing at Italy’s Venice Biennale festival, which is considered to be one of the most prestigious celebrations of contemporary visual art in the world.

However, Black has credited the Project Room as being instrumental to her early career, which next month could culminate in a £25,000 first prize should she overcome Martin Boyce, Hilary Lloyd and George Shaw to win the prestigious Turner Prize award.

The Project Room's current exhibition is Darren Tesar’s ‘A Barbarous Intensity’, a display that includes objects as diverse as a termite-ravaged piece of wood as well as his cat’s cardboard bed.

Tesar, 27, from Wisconsin, came to Glasgow two years ago to study at School of Art and soon became a regular visitor to the gallery.

“There aren’t many spaces in Glasgow that have a good standing within a contemporary art setting and also have very little hands on the artist,” he said.

Artist Penny Sharp, a champion of the Project Room, said: “It is important for these artists to have independence creatively. The Project Room provides this.”

Project Room a popular place WALTARRR

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

Property

Anniesland Ancaster Drive, 795, 3, 3D G O , 0844 635 9372 Craigend Circus, 680, 2, 2D G P , 0844 635 1986 Penrith Drive, 525, 2, 2D G CG O , 0844 635 9378 Spencer Street, 525, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Linden Place, 525, 1, 1D O , 0844 635 9364 Glencoe Street, 510, 2, 2D G CG O , 0844 635 2012 Temple Gardens, 495, 1, , 0844 635 9346 Glencoe Street, 475, 2, , 0844 635 9346

Battlefield Sinclair Drive, 600, 2, 2D G , 0844 635 9596 Ledard Road, 545, 2, 2D G CG O , 0844 635 4826 Battlefield Avenue, 500, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 7774 Battlefield Gardens, 475, 1, G O , 0844 635 3714 Battlefield Road, 450, 2, 2D W CG O , 0844 635 9440 Cartside Street, 425, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 3504 Garry Street, 400, 1, 1D G PG O , 0844 635 9398 Rannoch Street, 400, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 2312 Battlefield Avenue, 375, 1, 1D G O , 0844 635 9380 Cartside Street, 375, 1, 1D CG O , 0844 635 9380

Bearsden Ledcameroch Crescent, 2500, 5, 5D , 0844 635 9378 Manse Road, 1900, 3, 2D G P , 0844 635 9596 Nasmyth Avenue, 995, 3, 3D E CG P , 0844 635 6639 Thorn Heights, 950, 3, 1S 2D G CG P , 0844 635 1986 Canniesburn Quadrant, 725, 2, 2D , 0844 635 2422 Sutherland Avenue, 600, 2, 2D E CG P , 0844 635 6350 Stockiemuir Avenue, 495, 1, 1D E CG P , 0844 635 1986 Lennox Court, 450, 1, , 0844 635 9346

Bridgeton Greenhead Street, 575, 2, 2D G P , 0844 635 9378 Dalmarnock Drive, 550, 3, 3D G P , 0844 635 9542 Main Street, 525, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Main Street, 500, 2, 1S 1D E O , 0844 635 9372 Kerr Street, 495, 3, , 0844 635 9346 Dalmarnock Drive, 495, 2, 2D G P , 0844 635 9542 Dalmarnock Drive, 495, 2, 2D G PG P , 0844 635 9542 Tullis Gardens, 495, 2, 1S 1D , 0844 635 9400 Tullis Gardens, 475, 2, 2D E P , 0844 635 9542 Tullis Street, 475, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Dalmarnock Road, 450, 2, 2D W , 0844 635 1318 Tullis Gardens, 450, 2, 2D W CG O , 0844 635 6350 London Road, 425, 2, G , 0844 635 9596 Dalmarnock Drive, 410, 1, 1D G P , 0844 635 9542 Laird Place, 395, 1, W P , 0844 635 9396 Main Street, 375, 1, 1D G O , 0844 635 4467

Broomhill Woodcroft Avenue, 675, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Beechwood Drive, 600, 2, 2D G PG O , 0844 635 9376 Woodcroft Avenue, 525, 1, , 0844 635 9346 Crow Road, 495, 1, , 0844 635 9346

Cambuslang Cambuslang Road, 595, 2, 2D G P , 0844 635 6452 Dukes Court, 550, 3, 3D G P , 0844 635 9230 Bank Street, 550, 2, E P , 0844 635 9372 Silverbanks Court,, 495, 2, 2D G P , 0844 635 2629 Silverbanks Court, 475, 2, G P , 0844 635 9396 East Greenlees Gardens, 465, 2, 2D G P , 0844 635 9372 Hamilton Road, 435, 2, 2D G P , 0844 635 2422 Hamilton Road, 395, 1, 1D G P , 0844 635 2422

Cathcart Castlebrae Gardens, 600, 2, G O , 0844 635 9596 Castlebrae Gardens, 595, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Croftside Avenue, 550, 2, 2D , 0844 635 2422 Holmlea Road, 449, 1, 1D P , 0844 635 3328 Holmlea Road, 425, 1, 1D G CG P , 0844 635 9398 Linnwood Court, 425, 1, 1D G PG P , 0844 635 9350

Newlands Road, 400, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 9398 Craig Road, 395, 1, G , 0844 635 9596 Holmhead Place, 375, 1, 1D G , 0844 635 1318 Kilmailing Road, 350, 1, 1D CG O , 0844 635 9398 Newlands Road, 350, 1, , 0844 635 9346

City Centre Berkeley Street, 950, 3, 3D G P , 0844 635 2214 Howard Street, 895, 2, 2D G P , 0844 635 9372 Oswald Street, 880, 2, 2D E P , 0844 635 6450 Mcphater Street, 850, 3, 3D G CG O , 0844 635 1986 Rose Street, 850, 2, 2D G P , 0844 635 9364 Lancefield Quay, 835, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Queen Street, 825, 2, 2D G Z , 0844 635 4471 Sauchiehall Street, 825, 2, 2D , 0844 635 9364 Glasgow Harbour Terr, 750, 2, 2D G P , 0844 635 9364 High Street, 750, 2, 2D G CG P , 0844 635 0072 Queen Street, 750, 2, 2D G , 0844 635 9368 Morrison Street, 700, 2, 2D E P , 0844 635 9230 Couper Street, 695, 3, 2D G , 0844 635 9596 Lancefield Quay, 695, 2, P , 0844 635 9400 Queen Street, 695, 1, 1D G , 0844 635 9368 Queen Street, 695, 1, 1D G O , 0844 635 9368 Queen Street, 695, 1, 1D G , 0844 635 9368 Riverview Place, 675, 3, , 0844 635 9346 Pinnacle Building, 675, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Albion Street, 675, 1, 1D E P , 0844 635 9364 Albion Street, 650, 1, , 0844 635 9346 St. Andrews Square, 625, 2, 2D E O , 0844 635 9542 Minerva Court, 600, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Port Dundas Place, 600, 1, E , 0844 635 9596 The Bridge, 600, 1, 1D E , 0844 635 9364 Greendyke Street, 595, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Wallace Street, 575, 3, , 0844 635 9346 Wallace Street, 575, 2, 2D W CG P , 0844 635 9372 Ingram Street, 575, 1, 1D CG , 0844 635 9364 South Portland Street, 550, 2, 2D P , 0844 635 9380 Wallace Street, 550, 2, 2D E P , 0844 635 4826 Queen Street, 550, 1, 1D G , 0844 635 4826 South Frederick Street, 525, 1, 1D E O , 0844 635 9354 Miller Street, 450, 1, , 0844 635 9346 Oxford Street, 450, 1, , 0844 635 9346 St Peters Street, 425, 1, , 0844 635 9346 Gibson Street, 395, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 0072 Mcneil Gardens, 395, 1, G CG P , 0844 635 9226 Dorset Street, 300, 1, , 0844 635 9346

Dennistoun Roslea Dr, 1140, 4, 4D CG O , 0844 635 3357 Finlay Drive, 695, 2, 2D G , 0844 635 1986 Finlay Drive, 675, 3, 3D G CG O , 0844 635 1986 Coventry Drive, 630, 3, 1S 2D G CG O , 0844 635 2012 Hanson Park, 600, 2, 2D G CG Z , 0844 635 9472 Milnbank Street, 595, 3, 1S 2D G CG O , 0844 635 9472 Finlay Drive, 590, 2, 2D G CG O , 0844 635 9234 Duke Street, 580, 3, 3D G , 0844 635 9542 Onslow Drive, 575, 3, , 0844 635 9346 Edinburgh Road, 575, 2, 2D G P , 0844 635 9364 Onslow Drive, 575, 2, 2D G CG O , 0844 635 0072 Armadale Street, 550, 3, 3D G O , 0844 635 9542 Alexandra Parade, 550, 2, 2D G P , 0844 635 2629 Meadowpark Street, 525, 2, 2D G P , 0844 635 9350 Reidvale Street, 525, 2, 2D G PG P , 0844 635 0072 Ingleby Drive, 505, 1, , 0844 635 2012 Garthland Drive, 500, 2, G , 0844 635 3894 Aberfeldy Street, 495, 2, 2D G CG O , 0844 635 1872 Finlay Drive, 495, 2, G CG O , 0844 635 3894 Hillfoot St, 475, 2, 2D , 0844 635 3357 Abercromby Drive, 450, 2, 1S 1D G P , 0844 635 2629 Cumbernauld Road, 450, 2, O , 0844 635 9232 Cumbernauld Road, 450, 2, , 0844 635 9346

Whitehill Street, 450, 1, 1D E O , 0844 635 9542 Whitehill Street, 450, 1, 1D G O , 0844 635 9542 Armadale Court, 445, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Alexandra Parade, 430, 1, G O , 0844 635 2012 Hillfoot Street, 410, 1, 1D CG O , 0844 635 3357 Cumbernauld Road, 400, 2, 2D G O , 0844 635 4467 Duke Street, 400, 2, 2D W CG , 0844 635 9398 Cumbernauld Road, 395, 1, E O , 0844 635 3894 Aberfoyle Street, 375, 1, 1D G , 0844 635 4467

A USERS GUIDE TO CITYLETS LISTINGS Meadows

Area Agent phone number

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

Bedrooms

Dowanhill

Monthly Rent

Crown Gardens, 825, 2, 2D G CG O , 0844 635 9470 Huntly Gardens, 675, 3, , 0844 635 9346 Hyndland Road, 650, 1, O , 0844 635 9308 Lorraine Gardens, 550, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 9350

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

Finnieston River Heights, 700, 2, 2D E , 0844 635 9364 Minerva Way, 650, 2, 2D G CG P , 0844 635 0072 Stobcross Street, 595, 1, 1D , 0844 635 9364 Stobcross Street, 595, 1, 1D , 0844 635 9364 Stobcross Street, 595, 1, 1D , 0844 635 9364 Stobcross Street, 595, 1, 1D , 0844 635 9364 Stobcross Street, 495, 1, 1D E , 0844 635 9542

Govanhill Garturk Street, 595, 3, 3D , 0844 635 9472 Allison Street, 525, 2, 2D 1B G CG P , 0844 635 9472 Dixon Avenue, 500, 2, G CG O , 0844 635 2012 Allison Street, 475, 2, 2D G O , 0844 635 9584 Cathcart Road, 475, 2, 2D G O , 0844 635 7774 Calder Street, 470, 2, 1S 1D , 0844 635 2012 Victoria Road, 450, 2, 2D G CG O , 0844 635 9380 Torrisdale Street, 435, 1, 1D G , 0844 635 9350 Belleisle Street, 430, 2, 2D G O , 0844 635 8716 Allison Street, 415, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 9380 Govanhill Street, 410, 1, 1D G , 0844 635 9380 Bankhall Street, 400, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 9380 Calder Street, 400, 1, 1D , 0844 635 9380 Langside Road, 395, 1, O , 0844 635 6881 Allison Street, 380, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 9380 Allison Street, 365, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 9380 Bankhall Street, 365, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 0072 Daisy Street, 350, 1, 1D E CG O , 0844 635 9380 Garturk Street, 325, 1, 1D G O , 0844 635 9584

Hillhead Hamilton Park Avenue, 995, 4, , 0844 635 9346 Vinicombe Street, 990, 3, 3D G CG O , 0844 635 9354 Southpark Avenue, 900, 3, 3D G O , 0844 635 6350 Otago Street, 900, 2, 2D G CG O , 0844 635 3504 Kersland Street, 795, 2, 2D G Z , 0844 635 9372 Gibson Street, 650, 1, G CG O , 0844 635 3504 Chancellor Street, 600, 2, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 6350 Dumbarton Road, 495, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 3357 Otago Street, 495, 1, 1D G CG Z , 0844 635 3504 Oakfield Avenue, 450, 1, 1D E P , 0844 635 3504

Hyndland Hayburn Lane,new Queensborough, 1800, 3, 3D G P , 0844 635 9566 Kirklee Gardens, 1200, 3, PG , 0844 635 2422 Hyndland Road, 925, 2, 2D G O , 0844 635 9378 Polwarth Street, 700, 2, 2D G , 0844 635 9364 Hyndland Avenue, 645, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Hyndland Road, 625, 1, , 0844 635 9346 Clarence Gardens, 595, 2, 1S E CG P , 0844 635 1986 Queensborough Gardens, 595, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 1986 Airlie Street, 575, 1, 1D G PG O , 0844 635 9378

Ibrox Langshot Street, 550, 3, 3D G CG O , 0844 635 0072 Copland Road, 495, 2, G , 0844 635 9566 Harrison Drive, 410, 1, 1D E O , 0844 635 9542 Ibrox Street, 395, 2, G O , 0844 635 2012 Copland Road, 395, 1, 1D G , 0844 635 4826 Paisley Road West, 395, 1, , 0844 635 9346 Middleton Street, 375, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 9380 Middleton Street, 375, 1, G CG O , 0844 635 9380 Copland Road, 350, 1, 1D E CG O , 0844 635 4826

Kelvindale Innellan Gardens, 595, 2, 2D G P , 0844 635 9368 Fortingall Place, 550, 2, 1S W CG P , 0844 635 1872 Kelvindale Road, 550, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Gairbraid Court, 525, 2, 2D PG P , 0844 635 4471 Fortingall Avenue, 450, 1, 1D W CG O , 0844 635 9368 Fortingall Place, 450, 1, 1D W CG Z , 0844 635 3774

Kings Park Menock Road, 695, 3, 3D G PG P , 0844 635 0072 Carmunnock Road, 625, 2, 1S 1D E , 0844 635 8716 Kingsbridge Drive, 625, 2, 2D G PG P , 0844 635 9472 Castlemilk Road, 550, 2, 2D G P , 0844 635 9566 Midcroft Avenue, 450, 2, G PG O , 0844 635 9396 Curtis Avenue, 450, 1, 1D G PG O , 0844 635 9368

Kinning Park Mavisbank Gardens, 595, 1, , 0844 635 9308 Plantation Park Gardens, 500, 2, 2D W P , 0844 635 9354 Milnpark Gardens, 475, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Milnpark Gardens, 475, 2, 2D E CG P , 0844 635 9226 Milnpark Gardens, 470, 2, 2D W P , 0844 635 9566 Rutland Court, 450, 1, 1D G P , 0844 635 1986 Paisley Road West, 415, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 9470 Walmer Crescent, 395, 1, , 0844 635 9346 Paisley Road West, 360, 1, 1D CG O , 0844 635 9454 Paisley Road West, 295, 1, 1D E CG O , 0844 635 9380

Langside Millbrae Road, 645, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Cartside Street, 595, 2, 2D G , 0844 635 4471 Ledard Road, 595, 2, 2D G CG O , 0844 635 1986 Algie Street, 550, 2, 2D G O , 0844 635 1986 Camphill Avenue, 550, 1, 1D W CG P , 0844 635 3714 Cartvale Road, 495, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 3762 Camphill Avenue, 375, 1, 1D E O , 0844 635 9380

Maryhill Firhill Road, 599, 2, 2D G CG P , 0844 635 9230 Trossachs Court, 595, 2, 2D G P , 0844 635 0012 Murano Street, 550, 2, 2D G CG O , 0844 635 1986 Shuna Street, 550, 2, , 0844 635 9346

Sandbank Avenue, 500, 2, 2D E CG O , 0844 635 9350 Viewmount Drive, 460, 2, 2D G P , 0844 635 9542 Cumlodden Drive, 450, 2, 2D G CG P , 0844 635 9230 Herma Street, 440, 2, W CG O , 0844 635 9372 Lochburn Road, 375, 1, , 0844 635 9346 Balfour Street, 320, 1, 1D W CG P , 0844 635 9454

Merchant City Blackfriars Road, 950, 3, 3D E CG , 0844 635 3786 Blackfriars Road, 950, 3, 3D E CG , 0844 635 3786 Ingram Street, 750, 2, 2D W P , 0844 635 9368 St. Andrews Street, 750, 2, 2D G P , 0844 635 9368 Blackfriars Road, 650, 2, 2D E CG , 0844 635 3786 Blackfriars Road, 650, 2, E CG , 0844 635 3786 Blackfriars Road, 650, 2, E CG , 0844 635 3786 London Road, 650, 2, 2D G P , 0844 635 9230 Blackfriars Road, 650, 1, E CG , 0844 635 3786 Parsonage Square, 625, 2, 2D W PG P , 0844 635 9354 Bell Street, 595, 2, 2D E P , 0844 635 9470 Howard Street, 595, 1, 1D W , 0844 635 9368 Albion Street, 550, 1, E , 0844 635 9396 Parnie Street, 550, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 4826 Blackfriars Road, 540, 1, E CG , 0844 635 3786 Walls Street, 450, 1, 1D W O , 0844 635 2312 Blackfriars Road, 440, 1, E CG , 0844 635 3786

Mount Florida Bolton Drive, 495, 2, G CG O , 0844 635 9396 Cartvale Road, 450, 2, 2D G CG O , 0844 635 9378 Bolivar Terrace, 450, 1, 1D G O , 0844 635 9470 Bolton Drive, 450, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 0072 Cathcart Road, 425, 2, 2D G CG O , 0844 635 9398 Cumming Drive, 410, 1, 1D O , 0844 635 9542 Mclennan Street, 375, 1, 1D E CG O , 0844 635 9440

Partick Chancellor Street, 750, 3, 3D G O , 0844 635 6350 Chancellor Street, 750, 3, 3D O , 0844 635 9378 Dumbarton Road, 650, 2, 2D G CG O , 0844 635 3762 Ferry Road, 600, 2, 2D G CG P , 0844 635 9440 Crow Road, 575, 2, 2D , 0844 635 1612 Merkland Street, 550, 2, 2D G , 0844 635 9376 Dumbarton Road, 550, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 4826 Dumbarton Road, 550, 1, 1D , 0844 635 2422 Thornwood Drive, 550, 1, , 0844 635 9346 Crathie Drive, 525, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 3714 Apsley Street, 495, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 3714 Apsley Street, 470, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 3714 Dumbarton Road, 450, 1, 1D E CG O , 0844 635 1986 Merkland Street, 450, 1, , 0844 635 9346 Exeter Drive, 430, 1, G O , 0844 635 9410

Pollokshaws Barrland Street, 595, 1, G CG P , 0844 635 9470 Thornliebank Road, 495, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Calder Street, 400, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 4826 Torrisdale Street, 350, 1, G O , 0844 635 9376

Pollokshields Hamilton Avenue, 700, 2, 2D G P , 0844 635 8716 Mcculloch Street, 695, 3, , 0844 635 9596 Shields Road, 595, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Shields Road, 595, 2, 2D G Z , 0844 635 4471 Nursery Street, 575, 2, 2D G P , 0844 635 0093 St. Johns Court, 525, 3, 1S 2D G CG P , 0844 635 3504 St. Andrews Drive, 525, 2, 2D G CG P , 0844 635 9440 Darnley Street, 450, 2, G CG O , 0844 635 9226 Forth Street, 450, 2, G CG O , 0844 635 2156 Maxwell Grove, 450, 1, 1D G P , 0844 635 9380 Maxwell Drive, 425, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 0072 Maxwell Grove, 395, 1, 1D E CG P , 0844 635 9482 St. Andrews Drive, 375, 2, 2D O , 0844 635 8716

Port Dundas Speirs Wharf, 700, 2, E , 0844 635 1894 Craighall Road, 600, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Craighall Road, 525, 2, 2D G P , 0844 635 9420 Hamiltonhill Road, 525, 2, 2D G O , 0844 635 9378

Queens Park Queens Park Avenue, 800, 3, 3D G CG O , 0844 635 3762 Allison Street, 450, 2, 2D G CG O , 0844 635 3502 Prince Edward Street, 450, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 3504 Prince Edward Street, 450, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 3504 Niddrie Road, 435, 2, 1S 1D G O , 0844 635 2012 Torrisdale Street, 385, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 4826 Torrisdale Street, 350, 1, 1D G O , 0844 635 9232 Torrisdale Street, 350, 1, 1D W CG O , 0844 635 48

Rutherglen Millburn Avenue, 595, 3, 1S 2D G PG , 0844 635 9376 Main Street, 485, 2, 2D G O , 0844 635 9542 Stonelaw Road, 425, 2, 1S 1D G , 0844 635 9354 Cambuslang Road, 425, 1, 2D G CG O , 0844 635 9398 Cambuslang Road, 325, 1, 1D E CG O , 0844 635 9398

Scotstoun Harefield Drive, 600, 3, 3D G PG O , 0844 635 2012 Victoria Park Road South, 550, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 9364 Dumbarton Road, 525, 2, 2D E P , 0844 635 0012 Larchfield Avenue, 495, 2, , 0844 635 9346 Earl Street, 450, 2, 2D G CG O , 0844 635 2012 Harland Street, 450, 2, 2D G O , 0844 635 9350 Primrose Street, 430, 1, , 0844 635 9346 Scotstoun Street, 425, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 3506

Harland Cottages, 400, 2, 1S 1D O , 0844 635 9410 Harland Cottages, 385, 1, 1D G CG O , 0844 635 1986

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Warnings issued over two-question referendum

A LIBERAL DEMOCRAT peer has warned that a two-question independence referendum could cause confusion and have serious consequences for Scotland and its future.

Lord Steel, the former Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament has expressed concerns that the referendum risks a future of “bitterness and frustration” in Scotland if misunderstandings over the planned referendum were not resolved.

During their recent party conference the SNP proposed that the referendum contained two questions: the first being a Yes-No to Scottish independence and the second being a question on ‘devolution max’, or full fiscal autonomy.

Lord Steel referred to the first devolution referendum in 1979, where the proposal for a devolved Scottish Parliament was vetoed by Westminster despite receiving a small majority in favour. He said: "It is astonishing to see, more than 30 years later, proposals that could make the result of the next referendum unclear.

"The bitterness and frustration will be seen again in Scotland if a landslide of voters choose further devolution but they get defeated by a less popular option of independence."

NATIONAL POLITICS

News 9

Lib Dem leader apologises for Alex Salmond cartoon

Lib Dem peer claims that a two-question referendum on independence is likely to muddle the debate Megan Wells

www.journal-online.co.uk

A spokesman for the First Minister responded: "A majority voting Yes to 'devo max' and Yes to independence - as outlined in the draft Referendum Bill in February 2010 - would be a clear vote for independence.

"It is the exact opposite of the rigged 1979 referendum, in which a narrow but unambiguous majority for devolution was overturned.

"The precedent of the 1997 referendum is very clear - people voted Yes to a parliament and Yes to tax-varying powers, and therefore a parliament with tax-varying powers was delivered."

The First Minister has also been warned by Tom Harris MP, a contender for the Scottish Labour leadership, that he has “no mandate” to hold a twoquestion referendum. He claims voters at the Scottish elections in May have only given the SNP consent for a singlequestion independence referendum.

Speaking at the recent party conference, outgoing Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray said: “Alex Salmond knows he can't get his first question past the Scottish people. And he knows he can't get the second one past the SNP.” On the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, Alex Salmond explained he was “not for limiting choices of the Scottish people,” adding “I'll leave that to Westminster politicians.”

Satirical cartoon hailed 'remarkable differences' between SNP government and oppressive Qatari regime ALEX FOLKES

Andrew Barr National Politics editor SCOTTISH LIBERAL DEMOCRAT leader, Willie Rennie, has apologised after a cartoon was published on official Scottish Liberal Democrat Facebook and Twitter accounts portraying the Fist Minister in Arab dress.

The controversy came after Alex Salmond hailed the “remarkable similarities” between Scotland and Qatar on a visit to the Gulf states.

Mr Salmond was promoting educational links and Scottish business in Qatar when he compared the oil wealth of the two nations and the shared ambitions for greener technologies.

The Lib Dem cartoon intended to expand on national “similarities” between Scotland and Qatar, alleging that in an independent Scotland, the First Minister would be an “absolute monarch”, that gay rights would be “suppressed” and that the death penalty would be issued for “crimes against the state.”

Many Liberal Democrat supporters condemned the image, saying it had been published in bad taste.

Mr Rennie issued an apology, claiming he was “embarrassed”, and insisted the cartoon had been published by the Scottish Liberal Democrats without his approval. He said: “It was a mistake, it wasn’t approved by me and it shouldn’t have been

Willie Rennie forced to issue mea culpa over Qatar cartoon published because it’s not actually right to compare countries like that in the way we did.“We regard ourselves as having very high standards. It’s very important in political campaigning these days to make sure that we keep to the highest standards, which is why I’ve taken action to put it right.”

A spokesman for the SNP told The

Journal: “We note that Mr Rennie has withdrawn the image and consider the matter closed.”

Mr Rennie added that he was frustrated the controversy had overshadowed the announcement of the Liberal Democrat “home rule” commission aimed at furthering devolution whilst retaining Scotland’s place in the United Kingdom.

Alcohol Bill finally to be passed by Scottish Parliament A minimum price for alcohol is likely to be set in Scotland Dominique Cottee Staff writer A BILL PROPOSING a minimum price per unit of alcohol has once again been submitted by the SNP to battle the misuse of alcohol in Scotland. The party hopes to “tackle problem drinkers” who purchase “cheap supermarket white ciders, larger and value spirits.”

The SNP had previously tried to introduce the bill as a minority government before the May elections, but it was rejected by opposition parties.

Lord Steel claims that two-question format may risk confusion CHRIS RUBEY

SNP MSP and vice-convenor of the Health Committee, Bob Doris, told The Journal: “The introduction of a minimum price is backed by organisations across the health and justice professions, by academics, by the licensed trade and increasing numbers of alcohol producers.

"The SNP Government has already put a ban on bulk discounts and promotions in off-sales have been restricted, minimum pricing is a key addition to that legislation.”

The three candidates vying for Scottish Labour leadership have all pledged to oppose the bill. Eastwood MSP Ken

SNP claim bill will prevent 50 deaths in the next year STEPHEN MCLEOD BLYTHE

Macintosh claimed the proposals did not adequately address problems of education and culture that lead to heavy drinking. However, all three candidates concede that given the SNP’s outright majority, there is little they can do to stop the bill passing.

The SNP expects the bill to result in 50 fewer alcohol-related deaths by next year, and to save £721 million over ten years in “harm reduction”. Current government estimates believe alcohol problems cost the country £3.56bn per year.

Greene King brewery chief executive, Rooney Anand, said “a minimum price for alcohol would go to the very heart of the problem” without penalising the majority of responsible drinkers.

A report published by Alcohol Focus Scotland recently showed that a unit of alcohol could cost as little as 14p, and in many cases, cheaper than a can of cola.

Dr Evelyn Gillan, Chief Executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, says that minimum pricing is needed “now more than ever” as supermarkets lower prices of individual cans or bottles to undermine the ban on bulk buying alcohol.

She said: “This only serves to reinforce the case for government intervention through measures like minimum pricing if we want to reduce record levels of alcohol harm in Scotland.”

10 Editorial

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GLASGOW’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER

The Journal Wednesday 16 November 2011

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ISSUE V

RUK fees

Holyrood's wasted chance THEY HAD THEIR chance — and once again, they blew it. Offered the opportunity to undo much of the political damage done to this SNP government by the conservative approach they have adopted on the issue of Rest-of-UK tuition fees, the Nationalists' formidable education secretary Mike Russell chose instead to announce that the Scottish Government would plough ahead with their plans to make a Scottish degree among the most expensive in the UK. The lifeline was there: students' groups and anti-cuts campaigners were clamouring for the government to step in and lower the cap on tuition fees. Granted such an eleventh-hour intervention, no doubt the student movement could have forgiven their tardiness. But, alas, Mr Russell and his political masters have chosen to stick with it.

It was perhaps naive to expect

anything different — after all, no government wants to be seen flip-flopping — but we had hoped that Salmond's administration would take the view that losing a little political face was worth the moral victory of keeping Scottish higher education as accessible as possible.

The SNP's chorus throughout this whole debacle has been that it was necessary to raise tuition fees for RUK students so that Scottish students could continue to study for free. In other words, they are politicking the futures of thousands of young people in order to shore up their nationalist credentials with their base.

No-one wants to see free education taken away from Scottish students. That kind of all-in-the-sameboat mentality would be spiteful and counterproductive. But the cost which the government propose to exact from RUK students is excessive. As this

newspaper has consistently argued, pinning a £9,000 per year price-tag on a Scottish degree is liable to price thousands of students out of the market. It will alter both the demographic face of Scottish campuses and the spirit in which universities operate.

The much-trumpeted fear of higher education institutions becoming more commercial than academic is not entirely hyperbole: by encouraging a marketised view of higher education, in a landscape where government subsidies are slashed and institutions are left in a free-trade free-for-all, we risk students becoming commodities.

These are well-trodden rhetorical paths, but the point stands. The Scottish Government went too far in their deregulation of fees, and their unwillingness to accept the mild political embarrassment of a U-turn is unbecoming a party who pride themselves on their social-democratic credentials.

#Nov9 protest

No panic on the streets of London A YEAR AGO, when rioters vented their frustration on the fixtures and fittings at Tory HQ in Millbank Tower during the unfortunately-named Demolition protest, The Journal was quick to condemn acts of violence in the name of protest. We opined from these pages that a minority protesters had gone too far, and had undermined their own cause by acting like thugs.

How the tables have turned. What we witnessed in London last week, as the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts rallied a fresh march against the coalition government's cuts agenda, was student protesters being almost excruciatingly calm and ordered — spirited, certainly, but well within the confines of the law.

This time, it was the police that went too far.

The Metropolitan Police, terrified of a repeat of Demolition's

demolition, assigned 4,000 officers to police the NCAFC march on 9 November — a figure 25 per cent greater than their own estimate of how many students marched. They asked the Home Office for permission to deploy baton rounds and water cannon if riots broke out. They sought Section 60 orders which allow them to enforce what amounts to a dress code at the protest, and they repeatedly cautioned marchers that stepping even a few feet outside the agreed demonstration route would be treated as a criminal offence under public order legislation.

All of this exhaustive preparation speaks to one simple conclusion about the Met's performance last week: paranoia, born in the rubble of Millbank, of being seen as an ineffective law enforcement presence, which leads to an overly-aggressive

approach to policing peaceful and democratic protests. Being ready for trouble is all very well, but what the police did last week was seek to apply every possible constraint and bureaucratic restriction to the ability of the marchers to exercise a fundamental civil liberty. And to what end?

They created fear, and that is not the role of the police in a free society.

Moreover, it should be noted that very little actually happened: there were no serious instances of vandalism, there were very few arrests — 24, out of several thousand — and absolutely no need for rubber bullets or other harsh crowd-control measures to be deployed. But the impression we have got from talking to protesters and to our reporters on the ground has been that this peaceable nature was despite the police presence, not because of it.

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Letters Gay marriage in Scotland

PUBLISHER Devon Walshe MANAGING EDITOR Alan Robertson PICTURE EDITOR David Selby CHIEF SUBEDITOR Jen Owen LEAD DESIGNER Alina Mika DESIGN Joni Langdale James McNaught Katja Trolle Taksholt

STUDENT POLITICS Stef Millar LOCAL NEWS Aimee Beveridge

Kate Garrett FOOD & DRINK Adam D'Arcy FASHION Nadine Walker

DEPUTY EDITOR (COMMENT & FEATURES) Olivia Pires

DEPUTY EDITORS (SPORT) Gareth Llewellyn Stuart Findlay

MUSIC Tom Collins ART Katharina Dziacko THEATRE

The Journal is currently recruiting: www.journal-online.co.uk/recruitment or email glasgow.recruitment@journal-online.co.uk to find out more

This is where politicians are getting above their place in the World.

Have authority to rewriting the Bible? Gay people, like me, have always existed - even when the Bible was being written. If the Holy being had wished same sex people to marry it would have been in the Bible. What we are seeing is a ‘progressive’ element who thinks that being 'gay' was a recent invention and should be encompassed in all parts of our society.

No wonder society is degenerating - a modern politician has a whim and centuries of Holy doctrine are rewritten. Will we be expected to pray to them next, instead of the almighty?

— Grant Buckley, via web Scottish independence I think articles like this (Comment:

' Te e t e r i n g into Limbo', 2 October 2011) just shows how the UK media has turned Scotophobic. If scotland is happy with the UK then the SNP would not take a majority. Scotland has better unemployment than England, and they will have the referendum after the worst of the Tory cuts in Scotland. You don't even respect the Scottish Government's information — disgraceful, but I bet you don't even respect one of the Scottish media views, only the BBC - [which] had a report on it showing it's biased towards England and against Scotland.

— Jamie, via web Controversial competitor for Scottish Labour deputy leadership Gray>Lamont, Lamont>Davidson - Alex Salmond will be shaking in his shoes (with laughter).

The Journal Wednesday 16 November 2011

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Comment 11

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Discussion&Debate

Comment

Student leader faces criticism head on Ritchie: 'On criticism of my relationship with University senior management, I offer no apology for my actions'

D

EAR GURSC AND students of Glasgow University, Following my resignation as GUSRC President last Wednesday I have been inundated by letters of support and sympathy for students and colleagues across the county.

Amongst many of the correspondence is the grievance which students feel that I was never given an opportunity to address my critics or answer students concerns. I therefore felt it was important to provide some context and perhaps offer some perspective on the circumstances around my resignation.

From the articles which were written in the qmunicate and in the GU Guardian it was clear that there was a perception among some of the student community that I had misled students over my role in the working group which determined the fee level for RUK Students.

From the outset I believe I have been absolutely clear about my feelings on fees. No student should be forced to pay for higher education.

Not only is it inherently unequal to expect some students to pay and not others, but fees make it substantially more difficult for students from low income backgrounds and from families without a tradition of higher education to be able to afford to come to University. I made this position very clear to the members of the Court working group from the beginning.

However the University Court ultimately was never asked to decide whether Glasgow charged fees. That decision was taken by the Scottish Government. The purpose of the working group was to determine the fee level as appropriate to Glasgow University.

The proposals before the group were complex and considered a number of factors including the cost of teaching and learning against the fee level, how the price structure might affect the University’s ability to recruit students south of the border eg… After several meetings the group agreed that a fee of £27,000, split over four years at £6750 was the right choice for Glasgow. This fee structure would be incentivised by a £1000 welcome package for all students and a comprehensive package of bursaries and fee waivers for disadvantaged applicants which where far better than our competitors where offering.

Initially I found it difficult to see the benefit in a four year fee structure compared to three years at nine thousand pounds. Primarily because the fee wasn’t lower, just spread out

GUSRC

further.

In essence the university would appear cheaper compared to its competitors in the Russell Group, whom with the exception of the London School of Economics decided to charge £9000 over three years. My concern was that applicants would equate cost with value and therefore consider Glasgow inferior to other World 100 Universities. However at the end of the process the working group was unanimous in its decision.

Again following the announcement of fees my feelings have remained consistent, that ideologically fees should not be introduced and that the promises which the university made to continue to widen access to university and to support

RUK students made be met.

The confusion around fees and my role in the decision lays firmly with me and I take full responsibility for not communicating my actions more effectively to students.

The second criticism levelled at me refers to my relationship with University Senior Management and staff members. On this matter I offer no apology for my actions.

I have worked tirelessly to build a strong working relationship with the University to further the interests of students. The SRC is only relevant to students if it is actively engaged in the wrok of the university. II firmly believe my influence was far greater in meetings, committees and in correspondence as a result of the trust and

support I build up. Any student who believes that they would be better represented by a President who stood opposed to the work of institution is sadly misguided.

I believe every student is perfectly entitled and should have the right to question my conduct; however I did not warrant nor deserve the level of personal abuse and victimisation which I suffered publicly and in a viral internet campaign. I believe the attack on my ability to represent students will make it impossible for future SRC Presidents to make the right decision even if it is unpopular.

I am also deeply disappointed that a small faction, one which remains virtually unchallenged, of the student community has been allowed to

dominate the agenda at Glasgow.

The voice of the majority has been sidelined by a group of people whom seek to disrupt and undermine the learning and teaching environment of our great institution.

I hope this letter will go some way to providing closure on the matters above and I wish the SRC and all students at the University of Glasgow every success for the future.

The above is taken from a letter written by former president of Glasgow University Students' Representative Council (GUSRC), Stuart Ritchie, to the student body and wider members of the student population at the University of Glasgow in the week after his resignation.

12 Photo feature

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The Journal Wednesday 16 November 2011

Occupy Glasgow

Protestors complete journey through On November 5, some protestors donned Guy Fawkes masks and demonstrated the change of location for Nicholson and Katharina Dziacko. Going through the centre of Glasgow including the main shopping streets anti-cuts chants: 'When we say cutback, we say fightback.' However, this could not be construed as gunpowder,

The Journal Wednesday 16 November 2011

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Photo feature 13

the centre of Glasgow to Kelvingrove Occupy Glasgow from George Square to Kelvingrove Park, as showcased by The Journal snappers Jonathan where many of the brands they are protesting against can be found, they buoyed spirits with anti-banker and treason and plot as the peaceful march kept its belief in passive resistance

14 Arts & Entertainment

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The Journal Wednesday 16 November 2011

Renowned Scot Hayman knocks audiences for six The Journal speaks with actor David Hayman and writer Rony Bridges about experiences on and off stage Katharina Dziacko Art editor THE FIRST IMPRESSION the audience could gain from the set of ‘Six and a Tanner’, presented at Glasgow Caledonian University earlier this month, was a touch of elegance and smoothness.

'Six and a Tanner' is a play based on a true story, revolving around a young boy, Joe, and his insulting father. Not many people instantly recognised the big wooden object in the centre of the stage as a coffin; but interestingly, it is around this coffin, containing the body of Joe's dead father, that the play is performed.

The Journal sat down with actor David Hayman and writer Rony Bridges to discover more about the showpiece and their work further afield.

The play came alive during their work on a disaster project in tsunami-hit Sri Lanka, Bridges reveals. The pair shared a room, and with their daytime work so traumatic, sleeping through the night proved to be an extremely laborious task. It was here that Bridges delved into childhood memories of growing up in Springburn in the 1950s, leaving friend Hayman so equally touched and upset that he insisted he put pen to paper.

A month on from their return and Bridges presented Hayman with the script, one the renowned Scottish actor and director liked, albeit with concerns over its monologue format.

“I told him that I originally wrote it with a coffin in it but I thought it was a bit macabre. But David asked me to give him the

script with the coffin,” said Bridges.

“This way Six and a Tanner came alive. It is a play about a little boy and his abusive father.”

“I could not do it on an empty stage. I needed a coffin to talk to.

That gave me a focus,” added Trial and Retribution star Hayman.

The play was presented in a very vivid, emotional and funny way with Hayman asking the audience for observations or criticism in the immediate aftermath of the performance, prompting one to describe it as sad though still very emotional.

He replied: “It is lovely that you say that because it is quite a brutal piece and Rony wrote it in a wonderful west of Scotland black humorous way. In Glasgow we are laughing at the greatest tragedies and that is 300 years old.”

Hayman proceeded to explain that his array of performances around the country have left him with different experiences owed to different audiences. However, the Scot insists impressive work on the stage rests on the help of those off it.

“There are some audiences who do not laugh at all, not a laugh, not a titter, not a take of breath or a uuh or aah, quiet extraordinary,” he said.

“It’s like there is no one there – but the end they give me a standing ovation.

“They loved it and they’ve taken a serious journey through the play.

There are other ones who laugh right from the moment when the humor sets in. You were being cautious in your laughing. You were being discrete. Audiences are very different.

“Audiences have a collective personality and your reactions come as wave of energy towards the stage. When your energy is coming it will take me to a higher level. It is an energy exchange that

KATHARINE DZIACK

happens between a performer and an audience.”

Another visitor queried about his experiences with performances in prisons after Hayman toured the play earlier this year at jails including Glasgow’s Barlinnie.

Hayman said: “I always wanted to take this play to prisons. I have had probably 9 performances in prisons and I thought to do some more.

“The vast majority of prisoners have come from abusive backgrounds or abused situations or relationships.

“They find a lot to identify with in this play. Some of them are

heartbreaking. The questions and answer sections at the end are kind of difficult because in prison peer pressure is quite extraordinary and you can never admit to a weakness.”

‘Six and a Tanner’ marked a return to the stage for Hayman in 2006 after work in different series on the screen together with his humanitarian efforts for Spirit Aid – a volunteer organisation he founded in 2001 to support children and young people across the globe – had kept him occupied for more than a decade previously.

The 63-year-old added: “I do

projects in Scotland, Afghanistan, Africa, Guinea Bissau, Kosovo and Baghdad.

“Either we provide help, education, better opportunities or safety for young people. We keep thousands of young people alive every year or of better health or better educated.

“We are having our tenth birthday in two weeks time. It has been going for ten years and is doing really well.

“I mean getting money is always difficult. Spending money on behalf of people who are less fortunate than you is easy but raising money is really difficult.”

Art

RGI showcase enjoys 150th open annual exhibition The Journal experiences some of Scotland's finest contemporary art at the Mitchell

Ottavia Elisabetta Miorelli

IT IS A feast of white and red lights at Charing Cross as a modest group of art lovers enter the Mitchell Library; a majestic Neoclassical building that today looks like a white old giant fighting for breath amid the smog, cars and all the grey shades of concrete.

In this city of extremes, the ugly and the beautiful breed from each other; the new gives an edge to the old and the old glamourises the new. Here this contrast – shaped by the local self-deprecating and democratic nature – has turned into a beautiful never-ending

source of chaos and inspiration.

Not entirely a surprise, this thought must be held once inside the Annual Open Art Exhibition – the most important of its kind in Scotland – organised by The Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts and celebrating a 150th milestone this year.

It is not just an exhibition. It is an old-fashioned salon hosted in an opulent (albeit intimidating) Reading Hall. Despite a sharp contrast with the modern works on display, this, it turns out, is a finely balanced combination of equally strong elements that proves to be a pure joy for the eyes.

The visitors have totalled more than 3,000. A major success; though it is harder to actually sell the art.

Yet the egalitarian nature of this exhibition meant anyone from local artists to the most established of figures had a chance to enter their material in a bid to win one of twenty prizes and represent the best of Scottish contemporary art.

Most of the art exposed does not shy away from complex themes like loneliness, depression and alienation; from the crooked sculptures of a Nitshill tenement to ‘Fishing’ by Aberdeen-based Barry McGlashan, winner of the Cuthbert ‘New Young Artist’ Award.

However, the accepting nature of the show is mirrored in the audience who are left feeling at ease and therefore more open and confidently engaged.

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Arts & Entertainment 15

Art

‘Surgery’s Dirty Secrets’ up for Scottish BAFTA BBC Panorama director Liam McDougall talks to The Journal about his latest investigation which uncovered a worrying lack of quality control in surgical instruments being used in the NHS CHRISTIANA CARE

Jamie Brotherston

PEOPLE TRUST THEIR lives in the hands of doctors on a daily basis but Liam McDougall’s recent documentary investigating NHS practice has uncovered that some of the time the tools they use are no better than the plastic prongs in a game of Operation.

Notably, the former Strathclyde student's Panorama investigation into one of the NHS' most unknown controversies, 'Surgery's Dirty Secrets', this year achieved a nomination for a Scottish BAFTA. McDougall, who did a postgraduate degree in Journalism at Glasgow Caledonian University, grew up with dreams of becoming an investigative journalist. He watched Panorama from an early age and remembers how it was the flagship programme for broadcasting investigative journalism. After starting out in a newsroom and

then becoming the assistant editor of the Big Issue; Liam got his first taste of being at the helm of an investigation in 2006, as assistant producer of ‘Frontline Scotland’.

The nomination for the Current Affairs award at the Scottish BAFTAs marked his first nomination as a director. When speaking to The Journal, McDougall expressed his gratitude for being considered, saying: “It’s a real honour, such a surprise.” However, he swiftly moves to a more serious topic; the documentary exposed a worrying lack of quality control in surgical instruments being used in the NHS, which could potentially mean life or death.

“The case came to light after our reporter, Samantha Poling, came across a study that had taken place in Sweden in the 90s, to source surgical instruments.

We decided to see if there were similar checks in the UK and discovered that the majority of our surgical instruments came from

Pakistan.”

He elaborates, saying that the majority of surgical instruments produced in Pakistan actually came from one city, Sialkot, and decided to travel to the country and find out more for himself.

Constantly shadowed by a security detail, he and his team travelled to Sialkot and were shocked at what they discovered. After visiting the official suppliers’ factories, where a high level of quality is guaranteed, Liam discovered instruments being made in crude backwater workshops; and there were plenty of them.

“Reading a report is one thing, but actually seeing it was incredible- you have people sitting crossed legged, hunched over instruments - being paid a pittance” says McDougall. However the most shocking revelation was yet to come. It turned out that most of the instruments produced in these makeshift settings were being directly sold to the larger

companies in Sialkot - where they could potentially then be sold on to the NHS. Secret filming during an interview with one of these companies revealed there was a widespread practice of rebranding sub-standard steel as high quality.

The BBC Director also speaks of how the NHS is apparently unaware of the issue. “We got in touch with Tom Brophy [dedicated technologist at St. Barts Hospital London], who really is the only person thoroughly checking instruments in the NHS.” What Brophy found was that instruments sent by suppliers like the ones in Sialkot to the NHS were not fit for purpose.

“Tom really held the key to the documentary and allowed people to see the impact this issue could have on them,” says McDougall.

The health care professional identified faults that could pierce a surgeon’s glove or even leave shards of metal in patient’s bodies.

“It's extremely shocking, the

NHS is such a huge organisation with a lot of issues to be aware of, but this is a very significant problem and is not on their radar”, says McDougall, stressing the seriousness of poor instrument quality.

However, he also seems keen to point out that his documentary “isn’t meant to put anyone off the NHS, because it is a world class health service. Instead I hope it helps implement a more robust checking system; already there have been very prominent NHS figures in talks about a better system.”

The NHS response to the documentary was testament to its impact. In Wales, a statement to Panorama stated that "The safety of all patients in Wales is of paramount importance. Procurement of goods and services used in the NHS in Wales is done on an all-Wales basis. We are aware of concerns regarding the quality of some reusable and single-use surgical instruments, having seen the report produced by Tom Brophy, the Head Technician at the Department of Clinical Physics at Barts and the London PCT. The trend data from this surveillance programme revealed instrument reject rates of 25 per cent.” A group was set up in Wales to review the arrangements concerning instrument checks in Welsh hospitals.

In Scotland, Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said that "National Services Scotland procure equipment on behalf of the NHS. All national contracts awarded by NHS Scotland have to meet specific terms and conditions and require that participants operate and apply ethical standards.

These conditions apply to all parts of the supply chain. National procurement can and does request documentation that these standards are being adhered to and can take action if any company is found to be in breach."

The response was similar in Northern Ireland and England, with English Health Secretary Andrew Langley stating that the programme's findings would be investigated whilst Northern Ireland’s Business Trade Organisation demanded that all traders adhered to the Ethical Trade Initiative base code of conduct.

With 'Surgery's Dirty Secrets' provoking change across the NHS, and a prestigious Scottish BAFTA nomination under his belt, the future for Liam McDougall looks busy.

He says he has found his niche and is content: “I’m in between a few projects now, but I’m still always on the lookout for strong investigations. I might not go back to Pakistan in a hurry, there were a few scary moments, but at the end of the day you have to be prepared to go to the source to get your story, wherever it is.”

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Music

Music BRENDAN SCHNELL

Political punk act Rise to the occasion

LMFAO has Glasgow music fans shuffling

The Journal travels to the O2 Academy to experience a performance that has the audience jumping for more Luke Vennall

POLAR BEAR CLUB were first to take to the stage. Most of the audience couldn’t recite any of their songs by heart but they tried their hardest, picking up on the catchier verses and bellowing them back.

However, Tom Morello 'The Nightwatchman', guitarist for Rage Against The Machine, was never going to be usurped as star of the show. From teaching the audience the chorus of a song and commanding them to sing along, to forcing everyone in the seats to stand and jump – despite the signs instructing otherwise – 'The Nightwatchman' really had the crowd on his side.

The music may not have been particularly impressive, though the way he conducted himself on stage was second to none. For his grand finale, he called upon the lead singer of Rise Against, Tim McIlrath, to join him on stage and accompany him, culminating in a crowd bordering on the fanatic.

Finally, after two amazing acts, the four men we came to see paraded

onto the stage. There was no hesitation as Rise Against erupted into their opening song ‘Re-education (Through Labour)’ and the audience exploded.

Thousands leaped into the air as one with cheers and whoops following each song, the band not pausing except to cool themselves down or to shower the audience with compliments.

Being one of the most politically minded bands in punk at the moment, Rise Against's songs reflect their opinions on modern day society. From ‘Make It Stop (September’s Children)’ – a chilling take on homosexuality and the September suicides – to ‘Satellite’, illustrating the illusory nature of the American Dream, the majority of their songs drip hidden meanings.

They are not ashamed to verbalise their opinions and this gig was no different, the audience enthralled from the first note. Everyone was behind them, from the fanatics at the front reaching for Tim McIlrath’s hand, the people bouncing off one another in the mosh pits, to the people riding atop the crowd towards the stage.

From the driving pulses and melodic vocals of ‘Savior’ to the calming acoustic ‘Swing Life Away’, the band delved into their repertoire to play every song

American electropop duo arrive in city centre for display with a difference

Tom Collins Music editor

the audience wanted to hear and the crowd continued to jump, irrespective of fatigue.

Rise Against’s powerful lyrics and

throbbing guitar lines kept the crowd satisfied and the crowd responded with pure unadulterated ecstasy, cheering and leaping in unison.

Music

Old favourites return refreshed Coldplay unveil an album set to sweep away stigma Fiona Greenshields

IT IS NO secret that among the roaring succession of hits, past Coldplay albums have often been laborious, monotonous and even boring. The “dullest band in existence”, as one reviewer critiqued.

In an attempt to rid themselves of such a stigma and claiming to revert back to a “stripped-down sound”, the boys have created an album, Mylo Xyloto, that is both deep and truly beautiful.

While die-hard Coldplay fans undoubtedly relished in the overcomplicated – and daresay overrated - promise of a new album, its substance and dystopian quality proved pleasantly surprising.

For you see, this fifth studio album is not only topping the charts in 17 countries – it is being argued as the greatest of Coldplay’s records to date.

Despite the overly complicated

title, Mylo Xyloto encases themes of a more simplistic nature. Described as a “concept work”, love is explored throughout and is particularly noticeable within 'Don’t Let It Break Your Heart', which results in a truly euphoric and heart-pumping culmination.

The band has evidently indulged themselves in experimenting with new sounds.

Harrowing, oriental-inspired tones of the gorgeous 'U.F.O' are opposed with the electronic beats of the title track, creating something far more intricate than Coldplay has ever produced before.

Collaboration with the reigning queen of the charts Rihanna similarly adds an alternate “Euro-House Synth” dimension to the album, and certifies 'Princess of China' to be one of the most successful tracks of the album.

Of course, the record remains conventionally Coldplay – there is no fear of any mould being broken here. A large majority of the sound

is resoundingly familiar; the typical Coldplay wails and anthem-like melodies ring resonantly with Viva La Vida.

But why fix something that isn’t broken? 'Paradise' is synonymous with the work this band are most known and loved for - echoes of 'Yellow' and 'Fix You', being completely unmistakeable.

The simple piano parts of 'Up in Flames' are partnered with Chris Martin’s spine-tingling vocals and complemented with the beautiful string medleys featured in 'Us Against The World'. Instrumental morsels in the form of 'M.M.I.X' and 'A Hopeful Transmission' also intermingle delightfully between the

longer tracks.

Any scepticism regarding this album has been completely misplaced. The unerring truth is that Coldplay have produced a sensational album. It takes talent to produce melodies that both invigorate and emote the way Mylo Xyloto is able to.

While the stigma may remain, we seem to forget that this band's ability to produce exhilarating, beautiful music requires extreme talent. Yes, it has been done before - but they are triumphant in doing so. Though it may not be revolutionary, Mylo Xyloto does however display both the best, and the undiscovered, of Coldplay.

THE INVENTORS OF ‘Party Rocking’, Sky Blu and Redfoo, also known as LMFAO, were in Glasgow earlier this month to serve up a lesson on "why hatin’ is bad".

The venue for this lecture was The Arches, which provided the perfect acoustics to accompany the thumping house beat now synonymous with their act.

A lot of people may question LMFAO’s musical credibility. Judging by their lyrics, backing tracks and their partythemed lifestyle, many construe them as the college dropouts of music.

However, critics couldn’t be further from the truth. Both Sky Blu (Skyler Gordy) and his uncle, Redfoo (Stephen Gordy), are descended from Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records (Redfoo is Berry’s son).

The duo enter the stage from behind a curtain to a furious frenzy of avid fans, each one trying to scream louder than the other. After a quick count of the male to female ratio Redfoo is swift to express his appreciation for the high levels of girls present in the crowd.

“You know here at LMFAO we like to call this a fellatio ratio….” he said in his husky Hollywood accent which is met, again, by a thunderous roar.

Song after song the crowd is kept bouncing up and down. At one point, an audience member with crutches could even be seen hopping on his one good foot with both crutches fully extended in the air. LMFAO did well to include some of their more well-known songs from their first album, Party Rock, such as 'Get Crazy', 'Shots', 'Yes' and who can forget, 'I’m in Miami'.

The greatest moment, however, was after their encore when they exited the stage to the absolute shock and anger of the crowd, as they had neglected to play arguably their most popular song to date, 'Sexy and I Know It'.

Instantly, they re-appeared for their second encore and dove straight into the much-craved song of the moment, complete with four T-shirt changes and even a keytar solo from Redfoo.

Hate them or love them, you have to admire their ability to control a crowd and ensure everyone is left ‘Shuffling’.

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Arts & Entertainment 17

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Hardy Boys are back for good The Journal delves into the latest offering of recently-returned Greenock-formed band

Harris Brine

If you have been engrossed in conversations in the last few weeks about the resurfacing of a band whose highly-acclaimed debut release saw incredible success in 1989, only for them to selfdestruct in the midst of personal inner turmoil among the members, chances are the subject matter would be those four Mancunians with a penchant for voluminous t-shirts and on-stage implosions.

If nostalgic reunions from that year have dominated your dialogue, but you're completely oblivious to the fact The Stone Roses are reforming, you'll no doubt instead be discussing the release of 'British Melancholy', the second album from The Hardy Boys, which was released on 25 October - a mere 11 years after its predecessor.

When there is such a significant division between a first and second album's release, there has to be an appreciable improvement or change of direction in order for it to be considered worthwhile. Fortunately for The Hardy Boys, the wait has been edifying. Much like a vintage wine, the passage of time has been advantageous, and 'British Melancholy' is a clear exhibition of maturity as the band's members have become seasoned, cultured songwriters.

The 11 tracks have decreased in pace compared with previous offerings – perhaps a natural consequence of age – and are now redolent of a sophisticated and analytical middle-aged lyricist intent on laying down his musings with meticulous thought and patience.

Despite vocalist Johnny White's lyrics admittedly appearing overwrought with neuroticism, it seems such sensitivity has served as the perfect catalyst for his own fruit to ripen. On ‘I'll Never See You Again’, he painfully mulls over an old flame with the lines 'If only you knew/you haunt me/as much as I want you' with such delicacy that you cannot help but admire his sincerity. Meanwhile, the line 'My old faithful self hates the man I've become/but my unfaithful mouth smiles when I hear your name' appears intensely self-critical but reveals astute wordplay.

'Mare Nostrum' revels modestly in its esoteric title (It's Latin for 'Our Sea') with the line 'as we sail through the next chapter of our lives', and beautifully poetic analogies such as 'Venus hangs like a bright old jewel/a fixed lantern in the night' confirm their lyrical progression as songwriters.

They manage to convert the undesirably self-depreciating 'I Want You' into a sanguine ballad, with its coexisting male and female vocals strengthening the notion that both sexes share both very similar and very different imperfections simultaneously. This also is sublime evidence of their musically manipulative capabilities.

Although the album can appear repetitive and somewhat hedonistic in its yearning, songs like ‘And The Trains They Ran On Time’, the catchy ‘British Melancholy’ and ‘Rest My Beautiful Muse’ are indicative that The Hardy Boys have relinquished their youth begrudgingly, but appreciated the time which permitted them to hone their musical talents.

The nine-minute number ‘Rest My Beautiful Muse’ stands out, featuring impassioned vocals from additional

vocalist Karlyn King. Here, a penetratingly-familiar guitar riff and a rapturous ensemble is broken up by a muchwelcome instrumental.

It can only be speculated that an 11-year intermission between albums would fill the band members with trepidation as they nervously anticipate their fan's judgement on this overdue release. And with that in mind it is as if their final track's diversity is a sort of personal celebration; an accomplishment more than

deservedly closing the album with maximum impact.

The Hardy Boys have certainly come a long way, both literally and figuratively, so any celebration would be perfectly understandable. After all, it has been a full 22 years since they released debut single ‘A Wonderful Lie’. On ‘The Trains Ran On Time’, White sings, 'Oh Manchester, so much to answer for', and the fervency over last week's announcement is testament to that.

Music

It seems like the process of longing has been fundamental; no, not the constant yearning felt by many for a Stone Roses reunion, but the longing White has felt and expresses so freely on the album, which has provided the necessary conditions for The Hardy Boys to mature.

Fortunately, as a result, we can now open the much-anticipated proverbial bottle of vintage wine that is 'British Melancholy' and savour it for all its worth. Thank God it wasn't corked.

TOBIAS SCHROEFEL

Swedish band put in a Royal performance Alternative rock band swap Scandinavia for the city of Glasgow

Richard Flynn

A NEAR-CAPACITY KING Tut’s seemed transported back in time last month with a bill of bands that have fully embraced the heady days of 1970s rock – albeit to varying degrees of success.

Local boys The Toi opened proceedings, their catchy hooks only slightly hampered by frontman Paul Healy’s stage moves and facial expressions, some of which border on parody. All the same, their showmanship and talent is evident; it’s an impressive performance considering the band has only existed since the beginning of this year.

However, Australia’s Tracer immediately kill any momentum The Toi managed to build as they trundle into a set of unimaginative, repetitive songs that could easily have been lifted straight from an album of discarded Airbourne tracks. It takes the entire band playing their instruments behind their heads – or, in the drummer’s case, his back – to rouse the crowd out of polite applause.

Thankfully, there is one band still to play, and these guys get it spot on. In a world of pigeonholing and endless sub-genres, it can be difficult to describe Royal Republic. There are elements of garage rock, 70s rock, blues and even pop present in their smorgasbord sound. One fact that is crystal clear, however, is the band’s ability to deliver the goods live.

Kicking off proceedings with

album opener and namesake ‘We Are The Royal’, the Swedish four-piece has the venue bouncing right from the off, beer sloshing from cups as fans sing and shout along to every word with frontman Adam Grahn.

It is a mutual energy between band and audience that lasts throughout the entire set, punctuated

by Grahn’s genuinely amusing stage banter before the next song whips everyone into a frenzy all over again.

Even acoustic renditions of ‘Walking Down The Line’ and ‘I Must Be Out Of My Mind’ see the band going full-pelt.

More than anything, is it clear that Royal Republic are having the time of their lives on stage. The music sounds infinitely better than on record and new song ‘You Ain’t Nobody’ is a promising taste of the upcoming

second album. At one point during the show, bassist Jonas Almén takes centre stage and launches into a cover of Motorhead’s ‘Ace of Spades’.

Like the band’s own material, it’s loud, it’s reckless, and it’s fun – something the rock scene has been sorely lacking for a few years now.

The show finishes with the band’s biggest track to date – the infectious ‘Tommy-Gun’ – but they’re back on stage in minutes to play ‘Full Steam

Spacemachine’, which is not only the highlight of their debut album but also the perfect ending to a raucous, exhausting display of rock ‘n’ roll that leaves fans chanting for more long after the lights go up.

Before leaving, the band promised to be back over in the UK soon. Hopefully they return here in particular – King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut was built for gigs like this.

FOOD&DRINK

18 A&E

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WEST Brewery on the money Munich style beer hall bar may not have taken No.1 prize but it still remains top drawer

TABITHA BRADY

Adam D'Arcy Food and Drink editor

FOOD&DRINK

THE SCOTTISH LICENSE Trade News held its annual awards ceremony recently with a lavish affair at the Glasgow Hilton, where Denise Van Outen dished out gongs to bars and bar staff from across the country.

Several awards went to smaller independent venues, as well as the industry big boys like McLay Inns.

However, the biggest surprise came

as WEST Brewery failed to scoop the Beer Quality award.

Victorian architect William Leiper’s Templeton Building, overlooking Glasgow Green, is the location of the Munich-style beer hall bar, with many of the former carpet factory’s industrial scars still visible across the floor.

Launched five years ago, the Brewery has quietly gone from strength to strength, with their popular St. Mungo’s lager popping up in bars and restaurants across the city. WEST’s

Bavarian cuisine is also exceptional and their bratwurst always perfectly accompanies the home-brewed pilsner.

WEST is a bar where the quality beer speaks for itself – without taking away from the friendly and knowledgeable staff. Even the owner, Petra, is often seen mucking in and working the floor, as was the case on Guy Fawke’s Night, the highlight of the year at the Brewery. With arguably better views of the council’s display than the masses gathered on the

Green, WEST offers an outdoor bar on their balcony with fresh German hotdogs on the grill.

Of course, it can get manically busy in the hour leading up to the beginning of the display. But the organisation is top drawer and it won’t take more than a 5-minute queue to purchase an amazing pint of lager at a reasonable £3.50.

Call me a humbug but the one issue that worried me was the number of children in the bar. Yes, I understand that 5 November is primarily

for the kiddies, but there was a fun fair and live music suitable for families less than 10 minutes walk away at the Glasgow Green event – the WEST venue was far too busy with tipsy revellers for toddlers to be wandering around with sparklers. (Moan over).

It may practically be a year away but all readers are urged to get Bonfire Night 2012 at WEST in their calendars. This really is a special night at a well-run, well-staffed and wellstocked establishment that is fast becoming a Glasgow institution.

A full night of horror madness The Journal endures a draining spell in front of the film screen

Callum A Macleod

IMAGINE, IF YOU will, deliberately depriving yourself of a whole night’s sleep. Then imagine you had to kill those waking hours by watching grainy footage of dodgy killers with even dodgier weapons, teenagers getting brutally murdered at a variety of illogical locations, and a technicolour rainbow of blood, guts, gore and bones. And on top of all of that you have to pay someone so you can do this to yourself?

What if this ordeal was in fact considered one of the best nights on the Scottish calendar in 2011, and was thoroughly worth its weight in gory fun? Then welcome to the wacky world of All Night Horror Madness (ANHM).

The bi-annual event is something that ANHM main man and avid horror movie fanatic Matt Palmer had been unsuccessfully pitching to theatres for five years: “Suddenly a new manager at the Cameo in Edinburgh

said yes, go for it. I was pretty stunned as I was so used to people saying no," he told The Journal.

The first event was held in front of a sell-out crowd in the capital in November last year. Since then the extravaganza has rolled into the Cameo on three occasions and last weekend marked its second outing in the Grosvenor cinema in Glasgow’s West End. In true movie-buff style, Palmer personally takes the time to track down the original 35mm prints of all the movies he shows. Some, in the case of the recent night's showing of Halloween, are of particular rarity, evident in Palmer’s pre-show warning that the footage is somewhat “shaky”, to say the least. Palmer also plays a selection of vintage 35mm movie trailers, to deliver a truly authentic vintage feel.

While your average movie showing begins with something of a comfort ritual for all involved - fidgeting into seats and finding a safe place for popcorn - ANHM takes the ritual a

step further. Movie-goers elected to set up what can only be described as a personal base camp, complete with blankets and cushions to supplement the already extremely comfortable Grosvenor setting, with a generous stockpile of snacks, sweets and the all-important energy drinks nearby.

Looking around, the crowd was not at all what you might expect. While there were a few grizzly-looking horror aficionados, the majority seemed relatively normal, many possessing expressions that hinted at a dawning realisation of having bitten off a little more than they could chew.

This, however, actually worked in the event's favour as the onset of a potential shared ordeal meant that a warm, communal atmosphere developed; an atmosphere amplified by Palmer’s friendly and casual demeanour when introducing the showings.

After bonding over the initial hilarity of some particularly cheesy movie trailers and the outlandish pseudo-satire of 1973 gore-fest

‘Flesh for Frankenstein’, the ice had well and truly broken and the event took on the feeling of a movie night with a hundred or so good buddies.

This atmosphere is certainly what attracted fellow movie-goer Nicky to the event.

He recalled attending the original Edinburgh event purely as a fan of horror movies and finding himself more enthralled with what he describes as the “giddiness” of it all than the films themselves.

“You came out at nine in the morning and felt totally disconnected [from the world] but at the same time connected with everyone you came out with...a shared bond,” he said.

The highlight of the night was undoubtedly the brilliant 1983 Grindhouse slasher ‘Pieces’; an amalgamation of every conceivable horror movie cliché that suitably left the audience in pieces with laughter.

By the time ‘Final Dead’ came on sometime around six in the morning, the cinema was silent save for a few choice squeals and the dull throbbing

of snoring from those who couldn’t deny their bodies the sweet release of sleep any longer.

The audience emerged into the blueish hue of the morning sky around 7:30am, all too-aptly transformed into what can only be described as the real-life walking dead.

Eyes sore, necks stiff and stomachs upset from too many energy drinks, there was an excitement building for the next showing in Spring nonetheless.

While the endurance necessary for attending such an event may not be to everyone’s tastes, there are very few nights out in Scotland where for £14.50 you can enjoy eight straight hours of unadulterated, gratuitous silliness without throwing up.

And if you are seeking a truly unique experience and an outrageously enjoyable break from the monotony of Glasgow nightlife then look no further. All Night Horror Madness is outlandish fun. Long may its insane, bloody reign continue.

The Journal Wednesday 16 November 2011

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Old furniture lost but now Refound SHOPPING

Lifestyle 19

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The Journal discovers one shop stretching interior design to the limit

The Little Black Dress countdown to Christmas Make the most out of dance ahead of festive period Alicia Drummond

THE FESTIVE PERIOD is once again upon us bringing with it the return of the little black dress.

And Dance HQ, situated in the historic Templeton Building overlooking Glasgow Green, is offering a fun, fresh, new way of getting in shape this winter to ensure you feel fabulous at every party, introducing ‘The Little Black Dress Countdown’ – an alternative to hitting the gym as active classes replace tiring workouts.

The programme offers a range of activities to get involved with, including classes in the Charleston, Street Dance, Retro Bop, Cheerleading and Breakin’ & Lockin’, as well

Elizabeth Ather

SLOTTING NICELY INTO the quirk of Glasgow’s West End, the 'Refound’ popup shop has opened its doors for three weeks this month.

Taking recycling that one step further - turning drab and dreary second-hand furniture into wonderful contemporary works of art – ‘Refound’ is challenging interior design and pushing the boundaries of the imagination.

Bundled into every nook and cranny of the shop on Argyle Street are fabulous yet functional pieces of furniture, bursting with originality and oddity. From subtly retro-edged tables and chairs to richly patterned chests and foot-stools, there is something to accommodate every taste.

The creator of ‘Refound’, Jill O’Neill, told The Journal: “We’re trying to inspire people to re-think their waste and stretch people’s imaginations when looking for new furniture. Rather than going to the usual haunts, they can buy something different that has actually been created by an artist and, at the same time, give the artists a turn at creating and

selling their work.”

Having only been in existence for two years, ‘Refound’ is fast-establishing a loyal following with artists from all over the country wanting to be a part of it.

As a result, the brand boasts a truly eclectic variety of contributors, with artists from all sorts of creative mediums, including fine artists, graphic designers, printers and textile artists involved. The dynamic and diverse nature of the ‘Refound’ brand mimics O'Neill's journey in creating it.

Originally from Belfast, she spent ten years away from home, firstly studying History of Art in Glasgow and then moving to New York, San Francisco and eventually London.

While living abroad, O'Neill developed a passion for the vintage markets and second-hand furniture.

“I would literally pick things up from the street. If someone was moving away, they would sometimes shed their load by selling the contents of their apartments on the pavement," she added.

"I still love that idea of transient movement – you might move away from an area but that chair or table has stayed in the vicinity having had

several different owners.”

On returning to Belfast, O'Neill set about creating the brand. Not only did she seek to bring her innovative concept to life, she wanted to create a platform for artists and “champion” their work.

Chris Melgram was one of these artists. Following his graduation, he came into contact with O'Neill, sparking the project to bring ‘Refound’ from Belfast to the streets of Glasgow.

“It’s been about five months of intensive work, but I have learned so much from the project," he told The Journal.

"I’ve had to write up press releases and do things that I was never used to doing before so it’s been really useful for me in terms of my career and what I want to do in the future.”

Helping artists on their way to success, whilst offering a fresh and innovative slant on the notion of recycling, it has become apparent that ‘Refound’ is so much more than just a shop. It’s a new way of thinking.

For more information on the Refound brand, visit www.refoundonline.com

as the well-loved Yoga, Boot Camp and Zumba. The wide range of workout classes available allow each programme to be tailored to the individual.

Aside from losing pounds, there are also some pennies to be saved with an offer of 30 per cent off the regular cost of three blocks. With the great deals to be snapped up and the range of ways to work out, Dance HQ has presented itself as a more enjoyable way of exercising.

Following through with ‘The Little Black Dress Countdown’ might just mean you need to order that little black dress in a smaller size.

For more information and to book a set of a classes contact Dance HQ on 0141 556 0039 or email dance@ dancehq.co.uk

Les Garçons de Glasgow in Paris Nadine Walker Fashion editor IF THERE’S A fashion event in Glasgow worth going to, you can bet your bottom dollar Jonathan Pryce will be there.

However, this week sees the successful blogger instead open up an exhibition of his own photography in the fashion capital, Paris.

The exhibition at Jim Haynes' gallery in the French city is named ‘Parallel People’ and features the very best from Pryce's popular style blog, Les Garçons de Glasgow.

Pryce's blog is a platform for his photographic encounters in street-style, and, despite the name, the blog features people Pryce has met in a variety of countries around the world.

'Parallel People' is Pryce's first show

in Paris, supported by the artist, writer and gallery-owner Jim Haynes. Although born in the United States, Haynes later moved to Scotland and attended the University of Edinburgh. He involved himself with the Scottish arts scene in the 1960s, and was a co-founder of the Traverse Theatre. Haynes finally moved to Paris around thirty years ago and it is here that he established his gallery, which has previously showcased other painters and photographers.

Pryce is now based between Paris and London, and he continues to scour the streets of Europe taking photographs of fashionable and inspirational people. This new exhibition seeks to explore the accidental links between some of Pryce's striking photographs, transcending the boundaries of countries as they visually echo or diverge from one another.

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Why Scotland ought to go Oranje Scottish FA performance director has a Wotte of ideas to embrace RONNIE MACDONALD

Stuart Allan

YOU NEVER GET a second chance to make a first impression. Before last week, you would be excused for your unfamiliarity with the details of Mark Wotte’s role as the Scottish FA's performance director.

After his press conference, Wotte left us in no doubt of two things: his consternation at the grim state of Scottish football; and that he is the single most important man in lifting the national game from the scrapheap.

Let it be perfectly clear: Wotte’s job is not an easy one and, by his own account, it will take time for his plan to come to fruition but what is obvious is that he has done his homework and he knows his stuff.

The Dutchman acknowledged the youth infrastructure problem is not a new one but, rather, a perennial issue entangled in bureaucracy that stretches from Holyrood to primary school level, but he has already made a crucial step forward into unchartered territory by capturing the public’s imagination.

If the ba’ was burst, then it’s certainly half full now.

This feat is all the more impressive considering the xenophobic legacy created by Berti Vogts’ disastrous reign as Scotland manager. "I have had enough of being the scapegoat for mistakes made in Scotland 15 years ago,” whimpered Vogts upon his resignation.

Wotte can now embrace the challenge of addressing those failures behind the scenes without the pressure of the public, which will be levelled at his colleagues, Stewart Regan and Craig Levein.

So what’s the plan? Well, short term, the Scottish FA are in the process of developing seven ‘performance schools’ – academies for elite youth players between age 12 and 15 where children will receive an additional hour and a

Scots take on renowned Brazilian side who will be the home nation come the 2014 World Cup half of football education on top of a regular curriculum – increasing ‘quality football’ time for the best young talent in the country.

Longer term: well, there’s the sticking point. Wotte says he hopes that by 2020 there will be six or seven players with a performance school history in the Scotland squad–fair enough–but will he be around to see it?

The 50-year-old is somewhat of a managerial journeyman; his current position is the seventh he’s held since 2006, and he hasn’t held on to a job

for more than two years since 1988.

Remember that ba’ earlier? You might say this is a different kind of position to any he’s ever held before and he’s in this for the long term.

Alas, in reality he’s probably not going to be around to see the opening of the performance schools, but has laid their foundations. The performance school legacy will be, Wotte hopes, a move away from the traditional Scottish style of play of blood and thunder, or thud and blunder, towards an intelligent passing game.

This has been a long time coming.

Scottish football must adapt now or continue to slide down the footballing ladder where we currently sit just three places ahead three places ahead of Burkina Faso.

We all know Scotland loves a tackle–Wotte applauds it–and few can rival Scotland for commitment and endeavour, but our reliance as a nation on industry is a last resort in the absence of skill, talent or invention on the park.

The Scots’ penchant for a grafter is

perhaps embodied by Gennaro ‘Rino’ Gattuso. Gattuso made less than forty appearances for Rangers, but remains a cult figure to the Ibrox faithful.

Gattuso’s style of play has often courted controversy, but he made global headlines in more tragic circumstances last month after a freak collision with teammate Alessandro Nesta blinded the midfielder in one eye.

Here in Scotland, Rangers led the well-wishing to the ex-Ibrox star, who maintains cult status on Glasgow’s south side, with a tribute on their official Facebook page which was raucously received by the Ibrox faithful with 2,371 ‘likes’ at the time of writing–almost four times as many ‘likes’ current star, and the club’s player of the year for 2010/11 Steven Naismith received from fans following a similar post when he was ruled out for the rest of the season with ligament damage.

Every Scot can see a bit of Gattuso in them, but the same can’t be said for Charlie Adam, James McFadden or Barry Bannan, amongst Scotland’s most talented players but often the most maligned when their ambition exceeds their ability.

Perhaps the values Wotte desires to instil in our coaches teaching our youngest kids–encouraging initiative, even if it does not reap rewards–should be shared by those in the stands at all levels.

Patience is key now because if we do not try something new, our game is in serious danger of trailing further behind the nations we used to compete with.

In an age where television revenue dictates the strength of a league or a nation, we cannot afford to tailor our game around our introspective enjoyment of the game.

The world wants to see the game played on the ground, and the Scottish FA have to get the ball down at grassroots level and start all over again. If we don’t act now, we might not get a second chance at it.

Brown backs Clyde FC's relocation plans Former Scotland manager Craig Brown backs proposals for Clyde to move from Cumbernauld to East Kilbride STUART CHALMERS

Stuart Findlay

CRAIG BROWN HAS added his name to the growing list of Clyde icons that support the club’s potential move to East Kilbride.

The current Aberdeen manager was in charge at Clyde between 1977 and 1987, leading the Bully Wee to two Second Division championships. The 71-year old then went on to lead Scotland to two major championships during his eight year tenure as the national team boss.

Brown said of the possibility of Clyde coming to East Kilbride: “I think it’s a great idea. The pity is that they didn’t move to East Kilbride years ago when it was first mooted.

“That would have been a good move at that point, but they put a couple of pence on the rates and it ended up being outvoted.

“More of the support came from the area, whereas Cumbernauld was a camel ride away. I think the club would get a great support if they were doing well in East Kilbride.”

Brown’s endorsement comes just two weeks after ex-Clyde midfielder Craig Bryson stated that he would like to see Clyde move to his hometown of East Kilbride, insisting that it would give the club’s support a boost.

Bryson, who now plays for English Championship side Derby County, spent four years at Clyde and also enjoyed a loan spell at East Kilbride Thistle in 2004 where he was named the Jags’ young player of the year at the

age of 17.

Clyde were based at Shawfield Stadium in Rutherglen for nearly a century before leaving in 1986. The club then had spells groundsharing with Partick Thistle and Hamilton before securing a permanent move to Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld in 1994.

Last year the club announced its intention to leave Broadwood, and a statement on the club website last month outlined the board’s intention to look into developing a communityfocused stadium at the Showpark in East Kilbride.

The statement emphasised that leaving Cumbernauld would be a long term project, and that there were no imminent plans to leave Cumbernauld until “an alternative location is secured beyond doubt”.

Brown has backed move away from Broadwood

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Scotstoun triathlete dreams of Commonwealth Games Marc Austin on road to stardom

Seventeen-year-old Stirling University student continues to travel from strength to strength

Gareth Llewellyn Sport editor A TRIATHLETE’S TRAINING schedule as a tough as they come, so dealing with demanding photographers on an unusually dry day on Glasgow’s southside fails to cause any problems for Scotstoun’s Marc Austin.

At 17, Austin has enrolled on a BSc Mathematics course at Stirling University, Scotland’s University of Sporting Excellence, which puts him in one of the best places to make the step up to senior level after an incredible year as a junior.

While a senior triathlete will complete 30-35 gruelling hours a week swimming, cycling, and running, Austin’s schedule as a junior is somewhat lighter, but still demands over 20 hours a week in the pool, on a bike, running, and conditioning.

On top of his studies, it’s a schedule which your average student would shudder at the mere mention of, but endurance sports require dedication, and Austin is fully aware of, and admits to enjoying, the demands his sport requires of him.

Unsurprisingly, he was stoic as he was thrust forward for another interview, over an hour after the questioning from students at Bellahouston Academy’s Glasgow School of Sport had begun, and a further 30 minutes

of being made to stand in all manner of positions and near blinded by flash guns during the obligatory photo call in a bright white Winning Students polo.

It’s something Austin will have to get used to if he continues to rise the triathlon ranks after a stellar year, culminating in competing in and winning gold in the junior mixed relay at the ETU Triathlon European Championships in Pontevedra, and being selected for Great Britain for the ETU Youth Triathlon European Championships in August.

Austin is one of several new athletes inducted on to the Stirling Universitybased Winning Students programme, which will help him develop as an athlete will completing his studies, and he recognises the importance of both the financial and educational benefits the scholarship.

“It helps really, because money is a big issue, especially with travelling, so I’ll take anything I can get to be honest,” he said.

“Student accommodation, especially.

Without Winning Students, I probably wouldn’t be able to stay [at university], and would have to live at home, so it’s a lot less to worry about.

“I’m obviously putting some money to go towards to go away to races, and camps, and it’s kind of an alibi at uni, so you can always get help if you fall behind on coursework or need to change exams.

“I know that last year some guys had

to have exams deferred because they had training camps, so they were able to do them when they got back, and it seemed quite simple.”

While other Winning Students athletes are preparing for big events in the coming weeks and months, Austin’s season has ended, and he faces a long wait for the next major event, but acknowledges there is still a great deal of work to be done over the winter.

“The racing season has just ended, so when it starts up again in April, the first major race for me would be the Europeans, so for me I want to qualify for that,” he added.

“Last year I finished 13th, but I’m stronger this year, so in the winter I’d like to think that I’m going to be in pretty good shape, and I’d be able to there with a chance of a medal, not necessarily win a medal, but be in with a chance of a fight for a medal, around the top five area.

“Between now and January it’s just base miles. Just getting a lot of consistent miles, building up strength, and making sure I don’t get injured.

"I’ll put in a couple of races, cross countries, so the first race isn’t a shock to the system.

“Once I get to January I’ll start ramping the training up a bit, to get race fit, because although I’ll be doing hard sessions at the moment, they’re not going to be race specific, so I just beed top get my body in race fitness.

They’re different types of training, but I’m quite looking forward to it.”

While the London 2012 Olympics will come too soon for Austin, Understandably, his long-term goal is to make the qualifying time for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in his home city, and after that the 2016 Olympics in Rio. “Yeah, I’m training with the squad, the main guys in Scotland, so I know who I’m going to have to beat, I think I’ve got a pretty good chance of going to that,” he said with a smile.

“It makes it easier that I know the competition to qualify, because I’m training with them, I’m not going to be that bothered if I don’t get in, as it’ll be my friends who do, but I’d really like to go.

It’s not something I’m thinking about every day right now, as there are other things I’m focussing on, but I do think about it, because I’m from Glasgow, so it would be pretty amazing, because people I know would be able to come.”

Highlighting the advantage of studying and living in Stirling as a triathlete, Austin is adamant that he wouldn’t have the same luxury were he studying in Glasgow or Edinburgh, despite both being excellent institutions.

“Everything at Stirling is on site, so I don’t have to travel for anything. I’m living in halls so it’s just a five minute walk to lectures, and swimming, and running and cycling I can pretty much

do from the doorstep.

“The timetable is not too bad, and the workload, I’ve not had to miss training, but there are times when I’ve had to move a few hours.

“Because the national squad is based in Stirling, there are always guys to train with, and my coach is there as well, so it’s a lot easier in that respect.

“Last year, I was living in Glasgow, and it’s much it’s much harder to get out on the bike, because you’ve got 30 minutes each way to clear the traffic, but in Stirling, it’s just five minutes and you’re out in the open.”

To hammer home the point of how gruelling his schedule can be, Austin was kind enough to offer up a quick snapshot in the life of a triathlete, something not for the fainthearted.

“I swim six mornings a week, then a bit of core work, then some stretching, then maybe have a sleep depending on the timetable, but I swim-bike-run most days, just fitting it in with lectures so I can do it with other guys too.”

His maturity and commitment belie his youth, but it’s clear from just a brief conversation with him, that he has the right attitude, and now through the Winning Students the necessary support around him for his dreams to come to fruition.

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Glasgow Uni wilt against Boroughmuir Blaze University slip to third successive Senior Men's National League defeat against Edinburgh newcomers

JONATHAN NICOLSON

David Lyons

GLASGOW UNIVERSITY MEN'S basketball team suffered another setback as they wilted to a shock 56-52 defeat to National League newcomers Boroughmuir Blaze at the Stevenson Gym on Bonfire Night.

A spirited comeback in the final quarter might have earned the University an unlikely win, but the damage was done by an eight-minute scoreless period which saw the Glasgow side collapse to a third successive defeat.

Although they were full of confidence before the match, the loss of players in the close season appears to have left the University somewhat disjointed, especially in attack.

Last year’s fluid, clinical offence was certainly not in evidence here, as the team pushed forward without running plays, leaving players to create space for themselves or try to force out difficult shots.

In the first quarter, the Blaze also appeared dampened when pushing into their opponents’ half. Both teams worked hard for the opening ten minutes, but lacked a cutting edge, and the University held onto a two-point lead to end the quarter 18-16.

At this point the crowd expected the University to move through the gears and take the game away from their opponents, who were looking like a

Glasgow University team suffer another setback team newly put together. Instead it was Boroughmuir who attacked with more creativity, Kevin Anderson particularly influential, while the University continued to labour, giving the Blaze a 35-32 half-time lead.

After the break the University’s

frustrations began to show, as the players exchanged angry words with both the officials and each other.

As this went on Boroughmuir continued on their steady path, and without doing anything amazing they built up a 10-point lead, going into the

final quarter 47-37 up. The team talk between quarters from the University coaches clearly had the desired effect.

Energy being expended on rushing around, and taking the ball down dead ends was transferred to solid defence followed by a more cohesive offence.

With the University creeping ever closer to Boroughmuir’s score, nerves began to set in amongst the Edinburgh club’s players. With one minute to go the gap was down to just two points.

However, a Boroughmuir break forced a foul from the University defence, leaving Anderson with two free shots to close out the game, which he duly took. It was no less than he deserved having been the most consistent player on the court.

While losing to the league’s new boys will be a knock to the University’s confidence on the back of recent successive defeats to City of Edinburgh Kings and Falkirk’s Clark Eriksson Fury, the evident disappointment at the end of the game shows that these results will not be taken lying down.

If the team can channel the energy they put into charging up the court in ones and twos into more constructive offence then last season’s cohesion, and form, will eventually be found.

Speaking to The Journal after just their second win in as many weeks in the National League, Boroughmuir head coach, Simon Turner, was delighted with the result. “This was an important win for us because we have a lot of respect for the programme here at Glasgow. I have to give a lot of credit to my players,” he said.

League table and latest results at http://www.snbl.leaguerepublic.com/ page.do?id=3948501

City win Scottish Cup to secure domestic double

Sir Alex honoured at Hall of Fame dinner

Ladies side recover in wake of Champions League departure

Manchester United manager hailed

Gareth Llewellyn Sport editor GLASGOW CITY LADIES bounced back from their Women’s Champions League exit as they secured a dominant 3-0 win over last year's winners Hibernian Ladies in the Henson Projects Scottish Cup Final.

The Scottish champions, who won all 20 of their Scottish Women’s Premier League games, had just one black mark on their domestic season after a 2-1 defeat to Hibs in the semi-final of the League Cup in May. Eddie Wolecki Black’s side gave the perfect send off to German forward Katharina Lindner and goalkeeper Laura Williamson who were playing their last games for the club, with Williamson moving into a coaching role, while Lindner retires from the game.

Black made four changes from the team which lost 7-0 to Potsdam on last Thursday, with goalkeeper Lee Alexander cup-tied, so Williamson had the honour of keeping goal for the last time in her career.

Christie Murray opened the scoring from close range for City on 11 minutes after some good work down the left from the lively Lisa Evans who beat three Hibs players before cutting

the ball back to Murray who fired past Shannon Lynn.

City could have doubled their lead just before the half hour mark, but a Leanne Ross free-kick rebounded off the post.

The second half was all one-way traffic as City laid siege on their opponents goal, Lindner coming close with a shot which found the side netting.

Evans and Murray raced through on Lynn’s goal, but after Evans played through her fellow forward to stroke home, the referee’s assistant flagged offside for an obvious, and somewhat inexplicable, offside.

Lindner showcased why she has been one of the league’s best players, and will be sorely missed next season, with a neat back heel to find Evans who fired low past Lynn to double City’s advantage.

Unlike his counterpart, Black had the luxury of several substitutes, with Hibs only able to name four, and no spare goalkeeper. Lindner departed for the last time to a standing ovation from the City faithful with Scotland international Jane Ross coming on in her stead, before Evans put the game beyond doubt, after good interplay with substitute Danica Dalziel to take out the Hibs backline, before the player of the match fired her second and City’s

third.

Speaking after the game, Black said: “Firstly I would like to congratulate players and staff on their efforts throughout the season and it has culminated in winning the double, which we achieved today.

“This is not just a reward for the first team, but for everyone connected with the club. On today’s game, I felt we controlled the match throughout and limited a strong Hibs side to few chances.

“The performance second half in particular was very pleasing considering the amount of games we have played this campaign, and we certainly looked the fittest and most likely side to add to the scoresheet. This just caps off a marvellous season for everyone and hopefully we can do even better next year.”

City’s fourth Scottish Cup win comes at the end of a very long season with some players having played over 50 games, including European and cup matches, but any expectations of a long winter break were dispelled after the game when Evans and captain Rachel Corise admitted they will have just a couple weeks rest before returning to light training sessions, before the season begins in earnest with friendlies in February ahead of the new season in March.

Collette Cullen SIR ALEX FERGUSON was among a number of Scottish heroes honoured at the seventh annual Scottish Football Museum’s Hall of Fame Dinner which took place in a star-studded affair at Glasgow’s Hilton hotel on Sunday night.

Govan-born Ferguson, was joined

by Billy McNeil, Walter Smith, and inductees Pat Crerand and former England captain Terry Butcher, making it a who’s-who of Scottish football.

The inductees were chosen by football fans all over the world for their contribution to Scottish football, and also included legendary Celtic goalkeeper Ronnie Simpson, and RS McColl who played for Newcastle and Rangers at the turn of the 20th century.

Richard McBrearty, curator of the museum, feels that having inaugurated the likes of Denis Law and Henrik Larsson in previous years, the event has grown in stature since it began in 2004.

“It has become one of the major after-dinner events in Scottish Football,” he said.

During the night-long proceedings, Ferguson received tributes throughout the night for his 50 years in the game and 25 years as Manchester United boss.

He was quick to praise Celtic and Manchester United star Pat Crerand, saying he held his own during a great time in Scottish football.

“He deserves it, we had some great players in the country when Paddy played,” Ferguson said. “With Law and Baxter, that group of players was fantastic and he was part of that.”

The former East Stirlingshire, St Mirren, and Aberdeen boss also joked about Crerand’s role at MUTV saying “he is the most biased commentator ever, we never do a thing wrong.”

Sir Alex also paid tribute to the job Craig Levein is doing as Scotland manager, despite continued criticism for often negative tactics.

“I think they have a group of very good midfield players–that’s their strength, they played very good football the other night,” he said.

The legendary manager also feels that Scotland’s current dearth of talent can be changed.

“It is possible, if you put the energy into it and the facilities. If that’s improved and money is invested then you’ve every possibility.”

There was the obligatory awkward moment when a misguided journalist asked him if he had any plans to “give back” to Scottish football in the future.

To which the terse reply was “I give my support. That’s all.”

24 Sport

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SPORT

Glasgow student athletes boosted by sporting scholarship

The Journal Wednesday 16 November 2011

Sir Alex: Trail

» 23

Robbie Renwick among stars of future to benefit from Winning Students awards

League Table FOOTBALL BUCS Scottish Conference Men’s 1A P W D L F A GD Pts Heriot-Watt 1st 7 3 4 0 15 5 10 13 Edinburgh 1st

6 4 0 2 14 4 10 12

Glasgow 1st

7 3 2 2 15 14 1 11

Edinburgh 2nd

8 2 3 3 7 9 -2

Strathclyde 1st

8 1 1 6 9 24 -15 4

9

RUGBY BUCS Scottish Conference Men’s 1A P WDL F

A

GD Pts

Edinburgh 1st

8 8 0 0 333 52 281 24

Aberdeen 1st

8 6 0 2 320 147 173 18

St Andrews 1st 8 5 0 3 274 184 90 15 Stirling 1st

6 1 0 5 115 257 -142 3

Heriot-Watt 1st 7 1 0 6 91 224 -133 3 Robert Gordon 1st 7 1 0 6 55 324 -269 3

HOCKEY BUCS Scottish Conference Women’s 1A P W D L F A GD Pts Edinburgh 1st

8 8 0 0 25 5 20 24

St. Andrews 1st

8 4 1 3 16 13 3

13

Glasgow 1st

7 4 0 3 15 14 1

9*

Edinburgh 2nd

8 1 2 5 12 25 -13 5

Caledonian 1st

7 0 1 6 3 14 -11 4*

BUCS Scottish Conference Men’s 1A Gareth Llewellyn Sport editor STRATHCLYDE UNIVERSITY'S OLYMPIC swimmer Robbie Renwick was among over 30 talented local student athletes to be awarded sporting scholarships for the forthcoming year from Winning Students.

The Beijing 2008-competitor was far from the only famous name on a list of over 100 athletes across Scotland, with Glasgow-born badminton player and Scottish Sportsperson of the Year Imogen Bankier who studies part-time with The Open University in Scotland also supported.

Winning Students, based at Stirling University, Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence, annually awards scholarships of up to £5,500 to support talented student athletes excelling in badminton, golf, hockey, judo, orienteering, squash, swimming, triathlon, and women’s football.

Renwick was the biggest draw for students at Bellahouston Academy’s

Glasgow School of Sport, who were lucky enough to be selected to attend a Q&A session with five Winning Students scholars. Renwick was joined by Glasgow University’s Nicola Skrastin, Glasgow Caldeonian’s Anna Sloan, Scotstoun-born Stirling University triathlete Marc Austin, and Edinburgh’s Telford College disability swimmer Scott Quin, with members of the local press, including The Journal, in attendance.

Renwick told the students, whose timetables are built around their own sports training, the merits of winning the scholarship and how it helps him combine his Olympic training with studying.

“Winning Students allows athletes to train and get on with their studies without any worries about how you will pay for equipment or coaching,” he said. “It’s a fantastic programme for elite athletes to get onto if they are hoping to study at college or university.

During the session, Skrastin, a Scotland U21 hockey player, and

first-year Business Studies and Geography student at the Glasgow University, explained why she wanted to study alongside trying to achieve her sporting dreams.

“I want to play at the highest level in my sport, but I also want to achieve a good career,” she said. “Sport is my main priority at the moment, and with my studies it’s great to know I will have a future after hockey.”

Seven footballers from Scottish Women’s Premier League champions Glasgow City Ladies, studying at Stirling University, also received funding, including Scottish international forwards Jane Ross, Christie Murray, and Lisa Evans.

Individual awards can also be made to cater for other sports, including athletics, curling, martial arts, and skiing, as was the case with curler Sloan, who is the Scottish national champion, and helped Scotland qualify for the European Curling Championships in Moscow next month, with the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics also in sight for the 20-year-old.

Now in its fourth year, the 2011/2012 programme now supports 122 talented student athletes with the majority at Stirling University, where the programme is managed.

Glasgow University: Matthew Carder (badminton); Fiona Bruce, Tom Kemsley, Nicola Lowrey, Nicola Skrastin (all hockey); Mhairi Charlton (squash); Peter Anderson (triathlon); Jax Thoirs (individual scholarship – athletics).

P W D L F A GD Pts Heriot-Watt 1st

7 6 0 1 25 6 19 21*

Edinburgh 1st

8 7 0 1 25 7 18 21

Glasgow 1st

8 3 0 5 16 24 -8

Dundee 1st

7 2 0 5 9 24 -15 6

Aberdeen 1st

6 0 0 6 9 23 -14 -3*

9

* = points deducted/awarded

Strathclyde University: Patrick MacHugh (badminton); Megan Briggs (golf); Wei Adams, Alison Howie, Ross McIntyre, Alex Wilson (all hockey); Robbie Renwick, Alasdair Stirling (both swimming); Billy Morton (individual scholarship – curling).

Glasgow Caledonian: Anna Sloan (individual scholarship – curling).

UWS: Kirsty Gilmour (badminton), Alan Forsyth, David Forsyth (both hockey); Victoria Adams (individual scholarship – curling).

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