Issue 11 - September 2009

the

ISSUE 11 SEPT 09

YOUR NEWS - YOUR VIEWS

DUNDEE UNIVERSITY STUDENT MAGAZINE

FREE

In Our Name?

Dr Victor Skretkowiscz

Dundee University Students and the English department mourn the loss of Victor Skretkowicz. A passionate and deeply inflicting tutor; his conviction in his specialised subjects was like no other I’ve come across either at University or at prior education.

My first memory of Victor was of walking in late to my first class with him as a second year student. He greeted me warmly and I knew immediately that I was a, forgiven for being late, and b, would enjoy the next semester. Dr Skretkowicz brought life into his topics with ease; a difficult task when you’re trying to impress Sydney’s Arcadia onto your students! Every class that semester was new and enlightening. Dr Skretkowicz had a way of ensuring every student got involved; whether with a cough or a sly look one could be sure that he was encouraging you to voice your opinion and have an input. Indeed he liked nothing more than sitting back and watching his

students put forward their own arguments and leaving the debates to continue around him.

For me, that semester developed a passion for Renaissance Literature but it also taught me impressive insights into literary geniuses I had never looked at before. But the most important impression left upon me was from Dr Skretkowicz; he was known around the world as the expert on Renaissance Literature but here at Dundee he will not be forgotten for the refreshing and invigorating teaching styles he brought to the classroom.

He has been missed since his retirement two years ago but he will continue to be remembered in fondness by the many students he left an impression on in his 30 years at Dundee University.

The DUSA Executive would like to pass on our condolences to Victor’s family. Victor’s family also requested any donations to be made to Marie Curie Cancer Care and Motor Neurone Disease Scotland Rimple Palana

current affairs

sport

Privatisation of Education: Keeping an eye on OUR education pgs 2, 4 &5 Guantanamo: The reality of torture pg 3

Gigs: Brother Louis Collective pg27 Reviews: Artscene pg25, Boylans Blog pg24

arts

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features

32 lifestyle

travel

Rue de Jolie: Insanity in Paris pg 29 Hanney Interview pg.28

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regulars

fashion We cover all the candidates in our Election special edition. pgs 9 - 21

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thechat Andy Kerr: Alasdair Forrest meets Andy Kerr MSP pg22 Problems: Your problems solved pg7 Sports pages: Ultimate Frisbee and Gaelic Football pg35 Edward Shallow: We meet the myth and the legend to talk gameboys. pg34 Fashion: ReWork it! pg32

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Contributors Editor Natalie Coupar Assistant Editor Graeme Thewliss Chief Sub-Editor Emily Kane Design Editor Matthew Broderick Current Affairs Editor

Features Editor Brian Eno Entertainment Editor Gary Glitter

It’s been a long hot summer and now it’s 99 degrees in the shhaade!

Where ever you’ve been over the summer we hope you’ve had a massive amount of fun, because it time to get back to some serious studgying!

The first Magdalen of term has been a pretty hectic one and we’ve been kept pretty busy. Make sure you check out the atricle on Megrahi and follow our guides on flatmates.

Lifestyle Editor Michael Barrymore Sports and Societies Editor Barry Davidson Sales and Finance Director Sir Fred Goodwin Online Editor Bill Gross

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Recycle your copy of The Magdalen

news : campus V&A Closer To Opening The V&A at Dundee will happen and will be underpinned by a robust business plan that maximises the cultural and economic benefits for its local communities. That was the Culture Minister’s message as he announced the Scottish Government’s support for the project today.

Mr Michael Russell MSP said the V&A at Dundee project could make a considerable contribution to the aesthetic, cultural and economic regeneration of Dundee: ‘Dundee has made huge strides in recent years and I’ve been struck by the coordinated approach to regeneration work in the city. This project could be a dramatic new chapter in the life of Dundee to position the city as an international art destination and a thriving centre for our creative industries.’

‘This Government has given the V&A at Dundee project team a significant commitment of support which will enable them to move forward and maximise their fundraising campaign. We will contribute capital funding towards construction of the physical space and the exact support level will be confirmed once we are in a position to set budgets for the next 2-3 years in the next strategic spending review.’

‘There must be a sustainable long-term future for this project and lasting benefits for the local community and surrounding area. Projections show that an additional 500,000 visitors could be attracted to Dundee, along with the creation of up to 900 local jobs and an additional £5.7m output to the Scottish economy.’

‘I firmly believe that the V&A at Dundee has great potential to enrich and enliven Scotland’s cultural landscape.’

Professor Pete Downes, Principal of the University of Dundee and chair of the V&A at Dundee project steering group said:

The University of Dundee is to help ensure that children in Dundee’s twin city of Nablus receive the appropriate assistance to deal with the trauma of growing up in a region regularly beset by war.

The University is one of the partners in a project, led by the Centre for Applied Research in Education (CARE) Ramallah, to train school counsellors to identify, assess and treat the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Grief.

Ian Barron, from the University’s School of Education, Social Work and Community Education, has been instrumental in establishing the project to help children in one of the world’s most conflict-prone zones deal with traumatic experiences.

He was asked by CARE Ramallah for advice

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Mr Ken Guild, Leader of Dundee City Council and Chair of the Dundee Waterfront Development Board said: ‘We strongly believe that the V&A at Dundee will provide a new cultural paradigm for Scotland, enable us to build an international reputation for cutting edge art and design in Dundee that builds on core existing creative strengths inherent in the city and provide a unique and exciting space that will attract new visitors to Dundee as well as providing a wonderful showcase for Dundee that all of our local population can feel proud of.’

‘We are delighted by this strong expression of support from the Scottish Government for the V&A at Dundee project. We are currently completing technical appraisals on a number of sites on Dundee’s waterfront and we expect to be able to choose a final site for development by ‘We look forward very much to working October 2009.’ closely with the Scottish Government over the next few years to ensure that V&A at ‘Over the next few months, we plan to Dundee becomes a world-class centre for conclude a final agreement with the excellence in creativity’.

V&A Trustees and establish a charitable company through which we will conduct a fundraising campaign and launch an international design competition.’

Uni to Help West Bank Chidren University to help West Bank children deal with trauma

‘As the V&A at Dundee takes a step closer, the firm focus of the charitable company will be to drive forward fundraising from a range of private and public sources to secure Dundee’s place as a true hub of creative appreciation.’

about how to equip school counsellors with the tools necessary to allow them to help children who may have witnessed violence, narrowly escaped death, or who may have seen family and friends die as a result of the long-running conflict.

Ian will evaluate the project to ensure its efficacy and to inform future initiatives to help children deal with the trauma of war or disaster situations.

He explained that there were three main symptoms of PTSD displayed by children who have first-hand experience of conflict or natural disaster. ‘The first is hyperarousal - elevated levels of anxiety, panic or terror,’ he said.

‘The second is avoidance, which causes them to avoid bomb blasts sites, places where soldiers might be etc to the point that their world closes in. Even their homes become unsafe places. They may also

dissociate, a process which is part of body’s survival mechanism and which sees the brain switch off to the trauma and cut off their feelings.’

‘The third aspect to look out for is intrusion - flashbacks occur when the trauma is hotwired into the child’s brain. Images can be triggered by everyday events which are similar in some small way to the original traumatic experience’.

“A fourth symptom we must look for is traumatic grief, which occurs when the experience is so traumatic that the child becomes stuck in the moment of trauma and is unable to grieve.’

Ian is also a partner in another project led

by CARE aiming to help children in Gaza deal with their traumatic experiences.

Entitled “Healing Trauma, Combating Hatred”, the scheme has been developed

by CARE in conjunction with local psychologists and takes into account the specific needs of Gaza by working at a community rather than individual level.

news : local No News? >Lauren Bennie

Dundee is a funny old city during the summer months. The ‘sunniest place in Scotland’ neither has the feel of a city nor that of a town. With the student population off celebrating the copious amounts of free time on offer, or earning every available buck to survive Freshers ’09, local Dundee news space tends to take a dive.

Do not be fooled. There are no less drug rabbles or stealth stabbings on offer, it’s just that the local papers have gala days and farmer markets to report on. The Dundonianbroadsheethasever-decreasing space to deliver such gruesome events.

After all, we’d rather hear about the duck race than the drug raid.

Brandon Muir Reports Criticised Dundee West MP Jim McGovern, a familiar face around the University’s Politics Department spoke out last week about the tragic case surrounding the death of Dundee toddler, Brandon Muir.

The MP described communications between those charged with protecting Brandon’s welfare as an, “absolute human tragedy.” However, he refused to describe the case reports as a whitewash, a term used by Brandon’s grandmother, Lorraine Garty.

“It’s a total whitewash. Brandon would be alive if those people had done their jobs.

My grandson is dead and all they seem to

Garden Centre Blaze A blaze in Lochland Garden Centre outside Forfar attracted a great deal ofattention by passers-by the other week as smoke could b e seen for miles from the area.

Police are investigating the matter further and urge anyone who may have seen the fire that took place around 2.30am on Thursday 27th of August.

>Lauren Bennie

be interested in is covering their backs.”

Commenting on the reports, Mr McGovern said, “I do have concerns with the findings of the report, in as much as I believe there were opportunities to prevent the assault.”

He added, “ I do not think it is a whitewash, but it’s an absolute tragedy that the people who are charged with looking after this child’s welfare didn’t seem to communicate with each other as they should have.”

A case like this most certainly calls into question the actions of Tayside Police, the NHS and Dundee City Council. At a time when focus is elsewhere, the >LaurenBennie

population of Dundee are somewhat duty bound to intervene. At no point should one put themselves at unnecessary risk.

Nonetheless, there is limited risk associated with raising a voice. Had more individuals raised their voice outside the City Chambers or indeed in Bell Street, then the case may have played out differently.

There needs to be more transparent processes in place to deal with cases of vulnerable children in Dundee. Why were social workers unaware that Boyd and Cunningham had criminal records? At what point were they going to discover that Brandon’s mother had abused heroin, turned to prostitution and left Brandon in Cunningham’s care?

Dundee West MSP Joe Fitzpatrick acknowledged some failures of agencies to work together while Shona Robinson, Public Health Minister, added that, “key agencies will need to urgently implement a large number of recommendations.”

“We owe it to Brandon and his family to have these implemented in full.”

Cunningham is now serving ten years for culpable homicide. This month, his appeal was denied.

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news : national Ted Kennedy

The Future is Here?

It is with great sadness we write about the passing of Ted Kennedy, brother of former US President John F Kennedy, 77, after a long battle against a brain tumour. Kennedy was a giant of US politics, rated as one of America’s ‘Ten best Senators’ by Time magazine in 2006. He will be remembered as one of the most effective legislators in US politics. A staunch opponent of the Bush administration, the Iraq war and prisoner abuse scandal, Senate Majority leader Harry Reid suggested: “The liberal lion’s mighty roar may now fall silent, but his dream shall never die.”

Videos will appear in print magazines for the first time on the 18th of September.

Entertainment Weekly in Los Angeles and New York will feature adverts from television network CBS and Pepsi. The technology features a screen the size of a mobile phone display, a chip which can hold up to 40 minutes of video and a rechargeable battery. The screens activate when the reader turns the page and has been likened to the Daily Prophet in Harry Potter as stories and adverts are recounted by magic from the page. Certainly more Minority Report than Back to the Future…

GCSE

Population Rising

>EK

There have been record number of top grade passes in GCSE results in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This will most liekly spur on comments that exams are becoming to easy for students. However by the same token, bad results do lead to claims that schools are failing. With these great results now in the books, and the claims that University places are becoming more and more difficult to obtain, it is clear that higher education will become a vital issue in the upcoming general elections.

The issue will increase in importance as the students this year are the first to be educated solely through a Labour Government.

More Jobs Cut Drinks giant Diageo are having to face the wrath of local workers as they recently were dealt the news that up to 900 jobs could possibly face cuts.

However Diageo plans to offset workers losses through the creation of a packaging plant in Fife, which would in turn provide somewhere in the region of 400 jobs to prospective workers.

This flies in the face of recent Diageo sales figures which record profit in the regions of £2 billion and only a 3% drop in the market despite a world wide recession.

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The UK population has risen to an excess of 61 million, recent reports by the Office for National Statistics have announced. this will come as a worrying fact to a country who are already beginning to feel the impact of struggling food resources.

However for the first time in a decade, changes in births and death rates have had more of an impact than immigration rates. This flies in the face of claims by right wing parties such as the BNP and UKIP that immigration is a rising problem in Britiain.

There are now 1.3 million people over the age of 85 in Britain, which will inevitably lead to additional strains on the NHS and the state pension system. The last of the “baby boomers” of the post war era have

>NT reached retirement and the strains of such a quick shift in demographics will be felt most heavily on those who are beginning to enter the world of work to find that taxes are rising. This is excarbated by the fact that many private pension schemes have faltered in recent years, leaving many to rely on the meagre state pension which currently stands at around £74 a week.

Shadow immigration minister Damian Green said: “These figures show our population is still rising fast, even when the recession is driving hundreds of thousands of people to leave.

Snooker Loopy Stephen Maquire and Jamie Burnett, two professional snooker players from Glasgow have been questioned by police due o irregular betting patterns.

The allegations refer to a match that the pair played at the Maplin Championship on 14th December last year.

The police are still investigating the matter and are due to present a report to the Procurator Fiscal’s office in due course.

Questionable betting patterns in sport has been raised as an issue several times already this year, with several football players recieving fines for betting on their own matches.

news : infocus Swine Flu - Media Scare?

The common pink, curly tailed, oinking piggie is a versatile producer of many things. Pork chops, bacon sandwiches, or pigs trotter (if Marco Pierre White is cooking for you).

As I write, I am currently being advised by the NHS to stay indoors and away from Joe public if I feel a sniffle. You see, pigs also seem to produce a nasty flu virus that has killed a number of people in Mexico over the last few days. It is lamentable that anyone dies of disease anywhere in the world and ye gods’ know people are dieing of an exhausting array of horrible diseases. However, there is something about the whole swine flu scenario that I find hard to swallow.

This has something to do with another product attributed to the humble pig.

Swine are also a provider of tripe -this pig I speak of is the sort of little blighter that just keeps giving and giving. Although I am more concerned with the steaming hot piles of tripe that the 24 hour party media people are serving. This tripe is a dish that’s served just a little too often and is leaving a similar emotion in me that occurs when I have been frequenting my local baker’s sausage roles a few times too many. In other words, it’s leaving me tired, bloated and slightly sick. In fact, scrap that. It’s making me quite angry (‘Ahh Shite... not again...’ I hear you sigh - I’m not always on the verge of manic displays of grammatically poor rage, it just seem that way).

Before I pursue this line any further I will offer you a disclaimer. Yes, I am fully aware that I am using a medium of the very thing I am going to be ranting against when I criticise the mass media . Blogs can be part of the problem or the solution and are a measure of the human traits I’m going to mull over. Thanks for pointing out my stinking and overwhelming hypocrisy, but sadly I’m going to do it regardless and I’m rather unapologetic about it in all reality.

The way I see it, is that we are being served a large amount of very stinky tripe at the hands of the mass media - or, if you like,

>Stuart Brown

technology savvy swine. Now, this is not a rant against the perception of an evil ‘mass media machine’ that is out to control us for the good of its own endeavour. It’s more simplistic and realistic than that. The mass media is confined by its own seemingly infinite boundaries. It is the very fact that mass media operates over a relentless 24/7 existence - which could well be seen to bring unlimited scope - that actually serves as the scenario that restricts the media’s substance and betrays it’s purpose. The advent of twenty four hour mass media

has brought about a culture that regards news not as fact for mass understanding or mass acknowledgement but rather more a case of mass consumption. The reporting of news is being taken so far out of context that it has become a produce than can be consumed via many sources: television, Internet or in print. There are no boundaries to this consumption, news can be accessed at anytime and subsequently digested, processed and eventually defecated out of the system by way of unconscious indifference. This path is subtlely walked and is exactly the same as the journey of consumption taken by a can of coke or a sausage role from the baker.

To take the consumer process taken by food a bit further in comparision, if I walk past a baker and spot a sign with two for one on the sausage roles you can make a very safe bet that I will grab the advertised product, digest, process and then consign it eventually into both the bottom of a toilet (hopefully) and to a fate of limbo. The sausage role, after it has been consumed, is disposed of and forgotten about. I am

indifferent once it has served its role.

I’ve noticed that I have been consuming news stories in the same way. I am taken in by a headline, I digest the information (the product) and then discard - unlikely to not be thought about again too much, a fate of complete indifference and subsequently a total lack of importance.

In order to make the product more appealing and sell more, the shop counter of news - the mass media - has to bring in its own type of deal. Just the same as a two for one offer on sausage roles.

So, make the news story that little bit more interesting - like over hyping an obviously nasty disease that has yet to make a global pandemic impact.

This is the sweetener, the billboard, the furniture sale. We go for it, we consume it and eventually, we once again shite it out and forget about it.

Swine flu is tripe. Believe me. If I’m wrong then may the good lord have mercy on my mucus-riven, sweaty soul.

It is a product, no longer a reality. It has been stripped of all substance by the mass media and put out to tender in the swill trough for the piggies to munch on, get what they need and then forget about it. We are the pigs that create this swine and in turn we eat ourselves. It is cannibalistic in the sense that we are eating the parts of our existence that create notions of common-sense, senses of proportion and any idea of relevance. In other words, we eat our own brains.

Think of a very real pandemic, one that has been around for decades. It was consumed as a product at the time the shop counter was just being established.

AIDS is killing people. It’s killing people every single day, without fail. However, as a society we have forgotten about AIDS as its newsworthy status has been eroded.

We consumed stories about AIDS, got our feelings of satisfaction that we knew about it and would do something and ultimately we forgot about it, moved on and consumed the next rave product - the next big news story.

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representation: Year of Democracy This DUSA led campaign will bring together a far reaching group of people with one common concept; democracy. What it is, how it works, if it works; essentially, all the issuessurroundingthetopic.Theexperience will be a chance for everyone to have their opinion voiced. Through the medium of debates, talks and events we aim to raise awareness to the subject of democracy.

Within the coming academic year you can expect a number of debates betweenstudents,staff,andexternalbodies.

We invite you to join in, have your voice heard or just hear what is being discussed.

We will be bringing in guest speakers and

As it’s a brand spanking new session at Dundee University, it’s time for the Student Representative Council (SRC) Elections, a chance for YOU to stand up for your fellow students and make yourvoicesheard.TheSRCcomprisesof the DUSA Executive, School Presidents and normal Additional Members such as yourself who strive to further improve the fantastic time to be had at University by acting as an effective student body.

In the past the SRC has played an integral role in setting policy both within DUSA and the University. We hope to see this continue on into the following year with the SRC also taking on an active role in the forthcoming campaigns. The SRC is your gateway to make the difference for both you and your fellow students. It is here you can change your environment, teaching and general services which can only become better if you get

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lecturers with a spectrum of views and opinions and you can also expect to see democracy in action through a number of DUSA/University led elections.

Democracyisofcoursesaglobalissuewhich impacts many communities and societies and we will be bringing in speakers to raise awareness of democracy around the world.

We will be working with a variety of international societies to bring to you a taste of the global stance on democracy.

Which brings us onto the highlight of the year. A Latin American Awareness Campaign. During the first semester we will be all things Latin American. Plans are

involved. The council is the pinnacle of this Students Union and enables you to be represented with a voice that resonates through the upper sections of University structures.

Whether you’re a fresher, a fourth year, or anything in between there’s plenty of room for you on the SRC and is a great way to get further involved in student life and widen your social circle, as well as enhance your experience of University life.

Elections for the posts will be held online on September 25th.

Nominations should be returned to the Returning Office and Honorary Secretary or the Executive Support on level 4 of the DUSA no later than 12pm on September 18th and should include a 200 word election statement. Please include along with this a photo of yourself in an electronic format.

turning into action so watch this space as we bring some festival fun to the Union.

The full job descriptions and the nomination forms are available on www.dusa.co.uk or on the VLE

Your New Life Starts Here

By Emily Kane You’ve stuffed your bags full of stuff you’ll probably never want or use (Mr Cuddles?) and said goodbye to all your old school chums.

You feel distinctly grown up when you tell your siblings that you’re off to uni to make something of yourself.

You arrive at halls, eager to find out who you’ll be staying with but a bit concerned that they might all be total

nutters with weird hair and bad smells.

So, what now? How do you make the most out of the years that await you?

1. People Are Strange

4.The Anthem

You are bound to make “friends for life” throughout Freshers week.

Some of them will be the real deal yet the majority of them? Pricks. For some reason you’ll grow apart after realising that the fact that you both love Aftershock is no basis for a real friendship.

It’s the one song that got played comtinually throughout Freshers week.

For my year it was Chelsea Dagger and generally involved everyone going mental in mono like a proper bunch of lager louts. Whatever song it is, choose it wisely because it’s going to HAUNT you for the rest of your life.

2.Xtreme Dining If you are living on your own for the first time, you realise how good a cook your parents actually were. Meals soon became a thing of invention - who knew that Mince Korma would taste so good?! You’ll convince yourself that the only to survive is to dine at every restaurant in the city - it’s not, it’s a quick route to poverty.

In order to protect you from the shock that comes with uni life, us kind folks at the Magdalen office have compiled a wee list of what to expect.

5.The “Tesco Bridge” No matter how many times somebody tells you that theres going to be a bridge built from Airlie place to Tescos, the fact of the matter is that it just isn’t going to happen. So peel your lazy bum off of that sofa and walk.

(Or just go internet shopping.)

7.Societies Oooh Freshers Fayre. What a lovely shiny badge you’re giving me to bribe me into joining your society. Sign me up!

So you’ve been to Freshers Fayre and yourover-zealousnesshasencouraged you to sign up to Badminton, Debates, Fencing, The Chocolate eating society and even The Magdalen.

Oh aye. Two weeks later and you’ll be on Season 8 of “Programme of the Moment” convincing yourself that you will attend a meeting eventually. Don’t be a crazy. Sign up to one or two and actually attend, you might like it.

8.Midnight Cooking Please please please don’t cook a roast dinner at 3am because you’ve had a bit too much to drink. You will burn your house down.

9.Afternoon Napping This is the only way to survive your hectic shedule. Preferably during Loose Women, snuggle up with a blanket and your flatmates for some much needed shut-eye.

6.Freshers Flu 3.Bang Goes The Filofax Those who are of the organised nature may fare well in terms of studying, but socially? We think not. You’re best nights out will be spent with randoms who’ll you’ll most likely never speak to again, resulting in a trek to the 24 hour bakery. And a myriad of random numbers in your phonebook.

It’s not Swine flu. It’s not Sars. It’s most definitely not whatever other morbid disease you’ve concocted from your imagination in the hope you’ll gain some sympathy from your otherwise quite harsh flatmates that you thought you liked at the start of the year but realised they were all completely awful.

It’s Freshers Flu. And you’ve got it. Man up, it’ll only last a week.

10. CLIMB THE LAW Don’t say you’re going to do it, just do it. Every student you meet will say thats its a must (although half of them will have no idea what your talking about) and it truly is. The gorgeous scenery, the multitude of buildings that fill the landscape. Ok, I’ve never been, but I will this year. Maybe.

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T

he experience of a life time. All students should make the most out of their seemingly endless summer holidays, it won’t be long until they have to say goodbye to them forever (unless you become a teacher). Yet travelling is an experience which takes months of planning and saving so that you can make the most out of your time away.

Over the next few months, The Magdalen is going to speak to a whole range of students who have travelled all over the world.

If you’re interested in talking to The Magdalen about your travels, please get in touch by e-mailing themagdalen@dusa.co.uk and put Travel in the subject bar.

This month we’ve followed the travels of Susan Cruickshank and Kathryn Hamilton, two 3rd students who went travelling all over Europe for five weeks via Interrail.

Start here ->

Day 32....

Reykjavik Iceland Whale watching seems to be a popular thing to do here, so we jumped on the bandwagon and took a tour.

Now, had this been calm waters, and if we had seen countless whales, I would definitely recommend it, but neither of these happened. The water was splashing us over the side of the boat, and running from side to side trying to catch a glimpse of a whale, does not really do it for me. What I spent the majority of my three hours doing, was sitting beside a 12 year-old with a sick bag, just incase! Kathers on the other hand had a ball, she enjoyed running from side to side, chasing the fin of the one whale that we saw. A visit to the Blue Lagoon is a must, the feeling of being in hot water, whilst outside in the rain still does not make any sense to us!

We would highly advise you to take some time out to do your own tour of Europe. You will learn a lot about yourself, how long you can stand with 20k on your back, and if you go with a friend, you will learn a lot about them, she makes weird noises in her sleep! You may well be bankrupt when you return, but if you eat in more than us - think it was twice over our 5 weeks, 2 meals a day – then you are guaranteed to save some money.

Day 24....

Prague, Czech Republic

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Day 18....

Dubrovnik Croatia

Out of all the old towns that we visited over our 5 weeks, this was the best of an awesome bunch. The best thing to do was enjoy the sun! It’s far too warm to go through town in the day, so night is the best time to do so. If you don’t fly direct into Dubrovnik, you can travel there by bus from Split. Do not consider this journey lightly. 5 hours on a jam packed bus, with no air conditioning, well, let’s put it this way, I wasn’t feeling too grand at the end of the

journey – or 20 minutes into it!

When you arrive at the bus station, you are more than likely to be hounded by a large group of old ladies offering you a place to stay.

We came off good with our choice; right across the road, so no long distance with the backpacks; and air conditioning in our room, we had to eat in there because the rest of the house was too hot!

Day 1....

Paris, ĂŽle-deFrance, France

Day 4....

Interlaken Switzerland One of the most amazing countries we came across for their landscapes. The views from going up any of the hills are stunning, it may take some effort to get to these views, especially if you take the wrong road and cycle up a steep hill for no reason, but it will all be worth it! For travellers, the activities are a must-do. Whether you choose canyoning, ice climbing or bungy jumping, the experience is one that you will never forget. And let’s face it, what better way to get over your hangover than a 50m abseil, a few zip lines, and some continuous jumping into cold water?!

Day 11....

Salzburg Austria

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health: BE SAFE

Why learning the basics now could save you a lot of hassle in the future.

W

hile some of you may be more confident then others with personal safety, it’s still important to have a good grasp on how you can make nights out and even your day-to-day routines safer. This applies to both sexes. Men are twice as likely to be the victim of a violent attack and 16-24 year olds are most at risk from violent crime.

National Personal Safety day is on the 22nd of October, so there’s no better time to reinstate the basics.

WHENATHOME There are many issues surrounding safety when it comes to the home. Living in a new flat with people that you don’t really know can be confusing especially in the first week when you aren’t too sure who lives in your block.

WHEN OUT Whether you are going on a night out in town or are just walking home from work, its pertinent to be assertive and make sure you know where you’re going and how long it will take.

Plan Routes - Know exactly how you’re going to get to your final destination, sticking close to busy, well-lit roads if you are walking.

Spare Change - Take extra money in case you need a taxi or a bus. Always keep some money aside for the end of the night for this reason.

Look confident - Avoid listening to your music or talking on the phone; this could distract from dangerous situations. Walk assertively, even if you are lost.

Alarm - Personal safety and Rape alarms can be obtained from the welfare office at the university or can be bought online.

These are valuable in attracting attention or disorientating an attacker.

Like your date...but at Wimpys DATING

Personal safety isn’t about taking the fun out of everything you do. Instead it’s about making sure you can have the most fun possible by staying safe. When it comes to dating and meeting people that don’t know too well, it’s important to have fun whilst keeping your wits about you.

Tell Someone - If you are going out on a date, tell someone you know where you’re going and what time you plan on coming home at.

Come Home - If it’s a first date, avoid going back to theirs or inviting them back to yours.

The chances are that you don’t know them well enough to fully trust them yet.

DRINK SAFELY Instincts - Listen to your instincts. If your date is creeping you out its for a reason. Avoid It may sound pretty basic but it’s a fact situations which make you feel intimidated. that those who have been drinking are far Protect - If you do decide to have sex - USE more likely of becoming the victim (and the A CONDOM. If you don’t, make sure you get yourself to a GUM clinic as soon as possible. perpetrator) of an attack.

1. When you arrive, try and take note of how many people you are living with. What are their names? How many other people share your block? Is there a service button or can anyone just walk in? All these facts are vital in making sure you aren’t letting strangers into your home.

2. If you are going out, write a note to let your flatmates know when you’ll be home and how they can contact you.

3.As you are entering your accommodation, make sure that there is nobody suspicious lurking around who may try and “tail-gate” you into the flat.

4.Always, always, lock all your doors and windows before leaving the building or turning 1. Don’t mix drinks with drugs. It’s a bad in for the night. combination and can make you extremely vulnerable - and that mix alone can lead to fatality.

2.If you’re travelling home, avoid unregistered or bogus taxis.

3.Avoid potentially aggressive situations and watch your body language - if you appear aggressive, you may attract unwanted attention.

4. Never, ever leave your drink unattended. No matter how safe you feel in a club, bar or even a house party, you can never be 100% sure of those around you.

5.If you do meet new people on a night out and decide to bring someone home, make sure you are safe and that one of your flatmates knows your plans.

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CONTACT

The Suzy Lamplugh Trust provides brilliant information on personal safety: www.suzylamplugh.org For a broader range of safety issues check out: www.personalsafetyadvice.co.uk Dundee has brilliant facilities for sexual welfare: www.sexualhealthtayside.org www.gaymenshealthtayside.org

health: J&J

Answering your problems in health and welfare.

J

anine Ewan and Julia Muszynski are here to answer any worries or problems you may have with complete discretion. If you would like to ask them a question please e-mail them to: vpsw@dusa.co.uk with Problem in the subject line.

If you would like to ask a question, just post one into the comments box on the fourth floor.

J & J, my mates want me to take ecstasy but I’m not sure if I should try because I don’t want to get addicted. Can I try it once without getting addicted? Should I? Anon, 17, West End Don’t feel as though you have to try ecstasy if it is something you don’t really want to try and you know is wrong. Even though trying it once is unlikely to make you addicted, it may make you sick and there are deaths from it.

Remember it is a Class A drug and if you are caught with it the penalties are serious. If you are found to be holding a large amount you can also be charged with possession with the intent of dealing - which carries much heavier penalties.

We know that people will experiment, but anything can be put into ecstasy and it’s a risk just not worth taking.

J&J, I have been smoking since I was a teen and I have decided enough is enough. I don’t want to carry on smoking as I’m reaching my final year at Uni and really am so fed up of it.

Whats the best way to stop?

Craig, 25, Up the Perth Road This is a tricky topic and it won’t be easy but if you are as determined then it is achievable. The best advice we can give is to go and make an appointment with your doctor who is likely to refer you to a smoking cessations counsellor or a nurse. They can offer an assessment of your lifestyle and provide advice on the best options available

to yourself. This is usually on going support so resulting in meetings weekly or every two weeks as a follow up to see how you are getting on. Why not ask other people you may know who have stopped? There is always advice online on health pages particularly the NHS website. Good luck and we hope you see it through!

Thats bad enough to make anyone quit!

J&J, Me and my flatmate who happens to be a good friend fell out last night. I have asked time and time again to do her share of chores in the flat but she always makes up excuses! She knows how busy I am just no w with uni work and working part time. Just seems unfair and I feel a massive fall out coming along which I really don’t want! Any advice?

Lucy, 21, Menziehill DON’T FALL OUT! You say you are both good friends, this is something that can be resolved.

First of all be calm and approach your friend without any aggression involved, even if this is a frustrating situation.

Sit her down and tell her how you feel. If this gets you nowhere consider speaking to a University member of staff. Peer Connectors can offer support through drop-in sessions where you can go and talk about how you feel.

Some peer connectors are trained to be peer mediators which involves dispute resolution and conflict management. Don’t hold back though and don’t be worried about seeking help. There’s nothing worse than leaving situations and getting stressed out. Help is out there!

J&J, I’ve been feeling like crap for the past week or so and am worried that it might be H1N1 flu.

Everyone’s saying not to go to the doctors but that I need tamiflu, how do i know?

Ben, 19, Douglas There are many misconceptions about swine flu. It is a serious matter, but it important to make sure you are not just the victim of a common cold. You don’t mention any symptoms so the best thing to do would be to research into the symptoms. If you feel as though you have all of them do not panic.

The World Health Organisation is now advising that those countries with adequate health care should not be prescribing Tamiflu as a cure. If these problems persist please contact NHS 24 on 08454 24 24 24.

J&J, I work out quite a lot and am dead active in both football and squash but I’ve lately been having some mental heartburn. I don’t live off junk food so why is this happening?

Ryan, 23, Peddie St Theres a number of reasons why you could be getting heartburn. As a common a disorder as it is - there are more than seven million sufferers in the UK alone.

Heartburn is a digestive disorder which is caused by regurgitation of stomach acid up through the stomach into the esophagus. It’s definitely not pleasant.

Try avoiding high-fat foods, large amounts of alcohol and coffee and make sure you maintain a healthy weight. After eating make sure you avoid lying down for at least 2-3 hours and try elevating the head of your bed when you go to sleep.

If heartburn persists take an antacid to relieve the pain. There can be obtained at most pharamacists. However, if it gets unbearable, please consult your doctor.

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science: “Guardian of the Genome” Uncovers More Dundee scientists have furthered the cause in finding out the functions of the p53 gene, which is found in about 90% of all cancers.

30 years ago Sir David Lane, a professor at the University of Dundee, co-discovered the gene and found it to be inherent to cell recovery. However it has been difficult to link this gene with cancer due.

These new breakthroughs, done in conjunction with numerous other partners, have shown how the gene can activate or suppress cell proliferation.

This in turn will allow scientists to determine which drugs can help assist the p53 gene and potentially control it’s levels of activity. EK

Legal Highs to be Outlawed The British government announced it’s intentions to ban three legal highs - GBL; a legal alternative to GHB, Spice: a cannabis substitute and BZP; an alternative to amphetamines. The news comes as two more deaths have been related to these so called “legal highs.” Home Secretary Alan Johnson has been advised by the Advisory Council on Misuse of Drugs that such legal highs can be fatal when combined with alcohol.CN

By increasing muscle quantity and improving electrical impulses, the patch has done much more than the scientists initially expected. RB

Crop Yields at Tipping Point?

Through use of models and databases of weather patterns, two scientists have discovered that temperatures over 29 degrees celsius can have a dramatic effect on crop yields in the U.S. Wolfram Schlenker of Colombia University, New York and Michael Roberts at North Carolina State University, New York, used a high-res dataset of weather patterns from the years 1950 up until 2000.

Typically, rise in sea levels or glacial melt are paid more attention to, however food supply and security is an issue which will undoubtedly become of great importance in years to come.

Usingameasureknownasa“degree-day,” whereby the team analyse how many days are spent above the 29 degree mark and how long for, the scientists have found that yield of maize, soybean ad cotton typically drop by 0.6% for each “degree-day” amassed.EK

21st Century Multitasking

How to Mend a Broken Heart

14

A group of Israeli scientists have came one step closer to finding a method to fix the damage that heart attacks cause on a person.

Using heart muscle a patch has been developed which can reduce scarring that the heart attack may have caused.

The experiment has shown that such patches can actually improve the hearts condition.

New Crustacean Discovered

Those who frequently multi-task via different online media outlets - such as instant messaging, social networking, texting, e-mailing - do not pay attention as well as some one who pursues one task at a time.

A study involving a 100 students found that those who frequently switch from one outlet to another find it hard to concentrate and are easily distracted.

Previously, it was common thought that those who could multitask - and do it wellwere extremely talented.

Yet scientists could not find the “talent” that multi-taskers were so skilled at and in the experiments were continually distracted by a piece they were told to ignore. SC

Another species of the predatory crustacean class Remipedia has been discovered in the Tunnel De La Antlantida near Lanzarote in the Canary Islands.

Named Speleonectes atlantida after the cave system it was found in, the crustacean has long antennae instead of eyes, which it uses to search through the lightless void.

The team consisted of scientists from Texas A&M University and Pennsylvania State University in the U.S., the University of La Laguna in Spain, and the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover and University of Hamburg, both in Germany.

They were on a dive in the region when they discovered the previously unknown species of crusteacean alongside two other new species of annelid worms of the class Polychaeta.

The results of the cave dive are to be published in a special edition of the Springer journal Marive Biodiversity. KH

Powered By Watermelon Recent studies have shown that the juice of reject watermelons can successfully be fermented into ethanol, providing another source of biofuel.

Around 20% of all watermelons produced are ploughed back into the field due to cosmetic imperfections and in turn disposed of. Extraction of these juices are economically viable due to the fact that there is still enough commercial demand for the nutraeuticals lycopene and L-citrulline which can be found in watermelons. EK

Assessor RectorsAssessor

>By James Sloan

It doesn’t have a salary or expenses for a second home. But as students at this university we do have the chance to vote for it every three years.

It is the prestigious role of rector of Dundee University, currently held by Craig Murray, the former British diplomat in Uzbekistan.

The rector is a rather ambiguous post which holds no constitutional guidelines bar the expectation to attend the university court. This body is essentially the government of the university, and as such, the role of rector has significance insofar that it is one the few directly elected members to sit on the court.

An essence of vanity surrounds the role of rector, a vanity that benefits both parties.

On the surface the individual will no doubt complete interviews with local and national media outlets, a smiley photo in the broadsheets proclaiming their love of the university, and what latest product they have to push. This vanity allows the university name recognition that in all probability it would not have otherwise received.

“A starting point would be to have a clear set of guidelines enshrined in a constitution” The university has had a long line of high profile rectors; the late Sir Peter Ustinov was the inaugural holder of the post and has given way to an eclectic mix of individuals from breakfast television host, Lorraine Kelly, to Stephen Fry. Politicians of various hues have also held the office of rector.

Thepresentrectorsuccessfullycampaigned in the 2007 election, and stated his intention to stand again in 2010. But what visibility does the rector have at the university? Mr Murray’s record in

attending the university court is one to be admired, his high attendance putting his predecessors to shame, with Mr Murray being in attendance at the majority of meetings since beginning of his stint as rector in 2007. Whilst this is the only defined role of rector, and having gone to great lengths to campaign in order to get those all important student votes, Mr Murray is not regularly seen on campus.

The rector is supposed to act as a key voice for students, but how can the holder do this, without actually knowing what the students want? The rector’s assessor, Mike Arnott is the individual who runs the day to day business of the rector. Whilst Mr Arnott is a regular to attendee to the Students Representatives Council, thus able to take a pulse on the key matters from the student council, ordinary students are still left without a chance to question Mr Murray himself.

Open surgeries would be a helpful start for both parties, allowing Mr Murray to meet students face to face and hear the issues concerning them, and what part he can play. As it stands the post of rector is disconnected from the mass student population. Yet, come next year, Mr

Murray will wish to gather large swathes of support from these very students.

A starting point would be to have a clear set of guidelines enshrined in a constitution in order to set a standard of which the students can expect. The holding of open surgeries at the university, would be a move in the right direction. The role of rector is unpaid, and it would be unfair to expect the individual in the post to treat it as a full time job, yet it is a role which should be held accountable by the student body who chose and voted to have him/her to that position.

Perhaps now is the time to reassess what students want and expect of their rector.

RECTOR FACTFILE Name: Craig John Murray Career: Former ambassador to Uzbekistan, tumultous career within the Tashkent Embassy lead to removal from post in 2004.

Since 2004, Murray has written numerous articles against the “War on Terror” and wrote a book in 2005 entitled Murder in Samarkand.

Recently ran as an independent in the Norwich North by-elections , losing to Chloe Smith of the Conservatives.

Conservatives.

Education: Paston School in North Walsham, Norfolk. Went on to study Modern History at the University of Dundee, graduating with First class Honours.

Other: During his time studying at the university, Craig Murray was President of DUSA twice and sat on the SRC. Cons: Needs to be seen on campus more, not just in support of STW movement.

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love music: The Hype Machine: Irreverent, Trend-Setting Bunkum Our quest for the most bizarre and obscure artists in the land gathered unparalleled pace when Spotify was invented over the murky summer months. We almost forgave the Met office of their utter stupidity when the continuous rain gave us at The Hype Machine an excuse to avoid all social contact and instead devour ourselves in some truly brain-meltingly wondrous music.

Who better to share our findings with than the ever-disparaging readers of The Magdalen?

And so our quest begins with the fantastic Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros. Lead by the illustrious Alex Ebert, this musical consortium of nine (sometimes 13) earthy hippies has resulted in some beautiful music on a par with earlier Brian Jonestown Massacre. Their debut album, Up From Below was released through the mighty indie label Rough Trade Records. “40 Day

Dream” is one of the most perfect songs to be created this year. Oh, how we love a gush. (That was gush folks, GUSH.) We’d be quite offended if you also hadn’t noticed the welcome return of Wilco into the musical fore. Their long anticipated seventh album entitled Wilco (The Album) has been like a snuggly blanket over our festival-induced frostbite. The first single to be released from the album, You Never Know, has some classic imagery and spine tingling acoustics not to even MENTION the lyrics.

This is madness I tell thee! It seems that bands have just sprung out in their shedload this summer to distract us from the misery that is our society.

There is simply not enough time to mention the plethora of new artists and bands we uncovered over summer, but we simply must plug Brooklynites, The Drums.

Be sure to check out their new single, “Let’s Go Surfing” which was recently on Steve Lamacq’s Radio 6 Rebel Playlist.

Making major waves in the brains of The Hype Machine are electronic minstrels Passion Pit. Formed in 2007, they have already featured on the BBC’s Sound of 2009.

Many of you recently may be loving “That Golden Rule” (ooft! See what we did there?) and it appears that the mighty Biff have struck once again with their impermeable riffs. There seems to be no stopping them, which can only be a good thing.

Scanning the charts we have noticed that a Mr Guetta and his accomplice are doing very well in keeping more talented bands such as The Big Pink or DJ duo Filthy Dukes out of the scene – but that is how we roll here at The Hype Machine.

We are not complete ignoramuses of all things pop, no sir, we are just snobs in a land where music gold is aplenty.

We’ll be here all year kids, making sure that you can be first in name-checking bands and artists which are destined to make quite the impact.

The Factolator Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s 2001 hit Murder on The Dancefloor was co-written with Brian Eno. The Arctic Monkeys original line up actually included Jamie Little, session drummer to bands such as A1 and Boyzone.

Lady Gaga faced court action early on in her career as there was another well-known Lady Gaga from the Phillipines.

The soundtrack to the movie All Dogs Go To Heaven was part-composed by Deborah Harry, lead singer of new-wavers Blondie.

Barracuda sung by Heart is the only song in the history of music to use the word Barracuda.

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Passion Pit

Myspace of the Month:

Our Musically Adapted Social Challenge

Stephen Budas

Internet Forever

Because all the good names were taken We are challenging you - the reader - to a musical duel. Each month we want you to e-mail us with the bands and artists that you’re digging at the moment.

Tell us why you love them, tell us why you think they’re completely out of this world, tell us what you would do if you saw said artist. Would you pee a little? No. Perhaps not.

We want to know if you’ve seen them live, what were they like? Do your mates like them?

Then here comes the social challenge part - we are going to put a wee poll up on the DUSA website with a shortlist of bands and artists which most people have referred to as their “pick of the month.”

What do you have to do? Vote, vote your wee socks off.

Now most of you will be thinking, “what’s the bloody point in that? I don’t want to waste time pumping up the DUSA website with hits, its a bloody con, it’s all a bloody con to do with the system.”

Thats where you’re wrong mister. Forget the system, forget the cons and the pumping of

the DUSA website with hits (sorry what? ed) and instead focus on the BIGGER PICTURE. Once we spot a name that seems to come up time and time again, the entire entertainments section is going to work it’s bum off to secure an interview with said artist. You might all think this is a piss easy task which a journalist of any calibre can achieve, but we know you’ll make it nigh on impossible for a new student publication such as ours.

We’re not promising Frost/Nixonesque interviews where we break down the interviewee into tiny pieces, neither are we promising that these people will even want to see us. But hey, we’re going to try our hardest, documenting our efforts along the way.

We’re going to live to regret this, aren’t we?

Start e-mailing now to themagdalen@dusa. co.uk and put Musically Adapted Social Challenge in the subject bar.

Genre of the Month:

Forthcoming single Cover the Walls, with it’s boy-girl vocals, fuzzy guitars and gentle casio keyboards, shows what the band do best – simple melodies and simple lyrics all wrapped up in a couple of minutes.

As to whether or not Internet Forever’s songs would have the same appeal if their recordings were more polished remains to be seen but as they stand now they’re brilliant, scuzzy, innocent, two minute pop songs which are perfect to welcome in the Autumn.

Bhangragga Bhangragga is a style of music which incorporates both Bhangra and Dancehall.

This particular genre was created by British Asian producers on the Apache Indians debut album.

Including dancehall “riddims” the sound is percussion heavy and provides a strong beat for one to dance along to. The genre is lyrically Indian orientated, yet the vocals are produced to snappier Dancehall style.

Bhangragga was first heard of in a wider scale on the Apache Indian single “BoomShack-A-Lak,” which was on the soundtrack

“Good at songs, bad at fidelity” states Internet Forever’s myspace page and it’s not wrong. On first appearances the scuzzy indie pop trio’s songs are so self consciously lofi it would be very easy write them off as scenesters chancing their luck to try play some gigs for some other scenesters but under the crackles and distortion there’s some genuinely very sweet pop music to be found.

For fans of: Casiotone For the painfully alone, Los Campesinos!, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart Apache Indian of Dumb and Dumber.

This sound is almost exclusive to British music culture and can also be known as Bhangramuffin and Bhangra-wine.

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take it as gospel: Reviews & Previews

Mini Viva

The Music Bit

Miniviva Left My Heart In Toyko

It’s being played all over the radio right now to a great reception. Frankee and Britt of Mini Viva are quirky popstresses who’ve truly cottoned onto the current wave of pop brashness which has taken hold of the charts. With an addictive chorus and almost sickly lyrics, it’s a song you want to hate but you’ll find yourself singing along to in the shower. Legendary producer Fred Falkes has already has mitts on it, we suggest you get yours on this track pronto.

Due for release on September 7th.

Rating

The Movie Bit

Ian Brown Stellify

Black Gold Breakdown

Stellify is much more of a personal journey for Monkey Business man Ian Brown.

Where his last record focused more on the anti-war movement, this particular track, and in turn, his new album My Way, is set to be a return to the more bass ridden records that he used to create years ago.

It’s true that Brown has grown up and this reflective track works well by using hip hop beats, synths and brass to result in a mellow track.

Due for release on September 21st.

This song just seems to easy. Black Gold are a boy and girl duet from Brooklyn and have already performed alongside acts such as Panic at the Disco and Scissor Sisters.

“Breakdown” has the construction of a simple midi track, the layers are all too easy to assume and the lyrics are oversimplified. This is going to be a song where the remixes (if any producer bothers to touch it) are going to far much better than the original.

Due for release on September 28th

Rating

Ingleourious Basterds Quentin Tarantino

The Red Baron Nikolai Mullerschon

The Hurt Locker Mark Boal

This riot of a movie tells the tale of a Jewish-American platoon known as the Basterds operating behind enemy lines.

Set in 1943 when the war is hanging in the balance, the Basterds go on an all out killing spree against the Nazis.

Starring Brad Pitt and Christopher Waltz, this dark comedy is one of the finest works to come from Tarantino in a long time. Must see.

Keeping in line with the war theme, this film details the story of World War One flying ace Manfred (The Red Baron) von Richthofen. The plot shows how the Baron struggles between the harshness of the task he has been assigned and the reailty of humanity that he has to face.

After shooting down a Canadian pilot, the Red Baron decides to try and rescue his enemy from the wreck, bumping into an attractive nurse along the way. The film is sadly too engaged in creating a plot to suit it’s audience.

Death is an ever-present possibility for bomb-disposal experts in Iraq and this recent film deals with harsh issues such as morality when in combat. The film feels authentic in the manner of which it’s shot.

It’s been tagged as an action movie yet it has all the emotion and compassion to give it that brutal edge of reality. Jeremy Renner plays the wild bomb defuser with great skill, ensuring that his character rarely comes across as self effacing.

with an honesty that is so often lacking in modern writing. Focusing generally on a lower class character base Welsh uses this not only as a means of social commentary but as an amusing, rarely used, point of discussion for his readers.

Reheated Cabbage introduces wellknown characters such as the infamous Frank Begbie as well and a new host of characters that the reader will learn to love and despise. The master of creating the anti-hero, for example Mark Renton and Sean Williamson, Welsh once

again confronts us with characters whose actions we can feel sickened by yet at the same time it is possible to empathise with them. Although at times his stories may be described as dark in nature there is still a highly amusing feel to them all which never fails to captivate the readers. The stories contained within it still possess the charm and appeal of his previous works and is definitely a worth while read, especially for those looking for a quick read they will thoroughly enjoy.

Rating

Rating The Book Bit

Reheated Cabbage Irvine Welsh

18 16 24

Rating

From the iconic Scottish writer who brought us Trainspotting and Porno, this collection of short stories will both astound and amuse it’s audience. With stories so brutally realistic that you’ll find it hard to believe and others so bizzare that you’ll have to read them twice just to make sure you weren’t imagining things. As with many of Welsh’s works, Reheated Cabbage mixes dark humour

Rating

Rating

DLS: Dundee Local Scene Local Bands

Ok so you’ve just moved here or you’ve returned from your year away or whatever.

We hear you. You want to know what bands you should go and see the area. You want to know s’happenin in the local scene.

Well sad news kids.

The answer is this: the last year has been pretty monumental for music in Dundee.

The Doghome shutdown lately, meaning that now even more local bands will have to find somewhere else to play.

Additionally, a great number of the bands which were making it big last year are in the process of making it bigger. Bands such as The Law and Sergeant are tied to godawful record companies which have made them sign over all but their souls in the pursuit of good music on the cheap.

Page 6 split last year and Luva Anna are about as hard to track as Canoe Man (before he got caught).

Where does Dundee music stand now?

We still have Dave? and Rush Hour Soul carrying the flag, as are numerous other bands (that all seem to have that bandwagon feel about them).

Further research has lead me to find that The Trend have split up and new(ish) band called the Twist have formed. How pleasant.

As with any music scene that’s given birth to heavweights such as The View, it can be easy to get into a stalemate of the same kind of music and complete lack of progression.

The next year will be interesting. We all watch in vain and hope that Dundee music can progress once and for all with the support that it needs from both the media and professionals.

The Law

The View

25

The Megrahi Debacle written by Graeme Smith & Craig Paterson

On the 20th August Kenny MacAskill, the Justice Minister for the Scottish Government, announced his decision to release Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi oncompassionategrounds.On31st July 2001 Megrahi was charged with 270 counts of murder for his role in the Lockerbie bombing of 1988.

Megrahi Timeline

May 30th 2007

5th August

Tony Blair meets Colonel Gaddafi in Libya for talks. The legal outline of a new prisoner transfer policy is finalised hours before it is announced that BP have won contracts worth £500m in Libya. Blair acknowledges that the issue of releasing Megrahi was discussed but he made clear it was a matter for the Scottish government.

Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill visits Megrahi in prison.

July 2009

Police exercise is carried out which involves a convoy of blacked out vehicles travelling from Greenock Prison to Prestwick Airport which intensifies speculation that a decision has been reached.

Gordon Brown meets Gaddafi during the G8 summit in Italy, at the time of writing details of the meeting have yet to be released.

July 25th 2009

Megrahi asks to be considered for release on compassionate grounds.

3rd August

Foreign Office Minister Ivan Lewis writes to the Scottish government to explain that there was no legal issue with Megrahi being transferred under the prisoner transfer deal agreed in 2007. In the letter he says “I hope on this basis you will now feel able to consider the Libyan application in accordance with the provisions of the prisoner transfer agreement” which many interpret as an attempt to influence government policy.

4th August

Peter Mandelson has a ‘chance meeting’ with Colonel Gaddafi’s son in Corfu, he followed the meeting by saying that there had been a ‘fleeting discussion’ about Megrahi; his spokesman said that the subsequent decision by the Scottish government was ‘entirely coincidental’.

12th August

It is leaked to the media that Megrahi is likely to be released on compassionate grounds.

18th August

19th August

After 2 weeks of speculation Megrahi formally drops his appeal.

19th August

Hilary Clinton reiterates US opposition to potential Megrahi release.

20th Aug

Kenny MacAskill announces decision to release Megrahi on compassionate grounds.

22nd AugColonel Gaddafi thanks

Gordon Brown for the role he played in ‘encouraging’ the Scottish Government to release Megrahi and praises MacAskill’s decision.

• 24th Aug- MacAskill assures the Scottish parliament that the decision he made was independent of economic, diplomatic or political considerations.

The UK government remain silent on the verdict.

Asking Questions If we buy in to this narrative then we have to believe that these events happened independently of one another, we would also have to accept that the first ever Justice Minister for the first ever SNP minority government is putting his own job and the popularity of his government at risk over a decision which all polls suggest was unpopular with Scottish voters (with a recent poll putting support for the move at only 15%). We also have to accept that a government that want to hold a major constitutional referendum to split the 300 year Union would risk jeopardising this to release the man convicted of carrying out the largest ever mass murder on Scottish soil, having only served 8 years of a 27 year sentence. Would any first term minority government ever do this? It seems unlikely, especially for a first term minority government with such a revolutionary ambition as independence for Scotland.

Ulterior Motives?

In any major decision a full-time cynic will always seek to identify the beneficiaries of the situation. In this case they are: 1.Libyan government - They have scored a major PR coup and regained international legitimacy over an issue they have been pursuing for a number of years.

2.UK government - They benefit from a potentially controversial appeal being dropped and as a result negate the chance that compromising documents make it into the public domain. Economically the move is being welcomed by a number of British energy firms who are exploring the lucrative gains they can make from

further integration with the world’s 9th largest oil producer. On the day Megrahi was freed Gordon Brown wrote to Gaddafi hinting at the commercial links between the countries “There are significant shared interests at stake in our relationship and I am committed to working with you to achieve them” this point was supported

by Seif Gaddafi who told Megrahi “You were on the table in all commercial, oil and gas agreements that we supervised in that period. You were on the table in all British interests when it came to Libya, and I personally supervised this matter. Also, during the visits of the previous Prime

On the face of it the only actor who lost out in this whole process would be the Scottish Government. However, this simplistic analysis misses the key point that the SNP are a party of professional politicians with a revolutionary endgame and a radical history, are we to believe they would risk so much? The conspiracy of silence from the British government is consistent with a cynical pattern of behaviour which has frequently left them open to allegations of financial interests in Libya, yet this does not explain the actions of the Scottish government. From considering the evidence we can draw one of two conclusions about their motives.

1.The SNP have been ‘bought off’ with an unknown concession. This could be new oil jobs for Scotland, or more likely, support for either a constitutional change to the devolution settlement or for the independence referendum. Neither of which would be difficult political manoeuvres for Labour; remember “Bring it on”.

2. Kenny MacAskill is one of the most virtuous politicians to ever grace this Earth and has put all self interest and political, economic and diplomatic considerations to one side to do something he believed to be genuinely the right thing to do.

Drawing Conclusions

Minister Tony Blair.” This would also explain the reluctance of Gordon Brown to comment on the matter.

3.US government – through the normalisation of relations they gain an ally in the region and corporate America, like Britain, has the inroad into the Libyan oil industry. From a geo- political perspective it is also almost certain that there will be strategic benefits from a closer relationship. For obvious reasons the US government had to oppose the move in order to play to their domestic constituents.

If we are to believe the latter conclusion then we have elected the most profoundly honest political outfit in the world, this does seem unlikely for a party who some would argue sold their transport policy to Brian Soutar. However, the former conclusion could well be correct; the British Government does have a vested interest in the withdrawal of an appeal that would be likely to draw unwanted attention to a number of unsavoury practices and policies on the part of British governments both past and present. Yet as the initial beneficiaries of such an appeal would no doubt include the nationalists it would be fair to suggest that there had to be a major concession involved.

“East end moron” noted that an o anagram of brian en is fruit ribena.

Tim From Nottinghamshire o says that Brian En hn jo h appeared wit cale on a velvet underground album 4 called 1st june 197

ed “I Am walrus” quipp ed that brian eno us to organise every e jumble sale in th st north for the pa 30 years before he joined roxy music Nick from cardiff says that eno told select magazine e that he reads th es on big publications us and forty pl

Jazz from switzerland commented that the eno invented ambient music however, brian eno did not invent gold

y brian eno regularl l ca drinks in the lo of a certain jimbob

craig from dundee knows that the second bit of music played when you turn on your computer was composed by brian eno

by Natalie Coupar It was a match made in heaven. Take one slightly hung-over broadcasting DJ and mix with one extremely deadbeat student magazine editor. The result? A series of mind-shatteringly incoherent ramblings about the work of the music legend that is Brian Eno. If you’re wondering why on earth we’ve devoted a whole page to Brian Eno then the answer is this: the man is a legend.

When on the early morning show The Magdalen suggested that Chris Hawkins take up a page or two, resulting in an international hunt for Brian Eno facts.

Chris Hawkins is the 6music DJ with a difference. The difference being that his twilight shows allow him to play a range of music far more abstract and leftfield than any of the other mainstream radio shows.

Our early morning conference led us to discuss the importance of spreading the gospel of Chris Hawkins. However, do not be fooled by some of the incorrect interpretations of the broadcasters life that feature on his wikipedia. According to his

producer, Hawkins is not a devout Christian.

Regular listeners will confirm this due to his capacity for swearing throughout the show (for those with sensitive ears: we wouldn’t worry too much about it, he’s got quite good at stopping himself before he gets too carried away).

His wikipedia page does allow us to draw three conclusions from the life and works of the broadcasting genius.

Firstly, that Chris Hawkins is quite clever.

Not clever on a par with Stephen Hawking but clever in a sense that he could probably talk his way out of a box.

Secondly, Chris Hawkins is quite the talented journo. Having worked for the BBC World Service, BBC Radio 2 and of course the salvation station itself 6music, his talents have also extended to the realms of print and television.

Thirdly, we have deduced – via the medium of wikipedia – that Chris Hawkins has had a life long phobia of fruit and vegetable which led him to feature on the sadist BBC

Three show Freaky Eaters.

If you’ve decided to leave an essay until the very last minute (or a student rag) and are doing so particularly on Mondays from 0300-0700, Tuesdays from 0130-0700 or Wednesdays to Fridays from 0030-0700 then be sure to tune in to the explorative musical avenues that the “Hawk” provides for aural pleasure (insert your own quip here).

The truth that cannot be avoided though, is that a legend such as the Enominator really can bring the world together under a banner of respect for his life’s work.

In May this year, Tam Baillie was appointed the role of Commisioner for Children and Young People. In a tumultous time for youth culture and society, we look at what politicians are doing for young people today.

“Problem-children,”“rootcauses”and“at-risk”young people; the injurious statements which riddle our headlines are just one example of how youth policy has been converted into reason to demonise the young people in our society. Such buzzwords detract from the much more important issue of social inclusion amongst youngsters.

For too long, debate has been focussed solely on school attendance and other school-based achievements. It is by these methods that political parties continue to extrapolate ill thought interims, which are in turn used to tackle youth policy, and the quagmire it presents to politicians.

When I was 14, I became heavily involved in fundraising with my peers, with a view to building a skate park in my community. We dedicated long hours to packing shopping bags, washing cars and other well-meant deeds. Our Project leader was a kind and enthusiastic man who provided much guidance for our group, showing us how to get grants and how to get in touch with our community council. At the age of 14 I had to present to our community council why we deemed it necessary that a skate park should be built for the use of my peers. Months later, the plans collapsed when potential site after potential site was ruled out for one inane reason or another. To this day, that money lies dormant in a bank account. I am now 21 years of age.

My dalliances with youth policy and the irrevocable power of community councils lead me to further investigate a wider scale of youth policy across Scotland.

It can be easy to confuse youth policy with that of education, crime or even family policy.

Youth policy concerns social exclusion and inclusion amongst young people, the developing of a sense of community through use of youth clubs and the involvement of young people in day-to-day democratic processes.

Debate needs to focus on instilling a sense of civic value into young people – not excluding them from our society because they are deemed to unruly.

The Scottish Youth Parliament was launched in 1999 with a view to provide a voice for Scotland’s young people. Two Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MYSP’s) are elected for each Scottish Parliamentary Constituency, resulting in a total of 146 MYSP’s. Additionally, there can be a representative of a youth voluntary organisation (two per organisation, a maximum of 54 MYSP’s).

Listen Up words by Emily Kane

This body presents two problems to youth policy structure. Firstly, the SYP is a unique body and is not replicated to council level, meaning that grassroots issues will be harder to uncover. The only other format of representation on a wider scale for those in the age range of 14 and 25 is through educatory councils such as D.U.S.A. Secondly, those who are representatives on the

SYP will generally come from backgrounds whereupon they have had the opportunities provided to them that are necessary for such a commitment. This is not an argument that hones in on or attacks those of a disadvantaged background; instead, it implies that if one is not aware of such a body, how can they possibly involve themselves with it?

Yet we must not diminish the value of the SYP and instead look as to how we can increase its weight in society and provide a more credible solution for social inclusion amongst youths.

This leads me to look at the Scottish government and in turn the Scottish Parties.

In 2003, the Commissioner for Children and Young People (Scotland) Act was implemented.

The Commissioner was assigned the role of ensuring that the UN Convention on the Rights of a Child (1991) was adhered to. The current commissioner, Tam Baillie, recently commented in an interview with The Herald that he plans to roll out youth consultation groups across Scotland. This is where the idiom actions speak louder than words will really be the judge.

However, time and time again young people are referred to in relation to their school or their parental upbringing – which Baillie is no exception.

His recent amendment to the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) bill was developed alongside Justice secretary Kenny McAskill.

The amendment asked that when sentencing perpetrators of crime, other factors such as children’s rights should be taken into consideration.

Is this a good development in Youth Policy?

Of course. Every child needs some parental guidance. Is it enough? Of course not.

When further examining the Holyrood manifestos of the main parties, one can find damning evidence that most parties only feel the need to address those who have the constitutional right to vote.

A party that stands well in eyes of young people is the Greens. Its 2007 Holyrood manifesto pledged to; “ensure that young people are meaningfully consulted on all decisions that will affect them, including areas such as local planning, health and the environment.”

Additionally it urged the will to challenge the demonisation of young people through creating safe and affordable activities.

But the Greens do not dominate the order of the day in Holyrood.

The Scottish Labour party has little or no youth policy. One cannot include the derogatory references to crime or youth involvement

with crime as youth policy. Claire Baker needs to understand that by simply “tackling” social ills such as underage drinking, she is doing little to mend the swiftly burning bridges between the Labour party and its already demoralized youth.

As ever, the Scottish Conservatives put much emphasis on the role of the family in society. This is of great importance for creating a sense of home and belonging for a child, yet at the age of 16, did we not all wish to be looked upon as adults able to make our own decisions or at least be consulted in the decision making process?

The Scottish Liberal Democrats 2007 Holyrood Manifesto placed young people with great importance. Almost four pages were dedicated to a Future of Scotland Bill whereby young people were made a priority. Schools would be turned into community hubs, there was to be a young opportunity fund and they even promised to review the voting age for Scottish parliament and local councils – with a view to lowering it to sixteen.

A menagerie of other youth-pleasing policies scattered their manifesto.

But the Lib Dems rarely dominate the order of the day in Holyrood.

The Scottish National party promised in their winning 2007 Holyrood Manifesto to deliver a Youth Strategy to promote “better opportunities and activities for young people.” They also supported reducing the voting age to 16.

What became of these promises?

Young people do not care for think-tanks or talking shops. They do not want to know about the personal politics between parties that has them hell-bent on outdoing one another.

Instead, young people question why there is nothing to do in their area. They demand to know why they are continually victimized in both the press and government policy. Young people beg not to be ignored from decisions that will impact their future. Above all, they are disgusted that society has been so blasé in assuming that young people simply don’t want to be involved in dayto-day democratic processes. It is this inherent problem that has led us into the knife wielding, facebook-bullying, underage drinking culture that – a minority of - young people involve themselves in.

Isn’t it time that we listened?

The Magdalen us currently looking to fill the following positions:

are not able to tell you where to post things to at this moment in time.

Assistant Editor Current Affairs Editor Entertainments Editor Travel Editor Fashion Editor Science Editor Sports Editor Head of Photography Head of Design Chief Sub-Editor Financial Director Sales Director

However, our e-mail address is themagdalen@dusa.co.uk and we’d love to hear from readers and potential writers alike.

We are also looking for writers and photographers to work with us on both an occasional and permanant basis.

If you have any queries about this current issue please mail them to themagdalen@dusa. co.uk with Dear Editor in the subject bar.

The Magdalen is currently in the process of moving office and so

Kind Regards, Staffless Editor

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Sport Sport and Your Uni >Barry Davidson With another year of university on the horizon anticipation builds for the months of sporting action ahead, with around 44 clubs ready to start all over again.

Last year we at the Magdalen made a concerted effort to follow some of our clubs and document their success in national university competitions, something we believed had been overlooked in the past.

Those followed, included, Women’s Hockey, Gaelic football, Volleyball and Ultimate Frisbee.

We reported on achievements such as the impressive winning run of the Men’s Volleyball team, which by our February issue had spanned 9 games without a single set conceded. In addition we also featured the Gaelic Football Clubs run to the quarter finals of the British Universities Championship before defeat by Liverpool’s John Moore’s.

While highlighting the serious on pitch/ court action we also gave mention to the

pub crawls, flat crawls and club nights which add a social dimension to the calendars of the sports clubs.

The good news for you is that this year the section is going to be bigger and better.

Now with four, yes FOUR, pages dedicated to sport.

First years reading this article nursing their fresher’s hangovers, while cowering in the depths of their halls, may ask, why join a sports club?, and even if we do want to join, how the heck do we do it?.

Well.. its simples.....

The opportunity is there to try something you may never have had access to before, fencing or sailing for example. The chance is also there for you to build on your current sporting talent, with an opportunity (if your really good) to gain international recognition!. Most of all you are also presented with the chance to become involved in the aforementioned social side

of the clubs, meeting new friends, (or mibee more!), on the way. Whether you are keen to join for any of these reasons, or merely the possibility of getting your name in the Magdalen, this is your time.

Getting involved is easy. Merely stagger along to the sports fayre during freshers week and speak to the clubs, see what they have to offer you, and tell them exactly what you are looking for from your university sporting experience. There is something for everyone.

Getting involved in sport at university is an opportunity to not to be missed...so...DO IT!.

If any sports clubs would like to be featured in our extended sports section for this year please get in touch and we will make sure you get the publicity your club deserves.

SPL 09/10 >Graeme Thewliss RANGERS Continuity is the key word at Ibrox this season. Rangers have seen plenty of players leaving this summer, including former captain Barry Ferguson and none coming in, Walter Smith is clearly confident in the squad he has assembled. The return to full fitness of Kevin Thomson and Steven Naismith should add strength to the midfield and creativity up top.

Key Player: Kevin Thomson Up and coming: John Fleck CELTIC All change in the East end of Glasgow as Tony Mowbray takes over from Gordon Strachan. A shaky start against Russians Dinamo Moscow was quickly rectified seven days later as Mowbray finally broke Celtic’s European hoodoo away from Parkhead. A bold attacking style paid dividends as wave after wave of green and white finally broke down a strong backline.

Key Player: Scott Brown Up and coming: Josh Thompson HEARTS An uncharacteristically undramatic close season at Hearts with no sackings or outbursts from their chairman. There appears to be quiet optimism from one of last year’s great successes, Csaba Laszlo.

Some sensible signings, including the vital striker they missed so badly last year, and some consistency in the corridors of the club seem to indicate the club will once again challenge for third place.

Key Player: Michael Stewart Up and coming: Gary Glen ABERDEEN A disastrous start for the Dandies in Europe shows that Mark McGhee has a lot of work ahead of him. With several players leaving the club at the end of last season and an early start against a well organised Czech team in the Europa league, the result was almost inevitable. McGhee’s defensive worries seem to be exacerbated by the

reluctance of chairman Stewart Milne to invest in the club.

Key Player: Sone Aluko Up and coming: Michael Paton DUNDEE UTD Another season passed for United and another European spot missed. The departure of Willo Flood and the injury to Scott Robertson left the midfield stretched and ultimately led to the forfeit of the hallowed European position. Levein has once again strengthened with the signing of wingers Jennison Myrie-Williams and Danny Cadamarteri. Coupled with the continued progression of regulars from last season, United clearly hope to push towards their European goal.

Key Player: Scott Robertson Up and coming: David Goodwillie HIBERNIAN Hibs dragged themselves over the finish line last year with the fans demanding a change from former player Mixu Paatelainen. The change came with the return of former player, John ‘Yogi’ Hughes, who brought several players along with him from former club Falkirk. Yogi will have to call on all his defensive experience to get the best out of a shaky back four following the departure of captain Rob Jones.

Key Player: Derek Riordan Up and coming: David Wotherspoon

MOTHERWELL A summer of upheaval at Fir Park with several prominent first team players leaving along with Mark McGhee’s willhe-won’t-he saga left many of the Fir Park faithful fearing the worst. However, former Stockport manager Jim Gannon has come in and galvanised the squad. Focusing on attacking energetic football saw a youthful ‘Well team put eight past Albanians Flamurtari in the Europa league.

Key man: Ross Forbes Up and coming: Paul Slane

KILMARNOCK Dragged into a relegation fight at the end of last season after a reasonable start, Kilmarnock found salvation through their new talisman and captain, Kevin Kyle. After seven goals in eleven games last season, Kyle almost single handedly kept Killie safe.

With the addition of Mark Burchill and the continually improving Craig Bryson, Jeffries will be hoping for a less stressful end to the season.

Key Player: Kevin Kyle Up and coming: Ryan O’Leary HAMILTON Hamilton’s achievement last year should not be underestimated, staying in the Scottish Premier League was fantastic. The cream of Billy Reid’s crop of youngsters, James McCarthy and Brian Easton have moved south and have left a large hole in the team.

However, the signing of the experienced centre half Marvin Andrews will allow Reid to build from a solid base.

Key player: Tomas Cerny Up and coming: John Paul Kissock FALKIRK The third of Scotland’s entrants in the Europa league found themselves outfought

by Liechtenstein cup winners FC Vaduz.

Following on the Scottish football managerial merry go-round, former player Eddie May takes over from John Hughes.

May will be hoping to hold onto prize asset Scott Arfield and fend off interest from the nouveau riche Hamilton and various suitors south of the border.

Key Player: Scott Arfield Up and coming: Ryan Flynn ST MIRREN Gus McPherson seems to be getting quite experienced at doing just enough to stay in the SPL. Andy Dorman and Billy Mehmet scored more than half of St Mirren’s goals last season so the fans will be expecting more of the same this season. The departure of the Scott

Sport SPL 09/10 (cont)

West Ham vs Millwall >Graeme Thewliss

more than half of St Mirren’s goals last season so the fans will be expecting more of the same this season. The departure of the Scott Cuthbert leaves a hole at the centre of the defence but Michael Higdon will add more goals up front.

Key player: Billy Mehmet Up and coming: Stephen McGinn ST JOHNSTONE A return to the top flight seven years after their last visit, St. Johnstone seem determined to stay. Holding onto manager Derek McInnes in the face of interest from West Brom and some competent investment on the playing field should bring results. A solid and no-nonsense defensive style isn’t pretty, but will be effective.

Key player: Kevin Rutkiewicz Up and coming: Murray Davidson

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Football hooliganism once again reared its ugly head at Upton Park as West Ham United faced off against Millwall in the Carling Cup second round.

blatant disregard for authority and the racist and personal abuse hurled at many of the players at Upton Park shows that there is still work to be done.

Growing up in the 1990s on the champagne football of the SPL, I’m used to all seater stadiums, a family atmosphere and little to no trouble at games. In the past few years, I’ve expanded my horizons and visited games in England as well as braving the depths of the Scottish Football league. Places like Gayfield in Arbroath and Station Park in Forfar were a bit of a culture shock, but an all around fantastic day out. Something I’ve never encountered however, is large scale hooliganism. Upon making the trip last year to follow my team in Europe, I encountered the French Police’s very visiblepresence.Seventyguysdressed like Robocop sent a very strong and clear message.

Spare a thought for 20-year-old Jack Collison, who despite the loss of his father days earlier and the disgusting abuse relating to it that he received throughout the match, performed superbly and professionally. No young man should have to be treated in the way he was.

With this in mind, the scenes at Upton Park felt more like watching archive footage of the dark days of English football, where fighting seemed to take precedence over any football being played. There are serious questions to be asked regarding the wisdom that allowed the match between two notoriously active and rival ‘firms’ to take place at 8pm on a weeknight, where many fans will have spent hours in pubs around the grounds. It was clear to anyone with common sense exactly what was going to happen. Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe suggests that: “We have made great progress in tackling hooliganism in this country and will not tolerate a return to the dark days of the 80s.” and Lord Triesman, chairman of the FA continues: “Like everyone else, I was horrified and appalled by what took place at West Ham. If CCTV and other evidence can prove who has caused this, then football and the courts must take the strongest action against them.” Neither man is wrong and both sentiments are admirable, but why were steps not taken before the game?

English football has come a long way and the introduction of all seater stadiums and the promotion of it as a family environment have curbed the violence However, the

>Barry Davidson

Ain’t sport at university great? Afterall where else could you get involved in such an obscure sounding game as Ultimate Frisbee? A game that is alive and thriving here in Dundee.

Ultimate Frisbee is a mixed non contact sport which can be played indoors or outdoors. The basics of the game is that it’s played between two teams of seven players and involves passing the ‘disc’ between team members working the way up the pitch. They then can score by entering the endzone, much like American football. Somewhat bizarrely there is not a referee overseeing the game, the players officiate themselves. Imagine such ‘good nature’ at a football match!

If in the vicinity of Magdalen Green on Wednesday or Sunday afternoons you may see the team in training, this is along with an indoor session held at the ISE on Wednesday Evenings.

These training sessions, as well as being bloody good

fun, seem to have been extremely productive, illustrated by the team’s impressive competitive record.

Club captain Issac Smith explains, “We have done fairly well in competitions of late. We are currently ranked 3rd in Scotland and 10th nationally”.

On the national front the team are soon attending the Outdoor Nationals to be held in Sheffield, 12 students will be making the long trip from Dundee to compete against 15 other sides.

As with most of the sports clubs at the university Ultimate Frisbee also has an active social scene. These off the field antics have included a ‘flat crawl’.

For those of you who may be slightly bewildered by such a phenomenon, this involves plundering the flats of club members for their alcoholic beverages, and in the process having a good night on the cheap.

All in all then if you fancy trying something different why not get in contact with Issac and the crew?

Gaelic Football >Alastair Bell With the Scottish Championship firmly in their sight, the Men’s Gaelic Football team are coming to the business end of a highly successful season. After the disappointment of finishing runners-up in the league, the team have put in some sterling performances to reach the semi-finals of the competition. A nail-biting encounter with Napier University ended in stalemate earlier this month, and the two teams now await a reply in that Scottish Championship semi final tie.

Team Captain James Searson is enthusiastic about his side’s chances. “The competition offers a great chance for us to win some silverware this year as we have beaten the remaining teams in the competition during the league.”

The team also had a good run in the British Universities Gaelic Football Championship, reaching the quarter finals before succumbing to eventual winners, Liverpool John Moores University.

Some brilliant individual performances in combination with a great team spirit has been the recipe for success this season.

Special mention goes to team captain Anthony Kelly, who has lead by example this year with some inspiring displays. Defenders Gerry Reilly, Frank Duggan and Padraic MacGiollaBhride have also all had excellent seasons. The hard work and consistency of Conor Kerr and Matthew McAfee has been another positive for the team, and new additions Ray Magee, David Comiskey and Eammon McCann have also made a big impact this season.

It has been an enjoyable year for the guys off the pitch as well. Their Race Night in Ogstons Bar earlier this year was a huge hit, raising funds for the club and proving to be an entertaining evening for all involved. At the time of writing, St Patrick’s Day was just around the corner, another massive night on the team’s social calendar and eagerly awaited by all. Pint of Guinness anyone?

Mention must also be made to the Women’s Gaelic Football team.

Formed only this year, the girls had a great season and did very well in qualifying for the All-Britain Championship held in February.

The Magdalen would like to congratulate both teams on their success, and wish the men all the best for the remainder of their Scottish Championship campaign.

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