Issue 80 - December 19 / January 20

THE

MAGDALEN DUNDEE’S FREE STUDENT MAGAZINE / DEC 19 / JAN 20

The Magdalen’s Senior team looks into the alleged changing attitudes to alcohol consumption amongst students at British universities.

Going Off GOING OFFCampus CAMPUS Is preparing to leave the safety bubble of university just as terrifying as we thought it would be?

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MESSAGE FROM YOUR EDITOR IN CHIEF

MESSAGE FROM YOUR CREATIVE DIRECTORS

Where do I start? Welcome to the festive season, happy Hanukkah, merry Christmas, memorable New Year, good luck to your exam period… too many things to be covered within this year-turnpoint issue.

We dedicate one volume to December and January combined, to acknowledge exactly that overload - it is a time to be, focus on ourselves and devote our attention to the present.

Hello and welcome to the end of 2019 and the beggining of something brand new! It’s strange to think we won’t be working on a Magdalen next month, and although the break will probably do us some good, we hope you all enjoy your well deserved time off as much as we do ours!

With that in mind, The Magdalen team has - in my fully unbiased opinion - outdone themselves again, bringing you an issue packed full of thought-provoking opinions, considerate reflections, skilled reporting on some important but sensitive issues, all balanced with smile-evoking storytelling and a beautiful touch of creativity.

Getting to the halfway point of our time as this team, the Senior editors have come together to investigate the assumed shift in drinking culture, with particular focus on its effects in the local community.

Current Affairs look at an issue of similarly vital importance - the rise of gambling amongst students, and the Section features a touching personal reflection on growing up within a Middle Eastern culture. To contrast these journalistically oriented pieces, Lifestyle has focussed on Christmas dinners with a twist, Science speaks about sex robots and veganism in sport, while the International section explores language from various angles.

That is but a small taster of what you can expect in this December / January issue of The Magdalen. I am getting repetitive, but all I can say is a thank you to everyone involved at any of the steps along the way, as well as to you reading this right now. Get yourself a cup of something warm, take a deserved break from the ever-present chaos, and enjoy this copy. There’s some beautiful talent to be enjoyed between the visually crafted lines!

Barbara Mertlova

As always, we would like to thank everyone that have made this issue possible, it’s been amazing seeing the creativity coming through this month and it’s truly been something special watching this issue come together. It’s amazing to see a “festive” issue that explores difficult topics with the respect they deserve, as well as showcasing some amazing pieces about enjoying the holidays and getting together. The holidays can be difficult for some, and we’re happy to see a collection of fantastically written and designed articles that explore these themes.

We’re not exactly wordsmiths but we’d like to leave off wishing you all a happy holidays and a merry Christmas! Hopefully winter isn’t completely dreadful this year and we can all get our everything ready for deadlines when they eventually come around. Have a fantastic holidays and stay safe this holiday season everyone!

Neil Connor Helena Lindsay

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS EDITOR IN CHIEF Barbara Mertlová

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT Alexander Ferrier

SENIOR DEPUTY EDITOR Rebecca Carey

ON CAMPUS Rebecca Johnston

CREATIVE DIRECTORS Neil Connor Helena Lindsay DEPUTY EDITORS Mae Kinch Erin Mckeown SOCIAL MEDIA GRAPHIC DESIGNER Aylish Kelly EVENTS + PR MANAGERS Mariya Radeva Orla Barr PHOTOGRAPHY MANAGERS Domas Radzevičius Arjun Kalsi ILLUSTRATION MANAGER Nico McLaughlin

CREATIVE WRITING Lizzie Husum INTERVIEW Mariya Radeva COMMUNITY Rose Bache CURRENT AFFAIRS Abbey McGrath FASHION Jennifer Gillespie INTERNATIONAL Daniel Pukkila LIFESTYLE Billianna Allen-Mandeville OPINIONS Rose Kendall SCIENCE + TECHNOLOGY James Dale

PRINTED BY www.magprint.co.uk

COPY EDITORS Craig Robertson Erin Campbell Lauren White

WITH THANKS TO VPCC, Hannah Skye Adams

PUBLISHER Dundee University Students’ Association

CONTENTS FEATURE

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ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

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CURRENT AFFAIRS

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INTERVIEW

23

DESIGNERS’ CHOICE

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CREATIVE WIRTING

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ON CAMPUS

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COMMUNITY

40

COMICS

44

FASHION

46

INTERNATIONAL

50

LIFESTYLE

56

OPINIONS

60

SCIENCE + TECHNOLOGY

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FEATURE

One Faux-jito Please

HOW DRINKING CULTURE IS CHANGING IN DUNDEE Ahead of the festive season, The Magdalen’s Senior team comes together to look into alleged changing attitudes to alcohol consumption amongst students at British universities.

Henny Youngman, the wittily quippy comedian once proudly purported, “When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading”, to which a cacophony of like-minded individuals surely chortled and heralded as a merry jest over post nine-to-five pints with the boys. Who would have guessed, as we drifted into the new millennia, that the devotion shared by dear old Henny and

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Design by Neil Connor

our predecessors to the slash would decline so drastically? More shockingly so, particularly among the student population?

Despite our reputation of suckling from the teat of a bar tap more frequently than the fountain of knowledge, Eva Crossan Jory, the Vice President of the National Union of Students (NUS), argues another miracle of Biblical proportions is occurring; that the wine is, in fact, being turned into water for the 21% of students claiming to be ‘teetotal’.

Despite alcohol’s ready availability within the scholarly social sphere - from local bars to academic

FEATURE

SING TO VETO “MANY ARE CHOO NPRECEDENTED THE VINO IN AN U TYPICAL SHIFT IN THE STEREO UDENT PERCEPTION OF ST ” DRINKING CULTURE

functions - many are choosing to veto the vino in an unprecedented shift in the stereotypical perception of student drinking culture.

Arguably there is a plethora of potential factors pushing this drive, amongst which lie the amounting levels of debt and academic pressure that is redirecting us from the bars to the bookshelves. Thus, many undergoing the degree pathway - that anarchic purgatory between childhood and the seemingly distant title of ‘adult’ - are coming to question the role of alcohol in their daily routine. In this month’s feature, The Magdalen’s Senior team has decided to delve deeper and look into the alleged shifts in drinking culture amongst students, and how it has manifested in Dundee. When we say deeper, we mean we started at the very beginning.

To say that children are influenced by their parents should come as no surprise. As we grow we learn many things, including what is acceptable and what is not. Even if it isn’t explicitly stated, children learn by observation and can absorb much more than they realise. Patterns of behaviour and consequences can teach them more than any lecture or book.

The effects of parental alcohol abuse are varied and not always identifiable until later in life. Looking at the more severe cases, alcohol abuse leading to physical abuse can create adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) which have a profound impact

on emotional and social development. Alcohol and violence have been tied together for years and whilst definitive links are difficult to predict or prove, it is unquestionable that alcohol lowers inhibitions and can increase emotional volatility and distress. Being exposed to situations like this at any age can have a lasting impact but for children the consequences can run deeper.

Alcoholism can be considered a family disease for many reasons. Firstly, because one person’s alcoholism has the potential to affect their entire family. Emotional, financial and social costs often go hand in hand with an alcoholic family member.

Secondly, there is much debate on whether or not alcoholism (an addiction and disease) is genetic.

While there are statistics on the propensity of children of alcoholics becoming addicted themselves, the actual genetic component of it, if there is one, has yet to be scientifically proven.

Having an alcoholic parent does not mean you will become an alcoholic but it does likely mean that you could face related struggles. This could be as simple, relatively speaking, as having adverse reactions to drinking and drunk people. It could be more serious, for example, struggling to trust authority figures or being hyper-aware of addictive or enabling behaviour.

While it would be naive to assume that everyone waited until they were legal to drink alcohol, the ages between 18 and 25 are considerably significant when it comes to forming your own relationship

Words by Rebecca Carey, Mae Kinch, Erin McKeown, Barbara Mertlova

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with alcohol. Whether it’s a couple bad hangovers that make you swear off drinking forever or learning your limits one glass at a time, it’s a learning curve and we all make mistakes sometimes. However, when you have a family history with alcohol and related issues, learning how to cope with it alone can be incredibly difficult. For students away from home for the first time to just being an adult and coming to terms with the fact you can buy alcohol without anyone stopping you, it can be quite overwhelming. This can be especially triggered by student drinking culture.

However, that seems to have experienced a substantial shift in recent years. According to a study conducted by University College London, the number of young people (aged 16-24) who are ‘teetotal’ has almost doubled over the last decade to 29% as of 2015. Overall, it appears we are drinking significantly less than our predecessors, even if it doesn’t feel like that every Tuesday at Skint. If statistics are anything to go by, generation by generation, our reliance on alcohol lessens, with a 2018 report from Berenberg Research indicating that, even though there are only a few years between the groups, respondents in their late teens and early twenties can be found to be drinking 20% less per capita than their millennial counterparts.

If we were to account this to the internet’s presence in our lives, it wouldn’t be surprising that the ’selfie’ generation - criticised for taking so much pride in their appearance and their social media profiles - would care about their health and public image. We’re becoming more conscious of the link between alcohol and long term illnesses. We’re realising it’s no good having nutritional smoothies and protein bars, if we binge drink ourselves into the gutter every Saturday. Increasingly more, people are putting their hungover promises into action and turning to sobriety. We may criticise the shady world of advertising and the equally unsettling Instagram influencer culture, but there is a very thin silver lining to it, raising awareness of the benefits of balanced lifestyles and of the negatives of the contrary. We are frequently reminded excessive drinking can disrupt our sleep patterns, our ability to concentrate and can have long term irreversible health effects relating to heart problems and various cancers as well as on our mental health.

With the stigma surrounding our mental health slowly thawing, it appears that young people are starting to wake up to the significant links between alcohol consumption and its impact on

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our health and wellbeing. According to the Journal of the American Association, 29% of people who have been diagnosed as ‘mentally ill’ suffer from alcohol and drug abuse. Presumably, that statistic is in reality much higher and with the NUS survey reporting that 8/10 students have experienced mental health issues at university, there is no doubt that this is a cause of concern on university campuses.

Untangling the web that binds alcohol abuse and mental health illness is exceptionally tricky.

However, in an increasingly competitive world, where a degree no longer guarantees anything, the pressure is on. Uncertain futures, financial strain and academic pressure might be some of the reasons why mental health illness is so high amongst current students but also why they’re turning away from alcohol, too. After all - it’s easy Maths, the more hours we spend in the library than on the dance floor, the higher the chance of achieving a good grade and subsequently a good job at the end of it. The internet presence is suggested to play a role here, too. Since our lives are now completely online, the game and stakes have changed. Before, when you got too drunk and did something you might regret, although embarrassing, it would not follow you for the rest of you career. Now, more and more, young people have opted to maintain ‘control’ so that their drunken documenting doesn’t have any power over them later.

It is one thing to see statistics in a national survey.

It’s common to undersell own drinking habits unless a questionnaire somehow acts a lie detector too. It’s another thing to see that change up close, in our community and in our own university. It’s a trend which we have seen developing across Scotland. The University of St Andrews has been offering the option for alcohol-free accommodation since 2015, which has become so popular that

it’s unable to fulfil demand. Dundee’s Abertay University has also made headlines over the summer for closing their student union bar due to lack of demand.

And as for the University of Dundee and our own DUSA? The Magdalen has spoken with the Vice President of Communications and Campaigns (VPCC), Hannah Adams, who is at the core of the recently launched ‘SoBaH’ initiative. SoBaH comprises a series of alcohol-free entertainment nights, including club nights, a pub quiz, board games evening and more, hoping to provide a variety of events that “are not just another club night minus the alcohol”. The intention is to dedicate a space of its own to students that don’t drink and would often feel excluded, while ensuring that the fostered safe environment is enjoyable for everyone regardless of their usual drinking habits. “We believe that it’s not as simple as going by the assumption that drinking is not forced upon anyone and nightclub goers can choose not to drink alcohol. We wanted to get across the message that DUSA is more than just a party place”, Hannah shares. As a testimony to its achievements, she elaborates; “Even as drinkers, people have come along and enjoyed the night!”

The Launch of the programme took place during Freshers’ Week and saw a particular success, with organisers reporting unexpected numbers of attendees. The event was received exceptionally well, a claim that was supported by witnessed high energy throughout, full karaoke list and packed dance floor. “It surpassed our expectations. We found that people were almost surprised that we’d introduce such programme, and off the back of it felt included and realised there was space for their interest in DUSA too”, suggests Hannah. Focusing on variety, the month of October spanned different approaches to the entertainment nights. “We take on feedback, in combination with statistics and use

ER OR “THERE IS MUCH DEBATE ON WHETH D NOT ALCOHOLISM (AN ADDICTION AN DISEASE) IS GENETIC”

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this initial month as a trial and error to see what works and what doesn’t. We will keep working on improving and enhancing the standard of the initiative”, Hannah promises, which is in line with the message that DUSA isn’t just putting this on to tick a box.

bar was less in a changing drinking culture, but rather because there isn’t enough demand for multiple student bars. And competition, which includes DUSA who welcome Abertay students, has been able to put on extras that may not have been available in the University’s bar.”

As a recent public poll picked up by The Courier (2019) has indicated that a majority of people believe more pubs should run ‘alcohol-free’ nights, we inquired whether the change in attitudes towards alcohol we seem to be witnessing expands beyond campus. “I think that the reason you see similar initiatives a lot more on student campuses is not because students have suddenly stopped drinking. Rather, it may be a reflection of the international make-up of the student bodies in the UK”, Hannah believes. Considering that people don’t consume alcohol for a wide variety of reasons, whether that be a personal choice, religious requirements, or cultural upbringing, DUSA sees its responsibility to make sure that it accommodates for all such needs. Hannah reckons that “the average, middle-aged, white British national probably still drinks the same way they used to, but that is not representative of student campuses here in Britain.”

Elaborating on such extras, Hannah explains the ongoing substantial investment into bars’ equipment and training, which has elevated the standard of non-alcoholic drinks exponentially.

As DUSA mocktails become allegedly almost indistinguishable from alcoholic cocktails, local pubs - especially such ones that target students - find it difficult to keep up. “The SoBaH events don’t take away from anything else”, Hannah suggests, “they expand the range of our offer, and thanks to that, we’ve seen an entirely new cohort of students enjoying The Union who wouldn’t usually come in.” It stays true, however, that DUSA bases its marketing campaigns in promoting relatively cheap, regular nights out, and a substantial amount of the Association’s investment flows into that. Hannah counters this claim, suggesting that “DUSA looks to review the trial of the programme, work with the provided feedback and continue developing the initiative to make SoBaH a strong brand that is an ingrained part of DUSA.” The Magdalen aims to follow these developments.

“THERE ISN’T ENOUGH DEMAND FOR MULTIPLE STUDENT BARS”

The aforementioned shutdown of Abertay’s student bar serves an appropriate evidence. DUSA has shied away from official statements, but the VPCC provided us with an insight; “The truth is, Dundee has an extensive scene of pubs and bars. Perhaps part of the reason for the shutdown of Abertay’s

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The fountain of knowledge is still something that every student develops a palate for over time; for the pivotal ingredient is experience. Whether you are still in the fresh bloom of first year and are enjoying your newly loosened reigns of freedom, a returning veteran to the Dundee drinking scene, or contentedly enjoying your student experience soberly with a pitcher of DUSA’s “Safe Sex on the Beach”, a unanimous thesis to be drawn is that everyone can benefit from exploring the expanding range of alcohol-free events hosted by and around the University. Your mental and physical wellbeing can have the opportunity to flourish as well as the progress of your studies. For isn’t that the true point of the student lifestyle? The betterment of one another and ourselves. So, in this case we would disagree with Youngman; repressing an understanding of how our drinking habits affect our

ARTS + ENTS

REVIEW:

MARIANNE & LEONARD

WORDS

“Dearest Marianne, I’m just a little behind you, close enough to take your hand...”

These poignant words from Leonard Cohen’s final letter to his dying former lover, Marianne Ihlen, bookend Nick Broomfield’s most recent documentary. Best known as the inspiration behind many of Cohen’s most beloved songs, Norwegianborn Ihlen met the then struggling writer on the Greek Island of Hydra in 1960. Their experiences on the island were formative and, crucially, it is where Cohen first began to write songs. Hence, this is where the film begins and is the point to which it always returns.

The film is lent an air of authenticity by the fact that Broomfield himself had once been a lover of Ihlen’s and knew the couple as a young man.

However, his account of the hedonistic bohemian lifestyle shared by the community of outsiders on Hydra is a relatively balanced one. He does not root himself as the sole authority; he narrates little himself, instead favouring testimonies from a varied list of interviewees. The island is described as both an idyllic melting pot of creativity, and as the site of Cohen’s ‘nervous breakdown’, where the consequences of reckless debauchery weigh

OF

LOVE

heavily and everything is scorched by the relentless beating of the sun.

Broomfield treads a line between depicting Ihlen as Cohen’s ethereal Greek muse, and as a lost, frustrated soul constantly searching for purpose in life and craving a love that would never be wholly hers. This is related to the viewer through a surprisingly comprehensive collection of archival footage and frank, intimate interviews. The recurring, reduced-speed footage of her gazing upon the sea, blonde hair caught in sunlight, seems to affirm the mythical reputation built for her.

However, it is refreshing to hear the famous Marianne speak for herself in recordings which candidly discuss the anguish the relationship caused her. Nevertheless, roughly three quarters into the duration of the film, Broomfield evidently struggles to supply further material on Ihlen, yet proceeds to detail noteworthy aspects of Cohen’s life without her, including the five years he spent in a Buddhist monastery. This is one of the film’s major flaws, as it unfortunately resigns her to a secondary role in the latter half, despite the title having obviously been an attempt to bring her to the forefront.

The tone of Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love often mirrors that of Cohen’s songwriting; in some form love and beauty are always present but are ever-tinged with melancholy and chagrin. But fundamentally, it is an intimate, affecting portrait of the separate and shared lives of two complex people, and was evidently made with great affection for its subjects.

Design by Helena Lindsay / Words by Alice Millar Thompson

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Review:

SUCCESSION 12

Design by Neil Connor

ARTS + ENTS

Jesse Armstrong’s portrayal of a dysfunctional American media family draws upon his previous work on The Thick of It and Peep Show to create a searing satire of late-stage capitalism.

“Dundee in the motherf*cking house,” mic-drops Kendall Roy (Jeremy Strong) in the second season of Succession. He and his siblings — Shiv (Sarah Snook), Roman (Kieran Culkin), and Connor (Alan Ruck) — are celebrating the fifty-year career of their father Logan (Brian Cox) in the patriarch’s Scottish birthplace. In season one’s introduction to Kendall we find him to be awkward but arrogant, desperate to be taken seriously and poised to take over the family company. Now he’s in the V&A rapping a tribute to Dad in front of family members, business associates and some local officials. He’s broken, and that’s exactly how Logan wants him.

Succession is a cesspool of pure cruelty. A damning satirical portrayal of late stage capitalism and its effects on the dynasties in control, it often takes its plot lines from real life — anti-fascism protests, Nazi scandals, sexual assault accusations, a shooting in the workplace. Indeed, were it not for the incredible ensemble cast who manage to add some sliver of humanity to their roles, the show may have proven unbearable. Instead it is one of the funniest things currently on television. There hasn’t been swearing this creative since The Thick of It (which Armstrong also wrote for). This deglamorisation of the wealthy and powerful is emphasised through the handheld camera style that picks up on every little facial expression, every excruciating moment of awkward tension that befalls the family as their empire crumbles around them at every turn.

Created by Jesse Armstrong (co-creator of Peep Show), Succession centres on the disintegration of the Roys and their international media and hospitality conglomerate following a recent health scare for Logan. He refuses to name a successor, so it’s everyone for themselves as his dysfunctional offspring scramble for the title. But none of them seem very up to the task. Connor is so disconnected from reality he would rather run for President despite never having had a job in his life. Roman is an insecure clown who doesn’t know the price of a gallon of milk. Shiv is overconfident in her ambitions and in an unfulfilling relationship she’s too self-serving for. Her partner Tom (Matthew Macfadyen), meanwhile, is a cringe-inducing social climber who thinks being rich is like being a “superhero”, though his scenes with the bumbling cousin Greg (Nicholas Braun) are some of the highlights of the series. As for Kendall, through a series of screw-ups and tragedies, the Number One Boy is left a hollow, guilty wreck.

At one point Kendall is told that “watching you people melt down is the most deeply satisfying activity on planet earth.” It’s a good summation; both season finales exemplify the show at its chaotic, orchestral best. But Kendall’s response, “We aim to please,” and the dismal look in his eyes, well, it’s these throwaway moments that best reveal the depths of this broken family. Subtle references to Logan’s past are revealed without context, hinting at the troubled circumstances that led him to becoming the power-hungry tyrant he is today.

The kids are only slightly less secretive about their traumas. Following a rather disturbing experience for Roman, he asks his siblings if they should “talk normally” for once. But Shiv and Kendall will only respond in mock baby voices and the idea is quickly laughed off. Being a child of Logan Roy has emotionally fucked them all in some way or another. Though, it’s hard to feel too sorry for them when Roman’s attempt at therapy happens over rosé on a private yacht. Money wins?

Words by Samantha King

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REVIEW:

Joker

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Design by Helena Lindsay

Joaquin Phoenix contorts himself as best he can in Todd Phillips’ often superficial origin story.Stop me if you’ve heard this before: a mentally ill man in a downward spiral hates the city around him and wants to do something ‘important’. Or how about this one: a wannabe comedian with intense delusions is obsessed with a late-night talk show and dreams of appearing on it. These might sound familiar if you’ve seen Todd Philips’ Joker, following the story of Arthur Fleck, a beaten down clown destined to become the eponymous Batman villain.

They should also be familiar if you’ve seen Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy.

While Joker tries to be unique in a sea of superhero movies, it’s not really all that original after all.

ARTS + ENTS

For objectivity’s sake, it should be noted that there are things Joker does well. The cinematography is pretty and will doubtless end up in a lot of aesthetic mood boards (even if the colour scheme also borrows heavily from Taxi Driver). Joaquin Phoenix has been praised fairly for his performance, and he really is reaching for every acting trick he can think of with his contorted arms and disturbingly skinny frame. The film’s best achievement is that it’s at least trying to divert from the expected tried and tested formula of superhero films. Yes, it has a gloss of Batman lore to give it the DC badge -the Wayne name crops up in the plot, it’s set in Gotham and Arkham Asylum exists. But the mythos of Bruce Wayne as a billionaire superhero is probed a little more; in the clown uprising with communist tendencies, the Wayne family stands as an emblem of capitalism and inherited privilege. There is an interesting storyline that juxtaposes the world of Arthur Fleck and the Wayne lifestyle, highlighting class disparity and the fluke of being born to the wrong family.

However, that idea is one among many, none of which get a chance to shine because they’re being so quickly juggled in front of us. Any meaning there is becomes undermined by the overarching fact that it still has to be a film about the Joker.

For example, any exploration of social hierarchy becomes a bit of a joke when the reactionary clown movement is (a) dressed up as clowns (b) has the Joker, with his school shooter mentality of only sparing those who were ‘nice’ to him, as its poster child. Are we meant to take away the message that ‘society’ is bad, solely because it pushes Arthur Fleck characters to the edge and creates violent social unrest? Arthur Fleck in the film becomes both the victimised social group and the consequence of ‘the system’, neatly side stepping any wider questions of the negative consequences of capitalism, the media and systemic oppression while also ignoring the other victims of these systems. Another hot topic the film tells you (from

the characters’ mouths) it’s about is mental illness.

Fleck’s plot-device collection of miscellaneous symptoms culminate in a generic ‘craziness’ that leads him to become a violent maniac who is the titular supervillain. The film may want to be about ‘mental illness’, but whether it does so well, or with any nuance, is debatable.

Aside from the mixed messages, Joker’s main problem is that it’s just a bit mediocre. It borrows heavily from the aforementioned Scorsese films, yet does so with none of their subtlety or focus.

There is a moment where it’s revealed that certain scenes were Fleck’s delusions and didn’t happen in the way they first appeared. This is made clear through the character interactions and dialogue -except the film is convinced that the audience is incapable of putting two and two together, because it then insists on returning to those scenes in three consecutive flashbacks and showing how they really were. The whole thing is also incredibly predictable. We know everything will go wrong for Fleck, because he has to break down and become the Joker. Even the structure and shot patterns are repetitive: something goes wrong for Fleck, there is an interim period where he walks in the centre of long shots, dances to slow music, and has close shots of his face laughing while crying to show his conflicted angst. Then the next incident happens... rinse and repeat until he becomes the aggressor in the incidents and the film finally ends.

While Taxi Driver peeled back the grimy front of 1970s society to reveal the dangers of alienation, isolation and violence simmering below, and The King of Comedy criticised a culture of aspiration, Joker can’t decide what it wants to be, and because it needs to be a supervillain origin story, it can’t really be either of them. It’s a film that’s received extremes of both praise and controversy, but in its mediocrity doesn’t merit one or the other. In the end, the joke is on us for giving it so much attention.

Words by Mareth Burns

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Review: Lau: Mindight and Closedown They’ve been called the Beatles of the folk world, a label which anyone familiar with Lau’s five albums (and multiple EPs) would understand.

The three-piece is made up of Aidan O’Rourke on the fiddle, Martin Green on accordion and electronics, and Kris Drever handling guitar and vocal duties. They have been constantly innovating and pushing the boundaries of what folk music actually is for more than a decade now, showing considerable evolution with every album while still remaining faithful to what has gone before. Their newest album, Midnight and Closedown, is another triumph showing further development in their skills as collaborators, composers and performers. Filled with looping melodies and haunting lyrics, it’s not a happy album, but this doesn’t make it any less vital.

The opening track, ‘I Don’t Want To Die Here’, sets the tone effectively, with Drever’s lyrics creating a strong sense of loss and displacement, emphasising the fear experienced upon leaving home and setting out into the world for the first time. ‘She Put On Her Headphones’ bases itself around a looping, grinding synth riff, emphasising Martin Green’s electronic wizardry while O’Rourke’s fiddle glides effortlessly through a compelling, sinister melody which evolves and twists throughout the song. The moody repetition of the synths and the snaking tune perfectly compliment the lyrics about shutting out the modern news cycle, Drever reminding the listener that ‘There’s two sides to this story / both of them are lies’.

The next song, ‘Toy Tigers’ serves as one of the album’s tentpole tracks. It’s an ambitious composition with intricate melodic, harmonic and vocal segments. It’s the closest the album gets to an upbeat song, but there is still a darkness here which is inescapable. Lines like ‘You with Toy Tigers on your mind/ Your eyes are still open/ Never leave that behind’ emphasise the clear-eyed optimism of youth and urges those who have retained such optimism to never lose it. Songs like this and ‘She Put On Her Headphones’ could be seen to be speaking to the band’s initial thoughts of

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Design by Rachel Park

making a ‘Brexit Album’ as O’Rourke was quoted as saying in the album’s initial press release.

Boiling this record down to one singular subject matter, even one as complex as Brexit, would be doing it and the band a disservice as there is far more going on in here. This is especially true of ‘itshardtoseemtobeokaywhenyourenot’, a gut punch of a song which sees Drever offer a strikingly direct assessment of mental health issues, looking at the fear not only of time running out but also of what should be done with that time.

Despite the urgency of the fiddle and driving chords of the accordion, the song still takes its time, making the way the lyrics unfold all the more heart-breaking; the instrumentation almost plays into the feeling of lost time and the anxiety felt about trying to spend what time is left wisely.

This thread is picked up on in ‘Dark Secret’, an electric guitar-driven rumination on alcoholism, a haze of atonal notes playing over the final instrumental passage aptly reflecting the alcoholic blur described in the song.

The final two tracks of the album are unique in that they both serve as call-backs to previous eras of the band’s career. The first, ‘Return To Portland’, serves as a sequel of sorts to ‘Far From Portland’, a tune from 2012’s Race The Loser album. An instrumental, its muted melody and effects-laden fiddle breaks contrast with the upbeat nature of the earlier track.

Despite several moments where the melody threatens to soar above the chords’ enveloping darkness, the tune is left within a darkness. The album’s building intensity is then, finally, released in the beautiful and cathartic ‘Riad’. Seeing the band stripped down to their three key acoustic instruments, it is a delicate folk tune which creates a sense of rebirth and renewal after the almost overwhelming flow of electronics present on the rest of the album. Ultimately, ‘Riad’ serves as a gentle and soothing end to a bleak, powerful, brilliant and ingenious album. The Beatles of the folk world? I’m waiting to hear the Lau of the pop world.

ARTS + ENTS

Words by James Kirkpatrick

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Review:

Heaven’s Gate The stereotypical image of an auteur director is one that’s easy to visualise: the prima donna slave-driver who doesn’t hesitate for a moment to sacrifice budget, deadlines and even the wellbeing of their crew in the name of their artistic vision. Rarely however does one encounter a film where the above description is not an exaggeration, but rather an accurate description of what went on during

The purported $37 million that went into the film’s production becomes evident within the first few minutes—this is a film which screams “excess”. the film’s production. Such is the case with Michael Cimino’s 1980 Western drama Heaven’s Gate. Based upon the historical case of the Johnson County War in late 19th century Wyoming, Cimino carries over his maximalist approach to set design found in The Deer Hunter to create what is arguably one of the most vivid depictions of the wild west ever filmed. The purported $37 million that went into the film’s production becomes evident within the first few minutes—this is a film which screams “excess”.

Scenes rarely make use of close-up shots, instead opting to utilise both long shots and panning shots to leave none of the action obscured, and every frame is crafted with such painstaking attention to detail that it is an infamous fact that Cimino had animals killed and maimed on screen when necessary for the sole sake of authenticity.

The early sections of the film set during the university graduation party and the indulgently lengthy roller-skating scene from which the film derives its title serve as the most enrapturing examples of Cimino’s dedication to his vision.

Even so, whether it’s in a bustling cosmopolitan town where the opulence of the wealthy citizens casually occupies the same space as the rotting corpses of peasants, or in the countryside where the colour of the greenery pops in a way pleasing to the eye, raw realism and life finds itself in every corner of the film. If Balzac wrote a western, Heaven’s Gate would likely be the result. Ironically though, the film also feels somewhat surreal due to how bizarre the film’s plot and pacing is. Lacking in any humanity, the plot follows a series of characters who, through unnatural-feeling dialogue and paperthin personalities, have to be sophisticated graduates, jaded politicians and romanticised Hollywood heroes simultaneously. To make matters worse, much of the cast are ill-suited to their roles, with the exception of the late John Hurt, whose wit and energy was wasted in this almost four-hour-long monstrosity by having too few appearances. It’s as though Cimino focused so much on the aesthetic experience of the film that everything else became an afterthought. For that experience alone, I believe the film is worth a chance, if only up until the halfway mark—any longer than that and you risk questioning why you aren’t doing anything more productive with your time.

We take a look at Michael Cimino’s financially disastrous four-and-a-halfhour long western drama.

DesignDesign and Illustration

by Helenaby Lindsay Cait Maxwell / Words by Jack Loftus 18

CURRENT AFFAIRS

Creativity Within Chaos I used to think that it is a privilege to be unprivileged.

The best writers are born between broken families and gutters. The best artists hold memories of abuse and rejection. Almost all of the inspiring stories we hear, carry some kind of hardships and deprivation in the background.

I used to say I am from the Middle East, I know what it is like to be grass growing between cement.

Being a child of the Middle East means you are born within chaos, you are born within years of clashes and revolutions, you are born to be a fighter. When you are born in the Middle East, oppression is your aunt visiting on a Friday morning after prayers, along with her usual remark that you cannot walk down the streets in that dress you are wearing: it is provoking.

Occupation is your British school principal teaching you about Eurocentric democracy, while sipping on your oriental wine. Dictatorship, your grandfather, calling every night to remind you that you should not dream beyond your allowance, you never know what might happen. And as far as human rights can go, it is a viral video of a UN representative speaking up about Palestinian grievances happening on a daily basis, or a documentary about the Syrian war screened at a cinema in a foreign country, one that was probably involved in the destruction of Syria, in one way or another.

Being a child of the Middle East is being a victim of orientalism and westernisation, simultaneously.

It entails showing a cracked smile when you hear terrorist jokes, because you somehow are always the victim, yet always guilty.

Being a child of the Middle East may not be such a privilege by and of itself, but it gives you a passion, a cause, that is not very easily found elsewhere. It makes you subversive and extremely allergic to any injustice. It grants you the ability to be creative within chaos and confusion. Because when you are born in a battlefield, you have no choice but to find your armor.

And mine has always been a pen and a paper.

Design by Neil Connor / Words by Batoul El Bialy

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CURRENT AFFAIRS

A ZERO SUM GAME? Gambling can lead to a big payoff, but are the risks worth it?

The fundamentals of gambling: you bet, you lose, you bet again to try and make your money back, but you lose again. It’s thrilling at the time but what happens when you blow through your entire student loan in one go?

According to a recent National Union of Students (NUS) survey, 59% of students have gambled in the last year, whilst 48% have done so to subsidise their income. As a Fresher at university with a newfound freedom to do as you please, the over glamification of gambling in movies has made it seem like an easy and enjoyable way to make a quick buck.

The high of winning money is one some people will never forget. For students, winning a big sum of money can become addicting. Since most students live off a couple hundred pounds a month, having a bit of extra cash can be great. Yet, most are unaware of the addictive and harmful sides of gambling, and find themselves in a sticky situation.

The Gambling Commission has revealed that some students are in a devastatingly large amount of debt due to gambling, some even as high as £10,000. Statistically, studies done by the Glasgow Caledonian University have found that 16% of students can be identified as moderate risk or problem gamblers; that’s about 264,000 students in the UK at some risk from gambling and 88,000 already defined as problem gamblers. This clearly shows the extent of the problem and also possibly highlights the lack of support that students actually get from their university in this area. Scotland isn’t exactly known for its gambling halls and casinos, you may be sceptical of such problem existing.

However, attitudes like that are a key hurdle to overcome in the pursuit of a solution.

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Design by Helena Lindsay

CURRENT AFFAIRS

“Of all those affected by gambling, over half have considered dropping out of university and one in seven have a negative perception of their overall university experience”

The ease of gambling through modern technology has only added to the problem. Thanks to the rise of online gambling, students can now gamble from the comfort of their very own bedroom. This pushes the issue of student gambling further underground. Students can now gamble covertly without worrying about being caught in public or being seen by the watching eyes of their friends and family. The draw of privacy in gambling within your own space has added to the appeal and therefore, it is not hard to see why online gambling is the preferred method for students in the modern age compared to the traditional casinos or bookies.

Like most things nowadays, there’s an app for that. To make matters worse, studies have shown that this new found method of online gambling has changed the structural characteristics of gambling, making it more addictive and therefore, problematic. Gambling online is easily accessible twenty four hours a day, seven days a week to anyone with a wifi connection and an electronic payment method. Tempting, yes?

So are universities doing enough to prevent students falling into gambling debt? Starting university often involves significant life changes such as moving away from home, the stress of a new environment, a new academic playing field, fixed incomes and budgeting issues. Considering that the majority of students have never had to budget before coming to university, money management can seem like an overwhelming new concept. Such factors can increase student’s vulnerability to gambling. Additionally, differing incomes or family backgrounds of students can put pressure on some to live a certain lifestyle, one they may not be able to afford. When asking your parents for money isn’t an option and you’re already working a part time job and maxing out your loans, gambling may seem like the only choice. Hard as it can be to believe when you’re in that addictive spiral, it isn’t.

Words by Lujain Beruwein, Mae Kinch & Abbey McGrath

21

ON CAMPUS CURRENT AFFAIRS

Solutions don’t have to be grand and loud. They can be simple measures put in as safety nets or even better, measures that avoid the need for the net. For example, the university could provide money management classes that inform students about basic financial skills and reduce the stigma that comes with not knowing exactly what to do in this new environment you’ve found yourself in. That we’ve all found ourselves in. We can help each other. More experienced students leading the classes instead of staff may even increase attendance.

Being uninformed about the major implications of gambling puts people in a position to be exploited by gambling companies. Universities across the country have programmes and action plans to aid and inform students about the risks of drinking, doing drugs and sexual health. Gambling is on par with these issues and should be treated with the same amount of concern. So why is this not reflected in university policies? You only have to realise that Gala Bingo has set up stalls in some freshers’ fairs and some gambling halls provide student discounts, to see that students are encouraged to gamble or at least see it as a viable option. The negligence of universities to set up schemes to tackle the issue at hand has had severe debilitating effects which ultimately influences students’ performances and their overall university experience.

Studies have shown that students often miss classes in order to facilitate their gambling habits, assignments also suffer. Of all those affected by gambling, over half have considered dropping out of university and one in seven have a negative perception of their overall university experience.

Coming to university and the freedom that brings with it can be exciting, if not a little scary. Trying new things is all part of the experience. As always though, an important rule to follow is to take things in moderation. It is important to know where the limits are and if you don’t, ask for help. In that vein, the help has to be accessible, visible and without stigma. All in all universities must do more to protect their students from the harmful side effects of gambling.

At the very least find a sugar daddy to fund your gambling addiction. We all know spending someone else’s money is better than spending your own. This would also contribute to a more equal distribution of wealth so win win. #seizethemeansofproduction Look out for your friends. If you suspect that they are having some trouble and can’t get out of the deep dark hole that is an online gambling addiction then there are ways to help. GamCare is a free confidential service that operates 24 hours a day.

They are accessible online or through their helpline number 08088020133.

20 22

INTERVIEW

Running for Change Rosie Watson, a recent Leeds graduate of Environmental Sciences and Business, is taking on an exciting journey empowered by her own feet. She is planning to run from the UK to Asia in order to raise awareness of Climate Change.

the climate and its impacts. You have set out to make this a human experience and approached the issue in a way that features face-to-face interaction. What motivated you to start this adventure?

I had the pleasure to speak with Rosie at an early point of her journey, which she considers a result of a combination of her sense of adventure and a cause that is both relevant and increasingly pressing in our current society.

Rosie Watson (RW): I wanted to do a long running adventure for a number of reasons. I believe the inspiration for it initially came from reading a lot of adventure books with stories of people who had cycled around the world. I wished for this experience to have a purpose, not just me travelling off. As climate change and sustainability was among my university background, it fitted perfectly in my desires. I decided to combine both things: my love for running and activism.

With almost two months into her “New Story Run” adventure, she has covered 1200 km. She opened up about the aims and expectations of her daring project, as well as her wealth of new experiences so far. Since the kickoff in mid-August, she has been involved in many activities, from visiting the UNFCCC base in Bönn, Germany to hearing about an activist camp in Hambacher forest that is focused on protecting the ancient trees from being cut down to expand a coal mine.

Conchita (C): Rosie, you have embarked on this amazing journey to run from the UK all the way to Asia, with the aim to meet as many people as possible, talk and engage with them about

One of the encouraging sources was a cyclist, who has recently covered the length of the Andes, researching biodiversity. He told me: “You should tackle sustainability in a way that makes you feel the most alive”. I was used to nine-to-five jobs, but eventually I realised: “This is not my cup of tea”.

C: That is amazing! How exactly are you managing to travel around the world through running?

Design by Neil Connor / Photography by Rosie Watson

23

INTERVIEW

RW: I rest a lot. I tend to stay with people who I have met through my network, such as friends of my friends. Most of the time I wild camp, as I am trying to remain in as many trails as possible.

Even though it is banned in Germany and the Netherlands, I have not have any problems so far.

My everyday routine is to get up and run for like 2hrs on and have a break, then another 2hrs run, followed by another break. After this I run until the end of what I have planned for the day. I am also getting around 10hrs of sleep every night, because I find it easier to keep on going.

C: How many kilometres do you run on average every day?

RW: I run a calculated average of between 20 and 35km daily, so far.

C: This is impressive! Taking into account the purpose of your journey, what does actually climate action mean to you?

RW: I believe that climate action covers a wide variety of things. Previously, people associated climate change (action) with just a mission, but we are realising that it is all interlinked with other social issues, from problems with refugees to the traditional use of energy resources.

I think climate action is turning into a more political theme. When I think of the most effective actions people can undertake, they happen to be connected to knowing where to put your energy and resources. For example, there is information constantly going on the news that promotes

24

Words by Conchita Fraguas Bringas

recycling of specific types of items in our houses.

However, as presented, this would be irrelevant if we are going on a holiday in Asia and South America.

C: Linking that to what you are doing and the people that you are meeting along the way, what are the sort of the responses that you are getting so far?

RW: There are the people who are part of the projects that I organise and they are obviously really clued up on the matter, and it’s really interesting finding out about different approaches. And there are also the people who found out about my journey and wanted to help out for the night, etc.

And that’s been really interesting because when you work in this area, say that you are home and looking at ways of action for the climate, you end up being in kind of a bubble, with the friends you have and the people you meet tend to have similar points of view. So for me, the diversity of perspectives is what’s really interesting.

C: What have been some of the stand-out experiences in your journey so far?

RW: I felt deeply impacted when visiting the Hambacher forest near Cologne in Germany, where protesters are gathering in a camp in Mainheim, to protect the forest from being cut down to open a pit coal mine. You can see this huge coal mine, going along for as far as you can see and there’s only 1/10th left of this forest that is home to trees of great age.

INTERVIEW

An amazing, unexpected experience took place on my way through Germany, when I was able to visit the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Bรถnn. I was planning to be in Bรถnn in a few days and was in the way of scheduling some meetings, reaching out to some people on Twitter and found this huge network who put me in contact with the UN and Martin Frick, who was very supportive of what I was doing. This helped me a lot with spreading the word of my mission and journey and I met a lot of motivating people.

C: This sounds like such an enriching experience.

I am interested in what you expect to get out of this project as a link to climate action and sustainability, and what you hope for it to achieve?

RW: I wish to find a way of knitting all these stories together and to be able to communicate a good way of living that combines lots of different ideas from different cultures and shows that life can be much better. We are currently seeing the effects of climate change, with people being displaced, and disadvantaged countries increasingly requiring help from other countries. So, I feel there is a pressing need for global cooperation.

And I think that showing positive stories, personal interactions and conversations regarding this topic will be very important.

Rosie will reach Kazakhstan within a year, you can follow her amazing journey on her blog New Story Run (www.newstoryrun.wordpress.com) and social media accounts @r_birdshouts on Twitter or @ rosiewats on Instagram.

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DESIGNERS’ CREATIVE WRITING CHOICE

Design by Neil Connor Photography / Words byby Aryan LiamDariush Wright

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CREATIVE WRITING

Christmas Won’t Be the Same How can I be, if you are not with me?

Fire crackles in the hearth, frost forms on the windows, names appear on tags, but your name does not.

I am here but, you are elsewhere.

How can I be, now that you are gone?

Snow falls and no one goes to play in it, the tree stands ready, yet the room seems empty, christmas pudding sits uneaten by you.

I go on but, you do not.

How can I be, when you are no longer?

Seasons will change and time will go on, memories will be made, without you in them.

I feel as though I am slipping but, you are already gone.

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Design by Neil Connor / Photography by Arjun Kalsi / Words by Eilidh Henderson

CREATIVE WRITING

Mirrors in the Grass I sit on my jacket, the cold of the wet ground seeping through.

The mist wraps around me like a thick down quilt. A drop of ice water falls on me from the branch above my head, the water leaving a trail of cold down my face, tickling, tempting me.

I leave it there. The yellow-red leaves brush by my hair. My back begins to ache, the bark of the trunk digging into my shoulders and the smell of rotting leaves carpeting the ground invades my nostrils. My fingers begin to tingle as the frost crawls along my nerves, the colour fading from their tips. I lean further into the tree, asking it to absorb me, it heats under my skin and then numbs. The tree is gone. I shut my eyes and listen.

The cows in the next field are calling to each other, their voices leaving hot ripples in the air. A robin sings to my right, another replies to my left, behind me and above me the long-tailed tits join the chorus and the crows begin to scream, completing the crescendo. Paws squelching in mud. Panting, coming closer, louder. Faster.

A whistle cuts the air and the panting stops. The squelching moves away, and the crows resettle into their nests. I open my eyes and beside my knee is a giant paw mark, edged by the tips of claws. I am still because if I move, I will begin to feel. I accept my fate and resign to acquaint myself further with my surroundings.

me what I cannot see without creaking my neck up. Crumbling leaves hang on to their petiole, trying to resist the inevitable.

Thick arms of branches collide and conjoin, adapting. Every glass drop on every blade, with every tiny mirror, creates a white sea; all the colours converging into one.

I lean to touch it, to see. My legs zap with electricity, charging and stinging like a million bees or ants, swarming their attacker. My knees click and my toes will snap off, a dull pang reverberating through them. My elbows twist and grind at the bone. But, my fingers have lost all sensation.

Droplets of water, like coloured glass beads, sit balanced on the ends of fine strips of grass. They give me a glimpse at the fading canopy above me, showing

Design and illustration by Gosia Kepka / Words by Thomasin Collins

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CREATIVE WRITING

Nothing as terrifying and beautiful as a white canvas, Sunflowers and coffee beans spread on the table, bits of dust flying around and dancing in a vague ray of sunlight

a place to create art out of chaos.

pointless pencils broken on the floor, the scent of oil painting and a vase shattered into pieces.

A verse falling off the shelf of a poem.

Swirling stars that glow in the dark stuck to my bedroom ceiling.

2 AM ... a notebook drowning in a black sea, the sky in constant movement, the Queen in the corner, a tree by her side.

The same roof over other souls: just us, the sleepwalkers, living the beginning of the undreamed.

The stars are now falling, drowning in the sea.

Underwater fireflies.

We’ll simply sit here and contemplate the starry ocean, and if we are reckless enough, we will dive head first and try to reach for something ethereal in the faint border between air and water.

Poetic insomnia (or how I placed two mirrors face to face and I created a whole different universe), 2018 Unknown anti-artist.

Ink on paper

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Design by Leah Cameron / Photography by Domas Radzevicius / Words by Ana DiĂŠguez

CREATIVE WRITING

YOU AND ME ..........................

To be or not to be?

That is the question, for both you and me But what does it mean to be?

Is it to feel for a time, until the costly fee Of eternal darkness, is that what it means to be?

Maybe it’s to find the utopian key That brings everlasting happiness to those yet to be?

Could it be to discover And lay down the path for what could be?

Who knows what being is to you and me Or whether it’s worth to be or not be?

Is to be to love?

That nervous yet warming feeling from deep within, To traverse the wire of a blooming bond, which is oh so thin, In hopes of the grand prize; the heart you shall win?

Or is to be to transcend?

To leave a legacy which will never end, Whether it be one to forget or one to defend, To your life’s work your soul you shall mend?

Perhaps it’s to be challenged, Through hardships and all achievements we managed, And though one may not emerge undamaged, It only serves to make your being more valid.

Maybe, you’ll find Being is a one of a kind Experience, with no specific bind to dictate the path in our mind.

Design by Neil Connor / Words by Luke Perry

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ON CAMPUS

Students at Christmas Always a Happy Holiday?

Christmas. What’s the first thing that comes to mind? Presents?

Being home? Mounds of food and gallons of drink?

For some, this is the happy reality which they are indeed lucky to have at what is the advertised season to be jolly.

For some students, this just isn’t the case.

Christmas can be a struggle in a variety of ways and reasons.To name but a few, the costs associated with this time of year are often encroaching on overpriced and deliberate extortion which most students simply cannot afford. Balancing studies alongside part-time work is a struggle for many students, further worsening their already pressing situation. Or in the case of international students, both from Europe and further afield, there can also be an added language barrier.

Once in employment, the pay itself is nine times out of ten not something to write home about.

Although we do receive support loans and grants without which many of us wouldn’t be at university at all, they often don’t quite stretch as far as we need. On average, rent in Dundee sits in a bracket between £250-£500 per month. Immediately from a standard Scottish loan, that only leaves £175, and after further deductions for shopping and bills, roughly £75 for the rest of the month. Not a hefty amount by any stretch of the imagination.

Christmas time also comes with the societal and, in some cases, familial pressure to buy presents; an obligation which, especially with family, seems almost inescapable. Now this may seem hyperbolised, but it is sadly the truth for many of our peers. Quite often, this obligation leaves students struggling to make ends meet, and what is meant to be a happy time can often lead to stress, anxiety and depression.

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Design by Helena Lindsay

ON CAMPUS

This issue may be magnified for international students and those living in the rest of the UK when long distance travel is taken into account.

On average, a train journey from Scotland is anywhere between £80 to £200 dependent on rail provider, destination and time of year. Flying is a similar situation, often more expensive and timeconsuming. The astronomical travel costs to be at home with loved ones, never mind buying presents for them seems like an impossible task.

“Keep each other close, in your hearts and heads, and may you have a happy, merry and safe Christmas” Sometimes, the reasons for not going home for the holidays go beyond financial. Some students don’t have a home to go to or rather the situation at home is one they would rather avoid.

But this isn’t a set of complex socio-economic issues without a solution.

On campus, the university has recognised these issues and is attempting to counter them.

Established just under a year ago, the Global Room is a new hub on campus, not just for international students as the name may suggest, but for all University students. They are open every day of the week apart from the weekend between 9am and 5pm, and host events regularly throughout the year. More importantly, they are open right until

CONTACTS The Global Room +44 (0)1382 388584; GlobalRoom@dundee.ac.uk DUSA: VPSW vpsw@dusa.co.uk The Enquiry Centre +44 (0)1382 381900; enquiry@dundee.ac.uk

Christmas Eve, providing support where possible.

Having spoken with members of staff in the Global Room about their experiences, they have assisted students at Christmas time who were truly struggling, from support within financial aid to providing a warm, welcoming environment for students who may not have experienced that at university so far.At DUSA, assistance comes in a variety of ways, from academic support, welfare, right through to finding a Society that can provide a wealth of new friends and experiences.

Something which can be so vital at this time of year. The Enquiry Centre, part of Student Services and located alongside DUSA on Campus Green is another brilliant asset of the University, who can help provide support and signpost onto other internal and external services in and around Dundee.

The most important factor in all this, however, is you. Keep an eye on your friends during the festive period. That text, phone call, Snapchat, or even email if you’re feeling nostalgic could be the little thing that makes a huge difference. This time of year canbe the biggest struggle for a lot of people.

I have attached a small list of important support services to keep in mind and use if you need to.

These people will do their utmost to help however they can.

Keep each other close, in your hearts and heads, and may you have a happy, merry and safe Christmas.

Nightline 01382 381 183 (8pm-8am) nightline@dundee.ac.uk (24/7) Peer Connectors (+44) 1382 384932; peerconnections@dundee.ac.uk Student Funding +44 (0)1382 384801; studentfunding@dundee.ac.uk

WordsWords

by Rory

by Bannerman Iain Savage

63 33

WORKING LIFE

HOW TO FIND A JOB

THE REAL WORLD

LEAVING UNI

BUYING A HOUSE

ON CAMPUS

Going Off Campus Leaving the safety bubble of university is just as terrifying as we thought it would be.

As we reach the halfway point of this academic year, we begin to look towards the next stages.

This is particularly true for those of us for whom this is their last academic year here in Dundee.

Graduation may be months away but the thought of post-student life is slowly sneaking its way into our day-to-day lives.

Whether it’s looking at postgraduate programmes or realising you’ve celebrated (or avoided) your last Freshers’ Week, the steps leading off campus are getting bigger and more frequent. For many of us, Dundee has become our new home over the past four years and we’re now starting to realise we have less than a year left in it before we join the “real world”. Some of us might be heading for grad school, others to graduate schemes or internships.

Some of us have absolutely no clue whatsoever what we are going to do. And do you know what?

That’s all fine.

Life does not work in a linear fashion. We do not stick to plans, we do not always do things in order and we most certainly do not always get things right the first time. Leaving the safety bubble of our campus is a terrifying thought. We may all be adults here but there is a certain feeling of security while you’re still in full-time education. You have a support network, you have structure and set deadlines and schedules to follow. There is a method to the madness. However, come June 2020, the safety net disappears and we say goodbye to Dundee Uni.

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Design by Helena Lindsay

ON CAMPUS

In some cases, this will be bittersweet and in some, it will be a relief but however you feel about Dundee, it has been a central part of our lives when we are truly figuring out who we are and who we want to be. For better or worse, our time here has fundamentally shaped the adults we’ve become. It’s not just about the student experience or the transition phase between childhood and adulthood. They’re important points of course but when we look back in ten years time, there will be things that we realise could never have happened anywhere other than here. We’ll have stories, jokes, nightmares “come June 2020, the safety net disappears and we say goodbye to Dundee Uni” even, that no one who didn’t go to Dundee University will ever understand. Even the people who go here after us might struggle to fully get it. For example, I’m pretty sure my year was the last to hand in paper copies of essays in the politics department; the mad dash to the Scrymgeour Building before 4 pm will regretfully no longer be experienced. New students will never know a time without hot water taps in the library or a Prem with all the shelves turned 90 degrees. It’s the little things.

So for the next six months, as we embrace or hide from the inevitable, make the most of it. Celebrate with your societies at Christmas for the last time, enjoy Paddy’s Day in all its infamous glory and take enough sober photos so that ten years from now you can look back and smile.

Joking aside, this transition is probably going to be one of the scariest things we face at this point in our lives. That isn’t an exaggeration, no matter how

‘ ITS TIME TO ENTER

THE NEXT

you feel about your time here, moving on from it is a huge step and one that none of us have ever taken before. The upside is that we’re all taking it together so, if you can, lean on your friends and family this year and cut yourself a bit of slack. You don’t need all the answers, you don’t even need to have an idea of an answer. You just need to try. No one can fault you for that.

And if you think you’re alone in feeling the way you do, you most definitely aren’t. Here are some responses to a call-out we did on social media asking how final year students felt about the prospect of graduating and joining the “real world”.

“F*cking ill.”

“Too scary to think about right now, so I’m just focusing on my honours project. Let’s take things one horrifying step at a time.”

“Crap. Like crying.”

“I don’t think I can write about that too much or I’ll cry.”

“I will never again have so many opportunities and so many terrors in front of me.”

For me personally, I have mixed feelings about being so close to graduating. I don’t intend to stay in Dundee after, or in Scotland for that matter, so sometimes I find myself getting “pre-nostalgic” and sometimes I find myself wishing I had a fast-forward button. When you have a plan but you have to wait to get it started it can be incredibly frustrating.

So for now, I will just spend my procrastination time looking at apartments I will never be able to afford while I worry about finishing my dissertation before it finishes me.

CHAPTER

Words by Mae Kinch

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ON CAMPUS

Being Your Exec

Meet the Class of 2019/ 2020 - otherwise known as your DUSA Executive - as you have never seen them before.

You’ve seen their faces plastered on buildings, you’ve read their interviews in The Magdalen, but who are your DUSA Exec? Who are the people that students have voted for to improve the life on campus? Who are the minds behind the job titles and what do they do for the University of Dundee student experience? Six months into their positions, The Magdalen wanted to know: What does it mean to be your DUSA exec?

Nickname Josh!

What are you studying?

BA in Social Work Most overused phrase “To be honest” Best moment of 2019 I’m open about my mental health and before I became President, I had a pretty tough year. If you’d told me that a year on, I would be President… well, I just wouldn’t have believed you!

New Year Resolution To work on believing in myself

President: Joshua Connor 01382 386002 president@dusa.co.uk Nickname Smurph What did you study?

Geopolitics Most overused phrase That’s sound!

Best moment of 2019 Graduating from my degree was really special and my beloved football team Tranmere Rovers got promoted!

New Year Resolution Play more football - having played the Show Racism the Red Card Football Match, I enjoyed it so much and it would be great to play more or even to try a new sport.

What is VPA? VPA is the lead student rep on all academic interests. It’s my

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What is the President?

I’m the lead representative, tying DUSA and the University. I support events, campaigns and

the other amazing work that the Exec have going on.

Highlight so far?

The 50th Anniversary celebrations, definitely! I met the first president, from 50 years ago, it was surreal! We reflected on how far we’ve come in elevating students’ experience, and what more we can do.

Plans for 2020?

As well as tackling the day-to-day issues like housing and finances, I want to grow our reach - strengthen the relationship with postgrads and continue to promote our mental health initiatives!

job to ensure that you have the best academic experience at University. Life at University is fantastic but hard. Come and speak to us, we listen and care. A big part of my job and one that I love is organising international events; of which this far we have put on the Mid-Autumn Festival and Diwali.

Highlight so far Being part of the team that organised Mid-Autumn was amazing.

Plans for 2020?

Look out for Global Week coming up at the end of January as well as Songkran and Holi.

Illustration by Nico McLaughlin

Vice President of Academia (VPA): Stuart Murphy 01382 386007 - vpa@dusa.co.uk

ON CAMPUS

Nickname Was Hanzo in High School (plz don’t bring it back) What did you study?

Pharmacology Most overused phrase Not safe for The Magdalen or “IM FINE” Best moment of 2019 Graduating with a 2:1 New Year Resolution To believe in myself and trust my judgment

Vice President of Communication and Campaigns (VPCC): Hannah Adams 01382 386003 - vpcc@dusa.co.uk

Nickname Don’t have one!

What did you study?

Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery Most overused phrase “Why is no one giving me attention?”

Best moment of 2019 Getting my black belt in Taekwondo New Year Resolution Find a job and buy a new car.

What is VPR? I’m the convener of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC), working closely with Class Reps and School Presidents. I coordinate all student elections and facilitate the Disciplinary panel to ensure your safety in The Union.

Why run for VPCC? VPCC is a really interesting role, you learn so many practical, transferable skills. I never thought I’d be able to do half the things I’ve managed to achieve in this job already.

Highlight so far Promoting all the incredible things DUSA does for students and pulling off DUSA’s 50th Anniversary Weekend.

What is VPCC? Working as the VPCC means you’re responsible for overseeing all internal and external communications within DUSA as well as the fabulous DUSA Media outlets. I’m the first point of contact for the press too!

Why run for VPR? It is an amazing opportunity, part of which is running elections which is a great experience! It is hard work but very entertaining and rewarding with an element of freedom to create things and develop training packages for representatives.

Highlight so far We now have an organisation on My Dundee, which means that Representation is directly connected with the virtual learning tool that most students use.

Plans for 2020?

I will be running the elections and I can’t wait! I’ll be organising a number of engagement events, and this year I hope to see some amazing campaigning!

Vice President of Representation (VPR): Olaf Postola 01382 381084 - vpr@dusa.co.uk

Words by Rebecca Carey

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ON CAMPUS

Vice President of Student Activities (VPSA): Kellie Loannou 01382 386004 - vpsa@dusa.co.uk

Nickname Stressball What did you study?

International Business with International Relations Most overused phrase It’s all good Best moment of 2019 Chairing the #MeToo on campus event with Holyrood Magazine!

New Years Resolution Try and overthink less!

What is VPSW? As VPSW alongside my team, I plan and lead the welfare campaigns on campus, support students when they need guidance or support, and stock the condom dispensers!

Nickname Kellster / Kells Bells What did you study?

BSc Forensic Anthropology (Hons) Most overused phrase “I’m not being funny but” Best moment of 2019 Graduation day! It was literally the best day of my life so far surrounded by my family and my best friends.

New Years Resolution I don’t make resolutions - I forget about them!

Why run for VPSA? It’s the most forward facing position of them all - you get to speak to the highest number of people every day, organise LOADS of events and have a lot of fun in the process.

What is VPSA? I’m the primary contact for all things fun on campus! I coordinate our world leading Societies, help people make new friends and help to build CVs with extracurricular activities.

Plans for 2020?

I’m actually planning on rerunning for VPSA right now! One year just isn’t long enough to find your footing and make the changes you want to make.

Highlight so far Definitely the Freshers’ Fair! It was my biggest project (other than the societies book) . Seeing it all come together and it going down as the most successful Freshers’ Fair was amazing.

Why run for VPSW? I’d recommend this role to anyone that has a passion for helping people. Getting to plan campaigns that I know will make a difference to students’ lives makes me so happy.

Highlight so far Meeting loads of lovely people!

Plans for 2020?

I’d love to continue working with students as it’s a real passion of mine. I hope to keep making people smile and making a real difference in whatever I do.

Vice President of Student Welfare (VPSW): Lauren MacGregor 01382 386040 - vpsw@dusa.co.uk

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ON CAMPUS

Nickname Izzy What are you studying?

Economics and Politics Most overused phrase Literally, like literally *lol* Best moment of 2019 Is it tacky to say getting the role of VPE?!

New Year Resolution I never have New Year resolutions, I never follow through!

Vice President of Engagement (VPE): Izuin Binti Abu Bakar 01382 381118 - vpe@dusa.co.uk

Nickname Squinny What are you studying?

English and Film (MA) Most overused phrase “F*cking mint” Best moment of 2019 Over the summer, I gave a seminar at the National Student Fundraising Conference (yes, it’s a thing), all about the work I’ve done over the past year or so, and how other student unions can take that on board, learn from it, and do it themselves.

New Year Resolution Stop dabbing unironically.

What is VPF? VPF really does what it says on the tin, they fundraise! I oversee RAG (Raising and Giving), which are students fundraising for a local Dundee charity, chosen by you!

What is VPE? Engagement is so broad! To help narrow it down, the role mainly focuses on engaging with student that do not traditionally associate with DUSA (online learners, off campus, postgrads, international students)

Why run for VPE? If you’re all about helping people feel more connected with DUSA and holding events for them, VPE is the one for you!

Highlight so far Being able to be part of a working group to have nonalcoholic club nights at DUSA! Plans for 2020?

Careers campaign, public speaking workshop and possibly a food truck!

Why run for VPF? I think VPF gets to have the most fun! I oversee events, which is stressful but I get to make whacky ideas a reality. Drag show? Done it! Star Wars week?

It’s happening!

Highlight so far This is cheating but my highlight so far is getting clearance to run a fantastic event in second semester. Seriously. There were multiple health and safety meetings, but apparently, I’m quite convincing!

Plans for 2020?

The biggest semester for RAG in the past ten, maybe twenty years.

I said it. Stay tuned. You won’t want to miss what’s coming.

Vice President of Fundraising (VPF): Scott Quinn 01382 386005 - vpf@dusa.co.uk

Being part of the DUSA Exec means being part of a sparkling 50-year-old legacy. It means being a role model, an advocate for real change on our University campus. What do you think? Do you have what it takes?

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COMMUNITY

FISH CAKES WITH TARTAR SAUCE AND (UNRELATED) WIENER DOGS It was 7:32pm as a lady working in the food bar of the train (LNER) walked the aisles to hand out three free fish cakes with tartar sauce to any takers.

She said the others would normally throw them away, but she does not. I left that train ride with a summer-garden wrap in hand. It came from another lady and she too took to walking and asking each passenger in turn in the carriage. After cancellations and delays and a very long journey in all; what a great treat. It didn’t matter what it was. I peered down at the day’s date under ‘best before’.

My evening had just been touched with a lightness and serendipity that I kept with me as I finally walked the roads to my flat.

I’ve always been a believer in the importance of drawing your attention to the little good things that shape the environment you find yourself in. Of course, not exclusively, because being critical is massively important, but for you and your current state of mind, focusing on the good can do so much.

When I was getting frustrated with the trains, waiting in the station, a woman with a dachshund sat down two seats from me. I asked if I could pet her dog. I spent a few minutes petting her soft fur, she kept asking for it with her nose. My frustration faded away as I became wrapped up in all that joy exuding from that little wiener body.

I had been visiting my friend and one night she pointed out a post on her version of ‘Dunfess’. The post came with a picture of a signed card thanking the post-er. I am going to assume this was a man.

The post was a student thanking a group of people who had made him a card a while back to thank him for handing out chips in the library to strangers (them). He felt the need to post now to let those people know how much the thank you meant to him at a time when he was struggling. He also

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Design by Neil Connor

wanted to tell people how good it feels to do good things for others. That thank you, feeling worth, being appreciated helped him to feel a lot better.

I wonder how the train ladies felt after handing out their sandwiches. Even if it the food hadn’t tasted good - my wrap did, for the record – I was grateful.

I said thank you, but I wish I had taken a longer moment to do so.

They could’ve done a lot of things with those sandwiches and fish cakes with tartar sauce: brought them home (maybe they did), dropped them off at a foodbank, handed them to strangers once off the train; it all would’ve made someone brighten up. Even if that someone didn’t like sandwiches or fishcakes with tartar sauce.

COMMUNITY

What if our take on ‘being’ expands to embrace outside of ourselves? As everyone transitions into their break and back again, with Christmas, Hanukkah, Chinese New Year celebrations; maybe it’s naturally part of your traditions. Be it winter, summer, fall or spring, these moments are always important.

We could be the ladies on the train, the wiener dogs (okay, it’s impossible to be that cute), the student and the students. Going beyond material presents. It’s the classic ‘act of kindness’ speech; because kindness does so much. Firstly, for the people you invest some time in and, karma galore, for yourself – because look at that smile, that happiness, that thank you that you inspired.

Words by Marleen Käsebier

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COMMUNITY

The Magdalen Christmas Challenge Think Unique, Shop Local!

Your Dundee high street is gifted with a treasure trove of independent shops to choose from. This year, we challenge you to give something truly unique this Christmas.

It’s finally here, and isn’t it the most wonderful time of the year? That is until you have to find Christmas presents for everyone. Especially for those family members that want ‘nothing’. But fear not, The Magdalen has selected a few of Dundee’s best places for Christmas gift shopping when you’re feeling all lost!

I always tend to look for original gifts when it comes to my Christmas shopping for family and friends close to me. But Googling ‘unique Christmas presents for your BFF’ just never seems to get me as far as going around to independent stores

by myself. Not only does this give me an excuse to procrastinate from deadlines and exams but it also allows me to discover some of the unique wonders Dundee has to offer. Not to mention that by supporting local businesses, it shows that you care about the community you live in and you help to bring some charisma to the corporate world.

You always see the same brands, same things, the same style over and over again as you go from one shop to another in the Overgate, etc. That won’t happen in shops like these! Not only will you find irreplaceable gifts for your loved ones, the people in these shops always want to help you find the best result rather than just getting your money.

These wee shops are small but full of great gift ideas when you are not sure on what to buy with a little quirkiness and originality:

Maisie and Mac.

Lovely Things.

2 High St, Dundee, DD1 1SX Open 9.30-5.30, Mon-Sat. 11-4 Sun

37 Dock Street, Dundee, DD1 3DR Mon–Sat 10am–5pm.

Maisie and Mac’s eye-catching purple building is easy to spot on our Dundee high street. When entering this adorable little shop in the city centre, you will quickly see their extensive range of jewellery, ceramics and textiles, as well as their work in wood, metal, slate and glass, plus some lovely prints & small sculptures. Sourcing work from over 70 UK artists, there’s plenty that meets the eye in this little shop and hopefully, you will find a little original gift in here.

Another independent shop with unique gift ideas from anything from vintage pieces of furniture to Danish-style interior design pieces. This real hidden gem sources all local artwork and photography which would make the perfect unique gift to give this Christmas.

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Design by Neil Connor

COMMUNITY

J. A. Braithwaite, Ltd.

Indigo Road.

6 Castle Street, Dundee DD1 3AF Mon–Sat 9am–5pm

69 Perth Road, Dundee DD1 4HY Mon-Tues, Thur-Sat 10.30am-5.30pm

One thing we can agree on that will never go wrong in the gift-department must be tea and coffees!

It will always be used by our fellow coffee and tea drinkers. This wee independent tea and coffee store might look tiny from the outside, but it contains a wide section of everything from delicious teas and coffees to teapots and lose teabags. With a selection of more than 100 teas and 30 coffees on its shelves you will get your pick from this store!

Specializing in handcrafted, natural and ethical wares from around the globe, Indigo House contains plenty of quirky little gift ideas perfect for Christmas. Their eclectic and bohemian selection makes you appreciate the carefully selected collection, making this an ideal place to find gifts for any occasion!

If you are new to discovering little, independent stores as these, why not pick up the challenge this Christmas? Start by having a look at these 4 places I have mentioned here, and who knows? Maybe you will end up with some amazing gift ideas and even better: new places to shop that don’t necessarily have the same items you’ll see in every other shop. After all, wouldn’t we all love a unique gift that has so much more thought to it than yet another Primark jumper? I know I would!

Words by Lizzie Husum

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COMICS

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COMICS

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FASHION

Gender Smender 46

Illustration by Iain Smith

FASHION It’s time to ban Gender Reveal Parties!

Well, maybe not banned. But think for a second why we celebrate whether you’re going to have a baby girl or boy. Is one better than the other; are you hoping for one more than the other? Maybe just celebrate having a baby, celebrate life regardless of the baby’s genitals.

There’s a lot of talk about us living in a post-gender world and moving beyond gender.

But are we really?

I’d argue, if anything, this is a very underground movement, breaking out into the mainstream occasionally due to celebrity, media and youth culture. But largely the idea of gender queerness is unseen and unnoticed by the majority of society.

Look at the shops and what we consume. There are, very clearly, boy sections and girl sections.

There are also male and female shampoo-- how can you gender a shampoo? There are because female shampoo is toxic to men and would burn off their skin like acid; it is really quite horrible.

In post war era, in our capitalist society, companies made efforts to boost profits by gendering products so that more money could be made: households would have to buy two shampoos.

These corporations are doing us a big favour by making us buy more and we all should continue buying gendered products.

Seriously though buy whatever shampoo you want.

If we really lived in a post-gender world our shops wouldn’t be so pink and blue.

So, it begs the question: do we want to move beyond gender? Do people like gender and feel good about being a certain gender?

Gender perhaps gives people a sense of comfort and familiarity.

And it is of course okay to

associate with and conform to ‘gender norms’ if you want to.

No one is saying that the men’s football team must all shave, wear lipstick and a dress to make society better. Currently, the issue with gender is when these ‘gender norms’ and expectations become barriers and affect our ability to live freely. These gender inequalities can be seen throughout society. In terms of gender queerness and the idea of post-gender, there is more to be said and I believe these ideas may evolve and break out into mainstream society sooner rather than later. The benefits of what it could bring are numerous and there is much to discuss. . Men enjoy more money than women. . Just short of ¾ of UK companies pay men more than women. . Men typically earn 8% more than women per hour. . Only 6 countries give women equal legal working rights as men It remains to be seen that there is more to fight for to achieve gender equality. What began in the late 19th century with the Suffragettes and Suffragists fighting for women’s vote continues today and we are now at a point where we are trying to get to the root: the gender socialisation that we are all subject to from birth. I believe we can see today some of the benefits women, in particular, are starting to feel in their fight for gender equality. They are far more at ease expressing their gender. Women will use all manner of cosmetic tools to express their gender. They can chop and change from long hair, short hair, dresses, tracksuits, suit suits, trousers and skirts.

Wear any colour, print or fabric.

Flip flop from flip flops, heels, trainers or boots. Women are more comfortable in what they wear and how they express their gender through their outward appearance.

Some may live under the assumption that gender inequality is something that only affects women and as a result, many men attempt to dismiss the effects of it and take no interest in forwarding gender equality.

Men are arguably subject to a more frigid, boxed and fragile set of gender norms due to the ideas of masculinity, and it shows.

This inability to be expressive and limitations on how and what men can do has created all sorts of problems that really cannot be ignored. . 74% of suicides are men. . 80% of homelessness affects men. . Men are more likely to abuse drugs and develop substance addiction. . Men generally die younger than women.

These statistics go to show gender inequality does not just affect one societal group. The fight for gender equality should continue to be pushed forward.

Whether or not we like gender and the comfortability it offers, we have to understand that gender is made up by us for us. It’s a tool that can be used to suppress and manipulate but also can be used to express and celebrate who we are and how we feel. If you’re a woman who wants to wear dresses, floral patterns and be a domestic goddess then that’s okay. If you’re a man who wants to wear dresses, floral patterns and be a domestic goddess then that’s okay too. And if you don’t want to identify or be boxed into male or female categories or you want to move between genders then that is okay. It really shouldn’t matter.

So that cake at the gender reveal party; if it’s the blue sponge or pink sponge really shouldn’t matter.

What does matter is gender equality, as it can improve everyone’s standard of life.

Words by Greg Sutherland

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FASHION

“If we think fur is inhumane to produce, why do we still support the fur industries of other countries without our regulations?�

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Illustration by Nico McLaughlin

FASHION

Fur is Skulking Back into the Fashion Industry In these chilly winter months and dark evenings, pom-pom bobble hats have become the musthave winter accessory.

Within the fashion industry, the issue of fur is an ethical and economic issue. In the past, fur evoked an air of luxury and decadence – think 1920’s women with a fox scarf, complete with glassy eyes, tossed over one shoulder. Fur had been phased out over the decades as consumers became aware of the moral implications of wearing fur: animals such as raccoons and rabbits were bred in deplorable ‘fur farms’ solely for their super soft fur. However, it seems that fur may be sneaking back into high fashion and trickling down into high-street brands.

The culprit? Pom-pom hats.

Concerningly, simple fur accessories and trimmings like keychains and fluffy edged hoods seem to just be a gateway back into an industry that appears to have never really died out. For a short period, it would have dented the reputation of anyone spotted wearing fur. Peta’s striking campaign of 2007, “I’d rather go naked than wear fur”, saw familiar faces like Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford strip off to show support for the boycott on the fur industry. Sadly, the industry seems to have bounced back last year, being valued at a staggering £43 billion. With celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez and Coleen Rooney spotted wearing real, animal fur bobble hats and Lady Gaga and Rita Ora, amongst others boasting real fur, full-length coats, fashion houses are realising that using fur might not be so taboo anymore.

In Britain, fur farms were made illegal at the turn of the last century but the law does nothing to cover imported fur from other countries such as Russia, China and Poland. Supporters of the ban hope that, with Brexit, there will be space to expand the ban to imports too. If we think fur is inhumane to produce, why do we still support the fur industries of other countries without our regulations? Conversely, critics point out that if we are happy to eat meat, keep pets and wear animal products in a different form (i.e. leather and suede), why should the fur industry come under such extreme disdain and scrutiny?

Being such a huge industry, with seemingly rock-bottom standards for the conditions animals can be kept in and manner of killing, fur accessories are becoming accessible and cheaper to produce on the high street. Animals are kept in tiny cages, with minimal light, food and water before they are gassed to death or have their necks broken ready for skinning. This all maximises profit and means that fur prices can now match the cost of faux fur and be sold at drastically low prices.

Raccoon fur pom-poms have been found being sold regularly on the high street for just £15 and often falsely marketed as faux. Due to the complicated labelling regulations, a product may say 100% viscose or cotton ect on the label but in actual fact, may feature fox, raccoon, rabbit or mink fur. There have been accounts of shoppers buying bobble hats for as little as £7 at markets and, because of the price, they assumed the pom-pom could not possibly be real fur. More often than not, it is market stalls and independent retailers who (often unwittingly) sell real fur because almost every large high street brand have anti-fur policies. Despite this, House of Fraser, TK Maxx and Missguided have all sold ‘faux fur’ items which, upon closer investigation and testing turned out to be real animal fur.

It’s difficult to steer clear of fur when retailers don’t appear to know what they are selling, despite their reassuring regulations.

In a world of climate change pressures and ethical dilemmas at every turn, many of us are becoming more conscious of our impact on the world, whether we choose to go vegetarian or religiously carry a reusable coffee cup with us. We too must consider the implications of the returning popularity of fur, whether it is sustainable and ethical. At the very least, as consumers, we should be given the choice to boycott real fur and not be conned into buying it.

If you have a ‘faux’ fur item already, there’s a simple test you can do at home to confirm it is fake. Take a few strands of fluff and put them to a lighter flame.

If they melt and smell plastic-y then you’re safe and it’s definitely faux, but if it smoulders and smells of burning hair, then you’ve inadvertently bought a real fur pom-pom.

Words by Rose Kendall

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INTERNATIONAL

IN BOTH WORLDS

Danglish is a term defined as a form of speech that combines elements of both Danish and English and is often used with family and friends to quickly fill in an absent word from the other language.

Throughout my childhood, I was acquainted with constantly switching between speaking Danish with my father and English with my mother. When I was born my parents looked into the effects of raising a child with parents from different countries.

They opted to speak in their native tongue, being aware that my linguistic development would be a little slower than if they would have chosen only one instead.

My mother-tongue which is English developed faster as I attended an international school in Denmark for nine years and had frequent visits to other English speaking countries. Although my days were mostly spent speaking English with my mother, siblings and friends, I still had Danish lessons during the week and spoke it with my father when he came home from work. In addition to this I was surrounded by the Danish culture and language as I run into it in; local shops, on the TV and radio, when I interacted with my father’s family or Danish friends and by simply walking down the street. Danglish was what I spoke from dawn to dusk - switching back and forth, mixing both worlds. If it wasn’t for my friends who were in the same situation, I would have felt different at a time when all you want is to fit in. Eventually, I mastered

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Design by Zoe Beckett

the Danish language when I began 9th grade at a Danish middle school. It wasn’t an easy change and at times it was difficult, not just language wise but culturally as well. But I pushed through and made it to graduation.

Along my years spent in an International school, I was welcomed into the homes of my friends who came from Russia, Spain, Japan, Iraq, the U.S.A, Denmark, the U.K. and Israel. We were simply classmates - friends without borders or bigotry.

Over the years, we came to realise that the world is a home to a lot of prejudice and discrimination, which often is the catalyst for many of the issues we face in today’s society. Whether it is intended or not, discrimination strengthens humiliation, a loss of self-worth and a sense of alienation. My bilingual friends and I, unfortunately, experienced a sense of unwelcome preconceptions from the monolingual Danish half of the school. It was marginally painful, as we had connections to the country we lived in.

We were different and perhaps it was unsettling to the students brought-up in a monolingual home.

Having two different countries that you can call home, raises the ongoing question which many bilinguals face: Where is my home? Where do I belong? Who am I as a person?

INTERNATIONAL

You eventually adapt and build connections, whether linguistic or cultural. Slowly one starts to recognise and have a feeling of belonging. Bilinguals may envy people who have grown up in the same house, in the same town and the same country. There’s a comfort in remaining in what you know. It may be unfair or perhaps an advantage, but one doesn’t get to choose their nationality.

Being bilingual and having a multicultural background has its challenges. You might find that you don’t have an exact answer when asked where you

come from or where you grew up and you might not even know where you’d say your home is.

But one thing that will always remain a constant and what you’ll always have, is yourself.

Whether you find yourself in a familiar or a foreign environment, you can rest assured that home is wherever you find yourself.

Finding a home within the complex and unique individual you are, will be the point where you realise that being international is perhaps more of an asset than anything else.

Words by Sasha Knudsen

51

INTERNATIONAL

Frustration

Is Part of the Process

It’s been 41 days – nearly 6 weeks since the day I moved to Spain, and what an adventure it has been! A lot of great experiences but also challenges; especially the language barrier that at times seemed insurmountable.

I arrived at Seville airport, thinking that at least there I’d be able to communicate in English as it is an international Airport, so they must be used to tourists, right?

Well, no.

Finding someone that understood basic English proved to be a challenge. That floored me – I mean I had anticipated communication to be difficult, having only studied Spanish for two years, but I didn’t expect any struggles at the airport. How was this meant to work in the coastal town I was going to live in?

To be honest, I arrived in Spain, not knowing a soul, so the first days passed relatively uneventful – I translated the phrases when I had to speak to someone and prayed, that their answer would be easily understandable. Just a day after I arrived, I got lucky – before I left to study abroad I had signed up for a buddy programme and I was fortunate enough to get a buddy (later I was told, that not many Erasmus

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Design by Patrik Vojtas

students get buddies). We chatted and she invited me to go for lunch with her and her friends. So, on my second day in Spain, I hung out with a bunch of Spanish people and to my surprise, most of them did not speak English (some of them didn’t even study English!). However bad their English was, I was there to learn Spanish, so I was pretty happy trying to speak it. Moreover, I was especially happy with the patience they had for my slow and very basic Spanish. Within 48 hours I had made my first Spanish friends!

And then University started.

We had several different appointments with explanations as to how to choose courses etc., and if you needed help you were given help – for me it came down to minor technical detail that I needed assistance with. In my naivety, I was very optimistic when I went to the International Office, I thought if I couldn’t express my problem in Spanish, I could always switch to English (because we’re in the international office, surely one of the hiring requirements is speaking English?).

Well, no.

I must confess that having all my classes in Spanish has been very difficult. Never before had I been this frustrated with simple lectures. It changes your perspective and perception of yourself when suddenly you’re completely out of your element.

You start re-evaluating yourself and your place thinking back on past experiences and how they’ve helped you to get where you are now - knowing that eventually, everything falls into place. Though,

INTERNATIONAL

frustration is a given in these kinds of situations.

I don’t know if you ever had that feeling of everything going over your head, but I can assure that it’s highly discouraging at times. It’s been 4 weeks of classes now and I have gotten used to the feeling of not understanding, but I know that eventually, it’ll get better as it has in the past.

Despite all the struggles, I’m enjoying my year abroad and do encourage it. The food, the sun, the people and the culture are different, which is on occasion surprising, but at the same time amazing and fascinating. To get the insight on how people live here and what they value is a brilliant experience and I hope to immerse myself even more once my Spanish improves. The good news is, my Spanish is already becoming better, and if my flatmate was able to learn Spanish from scratch within 4 months of moving to Spain, I should be able to build up my language skills too.

The first few months are the most difficult, mostly because of the language barrier, the new

culture and the new lifestyle, but I’m optimistic.

By the time Christmas arrives, all these worries will be long gone. Part of the process is not to let the frustration that most of us feel overtake us and make our lives miserable. Yes, it’s not easy, but most good things in life don’t just fall into your hands or are waiting to be picked up by you. All I can say is that it has been well worth the stress for me and I would do it all over again. From friends here in Spain and other parts of the world, I have heard similar stories and feelings – even Erasmus students with less Spanish knowledge agree with me wholeheartedly. So, to all the Erasmus students currently in Dundee and all the outgoing ones: Don’t let the frustration get to you. You can do it!

Words by Marlena Mazura

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OPINIONS INTERNATIONAL

CAN YOU CROSS THE LINE BETWEEN DREAM AND REALITY? The world we live in is shrouded in mystery.

Scholars, scientists and artists have been intrigued by how our reality works. Often, it’s built on how we see ourselves and how we identify with our environment.

Have you ever felt like living two separate lives?

One day you’re waking up to the smell of your flatmate’s burnt toast and the other day to the sweet aroma of your grandmother’s cooking. You are still you, always remaining a constant, but the four walls around you shift to being different from yesterday. The people you meet during the day are also different. When this happens continuously, we may start questioning how we perceive the world.

Is there only one, or are there perhaps multiple realities?

Whenever I go back to Bulgaria, I feel like the past few months have just been a hyper-realistic dream. Firstly, the academic year goes by so fast. I blink once and it is already Christmas, I blink twice and it is summer. When I do catch up with my relatives, they find it difficult to imagine my life; the university setting, my friends and colleagues here.

Therefore, this part of me is real only to me -existing in my mind. My emotions and experiences come out only in words, without any physical evidence.

According to Eagleman, our brain has no direct access to the outer world. Then, how am I supposed to bring my current being into reality and vice versa?

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Design by Helena Lindsay

INTERNATIONAL OPINIONS

During my first two years as an international student, home and uni were like two parallel worlds, very distinct from each other, and my role was to continuously press the life switch to ‘here and there’. It leads to a lot of confusion and demands effort in the attempt of achieving harmony. However, my perception of these two worlds was completely different. The first one was determined mainly by hard-work, sleep deprivation and responsibilities, while the latter was associated with a holiday mood, laziness and a lot of time on my hands. The shift between them used to happen usually within a day, during a three-hour flight. My brain used to trick me now and then. During the period in which I did not experience the presence of my family and friends, the perception of those people used to get more abstract and emotional.

The pictures in my head got more blurry. This was not because I started to forget about them, it was just my mind playing games.

Therefore, I have always wanted to set up the bridge between the place where I started working on my personality and where I became an adult.

The desire to show the charm of my current life did not leave me in peace. Hence, I came up with the idea to organise a summer holiday for my family and best friends in Scotland. In this way, I would be able to make the two ends meet (my relatives and my international friends). It was almost impossible

to convince my parents to leave behind the bright weather in Bulgaria and come here. However, I eventually won that battle. I was so proud to finally show my family the independence I had reached.

I was on the edge of my seat when I had to walk them around Dundee, and especially the campus.

My mother found time to cook for some of my Scottish friends, which motivated them to visit my homeland even more.

After their stay in Scotland, I took my time to think about the origin of my confusion. There were probably many reasons, but the most convincing was the fact that my family came here in my third year, which is quite late, taking into account my degree takes four years to complete. Despite that, I’m grateful it happened. It woke me up from the dream and made my two separate lives come together. I realised that we tend to reconstruct reality according to our inner perceptions. We build everything in our mind first and then choose how to ‘be’ in the world.

My decision to finally draw the two lines together resulted in an objective representation of reality: there are no separate worlds, just two beautiful characteristics of one being. The gap is no longer full of confusion, but a mixture of feelings. This is what defines me as a human and every one of us in our own unique way.

Words by Maria Radeva

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INTERN ATIONAL LIFESTYLE

How to: Have a Sustainable Winter Holiday Our writer, Lois, gives us her favourite ideas for being kind to the planet this festive season.

The festive period is traditionally a time to give back to and celebrate the people we love. Yet, something that often gets forgotten is the planet and its importance to every one of us. Everything we have comes from the planet.

Here are just a few suggestions to make your life a little bit more sustainable:

1.

For lots of us, this is a time of year when we buy gifts for the people we care about. There are many easy ways to make your gift-buying more sustainable, as well as saving you money and

make your presents more sustainable is to buy locally made gifts. Look out for local artists or

2.

Personally, wrapping presents is

wasteful to buy something that is going to be thrown away almost immediately. The easiest

and at the same time,you are supporting a local business. Another option is to buy and shop second

themselves. For example, putting the gifts in the

gift for someone, and often support a charity all in one trip!

to give it up why not try using brown paper and paper tape which is easier to recycle, or opt for gift bags which are much easier to reuse.

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Design by Helena Lindsay

INTERNATIONA L LIFESTYLE INTERNATIONAL

3.

The fashion industry is the second biggest pollutant of clean water globally, but with the weather changing, we usually want to change our wardrobe at this time of year. The best thing to do to reduce your clothing waste is to go through the things you already have. There are probably items you loved last year and have completely forgotten about over the summer, so start building your winter wardrobe with these. The next thing to

4.

There are also some really easy ways to

chilly already, if you have turned on your heating, double check what setting it is on and make sure your only using the heating when you need could have a go at making your own decorations. done.

can be really easy and extend the lifespan of them anymore, is there something you can do to give them to a charity shop so that someone else want or need new clothes have a nose around your local second-hand shops or look for small, sustainability-focused companies.

5.

6.

Most of us like to make New Year resolutions. Start thinking about what you want to change now instead of waiting until the last or vegan for a month, committing to cut down your these can help the planet and usually help you in some way too.

When travelling home to see your family or friends, there is the option of looking into often, switching up your mode of transport can make the whole thing less monotonous.

We all know the saying ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ but it’s important to remember to do them in that order. First we need to reduce what we use and therefore how much waste we produce, second we reuse the things we already have, and last we recycle the things we no longer need.

The most important thing to remember is that it is not about being perfect, it’s about doing what you can. If everyone makes a small change then that will add up to a massive change.

o Words by Lois Glither Glithero

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LIFESTYLE

A Tale of Three Dinners It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of Echo Falls, it was the season of the student ‘Pissedmas’ dinner.

It is the time of year where you’ve just completed your first semester at university. The exam timetable is behind you and the sense that you’re a survivor is heavily placed at the back of your mind.

In first year I lived in Belmont Halls on the top floor which my flatmates and I decided to adorn: ‘The Penthouse’. More than just a nickname, it was given to inspire some glamourous idea that we were living a life of luxury and privilege when, in fact, the opposite was true.

Some of my favourite memories of that time are of all of us running backwards and forwards between the two top floor flats, having nerf gun and chair wars whilst popping into the kitchen on occasion to internally debate whether or not someone should tidy up the burnt toast crumbs trailing forlornly across the floor. At our peak as stereotypical Freshers, we had a combined sum of £70 in our bank accounts with an unfettered habit for budget mismanagement. As a result, we came to the, what we thought, wise decision of refusing to switch on the heating until we were close to a diagnosis of pneumonia, frostbite and Scandinavian jumper addiction.

That initial Winter is naturally a struggle: coping with homesickness, making new friends and dealing with living alone away from parents and loved ones. In the darkest moments, what most people don’t focus on is that for the first time you will have a support network of people who are riding on exactly the same rollercoaster.

Until reaching university, I never really took part in a traditional Christmas. The majority of my family are innately atheist and agnostic so, of course when gathered, seasonal conversations around the dinner table revolved unsubtly around the commercialisation of religion by the capitalist elitist white men of the world. Confronted with such a diverse group of people in Dundee, with varied views, backgrounds and tastes I began to

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Illustration by Nico McLaughlin

see the wonder, not necessarily of a Christmas dinner, but of the magic that surrounds food and the coming together of people. Food, laughter, tears and drunken conversation is what I was met with at my first, second and third ‘Pissedmas’ dinner. From that first year on, never would I miss another moment to connect in this way.

In all honesty, I don’t remember the finer details of our tradition in the following years but for the times where we cooked and laughed at our failings as chefs and the incoming misguidances of the ensuing evening. Hours would be spent buying secret Santa gifts or finding the cheapest possible decorations. Flooding back clearly is the joined feeling and need for one last celebration, one last show of love, connected madness and delirium before we had to leave it behind for whatever awaited us in the coming months.

Reaching those final days of the semester, there is almost a sense of relief. You are finally able to take a breath, assess the amazing things that you have accomplished and the sudden and sometimes brutal impact of an adult reality. Going home this time of year, there can be so much emphasis, especially with returning students, to be the most joyful and vibrant couple of months and yet it is also the first opportunity for you to reflect and just… be. Trust me, just being is a wonderful thing and should be celebrated more.

An inner juggle then occurs, wrestling with a sense of finality and a confirmation of the sense of togetherness that you’ve managed to compile from just three months of friendship; through the turmoil, stresses and highs of a new home. But you’ve made it. You should be proud. Finding the people who will look at you, when you’re on the floor after drinking a bottle of Echo Falls and failing to cut and peel half of the required potatoes for dinner, pick you up, make you eat and take you out clubbing later anyway is, really, the purest of achievements. It is an achievement because these people love you, for you. Just as you are.

‘Pissedmas’ Dinner Recipe: Serves 12 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

One bottle of Echo Falls Summer Fruits (or painfully cheap alcohol of your choosing.)

Partially roasted pan of potatoes Steamed dim sum (vegetable or pork and prawn) Almost unidentifiable, curdled broccoli and stilton soup Vegetarian sausages Takeaway Pizza Tiramisu, Chocolate and Mud Pie (at least three desserts is required)

Words by Billianna Allen-Mandeville

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OPINIONS

Small Decisions,

Big Pressure: Enjoy Being a Student Before It’s Too Late It is an odd place to exist. University.

Whilst at university, it is not uncommon to get ostensibly drunk all of the time, make poor decisions, miss classes and deadlines and yet still be considered to be in a responsible position.

To be a student is to assume the burden of societal expectation; an expectation that you will perhaps go on to make ground-breaking revelations which will woo the big-wigs of the academic world and, further, society. Who’s to say that it won’t be a University of Dundee alumni which receives the next Nobel Peace Prize?

This is a burden that is not often discussed, probably because we know the reality of student life. Our thoughts are rarely plagued by the big questions which require big answers. Instead, it is the perennial concerns of day-to-day existence; can I afford this Pot Noodle? When is rent due?

Why does my loan come so late? Why did I spend fifty quid in the Union last night? Was my 9AM yesterday or today? Does it matter? I won’t be there either!

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Design by Helena Lindsay

OPINIONS

It is often these everyday burdens that trump the existential questions relating to life at university.

Yes, when deadlines loom, financial concerns tend to flutter away into a compartmentalised part of your brain, bursting at the seams with an unquestionable itching desire to release woe onto your existence as soon as the weight of essays and exams evaporate.

But, although it is difficult, it is perhaps comforting to know that these concerns are momentary. A degree from a university is a coveted achievement, a marker of your academic success which transcends (potentially) your possible employment prospects had you not embarked on this formidable experience.

And thus, if this is the case, how is it possible to be more human, to be more in touch with the essence of being, than when at university? On a daily basis, with our aforementioned trivial concerns which seem to radiate so powerfully, we are asked to engage in emotion, in thought, in learning and in communication. Our lecturers force us to actively pursue new ideas, old ideas, established academic practise, but yet to forge our own way and to have our own voice. Surely, to explore the essence of being on a daily basis is the greatest privilege afforded to us as students? I won’t take it for granted.

The essence of being, in a philosophical context, is what makes us different from all other known species. It is our ability to think, to be rational and to produce and feel emotional responses. This transcends our status as conscious beings from that of the chimp, or the leopard, or the rhinoceros.

It makes us human.

Words by Fraser Briton

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OPINIONS

Dreaming of Home

Christmas brings strong feelings of belonging, cosiness and being home, but what does home feel like?

For some it’s simply the place where they live; a flat or a house where they go so sleep and eat.

For others it might be the place where they are surrounded by friends or family. What about those without a home? Does it have the same meaning for them? I think no matter what your perception of home is, everyone should have the chance to experience it, especially at this time of the year.

Why? Because we somehow always connect Christmas with being surrounded by people we love in an atmosphere of peace and happiness.

Where is it you usually get this feeling? For me, it’s at home.

Home is so much more than just a place. It’s the one place you don’t have to think about being presentable, talk correct and always put on a brave face. Home is where you can break down, wear sweatpants and sing loudly out of tune to your favourite jingles. Home is where you can simply be.

The 4-lettered word is so simple and yet it contains

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deep emotional meaning. Dundee is my home, yet Denmark is as well. I go home for Christmas and I go home after the holidays. I leave Home, to go Home. What a beautiful thing it is that I get to have more than one place to call home.

But what I want to draw attention to is how this contrasts to people without even one home.

Christmas is the perfect opportunity to reach out and help those in need; there are plenty of soup kitchens serving hot food to those in need and shelter charities helping those without a roof over their heads. The possibilities are many! Our financial circumstances are never completely under control, and I believe most people do, at times, look back at their life and see great turmoil personally, professionally or financially. Do not judge those you pass on the street with a plastic mug and a pair of hungry eyes; imagine instead what difference you can make to them. Buy them a sandwich.

One meal. Give encouragement. Give hope.

Ultimately, it’s about all of us being somewhere at Christmas where we feel safe and warm, about being simply at home.

Design by Neil Connor / Words by Lizzie Husum

OPINIONS OPINIONS

F I L L I N G

T H E

E M P T Y

M O M E N T S

Seeing someone sitting on a park bench, resting or waiting for a friend and just admiring the surroundings is a rare sight nowadays.

We have become accustomed to constantly doing things. We can’t focus on one thing but instead, have five to ten things going at once; always multitasking, often running late to the next thing that should have already been done. We have forgotten how to enjoy the calm and quiet moments, just being with our thoughts.

People romanticise the good old days where everything was simple, where people were more attuned with themselves, doing what they had to to survive and the rest of the time, they allowed themselves to simply be.

The abundance of cheap entertainment and media of the 21st century means we are constantly running, looking for that next thing, a new piece of information. Flickering gadgets are always at our fingertips, filled with the action, attention and drama, we crave.

We encourage this hectic lifestyle, yet ponder why so many people fall into depression, are strangled by stress, and why uneasiness and discontent rests over our society. We’re always expected to be busy and, without noticing, we start placing expectations on ourselves. When we’re not working, or taking a short break, we feel guilty, as if we’ve done something wrong. It’s absurd to make ourselves suffer for simply being humans. We don’t need to always work or earn the right to just be and breathe.

When asked about our weekends, we are filled with guilt when we answer with a shy “Oh, nothing”.

We get bored quickly because we expect to be entertained all the time. We want to find the momentary stimulus that gives us that tiny burst of dopamine. But instead, we get addicted and soon enough we simply lose ourselves in insignificant actions.

How long has it been since the last time you left your phone at home and simply roamed the streets? Enjoyed walking in the rain while accompanied by the pitter-patter or talked to a friend undistracted by notifications? Ate something and just focused on the food and not on the Netflix show that we popped on?

We should dive back into life, into true relationships, into nature, for there we will find real satisfaction and fulfilment. We need to allow ourselves to not always run and chase, as there’s nothing to catch at the end of the road. The empty moments are there to offer clarity, time for reflection and deep thinking. Today’s news, how many likes we’ve got on our latest post or the recent show streaming is meaningless. We should instead actually live our life - all of it.

Design by Neil Connor / Words by Daniel Pukkila

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SCIENCE + TECH

PLANT-BASED NUTRITION IN SPORTS

The first scientist to hypothesise that muscular energy comes from animal protein was Justus von Liebig. He believed that vegetarians were incapable of prolonged exercise as a result of poor nutrition, and lacked a sustainable source of energy. We know both of these statements are entirely incorrect.

Around 200 years later, we are in the midst of a dietary renaissance in which nutritional sources are challenged ethically. Morality aside, top-level athletes are abandoning meat eating in favour of plant-based diets in light of a reinvigorated field of research into nutritional application in sports.

Roman gladiators, believed to have been some of the most elite technical fighters in history, were predominantly vegetarian. This was not necessarily as a result of restricted access to meat, but more likely that fighters could consume more calories and necessary proportions of protein, fat and carbohydrates more easily on a plant-based diet.

One cup of cooked lentils, for example, contains as much protein as 3oz of beef or three large eggs.

A whole host of professionals such as Mac Danzig, Carl Lewis and Scott Jurek, champions in their

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Design by Neil Connor

respective disciplines, have adopted plant-based diets during their career, either for training purposes or as lifestyle changes. Nate Diaz, a proudly vegan fighter in UFC, has had a successful career with 21 wins and 11 losses. Most notable of those victories is undoubtedly Connor McGregor; McGregor, a carnivore, boasts a high animalbased protein diet in the lead up to his fights.

Consuming two steaks per day in the nine days leading up to his fight, McGregor tore the vegan fighter to shreds in the verbal confrontations that preceded the fight, using Diaz’s nutritional regime as ammunition. Diaz accepted the fight with just 11 days’ preparation time when McGregor’s planned opponent withdrew. It was clear, however, that during the fight McGregor lacked the stamina to compete in the later rounds as a direct result of glycogen deprivation. With both athletes in prime condition (arguably McGregor in better shape due to longer preparation time) the battle was won in the kitchen.

Protein is primarily comprised of various combinations of 21 amino acids. There are 11 non-essential (the human body produces them naturally) and 10 essential (the body does not and they need to be consumed through

SCIENCE + TECH

food). Although more essential amino acids are commonly found in a single source of meat it is entirely possibly to consume them from a wider variety of vegetables. A common misconception of training is that protein consumption is the key to everything. Contrary to belief that plant-based diets lack protein, studies have shown that on average herbivores on uncontrolled diets regularly consume 70% more than the required amount of protein.

Contrary to another common belief, on average more than 50% of a carnivore’s protein intake is derived from plant-based sources.

If not monitored, an excess of protein in a diet can promote glycogen deprivation (not enough sugar from carbohydrates to act as fuel) as protein is a poor source of, and no replacement for carbohydrates as fuel. Although protein promotes muscle recovery and is certainly a factor particularly when increasing mass, carbohydrates are essential for the body to function optimally, regardless of strength, power or endurance training.

Carbohydrates are also crucial during recovery, and act as a complex source of fuel for the body to function and recover. However, studies have shown that animal-based products actually hinder the body’s ability to repair optimally.

Inflammatory products such as heme iron (iron only found in meat), cause inflammation in the musculo-skeletal system, not only hindering recovery but also restricting endothelial function

(blood reaching working muscle tissues). Studies have shown that 1mg of heme iron per day can increase the risk of CHD (coronary heart disease) by 27%. A standard hamburger contains almost 4mg. Reduced endothelial function is commonly the result of plaque in the arteries restricting blood flow, increasing blood pressure and risk of type 2 diabetes and CHD. A plant-based diet is the only nutritional solution to not only maintaining, but reversing the damage caused by blocked arteries.

Long-term, a balanced plant-based diet has been shown to reduce blood pressure, cholesterol, and the risk of heart disease.

Also contrary to locker room legend, soy does not contain oestrogen and will not hinder muscular growth. In fact, it contains a hormone called phytoestrogen which, when introduced into the body, acts as an oestrogen blocker. This reduces and limits the amount of oestrogen the body can absorb. Red meat particularly contains high levels of oestrogen in comparison to plant-based foods.

In a study comparing two natural bodybuilders on opposing plant-based and animal-based diets it was found that the carnivore experienced far higher levels of oestrogen.

Amidst the on-going war between the “moral superiority” of those that sport a plant-based diet and the general nutritional ignorance of meat eaters, science will always prevail, and knowledge is essential to human development.

Words by Jack Hunter

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SCIENCE + TECH

Sex Robots are Here: The Future of Desire

Sex robots are so hot right now. The sex toy industry remains one of the fastest growing industries of the 21st century, and in a recent survey, over 40% of men said they could imagine buying a sex robot in the next five years.

Robot brothels are popping up around the world, and the world’s first sex robot with artificial intelligence (AI), named Harmony, even has her own Tinder profile (reportedly matching with dozens of men within hours). Some are now

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Illustration by Nico McLaughlin

arguing that we’re witnessing the transition of sex-tech from novelty to another feature of our technologically enabled environment.

Sexuality, when described as a human need, and a force by which our social fabric coheres and unravels, merits careful attention within an evolving technological landscape. In the case of humanrobot interactions, the emerging role of sex robots has awoken public interest, sparking discussions and debates around robotic design, societal norms,

SCIENCE + TECH

and the status of human-robot relationships.

Sex robots are nothing new. They are part of a long history, as revealed in ancient myths, early literature, and archaeological and historical records. Scholars and historians argue that humans have long been fascinated with amorous relations with inanimate objects.

Today, in the midst of rapid changes in AI development, and increased demand, there is a need to consider the ethical problems of sex robots on cognitive and emotional behaviour.

One of the ethical implications that accompanies the widespread use of robots is the potential for reinforcing harmful gender stereotypes. Harmony’s physical appearance emulates widely held stereotypical expectations of women’s beauty, with large breasts and a small waistline. Studies show that the hypersexualised portrayal of women in media is causally-linked to sexual harassment, and an increase of violence towards women.

According to Harmony, her main objective is to be the perfect companion for her user. However, sex robots have no opinions, no likes or dislikes, always submit to their users, and are unable to refuse or revoke consent. This distorts ideas of what a female companion’s role ought to be and could influence the expectations of male users in real life. Understandably, feminist scholars are concerned that the way robots are programmed could have adverse impacts on the way male users practice consent in their human sexual relationships, and even catalyse maladaptive behaviour such as aggression.

Sex robot design ranges dramatically from lifelike works of artistry to the mechanical, crude, and tinvoiced. From industry-compiled customer reports, researchers know that users are predominantly male and that they turn to these technologies for a variety of reasons, from sexual experimentation to coping with loneliness. Skimming quickly through scholarly philosophical works, questions quickly arise: What is love? What defines sex? Could human beings fall in love with machines? Should they?

What do we perceive as implicit sexism? Should it be illegal to produce childlike sex robots?

Sex robots are marketed as advanced sex toys and sex dolls with artificial intelligence, but they’re a far cry from the humble vibrator.

In August, the first exploratory survey was published, exploring the attitudes of sex therapists and physicians toward the therapeutic benefits of sex robots.

Female therapists, older therapists, and psychologists were particularly critical regarding the therapeutic use of sex robots. Only a year earlier, it was reported that there is no evidence to suggest sex robots provide health benefits.

Sex robot production is almost exclusively catered to the needs of heterosexual men - an ever-consenting sexual partner over which the user has full control. Research shows that men exposed to violent pornography are more likely to behave violently towards women. While some users are besotted, acts of violence towards sex robots have been observed around the world over the past few years, with incidents of decapitation, mutilation and molestation.

“Sex robots have no opinions, no likes or dislikes, always submit to their users, and are unable to refuse or revoke consent” Sex robots are gaining a remarkable amount of attention in current discussions about technology, and the future of human relationships. No doubt, this article offers more questions than answers, but the debates are interesting nonetheless. We know sex robots reinforce harmful stereotypes about women’s bodies or their roles, but the extent of this is still unclear. What’s clear is that the importance of sexual consent should not be underestimated - the future of intimacy shouldn’t be bleak. The way sex robots are currently programmed is obviously problematic: encouraging the pornification of women, and devaluing consent.

Larger views about relationships and society, not simply understandings of sex robots themselves, should be a matter for more research and thus frame future work on the ethics of sex robots. Think outside the bot.

Words by James Dale

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NEXT MONTH’S THEME: LEAP

WHAT’S ON? 9 - 20 DECEMBER

11 DECEMBER

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25 JANUARY

27 - 31 JANUARY

31 JANUARY

Semester 1 Exam Diet

Chinese New Year

Winter Market

Global Week

Pop-Up Book Fair in MONO

RAG Charity Ceilidh