for students, by students issue 104 - new years ‘24
The scary bits about fourth year, graduation stress, leaving friends and the big job hunt
Celebrating Doctor Who's 60 years anniversary - why it is still an engaging, much loved and appreciated show. Adaptations plants had to go through to survive (color, shape, etc) and how they are a crucial part of our survival
Dear reader, we hope you don’t stress too much about mid-term assignments but manage to relax and enjoy the first signs of spring. The days became longer, the weather - sunnier and warmer, and the first flowers bloomed. So put sneakers on, take your sunglasses and a copy of the Magdalen, and enjoy the sunrays creasing your skin while sitting outside.
This issue is a special one as we welcome on board Afia and Luna, our new Creative Directors. We wish them good luck and we are excited to see what wonders they’ll create.
We are stoked to be the new creative directors. Whew! What a ride it has been. Picture this: Two rookies diving head first into the wild world of the Mag—yep, that was us, but man did we learn fast. From hours of editing and compiling to last minute design tweaks, we poured our hearts and souls into this issue.
And you know what? Seeing our baby out here in its glossy glory is pure magic; it was all worth it!
Here’s to many more late nights and crazy ideas. We couldn’t have asked for a better crew to share this journey with.
Feature
End of Life as We Know It
6
Arts & Entertainment
A Seasonal Bookguide
For 2024
There but for The Grace of God Go I: Shane Mcgowan and Stigma
The Hunger Games Renaissance: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
16
Creative Writing
Things That Were Hers Stronger Than Diamonds Dumped I Awake
The Ocean and the Land
24
Current Affairs
Victor Orbán VS the EU
The Scott-Heron Doctrine
28
Society Spotlight
Dundee Univeristy Dance Club
Self Defence Society Lifestyle
34
Science & Technology
40 Society Spotlight, Lifestyle
Opinions
Student Representation Is Cool, Not Cringe
Sex Ed? What Sex Ed? Keeping Up with The Magdalen
(Art)Ist: Separating One from the Other Never In Vain
Science & Technology
The Force Through The Green Fuse
Nature's Art
That title might seem a little dramatic, but that’s exactly what this feels like. My Boxing Day was spent not stuffing my face with chocolate and watching The Big Fat Quiz of The Year as it should have been but sitting at the kitchen table with my head in my hands as my mum picked through my CV and cover letter format with a fine-tooth comb. That’s right, I’ve now reached the dreaded second semester of fourth year. Because apparently dissertations, exams, finding a graduation outfit that’s the perfect level of modestly formal and not too warm for June, figuring out how to say goodbye to my wonderful uni friends, and society commitments aren’t enough, I now need to figure out how to survive as a SAAS-free grown up. Many of you are in the same boat, refreshing that LinkedIn jobs page to find the perfect position without really knowing what that perfect position is (or if they need you to fill it). It’s time for us to support each other as we enter *shudder* the job market.
We’ll start with the now: dissertations. It feels like just yesterday we were making fun of the fourth years getting annoyed at first years chatting in the silent section on Dunfess. You know what they say, “you either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain”. If you’ve already handed your dissertation in, good for you, I guess. If you haven’t, stop procrastinating by reading your favorite student magazine and get pen to paper! In all seriousness, this is a very stressful time even for the most organized students. Remembering that you picked that topic thinking it would be a joy to write makes you curse your past self, and each “one more episode” seems absolutely fine until you notice the deadline creeping up on you. Studying in the library rather than at home is always helpful, especially if you go with friends who can hold you accountable.
Would you rather be in the pub? Of course. But the libraries on campus are a fantastic resource and you may as well make the most of a quiet space where everyone else has their heads down too. Before you forget what sources, you’ve been using, get a Word document started with book titles and page numbers or links to articles and statistics so that you can easily transfer them to your school’s referencing style and slip them into the footnotes. Referencing is usually seen as the ‘easy bit’ which can be taken care of right at the end, but it definitely won’t feel that way at 2pm on the day of the deadline when you have fifty-seven references and none of them are written down anywhere. Not to be *that girl* but I’ve found that exercise helps me manage stress, a walk or a trip to the gym with tunes pumping makes me feel like a whole
new person when I come home and open my laptop once more. Another favorite is reading and writing things related to my degree but not my dissertation to remind myself that I really do love studying and I really do love this type of work. That way it’s totally detached from the horrendous bundle of notes and documents that I’ve accumulated, but just related enough to show myself it’s not really all that bad. And hey, if you feel like screaming into the abyss for a while then maybe there will be an event catered to just that (keep your eyes peeled!).
Maybe I’m starting a little early on the job hunt, but I’m type A to the point where I’ve had a (quickly crumbling) plan in mind since I was twelve. In my defense, 82% of graduates enter into employment or further studies within a year,
and I’m a little bit terrified of being part of the 18%. A lot of graduate schemes and programs recruit between August and October, so there’s still time for one last fun summer before you have to wear a suit and express yourself with “fun, quirky” socks. And even if you don’t go straight into a career, it’s not like all the jobs in the world are going to disappear as soon as you have a little scroll. When you’re ready, you can get stuck in and find that job which makes Mondays fun. Checking out what is out there, through job sites or the University’s Careers Service, or your school’s careers fairs or expos might help you get an idea of what options you have after this academic year is over. As well as what you can do to put yourself in the best position possible. This step is optional if your dad is the CEO of a FTSE
100 company, in which case please let him know that your best friend Roshni has a great work ethic and is incredibly passionate about the work that his company does. And if he needs an intern then she also makes a great cup of coffee, cheers.
Now, the CV. My S4 Maths teacher told me to put a “fun fact” on mine because her daughter said that she could milk a cow and she got a load of interviews because people were curious about her cow milking experience. I gave that a go, but I think people might be more interested in odd and mildly irrelevant agricultural skills in Dumfries and Galloway than they are in big cities. Having a list of work experience, qualifications, and a summary of who you are is also maybe not the best way to do things either, but talking about your responsibilities and everything you have learned
in each previous role and what you bring to the table through a funky layout is a better way to make yourself stand out as the shiny, perfect applicant.Selling yourself on a bit of paper is hard without feeling like you are just bragging, but if you are caught up on this year’s The Apprentice, you may be able to distinguish saying that you are “hardworking, passionate and dedicated” from having “beauty, brains, body and business.”
This last semester feels like the perfect time to overexert yourself with endless commitments. This might be the last time you can go to a pirate and fish themed social, the last time you can whine about how much work you have to do with your friends whilst sipping a toasted marshmallow mocha in the union, the last time you can say “I’m a class rep” whilst it still holds a little... gravitas.
As I found out when I found myself cancelling on a pub quiz because of a sore throat and a headache, you have to know your limits. Of course, I’m not telling you to halt all your fun plans, but finding the sweet spot where you still have time to study or just sit around and do nothing for an evening will make sure that you are actually having fun rather than just going out because you feel like you should.
Maybe these friendships won’t last forever, maybe you will all grow into totally different people in totally different parts of the world, and maybe that is okay. University is a time for us all to become new people, but it would be silly to think that growth stops when you walk across the stage and get tapped on the head. It’s not an easy thing to get your head around, I found out
about my high school best friend’s engagement through Instagram and, when I texted her to say congratulations, I got a “thank you so much! Who is this?” as a reply and I was genuinely shocked that our lives were no longer intertwined. This then prompted the realisation that the same will probably happen again four years post-graduation. It sucks, and the only piece of advice I really have is make friends with people who have kids so the kids can call you “auntie” or “uncle” and then they’re stuck with you forever (I hope you’re listening, George and Eshar, this is forever). A message in a group chat once in a while for a check-in can help to keep you caught up, plus checking what they’re up to on Instagram Stories or BeReal will make sure that you’re not totally out of the loop.
In a perfect world, everyone would stay in touch forever and ever, but it’s easier said than done. Be thankful for the people who helped shape you from the timid young fresher to the legendary graduate you are about to become, and for all of the memories you collected along the way.
Saying all of this makes me sound like I have it together. Whereas, in reality, I have no clue where I’ll be a year from now. I’m just praying it won’t be back in my parents’ house (partially because my room is now used for storage, and I no longer have a bed). So, if you’re in the same boat, I promise that you’re not alone.
It seems like once upon a time, firsts were easy to get, and a job was guaranteed post-graduation - we missed the cut by about 25 years. Call me an optimist, but I believe that we’re all going to end up just fine; maybe without the big heart-shaped pools and wine cellars that we dreamed of, but we’ll be fine. I’m hoping that all of you have security, comfort, and happiness in the future, and when you look back with fondness on your university days that you’ve forgotten the caffeine fueled all nighters in the library and that everyone else has forgotten the time you vomited on the bar in Aura.
What better way to start off the new year but with a fresh reading list! I am going to recommend some of my favourite seasonal reads that I have enjoyed over the last couple of years. I have never really believed in the power of adjusting your reading choices to the season you are currently in, but I am beginning to see the appeal of it.
In the darker winter months, I tend to reach towards books which will make me excited about the dreary and cold weather. If We Were Villains or classics like Little Women or Wuthering Heights are all great reading choices for when you are stuck inside. I want to talk about If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio in more detail. If you have read The Secret History by Donna Tartt, the plot might appear familiar to you, as it did for me. It follows the story of Oliver and his friends Alexander, Filippa, James, Meredith, Richard, and Wren at the Dellecher Shakespeare conservatory. They are isolated in their “Shakespeare bubble” as their whole four years of study are centred around portraying characters of various Shakespeare plays. On Halloween, the group is supposed to perform a few scenes from Macbeth but when James is cast in the lead role instead of Richard, a fight ignites and leads to a tragic outcome. Someone is held accountable for the crime and ends up in prison, but is the imprisoned student really guilty? From the very beginning of the novel, Detective Colborne asks himself the same thing and thus reawakens the past.
In the spring, I tend to gravitate towards novels which intensify my yearning for the upcoming summer days and my desire for warmer countries. The Turkish-British novelist Elif Shafak has thus become a great favourite of mine, particularly her book titled Three Daughters of Eve. The novel follows the story of a middle-aged housewife called Peri who is married to a wealthy man. One day, as a thief attempts to steal her handbag, a polaroid picture of three women and a professor falls out of it. This incident triggers memories of Peri’s life as an Oxford student. Even though she has tried to repress them, these memories haunt her as she is sitting at a fancy dinner table with her husband in an Istanbul mansion. The author offers the reader a detailed insight into her struggles with the past and parallels it with her present life in Istanbul. There is something about Shafak’s stories always being set in Istanbul which makes me crave summer as well as wanting to travel there.
Last summer I read Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller whose title, in my opinion, already screams summer itself. Frances is on her deathbed when a mysterious vicar tries to make her confess something… The story turns to her past and we learn that towards the end of her thirties Frances lost her overpowering mum. During that depressive period, she is sent to a grand house in Lyntons to archive its architecture. Surprisingly, the house is inhabited by Cara and Peter, who seem tied to each other by an unknown past traumatic experience. Having passed out in their bathroom after dinner, a strange bond commences, and as Frances learns more about Cara’s past she starts to idealise the couple. The back-andforth between past and present builds up a suspenseful atmosphere, and the unnamed vicar who tries to bring the sickly old woman to confession adds to that overarching ambience. The setting is also perfect for a summer read: hot summer days warm up the abandoned house and its beautiful garden.
To end off my seasonal book recommendations I had to include Babel by Rebecca F. Kuang. In this novel Kuang transports the reader back to 19th century Oxford, to the highly prestigious Royal Institute of Translation situated in Babel. The story begins with Robin Swift who is an orphan from China. There, he is “discovered” by Professor Lovell who brings him back to England and adopts him as his own son. He wants to see Robin succeed and become one of the best Cantonese into English translators. At first, although confronted with racism daily, he feels at home and welcomed by his new friends. However, soon enough Robin realises that the Institute of Translation holds a lot of power, and that the deals that are made aren’t necessarily for the good of mankind. When he is approached by someone who pretends to be his brother, everything changes. Be ready to enter into an academic yet shady world full of mystery, suspense, and latent racism, which Kuang uses to criticise society.
Happy reading!
CONTENT WARNING: DRUG ADDICTION
In November, House of Commons leader Penny Mordaunt said, “The SNP’s legacy will be for young people to have a safe, warm place to take heroin.” Of course, it is not millionaire MPs who succumb to addiction. Rather, it is you and I: regular people; rich or poor; conservative or liberal; atheist or deeply religious. One such example is the late
“McGowan wore his convictions on his sleeve: poetry meditating on shattered hopes, love and loss”
The Pogues’ frontman Shane McGowan. Most people know that McGowan wrote and performed a Christmas
song and that he struggled with addiction. However, less documented is his devout Catholicism or his deeply held Irish nationalist politics: how McGowan, born to an Irish émigré family in Essex, dreamed of the Emerald Isle. Seldom mentioned is the groundbreaking music of The Pogues, heartwrenching ballads of despair merging punk and Irish folk.
It is commonly stated that addicts lose their personality and all they can think about is the next fix. McGowan wore his convictions on his sleeve: poetry meditating on shattered hopes, love and loss does not typically come to mind when thinking of Christmas music. And yet:
Kirsty McCall: “You took my dreams from me, when I first found you.” McGowan: “I kept them with me babe, I put them with my own. Can’t make it all alone, I’ve built my dreams around you.”
Familiar to most Brits, these lines haunted me through heartbreak and hardship well into adulthood. Likewise, Dirty Old Town by The Pogues will resonate if,
like me, one has a complex relationship with the place they call home:
“I met my love by the gas works wall, dreamed a dream by the old canal. I kissed my girl by the factory wall. Dirty old town. Dirty old town.”
In 2022, there were 1051 drug deaths in Scotland - we lead Europe by more than double. The recent approach taken by the Scottish government, inclusive of injection sites, has reduced overdoses to their lowest over a period of 5 years. It takes a callousness beyond words to see over 1,000 dead and jot down a pithy one-liner. As a society we still treat those who succumb to hardships as less than us, as morally defective. I will leave you with the words of the late Shane McGowan:
“We walked him to the station in the rain, we kissed him as we put him on the train. And we sang him a song of times long gone.
Though we knew that we’d be seeing him again.”
Design: Douglas Pascal
With the world around us becoming increasingly dystopian and a new prequel movie titled The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes released in cinemas last year, the Hunger Games franchise has experienced a renaissance and a massive surge in popularity. Discussions about the series’ prominent critical themes and memes, including the infamous and omnipresent Josh Hutcherson Whistle edit, have governed the internet for the past few months. The written approval and praise from the author of the series, Suzanne Collins, further fuelled excitement for the movie, turning the odds in its favour.
Set 64 years before the events of the first Hunger Games movie, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes explores the complexities of human nature through the moral downfall of 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow, the main villain of the original three films, as he becomes the mentor of District 12 tribute Lucy Gray Baird in the 10th Hunger Games.
The 157-minute-long movie drives through important plot points at neck-breaking speed in its attempt to adapt a 500-page book and is yet still forced to leave out much from the novel. The pacing issues become most apparent in the third act, which features a great tonal shift and leaves out many scenes
from the book to rush to a premature end. The movie feels overstuffed without enough time to fully explore all the fascinating themes and characters. However, despite the various changes and cuts made to accommodate the screen, the film remains an overall faithful adaption of the novel that encapsulates its spirit and core messages. The movie offers a worthy return to Panem with stunning cinematography, beautifully crafted set design, great visuals and gorgeous costumes that depict the formative years of the Capitol and Districts after the societal and economic collapse brought on by the First Rebellion.
The film features a stellar and diverse ensemble cast that gives wonderfully heartfelt and touching performances. Even the characters with minimal screen time become memorable. Broadway star Rachel Zegler’s angelic voice makes the beautiful original songs of the movie a true delight to experience while achieving the intended emotional effect. The actress truly embodies the role of Lucy Gray and nails the character’s effortless charisma, strength, and free spirit. The moral corruption and continuous ambivalence of the protagonist Coriolanus Snow, and his internal struggle between love and thirst for power are fascinating to watch unfold on screen, only enhanced by Tom
Blyth’s flawless performance. The story humanises the villain we know from the previous films and provides him with a brilliantly crafted backstory that adds depth to his character. It also gives the audience a better understanding of his motivations and reasons for his cruelty and depravity. However, due to the loss of his intimate inner monologue so prevalent in the novel, the character of Snow appears vastly more sympathetic. This turns the story of a cruel narcissistic tyrant into that of a romanticized tragic hero, unfortunately undermining and misconstruing the overarching message of the novel.
The film provides the Hunger Games’ oversaturated dystopian genre with a new tale of forbidden love and political intrigue that starkly contrasts its YA predecessors with a darker and more mature tone. It turns into a captivating and harrowing political thriller that unravels the true purpose of the Hunger Games. It also depicts the corrupting influence of unrestrained ambition and power and delivers poignant social commentary. This is highlighted by James Newton Howard’s epic haunting score that interweaves different themes from the previous instalments with the new soundtrack. The many original songs with Appalachian influences appearing in this movie do not interrupt the action but rather compliment the plot with their symbolism. Olivia Rodrigo’s outstanding ballad and empowering rebel anthem Can’t Catch Me Now closes the film with the message that hope and uninhibited freedom keep living on despite tyranny and totalitarianism, becoming the perfect motif of empowerment and elusive freedom that the movie celebrates.
Unfortunately, the movie simply did not have enough time to explore all of its critical, philosophical, moral themes and interesting characters. It barely gave the audience any time to savour its great moments before moving along to the next scene. By the end,
I found myself wishing for a longer version. This seemed odd as the movie was already over two and a half hours (the longest entry in the franchise). This feeling was shared by other fans who have created a petition demanding the release of the extended three-hour-and-forty-minute-long edition of the movie, already collecting over 30.000 signatures. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will hopefully keep the important themes and socially critical messages of the series alive, in the hope that, one day, we do not end up in a Hunger Games of our own.
rose tinted jam jar a black leather bag dusty prayer book wrinkles on hands virgin mary’s rosary pork-rind on bread glasses behind ears and silver-white curls at the back of the neck.
She looks like laughter in July, December nights by the fireplace, the first crocuses in March. Those flowers bloom in my grandmother’s garden even through the snow, a delicacy so resilient that they really must be stronger than diamonds. And there are diamonds in the moonlight, a million shards of it that shimmer over the lakes near the edge of town with the midnight sky in the background, a new coat of paint upon the enchanting image that I see in her eyes. I’d like to drive there with her, I can imagine it; a few other friends, some beers and good conversation that lasts until two in the morning, as deep as the ocean millions of miles away, but none of that will matter as long as I’m by her side. Then we’ll drive home.
On the way back, the range roads get a little too dark and you can’t see where the dirt road veers off into ditches of rainwater and dead branches. The type of drive where the only one awake in the car is the driver, and the strums of a tranquil guitar echo from the half-broken stereo. And she’s using her amethyst-coloured scarf as a pillow while she sleeps, and the end of it has fallen onto my shoulder, and oh, how I’m so grateful that at least my shoulder can be part of her dreamworld, where I like to, no, love to think that she slow dances with the angels on the cotton candy clouds of an easy life, one that I can almost picture if I could ever manage to keep my eyes shut for more than five minutes.
Words: Clare Havertape, Design: Joshua Harris
If I weren’t so scared of the nightmares that present in my sleep state, and if my eyes could actually remain closed, then maybe I could be with her in one of those dreams. Where her dreams are my dreams, but my dreams aren’t bad dreams. For once— if only chance could be on my side— for once. I don’t ask for much, really.
Only everything, with her in the center of it all, because she makes that dream a possibility.
I don’t ask for much.
“I’ve missed this,” Jay says as he pushes his paint roller into the tray. Music plays quietly from Lucy’s speaker, some upbeat tune he hasn’t heard before.
“Painting?” she jokes.
“Hanging out with you. I feel like it’s been months since we had an actual conversation.” He’s careful not to sound upset, or angry. Silence stretches between them for a moment, only filled by the soft music and the sound of their paint rollers.
They’re about halfway done with the living room. The previously beige walls are now covered in a navy blue and, in combination
with the white furniture, Jay can’t help but think the room looks awfully sailor-themed. It’s Lucy’s living room, though, so he won’t argue with her choice. Besides, the dark colour has the added benefit that it’ll only require one coat of paint.
“I’m sorry,” Lucy says eventually, voice strained. He pauses to look at her. “Hey, you know that’s not how I meant it. You had a lot going on. I’m just happy to see my little sister again.”
She nods, smiles. Jay watches her for a moment longer, taking note of the dark circles under her eyes, the hollowness of her cheeks. He hates that
someone as insignificant as Graham was able to hurt her like this. Hates even more that he didn’t catch on to what was happening earlier.
With a deep breath, he tries to push away the guilt and resumes his task. They paint side by side as the shadows grow taller, and Lucy occasionally hums along to one of the songs. It’s hours later when they take a proper break, sitting down on the ground with a pack of crisps between them as they catch up on each other’s lives.
The conversation comes to a natural pause once the pack is empty. Jay crumples it, then goes to throw it out. When he returns, Lucy is staring down at her hands, a pensive frown on her face. There’s dirt under her nails, and one of them seems broken.
“Is it stupid that I miss him?”
“You were together for a long time,” Jay says reasonably. As he sits down beside her, he places a hand on her shoulder, squeezing softly. “And not all of it was bad, right? It would be much weirder if you didn’t miss him.”
“I just wish I didn’t waste so much time. Months of my life feeling miserable, for what?” She shakes her head. “I should’ve broken up with him long ago. Then it wouldn’t have ended like this.”
He can’t exactly disagree with that – if Lucy had left that bastard sooner, Jay doubts he would’ve received a frantic phone call at one in the morning asking for his help. He knows well enough his sister can take care of herself. It’s never been an issue in the past.
But Graham, he wore her out, gradually. Jay recalls the first time he met the guy. His too-firm handshake, his grating laugh. The way his eyes glinted when he looked at Lucy, how he’d placed a possessive arm over her shoulders, pulling her closer than seemed comfortable. But she’d seemed happy, content even, so Jay hadn’t questioned it. Not even when her visits became less frequent, not even when
she took days to reply to his texts. One day, Jay woke up and realised he hadn’t seen her in over six weeks. When he tried to call her, it went straight to voicemail.
“What matters is that it ended,” he eventually says. “And that you’ll be okay.”
She wraps an arm around his torso, pulls him into a side hug, before taking a deep breath and letting go. The plastic covering the ground crinkles as she stands up and goes to pick up the bucket of paint. “Come on, these walls won’t paint themselves.”
It takes approximately another hour before they’re done with the living room. They had to switch on the lights when the space became too dim, the sun that previously illuminated it through the window slowly setting. A cold breeze slips through the gap of the windows, but Lucy argued against closing them – better to be a bit cold than to get a headache from the fumes. Jay stands in the middle of the room and slowly turns to admire their work. Not bad.
Lucy calls out from the hallway, “you’re staying over for dinner, right?”
“As long as you’re paying!”
He doesn’t need to see her to know she’s rolling her eyes. “Only because I owe you for last night.”
Huffing out a laugh, he steps towards the wall closest to the kitchen. They began their work on this spot, so the paint has long dried. He puts a hand on the wall as he inspects it closely. Not bad at all. There’s no trace left of the dark splatters that stained the wall last night. The floor, being tiled, was easily cleaned, but the same couldn’t be said about the rest of the room. When they drove out to dump Graham, Lucy had to say goodbye to one of her side tables as well, much to her chagrin.
Jay smiles. Maybe tomorw they can shop for a new one.
Lethargy haunts her. She hurkle durkles every morning, listlessly meandering away from reality, her mind sifting through hours of content while her eyes turn red from the brightness of her screen. Politicians, memes, and dance crazes flash through her consciousness on an endless loop.
“Avoid everything. Don’t approach the day. Carpe diem? I don’t speak Latin, sorry.” She must seize the day sometime. Her nature requires it. Ambitions and needs must be fulfilled.
“Not right now. The duvet is too comfy. And it’s cold out there.” There is a warmth that waits. A shinier place. An afternoon time filled with friends and pleasant study and tea and the knowledge that dinner is happening soon. The sunlight will beam through the windows at golden hour, and it will feel fantastic.
“Sounds great. Can I sleep in till then?”
What are you trying to avoid?
“Responsibility? Duh? What else? If I get up, I’ll have so much stuff to do mate, and it’ll be all hard and complicated. Here is just sleep. Just blankie. No thought.” You can never stop thinking, not even now. You’re thinking about some of these videos you’re watching. You don’t really care about most of them, but the ones you do care about are making you feel less sleepy. The music is making you want to dance. The views people are filming are sparking wonder into your heart. People’s words are inspiring you to try new recipes and plan new walks and donate to important causes. Why are you resisting going outside and starting your day?
“Because this battle feels easier right now than anything I’ll face out there.”
Why?
Is it kind to keep yourself from what you really want to do? You say you want to stay in bed, but the only thing stopping you from getting up is fear.
“... People? And like, things and stuff? I hate things and stuff. In here, it’s just me.”
“I don’t know how to stop this feeling.” You can’t. You just have to accept it, instead of giving into it.
“I suppose that makes sense. Will you give me a hand up then?”
On the count of three. Are you ready?
I’m up. My feet thunder down the old hallway and the door handle clunks. Before long, I’m in a room talking to people I know and people I don’t, making noise and taking up space. Aye, it’s scary, but it feels good to be out.
Once the ocean touches you, you are wet and salty for days. In this city, it feels like the ocean is reaching for you nonstop, extending her long, weathered fingers through the grid streets and hills. She leaves her cloudy breath close to the land, casting a layer of cold and damp that somehow feels welcome between the gaps in the concrete. She forces sedimentary gifts towards the land, leaving them piled in the place where sea meets earth, but is unwilling to part with the best treasures. Those remain firmly in her fluid grasp. What she chooses to release from the surf are damaged in some way; fractured sand dollars, broken shells, or every so often, a confusing formation that feels like it wasn’t meant to see the light of day. Even the ocean makes mistakes. In her depths, she hoards secrets she won’t allow anybody to see, not out of shame, but more out of self-preservation. She is more protective than her counterpart. Once I thought of the land in relation to the ocean, I realised that the ocean was never really reaching towards me in particular.
The land gives in willingly to the ocean, allowing sea currents to carve shapes out of her, bracing herself for when the wet breezes blow her more fragile configurations apart. The land constructs to be deconstructed. She will spend thousands of years building, just for her own entertainment, and does not mind when the ocean comes along and dismantles her project, a noble feat. She takes it as a sign that the project is truly finished when her lover comes and takes it apart. They communicate in their own special ways, sometimes sending critters to exchange whispered words, or growing gardens for the other to tend to.
Sometimes they argue over what belongs to who… are the amphibians really creatures of the water? Is sand really part of the earth? Whose jurisdiction are lakes? Rivers? Volcanic islands and underwater trenches?
When these disagreements get out of hand, the ocean will tear out her hair and leave it slung across beaches in a forceful expulsion of water. The land will shake parts loose, creating rock tumbles and mudslides, self-destructing in her anger. But they both know, deep down, that ocean and land exist in everything, and it is futile to dispute over something so frivolous as possession. For as long as they have existed, they’ve shared a canvas.
Even in this city, you can forget the ocean pretty easily. I’ve found myself forgetting; when I’ve been deep in the thicket of trees, when working with the soils and the dirt, the hills like a makeshift seawall. When I’m buried in my work, the thought of water doesn’t cross my mind once. But I’ve always been reminded when the evening fog comes rolling in. The ocean hates to be forgotten.
The ocean and the land love to be touching, and they are not shy about being seen together. At every edge, the tides act as proof of their love song, fingers interlocking, bodies of water and land crushing against each other. They’ll let the tectonics do their job, run magma through them like blood. Every so often, the ocean will retreat in a way that lets the land settle in the dent she leaves behind. The land always treasures this gift, and makes the most of the space, although sometimes she misses
the ocean’s crystalline touch. She knows that the ocean, while interpreted by many as the epitome of mutability, doesn’t give up her territory without reason. That’s why you find formations in places you wouldn’t expect. There are islands that are thousands of miles out, floating in a plain of seemingly endless water, beaches that inch out further every year.
Coming to the city was a blind decision, one made based on ideas and fantasy, no roots in the ground and my head in the clouds. I’d never lived anywhere but the ground floor before, and I felt unsettled at first, knowing the scuttling beneath me was more than insectile. There are more than just roots and fungi that move below a 6th floor unit. In this city, the ocean and the land act as one. While the land considers the city one of her finest constructions, she still lets her lover into it, through canals and streams, through fog and waterlogged breezes. She lets her lover in deeper here than at most of their intersections, allowing the formation of a system of bays much further inland than what is typical. The ocean is gracious about this, she remains tentative and shallow, not daring to plunge too deep. However, the land encourages her to be dynamic, and so she will reach upward in some regions, and burrow deep down in others. In the end, it is all about balance.
Of all the countries in the European Union, Hungary undoubtedly has the closest ties with Russia. This is reflected in the country’s effort to block a €50 billion aid package supporting Ukraine’s war effort. The Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, vetoed the proposal at a summit in December. Many analysts have predicted that Ukraine’s ability to continue fighting against the Russian invasion may be severely compromised, should the aid package not be delivered in time. Data from the Ukrainian Finance Ministry predicts impending expenses of $81.3 billion. This includes the maintenance of social services as well as military costs.
In January, information from a leaked document published by the Financial Times revealed plans to deliberately target the Hungarian economy in order to undermine investment and stall economic growth, much of which relies on the EU in Hungary’s case. A potential suspension of funds from Brussels intended to economically weaken a member state would represent an unprecedented step in using its economic weight to secure desirable outcomes. This would serve as a threat to Hungary, encouraging them to get in line with the rest of the bloc or face severe financial repercussions.
Among the leaders of the various EU countries, Viktor Orbán has served the longest. Under his leadership, the Fidesz Party has managed to enact constitutional changes, tightening its grip on power. While Hungary’s political institutions remain independent, the party narrative
is ubiquitously communicated through its control of the media. This makes a prototypical example of an “illiberal democracy.” Another point of divergence is Orbán’s negative view of immigration. In the past he has linked mass migration with terrorism and expressed a desire to “keep Europe for Europeans.” For these reasons, Orbán has often been seen as something of an outlier among European leaders.
“A potential suspension of funds from Brussels intended to economically weaken a member state would represent an unprecedented step in using its economic weight to secure desirable outcomes.”
However, undoubtedly the most significant difference is Orbán’s lukewarm relationship with Russia, and more specifically Putin, as opposed to the frostiness of other western countries’ approaches. As well as vetoing financial aid for Ukraine, Orbán refused to support Ukraine and Moldova’s efforts to join the EU. He additionally opposed sanctions against Russian fossil fuel exports. While Hungary has provided humanitarian aid for Ukrainian refugees, and provided them with safe passage into other countries, Budapest’s more diplomatically grey approach to Russia puts it in a unique position
internationally. It remains to be seen exactly what approach will be taken by the other members of the EU bloc in response.
TThe Doctrine of the late Andrew Breitbart states: “Politics is downstream from culture” and that to change politics one must first change culture. A co-founder of HuffPost and the founder of Breitbart News, racist comments in the latter eventually forced the former to disown him. He died a hero of the right and media pariah in 2012, before his doctrine became widely accepted. The site which bears his name would go on to become synonymous with reactionary journalism and culture war clickbait.
The 2010s were a time of politically conscious media and backlash. Rightwing outrage at video game culture set off “GamerGate” in 2014. Racial biases were addressed at the 2016 Oscars with #OscarsSoWhite. ‘Conscious’ horror and drama films took over cinema. In 2016 Buzzfeed told us the: “12 Ways You Can Support The New “Ghostbusters” Movie Against The Hate Campaign.” The Marvel Cinematic Universe was both held up and derided as a slap in the face of the stale, pale, and male. Conservatives led boycotts of products as varied as Nike, Target, and Crunchyroll LLC over inclusivity. The Award-winning series The Handmaid’s Tale lit up the small screen with Margaret Atwood’s anti-feminist dystopia.
So, it continues into this decade: Podcaster Joe Rogan has established a successful network of ‘anti-woke’ comedians. These
individuals (of varying talent) sell out shows internationally and are largely unknown to liberal audiences. There are right-wing alternatives to Facebook, GoFundMe, and Wikipedia; and liberal alternatives to X (twitter.com). The right has tried to create a reactionary alt-Hollywood since the early 2010s with little interest. So, the success of the right-wing blockbuster Sound of Freedom last summer led me to ask some difficult questions: Is America about to get a far-right President; believed by some to be a messiah saving trafficked children? The answer is no, it already did.
Andrew Breitbart was a lifelong conservative activist who spent much of his life as an open reactionary. His site remains a hotspot for far-right thought and fake news - a legacy of hatred and poor judgment. Is it a stretch to say he might have wrong-footed the modern right? The latest attempt at reactionary cinema is a transphobic sports drama produced by The Daily Wire called Lady Ballers. Is it likely to spark a moral panic about trans women in sports? No, it - like Sound of Freedom - was sparked by a moral panic around its subject.
Look closely and you will find the inverse of the Breitbart doctrine is often true: Culture is downstream from politics. Take the Ellen Show, the mythos states that it normalised queer women to the average American viewer. Is this more plausible than decades of campaigns for equal rights
leading NBC to feel comfortable hiring a lesbian? Did President Obama listen to Kendrick Lamar’s 2015 album ‘To Pimp a Butterfly’ - one of his favourites - and immediately cut the budgets of America’s militarised police? Of course not. Did 2019’s Parasite cause him to declare capitalism a carnivorous beast which must be contained? No, he probably said something like “Sure sucks to be those guys.”
Brands do not work with transgender TikTok stars to normalise queer people. They do it because trans people are already normal to the new generation. They would like to sell more products. Pulling at this thread may sound pessimistic - perhaps it is, but it can be liberating. I am in favour of inclusion because it makes marginalised young people feel less alone. But the media will not materially make them more included. Join a march, boycott a product enacting material harm - not one whose adverts you didn’t like. Read a non-fiction book. Fund a cause. It is not as easy as watching a film, that is the point.
Change the world and media will follow: Corporations - be they Hollywood studios, New York ad agencies or Silicon Valley tech companies - are not your friends. If the right changes politics first these ‘socially conscious’ brands will toss you under the bus. Let the right sell out cinemas with their swivel-eyed social media addicts. I hope they make one thousand tedious ordeals about Mormon action men; Adam McKay rip-offs about Hunter Biden and offensively unfunny sports comedies. It keeps them busy.
A now-dead racist once said: “politics is downstream from culture.” Perhaps if he knew his Gil Scott-Heron he’d know:
“The revolution will not be televised
The revolution will not be brought to you By Xerox in four parts without commercial interruptions…”
Nor will the revolution be produced by Disney, feature in Barack Obama’s endof-year list; or shill alt-medicines on the Joe Rogan Experience.
“…The revolution will not go better with Coke
The revolution will not fight germs that may cause bad breath
The revolution will put you in the driver’s seat.”
Dundee University Dance Club (DUDC) stands as a vibrant testament to the fusion of passion, talent, and community spirit within the university landscape.
As a completely student-run club, we take pride in being a welcoming heaven for dancers of all levels, from beginners eager to take their first steps to seasoned performers refining their craft.
With a robust membership of over 130 students, DUDC has carved its niche as one of the largest and most successful sports clubs at the university. Our primary mission is to provide a platform for all students to either continue their dance journey or embark on a new one.
An annual highlight on our calendar is the eagerly anticipated show held at the prestigious Whitehall Theatre. This event showcases our members’ diverse talents through captivating performances in various styles, including Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Ballet, Heels, Contemporary, and Hip Hop. Beyond being a stage for artistic expression, the show fosters camaraderie among members and offers an opportunity to connect with peers, family, and the public.
Socialisation is a key aspect of the DUDC experience. Weekly socials, Winter Ball, Family Night, pub quizzes, and club nights cater to a diverse range of interests and preferences. The club’s vibrant social calendar ensures there is always something for everyone, fostering an inclusive environment where friendships flourish.
DUDC doesn’t just stop at performances; we also have competitive teams that participate in events across the UK, spanning Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, and Hip Hop. For those seeking a more flexible dance experience, our club offers weekly one-off classes in various styles and a technique class to refine existing skills or acquire new ones.
As part of our commitment to social responsibility, DUDC organizes fundraisers and events to contribute to meaningful causes. In this vein, we are thrilled to announce our annual ‘Take Me Out 2024’ event on February 15th at Duck Slattery’s. All proceeds raised during this event will be donated to ‘Coopafeel,’ a breast cancer awareness charity dedicated to promoting early detection.
To be a part of the rhythm and joy that defines Dundee University Dance Club, grab your tickets for ‘Take Me Out 2024’ through our Instagram page, @dundeeunidanceclub. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for the latest updates, and feel free to drop us an email if you have any questions. Join us, and let the dance unfold!
Have you ever considered learning a martial art that could actually work in a real-life situation? Well, we are the Self Defence Society (SDS) and we train to do exactly that!
On Tuesday and Thursday evenings, from 6-7:30pm in Bonar Hall, we train both fun and valuable self defence skills, which are based around various martial arts, in particular the Indonesian martial art Pencak Silak. Our instructor(s) teach and train essential self defence techniques and maneuvers which, even if never used, aim to provide our members with the appropriate skillset should such a scenario arise in real life.
By becoming part of our society you would not only learn ways to defend yourself, but you would also be learning a new physical skill which can help you stay both physically and mentally healthy. After all, what better way to destress after a long day of studying and classes than by practicing punches, kicks and slaps on your friends and flat-mates –when provided with pads of course!
We also host several socials throughout the year, including fortnightly post-
training catch-ups where free pizza is provided when you buy a drink courtesy of our sponsor The Giddy Goose! We are a small society which makes getting to know us much easier and we are always very happy to welcome new members! We offer Annual or Single Semester memberships, so if you missed out on self defence last semester, do not fear, we’ve still got you covered for this semester! If you would be interested in joining the society then you can find all the info about sessions, memberships,
merchandise, socials, and more, on our social media pages, or alternatively drop us an email or simply come along to a session.
Absolutely no prior self defence knowledge or ability is required, so we would love to see you at any of our upcoming training sessions!
Check us out at @dundeeunisds on Instagram or DUSA Self Defence Society on Facebook
If you were educated in the UK, chances are your sexual education was just as lacking as mine. I never received one. The most I was told in my Roman Catholic primary school was that women could get pregnant and experience menstruation monthly. When I went to secondary school and didn’t receive any sex ed there either, I complained. After having talked to the senior teaching team of the school about my annoyance at the lack of any formal sexual education, still, nothing was done. Subsequently, due to the lack of education a lot of people receive about their bodies, sex and what an unhealthy relationship looks like, they are left vulnerable to sexual abuse without knowing it.
Sexual education is lacking in every aspect, but I have found that it is particularly absent when it comes to the vagina and ‘female’ genital and reproductive systems. Are you hesitant to say the word vagina? You’re not alone, as 65% of young women have problems saying words like ‘vulva’ and ‘vagina’, according to a report carried out by The Eve Appeal (a London based charity dedicated to addressing gynaecological cancers). One of the nerves that runs through the pelvis and gluteal region and is also associated with the numerous vaginal nerves is called the pudendal nerve.
This is derived from the Latin word pudor which means a due sense of shame and modesty. Additionally, the collective term for the pubic mound, vulva and the clitoris is the pudendum. For those of us who don’t speak Latin, this translates to the part ‘to be ashamed of’. As far as the Terminologia Anatomica (international anatomical dictionary) is concerned, there is no equivalent for the penis. The hypersexualisation of women has resulted in an age which makes it practically impossible for people with vaginas to self-advocate when it comes to issues concerning their own bodies when their anatomy is shrouded in shame and repugnance. People are avoiding cervical smears in shame, teens are requesting labiaplasties and it’s all reinforced with painful IUD insertions without any painkillers because “The pain of the cervix and uterus is very complex” (Dr Tanouye, California). So, how do women overcome the shame instilled since birth? The answer: comprehensive sexual education.
According to the Sex Education Forum report - Relationships and Sex Education: The Evidence - published in 2022, the schools that received comprehensive RSE compared to the control schools that didn’t, saw a 60% decrease in sexual and physical violence perpetration with the four year follow up, along with a 25% decrease of psychological abuse. The programme also found that it significantly decreased rape culture by targeting misogynistic attitudes about rape and sexual assault. With results like these, you’d be thinking that the Department of Education would be jumping for joy and rushing to implement education policies. Seemingly not, as more than 50 Conservative MPs wrote to Rishi Sunak declaring “children are being indoctrinated with radical and unevidenced ideologies about sex and gender”. I hate to tell the powers that be, but teenagers will learn all this, and more, one way or another. One of those ways is pornography. A survey done on British schoolchildren aged from 14 to 18 found that one in five surveyed had said that they had a habit of watching porn, and one in ten said they felt addicted. Another study carried out on porn habits among British teenagers found that many of them were likely to look to porn for ‘what to do’ as school education primarily focuses on subjects like contraception and abstinence. This issue is only exacerbated with adolescents who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. Queer people are alienated at the best of times, but when they are not included in the already lax education system, they just become bigger targets for bullies. The Stonewall Institute found that 45% of LGBTQ+ teens in school were bullied for being queer.
Instead of looking at possibly violent and misleading films and videos, teens should be able to rely on the education system as a safe learning environment in which they will not be taken advantage of and are supported by a qualified adult with a PVG. Children and adolescents shouldn’t be made to feel shame about their bodies, sexuality or gender identity, as doing so only opens them up to possible abuse and confusion down the line. Having trusted adults to talk to who aren’t your parents will increase teens’ chances of being fullyfledged adults with a healthy relationship with sex and romantic partnerships. Letting imprudent and outdated thinking get in the way of the health of future generations is not only dangerous (look back to the HIV & AIDS pandemic) but inane and hinders any chance of overcoming rampant societal problems such as rising levels of rape and sexual assault.
It is said, on the Department of Education’s page on the Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) page, that this curriculum is mandatory, yet many school kids are not receiving this teaching. There is a lot to teach and many to teach to, and some may want to avoid teaching teenagers about sex. However, RSHE should be made a priority as it leads to healthier exchanges with sex and relationships, and thus a healthier population.
Hey everyone we hope you've all had a fantastic winter break! Here's a bit of what your favourite Magdalen team got up to!
Do you have opinions about this uni?
Have you ever complained about anything? You would love the student rep system.
Look, maybe I’m a bit biased. I’ve been involved in student representation for most of my uni life, from Class Rep to School President of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Law (the new combined school). I have opinions and I want to make change for the better. That’s why I ran in the DUSA Elections last year to try and do some good to this Frankenstein’s monster of a School, and this uni that I love so much (but also kind of hate sometimes).
The problem with student representation is that nobody sees the good it does. It gets written off as cringe, annoying, a waste of time. You ignore your emails about elections, or if you do vote, you don’t read the manifestos. You vote based on vibes, who’s best looking, or who was least annoying when they approached you outside of the library in their election-branded hoodie.
I get it, genuinely. I’ve done it too. When I was in first year, I just voted for whoever I liked the look of. I paid absolutely no attention to what the DUSA Executive, School Presidents, or the SRC got up to. But when I did start paying attention, I saw the amazing things that can happen when people put the work into these representative roles.
Breakfast Club and Pantry? Student rep. The Gender, Sexuality, Culture module in Humanities? Student rep. Changes happening within your modules themselves? Student rep.
Take a second to have a think. Is there anything about this uni you’re not happy with? Written a Dunfess post moaning about the state of things? Had a great idea to fix these things? You should think about running for election.
“You should think about running for election.”
Give this just a few minutes of your day. Go on the DUSA website and read about what the Exec, School Presidents, and SRC do. This is a huge chance to make a difference and be a leader – so please, put yourself forward and make some cool things happen. Plus, even if you don’t win, you get a free hoodie.
Have you ever found yourself enjoying a song, a piece of art, or some other media, and you excitedly hurry to share with your friends, only to be hit with “why do you like them? They’re cancelled”?
This phenomenon is becoming more and more apparent as those people – whom we shouldn’t really idolise as, let’s be real, humans are inevitably bound to disappoint – let us down by being generally awful. Racism, homophobia, inappropriate “jokes”, and all kinds of accusations have become a staple background for most prominent figures. At this point, it feels like we get less and less surprised when these come to light.
Still, sometimes it hurts when they do. That song that you once loved leaves a bitter taste in your mouth, and every playlist in which it lies becomes a minefield for awkwardness when the shuffle button is pressed and you’re connected to the aux.
However, has this stopped us from indulging? Has it
made us remove them all from our playlists? I don’t think any of us can put our hand on our heart and say that their music library does not feature at least one somewhat problematic individual. I’m focusing on music here (make no mistake this same issue is found across all realms of creative output), since it is a central bonding point for different people to share their interests.
My best friend Cindy –“hello Cindy” – has quite an interesting taste. I will not go into specifics as to out her to the whole university through this issue, which she cannot control, but I will say that she enjoys a few artists that can divide nations – if you were to check their Wikipedia, you’d be hit in the face with the number of controversies they have been in.
Azealia Banks is a prominent example here. She has had beef with many celebrities and other notable figures, including the whole nation of Ireland somehow, and yet there’s just something about her music. The groups she
has made digs at or used offensive language towards, notably the LGBTQ+ community, make up most of her fans. Of course, her
community herself. It does, however, rouse the greater topic of the ‘line’; where do we draw it and who decides?
This has the issue of morality written all over it. If we are to decide that one action is bad, at what point is it unforgivable in the sense of showing continued support? What if our lines are different? Morally, you would say that cheating is bad. And yet, it is not necessarily common to hear people say “oh, I do not listen to Jay Z because he is a cheater”. There is then artists like Ariana Grande, who is now notably labelled a reoccurring homewrecker. Recently, she has been getting a barrage of hate online, with people picking apart her new and undeniably problematic relationship. It is yet to be witnessed if her new releases will be impacted by this situation as a whole. Climbing up the ladder of morally questionable actions, or rather a hefty leap up, you get to violence. Tory Lanez has recently been locked up for shooting the foot of Megan Thee Stallion, and yet whenever the conversation arises online, a barrage of “free Tory” comments clog up all discourse, as well as accusations that she was lying despite him actively being convicted.
These comments do not stand alone, as of January 2024, Lanez is sat at a whole 2 million more listeners than his victim. On a similar note, there is of course the Chris Brown incident that I am sure we are all aware of. Today, although heavily chastised for his actions, and rightfully so, he is still going viral for songs, he is still being nominated for and winning awards, all while he is still being accused of domestic violence from women he has been in relationships with. Need I not also remind you the disgusting passing around of Rihanna’s face post-attack throughout the internet, where many mocked her and her situation, in amongst the sympathy and hurt we felt for her?
With these past two examples, the victims have been mocked and put down so that the celebration of the male artists feels more validated. People need to find a way to make themselves feel better about their crappy behaviour.
And so, what had started with a look into separating art and artist has become a deeper look into, as with most things, the underlying misogyny of the matter. To most, “yes – you can separate art from artist, as long as they are a man that I respect, like Kanye”. God forbid a woman does something of the same.
preferences and opinions and personality) and your body (your physical bits) are inextricably linked. Does it not, then, make sense to make caring for this vessel an issue of importance?
say ‘I still feel like a kid’ as we creep towards our 30s, we are admitting that discordance.
Something so integral to the way we experience the world ought to be respected, though it is not always easy to do so. There’s something soothing about taking time to move, to groom, to purposefully grow and improve your physical being. Both out with and within our control, the body is a labour of love and necessity. Do the work, take a walk.
I have been struggling from childhood to feel at home in my body. The dissonance between Me and the physical being the world knew me by was painful and numbing. I became so lost in the dissociative sauce that I stopped taking care of myself, which really did not help. I’d like to say it’s a unique experience, but don’t we all feel disconnected sometimes? Even when we
And yes, everyone and their unlicensed therapist has told you to go take a walk to help your mental health. I am also tired of hearing it; the advice, however, is annoyingly sound. Whatever you can manage to improve your physical health- brush teeth, practise deep breathing, stretch, drink wateris another way that you can practise aligning You with your body.
This is all sounding a bit gym-bro/yogi/ crunchy/hippy, but I do want to stress that I find intentional care to be deeply healing in my daily life- and I am not a granola girly (catch me at it one day, hopefully, but at present I’m too messy). Being mindful and taking a lot of pride in maintaining my physical body has been a source of difficulty and joy. Many times, it’s been a welcome distraction from the less tangible stresses in life.
Unfortunately, we exist as physical beings in society and that leaves us at the mercy of social scrutiny. One’s physical appearance comes with the weight of other’s opinions, which can further complicate the relationship of Self and body.
Here, in this jarring separation, I see opportunity for aesthetic care as reparation
Scrutiny complicates the relationship between You and your body. Both the act of caring too much and too little about appearance is frowned upon. Where one person might see a burgeoning narcissus, another might see an artist whose medium is themselves. People extrapolate whatever is they like from the stimulus before them, and in doing so make some sort of decision about who You are. So, now you exist as You, your body, and whatever their impression of You is based on your body. Within the noise, we lose some understanding of our Self; it’s easy to know who you are when you are the only one who has a say, less so when there’s conflicting impressions.
As such, taking control of one’s appearance by whatever means feel appropriate reclaims part of that autonomy. We cannot directly change someone’s mind regarding our appearance, but we can influence their assumptions by curating what it is they can see. In a simple example, we can choose to show another person whether we are a member of a group or not by wearing
branded clothing. This can also be an exercise in personal preference.
When we commence this process of selfdesign, we consciously consider what aspects of our internal being we want to display, or indeed conceal. This can be affirming, as with representing ourselves as a particular gender, or purposefully distancing, as with putting on a costume for the purposes of theatre (or perhaps to inspire confidence).
That we can have the freedom to express ourselves according to our own preference is itself something to be celebrated and not taken for granted.
I have found the task of reconciling Me with my physical being to be a challenging one, far from complete, but the slow progress towards that goal has been self-affirming. I return often to a line by Kahlil Gibran who tells us ‘Work is love made visible’, and I believe that the work we do to keep ourselves healthy and express our internal
(Title inspired by Dylan Thomas’ poem, “The force that through the green fuse drives the flower”)
In January, the outside world can seem very bare, quiet and grey, but we’re not the only ones with New Year plans, and the outside world has big goals. Spring is coming, and a lot is going to change.
A birch tree up in Balgay park is already hinting at its plans: it spent late last summer forming dark, sharp buds. They’ve been kept safe from the frost and winds and contain a stock of energy and moisture to burst into life when the longer days arrive.
In the face of storms, assignments, and seasonal depression, these little hints of
coming green can bring a small shock of joy, and are a reminder that the days are getting longer and warmer, and the flowers will be blooming soon.
The coming spring isn’t quite so relaxing for plants, though. From their perspective, it’s an arms race. First to bud burst is the first to photosynthesize, first to sunlight, sugars, and energy. They want to beat their neighbours, but can’t jump the gun: if they rush into bud burst, they risk losing those delicate leaves in another cold shock, or waste all that new growth on a series of dark, hungry days. Buried in the
ground as they are, they can’t crawl back into bed with another jumper to hide from the cold. Instead, they have to listen carefully and adapt.
In fact, many flowers which bloom in spring need a winter period first. Take for example snowdrops, which require a vernalisation period before pushing out from the dirt. Throughout autumn, an important gene called Flowering Locus C stops plants from blossoming too early. This gene can only be switched off by folding the DNA too tightly for it to be read - a form of epigenetic modification,
that depends on a long, cold period! This happens slowly, which means an unusually warm winter day won’t trigger flowering.
Spring growth requires all the right conditions: water, nutrients, sunlight, and heat. The internal circadian clock has to tick just right. Internal vascular systems - the xylem and phloem - must regrow, to repair cold damage and enliven new tissue.
When we think plants are sleeping, they’re in fact listening very carefully, and preparing for war.
With the winter snow melting and the sun’s emergence on the horizon, the world slowly awakens, bringing more colour as the spring season starts. Plants sprout and first flowers bloom; this annual spectacle is due to nature’s phenomenal resilience and renewal capabilities. This is all achieved thanks to millions of years of evolutionary adaptation.
Plants have evolved to produce an astonishing array of colours, from beautiful deep greens to vibrant reds and blues. Not only that, but they also emerge in a spectacular array of shapes and sizes; these adaptations that plants have developed are vital for their survival and growth.
Arguably, one of the most recognizable and essential is chlorophyll. This green pigment, found in leaves, captures sunlight, the ultimate source of energy for the plant. This process, termed photosynthesis, uses that energy to transform carbon dioxide and water into energy-rich sugars, providing nourishment. As it happens, the process also produces a waste product, essential for our survival: oxygen! Carotenoids, responsible for the yellow, orange and red undertones in flowers and fruit are crucial for attracting pollinators and animals, as well as protecting the plants from sun damage through a process called photo-protection. Anthocyanins, responsible for the deep blues and purples, also perform a similar function.
The various shapes plants can grow into provide yet another example of their incredible survival tactics. While some plants have a frequent supply of water, others needed to adapt. Take cacti for example; they possess specialised structures for water storage, and their waxy coating minimizes water loss in hot climates. Their sharp leaves also serve an excellent defence against animals. Other plants, such as vines, can twist and turn, adapting to any shape. These adaptations are extremely environment specific, the features carefully crafted to aid in survival.
While some adaptations are permanent, many others depend on the season. The flowers bloom and fruit ripen just in time for specific animals to disperse their seeds and pollen, ensuring continuous survival of the species. While the evolutionary changes keep taking place, one thing is certain: this cycle of renewal has continued since the beginning of time. And as long as the sun continues to rise every morning, this cycle will continue.
Editor-in-Chief
Roshni Baillie
Dep. Editor-in-Chief
Mariya Georgieva
Creative Directors
Luna Jezzard
Afia Zaman
Lilian Truong
Website Manager
Benjamin Arthur
Managing Editors
Rachel Goodman
James McLeish
Katherine Donaghy
Patryk Dybalski
Daniel Somoghi
Senior Feature Editor
Bronte Chalmers
Alexander Stewart
Afia Zaman
Ariane Legradi
Marie Pape
Phiphi Tran
Emma Vind
Publishing The Magdalen is published by Dundee University Student Association (DUSA).
The gorgeous Cover Art for Issue 104 was done by one of our amazing Illustrators; Phiphi Tran!
17th March
St. Patrick’s Day Party, AURA
Get ready to paint the town green at AURA
8th March
Dundee Women’s Festival: Weemin in Science, Verdant Works
6th March
15th March
Imagine a Man
Building positive masculinity with young people, Unit 2, ScrapAntics
Dundee University Dance Club’s Annual Show, Whitehall Theatre