Issue 37 - October 2013 by The Magdalen

DUNDEE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ MAGAZINE • ISSUE 37 • FREE

WHAT’S ON: ARTS IN DUNDEE

AUTUMN FASHION GET KITTED OUT FOR THE COLD

WARHOL AT MCMANUS GALLERIES

GTA V THE GAMES YOU’VE MISSED

SUPPLEMENT

MYTHBUSTERS

MILEY

She Cant Stop

CONTENTS

October 2013 On the cover...Miley shocks again at the VMAs

Art

Features Modern Masters In Print

Miley Cyrus Supplememt Myths

What’s On? Cult Classics

7 10

Travel

10 Things I Wish I Could Say To My Professor

Fashion

Gulmarg; Skiing India

Hitlist

German Cities

Editor’s Picks

Travel Inspired By Movies

Fashion Rebellion

Lifestyle

Tartan

Entertainment

Pumpkin Pie Recipe

Perfect Night Out Quiz

How Not To Be THAT Friend

GTA V: The Review

Current Affairs

Games You Missed While You Were Playing GTA V Bands Of The Month

Societies

Syria Intervention

Swing Dance

Fracking

Battle Of The Societies Booze Cruise

EDITOR’S LETTER Danielle Ames

never thought I’d be proud to edit a magazine with Miley Cyrus on the front cover. But I am, and prouder than ever. Can you vaguely recall last Tuesday about 2.15 am, being elbowed out of the bar queue by a frazzled looking blonde in sweatpants trying to order a double espresso? That was me. Glad we’ve met. Sorry about the bruises. It’s been adventuresome at its dullest. First off; freshers. Highlights include nicking Francis and Andy from Made In Chelsea’s leftover bottle of Grey Goose (being media has its perks), and the fire alarm going off in the middle of interviewing Naughty Boy. Second, A bloody well-done to DUSA Radio, and the exec, for hosting the 55-hour radio show. Proud to say I was an avid listener for all 55 hours, some of the time at a lower volume than others. Later this month, we’ll be hosting Dundee’s own ‘Come Dine With Media’. Featuring the four media managers (the smart asses in charge of TV, Radio, Online, and The Magdalen). Check it out on DUSA Media’s webpage. I’m looking forward to serving my fellow media chiefs a buffet of dry cereal, and burnt water. In the meantime, stuff your brain with our cult classics (pg. 8), make up your mind about what actually matters (pg. 16), and perk up your wardrobe with our fashion commandments as essential as no double denim (pg. 23). Hopefully you’ve noticed the magazine’s facelift and it proves to be a bit easier on the eyes. A grand old thanks to our ace team, you’ve smashed it yet again.

Editor in Chief

Danielle Ames Deputy Editor

Harrison Kelly Online Editor

Felix Reimer dusamedia.com Features Editor

Alice Harrold Arts Editor

Juliet Wright Current Affairs Editor

Jalal Abukhater Fashion Editor

Claire McPhillimy Lifestyle Editor

Kate Lakie Societies Editor

Rebecca Shearer Entertainment Editor

Magdalena Pentcheva Travel Editor

Sarah Gardiner

Published by Contributors

Kirstie Allan, Sarasvathi Arulampalam, Lauren Brand, Ryan Brown, Rich Cahill, Maya De La Fuente, Abi Dryburgh, Lauren Jean Findlay, Paddy Fraser, Struan Fraser, April Gillespie, Lottie Haley-Lee, Stuart Irvine, Julie Kanya, Joanna Kolber, Alice Mendeleyeva, Leona Reid, Johnnie Scott, Idris Shafiq, Katharine Sharpe, Stine Tredop, Robin Van Mulders, Dominic Younger

Production

Danni Finlayson, Clare Hutchinson, Susie McGowan, Craig Morrison, Marina Munro, Alex Nicholson, Aileen Poe, Amie Porter, Stephanie Post, Becky Wright, Juliet Wright.

For many more articles, including updates from the VPE and VPSA, visit dusamedia.com

Zuchaela Smylie, VPCC DUSA, Airlie Place Dundee, DD1 4PH vpcc@dusa

Printed by

Winter & Simpson Print 16 Duninane Avenue Dundee, DD2 3QT sales@wintersimpson.co.uk

ART

MODERN MASTERS IN PRINT

Julie Kanya

Matisse, Picasso, Warhol and Dali, not a group that you’d think to find hanging out in Dundee. Surprisingly enough (though you won’t be meeting men themselves) you can see some of their iconic work ‘hanging out’ in Dundee’s beautiful McManus Gallery. Affectionately nicknamed ‘Dumpdee’ or ‘Scumdee,’ our misunderstood city continues to defy popular belief about our lack of culture by repeatedly bringing new and stimulating work to our supposedly dull senses. Some may say the city’s image is undergoing a bit of a revamp, what with the City of Culture bid and the impending arrival of the V&A. Yet art remains at the heart of the city and the McManus Gallery seems to be working ceaselessly to ensure this is the case, with many unexpectedly fresh and interesting exhibitions cropping up all over the calendar. If the DaVinci drawings showcased last year caught the attention of numerous art aficionados, and the rock photography exhibition made a splash on the indie artistic scene, this new display is bound to spark some interest in many different groups. Warhol’s iconic Marilyn Monroe shot is so engrained in

pop-culture that it’s recognizable from 20 ft away, but how many can take pride in having seen the original print? Well, now you could be one of them. This compelling collection also presents different facades of the giants of 20th century art. Picasso’s funny side comes across in a set of animal-themed prints so complex you won’t believe they’ve been created with just a little more than a pencil. Conversely, Matisse’s beautiful simplicity employs but a mere couple of lines to capture the delicacy and voluptuousness of the female form. And Dali… what else can be said about him that hasn’t been uttered already? Mad, visionary, outrageous, completely over-the-top, and yet somehow oddly sentimental, Dali’s labyrinthine art will continue to fascinate people for ages to come. His simple doodle of an owl gains menacing proportions, while the posters he created for the French Railway are such intricate collages

that they’d put a Photoshop expert to shame.

Running until the 17th of November, this exhibition, on loan from London’s V&A, is open from 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday, and from 12:30pm to 4:30pm on Sundays. The McManus Gallery can be easily recognised as the massive Gothic building dominating the city centre, and admission is free. So there you go. This exhibition is one not to miss if you want to become acquainted with some of the most emblematic artists that still dominate the century’s cultural landscape.

ISSUE 37

ART

What’s

ON?

This month’s guide to Art in Dundee Abi Dryburgh

Whether you’re new to Dundee and don’t know where to start looking to satisfy your insatiable art lust, or are just looking for somewhere to shelter from the inevitable autumn winds for an afternoon, we’ve got you covered for the month.

Splitzing, Georgina Starr, 2013

ISSUE 37

Georgina Starr; Before Le Cerveau Afflamé @ The Cooper Gallery

Hiraki Sawa; Lenticular @ Dundee Contemporary Arts

Georgina Starr, lauded multidisciplinary artist and member of the prominent Young British Artists movement, presents Before Le Cerveau Affamé; a new exhibition developed specially for Dundee’s Cooper Gallery. Comprising of a mix of ceramics, drawings, sculpture, photography, film and textiles, it promises to offer “a space for metaphysical transformation” that explores the “understanding of the self and its limitless biographies”. Between what is and what could be, the lines of fiction, memory and reality will be blurred. Starr is set to produce a film featuring six female performers within the gallery space over the course of the exhibition and there is talk of a live performance at the show preview on the 10th of October. This is the largest presentation of the artist’s work in the UK since 2002, so is definitely a cultural boon for the city and looks to be a must visit.

Hiraki Sawa’s animation and video works create a dreamlike world out of the everyday, in which children’s toys and household objects come to life within their own domestic landscapes. (It’s not nearly as twee as I make it sound.) For his new show at Dundee Contemporary Arts entitled Lenticular, Sawa has created a new video work inspired by Dundee, shot at Mills Observatory and revolving around one of the self-taught astronomers who works there. Other pieces include an imaginative animation made with the help of nine Taiwanese children and work exploring the uncertainty of memory, inspired by his friend’s struggle with amnesia.

“The exhibit offers an eclectic mix of artists”

ART The Permanent Collection @ The McManus Re:New – Contemporary Art from the Permanent Collection is an exhibition of selected new acquisitions from Dundee Art Galleries and Museums. Featuring a broad range of work by both Scottish and international contemporary artists, the show is split into two groups – works inspired by Dundee, and works inspired by nature. Personal highlights include two of John Stetzaker’s perfectly composed photo collages and Tim Knowle’s organic drawing made from the branch of a larch tree. The exhibit offers an eclectic mix of artists, with refreshing responses to subject matters that could easily be considered dull.

Trans - formations; Dialogues Between Art & Therapy @ The Hannah Maclure Centre Exploring the shared territory between counseling and art, Trans - formations: Dialogues Between Art & Therapy aims to raise questions about therapy, well-being, the language of research and how the personal creativity of counsellors can affect their work with clients. The pieces featured in the show are the result of participants being asked to visually represent what creativity means to them.

The Cooper Gallery Before Le Cerveau Afflamé (Right hand side of the DJCAD Crawford building, Perth Road)

11th Oct - 13th Dec Mon-Fri 09:30-17:00 Sat 10:30-16:30 Preview 10 October 17:30-20:00 (free)

The DCA Lenticular 5th Oct - 5th Jan 11:00-18:00 (free)

The McManus Galleries Re: New-Contemporary Art from the Permanent Collection

Open now - Spring 2014 Mon-Sat 10:00-17:00 Sun 12:30-16:30 (free)

The Hannah Maclure Centre Trans-formations: Dialogues Between Art & Therapy

(Top Floor of Abertay Student Union, Bell Street)

Now - 25th Oct Mon-Fri 09:30-16:45 (free)

Hiraki Sawa, Migration (2003) ISSUE 37

ART

TOP 5 NOVELS

TO READ WHILE STILL AT UNI Ryan Brown THE STUDENTS GUIDE As any self-respecting ‘High Fidelity’ fan knows, the best lists come as a top five. Many of your favourites have been left out for very good reasons. This includes ‘Life of Pi’, which I didn’t get past the first hundred pages; ‘A Secret History’, which is on my to-read list alongside half of the Hogwarts Library and both ‘Once Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ and ‘Fight Club’ because the films outshone them. What’s left? Well without further introduction, I present your top 5. 5. ‘Eureka Street’ by Robert McLiam Wilson You’ve just moved in to your new student flat only to accidentally call your one new flatmate Irish and the other one Northern Irish. Both are offended and neither speak to each other and you’re wondering what the craic is? Just what is potato bread anyway? Well this book, with a backdrop of the troubles, will perhaps answer some of your questions. Don’t worry it’s funny (most of the time). 4. ‘Franny and Zoey’ by J.D. Salinger I know what you thinking. Why not ‘Catcher in the Rye’? Stop

ISSUE 37

being a hipster. Well if you’ve made it this far without reading Catcher, it’s too late, you missed the boat. As a ‘young adult’ you’re too mature and you’ve outgrown angst. ‘Franny and Zoey’ does have almost identical themes but it’s written in the third person, giving it a more beautifully written narrative with a more reflective, adult tone.

book masterfully tells the tale of a young couple on their wedding night as it all falls apart around them. I felt every tug at my heartstrings, with a powerful lasting effect. It was an enlightening read as I struggled to pick sides. It highlights the lack of understanding and communication between genders, which is still relevant today.

3. ‘The Great Gatsby’ by F Scott Fitzgerald If you read it at school and you didn’t enjoy it, well you’re just wrong. Read it again! Yes, Daisy is infuriating but that’s no reason to banish it to the darkest corner of your dusty bookshelf. It’s a story of unyielding hope set against a backdrop of bleak greyness. Baz Luhrman’s film is worth a watch but it’s like ‘The Great Gatsby’ after a bottle of bucky. He completely missed the subtle tones which make this book an inspiring tale. 2. ‘On Chesil Beach’ by Ian McEwan McEwan was able to manipulate my sympathies with ease. This

1. ‘The Marriage Plot’ by Jeffrey Eugenides If you haven’t heard of it, you’ll perhaps know ‘Middlesex’ and ‘The Virgin Suicides’. This latest novel by Eugenides begins on graduation day as the three protagonists fail to come to terms with the big bad world, all the while dealing with their own classic love triangle. It’s particularly potent for anyone studying English Lit, who’s a sucker for a romance or who’s a Mr Darcy enthusiast. Personally I’m a Mr Rochester Man myself… As a fourth-year student I found it very apt but most importantly, it gave me that gut feeling you only get when feasting on the last few words of a truly great novel.

TRAVEL

GULMARG

The Beauty and Chaos of Skiing in India India may not be the first place that springs to mind for those in search of an action-packed get-away in the mountains, but for those seeking a true ski adventure, the swarming Alpine resorts can’t compete. Located in the northern region of Kashmir in the stunning Himalayas, the Indian ski resort of Gulmarg itself appears at first to be a somewhat unassuming place. Made up largely of buildings consisting of little more than a few planks of wood topped with corrugated iron roofs, the resort would not seem out of place in much of the rest of India, were it not for its mountainous surroundings and abundance of snow. The hi-tech ski jackets of the alpine resorts are here replaced by long, hooded cloaks of wool, whilst the 4x4s are scarce in contrast to the numerous manpowered sledges seen ambling around the resort. Upon arriving, it was at first unclear as to how we could go about obtaining equipment hire, for there seemed to be no establishments whatsoever offering a service of this sort. However, having sat down to a cup of chai outside one of the food stalls, we were soon able to obtain help

from a local who, like almost every other Indian we had approached with a query during our trip, had a brother who could be of assistance. I am unsure to this day if any official system of ski hire actually exists in Gulmarg. Having spoken to our friend, it became apparent that ski hire alone was not possible, that we would need to agree to the whole package, including his brother coming along as our guide. But for 1000 rupees (£10) for the both of us, we couldn’t really protest. A well-used but more than adequate gondola takes you to the top of the mountain, and it is here that the awe of the Himalayan landscape takes full effect. Having waited for our guide to finish his cigarette, flavoured with Kashmiri medicine for enhanced ski performance, we set off. It soon became clear that our guide was not in the habit of abiding by the motto “take the pace of the slowest individual in the group”, for he didn’t seem

concerned with the pace of any individual other than his own, which was somewhat more rapid than the both of ours. Though marked-out pistes were in short supply as it was, they were of no interest to our friend who instead took us down his personal route, incorporating the steepest and rockiest sections available. The best ski conditions of Gulmarg are not to be found until the beginning of January, when it is said that daily snow falls of over 1m are not uncommon. However, we visited the resort in midDecember and were still met with beautifully light and fluffy snow conditions. This, paired with many diverse and technically challenging route options, made for a truly excellent day’s skiing. The prospect of the mile long walk back to the centre of the resort had us a little disheartened until, in true Indian style, our friend jumped back into his skis, firmly grabbing hold of the back of a passing car. Following his lead, we cruised back to our hotel in style without a drop of sweat. As a skier who has been fortunate enough to experience India, I think I now understand why the sport of skiing and the country of India work so beautifully together. Aside from the phenomenal conditions and surroundings, it is simply that the two are both utterly and fantastically mad.

Johnnie Scott ISSUE 37

TRAVEL

a guide to

Germany’s Best Cities While Germany (unfortunately) isn’t on top of every student’s ‘must go’ travel list, it’s the seventh most visited country in the world. Germany qualifies as a great destination for anyone who likes sightseeing, shopping, clubbing, appreciates art and good food; So that’s all of us then! Here is a guide to four of Germany’s best cities.

ALICE MENDELEYEVA Best For History

Berlin Even though the Berlin Wall, separating the East and West of the city, was torn down long ago, the two sides still have very different atmospheres and are also architecturally very different. The remains of the wall are of course worth seeing and are now covered in incredible graffiti, often carrying political messages or satirical images, such as the “Brotherhood Kiss”. Germany’s capital city is a great place to explore because, no matter where you go, you will find something eye catching. If you want to go shopping, Kurfurstendamm Street is the place. For a perfect day of sightseeing, you could head to Tiergarten park, followed by the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe and finally arrive at the famous Brandenburg Gate. When you need to rest your weary feet and refuel, Alexanderplatz, located about 20 minutes from the gate, is full of lovely cafes and restaurants.

ISSUE 37

Best for Clubbing

Cologne The city that was almost completely destroyed during WWII is currently the major cultural centre of Rhineland. If you’re interested in modern art, Museum Ludwig is a MUST and if art from the 13th -18th centuries is more your thing, then visit the Wallraf-Richartz Museum. The enormous gothic cathedral in the centre of the city, located right beside the train station, is very beautiful inside and out and it is surrounded by many shops and cafes. Hohenzollernring is the best place to go if you fancy going clubbing as there are a lot of different clubs catering to every taste of music there. Don’t forget to take a walk along the Rhine River to end your visit. Best for Beer

Munich The capital of Bavaria, like many other cities in Germany, was rebuilt after WWII and is currently considered one of the country’s safest cities. At the centre of Munich is the Marienplatz, which is the town square, and you will find plenty of beautiful buildings nearby, including the New Town Hall and the stunning Frauenkirche cathedral. Located nearby is Kaufingerstraße, Munich’s main shopping street. And, of course, last but certainly not least, the 16-day beer festival, Oktoberfest, is undoubtedly Munich’s main tourist attraction and that takes place from the end of September to early October each year. Best for Shopping

Frankfurt Another city that had to be rebuilt after the bombings during WWII, Frankfurt is now the business capital of Germany. Main Tower in Frankfurt has two public viewing platforms from which you can enjoy the view of the city filled with stunning skyscrapers. Frankfurt, being a business capital, has plenty of cafes and restaurants, and is a perfect destination for any shopaholic (check out the main shopping area of Zeil).

TRAVEL

inspired by movies The very first time I watched Serendipity, the seed was planted. The dream of standing on a snowy New York sidewalk at Christmas time, ice skating at the Rockefeller centre, Christmas shopping at Macy’s, drinking hot chocolate at Serendipity cafe, having a snowball fight in Central Park... New York became my ultimate Christmas travel destination.

I imagine that people around the world dream of coming to Scotland after watching Brave, or London thanks to everyone’s favourite wizard, Harry Potter, and Ireland because of ultimate chick flicks, P.S. I Love You and Leap Year (Leap Year made Ireland look so beautiful it made ME want to go there, and I’m a native!)

I have to admit, movies have always been my biggest source of inspiration when it comes to planning trips. Last summer, visiting friends in the United States, I was given the choice between passing through the Grand Canyon or Las Vegas on our road trip. So I found myself thinking which is more important to tick off the bucket list, a breath-taking world wonder or fabulous Las Vegas? Of course, after re-watching The Hangover, there was only one option. I didn’t regret it for a second either, the city lived up to my every expectation and, although I didn’t wind up in a roofie-induced daze on the rooftop at Caesar’s Palace (MOVIE SPOILER!), I did have a lot of fun exploring the crazy city with my wolf pack. Furthermore, when I visited the Hoover Dam on the same trip, all I could think was “oh my gosh, this is exactly where Matthew Perry stood, when he declared his never ending love for Salma Hayek at the end of Fools Rush In”. (OK, I spoiled that one too).

“Movies have always been my biggest source of inspiration when it comes to planning trips”

So, at the end of the day, when you finally get there you may find your dream destination is not quite as you’d imagined from the perfect fictional setting in whatever romantic comedy you got the inspiration from. But I say, smile, embrace it and enjoy acting out your own story with even better adventures, main characters and happy endings.

So where to next? I want to sing and dance my way around Crete, like the cast of Mamma Mia, eat waffles and meet walruses in Hawaii like the lovebirds in 50 First Dates, journey to Middle Earth with the hobbits in Wellington, New Zealand, and go boating in beautiful Alaska, just like Sandra Bullock in The Proposal (and obviously have Ryan Reynolds take my hand in marriage while I’m there!) Unfortunately it works the other way around too. After watching Taken, I have no desire to ever go on a girlie holiday to Paris, thanks to The Hangover 2, Bangkok is off my bucket list and, after watching any horror movie ever, I will never stay in any sort of ‘cabin in the woods’ in America.

SARAH GARDINER ISSUE 37

INGREDIENTS: 1 PUMPKIN (LIKELY BE ON OFFER EVERYWHERE)

350G SWEET SHORTCRUST PASTRY £1.25/500G TESCO

140G CASTER SUGAR 99P/500G TESCO

1 TSP CINNAMON £1/40G TESCO

2 EGGS, BEATEN £1.35/15 EGGS TESCO

25G BUTTER, MELTED 98P/250G TESCO

175ML MILK £1.39/4 PINTS TESCO 10 ISSUE 37

Pumpkin Pie FROM OUR OVEN TO YOURS, SOME PUMPKINSPIRATION TO SPICE UP THE SEASON Cut open the pumpkin, scoop out the middle bit and bin all the seeds (or butter, salt, then roast them in the oven for a great snack). Chop up the pulp and place in a large saucepan, fill with water and bring to the boil. Cover and simmer for 15 mins, or until tender. Drain pumpkin and let it cool. Heat oven to 180C. Roll out the pastry and use it to line your tart tin. Chill for 15 mins. Once cooled, bake for 25 mins. until the base is pale golden and biscuity. Remove from the oven and allow it to cool slightly.

Push the cooled pumpkin through a sieve into a large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the sugar and the cinnamon. Mix in the beaten eggs, melted butter and milk, then add to the pumpkin purée and stir to combine. Pour into the tart shell and cook for 10 mins on 220C then reduce the temperature back to 180C. Continue to bake for 35-40 mins until the filling has just set.

Your perfect pumpkin pie is complete, have at it!

LIFESTYLE

Four Drinking Tips To Help You Not Be That Friend Joanna Kolber We’ve all got one. They’re the life of the party for half an hour and then it’s throwing up by nine and passed out by 10. Friends like these have the “Rocky spirit”, they refuse to stay down, and you’ll be the one who holds them up whilst they’re puking, crying, starting fights and texting their ex. Not even these impressive multitasking skills can make them fun to hang out with, and guess what... Sometimes, that friend is you! So luckily, we here at The Magdalen have some drinking tips especially for you.

1 Eating’s Not Cheating ‘Eating’s cheating!’ The cry of size zero models and students everywhere. Who needs a whole bottle of vodka when you can skip dinner and be drunk on half ? But, let’s be truthful, just between the two of us. You’re still going to drink the other half, right? Of course you are! Because once we start drinking we don’t want to stop. So, here’s your secret weapon: eating something before you start drinking, or during, will help absorb all that alcohol and greatly reduce your speed to complete and utter drunkenness… especially if it’s pasta or some other stodgy food!

2 Slow Down Your body can only deal with so much alcohol at one time, meaning it’s not worth drinking more than a certain amount all at once. All you’re doing is creating an awful airport departure lounge in your stomach, where everyone’s flights are delayed and everyone’s pissed off. And, like the Count of Monte Christo, when they finally get out, they’re going to f*** you up. Downing drinks and doing shots are the worst culprits. To find out your perfect drinking rate there are online BAC (blood alcohol concentration) calculators that can work this out, and there’s even an app for your phone. Unfortunately though, there’s no real easy way to make yourself stick to a slower pace, you’ve just got to suck it up and slow down.

3 Beware The Shots They seem like a great idea; you want to get partying and you want to get there fast, and that tequila bottle’s been giving you saucy looks across the bar. But here’s what really happens when you take that tequila slammer. High alcohol shots like tequila and Sambuca are actually absorbed by the body slower than other drinks. It takes

longer for them to pass through your body, meaning that they’ll take a lot longer to kick in. Fire back a few in quick succession because you aren’t feeling any immediate effects and you’ve just created a time bomb in that same airport departure lounge. So if you’re going to drink shots, the lower alcohol alternatives will probably get you drunk faster whilst reducing the danger of a ‘queue’ forming in your stomach.

4 The Classic – Tactical Chunder Maybe you tried the other tips, and maybe you didn’t, but despite all advice, you’ve managed to get indecently drunk and now don’t feel so good. You thought all that talk about airport departure lounges was just some weird metaphor I cooked up, but now your stomach feels like Heathrow with a baggage handler’s strike. As a last resort, a tactical chunder could be the thing for you! If you get it over with now, it could avoid a possible puke in an inappropriate place later on (i.e. down the front of someone cute, very cute). Keep it classy. Please Note: Side effects may include a reduced number of embarrassing photos on Facebook and a lowered number of regrettable one-night stands.

ISSUE 37

CURRENT AFFAIRS

SYRIAN INTERVENTION Idris Shafiq and Lottie HaleyLee weigh up the pros and cons of intervening action

ISSUE 37

The main proponents of Syrian intervention are exercising an air of moral duty to act on behalf of the Syrian people, representing their best interests. Last month, Foreign Policy published CIA documents which prove that, during the 1988 Iraq-Iran war, the United States knew about and supported Iraq’s military plans in using chemical weapons, including Sarin gas, to attack the Iranians and cause more devastation than Syria has ever seen. In President Obama’s weekly radio and internet address, he alluded to the immorality of using such weapons by saying, “they cause death and destruction in the most indiscriminate and inhumane way possible”. Yet the “indiscriminate” use of depleted Uranium in the 2004 Iraq war by UK and US armed forces responsible for leaving a legacy of cancer, as well as birth defects, 14 times higher than those seen at Hiroshima, was conducted with impunity. Official health reports documenting the

pandemic levels of birth defects in the region are also being stifled. Therefore, to believe the US and UK feel the need to fulfill their moral obligations in protecting the Syrian people from another chemical attack akin to the malice they had inflicted on the Iraqi people of Fallujah is simply naïve. Upon the same day of Obama’s weekly radio and internet address, an illegal drone strike conducted in sovereign Yemeni airspace killed six alleged “combatants”.

‘

resident Obama has repeatedly asserted that Syria “would not be another Iraq or Afghanistan”, insisting that intervention would be minimalistic and not involve “boots on the ground”, these substantive strikes would be designed strictly to “deter and degrade” the Syrian regime’s ability to gas its own people. Intervention to disrupt the regime’s ability to use its chemical weapons is irrelevant and unnecessary; it may as well further exacerbate the situation by contributing to collateral civilian deaths whilst also drawing Syria’s allies in Iran and Lebanon deeper into an already widening conflict. It is the superficial nature of this proposed action which remains to be the biggest issue, as intervention as aforementioned does not procure the rebels, the lesser of two evils, with a much-needed foothold to swing momentum in their favour to bring the conflict to a final conclusion.

It’s not a legal question - it’s a moral question

CURRENT AFFAIRS

The use of chemical weapons in Ghouta illustrated that the Syrian Government cannot live up to its duty to protect its citizens from crimes against humanities, expressed in the UN Resolution 60/1 (para 138 &139). Taking a strict literal interpretation of the paragraphs could provide a basis for the Security Council only, to promote military intervention. However, reading it in a more purposive manner, one could argue that since the purpose is to protect civilians, then its foundation has a moral obligation that could be used to promote intervention.

he question about going into Syria is not a legal question; it is a moral question. In 1993, over 180 states signed the Convention of Chemical Weapons. The Convention’s purpose is to prohibit the use and production of chemical weapons, as well as to promote the destruction of all chemical weapon arsenals. It’s not just about chemical weapons though, in the two weeks following the chemical attack, more people have died in Syria through the use

of conventional weapons. The situation in Syria is exacerbating tensions in surrounding countries. There is a lot of confusion about what it being suggested but it is NOT a full-scale war. The suggestion is some form of air-strike that poses very limited risks to the intervening countries’ troops. The intervention is not about getting a big stick out, it is about leveling the playing field. Yes it’s going to cost financially and will cause wide legal debate; but since when was

there a price on justice? Above all of this, however, is the basic humanitarian principle of helping and protecting. The victims may not be in our countries, but who drew the lines on the map? The West did. Just because a conflict is a thousand miles away from us does not make it any less of our business. If this were happening in Europe, there would be no question. There was ethnic cleansing in Yugoslavia in the 90s and we intervened to stop it. It is said that the only necessity for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. Why are the people of Syria any less important than our own? If this happened to our own countries and the world looked on and did nothing, would we not all cry for help?

ISSUE 37

CURRENT AFFAIRS

THE FRACKING

WAR W

ith America nearly into another gruelling winter campaign of anti-fracking organisations fighting multinational energy corporation on the gas line, the shale war has finally reached British soil. The trenches are being dug, maps of extraction sites are explored and activists are pitting themselves against scientists. This war is a clash of words, promises, misconceptions and figments of hope on both sides. The weapons are pickets and drilling leases. The target is shale, an abundant sedimentary fine-grained rock, which with using the right controversial technique; one can access large deposits of shale gas. This is a natural gas which can do so many things; power a nation for one. Fracking, in brief, is an engineering slang term; short for hydraulic fracturing. It primarily involves drilling an approximately 6,000ft to 10,000ft hole into the Earth, then using explosives and highly pressurised chemicals, fracturing the ‘shale’ sediment, thus releasing the gas back up

ISSUE 37

the well to use alongside other conventional forms of power. But what is it truly worth? Admittedly, within the sphere of politics and economics, shale gas will bring ‘energy’ security to the United Kingdom (in an ever threatening oil-scarce world of OPEC and the Asian Tigers). It may even mean that the whole debate over North Sea oil within the Scottish independence debate will become void. Alas, for some, the emergence of large scale hydraulic fracturing of shale means only one thing; the glimmer of hope for a new epoch of renewables has gone. The rainbow of sustainability will still shine but behind the blaze of gas wells, the pot of gold at the

Dominic Younger end of the dim spectrum will be a nodding donkey on the Pennines, drawing out of the depths one more lifetime of excuses not to fully commit to being green. For example, the slogan ‘No Dash for Gas’ used by Antifracking activists in Balcombe, Sussex, perfectly highlights the disgust at the rapid non-renewable U-turn. And according to the Green MP Caroline Lucas, this whole ‘fracking’ industry flies in the face of the UK government’s legally binding promise to cut carbon emissions by 2020. Fracking has already cost local harmony and may lead to more regional discontent.

CURRENT AFFAIRS

1. Hydraulic fracturing causes water contamination, 2. It is increasing climate change by producing vast quantities of methane, 3. Fracturing is causing earthquakes, 4. The entire process requires far too much water and, 5. It uses harmful chemicals.

warming (2), all processes almost inevitability accelerate climate change, but it hasn’t been shown that methane levels are rising exponentially. The use of water (4) isn’t so much an issue in Scotland or Northern England, with abundant lochs, glacial rivers, and the on-going water-cycle that continually permits the existence of life here. As for chemicals (5) and to re-iterate for (1), the Royal Society of Engineers has issued a review calling for extensive

‘

In answer to these, the scientific community is seemingly divided. But it has to be said in its defence, although allegations have been made of groundwater contamination (1), no court case has ruled in favour of such allegations. With regard to global

regulations on chemicals used. However, the one which always hits the headlines is (3), Seismic events which are part of fracturing the shale. But are they noticeable? This is still a grey area, but the 100 or so years of hydraulic fracturing experience has had no major earthquakes yet. All bark and no bite? Perhaps, but it can’t be underestimated the extent to which implementation of ‘fracking’ may cost us years of sustainability, and years of peace.

‘

ut what is utter frack and what is fiction? So far, this war has been fought with allegation and accusation. It is important to note that there exist five major fronts of attack:

This war is a clash of words, promises, misconceptions and figments of hope

ISSUE 37

YOU KNOW YOU Mayda De La Fuente

ven as September has come to an end, the controversy surrounding the VMA performance of artists Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke is still making headlines for feminist circles and student unions alike. Recently Leeds and Edinburgh University student unions, among others in the UK, have banned Thicke’s song ‘Blurred Lines’ from playing on campus, deeming it ‘sexist’ and seeking to ‘undermine and degrade women’ (The Guardian). The song’s lyrics have been branded ‘rapey’ and include gems like ‘But you’re a good girl. The way you grab me. Must wanna get nasty’, ‘I hate these blurred lines. I know you want it’ and ‘I’ll give you something big enough to tear your ass in two’. In an interview Thicke told GQ magazine that, ‘People say, “Hey, do you think this is degrading to women?” I’m like, “Of course it is. What a pleasure it is to degrade a woman. I’ve never gotten to do that before. I’ve always respected women.”’ The blurred lines between whether or not it is acceptable to ban music on university campuses is another controversy in itself.

ISSUE 37

WANT IT Fiona Curran, the Liaison Officer for Dundee University’s Feminist Society addressed this issue by saying that, ‘[a ban] represents a step towards making our student nightlife safer for those who may be triggered by the lyrics and everyone else. However, more industry wide change is needed to make pop music women-friendly.’ The issue of a ban has yet to be proposed at Dundee University. Whilst some university students have taken a firm stance on the message conveyed by ‘Blurred Lines’, feminists from the UK and elsewhere have slammed Thicke’s song in an alternative way by parodying its music video and lyrics. YouTube temporarily banned the New Zealand parody created by female Auckland law students, which featured nude men instead of women, as inappropriate before protests brought it back online. According to The Independent’s interview the group sought to expose, through a reversal of gender roles, the sexism shown against women in pop culture. Few can deny the double standard in banning the parody which continues to provoke discussions from around the globe on how sexist culture is created and enforced through media.

Thicke’s MTV Music Award appearance alongside former Disney star, Miley Cyrus, has brought further criticisms not only of his own song, but also of Cyrus’ bikini-wearing, tongue-exposing, overtly sexual performance. However, in another round of backlash, those quick to judge Cyrus’ act as perpetuating the degradation of women have been tagged as being sexist themselves for ‘slut shaming’ the singer, a phrase which refers to judging a woman for her sexuality. Facebook and Twitter memes comparing Cyrus to raw chicken and giraffes among other things have been shared extensively online. While more commentators have come to Cyrus’ defence after her provocative performance, the reactions to her pairing with Thicke seems to have had the most backlash. Fiona Curran said on this, ‘…Shaming her for her clothing choices, her body and her dancing is unfair and sexist.’ Understandably, Cyrus has fallen far from the Disney apple tree of media acceptability, but the complaints for being too sexual are very much undeserved. Much of these judgments have perpetuated the fact that we still live in a world filled with double standards for women which some people do not even see when making such criticisms. Thicke, who also took part in Cyrus’ twerking, is not nearly as criticized for his perceivably promiscuous behavior. Cyrus follows in the footsteps of pop icons such as Madonna, Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears for embracing their sexual influence through their music. Not that she can be compared to any of these karaoke favorites, but she has definitely made splashes in today’s feminist and pop culture discourses. She could in fact be argued to be taking control of her sexuality as a woman rather than degrading it, like her VMA partner. The question has to be asked, are we just being overly sensitive to a song performed by three married men with kids? Or can the fact that they are married dads do anything to change the message their song is giving? Really, there are no excuses for “Blurred Lines.” Its lyrics are comparable to the language of rapists and haunt those who have survived sexual assault. The issue that Thicke’s song itself was not a more controversial topic than Cyrus’ outfit says a lot about the gendered culture we live in.

FEATURES

SUPPLEMENT MYTHBUSTERS According to Forbes magazine, as a planet we spent 32 billion dollars in 2012 on attempting to enhance our nutrition with a combination of health supplements. Habits range from taking a tablet when feeling unwell to backing up workout routines with protein shakes. This industry is showing no signs of slowing down; supplements are no longer just for bodybuilders and health fanatics but are also becoming increasingly popular with ordinary people, especially students. Whether or not this development is a good thing is subject to debate. Katharine Sharpe and Stuart Irvine take a look at some common beliefs about supplements and what scientific research has to say about them.

Protein shakes are not just for pro-athletes these days and are now sold in regular supermarkets. All sorts of people are drinking them in the hope that the extra protein will result in extra muscle. The shakes are designed to pump you up for a workout and speed the movement of nutrients into your muscles, allowing you to exercise better and improve endurance. As well as the traditional uses like bodybuilding and repairing muscle and bone after injury, the shakes are now used by nonathletes who want to lose weight and live a more healthy lifestyle.

Vitamin C pills are often a ‘go to’ supplement at the first sign of the sniffles. This comes from the belief that if you catch a cold, you have a weak immune system and must be deficient of the vitamins and antioxidants that will help protect and heal you. Likewise, multivitamins like the Berocca or Tesco brands are sometimes seen as a healthy alternative to energy drinks; a combination of vitamins which will work together to keep you energised and make you and your insides happy.

Shampoos and other hair products with extra keratin and collagen are believed by buyers to contain naturally occurring proteins which the advertisers say will strengthen and add volume to their hair. Another example is anti-aging creams with added collagen. These products are aimed at the older market as a way to smooth and rejuvenate their skin. Makeup with ‘minerals’ is marketed in the same way and is seen as being better for your skin because the ingredients are more natural.

Vitamin Water’s brand of drinks have become very popular in recent years as a healthy alternative to drinking carbonated sodas. The company are so confident in their drinks’ health benefits that they advertise them alongside slogans such as ‘flu shots are so last year’. Similar to the vitamin tablets, these drinks are used as a tool to fight illness and boost your immune system.

ISSUE 37

FEATURES

1 2

Firstly, most of us have too much protein in our diet anyway. Secondly, there is no decent evidence to show that protein shakes increase muscle size or performance. Many shakes have a high level of protein and low one of carbs, however, a lack of carbs can leave you more at risk of muscle damage. Athletes need more energy, including protein, but you can only use a very limited intake of it so it’s safer (and cheaper) to adjust your diet instead. The benefit of the shakes could instead be gained from a glass of milk and a banana. Research has as good as proven that taking vitamin C tablets is useless against a cold. Your body naturally stores most of the vitamins you need for when you get sick. You have, for example, a three-week supply of vitamin C and three months worth of B12 in you at any one time. In order to help, vitamins shouldn’t be taken as a single dietary replacement but rather in combination with other vitamins. Eating a bowl of cereal instead will top up your main vitamin stores each day. The science behind beauty products isn’t worth the bottles they come in (which are usually extortionate!). Your hair and skin are mostly made up of dead cells and protein so describing them as healthy or unhealthy is a bit of a misconception. These products will only coat the skin and hair in oil to trap in moisture and make them look better. Often the ‘natural’ ingredients in makeup are not 100% natural and all skin products contain lots of chemicals. The best thing for your skin is not to coat it in makeup! Like with other vitamin supplements, there is no reliable evidence to support these claimed health benefits. Moreover, Vitamin Water is not just ‘water + vitamins’ as their ads say but also high levels of sugar, ascorbic acid and food colouring. If that doesn’t convince you that they’re not going to make you healthy then just remember that the brand is owned by Coca Cola. We must all be wary of what advertisers say about health. The small amount of pro-supplement evidence that does exist has mixed results and is often confounded by the subjects being aware that they have been given the product. It is the blind consumption of health supplements which highlights the worrying side to this popular craze. If you want the health benefits then it can’t harm you to know a little about the science behind them and therefore how to use them in a way which will actually help you.

ISSUE 37

FEATURES

I could totally make your lecture into a drinking game.

What is with all the cat pictures in your office?

The buzzword, a maddeningly repetitive catchphrase and once you’ve spotted it, there’s no going back. Whether it’s at the end of each and every sentence, or just slipped in there as a continuous trend, we all regrettably notice this phrase, and when we do, we can’t help but think if we had a bottle of vodka we could be totally be smashed by the end the hour.

You’re starting to look like Umbridge for goodness’ sake. It’s hard to have a dissertation meeting with Mr. Tickles staring at me.

It’s 9:15am and you still can’t get the Powerpoint to load? Come onnnnnn!

Stop showing off your fancy vocabulary with words like ‘superfluous’. Yes you’re our professor, yes you studied at Cambridge but please, simplify that shit!

Stop asking if I understand. Of course I don’t!

It’s first thing Monday morning, we haven’t had any coffee yet and are patiently waiting for the IT technician to come and press that one button which will magically make it work. Funnily enough it’s the ‘power’ button. Ain’t nobody got time for that!

And there is no way I’m going to voice my ignorance in front of the whole class. I will sit here and suffer, thank you very much.

Make us laugh!

Let’s stay on track.

You’ve been speaking about international economics for three quarters of an hour now and I’m basically in a coma. I’m not expecting you to be Michael McIntyre, but a little comedy never hurts. You don’t see us zoning out at ‘The Hangover’ do you? There’s a reason for that.

You’re random side stories about whale watching are starting to distract from the geography tutorial we’re supposed to be having...Everybody goes off on tangents, but if I have to focus then so should you!

Ok you can stop trying to be funny now. Props to you for trying but let’s continue with the class, it’s getting as awkward as a missed high five in here.

There are more speaking levels than monotone. Your voice is just duller than dry toast. 20

ISSUE 37

Has anyone ever told you that you look just like Gerard Butler? You may not be ‘conventionally’ hot, you might be the same age as my Dad, but there’s something about you. Is it the accent? The wit? Or the way you rock that tweed? Nobody knows, but it’s certain that professorcrushes are the best revision incentive ever.

Lauren Jean Findlay

FASHION This Face Ain’t Listenin’

Walk This Way

The days are getting shorter, and the nights are getting longer. Know what that means? All the more time to get up to no good; it’s time to screw the system! This season’s trends are all about doing just that. Translate the punk rocker vibe into your beauty regime. Invest in a good berry-coloured lipstick; push the boat out even further with experimental eyeliner tricks. Make like Dakota Fanning and draw a little flick on the inner corner of your eye for something a little daring. Or just go completely punk crazy at the hairdressers and ask for the Miley Cyrus. They’ll know what you mean.

If you’re going to step even a toe out of line, you’re going to want to do it in style! Chunky heeled boots are very popular this season; they’re day appropriate, comfy AND will get you top marks style-wise. If you’re super tall or just don’t particularly relish the thought of stomping around campus hungover wearing a pair of what, technically, are still heels, then don’t fear – the punk look is still for you! Try a grungy pair of good ol’ Doc Martins. Anything that has a biker, androgynous look about them will work Black Metal Toe Cap just fine. Ankle Boots:

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Berry Couture: Superdrug, £7.49

Lee Stafford Messed Up Spray Wax: Boots, £5.49

River Island, £40 Patent Fringe Geek Shoes: Topshop, £58

Biker Boots: Asos, £48

Velvet Block Heel: Missguided, £34.99

Rimmel Exaggerate Eye Liner: Boots, £5.29

Spike Chord Bracelet: ASOS, £6

Leona Reid

Leather Mix Skirt: Topshop, £55 Gold Metallic Geo Rings: New Look, £7.99

Bowler Hat: Topshop, £25 Tartan Crop T-Shirt: Miss Selfridge, £32 Black Leather Biker Jacket: Dorothy Perkins, £52

Acid Wash Skinny Jeans: River Island, £35

You Little Rebel

Smells Like Teen Spirit

Keep jewellery edgy. I’m talking spikes – SPIKES EVERYWHERE. Triangles, arrows, crosses, just keep it coming. There’s very little chance you can go overboard with this, especially with a student loan. So go (a wee bit) wild! Try mixing a little bit of leather in there. Massive rings work well with this and midi rings add a fresh and modern take to the look and are widely available for you to take fashionable advantage of. Hats! Bowler hats, beanie hats, hats, hats, hats.

Nirvana had it down. To channel this rebellious vibe, look to the High Street for inspiration. We’re aiming for dark, moody colours, washed out denim, slouchy boyfriend jeans; don’t even be afraid of a wee bit of tie-dye! What I am absolutely crushing on, though, is tartan. Try teaming this crop top from Miss Selfridge with an unevenly hemmed leather skirt. You will be hot to trot. So yeah, that’s how we work the punk look. Sincerely yours, The WellDressed Students Club. ISSUE 37

FASHION

Meet Our Fashion Team The fashion section of the Magdalen is starting a new online blog this semester called Captured. We’re going to be out and about on campus every week capturing photos of all the stylishly dressed students we meet, so keep an eye out for our photographers!

Sarasvathi Arul

ampalam

‘I’m loving the leather sleeved t-shirts in the shops just now, it’ll definitely be one of my wardrobe investments this semester. My day-to-night failsafe look is sorted!’ £18 Miss Selfridge

Lauren Brand

Before you all rush off to check out Captured online (dusamedia.com if you’re wondering!), a few of our Captured writers have shared some of our fashion and beauty crushes this season...

Claire McPhil

limy

‘The minimal look is everywhere at the minute and so easy to pull off. I think it’s definitely worth going back to basics.’ Fringe Bodycon Dress, £40 Topshop ‘I am always crushing on Blake Lively- she’s permanently sunkissed and flawless!’

‘I can’t wait to try out a glitter eyeliner at the next Skint- it’s not just for 13-and-unders now, it’s had a fashion rebirth on the catwalks this season!’

‘This semester I really want to experiment with an autumn lip shade – the berry colours are perfect for a vampy night out look.’

NYC Showtime Glitter Pencils, £1.99 Superdrug

Maybelline Colour Sensational in Galactic Mauve, £7.19 at Superdrug

‘Every winter I search in vain for the perfect winter coat- this year River Island is my saviour! Its classic and fluffy- a very unique but perfectly cosy combination!’ £65 River Island

‘Johnsons Baby Oil is the most basic and underrated beauty essential. Use it as a moisturiser, and a highlighter for your shoulders and legs on a night out!’ £3.99 Superdrug

‘Elizabeth Arden’s Green Tea Lavender is such a classic scent, it’s a firm favourite of mine.’ £24.65 at FeelUnique

ISSUE 37

Leona Reid

‘Dry Shampoo is my secret weapon for getting volumised! Use it before backcombing to keep big hair ‘big’ all night.’ Batiste Dry Shampoo Blush, £4.99 Superdrug

‘Pale pink is the most major colour of this year, I’m trying really hard to embrace it but the mountain of black in my wardrobe isn’t too happy about it...’ Knitted Angora Fluffy Jumper, £40 Topshop

‘My ultimate girl crush is and forever will be Zooey Deschanel. Seriously, who doesn’t love New Girl? Those blue eyes… Enough said.’

‘Benefit Refined Finish Facial Polish is THE most amazing thing that will ever happen to your skin. Anytime you’re having a bad skin day, this product will give your life new meaning. Guaranteed.’ £18.50 Debenhams

FASHION

Hey, have you met the new me?

t starts imperceptibly. A shorter haircut, more lipstick, less blusher, then suddenly it’s a flesh-coloured bathing suit and a very public twerking session with Robin Thicke. Let’s quickly give the slut-shaming brigade the boot. Be as naked as you want, or as is legal. But at least look comfortable. As Cher said – Miley Cyrus did not look comfortable at the VMAs. Cyrus’ transformation from Disney darling to tattooed twerker mirrors what freshers go through: the struggle between reflecting your new university persona through your outfit, and looking like you got every item labelled ‘HOT RIGHT NOW’ at Topshop. In an interview Miley said that 20 yearolds should understand the craziness of ‘We Can’t Stop’. Miley’s trying to grow up, show the real her, develop as an artist… among other cliches popstars throw around. Thing is, we actually do understand this transformation. We see university as a new beginning: a new independence, a new wardrobe, a new grown-up version of ‘me’. We’ve all been there.

Sarasvathi Arulampalam wardrobe, collect one. The pieces that you collect, the skirt you buy after a particularly bad tutorial, the ankle boots you purchase because some lost soul threw up on your nice shoes, the pink jumper you get when feeling homesick – will be parts of you throughout university. They will represent your evolving personality far more than any generic overbuy of every single piece Rihanna designs for River Island. Create your own style with trend-free pieces: crop tops, high-waisted flared skirts, baseball tees, black jeans, statement necklaces and bodycon dresses. Have your fashion rebellion, your fashion overhaul, but let it happen naturally. Wear something that’s inherently you. That’s what your university persona should be as well: undisputedly, bravely, and completely you.

Our tips? Wear club clothes that are comfortable; meaning minimal risk of nipple exposure (this is a unisex tip!) and skirts that don’t constantly need tugging-down. Your night, and immune system, will benefit. Also, don’t culturally appropriate. Think it’s cool that Miley Cyrus accessorizes black people? Don’t. You are not from the hood. Don’t don a Native American headdress and, for goodness sake, don’t wear a bindi like Selena Gomez did during the MTV Movie Awards. Choose non-offensive accessories, like a bright-coloured beret. Reinventing oneself is often mistakenly done by first buying an entire new wardrobe. The leather your mother never let you look at – the underwear that would give your father a heart attack – suddenly becomes a suit of armour for the new you. Instead of creating a new ISSUE 37

FASHION

Tartan Army LAUREN BRAND

Winter is coming! But let’s not dive into our oversized outerwear just yet... here comes a trend this season that we can rightfully claim as our own, tartan! It’s time to soldier up and join the tartan army, this season we’re having a Highland fling.

dd a whole new layer to your ensemble this autumn, whether you’re dressing for your 9am lecture or heading for a cocktail in Liar bar, there is no shortage of tartan trends to fall in love with. Lucky for us students, the high street is filled with statement pieces right now, take a wander round the Overgate and you’ll have no doubt been struck by the overwhelming ubiquity of tartan. From the shirt to the shoe – it’s bound to have caught your attention! Whether your style calls for head to toe tartan or just a simple accent, this trend will work for you. From AW13 catwalks at Vivienne Westwood, Moschino and through to Versace, high street shops such as Topshop, River Island, H&M and New Look have all created their own affordable versions for us – yay for student discount! (apart from River Island, humph). These dark red check jacquard leggings look amazing on! I wore these on a recent night out and was told that, let’s just say in a polite manner, my derriere looked appealing. From River Island at £22, these leggings are definitely not to be missed! Perfect for drinks with the girls or a long day at uni, these tailored leggings come with a high waist fit and black side waist panels. Team them up with a white baggy t shirt, leather jacket and a bowler hat for an effortless bold statement look.

What better way is there to tackle this season’s hottest trend than with a playsuit? From New Look at £22.99 this is a steal. Wear it to class with a black or white long sleeved crop top underneath and biker boots- you’ll for sure be the edgy queen of tartan on campus.

Sometimes less is more, so for those of you who still want to rock this trend but are not ready to go all the way just yet, add some tartan accessories to update your winter wardrobe. What do I think the best tartan accent is? The scarf, this goes for girls and guys! A tartan scarf looks effortless with a denim or leather jacket to mix up a casual ensemble. Get this one for £9.99 from H&M.

24 ISSUE 37

FIND YOUR PERFECT NIGHT OUT NEW TO DUNDEE? NEED SOME FRESH PLACES TO GO ON A NIGHT OUT? TAKE THIS QUIZ TO SEE WHICH CLUB NIGHT SUITS YOU THE MOST

WHATʼS YOUR BUDGET?

LIVING OFF STALE BREAD AND WATER

A FEW SPARE FLASHBACK PENNIES

SAAS IS IN BABY LETʼS DO THIS!

WEEKEND SESH OR MIDWEEK PARTY?

CHEESY POP OR INDIE ROCK?

ELECTRO HOUSE OR R&B HIP HOP?

I CANʼT WAIT TILL THE WEEKEND!

PASS ME THE HAIRBRUSH MICROPHONE!

ITʼS FRIIIIIDAYY FRIIIIDAYYY....

NONE OF THAT RUBBISH THANKS

I NEED AN URBAN FIX!

UHN-TSS UHN-TSS UHN-TSS...

SICK OF THE UNION? OH GOD YES!

NEVER! YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY HIT UP

YOU GUESSED IT!

CKECK OUT

ASYLUM

FLASHBACK

TRY OUT

FAMOUS FRIDAYS

AT UNDERGROUND! CHART & DANCE + FREE ENTRY BEFORE 11

AT THE READING ROOMS

AT KAGE EVERY SATURDAY FOR THE LATEST INDIE/ROCK TUNES. £4 ENTRY

FLOOR 5 OF THE UNION EVERY SATURDAY

£1 ENTRY EVERY TUESDAY AT THE UNION

HIT UP

BOOK CLUB

GET YOUR ROCK FIX AT

DISTORTED FLOOR 5 OF THE UNION EVERY SECOND FRIDAY £4 ENTRY

ON THE 26th OCTOBER. £5 ENTRY FOR SOME AWESOME ELECTRO BEATS

GET DOWN TO

LAVA

AT ENVY EVERY SATURDAY. GET ON THE GUESTLIST FOR £5 ENTRY AND ENJOY THE LATEST URBAN HITS. Plus free entry into Liquid

ISSUE 37

ENTERTAINMENT

GTA V R

Harrison Kelly

ight now Grand Theft Auto V is the most expensively produced videogame ever; a far cry from its

humble Dundonian beginnings as a polygonless sandbox game about twocking. The game is everything that was promised. Story and free-roam are perfectly poised. Unlike previous editions the whole map is available straight away, encouraging independent exploration. The huge Los Santos setting is visually astonishing, never resorting to architectural filler like lesser open world games. What’s more, Rockstar Games finally added checkpoints; no longer does failing a mission mean repeating the entire assignment. Freedoms are even more outrageous. You can punch sharks, ‘make it rain’ in a strip club, douse someone in petrol, set them alight and take a selfie. As far as violent games go, this one enables absolute nihilism. One mission demands torture, attracting understandable outrage; but videogames are art, and art can make us feel uncomfortable. Deeper than the misanthropy is the darkly satirical skewering of contemporary America. Targets range from Facebook to stock investors, with pot-shots at Republicans, reality TV and even videogames. GTA V is a masterpiece, regardless of its ideals (or lack thereof). In an industry already more lucrative than Hollywood, this franchise raises the bar even higher.

26 ISSUE 37

ENTERTAINMENT

GAMES YOU MISSED WHILE PLAYING GTA V Struan Fraser

Rayman: Legends - Release 30 Aug Ubisoft Montpellier PC / PS3 / PSVita / Wii U / Xbox360 Don’t be put off the Rayman series because they are kids’ games, they’re challenging! You’ll struggle to complete them. I played Rayman when it first came out on Playstation. It was an impressive feat even then; a sidescroller with heart. The sprites are beautifully crafted, the animations are fun and the sequels set an undeniable pedigree. If you love punching things but hate arms, then Rayman: Legends is for you.

Rain - Release 2 Oct Acquire PS3 / Downloadable Rain is story intensive; often poetic. Acquire have really laboured over making this more than just a game. It’s an experience. There’s an eerie soundtrack, a desolate environment, and you are a boy who can only be seen in the rain. The aim is to catch a girl of the same disposition, but you are being chased by ethereal creatures. You must escape them by avoiding the rain and finding shelter. Trouble is, it’s hard to know where you’re going when you can’t see yourself, so you’re given contextual cues, such as knocking over buckets and debris. It’s an elegant mechanic that adds to the charm of the game. Rain looks great, but expect fear more than fun.

DuckTales: remastered - Release 11 Sept WayForward games PC / PS3 / Wii U / Xbox360 An HD remake of the 80s classic DuckTales, this game is great because it is as close to identical to the original. The art assets have taken advantage of modern hardware and allow for beautiful HD sprites. The score is a modern rendition of the original but isn’t limited to the SNES’ audio capabilities. Yes, it’s brilliant, it’s also cripplingly difficult. Since this game was released, one of the most common complaints is that it is so hard. That’s down to the fact that Wayforward Games ensured that none of the challenge was lost from the game and SNES games were bloody hard.

Beyond: Two Souls - Release 11 Oct Quantic Dream PS3 Quantic Dream have stepped up a gear with Beyond: Two Souls, even casting Ellen Page and Willem Dafoe. You’ll notice this immediately because the facial animation is incredible. This game is similar to Heavy Rain; an interactive story driven by quicktime events. It comes into its own during fight sequences, where you enter a kind of bullet time that gives half-second pauses to dodge or attack. If you don’t move you get your arse handed to you. B:TS is a cinematic experience, with compelling stories that vary every time you play them.

ISSUE 37

ENTERTAINMENT

Kishi Bashi LIYL: Vampire Weekend, Ra Ra Riot, Youth Lagoon • Start with: ‘It All Began with a Burst’, ‘Bright Whites’, ‘A Sunday Smile’ (Beirut cover).

Kaoru “K” Ishibasi’s musical career has seriously impressive preludes: he was the founding member of ‘Jupiter One’ and the supporting act for Regina Spektor, of Montreal and Sondre Lerche. Now K’s carnival sounds take centre stage on his self-produced and self-recorded debut LP, 151a.

Julia Stone LIYL: The Civil Wars, Daughter, Gem Club. • Start with: ‘Bloodbuzz Ohio’, ‘By The Horns’, ‘Horse with the Wings’.

The seasons have their own sounds; autumn’s is catharsis. The artist who accurately echoes it’s shivering, fractured sentiments is Australian folk blues-singer/ songwriter, Julia Stone. Her gruff voice and poetic meditations on lovelessness create whispering introspections that are darker and wiser than the works previously released with her brother Angus (‘Angus and Julia Stone’). There’s something magical about the woods dying and bringing themselves to us on the wind. Something dead is under our feet and chasing us. This is the haunting semblance that Stone’s ballads suffuse. We witness a decay that threatens to turn us inhuman, but in permitting ourselves to feel the crispness of autumn we realise that we will always find beautiful experiences in love - even in it’s atrophies. As Stone states, “love will find a way to be what love is”.

28 ISSUE 37

Its tracks are experimental toy-box pop which produces mesmerising melodies through the amalgamation of K’s classical violin training, vocal looping and beat boxing. In his unique live performances, K manages to do all three simultaneously - who said men can’t multitask?

Palehound/Kempa LIYL: Feist, Grizzly Bear, anything on the Juno soundtrack • Start with: ‘Drooler’, ‘Pet Carrot’, ‘Abraham and His New Healthy Food’.

19-year-old Ellen Kempner released a Bif Nakedesque album in 2012 under the moniker Kempa. She now returns with less 90’s rock and more artful restraint as Palehound. The savvy baseline, acoustic guitar flairs and grungy vocals exude an independent coffee shop vibe. Unfortunately, Kempner’s sounds aren’t so local. Even though it doesn’t seem possible in this time, Kempa and Palehound are not easy to find on the internet. However, her music is so engaging and catchy that one hopes that she’ll soon break free from Brooklyn’s everburgeoning art scene and get the recognition from the indie world she deserves. Palehound’s debut EP, ‘Bent Nail’, will be released on October 22nd. In the meantime, her previous 9-track record ‘Dog On Crutches’ is available for free download at kempa.bandcamp.com.

SOCIETIES

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot What are the memberships costs? When and where does the society meet?

What does the social life of the society consist of?

The Swing Dance society meets every Sunday afternoon in Mono; at 3:45pm for improvers and 4:30pm for beginners. Usually, we do some social dancing afterwards by putting on some music and allowing members to practise the moves they have just learned. This is often followed by drinks in Liar. Your first couple of lessons are free and if you decide you want to join, membership is only £10 for the whole year. The membership fee allows us to subsidise trips to other cities and invite international teachers to come along and share their expertise.

The swing dance societies in all Scottish universities are very closely linked and we arrange various trips to each other’s events throughout the year, as well as dancing on the Frigate Unicorn ship in Dundee and sometimes through in St Andrews. Additionally, there are dance “exchange” weekends where we travel to Edinburgh for a whole weekend to do workshops and participate in social dances. You make so many new friends and have tonnes of fun learning different moves to show off when you return to Dundee. Members of the society also get most social events subsidised so it is cheaper to get your swing fix!

Do you have any events coming up this year? If so, what, when, where? Our main event is our Great Gatsby fundraiser, which is on Thursday 17th October in Mono. We have the Dundee Uni Big Band playing live for us followed by an awesome DJ! The event is not just for our dancers, everyone and anyone can come along and have a great time. There will be prizes for the best dressed as well as iced cocktails being served all night. Put on your glad rags and come party with us, Old Sport!

What advice would you give to a new member of your society, as well as anyone looking to join the society? Come on down and try out a few lessons - you don’t need experience or a partner, just comfy shoes and bags of enthusiasm! We start from the very basics so don’t worry if you have two left feet (our president Joe started off unable to even clap along to a beat!). Be sure to join our Facebook page ‘Swing Dance @ Dundee’

ISSUE 37

SOCIETIES

FEELING CHARITABLE? Here is a comprehensive list of some of Dundee’s Societies who like to give a little back. This academic year many of the University charities societies will be working together to unite Dundee on various issues. So let’s get active and change the world!

UNICEF Meetings: Every other week, Tuesday at 7pm. Contact: unicef@dundee.ac.uk, FB: Unicef on Campus Dundee If your sympathies lie with helping impoverished children, then Unicef are the perfect choice for you, the international charity is this year’s partner charity to the Commonwealth Games. With Syria arguably being the biggest humanitarian crisis of the 21st Century, the society at Dundee University will be concentrating most of their efforts on raising funds and awareness of the impact of the Syrian war on children.

OXFAM Meetings: Monday at 7pm. Dalhousie 1G10. Followed by Boudoir. Contact: oxfamdundee@hotmail.co.uk, FB: Groups/Oxfamdundee Last year’s winner of DUSA’s ‘Best New Society’ award, the Oxfam Society makes tackling poverty and international development their business. October is a big month for the society as they get involved with Dundee Oxjam’s Takeover Team, who host a music festival in aid of Oxfam. In addition, the society will be hosting a cross-university get together of all the Oxfam Societies in Scotland. Syria will also play a massive role in the society’s agenda for this year, both in terms of campaigning and fundraising. Finally, Oxfam Society’s ‘Behind the Brands’ campaign will be lifting the veil on the unethical activities of many of the U.K’s leading brands.

SAVE THE CHILDREN Meetings: Once every two weeks, via doodle links. Contact: FB: Dundee University Save the Children Society Dundee University’s Save the Children Society fights for children’s rights. Save the Children have already had their hugely successful Open Mic Night and they’ve got plenty more events coming up this year. Inevitably, last year’s Save the Children Talent Night will be making a triumphant return. The society will also be organising a vintage charity sale for anyone looking to pick up a bargain, and if Christmas jumpers are your thing then be sure to take part in their Christmas jumpers day at the end of the semester!

30 ISSUE 37

SOCIETIES

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL Meetings: 5pm Friday. Followed by Drouthies Contact: amnestydundee@gmail.com FB: Dundee University Amnesty International Society The Amnesty Society work tirelessly to promote human rights and condemn violations across the globe. Campaigning and fundraising are at the forefront of the agenda, as well as promoting discussion and debate across campus. Look out for their pub quizzes, bake sales and human rights film nights, hosted every second Tuesday, alongside People and Planet. Come December they will be sending Christmas cards to prisoners of conscience.

PEOPLE AND PLANET Meetings: Wednesday 7.30pm, Dalhousie. Followed by the Pub. Contact: FB: Dundee People & Planet People and Planet’s interests lie in human rights and the environment. If you’re an eco-warrior then you’ll fit right in with this society. As previously mentioned, they are partnered with Amnesty this semester to bring students the Human Rights Film Nights. On top of that, People and Planet will be targeting the University directly to invoke positive environmental change. Firstly, they will be researching Dundee’s investments into fossil fuels as it is their hope that Dundee University will become a fossil-free environment focusing its research and investment into renewable resources. They will also be working on a Coca Cola campaign to raise awareness of the company’s social and environmental misconduct and supporting the sale of alternative brands across campus. The entire society will be heading to Edinburgh in August 2014 for the National People and Planet Conference.

SEXPRESSION Meetings: Thursday 6pm Contact: dundee@sexpression.org.uk FB: Sexpression Dundee Sexual health and awareness is at the heart of Sexpression. The society contributes vast amounts of time to teaching sex education in schools and promoting Dundee’s Sexual Health. They were a big part of Sex Week, bringing students of all ages and persuasions up to date on sex, relationships and health. Almost a quarter of Dundee students have or have had an STI at some point during their University years, Dundee itself has one of the worst sexual health records in Europe, this is now on the decline and thanks in no small part to Sexpression’s activities.

ISSUE 37

Booze Cruise

o, 12 hours after our return from Dunstaffnage, I've been challenged to write a recollection of Dundee University Sailing Club’s annual Booze Cruise. That really is a challenge. What do I actually remember? I remember that once again Dundee University Sailing Club has excelled itself at running this fantastic weekend of sailing and boozing on the West coast of Scotland, and at ruining my memory and liver. So, keeping the mantra “what happens on Booze Cruise, stays on Booze Cruise” in mind, here's a sketchy recollection of the weekend’s antics. After a boozy three-hour bus ride, we arrived at the offices of a charter company foolish enough to rent yachts to 50 inebriated students. As I was on the first bus, my night started early and I quickly degenerated into a condition known as Booze Cruise Syndrome, a challenging but temporary illness where the subject loses all sense of time, the ability to speak properly and any sense of alcohol limitation, while gaining dangerous amounts of energy. As the evening went on much alcohol was consumed and Booze Cruise Syndrome spread like wildfire. As is par for the course with Booze Cruise, “much may happen, but little will be remembered, and much which is remembered should never be mentioned again” but one of my standout memories has to be an unnamed member of the Sports Union Executive using the mast to perform something which belongs in a film about strippers. 32

ISSUE 37

On Saturday morning, we awoke to the smell of embarrassment, fumigated alcohol, and, of course enormous pain and confusion. The weather was superb, so sunglasses were donned to avoid the pain of light. Undeterred Booze Cruisers made use of the fact that there is no rule against sailing a yacht under the influence. Hair of the dog really was the phrase of the day and it was helped by the fantastic weather and calm seas. As a result, by the time we reached Tobermory, certain unnamed DUSC Bosun’s had consumed a significant number of libations and were destined to go to bed rather earlier than anticipated only to reappear later. After the usual hearty meal at our first pub, McGoghans, we observed the traditional boat

race. Once again, the alcohol mist descended and memories fade into odd shapes and embarrassing moments. We moved onto pub number two, the legendary Mish Nish. At that stage, the night descends even further into darkness and memory fails me completely. I am told, however, that a significant number of those still standing completed the legendary Cockburn run, where participants run bollock-naked from the pub back to the boats. Beyond that, the night is pitch blackâ&#x20AC;Ś Sunday morning was much the same as Saturday, except we were greeted with healthy winds, leading many hungover sailors to feel the strain even further, but a good sail back to Dunstaffnage cleared the heads of most.

And so, the Booze Cruise has been completed once more by 50 fantastic, but now largely broken, students. Heads must be cleared, the library must be returned to, but the limited memories that remain will stick. The only consolation to those in a state of post-Booze Cruise blues is that you have the chance to do it all again, except this time somewhere properly warm and sunny, and stretch the fun out over a week. Summer Booze Cruise, hitting Croatia in association with Summer Sail Week, is coming your way in June 2014. Check out Dundee University Sailing Clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Facebook for all the details.

Paddy Fraser

ISSUE 37

SKINT DRINK PRICES

FOR ALL VENUES

THURSDAY 31ST OCTOBER • 7PM-3:30AM • TICKETS £6

BUY YOUR TICKETS FROM DUSA.CO.UK/HALLOWEEN OR FROM THE PREMIER SHOP ALL BUILDING EVENT

Students from all universities and Dundee College welcome. Every student can sign-in up to four guests. Over 18’s only. Dundee University Students Association (DUSA) Registered Scottish Charity No. SC016047