Student Guide
Welcome
Words: Jack Faulds
When Rosamund asked me if I’d like to help her with The Skinny’s Student Guide this year, my immediate thought was “I really don’t know if I can be bothered” (and not just because I’m a lazy so-and-so). Of course, I was thrilled that the team had even considered me to assist with planning and commissioning for this issue, but I’d just graduated from four incredibly quick years at the University of Strathclyde and felt like I’d hit a wall. I found myself in that amorphous, uncertain place that every graduate knows well – a place which prods you violently on the back as the time between downing the dregs of your last glass of wine on graduation day and finding a real-world big-boy job grows ever longer. Everyone is desperate for you to have a plan, too. “What’s your plans, then?” “You got anything lined up?” “Have you been applying for anything?” They salivate over it. Respectfully, after spending months researching, ideating and writing on the political power of the celebrity persona of Dolly Parton for my final dissertation, the last thing I was thinking about was finding a steady desk job (all love to Ms Parton but, boy, did she give me a LOT to write about).
You need time to recalibrate once you graduate (or at least I did). I started uni at 18 and I’m nearly 22 now – you do a lot of growing in that time. And when you’re in the depths of your studies, training your body how to force itself up for 9am lectures, you forget to reflect on all the personal development you’re experiencing (or at least I did). The identity crises, boy troubles, family spats – things that deserve to be thoroughly
mulled over – can so easily slip out of frame when everything is so go, go, go.
Eventually, even though I was emotionally knackered and sparkled with that pesky post-graduation clarity, I figured (not selfishly at all) that working on this year’s Student Guide would at the very least give me some sort of outlet for reflection on my own student experience (oh, and if Rosamund is reading this part I also wanted to work really hard on it and make it really good for the new students and stuff as well of course obviously). So, here we are! And, all goofs and gaffs aside, it is a really great issue that I’m super proud of.
We have basically everything you’d ever need from a student guide: interviews with sexual health experts and tenants’ union ambassadors; features on cheap nights out and student activism; first-person opinion pieces from both exstudents and soon-to-be students; and some good ol’ audience participation via reader-submitted Freshers’ Week horror stories and a special student edition of Ask Anahit – an unmissable staple of the regular Skinny issue which you should also be sticking your nose into! I’ve had a few sneaky peeks at the contents of the September issue and it’s looking real delectable, folks. Maybe not as sumptuous as this fabulous student guide, of course, but still pretty scrummy. And, hey, if this student guide doesn’t make you an instant Skinny fan (although it definitely should) we’ll probably corner you at your freshers’ fair and take matters into our own hands. That’s not a threat, it’s a Skinny™ promise.
Student Guide Illustrator
Max Machen
Max is a freelance illustrator and printmaker scribbling away in sunny Edinburgh. He creates fun, witty illustrations that bring smiles to walls, caps, scarves and faces. He has lots of fun drawing the everyday and how it would look in his own imaginary world which he hopes comes across in his work.
maxmachen.com @maxymachen
Fresh Hell!
Sink your teeth into these blood-curdling Freshers’ Week tales of old...
Words: Jack Faulds
It may not be time for shitfaced Halloween sub-crawls and the unstoppable tide of Chappell Roan, Charli xcx and Sabrina Carpenter Powerpuff Girls costume trios just yet, but it’s never too early to get into the spirit. And what could inspire more soul-devouring dread in our readers than a trip down memory lane? This collection of horrible anecdotes come from anonymous fans of The Skinny (though wouldn’t it be extra spooOOooky if we revealed their identities?) who each had a less-than-glamorous Freshers’ Week experience.
“Went to a flat party at GSA halls on the first night of Freshers, got to the door with my friend (who had a bowl cut and got in easily) but got told I ‘couldn’t come in’ because I didn’t fit the art school look lol xx anyway some of them got scabies”
“My Freshers horror story was moving to Edinburgh and arriving to Pollock Halls (if you know you know). I went back home every weekend for the first three months of Uni… before moving to Edinburgh
Hopefully it is in some way therapeutic for them to recall these regrettable moments, and will caution new students to try to avoid getting into similarly miserable situations. Or maybe it won’t. Maybe new students reading this should just anticipate a whole bunch of food poisoning and undesirable NPCs as they prepare for their own Freshers’ Week. Maybe it’s just nice to laugh at the misfortune of others. Maybe these submissions aren’t even funny. Maybe they’re just pathetic. I dunno, you decide.
“I gave myself food poisoning the first night by not microwaving my dinner properly”
“My flatmate’s friend brought a girl back to our flat (neither of them were at our uni) during Freshers Week, sha ed her on the kitchen island and then wiped himself with a random blanket. That blanket was left in the corner of our kitchen for the rest of the year, lovingly named
Don’t recommend”
“During Freshers Week when I was in first year a guy who worked for a local club came into my flat and told us horror stories about the rival club so we wouldn’t go there. We only let him in bc we thought he worked in our accommodation but he was literally a stranger manipulating 17/18 y/o girls”
“Lock your doors in student accom bc random drunk men will just appear in ur flat”
“My flatmate was a cannibal”
“Flatmates ate my food and crushed up my cereal for fun :’)”
“Came to uni without a working debit card – had £10 cash to my name, got food poisoning from the only meal I bought, spent my last £2 on a plain croissant from Costa and cried whilst eating half of it there for breakfast. Lived off the free Domino’s pizza until the card came the following week :(”
“Moved into a shared house with a close mate and an odd guy with a unicycle. He hosted a party, fashioned a beer funnel system out of hosepipes from B&Q and taped it down the stairs, changed all our light bulbs blue. It was a lot”
“Freshers Week – a boy in our corridor only lasted at uni til Christmas. After he’d left we looked in his kitchen cupboard and all he left behind was a good luck at university card from his mum and dad xo”
A festival of knowledge, 02–15 September.
With 30 free activities from Scotland’s leading minds, there’s something for anyone curious. Discover more at rse.org.uk/curious
Getting Rid of ‘Riddy Culture’
Recent University of Strathclyde graduate Lauren Hunter discusses the plague of social inhibition caused by ‘Riddy Culture’ in Glasgow
If you took a random sample of people from Scottish cities and asked them what they like about living here, the responses would probably run along the lines of there being not a lot of pretences, no airs and graces about the place. It’s true – we’re renowned for saying things how they are, and as a student experiencing your first tastes of freedom and independence, that’s bound to feel quite intoxicating.
When I was a fresher a few years ago, part of the excitement lay in creating this whole new-fangled identity for myself; especially being a humanities student, I saw it as the prime opportunity to reinvent myself with different artsy hobbies, clothes, and ways of thinking that boxy blazers and regimented high school classrooms had so far
failed to express in my life. I was all ready to go – until I felt a homely pang of fear bolting in my chest. Alas, ‘riddy culture’ had struck me down.
It’s a uniquely Scottish phenomenon – the fear of being creative or expressive (or even just existing) in case of judgement or embarrassment. It meant that in my early days of uni, I was constantly conflicted when trying to make new friends: stand out so that I seemed cool and cultured, but not so much that it was cringey, yet just enough to carry it well. Exhausting, and not exactly a match made in heaven for the nascent adulthood ambitions of finding oneself.
Ultimately, having now thankfully seen the back of my 18-year-old self’s identity fever dream, it’s very disappointing to find in cities like Glasgow
which are so brimming with culture that we are still ashamed to embrace it. Anyone who dares to is branded ‘airy’, or a ‘luvvie’, or – often seen the worst accusation of all – a ‘student type’, as if an interest in art can be explained away by the connotation of being young and naïve.
Being at uni mandates a period of change in anyone’s life, but it’s also the perfect time to create change from the bottom up. So, Scottish students, your challenge is this – rid yourselves of riddy culture. Be immersed in the brilliant, vibrant creative lifeblood of our cities because, trust and believe, you’ll learn more from that than any 9am lecture. If you do that, in years to come, people might just say that their favourite thing about Scotland is that we’re unafraid to be ourselves.
Words: Lauren Hunter
Welcome to Somethinghood
One writer shares his path to university and living through what he likes to call the ‘somethinghood’
Words: Michael Smith
It was March 2020. My school days were finally coming to an end, I had an offer from a London university and I’d just started my new favourite hobby – drinking beer in pubs. Then there was a pandemic, and my first steps into the adult world were punctuated by masks, two-metre distancing and the rules of the most recent government press conference.
I decided to defer my uni offer for a few reasons. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, uni in London is expensive, Media Communications is barely even a real degree and more to the point – COVID. The chaos of the pandemic transformed the world around me, and the path I had chosen no longer made sense.
I took a job in a local French restaurant for the sake of something to do, and while others experienced student halls and lectures, my late teens were set against the backdrop of the hospitality industry in Glasgow. I discovered a whole new world in the city where I grew up, and a subculture of new people, challenges and experiences that have shaped my worldview.
This grew into a pretty successful freelance career of graphic design, branding and social media at first for hospitality venues, then a whole host of clients across Glasgow. I credit this success to a foolproof strategy of agreeing to do jobs then promptly googling how to do them. This method will get you far.
It’s crazy to think about some of the things I’ve done. I’ve designed posters for bands I love, branding for businesses that are thriving, been paid in cash in the basement of an Irish bar, sold Christmas trees, served pizza, travelled to New Zealand, drunk many pints, consulted on social media strategy and most recently spent August working at the Edinburgh Fringe. It’s a winding path, but it’s built me a body of work and a range of experiences that have led to my next phase. Something that for many years I assumed I’d never do – university.
years
“I credit this success to a foolproof strategy of agreeing to do jobs then promptly googling how to do them”
believe it’s overconfidence, I just hadn’t experienced things going wrong that much yet and so was unaware and uninterested in why things wouldn’t work. That persistence in the face of rational thinking and common sense meant I got clients and did design work I’m really proud of – and I achieved it because I didn’t see any reason why not. I hope I cling to that, and that I don’t pick up the troubleshooting and problem-finding that can suffocate creativity.
This September I’m starting at Glasgow School of Art studying Communication Design. And I’m going on purpose. I don’t knock the decision of those who went to university straight from school, but I’d gently point out that spending some time in the real world after your 13 years in full-time education may not be the worst thing. I’ve worked 40 jobs, gigs or projects in the past four years and built up life experience, tangible skills and the soft skills that are highly sought after in today’s working world. When I start at university I’ll be bringing with me all of that experience, along with the resilience built up by shifts in restaurants, where despite physical and mental exhaustion, you need to be incredibly likeable even 14 hours into a shift.
I approached the working world and life as a freelancer with the naïve, blissful optimism that comes with youth. I don’t
I call these the ‘somethinghood’ years – not childhood, not adulthood but somewhere in that space. If you’re just getting going in the real world or on the cusp of starting something new – welcome to somethinghood. It’s chaos here. It’s beautiful, soul-crushing, joyous, idiosyncratic chaos – and a necessary stru le of life as a 20-something. And you’re at an age where who you are is still forming, being clumsily written and rewritten on a daily and weekly basis.
It’s important not to romanticise these years and that chaos too much – because more often than not it will be really hard. One of the most annoying things about growing is that you’re constantly contradicting yourself and disagreeing with what you used to think. To spend so much time at odds with yourself is not comfortable or easy and it’s important to embrace that you are on a journey. Enjoy the running, because if you’re anything like me you’ll always be moving the finish line.
There’s so much change happening in my life just now –slowly unravelling in that way you don’t quite notice. In the midst of it all I’m turning inwards to what makes me most feel alive, and while I’m really proud of all that work I’ve done in the past four years, it’s not all of who I am.
Right now I crave the chaos of somethinghood. I’m drunk on it. I want to experience more and feel more and spend more time with my friends – laughing at things that should never be repeated and watching as they all run off in different directions to their own versions of success.
There’s no such thing as a right decision. Collect experiences like a magpie with tinfoil and remember that you’re not a metaphor. You’re not climbing a ladder or running a race – you are a full person and you should do what makes you feel most alive.
Sexual Health Futures Scotland
We chat to Dr Chase Ledin about the inception of Sexual Health Futures Scotland – his university-funded project providing the space for people to explore sexual health through art
Words: Jack Faulds
There is simply no preparing you for how much of your student life will revolve around sex. Your flatmates will be ranking their best and worst shags of the week at every breakfasttable debrief, your lecturers will have you diving into research papers about Victorian pornography, and you’ll probably be up late dwelling on embarrassing encounters and worrying about your own sexual health and wellbeing more often than you’d anticipated. Of course, this is all perfectly natural – sex is exciting and scary and fun! But it can quickly become quite a lot to navigate.
This is why Dr Chase Ledin, a lecturer in Social Science & Medicine at Edinburgh University’s Usher Institute, who specialises in HIV and sexual health, started Sexual Health Futures Scotland – a workshop-based project which enables and encourages people to explore their sexual health through creative methods and imagine better futures for sexual health in Scotland. We spoke to Dr Ledin about the inception of this much-needed project, the community around it and the sexual health resources in Scotland that students should know about.
What made you want to start Sexual Health Futures Scotland? Was it an idea that you had during your student years?
My previous education was very much concerned with how we improve health promotion practices in communities. My PhD was an investigation into what the end of HIV means or would mean to people in Scotland and England. How do we get people to think about how we could reach the end of HIV – is it about medical treatments? Testing? Stigma?
This project was started using that baseline of imagining potential sexual health presents and futures, which then led to thinking about “well, people actually have multiple presents, multiple futures, multiple ways that they think about their lives” and “how can we provide a space for people to explore that multiplicity?”
I think my idea for Sexual Health Futures was mainly to provide a space for people to discuss. It could easily be an art project where people create things but don’t talk about their ideas and feelings, or a focus group where people talk about their ideas and feelings but don’t create anything. I wanted to marry these practices and allow people to be empowered through that.
How important are history and sociology to the work you do as a whole and with SHFS? Pretty fundamental! One of the core reasons I started the Sexual Health Futures project was that
conversations surrounding sexual health in society tend to lean towards the biomedical – we think about treating STIs, how we get treatment, how do we have the ‘right kind’ of sex etc. The kind of work I’m interested in is acknowledging that are so many different ways of experiencing pleasure and dealing with sexual health that have nothing to do with the biomedical lens that doctors and teachers use, and I aim to address how we experience relationships in society in fulfilling and meaningful ways.
What have the results of these workshops taught you? Does this visual/artistic data bring things to light that you’d never considered before, or do they make you see the needs of people in Scotland in a different way?
These workshops have enabled people to consider the present context of sexual health in Scotland and what could be its future. Using arts-based methods like zine-making, drawing and painting has enabled people to be like, ‘Okay, sex isn’t just about being in the bedroom or going to a clinic’. It’s also about how we interact with friends and family or the people we fancy and so on. I think having a space separate from everything else is important for people to be able to do that work that they maybe wouldn’t be able to do in their day-to-day lives. We’ve had people who have seen their clinicians out in public and, in the workshops, have expressed a particular excitement, fear, anxiety, or whatever. They were asking “How do I tend to that kind of relationship?” and “Is it important for me to have a relationship with my doctor in order to get better treatment or a better kind of communication?” That was something I
didn’t consider or set out to address – should you talk to your doctor about your endometriosis when you bump into them at the supermarket, or should that be saved for the clinic?
What has the feedback been like from the participants of these workshops?
Largely positive! I think the most resounding feedback is that people wish there were more spaces like this. Especially in Glasgow, people want stable spaces where they can talk about sex and sexual health openly and honestly. It’s difficult because these spaces can sometimes be very contested, gendered, sexualised spaces, and that’s one of the main reasons why I worked with the Glasgow Zine Library. They work often with queer individuals who are navigating these spaces and want to have conversations about them.
What are some of the best sexual health resources available in Scotland that you wish students knew about?
From the biomedical side, more students need to know about Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). If anyone thinks they are at risk of HIV transmission, they should absolutely be talking to their clinician about getting on PrEP, which is made available free by the NHS in Scotland.
There are lots of great health promotion resources that are provided by HIV and sexual health charity Waverley Care which is based in Edinburgh and Glasgow. They have lots of fantastic materials for HIV, sexual health, general wellbeing and mental health as well as counselling services.
There’s also quite a lot going on with the Glasgow Women’s Library and Zine Library that allow for queered sexual health/feminist sexual health conversations which I feel would be useful for students in the city.
In Edinburgh, there is an outreach service called ROAM which does some really brilliant health promotion work which serves gay, bisexual, trans and other men that I would highly recommend.
In terms of online resources, there is a fantastic social media website called SH24 which is based in London but has some of the best graphics and details about sexual health I’ve ever seen.
The next Sexual Health Futures Scotland workshop is Imagining Digital Futures and Sexual Health, Fri 18 Oct, Glasgow Zine Library, part of the Economic and Social Research Council’s (ESRC) Festival of Social Science. Check Glasgow Zine Library’s online event list for updates and more info sexualfutures.wordpress.com
Dare To Be Different
We meet some of the DIY dyers involved in Crazy Color’s Dye to Defy campaign and find out why self-expression through hair colour is so important to them
Words: Tallah Brash
Obsessed with the ery red highlights in Sa ron from Republica’s hair, I started dyeing my hair in the 90s.
Initially it was just a few streaks in the front of my messy bob. But then I started uni and it wasn’t long before my whole head was that same shade of eye-catching red. Of course, it was Crazy Color’s Fire in iconic pillarbox red, a colour that’s been part of their collection since they launched in 1977 during the UK’s punk-rock explosion.
Dyeing my hair gave me con dence and quickly became an obsession, a part of my personality. And just like Kate Winslet’s character Clementine in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, as my mood changed so too did the colour of my hair. My hair has been myriad shades of red, pink, purple, orange, blue and green, sometimes multiple colours at the same time. I’ve had periods of loyalty to one colour, and moments of spontaneity where I’ve last-minute changed the colour of my hair to match a dress I was wearing to a wedding. Being able to dye my hair is like having a super power.
Crazy Color’s Dye to Defy campaign dares you to be di erent, and 40 years on, as a brand their ethos remains the same: they want to inspire you to explore your creative side. Across a full spectrum of vibrant colours with names like Lime Twist, Marshmallow, Canary Yellow, Pine Green, Sky Blue, Fire and Candy Floss, Crazy Color allows you to express yourself so you can stand out and wear your individuality with pride, whatever your mood.
With community at the heart of everything they do, for Crazy Color’s Dye to Defy launch in July they invited 11 DIY dyers with exceptional at-home dyeing skills to take part in a Crazy Color CASA photoshoot at Manchester’s Projekt Skatepark – today, we meet some of them.
OLIVIA
I rst dyed my naturally VERY dark hair red when I was around 15 and haven’t looked back since! I’ve been every colour of the rainbow over the years, but I’ve fallen in love with being bright orange! Orange is de nitely associated with me now – even my suitcases match my hair!
I’ve never wanted to look ‘the same’ as everyone else, and part of doing that is changing from my natural colour. It gives me so much con dence to be di erent, and I love brightening up people’s days with my neon hair! Plus – you’ll never lose me at a concert!
DOMINIQUE
Colouring my hair has allowed me to explore my sense of self – my current favourite shade is peppermint! I have gone through many phases in my hair journey: braids, weaves, relaxers, extensions. You name it, I’ve had it!
In 2019, I decided to shave my head completely, simply because I wanted to! When I shaved my head I looked in the mirror and I felt like myself, like I recognised the woman staring back at me. I began colouring my hair at the same time and that’s when I really felt I stepped into my own. I love to switch it up and
make a bold statement with my hair and Crazy Color has allowed me to do that and then some!
I’m a professional model, photographer and co ee educator and I’m obsessed with Crazy Color and wearing just that – crazy colours! I started dyeing my hair as a kid around 12/13 and became obsessed... I love it in crazy combos and styles. It’s all thanks to Crazy Color for giving me that boost and con dence to know it’s okay to be my authentic self. I’m really settled with my current shade of Silver, with a drop of Sky Blue and Black to add a
AARON
Photo: Reuben Paris
cool smokiness, with a Rebel UV/Cyclamen mix in my fringe accent. I just want to radiate the love I feel for people in the brightest way, and just try to be a colourful beacon for those who can’t really nd their way out of the dark.
SHANNON
By day, I’m a mother and I work part-time in retail. By night, I’m an alternative fashion vlogger. I love empowering women, encouraging people to feel good in their own skin, as well as embrace their individuality. I shop second hand, I DIY my clothes, and I try to show people how to work with what they have, especially in today’s economy.
My current shades are Graphite and Marshmallow but my favourite shade of all is Canary Yellow with a drop of Orange to make the most beautiful mustard! Life’s so much more magical when you’re happy and that’s what colouring my hair helps me do.
CHANTELLE
I’m a small business owner and mum. I’ve been using Crazy Color products for over 14 years, I’ve quite literally had all the colours of the rainbow in my hair but I have found THE ONE –CYCLAMEN!! It’s my ride or die colour.
I’ve had so many lovely compliments on my hair, I absolutely love that people of all ages go out of their way to tell me they love my hair! It’s been so many conversation starters and it’s inspired others to take the step to try vivid colours!
LOUISE
I’m a wedding celebrant and having orange hair has become my entire personality – I am fully committed to being a full-time tangerine. I love how bright and di erent it is. It fades to a nice peachy colour, which people always compliment, but I prefer when it’s at its brightest and boldest, so I keep it topped up as often as I can.
I see colouring my hair as a way to express myself. It really has become part of my identity, and I can’t imagine having ‘normal’ coloured hair again. I’m determined to be that weird old lady still rocking bright hair and eccentric clothing into my nineties!
KRYSTLE
strong focus on yellow which takes centre stage as the top section with the other colours layered beneath.
Colouring my hair is super important to me, I love expressing my personality but hate buying clothing I might not want to re-wear so I express myself through my body art – piercings, tattoos and coloured hair are my self expression.
SILVIA
Ever since I was a teen I wanted to dye my hair with vibrant colours. Until recently I always stuck with natural looks to t in, but I felt I wasn’t being my true self. I decided to step out of my comfort zone and dye my hair Pinkissimo – I LOVED IT! Since then I haven’t stopped experimenting with Crazy Color and exploring di erent refreshing looks! I’m currently enjoying a mix of Hot Purple and Bordeaux.
I started experimenting with colouring my hair when I was about 14. The rst time I nally went full vivid was 2009 with a bright pillarbox red and I’ve had pretty much every colour you can imagine since then. My current shade is rainbow with a
Now, I dye my hair to express myself freely and have fun while boosting my con dence. Colouring my hair is more than just changing my look – it’s a powerful way to show who I am and bring out my creative side. I love how it allows me to embrace change and at the end is all about celebrating individuality and uniqueness.
JESS
I’m a writer, parttime model, and a singer and I adore having colourful hair! I’m currently sporting half and half pink and orange using Cyclamen and Pinkissimo, and Anarchy UV and Orange respectively. I’m obsessed with the deeper tones in Cyclamen!
Colouring my hair means so much to me because it’s an extension of who I am. I can choose which vibe I want to show the world. I can use it to re ect what’s going on in my life, I can dye it to celebrate a holiday, cheer myself up, or even just because I need a creative outlet! I’ll
ALWAYS feel my most con dent with shiny, freshly coloured hair. One dye job is all I need to take on the world!
Find out more about Crazy Color at crazycolor.co.uk
Learn more about Dye to Defy’s 11 DIY dyers via Instagram @crazycolorcasa
Photo: Reuben Paris
Capturing the Perfect Bite
Film and dining recommendations for budget-conscious students in Scotland Words:
Scotland is home to a large student population dedicated to academic excellence, establishing friendships, and creating cherished memories. While much of their leisure time is spent preparing to revel at numerous clubs throughout the country, students can conserve their energy and explore venues offering a diverse range of affordable and unconventional activities and experiences.
The Cameo Cinema, operated by the nationwide cinema chain Picturehouse, is situated in the heart of Tollcross, Edinburgh, and boasts a remarkable 110 years in the business. This historical building welcomes thousands of visitors each week, offering a three-screen cinema and a bar that provides an array of food and beverage options. Notably, it extends exceptional benefits to students. For a one-off payment of £20, students have access to a Regional Student Membership, encompassing two complimentary cinema tickets, a 25% discount on all food and beverage purchases at both the cinema and bar, and exclusive access to films for £1 as part of Picturehouse’s Film Club, specifically curated to showcase films from their Discover and reDiscover seasons. Additional perks include a weekday offer of £1 for coffee and tea before 5pm which you can maximise in the Art Deco seating area, ideal for studying or discussing a film with companions.
with food of Mexico at El Cartel. Check out the frozen margaritas for £5 deal (Monday to Wednesday) and a £10 chicken wings and pint offer. You can receive a 10% student discount at checkout – this may not be used in conjunction with the mentioned midweek offers.
artful opportunities and historic architecture, from renowned music venues to prestigious schools, the standard produced is unmatched. Moreover, Glasgow’s culinary and cinematic offerings remain integral to the city’s allure, particularly for students seeking compelling incentives.
Since opening on Rose Street in 1939, the Glasgow Film Theatre (GFT) has been a cornerstone of Scottish cinema, dedicated to presenting world cinema on the grand scale of the big screen. Prospective patrons in the 16-25 age group may benefit from complimentary membership, featuring discounted general admission tickets at £6, one complimentary screening per month, and loyalty points redeemable for future visits. For customers of all ages, as well as non-student audiences, GFT’s Glasgow Film Club offers postscreening discussions and dialogue with individuals of similar interests, with a flexible payment scale that accommodates varying incomes and levels of interest. Home to Glasgow Film Festival and further inclusive cinema experiences, this venue is destined to be visited.
Venture across scenic Edinburgh towards Bristo Square, home to the University of Edinburgh’s student union buildings and McEwan Hall, and find a trail of wonderfully eccentric and culturally diverse eateries. Beginning with a taste of the Big Apple, Civerinos has successfully branched across Edinburgh with its selection of pizza and its viral giant mozzarella stick. Order your slice to-go from the Civerinos' Forrest Road location and take your bite to The Meadows nearby – show a valid student ID to redeem 20% off the order. A mere minute’s walk around the corner will meet you
Perfect for some solo eating, head along to Ting Thai for a selection of Thai small plates, curries, or rice and noodle dishes – most of which are served in small takeaway containers for those times you are rushing for a bus or a forgotten lecture. Check out their ‘sun-up’ menu, running from midday to 5pm for cheaper prices on their restaurant staples. The final of four studentfriendly fronts is Paradise Palms, offering a fully vegetarian and vegan food menu, a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and an events calendar to please all interests. This especially queer-friendly venue welcomes customers to attend monthly drag shows, cabaret shows, and DJ sets each weekend. Each study year, they update their student cocktails menu which includes discounted and speciality drinks – the new list is expected to be available from September.
Across the central belt lies Scotland’s largest metropolis, the city of Glasgow. Boasting
Talk about what funny one-liner your Letterboxd review will be on the ten-minute walk to the self-proclaimed most authentic Mexican restaurant in Glasgow, Mezcal on Hope Street. Satiate that craving for mouth-watering food post or pre-lecture with tacos for £3 (from 3-5pm Monday to Thursday) or find that study fuel with their £5 taco and soft drink deal which is available at the same time from Monday to Friday.
If Mexican food isn’t what you’re after, or you’ve had your birria fix for the week, step into the Glasgow Subway and catch a carriage towards the West End of the city, getting off at Hillhead, and walk to Hillhead Bookclub. This multifaceted venue offers students a £6.50 cake and coffee deal, a 20% discount on burgers and fries for friend group catch-ups, and £3.25 spirit mixers to kickstart a great evening. Nearby, find family-run cafe Naked Soup which serves delicious soup and bagels, or book a table at Urban West for classic
George Reid
brunch picks for everyone. A short walk from Hillhead Bookclub leads to West Side Tavern, offering a unique alcoholic drinks menu and a variety of pizzas, pasta, and small plates. On Tuesdays, take advantage of the £10 main and side deal, comprising a pasta dish or one of their parms, paired with fried potato slices. Alternatively, on Sundays, the ‘Family Style Sunday’ offer includes one small plate, one pasta, and a pizza for £30, making it a delightful and cost-effective choice for a group dining experience.
Dundee, known for comic book characters like Desperate Dan, Oor Wullie, and Dennis the Menace, offers a unique history of design in Scotland. The UK’s only museum outside of London to focus solely on design, the V&A Dundee provides a sense of fierceness in the art scene of the country, emphasising the communal aspect of the collective exhibitions and showcase spaces that surround the inner city.
The Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA) building comprises a cinema, exhibition spaces, workshops and events, making it an ideal destination for any art-enthused person. Focusing on the cinema aspect, the venue showcases world cinema through vintage screenings,
new releases, and documentaries each day. Students can take advantage of this wide-ranging content at a reduced rate of £7. Additionally, students aged 18-25 can enjoy further benefits by signing up for the DCA 18-25 Membership. For an annual one-time fee of £5, members receive a complimentary ticket to one screening per year, reduced regular admission fees of £6.50, priority booking, and various discounts, including 10% off at the in-house cafe, Jute. Furthermore, the cafe/ bar space welcomes all patrons to enjoy a coffee and study, a popular choice among customers in between or after movie screenings, or following participation in available courses, such as bookbinding, Japanese brush calligraphy, and Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom workshops. Students receive a £15 discount on such classes, but there are free tours of the Print Studio and Cinema on 28 and 29 September. For further information, please visit the DCA website.
After sitting with the cast of a dark mystery thriller, or spinning a new clay pot, visit the variety of small businesses around this culturally vibrant area. Replenish your energy at Empire State Coffee for their £10.95 soup and sandwich lunch deal, inclusive of vegetarian/vegan and gluten-free options. EH9 Espresso is another noteworthy stop
which specialises in coffee and bagels, as well as their billboard initiative outside the Perth Road shop intended to highlight local artists. Right beside EH9, explore The Book Attic, a family-run independent second-hand bookshop, and Le Freak Records which focuses on selling new and used vinyl and hosts in-store parties and DJs throughout the month – all events are BYOB.
Visit Cooper Gallery, located at the University of Dundee, from midday to 5 pm to spark creativity or conversation with like-minded friends at one of the active exhibitions. Once inspired, continue along Perth Street to the Art Bar, a live music venue and bar providing a range of Scottish beverages at competitive prices with an open mic every Tuesday, and DJ sets each Friday and Saturday.
In every major city, there are a variety of experiences and venues to enjoy, with numerous events, offers, and opportunities available at any time. As a student, take advantage of the possibility of lower prices during the week or special menu options to save money. Just be mindful of the space you occupy when visiting smaller cafes and bars. We encourage you to contribute to supporting local and independent businesses when you can.
Know Your (Tenancy) Rights!
We chat to Elise Corry about the important work she does with Living Rent in Edinburgh to protect tenants from exploitation and landlord greed
Words: Jack Faulds
You probably don’t need me to tell you that moving into a new flat as a student is a royal pain in the arse. Hauling heavy furniture up endless staircases and dealing with nightmare neighbours (or flatmates) is already a lot. Add the pressure of that first deadline creeping up on you and the terror of the mould developing across your bedroom ceiling: you couldn’t be blamed if you threw in the towel and stuck your head in the sand before your life as a student had even begun. Elise Corry from the Edinburgh branch of Scotland’s tenants union Living Rent, however, challenges you to not give up so easily. One of two students on the union’s national committee, she knows this stru le through and through – and she has solutions. We chat to her about the important work she does with Living Rent to protect tenants from exploitation and landlord greed.
Can you tell us a bit about what you do for Living Rent in Edinburgh?
I am a member of Living Rent which is Scotland’s tenants union. We are a democratically elected, member-led union and we campaign on various issues both nationally and locally. For an example of what we do locally, in Edinburgh we campaigned for [Edinburgh’s] tourist tax [to go towards] council homes and we won that! Nationally, we are campaigning for a points-based system for rent controls which brings rent down, makes it more affordable and creates better quality housing for people in Scotland.
I know that sounds a bit jargony, but basically rent controls were in place in Scotland throughout most of the twentieth century. They got revoked in the 80s when Thatcher was in power… obviously… and it makes a lot of sense to be bringing them back now despite what lies are spread by landlords and people in the housing sector so that they can continue exploiting their tenants.
I am also on the national committee; I was elected back in March by the entire union. I believe I’m one of two students on the national committee, and I’m really proud of that. I think students and other tenants in the wider community can often be pitted against each other, you see things online where people say ‘students are driving rent up!’, which is just not true. It’s landlords who have the monopoly in the housing market and students are just used as a scapegoat – partially because that’s how it’s spun in the media as well.
What made you want to get involved?
I learned about Living Rent around three years ago,
and then I moved away. When I came back, I just knew it was something I wanted to get involved in because housing is a human right. Seeing rents progressively get more expensive in Scotland since I had moved, and how that has affected the mental and physical health of people, made me want to do something. Tenants are disproportionately affected by mental health issues and physical health issues – particularly things like asthma getting worse because of neglect from landlords who rent out damp and mouldy properties. This is something I really want to see change in Scotland. Why is it important for students to be on top of things when it comes to landlords etc?
is poor quality and built on land that is simply not deemed fit for human inhabitation. There was an example in Gorgie, at Tynecastle High, where they were going to build flats but it was not deemed safe so they were like “let’s just fling up some PBSA instead.” This is something that the government has just allowed to happen, as well as allowing these providers to put rent up as much as they like. Things like this really show how the housing sector works against students, and that should really be a radicalising point for students to get involved in housing justice.
Students have really stressful lives. They’re working part-time or full-time jobs alongside their studies. It can get to be a lot, and so it makes sense for them to see that they’ve got mould in their flat and be like “oh well, there’s nothing I can really do about it.” But it’s really important that students aren’t left out of the conversation as they often are.
We’re seeing PBSA (Purpose Built Student Accommodation) popping up around the country that
had two students come to us recently about their
Basically, join Living Rent. It is in the interest ning for almost 10 years now, and we will continue to win until the housing sector is balanced in the
housing issues which you can align with your own housing situation to help understand it better. It can often feel quite isolating when you have housing issues, and that’s how landlords want you to feel! But you might come along to a member defence meeting with Living Rent and find someone who is having the exact same issue as you and work on your issues together.
Activism 101
Learn how to support Palestine and squash transphobia from some of the best grassroots organisations in Scotland
Words: Jack Faulds
As well as thinking about your tenancy rights as you settle into student life, you may also be thinking about how you can help put an end to the horrific breach of the most basic human rights that continues to be inflicted upon the people of Palestine by the state of Israel. By now, if you are trying to keep up with what is going on, your Instagram feed is probably a barrage of devastating on-the-ground footage, first-hand pleas from citizens in the Gaza strip and half-hearted, empty responses from world leaders. It is an overwhelming doom-scroll, but being so physically detached from the violence in Scotland means that we can very quickly put it all away if it gets too much. The privilege of being able to ‘switch off’ from an ongoing genocide is dangerous, and makes stumbling into the pitfalls of complicity or complete political disengagement all the easier.
Arts Workers For Palestine Dundee understand that creating this distance is irresponsible, that Scotland and its institutions actually have a lot to answer for, and that your voice as a student is needed now more than ever. On 6 August, they launched an open letter to Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design (DJCAD) and the University of Dundee opposing the Baillie Gifford bursaries which they are offering to undergraduate students in the upcoming 2024-2025 academic period. Baillie Gifford is a Scottish asset management company which has investments not only in arms companies that are supplying the Israeli military, but also in fossil fuel stocks. And, as if things couldn’t get any more sinister, the University of Dundee has posted articles to its website titled ‘West Bank based medical students visit Dundee in knowledge exchange’ and ‘Dundee awarded University of Sanctuary status’, boasting its supposed outstanding effort to support “those displaced by humanitarian crises” while it advertises these bursaries. Yuck.
“There is a lot to be angry about. But what can you do with these emotions?”
The open letter calls on DJCAD and the University of Dundee to ‘1. Pressure Baillie Gifford to divest from their holdings in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in arms manufacturers, and
in fossil fuels,’ ‘2. End ties with Baillie Gifford if they prove unwilling to divest’ and ‘3. Commit to informed consent when advertising scholarships to prospective recipients, making clear how the money has been sourced.’ Through establishing a clear, concise set of demands which has almost 300 individual signatories, Art Workers For Palestine Dundee have exemplified that something as simple as an open letter can at the very least create interest and get people more involved in the cause. Though the deadline for applications to these bursaries has passed, you can still sign the open letter to put pressure on these institutions –a seemingly small act which may very well inspire you to venture further into advocating and organising for Palestine. This issue isn’t exclusive to Dundee, either – institutions such as Heriot-Watt University and the University of Glasgow are also offering bursaries and scholarships in partnership with Baillie Gifford. So, join your college or university’s Palestine society, start one if it doesn’t exist, and organise an open letter. The time is now.
You might also be reflecting on the impending lawsuit surrounding the bizarre transphobic harassment of Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif (a cisgender woman, might I add) by everyone’s favourite Twitter (sorry, X) ghouls Elon Musk and J.K. Rowling. Or the fact that the emergency order made by former health secretary Victoria Atkins banning private prescriptions for puberty blockers – an essential part of trans healthcare for many young people – in the UK has not yet been done away with under the new Labour government. You are probably worried about the safety and wellbeing of your trans friends and family, or your own safety and wellbeing if you happen to be trans. You are probably angry, and rightfully so. There is a lot to be angry about. But what can you
do with these emotions? How do you respond to the negativity and hatred spouted by out-of-touch billionaires and once-beloved children’s authors in a way that sparks change and progression? The folks at Resisting Transphobia in Edinburgh have a few ideas.
Earlier this year on 9 April, members and supporters of protest group Resisting Transphobia in Edinburgh rocked up to Princes Street to counter a ‘women’s rights’ protest led by right-wing internet commentator Posie Parker. They arrived in busloads to drown out the aimless hodgepodge of anti-abortionists, neo-nazis and other miscellaneous bigots that make up Parker’s audience, and made clear to anyone reading the coverage of these events from outside Scotland that transphobia will not be tolerated in the capital city. We asked these trailblazers of positive, effective, anti-transphobic action what advice they have for students – like yourself – looking to organise against transphobia in Scotland. They said: “It’s too easy to be paralysed into inaction by the enormity of the challenges we face and it can be very easy to quickly burn out. Even though it can feel as if we’re largely powerless as individuals, every action does help. Success is accumulative and builds upon itself.
“It doesn’t require too many people working together to start making a significant difference, so join a local resistance or support group. If nothing suitable is available, don’t be afraid to start your own, no matter how small. If you stick with it, then it will grow with each success.”
instagram.com/resistingtransphobiaedi
instagram.com/artsworkersforpalestinedundee
STUDENT EDITION
In this month’s student special, our advice columnist fields questions from the team about what they wish they had known from their student days
My friends keep bringing their partners to everything we do – I like their partners, but sometimes I want to spend time with just my friends. How to politely tell them to stop?!
I have almost certainly answered some variant of this question before, but I’m going to answer it again because people simply will not stop bringing their partners everywhere and it simply does not stop being annoying.
Admittedly, we shouldn’t silo romantic relationships to one side – it’s a surefire way for people to become isolated in nuclear clusters and, selfishly, it’s likely to make them even more joined at the hip and irritating to be around. I also think the ways that hangouts in Western cultures happen in carefully curated, invite-only structures isn’t really representative of life or community: people just coming along and vibing is an art we have lost and need to revitalise.
That being said, Jesus, leave your boyfriend in his crate once in a while. If it really is an incessant thing, you’re more than justified to bring it up with your friends. It doesn’t have to be confrontational: rather than disinviting their partners, maybe you could talk about ways of spending time together that would be unique to your relationship, seeing this as an opportunity to generate new rather than limit existing intimacies. And if they point blank refuse, well. Accept the change that is taking place in your friendship or, better yet, identify someone they find really a ravating and start bringing them to everything too x
My partner’s flatmates are terrible. They’re annoying, they’re loud, and they’re always there. The problem – their flat is a lot nicer than mine, in a better location, so *we’re* always there. What should I doooo?!?
I think you maybe know the answer to this and you just don’t want to admit it to yourself, but the answer is to hang out in your dingy faraway flat and have a nice time.
Listen, people have every right – and it upsets me too! – to be annoying and loud and present in their own home. Short of staging a coup and changing the locks – and to be honest, far be it for me to discourage terrible ideas and chaotic impulses – you can’t really do much here. Unless they’re behaving
particularly rudely or offensively towards you or others around you, it truly is what it is. You can’t control someone just being bad vibes: that’s their god-given right as a citizen on this earth. What you can do is have a chat with your partner. Can you explain that their flatmates make you feel uncomfortable, and you’d rather tolerate the discomfort of your smaller flat and longer commute than their terrible energy? Can you explain that you’d like your partner to maybe make the sacrifice (said small flat, said long commute) to alleviate your discomfort? It kind of depends to what extent these are flatmates or friends as to what you can ask for, but I do think if you don’t love hanging out there, it’s only fair to sometimes hang out elsewhere. I really hope they (the partner, not the flatmates) can meet you where you’re at.
I have a silly little crush on my tutor. Actually, that’s a lie. It may be silly but it’s definitely not ot little. In fact, I feel lik I’m going insane. Why is this happening and what should I do? Why is this happening? Because, unfortunately, some of us have it deep wired in our brains that people in charge – generally of everything but especially of us – are sexy and exciting. They… know more than you? But they’ll tell you about it? And they’ll determine whether you did a good job of now knowing the things they know? Like, that’s hot! This crush is basically that meme about the girlie who has a praise kink and the guy just rocks up with a sheet of gold stars. Truly, what says ‘good girl’ more than someone telling you that your critical framework was well-researched and thorough? What should you do? Lmao absolutely fucking nothing. This crush exists as a fantasy, a response to an idea of a power dynamic, and while that is so nice and fun for you, it will be categorically zero nice and fun if it’s dra ed outside of the remits of fantasy and into the realm of, oh yeah, exploitation. Best case scenario, you make a move and are appropriately and embarrassingly rebuffed. Worst case scenario, they fancy you back (???) and now everything is icky and someone who should have had a duty of care towards you is being a creep. Have your silly enormous crush, and go make out with someone your own age.
