THE SKINNY FREE
STORIES ABOUT STUDENT DAYS, MAPS OF WHERE TO FIND THE BEST BARS AND CLUBS, TIPS TO GET YOU THROUGH THE GRIND AND LOADS OF USEFUL STUFF
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Editorial Being a student is weird. You’re supposed to be learning but will feel ghettoised from the rest of the world; you’re meant to be having fun, but it’s often a very hard time; and though you feel like you’re meeting friends for life, you worry you’re not spending enough time in the library. And so it goes on… I had a great time at uni, so the last thing I want to do is seem full of doom and gloom, yet there’s a distinct sense of imbalance about being a student. There’s so much opportunity, so much to be fascinated by, but also a feeling of wanting to be an adult while lacking the responsibilities to be fully considered as one. We’ve tried to replicate that imbalance in this guide. You won’t find a fully comprehensive guide to everything you need to know (though there are some very useful listings). Instead, what we’ve provided is incisive coverage of a variety of different experiences; from forbidden literature to transitioning, throwing great parties to almost dropping out. You’ll have to use your imagination to get the full picture, but here at The Skinny we thought it best to leave the inspiration to you, while we provide an indication of some of the things that might happen.
Yeah, we know – rules are there to be broken. But sometimes kids, everyone needs a little guidance. So being caring, sharing chaps, we’ve established five golden rules to lead you on the road to a successful student life...
Read like fuck. Whether it’s books on your course or across the spectrum of human understanding (a bit of both is probably best), you’ll never get a chance to read more than at university. When you leave you’ll quickly realise the world is full of morons (if you haven’t already) who were lucky enough to have gone to university but didn’t follow this rule.
Party like it’s 1999. Whether it’s dancing the Highland Fling, drinking from the chalice of doom, singing Zappa songs at sunset or holding a séance at dawn, there’s no better time than uni to “have it”. So do. And while you’re out there “aving it”, be sure to listen to great music. Prince is a good example. Whigfield isn’t.
We hope you like it, and we hope you continue to pick up The Skinny while you’re studying here in Scotland. It’s free, and offers an in-depth monthly round-up of all the best in Scottish culture; from local bands to secret exhibitions, fresh theatre to the most innovative computer games. We look forward to keeping you informed. In the meantime, read on. And from all of us here at Skinny Towers – have a great time as a student. RJ Thomson
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Meet interesting people. There’s no real method to this, but uni is full of bright(ish) people who share your interests or can interest you in theirs. Attend extra lectures and seminars, get into debates with your tutors, live on the wild side by joining clubs you’d never have discovered, or just listen to your friends - learning is about more than study. It’s about coffee and cigarettes too.
Keep an eye on the wider world. Studenthood is a privilege, so honour it by not getting so caught up in Studentworld you forget to be, you know, a person. Hell, we all know the real world can be fun but sometimes you need to work at it. So, forget those CV-enhancing summer internships – do something that makes a difference to the society that surrounds you. This is your chance to get involved. Don’t waste it.
Look after yourself. With looming dangers like debt, health and psychological issues, the time will come when you need to take it easy. Don’t worry about missing out or what people will think, just give yourself the space you need. Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee are all great places to be a student, but you’ll need to give yourself the best chance to love it.
photos: Jack Waddington
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STUDENT READS
Our writers on books they feel are essential additions to every student’s bookshelf I’LL TAKE YOU THERE
LANARK
by Joyce Carol Oates
by Alasdair Gray
Unfortunately, university means many hours slaving over faceless critics and their tomes. One critic you may encounter is Joyce Carol Oates, but luckily, she also writes appealing fiction. I’ll Take You There is set at an old-fashioned, liberal arts college in the 1960s and focuses upon the life of a philosophy student as she becomes entangled in a poisonous sorority, eventually falling in love with a fellow black student. But most emphatic is her struggle with finance - a fight students know well. Moreover, the battle to discover her own personality amidst the crowd of picture-perfect boys and girls is one many people face whilst at university. Oates beautifully portrays the human condition at a turning point in life, hopefully arming her readers against similar situations. [CC Mapletoft]
Despite being a landmark of modern Scottish literature, it’s unlikely you came across Lanark in your high school English class. Fortunately, entering the big student world affords you the opportunity to wander off the beaten track and into the midst of Alasdair Gray’s masterpiece. A tale set in the twin cities of Glasgow and Unthank, the novel tackles governmental corruption and economic depression with Orwellian precision. It’s innovative, experimental and has even been hailed as Scotland’s answer to Ulysses, but you needn’t be scared – it’s also a poignant, beautifully written story about a man’s quest for love, truth and contentment. Lanark is a novel that should be added to everyone’s list of required reading. [Lauren O’Rourke]
THE AFFECTED PROVINCIAL’S COMPANION, VOL. I
DOWN AND OUT IN SHOREDITCH AND HOXTON
by Lord Breaulove Swells Whimsy
by Stewart Home
“Once, sissies were mistaken for gentlemen; alas, now gentlemen are mistaken for sissies,” writes Lord Whimsy in his collection of philosophical essays, personal retrospectives and “naughty verse”. The Companion should be compulsory reading for students: learn how to add a touch of elegance to your multi-occupancy flat and how to stay ahead in the wit game. Worried about getting punched for wearing a top hat in Glasgow? Let Whimsy teach you the sacred martial art of “Fop Fu”. Lacking ideas about sports wear, moustaches, masturbation or cravats? Whimsy’s got it covered. Optioned for movie production by Johnny Depp, read the book now before everyone’s screaming about it. [Robert Wringham]
University should be about radical thinking, so it seems appropriate to recommend one of today’s most radical working novelists: Stewart Home. This is a man who played practical jokes on Salman Rushdie and the whole of Fleet Street during the former’s Fatwah; who went on a three year long artstrike to protest against bourgeois appropriation of art; and who coherently advocates plagiarism as a time saving and creative method. Down and Out… is a short novel concerning a London-based sex worker, who in-between servicing customers takes time to elucidate extremely structured arguments about Marxist theory and the most likely perpetrator of Jack the Ripper’s crimes. At times hilari-
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ous, Down and Out… is exhilarating in its oddness, and, right at the end, surprisingly affecting. [RJ Thomson]
TRUMPET by Jackie Kay
Trumpet tells the story of celebrated jazz musician Joss Moodyin and the days following his death. We meet his grieving widow Millie, his wayward son Colman, his doctor, his mother, even his funeral director - each who have their own particular memories of the great man. Only it quickly emerges Joss was in fact Josephine, a woman living as a man her whole adult life. Issues of identity, nationality and gender are subtly explored in a poignant account of a life shrouded in mystery. Kay imbues her characters with a vulnerability that captivates the reader - proving without doubt she’s a writer at the top of her game. [Katie Gordon]
WATCHMEN by Alan Moore
Possibly the most acclaimed graphic novel of all time, Watchmen is a great read, and one that Time magazine included in their list of best 100 novels since 1923. It details not only what would happen if costumed superheroes existed in the real world, but also the evolution of these superheroes. Initially this makes it a bleak whodunnit surrounding the death of The Comedian - one of the aging ‘heroes’ - but it darkens further as time passes, mirroring the way comics have changed over the years, and leads to an astonishingly dramatic conclusion. A film adaptation is in production, but a two-hour movie will struggle to capture the richness of Moore’s work here. The difference between this and the average issue of Batman equates to the difference between literature and writing - something students should grasp early on. [Keir Hind]
“THE SKINNY IS LIKE THE VILLAGE VOICE IN NEW YORK OR EXBERLINER IN BERLIN: IT’S EDGY, STREET AND GOT ITS EAR TO THE GROUND. IT TELLS YOU EVERYTHING THAT’S GOING ON” JOHN MACDONALD, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND ENTERPRISE, THE LIGHTHOUSE, SCOTLAND’S CENTRE FOR ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN AND THE CITY.
THE ARTS, CULTURE AND LISTINGS MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTED FREE IN OVER 500 VENUES IN EDINBURGH, GLASGOW AND DUNDEE WWW.SKINNYMAG.CO.UK The Skinny Student Guide was put together by the team at The Skinny. Editor in Chief
Rupert Thomson Managing Editors
Billy Hamilton & Nick Mitchell Design
Emma Westwater Illustrations
Lewis Killin www.gwaaargh.com & Leigh Pearson www.leighpearson.com Contributors
Katie Clarke, Kirsteen Connor, Stephen Daisley, Hugo Fluendy, Katie Gordon, Keir Hind, CC Mapltoft, Nine, Lauren O’Rourke, RJ Thomson, Robert Wringham, Roddy Woomble, www.wild-in-scotland.com Radge Media LTD The views and opinions expressed within this publication do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the printer or the publisher.
Official media partners with:
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DROPPING OUT The first few weeks of student life are all about living it up with new friends but when the inevitable slump comes many find it difficult to persevere. Katie Clarke talks frankly about how she managed to avoid dropping out One of the best things about starting student life is the giddy whirl of fresher fairs, parties and meeting new people. But the reality of a demanding workload, financial strains or living away from home can be hard to deal with. Most graduates will tell you there was a point when they almost dropped out. The truth is university isn’t for everyone but for some dropping out is an easier option than dealing with the pressures of studying. I cruised through my first two years but one winter I got a bad dose of the blues and found the increased workload in third year hard to deal with.
I ignored the pile of overdue work by burying my head in the sand. I wanted so badly to pull myself together but every time I sat down to work I got stage fright. I’d stare at the blank computer screen, unable to get past my first sentence, utterly terrified of doing it badly. Living away from home I could easily hide this from my family. I was surprised to find the
university to be sympathetic and supportive. I agreed to hand in extra work and began attending student counselling sessions. The epiphany I’d been waiting for came when my counsellor pointed out that if something is worth doing, it’s just worth doing. Sitting staring at a blank screen, scared of getting it wrong, was pointless. Universities and colleges offer lots of help for anyone having problems, personal, academic or financial. I was scared of letting everyone down, but the only person I owed anything to was myself. Dropping out would have been the easy option for me. I owe a lot to my university, and the support they gave me, and I’m proud that I found the guts to help myself.
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10 things you’ll learn as a fresher… Everybody gets laid. If everyone on your corridor seems like a dick, they probably are. You will have no use for a stolen four feet long bicycle shop advertisement at the end of the year. You’ll regret pissing about. Having a daily Deal or No Deal session is all very well, but don’t let it get out of hand. If the prime selling point of an event is something you know you don’t like (Chesney Hawkes is an outstanding example), you won’t like the event. During freshers’ week you may earn a nickname you’ll keep for life. But no matter how much of a legend you or your immediate circle think you are, being called ‘Chunder’ or ‘Spitroast’ ain’t cool. Being ill during Fresher’s week doesn’t mean you’re destined to be an eternal, friendless misfit; it’s just a temporary delay to the forthcoming debauchery. Remember: home is great - the sofa and screwball comedy DVDs will get you back in tip-top party condition. Most of the best sounding clubs and societies are undermined by the muppets who run them. Who wants to get stuck 100m up in a basket with someone telling you about all the even better ballooning trips they’ve been on before? Try joining a few societies and dropping out of those you don’t like after a few weeks. Bear in mind this fairly random process has a 56.5% chance of determining your future career, so be careful. Not everyone on your course is a potential bestmate-for-life. Just because you make the mistake of sitting next to a total fuckwit in your first lecture doesn’t mean you’ve gotta befriend him or her for the rest of the year. Mingle with as many people as you can before you settle. Sure, you’ll keep seeing said fuckwit around campus; just avoid eye contact or nod knowingly. Funding a high-flying social life through seemingly endless credit ain’t big or clever. Yeah, you might be out on the lash every night, living it up with magnums of Crystal, but someday you’re gonna have to pay up – and those debt collectors ain’t quite as easy-going as the bank of mummy and daddy. So, our advice to you would be: get a job. You know it makes sense.
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Art vs Science
(or how to make sure Science students know you’re smarter than them) Starting uni as an Arts student? Then you’ll soon be hearing from the scientifically inclined that “you’re just reading stories for four years” and “it won’t get you a job”. But don’t retort with “school science was useless”though physics class is mainly remembered for the Van De Graaf generator [the thing that made people’s hair stick up]. Instead, point them to the basic, practical advice contained within books of all kinds. Even engineering students will understand that. So, what sort of advice? Well, let’s start with writer number one: William Shakespeare. Hamlet, in a sense, tells you that if you’re ever looking for your father’s ghost, try your mother’s closet. Macbeth illustrates the danger of paying heed to horoscopes, and for actual worldly gain Richard III elucidates the best way to gain a kingdom is to follow its king until he’s ready to swap it for a horse. These top tips aren’t the focal point of these stories – that tends to be the exploration of the human condition - but what fascinating bonus information for the logician! Plot-driven novels will appeal more to your digitally-brained friends. Frederick Forsyth’s The Day of the Jackal actually includes detailed
information on how to obtain a false passport. No one has yet used this information to try, like the Jackal does, to assassinate Charles De Gaulle (difficult, as he’s been dead since 1970) but it will show gear-
film) which, although flawed in many ways, still gives a better indication of how crime works within society than most non-fiction books. The facts may not be as accurate, but they should see beyond this. And once that starts happening you might, just might, get one of the calculating crowd to realise there’s a type of fiction that uses story - false though it may be - in the service of greater truths. Those truths aren’t necessarily facts, more likely the author’s beliefs, but put it to them this way: fiction is often the most economical way of writing about immeasurable things that just don’t compute - like human emotion or historical forces.
heads some basic merit to stories. Once you have this foothold in their mind, you can gradually ease them into understanding that fiction can be more illustrative than fact. Start with something simple like The Godfather (tell them it’s the novelisation of the
The most famous advice from all literature is probably a misreading from Homer – “Beware of Greeks bearing gifts”. But if you can get a science student to actually understand that The Iliad and The Odyssey don’t just contain bad proverbs (“beware soldiers hiding in wooden horses” is actually more accurate) and instead explore the nature of war in ways that are still pertinent, you may have achieved something during university. But you’ll still be buggered when you try to get a job. [Keir Hind]
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Top Edinburgh Pubs And Clubs
The Liquid Room
BAROQUE 39-41 Broughton Street 0131 557 0627 This Mediterranean-styled watering-hole has recently been taken over by new management so expect a freshly-selected menu to keep you salivating. Perfectly situated by some of the Capital’s liveliest nightspots, Baroque is great for getting your night started. It also has a fantastic mid-week quiz to heat up your braincells during those chilly winter months.
BLIND POET 32 West Nicolson Street 0131 667 0876
Cameo Bar
Fed up with ruthlesslyminimal style bars? Then take comfort in the Blind Poet’s tatty décor and unpretentious literary theme. Wall inscribed philosophical quotations will lubricate your mind while beer lubricates your innards, and if you’re feeling especially intellectual you could gatecrash one of the informal tutorial classes that favour this establishment over the library.
BRASS MONKEY 14 Drummond Street 0131 556 1961 Fancy a drink and a liedown in a fully-cushioned room with cult films on the big screen? Not a problem
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at Brass Monkey. True, this can lead to much awkward clambering and spillage, but you haven’t been an Edinburgh student until you’ve tried it. Best for chilled afternoon beers as it attracts a busy bohemian crowd later on.
CABARET VOLTAIRE 36 Blair Street 0131 220 6176 A local Mecca for music lovers, Cabaret Voltaire might be a bit poky inside, but it boasts one of the most expansively eclectic – not to mention stuffed-tothe-rafters – programmes of gigs and clubnights in the capital. You can go there any night of the week and
see a hotly-tipped band or DJ up close and personal.
CAMEO BAR 38 Home Street 0131 228 9311 With its chocolate-brown leather sofas and wireless internet access, the Cameo cinema’s recentlyrefurbished café-bar is perfect for afternoon study or conversation. It takes on a life of its own at night, when cineastes and students congregate, drink, and maybe even catch a film. Look out for the regular ‘A Night of...’ DJ sets.
CITY CAFÉ 74 Lauriston Place 0131 220 0125
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Brass Monkey The Sheep Heid Inn
The Southern Bar
City Café
photos: Eilidh Baxter, Colin Tweedy, Pete Dunlop
As creator of the tastiest, hangover-quenching breakfasts this side of the M90, The City Café holds a special place in our hearts. Best known for its daily Happy Hour, swinging 60s décor and conversationstopping fish tank, The Café is one of the most hip and happening pre-club warmups in town.
THE LIQUID ROOM 9c Victoria Street 0131 225 2564 A totem of Edinburgh’s club scene, The Liquid Room has been mashing up a multi-coloured array of musical delights for over a decade. With beat-tastic
nights like Luvely and Musika nuzzling up against indie stompers Indigo and Evol - as well as some of the UK’s hottest live acts – it’s Auld Reekie’s premier nightspot for sweaty hipshakers.
THE SHEEP HEID INN 43-45 The Causeway Duddingston 0131 656 6951 Well off the beaten-track but definitely worth the detour, The Sheep Heid nestles at the foot of Arthur’s Seat in the picture-postcard village of Duddingston. Some Edinburgh pubs claim to be steeped in history; The Sheep Heid, dating back
to 1360, is drenched in the stuff. And for the ultimate in pub games there’s a traditional skittle alley out back.
THE SOUTHERN BAR 22-26 South Clerk Street 0131 667 2288
to serving up some of the most promising local tunesmiths around.
WEE RED BAR 74 Lauriston Place 0131 229 1442 Looking to wash down some great late night music with the refreshing taste of student-price booze?
This place used to ‘rawk’;
Then get yourself down to
now it’s just plain cool.
The Wee Red Bar at the
Caught in the heart of
College of Art where you
student-centric Newington,
can get cheaply messy at
The Southern attracts
monthly reggae jamboree
a gaggle of skinny-jean
Big Toe’s Hi-Fi, Red Alert’s
clad vagabonds with its
stellar drum ‘n’ bass head-
sparkling selection of ales
spinnery and, of course,
and spirits; not to mention
The Eggs’ fantastic weekly
an unflappable devotion
art-chic retro-ism.
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Top Glasgow Pubs and Clubs
The Buff Club
Bunker
ABC 300 Sauchiehall Street 0141 332 2232 An art deco building and former cinema, the ABC is now two cutting-edge live music and club spaces featuring a grandiose disco ball. Thursday night’s Rubbermensch is a night for trendy student indie lovers, while every week there’s a delectable selection of the finest bands around to choose from.
THE ARCHES 30 Midland Street 0870 240 7528 Sixteen years of beats and
debauchery all mashed up under disused railway arches at one of the best clubs in the UK. With a mixed music policy and an ear-pleasing spectrum of nights throughout the month - ranging from house and electronica to trance and techno – The Arches offers something for everyone.
BAR 91 91 Candleriggs 0141 552 5211 A friendly, cosy little pub tucked away in the Merchant City that’s a popular lunchtime spot which opens its patio doors on Candelriggs. Relaxed
Nice N Sleazy
atmosphere and a good crowd of pre-club drinkers.
THE BUFF CLUB 142 Bath Lane 0141 248 1777 With a nice line in wallpaper The Buff feels like an old school dance hall, playing vintage disco, funk and soul. Burn is easily the best Monday club night in town, with free entry for hospitality trade staff. Similarly, Killer Kitsch on Tuesday is a popular night with some inspired musical selections.
BUNKER 193-199 Bath Street
0141 229 1427 Another underground Bath Street drinking hole, you can’t beat Bunker’s ‘all drinks £1.20’ on Tuesdays and ‘all drinks £1.40’ on Thursdays. Open till 2am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Bunker’s DJs play indie classics and student anthems. Also free internet if you’re that way inclined.
JINTY MCGINTY’S 23 Ashton Lane 0141 339 0747 A family-run Irish theme pub on the West End’s Ashton Lane, Jinty’s guarantees a great atmosphere. Cold
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The Arches
The Arches
Waverly Tea Rooms
Bar 91 photos: Stephanie Stewart
Guinness, traditional Irish music and quotes from the works of Irish writers adorning the walls make the experience as authentic as you’re likely to get.
MONO 103 King Street 0141 553 2400 If you ever fancy a game of spot-the-art student then Mono should rank highly on your list of locations. Situated at the heart of King’s Court - an area that boasts a quirky array of delightful shops, catering for retro-clothing (Mr Ben’s), poster-fetishes (The Poster Shop) and Goths (Cyber) - Mono is a must-visit for any discerning alternativetypes. Its décor sits on the right side of lo-fi, and this, combined with its open
layout and light interior, give the place a comfortable and laidback feel. Add the option to borrow a boardgame from behind the bar and you have the perfect place to spend a lazy afternoon; arguing with a friend over a heated game of scrabble. Mono also hosts regular live music, and has an in-house record shop (Monorail) in case you fancy a CD with your pint. It serves food, and is one of the few places in Glasgow to have a Vegan-only menu; spicy chips and the soya milkshakes recommended.
NICE N SLEAZY 421 Sauchiehall Street 0141 333 0900
With a new booze-hound friendly 3am license at weekends, this recently refurbished bar/venue is at the heart of Glasgow’s thriving music scene. Serving up a cracking selection of live jinglesmiths daily - as well as a lip-smacking array of eats and drinks - Sleazy’s is a must for every aspiring indie aficionado.
THE SUB CLUB 22 Jamaica Street 0141 248 4600 Having racked up twenty years of partying, the Sub Club is legendary with Glasgow Clubbers. Harri and Domenic man the decks on Saturdays while Sunday at the Sub plays
host to the innovative, anything-goes mash-up that is Optimo. For the hedonists amongst you.
WAVERLEY TEA ROOMS 18 Moss Side Road 0141 616 6818 Don’t be deceived by the name, this is actually a South Side wine bar. On sunny days tables in the beer garden are harder to come by than teetotal Glaswegians but the atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. Great for a few drinks in stylish surroundings and also cracking for Sunday brunch.
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Top Dundee Pubs & Clubs DUSA Airlie Place 01382 386060
With three large bars, a food court and a nightclub, Dundee University Student’s Association boasts something for everyone. Music that will gladden any ears can be found at least one night a week and, during term time at least, the place is guaranteed to be jumping.
THE DOGHOUSE 13 Brown Street 01382 206812
Sweaty cradle of Dundee’s insurgent indie scene, the Doghouse invariably
hosts loyal and boisterous local crowds. On weekends and live music nights, a real community vibe is undeniably tangible among the swarming worshippers of The View and their progeny.
BALCONY 1 Nicoll Street 01382 203518
For those who prefer a little more meat in their musical pie, the Balcony is one of Dundee’s most well respected hard-rock sweatboxes. Live music from the very healthy local metal and punk scenes can be heard here several nights a week.
THE PHOENIX 103 Nethergate 01382 200014
The archetypical ‘pint’n’banter’ pub. The Phoenix is full of character and characters, great pub food and good beers - serving up a cluttered, atmospheric antithesis to those clinical, style-oversubstance city bars. Never may it change.
ings then the DCA may be for you. Favoured bar of Dundee’s fashionable intelligentsia, the DCA also boasts uber-modern art exhibitions and two small cinemas (think Bergman, not Bay). [Les Ogilvie]
DCA 152 Nethergate 01382 909900
If you don’t mind paying a little more to sip your pint in abnormally clean and contemporary surround-
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Nina
Clai
Kate
Karlh
Mari
Philip
Echo
Lind
Susu
Jool
Wyn
Love
Spiri
Texa
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QH TO
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H AV E Y O U S E E N ? Nina Simone
Wire
Claire Martin
The Pixies
Kate Rusby
Tindersticks
Mogwai
Karlheinz Stockhausen Marianne Faithfull Philip Glass
Pulp
Jamie Cullum Sigur Ros
Courtney Pine
Laurie Anderson
Echo & The Bunnymen
The Polyphonic Spree
The Zutons
Dr John
Stereolab
Tomasz Stanko Quartet Badly Drawn Boy J Spaceman
Texas
Nick Cave
Low Idlewild
Dylan Moran
Gil Scott Heron
Throwing Muses
Coldplay
Tori Amos
Eddi Reader
The Cribs
David Byrne
Love with Arthur Lee Spiritualised
Blur
Super Furry Animals
Susumu Yokota Wynton Marsalis
Turin Brakes
Lemon Jelly
Lindsay Quartet Jools Holland
Gomez
Suzanne Vega
Donovan
The Delgados James Blunt
The Fall
W E H AV E A N D M A N Y M O R E . . .
QH: THE HQ OF LIVE MUSIC IN EDINBURGH TO BOOK YOUR TICKETS CALL OR VISIT
0131 777 1010 WWW.THEQUEENSHALL.NET
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Party people in the place... They can be messy, they can be illegal, but the flat party is the essence of student life and can become fresher folklore for years to come. RJ Thompson argues his case for the most legendary party When I was at uni my housemates and I used to specialise in quality house parties. The first was a Christmas party in second year, when we went to town on decorating the house and everyone we invited came. Others followed on a once-a-term basis thereafter. The all time corker was the ‘alternative graduation party’ we threw at the end of third year. We lived in a house of seven third years, next to a house of seven second years, and on the other side was a house of seven students from the other uni in town. We all clubbed together for a 21-room
extravaganza. After putting flyers out weeks in advance, we built a stage in the garden, decorated everywhere and had dancefloors on the ground floor of each house. There were hundreds of people there, and by the end of the night loads of whom were (often slightly odd) locals we didn’t know. But the atmosphere was so good there was hardly any damage – I think people respected the effort we’d gone to. Bands played from three in the afternoon, but luckily when the council came round after complaints from
a neighbour we had a rather excellent jazz band on they seemed to like so they pretty much told us to get on with it. There were all kinds of music - from metal to indie to electronica to funk and when it got dark we even managed to dig out some stage lights (I’ve no recollection where from). By this time we had about fifty people watching from a nearby one-storey roof, as well as a fully packed crowd in the garden. The music was great, and everyone was smiling and having fun - I’ll never forget the feeling of knowing we’d pulled it off.
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Bone Idle or Wild? Roddy Woomble muses over student shindigs of the past
Other notable moments in the night were less heavenly. One guy thought a drape was a hammock and leapt off a first floor balcony to crash on to the crowd below. He broke his nose but carried on dancing, covered in blood. In the corner there was a guy in a gimp mask for a bit, who was cutting off his own air supply by breathing through a straw and stopping it from time to time. But there were sweet details too; like the girls who came dressed as nurses despite there being no theme and the fact that the deejays who showed up at 4am for an afterparty set were the now fully established Deepgroove crew (headlining Classic Grand, Glasgow, 22 September). This was the closest to ‘Daft Punk are playing at my house’ I’m ever likely to get. At eight thirty the next morning the landlord showed up. Almost all the people had left, but there were a few friendly, yet entirely unfamiliar, local hippies hanging in the back garden in a thoroughly spaced-out state. I couldn’t face the situation, but a housemate went and – with a defiance I could hardly believe – insisted that we were to be given 24 hours notice. In the face of the carnage behind and around him, it took some pulling off.
We rented a large house in the Tollcross area of Edinburgh, there were supposed to be six of us in it, but at one count there was thirteen people staying in the house and two German travelers camping in the back garden. It was grubby, draughty and old, but full of character and strange angles. Most people in the house had different groups of friends, so when we threw parties, which happened most weekends, there’d always be a real mix of folk wannabe musicians, philosophy
undergraduates, budding photographers, pizza chefs and waitresses, thespians. The list could go on. We would always make a special effort and provide entertainment for the guests, be it bands playing in the living room or a fireworks display in the garden, so the gatherings were always over subscribed by friends of friends (of friends), and usually the police, who turned up at almost every one. Looking back, they probably were fun, but I can’t help thinking that it was the initial flush of freedom and irresponsibility that make student parties linger around the memory. Needless to say I much
prefer parties now.
There are obviously major reasons not to host such exuberant parties - your deposit may be the first thing to suffer. But if you’ve got a bastard landlord and a shit-load of friends, it may well be the best night of your life. RJ Thomson
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Escaping the crutches of the past and just being yourself is one of university life’s greatest perks. Stephen Daisley discusses how coming out during uni can lead to a more fulfilling student experience University affords not only the opportunity to advance your education but also to leave behind pretences - to stop playing straight and start being gay. No more hiding your Josh Hartnett posters, swearing you “just haven’t found the right girl”, and dreading school discos (perhaps the heterosexual world’s most heinous torture device against us). For best results, grab the chance to be open about your sexual identity right from the start. Of course, coming out is not an announcement – it’s a process. Being gay isn’t the be all and end all to you (if it is, what a sad little creature you are), but uni’s the place where your sexuality can become part of your everyday life, no longer a bolt-on accessory concealed from parents and used to shock and attract curious hetero friends.
Heed Lenin’s advice: “Seize the telegraph office.” Join the student newspaper or radio station and change the way LGBT concerns are discussed – or start getting them discussed. By talking about your sexuality as integral to your identity, you “normalise” queerness and make it seriously weird for student media to treat gay sexuality as an “issue”. Also, you get a platform to take on the homophobes. Check out the local gay bars. That said, it’s uni: three beers and everywhere’s a gay bar. Nor is your sexuality restricted to your social life. If you want to explore queerness academically, pick the gayest classes. Felching: Practice and Theory is usually oversubscribed but there’s always Eng Lit, Drama, and
Art. I found Film Studies integral to exploring my sexuality. Because it’s a discipline informed by feminism, gender, and identity politics, I was able to study movies and their relation to queer sexuality. By which I mean: I watched Top Gun with critical distance as opposed to, say, Kleenex. Whatever degree you choose, wherever your studies or friends or social activities take you, drink it all up. University is where you make your best friends and your worst mistakes. That’s the fun: experimentation. Sometimes you’ll get it right. Other times it’ll be a horrible mess, perchance involving lube, leather chaps, and half the rugby team. Most importantly, be yourself.
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Getting Hitched Got somewhere to go? Or just mournful for the passing of the Beat generation? As the fiftieth anniversary of Jack Kerouac’s classic On The Road passes, Nine considers hitching today
Hitching isn’t popular in the UK. Make reference to it, and many people will look at you in horror - especially if you’re female. But you needn’t rule out adventure if you’re able to take some safety precautions and carry out a risk assessment. “It’s a very enriching, useful, cheap, interesting way to get around and meet people you might never meet in your daily life,” says Kati, an experienced hitchhiker from Germany. “And many people have told me they profited from picking someone up as well. Some made friends, found the band they were looking for, or just had a less boring trip.” Kati reckons she’s hitched the 10km to school 250 times, as well as longdistance jaunts to various German cities, Switzerland, Austria, and around Scotland and Ireland. “I only hitchhike alone when I roughly know the route, so I wouldn’t be lost if I suddenly felt like getting out,” she explains. “I kindly reject people I have a bad feeling about and I always ask where exactly people are going before I get in.” Nosh, a Glaswegian who hitches in pairs or trios, uses a more modern approach to staving off unwanted roadside attention: “I always carry a mobile on which I appear to be texting,” she says. “Sometimes I say I’m in touch with my mates throughout the journey for safety reasons.” Nosh and a friend had one dodgy experience with an older man whose personal questions made them uncomfortable; looking back, she’s sure she wouldn’t have stuck
out the ride if there wasn’t someone else there looking out for her. But both Kati and Nosh have had enough positive experiences to not be put off. One of the nicest people Nosh encountered was a Liverpudlian trucker in his late twenties. “He took us round to his sister’s for some food and then to the station, saying to call him any time we needed a lift,” she says. Another sweet soul was an older man from Glasgow driving a meat truck who “just seemed really lonely and genuinely interested in our safety. He gave us about £40 too.”
It may not seem like it at first, but there’s more to being a student in Scotland than blowing your loan on this nation’s fine selection of ales. There’s a whole sheep-strewn country to explore. And the good news is it’ll cost you less than a weekend on the tiles to do so.
“[Drivers] always say how dangerous it would be to hitchhike nowadays and that, normally, they wouldn’t pick up anyone,” says Kati. “[But] I doubt it’s any less dangerous than in the seventies when loads of people were hitchhiking and car-sharing wasn’t around; it’s just the media that make huge stories out of isolated events.”
Backpacking is the best way to get away from the concrete sprawl and discover the breathtaking scenery that Scotland has to offer. Whether you just want a day-trip to the Borders or a long weekend in the Orkney Isles, there’s an array of affordable options out there.
Me? I’ve been picked up by a priest and an ex-con (he’d done time for growing cannabis; it still hadn’t put him off). I made it from Edinburgh to London in two lifts, first with a former hitchhiker and then with a trade-plater – as people who deliver vehicles from A to B for a living, these folks are no strangers to hitching themselves.
Many companies offer unique accommodation (from castles to cottages), well-versed, banterful tour guides and discounts for larger groups, making it an ideal opportunity for you and your friends to nurse your partied-out souls with a dose of some real Scottish country.
I only do it once in a while, but if I’ve got the time and a companion – as well as a back-up plan in case I can’t reach my destination by nightfall - I enjoy just sticking out my thumb and seeing what happens. Above all, I trust my instinct and never compromise it.
www.wild-in-scotland.com www.syha.org.uk www.macbackpackers.com www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk www.haggisadventures.com www.highlandexperience.com
FREE AS A BIRD
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Fight for your right… to protest Students and activism have gone hand in hand since the passing of time and now it’s your turn to step up and fight the powers that be. To help you prepare for the battle ahead, Hugo Fluendy brings you everything you need to know Gordon Brown trumpeted the recent unveiling of Nelson Mandela’s statue in London’s Parliament Square with the kind of hubris normally reserved for rock stars. To today’s committed climate campers, the rank hypocrisy must have seemed a throwback to the bad old days of Thatcherism when every second student union was christened after the South African crusader for truth and justice – while striking miners were being clubbed into submission by police on horseback. That’s right potential placard-bearers, political activism is back with a vengeance. No longer the preserve of sweaty-palmed, eternal students flogging the Socialist Worker with a box of yellowing pamphlets hidden furtively under the bed, activism is now a top-line priority for many of us. As the world teeters on a precipice, everyone is sitting up and taking notice. So here’s The Skinny’s handy cut-outand-keep guide to some of the key local pressure groups and fringe political organisations you might encounter. Obviously, branches of major political parties and issue-led groups do not figure as they are well publicised elsewhere. However, if you want to get involved at street level then get going and remember: always note the cops’ numbers. Protest and survive!
EDINBURGH
www.anarchists-studies.org.uk
Edinburgh-based discussion group for all matters pertaining to the pursuit of liberty.
GLASGOW
www.autonomous.org.uk
nosweatscotland.blogspot.com
The Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh is a good place to start for even the dilettante activist, providing an umbrella for a wealth of pressure groups and factions.
An activist, campaigning organisation, fighting sweatshop bosses in solidarity with workers worldwide. www.radicalglasgow.me.uk
Radical Glasgow’s Anarchist Critic. www.word-power.co.uk
Edinburgh’s radical bookshop is a vital resource for the student activist. They also produce a Radical Book Fair every year. This year it’s at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall from October 24 to 28. Postman’s Union
15 Brunswick Street, Edinburgh This gem of a cheap boozer doesn’t have a website but it’s home to all manner of fringe political meetings.
www.glasgow-no2id.org.uk
One of many local groups across the UK set up as part of the national NO2ID campaign. www.sacc.org.uk
S c otl a n d Ag a i nst Cr i m i n a l izi n g Communities (SACC) www.bebo.com/glasgowgirls
A group of seven young campaigners who fight against the insensitive treatment of failed asylum seekers.
www.edinburghsucks.com
A thorn in Edinburgh City Council’s fat rump, this website dishes up the dirt on the latest outrageous misuse of taxpayers’ money.
www.gctwr.co.uk
Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees www.closedungavelnow.com
www.indymedia.scotland.org
Uncensored media outlet for all things radical.
Brings together resources for anyone helping individuals held in detention. www.faslane365.org
www.edinburghstw.org.uk
Stop the War coalition.
Polsoc.blogspot.com
The University of Edinburgh’s Political Society. Heriot Watt and Napier both have equivalents.
The Forest Café is primarily an arts space but is often a focus for activism.
www.scottishpsc.org.uk
Scottish Palestinian Support Group
A civil resistance project focused in Scotland to apply critical public pressure for the disarmament of Britain’s nuclear weapons by a continuous peaceful blockade of the Trident base at Faslane.
www.theforest.org.uk
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www.brothmix.org
For a week in October ‘07: free café and platform for sharing of food, ideas, seeds and produce; run by artists and backed by the resources of community food initiatives, gardeners and allotment communities. burghangel.wordpress.com
The Burgh Angel is a community newspaper dedicated to producing news and collecting information on topics that are of importance to those in the community not represented by mainline media and newspapers. www.jam74.org
A campaign to stop plans to build the M74 Northern Extension, a sixlane elevated motorway, through the southern suburbs of Glasgow www.glasgowcriticalmass.org.uk
The last Friday of every month at George Square, 5.30pm. A community of cyclists. www.ribproject.org
There are fewer and fewer outlets for independent and radical materials. Corporate bookshops rule the roost. The Radical Independent Book fair project (RIB) aims to redress this imbalance. deargreenplace.org
A map of reusable goods in Glasgow.
DUNDEE Despite what a lecturer from Dundee University’s politics department told The Skinny, there is activity in fair Dundee. Much of it is associated with organisations based in Glasgow or Edinburgh but Dave MacLeod from the No Cuts Committee at the University of Dundee (vpc@dusa. co.uk) is a useful local contact.
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A touch of class
Class is a topic folk tend to shy away from but one that exists in all forms of student life. Nine investigates just how deep its impact runs
It’s not cool to talk about social class these days. And it’s all too easy to avoid when the privileged call the shots - especially when student targeted advertising, publications and events are highly skilled at ignoring the bigger picture. It’s widely assumed that students come from comfortable backgrounds with parental support. But in reality, there’s a world of difference between those genuinely struggling to make ends meet and those who are absolutely loaded. Coming into contact with these inequalities for the first time can feel alienating; particularly if your credit rating doesn’t qualify you for a student account and you need to ration your social activities or face starvation. Lis – who undertook a law degree straight after fifth year at school - was younger than many of her classmates and her housing-estate background set her even further apart. “I barely spoke to a soul” she says. “It seemed incredibly intimidating. They spoke better than I did, wore nicer clothes and didn’t have to struggle with a part-time job to fund the seventy quid textbooks. Enter the ‘Yah’: ‘An arrogant upper/
upper-middle class lady or gent, typically a student in an otherwise charming Scottish town or city,’ according to Urbandictionary.com. Similar to the pejorative ‘Chav’, opinions vary on whether it’s simply a marker of social class or whether attitude goes along with it as well. Mark, a former private school student of minor aristocratic descent, says: “In most cases, [being a yah] is a simple
it was even in their body language. I was in and out of every seminar like a shot, projecting a defensive sort of fuck-off attitude in between.” But then everything changed during a group project at university: “Suddenly I was in, and they were all perfectly charming to me - I felt like I had a stamp of approval on my forehead” Annabel says. “For some bizarre reason, they handed me the power I thought they’d had. Before then I had kind of hated them for making me feel so nonexistent.” Such tensions are generally caused by the
indicator of a sheltered upbringing and a lack of worldly experience. They just lack empathy - most by inexperience and very few by conscious design.” After moving from the USA to study in Scotland, Annabel – a former history of art student - was struck by the country’s rigid class definitions and her feelings of isolation were exacerbated by the predominance of Yahs on her course. “My first response was to withdraw in horror” she explains. “I’d never met people who were so aggressive about projecting themselves outwards. It was in their clothes...the volume of voices...
obliviousness to one’s own privilege – not the simple fact of having money. In an environment where class issues are rarely discussed, many students simply gravitate towards friends from similar backgrounds, missing the opportunity to connect with as many people as possible. Since we theoretically go to university to broaden our minds, perhaps it’s worth considering the extent to which our interactions with people are affected by an unintentional class-consciousness?
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Useful Numbers COUNSELLING Bereavement Cruse Bereavement Care offers one to one support and group counselling to enable anyone bereaved by death to understand their feelings of grief and cope with their loss. Cruse Bereavement Care offer information, advice, education and training services. Web: www.crusebereavementcare.org Cruse Bereavement Care: Telfer House 74 Miller Street Glasgow G1 1DT 0141-248 2199 3 Rutland Square Edinburgh EH1 2AS 0131229 6275 Number 10 10 Constitution Road Dundee DD1 ILL 01382 305714
6 Old Glamis Road DUNDEE DD3 8HP 01382 832555 Rape & Sexual Abuse The Rape Crisis Centre offers free and confidential suppor t and information to women and girls who have been raped, sexually assaulted and/or sexually abused, no matter when or how. The centre is run entirely by women, for women. The Rape Crisis Centre offers immediate help and advice, continuing support as well as information about pregnancy prevention after rape. They can explain police and cour t procedures and Criminal Injuries Compensation and provide support whatever decision you take. Rape Crisis Centre Glasgow PO Box 53 Glasgow G1 1WE Crisis line 0141 552 3200 Business 0141 552 3201 www.rapecrisiscentre-glasgow.co.uk info@rapecrisiscentre-glasgow.co.uk
Samaritans Open 24 hours a day the Samaritans provide confidential non-judgemental support for anyone feeling distressed, despairing including those that could lead to suicide. Edinburgh Women’s Rape & 08457 90 90 90 (24 hours) Sexual Abuse Centre P O Box 120 210 West George Street, Edinburgh GLASGOW EH7 5WX G2 2DQ 0131-556 9437 0141 248 4488 Lines open 09:30 - 22:00 The WRASAC provides a free and confidential serv25 Torphichen Street ice to girls and women who EDINBURGH have been raped or sexually EH3 8HX abused at any time of their 0131 221 9999 lives. Some of the issues Lines open: 9am - 10pm they cover include child
sexual abuse, rape, legal issues, self-harm/injury, suicide, pregnancy, abortion, prostitution, pornography and mental health. WRASAC PO Box 83 Dundee DD1 4YZ 01382 201291 www.wrasacdundee.org
port.demon.co.uk Mon - Fri, 9.00AM-4.30PM 15-23 Hardwell Close Edinburgh EH8 9RX 0131 668 4486
10 Constitution Road Dundee, DD1 1LL 01382 305 707 dundee@victimsupporttayside.org.uk SASSIE provides free sup- www.victimsupporttayside. port to women who are sur- org.uk vivors of childhood sexual Mon-Fri, 10.00 - 16.00 abuse. With over 20 years experience of providing free HEALTH and confidential support, NHS Direct gives loads of SASSIE aim to provide a health and medical informasafe space for women to talk tion 0845 4647 or visit and gain mutual support. nhsdirect.nhs.uk SASSIE 7b Randolph Crescent SEXUAL HEALTH The Sandy ford Initiative Edinburgh provides sexual and reproEH3 7TH ductive health services for 0131 220 4722 women, men and young Victim Support people in Glasgow, as well Victim Support a voluntary as providing non-judgemenorganisation providing emo- tal suppor t, counselling, tional support, practical help information and a range of and essential information to specialist services. Some victims, witnesses and oth- of the main services at the ers affected by crime. Free Sandyford include contraception, STI testing, pregand confidential. n a n cy te sti n g, a b o r ti o n Scottish line: 0845 6039 213 referral, smear tests and Mon – Thurs 09.00 - 16.30, counselling. Friday 09.00 - 16.00 Sandyford Initiative 2-6 Sandyford Place UK Line: 0845 30 30 900 We e kd ays 0 9.0 0 -21.0 0, Sauchiehall Street Weekends 09.00-19.00 Glasgow G3 7NB www.victimsupportsco. 0141 221 8130 demon.co.uk www.sandyford.org Various Branches throughThe Dean Terrace clinic is out Glasgow; 0141 553 2415 the central clinic for Family Planning and Well Woman & 0141 553 2405 Services. Some of the main vsglasgowcity@victim-sup-
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services provided include contraception, pregnancy testing, counselling, sexual health screening and STI testing and treatment. Other clinics are based in health centres at a variety of locations and usually operate once or twice a week. A list of these clinics can be found at www.nhslothian. scot.nhs.uk Family Planning Services 18 Dean Terrace Edinburgh EH4 1NL 0131 332 7941
Anonymous provide group support and shared experience. www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk Baltic Chambers 50 Wellington Street Glasgow G2 6HJ 0141 226 2214 38, Cockburn St Edinburgh EH1 1PB Phone: 0131 225 6090
22 Paterson Street Dundee Tayside Family Planning DD3 6QR and Well Woman Services 01382 818850 provides drop in consultations and appointments for contraception, pregnancy DRUGS te sti n g a nd e m e rg e ncy From non-judgemental incontraception. The centre formation to counselling and also provides smear tests, support there are organisacoil and implant fitting, one tions all over Scotland proto one support and advice viding help and information about sexually transmitted on Drugs. The website infection by appointment. www.knowthescore.info has a comprehensive directory Tayside Family Planning & of different organisations in Well Woman Services major cities and towns. Ryehill Health Centre St Peter Street Crew 2000 provides adDundee vice on drug use, sexual DD1 4JH and emotional health and 01382 646564 other related lifestyle issues. Without condoning Mon: 09:00 - 19:30 or condemning drug use, Tue-Wed: 09:00 - 17:30 Crew 2000 aim to ensure Fri: 09:00 - 12:30 that people have access to real and relevant information ALCOHOL about drugs. Alcoholics Annonymous Alcoholics Anonymous is an Crew 2000 informal society for recov- 32 Cockburn St ering alcoholics. Groups Edinburgh are open to both men and EH1 1PB women and vary in size but 0131 220 3404 can be found worldwide. admin@crew2000.org.uk The only requirement for Wed, Fri, Sat: 13.00 - 17.00 membership is a desire to Thurs 15.00 - 19.00 stop drinking. Alcoholics
GAY & LESBIAN Gay & Lesbian Switchboard Provides telephone counselling and support on a range of issues including sexuality, relationships and coming out. Adivce on safe sex and sexual health for men and women, also hold montly icebreakers and ser vices are available to lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transvestites, transsexuals and their families and friends in the West of Scotland. Glasgow Gay & Lesbian Switchboard 0141 847 0447 Open from 19.00 - 22.00 every night of the week Loth i a n G ay & Le s b i a n Switchboard Po Box 169 Edinburgh EH3 6SG 0131-556 4049
www.knowthescore.info Advice on drugs 0800 587 587 9 Free, confidential 24 hour phone line www.fpa.org.uk Home page for family planning association www.wellscotland.info The Scottish Executive’s National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Wellbeing. w w w.d a s c o t.o r g H o m e page for Depression Alliance Scotland www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk Health and medical information www.counselling-directory. org Directory of counselling services for the UK www.talktofrank.com Free confidential drugs advice
Diversitay (formerly Dundee Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Switchboard) Phone: 01382 20 26 20 Mondays 19.00 - 22.00. D i ve r s i t ay, P O B ox 5 3, Dundee DD1 3YG contact@diversitay.org.uk
LINKS www.studentcounselling. org Directory of UK student services and downloadable leaflets www.befrienders.org Support for depression www.ssmh.ac.uk Provides guidance and information on promoting and supporting student mental health and well-being. www.doitnow.org Straight talking drug advice
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THE SKINNY FREE
STORIES ABOUT STUDENT DAYS, MAPS OF WHERE TO FIND THE BEST BARS AND CLUBS, TIPS TO GET YOU THROUGH THE GRIND AND LOADS OF USEFUL STUFF
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