The Student 24/01/2011

Tuesday January 24 2012 | Week 1

FILM

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THE BEST OF SILENT CINEMA

MUSIC» P18

S I N C E 1887

C U LT U R E

T H E U K ' S O LD E S T S T U D EN T N EW S PA P ER

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S cott ish S t udent Ne wspaper of the Year 2010

Blue sky thinking

Nick Dowson TUITION FEES would be abolished for English students in an independent Scotland, according to the MSP for Edinburgh Central, Marco Biagi.

The Scottish National Party (SNP) MSP told The Student, “After independence, if the current EU situation continues, Scottish universities will not be allowed to charge students from England, Wales or Northern Ireland”.

Biagi reaffirmed his party’s commitment that “There will be no tuition fees for domestic students under an SNP Government, whether that is the government of a devolved or fully sovereign parliament.”

Under European Union (EU) rules, students from other member states cannot be charged more than domestic students for tuition. In an independent Scotland, the £9,000 fees that Rest of UK (RUK) students will be charged from September onwards would have to be

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abolished.

This could happen as soon as the 2015-16 academic year. Previously, the Scottish Government has claimed RUK fees are currently necessary to fill the ‘funding gap’, the difference in funding between English and Scottish educational institutions.

“The Scottish Government will have to make up the funding gap from elsewhere – but will be able to do so as a sovereign government rather than one with finances set elsewhere”, Biagi told The Student. “Overall Scotland is healthier financially than the UK as a whole...

I have no doubt therefore that Scotland will be able to maintain that funding in the 2015-16 academic year.”

The current cost to Scotland of educating EU students is £75m annually, and this is set to increase. Moreover, RUK students make up 15 per cent of those studying in Scotland, against only 8 per cent from the rest of the EU, so the cost to Scotland post-independence could be

much greater.

Biagi claims that the current EU rules are unfair, and that “with our own seat at the EU’s top table”, Scotland would seek to change them. “I believe that a workable and desirable ultimate solution would be for each EU country of residence to carry - or at least contribute to - the cost of higher education for their own citizens, regardless of where in the EU they went to study”.

However, it seems unlikely that the Scottish government would have any success persuading other EU countries to fund their own citizens to study abroad, since tuition fee increases by the Westminster government and others amount to a refusal of many governments to fund their own citizens’ higher education.

Labour MSP Sarah Boyack, asked to comment on the SNP policy promise, told The Student: “To claim as a certainty that Scottish Universities would become free to RUK Students upon separation makes the huge assumption

that Scotland would automatically gain entry to the EU.” “While the SNP spending review included some good news for university students the same cannot be said of the college sector where budgets are being slashed by 20 per cent at a time when Scotland is in the grips of a youth unemployment crisis”, said Boyack. “This will have huge implications on the availability of courses, facilities for students and the viability of some colleges themselves.”

The Labour MSP also seemed to question the urgent need for a debate on what Scottish independence would mean, saying that “The SNP’s fixation on separation has seen them take their eye off the ball.”

“I would far rather see them concentrating on the issues affecting higher education now”, she told The Student. “We need to see progress on their commitment to improve student support and action to tackle issues like dropout rates and widening access.”

MATT DALE

Local MSP Marco Biagi admits all UK students will be allowed to study for free in an independent Scotland – but is it feasible?

23/01/2012 04:26:27

Tuesday January 24 2012 studentnewspaper.org

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2 News

The Student Newspaper | 60 Pleasance, Edinburgh, EH8 9TJ Email: editors@studentnewspaper.org

What’s in this issue

»

News »p1-6 WHAT YOU MISSED p5

A rundown of University of Edinburgh news from the past month

SICK PANDA p6

Even Santa hats couldn't keep the cold away from Yang Guang.

(The doctors say it's not serious)

Comment »p10-13 JOAN'S DOWNFALL p10

EUSA face legal action over Big Cheese fall

Alice Cahill

A former student is suing Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA) for £75,000 after claiming she slipped on a floor “awash” with spilt drinks at a club night in the University-owned Potterrow.

Roxanne Bell suffered a broken wrist in the fall, and believes the student union are to blame for the accident.

The 22-year-old launched the legal action for damages against EUSA, alleging that it was negligent behaviour to fail to clean up spillages.

Bell described the floor as being “awash with spilled drinks”, so much so that after her fall she found that her dress was soaked with drinks from the floor.

Bell’s lawyers have also argued that there was “no evidence” of a system designed to clean up any mess

and that the only EUSA staff members working were “concentrating on selling drinks at the bar”.

In reference to the floor, Zac Ernst commented, “They are so sticky and covered in sludge that I would never wear nice shoes to Potterrow” However, lawyers for EUSA have claimed that they had a system in place to mop up spillages during the event and that Bell had a “duty to exercise reasonable care for her own safety” during the club night and should have “watched where she was placing her feet”.

Following the injury, Bell said that it took two to three months before she could resume “normal activities” and that she still suffers from “discomfort” in her wrist.

At the time, Ms Bell had been working part-time as a waitress and said that she was unable to return to work for two weeks after the fall.

Lauren Campbell, a fourth year student and devoted fan of The Big Cheese, said on the matter “You can’t expect to go to Potterrow and not get down and dirty” while Alex Kerr responded to the story saying “Whether the floor is wet or not, combining heels and lash is inevitably going to cause a tumble” .

It is not known if Bell was inebriated while at Potterrow.

Joanna Hall said, “To break your wrist is simply bad luck, but everyone slips up in nightclubs and guaranteed 9/10 times that is due to the person being too drunk”.

All said that they had seen spilled drinks being mopped up while at Potterrow nights.

Bell could not be contacted for comment.

The case is set to be heard again at the Court of Session later this year.

Rosie stock on the controversial (and hilarious) video posted by Glasgow South Labour MP Tom Harris

"HI" IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE SALUTATION p11 Alasdair Drennan feels the sting of double standards in the student-teacher relationship

features »p14-16 WELCOME TO THE PARTY p15 Susan Lechelt introduces the presidential hopefuls of the American republican party

LIFESTYLE »p18 HOW LONG CAN SHE HOLD THE CROWN? p24

Betsy Chadbourn on Sarah Burton and the future of the Alexander McQueen dynasty

CULTURE »p22-23 BEDLAM FESTIVAL p22

Thom Louis fills us in on what to expect from this week's festivities

FILM »p24-25

WAR HORSE, SHAME, IRON LADY p24-25 Can't decide what to see? Look no further

Sport »p31-32 DREAM TEAMS p32 They only exist in basketball, and Charles Cutteridge will tell you why

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23/01/2012 04:27:21

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Tuesday January 24 2012 studentnewspaper.org

News 3

Emma Meehan divides opinion over free Israel tour

Matthew WILKINSON

Concerns raised over all-expenses-paid trip to the Middle East

Leo Michelmore EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY Students’ Association (EUSA) vice president Emma Meehan is facing growing criticism for her participation in a free tour of Israel.

Ms Meehan was part of a delegation of young political leaders who spent five days in Israel over the winter break, including visits to Israeli settlements, meetings with Israeli government officials, and an alleged night out “partying” in Tel Aviv with a spokesman for the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).

The trip was organised and paid for by the Union of Jewish Students, prompting critics to question both its political neutrality and the suitability of the elected official taking part.

Liam O’Hare, president of the Edinburgh Students for Justice in Palestine society, explained his outrage to The Student, accusing Ms Meehan of taking part in a "propaganda trip". He

said, “Emma’s participation in the trip has brought the student union into disrepute.

“Students at Edinburgh and around the world are standing up for human rights and justice by campaigning for boycott, divestment and sanctions to help end Israeli apartheid.

“It is in this context that EUSA’s VPSA [vice president for societies and activities] accepted a fully funded propaganda trip which visited illegal settlements and met, and even ‘partied’, with the head spokesperson for an occupying army.

“One would expect better moral standards from our elected representatives, and regardless, it is time that these free trips aimed to influence decision making were questioned from a point of democracy and transparency.”

This disapproval was shared by National Union of Students’ Executive Council member James Haywood.

He said, “For elected officers to accept all-expenses-paid trips to Israel is scandalous, all the more so that it

was arranged by an openly pro-Israel organisation.

“These officers didn’t meet Palestinian refugees, students and activists … because they would have seen the truth of the racism and oppression they suffer from daily” Meehan has defended her involvement in the trip, insisting it was about helping young political leaders “learn more about the history of the conflict”.

She also highlighted that it was at no cost to EUSA, maintaining that the delegation had met representatives from across the political spectrum.

Speaking to The Student, she said, “During the visit we challenged the people we met on the many contentious issues surrounding the debate, and throughout were encouraged to voice tough and critical questions.

“I am absolutely mindful of the fact that the conflict is a divisive one, and I fully understand the strong feelings that people have on it, both on campus and across society.

“However, I firmly believe that there must be an opportunity for people to form opinions through engagement with those involved in the conflict on all sides.”

As well as her EUSA office, Ms Meehan is the secretary of Scottish Young Labour.

The delegation was largely made up of members of Young Labour Party, and the tour included a meeting with former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, who was in Jerusalem in his capacity as Special Envoy for the Quartet on the Middle East (a mediating group made up of the US, EU, UN, and Russia).

Mark Loughridge, president of the Jewish Society at the University of Edinburgh, moved quickly to defend Ms Meehan.

He told The Student, “The criticism levelled against Ms Meehan is frankly misguided.

“The Union of Jewish Students is not a politically motivated organisation and … the belief that the trip was organised as some sort of propaganda

campaign to brainwash student politicians is completely absurd.

“Given that student politicians’ views on Israel are usually unfavourable, it is important that trips such as these exist so as to try and present the case for Israel and to create a better understanding of the issue at hand.”

However, a significant minority of students appear unconcerned by the news. “I don’t really see what the problem is” Neil McIntyre, a 3rd year Medical student, told The Student.

“If it is fact-finding, it isn’t misrepresenting the views of Edinburgh students, and the fact that I haven’t heard about this trip before now suggests it isn’t propaganda.”

Mr O’Hare added that a motion requesting for Ms Meehan to apologise will be proposed to Edinburgh’s student council shortly, saying, “by bringing this issue to EUSA’s democratic forums we hope to send a clear message that it is unacceptable for our elected officers to behave in such a manner.”

University courts controversy with new Rector

Peter McColl becomes Rector after other nominees pull out, forcing an uncontested election

Hannah Standring

Edinburgh University has confirmed anti-cuts campaigner and political blogger Peter McColl as the new Rector of Edinburgh University amid accusations that his uncontested appointment was an undemocratic move.

Peter McColl was confirmed as Rector on January 12; the absence of any other contestants served as reason enough for the University to bypass a vote and return Mr McColl as Rector elect.

Controversy has arisen, not just over the failure for the university to offer staff and students the opportunity to re-open nominations, but

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also over the fact that nominations fell during the December exam diet and subsequently many students remained unaware not only of such nominations taking place, but of the significance they held.

“

If we fix this process now, we can make sure that in future, the Rector is always chosen by the students.”

Stephen Donelly, Secretary of Edinburgh Labour Students The Rector chairs the Court, Edinburgh University’s highest decision making body and the position has been held in the past by figures such as Gordon Brown and journalist Muriel Gray. The Rector is an important representative of Edinburgh University students, and is

only elected once every three years.

The absence of an option to reopen nominations (known as RON) has been deemed as “unhealthy and entirely against the principle of the post” by student activist and Secretary of Edinburgh Labour Students Stephen Donnelly. Donnelly told The Student that whilst he offered Mr McColl his congratulations and had faith in his ability as an excellent Rector, the process by which he was elected is in need of change.

Donnelly will be presenting a motion on the issue to the Student Council this week proposing that not only should a ballot always take place, even in the event of a single-horse race, with an option to re-open nominations, but also that the position – which is currently unpaid – should be a salaried one to ensure that those from all social backgrounds might apply.

McColl offered similar sentiments via the blog that he co-edits, Bright Green, replying to a comment that criticised the absence of a fought election by stating his shared

disappointment that no election took place and assuring that he believed in the importance of installing both a mechanism for recall and an option to re-open nominations in future elections.

based on “ability to learn not ability to pay.”

Mr McColl has found support among many student representatives. Matt McPherson, President of Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA) has stated that, although McColl will be taking up his position at a “challenging time, Peter is one of with rising fees, inflating student the most dedicated living costs, and a bleak job market affecting many of our 30,000 mempeople I know and bers” he believes that Mr McColl his involvement with will be part of a change towards “a brighter time of growing opportunistudents means that ties”. he knows in detail the Mike Williamson, EUSA’s Vice President of Academic Affairs has important issues to echoed these sentiments stating that push “Peter is one of the most dedicated Mike Williamson, EUSA VPAA people I know and his involvement with students means that he knows in detail the important issues to Mr McColl has pledged his ob- push at University Court and bejection to student fees and promises yond”, adding that “This is a fantasto “fight hard to ensure that no one tic result for students, and I’m very is excluded from University by their excited about it”. financial situation”, affirming a McColl will take up his post on commitment to providing education March 1 2012.

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23/01/2012 04:28:15

Tuesday January 24 2012 studentnewspaper.org

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4 News

RESEARCHERS FROM the University of Edinburgh have completed a successful trial of an iPad app designed for children with autism.

‘FindMe’ focuses the player on social interaction while encouraging them to consider other people’s needs, and developers are hoping that the touchscreen technology will make the app more accessible to younger users.

Dr Sue Fletcher-Watson, a psychologist from the University of Edinburgh who led the app’s creation, said, “Children with autism are often adept with computers.

Thanks to the iPad’s touchscreen we can now create games for very young children with autism, when it may benefit them most.

“We hope our app will be helpful to both children with autism and their families.”

Sam Rospigliosi, the parent of one of the children who participated in the trial, said she was pleased with her daughter Veronica’s progress. She said, “[Veronica] has gone from being a little girl who had no way of showing us how much she knew, to a little girl who now has a portable device she can laugh, play and engage with.”

NS

City gets second anatomy museum THE UNIVERSITY of Edinburgh will be opening the doors of its newly revamped anatomy museum on Saturday January 28.

The museum will be open to the general public on the last Saturday of each month and will showcase the School of Biomedical Sciences’ anatomical collection, which includes a facial cast and the skeleton of infamous Edinburgh mass-murderer William Burke.

There will also be displays of anatomical teaching models all on show to the public in the Teviot Place Medical School.

Edinburgh is also home to the Surgeon’s Hall anatomy museum which has been open since 1832 and is Scotland’s oldest museum.

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Death threats at student debate

STUDENTS ATTENDING a debate about sharia law at Queen Mary University in London were told they would be “hunted down and killed” by a man who burst into the lecture theatre during the debate.

The man claimed that he knew where the 40 attendees of the event lived and told them they would be tracked down if they criticised the Prophet Muhammad.

The man used his mobile phone to film the attendees before leaving and joining a large group of men outside the lecture theatre.

The meeting was subsequently cancelled and investigations into the incident by the police are ongoing.

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Nazi-inspired drinking game sparks violence on LSE ski trip Sarah Mitchell

THE LONDON School of Economics (LSE) is investigating an attack on a Jewish student following his objection to a Nazi drinking game.

The student was among 150 from LSE’s athletics union who travelled to Val d’Isère in France for a skiing trip last month.

The LSE’s Jewish Society released a statement confirming that the student was attacked after objecting to the game, which was similar to the popular drinking game 'Ring of Fire', but with a Nazi theme.

According to the LSE’s student newspaper, The Beaver, the game involved cards set out in a swastika, anti-Semitic slurs, and encouragement to “salute the Führer”.

The Jewish student who suffered the injury, who has not been named by the university, told The Guardian, “there was a mix of personal references and general Jewish insults. That was [when] I excused myself from the game. It made me extremely upset.

“It was a build-up during the game, and seeing the swastika obviously, but the comments built up to the point where I couldn’t forgive

myself if I let it slide.

“I feel angry about it now. There’s no doubt it was an affront at my identity, but on a personal level it was extremely upsetting.”

According to the LSE Student’s Union the violence was not serious enough for French police to be called in, but the student in question did suffer a broken nose.

The university insisted that it was “prepared to take disciplinary action” but the student who was assaulted does not want to press charges.

Jay Stoll, president of the LSE’s Jewish Society, said that the attack did not represent the experience that the majority of Jewish students had at the university, asserting that there was “absolutely no excuse” for the “spiteful, collective attack on a community”.

He said, “Nazi glorification and anti-Semitism have no place in our universities, which should remain safe spaces for all students.”

Alex Peters-Day, general secretary of the LSE Students’ Union, told BBC London that she “absolutely rejected” the suggestion that there was an antiSemitic ethos at the university, on the basis that it was an “incredibly small minority” of people who had taken part in the game.

FLICKR: OUTBREAK ADVENTURE

Trial of iPad app for children with autism a success

THE FRENCH ALPS: Snow, skiing and anti-Semitism Brendan Mycock, president of the LSE athletics Union severely condemned the actions of these individuals. He said, “Being in the Athletics

Union is about being a team, behaving with respect to our team-mates and Athletics Union peers and representing our union and our university.”

University chancellors’ expenses revelations prompt criticism Zoe Tautz-Davis

WORLDWIDE TRAVEL, extravagant homes and expensive memberships to London clubs were revealed to be some of the benefits enjoyed by university chiefs following an investigation into their expenses.

Uncovered by freedom of information requests made to over 150 universities by The Independent, it was found that vice-chancellors and other senior university staff had been allowed to claim for lavish expenses, despite their average salary being £230,000.

Generally, university chancellors have defended their expenses claims, claiming that they were used for official business by travelling abroad to promote their university to students around the world.

The claims amount to an average of £14,000 per institution, which could pay £9,000 tuition fees for 233 students in the UK. Many students and lecturers disapprove of this spending, given the cuts being made to universities and education.

Student Matthew Chandy, said, “This is a difficult time for students.

Though there might be some degree of necessity for these expenses, it feels like a bit of a kick in the ribs.”

The University of Plymouth was shown to have the highest expenses claims in the last academic year, with receipts submitted to the value of

£136,570. The vice-chancellor Wendy Purcell accounted for more than £20,000.

A spokeswoman claimed that this was a result of the university's global research base and international partnerships.

On the other hand, while having one of the smallest expenses claims featured in the report, vice-chancellor Janet Beer of Oxford Brookes University was allowed £900 a year to pay for the membership of an exclusive London club.

Usman Ali, vice-president of the National Union of Students said, “When students are facing trebled tuition fees and massive youth unemployment, and as universities deal with swingeing cuts to teaching budgets, it is appalling that university heads continue to fill their boots.

“Universities must listen to students’ unions and make their expenses and pay structures transparent to stop abuses.”

The situation has been compared to the parliamentary expenses scandal in 2009 as there have been calls for more transparency regarding these claims without having to use the Freedom of Information Act. Sally Hunt, the General Secretary of the University and College Union stated, “unless there is proper scrutiny of vice-chancellors’ pay and perks, revelations like this will continue to embarrass the sector and make it look self-serving to the wider world.”

EXTREME?: The average claimed in each institution was £14,000

FLICKR: CJ ISHERWOOD

IN

Brief

23/01/2012 04:29:34

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Tuesday January 24 2012 studentnewspaper.org

News 5

News rundown: University news from the past month The Student last went to print in early December. Here is what has happened since...

Second extension for Honours exam diet

Alasdair Drennan

The University of Edinburgh has extended the Honours exam period to span the entire four week summer exam diet.

The university announced on Twitter, “In response to student feedback, Semester 2 honours exams are now scheduled within the full four week period of the exam diet.”

A petition signed by almost 1,400 students was submitted to the registry on Monday December 12 calling for an extension to the proposed exam period.

Originally, the exam diet was shortened because of the limited time between the exams and graduations that restricted the time available for marking.

The university extended the Honours exam diet from two weeks to three and a half weeks in November last year.

A motion at the Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA) general meeting which called for a further extension of the diet failed to win a majority as it was feared that this would impact on innovative learning week which will be introduced next year.

A spokesperson for the University of Edinburgh told The Student, “Innovative Learning Week will continue as planned from 20 to 24 of February.

“The second semester exams will be scheduled within the four week period of the exam diet, from 30 April to 26 May.” It was also made clear that the

introduction of Innovative Learning Week had no part in the earlier decision to shorten the exam period.

Andrew Burnie, fourth year computer science and artificial intelligence student and EUSA representative for the School of Informatics organised the campaign for the extension of the exam diet.

He told The Student, “This petition was started because students in my school demanded the University change and its success belongs to those students who took direct action and told the university that they must be listened to.

“This is a real win for people power and I’m proud to have been a part of it.”

Burnie and two other students who signed the petition met with

Rio Watt, the Director of the Academic Registry to discuss the additional concerns about the exams raised by the campaign.

She reassured that all students with additional requirements in exams would be catered for and that schools had the opportunity to request changes to a provisional exam diet before the final one is published.

She also stated that she would look into improving the timetable for those who study inter-school joint degrees.

Exams at the university are scheduled so that most students will not have honours exams on the same or consecutive days.

There are around 110,000 individual exams taken during the summer diet each year.

False petition targets Edinburgh students Alasdair Drennan Students and Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA) sabbatical officers featured on a petition opposing same-sex marriage in Scotland organised by ‘Scotland for Marriage’ in spite of the fact that they supported the campaign for equal marriage at the end of December.

EUSA sabbatical officers Matt McPherson, Emma Meehan and Mike Williamson all used twitter to make it clear that their names had been added to the campaign against their will.

EUSA president McPherson said, “As someone who represents an organisation which has thrown its

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weight behind the campaign for equal marriage, I must say I was surprised to say the least when I saw my name on this petition.

“What’s most concerning for the ‘Scotland for Marriage’ campaign is that it throws every one of their signatures into disrepute. The ‘Scotland for Marriage’ campaign is outdated and unrepresentative - and the fact that potentially hundreds of names on its petition are campaigning for equal marriage, not against it, illustrates how out of touch it is.”

EUSA external convenor Stuart Tooley reported that his girlfriend, flatmate and several other close friends had all been wrongly listed as supporters of the campaign.

Stephen Donnelly, second year politics student at the University of Edinburgh said, “I was surprised and distressed to find my name so publicly associated with a homophobic campaign that seeks to restrict the rights of LGBT citizens across Scotland.

“It throws into question the whole ‘Scotland for Marriage’ campaign; who knows what other support may have been falsified?

“For instance, were the 28,000 “signed” postcards they submitted all signed by real people? If they are to salvage any credibility, they need to provide answers, fast” The Equality Network and NUS Scotland have criticised the ‘Scotland for Marriage’ campaign for the peti-

tion’s false entries.

At the moment, only an email address is required to sign the online petition but ‘Scotland for Marriage’ said it would be looking into more stringent controls.

Colin Hart, a spokesperson for the campaign told The Scotsman, “Prior to this we’ve had people uploading obscene names, quite anti-Roman Catholic sentiment, pretty nasty stuff.”

The “Scotland for Marriage” campaign hit back when it emerged that the computer used to upload the names to the petition was connected to the University of Edinburgh computer network.

Director of Studies system scrapped Alasdair Drennan

The Director of Studies (DoS) system at the University of Edinburgh is set for a complete overhaul this year.

It was announced in mid-December that directors of studies would be replaced with a personal tutor system beginning in the 2012/13 academic year.

It is still unclear exactly how the new system will work but the Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA) has long campaigned for reform of the current DoS system.

In an email to all students, Mike Williamson, EUSA vice president for academic affairs, said, “The new personal tutor system will take a lot of the pastoral and administration work away from the tutor, so they can give much more time to focusing on academic issues.”

Support services at the university will also receive a significant funding boost and there will be more emphasis on referring students to the most appropriate support.

Generally, reception to the proposed new system has been welcomed given the problems many students have had with their directors of studies.

Some students mounted opposition to the changes, using the EUSA Facebook page to say that they were happy with the current system and were seeking assurances that the changes would not cause disruption to their education.

A wiki page has been set up by the university to inform students of the planned changes as they develop.

23/01/2012 04:30:48

Tuesday January 24 2012 studentnewspaper.org

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6 News

Nina Seale

EDINBURGH’S NEW celebrity, the male panda Yang Guang, has developed colic and has been taken off public view.

The zoo are monitoring him closely and giving him special medicine to make sure he has a quick and full recovery. Simon Girling, Head of Veterinary Services at the Zoo, has made reports of his progress, commenting, “Yang Guang has been steadily improving from his bout of panda colic.

“Over the weekend he passed a mucus plug, known as panda slime, and quickly his energy levels began to rise.

A clear jelly like pellet, panda slime often goes hand in hand with panda colic and is produced in the bear’s large intestines to help ease the irritation of colic.

“Immediately he seemed much brighter and more active, which is a good sign, and he began to eat large quantities of bamboo. We wouldn’t be surprised if Yang Guang expels more panda slime soon before he totally gets back on his feet.”

It is unknown what causes panda colic, although it is not thought to be contagious. Subsequently, Yang Guang’s mate Tian Tian is healthy and still on show, although apparently a little lovesick according to Iain Valen-

tine, Director of Research and Conservation at Edinburgh Zoo, who says she has, “been spotted going up to the grid between their two outdoor enclosures to look for Yang Guang!”

Other than the colic, the pandas have settled into their £285,000 home well. Although the climate in Edinburgh is very similar to their native habitat in Sichuan Province, the zoo has pulled out all the stops to make their enclosures as comfortable as possible with soundproof glass, tree trunk ‘scratchposts’, outdoor cave bedrooms, climbing frames and rocks shaped to act as ‘panda recliners’.

Two identical enclosures have been built because pandas are usually solitary, only meeting for the few days where the female is in a receptive ‘oestrus’ state.

Tian Tian’s oestrus – the limited period during which pandas can mate - is predicted to be in February and the zoo has high hopes of welcoming panda cubs into Scotland. Artificial insemination techniques have also proven to be very successful with giant pandas.

Following the success of the penguin cams, the zoo has set up panda cams so global audiences can watch the pair settle into their new home. These have been offline since Yang Guang’s sickness but tickets to see the pandas in person continue to sell out.

ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND

Sick panda removed from public view

HIDDEN: Yang Guang is being cared for in private after contracting colic

It seems something's gone very Wonga IHOLLY JAMESON

Lewis Macdonald

THE NATIONAL Union of Students (NUS) has criticised the payday lending company Wonga.com over what it sees as irresponsible marketing of their services to students.

Wonga loans several hundred pounds at high interest rates – over 4,000% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) - over a short period of time. The NUS press release quoted the union’s vice-president Pete Mercer, who said that it was “highly irresponsible of any company to suggest to students that high cost short-term loans to be a part of their everyday financial planning.”

The NUS was responding to advertising on Wonga’s website that suggested that students could use payday loans to go on holiday to the Canary Islands as opposed to using student loans.

The advertising has been removed and replaced by a statement, saying, in part “[we] would like to clarify that Wonga does not target students. Yet we do not discriminate against working, adult students who may choose to apply either, because all applications are assessed in the same robust and completely objective way.”

EUSA’s The Advice Place told The Student that they “would not recommend using payday loans as the interest charge on them is so high, and it can be

very tempting to borrow more than you can afford.”

In addition, there are several other avenues that students with financial difficulties can turn to rather than using payday loan companies. The Advice Place itself offers small loans that are intended to cover necessities like food expenses, and there are discretionary funds available from the university, as well as late award loans if students happen to have a delay in receiving their funds.

The Advice Place also said that, “anyone who may be considering these services, we would urge [them] to come and speak to us first. We can advise students on budgeting and managing debt and will generally help in any way we can.”

Anna Brand

THE ART science collaborative (ASCUS), has introduced an exhibition in busy St. James Centre just off Princes Street. The exhibition, which will run from January 20 to February 26 2012, will transform the ASCUS Project Space in the centre into an interesting and vibrant installation where art meets science.

Entitled, "Can art and science save the world?" the aim of the exhibition is to explore the connection between art and science, integrating themes such as climate change, genetics, mathematically arranged fabrics, and birdsong into lively and whimsical art forms.

The exhibition is created with the collaboration of four teams of artists

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and scientists who work with a variety of media, both visual and auditory.

ASCUS representative Mark Eischeid commented, “With an intellectual history and a cultural infrastructure rich in the arts and sciences, Edinburgh is a fertile ground for art and science collaborations.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for practitioners and researchers throughout Scotland to share ground-breaking work in an accessible and engaging public space.”

Part of the focus on the public is the integration of events into the exhibition. The programme features lectures by both artists and scientists, community discussion groups to encourage further integration between the two fields, social events, and creative workshops.

ASCUS strives to connect between the arts and sciences through community outreach and involvement and is closely tied to the school of GeoSciences at the University of Edinburgh.

The organisation hopes that through the exhibition, visitors will gain a new perspective towards their community, the environment, and more broadly, the world, as the integration of artists’ and scientists’ work creates a new understanding of the environment, biology, ecology and mathematics, presenting them in an artistic and accessible way.

The exhibition is being funded by donations from both the St. James Shopping Centre and the Edinburgh Beltane – Beacon for Public Engagement and organisers have promised an interesting and dynamic experience.

ART MEETS SCIENCE: Can they really "Save the World?"

ANISTASIYA BOIKA

Art project opens in shopping centre

23/01/2012 04:32:41

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23/01/2012 04:33:42

Tuesday January 24 2012 studentnewspaper.org

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08 Editorial

Editorial

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The Student delves into the world of futurology ONE HUNDRED and twelve years ago, John Elfreth Watkins had a vision of what the world would be like in a hundred years. His crazy predictions, inconceivable in his time, included digital photography, pre-prepared meals and tall Americans. A couple of weeks ago, the Saturday Evening Post brought Watkins’ predictions back into the collective consciousness, and his accuracy has sparked debate and renewed interest in that wonderfully obscure discipline of futurology.

The unfortunate inevitability that futurologists as ambitious as Watkins have to face is that they will never see their predictions come to fruition. Like the builders of La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, or the Duomo cathedral in Florence, those who dedicate themselves to the future have to have a certain amount of resolve in order to commit themselves to their work, always knowing that they will never see the end result.

In everyday life, when the realities of our expectations come to light on a much smaller time scale, it can seem as though we know the results of our efforts.

Thoughts of the future and (un)realised expectations are now at the forefront of many students’ minds, with graduation dates released last week. The announcement was likely a reminder for many that life inside the student bubble will, eventually, end, to be replaced by something new and undefined. After four years, will we have met the expectations with which

we entered? Is there any weight to the argument that the skills necessary to achieve a first class degree aren’t those that will get you as far as the front gate in ‘real life’?

Having invested some £15,000 in this educational venture, you could be forgiven for feeling unsettled about emerging less than ‘accomplished’ (as Jane Austen would say). However, it should be remembered that the benefits of hindsight cannot be gained through any other means than letting time run its course.

John Elfreth Watkins, while having great faith in his predictions, knew he would never be able to prove his theories within his lifetime. Undoubtedly there were those who responded to his predictions with cynicism and disdain yet it was up to Watkins to maintain his position on what he believed to be true.

Similarly, what you take away from your time at university might not yet be apparent, without the perspective that comes with hindsight and experience. We're faced with the daunting prospect of being turned out into a jobless world where everyone appears to have a degree in their pocket and for some, their four years of university may seem like an unwise investment.

Perhaps this is the case, but hopefully the years ahead will prove that our expectations did not entirely miss the mark.

University is, after all, about a lot more than fattening up your CV and getting a high-paying job. It's rare

to find yourself in an environment that exists to support your interests, whether they be the anatomy of a fruit fly, the rhythms of West African dancing, or having a go at editing a newspaper.

That said, if you feel that you could have gone to Venus, had four children or served a Presidential term in the time you dedicated to getting a university education...

You’re right.

Love, Zoe and Becky

A futurologist's fantasy A quick history lesson...

The Student was launched by Scottish novelist and poet Robert Louis Stevenson in 1887 as an independent voice for Edinburgh's literati. It is Britain's oldest student newspaper and is an independent publication, reaching more than 15,000 University of Edinburgh students every week.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Lord Kitchener, David Lloyd George and Winston Churchill are a few of the famous people who have been associated with the paper. In the early 1970s, Gordon Brown worked as a news editor and diary columnist, working alongside Robin Cook who at the time was in charge of film and concert reviews.

Disclaimer

The Student welcomes letters for publication. The editors, however, reserve the right to edit or modify letters for clarity. Anonymous letters will not be printed but names will be witheld on request. The letters printed are the opinions of individuals outwith The Student and do not represent the views of the editors or the paper as a whole.

Editors Zoe Blah/Rebecca Chan

News Sam Bradley/Alasdair Drennan/Lewis MacDonald/Leo Michelmore Comment Nick Dowson/Daniel Kraemer/Tess Malone/Joel Sharples Features Nina Bicket/Cameron Taylor/Alice McGurran Lifestyle Sophie Craik/Lilidh Kendrick Tech Tom Hasler Horoscopes Max Johnson/ Guy Rughani/Ben Scally Crosswords John Wakely Culture Thom Louis/Michael Mackenzie Music Joshua Angrave/Anna Feintuck/Tom Kinney Film Kirsty Wareing/Ali Quaile TV Daniel Swain/Alistair Grant Commission Kathryn Lloyd Sport Davie Heaton/Chris Waugh Copy editors John Hewitt-Jones/Carl O’Gorman

Photo editor Emily Jarrett Multimedia Luke Healey/Anna Feintuck Web editor Lewis Dunne/ Mayumi Ihara-Quinones Illustration Commissioner Cat O'Neil President Lewis Dunne Secretary Varvara Bashkirova Treasurer Helen Stride  Student Newspaper, 60 Pleasance, Edinburgh, EH8 9TJ  editors@studentnewspaper.org

Student Newspaper, 60 Pleasance, Edinburgh EH8 9TJ. Tel: 0131 650 9189. The Student lists links to third party websites, but does not endorse them or guarantee their authenticity or accuracy. © Student Newspaper Society. All rights reserved. No section in whole or part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmited in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior permission of the publisher. The Student is published by the Student Newspaper Society, 60 Pleasance, Edinburgh EH8 9TJ. Distributed by Lothian Couriers, 3 John Muir Place, Dunbar EH42 1GD. Tel: 01368 860115. Printed by Cumbrian Newsprint (part of the CN Group), Carlisle Print Centre, Newspaper House, Dalston Road, Cumbria CA2 5UA, on Monday January 21 2012. Tel: 01228 612600. Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office.

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Some of John Elfreth Watkins' predictions: "Photographs will be Telegraphed from any distance. If there be a battle in China a hundred years hence snapshots of its most striking events will be published in the newspapers an hour later."

"How Children will be Taught.

A university education will be free to every man and woman. Several great national universities will have been established."

"There will be Air-Ships, but they will not successfully compete with surface cars and water vessels for passenger or freight traffic. They will be maintained as deadly war vessels by all military nations. Some will transport men and goods. Others will be used by scientists making observations at great heights above the earth."

"No Mosquitos nor Flies. Insect screens will be unnecessary. Mosquitos, house-flies and roaches will have been practically exterminated."

"Ready-Cooked Meals will be Bought from establishments similar to our bakeries of today. They will purchase materials in tremendous wholesale quantities and sell the cooked foods at a price much lower than the cost of individual cooking."

"Few Drugs will be Swallowed or taken into the stomach unless needed for the direct treatment of that organ itself. Drugs needed by the lungs, for instance, will be applied directly to those organs through the skin and flesh."

"Vegetables Grown by Electricity.

Winter will be turned into summer and night into day by the farmer. In cold weather he will place heat-conducting electric wires under the soil of his garden and thus warm his growing plants. At night, his vegetables will be bathed in powerful electric light, serving, like sunlight, to hasten their growth."

"There will be No Wild Animals except in menageries. Rats and mice will have been exterminated. The horse will have become practically extinct."

23/01/2012 04:35:42

FILM NIGHT FRIDAY jan 27 7.30pm teviot balcony room NOW showing:

THE KID

£2 = FILM + POPCORN

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23/01/2012 04:38:33

Tuesday January 24 2012 studentnewspaper.org

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10 Comment

A not so damaging downfall

The backlash against Tom Harris must not eclipse the serious issues addressed by his gimmick, argues Rosie Stock comments are mentioned to Hitler as he talks about the need to “maintain the façade of a modern, inclusive, tolerant party”. While of course, equating the SNP to Nazi rule is completely unfair, a wide range of public figures have been parodied in a similar way and the aim is not to make a direct comparison, but to emphasise a point.

“

Joan's Downfall is funny, just a little close to the bone, and has had 76,427 views in four days" The video has been deemed ‘silly’ and ‘negative’, and it’s true that it is hardly helpful in creating a serious case for the survival of the union. Yet McAlpine’s rabble rousing behaviour, which has been called ‘political racism’, is no less negative, and is far more worrying in its serious nature.

McAlpine has refused to issue an apology for her comments in Parliament on January 12, calling anyone that didn’t vote SNP “anti-Scottish”, and implying that her party have some sort of moral superiority when it comes to matters concerning Scotland. If Lamont’s choice of staff seems questionable, how about Alex Salmond’s? Joan McAlpine is an SNP MSP, responsible for representing the views of Scottish people in Parliament. Yet according to her,

ANGRY ADOLF: "After the week I've had? What the hell was she thinking?" if they do not happen to support her party then they must also hate the country they live in and be pitted against those that are truly ‘Scottish’.

This divisive rhetoric has added a nasty edge to the debate on independence, and while the SNP has distanced itself from her comments, it is a reminder of the deeply bitter feelings surrounding the issue.

Despite forming the first Scottish majority government, the SNP still commanded less than half the votes of the electorate last year, meaning that McAlpine’s “anti Scottish” comment actually applies to most Scots.

Extending equality

When recent polls are showing that only 26 – 40% of Scots are currently in favour of independence, the SNP needs to be putting forward a coherent argument to voters, not alienating them with name-calling that can only divide, not unite, Scotland.

Harris has apologised, not for the video, but for the fact that in the serious context of Joan McAlpine’s comments, it was an “unhelpful distraction”. In fact, the news coverage of his video has most likely attracted much wider spread attention to her comments than would otherwise have been warranted by the Question

Time discussion the same day. True, Question Time has a pretty large audience, but it would seem safe to bet the 72,000 YouTube viewers aren’t all included in these figures. What’s more, Joan’s Downfall initially received about three times as many likes as dislikes, hinting at popular sentiment in Harris’ favour, although comment has now been disabled.

Harris’ video spoof may not have been appropriate behaviour for an MP, and has cost him his job, but perhaps he was a shrewder media advisor than Lamont gave him credit for.

Student unions must go further than liberation groups in addressing on-campus inequalities, argues James McAsh. STUDENT UNIONS like EUSA have long acknowledged that different students face a variety of different issues: student life is very unequal. More recently, NUS (National Union of Students) and EUSA have attempted to tackle this inequality by embedding ‘liberation groups’ into their democratic structures. This way groups of women, LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer) students, disabled students, and black and ethnic minority students can come together and fight the specific forms of discrimination that they face. Further attempts have been made to expand this to include international, postgrad, mature and part-time students. Minority rights, after all, must be protected.

However, there has been less attention paid to the campus inequality – the inequality across campuses and subject areas. This form of inequality causes problems which have haunted

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the University of Edinburgh for some time now, and are wholly avoidable sources of regular pain and anxiety for many students. Of course, the inequality between students in Kings Buildings and George Square pales in comparison to the historic oppression of women or black people, but the inequality is still real.

“

Student unions need to focus on big issues which affect smaller groups of people."

The most obvious example relates to the costs of course materials. The money that students receive from SAAS or the Student Loans Company is unrelated to subject choice but some

courses require really expensive materials – just ask any medic or veterinary student. The more extreme cases come from students taking professional courses, like nursing, education or social work, who take unpaid placement as part of their studies.

As it currently stands, Social Work students spend two thirds of the academic year on unpaid placement work.

This is highly time-intensive and makes holding down a paid job at the same time incredibly difficult, if not impossible. Successive governments have slashed the financial support available to students so many rely on the ability to work while at university to pay for their rent, food and course materials.

These are the people who are training to be our future doctors, nurses, and teachers – roles which benefit all of society.

Our student unions need to face this inequality head on. In the past

neither EUSA nor NUS have been very successful with these minor issues.

Part of the problem is that the students who get involved in student politics generally have more time available, so are less likely to have placements. The other problem is that issues which are specific to small groups are difficult to mobilise large-scale support for.

Last year Edinburgh University AntiCuts Coalition was hugely successful in organising demonstrations against the rise in tuition fees. A large part of that success was down to how relevant it was to so many students. However, the same cannot be said for every important issue. Student unions need to focus on big issues which affect smaller groups of people.

One way of doing this is by working with other groups across the country who have similar issues. Along with a group of students from Edinburgh and beyond, I am submitting policy to

NUS Scotland to make them fight for a better deal for student professionals.

Specifically, this means doing things like pushing for greater financial support for all students on placement.

NUS needs to work with the wider community and the trade unions in each field, like the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) or the Royal College of Nurses (RCN), to properly tackle the different needs of all of its members. To get this started, the policy proposes that NUS Scotland jointly hosts a student-teacher conference with EIS. If this is successful then we can adapt and replicate it for other professions. Students are very different, but our student unions need to fight for all of them.

James McAsh is one of Edinburgh’s delegates to the National Union of Students.

23/01/2012 04:39:37

never existed in twh

LAST MONDAY, Glasgow South Labour MP, Tom Harris, was forced to resign as media advisor by Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont after posting a parody of the 2004 film Downfall on YouTube, portraying Alex Salmond as Hitler. The video makes reference to Salmond’s reluctance to set a date for referendum on Scottish independence, implying he wanted it to be “top secret”, and then speculates on his reaction to hearing the news that his “official biographer” has said that “if you don’t vote SNP you hate Scotland”. The video was posted on Saturday January 14, following comments made by Joan McAlpine the previous Thursday, and swiftly resulted in Harris losing his post after a ‘chat’ with Lamont about his inappropriate behaviour.

The ironic twist that it was Labour’s newly appointed media advisor who made this internet error caused an SNP spokesperson to call the stunt “hugely embarrassing”.

They may be right, but the question is; embarrassing for whom? Lamont may have come off looking a little foolish in her choice of media staff, especially as the video was posted on the MP’s official website, but he isn’t the only one. The YouTube video, named Joan’s Downfall is funny, just a little close to the bone, and has had 76,427 views in four days. That number is three times the entire population of South Glasgow, so it can’t just be Harris’ constituents who have been smiling at Salmond’s expense.

In the video Joan McAlpine’s

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Comment 11

Back to Beijing

TASTY: Of all the American food Gary Locke could've brought to Asia, he chose Heinz ketchup ?

THE LATEST diplomatic malentendu between China and America seems rather clichéd: an American official criticises Beijing for human rights abuses and unfair trade practices while China ripostes with thinly veiled reference to American imperial intentions and something about minding your own business.

There is one detail though, that makes this case more interesting. That is the source of the latest, and frankly more forceful, criticism of the communist regime. That source is Gary Locke, twice governor of Washington state and newly appointed American ambassador to China. What’s interesting is that he is the first American of Chinese descent given the top job in Beijing. Nearly one hundred years after his grandfather set foot on Ameri-

can soil, Locke has been sent back to the land of his ancestors as America’s top representative. Objectively this might not, and probably shouldn’t, make that big of a difference. But it seems to have bowled over the Chinese population and caused quite a stir amongst the communist corps. You see, in a matter of months he has become something of a celebrity.

His name and face have been in the press, on TV and a source of cult following on Chinese blogs. Part of the reason for this is his ancestry. Another is that, unlike the classic model of politician in China, he appears to be a modest statesman. The first photos of Ambassador Locke that appeared in Chinese media were of him waiting in line at a Starbucks at the Seattle Airport with his back-pack on, trying

to pay for his coffee with a coupon.

Later reports had him waiting in line with other tourists for his turn to tour the Great Wall. The reason why these reports, and his generally humble demeanour, have created a Cult of Locke is because, as a Beijing blogger posted, many Chinese believed he “should be like the Chinese officials – he shouldn’t use coupons, and he should have bodyguards.” Unless you include his three children and wife, also of Chinese descent, Locke came alone, and without change for a cup of joe.

Locke’s celebrity status reached such great heights that the government became somewhat defensive.

The state paper, The Guangming Daily, even warned that sending Locke was President Obama’s neocolonial tactic to incite political chaos. The idea

FLICKR:US EMBASSY NEW DELHI

Travis Paterson discusses America's surprising new direction in Chinese diplomacy.

was so ridiculous, and so rightfully ridiculed by Chinese bloggers, that the paper was embarrassed into taking the story off its website.

Hu Xingdou, professor at the Beijing Institute of Technology, said the government has reason to feel threatened. “Locke’s low-key and simple style makes a sharp contrast with Chinese officials,” he said. “People are expressing their dissatisfaction with officials and the corrupt system by praising and supporting Gary Locke.”

The Chinese people might also be fascinated by the story of Locke’s road to success. He tells his story as an example of the American ideal of openness and inclusiveness. Locke told the Chinese media, “We believe these values are independent of any particular political system. They are

universal, and universally beneficial to societal advance.”

Whatever the source of Locke’s popularity, he seems to have taken it as a license to criticise and provoke more than his predecessors would have been comfortable with. Last week Locke went on American national television and radio blasting Beijing’s human rights record and citing repressive steps, taken in the shadow of the Arab Spring, to crack down on dissension.

Joking that the Chinese government “must have armies of censors watching over the internet,” Locke said that it is a constant battle for people to engage in open discussion on sensitive political issues. He also observed that “human rights have gotten worse since the lead up to the 2008 Olympics,” and that a “significant crackdown on dissension” is underway. These policies, Locke argues, come from the Communist Party’s fear of losing its monopoly; “People have higher expectations that the government cannot meet. And so they are very concerned about maintaining domestic tranquility and stability.”

Chinese officials reacted to Locke’s comments, saying they “objected to interference in its internal affairs.”

So what, in the end, is the difference between this exchange of words and the previous ones? At the very least, Locke seems comfortable speaking for the Chinese people more than any American before. Consider this shot, “So I do believe that there is a power of the people, and there is a growing frustration among the people over the operations of government, corruption, lack of transparency, and issues that affect the Chinese people on a daily basis that they feel are being neglected.”

Considering Locke’s popularity in China, and the positive image of America he projects, Beijing cannot afford to take his words lightly. The people are listening, armies of internet censors or not.

Dear sir?

Alasdair Drennan addresses the double standard of communication between lecturers and students

IT IS NOT UNCOMMON for emails from lecturers or course secretaries to cause their recipient annoyance. Irritation resulting from emails seems to be a staple of university life, but receiving a recent email from a lecturer instructing me that “Hi” was an inappropriate way to address “academic members of staff ” stirred something a little deeper than the usual frustrations.

Understandably there will never be agreement over the best form of ‘netiquette’ but the distinction made between emailing academic members of staff and anyone else angered me. It highlighted the wider issue of the way staff at the university regard themselves and the respect that exists between students and staff.

Surely the same standards of politeness, respect and manners should be offered to everyone whether they

11_Comment.indd 1

have completed a PhD or not.

The majority of lecturers and tutors do indeed deserve respect, but not because they classify themselves as ‘academics’. Becoming a world expert in fourteenth-century dinner sets should not entitle anyone to more deference than others. Taking the time to ensure that students can have the best possible educational experience whilst at university does deserve respect but often this is simply not the case. Some staff do not deserve the respect they feel the letters following their name entitle them to.

Whilst they may pride themselves in using “Dear…” not “Hi” as a salutation in an email, emails from staff are often vague one-line responses or will blatantly patronise with sarcastic statements such as “had you read my earlier email.” Outside

of digital communication, lecturers will not turn up to lectures and will make no explanation or even acknowledgement of this. Some will avoid apology at all costs. It seems to be forgotten that we students also deserve respect from those who are employed to teach.

“

Becoming a world expert in fourteenthcentury dinner sets should not entitle anyone to more deference than others" There seems to be no realisation or acceptance of the fact that the university is essentially providing a

service to students who are paying to learn. Tuition fees for some are in excess of £12,000 each year and it is these fees that support the careers of ‘academics’. It seems that competition for a place at the University of Edinburgh is so high that the idea of service provision is lost; and some university staff seem to hold the attitude that students are lucky to be here and should accept what is on offer, and that as competition for places remains high there is no need for them to change. This complacency could go some way to explain the low student satisfaction at the university.

It must be made clear that these are not problems across the board and many university staff will take extra time to ensure that they are as helpful and as accommodating as they can be. Innovative Learning

Week has highlighted the lengths some members of staff will go to in an effort to enhance the education they offer. Students are not always the most respectful creatures but by not showing up to a lecture or not reading, it is our education and our tuition fees that are wasted.

Offering respect should not be reserved for those who feel a sense of entitlement to it. Respect should be earned, not expected, and no distinction should be made between academics, students, secretaries, receptionists or even the principal.

Those who feel they should be addressed in a certain way should justify this with their actions, not their name. One’s name or academic background should not dictate the way in which you expect others to greet you; one’s actions and efforts should.

23/01/2012 04:40:48

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12 Comment

From corporate coop to the co-op

flickr: Wolfgang sterneck

Emma Saunders and Nick Dowson chew over Nick Clegg's proposals for a 'John Lewis economy'

2012 has been declared as the International Year of the Cooperative by the UN. But are cooperatives the way forward in the modern world?

A cooperative is a voluntary and democratic working structure in which participants share the benefits proportionately to their input. People often think of cooperatives as wishy-washy alternative businesses for hippies and other left-wing radicals. Well, let’s stop.

Cooperatives are increasingly successful; in the UK, they have grown by 20% since the credit crunch, employ 235,000 people, and turn over more than £33 billion each year. Furthermore, they offer another take as to what a business should be or do for its community and workers.

Our government is increasingly resorting to mass-scale privatisation, by which democratic control over public resources (libraries, health, education) is

challenged. Instead of devolving power and profits to workers, these are handed over to the private sector. Reversing this tendency offers an engaging alternative, and a sensible business model – even Nick Clegg, not known for his revolutionary instincts, suggested that radically increasing employee share ownership could boost growth.

Yet, we think this is only a condescending and unchallenging solution. It

does not even live up to the John Lewis model, which Clegg used as an example.

All John Lewis shares and value are held in a trust; a partnership council allows workers to influence decision-making and elect members to the executive board.

All employees are partners in the business and profits are shared between all workers with each receiving a set percentage of their annual salary; in recent years this bonus went as high as 15%. This is not only good for workers, but also for the business, giving employees an incentive to take ownership of their work.

Clegg is offering employees the ‘possibility’ to buy a proportion of company shares, which is nothing but a sop. The mutuals suggested by Cameron and Clegg include organisations where workers only hold a minority of shares; this does not live up to the ideal of a co-op.

Government rhetoric about promoting mutuals is not borne out by their actions. Rather than re-mutualising Northern Rock's profitable parts, George Osborne flogged them off to Virgin Money at a knock-down price. And in September, Central Surrey Health, a Big Society award-winning worker-run healthcare cooperative, lost a £500m contract for community services to a company owned by Virgin Healthcare.

Rather than promoting cooperatives, it seems that the naked lure of profit is the drive for this millionaire government.

As the wage system is preponderant, company profits for most employees are merely a figure on a balance sheet. The fruits of success do not trickle down to most employees, who have little input in decision-making processes and are little more than automatons in the company machine. Cooperatives on the contrary offer a democratic, sustainable and transparent way to work together. Workers have a say in how their business will go forward and how the profits should be shared. Greater involvement of workers fosters a better work ethic, providing motivation and a more egalitarian atmosphere in the workplace – and offers a much needed counterbalance to increasing inequality.

In Scotmid, for example, every mem-

ber has the same input over the business plan. Scotmid is committed to being involved in the local community, offers support for charity projects, and was one of the first businesses in Scotland to espouse Fair trade. The alternative co-ops offer contrasts with the supermarkets, who are famous for siphoning money out of local communities for corporate profit, offering low wages and working conditions, and exploiting their suppliers whilst outcompeting local businesses.

More and more, supermarkets shape our production system. They emphasise mass-scale production and distribution, threatening both small producers and our environment. Food miles, excessive packaging, destruction of small scale agriculture, and heavy use of pesticides and fertilisers, are just some of the many symptoms of this undemocratic, profitdriven system. Cooperatives, with greater member participation, offer another choice, which can benefit employees, producers and consumers alike.

To bring it even closer to home, Edinburgh University has had a cooperative society for the past five years. Though the group’s main activities are food-related, the co-op aims to spread awareness about cooperative practices. There is no hierarchy, but rather a bunch of students working for one another to provider cheaper and more ethical sources of goods. The Hearty Squirrel cooperative started as a small dry food cupboard in Guthrie Street, and through cooperation with Transition Edinburgh University and EUSA, now runs bi-weekly stalls on Mondays and Thursdays, selling organic whole foods and vegetables.

Last semester, the co-op had a turnover of more than £5,000; they are keen to spread the word this semester. Inspired by other university cooperatives in the UK such as St. Andrews, Bath and Leeds, the food co-op is looking for more members and involvement to remain a common project rather than merely a service. The International Year of the Cooperative is a challenge to us to question our beliefs about how businesses should be run, who by, and who for.

Brussels' sprouts: a necessary evil Suzi Compton argues we still need the European Union, bureacrats, warts and all

The first fortnight of 2012 proved something of a lull in the Eurozone saga. Daily despair was suspended, our (wo)men in Paris and Brussels took a well-deserved holiday and the furrowed Merkozy brow was abandoned by the paparazzi in favour of the stricken cruise-ship Costa Concordia.

Like all good crises, however, the Eurozone’s hasn’t run its course just yet.

Debt-rating agency Standard & Poor has announced a flurry of downgrades, and Greek re-structuring talks appear to have stalled. The Economist suggests there are signs of a continent-wide recession.

Technocrats remain in both Italy and Greece: Mario Monti and Lucas Papademos run their respective countries with an utter absence of democratic mandate. In both, resentment of the German and IMF-led mantra of austerity is growing as living standards fall.

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On the home front, David Cameron delighted his Eurosceptics (and the French UK-sceptics) by leaving the bargaining table in December, but is now a mere spectator as the Eurozone attempts to put its shambolic house in order.

So, the great European project is tottering. The pretty notes of the single currency could soon be replaced in our pockets by the lira, drachma or franc when we head over the channel. More than that, the fault lines in the EU are not merely monetary, and a return to individual sovereignty is not as inconceivable as it was five years ago.

Europe’s great problem is a lack of a crystallised, mutually-agreed purpose.

Variously an apolitical trading zone, a shaky construct of economics and politics, and a Western model of sociopolitical ideas about governance and human rights absorbing and reforming governments further East, the EU needs

to work out what it is trying to do.

Nonetheless, it has provided to date one of the great examples of worldwide co-operation. For every Brussels directive, there is a new community building project somewhere stamped with a ring of golden stars on a blue plaque announcing European funding.

“

The facilitation of movement across borders has led to an unrivalled concotion of cultures, languages and nationalities."

The Common Agricultural Policy has been vilified, but is also devilishly hard to get right, and bureaucrats, ex-

perts and politicians across Europe are still trying. Europe leads the world environmentally (although that isn’t too hard), and EU social legislation, on everything from minority rights to maternity and paternity leave and consumer protection, has laid the groundwork for a modern tolerant Europe. Ad infinitum, we are reminded that European countries were almost constantly at war until the European communities were started.

More than that, the facilitation of movement across borders has led to an unrivalled concoction of cultures, languages and nationalities. The multinational UK is more closely tied now than at any point previously to countries right across the continent. And why not?

Historically-designated borders mean little on the individual scale to those with widespread families and friendship groups, and as a soon-to-be graduate, I am glad of my ability to hop the channel

and settle (nearly) anywhere in Europe.

Amid the current woe, then, it is necessary to retain a measure of calm.

Indeed, Europeans not in government or in the business of filling column inches appear to be doing this quite well. A December poll by YouGov found that the majority of respondents in France, Germany and Denmark still expect the Euro to exist in 10 years time, as well as for the UK to still be an EU member.

I hope that their predictions hold true. Harold Macmillan, who signed us up to the EEC in 1973, wrote later in that decade that “the countries of Europe, none of them anything but second-rate powers by themselves, can, if they get together, be a power in the world, an economic power, a power in foreign policy, a power in defence equal to either of the superpowers.

Over 30 years later, governments and citizens alike would do well to remember that.

23/01/2012 04:43:20

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Tuesday January 24 2012 studentnewspaper.org

Comment 13

A right oil mess

FLICR: JENN FARR

Thomas Broadhead questions why the Nigerian environmental crisis is being ignored

MESSY: Jennifer's manicure had been a complete disaster IN MAY 2010, the Gulf of Mexico was the focus of the world’s press.

Rightly so; 5 million barrels of oil in an area of such beauty and ecological interest is no laughing matter. The publicly catastrophic consequences of the blowout had the potential to influence fundamental change. Effective use of the global community’s collective conscience could have applied public pressure for reform in regulation of oil drilling practices. The swarms of press helicopters circling the Gulf of Mexico presented a unique opportunity, but widespread exposure of the oil industry’s malpractice never followed.

Despite the findings of the US federal report, stating that the “cost or time-saving decisions ... were contributing causes to the blowout,” the matter never made it to political debate. Cut corners during and in the aftermath of oil drilling practices are rife; quite baffling considering the wealth of the oil industry and toxicity of the product.

The consequences are devastating, and

invariably far from the lenses of the press.

The Deepwater Horizon disaster is a tea party in comparison to the meal that has been made of the Niger delta.

For decades, Royal Dutch Shell’s catastrophic mishandling of oil in the region has not only had unimaginable environmental consequences, but has condemned the area to all-out oil warfare.

From a company that boasted $7.2bn profits for the third quarter last year, expecting them to clean up their own foul mess is a reasonable request. Absolutely no regard has been shown for the needs of communities in the region. Instead, Shell’s cosy relationship with the Nigerian government granted them military muscle to quieten the voices.

Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other figurehead protesters were executed in 1995 for protesting against the oil damage caused by Shell to their native Ogoniland. The witnesses who testified against the nine protesters reportedly admitted later to being bribed by Shell

and the Nigerian Government, with offers of jobs at Shell. In 2009 Shell settled out-of court with victims’ families in a case accusing it of complicity in the murders, paying out $15.5m dollars.

Despite the international community’s recognition of the tragic injustice suffered by Ken Saro-Wiwa, the very same vehicle that stood before rolls on, even accelerating. In late August 2011 nine separate oil spills were responsible for 1-2 million gallons of oil caking the Niger delta; a more recent major spill from just over two weeks ago, possibly the worst oil spill in a decade, highlighted another cut corner in oil giant circles.

Shell has blamed the oil spill on sabotage, a frequent explanation. Whether or not the truth, the lure for locals is somewhat understandable, considering both the extreme poverty and the pains suffered at the hands of oil companies.

Considering Shell’s impressive profit margins, the withdrawal of contracts for local pipeline security is inexcus-

It's all gone tits up

able. Equally culpable is the operator’s non-existent maintenance of wells and valves. Shell pays oil spill fines to the Nigerian government, convenient, considering the nature of the relationship, but account sheets detailing the use of this money are hard to come by.

The unanswered question is, how can companies such as Shell go unregulated, causing a cacophony of social and environmental turmoil? If even a modest slice of the company’s profits were directed towards investment in and inclusion of communities, cleanup of contaminated land, and in more diligence towards protecting the environment, the situation could be very different. Recent UN studies suggest that the Niger delta would take upwards of 30 years and $1bn to clean up; a lot for locals, but Shell made $7.2bn in just three months last year.

Remember Ken Saro-Wiwa when perusing the Shell graduate recruitment stand at the next careers fair. That prospective ‘respectable’ career may then leave a slightly sour taste; rightfully so.

Will the Canadian government learn lessons from Nigeria as it rallies to support the lucrative Keystone XL pipeline? One piece of evidence lies therein; the fact that vouching for support is necessary shows that companies and governments are far less enthusiastic when a nation with greater media accessibility is concerned. Not least of all, incidents in the public eye threaten the all-important share price.

The argument is not against oil, or capitalism for that matter. It is against ‘respectable’ corporations and governments being above any moral or formal jurisdiction; their decisions causing avoidable, long term devastation and suffering for the sake of maximisation of already astronomical capital gain.

What level of disaster will it take to bring the oil companies’ practices under serious scrutiny?

Nina Seale argues that the response to the silicone breast implant scandal is bigger than cup sizes

RECENTLY, THE cosmetic surgery industry is receiving a huge amount of scrutiny following the announcement that over 40,000 women may have received unsafe breast implants from the French company PIP. The company used cheaper silicone that had not undergone the rigorous toxicology testing required for their medical certification.

A NHS report claims that the implants do not increase the risk of cancer, but it says that surgeons did note the frequency of PIP implant ruptures. When an implant ruptures it can disfigure the breast with lumpiness causing inflammation and ultimately discomfort.

The various medical companies involved responded with a lot of finger pointing. Many private health organisations, such as the Harley Medical Group and Transform, refused to pay for removing the faulty implants from their patients. This is a new kind of disgrace.

They even went so far as to call themselves the victims. Harley Medical Group’s chairman, Mel Braham, told BBC that the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), their own regulatory authority, has approved these implants and obvi-

13_Comment.indd 1

ously hasn’t done their proper checking.

“We’re an innocent victim like everyone else, we’re attempting to do our best for our patients ... We can’t take on this whole thing on our own, especially when it wasn’t our fault.”

This may be true, that they rely too much on the regulations rather than paying attention to the frequency of ruptures in their patients, but there is definitely a point when they should consider cutting their losses. Breast enlargement surgery costs £3,695 at Transform, and apparently the huge price of this surgery does not include a guarantee that the company will help their patients should their products be faulty.

On the other hand, the NHS responded incredibly well to the scandal that has shaken up the industry; saying that they will both remove and replace implants they have given to mastectomy patients and they will remove, but not replace, the implants from women who had surgery done privately.

This is admirable behaviour in light of a difficult situation, because no matter whose fault these problems are, there is a duty of responsibility to any surgeon and medical company when a patient-

trusts them with their care. The NHS are encouraging the Harley Medical Group and others to remove implants free of charge, because at the moment companies like Transform are still charging £2,800 for removal surgery.

“

The comments made from the head of PIP, Jean-Claude Mas, have been deplorable."

The cosmetic industry gets a lot of ridicule and mistrust, as cosmetic surgery is seen as a commodity that plays to the insecurities and vanity of wealthy women who are not happy with the way they look. As it is voluntary, some voices in this debate implied that the patients somehow asked for this kind of trouble; as if they should have known what they were getting into.

Imagine if there was a similar scandal with a commodity like a sports cars. One of the engine parts was not properly certified and as a result there is an increased risk of breaking down. It is not the fault of the buyer, nor is it fair that the buyer

should pay almost as much money as the car to replace the part. This situation is even worse because at least you can decide not to drive your car, but you can’t suddenly decide to stop wearing your breasts!

The comments made from the head of PIP, Jean-Claude Mas, have been deplorable. All the blame centres on PIP, the company that admits that they avoided having their products monitored but deny that the implants increase the risk of rupture.

When asked about the women who reported medical problems since their PIP implants, he dismissed them out of hand: “The victims are only suing to get money … I have nothing to say to them.”

Even if this is true, even if the victims do not actually deserve compensation as the effects of rupture do not affect the victim as much as the money implies, there is still a clear moral imbalance that the scare of being sued will stop companies behaving in the same way that PIP have.

Being sympathetic to the people who suffered the company’s mistake and acting penitently is the only way that PIP could remedy the situation, if they had any morals.

NAUTICAL BUT NICE

THE EDUCATION secretary Michael Gove sailed headlong into choppy waters this week with his plan to take £60 million from small children and give it to a rich old lady in the form of a massive boat.

Giving two salutary fingers to the austerity crowd, Gove silenced the Tories’ ‘we’re all in it together’ battle cry with one vigorous tug of the forelock. Not known for his love of state handouts, the education secretary showed an uncharacteristic magnanimity towards the biggest benefit scrounger of them all, Her Majesty the Queen. I would say it’s socialism for the rich and capitalism for the poor, except I don’t think a socialist has ever been given a yacht on the anniversary of their coronation.

Gove couldn’t have really picked a better symbol of tasteless opulence unless he’d promised the old dear a Courvoisier-filled jacuzzi on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. Nick Clegg saw the funny side, torpedoing Gove’s nautical fantasy with a cracking pun about the have-nots and the have-yachts.

If his ‘coalition’ government gets its way, this could be the predominant social distinction in ten years time.

Thankfully, nobody has thought to call it ‘Yachtgate’ yet, although it is surely only a matter of time. Oh wait…

The NUS helpfully chipped in with ten possible alternative uses for the £60 million which would be needed to replace the Queen’s boat. These included reinstating the scrapped Education Maintenance Allowance and covering the £9,000 university fees for 6,500 students. Michael Gove’s office responded with their own top ten, which included a Courvoisier-filled jacuzzi on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

Things went from bad to worse for Gove when later in the week it was revealed that the 20,000 personalised King James bibles he had commissioned to send to schools were languishing in an overseas warehouse, with no way of bringing them to the infidel youth of Britain. Where’s that yacht when you need it?

The coincidence of these two bizarre attempts at embezzlement of public funds surely leads to one conclusion: Michael Gove is attempting to reinvent himself as a 21st century Noah.

Joel Sharples

23/01/2012 04:47:01

Tuesday January 24 2012 studentnewspaper.org

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14 Features

State of the Union

Want to help EUSA shape your university experience? Matt McPherson shows you how

THE BEGINNING of this semester brings fresh opportunity to us at Edinburgh.

We should be proud of the part each of us play in the success of our Union. We have one of the highest voting turnouts in the country, we have lobbied the university successfully on more library study space, we argued hundreds of thousands of more pounds into bursaries, and we look forward to a full development of Potterrow.

However, for too long the direction

of EUSA – what it is fighting for, what it spends your money on, and its focus – has been set by the few and not the many.

This semester is set to be one of great transition. Following the universal endorsement of our new constitution, it’s time for each of us – whether we’re from one of our 271 societies, committed to one of our great sports teams, or have nothing more to do with EUSA other than the occasional pint in Teviot – to take the opportunity to make this

university better.

There are enormous challenges that lie in front of us over the next year.

Students are concerned about safety on campus, international students and postgraduates face rapidly increasing fees, and students feel at times out of touch and irrelevant to the work of EUSA. It is crucial that it is students themselves who lead the way in making much needed change happen.

The biggest visible difference to the work of EUSA this year is that power

will be in the hands of the student body. Through online referenda, students will be able to submit questions about matters of importance to them.

Whether it’s boycotting a company in our shops; setting up a campaign against fees in retaliation to the Scottish Parliament; or making EUSA sign a pledge to make its business greener – online referenda will give every student the chance to set the agenda for their Union. With a filmed debate night, and support given to ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ campaigns, voting will be open to each of our 30, 000 students.

All referendum questions must be submitted in advance by 25th January, with online voting on 8th and 9th February. Information on exactly how to submit can be found online at the EUSA website.

Additionally, nominations open for the EUSA general election on the 5th of March, with elections on the 27th to 29th of March. Despite a voting turnout of one of the highest in the country, the last general election featured a vote from just 22.5% of students.

I do not believe we are an apathetic university. I believe that students care passionately about their futures. Everyday I meet students who want the

Fiscally fractured?

best for their society, who get frustrated that transport to their campus isn’t good enough, and who want to improve their CVs and opportunities in a bleak job market.

“

Students are concerned about safety on campus, international students and postgraduates face rapidly increasing fees, and students feel at times out of touch" What matters is speaking up, getting involved. EUSA is a union of students, and we must work harder and do better to ensure that we become the difference we seek.

Where students care, EUSA is there.

So put a question to referendum. Stand for election or get involved in a friend’s campaign, and let’s work together to build a world leading experience for every student here at Edinburgh.

At the Fabian Society conference, John Hewitt Jones questions Labour's financial policy ARRIVING AT the London Institute of Education last Saturday it was clear that this was indeed the right place for the 2012 Fabian Society conference.

Shoals of suit-clad, Guardian-clutching socialist young things moved between reception points and media desks, surrounded by advertising for the New Statesman.

There was a considerable media presence: TV cameras, sound recordists, eager journalists, all present for one reason. The central feature of the day was to be a keynote speech from Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls, outlining Labour’s new critical approach to fiscal policy.

For those without a notion of the organisation’s role, the Fabian Society is Britain’s oldest think tank. Affiliated to the Labour party, it’s a left-wing institution that has played a central role in defining the direction of the Labour party’s policy since 1884. An appropriate place then to launch the fight-back, with a day of events billed as ‘The Economic Alternative’.

It is likely that in many peoples’ minds Ed Balls doesn’t cut a particularly impressive figure; his performance at the dispatch box is often accused of being underwhelming. But his credentials as an economist make impressive reading. In his youth Balls

14_Features.indd 1

won a Kennedy Scholarship to Harvard, after Oxford, before working as a staff writer for the Financial Times and as a policy advisor to the treasury.

“

Even if Balls and his peers do turn out to be right, it's nigh on impossible at the moment for their small voices to be heard above the voice of the coalition" And this appeared to be home territory: Labour’s economic expert delivering a left wing speech to a hall packed with nice friendly socialists. But it was not to be. Right from the outset the conference had a feeling of urgency, a sense that the clock was ticking (a sense heightened by some outspoken heckling from the audience), because there’s no two ways about it; Labour, at the moment, is a party in crisis.

Much of Balls’ speech was rambling and unappealing, lacking the gleam of the Blair sound bite. However, it was clear from the outset that, regardless, this man has a supreme grasp of fiscal

policy. The central tenet of Balls’ argument is this: The current government’s response to the financial crisis - strict, swift austerity cuts alone - isn’t working.

As we wait for last year’s GDP figures to be published on Wednesday, forecasters are predicting that these will show the UK economy shrinking in the final quarter, and that the country will fall back into recession within the next few months. Even George Osborne has admitted in a BBC interview that he’s feeling rattled. As it stands, the government will fail to hit its target of reducing the deficit by 2015.

Balls presents a persuasive case.

Whilst the cuts are necessary, he argues, austerity alone can’t stimulate growth in the economy. It really isn’t just a case of playing the opposition and challenging the government’s action, but providing solid alternatives.

As a close admirer of John Maynard Keynes, Balls is convinced that now is the time that the government should be injecting short-term stimulus packages into the economy to create jobs.

And he’s not the only one. Even the international credit rating agencies are saying that austerity measures on their own are not going to get Europe out of the economic downturn.

ED BALLS: You try coming up with a mature caption The key problem facing Labour at the moment is one of fiscal credibility.

Even if Balls and his peers do turn out to be right, it’s nigh on impossible for their small voices, a mere fraction of the Labour party, to be heard above the voice of the Conservative coalition. You only have to watch Prime Minister’s Questions to see the efficacy of the government’s relentless optimism and unwavering mantra of austerity. To the electorate, it would be unsurprising if Labour didn’t seem to have a definitive position.

It looks as if they are playing a game of catch-up, and admitting that they’ve been wrong all along, although the figures don’t necessarily provide evidence for this. Were Labour to follow Balls’ lead and define their position on the economy, they would present a more united front.

The problem here lies in balancing the necessary internal debate in the months looming up to the next general election, and attempting to unite as a party over a single economic plan in order to prove their competence.

23/01/2012 04:52:13

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Tuesday January 24 2012 studentnewspaper.org

Features 15

Meet the candidates With the next President of the United States set to be chosen on November 6 this year, Susan Lechelt takes a look at the potential Republican nominees who hope to stand against current President Barack Obama

A former Massachusetts Governor, Romney plans to reverse Obama's regulations on the economic sector and healthcare reform.

Rick Santorum Having served as Senator for Pennsylvania for 11 years, Santorum would push for a constitutional outlaw to samesex marriage.

15_Features .indd 1

man and Rick Perry - recently also ending their presidential campaigns in order to support other candidates; Romney and Gingrich, respectively.

All the Republican candidates have pledged not to raise taxes, agree on the idea of a flat tax, and want to lower or eliminate capital gains tax.

The party as a whole attempts to portray Obama’s regulations on business and new environmental restrictions as harmful to the private sector, and all candidates have endorsed a hands-off approach to private business.

A main area of debate between the candidates is the future of America’s relations with other nations. Gingrich and Santorum are critical of Obama’s withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and neither have eliminated the prospect of military action in Iran.

Romney has not shown disapproval of the withdrawals, but has not taken a strong position either way. Like Gingrich and Santorum, he believes that intervention in Iran will be necessary if the country refuses to stop work on nuclear weapons.

Ron Paul strongly disagrees with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as with intervention with Iran and Israel, which sets him apart from fellow candidates.

Unlike other Republicans, who are fiscally conservative but impose social regulations, Paul believes in an all-around small government, emphasising personal liberty in all aspects of life. As this is traditionally a view of more liberally minded Americans, a large proportion of Republican voters lean toward the more conservative candidates.

“

Unwelcome press has erased any certainty of the ultimate winner and the world will have to wait until late August to see who will prevail" However, Paul is widely supported by the under-30 demographic, as well as some of the supporters of the Occupy Wall Street movement, who have become disenchanted with the corruption of the current bipartisan system.

Romney accounts himself as a moderate Republican - he does not seem to have particularly strong stances on issues such as abortion, same-sex marriage, and has in the past voted for state-mandated healthcare - which may both win and cost him votes.

Santorum and Gingrich have been described as more conservative choices, and are currently battling to attract the demographic at odds with Romney.

“

Republicans describe themselves as activists for a monetarily small government, and are also social conservatives" Thus far, Romney has won the primary in New Hampshire with roughly 39% of the vote, with Paul in second with 21%. The Iowa caucus ended with some confusion; Romney was proclaimed the winner by just 8 votes, but after inaccuracies in voting districts were explored, Santorum took the lead by a still slender 34 votes.

Both Romney and Santorum have proclaimed that the caucus was a virtual tie. Paul came in third, followed

by Gingrich in fourth.

Though Romney currently appears to be the frontrunner, his refusal to release tax returns of his $270 million fortune have displeased the public.

Recent speculators have asserted that Romney may be keeping up to $33 million in assets off-shore to save it from taxes. Romney has agreed to release tax returns in April, but these allegations, juxtaposed to the USA’s distressed economic state, may cause irreparable harm in his campaign.

Santorum and Gingrich have both had to battle problems with unwanted publicity threatening their campaigns.

When Santorum remarked that homosexuals should be regulated like child molesters and polygamists, a gay activist held a contest to define the candidate’s surname. The winning definition for “Santorum” - the byproduct of anal sex - is now the first result that appears when one searches for the candidate’s name on Google.

This “Google Problem,” as Santorum has called it, has turned off a large proportion of more socially liberal voters.

Gingrich recently faced a flood of negative press after one of his two ex-wives claimed that Gingrich approached her asking for an open marriage to continue an extramarital affair.

At the last debate before the South Carolina primary, Gingrich refused to respond to questions about these allegations, and the four candidates argued in what the New York Times described as “intensely personal verbal combat.”

Newt Gingrich The 58th Speaker of the House of Representatives, Gingrich wants the US to take 100% control of its border with Mexico.

ALL GAGESKIDMORE

Mitt Romney

EVERY FOUR years, presidential hopefuls battle for the chance to become the next Commander-in-chief of arguably the most powerful country in the world. Four men currently stand in the frame to take on Barack Obama in the next American general elections later this year: Willard ‘Mitt’ Romney, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum.

After the recent national recession, polls and a plethora of protests – including the Occupy Wall Street movement—have shown that the American public is becoming increasingly unsettled with the current state of the government.

This general discontentment, paired with Democratic President Barack Obama’s decision to run for re-election, has provided a series of particularly lively Republican presidential campaigns.

Though there are many political parties in the USA, the Democratic and Republican parties all but monopolise the American political system.

Democrats win votes based on socially and fiscally liberal policies, and are traditionally supported by youth, women and ethnic minorities.

On the opposing side, Republicans describe themselves as activists for a monetarily small government, and are social conservatives, classically endorsing pro-life policy and rejecting same-sex marriage. The party draws its voter base notably from the business community, military employees, Christians and older citizens.

To pick a candidate for the November presidential election, the majority of the states hold simple primary elections. Others, like Iowa, hold caucuses, at which members listen to speeches by the representatives of the candidates before casting their votes.

The primaries and caucuses run from January until June, after which, parties gather at their respective National Conventions to officially pick their candidate and decide on a campaign platform.

The period of the primaries, held from January to March, is particularly important because initial wins can give strong momentum to a candidate and heavily influence the ultimate outcome of their campaign. In the past two months, the Republican candidate pool has narrowed significantly; Herman Cain ended his campaign after charges of extramarital affairs and sexual misconduct with an employee of his pizza business, and Michele Bachmann also left after finishing last in the Iowa caucus.

The beginning of the primaries brought about a strong trend toward party unity within the Republican party, with two candidates - Jon Hunts-

Ron Paul A US Air Force veteran and former doctor, Paul wants to bring an end to automatic US citizenship for any child born in America.

23/01/2012 04:59:17

Tuesday January 24 2012 studentnewspaper.org

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16 Features

Gie her a Haggis!

Varvara Bashkirova writes about the international appeal of a very national poet to have a real idea of why Rabbie is so significant to Scotland. It is possible, however, for everyone to enjoy Burns’ night, and not let non-Scottish roots be an excuse to ignore the traditions involved in the celebration. And with the traditions including whisky, haggis and ceilidhs, who would want to ignore them?

Burns’ popularity extends far beyond Scotland; as far as Russia, where many of his poems are often mistakenly considered to be part of Russian Folklore. My mother always talks of Burns as of her favourite poet. She does not speak any English, let alone Scots, however she can recite many of his poems by heart - in Russian translation.

so loved as a nationalistic poet, too.

George Bernard Shaw once famously said: “A healthy nation is as unconscious of its nationality as a healthy man of his bones”. In his writings Burns does not consciously work to convey his being Scottish; he simply is.

The haggis should be carried into the room with bagpipes in the background"

Born to a farmers’ family, Burns wrote honestly about the world he knew and understood: agricultural life, the Highlands, Scottish folklore.

In doing so, he related to his audience and became a true voice of Scotland, gaining him national, as well as international, esteem. In 2009, he was voted the Greatest Scot by the Scottish public.

A great man deserves a celebration equally as grand. The celebration is complex with its history and traditions, and requires more effort to satisfy than an average student may be willing to put in. In no way, however, should this deter those celebrating the evening; the Burns Supper can be easily adjusted to student reality without losing its authentic value.

THE SCOTTISH BARD: Burns' influence prevails ON JANUARY 25, Scotland will commemorate its most beloved son: Robert Burns. It is a national holiday held dear in many Scots’ hearts, yet the traditional way of celebrating this date

KLW NFC

“ seems widely unknown to the largely non-Scottish student community of Edinburgh. Whilst no one minds an excuse for drinking whisky in the middle of the week, not many seem

Such popularity abroad may seem strange, since Burns is considered to be a very ‘Scottish’ poet. “His poems simply describe life how it is; I love their simplicity and honesty”, my mother said after I asked about her love of the Scottish Bard. It does not seem to matter whether he is describing Highlands or Siberia; his work evokes similar responses regardless of people’s nationalities.

The universality of Burns’ poetry is, ironically, part of what makes him

“

The Address in Scots may become a great entertainment in itself, so make sure you appoint the 'least Scottish' person to do this"

Losing your resolve?

The Supper starts with a Scottish broth. If you have been living on frozen pizza for the last couple of months, and the oven is gathering dust, don’t fear! The broth can be found in a supermarket; alternatively, you could skip it altogether! After all, everyone will be waiting for the true highlight of the evening: haggis. It should be carried into the room with bagpipes in the background playing Burns’ songs (YouTube should do the trick). But don’t fall on the mouth-watering dish just yet; many will not know this, but Burns’ Address to a Haggis should be recited first. Reciting the Address in Scots can be a great entertainment in itself, so make sure you appoint the ‘least Scottish’ person to do this. The haggis is followed by certain toasts, including the famous Toast to the Lassies. A man must make this address to the ladies present; a hugely entertaining affair in close companies, and a perfect ice breaker in new ones – especially when paired with whisky. Ladies then get their revenge in the Reply to the Toast to the Lassies.

You could take it seriously and prepare the speech in advance – however improvising often proves to be much more fun. There are no strict rules as to how to end the evening; the only essential is the ‘Water of Life’ which must be consumed in vast amounts throughout the evening. Ceilidhs, surprisingly, are not essential, but highly recommended!

So let us raise our glasses for Rabbie, the great Scots Baird, nou and foriver!

MANY PEOPLE fancifully look forward to the New Year as a chance to change old habits. Is this a pessimistic outlook? Maybe not. We are in the last week of January, after all. Do you mean to say you’re still hitting the gym at six o’clock every morning? You haven’t had a take-away or some chocolate in over twenty-four days? I’ll grant that you might still be spending your evenings writing up the day’s lecture notes in your best writing, but surely that’s only because we’re just two weeks into the semester!

I am all for self-improvement.

However, for me the ‘New Year’ tends to come in September when we return to the real world covered in freckles from whatever sun we were able to capture over the Summer break. 'I will be more organised this year', we tell ourselves. We purchase a drawer full of new stationary and an alarm clock which we set as far from our bed as possible. Nothing can stop us!

The problem with fulfilling our vows is one that has been excessively researched. Papers, experiments, interviews, statistics: the same every year.

I have given up on reading such articles as ‘How to keep your New Year’s resolutions’ and ‘Why do we never keep our New Year’s resolutions?’ largely

16_Features.indd 1

because I have formed my own theory from personal experience.

“

You ask your resolution out. You go for a coffee to see how it's going to work. You take it away for the weekend to surprise it.

It gets serious" When I run joyfully back into the arms of student living after four months of home cooking (and cleaning and washing); frolicking in the sun with friends; travelling just because I can and working set hours in exchange for money, the vital phrase I never fail to forget is ‘set hours’. Work stays at work, frolicking happens when frolicking is planned and home cooking happens at 6:30pm.

Thus, returning to studenthood it seems that this is where we’ve been going wrong. If things have their time and place stress will be minimised and organisation maximised. And this is the illusion of the resolution.

You see the thing that we forget on

returning to the student world is that at university everything blends together. Work doesn’t have set times: it varies, overflows, leads you by the hand into caves of self-pity as you suddenly remember all the reading you have to catch up on whilst completing those three essays you have due for the same date.

Frolicking isn’t planned: frolicking can erupt at anytime among hyper flat-mates at 3am. And as for home cooking, the only surety as to the time and place seems to be that it will occur a few hours after the words “Shit! I haven’t eaten anything today” are uttered between lectures, essays, reports, meetings, readings and duties. When you are on holiday the routine deludes you into thinking that it can be mirrored when you go back to work, but more often than not this is an impossibility.

However, should we stop trying and instead descend into a world of shut blinds, Facebook and dusty air?

Of course not. It must be remembered that a resolution is a goal, and goals should be made and accomplished. It is the pressure of the ‘New Year’ part of the equation that is dangerous: the delusion of the reset calendar amplified by mulled wine.

DAN MOYLE

Melanie McIndoe embraces a year long resolution romance

RESOLUTIONS: Learn to love them all year long But why wait? If there is something you want to change don’t put it off until the rest of society joins you. Just pretend it is the right day to do it every day – write down what you’re going to do and when you’re going to do it by.

You ask your resolution out. You go for a coffee to see how it’s going to work. You take it away for the weekend to surprise it. It gets serious. You

change your status to ‘In a relationship’. You take pleasure in it and the good feelings it gives you when it’s going well. And, most importantly, you need to work hard at it on the bad days when it’s difficult and you find yourself quite attracted to the look of your bed and its welcoming sheets. Otherwise, your resolution will go in one year and out of the other.

23/01/2012 05:02:29

Tuesday January 24 2012 studentnewspaper.org

Dual Crossword No. 3 CRYPTIC CLUES

Down 1 Tess O’Sullivan’s cry for help (3) 2 Tend wrongly to pocket diamonds. I’m tempted (7) 3 A record has almost top mark (5) 4 It measures 12 when Reggie’s slipped a disc (6,7) 5 Warriors. One needs a drink when getting up (7) 6 Drunk on a measure of wine perhaps (5) 7 Naval vessel’s a smasher (9) 10 Rule of law is implicit in trade exchange for lawyer (9) 13 Sacred mountain, holy to Cockney MP (and you and me) (7) 14 Up to date but out of play (2,5) 16 Sit very quietly round the chimney and make a choice (5) 18 A month in genetically modified area, produces this type of ray (5) 21 It holds bricks, with openings to hose out dust (3)

many years on the amateur Poirot scene, playing the eponymous Belgian detective in niche lap dancing clubs throughout the Orient. This week he’s taken a break from greasing up the Turks, to bring his deductive spats to your psychic buffet.

Aries

CONCISE CLUES Across 1 Caboodle (7) 5 Cold food (5) 8 Arrange (3,2) 9 Inhabitants (7) 10 Pirate (9) 11 Listener (3) 12 Source of dangerous rays (13) 15 Little devil (3) 17 One not yet fully grown (9) 19 Brass instrument (7) 20 Cave opening (5) 22 They’re known by experenced folk (5) 23 Extended (7)

Down 1 Old emergency signal (3) 2 Lured, tempted (7) 3 A type of ray (5) 4 It detects rays (6,7) 5 Japanese warrior (7) 6 Liquid volume (5) 7 Light warship (9) 10 English Advocate (9) 13 Home of the Greek gods (7) 14 Communicating (2,5) 16 Chubby (5) 18 Another type of ray (5) 21 Plasterer’s implement (3)

Across.

1 GEOGRAPHY (O + graph) inside gey 6 MUM 2 definitions 8 LE HAVRE le + (r inside have) 9 CORAL 2 definitions 10 CARGO car + go 11 INSPIRE Ins (those in power) + p + ire 12 MAGNIFICATION (magician if not)* 15 LAMBADA Lam before bad + a 17 TESSA asset (rev) 19 IGLOO I + g + loo (‘office’) 20 ICEBERG ic (in charge of : running) + grebe (rev) 22 TAR art* (half of Arthur) 23 AUNT SALLY aunt’s + ally.

Over the holidays you make an illjudged trip to the West Bank. Now people are making a fuss and you don’t know why. You just wanted to visit Bethlehem for Christmas, and you always run out of myrrh at this time of year. You had absolutely no idea who those Israeli military leaders were.

Taurus

A girl in the library asks for directions, you panic and stare down at the floor.

Yeah show her your scalp. Good one, you twat. Okay you could still save this, people always say it’s your best feature. (That’s right this one wasn’t even about you, was it? It was about the daily disappointment of my life.

Now I’m even writing in first person because I’m just so postmodern).

Gemini

It’s a new year; a new you. Don’t be troubled by flashbacks of performing sexual acts while wearing an ill-fitting santa-suit onesie. Repress those dark thoughts… Dad?

Cancer

You lose out on a voicemail-based scoop to The Journal – those slimey newsey woosey nincompoops. This technically isn’t slanderous as it’s a prediction. Go whine about it to the Leveson inquiry.

Leo

Things didn’t go well for you at the annual mystics New Year ball. Everyone knew your magic tricks before you’d even started showing them off. That sexy Claire-voyant, Claire, bailed on your chat quicker than an Italian cruise ship captain. Mo’ psychics Mo’ problems.

Down.

1 GEL el (Spanish) after g (ala) 2 OTHER contained Orlando the rain 3 RAVIOLI R (take) + Viola* + I 4 PRECIPITATION 2 definitions 5 YACKS cask* after Y (ounger’s) 6 MARTINI martin + I 7 MILLENNIA Annie* supports mill 10 COMPLAINT cot round (M + plain) 13 GAMBLER amble inside GR 14 ACTRESS [recast + (a)s]* 16 ALOHA a + lo + h and a (initial letters) 18 SHELL she + ‘ll (will - briefly) 21 GUY 2 definitions

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H

Psychic Poirot has spent

Solutions to Dual Crossword No. 2

* = anagram of the preceding material (rev) = reverse the direction of the preceding material

S E P

O C S

O R O

BY PICUS

Across 1 She gets a thrill from the whole affair (7) 5 Girl attracting notice is a dish (5) 8 Arrange group getting out of bed (3,2) 9 They’re usually confined, with fashionable friends (7) 10 Bruce danced without restraint, pirouetting in The Corsair (9) 11 Attention provided in some Service Areas (3) 12 A process of dangerous decay, in wireless programming? (13) 15 One member’s a little devil (3) 17 Sprog produced by ‘Enry with gusto (9) 19 Badly behaved girl drops saint for musician (7) 20 Lip, two lips (5) 22 Rosalind holds exercise classes for guys perhaps (5) 23 Every one in debt? Or stretched (7)

Crossword 17

Oliver ninnis

Contact: editors.studentnewspaper@gmail.com

Virgo

The Chambers Dictionary (2008) is recommended

The festive period has left your sexual shakras all clogged up with unsexy things like stilton, below average TV, and family time. In an attempt to rectify the situation, you make a special New Year’s Wish to get your hole. You wake up to find that you have been transformed into a human bagel. You should have realised that the New Year Fairy is family friendly. In your rage you hunt her down and bang the shit out of her.

Libra

Your Dutch lesbian friend Marlena Van Poppyarse asks you ‘How eesh eet goingk?’ (she's Dutch so her mouth doesn’t work properly). Once you've figured out that she's asking you to describe your physical and emotional state, you ejaculate with grief. Just when the deluge seems unstoppable, Marlena takes the pragmatic liberty of sticking her thumb into your tear ducts. It works! (Ed - Typical Dutch!)

Scorpio

Pluto’s Niagara is hovering over Venus’s Crest this week. You don't know what this means. But I do: you are being watched by your nemesis. You didn’t even know you had a nemesis, did you? Well you do. His name is Sweaty Carmichael, and he’s gonna hunt you down like a damp fajita.

Carry a towel with you at all times if you want to survive his wrath.

Sagittarius

After solving an intricate network of crimes, you stupidly jump to your death. However, you come back to life to ignore your best friend as he weeps at your grave. Dammit Sherlock - wtf kind of ending was that?!

Capricorn

You appear on ITV 2's Take Me Out. Annoyingly, none of the girls sampled from a cross-section of society appreciate your 'special' charms. Paddy McGuiness titters “no likey no lightey” and you tell the fuckwit to enunciate his words and storm out in a hissy fit.

Aquarius

This week, you try to convince your girlfriend to a three-way – Mormon style! She mutters something about feminism, or maybe it was hirsuitism, you weren’t listening. You think: What would presidential candidate Newt Gingrich do? You deny any knowledge of the conversation and are cheered on by your adoring fans.

Pisces

This week, events could go one of two ways: something of a Marmite situation. By which I mean you’ll either love them, or find yourself imprisoned in a small jar of viscous brown smelly stuff.

23/01/2012 05:03:47

Tuesday January 24 2012 studentnewspaper.org

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JOANNA LISIOVEC

18 Lifestyle

S&M Students and Money Lifestyles of the rich and famous

18_Lifestyle.indd 1

Another successful season for Sarah Burton, but can she live up to the dynasty forever?

By Betsy Chadbourn FOLLOWING ALEXANDER McQueen’s untimely death in 2010, Central St Martin’s graduate and right-hand woman, Sarah Burton, resigned her position as trusted advisor and sharpened her needles to become Creative Director of the famed fashion house. Many doubted her. Many questioned her capabilities.

And many suggested that no homage could ever be paid to the standard of the late designer. Many were wrong.

As designer of the year at the 2011 British Fashion Awards, and creator of the most talked-about dress of the year, Sarah Burton has most certainly sewed her way into the hearts of the fashion establishment. During a tribute exhibit to

McQueen at the Metropolitan Museum in New York last year, Burton proffered: “I love what I do, and I think it’s a gift and a privilege to love your job”. It’s this unpretentious, unassuming attitude that allows Sarah Burton to inject a new sense of femininity and romanticism into her decidedly-wearable collections, which perhaps wasn’t so evident in the company before.

However, the question arose in the New Year whether her rapid success was a fad, or something permanent. Could Burton continue to tribute the originality and vision of such a household name, or would her inspiration falter, leaving her in the history books as a ‘could-have’,

as so many before her?

This resounding query was surely answered as Sarah Burton’s Spring/Summer 2012 collection stormed the catwalk in autumn, leaving fashion forces remembering why they drag themselves around the world in uncomfortable couture for months each year. The collection was ‘a triumph’; Anna Wintour was quoted after the show in her trademark oversized shades. “I was thinking of a woman as an object of desire,” Sarah Burton explained on her designs, “this is a collection about excess – an exploration of ideas of beauty at their most extreme.”

Opening with an exquisite embellished gold dress, draped to perfection,

Alexander McQueen’s urban sister company, McQ, will make its debut at the Autumn/Winter 2012 Fashion Week in London.

Of all the gin joints in all the world Mix up your staple spirit this year with Lilidh Kendrick and Meave Cosgrove

IN RECENT years gin has been eclipsed by vodka as the drink of choice for students, but with many bars embracing gin in new and exciting ways it seems we are starting to shake off our gin-hibitons.

Gin is filling up pages on cocktail menus proving that there is so much more to gin than just G&T with ice and a slice.

Gin has encountered its fair share of disreputability in the past. It was first introduced to Britain after the Thirty Years War where soldiers were given this so-called ‘Dutch Courage’ to keep warm.

Not long after its introduction into British society, however, its popularity spiralled out of control as it was so cheap and readily available. Years of gin hysteria gave the spirit its nickname ‘Mother’s ruin’.

Gin has come a long way since then.

Now this quintessential British drink has been reborn and refined with an air of sophistication. With the invention of inspiring gin cocktails and twists on classics, gin has once again come of age. So where can you go in Edinburgh for a taste of this gin sophistication? With this question in mind we donned our gin jackets and went on a search for some of the best gin joints in town.

Our first stop was 56 North, a stylish, spacious and relaxed bar minutes away from George Square. They have dedicated a page of their menu to an extensive list of gin varieties from all over the globe, from Scotland and Scandinavia to the States.

As well as the gin classics, their cocktail menu sees the use of gin in innovative ways. We opted for a twist on the iconic gin drink, the Collins, usually made with gin, lemon juice, sugar, and carbonated water. The added sweetness of peach and crème de fraise here makes for a fruity and refreshing cocktail. Our next drink was the Bramble, a sweet yet tangy mix of Bombay Sapphire, fresh lemon juice with a drizzle of crème de mure served over plenty of crushed ice. For those who don’t share our sweet tooth they have a cucumber and black pepper combination which we have been assured is delicious.

The diverse range of gin cocktails on offer demonstrates the versatility of the spirit.

We then headed on our slightly merry way to New Town to check out Bramble Bar. Walking into this candlelit underground cavern we felt as though we had stumbled upon Edinburgh’s best kept secret. Inside the bar was intimate and buzzing and they had even managed to fit in a DJ. As we sat reclining in the brown leather arm chairs, sipping our decadent cocktails it was as though we had travelled back in time to the secret bars of the prohibition.

Given that the bar is named after the classic gin cocktail, the Bramble, gin features highly on the well thought out cocktail menu. One cocktail we tried was a daring combination of gin and absinthe, surprisingly tasty. There were drinks

served in teacups which was a nice touch and gave a whole new meaning to G and Tea. The drinks were reasonably priced considering the quality of the ingredients used; cocktail prices start from £6.50.

Lastly, for all those serious gin aficionados, Bar Kohl have their ‘I Love Gin’ pitcher which includes no less than four types of premium gin topped off with a

dash of tonic (we don’t recommend you attempt this one alone).

Edinburgh is spoilt for choice when it comes to cocktail bars where you can treat yourself to a classy drink. Gin may have had a shaky reputation in the past but don’t be too quick to judge, there is a world of combinations to suit everyone’s tastes.

GIN IN TEACUPS: Not your average G & Tea ...

ADD1SUN

Alexandra Taylor

Queen of McQueen KEVIN TACHMAN

WE ARE constantly being warned about youth unemployment and the fact that we have delusional salary expectations by careers advisors, our parents and the media. And who can really blame them for their concerns – achieving a top job with an excellent rate of pay is surely unrealistic in these times of economic hardship. Yet, for some reason, we are still captivated by the idea of living a life of luxury. Just think about the voyeuristic pleasure we take in ‘Made in Chelsea’, or how as a nation we are willing to spend a collective £1 billion on copying Kate Middleton’s wardrobe.

Wealth is something that is exclusive and desirable but it seems only accessible to those who have a) inherited it from daddy b) married into royalty or c) engaged in some rather questionable evening work. It is because most of us will never acquire it that we want it all the more.

Of course, there is much more to life than making money, but having it can significantly change the course of your life, and that is certainly worth pursuing.

Luckily there is a way to get rich quick and I’m not talking about selling out to reality television or the escort industry. The best and most rewarding way to achieve the wealthy lifestyle we all crave is to make it happen for ourselves. Plenty of students have made it as millionaires, or even billionaires, by starting their own businesses. You only need to google ‘young entrepreneurs’ to see numerous students that have earned a place on Forbes’ coveted Rich Lists.

And don’t forget, entrepreneurs are just people like you that have taken control of their circumstances and seized opportunities to become top business moguls. The poster boy for self-made success is obviously 27year-old Mark Zuckerberg, whose net worth now stands at $17.5 billion. He created Facebook when he was just 21 with cofounder, Dustin Moskovitz, who is presently the world’s youngest billionaire (also 27 years) with $3.5 billion to his name.

This proves that if you have got a business idea, however radical it might seem at first, you might want to consider taking it further.

University is a time when you can afford to take creative risks without worrying too much about the consequences. There is also a lot of funding out there for new start-ups with most of these being grants as opposed to loans. Also, students can get access to a free support service called LAUNCH.ed, which is designed to help budding entrepreneurs make their fortune and has already helped over fifty companies do just that.

Head to their website for information about upcoming events and on how to meet with a business advisor and who knows, maybe 2012 might be the start of your rise to richest.

the metallic palette gradually bled into dusty lilac and ice-cream coral, finishing with a burst of flamenco-esque red and McQueen’s notorious bondage black. An abundance of architectural lace peplums, high-waists, and plunging necklines – this is surely a season to covet.

Each piece was adorned with intricate latticework, sequins and miniscule feathers, echoing the ocean depths; crusted barnacles, floating seaweed and hidden treasure. The comparison continued as models glided down the catwalk in creeping coral-like lace masks - inspired by those created for the Metropolitan exhibit by flamboyant hair aficionado, Guido Palau - features concealed and indistinguishable. With a traditional feminine silhouette, the ordinary onlooker was transported to a fantasy of peculiar mermaids and Gatsby-like flappers.

Still artistic and edgy, but with a new feminine direction, Alexander McQueen has prevailed once again, and to new levels, on only her third ever show. Burton and McQueen share such a strong stylistic lexicon, that it is hard to imagine that she won’t continue to succeed.

The self-effacing Burton continues to flourish with her deep appreciation for McQueen’s aesthetic, taking his trademarks and adding her own flair. It’s unmistakeable that this is just the beginning of Sarah Burton. An irreplaceable addition to the British couturier. A triumph for Alexander McQueen. A credit to herself. Hail the new First Lady of fashion.

23/01/2012 05:09:47

19_AD.indd 1

23/01/2012 05:10:38

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I’VE NEVER really been a fan of Alienware. This is probably to do with the fact that Alienware products simply aren’t very smart choices for PC gamers despite the fact that they are marketed towards that crowd.

Alienware make both desktop and laptop PCs and of the two, the former is certainly the least sensible.

Starting at £1500 the current generation of desktops features arguably impressive specification, but the only problem is that the one area that they allow you to save money on is the graphics card – this would make sense for general purpose computers, as graphics cards have quite specialised use compared to other components in the computer, one of these specialised functions however is playing games. As a result, customers could easily end up buying a computer that, while still a powerful gaming machine, could potentially be outperformed by something that costs half as much.

I built a Gaming PC over the summer holidays for fun - it cost me around £600 and it can play almost all of today’s games at the top settings without breaking a sweat - but even if you don’t want the hassle of building your own machine, websites like aria.co.uk sell more balanced and better value gaming desktops only a marginal additional cost. Alienware's laptops however, make a good deal more sense for a few reasons; firstly, the form factor of a laptop is far more significant than that of a desktop, and thus the value of Alienware’s flashy exterior contributes more to the value of the product. Secondly, laptops are built in a more integrated fashion than desktops, making customisation much more difficult. The big gripe with the laptops however, is that today’s games are designed to run on desktops which are always a couple pegs more advanced than laptops and as such, even with an Alienware laptop, you may struggle to play certain games. Furthermore, laptops usually have to be completely replaced once they become obsolete, whilst a desktop can have its life extended by upgrades which save the consumer money.

Alienware recently introduced a new compact desktop which, rather oddly, they say is designed to compete with the mac mini. I actually quite like the concept, it’s about as large as your typical games console, but it has the specs, graphics card and all, to run most games fairly well, whilst being about a quarter of the mass of a typical desktop, it costs about the same as the laptop (£700), but at the same time has more horsepower, making it handy for someone who moves their PC around a lot but still wants to have a robust gaming machine. Finally, an Alienware PC I can recommend.

Tom Hasler

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A force to be reckoned with Tom Hasler makes star love not war with The Old Republic SW:TOR

BIOWARE PC, £45 + £9 sub

 COMBINING THE production quality of a Bioware style narrative and the scale of a massively multiplayer game is an already ambitious undertaking, even without the inclusion of the much revered and elaborate Star Wars setting. It may have taken six years and $200 million, but Bioware have finally realised this lofty goal, with Star Wars: The Old Republic, a fully voiced MMO with over 5 novels of narrative content voiced by nearly 1,000 actors across three different languages.

SWTOR retains the same core design and feature set you would expect from a modern massively multiplayer online game, but on top of that it adds single player oriented story content.

While it may seem antithetical to make single player features a key selling point of an MMO, the result of blending multiplayer and single player components is an overall experience that feels epic and comprehensive.

The way Bioware have implemented these features helps ensure that players aren’t ever completely isolated from each other; everyone still occupies the same open environments and can still converse on various chat channels. However there are certain small areas that players can enter which are exclusive to them allowing the game to present them with the paced and choreographed content you would expect from a single player game. You can still talk to other players in the chat box and anyone you’ve grouped up with can join you in these areas, but otherwise you are effectively cut off while the game advances your character's personal story.

The story itself is a combination of different elements, each of the game's eight classes has his own unique storyline to complete as he progresses through the game – these class stories vary quite dramatically to fit the persona of that particular class, for example, the Smuggler is a carefree outlaw trying to make his fortunes amongst the stars, while the Jedi Knight is much more stoic, focused on saving the galaxy and generally being a hero. Along with each classes unique story there are self contained story arcs on each of the games various planets that can be played by any of the games classes. There are also hundreds of side quests with somewhat trivial storylines as well as story elements integrated into the games various multiplayer activities.

This story allows the player to get to know their character in a way that hasn’t been realised in an MMO before; typically the only thing a player thinks about when it comes to their character is their play style in combat

POINTY STICKS: Because Lightsabers are so 2011. and how cool their clothes look. In SWTOR however players will find themselves actually role playing and appreciating there characters in the way they were supposed to be. This attachment to your characters is enhanced further by the branching narrative system seen in Bioware’s single player RPGs where players can control their responses in conversations – the responses influence both your morality and the affection of your companions, allowing players to project a little of themselves onto their online persona. The result of this focus on narrative is that players will find themselves thinking of their character as an escapist alter-ego rather than just a series of abilities and statistics.

When I think of my smuggler, I don’t think of his healing skills or his blaster mods, but instead his grumpy attitude and predilection for inappropriate flirtation.

Along with the narrative-heavy solo elements of the game, SWTOR features an array of MMO staples, such as a crafting system and auction house, player versus player battlegrounds and challenging content that needs to be tackled in groups.

One of the most interesting activities are Flashpoints – self contained 2 hour missions that require a group of around 4 players to complete. While all Flashpoints feature challenging boss fights and nice rewards, a handful feature a series of cinematic sections

where you and your team all participate in the conversation. The person who responds during each round of conversation is random, so while you may want to have spared a prisoner's life, one of your team members may decide to kill them all leaving you powerless to watch. This is a great way to showcase your character's persona, and help breakup the non-stop action.

“

The result of blending multiplayer and single player components is an overall experience that feels epic and comprehensive" Combat itself follows MMO conventions; most people will be familiar with the fundamentals from games like World of Warcraft. That’s not to say that SWTOR’s combat isn’t original however - given that Star Wars isn’t the typical fantasy setting, many of the classes have somewhat unique mechanics, such as a cover system for certain classes. Furthermore, the combat is made more engaging by polished animation and effects and some clever use of contrast between

EA

OLIVER NINNIS

OLIVER NINNIS

Tuesday January 24 2012 studentnewspaper.org

ranged and close combat.

The biggest shake-up however is the companions who follow you around as you explore the galaxy. While having computer controlled allies assist you in combat is nothing new in MMOs, SWTOR takes the concept further by giving each class five companions who can be fully customised with gear and can carry out a variety of combat roles, or venture on on their own missions, bringing back rewards for you to enjoy.

This adds a new layer of depth to combat as each encounter now involves an element of teamwork, and using the right companion for the right situation can make a big difference in some of the games for challenging sections.

While there is certainly a lot of interesting features on offer in SWTOR, there are a number of issues that may deter people, such as the prohibitive expense of the game, a plethora of bugs which are gradually being addressed, and the amount of time required to make significant progress – it’s a time trap. The game also shares many of the design principles that make MMOs notoriously addictive and players may find that SWTOR is too distracting to make the commitment necessary to fully enjoy what the game has to offer.

If, however, you have the time and money, which potentially means thousands of hours and over £100 over the course of six months, then this might be the game you’re looking for.

23/01/2012 05:14:42

rEVIEW

COMMISSION #14: KATY ANDERSON

Katy Anderson is a fourth year drawing and painting student. Anderson’s work revolves around her interest in the world of fashion. The aesthetics of her work derive from fashion through use of pattern, colour and movement. She uses this interest as a way of exploring other ideas about identity, conformity, place etc.

While Anderson is deeply influenced by the world of fashion, she is also fully aware of its negative side. Using this duality as a starting point, she investigates further opposing ideas such as identity vs. hidden identity, conformity vs. individualism, fantasy vs. reality etc. The work pictured approaches the idea of people who try to be unique or stand out from the crowd, yet, they are no different to the next person trying to do so. Anderson has repeated the motif of the figure but used a different pattern for each, resulting an amalgamation of patterns which, despite their differences, means no figure stands out as unique.

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23/01/2012 05:16:12

Tuesday January 24 2012 studentnewspaper.org

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All the fun at the festival

holly jameson

22 Culture 22

Thom Louis meets for a chat with organisers from this week's Bedlam Festival. alking down from the Royal Mile about talking, medieval animals to an inclusion. “There are loads of non-accorded shows being broadcasted in the W it is impossible not to notice the Agatha Christie mystery and hard hit- tors acting and loads of people who building throughout the week.The proiconic red doors of Bedlam Theatre. The ting drama about cerebral palsy; there have never done Bedlam before who are gramme of shows is once again eclectic,

The Builders Traverse Theatre Run Ended



T

he Builders, a new black comedy from Line Knutzon, promised so much. From its thoughtful consideration of modern man's problem with greed to an in depth autopsy of the homeowner-contractor relationship, the play’s key themes are both relevant and poignant. Sadly, the script veered too quickly between a familiar scenario to the theme of gluttony, and eventually the absurd.

There were moments of clarity, when the audience felt a connection to the events unfolding on the stage; this was due largely to the excellent cast and production. The bare lighting and set, employing boxes to represent 'the house', aided the imaginative capabilities of the cast. Furthermore, although I'm always ambivalent towards performances done as readings, the presence of the scripts on stage was not an issue.

The actors playing the builders had developed an excellent repertoire in rehearsal. Their chemistry was as obvious

Russian Theatre in Performance Scotland-Russia Institute Till 28th January



O

ther than describing Russian Theatre in Performance as striking, it is difficult at first to explain this collection in any more definite terms, since it is such an unusual photography experience. It is abstract, in a way that is more common in art, but which is to be less expected from photography.

The black and white photos are perfectly and dramatically set off by the

22_Culture.indd 1

really is something for all tastes here.

“

The programme is not only packed with performances, but also a diverse set of workshops, ranging from puppet-making to playwriting."

One of the show’s directors, Paul Hughes, claims that the festival gives an opportunity for “playing, which you don’t get the chance to do anywhere else”. This provides a diverse line-up and theatre that, according to Hughes, is “more fun and more unpolished.”

“And more honest,” cuts in productions manager Alex Fernandes.

Not only is Bedlam Festival a time for experimentation but also a time for as their portrayal of repugnant, crude, and lazy workers. Particularly compelling was the performance of Glen the site manager, played by Robbie Jack. His presence on the stage offered a dramatic drive that was sometimes lacking in the performances of the home-owners and their friends.

Perhaps it is the layers of characters presented in the play that is Knutzon's redeeming factor. Everyone has felt the frustration that comes with paying for a bad service, and equally the malaise of working for a boss that is both unappreciative and ignorant. The playwright and actors successfully depict a reality that affects everyone day to day; by and large the interactions were the product of thoughtful consideration of human relationships.

But the problem remains that the play is supposed to be about 'greed'; the events and conclusion were so farfetched that at some points the show was more slapstick than black comedy.

Funny though it may be, it fails to realise a widespread problem with the Western world, almost making light of it through the absurdity involved. The discourse simply does not add up.

Alexandra Gushurst-Moore simple white gallery walls. The colour scheme encapsulates the mood of the collection; the darkness of the images is stark and bleak.

“

The photos are drawn together by the stylistic similarities of the photography; all sharing a slightly blurry, pixelated, and consquently unreal effect."

Each shot captures a moment from a

involved,” grins Sarah. Not only does the festival provide opportunities for new people, at £2.50 a ticket, it also lets people take in a show for the price of a pint.

Of course, Bedlam Festival is not just a time for watching shows but also is filled with chances to learn about theatre. The programme is not only packed with performances but also a diverse set of workshops, ranging from puppetmaking to playwriting. New writing is a staple for the festival; not only are at least half of the billed plays pieces of original work but the programme has two slots entirely dedicated to the performance of short pieces of original drama. These various opportunities to learn, write and even perform allows people who have never been in a theatre before to get involved, without any of the pressure that term time usually provides.

To accompany the festival is Bedlam Radio, an independent line up of re-

aLison watt: Hiding in full View Ingleby Gallery Till 28th January



T

he Ingleby Gallery, tucked away behind Waverley station is the perfect venue for Alison Watt’s monochrome paintings. Inspired by the poems of Don Paterson and the photographs of Francesca Woodman, Watt creates ambiguous yet realist paintings.

“

The curation echoes the contemplative nature of the work whilst providing a suitably reflective space in which to view them."

A perfectly curated collection of images and text, the main exhibition space is a large, open room, the walls range of different theatre performances, with few plays earning more than one spot in the gallery. However, the photos are drawn together by the stylistic similarities of the photography; all share a slightly blurry, pixelated, and consequently unreal, effect.

These are actions shots; the characters are captured in performance, never posed, never looking directly at you. A refreshing change after trawling Facebook. The fourth wall of the theatre remains very much intact, the characters seemingly unaware of their audience.

Whether a jumping policeman is captured midair, or a woman is snapped with a mournful expression, the single moment is unnaturally extended; frozen

Rosie Curtis

building looms at the end of George IV Bridge and houses the oldest studentrun theatre in the United Kingdom.

Most weeks during term time you won’t see those doors open outside of the evenings, when the building welcomes audiences for its weekly play or for the resident Improverts. However, for one week during the academic year, Bedlam opens from 12 till 12 for the Bedlam Festival (recently split from EUSA’s Student Festival), providing shows, workshops and even cocktails for everyone who passes through. This year that week started yesterday, with a packed schedule and more theatre than you could shake a stick at.

“Its all going really well,” says organiser Sarah Hilmy modestly, and with 11 shows being put on across the week I would be inclined to agree with her.

These shows are anything but normal fare and include everything from a devised clown show and an adapted play

a muted grey. The curation echoes the contemplative nature of the work whilst providing a suitably reflective space in which to view them. The abstracted images of folding swaths of fabric are both sexual and sensual due to the implicit presence of the human body.

“

The subtly visible brush strokes lead the into a simple yet elegant world of white sheets that could be great chasms or caves."

The subtly visible brush strokes lead the eye into a simple yet elegant world of white sheets that could be great chasms or caves. It is an obvious observation and perhaps a crude one, but the viewer cannot help but think of O’Keeffe’s ice caves that are reminiscent of female genitalia; similarly Watt’s triangular shapes and folds of fabric suggest the body without explicitly stating it.

As you stare deeper and deeper in time. The intensity of these moments are deepened through the use of light and dark. The black background of Romeo and Juliet centres the attention on the intense gaze of the intertwined characters.

“

Each photo is an action shot, so blurred it is hard to decipher the actions of the characters."

In one picture, three seemingly unconnected photos are placed in sequence.

Each photo is an action shot, so blurred

including a recorded performance of Dylan Thomas’ famous radio play Under Milk Wood accompanying the regular news, views and music.

Not only is the Bedlam Festival a time for learning and performing drama but the building also becomes a social space.

“It’s like having a pub in your house,” laughs Lillis Meeh who is directing with Hughes. With the addition of an alcohol license, Bedlam not only becomes a thriving venue for a week but also a central watering hole. “The socialising really is part of the fun” agrees Hughes, “people really aren’t sure what to do the week after.”

There is something for everyone at Bedlam Festival, from learning how to make theatre to watching it being performed. Whether it be for a cocktail or a clown show, Bedlam’s red doors will be wide open all of this week and I, for one, can’t wait for the white Russians between lectures. into the three dimensional world of the paintings, you catch a glimpse of a body part hidden within the fabric, only to realise it was another bend or furrow.

Watt uses these folds and creases to play with light, moving from bright white to dark black craters deep within the pleats. These deep holes correlate beautifully with the poetry inscribed on the walls. Paterson writes “I threw a rock into the well of me” and Watts expresses this deep psychological subject with the ambiguity of her paintings.

It is the combination of image and text that makes this exhibition.

Simple flesh-like folds somehow communicate the wonderful equilibriums that are held in place within the words; the uncomfortably constrictive nature of the imagery meets the comfort associated within the embrace of a blanket or bed, the safe swaddles of cloth meet the unknown dark holes within the human psyche and the presence of realism meets the absence of the body. These elements combine to create a moving collection of images, interconnected with text and photography.

Troy Holmes

it is hard to decipher the actions of the characters. Taken out of the context of a presumably meaningful drama, there is no immediately apparent surface meaning to these photos.

The photo of two men leaping about yelling, from the play Claustrophobia, seems to bear little relevance to the titular topic. Suddenly it becomes apparent that one moment can be completely unrepresentative of a whole.

These photos are so intense and stylistic it is hard to see everything at first – you can notice something new about them every time. This collection is worth a visit, and then another, just to make sure those photos don’t escape you.

Victoria Tripp

23/01/2012 05:18:35

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Tuesday January 24 2012 studentnewspaper.org

Culture 23 STAR RATING Pneumatic drill  Circular sawHammer A fork handle Tools but no builders

The gift of the gabokov

ROYGBIV This week's cultural spectrum.

Jenni Ajderian delves into the complicated life of Nabokov at the Scotland-Russia Forum

S

ay it with me now: Vluh-DEEMear Nuh-BOK-off. It’s oddly fitting that a man who used fifteen different pseudonyms over his lifetime, fled various governments, and filled his autobiography with fiction has had his name mispronounced so often (not least by me and others unfamiliar with Russian). This serves to uphold, both posthumously and unintentionally, the facade of fiction behind which he hid during most of his working life.

highly regarded in the world.

“

The talk filled the intimate space with lively discussion from those both familiar and unfamiliar with the writer."

“

THE CHOSEN FEW Open Eye Gallery Til 24 January

F



rom abstract shapes to landscape views, from digital prints to oil paintings – even though the chosen artists are few, their works present a great diversity.

Thirty professionals were invited by the Open Eye Gallery to choose the recent Scottish artist they admire most of all. As a result, the gallery displays not only works of art, but also small personal notes from the admirers explaining why they find the artist

“LOLITA, FIRE OF MY LOINS”: Nabokov was really disgusting was shared between his native Russia, Europe and the United States, where he eventually gained citizenship and a job as a popular lecturer at both Harvard and Cornell Universities.

Nabokov was a synaesthete, seeing words and numbers as different colours, a polymath, a lecturer and a lepidopterist (collector of butterflies).

He was also by turns hugely arrogant so appealing.

The exhibition is a snapshot of the contemporary Scottish art scene. The first painting that I came across in the gallery directly engages with a national theme – John Byrne’s The Dandy is a “wry, pawky description of the Scots’ character,” as summarised by David Batchelor who chose the work.

However, the more pictures I saw, from Frances Walker’s Iceland to Leon Morrocco’s Beach Bar, South of Rome, the more I wondered about what makes these different works distinctly Scottish. The problematic notion of the national identity in art is well raised by the range of the exhibition’s works.

JOANNA LISOWIEC

He felt that he 'thought like a genius, wrote like a distinguished author, and talked like a child.'"

As was explained to us by PhD student Michael Rodgers of Strathclyde University, Nabokov upheld this crafted exterior throughout the entirety of his public life. The talk in the Scotland-Russia Forum last Friday filled the intimate space with lively discussion from those both familiar and unfamiliar with the writer.

Absorbed but still sceptical, Rodgers took us through Nabokov’s early, privileged upbringing to an adulthood spent all over the globe.

Raised in a wealthy trilingual household, the young Nabokov was appreciating poetry in Russian, English and French by age ten, and was lead into literature from a number of different cultures. Best known for writing Lolita, a novel in which an older man finds himself in love with a twelve-year-old girl, Nabokov’s life

L

and bordering on self-deprecating. He insisted upon having interview questions in advance for preparation, since he felt that he “thought like a genius, wrote like a distinguished author, and talked like a child,” and that he used a “second-rate brand of English,” both of which can be disproved by the simple fact that his English-language works are among some of the most

“

The exhibition is a snapshot of the contemporary Scottish art scene."

Conveniently, there are books all around the gallery about the chosen artists, but the overall organisation of the exhibition seems flawed. Some of the pictures on the ceiling face the street through a window, so it is fairly tricky to view them from the inside.

Additionally, “the chosen few” are indeed few: many artists (like John Byrne and Barbara Rae) are chosen more than once. It would have been

These over-modest claims are balanced with his attitude towards his contemporaries; his sit-down, shutup style of lecturing; and notes in his autobiography which name the only author who has really influenced him as one of his own fictional characters, most likely based on himself. The public image of this prolific writer was ever-changing, questionable, and perpetually flitting in and out of view.

His use of pseudonyms, too, showed a separation between the self and the outside world. It has been suggested that Nabokov changed his name frequently while publishing poems and stories to trick the harshest of critics and test the most avid of fans, both of which he pulled off with ease.

Impossible to pin down, the Russian-born American with his celebrated “second-rate” English was apparently self-sufficient enough to not need his familial name, taking at one time the name of a kind of mythological fire-bird instead of his own.

Finally, he reduced his name to simply V.N in order to make a cameo in one of his later works, by which point its meaning was clear, and Vladimir Nabokov’s name was well-known, if not, technically, well-pronounced. more interesting if all of the thirty professionals had picked up different painters.

Nevertheless, the exhibition has its own charms – in a limited gallery space it manages to capture the diverse essence of the modern Scottish art. Artists’ names may repeat, but the works displayed are unique.

Plus, there is the additional intrigue of finding out what painter Tim Cornwell, Arts correspondent for The Scotsman, or Charlie Miller, the famous Scottish hairdresser, have made as their choices. If that's something that interests you, you can find out by exploring this charming exhibition.

Alina Sinelnyk

THE ART DOCTOR with Anna Feintuck This week: a smashing resolution to a food-based disagreement

I’d like to prescribe a little case study as a cure for you. In 1920, the

23_Culture.indd 1

Dadaists put on what would become one of their most famous exhibitions in the conservatory of a restaurant in Cologne. Visitors were provided with axes so that they could smash the art if they didn’t like it.

So far, so (pre-health and safety) art school. What use is this to you? The obvious answer is this: if you don’t like it, don’t put up with it. I am not – I repeat, most vehemently, not – advocating that you take an axe to either your friend or his food. But why tolerate behaviour that makes you unhappy?

Here’s the catch, though – something about this exhibition, for all its anar-

Look oot for...

chic joy, has always struck me as being very sad. It only took one person who took a dislike to a piece of art to destroy it, and then it’s just… gone. And different people like different things.

So yes, explain to your friend that he shouldn’t speak to you the way he does; but be delicate, if you can. Brandishing the (proverbial) axe should be enough – don’t strike.

Got a problem? We can cure you! All problems will be treated confidentially. And ever so seriously. Email us at artdoctor.thestudent@gmail.com.

ast year in ROYGBIV I took issue with the new digital art dealers ‘[sedition]’ selling ludicrously expensive videos of works by artists like Hirst and Emin for the iPad. With the optimism of the new year, I’ve decided to consider art on the iPad in a more positive light.

David Hockney, who has embraced the iPad as a new artistic medium, gained my respect in his choice to utilise this new technology with a comment accompanying his new exhibition at the Royal Academy in London: “All the works here were made by the artist himself, personally.” He admitted that Hirst specifically came to mind when he made this comment, an artist who frequently baffles the everyday art dabbler with his lack of input into actual production of his fortune-generating artworks.

Rather charmingly, talking about his use of his iPhone to create art, Hockney told The Telegraph that he draws flowers every day and sends them to his friends “so they get fresh flowers every morning. And my flowers last.”

The technology of the iPad allows more room to draw, being about the same size as a sketch-pad. More excitingly, the strokes of the finger are recorded while the artist draws. This means we can watch Hockney’s process, and so can he, from beginning to end. The Royal Academy are including these art videos as part of the exhibition of Hockney’s recent work depicting the East Yorkshire landscape.

The images he creates on the iPad have a distinctive aesthetic: each hazy image has an uncertain luminosity, expressive but definitely nothing like an image created without modern technology. Initially they do look a little like something drawn on Paint, but once you look closely it is evident the iPad is a medium to be explored and developed in the future. Hockney captures light beautifully, hypnotically, as it reacts with many different aspects of nature.

Art in this context will be close to identical to the original if you were to purchase the equivalent of a print, because it’s digital. And opening things up to technology can only mean further innovation in pattern and texture.

While digital art dealers such as s[edition] are exploiting the iPad as technology that further commercialises the art world, artists (and Hockney is not the only one by any means) are now using the same technology to open exciting new doors for a new year.

Michael Mac kenzie

The National Gallery are putting on Turner in January which is, unsurprisingly, only running this month – definitely a great exhibition to check out.

Such and Such gallery are also putting on a mini-retrospective for the month.

CARA HOLSGROV

Dear Art Doctor, My friend is a complete food snob. He’s always criticising what I eat and how I cook - he caught me putting cheese slices in the white sauce for my lasagne the other day and now says he has “lost all respect” for me. To give you an indication of just how ridiculous he is, he says he only likes Roscoff onions from Henri’s in Morningside (“they’re so pink and delicious,” apparently). I barely care about the difference between red and white.

How can I make him leave me alone?

Hockney's digital flowers

The Infamous Brothers Davenport opens this week at the Lyceum promising an evening of Victorian magic to stun and delight.

23/01/2012 05:22:37

Tuesday January 24 2012 studentnewspaper.org

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JOANNA LISOWIEC

24

DIRECTED BY RALPH FIENNES  alph Fiennes makes his directoR rial debut in this contemporary adaptation of Shakespeare’s lesser-

known tragedy Coriolanus, also starring as the title character. The bard’s language and Roman names are retained, but the setting and minor characters have a distinctly Eastern European look, while the soldiers are kitted out with modern rifles and explosives.

Coriolanus suffers from the idiosyncrasies common to all Shakespearean cinematic modernisations, but, partly thanks to some fortunate timing, the setting gives it a raw edge. The news sequences, showing amateur footage of popular uprisings, are all too familiar, and the tragedy of the proud tyrant is as relevant as it has ever been.

The film begins with a group of hungry protestors marching on a grain silo, which is being blocked

by Caius Martius, later given the title Coriolanus, and his riot police.

The march is suppressed violently and Martius appears in front of the crowd, openly contemptuous of their demands. He is then called upon to fight for Rome against a Volscian army and bravely leads a raid on the city of Corioles, held by his old enemy, Aufidius (Gerard Butler). His heroism earns him the position of consul from the senate and, temporarily, from the mercurial populace.

After some loud, gritty action sequences, the film develops into a

fascinating character study. Perfidious tribunes manipulate the will of people and Coriolanus reacts explosively against their demands for popular rule. In a sense, he epitomises the kind of uncompromising tyrant that it is currently fashionable to overthrow, but he also possesses integrity in that he refuses to rule by a lie. Fiennes gives a powerful performance in a role he knows well, and is supported elegantly by Brian Cox as the objective senator Menenius, and the outstanding Vanessa Redgrave as Coriolanus’ mother Volumnia.

“

After some loud, gritty action sequences, the film develops into a fascinating character."

The film loses its way slightly towards the end, and the personal conflict appears strangely distant compared with the intensity of the struggle for power. But the strength of the drama and its interplay with contemporary events makes Coriolanus very much worth seeing.

Rob Dickie Reviewed at Cineworld

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HEYUGUYS

CORIOLANUS

CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET: Albert knew Joey could be trusted not to gossip

WAR HORSE DIRECTED BY STEVEN SPIELBERG  evon, 1914. Albert, a farmer’s D teenage son, follows with admiration the first steps of a thoroughbred

foal. When his father buys the horse, it becomes Albert’s best friend. The idyllic relationship, however, is soon wrecked by the outbreak of the First World War, and by the sale of Joey the horse to the cavalry. Throughout the war, Albert will keep looking for him.

Spielberg’s cinematic adaptation of this renowned story has been the cause of much excitement. Originally a children’s story by Michael Morpurgo, the friendship between the farmer

boy and his quadruped best friend was already adapted in 2007 for the stage, becoming a West End hit and later on travelling to Broadway. This second adaptation, however, is not worth the hype it has generated.

Spielberg’s movie is beautifully filmed – too sleek in fact, which makes it a glossy film for families, incapable of offering anything more than its beautiful shots.

Certainly, this is an emotional, sad story, but it fails at being truly engaging. What is a touching story for children somehow loses its powerfulness by being brought to the big screen. The relationship between Albert and Joey is somehow belittled by the grandness of the special effects and the tragedy of the war. It is as if the magnificent, high-definition shots and the overwhelming explosions and sound ef-

fects not only are used to compensate for a disengaging storyline, but also have the counterproductive effect of watering down the already thin plot.

What keeps the film going is, in fact, its beautiful visuals, and the cast’s talent, especially Peter Mullan, who shines in his role as Albert’s faulty father.

War Horse does not meet the high expectations created by the fans of the novel and of the play. It must be acknowledged, however, that it is risky transforming a children book into a 150-minute blockbuster. Spielberg’s attempt is worth watching, but bear in mind that it is, in the end, a story for children stretched out to be an overly sentimental film for adults.

J. EDGAR

dismissal of employees on account of their unattractive facial hair.

Hoover embarks on a quest to stop the national ‘threat’ of, amongst many other things, Communism, by using force and bending the rules - a recurring theme - to quash his traitorous enemies. The film does not neglect to report his positive achievements, amongst these the creation of a centralised database of fingerprints. However, the message that comes through is that much of what he implemented had its roots in a climate of fear, which can too often be a dangerous thing. Too often he utters that ominous phrase, “I was just following orders”.

DiCaprio’s portrayal is completely convincing, and alongside his righthand man Clyde Tolson (Armie Hammer) they make a captivating team. Tolson is the key to the duality in Hoover’s life. Throughout the film, there is a constant homosexual undertone that occasionally bubbles up to the surface. This central relationship adds emotional depth to the character, adding an empathetic dimension to the film. However, when you detach yourself from this emotional aspect, a dubious picture is presented. Hoover is truly the Iron Gentleman of America.

DIRECTED BY CLINT EASTWOOD 

OOPS I DID IT AGAIN: Anything to say for yourself, Jonah?

THE SITTER DIRECTED BY DAVID GORDON GREEN  oah ( Jonah Hill) is a selfish loserN type who still lives with his mum and has a girlfriend who doesn’t want

to give him head. When his single mother gets set up on a date only for it to be cancelled due to an ill sitter, he decides to do something for another human being and offer up his valuable time. Unfortunately for Noah, he is an absolute moron, who thinks it’s a good idea to pop out and get some cocaine for his girlfriend whilst looking after three children. As I’m sure you have guessed, this spells T-R-O-U-B-L-E. Despite being desperate to make

24_Film.indd 1

us laugh, this film is a rather depressing watch. It’s hard to care about a character that is so stupid, and Hill is basically playing his Superbad character a few years down the road, yet not having matured in any way. We know he can do better than this (see Moneyball). Watching Max Records in his first role since Where the Wild Things Are is similarly tragic; here’s hoping this one-dimensional role isn’t the start of his young career’s demise.

On top of all this total lack of hilarity, however, is what seals the film’s fate as a complete waste of our time; it is uncomfortably full of homophobic, racist and xenophobic ‘humour’.

The scenes which run on these are cringeworthy, and not in the grossout, awkward way that these types of films aim for. Combined with

GEEGYGIRLSLOVESCIFI SCREENRANT

lint Eastwood’s biopic of the C first director of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover, depicts a surprisingly

the numerous jokes about people emptying their bowels in public, this really is scraping the barrel. It’s not as if we expect anything particularly clever - we know the genre, but we still hope for a certain standard.

None of the characters are remotely interesting. The kids, especially, are woefully underwritten, reduced to having one personality trait each, in order for Noah to give each of them a Jerry Springer-style talking to by the end of their night and act as their role model (yep, that’s the predictable ‘twist’ to this sitter-from-hell tale).

Verdict: Save your money.

Kirsty Wareing Reviewed at Cineworld

revealing picture of a great figure of patriotism and anti-Communism. To an extent, this film is an exposure of the dualities and secrecy in the life of a man who had such clearly defined notions of justice and national pride.

As with many political dramas, there is a discrepancy between, in this case, the hardened crime-fighting exterior of the FBI and the deceptions and inner workings of such an organisation. This portrait is decidedly human and it is hard not to feel sympathy by the end for a poor, old, self-righteous man.

The film sees an elderly Hoover (Leonardo DiCaprio) recounting his early life to a slightly sceptical ghostwriter. It cleverly switches between the early life and founding of the Bureau and the present day Hoover.

What emerges is an inconsistency between actual events and the ageing Hoover’s glorified account of his actions. His narrative of freedom, justice and liberty - all tropes of the good old-fashioned American, clash visibly with his personal approach to management, a particularly memorable aspect of his style being his

Claudia Marinaro

Daniel Scott Lintott Reviewed at Cineworld

23/01/2012 05:23:04

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Tuesday January 24 2012 studentnewspaper.org

Film 25

STAR RATING Citizen Kane Last King of Scotland Ides of MarchAir Force One Alexander

 daptations of Margaret ThatchA er’s storied political career are hardly few and far between. Phyllida

Lloyd’s The Iron Lady takes a much different approach to the usual simple historical depiction of Thatcher’s ministry, instead electing to base the narrative around an elderly, dementia ridden Thatcher, remembering the key events in her rise to power and her time in government.

“

The film is dominated by Meryl Streep's phenomenal performance as Thatcher".

The film is dominated by Meryl Streep’s phenomenal performance as Thatcher. Streep is able to pin down all of the former Prime Minister’s unique mannerisms and peculiar speech patterns to almost disturbing accuracy.

Daniel Swain

BREAKING POINT: Michael couldn't cope with any more rain

SHAME DIRECTED BY STEVE MCQUEEN 

S

hame is 100 minutes of the most un-erotic porn you’ll ever watch.

With an 18-rating, it could be more accurately titled, Michael Fassbender’s Penis. However, only the characters’ bodies are exposed while their emotions are left buried; it’s one of the most effective, but frustrating devices of the film.

Fassbender’s Brandon, an affluent NYC businessman, is a sex addict. Like an alcoholic that needs vodka with his breakfast, Brandon cannot go through a workday without jerking off in the office bathroom or looking at porn along with his spreadsheets. He picks up more than just a cocktail at happy hour and returns to his ironically sterile apartment to look at, you guessed it, more porn. Even with Fassbender’s striking cheekbones and other features to look at, his life is dull to watch. Director Steve McQueen deprives the film of any colour. The opening scene depicts Brandon lying on an icy blue duvet looking cadaverous. It’s only when his troubled sister Sissy (Carey

25_Film.indd 1

Mulligan, now typecast as a washed up 20-something) starts crashing on his couch that Brandon has to re-evaluate his life.

However, McQueen wisely decides not to make this a film about redemption. Instead of going to therapy, we watch Brandon on bad dates, where his fear of intimacy renders him impotent.

McQueen artfully juxtaposes intense graphic sex scenes with slow camera pans, which gives us our best chance at understanding the psychology of Brandon’s affliction. Fassbender manages to transform Brandon’s blankness into a portrait of an emotionally stunted man, who we don’t always like, but ultimately, sympathise with.

But what is the origin of this eponymous shame? The disturbingly no-boundaries relationship Brandon shares with his sister alludes to some past family trauma, but it’s never elucidated. Instead, Sissy utters cryptic statements like, “We come from a bad place.” In effect, the film leaves too much unanswered and we’re left wondering what the point of it even is.

Shame offers us a tense exposé of a sex addict, but leaves the viewer as unfulfilled as Brandon is by emotionally vacuous benders.

Tess Malone

Classic Cult

ith The Artist already receiving W huge critical acclaim despite the awards season having only just

POPTOWER

DIRECTED BY PHYLLIDA LLOYD

Indeed, Streep’s performance virtually is the film, whose script is light and based largely on historical records, and is the main conduit through which the development of Thatcher’s character takes place. Streep’s performance is aided by two more-than-able co-stars: Jim Broadbent, who plays the eccentric Dennis Thatcher very well, and Amanda Colman, who plays Margaret’s daughter Carol excellently, capturing her own unique mannerisms extremely effectively.

The film has been criticised for its glossing over of historical events and its favourable presentation of Thatcher.

However, the depiction is only slightly approbatory, even going as far to interject left-wing opinions at various points.

The film is largely concerned with Thatcher and her relationship with power that encompasses her desire for it, the prices she pays for it and where she is once she has lost it. At times it is over-the-top, and it remains speculative over whether they did certain seemingly clever things on purpose (this is coming from the woman who made Mamma Mia). But it is enjoyable cinema and a fairly original take on an often visited tale.

THEMOVIEPICTURESHOW

IRON LADY

STRICTLY COME DANCING: Just as popular in the '30s

W.E. DIRECTED BY MADONNA  .E. is a loosely based biopic on the W life of Wallis Simpson (Andrea Riseborough) - the woman who fell in

love with a king and caused him to relinquish the throne to be with her. This story is told alongside a parallel narrative - that of Wally (Abby Cornish), an unhappy, wealthy American socialite who is obsessed with her namesake.

“No-one ever asks what she gave up for him” seems to be the basic plot of the film.

Wally spends her time loitering around auction houses which are selling Ms. Simpson’s belongings, bitter with her maritally abusive husband and unsettlingly infatuated with what she considers the greatest love story of the 20th century. The story jumps between this superfluous plotline and Wallis Simpson’s own struggles throughout her scandalous affair with Edward VIII ( James D’Arcy).

Frankly, this film has few redeeming qualities. The acting is unimaginative and has the disservice of being com-

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

DIRECTED BY DAVID FINCHER 

hundering into being with a BondT inspired credit sequence and a ferocious cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Im-

migrant Song”, you only need three minutes to know that director David Fincher has added another dark film to his impressive oeuvre, sitting right alongside his 1995 film Se7en.

Like Se7en, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo digs deep into dark places; the plot follows disgraced journalist Mikhail Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) and expert hacker Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara) as they attempt to track down the killer of Harriet Vanger, grandniece of wealthy industrialist Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer). Any further description would only serve to ruin the many twists and turns of the serpentine plot, which is lifted by screenwriter Steve Zaillian directly from Stieg Larsson’s bestselling novel of the same name.

Zaillian and Fincher insist that the American film borrows nothing from the 2009 Swedish film also based on the novel. However, for those familiar with the Swedish film, comparison is inevitable and Fincher’s version comes out on top. Fincher, one of the few consummate filmmakers still working in Hollywood, wins out over the Swede

pared to the calibre of talent illustrated in The King’s Speech, which is matchless.

Riseborough and D’Arcy are both well cast, but the characters are both onedimensional and predictable, which is disappointing as the real-life ‘fairytale’ could have made for an interesting viewing from a partial American viewpoint.

Madonna puts together some interesting visual flourishes and, occasionally, some beautiful scenes, but then juxtaposes them with harsh hand-held camera shots, leaving the viewer baffled.

Despite Madonna citing this as her “three year labour of love,” it is utterly ambiguous as to what she was trying to achieve. W.E. tells us nothing new about its subjects and is frustrating in its ability to ignore the only fascinating parts of the story, from brushing the abusive husband under the carpet to completely overlooking WWII, during which the infamous couple were reportedly Nazi sympathisers. From what this film suggests, no-one ever asks about what Wallis Simpson gave up, because she gave up nothing - but by the end you couldn’t care less.

Eloise Kohler Reviewed at Cineworld Niels Arden Oplev by walking a fine line between elegance and disturbance.

In particular, the scene detailing Lisbeth’s vengeance on her perverted social worker mixes perturbing imagery with precise editing and camerawork.

“

For those familiar with the Swedish film, comparison is inevitable and Fincher's version comes out on top".

The end result is an expert exercise in audience identification. You’ll find yourself cheering on an episode of graphic violence and hardly stopping to question your enthusiasm. Of course, that cinematic device is nothing new, but Fincher’s deployment is masterful and it helps that Craig and Mara back up these difficult scenes with serious acting chops. Mara shames her work in The Social Network and Craig proves himself capable of so much more than James Bond.

Exploring the role of journalism in society and the endangerment of personal information in the Internet age, its willingness to delve into serious topics combined with an austere artistic craft, make the film an undeniable triumph.

Taylor Coe

begun, it seems appropriate to look back at some of the most influential silent films that have recently received a surge of interest.

The early shorts that emerged during cinemas infancy are extraordinarily insightful, and, despite technical limitations, illustrate incredible ingenuity and artistic skill. Georges Méliès’ La Voyage dans la Lune which features the iconic image of a spaceship landing in the eye of the moon, was recently alluded to in Martin Scorsese’s Hugo and remains a must see for anyone with an interest in cinematic history. Spanish director Luis Buñuel’s surrealist film Un Chien Andalou is another short that has received cult status. Presenting a series of tenuous scenes that attempt to depict dream logic in narrative flow, its haunting representation of a woman’s eye being sliced in half has become famous.

Horror was a popular genre during the silent era and was dominated

by German expressionist directors.

Films such as F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu, which remains a chilling cult classic, while Robert Wiene’s The Cabinet of Dr Caligari is stunning with its elaborate sets and dreamlike sequences. It has also been cited as the first film to introduce the ‘twist ending’.

Silent comedy is best known through the work of Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. While The General is often cited as Keaton’s best film, it is exceeded by Sherlock Jr. in terms of impressive special effects and unconventionally humorous situations. Chaplin, known predominately for his endearing character ‘The Tramp’, created heart-rending comedy that is perhaps best realised in his film City Lights.

Fritz Lang’s Metropolis is the first true science-fiction masterpiece in film. Its exploration of the social crisis between workers and owners, through a dystopic vision that mirrors the capitalism of Marx and Engels, is both powerful and unforgettable. The precursor to all modern sci-fi, it returned to the public eye in 1984, when Giorgio Moroder released a restored version featuring a soundtrack from artists including Freddie Mercury, Jon Anderson and Adam Ant. The best love story of the silent era has to be Murnau’s Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans. A poignant depiction of a married couple that looks at the fragile nature of human relationships, it offers a bit of everything, making it an outstanding piece of cinema.

Perhaps one of the most enduring scenes in silent film can be found in the dramatisation of the mutiny that took place on board the Russian battleship Potemkin in Sergei Eisenstein’s Battleship Potemkin. The massacre of civilians on the Odessa steppes is as iconic as it is horrendous and is paid homage to in many modern classics.

However, the finest silent film of all time has to be Carl Theodor Dreyer’s The Passion of Joan of Arc. A depiction of the trial, imprisonment, torture and execution of Joan of Arc, its extreme close-ups featuring actors without make-up and incredible performance from Renée Jeanne Falconetti make it one of the most harrowing films of all time.

Ali Quaile

23/01/2012 05:25:19

Tuesday January 24 2012 studentnewspaper.org

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26 Music 26

Nothing to Bragg about Aaron Peters speaks to Billy Bragg about the recent wave of Occupy movements and escaping from a generation of cynicism

peaking to The Student when Occupy LSX was just beginning, Billy Bragg was noticeably excited to see a new mood of protest in Britain. I asked him whether he had any advice for student protesters. “The world changes all the time. We’re coming out of a period of our children having better standards of living than our own. I think your generation is gonna be at the front line for the economic problems that we’re facing. Already unemployment among under 24 year olds is higher than it’s been for a long time and the way to respond to this is to get organised, to start to try and articulate your anger in a positive way.

“I’m very encouraged that there was no violence at Occupy over the weekend. In fact they seem to have rejected that option, because, the truth is, you can’t change the world by breaking windows, but you can change the world by engaging in the political process. And I speak as someone who didn’t bother to vote when I first had the vote ‘cause I didn’t think it made a difference. And what happened was Margaret Thatcher got elected. So I soon got a rocket up my arse and realised that I’d actually made a mistake there. So I would encourage young people not to give into the cynicism that surrounds them and to actually overcome that and to try and find a way of engaging with the debate and talk about the kind of world they want to live in, rather than leaving it to someone else to create.”

Billy’s early albums contain many protest songs about high unemployment rates and sleazy, hypocritical media. So he has a bit of experience to share with today’s protesters.

“They’re not gonna change the world just by being there, but I think, I hope, that their aim is to set the agenda for the debate about the economy, because at the moment our mainstream political parties don’t really seem interested in talking about the real issues behind the economic situation.

They’re not interested in suggestions of a Robin Hood tax coming from Europe. We own 85 per cent of RBS why is it not nationalised? Why are we not using it as a national investment bank? Why are we not taking control of this situation by utilising something that we’ve paid for? It seems to be that none of the mainstream political parties wanna talk about this. So hopefully the Occupations will help set the agenda around this world."

Billy Bragg’s albums are a mixture

of half love songs, half protest music, with the lines between the two sometimes blurred. I asked him what it is about political songs that he finds effective. “At the bottom line I’m a communicator, whether I’m writing a song or writing in the NME, or even talking to you now and putting my ideas out there for you and your audience to comment on. What I’m trying to do is not change the world, ‘cause you can’t do that with music, but I’m trying to offer different perspectives.”

BAM! KAPOW!: and other onomatopoeic comic book terms.

THEQUIETUS.COM

S

About political music, he says, “I think you hear it, and it makes you feel like you’re not the only one who cares about this issue. And also, when you’re at a gig, and you’re there with your fellow students and you’re cheering together, you think ‘OK, there’s a community of us here who feel strongly about this’, and it gives you the strength to carry on. It’s not easy remaining politically motivated, there’s a lot of cynicism out there; anyone who puts their opinion on the internet is in danger of being shot down immediately by cynical arseholes who just wanna have a go. Some of the responses I got to tweets from Occupy LSX were just so base, it’s unbelievable, I’ve been hardened by years of having to put up with people having a go at me, I’m sure if I was a new activist with some new ideas, I’d take all those tweets personally, rather than just ignoring them.

“There’s a lot of distractions that weren’t around when I was first doing this, like Facebook and Twitter and your own blog... In the end it’s not a matter of how many likes you can get for an idea, it’s actually about inspiring people and bringing people together so they feel that they’re not alone and music is a pretty good way of doing that, so I am hoping to inspire people with this Left Field tour, that’s the main aim of it.”

With a new compilation out, covering the past ten years of his own protest music and entitled Fight Songs, I asked what he thought looking back over some of those songs.

“Since I started giving away music for free on the internet in 2002 with The Price of Oil, I’ve felt a little bit like I’ve been pissing in the wind, so to speak, that the ideas that I’ve been putting out there have not really been in keeping with what’s going on in the music industry. But the last couple of years, since the crash in 2008, I think the idea of polemical songs has become more and more relevant, so it

now seems like a good time to collect these together and make them available for people who may only have tuned in a few years ago.”

The album includes Billy Bragg’s haunting update of a Bob Dylan song “The Lonesome Death of Rachel Corrie” about the tragic death of the American student killed while protesting the demolition of Palestinian houses. I wanted to know what it was about a specific situation that drives him to write about it. “There are some issues that don’t get a lot of mainstream attention: one is the lack of genuine rehabilitation available in British prisons, and another is the issue of the Israeli Defence Force bulldozing Palestinian houses, so I try to write about those issues, rather than perhaps the more obvious issues that more people are willing to write about, such as environment, or children dying in Africa, you know, people are always going to support that, and I support that too, but there are some issues out there that don’t have a huge amount of support among my community, and I think it’s always worth trying to engage with those ideas, and bring those ideas to the fore.”

This is what he has been doing for almost 30 years now. His song “Never Buy the Sun”, released just after the demise of The News of the World, has a lot of parallels with his 1984 song “It Says Here”. I thought that it might bother him to still be campaigning about some of the same issues after so long. “I think it’s the nature of the game, I’d be foolish if I thought just ‘cause I wrote a song about it, it would get resolved. It happens more with the songs I wrote about the Falklands War. People were listening to them during the First Gulf War, soldiers were writing to me, they were listening to tracks like “Island Of No Return” while they were going out to the Gulf. So if you do write topical songs they do have a propensity to become topical again.”

better suited to the song. From this it was straight into the Irish favourite, “Whiskey in the Jar”, which was Thin Lizzy’s first hit song in 1972. The song went down well but it was a far cry from the original; it came across sounding more similar to the Metallica cover than to the band’s own version.

which should be slow but came out a bit too rushed, followed by the definitive, “The Boys Are Back in Town”.

The combination went down a storm and the band left to a standing ovation.

For the encore they came back out with the head banging “Emerald”, the Bob Seger original, “Rosalie”, and to finish up, “Black Rose”. Overall, the gig went down brilliantly – but with a few changes it could have been even better. The vocals overshadowed the songs - given that these are good songs in their own right, this could be seen as an attempt to distance them from Phil Lynott's immense shadow. This is perfectly reasonable, but there must be a way of finding a happy medium between the two.

Live THIN LIZZY Glasgow Barrowlands 

W

hile a band continuing when a member has died is not a new concept, few bands have had to deal with the anger for doing this more than Thin Lizzy. After they split in 1983, and Phil Lynott’s death in 1986, few fans believed that they would ever see the band’s name up in lights again. However, since 1996 the band has been reunited with a revolving door of musicians filling in. While I do not have a problem with this, it can be easy to see why some fans do, Phil was such a big part of the band back in their heyday, and to most, he

26_Music.indd 1

seems irreplaceable. It should be remembered, however, that by this logic, AC/DC would have called it quits in 1974 and the world would never have heard Back in Black.

Also, with Brian Downey, Scott Gorham and Darren Wharton still in the line up, Thin Lizzy have held onto some of the original band, completed with Marco Mendoza on bass, Ricky Warwick on vocals, and Damon Johnson on guitar.

“

Few fans believed that they would ever see the band's name up in lights again" They started with a bang with a few of their classics such as “Are You

Ready?”, the Rory Gallagher inspired “Jailbreak”, and “Don’t Believe a Word”. The style they were played at was reminiscent of the Thunder & Lightening days towards the end of Phil’s life, when everything was turned up to eleven, which, in my opinion, doesn’t suit the lyrics. This was evident in the slower songs like, “You Can Do Anything You Want To”, and the hit song, “Dancing in the Moonlight”, with Ricky Warwick going for screaming rather than actually getting into the songs. This was a bit of a shame – when he does tone it down he really has a voice suited to the songs.

It was then into the slow bluesy “Still in Love With You”, with Ricky and Darren switching vocals throughout. It worked well, though, and it was apparent that Darren’s voice is much

“

Overall, the gig went down brilliantly – but it could have been even better" To finish the show they went back to some more classics from the back catalogue with “Waitin For an Alibi”, and “Sha La La La” allowing Downey an extended, and well deserved, drum solo. It was then into “Cowboy Song”,

Niall Carville

23/01/2012 05:32:46

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Tuesday January 24 2012 studentnewspaper.org

Music 27

STAR RATING  Buy it!Spotify PlaylistYoutube Hit Probably Don't Bother  Nah This is Rubbish

Singles

FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE

THE RAPTURE

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Sail Away EP DFA

No Light, No Light ISLAND

he latest single from Florence’s rack opener off In The Grace of T second album, Ceremonials, offers T Your Love gets a further outing up the driving, tribal-like drums, and on this new DFA release, coming in

Albums THE MACCABEES Given To The Wild POLYDOR

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F

rom the moment The Maccabees announced the release of their much-awaited third studio album in late 2010, fans of the five piece South London group held their breath in anticipation of what would come next.

Would they revert back to their indie roots? Or would they continue evolving their sound? On the 6th January, these questions were answered in the form of thirteen tracks that showed the Maccabees had chosen the latter.

In a recent interview, lead singer Orlando Weeks said: “For the first time we weren’t thrashing it out in a rehearsal room, we were writing on our own…I think that is why the record sounds so cinematic, because it’s constructed from different pieces of music we had written.” The cinematic aspect Weeks talks of can be heard from the off with the opening title track, an ambient piece that acts as a telescopic zoom, and forms an enticing opening into the album.

DJ interview MELÉ

Q&A: Track by Track What’s been your set opener of late?

Hudson Mohawke—Thunder Bay. Or if I’m on earlier in the night Cajmere— Brighter Days Favorite track of the minute?

Boddika and Joy Orbison—Mercy What’s your classic dance track of choice to put on?

Show Me Love—Robin S. When it is played in the right place you can’t go wrong!

27_Music.indd 1

rippling harps that we’ve come to expect from the flame-haired powerhouse.

However, Florence also shows us her softer side, breathing out the opening verse in barely more than a whisper.

Vulnerable lyrics such as, “Would you leave me if I told you what I’d done?” display an unexpected fragility to the usually formidable songstress. This is not to say that this track is lacking in prowess. “No Light, No Light” has all the makings of a stadium anthem, with one of the catchiest melodies on Ceremonials, in which Florence’s stunning vocals shine through (listen out for the impressive 15-second-long note!).

With its combination of quiet delicacy and anthemic qualities, “No Light, No Light” shows a new versatility to everyone‘s favourite redhead, without losing that ethereal power that Florence fans have come to love.

Lisa Gilroy

with no less than three stomping great remixes, by three names who need no introduction. Brimming with instrumentals and power driven vocals, this was always one for the taking for the electro disco producer.

From here, a seamless transition into “Child” follows. A dark and somewhat haunting track that encapsulates the band’s sound on the LP, and like so many tracks on the album, pays homage, in parts, to The Maccabees of yesteryear, with fast paced guitar riffs executed to perfection by the White brothers. This is something that is apparent throughout the 13 track LP, artefacts of the band’s indie roots. “Pelican”, the lead single, and arguably best track on the album, is a perfect example of this, and captures the classic Maccabees sound, circa 2007, that so many fell in love with.

However, with that said, it is im-

possible to deny that their sound, like many of their fans, has matured since the release of Colour It In in 2007. One thing that, thankfully, hasn’t changed since then is the ethereal tremolo of Week’s vocals, which can be heard in all its preserved glory in the brilliantly arranged “Feel to Follow”, and the anthemic “Grew up at Midnight”.

With all that said, Given to the Wild is a mouth-watering prospect for any Maccabees fan, as the five piece skilfully create a sound that fuses the old with the new.

“

This was always one for the taking for the electro disco producer" All at a classic disco feel of 7-8 minutes long, Vito Aeroplane sets the EP off, adding to the builds of the original with a driving electro remix that befits the assailing sound of The Rapture.

Swapping the clean piano melody for Italo inspired keys and power driven synths, makes this one guaranteed for the club floors.

Max Sanderson

INDIE BACKROOM: Rare sighting. Next stop-Stadiums!

What song do you play without fail to kick start the floor?

Nightcrawlers—Push The Feeling On. Probably an obvious old school garage song.

What’s been the most underrated / underplayed track of the year?

I was gunna say one of my own!! But there’s so many, it’s really hard for new producers to get through.

What track would you play at that family event?

It’s got to be Lionel Richie!

What track do you get out of bed to?

I don’t know. All I know is you’ve got to change it otherwise you’ll get sick of it!

The crowd aside, what eclectic song would you put on?

Prince—The Future, off the batman soundtrack.

What track would you sign to your dream label?

I’ve actually been thinking of doing a label, I just want to put out a mix really.

From techno to rap releases. But I’d probably like to push a Rustie or Brenmar release out.

What label,if any, do you live by?

Lucky Me, has always been one of my favourite labels, like ever. I really like Night Slugs at the moment. Mad Decent too are really good and eclectic, putting out all things from hard dubstep to rap.

What’s your club of choice to play at?

My favourite club is Mint Club in Leeds, for me it’s the best club in the country. In terms of venue though, I’d say Koko in London.

If Aeroplane sets you off well on course with his “Sail Away”, then what follows by Cosmic Kids is an ode to that lost journey back, with their stripped down disco house, ‘Lost at Sea Remix’.

Filtered echoes and a funky bass slow it right down, turning a dab of sax into a seductive foghorn calling out from afar.

Cut Copy mark their distinct print on the final remix of the EP, speeding it back up and delivering a soaring crescendo of twinkling synths, whilst making interesting work of the vocals, chopping up the less distinct end chorus of, “Stay, gonna stay with you on an ice-covered hill, and don’t ever look back”, giving the song an all new distinct form.

Although not quite delivering the same punch of emotion as “How Deep Is Your Love”, this should by no means be brushed aside, and is a good reminder if anything on how explorative The Rapture were on said last album, which otherwise might have been forgotten going into the new year, with much of its absence in opinion makers top 2011 polls.

Joshua Angrave

FRANK TURNER The Second Three Years EPITAPH

 hree years on, unsurprisingly, from T The First Three Years Frank Turner has once again got together all those B-sides, bonus tracks and covers that haven’t been a part of the albums he’s released in the meantime and thrown them all together in this, The Second Three Years.

“

Hardcore fans may find they already own a few of these" Now hardcore Frank Turner fans may well find they already own a fair few of these. For example, “Rock and Roll Romance” has been floating around on various EPs and singles for quite a while now, and several others have done similar. However, for fans that don’t get obsessive over owning everything, and in fact aren’t actually 100% sure what a B-side is, this album puts them all together so you don’t have to worry about missing anything.

Some of the songs on this album

LISTINGS

Friday 3 February Wee Dub Festival Wee Red Bar (ECA), £5 adv., 11pm (also on Saturday at The Caves and Sunday at Bongo) Saturday 4 February Black Keys Corn Exchange, £21, 7pm.

Monday 6 February The Next Big Thing: Field Music (with Laki Mera, Bwani Junction) HMV Picture House, £10, 7pm.

Wednesday 8 February Campbell’s Wild (with Letters, Waverley and The Defaults) Sneaky Pete’s, £5, 7pm.

Thursday 9 February Kaiser Chiefs (with Frankie and the Heartstrings and Native Tongue) HMV Picture House, £25, 7pm.

Friday 10 February Next Big Thing: Frightened Rabbit (with We are Augustines and Fatherson) HMV Picture House, £10, 7pm. are testimony to just how good Frank Turner’s output during this period has been. For example, the gorgeous “Song for Eva Mae”, which sees Frank reflecting on being named godfather of a close friend’s newly born daughter, could sit happily on some of the best albums of the year. Even his cover of “Last Christmas” isn’t completely horrible, which, when it comes to Christmas songs, has to be considered a compliment. On the flip side of the coin, however, it’s only natural that an album of this nature is going to have a couple of songs that fall flat. Which, with his cover of Take That’s “The Greatest Day”, Frank does.

However, you almost feel he makes up for this on his original covers of NOXF’s “Linoleum”, and Nirvana’s “On a Plain”, which even though they may not endear themselves to fans of those bands, have their own charm.

With Frank Turner’s main studio albums becoming bigger and bigger deals, with more and more people involved in them, The Second Three Years almost pulls you back to remember how he started out. A guy with an acoustic guitar who loves the music he writes. Sure, not everything on this is brilliant, but you can tell that he’s enjoyed singing every single word of it.

Stuart Iversen

AMERICAN (H)APPY: Nineteen and lovin' life

23/01/2012 05:30:56

Tuesday January 24 2012 studentnewspaper.org

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LOST

Locked in by sheer brilliance

& FOUND

Nicole Adam investigates the popular BBC detective series and marvels at Sherlock's cool-faced logic

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P

erhaps as anticipated in some circles as the New Year itself, the first of January brought more than just resolutions, it welcomed the return of the highly anticipated Sherlock. The critically acclaimed, modern adaptation of Sherlock Holmes returned to eager fans and did not disappoint.

Creators Moffat and Gatiss certainly play fast and loose with their adaptation. Described by Moffat as an “open relationship”, it clearly has no compunctions tweaking the original.

Traditionalist fans may struggle with the necessary updates – Irene Adler is a dominatrix and Baskerville is a centre for government experimentation. These may not adhere to a strict interpretation but it’s hard not to fall for the charm that oozes out of every episode.

Holmes is enigmatic and obnoxious yet incredibly alluring. Each time we become semi convinced that his hard shell will crack to reveal the sympathetic human centre we are disappointed but nevertheless still very much drawn to the creation. Superb performances by both Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Watson (Martin Freeman) combined with the compelling cast that surrounds them in each episode make this show hard not to love especially as the bromantic chemistry between Watson and Holmes has only increased.

Each of the three ninety minute episodes is dynamic and engaging, keeping the audience at the edge of

BORGEN

E4 Mondays, 10pm

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een to capitalise on its biggest success so far – moody Danish crime thriller The Killing, the first two series of which had audiences gripped for most of 2011 – BBC4 has launched its 2012 schedule with another Danish import, political drama Borgen. It follows the administration of Denmark’s first woman prime minister, Birgitte Nyborg (Sidse Babett Knudsen) and its relationship with the country’s media corps.

Leader of the centrist Moderate party hitherto caught between the warring Liberals and Labour, Nyborg is struggling through the last week of a fraught election campaign in the first episode. Having pulled out of her pre-election pact with the Labour leader after he tacked hard right on immigration, Nyborg is facing electoral oblivion and is contemplating her resignation when she stages a laststand at the final TV debate, making an inspiring “there is another way” appeal. Having been catapulted from also-ran to prime minister-in-waiting,

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an explanation to a part of the mystery is not only incredibly annoying but breaks with what we expect from Sherlock, a display of unparalleled witticism and logic. The shock finale has already started a mass of speculation online with every scenario, no matter how improbable or impossible, being suggested and no real conclusion in sight.

Let’s face it; we have no idea how long we may have to wait for the al-

ready commissioned third season (after all, Freeman does have that whole Hobbit thing keeping him busy). It really is quite mean to keep us waiting with such baited breath.

For those who have faithfully followed it’s going to be yet another long wait. For those who have yet to enjoy this gem of British drama, hop on the bandwagon and thank your lucky stars you have six episodes to enjoy.

DINE-AND-DASH: "Holmes, I fundamentally disagree that paying for Teviot nachos was irrational"

Nyborg and her faithful deputy leader Bent Sejrø (Lars Knutzon – I don’t know why I’m bothering to tell you the actors’ names – none of us have ever heard of them) spend a tense and thrilling second episode struggling to put together a coalition, after which Birgette sets about changing Denmark apace – dealing with budgets, gender equality and even the CIA. Borgen is made by its female leads.

Knudsen, a stage actor for most of her career, gives an incredibly rich performance – managing to be both tough as nails and seductive and just a bit kinky all at the same time – and doesn’t make the mistake like so many before her (hint hint, Meryl Streep) of reducing a female politician to her gender, showing her equally as idelogical and ambitious as any of her male counterparts. Birgitte Sørensen is compelling as troubled TV journalist Katrine Fonsmark. For the most part they inhabit two separate parts of the show but you get the sense that their worlds are gradually moving together and there’ll be some spectacular showdown at the Christianborg Palace some time soon. And if the episodes thus far are anything to go by, it will be some of the best TV you are likely to see this year.

Dan Heap

HACKS Channel 4 4oD

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hannel 4’s latest attempt at biting, ultra-current satire, Hacks focuses on the on-going phone-hacking scandal to mixed effect. Written and directed by Guy Jenkin, co-creator of BBC hit Outnumbered, and starring Little Dorrit’s Claire Foy, you could be forgiven for placing your expectations fairly high given the timely content steeped in sleaze and satirical potential - which makes it a shame that Hacks fails so obviously.

Kate is a cut throat tabloid editor with a couple of unfortunate soft spots; she’s having an affair with a soap opera actor and starting to hear the conversations she’s hacked in her head. She runs the Sunday Comet, a paper staffed by villainous, amoral writers and owned by rough billionaire Stanhope Feast. It’s all achingly familiar, and as sordid as can be expected. Then the phone hacking scandal happens, and the shit, as they say, hits the proverbial fan.

The scenes set in the Sunday Comet’s office work to some degree. The writing is occasionally snappy and the

characters are suitably loathsome. The problem seems to lie in the inability of the programme to pick a slant on the issue; it veers precariously from slapstick delivery to biting satire to inexplicably trite moralising, soundtracked to Radiohead.

Another problem is Kate herself.

When she’s not firing people randomly and lying to the police, she’s supposed to be vaguely sympathetic.

Her harsh demeanor and brutal approach to life are, we are told, products of her job. This may have worked better if her character was fleshed out to any noticeable degree, rather than her uncertainty and ambiguous moralising; lazily depicted through hearing voices and being unable to sleep.

When compared to other political satires, Hacks falls flat. There will no doubt be many other attempts to send-up the phone hacking scandal in the coming years, and Hacks at least makes a start and provides a framework for what not to do.

There are a couple of laughs to be found, but getting to them involves wading through a swamp of disappointment and failed opportunity.

Katie Cunningham

BONES

BBC1 BBC iPlayer

our comprehension but not leaving us feeling too stupid, we always had Watson for company after all. Balancing gripping drama and humour that verges on the absurd Sherlock is able to delight and shock over and over again.

Despite its popularity the season was not without fault. Though the ending was undoubtedly suspenseful it was not in keeping with the tradition of Sherlock Holmes. The withholding of

FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST MBS, TBS, Animax (2003) Tvlinks.com

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BBC

SHERLOCK

et in an alternative world where the science of alchemy, that is the transmuting of elements into other elements – for you n00bs, is possible – Fullmetal Alchemist is the story of Edward Elric – the titular fullmetal alchemist, a naturally talented young alchemist on a quest to restore his dead mother to life using his talents.

Unfortunately the so-called process of ‘human transmutation’ is the only real taboo in alchemy. It would require the sacrifice of another human life – in alchemy; something cannot be transmuted from nothing.

There is however, an artefact known as the ‘philosopher’s stone’ – which permits the process of creatio ex nihilo that Ed requires. So, with his brother Alphonse, who is also a walking suit of armour (I know, right!?) he sets off on an adventure across the country of Amnestris to find the first Harry Potter book.

The fifty-episode anime however explores much more than a simple quest. The anime is set against the backdrop of a country with a totalitarian, military government which is guided by an ancient conspiracy. Not only that but Amnestris’ society has been acutely affected by the recent ‘war’ against rebels in the region of Ishbal, which is viewed by the Ishbalans as a genocide.

Political and social commentary is not the only complex subject for discussion explored in the largely mystical show. The show also explores the meaning and purpose of the soul and its role in ethical decisions and spends lengthy periods of time postulating on religion and philosophy, exploring the alternative history of the world in which the anime is set.

Its ability to deal with a range of complex themes is one of the most interesting aspects of the anime, but not the most prominent.

The anime’s range of colourful characters provide the majority of the show’s highly entertaining content, either through cleverly written, funny dialogue or through a range of aesthetically pleasing and intelligent combat scenes produced by the wide range of alchemy styles of the peripheral characters. In one episode Ed transmuted a giant cannon out of the ground, in another Major Armstrong transmuted something in his own perfectly chiselled image.

One of the best and most intelligent anime series ever made, Fullmetal Alchemist is a must see for anyone interested in anime, but aside from that, it is also a fantastic television series, clever but very entertaining.

Daniel Swain

23/01/2012 05:34:18

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Tuesday january 24 2012 tv.studentnewspaper@googlemail.com

STAR RATING Basil RathbaneBenedict CumberbatchPeter Cushing Matt Frewer Robert Downey Jnr.

There's a New Girl in town NEW GIRL Channel 4 Fridays, 8:30pm

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aving been relentlessly referred to as the ‘indie darling’ of Hollywood, it is unsurprising that there were more than a few cynical responses to the news that Zooey Deschanel was going to be starring in a new Fox sitcom. Amongst the criticisms came the theory that New Girl was just an opportunistic venture to capitalise on the popularity of 500 Days of Summer; an attempt to make Deschanel into a product to be marketed to the swathes of 13-30 year olds already aspiring to be her, and to rope in the ones who don’t quite yet. Perhaps this suspected trickery played a part in how critics received the show – after all, there’s nothing more annoying than being sold aspirational living in the guise of entertainment.

Because, as far as the pilot episode goes, yes, there is something a bit annoying about Deschanel’s character.

She plays Jess Day, a quirky twentysomething who moves in with three guys after she walks in on her boyfriend cheating on her. There are times when her quirks come across as painfully manufactured – the sudden breaking into song, the wide-eyed responses to

seemingly straightforward questions; as one particularly scathing critic put it, Deschanel seems to have “finally got around to parodying herself ”.

Give the show a minute to warm up, however, and things really do improve. Perhaps it’s down to the audience becoming familiar with the characters, or maybe even that the cast become better acquainted with their characters – but with time, they seem to become less two-dimensional.

They’re still not quite believable as real people, but then sitcom characters aren’t supposed to be ‘real people’ anyway.

And the characters (apart from Cece, Jess’ best friend who is both a model and a bitch, and a very unlikely best friend for a sweet girl like Jess) really are likable. Especially Winston, the ex-basketball player just returned from a two year stint in Latvia.

What appears to be the main criticism of New Girl is that, for a situation comedy, it’s not particularly funny. It’s lighthearted and provokes the occasional giggle, but, beyond this, the humour remains somewhat mild.

It’s possible, however, that laugh out loud comedy isn’t the aim of Elizabeth Meriweather, the show’s creator, who also wrote No Strings Attached, (the better version of Friends with Benefits, which came out around the same time) starring Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman.

CHANNEL 4

Rebecca Chan takes a look at New Girl and finds it to be perfectly adequate

NEW GIRL: The awkward moment when you drop one in front of your new mates New Girl doesn’t seem to be aiming for thigh-slapping funny. It occasionally goes for physical, slapstick humour, normally delivered by Schmidt, who, whilst being the mandatory resident ladykiller (see Tribbiani, Joey and Stinson, Barney) plays stupid

quite endearingly. This aside, however, it seems to place more emphasis on the ‘situation’ aspect of the genre, which is not to its detriment, and still makes for a perfectly watchable show.

Surprisingly, the most notable merit of New Girl is that there seems

to be something genuine about it. Despite its premise being based on Deschanel in various, contrived, quirky situations. Despite the unnaturally excellent wardrobe. Despite being commissioned by Fox.

TV's unsung heroes

Daniel Swain and Alistair Grant admire their favourite TV shows that The Student hasn't covered

H

ere at TV, we can't cover everything. We have limited space and resources, and we can only cover so much, sadly.

Some of the greatest long-running TV shows fall under our radar – we don't tend to talk about them because most people are already so familiar with them. Or sometimes the shows that happen to be really good are aired whilst the paper is out of print and covering them properly would be a bit redundant.

So here's a little space for some of our favourite recurring TV heroes, bastions of light in what is, at times, a creative wasteland.

Question Time

2011 was a year of political crisis – and what better platform to address this than BBC’s question-based political symposium, Question Time? From Ken Clarke’s blundering views on rape sentencing to the London riots, there has been plenty for policy makers and commentators to chew over. The latter provided some especially revealing moments; years of unrest and dissatisfaction eventually erupting into scenes of distressing violence, leaving politicians and the public to pick up the pieces and wonder when everything went so wrong.

Also timely given the debates earlier in the year over whether prisoners should be allowed a say in the political

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process was an episode broadcast from Wormwood Scrubbs Prison in May. In an age when the democratic process is being perceived as increasingly unrepresentative to vast swathes of the population, Question Time provides a crucially accessible platform for ordinary people to air their views and grievances. And David Dimbleby is the perfect host – polite but relentless, curious yet amusingly world-weary.

Later... with Jools Holland

Essential viewing for anyone with even a vague, tenuous interest in music, Later… with Jools Holland is never anything less than ridiculously eclectic.

You could be forgiven for thinking that Jools was some sort of music-centred omnipotent god, somehow knowing about every bit of music played anywhere at any time. You could strum a shaky, isolated chord on your guitar in your room, and there he would be, tapping his foot in the corner.

This year’s highlights included the bewildering appearance of Atlantabased heavy metal band Mastodon, who managed to look like they had just walked into the wrong venue and thought ‘Screw it, we’ll play anyway’.

The only drawback to the festivities is Jools himself, who contrives to appear infuriatingly smug at all times.

His genuine passion and love of music

shines through however, so perhaps he can be forgiven for being a bit self-satisfied with his lot in life.

The Graham Norton Show

Filling in the Friday night slot after the shame-faced departure of Wossy, The Graham Norton Show is never anything less than entertaining. The camp antics may not be to everyone’s taste, but the chatty format works and the guests seem to benefit from the relaxed, good-natured atmosphere.

“

Shamelessly glittery and showbiz-obsessed, it's a bit like having Heat magazine read to you by your rude Nan." With guests ranging from Doctor Who’s Matt Smith to the ever-boring, self-aggrandising Madonna, like many chat shows its success hinges on the stars it draws in. The couch setup manages to alleviate some of this pressure, meaning multiple guests can be out at any one time, bouncing witticisms off each other and interacting with the audience.

Norton’s personality also helps;

his well-intentioned, slightly risqué humour a nice antidote to Jonathan Ross’s increasingly desperate attempts to appeal to a mass audience.

Shamelessly glittery and showbizobsessed, it’s a bit like having Heat magazine read to you by your inappropriately rude Nan. A guilty pleasure.

Sky Sports Football Coverage

A football fan’s attention to Sky Sports is generally directed at being angry over having to pay for most of the year’s televised matches. However, this is overlooking something very key regarding Sky Sport’s football coverage – it’s fantastic. 2011 was also a very good year for football at Sky Sports as it saw the dismissal of Andy Gray and Richard Keys, perhaps the most biased and over-rated football pundits, respectively, over their sexist remarks.

Sky Sport’s commentary on live football is the best in the business, probably the entire sports, business, and Sky’s collection of half-encyclopaedia, half-sound-bite machine pundits makes watching football on Sky thoroughly entertaining.

The crown jewel in Sky’s coverage is Football Focus, a thoroughly entertaining panel show, broadcast live as the games are going on, providing rolling

coverage of every FA league game, hosted joyfully by the lovely, cheerful Jeff Stelling.

All Watched Over By Machines Of Loving Grace

Adam Curtis, the genius documentary maker, unleashed another showering of his genius upon the world this past summer. All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace is a documentary about the way humans interact with machines, how it affects the way we think, and why.

Presented in his usual ethereal, ‘great man of history’, thematic style – All Watched Over examines a range of eclectic topics, including; how Californian computer programmers were deeply influenced by the ideas of Ayn Rand, and how the notion that humans are mere servants to their genes has become all-pervasive.

Curtis’ heavy use of archive footage, liberal use of evocative music and his own authoritative narration create a documentary that does its best to make the audience feel they are experiencing the changing history. It’s documentary making at its most beautiful, artistic and interesting.

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Got your eye on the ball? Email sport@studentnewspaper.org

Tuesday TuesdayNovember January 248 2011 studentnewspaper.org

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The fall of King Kenny?

Injury Time

Phil Smith explains why Kenny Dalglish's glorious return to Liverpool is faltering badly this season, including against Swansea City and Sunderland, with the latter struggling through the dark final days of Steve Bruce’s reign at the time.

Dalglish’s policy of buying British talent has proved costly and not necessarily successful. Stewart Downing has one goal to his name, Charlie Adam has been inconsistent, and the aforementioned Carroll has put in performances that make Andriy Shevchenko look like the bargain of the century.

However, Dalglish’s biggest failure has arguably been off the pitch. He has unquestionably united the club after the bitter disputes of the Hodgson, Hicks and Gillett era, but it has come at an unenviable price: the club’s reputation, and that of its manager, has been blighted by its staunch defence of Luis Suarez in the wake of the race scandal with Patrice Evra. Dalglish is a man whose charitable exploits are as famed as his footballing ones, and no one will ever forget his immensely dignified response to the Hillsborough disaster, personally attending many of the victims funerals.

Recently, however, his common sense and human touch seem to have deserted him, and it has risked dragging

“

Recently Dalglish's common sense and human touch seem to have deserted him and it has risked dragging British football back into its darker days."

Nevertheless, the defence has been miserly, with the purchase of Jose Enrique a masterstroke finally rectifying the left-back problem that has blighted the team for years. The timely return of Steven Gerrard will add much needed passion and vigour to the side, and the prospect of him linking up with Luis Suarez will have their top four rivals looking anxiously over their shoulder.

All in all, things are looking relatively rosy on the pitch, and if they can start to convert some chances into goals then a charge up the table in the second half of the season is by no means off the cards.

British football back into its darker days, typified by the alleged racist abuse of Oldham defender Tom Adeyemi earlier this month. Dalglish’s commitment to Liverpool and the sense of togetherness he instils at a club which under his banner has been a beacon of social justice is a welcome drawback to the 80’s, but racist abuse is not. Football is a better sport now; more inclusive and family friendly.

If the King is to restore the Kingdom of the Kop to its former prestige and glory, he must do more to ensure it lives up to modern day principles; principles his club has always been at the forefront of promoting.

The yearly report is simple: Must do better, both on and off the pitch.

UNDER PRESSURE: Dalglish has not handled the racism row well

K1NG K0NG

JANUARY IS, of course, traditionally a time for fresh starts, clean slates and new resolutions. Not, however, in the world of football. This January will undoubtedly be remembered for the remarkable return of “va va voom” and “the ginger prince” as Thierry Henry and Paul Scholes made their returns to old stomping grounds.

2012 will surely see no moment more appropriate for a fairytale story than Henry’s trademark sublime movement and composed finishing in his second debut against Leeds United.

If you looked closely enough, you may have even seen Arsene Wenger smile, something not seen in these lands for many a year.

It is also rumoured that Dimitar Berbatov will return to Germany, taking his unique approach to playing up front, (standing stationary 40 yards from goal attempting to make 5 yard passes look audacious) with him. Fresh starts, it would seem, are few and far between.

Last January saw a similar tale, with the most stunning return – King Kenny Dalglish, retaking the throne he had deserted twenty years before. One year down the line, it seems appropriate to investigate whether he has fulfilled his pledge to rebuild the fractured relationship that exists between the club and the fans, and take on the old enemy Manchester United once more.

On the field, there have been small steps in the right direction, but nothing more. Some notable victories, including a magnificent rearguard effort against Chelsea last May, have been tarnished by a string of disappointing home draws

Is there such a thing as a "dream team?"

Charles Cutteridge contemplates why basketball is the only sport to create an 'invincible' team wants to get injured, simply make flashy highlight reels. However, American National Basketball recruits the same calibre of team (perhaps even better) to compete in tournaments.

Since 1992, when FIBA allowed professional players to compete at the Olympics for the first time, the USA has seen dominance in international basketball arguably unparalleled in any other sport. Apart from the “nightmare team” of Athens ’04, they have finished with gold every year. The dream team of ’92 featured Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Scottie Pippen and Charles Barkley

DREAM TEAM: The USA's basketball team dominates the sport

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WENTWORTH LEWIS

THERE ARE very few sports which actively entertain the idea of “dream teams”.

That is to say that assembling the very finest talents of a single sport into one team is rare. American basketball is unique in this regard; the very idea being entrenched into the history of the NBA with the annual “all-star” exhibition, something which appeals to us as fans by entertaining the very notion of creating the perfect team.

Nevertheless whilst this may be true, the all-star game is less about playing good basketball and more about paying homage to the outstanding talents of the previous year; an exhibition where no one

to name but a few. They won every game by an average of 44 points. In the entire history of Olympic basketball dating back to 1936 the USA have won gold in every competition except 1972 (silver), 1988 (silver) and 2004 (bronze).

So why are they so good? Can any other sport show the dominance by one nation across its entire history to this extent?

One could argue that it’s simply about talent. The NBA is an American league and all the best players play there; ipso facto, American Basketball is unbeatable.

It’s not as simple as that though: if talent was the only component necessary to winning in sport then England would not have drawn with the USA at the last football World Cup, France would have disposed of the Tongans at the rugby World Cup, and so on and so forth. It takes more than talented individuals playing together; it takes a talented team, a completely different thing, to dominate .

However for a nation to do it consistently over so many generations, it comes from a collective national passion for the game, and exceptionally determined players. To succeed as an NBA player, of course you have to be an exceptional athlete, but perhaps more importantly you have to have the desire to be the best, the commitment to realize your potential and the determination to break into one of the most competitive leagues in the world.

What’s more, once you get there you cannot choke as there is nowhere to hide.

Analysts brutally scrutinize every part of your game, and you are consistently ranked in every aspect of basketball.

Points per game, assists per game, rebounds per game, steals per game and blocks per game are just a few of the statistics available for all to see on the NBA website, which is updated almost instantaneously after every match.

It’s not just the NBA however; the same is true for all American sports. NFL, MLB and the NHL are all the same. No other nation picks apart their players to this extent on a daily basis. To succeed as a professional sportsman in America therefore you must be at the very top of every aspect of your game or the sporting world will pick you to pieces. This is why America dominates international basketball: constant evaluation of every aspect of a player’s game driving him to excel.

A few days ago the 2012 Olympic squad was announced featuring possibly the strongest line up since Jordan’s Dream Team of ’92. The squad includes Lebron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant.

They have the most prodigious scoring talents in the world but there is more to basketball than scoring. The NBA considers an assist just as important as a basket, a block just as exciting as a dunk and as a result players share the ball, spread the floor and work hard for something as simple as a lowly rebound. Furthermore they do this day in day out in one of the most competitive leagues in the world.

Invincible is not a term often used with justification regarding team sport; every team is fallible. Yet this latest USA squad certainly looks “invincible” on paper. Let’s see if anyone can compete with them this summer.

TAKES A WRY LOOK AT THE WORLD OF SPORT The Life of Bryan Bryan Swanson, with his face like a condescending Quaver, is gently tapping his iPad. Like Mozart dressed by Burton he nimbly fingers his way through each football club’s bank balance and ruminates on potential transfers with a dense grin of constipated joy.

It’s January. So Sky Sports News has gone mad. And I love it.

Yes, for one month at the beginning of every year, Sky Sports HQ switches from a well-lit hanger for cleavage and county cricket updates into a curious land of gossiping do-gooders, in which each proposed footballing move is dealt with by a curious mix of mania and reverence.

Imagine a news reporter having to announce that he’d witnessed the Queen die in front of his eyes.

Very sad. But if he’d witnessed it whilst she was riding a tandem with a masturbating alien? Very funny. That sort of half-HOLY FUCK, half-measured solemnity is part and parcel of the Sky Sports News presenters’ Transfer Window Handbook. Along with “Casually Flirt Between Stories So That Derby County’s New Loan Signing Doesn’t Seem As Dull As It Is” and “Believe Whatever Twitter Says”.

Indeed, the scope for Sky Sports' ‘Official Sources’ is probably quite considerable; though the implication is that the rumoured signing has come from an agent or someone ‘in the know’, more often than not, it’s probably from a wily whizz kid with a copy of When Saturday Comes, a strawberry milkshake and a whole bunch of followers on Twitter. But does Sky Sports News care? Does it balls!

If there’s an opportunity to get the yellow snake that wriggles along on the bottom of the screen to flash and shout, then that’s enough for a usually blonde, usually unnervingly cheery female presenter to spark into life and switch to the man we started with.

Bryan Swanson. A man who spends his life standing next to a giant screen, with giant players smiling giant smiles, signing for tiny clubs for tiny fees. The shittest Gulliver ever.

I wonder what Bryan Swanson does in his spare time. Or whether he’s simply always standing in his iCorner, with his iPad, an iDickhead, gleefully deceiving the British public with a hubbub of soccer slander. Perhaps his shoes are glued to the spot and he’s only fed and watered after offering a decent sound bite on Nottingham Forest’s chances of a new player.

I’m presuming this is true, and the only way to end his plight is if football teams stop buying players.

So I urge the football league to stick with what they’ve got this transfer window, before Swanson really loses it, get’s his iChest out and sings “TO THE WINDOOOOOW, TO THE WALL” directly down the camera lens. *Shudder* Jack Murray

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Sport

studentnewspaper.org

Tuesday January 24 2012

Liverpool's reputation in tatters

Phil Smith explains why King Kenny's stance has made the Kop look outdated p31

Darlo on the brink of extinction Chris Waugh assesses the financial mess that has affected Darlington FC and many other clubs coaching staff; it is unclear where funds will be found to sustain the club until the end of the season; and they continue to play in a stadium that – at full capacity – holds more supporters than many Premier League and Championship grounds.

The Darlington Arena, known as ‘The Northern Echo Darlington Arena’, can accommodate up to 25,000 seated fans. Local planning regulations have restricted that capacity to 10,000 (largely in a bid to reduce the astronomical costs of maintaining a stadium that size) but the cost of the ground has financially crippled this traditional football club.

Much of the blame for Darlington’s rapid demise must be placed at the feet of former owner George Reynolds. Reynolds’intentions for the club, though noble, were overly ambitious and ridiculously unrealistic. The then-owner poured large sums of money into the club and was much-liked by supporters until his arrest on charges of money laundering and his subsequent bankruptcy. Reynolds had presented a vision of Darlington as a higher-Championship or lower-Premiership club and began to spend the sort of money that clubs in those lofty leagues can afford to squander.

Darlington is a town of a population of 97,000 and yet Reynolds built a stadium that would not look out of place in the Premier League. At full capacity it can

hold more than Swansea City’s Liberty Stadium and QPR’s Loftus Road and just a fraction less than Fulham’s Craven Cottage and Wigan Athletic’s DW Stadium.

The Darlington Arena cost £18 million to build and the majority of that was financed through high-interest loans.

What is perhaps most worrying about Darlington FC’s predicament, however, is that they are not the first club to struggle in such a way and unfortunately they are unlikely to be the last. Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and Portsmouth are just a few of the established football clubs who have spent beyond their means and almost ceased to exist as a result. Many clubs have not learnt from the mistakes of others and they continue to see themselves suffer as a result.

Football has become a big-money business and, if clubs continue to overreach themselves and spend money they simply do not have, then the sport will become even more unsustainable. Very few Football League clubs now break even and the escalating losses will force some to fold in the not too distant future.

Interestingly, many current Premier League managers would seemingly be happy if some of the clubs in the Football League were removed to make way for their ‘B’ teams. In Spain and Portugal it is normal for many of the large clubs, such as Barcelona and Real Madrid, to feature their ‘B’ teams in the lower leagues

in order to try and nurture players before integrating them into their first-team.

Andre-Villas Boas recently suggested that this be introduced – although the idea was first proposed by Arsene Wenger several years ago. Even if it may help with the development of young British talent, ‘B’ teams should not be introduced in place of current clubs. England has a unique league structure in which there are a far greater number of clubs than many continental leagues contain. Clubs such as Dagenham and Redbridge or Macclesfield

Town should not be demoted from the football pyramid just to accommodate the Chelsea or Arsenal reserves.

Many of England’s clubs already teeter on the brink of extinction as a result of years of financial mismanagement and the introduction of ‘B’ teams for the big clubs into the league structure would all but signal the end for many of those clubs.

Here’s to hoping that Darlington FC will not be the next name to enter into English football’s ever-expanding graveyard of clubs.

OVER AMBITION: Darlo's new stadium financially crippled the club

So much more than just a boxer

INGY THE WINGY

LAST WEEK the world of sport rallied as many of us were sitting at home unwrapping our presents and stuffing our faces in the customary festive way. Darlington was a place where little yuletide joy could be found at Christmas time.

The champagne that was flowing to mark the turn of the year in County Durham had a severely bitter taste, with 2012 set to be the most difficult year in the history of Darlington Football Club – and potentially its last.

The Quakers entered administration for the third time in nine years in December and their future as a club has been in question ever since. A number of players were released and allowed to move on for a fraction of their value at the beginning of January; this before interim manager Craig Liddle and all of the remaining players had their contracts terminated.

Administrators gave a deadline of 12pm on Wednesday 18th January for the club to be saved and, just as the players had been notified that Darlington FC had ceased to exist due to a breakdown in talks to save the club, Darlington FC Rescue Group managed to persuade the Administrator, Harvey Madden, that they had sufficient funds to continue the club – at least until the end of January.

Despite this temporary respite, the Quakers remain in a perilous position.

Their short-term future is uncertain: they no longer have any permanent playing or

Nina Seale takes us through the reasons why we consider Muhammad Ali great, both in and out of the ring

THE BOXER who refused to fight, the “antiwar prophet” who stood up against the compulsory Vietnam draft and racial prejudice, Muhammad Ali’s title as the only three time heavyweight champion with a new style of boxing that relied on speed and agility is only one of the reasons why he has become a true hero. Ali celebrated his 70th birthday last week and his legend continues to grow even in his ripe old age.

It is almost forty years since Ali’s most famous boxing matches: the ‘Fight of the Century’ (nicknamed by the huge press hype) between Ali and his nemesis Joe Frazier and the subsequent rematch, the ‘Thrilla in Manila’. The battle between Ali’s quick fists and Frazier’s sheer power was more than just a clash of talent, as Ali represented the anti-establishment movement through his political stand against the Vietnam War and Frazier the conservative, pro-war movement.

Ali lost to Frazier’s formidable

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blows in their first, full, fifteenround encounter, but four years later the champions fought again and Ali defeated his biggest rival by tiring him with his dancing spars and recurring, punishing blows.

Yet Ali’s fame arose from his refusal to fight in the Vietnam War, saying that he had no fight with Vietnam as they had never discriminated against him: “Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go ten thousand miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on brown people in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights?”

He was found guilty of draft evasion by an all-white jury in Houston with a sentence three and a half years longer than the typical time-period of eighteen months for a similar offence. His appeal to the US Supreme Court was eventually successful, but he was exiled from the boxing ring for three and a half of his prime box-

ing years.

He spent this time gathering support in a movement against the racist establishment, inspiring America’s youth by speaking at 200 university campuses about his beliefs and what he was standing up against.

“

Ali's courage was so great that it even reached Nelson Mandela in his years as an isolated prisoner on Robben Island."

His courage even reached Nelson Mandela in his years as an isolated prisoner on Robben Island. After his release, the former boxer said that “Ali’s struggle made him an international hero. His stand against racism and war could not be kept outside the prison walls.”

Ali ‘shook up the world’ not only by becoming the youngest challenger to defeat the reigning heavyweight champion Sonny Liston at 22, but also by revealing shortly afterwards that he was part of the Nation of Islam; as a result he changed his name from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali. The new name represented his new identity as a member of the Nation of Islam, but only a handful of British journalists, a few notable American journalists and boxing announcer Don Dunphy addressed him as Muhammad Ali. Ali’s beliefs about integration would still be controversial today.

His hatred of the white man extended so far as for him to profess about inter-racial marriage that “no intelligent black man or black woman in his or her right black mind wants white boys and white girls coming to their homes to marry their black sons and daughters.”

After defeating every worthy heavyweight in his era, Ali’s boxing

career came to a close. He did, however, remain in the public eye, publishing an oral history, Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times by Thomas Hauser, meeting with Saddam Hussein in the Gulf War to negotiate the release of war hostages, travelling to Afghanistan as a ‘U.N. Messenger of Peace’ and being voted as Sports Personality of the Century by the BBC in 1999.

His fight with Parkinson’s disease is likely to be his last one, but the causes that this man stood for and the bravery he showed in the pursuit of his beliefs will be what this great sporting hero is remembered for.

His boxing motto was to “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” His personal determination sprung from the belief that “if my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it - then I can achieve it.”

Muhammad Ali was so much more than just a boxer, and that is why he will be remembered as the Greatest.

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