Issue 196

TUESDAY March 17th, 2009

ISSUE 196

vision@yusu.org

FOUR-TIME GUARDIAN STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR

Minister for Sport,

Gerry Sutcliffe -sport

HUGH PYM P 16

LATE OF THE PIER SCENE

CAMPUS MOURNS RON WEIR THE SUDDEN DEATH of much loved provost Ron Weir has prompted many tributes from students and staff.

The University community has been left shocked and saddened by the news of his passing this weekend.

The Derwent provost has been at the University for nearly 40 years and his death will leave a big hole in many lives.

FURTHER DETAILS ON PAGE 6

TIM TOPS TOM Ngwena triumphs in hotly contested elections

ALL THE ELECTIONS GOSSIP AND RESULTS: P4 & 5

2NEWS

YORK VISION

Tuesday March 17th, 2009

HES EAST CONTRACTER IS GENEROUS DONOR TO UNI

QUOTE OF THE WEEK "If you print it, I'll sue you"" Henry James Foy, editor of Nouse, on the story we cannot reveal.

GOOD WEEK bad week GOOD WEEK

Filmmaking Soc.

Their stuff gets to top 10 mostviewed YouTube videos.

BAD WEEK

Tom LANGRISH

Mr. YUSU misses his dream job.

the number cruncher 27,000

Pounds donated by Shepherd Group before winning a contract

1308

Total votes for Tim Ngwena

10

Number of confirmed mumps cases on campus

VISION NEEDS YOU! Good at computers?

Vision are looking for volunteers to help build a brand new website!

Email: vision@yusu.org Front cover photograph

by Jess McGowan.

UNI EMPLOYS 'GOOD SHEPHERD'

BY EMILY FAIRBAIRN

DODGY DEALING in Heslington East has been denied by the University, after the findings of a Vision investigation.

Last July, Shepherd Construction, a York based building firm, was appointed a huge £25m contract to build the new Goodricke College. But this followed £27,500 of donations made by the company, Vision can reveal.

The money was pledged to

Active York - the University of York in the Community Fund, and donated over a period of three years. The fund supports the work of student volunteers in the local community.

If a link between the contract and donations were to be discovered, there would be serious implications for both the University and Shepherd Construction.

However, the University has rejected suggestions that Shepherd’s donations were a deter-

mining factor in their winning of the prestigious contract. Senior Press Officer David Garner said: “Shepherd Construction secured the contract to build the new Goodricke College as the result of an equitable and transparent tendering process.”

Vice Chancellor Brian Cantor has described the respected local company as playing “an important role in the development of York over the last 100 years.”

Shepherd Construction

Goodricke college under contruction- photo courtesy of http://www.york.ac.uk/campusdevelopment/index.htm

your week

handles projects of up to £100m value in the public and private sector. It is part of Shepherd Group, one of the largest family owned, private companies in the UK, with Group turnover in excess of £600 million.

Recently, it has gained a reputation for disputes. In 2002 Former chairman Paul Shepherd tried to sue his family’s own company for unfair dismissal.

THINGS THAT GO MUMP IN THE NIGHT

BY PATRICK HARTE HEALTH CENTRE figures suggest that the University is on the verge of a mumps epidemic.

It was revealed last Monday that there were at least 10 suspected cases of the mumps virus on campus. The incubation period of two to three weeks means more cases are likely, with a strong potential for the disease to spread.

Student Support Service have responded by advising students “to check whether

they have had two doses of the MMR vaccine and if in doubt to consult their GP.” They added, “this is particularly urgent for those who have had close contact with someone now suspected of having mumps.”

The symptoms of the virus are commonly mild, including a headache and fever followed by swelling of the salivary glands.

However, the Health Protection Agency has warned that “it can have some quite severe complications. These include

YORK VISION Tuesday March 17th, 2009

swelling of the testes, swelling of the ovaries, meningitis, encephalitis and deafness.”

One recently recovered student told Vision: “I was forced to go home for three weeks. I’ve never felt so ill.”

The only effective way to prevent the virus is to have had two doses of the MMR jab, a jab that has been associated with the misconception that it can also cause autism, the NHS notes that there is “no credible scientific evidence for such a link.”

Guardian Student Newspaper of the Year 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2007

Editors: Mike Regan Joe Burnham

News Editors: Emily Fairbairn Martin Williams

Deputy Editors: Emily Hodges Samantha Cowley

Deputy News: Nicola Chapman Ruth Gallie

Lifestyle Editor: Rachel Knox

Deputy Sports Will Marwick Pete Stanley

Scene Editor: Andy Nichols

Comment Editors: Harry Pearse Daniel Hewitt

Deputy Lifestyle: Ailsa Macmillan Zoya Pasha

Photo Editors: Juliet Burns Jess McGowan

Deputy Comment: Alex Dale Chris Burgess

Style Editors: Jude Hull Eman Akbar

Sub Editors: Martin Williams Hannah Newton Andy Mcgrath

Features Editors: Josie Whittle Jake Soule

Deputy Style: Jenny Thompson Will Booth

Managing Editors: Patrick Harte Charles Rivington Treasurers: Sam Bates Alex Dale

Deputy Features: Kelly Holt Will Wainewright

Students who think they may have Mumps are advised to seek medical advice immediately and to keep social contact to a minimum to avoid spreading the disease.

Student Support Manager Steve Page is hopeful that York will be Mumps-free by the Summer Term noting “according to my sums anyone infected at the end of term should be symptom and infection free before the start of next term.”

Sports Editor: Jim Norton

Scene Section Editors listed in pullout

Opinions expressed in Vision are not necessarily those of the Editors, Senior Editorial Team, membership or advertisers. Every effort is made to ensure all articles are as factually correct as possible at the time of going to press, given the information available.

Copyright Vision Newspapers, 2009.

Printed by Yorkshire Web

NEWS

YORK VISION

Tuesday March 17th, 2009

EXCLUSIVE: ACTS ANNOUNCED FOR HOMECOMING BALL

GOLDEN BALL

THE NOISETTES IKE REGAN

BY MIKE A RADICAL MOVE to bring the Summer Ball back to campus has been planned by YUSU. Speaking exclusively to Vision, YUSU Services and Finances officer Matt Burton has announced that campus will stage the biggest YUSU event of the year and has revealed the acts scheduled to headline the bash.

The Summer Ball is YUSU’s official curtain closer to the academic year and has been held at York Racecourse in recent years.

However, whilst the events have been an undoubted sucess, a number of problems arose from the venue being held there.

Not only was it logistically difficult to transport so many students from campus to the racecourse, but YUSU found they had “no control over the expensive drinks prices.”

This has prompted Burton to bring the event back to campus for what he hopes will be a memorable occasion: “We’re in a position where we have this

LEMAR

great, underutilised campus and events in decline," he says.

"We have a brilliant opportunity to try and reverse this trend, showcase what campus can do."

The event will centre around the return of Central Hall as a gig venue. The historic building, in which Jimi Hendrix once allegedly played, will see former Fame Academy star and soul singer Lemar take the stage.

This will be accompanied by a second and third stage in Langwith and a fairground on the university car park by Goodricke College.

Indie rockers, The Noissettes have been confirmed, and Freemasons will be in town to perform a DJ Set. Burton also hinted on there being forms of entertainment and decorations designed to make this year’s Summer Ball a "magical occasion.”

Due to the need to set the date for the event well in advance, the ball will take place on the last Wednesday of the year, the day before Derwent’s flagship Big D event.

However Burton insisted

LOONY TOON

BY SAMANTHA COWLEY

FREEMASONS

that his plans for the Summer Ball would not hinder the success of Big D. He argued: "Any money spent at the event is recycled back into the University, via both YUSU and Commercial Services. At a time when bars on campus are under review, holding this huge event on campus could be the difference between a bar staying open or closing."

Despite traditionally being held on consecutive days, the events have an excellent track record for success and both sold all their tickets last year.

However, Derwent Vice Chair and Big D organiser Anna Claire Younger is worried about the effect of the move.

"Although there should technically be enough market for both events, bringing the ball onto the campus makes the events much more similar, and potentially could see a dilution in interest for BOTH Summer Ball and Big D." Derwent Chair Joe Rankin has also expressed disappointment with the ball plans.

"Its a shame that the novelty and sense of occassion are taken away," he said. "I don’t think having dinner in the Roger Kirk centre is really a special occassion."

But many students are excited about the prospect of a campus ball. One second year who plans to attend the event said that she felt “the event at the racecourse felt quite unconnected with campus life”. she went on to add “I think moving the event back on to campus will give graduating students an amazing experience to end their time at York.”

shh!

E h PP Whic er has r lectu spotb e e n g etting ted and down with a y t dir nt? stude

P.O.R.N.O. A NO-NO

BY RACHEL KNOX

RAUNCHY POSTERS for Vanbrugh’s hotly awaited “Volume presents P.O.R.N.O.” event have sparked controversy on campus.

A "strongly worded email" was sent to all College Chairs by current YUSU Academic and Welfare Officer Charlie Leyland detailing her position on "inappropriate publicity." Leyland fears that the posters, which feature half naked women and a tag line sporting "Come Ride the Giant Cock," may cause offence to students.

The email stated that, "inappropriate material plastered around college is an abuse of (your) power, tasteless, and incredibly inconsiderate." She argues that with over 780 undergraduates with dependents, JCRC’s have a responsibility to keep campus child friendly.

Leyland told Vision that, "We had had some complaints from our membership, so I decided

to act upon them in this form.

I don’t think that the publicity was malicious, just not very mindful of our student body, or in fact others that work or walk through our campus."

She added, “I don’t really want to tell Colleges what to do, I just want them to show a bit more responsibility.”

The Vanbrugh JCRC responded by placing ‘censored’ stickers over the most prominent parts of the naked girl in the poster.

However, they refused to take the posters down.

Vanbrugh Chair Dani Fill told Vision: "I can see where they [YUSU] are coming from but I think at another university, such as Leeds or Manchester, the posters would be acceptable."

However, the event's organisers did send out an email which apologised "for any upset we may have caused from these posters."

This is the third time Vanbrugh has used the raunchy theme, each time meeting resistance.

NAU GHT Y: th e

3

NORTHERN NIGHTLIFE mecca Newcastle has been the scene of various bad behaviors after two eventful college trips to the city this term.

The Vanbrugh-James trip of week eight saw one Vanbrugh Student, Brendan Moran, cautioned after being caught urinating in a public place. The first year was fined £80 but defends his actions saying “it was all worth it, ace night, gotta love them geordies.”

Members of Vanbrugh JCRC also stayed in Newcastle past the coaches’ departure in order to locate a missing girl, who was later found without incident and returned by train along with her search party.

Bar Rep Jack Savage, who was responsible for the trip, succinctly described it as ‘eventful’ and does not seem too perturbed by the fact that the college has been made liable for an £80 fine after two anonymous revellers vomited on the coach home.

Goodricke and Langwith’s own trip to Newcastle followed similar lines with Goodricker Philip Johnson spending the night in a cell after police mistakenly thought he was personally mooning them from atop Newcastle landmark, Gray’s monument.

Johnson blamed his actions on pressure from the York Rowing Club. He told Vision: “The rowing club frequently force us freshers to engage in similar acts, often against our will and at threat of punishment... I am now on the verge of leaving it.”

YUSU’s reaction to these events has been to instruct colleges to provide students with a contact card on future trips, and will be investigating any accusations that have been made against the Rowing Club.

STOP TAKING

BY EMILY HODGES

cont rove rsial post ers

NOT URINATING in the baths is one of the promises Derwent students have been forced to sign up to, after standards in their blocks sank to an all time low.

The Derwent residents have been rapped for the disgusting state of their accommodation, with some D-block floors so bad that university cleaners refused to clean them.

“To be honest the state of the kitchens and bathrooms were unacceptable,” Derwent Chair Joe Rankin told Vision. “So the college administrators sat down with residents and drew up a contract to outline what was expected.”

Block tutor Marcelo Romero, together with JCRC Welfare Officers Ciara Masterson and Samuel Houlders sat down with the Derwent residents, and established the new set of rules.

According to Rankin, this included “making sure the washing up was done, not leaving rotting food in the fridge, and not pissing in the bath.”

This is not the first time that D-blockers have had issues of cleanliness. In a previous edition of Vision it was reported that residents had been disgusted when a student “missed the toilet,” and left excrement all over the corridor floor.

4 NEWS

student press We read them... ...so you don't have to Name and Shame “UNGENTLEMANLY” BEHAVIOUR from a Fresher at Cambridge University provoked a serious lecture from the Senior Tutor, reports Varsity.

It seemed the young man had for some time enjoyed signing his guests into the formal hall under the most unsavoury of titles. The first-year’s past entries had included “Miss Fishy Fingers” and “John’s gash 1.”

However, it was decided that he had definitely crossed the line between suggestive humour and just sheer crassness when he signed his most recent lady-friend in as “Future Rape Victim.”

The pre-dinner talk on “unacceptable behaviour,” from the Tutor, may have damaged the student’s plans with his date for the rest of the evening.

Let’s hope it damages his future with all womankind, too.

Thief Relief A DARING STUDENT at Oxford became the hero of the hour when she helped police catch a notorious thief, Cherwell reports.

The undergraduate began the hot pursuit when she realised that the petty criminal had stolen her bike.

The student said, “I chased after him and tried to shout him down but he just cycled away!”

She then hailed a passing police car, only to then be told by the police officer that she was “a little busy.”

The Oxford undergraduate eventually made it to a local police station and was then told that the thief had already been caught by an undercover policeman.

Essay does it ILLEGAL ESSAY writing at Sheffield University has left staff and students shocked.

FORGE reports that an essay writing company had been advertising around campus and offering students the chance to cheat on their coursework.

Students who were passing one of the university buildings were offered business cards for the said company.

A spokesman for papers4u.com said,” It’s a way for struggling students to make ends meet."

As many as 139 students last year were caught with plagiarised essays at the University.

Dirty cheats.

P-p-pick up a penguin THE MYSTERIOUS DISAPEARANCE of a treasured penguin statue has left many LSE students heartbroken, The Beaver reports.

LSE security were seen chasing the three men they believe to have stolen the favored statue, however they escaped the pursuing staff.

“I always loved that penguin,” said one undergraduate, “I’m pretty gutted.”

The disappearance of the penguin has left many students stunned as the statue “looked fairly sturdy.”

The University is looking in to the matter and hoping to expose the culprits. They just hope that justice can be found for the beloved penguin statue.

Nicola Chapman and Ruth Gallie

YORK VISION

Tuesday March 17th, 2009

CLIQUE NO LONGER CHIC: YUSU

SABB -

BY EMILY FAIRBAIRN AND MARTIN WILLIAMS TIM NGWENA has swept to victory in the presidential elections, in what is being seen as a rejection by voters of the perceived 'YUSU clique'.

YUSU Well-established names lost out, giving a fresh face to the new Executive. YUSU heavyweights Tom Langrish, Rory Shanks and Ed Durkin all failed to impress students, while over a quarter of voters chose RON over the ubiquitous Jason Rose and his running mate Chris Ethridge.

The elections saw one of the largest student voter turnouts in the country, with around 24% of students taking part. Vision brings you all the results, reactions and rumours from elections night…

! h h s

b Sab ich b e e n h W ss has p r e t h e m i ith i n g i e s w of s d e a l l ta res his e n t u ? a d v hina in C

- PRESIDENT The presidential race came down to close competition between Ngwena and Langrish, with Ngwena just sneaking ahead to the win.

He thinks his victory is down to his strength as an individual: “I’m not just about policies - students can relate to me.”

Ngwena’s label as an ‘outsider’ to the YUSU clique has arguably been one of his greatest selling points to students. However, the Fusion president is keen to point out that this does not mean he is any less experienced than his rival Langrish: “I’m no outsider to the Union itself, I know a lot about how YUSU works.

Experience can be picked up quickly as I have shown time and time again.”

Once in office the President Elect promises to “get to know the job, get to know the sabbs and make sure we are presenting a united front, make sure we are working as a Union.” candidate Unsuccessful Tom Langrish left the event looking absolutely gutted. He later confessed: “The last two weeks have been the culmination of an ambition that I have held for longer than I care to admit.”

He added: “Last week the students decided that they wanted Tim to be our next President. For that reason (and because he is a great guy) I offer my sincerest congratulations.”

The other two losers appeared less disappointed. Heavily inebriated (and extremely tall) Charles Bushby said: “I didn’t get in it to win it, I’m

Rhianna Kinchin Charlie Leyland here to open people’s eyes.”

Grant Bradley admitted that he and Bushby did not have much of a chance against Ngwena and Langrish, but insisted that “this is not the end of my YUSU involvement.” He said that he had run because he believed that YUSU “can head towards autocratic management.”

- STUDENT ACTIVITIES One of the big surprises of the results night! Current YUSU sabbatical Rory Shanks was voted out after re-running for the same position. He was beaten by rival Rhianna Kinchin who scored 57% of the vote.

Shanks told Vision he accepted defeat, saying “I feel fine, I feel indifferent.” But he added, “It’s a very challeng-

FILM ME IN

BY RUTH GALLIE

THE FAILURE of YSTV to upload all of the YUSU candidate's manifestos on time has angered voters and candidates.

YSTV featured 60-second manifesto recordings on their website, but some candidates seemed to be given an advantage when their opponents' videos were not posted at the same time.

The candidates recorded manifestos the day before voting began. However, when voting had begun a number of the recordings were missing from the YSTV website.

Lewis Bretts

ing job. I hope she does a good job.”

The elected Student Activities Officer Rhianna Kinchin revealed “I don’t know how on earth I won, I just worked so hard!” She reassured students about concerns that Kid’s Camp may be in danger of neglect next year, telling Vision: “I’ll make sure it gets the attention it deserves.”

- DEMOCRACY AND - SERVICES YUSU big cheese Ed Durkin was knocked out by Lewis ‘Fruit & Veg’ Bretts. After two years of Matt Burton’s handy work as Services & Finance officer, Bretts’ll have large boots to fill.

Bretts told Vision: “I’m going to carry on some of his

Emily Scott

work and do some things differently.”

Bretts' successful campaign, based on promises of a fresh fruit-and-veg stall and temporary cash points, gave him a victory of 1199 votes to second place Durkin’s 800 votes. “I was particularly impressed with [Papadofragakis] George’s campaign,” Bretts revealed. “[David] Sharp was a little policy light I feel, but all the candidates did a great job.”

But he added: “right now I’m just going to line up some sambucas at the bar.”

-WELFAREAnother tight race with Ben Humphreys’ prominent position as LGBT Officer perhaps just swinging the victory his way. His policies on greater ac-

> YSTV accused of unfair election coverage > LGBT results could have been affected

LGBT candidate's James a definite lack of fairness and a Ball and Mandi Madavo lost on huge oversight."

Saturday by just two votes. But, One Hailfax unlike their opponents their first-year commanifesto was not posted. Tim mented: "I logged Ngwena’s was also not onto the YSTV uploaded. website on According to Monday mornsome reports the ing because manifestos were I wanted to not uploaded for watch the a whole day out of manifesa voting period of tos before only five days. voting. I e t i s b we One disgrunthought s ' V T YS tled candidate told it was re: W O L Vision: "This was alally unfair that OO S T most certainly not insome weren’t uploadtentional on the part ed when others had been." of YSTV, but it shows He added: "It could be such

a disadvantage to the candidates whose videos hadn’t been posted."

Returning Officer Tom Scott commented: "As far as I know, YSTV got all the candidates’ videos up, just not all at the same time. Ideally, all media organisations would release interviews with candidates simultaneously - that’s what’s been done in the past and what I asked for this time."

However, he added: "I don’t believe that there’s a significant material advantage been gained by a couple of hours’ lead time."

YORK VISION

NEWS

Tuesday March 17th, 2009

FAVES LOSE OUT IN ELECTIONS

FAB

The Winners democracy & services

David Clarke and Jade Flahive-Gilbert

Academic

RAG

Helen Fry and Zoe Stones

Ben Humphrys

student action

sport

Rachel Hesselwood

Emily Scott

entertainment

Student Activities

Sam Daniels and Suzi Ellis

disability

Rhianna Kinchin

Claire Cornock

Campaigns

women'S

Jason Rose and Chris Etheridge

- ACADEMIC Unopposed Charlie Leyland will be staying on at YUSU for her second year as Academic Officer.

Stumbling up the stage after the victory was announced, Leyland merrily told students “Thank you so much everyone. I will do you proud.”

She will be one of the few YUSU crew who students have not had enough of.

- LGBT The closest race of the night was for LGBT Officers, with only two votes separating the top candidates. Elanin Vince and Peter Medley beat Mandi Madavo and James Ball by the tiniest of margins and admitted it had been far

All photos by Jess McGowan

welfare

cessibility, improved accommodation standards and getting a GUM clinic on campus have also proved popular.

Matthew Pallas suffered another disappointing year, having also lost out on the position of Academic and Welfare Officer in 2008. “I’m ok with losing, I’ve done it before,” he said. He also revealed that he will not be having another crack at student politics next year, instead he will be moving in with disgraced exsabb Grace Fletcher Hackwood to study to be a primary school teacher in Manchester.

Tanning Soc.’s Jenny Coyle, who had been tipped as a dark horse to win, was in floods of tears at her defeat. However, as expected, she received the most amount of Vanbrugh votes, proving her huge popularity within her own college.

BY MARTIN WILLIAMS

environment and ethics

Charlie Leyland

Tim Ngwena

THE SABBS

Elanin Vince and Peter Medley

Tim Ngwena

Lewis Bretts

Ben Humphrys

DANCING WITH

LGBT

President

Ellie Kuper Thomas and Amal Ali

from easy to beat their rivals.

“It’s been so close. Every day this past week we have had to be up and out, making sure we were smiling and giving out leaflets,” says Vince. “We were constantly having to work out how to counteract what they [Madavo and Ball] were doing.”

However, the tight contest has raised concerns that the LGBT community might not unite behind the victorious candidates. “We are not sure if there will be trouble,” says Medley. “I think there might be tension but not a split.”

He added: “The issue at heart is welfare. I’m sure people will recognise that and know it is important.”

ing victory as York Sport President, gaining more than 600 votes more than her closest rival, Gemma Johnson.

Scott made an emotional and teary speech and admitted that her win was down to her ‘strong campaign team… I think we were the first to get our posters out.”

See Sport pages for the full story.

- SPORT Emily Scott gained a convinc-

shh!

W h i YUSU cca h didate w nspotted buas in g d ru ygs ju st d ys before a election? the

ALL BRETTS ARE OFF RULES HAVE SCOTT TO CHANGE

BY WILL WAINEWRIGHT YUSU campaigning descended into aggression at a recent Club D, according to eye-witness reports.

The event, which took place in Derwent bar a week before results night prompted some annoyance that the candidates used the night as an opportunity to canvass.

One punter spoke to Vision about being accosted by an over-zealous campaigner. After saying he would vote for David Sharp, the Lewis Bretts campaigner “ex-

BY EMILY FAIRBAIRN

ploded.”

“When I said this, he said that people like me shouldn’t be able to vote if I’m just going to vote for my friends.”

He added: “He told me I was throwing my vote away.”

Another Derwenter questioned the veracity of the tactics used. “Isn’t it bribery to offer to buy drinks for floating voters? It’s ridiculous anyway, why they think harassing the electorate will win them votes is anyone’s guess.”

A COMPLETE OVERHAUL of the electoral rules has been proposed by Returning Officer and YUSU President Tom Scott, who describes the current system as “stuck somewhere in the 1980s.”

During the closely fought elections, the Returning Officer has had to investigate numerous allegations of rule-breaking. Notably, presidential candidate Charles Bushby was suspended from campaigning, after a mass Facebook message promoting his policies was sent

out illegally.

Scott plans an extensive consultation on the existing campaigning system, before putting through recommendations to Union Council. A UGM should then be held, in order to overhaul the system entirely for next year.

Explaining the problem with the current rules, Scott complains: “they’re the result of patch after patch after patch added to the original rules - rules that were

5

drafted before Facebook, before live campus news, and - I think - before mobile phones!”

S c o t t hopes that a modern, more appropriate version of the rules can be his legacy to next year’s Returning Officer. Although he insists that the current rules “have worked fine for this election,” a new set of regulations ought to ensure a smoother process next year.

YUSU-GOD Matt Burton will not have the Student Centre named after him, following a recent vote.

Former Derwent Chair Oliver Lester proposed renaming the building the Matt Burton Dance Hall, but sadly the motion was rejected.

Burton told Vision: “The motion was good fun, but in all seriousness, I wouldn’t really want the student centre named after me or being a dance hall - it is much more than that!”

“It was a nice jokey gesture from some friends and I’m glad that students had sense on it.”

However, some of his friends seem pretty glad to see the motion fail. Right-hand man and YUSU Socieites and Communications Officer Rory Shanks said: "I love Matt Burton but I have an objection to calling our office a dancehall.

We don't do any dancing there."

President Tom Scott revealed he is disappointed the vote didn’t pass. “Motions like this do add to the myths and legends of campus life that spring up over time,” he said.

“In the grand scheme of things, though, I’m not too fussed.”

The Student Centre has been jokily renamed many times before, at one point being officially called The Vaseline Centre.

But hope is not lost for Burton fans, after he subtly hinted: “if someone proposes to rename the Courtyard the Matt Burton Courtyard, I might feel differently...”.

OUT OF ORDER

BY EMILY FAIRBAIRN

VIOLENCE BROKE out at the YUSU election results party when a man began shouting homophobic insults at the LGBT candidates.

The annonymous man was chanting "you queer bastards," whilst the results for LGBT Officer were being announced, prompting several complaints from other members of the crowd.

Doorsafe bouncers flung the man against the wall, before marching him out of the event.

One bystander described the scene: “The guy was totally out of order, it’s disgusting. It looked like the bouncers had to be very forceful with him too, they had him down on the floor.”

Evidently the homophobic student had consumed plenty of alcohol during the course if the evening. Before he was chucked out he was overheard saying: “I’m gonna have 10 pints then get down to BPM.”

6 NEWS

YORK VISION

Tuesday March 17th, 2009

UNIVERSITY MOURNS PROVOST RON WEIR

"He meant so much to Derwent

...he was Derwent"

BY NICOLA CHAPMAN & RUTH GALLIE WITH GREAT SADNESS the University of York announced the sudden passing of Derwent Provost, Dr Ron Weir, who died on Saturday the 14th of March.

Derwent JCRC Chair Joe Rankin informed Derwent students of his death in a brief but emotional email.

Rankin told Vision, “I was shocked and saddened to hear the news. Not only was he a figurehead but he was well respected and well liked by students. He was always happy to take students in to his home and the Provost Dinner was always an occasion when students enjoyed his presence.”

He added, “He was always willing to give time to any student and over the course of the last term, having worked with him, it was obvious that he was not only passionate about the college and its students, but he was more than willing to go out of his way to help them..”

The University released a statement on Sunday via YorkExtra, which included statements from Pro-ViceChancellor for Students Jane Grenville and Profes-

sor Peter Simmons, Heads of the Department of Economics and Related Studies.

Weir graduated and studied for his PhD at The University of Edinburgh before coming to York in 1970. He became Derwent Provost in 1982 and grew to be a figure of inspiration to generations of students.

As a Senior Lecturer in Economic History he was renowned for his expertise in Scottish and Irish Economic History, Business History and the History of the Whiskey Industry.

Weir made many huge contributions to the academic world. His recent publications included The History of the Distiller Company 1877 – 1939 and The Scottish and Irish Unions.

After nearly forty years at the University of York, Weir was due to retire at the end of this academic year, making him one of the University’s longest standing and treasured, faculty members.

Vanbrugh Provost David Efird has said he has many fond memories of Dr Weir. He told Vision, “Ron was a great man, he was very good to me.

As a new Provost, I found him very helpful because he had been here for so long.”

As well as a great colleague, Efird remembered Dr

Weir for the support he always gave to students: “He really cared for the students and put so much time and effort into working on their behalf. He was so caring and loyal... he’s going to be greatly missed.”

He continued, “He died just as he was about to retire. I had wanted to tell him how thankful I was of his help. I was going to tell him all of these things. He meant so much to me and he meant so much to Derwent - he was Derwent.”

Derwent Porter, David Chaplin, echoed these feelings. “It’s a hell of a shock. he was a great bloke and he’ll be sadly missed,” he said.

The news of Dr Weir's death has affected people all around campus. Third-year Economics student, Ben Wilmott, who knew him said, "I feel it is a great loss to us. He was a really interesting man, passionate about what he was teaching but most importantly, he really cared about his students."

Donations towards flowers or a named charity can be placed in a box by Derwent Porters' Lodge. Details of the funeral will be announced by the University when they are known.

University pays tribute to a "truly unforgettable man" David Efird, Vanbrugh Provost:

Joe Rankin,

Trish Scurfield,

Derwent JCRC Chair:

Jane Grenville,

Derwent First-Year:

Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Students:

"He had a greater perspective than most of us. He had that wisdom and he was such nice man."

TOP GUMPS!

BY NICOLA CHAPMAN & RUTH GALLIE

A 60-SECOND REMAKE of Forrest Gump by York University’s Film Making Society has become a YouTube sensation.

The film was entered into Empire magazine’s 'Films in 1 minute' competition. Although the film didn’t win the competition, the spoof video became an over-night triumph with currently over 1,110,400 YouTube hits and nearly 7,000 ratings.

Speaking to Vision, co-Director/ Editor Rocco Sulkin said, “It’s bizarre the way it’s

taken off. We would have been happy with a thousand hits. We had half-amillion in two days.”

Filmed on the astro-turf on campus, the one-minute wonder grabbed the attention of many national newspapers including The Independent.

“It also featured in a Swedish magazine – we’re the number o n e YouTube video in India!”

Most excitingly, the group, which includes Sulkin’s coDirectors/Editors Will Tribble and Joe Burgess, have

"It truly is a great loss for the college.

I have great respect for him.

He will be sadly missed."

been approached by ABC for Good Morning America.

Sulkin added, “We’ve also been approached by Sky for a possible feature on the Guinness World Records prog ramme.

The record isn’t confirmed yet but it would run for ‘the quickest ever complete attempted production of Forrest Gump’.”

Sulkin wanted to thank the team behind the video for their hard work and dedication to making it such a success.

"The welcome Ron Weir and his wife gave us was phenomenal! He chatted to us until past midnight."

"Ron was a towering figure in the University in every sense - we will all miss him very much."

URY BROUGHT IN-TER-VIEW

BY TOM MCDERMOTT NATIONAL ACCLAIM has been won by a URY reporter for his grilling of a top politician.

Josh Chambers impressed journalists and political pundits across the country after his interview with MP Hilary Benn, where he proved to be more than a match for the Environment Secretary.

Chambers seemed to invoke the spirit of

Jeremy Paxman in his interview, asking Benn several difficult questions about Benyam Mohammed, a n

ex-prisoner in the infamous Guantanamo Bay prison, and whether the use of torture is ever acceptable.

As well as attracting

the attention of many political bloggers and commentators, Chambers’ interview impressed BBC bosses so much that he was asked to appear on BBC Two’s Daily Politics show.

URY told Vision, "Josh has done something really extraordinary. Genuinely fantastic!"

Chambers’ interview is available online in the form of a podcast on the URY website.

YORK VISION

ADVERT

Tuesday March 17th, 2009

TA OFFICERS REWRITE THEIR CVs WEEKLY.

IN THE TA YOU WILL LEARN NEW SKILLS AND GAIN NEW EXPERIENCES ON A WEEKLY BASIS. YOUR CV WON’T STAY CURRENT FOR LONG BUT AT LEAST YOU’LL GET SOME TARGET PRACTICE.

armyjobs.mod.uk/northeast

Text ARMY05 to 61110

7

8 COMMENT&DEBATE

YORK VISION

COMMENT & DEBATE THE VOICE OF

Polls Apart

C

ongratulations to Tim Ngwena for becoming York’s latest Union President. His narrow win is a testament to the viability of the other candidates and Ngwena should feel secure in his position knowing that he has won because of his perceived strengths rather than his status as a pirate, or even as the best of a bad bunch. However all of next year’s Sabs must continue to bear in mind that they have been elected by the minority. This year just 23% of the student body actually cast some sort of vote (including R.O.N-ers), yet closer to 100% will be present to judge their successes and failures.

On a lighter note Vision was also delighted to see so many of the Sabbatical Officers and Sabbatical Candidates so fantastically inebriated at Election’s Results Night. It’s always nice to be reminded that they are the most recent of graduates and that maturity has not set in at the Fortress of YUSU quite yet.

S

Having a Ball

ummer Ball is coming home – or to campus, at least. Matt Burton has exclusively revealed to Vision that this year’s Ball will be back on university grounds. Gone are the days of queuing for hours in the cold for buses to and from the Racecourse. Instead, Summer Ball will take place across campus, spread between Goodricke and Langwith colleges. Added to that, the university finally seem to have forgotten about the riotous Boomtown Rats performance in 1985, and allowed Central Hall to be used as a music venue again. And about time too. What’s the point of having a building like Central Hall if it can’t be used for these kinds of big events?

Let’s face it; it was never practical to ship thousands of students all the way to the Racecourse.

At least now, the vast amount of money spent to hire the place can be put back into improving the event itself – offering us cheaper drinks, and higher-quality entertainment. Lemar and The Noisettes, this year’s highlights, are the perfect example of this, and it can only get better.

W

Unacceptable

hilst this years YUSU election results night was a well attended and for the most part enjoyable event, it was soured by one unsavoury incident. We are of course alluding to the ejection of one idiotic reveller who saw it fit to chant “You queer bastards” during the announcement of the results for LGBT rep. The burly, beer bellied, lager swigging 'tit' epitomises the select group of yobbish idiots who marr many campus events and student nights out. It is the voice of Vision’s firm belief that this ignorant individual should be permanently banned from campus events for the undoubtable offence his actions will have caused.

I

DANIEL HEWITT

n the absence of our own website, and a further absence of cash and indeed interest, the nature of my election coverage was slightly thin on the ground this year. Forced to stay in on a Saturday night due to my very own personal recession, my evening consisted of watching Ant and Dec on ITV with my fellow comment editor Harry, and it is safe to say all three failed to provide entertaining company.

So in the early hours of Sunday morning, having skipped all the ‘pointless’ (otherwise known as non-sabbatical) YUSU positions, I logged on to discover this year's election results.

With no sign of any election coverage on the BBC news website (missed a trick there guys), my hunger for information led me to the Nouse website where they had, thank God, provided a detailed blog of the evenings events.

Who was going to win? By what margain? What will Matt Burton say?

Who is Matt Burton? Such questions however were thankfully answered by the combination of YSTV and the aforementioned blog, both of which were keen to divert my attention to the ‘exit poll results’ of the Presidency race.

Now, I am not going to deny bursting out laughing when I saw the term 'exit poll'. Standing outside Langwith with a clipboard and pencil asking predominantly apathetic passers-by who they voted for doesn’t really constitute an exit poll. One of my friends was one of the lucky few to be asked who he had opted for this year, and he answered ‘not Tim, the other one’ and the ‘analyst’ noted down his response and thanked him for his contribution.

I know not much happens in York as far as entertainment is concerned, and our campus activities on the whole extend only as far as coffee and table

THOMAS SHELDRICK B

Tuesday March 17th, 2009

y the time you're reading this, next year’s YUSU President will have been decided, and he will have spent several days reveling in his glory. I’ll look pretty stupid if I’ve got this wrong. I’m willing to risk it though, I’m pretty darn confident.

Charles Bushby and Grant Bradley won’t come close to winning the YUSU Presidency. Add both of their votes together and they won’t match either Tom’s or Tim’s; they’re so far from taking the President’s Chair that the chair is a dot to them.

Their attacks against a ‘cliquey’ YUSU stink of desperation and ineptitude. Grant Bradley is not a ‘man of the people’, and Charles Bushby, soon to return from his fifteen minutes of fame to take his rightful place as sidekick to Dan Taylor, couldn’t even remember Bradley’s name. They haven’t got a chance.

But why should they? Langrish and Ngwena outweigh them in experience and ability, and, this year, the two-fingers-upat-YUSU approach isn’t going to stick.

It’s easy for students to sit there in their air-conditioned en-suited

tennis, but guys, seriously, what were you all doing on Saturday night? Surely your journalistic talents and university funded television equipment can be put to be use than election coverage of an election hardly anybody bothers to elect.

Interviewing Matt Burton in the ‘corridors of power’, talking of how he has set a precedent for this and started the ball rolling for that, comparing ‘manifestos’ and ‘discussing’ election polls.

Vision's own presence at the elections centred around two frantic news editors with good old fashioned pens and paper and one very bored deputy editor facebook stalking at Vision's very own desk!

If the ‘race’ for Presidency had

"Tim won because he has more friends than Tom." genuinely been taken seriously, if most students actually cared, then Tom Langrish would have won. This is nothing against Tim; he’ll do a good job I suppose, whatever doing a good job means. But anyone who actually read Langrish’s record would have voted Langrish. This guy’s done everything: YUSU Officer Trustee, University YUSU Policy and Campaigns Officer, Alcuin JCR Vice-Chair, University Senate Undergraduate Rep, the list goes on.

I didn’t read these policy promises before I voted; otherwise he would have got my vote. Instead I voted for Tim, simply because he seems like a pretty sound lad and my girlfriend told me to. And this is my point. Tim won, not because he is better than Tom, but because he has more friends. The majority of the people I know who bothered to cast their vote voted Tim simply because he's a nice bloke. This doesn’t James bedrooms (I’ve never been), and say “it’s just another popularity contest.” But have a look from the other direction.

I recently overheard a conversation in Vabrugh computer concerning the upcoming elections.

“Have you voted?” “Nah, I’m not going to dignify any of them with my vote.” But what does this kind of attitude achieve? Yes, Burton and Shanks can sometimes appear like Tweedledum & Tweedledummer, but I doubt they would have got much done in

"Matt Burton has never realised that colleges are allies, not competition." the office if they hated each others’ guts.

Last year's JCRC elections saw the age-old allegations chucked about all over again. An inevitably anonymous comment on The Yorker back in December described the Vanbrugh JCRC as a ‘clique’, and ‘a pack of hyenas’ descending upon outsider Chair candidate Will Scobie. The reality was that Scobie, despite being armed with some potent political rhetoric and being a genuinely nice guy, was no match for Dani Fill, who’d gone way beyond her remit as Ents Rep. and got stuck into

mean this is all he is, he was President of probably the best show I’ve ever seen on campus and has raised thousands of pounds for charity in the processes. I do not doubt this guy’s ability, but he won because no body cares about YUSU or its elections. The few that do care are those media outlets, who acting purely out of self-interest, provide students with a ‘blog’ and a television show of the coverage, coverage of an event that the majority of campus didn’t take part in.

Student Union elections are vital in the interests of democracy but not so vital in the interests of entertainment. The process and phraseology of General or even Local elections are not applicable to campus-based elections.

Talking of ‘pledges’, the ‘Alcuin vote’ and ‘a tight election campaign’ are neither relevant nor appropriate for what is essentially a popularity contest. The shock that surrounded Rory Shanks’ defeat was ludicrous. It wasn’t the changing of the old guard or an anti-YUSU vote, it was just that more people know and like Rhianna Kinchin than Rory.

These yearly elections should be treated for what they really are, a popularity contest. The candidate with the most friend's wins, and this is primarily the reason why I shall never run for a position at YUSU.

everything in the college as a Fresher.

JCRC members, however long they spend sitting in Vanbrugh or Derwent, are by their very nature the opposite of a clique. It exists to provide welfare and activities for every student within its community. If students are too cynical, and/or lazy, to get involved, then that’s their loss.

Back to the big dogs in the Student Union. Their role isn’t much different. Look around you, aside from your degree, YUSU is heavily involved in pretty much everything that goes on in your experience at York. Yes, that experience can be improved, but not if you don’t let them know how to do it.

Certainly, YUSU is a fair way off being perfect. Its relationship with colleges themselves needs a dramatic reform for a start. I don’t think Matt Burton has ever realised colleges are allies, not the competition. However, interviews with candidates for the position of Democracy and Services Officer for URY’s Election coverage revealed that David Sharp, Ed Durkin and Lewis Bretts would all commit themselves to working closely with JCRCs if victorious. More impressively, these guys actually want to improve your student experience (or am I buying into the rhetoric too much now?)

The ball’s in your court. If you failed to vote in Week 9, you don’t get to complain. And let this be the last time you read or hear the word ‘clique’.

TURN TO PAGE 10 FOR FUSION, ISLAMIC FEMINISM AND INTERNET PIRACY

YORK VISION

COMMENT&DEBATE

Tuesday March 17th, 2009

GUEST COLUMNIST

9

Scarred by her experience as a Nouse correspondant, Polly Ingham sought solace in the tranquility of the countryside and reported back to her friends at Vision...

POLLY INGHAM M

any students seem to forget that the bubble of York actually floats within the atmosphere of Yorkshire.

Many, indeed, may be interested to know that in addition to being situated vaguely in the north-east, Yorkshire actually has three national parks and a multitude of national heritage and natural beauty spots that simply must be explored and cherished during our time studying here.

My flatmate, being from Latvia, felt this tremendous urge to get out into the countryside for his twenty-first last weekend. So, in two cars laden with Asda smart-price bacon and more Carlsberg and port than you could shake a stick at, we ventured down the long, winding, and what can only be described as ‘z’ roads to the hamlet of Rudland, where ‘The Old Chapel’ awaited us. To say we were isolated may be an understatement, as Rudland consists of three houses, a cattle grid and a post-box, situated right in the middle of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. Perfect. No threat of coun-

cil action due to noise disturbance, and, should the boys so wish, miles and miles of fertile, peaty land to practise pissing into the wind.

To the locals in York, students are a nuisance who don’t pay council tax and steal their jobs during term time, only to leave whole ghettoised streets vacant during the holidays. In contrast, to the residents of Fadmore, a slightly more industrious village two miles from Rudland, we were celebrities, and welcome ones too (although scenes from Hot Fuzz were never far from our consciousness).

One of our party was wearing a Derwent College hoodie, and as we piled into The Plough Inn eager to sample a hearty pub lunch, we overheard these gruff and curious Yorkshire mutterings, “Oh look…”, “Hmm…where are they from?”, “Oh Derwent…where’s that?” How delightful it was to be exoticised and appreciated, rather than having chips thrown at us by our less than accommodating neighbours.

Not yet being fully in the swing of

"...miles and miles of fertile, peaty land to practice pissing into the wind." country life, the kitchen was closing as we arrived at a tardy 13:45, however after buying in a round of Black Sheep Ale the delightful land lady was convinced she

wanted to fill our bellies with sausage and mash and steamed strawberry pudding which was all home-grown, reared, slaughtered, seasoned and served, directly from the fields around us. In addition to a barrage of questions about where, and for how long, we were staying whilst recommending the best market towns to visit, our host detailed the trials and tribulations suffered by weather dependent, family run businesses stowed away in the valleys and foothills of England.

What became clear is that, if we city-

So I urge you, for one weekend, to rally the troops, forget that Efes, Club-D and big purple bendy buses exist, and commit a little to this beautiful county we are lucky to live in.

"How delightful it was to be exoticised and appreciated, rather than having chips thrown at us." folk do not venture out into the wilderness and invest a little of our time and money, then these places may disappear, or most certainly be taken over by the amassing impersonal corporations which dominate the majority of our present leisure experiences. Above is just a snippet of one long and wonderful weekend in the country, and I maintain that no matter what you are partial to: orgies or scrabble, cosy time or karaoke, as long as you desire to breathe in the beautiful fresh air instead of the sweat from a Rugby-social-smurf, then the huge variety of novel nooks to be discovered in Yorkshire have something to offer.

Polly's ideal man; wholesome, rural and unlikely to frequent Ziggy's...

Meanwhile Sam Bates asks whether York's colleges are sowing the seeds of their own destruction...

SAM BATES A

n opinion piece, penned by Derwent Chair, Joe Rankin, in a previous edition of the Comment section led me to ponder the current health of the college system at York. In my time here I have become sceptical of its merits as it currently operates. But as opposed to Joe, I foresee an exciting time to be a student at York in future years, with success from a new student venue creating a greater universitywide community atmosphere.

Now, before you decide to lynch me let me say this; Yes, college sport is fun, when played in the right spirit, and yes, we need a less centralised welfare system.

But these are perfectly well provided for by “halls of residence reps” at other universities.

What I cannot understand is the importance some students place upon their college. Why should colleges take priority over the university as a whole? I am reasonably confident that most people here chose to come to York because it is an excellent academic institution.

I certainly did not apply to York because Vanbrugh’s Volume is the best night out in the country! I simply chose my college as any other student in the country would choose their halls of residence; based on location, price and facilities. I assume this is true of most people, if in fact they even request-

ed a specific college at all.

I have no idea where this factionalist attachment and almost fanatical attitude towards colleges stems from. I would much rather get involved in wider university life. I cannot believe the hassle I have had for not attending a college event and stating my preference of going to the new Courtyard instead! It is better than what had hitherto been on offer. I feel I should support this new and exciting project. I simply fail to see any problem with a new venue creating a community atmosphere in a communal space, for a university that is frankly too small to be divided up into smaller bodies anyway.

The main problem is that colleges are hampered by their size; college events are not big enough spatially and financially to be either profitable or, to be honest, very exciting. I am not surprised that the new YUSU bar worries college JCRCs. It is truly a terrific step towards having a real communal Student Union complex - something that would be a great advantage, since since York as a city does not have a, dare I say it, vibrant nightlife. It seems so unfair that Leeds has some of the best city nightlife and one of the best Students Union venues. Even the most blinkered of Ziggy’s devotees must admit that York lags far behind in both respects.

It is fine by me if you are a fan of having an identical night “out”, in the same bar that you would usually sit in free of charge, at a college event that only differs from the last event because people are looking ridiculous in a different costume this time.

It is not necessarily my idea of a good time though.

Nevertheless, it seems to me that colleges are worried that this chart-and-cheese demographic is becoming an ever-decreasing minority.

"Perhaps The Courtyard can serveas a wake-up call to a college system that is radically in need of an overhaul."

In my opinion, that can only be a good thing, but let us put aside the chart-and-cheese-versus-proper-music debate for now. In the end, it is up to the JCRCs to decide how college events are run.

All of this brings me onto another point. There is far too much power vested in JCRCs that are elected by means of a popularity contest. People do not care enough about college policy to research their vote any better than to elect their friends into office. Fair enough, that is democracy, but it does not necessarily lead to the best candidates getting the job, which is a source of frustration to me, and further increases my doubts about the value of the colleges.

College bars and events are failing, that much seems clear. It seems to me that rather than simply pointing to the new venue in Langwith, the colleges should take a long hard look at themselves. Are college events actually very good? Are the colleges doing their job right? I fail to see the problem the colleges seem to have with The Courtyard - what is wrong with a bit of competition? In my mind, it raises the standards in the marketplace,

especially one in which colleges have had it too much their own way for the past few decades.

Perhaps The Courtyard can serve as a wake-up call to a college system that is radically in need of an overhaul.

What we see before us now is a system that is beginning to fail, and yet refuses to accept the fact. Therefore, instead of reforming it in the faceof competition, people criticise the new threat. This is conservatism at its very worst. People seem afraid to give a chance to a new way of doing things because, despite the obvious inadequacy, they are cosily entrenched in the system as it stands. Wake up and smell the Kronenbourg, colleges of York. The Courtyard is the first step in a new and exciting direction and I say good luck to it!

York's big night out.

Leeds' big night out.the 2008 elections Langrish during

10 COMMENT&DEBATE

YORK VISION

Tuesday March 17th 2009

COMMENT & DEBATE Enamoured of Fusion and berated by Nouse. It has been a week of mixed emotions for Harry Pearse...

THE MUMBLER I

like to formulate my somewhat rash judgements and leave them suspended, beyond reproach, amidst the clutter of ideas and beliefs that constitute my weird little mind. Therefore, I’ve never reacted well to being impugned.

My gross errors are not usually exposed in a very lurid fashion; I can normally muster some form of sophistical getout clause that disguises what was essentially another example of personal idiocy. However, I was recently proved wrong in such a demonstrative manner that no amount linguistic trickery could excuse me from my own foul judgement.

I am referring of course to the latest spectacle to delight the audiences in Central Hall; Fusion. I’ve spent a long time at York harbouring disparaging sentiments about the University's largest charity giver, (largely in fact because I wasn’t aware of the full extent of their charitableness – my prejudices regularly flourish from my own ignorance!) My knee-jerk response to their gaggling ebullience and pearly white smiles was usually one of irritation. Who are these smug, self-congratulatory beauties, and what are they doing invading my oth-

erwise placid world of cynicism and misanthropy? I balked at their philanthropic pretensions.

These people aren’t charitable I thought, they’ve merely identified the most effective means of publicly flaunting their good looks.

In retrospect it’s safe to say these prejudices were, in part, a consciously constructed barrier. For some time I’ve been a bit of a Fusion voyeur; I attend their events, (ensuring I’m too pissed to be able to face up to any of them), and have generally shown a quiet interest in their activities, (without getting close enough to be utterly drawn in). My disdain for Fusion was born of a need to maintain some distance between me and something that, deep down, I was always slightly fascinated by.

But, in light of the events during the last three weeks, culminating in Week Eight’s spectacular production, I’m happy to announce a wholehearted volte-farce. I was blown away by the show. The costumes were great, the lighting was professional, the choreography was exceptional, and the execution was excellent.

But the events holistic quality lay, not in presenting a series of exciting showpieces, but in drawing them all together and producing an entire show that left the audience wowed and unable to pick a “best bit”.

The level of commitment was monumental. Knowing

several of the cast I’m aware of demands its placed on their time and energy; each waking moment spent perfecting a routine or design. Some unlucky members even had the unenviable task of organising a rabble of performers more accustomed to student revelling than dawn rises and four hour practice sessions. Devising the main themes and stylistically fine tuning the show would be a huge ask for anyone.

The effort paid off, and the Fusionites should be very proud.

O

n an entirely separate note I wish to respond to a comment piece written by Raf Sanchez in the latest edition of Nouse. Sanchez takes issue with the Comment pages in Vision, which, according to him, are replete with ‘mumbling’ and ‘shadow play’.

The focus of his ire was an article I wrote bemoaning the health of our campus media now that the editorships of Nouse and Bad Taste are held by the same person.

I found several of Sanchez’s points rather puzzling: He wrote that readers would not know what the piece was about owing to its lack of explicit references. Curiously, in his first paragraph Sanchez was, having read my piece, able to neatly summarise the topic of discussion. Perhaps I could have been clearer, but a recent censorship dispute involving Vision was a prime example of notable campus figures being unduly sensitive to criticism, this encouraged me to err on the side of caution. I’ve received several responses to the

piece in question. Not everyone agreed with me, but they were all familiar with the situation under debate.

Sanchez claims that I was ‘forgetting the many other publications as well as the Yorker’ when I lamented that two thirds of York’s media now operated under one editor. Firstly, my broader point that by fusing two publications one reduces the scope of the University’s remaining students to dictate the style and content of their media remains true regardless of exact numbers. Secondly, the other publications he alludes to may sometimes be available on campus coffee tables, but they are released infrequently and are usually academic in nature. Vision, Nouse, and Bad Taste are the Universities principle pillars of the campus media. The Yorker is another medium entirely and is regarded differently to the Universities print media.

Most bizarrely, in his second paragraph, Sanchez conceded that the topic of my article was ‘important and worth discussing’, but singularly failed to further address the subject. It is all very well to denigrate me or the style of Vision’s reporting but, as he rightly admitted, at least we are broaching issues that demand the attention of students. Sanchez is correct, ‘having a platform for your views is a privilege’. It is therefore important to use that privilege to talk about something significant, not fritter it away by dodging the overriding debates at large.

Has our western upbringing prejudiced our views of Islamic feminism?

LAUREN COCKBILL T

here is no contradiction in Islamic feminism. The hijab, polygamy and Sharia Law are a few of the reasons why many Westerners regard a Muslim feminist as an oxymoron. I however believe Islam has in fact long since preceded the West in recognising women’s rights.

As long as fourteen centuries ago, Islamic countries were acknowledging housework as wage labour. Islamic housewives are paid a salary by their husbands; their work is valued and they can be financially independent. Western housewives in contrast earn nothing; their work and time is invisible.

But following discussions with British housewives, it is not clear that they even want a salary. Western women seem to value their contribution to family life more than money. Moreover, housewives who share a joint account with their husbands are surely better off than if they received a minimum wage payment from their husband or the government.

It is clear that there are conflicting views on acknowledging women’s work.

These diverging views illustrate a key point in relation to the debate: there are many pathways to feminism. Instead of the singular ‘feminism’, it would be more appropriate to say ‘feminisms’, of which Islamic feminism and Western feminism are two approaches.

The hijab, the garment worn by some Muslim women, which covers everything except the hands, feet and face has in recent years sparked contention. The debate surrounding the hijab reiterates the idea of ‘feminisms’: some see it as an imposed, degrading garment, whereas others see it as a symbol of female empowerment.

The Koran teaches men and women to dress modestly, but it does not specify wearing the hijab. If a woman chooses to wear the hijab then that is her right.

By covering, a woman can divert the male gaze from the female body to the female voice; instead of being judged on beauty, she can be judged on intelligence.

But I wonder how much choice is given to Muslim women living in Saudi Arabia, where the hijab is enforced, or in Iran, where failing to cover can result in the death penalty. More importantly, I wonder whether Saudi and Iranian women even see the hijab as oppressive. I would resent being forced to cover, however my perspective is heavily influenced by my Western upbringing. The hijab would prevent me from playing tennis, sun bathing and wearing a slinky dress to a

party; three things I immensely enjoy.

A Saudi woman, alternatively, may not consider these things important, especially if she has been raised in a culture where the hijab is the norm. The fact that Saudi men also have to cover suggests that covering is not a method of oppressing women, rather it is an interpretation of what the Koran calls dressing modestly.

There was a time in Iran when women were restricted to working in the home, were not allowed in most university faculties and were not allowed to be judges. I believe these laws were based on male interpretations of the Koran. Today Iranian women are unmaking such laws. There are over 260 women judges, women make up 63% of the university student population and women are permitted into all university faculties except the faculty of heavy engineering. I expect it is only a matter of time before that law is changed as well.

A Muslim feminist is not an oxymoron; there is nothing in the Koran which teaches that women are inferior to men.

Today the battle for Muslim women is to continue the fight of unmaking the ‘manmade’ laws.

Law makers in the West are predominantly men too, an issue Western feminists need Baroness Haleh Afshar OBE; a to address. prominent Islamic Feminist

CHRIS BURGESS Is YouTube helping or hindering comedians?

A

s the last issue of Vision was going to press, I heard an interesting story involving comedian Lee Hurst. Angry that someone might have been stealing his material to put on the web, the former star of TV quiz show They Think It’s All Over seems to have got a little carried away. In the middle of a stand-up gig in a Guildford pub last year, he left the stage and smashed the phone of an audience member who he believed was recording him.

Too far? The courts certainly think so, as Hurst was recently fined and ordered to pay compensation. However, though phones are expensive, isn’t artistic integrity much more valuable?

Hurst believes that as people record him to put on YouTube, they are also stealing his jokes. He claims jokes stolen from him have ended up in TV shows, whose plagiarising writers then claimed them as their own. From this perspective, guarding your material seems like a very important thing for any creative professional.

But to steal a comedian’s jokes at a gig, all I'd need was a pen and paper, or even a good memory. If Hurst is also suggesting that I scour the internet for funny stuff to steal, then surely having his work on Youtube would secure it, as it would remain as proof that he got there first. Furthermore, his comedy would then be viewed by millions, who show it to their mates and decide to buy tickets to his next gig. YouTube clips have certainly influenced me to go and see live comedians. Yes, you can see your favourite comic for free online, but it is no comparison to the real thing live on stage, when you are armed with copious amounts of lager and the sudden feeling that heckling is a good idea.

"YouTube marketing is the best way to be successful."

Try searching Lee Hurst’s name on YouTube. There are no clips of his stand-up. There are many of his TV work, circa 1997. He seems to be so protected from the internet thieves that he has become a relic. Today, the internet keeps funny people current and popular. And it can keep people profitable too. The best argument against Hurst’s YouTube vendetta is the example of Monty Python. Last year, before Hurst’s destructive assault, Monty Python launched their own YouTube channel, releasing high quality videos of previously pirated material that had found its way onto the site. Even though viewers could watch their favourite clips for free, they followed the links to Amazon, resulting in an insane 23,000% increase in Python DVD sales. Those free videos have attracted customers who have remembered how much they love Spam and the Ministry of Silly Walks, sketches written before the existence of the internet.

Clearly then, YouTube marketing is the best way to be successful nowadays.

Any losses from piracy can be more than returned by embracing, rather than fighting, the internet. Perhaps someone needs to tell Lee Hurst this, or at least teach him to count to ten slowly in his head before he destroys any more expensive technology.

SATIRE

YORK VISION

Tuesday March 17th, 2009

THE SKETCH

11

SUPER SABBS: UNION UNITES FOR GREATER GOOD

BY LIAM POPE A press release from YUSU sent to all ratified media outlets has today revealed that the current serving sabbatical officers are to be dispatched to the Middle East, in a bid to finally bring peace to the region. Both YUSU and the University felt that all options for achieving stability in the area had been exhausted by multi-national bodies and domestic governments, and that dispatch-

ing Tom Scott et al was the only thing left to be done.

The idea was hatched by a drunken Burton at this year’s YUSU elections results night whilst he, and the other elected representatives, were dressed in full Thunderbirds attire. Having collectively rescued a traumatised fresher from the arms of a rugby player, the sabbatical officers became confident of ap-

plying their noble skills to a more global arena.

After glugging yet more red wine it was also decided that whilst in combat, the officers would be kitted out with costumes representing heroes from the world of cinema.

Burton, having eagerly shotgunned the Indiana Jones costume, then insisted that Rory Shanks dress as Rocky Balboa.

This whilst a dejected Tom Scott was forced to

settle for a Robin Hood costume because Alex Lacy had stolen the Morpheus outfit, which Scott had marked out as his first choice. All the officers have expressed their immediate wish to be despatched to the region; Charlie Leyland joyfully exclaimed “To combine saving lives with dressing as Boudicca is something I never dreamed of doing when I got elected last year”. However, she did

speak of some minor concerns; “I think we function best as a team of six, but Jamie’s been holed up for days working on his Lassie costume and he won’t fly out until its perfect… the problem is we need to get out there quickly and save lives”.

Society consumes us, so we consume society: "I ate his liver

YORK VISION

FEATURES

Tuesday March 17th, 2009

V

12 FEATURES

P14 - 15

Y T I C S U S UNI VER

JIM NORTON investigates the consequences of the credit crunch on the university.

A Woman's Work is Never Done...

Kelly Holt takes a look at the careers of some of York's most succesful female graduates.

I

nternational Women’s Day, held on the eighth of March, was celebrated across the globe last week.

Some countries such as China, Moldova, Kazakhstan and Russia designate the day an official holiday, when men honour their wives, girlfriends, female relations and colleagues with small gifts and flowers. Rooted in socialism, the first International Women’s Day was held in 1911, and has gone from strength to strength over the past century, as many victories have been won for women’s rights. In some less developed countries, however, women remain second class citizens with few rights, and poor standards of education and healthcare.

Furthermore, violence against women remains a problem not just in less developed countries, but also in the developed world.

However, the organisers of International Women’s Day maintain that ‘the new millennium has witnessed a significant change in both women’s and society’s thoughts about women’s equality and emancipation’ and so ‘the tone and nature of IWD has, over the past few years, moved from being a reminder of the negatives to a celebration of the positives’.

With this in mind, we took a look at some of the achievements of female graduates of our very

own University of York. Notable female politicians, authors, journalists, actors, economists, radio presenters, historians, comedy writers, numerous academics and a Baroness have all filed through the grim doors of Central Hall at some point.

Perhaps a good place to begin is with Christine Hamilton; beginning as a secretary to several (male) MPs, including her own husband, in 1997 her career and her name began to eclipse that of MP Neil Hamilton, after she confronted his political opponent in the General Election campaign.

Appearing on shows such as Have I Got News For You and I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, Christine proved herself to be the epitome of a strong woman, being dubbed a ‘battleaxe’ by Martyn Lewis, whilst a Daily Mail columnist suggested, perhaps worryingly, that ‘with more women like her, Britain would have never lost the Empire’.

Imperialism aside, Hamilton’s Book of British Battleaxes, whilst undoubtedly tongue in cheek, does examine the lives of some of Britain’s strongest female characters, ranging from Queen Boudica to Joan Collins. She has also appeared in The Vagina Monologues.

Christine Hamilton is a woman whose career seems to have been enhanced by her gender, rather than held back.

Author Linda Grant is another female York graduate who has shown an inter-

est in women’s history; her book Sexing the Millennium: A Political History of the Sexual Revolution has been described as a ‘modern feminist history’.

The internationally-acclaimed author, and another York alumni, Jung Chang’s first novel Wild Swans was also an international bestseller - all about the lives of three women in China’s Communist regime: her mother, her grandmother and herself.

The book was banned in China, but still sold a staggering ten million copies; not bad for a former Derwentian.

O t h e r notable female names include Oona King (MP), Verity Sharp (Radio 3 presenter), Julia Davis (comedy writer), Carol Leader (actress) and Harriet Harman (deputy leader of the Labour Party), however, one woman who has done perhaps more than any other for equal opportunities in Britain is Professor the Baroness Haleh Afshar OBE. Awarded the OBE in 2005 for her services to equal opportunities, Professor Afshar is not only a York graduate but also a key member of the university’s Politics staff. When I asked her whether she believed that women in Britain had truly gained equality in the workplace, her answer was surprising, saying she believed that ‘equality is a long way off if we judge by the gender pay gap, by the gender power gap and by the invisibility of women’s interests in most arenas in the UK as well as elsewhere’.

It is a sentiment echoed by the organisers of IWD who admit that despite the great steps made towards gender equality in recent years, ‘women are

Jung Chang's first novel Wild Swans was an international bestseller... not bad for a former Derwentian.

There is an edge of desperation and frustration in the screwed up slip Helen Nianias tries her luck at some local gambling

Professor the Baroness Haleh Afshar, York graduate receiving her OBE for services to equality. still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women’s education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men’. This may come as a surprise to many British women of our generation, who have spent their childhoods aware that they generally outperform their male counterparts academically, and have hopefully encountered little in the way of gender discrimination up until this point in their lives. Tellingly, the IWD website states that ‘many from a younger generation feel that ‘all the battles have been won for women’.

Whilst this may be true, Professor Afshar maintains that ‘feminisms are alive and kicking hard. A few of us are returning to demands for wages for housework to valorise women’s work; some of us are insisting that we wish to be equal but different, and many of us are still fighting hard wherever we can to im-

prove the positions of women’.

Whilst some of the female graduates of this University have gone on to do great things, whether promoting equal rights by leading by example, or actively considering women’s rights in their work, the sad fact remains that unless current trends change dramatically, many female graduates will earn less than their male counterparts and fewer women will end up in managerial positions.

Professor Afshar insists that women must ‘not lose heart, join the struggle, and hope that one day we will be able to share the joys of life with men, as well as sharing the burden of paid work, on an equal par’.

Though perhaps not all women need follow the example of Christine Hamilton and legally change their name, by deed poll, to ‘British Battleaxe’ as she did in fact, in February of this year.

HUGH PYM

P13

dddd

BBC's Chief Economics Correspondent meets Vision

P16

13FEATURES

YORK VISION

Tuesday March 17th, 2009

Lucked Out? Helen Nianias raises the stakes and dives headfirst into her local bookies....

A

s I walk into the ToteSport on Hull Road I start to wonder what I’ve let myself in for.

Waltzing in with an air of practised confidence, I start to worry that my theory of ‘beginner’s luck’ isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. I feel I’m following in a family tradition, what with my grandma and her sisters resolutely betting on the Grand National every year. But sitting in a building without a women’s toilet opposite a man with LOVE and HATE on his knuckles, this is a far cry from my middleclass granny having a flutter.

Believing in luck at all in this strangely clean, gently humming room seems mildly stupid after five minutes.

With televisions on different walls flickering with different games and most races lasting little more than thirty seconds, money is lost in mere moments, each defeat swiftly followed by advertisements for new odds, the next race and the next potential win.

Talking to a friend about my gambling plan, his advice was to always bet on the favourite: ‘I always bet on the rugby team most likely to win - you won’t make much money, but you’ll make something.

Then keep betting on the favourite. You’ll definitely come out of it with more money than you went in with.’ Is it actually possible to know almost nothing about betting and, like my confidante, stick to this tactic,

and still win big? Based on my losses, the answer seems to be no. It seems impossible to win big even if you know enough about racing. Betting on the reserve, a safe bet according to my new friend George, fails to win. He comes third in a six-dog race. It seems that following a rule is fairly useless: anything could happen.

George is about a thousand years old and seems to know just about everything about horse and dog racing. Arriving only fifteen minutes after I did, and with no sign of leaving when I scuttled out, I sensed a man with, well, not a passion exactly, but a pretty sustained interest in gambling. Does he believe in luck? ‘No,’ he laughs. ‘Sometimes…you just get a feeling about a dog or a horse, or just the name. That’s what I go on.’ Clearly, that’s not doing too well for him. As I’m sprinting up to collect my money from the counter (four wins overall is pretty exhilarating), he’s speculating carefully about his next bet; not bidding while I’m scribbling down the number of the bookies’ favourite. Although there must be some skill in betting on horses in the big cups, sitting in a bookies all day betting on virtual dogs seems a rather desperate game, clutching at straws and desperately trying to formulate some type of ‘logic’ to make it seem worthwhile.

This is, notably, all part of the subdued buzz of in-store gambling. Your interest is always sustained. If you saw a twenty-minute gap between races, you might be inclined to leave, but by putting on virtual races, with animated horses and dogs racing against a generated track, the bookmak-

ers are able to sustain their customer base, even without

There is an edge of desperation, the frustration in screwed up betting slips ... the main point of interest: the dogs. If gambling is really, as many hardened betters claim, a skill based on a back-knowledge of the dog, the trainer, previous wins and so on, then how are non-existent dogs accounted for? By ensuring that races are at maximum intervals of ten minutes, sometimes as little as three, the bookmakers can use these questionable games to sustain the constant muted hum of gambling.

Sitting in the bookies for a prolonged period, the repetitive jingle of the slot machines and gentle mumble of the commentators becomes hypnotic. Time loses its sense: there are no clocks, apart for the times that flash up on the screens to indicate when the races startAs a bingo-player, I thought that the sense of fun of a night down Mecca might manifest itself in a day betting on dogs. The companionship that bingo brings to the regulars is notable, but it seems to

take on a different form in the bookies. There is an edge of desperation, the frustration in the screwed up betting slips, and the intensity of the man covered in tattoos with scarlet eyes. Basing bets on feeling or instinct creates a sense of personal failure, much more so than your bingo numbers not coming up in the book that you’re randomly assigned. Gambling this way, there’s much more of a sense of wildly shooting in the dark.

Interestingly, ToteSport’s spokesperson has claimed that betting has not been affected by the credit crunch, and has stated that ‘people want to use the crunch to win some money’, which seems to make no sense at all. I don’t think anyone in the room won more than they spent. Clearly this monotony and sense of new hope, dashed hope and hope renewed that exists in bookies, this trapping cycle, means that it’ll take more than a recession to stop people betting on a dog that ‘feels right’.

It is easy to see why there are somewhere between 250,000 to 300, 000 ‘problem’ gamblers in the UK, and 1.25 million people ‘at risk’. Having spent a grand total of £35 and winning £27 of that back, I’m doing better than everyone else in the room even though I’m on a loss. ‘You’re doing well,’ says the woman behind the counter. Gesturing to the old men that have now packed the room out she says, ‘these people sit here all day. Don’t come back tomorrow.’ When Vision’s photographer shows up to drag me away, I ask for five minutes so I can bet on the 3.07.

I have a feeling about a dog…

YORK VISION 16 FEATURES Thousands of graduates, one failing economy - it must be...

Tuesday March 17th, 2009

Pyms O'Clock!

Vision’s Will Wainewright paid a visit to the BBC to pick Chief Economics Correspondent Hugh Pym’s brains about graduating in a recession...

Interspersed by such moments of excitement, most of Edgington’s time at the Unit is spent in an intense research environment, preparing briefs and answering questions from journal-

With the jobs outlook so poor, pursuing further study would seem a good option

V

T

V

he BBC’s Business & Economics Unit has been a busy place in the last year. With the economy stuck firmly in reverse gear, stories concerning unemployment, inflation and the recession have regularly topped the BBC’s news bulletins and phrases such as “credit crunch,” “fiscal stimulus” and “quantitative easing” have entered the lexicon of the nation, helped in no small part by the BBC’s team of business and economics journalists. Unlikely figures like Business Editor Robert Peston – with his strange habit for breaking exclusive stories and his even stranger voice – have risen to prominence in the downturn, regularly fronting the BBC’s coverage of the economic crisis.

However, away from the glamour of the camera lies the Business & Economics Unit, whose indepth research and analysis into the unprecedented economic circumstances is relied upon by reporters relaying the news to the nation. Since the magnitude of the economic turmoil hit home in September – when not a day seemed to pass without the demise of another financial institution being reported – the Unit has been working in overdrive to quantify and explain the vast changes taking place in the economy.

York graduate Tom Edgington, who has been working as a Home Affairs and Economics analyst in the Unit for just over a year, took time out of his hectic schedule to tell Vision about working on the credit crunch frontline.

It quickly becomes clear that his short career at the BBC has been something of a baptism of fire.

“I joined the BBC on 21 January 2008 – the day the global stock markets plunged to their lowest levels since 9/11, marking the start of the credit crunch ‘bite’ – and the first six months were one hell of a learning curve.”

Having graduated in 2005 with a degree in politics and sociology, the economic focus of his work took some adjusting to and the unprecedented circumstances mean the credit crunch frontline has proved an exciting – if fraught – working environment. “There are occasions when someone rings five minutes before they’re on air to ask how much Vehicle Excise Duty will be in 2011 – or something equally obscure – which does tend to send you heart rate rocketing! However, with the global economic story changing by the day, it was not too long before I began to really relish being right in the middle of the foray.”

ists across the BBC. After 2008 was spent propping up the global financial sector from irretrievable ruin, Edgington believes 2009 will focus much more on the taxpayer and how these unprecedented bailouts will be paid for.

“We have already witnessed global co-operation on a scale not seen before with government fiscal stimulus packages deployed all around the world. At the BBC our immediate attention is on the London Summit on April 2 which may provide us with the first real clues of what the post-crisis world will look like.” The unprecedented nature and scale of the crisis, however, should not be underestimated. “It is still anyone’s guess just how long and how severe this recession will be.”

Edgington’s downbeat assessment of the economy is echoed

by Chief Economics Correspondent Hugh Pym, who remarked that “the outlook is, in a word, bleak.” Pym is one of the BBC figures who rose to prominence during the downturn, stepping into the breach while Economics Editor Stephanie Flanders was away on maternity leave. Pym emerged as the Beeb’s trusted authority on economic matters and chatted to Vision about how the graduate jobs market will be affected by the downturn.

Having co-authored books on both Gordon Brown and the Credit Crunch, Pym specializes in economic matters and is as well-qualified as any to assess the impact of the recession on students. However, despite his cheery TV manner, he has few words of comfort for those entering the jobs market this summer. “There will be thousands of talented students around the UK graduating this year and joining the weakest jobs market in years- employers are reining in heavily on recruitment.”

Is it really that bad? “It is their misfortune to be finishing

HUGH PYM: THE FACTS Standing at 6ft 7, Hugh Pym is the same height as Peter Crouch.

In 2001, Pym stood as the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate in the North Wiltshire constitutency.

A historian, Pym has co-authored a book on Philip II of Spain.

Pym took part in a charity performance of Money, Money, Money for Children in Need last year, busking in front of the Bank of England.

Took part in a performance of Abba's Money Money Money, with other business correspondents for children in need, busking in front of the bank of England.

He has written books on the Credit Crunch, the Great British economic system and a historical tract on Philip of Spain.

their studies during a recession.

It is easy for me to say, but don’t take the rejections personally!”

Pym’s views reflect those displayed by experts, as reported

by Jim Norton on page 14/15, but believes students should look on the bright side and view it as a blessing to be studying at the moment. “Students are immune to the effects of the economic crisis to the extent that they don’t need to work full time.

Studying is always worthwhile in the long term and the intellectual fulfillment and enhanced job possibilities that result should not be underestimated.”

With job prospects for graduates at their lowest ebb for a generation, Pym viewed areas of the economy as safer than others for students plotting their future course through a difficult labour market.

“Opportunities related to emerging markets, such as China and India, might be worth looking

at. Some areas like pharmaceuticals and food manufacturing have so far held up well in the recession.” Other areas, however, have not been so lucky. “It does not take a lot of insight to say that financial services and law are not fruitful areas to pursue at present. A chunk of employment which grew up in the boom years has probably been lost for ever.”

With Pym not expecting the jobs market to pick up substantially until late 2010 at the earliest, he has words of advice for graduates considering using the downturn to enhance their “employability” through further study. “Pursuing post graduate studies would seem a good option when the jobs outlook is so poor. Universities as a whole have experienced an increase in the number of applications for Undergraduate places to start in autumn 2009, which must have something to do with the economic downturn. School leavers are deciding that further education is a better bet than joining a weak labour market.”

The bleak picture Pym paints of the jobs market may not fill students graduating in the downturn with confidence, but his main message seems to be “don’t panic.” He suggests that, overall, though it is a good time to be a student, the credit crunch does not kill off opportunities.

If the example of Edgington is anything to go by, he may well be right.

LIFESTYLE

YORK VISION

LIFESTYLE

Tuesday March 17th, 2009

17

BACKSTAGE AT FUSION HOT With the stress of the Fusion show over, Rachel Knox chats to two of the lovely ladies who took part...

W

found myself actually getting quite excited upon seeing that the immense queue of people waiting to gain entry to Central Hall stretched right through Vanbrugh!

After just two minutes into the actual show I was already impressed. An amazing amount of detail, effort and dedication had obviously gone into pulling off the show which is produced on a scale not usually seen in campus productions.

There were over one hundred different costumes, perfectly complimented by professional standard hair and make-up, and made all the more exciting by the stunning technical effects.

After being so blown away by what to me was, formerly, a vapid and superficial society I decided to get in touch with the people who made it happen in order to find out what Fusion is really all about...

eek Eight witnessed the return of Fusion. For those of you who’ve managed to escape the gossip and mystic surrounding Fusion, it's a society which raises money for charity through its annual fashion, dance and music show.

In the build-up to the performance, held on the Friday and Saturday, you’d have had to be pretty oblivious not to notice; campus was plastered in publicity. From the distincitve Fusion posters that took over campus's usual poster hotspots, the music booming from Central Hall and the huge Facebook profile pictures urging people to see the shows and to help reach their target amount of money for charity.

I had never seen a Fusion show before and was curious about the cliquey ‘good-looking’ society I’d heard so mcuh about in my first year. Having bought my ticket online and convinced a few friends to accompany me I

Ridiculously exciting! Ray Quinn to win!

The Model... Clare Keegan

C

Summer is finally on its way!

Easter eggs.

They're getting smaller but at least it tackles obesity!

Red Nose Day. Climb Kilimanjaro? Rather you than me!

Being pestered by campaigners for YUSU elections!

Chris Moyles.

The man is even annoying at the top of a mountain!

NOT

lare was one of the amazingly brave girls involved in the 'lingerie scene'. One of a few girls prepared not only to stand, scantily clad in front of the 1650 people who eventually saw the show, but also to hurriedly change behind the fragile veil of umbrellas. Personally I don’t think I could have done it at least not without shaking or being sick with nerves.

On her own nerves Clare told Vision "waiting to go on stage on the second night, knowing how full Central Hall was, I honestly don’t think I’ve ever been more nervous in my entire life."

"The only thing I could think was, ‘what the hell is going to happen if I don’t get changed behind the umbrellas in time?’ It could have gone so wrong, I think we actually only managed it about twice in rehearsals."

Having never considered modelling as a career before her involvment, fun seems to be the main reason behind Clare's participation in the show. "My housemates were doing it… so I thought… why not!"

Having seen the show, Fusion certainly looks like a fun experience. But speaking to her afterwards she even managed to make me jealous. The charitable aspect of Fusion made her enjoyment and indeed her personal gains from the show seem so much more worthy. "The atmosphere during and after the show was incredible, everyone was really happy! I’m very proud that the show was such a success. Being in Fusion completely took me out of my comfort zone. I’m so much more confident now.

Also, I met some lovely people and had lots of fun!"

But such a huge show needs a lot of dedication, especially leading up to the ‘big night.’ Although it was definitely worth it Clare does admit that: "in the few weeks leading up to the show I had something Fusion-related to do practically everyday, rehearsals or fittings or something."

She added: "The creative team were very organised though, so it was just a case of turning up and following instructions."

N

ewly elected YUSU president Tim Ngwena, not content with heading up YUSU is also the main man behind Fusion. As president (of Fusion, YUSU has hung up their dancing shoes after York Come Dancing…) he leads committee meeting, choreographs modelling and dance scenes and has organised the whole Fusion show, which took six whole months to plan. Sounds like far too much work to me, but with so many dedicated Fusion hours put in he must have been so proud of the success of the final show. He told Vision; “the show felt great, we didn’t know how many people were seated outside once backstage but hearing the fact that on Friday we has a full-house really created a buzz backstage and I think a lot of the performances were stepped up because of the adrenaline!”

Tim was also immensely proud of the money raised for the two Fusion beneficiaries; World Vision and Spring Hill School. He commented “we’ve already beat last year's target even after expenses so that’s a great start and it highlights that with a term left we have the potential to go much further. The sell out on Friday and the after party sell out helped massively towards this and I think shows the potential we have for next term.”

With the show over Tim can now concentrate on training for his new YUSU position but he told Vision that the show will be a real miss. “I’ve spoken to so many other members of the cast and we all agree that we miss the show. With a cast so large, it’s been a great experience and we’ve met so many people from different walks of University life that personally I think it’s a shame that it’s over as I would have liked to have continued this experience.”

The Dancer... Lucy Allen

T

The President... Tim Ngwena

his year's show was Lucy’s second Fusion performance, but this year not only was she a dancer but was also given the added responsibility of choreographing a few scenes.

She explained, "I auditioned to be a dancer and was then asked by the directors to choreograph a modelling scene and a dance scene, and I said yes!"

But choreography brings with it a lot more responsibility, preparation time, and a massive increase in dedication.

"I think it’s more demanding choreographing sections because it’s obviously finding the time on top of the rehearsals to choreograph before teaching, but it’s all rewarding."

Clearing the immense commitment of Fusion has not been enough to put Lucy off - given that this is her second appearence - and I can't help but

Fusion Dancers (from left to righ)t: Clare Keegan, Hannah Middleton and Lucy Allen share her enthusiasm "It’s great. You get to meet lots of new people who you spend lots of time with at rehearsals and parties. Everyone is really friendly."

From speaking to the girls it seems Fusion is all about team work and although the subject of mockery the social aspect is clearly a key reason why the show works so well. It is about people who will work hard whilst still having a laugh without taking themselves too seriously.

Even as a choreographer Lucy could not escape the nerves: "I always get nervous anyway, but that’s good because you need the adrenaline!" Yet clearly the endemic nervousness is worth it as Lucy commented that "there's always a post-show 'deflatedness; when going back to normality", ever the optimist she added, "But my degree is desperately needing some attention so at least I’ll have more time on my hands now."

18 LIFESTYLE

YORK VISION

Tuesday March 17th, 2009

LIFESTYLE

VISION'S 15 things... 'that make you want to kill your housemates'

1)The time you had that essay due and didn't go to Ziggy's but they woke you up to tell you 'the really funny thing that happened in the taxi.'

2)That mouldy bowl next to the sink that nobody will claim.

3)That you know that someone is stealing your cereal but you haven’t caught the sneaky thief yet!

4)The fact that, when you moved in, the cutlery draw wouldn’t physically close but now there are no spoons to be seen.

5) That if you accidentally sleep in before your 9:15 there’s always, without fail, someone hogging the shower!

6) The pile of dirty plates (probably yours) under their bed.

7) Public displays of affection with their girlfriend/ boyfriend on your couch their room is only 30 seconds away!

8)When their alarm goes off first thing in the morning when they’re away for the weekend... and they locked their room.

A WEEK AS A... COLLEGE CHAIR Derwent Chair Joe Rankin lets us all in on the glamourous and soughtafter position of College chair...

T

he alarm goes off. I fall out of bed, often literally, and turn it off. Then I get back into bed and fall asleep again. I do this pretty much every day.

Every night I set my alarm to give me loads of time to wake up and get ready to hit campus; it’s habitual. I almost never use that time. But it’s part of my routine. So is the subsequent rush to get to a meeting, seminar or lecture on time.

I represent nearly 1000 Derwenters and I ensure that they receive a whole host of services, some of which I might, given some luck, ensure improve! Much like my mornings, my week has a routine of sorts too.

It starts on Tuesday.

I have a reasonably early seminar (11am is early), two lectures in the afternoon, the possibility of a Club D ticket sale to help with, the Derwent Merch sale, usually a meeting or two thrown in for good measure, the small matter of the weekly JCRC meeting to Chair and finally the Derwent Bar Quiz to end the day. Sometimes I even help set it up. Tuesday is a busy day.

I occupy myself thinking or doing something ‘Derwent’ every day of the week. Facebook events have to be made, messages sent and replied to, Club D decisions agreed, University staff lobbied, committees sat on, essays avoided, e-mails checked and to -do lists re-written.

If you’ve sat next to me in a politics seminar or lecture, my ‘notes’ actually read: “send out agenda, get projector working, remember Ent's Committee, chase up drinks deals, send out stew-

ards ‘fb’ message, rugby training.”

Being Chair involves an almost constant process of doing small things to make sure the big things come together – and about half of those small things tend to get done on Facebook!

In part, my week is a routine.

Whether it’s routinely giving myself 20 minutes from bed to campus or sending out my latest barrage of e-mails and Facebook messages, chairmanship seems to demand a routine.

But being a Chair is about (and is worth) far more than ticking off tasks on a todo list. It’s representing students and working to produce and improve the services our JCRC provides them.

That’s what excites me.

I like m e e t ing the staff responsible for our bar to push for offers. I like Union Council and the rest. I enjoy planning events. I don’t even mind filling out the forms!

I can’t fully say why I like these daily jobs, but I know that the satisfaction you get when the Club D, sponsorship deal, drinks promotion or RAG parade (which Derwent should have won) actually happens is a major motivation.

While I’m focused on ‘making things happen,’ to use a phrase I dis-

like, there’s no way it is all down to me. What we (Derwent JCRC) do is down to the hard work and abilities of 43 dedicated people. As Chair, a major focus of my week is helping those people get their ideas and projects off the ground and over the next hurdle. More often than not, that means offering advice. Sometimes it means rolling my sleeves up and getting involved (unexplainably, this often entails duck tape).

Just as I’ve spent a lot of time talking here about working on JCRC services, I spend a lot of time on this during the week. Yet, equally as important and entirely less obvious is the time a Chair gives to representing the interests of the students they represent.

I know its clichéd and usually sounds hollow to talk about honour or pride and I’m conscious to avoid coming across as conceited, but I am proud to represent Derwenters & Derwent College itself. I’m conscious that what I say and what I promote at these meetings or events is meant to be reflective of Derwent students' opinions and that responsibility really is an honour. At any time during the week, any Chair worth their salt should be considering how best they can represent the students for whom they act.

So there you have it - that’s pretty much what goes on in an average week for a Chair in eight hundred or so words.

In part, it is a routine; every-day tasks, meetings and working with committee members. But more widely, it’s a rewarding, interesting, diverse, difficult and occasionally significant occupation that takes over your thoughts and life until you’re setting your alarm clock according to tomorrow’s to-do list!

STUDENT STUNNERS GET THE LOOK:

9)Squeaky bed springs. There are certain things you just don’t want to know!

Scarf: Ebay

10)Disputes over the remote - Harry Hill isn’t funny!

Jeans: All Saints

Bag: Kath Kidson Tops: Topshop

11) The state of the bathroom.

Favourite item of clothing: DKNY sunglasses

12) The fear of accidentally leaving your Facebook logged in...

GET THE LOOK:

13) Phonecalls to open the door at 4 in the morning because they’ve forgotton their keys.

Jacket: £1 at a charity shop Tie: Old school tie

14) The fact they always forget their keys...

Jeans: Levi

15) That most of these things apply to at least one of your housemates...

Shoes: 'they're my housemate's!'

Waistcoat: Charity shop

Sally Betteridge

Favourite item of clothing: 'This tie!'

Alex Holdsworth

YORK VISION

LIFESTYLE

Tuesday March 17th, 2009

LIFESTYLE

19

BUDGET LIFESTYLE: £1-A-DAY With the end of term approaching and bank balances at an all time low, Martin Williams discovers what living on a budget really means...

Everyone knows that university is expensive, so why do we still blow all our cash on takeaways and drinks? After paying up to go skiing, I realised I’d have to start saving. I wanted to see just how little

money it’s possible to live off if we really have to.

So, I decided to set myself the task of spending no more than £7 in the whole week...

March

2009

Monday 2nd From now on I would only be buying the essentials, and that meant no chocolate, no alcohol and no club entry, and limited tea. I could forsee tea being a massive problem. The few tea bags i had left would hardly last me a day with my usual 6-cup-a-day average- never mind a whole week. I marched straight down to Aldi to stock up on nasty cheap stuff. My week’s food would be a combination of bread, pasta, beans, cheese, frozen veg and tangerines. Yummy.

Tuesday 3rd

At first, living on the cheap was ok, in fact it felt good to be saving money. What’s more, it gave me a great excuse to avoid going to Tru, the most depressing night out in York. Let's be honest nobody's drunken senses want to be greated by the smell of overcooked Frankfurters. But pretty soon I had that desperate craving that I knew I would never be able to ignore: a cup of tea. And so, Costcutter-value tea bags and milk were regretfully added to the week’s shopping list.

Wednesday 4th Risking the temptation to buy a drink, I set out to Ziggy’s with its free entry. I had been looking forward to it, but the idea of a penniless night out has now left me in awe of how tee-totalers survive there.

Drinking at Ziggy’s is not a way to enjoy yourself, it’s a way to handle the smell. Afterwards, while others piled in taxis, I trudged home in the rain, dragging a merry housemate along with me.

Thursday 5th By now it was getting to me just how boring pasta is. It’s like Jo Brand: no matter how you dress it up, it’ll never be attractive. In fact, the only way to liven up a meal of pasta and cheese is by using Action Man bow-tie shaped pasta, but we all know that Alan Partridge-based entertainment only has a limited longevity.

Friday 6th After accidently sleeping through my alarm clock, there wasn’t much of Friday left. On the plus side, it meant that I didn’t have to worry about not spending any money. There really can be no better way of saving money than hibernating.

Saturday 7th Before heading to Club D with a ticket bought last week, I decided I didn’t want a repeat of Wednesday.

Although I wasn’t going to buy drinks at the bar, I went on a search for the cheapest alcohol around. I found myself back in Aldi faced with a selection of super-cheap but super-bad drinks. Amongst the best, two litres of cider for £1.75. Cashback!

Sunday 8th My credit-crunching week had finally come to an end! Although I was well and truly sick of pasta concoctions, I had managed to spend around only £7, probably saving about £45-50! Although it was probably rather an extreme amount to cut back by, I now feel like a reformed person, less likely to waste money. I’ll still continue to blow all my student loan on stuff I don’t need, but I’ll enjoy it more now!

Credit Crunching Shopping List...

Baked Beans29p at Aldi

Mixed Frozen Veg- 99p at Aldi

1kg Pasta Shells- £1.09 at Tesco

Costcutter Value Tea Bags- £1

2 Litre Taurus Cider (5.3%) £1.75 at Aldi

20 LIFESTYLE

YORK VISION

Tuesday March 17th, 2009

LIFESTYLE

DO YOURSELF A FLAVOUR Paddy Harte fills us all in on York's hidden food gems and urges you to step out of the Costcutter comfort zone...

L

ast Christmas, enormous steaks, TV chef Rick all of which are of Stein named far greater quality York’s ‘Scotts butchand actually lower ers’ one of his food in price, then the heroes, but alas the alternatives stocked 130 year old butchat our ironically ers , which allegedly named Costcutters. sold the best ham in The staff are trethe UK, is now very mendous and never much bankrupt. Once short of witty banthe Low Petergateter, a far cry from the based shop front was counterfeit smiles packed with an array donned by the workScotts of York, 81 Low Petergate of meats, but now, force in the average it is bordered up with Yorkshire supermarket. dusty ‘For Sale’ signs that poignantly Across from Swain’s, its hard mark the shop's demise. Good, local to miss the fishmongers ‘Robins’ which and often relatively cheap food is one sells fish ‘from Scarborough daily’. In of York’s many enchantments - but, fairness I’m not much of a fish man clearly it is something dying out. – but one fellow student told me that Whilst we ravage on Efe’s, waste our the fresh fish was “scrumptious” and loans in Costcutters and occasion- a snip at just £3.50 for a salmon steak! ally binge shop in Morrisons, we for- In the corner of the market it’s hard get there is another world out there. to miss ‘Henshelwoods’ one of York’s Just off The Shambles in the many delicatessens. This gem is centre of York is Newgate Market, stocked with some 30 different cheeses, offering a huge selection of locally homemade houmus and even haggis! sourced food. A notable establishment It’s a little more expensive then most is ‘David Swain’s Butchers’ which shops but in taste it is unsurpassed. stocks Yorkshire sourced chickens, Enough about Newgate Mara plethora of flavoured sausages and ket, it’s not the most convenient place

to shop if you don’t feel like the monotonous trek into town , there are still plenty of places to get good food around the University. ‘Browns’ in Heslington, although not admittedly cheap, always strikes me as being rather empty considering its proximity to Derwent College. The snacks on offer are far better then your average meal deal, homemade and pretty much preservative free, they range from turkey and cream cheese baguettes to freshly cooked pies. In addition, the shop sells the standard organic fare ranging from nutty cereals to nutty alcoholic beverages.

Of course no article on locally sourced foods can forget ‘Country Fresh’ the grocers conveniently situated on Hull Road. This place speaks for itself, with enormous bags of potatoes at less than a fiver and a tonne of other deals, shopping in this place is a steal.

York offers some damn fine food and places like these are dotted around the city. So I urge you to check out one of these fine little establishments - the staff are chatty, the food is brilliant and quite often (despite a couple of the more pretentious traders) they are can actually save you money too.

ST. PATRICKS DAY RECIPE Beef and Guiness Stew Ingredients: 2 pounds lean stewing beef 3 Tablespoons oil 2 Tablespoons flour Salt and freshly ground pepper and a pinch of cayenne 2 large onions, coarsely chopped 1 large clove garlic, crushed (optional) 2 Tablespoons tomato puree Preparation: Trim the beef of any fat, cut into 5cm cubes and toss them in a bowl with 1 tablespoon oil. Season the flour with salt, freshly ground pepper and a pinch or two of cayenne. Then add the meat.

Heat the remaining oil in a frying pan over heat. Brown the meat. Add the onions, crushed garlic, and tomato puree to the pan, cover and cook for about 5 minutes.

Transfer the contents of the pan to a casserole, and pour some of the Guinness beer into the frying pan. Bring to a boil and stir to dissolve the caramelized meat juices on the pan. Pour onto the meat with the remaining Guinness; add the carrots and the thyme.

Cover with the lid of the casserole and simmer very gently until the meat is tender -- 2 to 3 hours. The stew may be cooked on top of the stove or in a low oven at 300 degrees F. Taste and correct the seasoning.

Scatter with lots of chopped parsley.

LIFESTYLE

YORK VISION Tuesday March 17th, 2009

LIFESTYLE

21

TRENDS THROUGH TIME

Power dressing in delicious arrays of eye popping shades, the return of acid-wash jeans and the glitzy world cinema trends Vision's style team celebrate 40 years of trend-setting cinema.

W

6 1) Freida Pinto 2) Oscar de la renta S/S 09 3) Luella 4) Oscar de la renta S/S 09 5) Slumdog Millionaire scene 6)Herve Leger, Narciso Rodriguez (right)

ith the sun finally making an appearance on campus, and the recent Oscar Award winning film SlumDog Millionaire sweeping an Oscar for it's colourful aesthetic, it’s time for a change... Spring/Summer 09 is flooded with colour, from gentle pastels, vibrant block colour, to large multi coloured floral prints. In the last decade colour has made it’s comeback. The LBD will always be an essential, but lets face it - it's no longer that exciting. I was honestly shocked to be walking through a sun flooded campus the other day, only to find the majority of people blending in with the rather dismal mass of grey concrete. I agree

H 3 1) Margaret Thatcher 2) Dog and Bone, Ralph Lauren, Pronza Schouler & Tommy Hilfiger S/S 09 3)Working Girl

3

2

1

4

5

that the thought of wearing bright, block colour can be rather intimidating if you’re not used to it.

That's no excuse for not making the attempt to ease into donning a gradually more colourful wardrobe, however.

There is no denying that it is fun to wear colour, whether people think you look like a multi-coloured, slightly clashing piece of cheap rockstick from the beach at least you look as if you’re enjoying yourself. This summer, from highstreet to catwalk, cinema and festivals, everyone is brightening up. I suggest you do the same.

00s

Jenny Louise Thompson

I

t has been said that every generation laughs at the old fashions, but follows religiously the new. We may not be ready to accept just yet the Union Jack dresses of the nineties as vintage yet we most certainly are eager to embrace the iconic style in Pretty Woman!

This seemingly ‘old’ fashion is on the contrary somewhat new. Julia Robert’s cut out blue and white body hugging dress gives the dynamism of ‘colour blocking’ and would most certainly not look out of place on the rails of American Apparel. Likewise with the stoned-washed denim which has made a long awaited comeback on the catwalks of Miss Sixty and Alexander Wang. Uniquely worn just above the waist

90s

2

arrison Ford, shoulder pads and nipped in waists – what more could you want from a film?

Starring Melanie Griffiths, Sigourney Weaver and of course Harrison Ford, ‘Working Girl’ typified the female empowerment of the 1980’s, when hair was big and shoulders were bigger.

The subtle sexuality within ‘power dressing’, emphasising the hips and shoulders, thus highlighting the waist, was a professional approach to use sex to get ahead in business and for that matter, government. Margaret Thatcher with her pussycat bows and ‘garden-party hats’ is a fabulous example of a woman needing to look executive and feminine, a fact that might have been responsible for the French president François Mitterrand comparing her eyes to Caligula’s and her lips to Monroe’s. Lady

Thatcher wore her tailoring like a suit of armour. Her hair was as invincible as a helmet and her handbag as fearsome a weapon as any brandished

by Boadicea. Those “power shoulders” typified her style as much as the omnipresent pearls and round-toed Ferragamo court shoes with stout 3cm heels. And fashion is still running after this look. ‘Big shoulders edged onto the runways of Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, Alexander Wang, Diane von Furstenberg and others this Fashion Week’ as one commentator stated, excitedly heralding the return of ‘women who know what they want’ and for that matter, who know how to get it. In her gold lamé corset, Madonna fabulously sums up the sexual freedom of power dressing, a freedom that fashion has been unable to let go.

80s

William Booth

7

1) Julia Roberts, Pretty Women 2) Marc by Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang & Miss Sixty S/S 09 3)American Apparel 4) Julia Roberts

2

0’s influence's were evident than more amongst the Spring/ Summmer 09 collections.

From Charles Anastase’s geek chic - classic 70’s locks (strict middle parting, subtle wave) and retro glasses contrasting towering platforms, to Ralph Lauren presenting the sharper side of 70’s style bright, white, tailored shorts-suit and gold lame harem pants (yes guys, this summer you will be channelling Princess Jasmine chic), this decade's distinctive style, from the casual to the luxe, was plentiful.

But to which archetypal 70’s bombshell do we look for inspiration? Given the strong influence of heavy metal this season, who else but the extravagantly backcombed, metal cape ( and little else) clad Jane Fonda, circa cult classic Barbarella? Admittedly, and indeed

4

Judith Hull

1

1

3

in Pretty Woman held up by our favourite accessory of the moment: the skinny belt. While ‘power dressing’ may have been a reserve of the 80’s, its legacy shines through in the masculine blazers of the high society girls thrown over a pair of drainpipes a crisp white shirt (see Topshop. com for a fantastic While selection).

Julia Robert’s profession may not be coveted in the film, her clothes most certainly are! A film as rich in plot as it is fashion, its the perfect inspiration for any look this season.

thankfully, SS 09 doesn’t quite take the trend quite as literally as our chainmail draped heroine. Instead, designers have opted for swathes of shimmering lame in rich golds and bronzes. Statement pieces such as Donna Karen’s beautifully draped gold evening dress (again style with classic 70’s hair and makeup, a common theme) typify really the trend. And indeed, in Sophia Kokosaliki’s collection we see a sharp, structured and somewhat futuristic mini dress that, despite it’s lack of woven metal and relative excess of fabric (Barbarella being far from shy when it comes to flashing the flesh) would surely do our 70's muse proud.

70s

Emily Brunwin

3

4

5

6 1,4) Jane Fonda, Barbarella 2. 3) Ralph Lauren S/S 09 5) Charles Anastase’s S/S 09 6) Donna Karen S/S 09

22 LIFESTYLE

YORK VISION

Tuesday March 17th, 2009

LIFESTYLE

MENS FASHION A/W 09

I

Up and coming stylist Daniel Johnson tantalises our fashion buds with the best from Autumn/Winter 09.

’m sat looking snobby French through videos mans undergrowth, but of the vivid collections of British I will be taking notes from men’s fashion, on Friday night show at London fashion week A/W 09. I cook along. have to wonder, as I I most definitely won’t imagine you would start wearing as well, will I ever salmon and want to wear any baby pink colof these? In most oured trackcases, NO. Despite suits with overhaving no willing sized trainers desire to don these as shown by designer threads Chris Shannon though, failing to in the A/W 09 respect the passion, collection for originality and creaFrom left - right: Chris Shannon, Chris Shannon, Carolyn Masswy, JW Anderson tivity put in to them Man designer would be like prewhilst sport(shown by B Store), "power shoulferring microwaveable lasagna ders’", (carefully constructed by Caro- ing a gothic hair do, but I will be over Gordon Ramsey’s cuisine. lyn Massey) and "big, furry/wooly ma- taking notes from the designs at There’s some real flair shown by terials" (by James Long). What does all LFW A/W 09 and the three imporupcoming designers such as Chris this mean? Wear a well fitted suit with tant trends that have emerged.

Don’t disregard the outlandish Shannon and James Long’s A/W 09 a big scarf and duffel coat. That’s it. collection. To those of you, like me, It makes me wonder that if it can style of these designers – take what that are often baffled by some of the be summed up so briefly why all the you like and dress yourself accordupcoming trends and who would rath- hysteria surrounding men’s fashion ingly. The designers ideas will filter er shout, “he looks like a reet fuckin’ week? Well it will always be this way, down on to the highstreet - keep an puff ”.I’m going to sum up what is to it’s an industry that makes money, an eye on Topman this A/W 09, their in be expected in high street this au- industry that would be stupid of me to house design team collaborated with tumn/winter 09. Three phrases to de- ignor. I’m not going to be a Michelin the upcoming designers for the ‘MAN’ scribe the general looks on show will starred chef tomorrow and only serve range on display at fashion week. undoubtedly be "classically tailored" truffles grown at a specific latitude in a Fashion Fades, Style is Timeless.

OUT OF FASHION: THE ABSENCE OF COLOUR Heledd Williams and Eman Akbar discuss the 'black out' of coloured models in the world of high fashion.

Discrimination O

ut of six billion inhabitants in the world, there are some five billion, five hundred million people of colour. Yet, at the ‘bare minerals’ makeup counter in Selfridges, I overheard an African-American lady being informed that frankly they didn’t do a shade which ‘complimented her skin tone’! There are countless successful coloured women in the sport and entertainment industries. In contrast however, it would be difficult to find a single black model in a prominent position in magazines, or in TV adverts. This suggests that, to the fashion world, people of colour are rarely seen to be financially marketable objects of beauty which inspire women to spend. And one uber-famous name alone can not represent a nation of women, as Shilpa Shetty (Big Brother 5 winner) can’t represent all Indian women. The fact that one model is repeatedly booked for numerous jobs at once to supposedly show diversity, reveals a lack of acceptance within the industry, and the limited opportunities for women of colour. Agencies complain of not being able to book their models of colour, confirming a consensus which favours the notion that models of colour are not commercially viable. However to say that colored models don’t sell is a lie - Vogue’s July 08 fully black issue sold out completely. However this discrimination is the very problem. The Vogue issue merely ticked the box of diversity. Integration is great when you actually make an effort against discrimination. Tokenism however is just a slap in the face. If they were doing things right, there would not be a need for an all black issue.

F

Fair

irstly, this argument depends on what kind of models we are discussing. If we are considering the models which appear in the page fillers aka the adverts which sponsor the magazines, then technically the magazines themselves only have limited involvement in which models are hired. In which case, we are to consider the companies which employ these models. It is undeniable then that the models employed by these big brands cover a wide spectrum of racial diversity. An example of successful models who hail from completely different ethnic backgrounds are the L’Oreal girls, which feature the likes of Eva Longoria (Mexican-American), Penelope Cruz (Hispanic), Claudia Chiffer (German) and former Miss World and Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai. In addition, there are the world-famous supermodels i.e. Brazilian born Gisele, German-American Heidi Klum and 500 time cover-girl Naomi Campbell who, for the record, is of Black-Jamaican, British and Chinese Hakka descent. It would seem therefore that the deciding factor in the employment of a model is in no way dependent on their racial background. It is, instead, reliant on one thing something which all these women have in common - they are, quite simply, ridiculously beautiful. Therefore, while the industry does overtly discriminate anything which fails to meet their idea of the perfect aesthetic look, I do not believe that this discrimination extends to the ethnic heritage of those which they seek to employ.

.

STYLE NEWS

Eman Akbar brings you up to date with all the latest from the fashion world.

OASIS, Coast, Warehouse & Karen Millen saved The four big high-street brands, formerly owned by Mosaic Fashion have re-emerged from administration under the company Aurora Fashions. The switch was effectively a equity swap, as a result of troubles with the repayment of a £400million debt held by Kaupthing, the Icelandic bank.

The administration has enabled Mosaic Fashion to streamline its operation to cope better with the economic downturn.

However, two other high-street chains look to be in trouble - there have been negotiations over a sale of Principles, and the sale of Shoe Studio was at an advanced stage.

Deloitte are currently running both brands, also formally part of Mosaic Fashion, and are expecting a sale of both within days.

George AT ASDA announces fashion student winners Asda announced a group of fashion students from Nottingham Trent University as winners of the menswear design competition for it's in-store fashion label, George . The winners included Lucinda Bennett, Tahlia Goodwin, Liz Logue, Amy Tydeman and Jenna Harvey.

The design competion was for Autumn/ Winter 09, for the categories of men’s tailoring and casualwear. The students won Asda vouchers for their collection of lightweight waterproofs, tailored coats and twisted seam jeans.

Ceo of british fashion council steps down Hilary Riva is to step down as Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council (BFC), initiated by Chairman Harold Tillman as part of a management restructure. Caroline Rush and Simon Ward will become joint Chief Executives of the BFC. Ward has worked at BFC for more than 20 years while Rush has worked with the council for more than 10.

Riva will remain at the BFC to chair a newly formed development committee which will focus on future fundings of both the BFC and designer support, the remit of the BFC and its future role within the industry.

"Riva has been a catalyst for positive change for the British Fashion Council,” Tillman enthuses. "I look forward to now focusing on projects that form part of the BFC’s 25th year legacy strategy and new projects that will be of long term value to the industry."

The newly formed committee will work together to reinvigorate London Fashion Week and lay the foundations for future growth.

YORK VISION

SPORT

Tuesday March 17th, 2008

23

MINISTER OF STATE FOR SPORT

GERRY SUTCLIFFE

Jim Norton discusses the renaissance of UK sport and asks: can the University of York join in?

up from a printing company salesman to an esteemed part of the Labour government. Instead of relying on an obnoxious arrogance found in many ministers, Sutcliffe relies on a down to earth attitude and an eagerness to chat; “I make sure I meet as many constituents as possible, every week I go to a supermarket in Bradford and answer questions from my constituents.”

Gerry Sutcliffe’s office is a perfect

setting for his laid back and working class background. Sparsely decorated, it feels more like a teacher’s office than the centre of sport for the UK. It begs the question; has the government’s sport budget been affected by the credit crunch? Sutcliffe answers with a resolute “no”. In fact, this could not be further from the truth as £490 million is currently being spent on improving UK sport. Whilst other budgets are being cut, sport seems to be leading the way in reviving our economy. Sutcliffe reveals “we decided we wanted to try and host as many events as possible, for example the 2012 Olympics, 2014 Commonwealth games, Cricket 2020 world cup. Every year from now there will be a major sporting event in the UK.” He believes that, whilst the injection of tourism could well boost the UK financially, the crucial factor of an increase in jobs is hugely beneficial.

Despite declining financial support from the private sector, Sutcliffe reveals the governments dedication to improving sport “we were meant to get more money from the private sector, but we couldn’t achieve this. Instead we were given an extra £50 million by the government!” He believes that events “will generate more jobs, in the Olympics especially. The range of sports are so wide now that we need more and more coaches.” This innovative new approach is not lost on Sutcliffe; “As a country I don’t think we have ever used sport in this way.”

Our conversation is soon diverted onto the subject of university sport.

York sport is often neglected by both the university and the government. It is left to a hard-working individual in the YUSU office to do the best they can

with next to no support. The recent UGM motions and results demonstrated the support and need to rebuild York sports infrastructure. Yet, often this seems futile and Gerry Sutcliffe agrees that “A lot of it is just down to whether the vice-chancellor is into sport or not.”

A depressing revelation.

Sutcliffe is surprised at the lack of facilities in York, “it’s the largest city in North Yorkshire, it should at least have a few decent swimming pools”. He is adamant that this can change though and is hopeful to “see a leading institu-

“Want to win and want to win well. Life's a competition, you've got to make sure your'e the best you can be!”

V

Gerry Sutcliffe reading his favourite student newspaper!

The minister for sport teaching school kids the value of education and sport

V

ENGLISH SPORT is currently undergoing an unprecedented renaissance. Boasting the best football league in the world, an overwhelming and unexpected medal haul in Beijing, and the prospect of the London 2012 Olympics; sport seems to be a positive contradiction to the state of the economy. So who is responsible for this rejuvenation?

Gerry Sutcliffe.

As the current Minister of State for Sport, he has been at the forefront of the campaign. The revival of sport on a national level has instigated an intense behind the scenes restructuring at grass roots level. This has involved making sport more accessible and improving support for our elite athletes, objectives that Sutcliffe thinks are integral for improving sport, “the sports infrastructure is now in place and now is the opportunity for sports to grow. We have established ourselves as a leading sporting nation and I would say there has never been a better time to be involved in sport than now” When travelling to meet a government minister, I had expected to be introduced to a man with a powerful aura and an expensive office. Yet meeting Gerry Sutcliffe in his constituency of South Bradford couldn’t have been further from my initial expectations.

Born in Salford, Sutcliffe left school aged sixteen and has worked his way

tion in each region.” The reasons for this seem to be that universities can play a crucial part in UK sport development “Sheffield, Loughborough, Leeds met, Bath, all seem to be sports orientated. And this encourages sport further down, to schools. Universities are they key as role models and for creating competition in schools.”

Often during the conversation, Sutcliffe uses the same examples for university sport, constantly referring to Loughborough, Leeds met, and Bath.

All these universities have academic sports departments, something our current sports president has been pushing for. The extra funding gained from such a department would increase the budget significantly. Unfortunately, he admits that this is not feasible for everyone; “not everyone could have it.

To have these centers of excellence, you would be better off with fewer and further spread out across the country.”

The government does, however, offer funding for talented individuals. The Talented athlete scholarship scheme (TASS) is available to anyone with exceptional ability in their sport. Unfortunately, York has proven unlucky in this as well. Max Hardy, a talented skier and future Olympic hopeful, has had inadequate financial support from the university and the government. Sutcliffe admits that “If they’re not an Olympic sport, it is far more difficult.” Whereas Durham currently offers support in the region of thousands to their elite athletes, York offers £250. This is an issue that Sutcliffe seemed surprised to here “I don’t why there is that sort of inconsistency”, yet admitted again “It’s probably just the individual universities attitude to sport.”

The general impression is that university sport is out of the government’s remit, unless it is sport specialised.

Not the news those involved in York Sport were hoping for. Yet there he does believe there is an intrinsic link between university and sport, and reveals his ambition to “get the ethos right between education and sport.” Unfortunately, the supreme sporting universities of Loughborough et al have hidden the problem of university sport and the lack of funding. Or maybe it’s just York University and the unsporty vice-chancellors.

Despite the vast difference in the amount of responsibility, there are certain parallels between our York Sport president and the Minister for sport.

While the budget may not compare, the responsibilities are similar. So what advice does Gerry have for Alex Lacy?

“Want to win and want to win well!

Life’s competitive, you’ve got to make sure you are the best that you can be!”

Is this competitiveness the reason why he enjoys working in sports so much?

As the interview draws to a close, Gerry Sutcliffe reveals a hidden truth as to the real reason why he loves his job “As sports minister, you’re not blamed for the banks collapsing, people generally just see the good things. That makes it a lot easier!”

24 SPORT

YORK VISION

Tuesday March 17th, 2009

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

HALIFAX

0

VANBRUGH

1

BY DANIEL HEWITT “BRING ON THE college cup” was the call from Vanbrugh football 1st’s as they secured the last league title of the year after a dramatic final day victory saw them leapfrog opponents Halifax in a tight 1-0 win.

Vanbrugh went into the last day as relative underdogs, knowing only a victory would suffice over league leaders Halifax, and a first half Tristan Buckley header was enough to secure them their first league title in three years.

VANBRUGH CLINCH LEAGUE TITLE

In a relatively scrappy affair, it was the boys in green who began the brighter, with Dan Radford and Jack Nicholas going agonisingly close in the early stages. Vanbrugh continued to press, and on the rare occasions Halifax pushed forward they were frustrated by a resilient Vanbrugh backline that has conceded just three goals this term. The breakthrough came on the half hour mark when a long throw in from wing back Dan Hewitt met the head of Buckley who powered home to put Vanbrugh on their way to the title. University regular Jonny MacWilliams nearly added

A triumphant Vanbrugh celebrate winning the College league

to their tally minutes later, only to be denied by a great stop by the Halifax goalkeeper who tipped his effort onto the bar.

The second half saw Dom Green’s Halifax go in search of a vital equaliser knowing that just a point would be enough to keep them top. Led by Captain Tom Sheldrick however, Vanbrugh’s defence has been hard to break down this term, and even as Halifax began to dominate possession, the men in white were quickly running out of both ideas and time.

The Vanbrugh captain admitted that his team’s style hasn’t been pleasant at times. “It hasn’t been pretty; we had a difficult first term so this year has been all about staying solid at the back.

We’ve won our last three games 1-0 and the lads have really deserved it. Tristan has been popping up with vital goals all term and today was no different. It was just a fantastic feeling when I heard the final whistle.”

Halifax’s greatest threat came from dead ball situations, with two in-swinging corners clattering the woodwork.

Alex Richards was attempting to pull the strings in midfield, but Vanbrugh’s midfield trio of Oliver, MacWilliams and Nicholas continued to frustrate arguably their biggest threat. Goalkeeper Paul Taylor was forced into a routine save in the final ten minutes, but Vanbrugh held on to crown themselves League Winners going into next terms College Cup. Vice Captain Matt Oliver insisted it had been a squad effort. “This is a proper reward for all the boys’ commitment

this year,” said the former college chair, “They’ve really put it in and turned up at all the free practices and with the seconds having won the league last term its has been a fantastic year.”

OTHER RESULTS IN SUNDAY'S other games, Derwent rounded off the term with a comfortable win over a Wentworth side playing in their second strip, which consisted of bright pink t-shirts. The controversial colours however were not enough to distract a Derwent team who began the rout with an impressive half volley from Jamie Tyler. A curling effort from Ed Lacaille and two goals from James Grey added to Wentworth’s misery.

James came out on top in the battle for third place with a tight 3-2 victory over Alcuin, whilst Goodricke defeated lowly Langwith who have failed to win a first’s game this year.

JAMES..................3 ALCUIN.................2 GOODRICKE...........3 LANGWITH............0 DERWENT..............4 WENTWORTH.........0

FASTEST IN THE COUNTRY? YUSNOW IT!

Peter Stanley speaks to national snowboard champion and York student MARLIES NEUNER IT MAY HAVE escaped the majority of the university’s attention, but quietly going about her degree like the rest of us, this week has seen unassuming Marlies Neuner become a national champion. On the 4th March, the first-year beat a field of the best young talent in the country to claim the title of Fastest Female Snowboarder in all Britain’s universities.

Now, I know that if I were the best in the country at anything, aside from missing lectures, perhaps, I would be shouting it from the roof of Derwent A Block. Sitting opposite me, though, Marlies is admirably modest yet quietly confident at the same time, and you can immediately see why she’s so well liked and respected on the YUsnow scene.

Austrian by birth, you would have expected her to live in the mountains and to have been snowboarding her whole life.

Marlies actually hails from an area close to Vienna. She laughs: “About as far away from the mountains as you can get in Austria!” Whilst she admits “I practically learnt to ski before I could walk”, thanks to annual winter holiday trips with her family, Marlies didn’t attempt snowboarding until she was 12. “I always used to see my older brother snowboarding and just wanted to have a go for myself.” Her brother, at the University of Birmingham, is apparently just as successful on the snow circuit as well, and Marlies says she aspires to be as good as him. Remarkably, though, a mere six months ago, she’d never before competed in a snowboarding race, making her recent success all the more impressive.

So how has this amazing achievement come about? “I’ve been working hard on my technique all year, training mainly on the dry slope in Sheffield every Wednesday, and managed to finish fourth in the North of England Qualifiers the week before.” As a snow sports virgin, when I enquired as to the reasons why the final had gone so well, I soon realised I had no appreciation for just how difficult and technical a discipline snowboarding is.

Unlike a football match, where you get ninety minutes to perform and one mistake can be easily rectified, snowboarding requires acute concentration, agility and speed during a descent lasting less than twenty seconds and where success is measured by scarily small margins. Not only do the best snowboarders need mental strength while waiting hours for their turn to race, they need courage when deciding whether to attack the slalom gates and risk total failure or to play it safe and

be able to post a time – they only get one chance, with no reruns. For Marlies, on the day of the finals, everything came together beautifully: “To build up speed it’s important to be close to the gates, and before then I hadn’t been doing that.” And did she think she’d raced fast enough to win? “No, it was a total shock! The official announcing the results said that the winners all had hard names to pronounce, and the team were just like ‘you’ve got it!’”, with Marlies eventually beating the silver medallist's effort of 19.02 seconds by clocking 18.62.

What is noticeable about Marlies is the team spirit she demonstrates, surprising in what appears to be a sport for individuals. Yet YUsnow’s meteoric rise over the last few years – this is, for example, only the snowboard team’s second year – seems to owe a lot to the support and friendship evident between its members, and makes the lack of appreciation from the university even more unacceptable. When asked her opinion on whether YUsnow receive enough funding or not, Marlies replied: “I don’t know a lot about it to be honest, but from what I do know, it seems they’d rather focus on mainstream sports like rugby and football, even if they’re less successful. We don’t get the recognition we deserve.”

Does she have a future in snowboarding? “I really hadn’t thought about it before I came to York, but now people are suggesting it, so you never know. As my mum’s English, I suppose I could even end up racing for Britain, but for now, I’m just excited for the club.” She epitomises the strengths of a sport that is cool in more ways than one, and her competitive spirit

isn’t lacking either – in the summer term she is looking forward to helping us stuff Lancaster in the Roses. When I asked her if she’d like to thank anyone for their help, she said: “Well, I guess my parents for the opportunity in the first place, and everyone at YUsnow too, especially my snowboard captain Kate Hicks.” “This is like my Oscar speech!” she adds, smiling. I don’t know about the Oscars, but I for one will be tuning into the Winter Olympics in Russia in 2014 to hopefully see Marlies Neuner claim Britain’s first ever snowboarding gold medal. Stranger things have definitely happened.

Marlies Neuner ready for the race of her life (Photos by Will Sage)

YORK VISION

Tuesday March 17th, 2009

VISION EXCLUSIVE

SPORT

BY JOVE, SHE'S SCOTT IT!

25

Jim Norton interviews the new York Sport President EMILY SCOTT

V

students’ pockets that is the university sports centre, “They are too expensive, but they can’t really be reduced. The sports centre is a business and they need to cover their costs. Alex Lacy did propose finding a sponsor to generate money to subsidise the amount, but I’m not sure how feasible this is due to clashes with clubs’ individual sponsors and the financial climate.”

So what does she intend to do? It seems the answer lies with the people at the head of our university; “The Univer-

“Throughout the campaign, one thing I kept reiterating was that I was a realistic candidate”

V

AFTER MONTHS of hard work, weeks of campaigning, and a hectic results night fraught with nerves; most people would allow themselves a day off. Not Emily Scott though.

Instead, she spent the day doing what she has done for the majority of her student life; playing sport.

College hockey in the morning, followed by an away hockey match in Leeds, then a swim and shower before heading off for a hockey dinner.

Somehow, she also managed to find time to speak to Vision in the midst of all the exercise.

Scott’s sporting CV is impressive.

Halifax sports rep multiple times, women’s cricket treasurer and captain, Hockey club president, and York Sport ordinary member. Not to mention winning York’s highest sporting accolade, the Justin Taylor Memorial Award, in her first year. The award prompted her to consider running for sports president; “when so many people came up to me and told me how many past AU Presidents had won it - I think a little bit

of me started to wonder if I could join that list then”.

Scott believes that her experience at both university and college level are essential for what she hopes is a successful year “I think this experience gives me an invaluable insight into how sport works at this university and what problems it is likely to face.” Having eventually eased to victory by an impressive margin, Scott also thinks that this experience may well have been the reason for her win on Saturday night “I suspect it is this that set me apart from the other candidates in the eyes of the voters and I definitely intend to put this experience to good use.”

Yet Scott was not content to rely on her sporting background, and she is keen to stress that she was not making empty promises, “throughout the campaign one of the main things I kept reiterating was that I was a realistic candidate.” Her knowledge of York’s sporting infrastructure evidently helped her to achieve this “I did not propose splitting the Sports Centre and York Sport membership again because I understood the financial repercussions to York Sport and the clubs if this was to happen. I did not say anything in my campaign that I do not believe to be feasible.”

Understanding the implications of York’s sporting finances will hold her in good stead. Rather than trying to make radical changes and cut costs, Scott explains her view on the irritating hole in

sity doesn’t invest in sport. They need to prioritise and it will certainly help York’s image if they do so.” The distinct lack of interest in sport has been an undeniable hindrance to any progression of sport at York and current York Sport president Alex Lacy has also been keen to criticise it. Despite this sticking point, Scott remains adamant that York can do better: “We have the potential to be really good. Universities such as Warwick and Durham have a similar amount of students, yet they place far higher than

us in the BUCS ranking.”

Scott’s predecessor, Alex Lacy, has had a turbulent year. His wide scale changes have not had the desired response from many clubs. Scott is sympathetic to him and argues “I think Alex received a lot of bad press. He worked really hard and made so many changes and I agree with a lot of them.” Nonetheless, she admits “he wasn’t always particularly diplomatic”, a problem that she is happy to remedy by providing “better communication so this doesn’t happen again” Emily Scott certainly has the qualifications for the job; dedicated to sport, eager to work hard, and an extensive and detailed knowledge of York Sport.

Fingers crossed her determination and vigor will help to boost us back up the Bucs rankings next year.

STOCK ME IF YOU'VE HEARD THIS ONE BEFORE MIKE REGAN attempts to justify his love of lower league football Every other week I make the semi-ardous and ultimately depressing journey from York to Stockport. The purpose: to watch my beloved Stockport County . It is a hobby that most people don’t really seem to understand, “Why Bother?”, “Why do you go and watch a rubbish team”, they say. The fact is that millions of British people love football, yet less than 300,000 people attend football league matches each week. So in a vague bid to persuade others that football is something not to be admired, but to be lived and breathed with an incredible passion, I felt the sudden need to show why being a deluded fanatic of an admittedly mediocre football team is in no way a chore and actually a rather unifying experience.

1/3/09 10:30 am The morning of the big game. Stockport County take on Huddersfield Town. Ok I grant you not many people outside of these twobit northern crapholes will give a damn about this match (I live in one of them - I'm allowed to say that, it's not snobby, merely an accurate assesment of the fact that Stockport is quite frankly shit). However, Phil my Huddersfield supporting friend and I have been waiting for this for months. Both teams start the day on the fringes of the playoff positions and in desperate need of a win to keep pace with more illustrious footballing names like Leeds United. Yet in many ways this game has become a sideshow in what is the topsy turvy and traumatic tribulations of Stockport County. Not only do they owe a bucketload of cash to the inland revenue, in the week prior to this game our messianic manager Sir Jim Gannon decided he was leaving... only to change his mind again, then again, and then again. So as far as we knew he would be in the dugout/collection of shitty seats to mastermind a hopefully vital victory.

11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Everything about the build up (and usually the match itself) is of a poor standard; the pound-a-pint ale, the burned jacket potatoe and the hygiene of the ageing and bearded men that populate Weatherspoons. But the anticipation is building and when the match gets the most fleeting of mentions on Sky Sports News, both me and Phil make a retrospectively embarassing attempt at

faux lariness. Pint after pint is seen away (what can I say; I'm just insane) and then we stumble towards the train station, our carraige awaits.

2:15 pm We are in the armoury. What I expect is normally a sparsely populated and dismal Stockport outbust becomes a buzzing hive of rugged testosterone fuelled masculitnity on a saturday afternoon; not in a homoerotic way or anyhting, there is just a lot of offensive, deep throated chanting. However I do see it fit to draw a line at the chant about Stockport being a town full of “tits and fanny”: not only is the chant just a little bit chauvanistic but the standard of the “tits and fanny” in Stockport is not really worth celebrating.

3:00 pm It’s time for kick off and the anticipation is reaching unbearable levels. This may not be the most exciting game of the day, and it may not be the result that many people look out for during their weekly dose of Stelling and co, yet eight thousand Stockport fans can make one hell of a noise. The first half however passes in a drunken haze, the match is dire, and I am far more interested in shouting offensive chants at the Huddersfield fans, “You only sing when you’re molesting” is the most ridiculously barmy and hilarious

chant I have heard yet at Edgeley Park. I am so busy being obscene that I barely notice Huddersfield take the lead with a sloppy deflected strike.

3:50 pm As I sober up it suddenly dawns on me how disastrous this first half has been.

We are losing a game that we must not lose if we are to keep our promotion hopes alive. What is more: it is against Huddersfield - losing this game would condemn me to months of ribbing from Phil. Yet, despite my fears, half time at Edgely Park remains a unique experience. Half time during a televised game is intensely frustrating as you sit through seemingly endless streams of adverts probably crying into a warm Carlsberb; yet at Edgeley Park it is a chance for commeradarie and back slapping with that bloke who you once hugged in a fit of ecstacy at Wycombe, or the guy who you bonded with over a hatred of Ali Gibb. If you are lucky you may even get a sighting of Chopper Vaughan, named so because he once purposely ran over a West Ham fan on his chopper... I wish I was joking, I really do. To be honest these are normally the kinds of people who balk at my crotch hugging trousers, hair sprayed hair and posh voice, yet here cultural differences are set aside as the crowd unites behind one common goal.

4:50 pm Apologies for this huge fast forwarding in time however the second half was for the most part a drab affiar, devoid of any attacking flair, a Stockport equaliser seemed unlikely. However in the 91st minute of the game Leon Mcsweeney cut inside and rasped a shot goalwards, the ball then struck a defender full on in the face and looped into the net... only at Stockport. Edgeley Park errupts, I sink to my knees, the energy sapped out of me by this pulsating moment.

The lower leagues may be lacking the illustrious names and glamorous characters of the Premier League, yet they more than make up fir it in passion and excitement. The feeling of involvement and attachment to your football team makes it a huge part of your life. So that is why I bother.

26 SPORT

YORK VISION

Tuesday March 17th, 2009

YORK'S FEMALE ATHLETES BUCS THE TREND WOMEN'S RUGBY REACH FINAL YORK WOMEN SQUASH LEEDS OPPONENTS

BY CHELSEY SPRONG

IT'S BEEN AN AMAZING year for the Women’s Rugby Team. They sat confident at the end of their last season, coming out on top at Varsity, Roses, and in the BUSA league 07/08, and have managed to get one better this year, and are through to the finals of the BUCS cup, having made it to only the quarter-finals last season.

The success this year is well deserved; it has certainly not been easy. The snow and rain at the start of term made training on the university’s flooded pitches virtually impossible, and resulted in the team being forced to take command of a nearby field to train in the dark on very uneven ground!

A plague of ankle injuries has seen key players on the bench, but York’s continual ability to reshuffle and stay focused has resulted in them being consistently strong and unrelenting.

The scrum is possibly the crowning-glory of the team, and interestingly enough, the forwards have never actually practised or trained for them, and simply use the matches to better themselves. York forms an incredibly powerful unit around star hooker Vic Cusick who continually fights for and wins almost every ball then allowing the backs to break through the oppositions defence. Forward powerhouse Kirsty Wheeler is also noteworthy of particular achievement having notched up

an impressive number of try’s this season proving that it is not only the backs, but the props that can score too!

As is traditional, post-match teas see the awarding of pints for the teams most impressive forward and back player of the game. Captain Chrissie Leahy states ‘It is so difficult to single out only two remarkable players per match as the best thing about this team is that every woman on the pitch plays her heart out.’ In actual fact, a mention should be given to Leahy herself, who performs outstandingly on the pitch time and time again, providing the inspiration, support and encouragement to the rest of the team when they are tired, bruised and covered in mud with thirty minutes still to play. With regards to the final, Leahy is confident. ‘It will be the hardest match the team has played, but we thoroughly deserve to win after the hard work we’ve put in this season.’

As rugby for women grows nationally in strength and populace, the team gain more freshers every year eager to challenge themselves, and try something new. Leahy states ‘I’m extremely proud of the fact that more and more people around campus know of our team’s success.

It’s very sad that this is my final year at the university, and I hope the team manages to do even better next year, and create more awareness and support around women’s rugby in general.’

We wish the team all the success in the BUCS cup finals against Liverpool in the first week of the holidays. Watch this space. The Women’s Rugby Team could be York’s best kept sporting secret.

BY JESSICA HUNTER The LADIES SQUASH TEAM walked away victorious this Wednesday, with the BUCS Cup firmly in their grasp. This is the perfect end to a very successful season for the team: they have secured promotion in the Yorkshire league and are still in contention for promotion in the BUCS Northern 2B division.

In the run of games leading to the final, not one player lost a match. They faced a Leeds team who had won a straight run of nine BUCS league and Cup matches and who had been one of only two to beat them all season, in a high pressure, high stakes game.

When the two teams came face to face in the BUCS 2B league in early February, York lost 3-1 with very close games characterising the fixture.

Jess Hunter, the top ranked player, lost by only two points in the fifth and final game, and Caroline Watchurst let an apparently easy win slide after her opponent recovered form after a first game 11-3 thrashing. This time, then, the York side were up for revenge.

Captain Johanna Augustus was on court first, facing Amy Curtis, a hard hitting, powerful opponent. Her game was played largely in the back of the court as the Leeds player drove well into the corners.

The game was exhaustingly long, tied at two all after many close rallies. Augustus was eventually the fitter, though, and Curtis was worn down by her technically accurate drop shots. Augustus came through to win the final game 11-6, and the match 3-2, in a thrilling encounter that had the balcony cheering uproariously at the end.

On the next court, Caroline Watchurst faced a similarly tiring game. Her opponent, Emma Larcombe, was technically strong with an excellent serve.

After the first two games, the

scoreline was level at one all.

Watchurst played excellently in the third to bring the score to 2-1, coming within touching distance of winning. The pace of the match really started to show, however, as she began to tire towards the end under the constant pressure from her opponent. Larcombe placed consistent tricky drop shots, and Watchurst eventually went down fighting 3-2.

Lydia Vas Nunes, the number two seed, has had an excellent season, finishing with the third highest average score of forty players in the local Yorkshire division. This was to continue on Wednesday, as she outclassed Leeds’ Phyllis Mok 3-1. The Leeds player recovered briefly in the third game with some good drop shots, as Vas Nunes let her concentration slip slightly, but the one time Essex county player soon shut down any potential threat from Mok to close the game easily, with tight shots down the wall and drop shots accurate to the centimetre characterising her play.

There was still everything to play for on the other court, however, as each game was crucial in the event of a draw.

When number one Jess Hunter went on court, York and Leeds were level pegging at a 3-2 victory apiece. A huge crowd had gathered on the balcony,

including stalwart squash fans, YUSU sabbs and casual watchers, and the pressure really was on for Hunter, who had had such a narrow loss to Leeds’ Sarah Hughes in their last meeting. The first game was crucial in this match. Both players were hard, accurate hitters, and again long, tight rallies were a feature. Perhaps the deciding moment of the match came when Hughes had two game balls at 10-8, but Hunter stayed calm and clung on to level at ten all. Hughes won the next rally to take another game ball at 11-10, but served out. Hunter then came through to win the game 13-11.

An irate Hughes appeared to lose focus after this and Hunter won the next two games easily, to record a 3-0 victory and a 3-1 victory in the match overall.

Afterwards, Captain Johanna Augustus said that she was “so pleased” with the win, especially considering that this was Leeds’ first loss in ten games this season. Alex Lacy was on hand to take the team to The Courtyard for well deserved burgers and to present the BUCS Cup gold medals to the delighted team. An excellent way to finish up the season, then, although with the top four players graduating in July it may be a hard feat to replicate next year.

UNIVERSITY RESULTS - MENS Badminton

- BUCS Northern Conference 2B York 1sts 8-0 Leeds 2nds - BUCS Northern Conference 3B York 2nds 2-6 Teesside 1sts.

Basketball

- BUCS Northern Conference 3B York 1sts 49-43 York St. John 1sts.

Football

- BUCS Northern Conference 2B York 1sts 3-1 Teesside 1sts, Sheffield Hallam 1sts 2-1 York 1sts, Leeds Metropolitan Carnegie 1sts 1-1 York 1sts - BUCS Northern Conference 5B Sunderland 2nds 3-1 York 2nds, York 2nds 5-0 Teesside 3rds, Newcastle 3rds 1-0 York 2nds - BUCS Northern Conference 6B York 3rds 2-3 Teesside 4ths, York 3rds 2-0 Sunderland 4ths, Hull 5ths 1-2 York 3rds - BUCS Northern Conference 6D Bradford 3rds 1-2 York 4ths

Golf

- BUCS Northern Conference 2B Hull 1sts 4-2 York 1sts

Hockey

- BUCS Northern Conference 2B Leeds 2nds 1-0 York 1sts, York 1sts 1-1 York St. John 1sts, Northumbria 1sts 5-2 York 1sts - BUCS Northern Conference 5B Sheffield 5ths 2-6 York 2nds, Leeds Metropolitan Carnegie 4-1 York 2nds

Rugby

- BUCS Northern Conference 2B Teesside 1sts 0-20 York 1sts, York 1sts 36-15 Hull 1sts, Huddersfield 1sts 3-46 York 1sts - BUCS Northern Conference 3B Bradford 1sts 5-50 York 2nds, Sheffield 3rds 3-3 York 2nds, York 2nds 88-3 Bradford 1sts, York 2nds 43-5 York St. John 1sts - BUCS Northern Conference 4B York 3rds 45-19 York St. John 2nds

Squash - BUCS Northern Conference 3A York 1sts 2-3 Manchester 2nds

Tennis

- BUCS Northern Conference 2B Sheffield 1sts 10-0 York 1sts, Leeds 2nds 3-7 York 1sts

- WOMENS Badminton

- BUCS Northern Conference 2B Sheffield Hallam 1sts 8-0 York 1sts

Football

- BUCS Northern Conference 3B Leeds 2nds 4-0 York 1sts

Hockey

- BUCS Northern Conference 2B Durham 2nds 3-1 York 1sts, Leeds 2nds 4-0 York 1sts - BUCS Northern Conference 6B Bradford 1sts 5-0 York 2nds

Netball

- BUCS Northern Conference 4B Teeside 1sts 43-27 York 1sts - BUCS Northern Conference 5B Teesside 2nds 30-29 York 2nds, Bradford 1sts 12-40 York 2nds

- BUCS Northern Conference 6B York 3rds 33-12 York St. John 3rds

Rugby

- BUCS Northern Conference 2B Sheffield Hallam 1sts 15-24 York 1sts, Sunderland 1sts 6-31 York 1sts

Squash

- BUCS Cup Manchester Metropolitan 1sts 0-3 York 1sts, York 1sts 3-1 Leeds 2nds

Tennis

- BUCS Northern Conference 2B Sheffield 1sts 8-2 York 1sts, York 1sts 6-4 Newcastle 2nds

Volleyball

- BUCS Northern Conference 2B Sheffield Hallam 1sts 0-3 York 1sts

YORK VISION

SPORT

Tuesday March 17th, 2009

COLLEGE RUGBY 10s TOURNAMENT

27

PRESIDENT MUNTUS LEADS JAMES T0 THIRD 10s TITLE

BY WILL MARWICK JAMES COLLEGE won the intercollege 10s tournament last weekend, inspired by in-form president Alex Muntus. In roaring winds and freezing temperatures, James stormed to success with effective backs play and great speed and agility, in front of a disappointing crowd turnout.

I’d been informed by numerous sources before the tournament that the standard of college rugby was not the greatest: apparently had a schoolboy team entered, they would have been the favourites. After watching the group stages for numerous hours, my expectations were yet to be proven wrong.

Had Carl Jung not suggested that in all chaos, there be order, chaos would be a suitable way to describe a lot of the rugby played. Yet due to a severe lack of organisation within certain colleges, chaos is not even a word that comes close. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Wentworth - with only eight players and what seemed to be no rugby experience at all.

In spite of this, there was some good rugby on show to keep the supporters who did turn up, with their megaphones and beers at hand, entertained.

It was clear from when the first whistle was blown that there were three bona fide contenders for the tournament: James, Alcuin and Halifax. The rest provided spirited resistance, but were effectively just there to make up the numbers.

These three heavyweights showed most noticeably that they possessed individuals that could do the fundamentals correctly such as passing, kicking and rucking. The other sides had individuals but little cohesion as a team, which would prove to be their downfall.

In their opening games, Halifax ran in 91 points, only conceding 5, which for many onlookers, made them the obvious favourites. But it was James and Alcuin that over the course of the afternoon grew stronger, where as Halifax could only blame their lack of progression to the final down to bad luck.

STAR PLAYER ALEX MUNTUS

Finalists Alcuin were to be inspired by their own president Paul Guest, who managed to play the whole afternoon’s rugby after fracturing his foot in the tournament's opening game. With some talented individuals and University 1st team winger Brad Voigt helping along the way, Alcuin were signalling their intentions of preventing James completing three consecutive tournament championships, with a 10-10 draw in the group stages and wins over their other two group opponents.

One of the numerous injuries from Saturday's action

Alongside their fine past record, James showed fellow colleges and spectators alike, that they were the team to beat, with convincing wins in the group stages over Goodricke and Langwith. It became fairly obvious throughout that a lot of the players on show had barely played the game of rugby before, but there were some talented individuals out there. A few colleges had players of University Rugby experience along with others who play for York RI RUFC, as well as those who clearly had schoolboy experience.

Indeed, it was the teams that sported these players, who progressed to the cup tournament, with James and Alcuin

FINAL STANDINGS

1st JAMES 2nd ALCUIN 3rd HALIFAX DERWENT 4th 5th GOODRICKE 6th LANGWITH 7th VANBRUGH 8th WENTWORTH

qualifying from group 1, and Derwent and Halifax from group 2. The other four were placed traditionally into the novelty plate tournament, which was marred by a Vanbrugh player being taken to hospital with a serious leg injury during their defeat at the hands of Goodricke.

With Wentworth being little more than walkovers it was Langwith who progressed to meet Goodricke in the plate final, where Goodricke secured a 12-5 victory.

Attention then turned to the cup semi-finals. First of two thrilling encounters were James and Derwent.

James dominated the tie from start to finish winning 52-0, as Alex Muntus scored numerous tries adopting his “double dummy switch” move effectively, which managed to break the opposition’s line numerous times. However the disappointment of Derwent showed as handbags were thrown and dummies spat when the James winger offered his middle finger at the chasing Joe Rankin, as he broke away from the marooned prop.

Unsporting behaviour? Yes. Hilarious?

Definitely.

The second tie was a more evenly matched affair as Alcuin narrowly overcame Halifax 17-15. There was nothing to choose between the two sides, only the luck of the wind. With conversions a rarity due to the gale-force nature of the afternoon, it was the success of one kick that proved enough to remove Halifax from the tournament.

Before the final, there was the third place play-off between Halifax and Derwent. With both sides depleted mentally and physical through semi-final defeat, the game was never one of great quality: Halifax prevailed, winning 1910, though they would have preferred a shot at the overall victory.

The final saw the competitors practically running on pure adrenaline, doing everything in their power to win the tournament. But it was James who drew

Overall winners James College celebrate their victory

MODEST James President Alex Muntus was on sublime form, picking up the player of the tournament award, after scoring numerous individual tries and showing impressive technique whenever on the ball. But Muntus was quick to shift the praise away from himself, and direct it to Alcuin counterpart Paul Guest.

"I wasn't really expecting that if I'm honest" said Muntus, "but praise has to go to Alcuin President Paul Guest. He fractured his foot in the first game, yet has played the entire tournament. That shows how much this tournament means to him, but in fairness, the guy's an absolute nutter! He's done alot to make sure this competetion goes ahead and thanks have to go to him" "The tournament has been fantastic, and I hope we can keep it going".

first blood in the opening minutes, racing to a 12-0 lead with two tries being mauled over the line and only the latter successfully converted. Alcuin responded with Brad Voigt successfully touching down underneath the posts, before the resultant conversion also sailed between the posts.

James went into half time with a 5-point lead and they looked to extend that with their ever-impressive backs play at the start of the second half.

And eventually they cracked Alcuin's resistance, extending their lead with a breakaway try followed again by another conversion.

However, Alcuin responded by putting vast amounts of pressure on James' forwards, and scoring on the fringes of a maul, before converting.

With time running out the score stood at 19-12 and Alcuin knew that they needed a converted try to take the game into overtime.

Against the odds, they managed to bring a tense conclusion to the match, as the Alcuin centre broke through James's defence with the game's very last play, touching down left of the posts. However, amid great tension, the Alcuin standoff failed to convert with the last kick of the game. He sank to his knees, devestated: the championship again belonged to James, who made it 3 championships in a row.

By the end of the afternoon, it was clear what college rugby is about. Supporters were there bantering between each other supporting ‘their side’ win.

If we wanted to see smooth flowing rugby and “Brian Lima-esque” tackles, then we would have stayed home and watched Wales and Ireland play their respective games. Every player that miserable Saturday afternoon competed for every ball for 100 minutes, craving victory. But it is James who got what they rightfully deserved.

Tuesday, March 17th 2009

THE TROUBLES OF A LOWER LEAGUE SUPPORTER P25 ANNUAL 10s TOURNAMENT

P27

Issue 196

EMILY'S SCOTT IT!

COLLEGE RUGBY

SPORTS MINISTER

GERRY SUTCLIFFE P23

VISION

S P O RT

> Emily Scott becomes next York Sport president > 'Realistic' policies promise communication

BY JIM NORTON AND MARTIN WILLIAMS AN EMOTIONAL Emily Scott accepted her new position as York Sport President on Saturday, following an intense election campaign.

The YUSU results night revealed that Scott’s wealth of experience had been finally rewarded, with results displaying an impressive majority. The Halifax third-year beat her nearest rival by over 600 votes, exclaiming “I’m elated- ecstatic- so happy! And also a bit relieved that the campaign is over.”

Scott campaigned tirelessly in

the lead up to the elections, using fancy dress and posters to get her message across.

“Experience gives me an invaluable insight into how sport works at this university and what problems it is likely to face,” Scott told Vision. “I suspect it is this that set me apart from the other candidates in the eyes of the voters and I definitely intend to put this experience to good use.”

Fellow candidates Michael Leahy, Gemma Johnson, and Michael Sneddon lost out, although Scott admitted “I think all the candidates offered different things to the role. They would have done it well in their different

ways, but was quite surprised at their lack of presence during the campaign.”

Throughout her campaign, Scott was keen to emphasise that her policies were realistic: “I did not say anything in my campaign that I do not believe to be feasible.”

Her main focus will include making York Sport more transparent and improving communication with the clubs. Scott also hopes to get funds to help clubs do well at Roses and bring back Varsity for a warm-up to Roses.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Page 25

VISIONSPORT: YOUR #1 SOURCE FOR ALL UNI SPORT