The Student 10/03/2015

which aspires ‘to make world-leading

contributions to understanding and

addressing global challenges’. We are

calling on the University to take action

WR�IXO¿�O�WKHVH�REMHFWLYHV��WR�GLYHVW�IURP�fossil fuels and the arms trade.”

,W� FRQWLQXHG�� ³:KLOH� ZH� XVH� RXU�endowment fund to support the

fossil fuel industry, we bear respon-

sibility for the environmental damage

DQG� VRFLDO� LQMXVWLFH� WKDW� UHVXOW� IURP�it. Similarly, by investing in arms

FRPSDQLHV� ZH� DUH� IXHOOLQJ� FRQÀ�LFW��poverty and human rights abuses.”

VPS Boardman told The Student��³,�think the letter reiterates the message

and the ask put forward by the student

campaign and demonstrates that

Tuesday, March 10th 2015www.studentnewspaper.org

F LIW\�¿�YH�DFDGHPLFV�DQG�VWD � � DW� WKH� 8QLYHUVLW\�of Edinburgh signed

and delivered a letter to

Principal Timothy O’Shea demanding

³D� VLPSOH� DQG� QHFHVVDU\� DFWLRQ��divestment from fossil fuels” on

Monday.

Divestment campaigners People

and Planet and EUSA Vice President

Services (VPS) Tasha Boardman were

present alongside representatives

from the academic community as the

letter was handed over to Senior Vice

3ULQFLSDO�&KDUOLH�-H �HU\��The letter preceded the penultimate

meeting of the university’s Fossil Fuel

Review Group.

The University of Edinburgh has

the third largest endowment fund in

the UK, at £230 million. The letter

criticised the university’s directing of

these funds to oil companies like BP

and Shell.

This is the latest action directed

towards the university as a part of the

global Fossil Free movement, which

was founded in 2012 and claims to

EH� ³WKH� IDVWHVW�JURZLQJ� GLYHVWPHQW�movement in history.”

Fossil Free celebrated victories when

the University of Glasgow became the

¿�UVW�XQLYHUVLW\�LQ�(XURSH�WR�GLYHVWPHQW�last October, followed in January by

the University of Bedfordshire and the

Chalmers University of Technology in

Sweden.

0RQGD\¶V� OHWWHU� VWDWHG�� ³:H� DUH�proud of being part of a University

there is also a wide range of academic

interest calling for divestment. The

letter was received positively by the

Fossil Fuel Review Group as was the

petition and the brief from People and

Planet.”

The Student questioned Boardman

over whether fossil fuel divestment

ZRXOG� D �HFW� XQLYHUVLW\� IXQGLQJ� DQG�WKH� VWXGHQW� H[SHULHQFH�� ³,� WKLQN� LW� LV�important to note that the Review

Group has assessed a wide range of

risks throughout this process including

academic freedom, education and

research.

³7KH� 8QLYHUVLW\� KDV� D� YHU\� ZLGH�range of investments and a heavy

investment portfolio therefore

By Gavin Dewar@gnadewar

divesting from one asset means

there is money to invest in another,

therefore divesting from fossil fuels

GRHVQ¶W�GLUHFWO\�PHDQ�¿�QDQFLDO�ORVV��³+RZHYHU�� LI� D� GLYHVWPHQW� GHFLVLRQ�

was taken and if that consequently

led to a loss in returns it would be a

decision taken by the University to take

a principled stance because it aligns

with the values of the University and

the direction of travel the university

wants to take.”

One signatory of the letter, Reverend

Ali Newell, an Associate Chaplain at

WKH� XQLYHUVLW\�� FRQ¿�UPHG� WKDW� KHU�signature was a personal decision and

WKDW� ³ZH� GR� QRW� KDYH� D� &KDSODLQF\�position on fossil fuels.”

6KH� FRQWLQXHG�� KRZHYHU�� ³7KH�À�RZ�RI�PRQH\�WKDW�PD\�GU\�XS�LQ�WKH�University [after divestment] needs

to be seen alongside looking into the

future taking on board the seriousness

of the issues facing our planet

regarding climate change.”

Doctor Tom Webster, another

VLJQDWRU\�� UHÀ�HFWHG� RQ� WKH� UHDFWLRQV�to the letter in a written response to

The Student��³6RPH�RI�WKH�FRPPHQWV�in the press coverage were interesting.

The more snide remarks suggested

that the signatures came from the

KXPDQLWLHV�� µXVHOHVV¶� VXEMHFWV� ZLWK�nothing to lose from the divestment.”

IMAG

E: D

ANIE

L HO

HER

D

Academics demand fossil fuel divestment

Continued on Page 3

News 1-4Comment 5-7

Features 10-12

Science & Technology 16-18Culture, Music, Film, TV & Radio 21-29Sport 31-32

Lifestyle 14-15

Features

Culture

Review: Possibilities of the ObjectFruitmarket Gallery

p23

p10

Science

p16p10

Ethical investment:What companies doesEdinburgh fund?

p16

Head transplants:Coming soon to a hospital near you?

EDINBURGH CHARITYFASHION SHOW

p14

News

2 10th March 2015www.studentnewspaper.org

[email protected]/TheStudentPaper

U K university vice-chancellors have been rebuked by the University and College

Union (UCU) for excessive salaries, wasteful expenditures and inadequate transparency of remuneration decisions.

The criticism follows a study re-leased by the UCU comparing numer-ous universities on expenses, salaries, and the institutional mechanisms controlling them. Using data obtained through freedom of information (FOI) requests sent to 150 universities, the report revealed the average vice-chan-cellor salary to be £260,000 in the 2013-2014 school year.

In addition, raises were found to be commonplace among higher adminis-WUDWLYH�VWD��HLJKWHHQ�YLFH�FKDQFHOORUV�admitted to accepting pay increases greater than ten per cent. Vice-chan-cellors were paid an average of 6.4 times the amount of the lowest paid university worker. 8QLYHUVLW\� RFLDOV� ZHUH� VKRZQ� WR�

spend heavily on personal expenses, with hotel bills and airfare numbering in the tens of thousands of pounds.

The study also shed light on remu-neration practices within the Univer-sity of Edinburgh.

With a salary of £286,000, Sir Timothy O’Shea, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh ranked at a modest 48th place against other vice-chancellors.

He was also one of the few senior RFLDOV� IHDWXUHG�E\�WKH�UHSRUW�ZKRVH�salary had remained unchanged from the year before. O’Shea has notably refused pay increases for years.

Yet the report also revealed that despite its constancy, O’Shea’s salary was almost £26,000 higher than the

national average.In addition, senior pay at the Uni-

versity was the seventh highest in the FRXQWU\�� ZLWK� �� PHPEHUV� RI� VWD �earning over £100,000.

The data appeared to contradict previous statements made by O’Shea on senior pay.

In February, asked by The Student

RQ� UHPXQHUDWLRQ� GHFLVLRQV�� KH� VDLG��“The situation in Scotland, certainly within this university, is that we have

moved to a position to pay less to VHQLRU�VWD�WKDQ�FRPSDUHG�WR�(QJOLVK�institutions. And in some ways I led that by repeatedly refusing pay raises myself.”

But the UCU study demonstrated that Edinburgh outranked most Eng-lish universities on salaries, including many of those in the Russell Group.

When asked about the high rates of senior pay, a University spokesper-VRQ� GHIHQGHG� WKH� ¿JXUHV�� WHOOLQJ�The

Student they “should be viewed in the context of the University’s size and success.”

The UCU also raised concerns about transparency of university pay in its report. When asked to provide minutes of remuneration committee meetings, only 50 per cent did so, half of whom would only provide heavily minutes with key information redact-ed.

The University of Edinburgh was

By Ethan DeWitt@TheStudentPaper

Revealed: side by side comparison of university senior pay

one of the latter institutions. A copy of the minutes released to the UCU and seen by The Student had been redact-ed to obscure all payments agreed.$� VSRNHVSHUVRQ� VDLG�� ³5HOHDVLQJ�

details of the Committee’s internal discussions into the public domain FRXOG�DGYHUVHO\�DHFW�WKH�&RPPLWWHH¶V�ability to carry out its remit and would therefore prejudice substantially the HHFWLYH� FRQGXFW� RI� WKH� 8QLYHUVLW\¶V�DDLUV�´

East Coast rail service re-privatised despite union objections

A IWHU� ¿YH� \HDUV� RI�state control, the East Coast train line has been privatised for its third

time. This time, Virgin and Stagecoach

have joined forces to take control of the East Coast service, which provides services on the mainline from London to Edinburgh.

The East Coast trains have now been rebranded as Virgin Trains East Coast (VTEC).

This is the third privatisation of the (DVW� &RDVW� 5DLO� 6HUYLFH�� DV� WKH� ¿UVW�two companies did not succeed in PHHWLQJ�WKHLU�¿QDQFLDO�FRPPLWPHQWV��The last company, National Express, handed the rail services back to state control when revenues fell in late ��IROORZLQJ�WKH�¿QDQFLDO�FULVLV��

Since then, the publicly-owned East Coast Trains returned a little more than £1 billion to the taxpayer along with generating £40 million LQ� SUR¿WV�� 7KH� VXFFHVV� KDV� UHVXOWHG�in calls from the unions and Labour to retain state ownership of the rail service.

The RMT union even staged protests at the stations along the route the day before the train services were transferred to private ownership.

Mike Cash, the general secretary of the RMT union, claimed that the re-privatisation was “an act of industrial vandalism that will smash apart Britain’s most successful rail company for just one reason – it is publicly owned”.

Cash continued by arguing that the public sector “had not only ‘rescued this vital rail link from total meltdown but turned around its performance.” 8QLYHUVLW\� RI� (GLQEXUJK� ¿UVW�

year History of Art student, Sophie Coleridge agreed with Cash’s DVVHVVPHQW�� ³WKH� UDLO� VHUYLFHV� DUH�DOUHDG\�TXLWH�HFLHQW�DV�WKH�WUDLQV�JR�frequently and not usually delayed. The prices are quite reasonable as they are and really there are no EHQH¿WV�RI�WKHP�EHLQJ�SULYDWLVHG�´�

The eight-year Virgin and Stagecoach joint franchise went DKHDG� ZLWK� WKH� ¿UVW� VHUYLFH� OHDYLQJ�Newcastle for London King’s Cross at ��DP�RQ�6XQGD\��

Managing director of Virgin Trains East Coast, David Horne, has addressed the issue of re-privatisa-

tion, stating that he is “certain it is the right approach for passengers and the taxpayer.” Mr Horne has also promised extra services between Edinburgh and London, along with hot food delivered to passenger seats.

From May 2019, the average Edin-burgh-London train will be cut by 15 minutes and one of the two services per hour will take under four hours. Although the cost of ‘anytime’ fares is due to be cut by 10 per cent from the current Edinburgh to London prices of £156.40 single and £313 return, there are no promises yet of regarding the reduction of other fares.

By Bisi Adeyumo@TheStudentPaper

Highest paid VC in UK

(out of 149 respondents)

Biggest spender on

ÀLJKW�WLFNHWV�in UK


£286,000

£22,358

Amount earned 2013/14

£25,710 above UK average

$PRXQW�VSHQW�RQ�ÀLJKWV�� £12,652 above UK average

Biggest spender on

hotel rooms in UK


£8,130Amount spent on hotels 2013/14


Vice Chancellor Sir Timothy O’Shea

Biggest spender on

personal expenses in UK

(out of 125 respondents)*

£7,842Amount spent on PE 2013/14


8QLYHUVLW\�RI�(GLQEXUJK�6HQLRU�2FLDOV

Highest paid

overall (out of

143 respondents)

Biggest spender on

hotel rooms in UK


117

£100-150k

1643

£150-200k£200-

250k

1 £250-300k

2£300-

350k

1XPEHU�RI�VWD�LQ�HDFK�SD\�FDWHJRU\

1RW� LQ� 8&8� UHSRUW�� VWDWLVWLF� H[WUDSRODWHG� IURP� SXEOLVKHG�University of Edinburgh records

6RXUFH��8QLYHUVLW\�DQG�&ROOHJH�8QLRQ

drawn to the attention of the wider public.

“[Unions] had been drawing their attention to the dubious practices of zero hours contracts, employment instability and under-estimating the hours of prep and feedback that [postgrad] tutors do; when it appeared in the papers they responded with a ‘shock/horror’ position of feigned ignorance and desire to set things to right.³(HFWLYHO\��WKH�ERWWRP�OLQH�LV�WKDW�

if such stances aren’t taken, they will QRW� GLYHVW�� LI� WKH\� DUH� WDNHQ� WKHQ� LW�PRYHV� RQWR� WKH� DJHQGD� DW� WKH� YHU\�least.”0RYLQJ� RQ� WR� ZKHWKHU� GLYHVWPHQW�

ZLOO� DHFW� HGXFDWLRQ� VWDQGDUGV� DW�Edinburgh, Webster asked:

“How far does [the money currently JDLQHG� IURP� WKH� LQYHVWPHQW@� JR�WRZDUGV�SURYLGLQJ�EHWWHU�VWD�VWXGHQW�UDWLRV�� EHWWHU� WHDFKLQJ�� SURYLVLRQ� RI�teaching aides like resources and the library, and how much of it goes to set up research institutes with no FRQVHTXHQFHV�IRU�IURQW�OLQH�SURYLVLRQ�of education and more focus on the international reputation of the XQLYHUVLW\�DV�D�ZKROH"´

Outgoing Rector Peter McColl said : ³7KLV�OHWWHU�VKRZV�WKH�VWUHQJWK�RI�VWD �IHHOLQJ�RQ�WKH�LVVXH�RI�GLYHVWPHQW�´

He then said: “We know that WKH� 8QLYHUVLW\� RI� (GLQEXUJK� KDV�

lost millions of pounds through its LQYHVWPHQWV� LQ� IRVVLO� IXHOV� RYHU� WKH�past nine months. That is likely to continue as it becomes clear fossil fuel FRPSDQLHV� KDYH� RYHU�GHFODUHG� WKHLU�DVVHWV��DQG�VR�DUH�RYHU�YDOXHG�´

Speaking at Principal’s Question Time in February, Principal O’Shea was asked about fossil fuels and insisted that: “This is not a race of

W e b s t e r c o n t i n u e d : “Apart from a few political junkies

within History, myself included, the PDLQ�UHVSRQVH�LV�WKDW�GLYHVWPHQW�LV�D�good idea, thoroughly laudable, but DFFHSWHG� LQ� D� SDVVLYH� PDQQHU� UDWKHU�than actually doing anything about it.”

Webster then considered the possible results of the letter: “It is GLFXOW� DW� WKLV� VWDJH� WR� MXGJH� ZKDW�H[DFW� LPSDFW� LW� ZLOO� KDYH�� ,W� SHUKDSV�gains from Glasgow being ahead of (GLQEXUJK�RQ�WKLV�DQG�WKH�XQLYHUVLW\�usually responds after things get

University “lost millions” through fossil fuel investmentZKLFK�XQLYHUVLW\�LV�¿UVW��³7KH�LVVXH�RQ�DQ\�GLYHVWPHQW�LVVXH�

is to analyse it properly by looking at LW� IURP� WKH� YDULRXV� SRLQWV� RI� YLHZV��and then coming up with an approach which makes sense to as large a SDUW� RI� WKH�8QLYHUVLW\� FRPPXQLW\� DV�possible.

“So I think we are doing things completely appropriately and responsibly at Edinburgh.”,Q� UHVSRQVH� WR� WKH� GLYHVWPHQW�

OHWWHU��D�XQLYHUVLW\�VSRNHVSHUVRQ�WROG�The Student: “We are exploring the issue in depth. A report with options WKDW� WKH� 8QLYHUVLW\� PLJKW� SXUVXH�will be discussed at a meeting next month.”

Universities condemn invasive SNP higher education bill7KH� 8QLYHUVLW\� RI� 6W� $QGUHZV�

KDV� EHHQ� WKH� PRVW� YRFDO� LQ� WKHLU�GLVDSSURYDO� RI� PLQLVWHUV¶� SODQV� WR�LQFUHDVH� JRYHUQPHQWDO� LQYROYHPHQW�LQ�WKH�UXQQLQJ�RI�XQLYHUVLWLHV�

Their submission talked of the risk RI�XQLYHUVLWLHV�EHFRPLQJ�D� ³µSROLWLFDO�IRRWEDOO¶� E\� VXFFHVVLYH� JRYHUQPHQWV��which becomes itself a serious threat to responsible autonomy and academic freedom.”2YHUDOO�� WKH� FRQVXOWDWLRQ� KDV� QRW�

been met well in higher education DFDGHPLF� FLUFOHV�� (YHQ� ZKHQ� LGHDV�LQ� WKH� OHJLVODWLRQ� KDYH� EHHQ� DJUHHG�upon, it has been questioned by key actors whether there is really a need to legislate on matters that are currently dealt with adequately through cooperation and under-VWDQGLQJ�EHWZHHQ�XQLYHUVLWLHV��

In particular, principals are criticising the notion of including trade unionists on the committee.8QLYHUVLWLHV� 6FRWODQG�� ZKLFK� LV� D�

UHSUHVHQWDWLYH� ERG\� RI� 6FRWODQG¶V�higher education institutions, was concerned with the undermining of the democratic nature of courts if wider membership was allowed.

Their release stated that: “The proposal to designate places on JRYHUQLQJ�ERGLHV�IRU�XQLRQ�UHSUHVHQW-DWLYHV�ZRXOG�GLPLQLVK�WKH�GHPRFUDWLF�EDVLV�RI�KLJKHU�HGXFDWLRQ�JRYHUQDQFH��E\� LQWURGXFLQJ� LQGLYLGXDOV� ZKRVH�UROH� ZRXOG� EH� WR� SURYLGH� WKH� VWD �SHUVSHFWLYH�� EXW� ZKR� KDG� QRW� EHHQ�HOHFWHG�E\�DOO�UHOHYDQW�VWD�´(GLQEXUJK� 8QLYHUVLW\¶V� 6WXGHQW�

Association (EUSA) submitted a response for consultation in which

WKH\�VSRNH�LQ�IDYRXU�RI�KDYLQJ�ZLGHU�membership.

Briana Pegado, EUSA President, told The Student��³6WD�DQG�VWXGHQWV�DUH�UHSUHVHQWHG�RQ�XQLYHUVLW\�ERDUGV�WKDW� DUH�PHPEHUV� RI� PDQ\� GLHUHQW�organisations. There are joint trade unions that organise to represent the YLHZV�RI�VWD��7KHVH�DUH�PHPEHUV�RI�our academic community.³8OWLPDWHO\�� HYHU\RQH� RQ� WKH�

board acts independently as a board member in these meetings and does not represent the interests of any H[WHUQDO� RUJDQLVDWLRQV�� KRZHYHU��since trade unions are stakeholders in the academic community they should be represented.”

Speaking to The Student, Gordon Maloney, President of the National Union of Students (NUS) Scotland,

A new Scottish *RYHUQPHQW� HGXFDWLRQ�LQLWLDWLYH� LV� IDFLQJ�concerted pressure from

XQLYHUVLWLHV�DQG�HGXFDWLRQ�JURXSV�7KH�+LJKHU�(GXFDWLRQ�*RYHUQDQFH�

Bill is proposing a number of changes ZKLFK� ZRXOG� VLJQL¿FDQWO\� DOWHU� WKH�LQGHSHQGHQFH� ZLWK� ZKLFK� JRYHUQLQJ�ERGLHV�UXQ�XQLYHUVLWLHV�7KH� ELOO�� ZKLFK� KDV� MXVW� ¿QLVKHG�

consultation stage, is coming XQGHU� KHDY\� ¿UH� IURP� PHPEHUV� RI�the academic community for its proposals such as open elections for WKH�FKDLUV�RI�JRYHUQLQJ�ERGLHV�DQG�D�PRUH� GLYHUVH� UHSUHVHQWDWLRQ� LQ� WKH�body.

responded:“At the moment, Scottish

XQLYHUVLWLHV� DUH� WRR�RIWHQ� UXQ�E\� WKH�same types of people, without real DFFRXQWDELOLW\�WR�VWXGHQWV�DQG�VWD«�the huge disconnect between the SHRSOH� ZKR� FKDLU� JRYHUQLQJ� ERGLHV�DQG� WKH� VWD� DQG� VWXGHQWV� WKH\�VKRXOG�EH�VHUYLQJ�VKRZ�ZKDW�D�ODFN�RI�democracy can do to our institutions.

“The proposed legislation is a great opportunity to shake things up and make sure that the leaders of our HGXFDWLRQ�LQVWLWXWLRQV�DUH�VHUYLQJ�WKH�interests of the whole community.

“The only way to ensure this KDSSHQV� LV� E\� KDYLQJ� JRYHUQLQJ�ERGLHV� WKDW� HQMR\� WKH� FRQ¿GHQFH� RI�VWD�DQG�VWXGHQWV� WKURXJK�RSHQ�DQG�democratic elections, not through a narrow and self-selecting process.”

decreasing corporation tax.

As well as withdrawing the statement on corporation tax, Sturgeon promised the creation of D� 6FRWWLVK� %XVLQHVV� 'HYHORSPHQW�%DQN��ZKLFK�ZRXOG�JLYH�RXW� ORDQV� WR�

medium sized companies throughout Scotland.

She said that an increase in Scotland’s total output could lead to ��QHZ�MREV�EHLQJ�DYDLODEOH�DIWHU�ten years.

Speaking to The Student, Professor Nicola McEwen, Associate Director of the ESRC Centre on Constitu-WLRQDO� &KDQJH� DW� WKH� 8QLYHUVLW\� RI�Edinburgh said that Nicola Sturgeon’s 613�ZHUH�GH¿QLQJ�WKHPVHOYHV�DV�³XQ-ambiguously social democratic”, with DQ�RYHUDOO�³FKDQJH�RI�HPSKDVLV´�IURP�SUHYLRXV�JRYHUQPHQWV�

“Alex Salmond’s administration IDYRXUHG� XQLYHUVDO� SXEOLF� VHUYLFH�SURYLVLRQ�DQG�ORZ�WD[DWLRQ��D�GLFXOW�and seemingly contradictory agenda. 6LQFH� WDNLQJ� RFH�� WKH� QHZ� )LUVW�Minister has been keen to place added

stress on tackling inequality and HFRQRPLF�GLVDGYDQWDJH�DV�DQ�LQWHJUDO�part of a strategy for economic growth DQG�SURGXFWLYLW\�´��

Sturgeon said last month that inequality had made the UK £100 ELOOLRQ�ZRUVH�R�IURP��WR��

She said that Scotland had a “strong international reputation, great natural resources, and the most highly educated workforce in Europe”.

The pledges by Sturgeon faced huge criticism by opposing political parties. 7KH�¿QDQFH�VSRNHVZRPDQ�IRU�/DERXU��Jackie Baillie, said that Sturgeon was right to focus on tackling inequality, EXW�WKDW�KHU�SODQV�ODFN�³UHGLVWULEXWLYH�SROLF\� FRPPLWPHQWV�� OLNH� /DERXU¶V�proposal for the reintroduction of the 50p top rate of tax”.

N icola Sturgeon has introduced measures to bring down the “blight of inequality” in

Scotland.Sturgeon, who will be standing as

leader of the SNP in May’s general election, introduced a program of OHJLVODWLRQ� ZKLFK� LV� VWDUNO\� GLHUHQW�to that of her predecessor, Alex Salmond.

Salmond had before pledged a decrease in corporation tax three per cent lower than the rate in the 8.�� +RZHYHU�� 6WXUJHRQ� WROG� The Scotsman that the SNP now “targeted changes in tax allowances” and rejected the “blanket approach” of

Sturgeon targets “blight of inequality” with jobs planIn the build-up to the general

election, Sturgeon has been touted as a potential “kingmaker.”,Q�DQ�LQWHUYLHZ�ZLWK�The Guardian,

she said that a coalition with the /DERXU� 3DUW\� ZDV� XQOLNHO\�� VLQFH�they had just agreed to a further £30 billion in cuts.

The SNP has presented a program of anti-austerity, which the LQWHUYLHZHU� VDLG� UHODWHG� WKH� SDUW\� WR�Syriza, the far-left Greek party who recently came to power.

She said these were damaging to in-frastructure and skills, both of which WKH�613�ZDQWHG�WR�LQYHVW�LQ�

She also rejected any idea of a compromise on the Trident nuclear weapons system, stating that the 613�ZRXOG�QRW�YRWH�IRU�WKHLU�UHQHZDO�under any circumstances.

By Joshua Stein@josh_n_stein


10th March 2015 3www.studentnewspaper.org

News

“[Former First Minister] Alex Salmond’s

administration favoured [...] a difficult and seemingly contradictory agenda”

- Professor Nicola McEwen, Associate Director of the ESRC Centre on

Constitutional Change

By Sameen Hayat@sameenhayat

Continued from Front Page

“They responded with a ‘shock/horror’ position

of feigned ignorance“

- Doctor Tom Webster

News



T he United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) plan to take billions of pounds from

Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish budgets to fund English tax breaks. The controversial proposal was announced DW� WKH� SDUW\¶V� ¿QDO� FRQIHUHQFH� EHIRUH�the general elections in May.

UKIP’s plan foresees the abolition of subsidies for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The measure would save up to £8bn a year and the savings would be used to fund tax relief for English citizens.

Currently, subsidies are paid from Westminster to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland according to the %DUQHWW� IRUPXOD�� D� ¿QDQFLDO� V\VWHP�used to distribute public money across the UK’s nations and regions.

English MPs of the Conservative Party have advocated the abolition of the Barnett Formula, due to its perceived generosity towards Scotland.

It is widely believed that this latest proposal represents a UKIP attempt to appeal to potential voters in England,

where they hope to gain a dozen or so seats in the upcoming Westminster general election.

Nicola McEwen, Professor of Territorial Politics at the University of Edinburgh, told The Student: “This isn’t a serious policy but an attempt by UKIP to peddle the myth that English voters subsidise the Scots in a bid to curry favour among English voters.

“There are many myths about the Barnett formula but territorial ¿QDQFH�LV�PRUH�FRPSOLFDWHG��6FRWODQG�has historically fared quite well from the distribution of public funding […] but it could be reasonably argued that

Scotland has also contributed more than its fair share to UK revenues, especially revenues from North Sea Oil.

Wales, by contrast, fares rather poorly from the system, and there are strong demands for a better deal for Wales when money is transferred to the devolved governments.”

The measure may serve to alienate support for UKIP from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

However, UKIP’s deputy chairman

Suzanne Evans is in charge of the plan and presented the measure as proof of her party’s integrity.

She said it proved that UKIP are not “chasing votes”, but prepared to do “what is right”.

David Coburn, UKIP’s only Scottish MEP, also defended the policy by suggesting that if “Scotland wants to spend more, then it needs to raise more. People have got to understand that they are getting a lot more money than folks in England”.

By Lily Settari@TheStudentPaper

UKIP announces Scotland budget cut to pay for tax breaks

Edinburgh South Labour MP Ian Murray told The Student: “It is clear that UKIP don’t understand the pooling and sharing of resources across the UK. The Barnett formula redistributes to Scotland according to need and softens economic problems like a collapse in oil prices.

The threat to Barnett by UKIP and the SNP (due to their campaigning IRU� IXOO� ¿VFDO� DXWRQRP\�� ZRXOG� VHH�6FRWODQG� ZRUVH� R� E\� ��EQ�� 8.,3�and the SNP must think again.”

UKIP’s leader, Nigel Farage, has been a heavy critic of devolved funding to Scotland

“If Scotland wants to spend more, then it

needs to raise more. People have got to understand that they are getting a lot more money than folks in England”

- David Coburn, UKIP MEP for Scotland

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W e opened the week on March 8 with Inter-national Women’s Day. A holiday origi-

nally founded to support the goals of the international feminist movement towards gender equality, today IWD is largely considered a celebration of success and optimism.

However for many, the obser-vance of International Women’s Day in a university setting creates an op-portunity to address the challenges that continue to face women in aca-demia, most of whom come from the upper classes. Such discussions are in-HHFWLYH�ZLWKRXW�FRQVLGHUDWLRQ�RI� WKH�gap in privilege between upper class women and those from less privileged backgrounds.

There can be no doubt that the presence of women in academia is drastically disproportionate to their male colleagues. Gender inequality is perhaps nowhere more obvious than at the highest levels of achievement and those women who succeed in

lower class’s oppression renders them XQTXDOL¿HG�WR�DGGUHVV�WKH�LVVXH�HYHQ�LI�they wanted to, correctly calling for an intersectional representation of gen-der inequality in academia.

Any such response will require the increased participation of lower class women in academia in order to EH� HHFWLYH��7KRVH�ZLWK�¿UVWKDQG�H[-SHULHQFH�RI�WKH�HHFWV�RI�WKH�GLVFULPL-nation and deprivation that the lower FODVVHV�H[SHULHQFH�DUH�WKH�EHVW�UHIRUP-ers we could ask for and the only ones we should accept.

However, considering that our society does not currently provide ade-quate opportunities for students from lower classes to succeed at an equal level to their privileged peers and en-

WHU�LQWR�DFDGHPLD��WKRVH�EHVW�TXDOL¿HG�to address the class-based variations of gender inequality do not have the WRROV�WR�PDNH�D�GLHUHQFH��7KLV�LV�WKH�foremost issue at hand.

Academia’s response to this SUREOHP� PXVW� EHJLQ� ZLWK� HRUWV� WR�increase opportunities for students of lower socio-economic status to DFKLHYH�WKH�UHTXLUHG�TXDOL¿FDWLRQV�IRU�HQWU\�LQWR�WKH�¿HOG��

The University of Edinburgh’s student population has historically included only a small percentage of students from working class families, with only 18.6 per cent in 2010 ac-cording to a survey by HESA. Those in charge of education policy must prepare and motivate lower class stu-

gaining employment at universities are frequently deprived of opportunity for advancement and feel they are held to a higher standard of performance than male academics.

Those who deserve a place in academia are those who are best TXDOL¿HG�� 7R� SUHYHQW� D� ZRPDQ� IURP�entering into and advancing within a profession which she is equally as TXDOL¿HG�WR�SUDFWLFH�DV�DQ\�PDQ�LV�RXW-rageous.

The issue is only complicated by the fact that women from less priv-ileged socio-economic backgrounds face incomparable professional obsta-cles to the privileged academic who is often at the helm of initiatives to con-quer gender inequality on the behalf of all women.

University-run feminist initia-tives and events like IWD are largely organised by privileged women who have not faced the challenges or lack of opportunity that women from the ORZHU�FODVVHV�KDYH�H[SHULHQFHG��

In a recent article published in The Guardian, Natalya Din-Kariuki justly argues that upper class wom-HQ¶V�ODFN�RI�¿UVWKDQG�H[SHULHQFH�RI�WKH�

DQG� IUR]HQ� FRXQFLO� WD[� GHVSLWH� KDYLQJ�underspent £444 million last year.

By the SNP’s own admission, not enough is being done for the NHS to meet its new 18 week target. In fact, one LQ�¿YH�SDWLHQWV�KDYH�WR�ZDLW�HYHQ�ORQJHU�than that. Some health boards here in Scotland still aren’t even meeting the SUHYLRXV� ��ZHHN� WDUJHW�� D� VL[�PRQWK�wait! What’s more, over 200 people, the majority of them young people, have been waiting for over a year. This is not just a scandal, it’s a disgrace.

It’s also true that we have seen an increase in people seeking mental health services, which shouldn’t be surprising. With greater campaigns to raise awareness and be more open about mental health, more than a quarter of the population is more willing to seek the help they need. But

the NHS is unable to cope. You’d think that with the government having an H[WUD��PLOOLRQ�LQ�KDQG�WKH\�FRXOG�at least meet the increase in need.

For this introspection of Mental Health access we cannot just look toward the NHS and Holyrood, toward their failure to cope with demand for mental health services, but we also need to look at our universities.

Our universities are seeing increased

demand for counselling and mental health services, while disability services across the UK are getting their funding cut or, as at Glasgow University, getting outsourced. The University of Edinburgh’s waiting list for their FRXQVHOOLQJ�VHUYLFH�FRQVWDQWO\�H[SDQGV�IURP�WKUHH�WR�VL[�ZHHNV��DQG�WKDW¶V�RQO\�IRU� VKRUW�WHUP�� VL[� DSSRLQWPHQWV� RI�care. Anything after that and you need WKH� 1+6� RU� H[SHQVLYH� SULYDWH� KHDOWK�services if you can’t wait for 18+ weeks.

But if you have mental health issues, you’ll know waiting is something you’re all too familiar with: waiting to seek help, then waiting to receive help. A second problem for many university students then occurs when there is a need to apply for special circumstance. The wait for another appointment(s) to get the needed evidence and then wait to hear if it’s been accepted or how it’ll DHFW�\RX��

And then there is Authorised Inter-ruption of Study, which for those who FDQ� DRUG� LW� FDQ� EH� TXLWH� KHOSIXO� RU�

I t’s nice to see that our conversations about mental KHDOWK� VHUYLFHV� KDYH� ¿QDOO\�entered the political spotlight.

We are constantly hearing about the scandalous funding situation for Men-tal Health Services in England, but some time for introspection in Scot-land is well needed.

The Scottish Government introduced a Mental Health minister, Scottish Lib Dems have it on their main platform, and just this past week Scottish Labour have been grilling the government over how shambolic our mental health targets are, especially for young people, and the cuts to council services forced by these governments’ funding cuts

Appalling access to mental health support


[email protected]/StudentComment

An intersectional International Women’s DayWe must ensure we do not exclusively focus on those already privileged

By Marissa Field @StudentComment

We need an urgent review of accessiblity to mental health support services

By Zaic Holbrook@StudentComment “It’s nice to see our

conversations about mental health services have finally entered the political spotlight. We are constantly hearing about the scandalous funding situation for mental health services in England, but some time for introspection in Scotland is well needed”

necessary, but for so many students who need to interrupt studies or work, LW�LV�VLPSO\�QRW�DRUGDEOH��\RXU�VWXGHQW�funding is postponed but you can’t seek RWKHU� EHQH¿WV�� ZKLFK� PHDQV� KDYLQJ�to work, often defeating the whole purpose of the interruption. On top of that, Tier 4 international students have the added burden of worrying what will happen to their visa, a worry that for some will only deteriorate their mental health.

We desperately need to change how we treat persons with mental health issues. We need more funding, we need more support, we need these barriers to our accessibility eradicated.

dents to enter universities like Edin-burgh in order to bring more lower class women into academia.

7KLV� HRUW� ZLOO� UHTXLUH� QRW� RQO\�adequate coverage of course materi-al in secondary schools, but also an emphasis on the critical-thinking and study skills necessary to manage uni-versity life, and a shift from within the lower class community itself to value KLJK� OHYHOV� RI� DFDGHPLF� TXDOL¿FDWLRQ�more equally to career paths which are seen at the moment as more ‘realistic’ or ‘practical’ than academia, and which provide more reliable career prospects.

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“But if you have mental health issues, you’ll know

waiting is something you’re all too familiar with: waiting to seek help, then waiting to receive help”

the network, which use far more government resources and contribute IDU� OHVV� WR� WKH� HFRQRP\�� $Q\� SUR¿W�made by state owned railways can go straight back into improving services and keeping ticket prices low for travellers.

This is obviously not the case with private companies. The contrast between the two systems only serves to highlight the fact that the Government’s free market ideology LV� KLJKO\� ÀDZHG�� (DVW� &RDVW� ZDV� D�constant reminder to the people of Britain that publicly owned rail QHWZRUNV�ZHUH�FKHDSHU��PRUH�HFLHQW�and made money for the taxpayer. Instead of accepting that their method is inferior and opting to have more railways under state ownership, the Government are choosing to try and brush this problem under the carpet E\�VHOOLQJ�R�WKH� ODVW� IUDQFKLVH�ZKLFK�could embarrass them.

Labour’s response has been half hearted at best. Milliband has promised to begin legislation to allow public run companies to compete for these contracts within 100 days of being elected. This is an unsurpris-

Comment



Claims of ‘anti-Israeli bias’ are unfounded

It may come as little surprise to hear US Secretary of State John Kerry defending the actions of Benjamin

Netanyahu’s government, a feature which has become a mainstay in Kerry’s foreign policy. However, even for his aggressively Zionist stance, Kerry’s latest assertion, accusing the UN of holding an “anti-Israel bias”, is both nonsensical and abhorrent in equal measure. Not only is it indicative of a decidedly pro-Israel bias prevalent within the Western media and its institutions, it is also a reminder of Western double-standards concerning notions of ‘liberty’, revealing nothing but cold, ruthless political advantage at its core.

John Kerry’s attack has been condemned by the Palestinian Authority’s Foreign Secretary as con-

the IDF, in the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.

Further, even momentarily disregarding the judicial illegality of Israel’s actions, its treatment of the Palestinian people violates the most fundamental laws of human rights. Whether enshrined in legislation or not, the mass killing of innocent civilians shatters any remaining common notion of morality. These FULPHV� DUH� QRW�� KRZHYHU�� FRQ¿QHG� WR�WKH�FRQÀLFWV�RI� ��DQG��ZKHUH�WKH� ZRUG� FRQÀLFW� LV� LWVHOI� H[WUDRUGL-narily misleading in its connotations of mutual warfare and substantive resistance. Recently, the siege on Gaza E\�,VUDHO¶V�PLOLWDU\�LQ�-XO\��UHVXOWHG�LQ� WKH� GHDWKV� RI� �� 3DOHVWLQLDQV� LQ�WZR�ZHHNV�� LQMXULQJ��FLYLOLDQV� LQ�the process. On Sunday 20 July alone, 100 Palestinians were killed by the aggression of the Israeli Defence Force. Reducing Palestinian identity to little more than ever-shortening numerical lists, Israel’s continuous assault upon Palestine is the outright polarity of anything resembling justice, or liberty.

Although the crimes committed by Israel have been acknowledged, indeed

ZLWK� WKH�81� LQ� �� GLVPLVVLQJ� DQ\�legitimate claims for the interminable military assault upon Gaza, little has been done. More alarming still is western complicity in these atrocities. ,Q� �� IRXU� ZHVWHUQ� QDWLRQV��including the UK, abstained from a 6HFXULW\� &RXQFLO� 5HVROXWLRQ� WR� EULQJ�peace to Palestine within a year after Israeli bombardment, and to end Israeli occupation of Palestinian WHUULWRULHV�E\��ZKLOH� WKH�86�DQG�Australia chose to veto. That even one (XURSHDQ� QDWLRQ�� ZKHUH� WKH� UKHWRULF�of progressive, egalitarian democracy is force-fed to the public by the

tradicting the principles of the Human 5LJKWV� &RXQFLO�� ZKHUH� KLV� VSHHFK�was made. We may congratulate the 3DOHVWLQLDQ�RFLDO�IRU�PDQLIHVWLQJ�VXFK�a degree of composure in countering the remarks, which rightfully infuriated many who heard Kerry’s obnoxious words. Israel, far from being the victim RI�81� SXQLVKPHQW�� LV� WKH� EHQH¿FLDU\�of years of stasis, inaction, and tragic complicity. Indeed, its status as a SHUHQQLDO�RHQGHU� LQ� WKH�DUHQD�RI� LQ-ternational law is irrefutable, and is widely-acknowledged as concrete fact. (QFRPSDVVLQJ� �� 6HFXULW\� &RXQFLO�UHVROXWLRQV�� DUWLFOHV� �� DQG� ��RI� WKH�*HQHYD� &RQYHQWLRQ�� DV�ZHOO� DV�WKH� ,QWHUQDWLRQDO� &RPPLVVLRQ� RI� WKH�Suppression and Punishment of the &ULPH� RI� $SDUWKHLG¶V� UXOLQJ� LQ� ��the notorious war crimes committed by Israel remain unpunished. The chimerical notion of an anti-Israeli bias feebly withers away in the face of its gross misconduct, particularly by

champions of neo-liberalism, chose not to vote in favour of the resolution, constitutes complete hypocrisy. At the core of the neglect of Palestinian rights within the international sphere evidently lies political interest. Old ties and economic partnerships prevent any attempts to alleviate the plight of Palestinians through the electoral structures of the United Nations. Above all, it is the precedence of political allegiance over a glaring moral duty to defend the diminishing status of the Palestinian which renders Israel’s escape act from international law a loathsome success.

By Oliver LemarchandSenior Comment Writer

The ongoing neglect of Palestinian rights, not ‘anti-Israeli bias’, is the problem

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We must stand against privatisation of railways

E ast Coast Rail, the only remaining railway under state control, was last week taken over

by Stagecoach and Virgin Rail. The government has decided to hand this last chunk of Britain’s rail network over to a private company, despite WKH� IDFW� WKDW� WKH�(DVW�&RDVW� IUDQFKLVH�depended on less public subsidies WKDQ� WKH� �� SULYDWH� UDLO� IUDQFKLVHV��and has returned over £1bn to the JRYHUQPHQW¶V�FRHUV�VLQFH��7KH�move also goes against public opinion. A Yougov poll last year revealed that over two thirds of Britons support the re-nationalisation of the railways, and that’s not just ‘raging lefties’. The majority of Tory and UKIP voters also think that the network should be SXEOLFO\� RZQHG��$V� VXFK�� VHOOLQJ�(DVW�&RDVW� R� WR� D� SULYDWH� FRPSDQ\� GRHV�QRW�PDNH�VHQVH�HLWKHU�¿QDQFLDOO\�RU�LQ�terms of pleasing voters.(DVW� &RDVW� KDV� EHHQ� D� VXFFHVVIXO�

franchise. Its success shows up the privately owned sections of

LQJO\�FRPSOH[�DQG�LQHHFWXDO�FRXQWHU�blow. With the level of public support that re-nationalisation has, Milliband would come across as a much stronger leader and a more radical alternative to Tory privatisation if he made some ¿UPHU�SURPLVHV�RQ�WKH�VXEMHFW��9DJXH�assertions that public companies might get a look in on these contracts at some point in the future are not going to convince anyone of his conviction on this matter.

The people of Britain need to stand up and make their opinions heard. With less than a quarter of the population supporting privately run

rail networks, it would be easy to put pressure on the government to begin retaking control of the railways. This ZRXOG� EHQH¿W� HYHU\RQH�� IURP� WKH�government and the taxpayer to the people who use trains to travel every single day. Publicly owned franchises would mean cheaper fares, something ZKLFK�ZRXOG�PDNH� D�KXJH�GLHUHQFH�to many commuters’ outgoings. British rail fares are some of the most H[SHQVLYH� LQ� (XURSH�� DQG� LW¶V� QRW� DV�if we pay for a particularly excellent service.

In order to bring this kind of change about, people have to really

want it. It’s all very well voting in a Yougov poll, but so many people who support re-nationalisation in theory are unwilling to put any real support behind it.

This is such an important issue for this country and the only way we can bring about change is by becoming less apathetic. Stop letting the decisions of politicians wash over us. If you believe in publicly owned rail franchises, stand up and make your voice heard. Find like-minded people and begin campaigning. Many want this change, but it won’t happen ZLWKRXW�D�FROOHFWLYH�HRUW�

By Alice Carr@StudentComment

The privatisation of East Coast Rail disregards a lot of public opinion and the financial benefits of nationalisation

Re-nationalisation is the key to solving British railways’ falling standards

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John Kerry’s statement to the UN belies old political ties and economic interest

just. This trend did not appear, however,

after the 2011 terrorist attacks in Norway carried out by Anders Breivik, killing seventy seven people. Breivik himself stated, “Well, I am a militant Christian; to prevent the de-Christian-isation of Europe is very important.” Christians were not questioned by the media on their opinions of the killings; it was an inherent assumption that DQ\� UHDVRQDEOH� SHUVRQ� ZRXOG� ¿QG�them abhorrent.

The complete reverse has occurred in relation to instances of Islamic terrorism including ‘Jihadi John,’ where there seems to be an assumption that Muslims support their actions unless they explicitly express otherwise and justify their opinions.

Neither the Christian population of Norway, nor the worldwide

K ay Burley of Sky News has recently attracted controversy over an interview with

a representative from Cage UK, an activist group that aims to help victims of the ‘War on Terror,’ after she dismissed some of his comments; her line of questioning eventually resulted in Cerie Bullivant abruptly leaving the interview.

Burley’s line of questioning, which included her asking Bullivant how he felt about the beheadings, mirrors a trend seen within some parts of the British media, in the expectation that it is the duty of the internation-al Muslim community to publicly denounce terrorist attacks carried out in the name of Islam by extremists, such as the beheading committed by ‘Jihadi John’ Mohammed Emwasi. This is inherently Islamophobic.

It rests on the assumption that Muslims who do not do so therefore both share the views of the attackers, and support their actions as morally

Christian community, were expected to apologise or denounce the heinous actions of Breivik, and Christianity was not held accountable in any way. 2WKHU� LQÀXHQFHV� LQFOXGLQJ�ULJKW�ZLQJ�extremism, Islamophobia, and mental health problems were explored and all used to justify his actions.

On the other hand, in the analysis of Mohammed Emwazi and the Charlie Hebdo attackers, the primary motivating aspect of their actions is their adherence to Islam. Whilst this may be a valid conclusion, the dismissal of other external LQÀXHQFHV� DQG� LQWHUDFWLQJ� IDFWRUV�when discussing Islamist extremism is something largely unseen when analysing extremism within other religions, namely Christianity.

Boris Johnson, in his column for The Telegraph, recently published an article, “Young British Muslims should realise that extremists like Jihadi John are not honouring Islam.” Whilst he writes: “I believe - and I certainly want to believe - that this jihadi madness is rejected by the overwhelming majority of Muslims,” the title and general tone

of his article would suggest that he in fact believes quite the opposite.

The title itself implies that Johnson does in fact believe that young British 0XVOLPV� ¿QG� WKH� DFWLRQV� RI� (PZD]L�honourable, and the article as a whole patronises the entire British Muslim community, whose only connection to Emwazi is religion. He later calls on Cage UK to apologise to the families of the victims of Emwazi, reinforcing the tendency of expecting Muslims to accept guilt for actions committed by other Muslims.

It should be noted that this trend is more concentrated within the more conservative elements of the British media, primarily The Telegraph. Sky News, under impartiality laws is legally required to remain neutral, although it has come under criticism in the past for its lack of neutrality, for example during the 2010 General Election.

There certainly appears to be less demand for Muslim apologies within more central and left leaning news outlets, such as the BBC and The Guardian.

However, this trend within any part of British journalism is concerning, as the British Muslim community is not, and should not be presented as being, accountable in any way for the actions of fellow Muslims.

Pakistan needs sensitivity in debating vaccination

However, this universal approach may instead have an extremely detrimental impact as it completely fails to address the motivations behind the anti-vacci-nation rhetoric.

Many have been quick to draw a comparison between Pakistan and the United States, where those exercising their parental right to refuse to vaccinate their children may have led to a recent spike in measles cases across the country. According to the Centre for Disease Control, last year there were 644 cases across 27 states – a high number considering that the disease ZDV� GHFODUHG� RFLDOO\� HUDGLFDWHG�there in 2000. Many parents who do not vaccinate their children do so on WKH�JURXQGV�RI�D�GLVFUHGLWHG�VFLHQWL¿F�paper published by a former surgeon, $QGUHZ�:DNH¿HOG��ZKR�FODLPHG�WKHUH�was a direct link between the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination and autism in children. But it’s all too easy to draw comparisons between the

US and the far more serious situation in Pakistan when the motivations for parents not vaccinating children in the ODWWHU�DUH�IDU�PRUH�VLJQL¿FDQW�

One of the main motivators against vaccination in Pakistan is fear of the Taliban. According to a recent article in Vice, many of the recent cases of polio have occurred in Taliban-con-trolled areas of the country, where the Taliban have been preventing vaccines from entering the country. This is a result of a previous American-driven vaccination scheme for Hepatitis C, which the Taliban viewed as a spying attempt by the CIA. As a result, any new vaccination initiatives are viewed with much suspicion both by the Taliban and by parents.

The Taliban also deliberately target aid workers who are helping to bring vaccinations to inaccessible regions of the country, further deterring parents from vaccination. By attempting to enforce vaccination in Taliban-oc-cupied and surrounding areas, the Pakistani government’s intentions may be good but they risk endangering the safety of both health workers and parents who choose to vaccinate their

children. The term ‘rights of the parent’ is

mentioned frequently in discussions about vaccination. But the situation in Pakistan goes far beyond this, punishing the parents of unvaccinated children for reasons outwith their control. Any trust in Western vaccination schemes appears to have been violated and, by using extreme methods to enforce vaccination, the Pakistani government is not helping to rebuild that trust. The rights of the parent are important, the rights of the child more so, but the obstacles which IDFH� 3DNLVWDQ¶V� ¿JKW� DJDLQVW� SROLR�are deeply entrenched political and ideological problems which need to be addressed before any real progress can be made.

The polio epidemic facing Pakistan is one which needs urgent attention, but by imposing such a broad and unfocused approach to mass medication and not considering the rights of parents, the government in Pakistan run the very real risk of alienating many from vaccination altogether and ultimately hurting the very people they are trying to help.

P akistan made headlines recently with its response to having a widely unvaccinated

population. Public safety legislation is being used by the Pakistani authorities to arrest parents who do not vaccinate their children against polio. The parents are imprisoned until they sign DQ� DGDYLW� WKDW� WKH\� ZLOO� JR� DKHDG�with vaccination, a decision which removes any parental right of choice. CNN reports that so far there have been over 500 arrests.

According to the World Health Organisation, Pakistan is one of three countries in the world where polio is considered endemic, accounting for 80% of the world’s polio cases, and many are of the opinion that a crackdown on those failing to vaccinate their children is long overdue.

By Laura Brook @StudentComment

Communities should not take collective blame for individual’s actions

Compulsory vaccination might endanger parents and health workers

By Amber Stevenson@StudentComment@gabes2001

Kudos to the guy who’s playing Wham’s ‘wake me up before you go-go’ next to the people handing out bibles by the library #eduni

@sameenhayatThis election can we talk about the DIRE need for more than 2 music channels at the gym that play ANYTHING but top 40 pop hits? #EUSA #EdUni

@belouschris Overheard on campus: ‘All women have bad taste because all wom-en love Benedict Cumberbatch.’ #eduni

@lisacairns_ EdiLifestyle you’ve missed out poached egg and I don’t think boiled, soft boiled and hard boiled can count as 3 different types #eduni

@jellyyyx Current mood. Roll on Monday. #deadlines #dying #history #eduni

@LydiaRyMu Syphilis, incest and euthanasia all in one play? This is going to be quite some essay #eduni

@leafyfrondsWhoever promises a purge on library desk-hoarders in the #eusa elections wins my full support. #eduni

Comment



“It rests on the assumption that Muslims who do

not [condemn] therfore both share the views of the attackers and support their actions as morally just”

“The title itself implies that Johnson does not in fact

believe that young British Muslims find the actions of Emwazi honourable”

Demanding apologies risks alienating Muslims

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It’s quick to complete and you’ll be helping prospective students make the right choices of where and what to study

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In 1857 the subcontinent was rocked by the largest challenge to British dominance in India until the independence

struggle began around 60 years later. The ‘mutiny’ (so labelled by FRORQLDO� KLVWRULDQV�� RU� WKH� µ¿UVW� ZDU�of independence’ (so labelled by nationalist historians) began with a religious controversy. It was claimed WKDW�WKH�FDUWULGJHV�IRU�WKH�QHZ�(Q¿HOG�ULÀHV�LQWURGXFHG�LQWR�WKH�%HQJDO�DUP\�of the British East India Company were greased with the fat of cows and pigs.

This was considered sacrilege by Hindus and impure by Muslims, and neatly slotted into the religious QDUUDWLYH� RI� GLVDHFWHG� VROGLHUV�� ,W�was believed that the British were trying (either by trickery or coercion) to convert the people of India to Christianity. Generally, aside from the RGG� ]HDORW� PLVVLRQDU\� RU� RFLDO�� WKH�East India Company were far more interested in commercial enterprise WKDQ� WKH� FUXFL¿[�� 5HJDUGOHVV� RI� WKH�reality, however, the Hindu and Muslim soldiers who believed this scandal rose up into a revolt which nearly dislodged the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the British Empire.,Q� WKH� SDVW� WHQ� ZHHNV�� VL[� VHSDUDWH�

incidents of crime have taken place at a number of churches across Delhi. These have varied in severity, from the theft of a DVD player to having a stone thrown through a window. These incidents have been decried by the Christian community in Delhi: “A clear pattern of orchestrated attacks”, were the words used by one priest, whilst DQRWKHU�VXJJHVWHG�WKHUH�ZDV�³D�GH¿QLWH�pattern” to the incidents.

This narrative of religious oppression has been spurred on by the rise of the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) to a massive majority in national politics. Mistrust of the BJP is deepened by their association with aggressive +LQGX� VHFWV� VXFK� DV� WKH� 5DVKWUL\D�6ZD\DPVHYDN� 6DQJK� �566�� DQG� WKH�Hindu Mahasabha. It has been reported that the leader of the latter sect, Swami Omji, recently threatened to kill the new chief minister of Delhi, Arvin Kejriwal, saying: “We killed Mahatma Gandhi … we will shoot down Kejriwal too”. Christians (as well as Muslims) have begun to fear for their faith.

The most striking note in this narrative of oppression, however, is the recent phenomenon of Hindu ‘recon-YHUVLRQV¶�� 7KH� 566� FODLP� WKDW� ,QGLDQ�Christians were forcibly converted IURP� +LQGXLVP� XQGHU� WKH� LQÀXHQFH�of the British and that it is therefore their duty to re-convert those who have lost their way. This was followed up by a claim last December that they would re-convert around 4,000 Christians and 1,000 Muslims on the 25th of December (quite a controver-sial date in the Christian calendar). The article in which I heard about this event had a charming comment below IURP� DQRWKHU� UHDGHU�� DQ� H[FHUSW� RI�which reads: “BOTH HATE-FILLLED SEMETIC CULTS ISSSLAM AND &+5,66667$,17<� 0867� %(�%$111('�12�:21'(5�('8&$7(�AND ENLIGHTENED INDIAN 08==/,06� $1'� &+5,67$,16�$5(� /($9,1*� 7+(,5� 5$&,67�AND HATE FILLLED CULTS AND &20,1*�%$&.�72�7+(,5�027+(5�5(/,*,21� +,1'8,60� :+,&+�7+(� $1&(67256� :(5(� )25&('�72� &219(57� '8(� 72� 7(5525�7$&7,&6� $1'� 021(<� %5,%,1*�7$&7,&6� $1'� 62� 0$1<� 27+(5�',57<�(17,&(0(17�75,&.6�´

Such occurrences do seem to lend a certain credibility to the narrative of current Christian oppression in India. A religiously charged political landscape, increasing Hindu fundamentalism and recent physical attacks on churches all suggest as much. However on closer inspection of the reality underlying these situations, one comes away with D�GLHUHQW�SHUVSHFWLYH�

In 2014, there were 253 incidents of theft reported at religious places: 206

Discussing the persecution of the Christian community in India in light of the recent Delhi incidents

temples, 30 gurudwaras, 14 mosques and only three churches were targeted by thieves. Such crimes didn’t start in 2014 (when the BJP came to power); they happen every year in Delhi. Evidence from the past crime catalogue suggests that in fact, Christians have JRWWHQ�R�OLJKWO\�

When one looks at the individual instances it becomes clear that there is little evidence to show that they are part of an organised communal campaign. At the incident in Jasola, where a stone shattered one of the church’s windows, the ensuing investigation revealed that it was the work of a group of children playing outside the church. The other ¿YH� LQFLGHQWV� DOVR� KDYH� VLPLODUO\�XQ�FRPPXQDO�H[SODQDWLRQV��

It is claimed by Christian authorities in Delhi that these attacks are part of a systematic plan to make Christians in Delhi feel insecure. However, as of yet, they seem to be little evidence to suggest that this is all part of a BJP master plan to eradicate Christianity in India, as some would like to suggest.

Likewise, the reconversion phenomenon has far more bark than bite. The mass conversion that was

supposed to take place on Christmas GD\� ZDV� FDOOHG� R�� ,QVWHDG�� WKH�Christian community in Aligarh (the proposed sight of the conversion) happily went about their traditional Christmas customs of frying gujiyas and preparing the bajre ki tikiya.

It has also been shown that the µUHFRQYHUWHG¶� KDYH� EHHQ� RHUHG�HFRQRPLF� LQFHQWLYHV�� 6X¿D� %HJXP��D� FRQYHUW� IURP� $JUD�� VDLG�� ³7KH� 566�people assured us that they will provide us better place to live, better food and schooling for my grandsons. I don’t mind change of religion, as religion doesn’t give us food to eat.” It is also claimed that they have been RHUHG� WKH� RSSRUWXQLW\� WR� MRLQ� WKH�caste of their choice. This is unheard of in Hindu tradition and is a particularly XQRUWKRGR[� PRYH� E\� WKH� RUWKRGR[�Hindus orchestrating the events.

What we can glean from these facts is that the Christian community in Delhi is not really being persecuted. The evidence available about the various ‘desecrations’ of churches shows that they are unconnected, and generally KDYH� OLWWOH� FRPPXQDO� VLJQL¿FDQFH��Likewise the ‘orchestrated attacks’ of Hindu fundamentalists have been blown out of proportion by the media DQG�DQ�DQ[LRXV�&KULVWLDQ�FRPPXQLW\�

However this doesn’t really matter at all. What matters is the fact that the Christian community feels persecuted. The claims that it has been throwing RXW� DUH� QRW� WKRVH� RI� D� VHOI�FRQ¿-dent community. Being a minority group, this is understandable. What people need to realise is that religious

persecution often has as much to do with perception as with reality.

Therefore, it is up to the current government to put the community DW� HDVH�� 5HJDUGOHVV� RI� ZKHWKHU� WKH�church attacks were motivated by communal tension, there should be total denunciation of these attacks by the government. Communal groups need to enter into dialogue to resolve perceived hostilities before an attack that is actually motivated by religion takes place.

Comparing the situation now with that of the past is very revealing. One only has to look to 1857 to see the disastrous implications of failing to H[WHQG� V\PSDWK\� WR� WKRVH� RI� GLHUHQW�beliefs.

It is often said that history repeats itself. In future the word ‘irony’ should perhaps be added to this epithet. The case in India now shows a religion that has the feeling of being under threat by another politically dominant religion. Said religion is witnessing attempts to convert parts of its community and is being physically threatened. However, this time around, Christianity and Hinduism have swapped places.


[email protected]/StudentFeatures

The Persecution Paradox

“A religiously charged political landscape,

increasing Hindu fundamentalism and recent physical attacks on churches ... [lend] credibility to the narrative of current Christian oppression in India” “Communal groups need

to enter into dialogue to resolve perceived hostilities before an attack that is actually motivated by religion takes place” “One only has to look

to 1857 to see the disastrous implications of failing to extend sympathy to those of different beliefs”

T he world’s future has not been looking good for a while, and now it is fully visible. According

to a study published by NASA, in the next half of this century droughts in American south-west and central plains could last 30 to 40 years at a time. Similarly, a recent UN report outlines how, within a decade, 2.9 billion people in 48 nations will experience chronic water scarcity and IRRG� VKRUWDJHV�� 7KH� HHFWV� RI� ZDWHU�shortage are already visible in Sao Paolo, Brazil, which is running the risk RI�EHFRPLQJ�WKH�¿UVW�PHJDFLW\�WR�UXQ�out of water. Add to this the increasing human population - estimated to peak at nine billion in 2100 - and it seems that in the future more humans will be living with less, on a hotter, drier planet. Once again we are reminded of the devastating impacts climate change will have. But why insist on talking about future consequences, when the impact can be measured right now?

The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report makes it clear: the burning of fossil fuels is causing the planet to warm dramatically. Already 400,000 deaths have been attributed to climate change, as reduced food and water supply, more frequent extreme weather events and the spread of diseases begin to take their toll. If we exceed a four degree Celsius rise, which we are on track to do, we will face dramatic social, economic, and health consequences. Urgent reductions of global fossil fuel emissions would insure against the worst of these.

By John Brookes and Ross Devlin@Student Features

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Already, divestment campaigns are working to mitigate the worst of global warming. Stanford University and the Australian National University have led successful divestment campaigns. The World Council of Churches, which represents half a billion Christians, has pledged to divest and last year the Norwegian Sovereign Fund, the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund, removed 32 coal mining companies from its portfolio. Finally, Glasgow University has committed to divest from fossil fuels in October. Internationally speaking, assets worth $50 billion have already been divested, which, according to a study conducted by the University of Oxford, makes it the fastest growing divestment campaign ever.

While the University of Edinburgh is one of the largest charities in the UK, it is not required to reinvest all RI� LWV� SUR¿WV� EDFN� LQWR� WKH� XQLYHUVLW\��Endowments, or donations given to the university by graduates, are often placed into an investment portfolio to ensure they continually earn a return. Endowments can be allocated to very VSHFL¿F�XQLYHUVLW\�IXQFWLRQV��RU�WR�IXQG�bursaries, events, and infrastructure. In the case of Edinburgh, a committee that invests in fairly risk-free stocks and mutual funds handles it. The aim is to generate a steady return for the portfolio, which from 2012-13 earned a return of 21 per cent on £284 million. That means the portfolio earned £60 PLOOLRQ� E\� MXVW� VLWWLQJ� RQ� SUR¿WDEOH�ventures. Edinburgh’s endowment fund is the third largest in the UK, after Oxford and Cambridge. The portfolio is split up between currency funds and a who’s-who list of Fortune 500 companies. Several companies on the list have been accused of having an LQVDWLDEOH�DSSHWLWH�IRU�SUR¿W��ZLWK�OLWWOH�consideration going towards Earth’s long-term sustainability.

Divestment momentum is now lapping at the shores of the Clyde. On Monday of last week, The University of Edinburgh’s People and Planet submitted their brief to the university, a 30-page document outlining why the university should divest from fossil fuels. If the campaign is successful, it ZLOO�QRW�EH�WKH�¿UVW�WLPH�WKDW�VWXGHQWV�

have changed their university’s investment behaviour. After arguments were made about the university’s role as a major centre of medical research, the university accepted a proposal of disin-vestment from the tobacco industry in 2004. Again, after ethical arguments were raised in 2013, the university moved £1.2m from a company engaged in the construction of US drones. The university’s social responsibility policy states that a particular company should be reviewed for divestment if, “on the basis of clear evidence… [the company is] so far removed from the University’s core values as to give grounds for serious concern”. This concern can only be raised by a representative body such as EUSA, or by “a recognised trade union.”

Recently, in a piece published by The Guardian that was compiled by People and Planet, 50 academics voiced support for divestment from fossil fuels. 2014/15 is the year Edinburgh ZLOO� RFLDOO\� RSHQ� WKH� UHYLHZ� RI� WKHLU�investment policy. But, in three out of four meetings, all that has been SURGXFHG� KDV� EHHQ� ³UH¿QHPHQWV� RI�research and analysis.” When asked about how the university could develop a plan to divest from fossil fuels, Director of Social Responsibility Dave Gorman said the university is currently

leading “a review process that brings WRJHWKHU� VWXGHQW� DQG� VWD� UHSUHVHQW-DWLYHV�� DFDGHPLF�H[SHUWV� DQG�¿QDQFLDO�advisors to give the Court a clear set of options on how we could act on fossil fuels”. With continuing support on the student and academic front, this year might be a historic one for the University of Edinburgh.

Indeed, the university has been called upon before to uphold its mission statement to “make a VLJQL¿FDQW�� VXVWDLQDEOH� DQG� VRFLDOO\�responsible contribution to Scotland, the UK and the world, promoting

health, economic growth and cultural wellbeing”. What of the world’s wellbeing? Why is divestment so important anyway? Ultimately, divesting from any company makes a statement, and for a major interna-tional academic institution to reject the bloated returns earned by the world’s largest, least sustainable industries is a big statement. Investments of over three million pounds each, such as in Edinburgh’s endowment portfolio, are what fund the expansion and continuing actions of companies like Shell, Monsanto, BHP, and Rio Tinto. These companies pose serious, direct risks to the environment.

According to the Association of &KDUWHUHG� &HUWL¿HG� $FFRXQWDQWV�(ACCA), if we are to remain within safe temperature levels, around two-thirds of the current proven coal, oil and gas reserves must stay in the ground. Yet, as noted by ACCA, these reserves are currently recognised in the accounts of listed companies and contribute to their stock market valuations. Buying into a company’s stock, no matter how enticing the money seems, is ultimately buying them further access to fossil fuels, at the expense of a stable climate. In some cases, buying a share in these companies sells them someone else’s future.

“For a major i n t e r n a t i o n a l

a c a d e m i c institution to reject the bloated returns earned by the world’s largest, least sustainable industries is a big statement”

“S e v e r a l companies on

the list have been accused of having an insatiable appetite for profit, with little consideration going towards Earth’s long-term sustainability”

Features



We consider the ethical issues of the university’s investment portfolio

Investing in a sustainable future:

“D i v e s t m e n t momentum is

now lapping at the shores of the Clyde”

Features



Royal Dutch Shell

According to a Freedom of Information request in 2013, the University of Edinburgh has shares in Royal Dutch Shell worth £3,812,430. On paper, this may seem like a good LQYHVWPHQW�� +RZHYHU�� EHQH¿WV� KDYH�come at an environmental and social cost.

In Nigeria, Shell’s activities have led to serious environmental damage after pipelines owned by the company became old and corroded. The resulting oil spills have killed R� YHJHWDWLRQ�� VSRLOHG� ZDWHUZD\V�and destroyed local economies. Shell has acknowledged its responsibili-ty for maintaining the pipelines but denied any responsibility for envi-ronmental damage. Clashes between Shell, Niger-Delta communities and Amnesty International have claimed international attention since the 1990s, when a prominent envi-ronmental activist was executed by Niger’s then-military dictatorship.

Nigerian activists have accused Shell of human rights violations, including summary execution, crimes against humanity, torture, inhumane treatment and arbitrary arrest and detention. Although Shell has paid a US$15.5m legal settlement in 2009, the company has not accepted any liability over the allegations against it.

However, documents released by WikiLeaks in 2009 demonstrate that Shell made regular payments to the Nigerian military in order to prevent protests. These documents were not used in the court case but

climate change and the universityN

ow, let’s consider some of the companies the University of Edinburgh has

invested in. We have focused on four companies to consider whether they may be targets for investigation, if not divestment, by the University of Edinburgh. The importance of divestment is illustrated perfectly by Assaad Razzouk, who is the CEO of Sindicatum, an

award-winning alternative energy company. Razzouk opened his talk at the 2015 Edinburgh TEDx conference with a call to arms: to make a resounding impact on our relationship to the Earth, we need to change how we combat climate change. In order to do that, we need to divest from fossil fuels. Razzouk made it clear that committing to sustainability will be a fruitless venture if we continue to indirectly IXQG�WKH�FRPSDQLHV�ZH�DUH�¿JKWLQJ��)XUWKHUPRUH��IRVVLO�IXHO�DQG�HQHUJ\�FRPSDQLHV�DUH�QRWRULRXVO\�EDG�at disclosing environmental concerns to their shareholders. A report undertaken by Ceres, a Boston FRDOLWLRQ�RI� LQYHVWRUV�� JUDGHG�RQO\�¿YH�RXW�RI��HQYLURQPHQWDO�GLVFORVXUHV�E\�HQHUJ\� FRPSDQLHV�DV�“good”. A majority of 34 reports received “poor or no disclosure” ratings.

they revealed, as Shell’s top executive in Nigeria admitted, that Shell KDG� LQVHUWHG� VWD� LQWR� DOO� WKH� PDLQ�ministries of the Nigerian government and knew “everything that was being done in those ministries”. The same executive also stated that the Nigerian government had forgotten about the H[WHQW�RI�6KHOO¶V�LQ¿OWUDWLRQ��

According to a Guardian article from 2010, a spokesman for the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, said: “Shell does not control the government of Nigeria and has never controlled the government of Nigeria. This cable is the mere interpretation of one individual. It is absolutely untrue, an absolute falsehood and utterly misleading. It is an attempt to demean the government and we will not stand for that. I don’t think anybody will lose sleep over it.”

BHP

In 2013, the University had stocks of the multinational BHP Billiton worth £3,449,790. The Australian DQG� $QJOR�'XWFK� RXW¿W� LV� WKH� ODUJHVW�

mining company in the world, with ventures in Australia, Chile, Colombia, Algeria, Brazil, Canada, Guinea, Indonesia, the United Kingdom and the United States, to name a few. Its operations include the extraction of iron ore, copper, natural gas and gold.

Until 2002, BHP Billiton also had projects in Papua New Guinea. Before

BHP merged with Billiton in 2001, BHP had been engaged in a venture in Papua New Guinea since the 1980s, VSHFL¿FDOO\� LQ� WKH� 2N� 7HGL� PLQH�� 2N�Tedi was opened in the 80s to extract copper and gold from the remote Fubilan mountain top near the borders between Papua New Guinea and East Timor. Before mining operations, Mount Fubilan was a copper mountain with a gold cap. By 2004, 8,896,577 tonnes of copper concentrate had been mined. In 1985-1990, 47,642 tonnes of gold bullion were produced. In 1999 BHP admitted that the project was the cause of “major environmen-tal damage”. 80 million tonnes of contaminated tailings and overburden were annually discharged into the river system. As a result, chemicals from the WDLOLQJV� NLOOHG� RU� FRQWDPLQDWHG� ¿VK��which came to harm those animals and humans who survived. The dumping FKDQJHG�WKH�ULYHUEHG��ÀRRGLQJ�FDXVHG�by the raised riverbed left a thick layer RI� FRQWDPLQDWHG� PXG� RQ� WKH� ÀRRG�plain where the plantations of taro, bananas and sago palm grow – staples of the local diet.

About 1300 square kilometres were damaged in this way. However, until 2013, BHP Billiton escaped legal prosecution for environmental damages after legislation passed by the then-Papua New Guinean government provided BHP Billiton with legal immunity. This was only revised in 2013 by the incumbent Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea: “The government in 2001 made a very bad decision in granting immunity to a corporate giant, preventing its own people from exercising their right under law to sue for permanent damages done to their environment and their livelihood”, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill told parliament. This was a momentous achievement, though too late for the HQYLURQPHQW� RI� WKH� DHFWHG� DUHD�� 2Q�top of a mountain and upstream, these activities had a devastating societal and ecological impact. If you type “Mount Fubilan” into Google Earth, you can see the open-cut mine and its impacts, which carries downriver for miles.

Rio Tinto

Edinburgh also invested £3,213,023 in Rio Tinto. Rio Tinto delivers FRQVLVWHQW� SUR¿WV� DQG� GLYLGHQGV� WR�its shareholders, and is a successful mining company that operates in over 40 countries. Rep Risk, a group ZKLFK� VSHFLDOLVHV� LQ� H[DPLQLQJ� ¿UPV�for their environmental and ethical performance, has listed Rio Tinto as one of its “10 most controversial companies” multiple times. Most of these criticisms stem from Rio Tinto’s GLXVLRQ�RI�FRUSRUDWH�UHVSRQVLELOLW\��,W�is a company that has its headquarters in London, but hires labour in some of the most remote regions of the globe, and is often hit with accusations of human-rights violations along the way. Over the past 30 years, over 100,000 litres of uranium-contam-inated water have leaked from their Ranger Uranium Mine into Aboriginal wetlands sanctioned by UNESCO. Rio

Tinto’s mines, much like BHP, can be viewed from Google Earth, since there are distinctive mud-coloured veins that leak from riverheads that the mines dump their waste in. These rivers can be directly contrasted with those nearby, which feature no discolouration as they travel down from the mountains. In �� 5HS� 5LVN� DWWULEXWHG� VLJQL¿FDQW�community displacement to Rio Tinto, who drained scarce water sources and damaged ecosystems in their Escondida mine in Chile, which they operate in conjuction with BHP.

Monsanto

Monsanto has been a magnet for controversy ever since it introduced Roundup to farmers in 1970. A SDUWLFXODUO\� HHFWLYH� SHVWLFLGH��Roundup contains glyphosate, which was invented by Monsanto, and has a low toxicity for animals and humans.To some it is the arch-nemesis of natural, organic plant growth. To US farmers, however, it ensures large, successful crop yields. Monsanto have also recently introduced genetically PRGL¿HG� VHHGV� WKDW� DUH� UHVLVWDQW�to herbicides. One environmental issue with Monsanto stems from the byproducts of developing genetically PRGL¿HG� VHHGV�� %UR¿VFLQ� 4XDUU\�in Wales, a privately owned site of VFLHQWL¿F� LQWHUHVW�� ZDV� GHHPHG� ³WKH�most contaminated place in Britain” by The Guardian, after Monsanto used it as a chemical dump for over a GHFDGH��0RQVDQWR�PRGL¿HG� FURSV� DUH�not grown anywhere in the UK or in Europe.

The biggest concern with Monsanto, however, is not their direct environ-mental impact, which is not currently measurable, but their political impact. The company is a prominent OREE\LVW�� ZKLFK� GRQDWHV� VLJQL¿FDQW�amounts of money and energy to the UK and US governments to further its own agenda. As part of Obama’s second-term stimulus act, Monsanto worked directly with the government to introduce Section 735, which “strips federal courts of the authority to halt the sale and propagation of genetically PRGL¿HG� VHHGV� DQG� FURSV� LI� FRQFHUQV�about health risks arise during safety tests”. GM plants do not raise inherent health warnings, but denying the federal court the power to regulate a private company that directly interferes with our food is problematic. Interest-ingly enough, Monsanto is the only investment in the university’s portfolio WKDW� GRHV� QRW� PDNH� ¿QDQFLDO� VHQVH��This year, Monsanto’s earnings have fallen 34 per cent, with a net loss of 11 per cent against the S&P 500 index.

“Until 2013, BHP Billiton escaped

legal prosecution for environmental damages”

“Rio Tinto’s mines, much like BHP,

can be viewed from Google Earth, since there are distinctive mud-coloured veins that leak from riverheads”“Nigerian activists

have accused Shell of human rights violations, including summary execution”

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Features



The Rise of the Machines

T echnology as a replacement for labour used to be something we could joke about. In 1968,

Woody Allen joked that his father was made, “technologically unemployed by a tiny gadget this big that does everything he could, just does it much better. Depressing thing is, my mother ran out and bought one”. 1RZ��KRZHYHU��$UWL¿FLDO�,QWHOOLJHQFH�

(AI) is getting smarter and more and more able.

In fact, the world of AI is advancing in giant leaps, and we can see this at the University of Edinburgh’s Informatics Department, Europe’s largest and Britain’s top for research. It is a goldmine of AI equipment. Take for example Baxter (Rethink Robots). Baxter is a motion transfer robot that can imitate human motions. The department is also home to the Scottish national robot football team, which were programmed to compete in the robot world cup in Brazil last summer. Next, the Informatics team seek to buy the six-foot-two Valkyrie Humanoid Robot, developed by NASA to provide rescue functions in disaster zones with high levels of mobility and skill.

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By Cailean Osborne@CailsOsborne

What implications will the development of Artificial Intelligence have for human job prospects?

The robots are getting smarter and smarter and in light of these advances, $,� LV� SUHGLFWHG� WR� EHDU� D� VLJQL¿FDQW�impact on the future: how we behave, how we play, and most importantly, how we work. Technology is becoming more valuable at the expense of human labour. It is therefore important to consider what AI advances mean for the future job market.

David Baker recently aired a show called When Robots Steal Your Jobs on BBC Radio 4 in which he discussed the developing threat of AI on white collar jobs, like lawyers and doctors, where analytical and precise information can be generated by robots much faster than by humans.

More generally, though, there are worries all over the world that AI will displace more jobs than it creates. Not so long ago, the world-renowned theoretical physicist and cosmologist, Professor Stephen Hawking, warned the world that AI would be the greatest threat to mankind. This warning came in the midst of the development of Hawking’s new software to allow KLP� WR� VSHDN�� GHVSLWH� VXHULQJ�from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as ALS.

Professor Hawking is anxious about sentient machines because, in his view, such machines inevitably “would

WDNH�R�RQ� >WKHLU@�RZQ��DQG�UH�GHVLJQ�>WKHPVHOYHV@� DW� DQ� HYHU� LQFUHDVLQJ�rate”. Hawking goes on to argue that: “Humans, who are limited by slow biological evolution, couldn’t compete.”

Hawking does not stand alone in this opinion. Elon Musk, CEO of rocket-de-veloper Space X and Tesla Motors, argued that there are short term and long term consequences of AI. Immediately, we should be concerned that intelligent machines are capable of performing jobs currently done by human beings, destroying millions of jobs. Look as far as your nearest supermarket, and note that the cashier’s skillset has been replaced by a touchscreen. Consider the simplicity of the self-serve checkout, now imagine what more intelligent robots will be able to do. In the longer term, Musk warns us that AI is “our biggest existential threat”.

Ray Kurzweil, director of engineering at Google, is worried that it will be GLFXOW�WR�FRPH�XS�ZLWK�DQ�DOJRULWKPLF�moral code to contain ever-developing software.

However, PEW Research Center asked experts about the economic impact of AI by 2025 and a mixed picture emerged, showing some hope for the future job market. While 48 percent of experts predict intelligent machines to permeate both blue and white collar jobs, 52 per cent are more optimistic about the future job market. They expect AI not to displace more jobs than it creates, and their argument runs as follows: while some jobs currently performed by humans will certainly be taken over by robots, a boom in new jobs should be expected, ¿WWLQJ� LQ� WKH� FUHDWLYH� WUDMHFWRU\� VHW� LQ�motion since the Industrial Revolution. :H�KXPDQV��WKH\�DUJXH��ZLOO�¿QG�QHZ�ways of earning ‘our bread’, creating new industries, and pushing mankind on.

One of these experts is a certain J.P. Rangaswami, chief scientist for Salesforce.com. Rangaswami argues that throughout history technology has been a job creator – not a destroyer. 7KH�HHFW�RI�$,�RQ�WKH�MRE�PDUNHW�ZLOO�vary from nation to nation, based on investments in education, technology, and related infrastructure. While robots will be taking over some jobs as “poor labour substitutes”, Rangaswami predicts a growth in creative and curating activities by humans, as demand for their services grows quickly as social barriers to enter these ¿HOGV�IDOO�

Another expert, Vint Cerf, is also optimistic. Using his authority as vice president of Google, Cerf denounces hysterical claims, arguing: “Historically, technology has created more jobs than it destroys and there is no reason to think otherwise in this case.” After all, as Cerf says: “Someone has to make and service all these advanced devices.” Microsoft’s principal researcher, Jonathan Grudin, adds: “More jobs seem likely to be created… There is no shortage of things that need to be done and that will not change.” Perhaps the most optimistic expert is Michael Kende, &KLHI� (FRQRPLVW� IRU� WKH� QRQ�SUR¿W�organisation the Internet Society. “Every wave of automation and com-puterisation has increased productivity without depressing employment”, Kende argues. New waves of AI should therefore increase our personal or professional productivity, but not

necessarily directly remove a job, for instance a self-driving car will not UHPRYH� WKH� FKDXHXU�� )XUWKHUPRUH��Kende makes the case that, “while robots may displace some manual MREV��WKH�LPSDFW�VKRXOG�QRW�EH�GLHUHQW�than previous waves of automation in factories and elsewhere”.

PEW’s research goes further into expectations for the future job market in an AI-oriented world. On the one hand, experts from both camps agree that we should be concerned about our social structures, most importantly our schools and universities, which are not preparing people for jobs in the future job market. At present, coding, which will undeniably become the most important language in the world, lacks presence and importance in schools. Under this prediction, education reform regarding IT skills is long overdue. On the other hand, AI experts have also argued that the inevitable changes brought about by robots will create opportunities for people to “reassess our society’s relation to employment itself”, which can be translated into more leisure time, self-improvement, or a returning focus on artisanal modes of production.

The chief economist for Google, Hal Varian, stresses increased leisure time in an AI-oriented world. How unhappy are you that your dishwasher washes your dishes, or that your hoover replaces cleaning by hand? So far we have been rather welcoming towards “job displacement” in this kind of work. Varian goes further to state: “The work week has fallen from 70 hours a week to about 37 hours now, and I expect that it will continue to fall. This is a good thing. Everyone wants more jobs and less work.” More advanced AI will decrease workloads, a process which has been happening since the start of technology booms about 300 years ago. So no reason to worry, Val Harian says.

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“AI is predicted to bear a significant impact

on the future: how we behave, how we play, and most importantly, how we work”

On Saturday, March

14 2015, the Usher Hall will be opening its doors to celebrate this year’s

Edinburgh Charity Fashion Show (ECFS), reportedly the largest stu-dent-led charity fashion show in Eu-rope.

The grand, 100 year old concert hall will undoubtedly be a special venue for the night and a welcome delight to those who worried that ECFS could QRW�DQG�ZRXOG�QRW�¿�QG�D�YHQXH�WR�RXW�shine last year’s show in the grand hall of the National Museum of Scotland.

ECFS boasts a brilliant track re-cord of raising money for charities in the UK. So far ECFS has donated just over £250,000 to UK charities. Last year, their campaign raised around £20,000 for Water Aid.

This year, the ECFS has a new team: 70-strong behind the scenes and a fur-ther 30 models.

The ensemble behind the scenes comprises amongst other roles a formidable web designer, enthusi-astic creative and fashion directors, dedicated events and front of house R ��FHUV�� SURIHVVLRQDO� SXEOLFLW\� DQG�production teams, bloggers and volun-teers. The team is incredibly big, led at the helm by the chairwomen Georgie

By Cailean Osborne@CailsOsborne

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The Student looks at ECFS, Europe’s largest student-led charity fashion show

FuTong and Louisa Dearlove.The team has been working all year

on various projects. From model cast-ing and model photo shoots to plan-ning and production design: the team can admirably be described as a sym-SKRQ\�RI�LQGXVWULRXVQHVV�DQG�H ��FLHQ�cy, bringing together their talents and working on one common aim, which is to support the Scottish Association of Mental Health (SAMH) and the Ele-phant Family.

SAMH is Scotland’s leading men-tal health charity, focusing on raising awareness of mental health issues, whilst the Elephant Family devotes itself to saving elephants in Asia. Since establishing itself in 2002, the Elephant Family has invested around £6,000,000 in the protection of wild-

life habitat to save the elephant from extinction.

Georgie FuTong and Louisa Dear-love’s theme this year is ‘Free the El-ephant in the Room’. Their mission being, “to remove the social taboo surrounding mental health issues and promote the protection of the endan-gered Asian elephant”.

In an interview with The Student, FuTong and Dearlove discussed what this year’s theme should suggest to guests.

Working with the Elephant Fam-ily and SAMH, they hope “to break down the literal and the metaphorical darkroom that is ignorance and taboo by channelling the positive powers of fashion and art, and encouraging stu-dents to reject societal expectations and instead to be audacious and lim-itless.”

So what should the guests expect? “An evening of bold and creative pro-duction, amazing music and enter-tainment, as well of course as some wonderful surprises that only those who attend the show will get to see.”

Beyond the charities, this year the ECFS seeks to celebrate creativity in all its forms: from fashion to art to music. FuTong and Dearlove want to be clear that this campaign is not just about fashion; instead it’s about some-thing accessible and fun to all.

The ECFS seeks to increase its rele-vance to students - a population body that is known to undergo a number of mental health issues, in artistically dealing with the taboo, discomfort or perhaps embarrassment that hides at the substratum of mental health is-sues.

“We want to encourage students to talk about these and be able to express themselves”, the chairwomen added.2Q� WRS� RI� WKH� PHULW� RI� EHQH¿�WLQJ�

the community through donation and popular appeal, FuTong and Dear-love admit that on a personal level, involvement with the ECFS since the very beginning of university has in-spired them in many ways, one being towards their future careers. ECFS “covers all aspects of artistic, creative and business skills”, and therefore both FuTong and Dearlove sincerely encourage students to get involved.

The models are all student volun-teers, some with previous modelling experience and some without. To PDQ\��WKH�(&)6�ZLOO�EH�WKHLU�¿�UVW�DS�pearance on a catwalk in front of a

large audience. Alex Mostovoy, sec-ond year Physics student, has told The Student� WKDW�WKLV� LV�KHU�¿�UVW�WLPH�modelling. While forgivably nervous, Alex has a genuine interest in fashion and saw ECFS as an opportunity to get some modelling experience.

Third year student, Stef Topa Otelli, was involved in 2013 and 2014. She is currently on exchange in China, but she is rooting for the team for afar.

“I miss it sooooo much, I’m gutted I’m not there this year”, Stef said.

The ECFS team has done several photo shoots in preparation for the JUDQG� ¿�QDOH�� )RXU� PRGHOV� ±� *EHNH��+HQU\�� )ORUHQFH� DQG� <DVPLQ� ±� WRRN�SDUW� LQ� WKH� 2 ��FLDO� 6KRRW� DW� *OHQ�House in the Scottish Highlands, plunging the “urban dwellers into a Scots baronial fantasy”. Galleries on their website exhibit the sheer profes-sionalism that the ECFS enjoys.

The models will be wearing out-¿�WV� WKDW� ³DUH� YHU\� PXFK� LQ� OLQH� ZLWK�the bold and expressive theme”, and JXHVWV� VKRXOG� H[SHFW� RXW¿�WV� SXW� WR�gether by recent ECA fashion grad-uates and big names like Charlotte Olympia, Simone Rocha and Ghost, Those Were The Days Vintage, Rail, L K Bennett, and Common People.

All in all, of everyone involved, the WLUHOHVV� H �RUWV� À�RZLQJ� LQWR� WKLV� ELJ�project will culminate in one night of inevitable grandeur, humbling talent, and riveting performance.

But what happens after the curtain closes? “There is a lot of wrapping up to do and of course the rewarding end UHVXOW�ZLOO�EH�RXU�¿�QDO�GRQDWLRQ�WR�RXU�two amazing charities.”

Tickets have been selling quickly on their website; so act quick if you want to join what it is guaranteed to be an eventful night.

14 10th March 2015 www.studentnewspaper.org

[email protected]/EdiLifestyle

EDINBURGH CHARITY

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FASHION SHOW

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Interviews with the models

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10th March 2015 15 www.studentnewspaper.org

[email protected]/EdiLifestyle

T he Student Newspa-per met with two models who are involved with the ECFS this year.

Tom Macfarlane, or Macca, is taking part for the third time in a row. We asked him a few ques-tions and here is what he had to say.

7KLV� LV� QRW� \RXU� ¿UVW�time in the ECFS, is it?

Ha no it isn’t, I was fortunate enough WR�EH�VHOHFWHG�LQ�P\�¿UVW�\HDU�IRU�WKLV�wonderful show and someone said the other day that I was a Senior ECFS mod-el...which just makes me feel old [...]

Is there anything you’ve

seen that you want to see

again, and are you hop-

ing to see anything new?

7KHUH� DUH� PDQ\� GLHUHQW� DQG� QHZ�ideas that the ECFS Team have put together that I can’t say, but after last year they are going to have to bring out all the stops in order to beat that venue at the National Museum. How-ever, having said this, the team this year are fantastic and exceptionally organised and I have every faith that WKH\�ZLOO�SXOO�LW�R��,�WKLQN�LQ�WKH�¿UVW�year I did the ECFS, I loved all the ambiguity of the whole modelling scene. Everything was very new to me then (...it still is now) and I didn’t know what to expect so at every photo shoot, walk and casting, I absolute-ly loved and embraced it, it would be DZHVRPH� WR� UHOLYH� WKDW� ¿QDO� FDWZDON�LQ�¿UVW�\HDU�DJDLQ�ZLWK�DOO�P\�IULHQGV�

Rumour has it you were

DXFWLRQHG� R� RQFH�� 7HOO� XV�D� ELW� DERXW� WKLV� H[SHULHQFH�<HV�� WKDW� LV� WUXH�� ,Q� P\� ¿UVW� \HDU��

about two hours before the ECFS catwalk I was told that Chris McLel-lan and I were going to be auctioned R� IRU� D� GDWH� GXULQJ� WKH� LQWHUYDO��Rather panicked I replied “Are you VXUH"´� WR� WKH� WHDP�� ZKR� FRQ¿UPHG�that yes, they were indeed serious.

Now Chris is a very big guy. A man with a bear-like frame,

with rippling muscles bursting through every part of his T-Shirt... and there was me, built with a slight frame which very much re-sembled the shape of a bean pole.

Intimidated doesn’t even begin to describe how I felt especially as I was D�IUHVKHU�GRLQJ�WKLV�IRU�WKH�¿UVW�WLPH��

I could not have been more nerv-ous, to the point that I texted my sister who was in the crowd saying: “If no one bids please put your hand

up for me!” Anyhow I walked out on stage topless next to this Hercu-lean man with a slight shake of my head thinking that no one would bid on us and then swiftly it began. ��0\�VLVWHU�ZDV�GLOLJHQWO\�WKH�¿UVW�

bid in with ten pounds and to be hon-est all I wanted was someone to just outbid her other than my mother. To Chris’ and my astonishment, the bid-ding catapulted forward and quickly reached £100 and kept climbing until it was between 3 women (who looked like they were from the university) who were clearly bidding together and a pair on the right hand side of the VWDJH�ZKR�,�FRXOGQ¶W�TXLWH�VHH��7KH�¿-nal bid rose up to £180 and was ‘won’ by the 3 girls directly in front of us.

Have you done mod-

HOOLQJ� EHIRUH� (&)6" No, I hadn’t; it was all new to me

LQ� ¿UVW� \HDU� EXW� LW� ZDV� WKURXJK� WKH�ECFS that I did a lot more model-ling outside of uni, which has been great. Weirdly enough I had no in-tention of going in to the ECFS team.

I literally was walking towards George Square along George IV Bridge and it was raining so I was ORRNLQJ�GRZQ�DW�WKH�ÀRRU�DQG�WKLV�JX\��who I remember having a brand new pair of really nice Nike Blazers (that I wanted), passed right next to me.

As I walked on a few steps, I got a

tap on the back by the same guy with the blazers who would turn out to be Frank Derrington - a long time model for ECFS and an overall awesome guy.

He told me “if I wasn’t doing an-ything” to go to the ECFS castings where I met Finlay, Adam, Alex and Caroline who all critiqued my awk-ward walking style and gave me a shot.

'R� \RX� VHH� PRGHO-OLQJ� DV� D� YLDEOH� FDUHHU�SURVSHFW� IRU� \RXUVHOI"

Modelling for me is just for fun, like a hobby. I know quite a few people who do it professionally and it never seems to be a viable business in the long run.

I study Product Design and I have always wanted to be an inventor, that is my real passion and my real drive. Modelling has been great be-cause it has put me in touch with so many creatives who have been ex-ceptionally interesting to talk and share ideas, with as well as making some great friends along the way.

,Q� RQH� KLJKO\� HPRWLYH�sentence, express how you

ZLOO� IHHO� ZKHQ� \RX� VHW� \RXU�¿UVW� IRRW� RQ� WKH� FDWZDON�0\�¿UVW�VWHS�RQ�WKDW�FDWZDON�ZLOO�EH�

one of the most adrenaline fuelled, nerve pumping and heart pound-ing moments I will ever have and dear God, let me not screw it up.

in front of everyone; I love being on stage! The whole day is going to be so much fun — hanging out with everyone backstage, getting my hair and makeup done, and, of course, taking backstage shots for my Instagram account (@it-salexandra_m, if anyone’s interested)!

+DYH� \RX� PRGHOOHG� EHIRUH"I modelled in a couple of charity

fashion shows back at school, and for my friends’ photography projects, but never in a professional capacity — this is about the closest I’ve gotten, actually.

'R� \RX� VHH� PRGHO-

OLQJ� DV� D� YLDEOH� FDUHHU�SURVSHFW� IRU� \RXUVHOI"

I’ll let you in on a secret — my dream is to be a Victoria’s Secret An-gel. But somehow, I feel like I’ve got a very long way to go before that can come true. For instance, I should probably start actually using my gym membership, and maybe cut back on the Domino’s… I’m just kidding, I could never say goodbye to pizza.

,Q� RQH� KLJKO\� HPRWLYH��

description-charged sen-

tence, express how you

ZLOO� IHHO� ZKHQ� \RX� VHW� \RXU�¿UVW� IRRW� RQ� WKH� FDWZDON�

I will feel as though the gazes of a thousand people are searing into me DV�,�ÀRDW�GRZQ�WKH�FDWZDON�LQ�D�GUHDP-like state, my soul ready to depart from my body as I complete my walk and ascend to a higher plane of existence.

Or, most likely, I’ll be think-ing: “Don’t fuck this up!”

Lifestyle

L ifestyle also met Alex 0RVWRYR\�� ¿UVW�WLPHU� DW�the ECFS, 2nd year Phys-ics student, and long-term

Vogue fanatic.

7KLV� LV� \RXU� ¿UVW� DS-

SHDUDQFH� LQ� (&)6�� $UH�you nervous or excited?

I’m so excited! …and a tiiiny bit nervous — you never know when you’re going to suddenly forget how to walk in heels and faceplant into the audience. But I’m really pumped for the show, it’s going to be so much fun!

:K\� GLG� \RX� JHW� LQYROYHG"Because I’ve watched a few too

many episodes of America’s Next Top Model in my lifetime and wanted to try it out for myself.

$UH� \RX� LQWHUHVWHG� LQ� IDVK-

LRQ"�:KDW�GR�\RX�WKLQN�RI�WKH�RXW¿WV�\RX¶OO�EH�PDGH�WR�ZHDU"

I love fashion! I’ve been interested in it since I was a little girl — I have every issue of Vogue since September 2009 in my room. I’m gutted to be missing London Fashion Week, but I reckon we’ll give them a run for their money!$V� IRU� WKH� RXW¿WV�� ,� VWLOO� KDY-

en’t seen them, but I heard we’ll be wearing Charlotte Olympia shoes, so I’d say the bar’s been set pret-ty high for the rest of the clothes!

What are you look-

ing forward to the most?The show itself! I’m so excited to step

RXW�LQ�P\��QR�GRXEW�LQFUHGLEOH��RXW¿W�

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extensive physiotherapy. Many experts have called Canave-

ro’s proposal appear to be too opti-mistic; with some stating that there are massive technical hurdles to over-come and that there is a high likeli-hood that the head may be rejected by the immune system of the body, even with modern immunosuppressive drugs.

Some have called the ethics of the procedure into question. If any pa-tients were to go on to reproduce, the children would be biologically related to the deceased donor and not of the recipient. Others have also questioned whether the recipient would truly be the same person as several religious groups believe that one’s soul is con-tained within the body.

While this groundbreaking idea could prove to be a major advance-ment in the world of medicine, the buzz it has created may be premature. ,QGHHG��ZH�PXVW�DVN�RXUVHOYHV�D�GL ��cult question: is society ready for a real


[email protected]/TheStudentSci

T his is an important victory. On February 26, the American Federal Communications Com-

mission voted to classify broadband as D�XWLOLW\��DQG�µQHW�QHXWUDOLW\¶�ZDV�¿�QDOO\�realised.

American Internet service is now regulated under Title II of the Com-munications Act - the same legisla-tion that landline phone companies in the United States must abide by. The legislation is a set of rules which dictate that an ISP cannot block, slow down, or speed up a website. The key is that a subtle separation is created between the data that travels on the internet, and the wires that make up the internet itself. While the ISPs own the wires, Title II dictates that they can’t ‘interfere’ with the data. Simply, American broadband companies like Comcast and Verizon must treat all data packets on the internet the same way.

If this legislation had not been passed, vast power over the internet could have been granted to the ISPs.

The biggest proponents of net neu-trality include Tumblr, Twitter and 1HWÀ�L[�� 7KH\� DUH� H[DPSOHV� RI� WKH�LQWHUQHW� DV� D� OHYHO� SOD\LQJ� ¿�HOG�� DQ\�small company can begin on the in-ternet and become hugely successful based on the quality of their servic-es alone. If paying an ISP gave your website an advantage, this dynamic of fairness and equal opportunity would have become broken. Furthermore, consumers could have had to pay ex-tra for access to the likes of YouTube or Facebook. In the darkest visions, SHRSOH� LPDJLQHG� WKH� ZRUVW� H �HFWV� RI�a private company being between you and the journalism of newspapers and the ideologies of political websites.

The campaign for Net Neutral-ity therefore became passionately charged. There was the incredibly popular segment on the topic by John Oliver, a letter of support signed by musicians like Neutral Milk Ho-tel and Death Cab for Cutie, and so many people voiced their support to Net Neutrality on the FCC’s website that their servers crashed. Victory has since been greatly celebrated: a pro-Net Neutrality group created a banner with a picture of Grumpy Cat

on it, and “Comcast: Don’t Mess with the Internet” is written on the image in all-caps Impact font. Elated, they sourced a plane, attached the banner, DQG� À�HZ� DURXQG� WKH� &RPFDVW� KHDG�quarters in Philadelphia.

Yet, we must make no mistake: Ti-tle II does not mean that the Inter-net’s future is completely and forever secured. This is legislation that was originally written for landline phone companies in the 1930s, making it easily attackable, and there are sure to be countless legal challenges against it.

It’s the 24th of February, and the

FCC’s Net Neutrality vote is two days away. Hillary Clinton walks on to the stage for an interview at the fe-male-focused technology conference Lead On. She sits opposite technology reporter Kara Swisher, and Clinton glistens with a distinctly electable charm. The former First Lady states that she supports Net Neutrality, but her tone seems lamenting. “They have to have a hook to hang it on and so they’re hanging it on Title II,” she explains. “It’s the only hook they’ve got. … If there were another hook, it would come out of a modern, twen-W\�¿�UVW� FHQWXU\� WHOHFRPV� WHFKQRORJ\�

act - and we don’t have that, and we’re not likely to get it.” On stage at the conference, Clinton embodies many things: there needs to be greater focus amongst politicians on internet-relat-ed policy, and the nature of the con-ference highlights how there needs to be more women in the technology industry.

Yet, Hillary Clinton’s appearance is also six days before she makes headlines in the New York Times as she had used her own private email account while being US Secretary of State. It isn’t quite clear what this means, or whether Clinton is in the wrong. The policies and practises concerning emails and transparency seem confusing and blurry. In the UK, we don’t have such strong debates about net neutrality.

Instead, protesters are combatting FRQWURYHUVLDO� ¿�OWHULQJ� VRIWZDUH� DQG�concerns of censorship. We are still working out how the internet can maintain its current form while also ¿�WWLQJ� LQWR� VRFLHW\� DQG� SROLWLFV�� <HV��the FCC vote is important, and the victory is monumental - but there ZLOO�VWLOO�EH�PDQ\�PRUH�¿�JKWV�WKDW�ZLOO�have to be won.

By Claire Hutchison@TheStudentSci

First head transplant could be available by 2017

By Christopher Lightfoot@propronouns

Feature: Claire Hutchison considers the delicate issue of the moral permissibility of head transplantation

T he idea of transplant-ing a human head onto D� GL �HUHQW� ERG\� LV� RQH�that seems to belong in

the pages of a horror novel, not an academic journal. However, it would seem that an Italian surgeon, Sergio Canavero is presenting himself as a modern day Dr. Frankenstein. He suggests that the operation could be carried out as soon as 2017, heralding his radical surgery as a procedure that could save thousands from degenera-tive and terminal diseases.

If it were to go ahead, it would not EH� WKH� ¿�UVW� WLPH� VRPHWKLQJ� OLNH� WKLV�had been attempted. In 1954, a Soviet surgeon named Vladimir Demikhov transplanted the head of a dog onto the body of another; resulting in the death of the dog six days later due to an immune rejection. In 1970 doctors in Ohio led by Robert White, carried out a similar procedure with monkeys.

The resulting creations died nine days after the transplantation, again due to a rejection by the hosts immune sys-tem.

Canavero’s ideas are even more ambitious than his predecessors. Not only does he intend to use humans in the operation but he also wishes to re-attach the spinal cords of his patients. Though this has not been done before, he suggests that treatments have ad-vanced far enough to make this part of

the procedure possible.The transplant would involve cool-

ing the body of the donor and the recipients head in order to allow the cells to be able to survive in anoxic conditions. Both heads would then be removed and major blood ves-sels would be linked using miniscule tubes.

After attaching the severed head to the body each end of the spinal cord would be fused together. In typical

Italian fashion, the surgeon describes these spinal cords as being like “strands of spaghetti that can be re-attached to each other once broken”.

This would involve the use of pol-yethylene glycol, a compound which promotes the fat in the cord mem-branes to fuse together and form a mesh. The patient would then be stitched up and placed into an in-duced coma for up to a month. While implanted electrodes provide a regu-lar electrical stimulation to the spinal cord, in order to strengthen new nerve connections. Canavero speculates that once out of the coma, the patient would be able to talk in their original voice, feel their face and even move it. However, it could take up to a year for the person to walk again and require

News: FCC votes to defi ne the internet as a ‘utility’ under Title II of the Federal Communications Act

Monumental victory for net neutrality under FCC ruling

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life version Frankenstein’s Monster?

“ If any patients were to go on to reproduce, the children

would be biologically related to the deceased donor .“

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Science & Technology



N ew research across thousands of years of

human skeletal evo-

lution has shown that

RXU� ERQH� VWUXFWXUHV� DUH� VLJQL¿FDQWO\�lighter than those of our early ances-

tors. In a series of papers published in

the Proceedings of the National Acad-

emy of Sciences late last year, scien-

tists have linked the relatively recent

development of lighter joint bones to

changes in physical activity.

The study pinpoints the origin of

these weaker bones to the begin-

ning of the Holocene epoch, roughly

12,000 years ago, the era in which

humans abandoned their traditional

hunter gatherer lifestyles and turned

towards agriculture. “Modern human

skeletons have shifted quite recently

towards lighter – more fragile – bod-

ies. It started when we adopted agri-

culture. Our diets changed. Our levels

of activity changed,” says study co-au-

thor Habiba Chirchir, an anthropolo-

gist in the Smithsonian’s Human Ori-

gins Programme.

In attributing joint bone weakness

WR� GLHUHQW� OHYHOV� RI� SK\VLFDO� DFWLYLW\�in ancient human societies, the study

has great implications for modern hu-

man health and the link between phys-

ical activity and bone strength.

“The lightly-built skeleton of mod-

ern humans has a direct and impor-

tant impact on bone strength and

VWLQHVV�´� VDLG� 7LP� 5\DQ�� FR�DXWKRU�on the study and anthropologist at

Penn State University. “That’s because

lightness can translate to weakness –

more broken bones and a higher inci-

dence of osteoporosis and age-related

bone loss.”

The understanding that the modern

human Skeleton is longer, thinner and

all around weaker than that of its pre-

decessors is not new information, but

the cause of its ‘gracility,’ has, until

now, been pure speculation. Previous

theories had suggested that walking

upright put more pressure on joints to

go long and lean.

The most recent study focuses on

the trabecular bone, a sponge-like ma-

terial found at the end of bones to form

joints. “Think of the end of a chicken

bone: if you cut through it, then you

see this meshwork of bone that’s in-

terwoven,” Chirchir explains. Modern

KXPDQV�KDYH�D�VLJQL¿FDQWO\�ORZHU�WUD-

becular bone density than their ances-

tors.

This was revealed through a series

of tests involving the examination of

trabecular bone in archaeological

specimens from four ancient human

groups; two that practiced agriculture

and two that retained the hunter gath-

erer lifestyle. The latter, they found,

had thicker trabecular bone, high-

er volume and lower surface area in

their hips than the farmers. The two

IDUPLQJ� JURXSV� GLG� QRW� GLHU� IURP�one another, and both consumed a

range of locally available foods mean-

ing that their diets were not neces-

VDULO\� GH¿FLHQW�� 7KLV� VXJJHVWV� WKDW�diet itself is less important than the

“biomechanical stress” walking long

distances and hunting animals puts

By Chloe Henderson@TheStudentSci

Feature Chloe Henderson explains why moving from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to a more sedentary, agricultural based one had a huge impact on our bones

News: Joe Boyle explains how only certain plant species have evolved to be picky about their pollinators

By Joe BoyleSenior Science & Techology Writer

Flower Power

T URSLFDO�ÀRZHUV�KDYH�been shown to react

GLHUHQWO\� WR� YDULRXV�pollinators - only ‘turn-

ing on’ for some species.

Heliconia tortuosa is a plant

IRXQG�LQ�&RVWD�5LFD�� LW¶V�SROOLQDWHG�by hummingbirds and requires a

long curved beak to access the nec-

tar.

When scientists tried to pollinate

it by hand (a common horticultural

technique) they were unsuccessful.

After further research into which

GLHUHQW�VSHFLHV�DUH�VXFFHVVIXO�SRO-linators, the scientists concluded

that the plant can tell which species

is visiting by the way they feed.

The especially long bills of two

brilliantly-named species - violet

sabrewings and green hermits -

caused H. tortuosa to ‘turn on’ and

germinate its pollen, increasing

pollination success rates with those

birds. Other species could reach the

QHFWDU� DQG� SROOHQ�� EXW� DV� WKH� ÀRZ-

er hadn’t ‘turned on’ their pollen

was less likely to fertilise anything.

When the researchers tried pollinat-

ing by hand again, this time mim-

icking the successful bird species, it

worked.

Violet sabrewings and green her-

PLWV� EHQH¿W� WKH� ÀRZHU� EHFDXVH� RI�their wide ranges. Travelling greater

distances means that the pollen in

mixed in with a bigger, more varied

gene pool: an advantage for rapid

evolution, which requires diversity.

It has been known for centuries

WKDW� PDQ\� ÀRZHUV� DUH� FRHYROYHG�with their pollinators - Charles

Darwin famously predicted a long-

mouthed moth which wasn’t discov-

ered until decades after he died - but

WKLV�LV�WKH�¿UVW�WLPH�WKDW�LQGLYLGXDOV�KDYH�EHHQ�IRXQG�WR�UHDFW�WR�GLHUHQW�pollinators.

The research raises further ques-

tions about the complex systems

RI� ÀRZHUV�� SDUWLFXODUO\� WKRVH� ZLWK�highly-derived vertebrate pollina-

tors.

D HVSLWH� WKH� 8QLYHUVL-ty’s 421 years of age,

it was only 135 years

DJR� WKDW� WKH� ¿UVW� VHY-

en women, among them Sophia Jex

Blake, were admitted into Edinburgh

University to study medicine. Four

years later they were unceremonious-

ly kicked out without degrees having

lost a legal battle with the University

for their right to stay here.

Nowadays the majority of the un-

dergraduates at Edinburgh are wom-

en, who are on average also more

likely to earn 1st class or upper 2nd

class degrees. On the face of it, it

would seem sexism truly is a thing

of the past and yet as many women

VWD�DW�WKH�XQLYHUVLW\�DV�NHHQ�WR�SRLQW�out, modern sexism in the university

is truly well and alive. The only dif-

ference being that it is now mostly

FRQ¿QHG� WR�PRUH� VXEWOH� DQG� LPSOLFLW�attacks. Despite the reassuring lack

of tolerance our university commu-

nity appear to have for overt forms of

sexism, it is these disguised manifes-

on human joints.

Whilst factors including diet or

disease can’t be ruled out, the study

points towards physical activity as

the driving factor behind changes to

our skeletal build. Chirchir also notes

that physical activity can change our

skeletons within our own lifetimes.

This is especially relevant for those

of us living in industrialised environ-

ments, and those who spend a lot of

time sitting at work or at home. Cases

RI�RVWHRSRURVLV�DUH�VLJQL¿FDQWO\�PRUH�common in such environments, and

in patients with osteoporosis, the tra-

becular bone has the highest risk of

fracture.

“Humans can have robust trabecu-

lar bone structure, similar to what is

seen in living non-human primates,

if they engage in appropriate levels of

physical activity throughout life,” says

5\DQ�� ´6R� SHUKDSV� LQVWHDG� RI� HDWLQJ�liking early humans, we should be ex-

ercising like them.”

How sitting down made our bones weaker

Modern Women in STEMWDWLRQV�WKDW�PDNH�WKHP�PRUH�GLFXOW�to detect, address and somehow all the

more dangerous.

A study conducted only two years

ago at this university highlights how

pervasive unconscious bias can be

when responding to academics and

VWXGHQWV� RI� GLHUHQW� JHQGHUV�� LGHQWL-cal, fake CVs were sent out to STEM

(Science, Technology, Engineering

and Maths) faculties at various uni-

versities in the UK, including Edin-

EXUJK��7KH�RQO\�GLHUHQFH�EHLQJ�WKDW�half the ‘candidates’ were given female

and half were given male names. The

results showed a resounding favour-

itism for the ‘male’ CVs, which were

voted unanimously higher in compe-

tence, hireability and mentoring. The

male candidates were even judged to

be worth over £4,000 a year more in

salary.

Although the university’s rules are

by and large gender neutral within

STEM faculties, there is still scope for

sexist application of said rules. This

can be seen in how women who go on

maternity leave are treated and the

reduced likelihood of women getting

promotions, partially due to a lack of

informal mentoring between faculty

members. The number of women in

STEM positions decreases dramati-

cally after undergraduate level, with

only 9% of the top professor jobs being

women. However these unhappy bias-

es are slowly being fought. Conscious-

ness training is now something that

the university is beginning to imple-

ment in order to tackle some of these

problems; these are opportunities to

EUHDN� GRZQ� SUHGH¿QHG� LOOXVLRQV� RI�gender, where they can be examined

and ideally reevaluated. Furthermore,

campaigns for mainstreaming gender

and feminism in undergraduate cours-

es as well as for a gender studies de-

partment have sprung up around the

university. They will hopefully prove

to people that these are gender issues

which are taken seriously, and are

here to stay.

“Modern human skeletos have shifted

quite recently towards lighter - more fragile - bodies”

“Cases of osteoporosis are more common”

By Josiane SegarScience & Technology Editor

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Science & Technology



W e are fortunate to live in a society where science and technology are ad-

vancing faster than ever. This holds true particularly in the world of genet-ics. Since the launch of The Human Genome Project in 1990, the accumu-lation of human genomic data has ex-ploded and the cost of producing such data is dropping every day. The pro-ject took thirteen years, thousands of global scientists and 2.7 billion dollars to collect and analyse a single human genome. Today, the same can be done within hours, by one person, for as lit-tle as $1000.

Whilst some of us are still reeling from this mind-blowing statement, the more resourceful amongst us have been riding the wave. One such person is Anne Wojcicki, who co-founded the ‘personalised DNA service’, 23and-0H��LQ��DQG0H�RHU�DW�KRPH�genetic testing. A user orders the kit, provides a saliva sample and returns

it by post to the 23andMe labs for testing. Within four to six weeks, the expanse of their genome is then avail-able, in raw genetic code.

As most of us aren’t experts in de-ciphering raw genetic code, 23andMe also provides interpretation of this in-formation. The user can log in to their 23andMe account and view their in-formation in a number of ways. They can look at their ancestry and genetic lineage. They can see how their genet-ics might dictate how they respond to medication. They can see if they pos-sess certain genes that make them at-risk for medical conditions or even for inherited conditions, such as Alzheim-er’s Disease.

23andMe describe this service as enabling their customers to ‘take steps towards living a healthier life’, but it’s impossible not to address the relat-ed consequences of this. First of all, there’s the question of privacy. This data is available online to customers, and although 23andMe have a num-ber of security measures in place to NHHS�WKLV�GDWD�VHFXUH�DQG�FRQ¿GHQWLDO��recent reports on hackers gaining ac-

cess to secret information, from gov-HUQPHQW�¿OHV�WR�FHOHEULW\�QXGH�SKRWRV��make privacy a real concern.

Privacy issues aside, there has been much debate on what these results mean to an individual. Medical pro-fessionals often specialise in one con-dition alone and use their experience and knowledge of this condition to DGYLVH�SDWLHQWV�HHFWLYHO\��,I�D�SDWLHQW�was diagnosed with a condition and then sent on their way without guid-ance, advice or a true explanation of what their condition means in context – could this not be at least very con-fusing and, at most, devastating to this individual? Some would argue that this is exactly what 23andMe have al-lowed with production of self-diagno-sis kits.

Such worries spurred the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to halt 23andMe’s sale of these kits in the US in 2013. This, however, was not well-received by everyone. Many voiced their concerns, demanding a right to biological knowledge of their own DNA. Should it really be left to the FDA to determine whether indi-

viduals are able to handle their own JHQHWLF�LQIRUPDWLRQ"�,I�VXFK�LQGLYLGX-als have the means to, aren’t they en-titled to information present in their YHU\�RZQ�ERGLHV"� ,I� LQGLYLGXDOV�GRQ¶W�have the means, is it ethical that such information isn’t available to them.,W¶V� IDLU� WR� VD\� WKDW� ��DQG0H� KDYH�

sparked a wealth of debate as pioneers into publicly available genetic testing. Since this ban, a step towards reconcil-iation between the FDA and 23andMe has been made. Last year, the FDA ap-proved the use of 23andMe kits for the self-diagnosis of Bloom’s Disease – a JHQHWLF�FRQGLWLRQ�WKDW�PDNHV�VXHUHUV�more susceptible to a range of cancers and, if diagnosed early, can result in a number of preventative strategies to manage the condition. Not only this, but the full genetic health test has re-cently been made available for users in the UK and in Canada.

There are many angles and perspec-WLYHV�WR�WKLV�NLQG�RI�JHQHWLF�WHVWLQJ��,V�it a powerful advancement in genetics, allowing customers to fully explore their health and risk? Or is it a danger-

RXV� IRU�SUR¿W� HQGHDYRXU�� FRQWULEXW-ing to a future of too easily accessible personal data? To this end, Professor Graeme Laurie, expert in medical law and ethics and founder of the JK 0DVRQ� ,QVWLWXWH� IRU� 0HGLFLQH�� /LIH�Sciences and the Law at the University of Edinburgh, lends his opinion:

‘Bodies like 23andme have market-ed themselves as bringing democracy to personalised medicine and often talk about how their products will empower citizens. With this powerful rhetoric must come responsibility, and an appreciation that the mere genera-tion of information from testing is not enough to achieve these goals. Quality of information is key, as is the avail-ability of support to interpret results and to counsel people through ex-pected and unexpected consequences RI� ¿QGLQJ� RXW� DERXW� WKHLU� KHDOWK�� $�consumerist approach that is not ad-equately supported by information about the limits and dangers of testing is more likely to lead to people feeling abandoned rather than empowered’

Whatever your opinion, 23andMe’s product has become a reality in our lives, and, as Professor Laurie so elo-quently puts it, quality of information and how we are supported in dealing with it, is paramount to the success and future of personal genetic testing.

By Amelia Howarth@TheStudentSci

The ethics of genetic testing

“23andMe provides interpretation of this

information”

Intro To: Zebrafish with Prof. Catherina BeckerBy Alex Harston@alexharston

M RUH�UHVHDUFKHUV�WKDQ�HYHU�EHIRUH�DUH�XVLQJ�]HEUD¿VK�as model organisms, with the number growing year on year. 7KHVH�VPDOO��XQDVVXPLQJ�¿VK�SRWHQWLDOO\�KROG�WKH�NH\�WR�FXU-ing paralysis and spinal injuries in humans. They have the re-

markable ability to regenerate their nervous system when damage occurs, even in cases where the nerve is completely severed.7KHVH�¿VK�DOVR�GHYHORS�YHU\�UDSLGO\��WKH\�JR�IURP�D�VLQJOH�FHOO�WR�KDYLQJ�QHDUO\�

developed organs in roughly 29 hours. This both saves researchers time, and allows them to track genetic alterations across multiple generations. $�WKLUG�EHQH¿W�LV�WKDW�WKH\¶UH�VXUSULVLQJO\�HDV\�RUJDQLVPV�WR�JHQHWLFDOO\�PRGLI\�

��WKH�]HEUD¿VK�HPEU\RV�DUH�DEOH�WR�DEVRUE�FKHPLFDOV�WKDW�DUH�DGGHG�WR�WKHLU�ZDWHU��so genetic changes can be introduced using nothing more than chemical mutagens. =HEUD¿VK�DUH�DOVR�DEOH�WR�ZLWKVWDQG�PXFK�KLJKHU�OHYHOV�RI�PXWDJHQV�WKDQ�PLFH��VR�higher levels of mutations can be introduced.

:KDW¶V�VR�VSHFLDO�DERXW�]HEUD¿VK"Ask The Expert:

Do you have a hunch as to what the key to regeneration may be, completely unsupport-HG�E\�DQ\�VFLHQWL¿F�HYLGHQFH"&%��,�WKLQN�WKH�XOWLPDWH�VZLWFK��LI�

there is one, will be a small cytoskel-eton-associated phosphoprotein ZKLFK�ZLOO�EH�GLHUHQW�LQ�¿VK�WKDQ�LQ�mammals. That would be my guess.

:KDW�GR�\RX�WKLQN�LQÀXHQFHV�axonal regeneration in these ¿VK"

CB: So, when you look at successful regeneration, there’s certainly not just one factor that you can switch on and cause mammals to magically regen-HUDWH�QHXURQV��,W¶V�FHUWDLQO\�PXOWLIDF-WRULDO��DQG�VRPH�LQÀXHQFHV�DUH�LQ�WKH�environment. For example if you have D�VSLQDO�FRUG� OHVLRQ� LQ� WKH�¿VK��ZKDW�happens is that the glial progenitor cells that are in the spinal cord of the ¿VK� DUH� WULJJHUHG� WR� SUROLIHUDWH� DQG�make neurons. ,Q� WKH� PDPPDO�� WKHUH� DUH� VLPLODU�

SURJHQLWRU� FHOOV� WR� LQ� WKH� ¿VK� �� WKH\�look very similar structurally, they re-spond to a lesion, they proliferate and they make glia. These glia then go into the lesion site and contribute to the scar. So it makes loads of glia, which KDYH� D� GLHUHQW� VWLQHVV� WKDQ� WKH�surrounding environment, and they release all sorts of extracellular matrix factors that discourage axonal growth.

,I�\RX�FDQ�LQKLELW�VRPH�RI�that scar for-

mat ion, a x o n s w i l l

g r o w better - even

mammalian axons could grow better. The other factor is the axon itself - if

a mammalian axon is faced with a glial scar or with the molecules that are de-posited on a glial scar, the contact leads to growth cone collapse – basically a breakdown of the cytoskeleton in the cell, where the axon can no longer ad-YDQFH��:KHQ�D�¿VK�D[RQ�HQFRXQWHUV�DQ�inhibitory molecule, it does not lead to axon growth cone collapse, but leads to a rerouting of the axon, so that it grows around the inhibitory stimulus. And that could be due to, say, a minor phos-SKRSURWHLQ�LQ�WKH�¿VK�WKDW�PDNHV�LWV�D[-ons more robust. ,I�\RX�ORRN�LQ�WKH�PDPPDOLDQ�SHULSK-

eral nervous system, their axons are very robust, and they want to grow. So people who make lesions in the periph-eral nervous system in mice basically have to bend the cut nerve back on itself and then suture it against the skin if they want to prevent axons from regenerat-ing, and even then some of the axons will still manage to grow.

That’s the same sort of robustness WKDW� \RXU� ¿VK� FHQWUDO� QHUYRXV� V\VWHP�D[RQ�KDV��,W�KDV�D�YHU\�KLJK�SURSHQVLW\�for growth - it wants to and will grow, even growing around obstacles like my-HOLQ�GHEULV� IRU�H[DPSOH��ZKLFK� WKH�¿VK�DOVR� KDYH�� 7KH� >¿VK@� D[RQ�ZLOO� VHH� WKH�

myelin debris and will grow around it, spontaneously rerouting, whereas in WKH�PDPPDO�>WKH�D[RQV@�MXVW�JR�³3W�WKDW¶V�LW��,¶P�QRW�JURZLQJ�DQ\PRUH´

.So what further research ap-

SURDFKHV�DUH�QRZ�EHLQJ�WDNHQ"CB: Some of the approaches that are

currently being developed in mam-mals are aiming to try and stabilise WKH�F\WRVNHOHWRQ��WR�EDVLFDOO\�VD\�³2.��OHW¶V�JLYH�WKH�D[RQ�D�OLWWOH�KHOS´��>6RPH�UHVHDUFKHUV� DUH� FXUUHQWO\@� XVLQJ� WKH�molecule taxol - therapeutic doses basically mess up the cytoskeleton, but if you use taxol in sub-thera-peutic doses, it gives the cytoskele-ton just a little bit of strengthening, and that allows mammalian axons to grow over a little bit of the lesion site. Quite a few researchers are fo-cusing on this.

:K\�VKRXOG�ZH�FDUH"

We chat with Prof Becker about the future of zebrafish research

S pinal injuries in humans ruin lives. Unlike other forms of injury, damage to the spine and neck is often irreparable and re-VXOWV�LQ�JOLDO�VFDUV��ZKLFK�LQKLELW�QHUYH�IXQFWLRQ��=HEUD¿VK��KRZHYHU��FDQ�UHURXWH�QHXURQV�DURXQG�WKHVH�VFDUV��,I�ZH�FDQ�XQGHUVWDQG�WKH�PR-

OHFXODU�PHFKDQLVPV�EHKLQG�QHUYH�UHJHQHUDWLRQ�LQ�WKH�¿VK��ZH�ZLOO�EH�PXFK�EHWWHU�placed to develop techniques to help the central nervous system regenerate after in-MXU\�LQ�KXPDQV��=HEUD¿VK�KDYH�DOUHDG\�EHHQ�XVHG�WR�LGHQWLI\�WKH�JHQH� responsible for certain muscular dystrophy disorders, and to understand the formation of cer-WDLQ� PHODQRPDV�� =HEUD¿VK� DOVR� VKDUH� D�remarkably high degree of similarity with humans, and over 84 per cent of genes known to be associated with human dis-HDVH�KDYH�D�FRXQWHUSDUW�LQ�]HEUD¿VK�

FEATURE: Health predictions - blessing or burden?

Dual Crossword No. 80CRYPTIC CLUESACROSS 1 Discover her aunt in disarray (7) 5 French writer nearly tongue-tied, ��DYRLGV�VSHDNLQJ�DW�¿�UVW�� 8 Madcap risks encountered in holiday isle? No, vice-versa (5) 9 East End girl accepts fate with time, making these stops (7)10 Element of Chinese religion gives thanks to love (3)��,Q�WKH�$QWLSRGHV�\RX¶OO�¿�QG�VDG articles from Europe (4, 5)13 Break ranks, changing spiteful tone about old (4, 3, 2, 4)15 French restaurant makes money beside lake (9)17 Polish problem (3)19 Take a month to open golf course (7)21 Scots cry of welcome (5)22 Dog and Horse - as they say (5)23 King and a theologian lead one quiet prayer of mourning (7)DOWN 1 Such diamonds may be rough, but they’re not shunned (5) 2 Investigate former Pastor’s ancient wisdom (7) 3 What precipitation usually is - and how it happens? (9) 4 East Ham arkwright needs shaking ��WR�JHW�WR�WKH�¿�QDO�SHDN�� 5 Couple owed almost nothing (3) 6 Married friend’s daughter (5) 7 Top Scottish teams have yen to splash out (7)��1XGH�À�HG�ZLOGO\�FOXWFKLQJ�WRS of gown, not ready to leave nest (9)��:LWFKHV¶�FRYHQ�DQG�FKXUFK�¿�QDOO\� combine for day of prayer (7)14 One who may provoke Ali’s ire? (7)16 Scotsman helps make boomerang user-friendly (5)18 Chat freely after opening of ballet in a group (5)20 Crafty Rambo star ultimately gains total mastery (3)

Canty and CouthieChoose the correct meaning Pickle or Pucklea) A pimple, blackheadb) A grain of cornc) A small quantityMickle or Mucklea) A large quantityb) A barnyardc) A mistakeWheena) A hazelnutb) A good many, a fewc) A threshing tool

ACROSS 1 Discover, dig up (7) 5 Alexander ..... French writer (5)��+ROLGD\�,VOH�R � �1DSOHV�� 9 Laryngeal (7)10 The way (Chinese religion) (3)11 In the region of Oz or NZ (4, 5)13 Break ranks (4, 3, 2, 4)15 Small French restaurant (9)17 To polish, apply friction to (3)19 Golf course (Georgia, USA) (7)21 Say hello, welcome (5)22 Dog (pulling sledge) (5)23 Jewish prayer of mourning (7)

DOWN 1 Not adulterated (e.g. cocaine) (5) 2 Investigate, reconnoitre (7) 3 Showers are made of them (9) 4 The peak, the very top (4-5, 4) 5 Couple, twosome (3) 6 Coupled (5) 7 Splash out (moneywise) (7)12 Not ready to leave the nest (9)13 Saturday or Sunday (religion) (7)14 Inhabitant of Tel Aviv (7)16 Scotsman : historic Scots County (5)18 A group or set (5)20 Crafty, cunning, underhand (3)

A BIT ABOUT CRYPTIC CLUESLast week we had a look at Connectors(aka Linkwords) which can occur within the subsidiary part of the clue or within WKH� 'H¿�QLWLRQ�� 0RUH� LPSRUWDQWO\�� WKH\�may also mark the “join” between the'H¿�QLWLRQ�DQG�WKH�UHVW�RI�WKH�FOXH�

If we identify a Connector of this second sort, not only does it tell us where the “join” occurs - but, bylooking at the form of the Connector,we can usually tell whether the 'H¿�QLWLRQ� FRPHV� EHIRUH� RU� DIWHU� LW�

Chaotic situation caused by returning United supporters SNAFU

This clue from last week has the format 'H¿�QLWLRQ��Connector��6XEVLGLDU\�SDUW

But the clue could easily be entirelyreversed so that the format is :-

6XEVLGLDU\�SDUW��Connector��'H¿�QLWLRQ

Returning United supporters cause a chaotic situation SNAFU

However, as we can see, when the compiler reversed the clue, he had to change the form of the Connector. SO:-

X caused by Y… ) XX supplied by Y … ) is theX from��<�«�HWF��HWF��'H¿�QLWLRQ

X … causes Y ) YX … provides Y ) is theX … for��<��HWF��HWF� ��'H¿�QLWLRQ

And, if you remember our slogan from ZD\� EDFN� �³+XQW� WKH� GH¿�QLWLRQ´�� WKLV�LV� YDOXDEOH� LQIR�� <RX� FDQ¶W� ¿�QG� WKHanswer if you don’t know what it means.

Many clues have no Connectors at all, VLQFH�WKH\¶UH�RQO\�WKHUH�WR�KHOS�WKH�À�RZ��Synonym clues usually don’t need them. $QG�VRPH�FOXHV�MXVW�À�RZ�QDWXUDOO\�

6SHDU�D�¿�VK PIKE

Northern gales battered some of our an-cestors ANGLES

All answers on our website now www.studentnewspaper.orgComments [email protected]



by Picus

CONCISE CLUES (same answers)

AQUARIUSMercury is still in Aquarius, and by now, you’ve co-founded three new societies, created a campaign strategy for the EUSA elections, applied for a graduate job despite the fact that you’re still in third year, and started a successful new cooking blog. Let’s see what this week has in store.

PISCESFeeling restless, you embark on a jour-QH\� WR� ¿�QG� (GLQEXUJK¶V� EHVW� ZDONLQJ�routes. Just as you get to Portobello, it starts to rain and your iPhone battery is empty. You regret your decision to go on an adventure instantly, and take the bus back to Newington.

ARIESUranus, Venus, and Mars are hanging out in Aries, which means that your life is taking strange and challenging turns at the moment. An old friend might reenter your life with unexpected news and a decision which has to be made; fear not, little Aries, you can do it.

TAURUSBe patient; things might not be going your way this instant, but the key is to wait it out. Success, love, and just the right amount of mystery are waiting around the corner for Taurus.

GEMINIFinancially, things are getting a little tough this week, which forces you to VXVSHQG�\RXU�1HWÀ�L[�DFFRXQW�IRU�D�OLW�tle while and resort to illegal stream-ing websites. Heartbroken, you force yourself to read a synoposis for every single episode of House of Cards.

LIBRAJupiter inspires you to take a little break from the uni library. You decide to study in Black Medicine instead, but the Internet is too slow to access MyEd. Embarrassed, you return to the OLEUDU\��RQO\�WR�¿�QG�\RXU�VHDW�WDNHQ�

CANCERNow is the time to take risks - be bold and brave; the academic gods are on your side.

LEOYou start an anonymous EUSA blog, EUSAlashes, dedicated to the best eye-lashes in the union. VIRGOIt’s all about the moon this week; in your WXWRULDO�� \RX� SURSRVH� WKHPHG� RXW¿�WV�every week, which is met with approval. $W�KRPH��\RX�VWUXJJOH� WR�¿�QG�DQ�RXW¿�W�for next week’s John Locke theme, but remain optimistic. SCORPIOStill really worried about the Ides of March, you overhear someone call-ing you an “absolute dork” when they thought you weren’t listening. Trust is-VXH�LQWHQVL¿�HV�

SAGITTARIUSHoping to make some serious bargains, you head over to Edinburgh Bargain 6WRUH��DQG�WKDQNV�WR�0HUFXU\��\RX�¿�QG�VRPH�JUHDW�VWDWLRQHU\�R �HUV��

CAPRICORNReally excited about The Tab vs The Stu-dent on March 14, you buy a new football kit. Dream big, Capricorn - you will do great things this week.



By Thurston Smalley and Ilinca BarsanEditors in Chief

Editors: Ilinca Barsan and Thurston SmalleyProduction Editor: Lynsay CampbellWeb Editor: Dimple GulrajaniHead of Illustration: Tess Glen

News: Stuart McFarlane, Ethan DeWitt & Gavin DewarComment: Emma Lawson, Simon Fern, Chris Belous & Patrick Garratt Features: Sibylla Archdale Kalid & Tasha Kleeman Lifestyle: Nolwenn Davies & Marie PanScience & Technology: Patrick Arant, Nick Hawkes & Josie SegarCulture: Kat Moir, Chloe Henderson & Figgy GuvyerFilm: Eloise Hendy & Lydia SianiMusic: Laura Cain & Lydia Rylance MurdochTV & Radio: Frances RoeSport: Gurjot Thind & Conor MatchettCrossword: Dr John Wakely

Head Copy Editor: Sophie BeardsworthPhoto Editor: Georgia Forsyth Sijpestijn

President: Callum Mason | Secretary: Sarah Manavis | Treasurer: Greg Lane | Social Secretaries: Callum Mckenna & Olivia Morgan | Head of Advertising: Cailean Osborne | Heads of Marketing: Charlotte Hamilton-Wright & Cassandra Lord Head of Distribution: Sam Ireland

History: The Student was launched by Scottish novelist and poet Robert Louis Stevenson in 1887 as an independent voice for Edinburgh’s literati. It is Britain’s oldest student newspaper and is an independent publication, reaching more than 30,000 University of Edinburgh students every week.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Lord Kitchener, David Lloyd George and Winston Church-ill are a few famous people who have been associated with the paper. In the ear-ly 1970s, Gordon Brown worked as a news editor and diary columnist, working alongside Robin Cook who, at the time, was responsible for film and concert re-views.

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A s we move towards spring and the Ed-inburgh University Students’ Association

(EUSA) elections begin to heat up, we at The Student have been confronted with a bizarre new reality.)RU�WKH�¿UVW�WLPH�VLQFH�DQ\�RI�XV�FDQ�

UHPHPEHU�� (86$� KDV� UHDFKHG� WKLV�SRLQW� LQ� WKH� \HDU� ZLWKRXW� VXHULQJ� D�PDMRU�VFDQGDO�:KLOH� D�SHUHQQLDO� FRPSODLQW� OHYLHG�

at the student association is that the organisation is too boring, too inacces-VLEOH�� DQG� WRR� HVRWHULF�� WKLV� FULWLFLVP�rarely translates into news coverage of our university’s student union; rather, GDPQLQJ�� SURYRFDWLYH� KHDGOLQHV� RQ�YDULRXV�PDQDJHULDO�PLVVWHSV�JHQHUDOO\�GRPLQDWH�WKH�GLVFXVVLRQ��DQG�WKH�VWX-dent body is left wondering: ‘what on earth possessed us to elect them?’&RQVLGHU�WKLV�SRLQW�RI�WHUP�ODVW�\HDU��

EUSA President Hugh Murdoch had MXVW�DQQRXQFHG�D�OHDYH�RI�DEVHQFH��FR-LQFLGLQJ�ZLWK�XQFRQ¿UPHG�UHSRUWV�WKDW�H[WHUQDO�PHGLDWRUV�KDG�EHHQ�EURXJKW�in to resolve a serious, long-running GLVSXWH� EHWZHHQ� KLP� DQG� D� IHOORZ�VDEEDWLFDO� RFHU��(DUOLHU� LQ� WKH� \HDU��

the association faced highly critical headlines in the national press after banning Robin Thicke’s song ‘Blurred /LQHV¶�IURP�(86$�YHQXHV�$QG�WKH�SUHYLRXV�\HDU�� IRUPHU�9LFH�

3UHVLGHQW� 6HUYLFHV� 0D[� &UHPD� IDFHG�two rounds of disciplinary action and D� VXVSHQVLRQ� IRU� DQ� DQRQ\PRXV� EORJ�SRVW� DQG� VHULHV� RI� FUDVV� WZHHWV� IURP�KLV�RFLDO�7ZLWWHU�DFFRXQW�� The Stu-dent’s coverage of the debacle would lead EUSA to turn to the Court of Session in Edinburgh for an interdict, forcing this newspaper to withdraw an HQWLUH�LVVXH�IURP�GLVWULEXWLRQ�DQG�SD\�the student union’s legal fees, an event ZKLFK��DW�WKH�WLPH��FRQVWLWXWHG�D�VFDQ-dal in its own right.)

But a glance over this year’s record turns up no such scandal, unless, of course, you count the controversy over EUSA’s decision to crack down on “strawpedoing” at the Big Cheese club QLJKW�� DQG� VRPH� LQWHUQDO� GLVDJUHH-PHQWV�RYHU�D�SUR�3DOHVWLQH�VWDWHPHQW�LVVXHG�RYHU�WKH�VXPPHU�DW�WKH�KHLJKW�RI�,VUDHO¶V�JURXQG�RHQVLYH�LQ�WKH�*D]D�Strip.,Q� IDFW�� IDU� IURP�WKHUH�EHLQJ�D�SUR-

nounced lack of intrigue, the students’ DVVRFLDWLRQ� KDV� DFWXDOO\� PDQDJHG� WR�DFKLHYH� VRPHWKLQJ� WKDW� KDV� SURYHQ� D�serious challenge to previous crops of

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But these concrete, visible achieve-PHQWV�RQO\� WHOO�KDOI�RI� WKH�VWRU\��7KLV�\HDU�� (86$� DSSHDUV� WR� KDYH� PDGH� D�FRQFHUWHG�HRUW�WR�VWHHU�FOHDU�RI�PRUH�partisan stances, positions which KDYH��LQ�WKH�SDVW��DOLHQDWHG�VLJQL¿FDQW�VHJPHQWV�RI�WKH�HOHFWRUDWH�7DNH��IRU�H[DPSOH��(86$¶V�SDVW�RE-

VHVVLRQ� ZLWK� XQGHUPLQLQJ� WKH� FKDQ-cellorship of Princess Anne. While WKHUH�DUH�FOHDU�DQG�OHJLWLPDWH�UHDVRQV�for concern over the Princess’s une-lected position within the University, this stance fueled a pervasive dissatis-faction with the union’s priorities, and WKH�GHEDWH�GLVWUDFWHG�IURP�WKH�DVVRFL-DWLRQ¶V� RWKHU�� PXFK� PRUH� LPSRUWDQW�REMHFWLYHV�� OLNH� IUHH]LQJ� LQWHUQDWLRQDO�students’ tuition fees.

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SDVW�VLWWLQJ�VDEEDWLFDO�RFHUV�KDYH�RI-WHQ� EHFRPH� WDUJHWV� IRU� GHULVLRQ� IURP�the candidates contesting their posi-WLRQV�� LW�PD\�ZHOO�SURYH�D�PXFK� ODUJ-er challenge this year to play on the electorate’s dissatisfaction with the XQLRQ¶V�PDQDJHPHQW�

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It is far too easy in student politics WR�JHW�ERJJHG�GRZQ�LQ�VPDOO�JULSHV�OLNH�the recent action against “strawpedo-LQJ´��%XW�WKH�LPSRUWDQFH�RI�VXFK�LVVXHV�SDOHV�LQ�FRPSDULVRQ�WR�WKDW�RI�(86$¶V�serious initiatives, and the scale of this controversy is nowhere near that of past issues.:H�ZDQW� WKLV� \HDU� WR�PDUN� WKH� EH-

JLQQLQJ�RI�D�GHPRFUDWLF�UHYLYDO�RI�RXU�University’s student association; all of the pieces are in place. The candi-dates can play their part by focusing RQ�WKHPVHOYHV��DQG�WKH�UHVW�RI�XV�FDQ�vote.

EUSA’s surprisingly uncontroversial year in review

W ith copious amounts of work to do and the exam period rap-

idly approaching, there is one ques-WLRQ�PRVW� RI� XV�¿QG�RXUVHOYHV� DVNLQJ�one another: is it possible to do well without really trying? Of course, we all KDYH� WKDW�RQH� IULHQG�ZKR�GRHV�DQ�HV-say the night before it’s due, while you KDYH�VSHQW�D�QXPEHU�RI�ZHHN�ZULWLQJ�it, and they somehow get a better mark than you. This, unarguably, is incredi-bly frustrating. So, what if it is possible to try without trying? Where is this an-swer that is the key to success?

Unfortunately, the answer is not in Edward Slingerland’s Trying Not to Try. Going into reading this book,


[email protected]/culture_student

Federer’s Whites “Come on Tim!”

play, Beating McEnroe.)RU�WKRVH�ZKR�DUH�SXW�R�E\�WKH�WL-

tle’s allusion to tennis, fear not; really this play is nothing to do with tennis. ,QVWHDG�� LW� LV� DQ� LPPHUVLYH� WKHDWULFDO�experience that takes the audience back in time, as Wood asks himself why Borg’s defeat to McEnroe at Wim-EOHGRQ� LQ� ��KDG� VXFK� DQ� HHFW� RQ�him as a child, and still today. The play also puts today’s culture under the mi-croscope, as he questions our “obses-VLRQ�ZLWK�LQGLYLGXDOLW\´��VLPXOWDQHRXV-O\�PRFNLQJ�WKH�ZD\�ZH�WDNH�RXUVHOYHV�so seriously. As surreal and philosoph-ical as that may sound, that does not mean this play is an hour of dense and KHDY\�KLWWLQJ� FRQWHPSODWLRQ�� ,QVWHDG��WKH�DXGLHQFH� LV� JLYHQ� WKH�RSSRUWXQLW\�to become part of Wood’s journey, as he states that within the production ³WKHUH�LV�D�ORW�RI�VSDFH�WR�SOD\´��2QVWDJH�he is there to make a fool of himself, along with introducing the audience WR� D� ORW� RI� ³ZHLUG� VKLW´� WKDW� SURPLVHV�to excite (what that weird shit may be H[DFWO\��,�DP�\HW�WR�GLVFRYHU��$V�KLV�¿UVW�RQH�PDQ�VKRZ��Beating

McEnroe has brought about new chal-lenges for Jamie Wood, as he assumes the role of director, actor and writer. ,Q� GLVFXVVLQJ� WKH� QHZ� HQYLURQPHQW��

:RRG� LV� YHU\� TXLFN� WR� DFNQRZOHGJH�WKRVH�ZKR�KDYH�KHOSHG�KLP�DORQJ�WKH�way; his co-directors Wendy Hubbard DQG�(OOLH�*ULWKV�KDYH�EHHQ�SURYRN-ing and encouraging him since the YHU\� EHJLQQLQJ� DQG� HYHQ� WKH� VRXQG�designer, Dominic Kennedy, played an important role in many of the choices made. This is a show that has been

\HDUV�LQ�WKH�PDNLQJ��VWDUWLQJ�R�ZLWK�D�single idea and leading to studious re-search and experimentation with au-diences. The real struggle that Wood has faced in doing this project is the sheer magnitude of the task. Being the sole actor, he understands the respon-VLELOLW\� KH� KDV� WR� FDSWLYDWH� DQ� HQWLUH�audience, which understandably is

F or most young people nowadays, the names Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe will not be of

PXFK� VLJQL¿FDQFH��$VLGH� IURP�VHHLQJ�him commentating during Wimble-don, few will realise who the cham-pion McEnroe was during the late ��V� DQG� HDUO\� ��V�� +RZHYHU�� IRU�six-year-old Jamie Wood and his fam-LO\�� WKH� ZRUOG� UHYROYHG� DURXQG� WKHVH�two world-renowned players. It was the obsession his family possessed RYHU� WKHLU� ¿HUFH� FRPSHWLWLRQ� ZLWK�one another that had an inexplicably SURIRXQG�HHFW�RQ�:RRG�JURZLQJ�XS��Looking back at this period when he was six years old, during a game where he saw his idol Borg beaten, appeared the idea that led to his award-winning

an exhausting undertaking. The play’s material, memories that are deeply SHUVRQDO�DQG�YHU\�PXFK�D�SDUW�RI�ZKR�KH� LV� QRZ�� DGGV� D� YXOQHUDELOLW\� WR� D�IXQQ\�\HW�WKRXJKW�SURYRNLQJ�VKRZ�

Although there is no distinct mes-sage that Wood wishes the audience to take away after watching Beating McEnroe, what he is determined to do is create a piece of theatre that is not boring. Rather than being pretentious and self-referential, Wood hopes that WKH� DXGLHQFH�ZLOO� ¿QG� WKH� H[SHULHQFH�of Beating McEnroe to be not just pe-culiar and unique in its own way, but exciting. The show already has a posi-WLYH�EX]]�VXUURXQGLQJ�LW��QRW�MXVW�IURP�critics and audience members. While some think it is hilarious, others also DUH� PRYHG� E\� :RRG¶V� H[SORUDWLRQ�of childhood and how easily we are shaped by the ideas and beliefs of our family and those around us.:LWK� LWV� SRVLWLYH� UHYLHZV� DQG� LQ-

FOXVLYH� QDWXUH� LQYROYLQJ� WKH� ZKROH�audience, it is clear that this show KDV� PXFK� PRUH� WR� RHU� WKDQ� MXVW� D�few laughs. Without a doubt, Beat-ing McEnroe promises to be a unique DQG� LPPHUVLYH�H[SHULHQFH�XQOLNH�DQ\�other, and it is one that you certainly don’t want to miss.

Venus’ Grunt

Theatre

“rather than giving any real insight [...] Slingerhand

gives his readers a history lesson”

“You canNOT be serious”

By Beth Blakemore@culture_student

Nadal’s Wedgie

L ast week the Travelling Gallery found its way into Edinburgh: you might KDYH�VWXPEOHG�DFURVV�LW�LQ�

Grassmarket or on George Street. The idea of a rather monstrous looking, white bus acting as a gallery was un-H[SHFWHG�EXW�QRYHO��%HJLQQLQJ�LQ��the Scottish Arts Council has ensured the entirety of Scotland has access to contemporary art, especially impor-tant for areas that are not as culturally fortunate as Edinburgh. Each exhibi-tion also sees the commissioning of an DUWLVW�WR�GHVLJQ�WKH�ZUDS�RI�WKH�YHKLFOH��JLYLQJ�LW�D�IDFH�OLIW��2Q�WKLV�RFFDVLRQ�D�:LOOLDP�0RUULV�ZDOOSDSHU�GHVLJQ�FRY-HUHG�WKH�VXUIDFH��YLQHV�ZLQGLQJ�WKHP-VHOYHV�DURXQG�WKH�ERQQHW�DQG�ÀRZHU-ing beside the wheels: a display perfect for the Design in Motion exhibition.

The exhibition is part of the V&A Dundee pre-opening program, dis-playing technology-infused creations E\� 6FRWWLVK� GHVLJQHUV�� 7KH� VHYHQ�small exhibits are examples of soft-

ware, fashion, jewellery, textiles, products, games and architecture “in PRWLRQ´��WKH\�DUH�SURGXFWV�QRW�SRVVL-ble before our technological age. 7KH� ¿UVW� H[DPSOH� RI� VRIWZDUH� LV�

Anarkik3D Ltd’s 3D modelling tool, ZLWK� KDSWLF� �WRXFK�� WHFKQRORJ\�� 7KH�VRIWZDUH� LV� DQ� DPD]LQJ� WKLQJ� WKDW�senses on the screen the feel of an REMHFW�� $QRWKHU� LQWHUDFWLYH� SLHFH�is from Sophia George, the V&A’s ¿UVW� *DPH�'HVLJQHU�LQ�5HVLGHQFH��George has used William Morris wall-paper again to create family comput-er games, escaping from the typical ZRUOG� RI� YLROHQFH� IRXQG� LQ� SRSXODU�DOWHUQDWLYHV��:KHQ� LW� FRPHV� WR� WHFK-nologically created jewellery and IDVKLRQ� KRZHYHU�� ZRUNV� E\� /\QQH�Maclachlan and Holly Fulton, the QRYHOW\� GRHV� QRW� KLGH� WKHLU� DOPRVW�tacky nature: they may be practical but few people would choose com-SXWHU�FUHDWHG�GUHVVHV�RYHU�VRPHWKLQJ�handmade. Despite this, each of the GHVLJQHUV� RQ� VKRZ� KDV� SURYHQ� WR� EH�VXFFHVVIXO�LQ�WKHLU�¿HOGV�7KH�7UDYHOOLQJ�*DOOHU\�LV�H[WUHPHO\�

limited in the space it has for exhibi-tions: each display is contained to one or two examples. The exhibits are in-QRYDWLYH�LQ�GHVLJQ�DQG�SOHDVLQJ�LQ�WKH�LQWHUDFWLYH�HOHPHQWV��VRPHWKLQJ�QRU-mally strictly forbidden in a gallery. Continue to follow the bus around Edinburgh this coming week if tech-nological design takes your fancy.

Literature

Edward SlingerlandCanongate (2015)

Trying Not To Try

By Beth Blakemore @culture_student

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The Student previews Beating McEnroe at the Traverse

V&A DundeeUntil 13th March

Design in Motion

By Gemma Batchelor@culture_student

ArtI hoped that this would be a refresh-LQJ�RXWORRN�RQ�KRZ�WR� OLYH� OLIH� WR� WKH�IXOOHVW�� DV� LW� SURPLVHV� ZD\V� WR� OLYH�HRUWOHVVO\� DQG� VSRQWDQHRXVO\�� 7KH�introduction suggests potential, as LW�SRLQWV�RXW�KRZ�IRU�FHUWDLQ� LQGLYLG-uals, such as sport personalities, the DELOLW\�WR�SHUIRUP�HRUWOHVVO\� LV� WKHLU�main goal.

+RZHYHU�� UDWKHU� WKDQ� JLYLQJ� DQ\�UHDO�LQVLJKW�LQWR�WKH�µDUW�RI�HRUWOHVV-QHVV¶��6OLQJHUKDQG�JLYHV�KLV�UHDGHUV�D�history lesson in the ideas of Confu-cius, a famous Chinese philosopher. The whole book is a discussion of Confucius and similar philosophers’ LGHDV� DERXW� HRUWOHVVQHVV� DQG� LWV�EHQH¿WV�� ZLWK� 6OLQJHUODQG¶V� ZD\� RI�applying these concepts being to dis-cuss how they are emphasised in dif-IHUHQW� WHDFKLQJV�� :KLOH� VHOÀHVVQHVV��relaxation and genuine intention are realised to be important factors, they alone are not the answer.

Slingerland looks at philosophy, psychology and ancient history to ap-ply the concepts of wu-wei and de, the DEVHQFH� RI� HRUW� DQG� WKH� YLUWXH� WKDW�radiates from someone who embodies the practice of wu-wei. The issue is, KRZHYHU��WKDW�KH�XVHV�WKH�WHUPLQRORJ\�

too freely, and so when he begins to UHIHU� WR� GLHUHQW� YDULDWLRQV� RI� WKHVH�ideas, readers can end up feeling lost and confused about what principles are being discussed. Once more, it is towards the end of the book that he implies the whole theory is a paradox, suggesting that wu-wei is something that cannot be taught, much to the reader’s dismay.

$OWKRXJK� GLFXOW� WR� UHDG�� WKHUH� LV�no denying that the philosophy Slin-gerland discusses is intriguing, as he makes links between the ancient phil-osophical beliefs and contemporary SV\FKRORJLFDO� LQYHVWLJDWLRQ�� +RZHY-er, the suggestion that this book can be read as a sort of self-help book is misleading. The ‘strategies’ that he JLYHV� DUH� PRUH� DQDO\VLV� DQG� GLVFXV-sion rather than useful approaches. If you’re looking for a book that compre-KHQVLYHO\� H[SODLQV�DQG�GLVFXVVHV�RQH�of Confucius’ key beliefs, then this is the book for you. As for how to pass all your exams without doing any work, unfortunately the answer is yet to be GLVFRYHUHG��

“[Slingerland] uses the terminology too freely,

and [...] readers can end up feeling lost”

“the suggestion that this book can be read as a sort

of self-help book is mislead-ing [...] he gives more anal-ysis and discussion rather than useful approaches””

I n 1941 an Argentinian au-thor named Jorge Luis Borges published Examen de la obra de Herbert Quain. Borges’

QRYHO� FHQWUHG� RQ� D� ¿FWLRQDO� DXWKRU�whose novel (a three-part story) con-tained two points where the narrative EUDQFKHG� R� LQ� GLHUHQW� GLUHFWLRQV��WKXV�JLYLQJ�WKH�¿FWLRQDO�VWRU\�D�WRWDO�RI�nine possible endings. Despite being PHUHO\� FRQFHSWXDO�� WKLV� ZDV� WKH� ¿UVW�XVH� RI� WKH� µFKRRVH� \RXU� RZQ� DGYHQ-WXUH¶��RU�*DPHERRN�IRUPDW��D�FRQFHSW�that would become actuality in the late 1950s and reach great popularity in the 1970s.

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DQG�WR�KHOS�\RX�¿QG�WKH�µVSULQJ¶�LQ�WKH�air (and your step) we’ve put together a VHULHV�RI�FXOWXUDO�DOOXVLRQV�WR�WKH�PRUH�EDOP\�PRQWKV�ZKHUH�RQH�MXPSHU�LV�VXI-¿FLHQW��5HDG�DKHDG�ZLWK�FDXWLRQ��VRPH�RI�RXU�OLQNV�PD\�EH�PRUH�WHQXRXV�WKDQ�others.

1. It would be a crime not to start with µ'DRGLOV¶��DQG�VLQFH�WKH�PHDGRZV�KDY-en’t yet delivered on these yellow sym-EROV�RI�VSULQJ��\RX�FDQ�OLYH�YLFDULRXVO\�through Wordsworth’s poetry. Or you FRXOG�MXVW�µZDQGHU�ORQHO\�DV�D�FORXG¶�WR�6DLQVEXU\¶V�D�JHW�D�EXQFK�IRU�D�SRXQG�� (YHU\RQH¶V� IDYRXULWH� VHDVRQ-

DO� VQDFN�� WKH� KRW�FURVV�EXQ�� ¿QGV� LWV�HTXLYDOHQW�LQ�WZR�RI�WKH�QDWLRQ¶V�TXHV-tionable best-sellers. Bella and Ana-VWDVLD�� µKHURLQHV¶� RI� µ7ZLOLJKW¶� DQG� ¶��6KDGHV¶�UHVSHFWLYHO\��¿QG�DQ�XQH[SHFW-ed bun in the oven in these poor at-WHPSWV�DW�¿FWLRQ��:H�FKRRVH�WKH�7HVFR�variety.

3. As we all eagerly await Edin-EXUJK¶V� PDLQ� LQVWD�DWWUDFWLRQ�� WKH�-DZERQH� ZDON� &KHUU\� %ORVVRPV�� OHW¶V�WDNH�WKH�RSSRUWXQLW\�WR�FHOHEUDWH�VRPH�WUXO\� ODWH� OLWHUDU\�EORRPHUV��2XU�SLFNV�LQFOXGH�*LQQ\�:HDVOH\� �WKH�¿HU\� OLWWOH�VLVWHU�ZKR�QDEV�7KH�&KRVHQ�2QH��0LD�7KHUPRSROLV� �FUHGLW� JRHV� WR� �)UL]]�(DVH�DQG��7ZHH]HUPDQ��

4. Easter eggs might be beginning VWRFN�WKH�VKHOYHV�LQ�6FRWPLG��7KLQNLQJ�RI�HJJV��WULJJHU�ZDUQLQJ��WHQXRXV�OLQN��KDV�PDGH�RI�FRQVLGHU�VRPH�RI�WKH�PRVW�SRRUO\� µKDWFKHG¶� SODQV� LQ� FXOWXUDO� KLV-WRU\��&XH�5RPHR�DQG�-XOLHW¶V� WUDJLFDO-O\�WHUULEOH�SODQ��$KK��\RXQJ�ORYH��ZKDW�VWXSLG�WKLQJV�LW�PDNHV�\RX�GR��

This week’s cultural spectrum:

By The Culture Editors

Signs of Spring

ROYGBIV

DQG�LQÀLFWHG�ZLWK�SDLQ��7KH�TXHVWLRQ�RI�ZKHWKHU�6WUDQJ�LV�YLFWLP�RU�YLOODLQ�LV�NHSW�DW�WKH�IRUHIURQW�ZLWK�WKH�FRQ-VWDQW�SUHVHQFH�RI�KLV�SDUHQWV�RQ�VWDJH��)UDQFHVFD�.QRSH�JDYH�D�PRYLQJ�SHU-IRUPDQFH�DV�6WUDQJ¶V�PRWKHU��KHU�DQ-guish and upset real and heart-rend-ing.

The relationship between doctor DQG� SDWLHQW� DFKLHYHG� D� PDJQL¿FHQW�FUHVFHQGR� LQ� WKH� FOLPD[� RI� WKH� SOD\��7KH�IULJKWHQLQJ�EORRG�UHG�OLJKWV�RI�WKH�KRUVHV¶� H\HV� FUHDWHG� D� YLVXDO� IHDVW� RI�madness as Strang’s religious adora-WLRQ�RI�Equus�UHDFKHG�D�VH[XDO�IUHQ]\�$�WHQVH�DQG�SURIRXQG�SHUIRUPDQFH��

EHDXWLIXOO\� H[HFXWHG�� (PLO\� $ERXG¶V�Equus is a haunting success.

Literature

By Nico Marrone @ThatNicoMarrone

DOLHQ�UDFH��RU�GR�WKH\�ZDQW�WR�GHVWUR\�them to protect the galaxy as a whole? 6XFK�PRUDO�GHFLVLRQV�DUH�HQWLUHO\�OHIW�LQ� WKH� KDQGV� RI� WKH� SOD\HU�� WKXV� JLY-LQJ� WKHP� D� JUHDWHU� VHQVH� RI� LPPHU-VLRQ� DQG� FRQWURO�� DV�ZHOO� DV� HOLFLWLQJ�D�PRUH�HPRWLRQDO� UHVSRQVH� IURP�WKH�DXGLHQFH� DV� D� UHVXOW� RI� WKH� VHQVH� RI�IUHH�ZLOO� WKDW� LV� JUDQWHG�E\� WKH� FRP-ELQDWLRQ�RI�PRUDO� FKRLFH� V\VWHP�DQG�their own personal decisions.7KH�WUDQVIHUHQFH�RI� WKH�*DPHERRN�

IRUPDW� IURP� D� OLWHUDU\� PHGLXP� LQWR�the newly developing video game one is helping to establish the latter as DQ� DFFHSWDEOH� DUW� IRUP� LQ�ZLGHU� FXO-WXUH��*DPHV�OLNH�7HOOWDOH�*DPHV¶�The Walking Dead and The Wolf Among Us��ERWK�RI�ZKLFK�KDYH�EHHQ�DGDSWHG�IURP�KXJHO\�VXFFHVVIXO�JUDSKLF�QRYHO�VHULHV��DUH�JHQHUDOO\�UHJDUGHG�DV�VRPH�RI� WKH� EHVW� LQVWDQFHV� RI� YLGHR� JDPH�QDUUDWLYHV�� SULPDULO\� EHFDXVH� RI� WKH�XWLOLVDWLRQ� RI� WKH� ROG�*DPHERRN� IRU-mat. While video games may never be FRQVLGHUHG�+LJK�$UW��WKHLU�DGDSWDWLRQ�RI�SRSXODU�OLWHUDU\�IRUPV��VXFK�DV�WKH�*DPHERRN��LV�KHOSLQJ�WR�LPSURYH�YLG-eo game narratives to the point where they may one day hold a greater level RI�HVWHHP�LQ�SRSXODU�FXOWXUH�

Bedlam TheatreRun Ended

EquusTheatre

“...By the 1970’s the format had evolved [...]

with writers for many dif-ferent genres, particularly fantasy, science fiction and horror, buying into the demand.”

“The transference of the Gamebook format from

a literary medium into the newly developing video game one is helping to establish the latter as an acceptable art form in wider culture.”

The evolution of choosing your own adventure; from cult literature to video games

Choose your own adventure; Gamebook to game console

By Isabella Blakey@culture_student

6SHDNLQJ� RI� 6SULQJ� DQG� WKH� LQHY-LWDEOH� SDVVDJH� RI� WLPH�� LW� VHHPV� DS-propriate to mention that change is coming to the culture section as well. $IWHU�PRUH�WKDQ�D�\HDU�LQ�WKH�MRE��WKH�WLPH�KDV�FRPH�IRU�PH�WR�SDVV�RQ�WKH�cultural beacon. There are many great things about The Student but the best thing has been the opportunity to ZRUN�ZLWK�DOO�RXU�ZULWHUV��IRU�\RX��RXU�great readers. So to leave you all with WKH�ZRUGV�RI�OLWWOH�*UHWO��³7KH�VXQ�KDV�gone to bed and so must I” – I don’t do well with late nights… �� .DW�0RLU

in which the art is to be experienced is

in opposition to what the art is trying

to say. Born out of an oppressive mil-

itary coup, much of the art (particu-

larly the older pieces) represent the

unavailability of information in Bra-

zil in the 70s. This theme is embod-

ied in pieces such Barrio’s stockings,

ZKLFK�DUH�¿OOHG�ZLWK�EDOO�EHDULQJV��,Q�this piece, the obscurity of the object

within represents the lack of informa-

tion that was available in Brazil in the

they are, that give sophistication to

the pieces. Paintings such as ‘Norwe-

gian wood (remix)’ are embedded with

bits of Beatles lyrics such as ‘this bird

KDV�ÀRZQ¶��2Q�VRPH�ZRUNV��LQFOXGLQJ�µ*RQH¶�� IUDJPHQWV� RI� SKUDVHV� �OLNH� µ,�ZLOO�¿QG�ZD\V�>«@¶��UHSHDW�FU\SWLFDOO\��UHÀHFWLQJ�WKH�GH¿QLWLYH�RSDTXHQHVV�RI�Beatles songs and the abstruse nature

of Furuholmen’s own art.

The pieces in Peeling a Glass Onion

also possess a political dimension, as

Furuholmen was working on the tap-

estry during the recent independence

debate. Hence, the word ‘peeling’

could be parsed vis-à-vis unpacking

counteract these two forces. The op-

pression that attempted to censor and

marginalise Brazil’s evolving culture

was the inspiration for most of this art.

They were not created to be observed

in a gallery but were rather made to be

experienced; ‘you are a not a viewer

in this context, you are a participant’,

stated Professor Briony Fer of UCL,

‘the artwork was created by and for

collaborative experience’.

Paradoxically, the inclusive manner

Culture

N orwegian artist and musician Magne Fu-

ruholmen’s exhibition

Peeling a Glass Onion

– on display at Dovecot Gallery and

centred on a tapestry Furuholmen

created in collaboration with weavers

from Dovecot’s tapestry studio – is a

dichotomous alphabet soup of spirited

oil paintings, intricate in their layered

construction, ceramic objects that re-

semble rumpled cigarette butts, and

subversive, abstracted self-portraits.

7KH� WDSHVWU\�� FDOOHG� µ*ODVV� 2QLRQ¶�after the John Lennon song, and the

paintings – most of which take their

titles from Beatles tunes – feature

scrappy block letters that loom over

solid, dual-toned, or gradient back-

grounds. Echoing the tapestry’s name,

R¶V�DQG�J¶V�UHFXU� IUHTXHQWO\� LQ�XSSHU-case and lowercase permutations, con-

tributing a cohesiveness to the body of

works. The woven piece itself bares

these letters, its o, white with a black

core, resembling both the titular suc-

culent and an omnipresent, Emerson-

ian eyeball.

Further, Furuholmen’s palette,

largely permeated with oranges, blues,

purples, and blacks, adds a density and

depth to the fanciful collection. But it

LV� QRW� WKH� FRORXUV� DORQH�� VWUDWL¿HG� DV�



RQH¶V� SROLWLFDO� LGHRORJ\�� µ2K� 6FRWLD¶�PRVW� FOHDUO\� DGGUHVVHV� WKH� TXHVWLRQ�RI� 6FRWWLVK� QDWLRQDOLVP�� $� µJ¶� DQG� µE¶�ÀRDW�DERYH�WKH�ZRUGV�RI�WKH�SDLQWLQJ¶V�name and seemingly denote Great

%ULWDLQ��7KH�µ2K¶�PLUURUV�WKH�µJ¶V¶�LQN\�FRORXU��ZKLOH�WKH�µ6FRWLD¶�LV�PXOWLKXHG��suggesting the mishmash of elements

that comprise a person’s – or a coun-

try’s – character.

Though less visually-stimulat-

ing than the paintings, the tubular

structures, cheekily called ‘Literary

Constructs’, are emblazoned with

'HOSKLF�OLNH� SKUDVHV� �µ,� XQVHH� WR� VHH�more clearly’) and lexical lists (‘Caus-

The exhibition itself is comprised

of two large rooms of abstract instal-

lation, curated by art history lecturer

Paulo Venancio Filho of the Feder-

al University of Rio de Janeiro. The

pieces exhibited mostly belong to the

movement of Neo-Concretism that

emerged in the 1960s.

What is immediately clear upon en-

tering is the gallery’s connection with

WKH�DUWZRUNV��7KH�FORVHG�R�DQG�FXELF�installations, typical of New Concrete,

are perfectly complimented and coun-

teracted by the Fruitmarket Gallery’s

sparse, minimalist décor. The main

room that the exhibition occupies is

D�IHDWXUHOHVV�ORIW��ÀRRGHG�LQ�OLJKW�DQG�large enough to accommodate at least

triple the amount of art on display.

,QGHHG� DW� ¿UVW� LW� VHHPV� WRR� YDVW�� WKH�distance between the artworks cre-

ating a thematic disconnect. Howev-

HU� LWV� FRKHUHQFH� DV� D� ÀXLG� DQG� OLQHDU�exhibition is irrelevant to what Paulo

Venancio Filho was trying to achieve.

This collection is about detachment

and isolation and how these artworks

I n the latter half of the 20th century, Brazilian art has

turbulently transformed from

being persecuted to being fas-

FLQDWLQJ��$IWHU�WKH�FXOWXUDO�GHVWUXFWLRQ�brought about by World War Two,

there rose a new global art commu-

nity, one that looked further than the

rigid European art tradition for inspi-

ration.

$IWHU�FHQWXULHV�RI�SROLWLFDO�DQG�HFR-

nomic disruption, 1950s Brazil was

GH¿QHG� E\� SURVSHULW\� DQG� VWDELOLW\��giving birth to a new generation of

artists who focused on the objectivity

rather than subjectivity of art. Unlike

WKH� RQJRLQJ� $PHULFDQ� DQG� (XURSHDQ�surrealist movements, Brazilian art-

LVWV� VXFK� DV� /XLV� 6DFLORWWR� EHJDQ� H[-

ploring art outside of the canvas and

deconstructing artistic norms of col-

our and form.

DO�� FURVV�� FXUUHQWV� >«@¶�� $ORQH�� WKH�concrete sculptures, more ambiguous

perhaps than the paintings, are bland-

ly understated. However, they are re-

deemed by their physical proximity to

their sister series, Literary, a mono-

type print suite. The stark prints fea-

ture images of the sculptures, paired

with loaded words such as ‘desire’.

The portraits on display, primarily

black and white, grapple with the ways

in which artists attempt to delineate

their identity on canvas. Consider, for

instance, ‘Myself as a failed painting’.

,WV�EORFN�OHWWHUV�FDOO�WR�PLQG�WKH�%HDW-les-inspired works, but their diagonal

placement, in conjunction with illeg-

ible words and spots that appear to

have been smudged or erased, convey

the messy frustration of being unable

to articulate oneself.

Peeling a Glass Onion, like the Fab

)RXU¶V�PXVLF��LV�FRPSOH[O\�OD\HUHG��$W�¿UVW�JODQFH��LW�FDQ�EH�DOO�WRR�HDV\�WR�GLV-miss Furuholmen’s works as esoteric.

However, when viewing his pieces in

relation to one another, and in rela-

tion to the tapestry around which the

exhibit is organized, the wisdom he

ensconces in brushstrokes and con-

crete is put into relief, more poetically

in some cases than in others.

Im

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rt

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rg

.uk

/

Fruitmarket GalleryUntil 25th May

Possibilitiesof the Object

By Geir Darge @culture_student

Art

70s. Furthermore, the cubic form that

many of the pieces take is suggestive

of enclosure and imprisonment, per-

haps not necessarily of people but of

movement and expression.

The exhibition brings Edinburgh

a fragment of an artistic rebellion to

an authoritarian regime, which has

SODJXHG�%UD]LO� VLQFH� WKH��V�� ,W�H[-

plores the way in which abstract art

can act as a polemical art form, aiming

itself at an audience beyond Brazil.

“This collection is about detachment and isolation

and how these artworks counteract these two forces”

Im

ag

e:

ww

w.t

at

e.o

rg

.uk

Dovecot StudioUntil 25th April

Peeling a Glass Onion

By Zoe Miller @culture_student

Art

“Furuholmen’s palette, largely permeated with

oranges, blues, purples and blacks, adds a density and depth to the fanciful collection”

“Peeling a Glass Onion, like the Fab Four’s mu-

sic, is complexly layered”


[email protected]/EdStudentMusic

Gallagher egoMorrissey’s ego Madonna’s egoKanye West’s ego Freud’s ego

E ight years since their last album, which gave us their global breakthrough classic, “Untouched”,

two-piece pop-rock act The Veronicas return to the UK this month to bring us a tour ahead of their new album, which will be released on March 18. Displaying a cheery and thoughtful, yet decidedly determined, attitude, one half of the duo, Lisa Origliasso, spoke to The Student about the new album, their tour, and gingers.

When talking to an artist whose sound was so quintessential to an era, it’s often hard to visualise them com-ing back with such force, especially after a long time away from the scene. However, The Veronicas are back with a vengeance, and Origliasso makes it clear that they’re using their time away much to their advantage.

She explains: “There was no real time constraint on it. We did have the creative freedom to just do whatever we wanted and really be able to chal-lenge ourselves and take the time to make a dream list of producers, writ-ers and artists that we wanted to work ZLWK�´�2ULJOLDVVR�JRHV�RQ��FRQ¿GHQWO\��“It’s just challenging ourselves and getting to do things that we otherwise hadn’t sort of done before.”

Throughout the conversation, the

Australian singer does seem to have a genuine fondness towards the United Kingdom: “I remember the last time we toured here, we always cite it as the most fun tour we’ve ever done. We’ve been excited to just reconnect with all our fans out here.”

Origliasso seems free of any pre-tence, sounding natural, responding R�WKH�FX� DV� LI� ZLWK� DQ� ROG� IULHQG��It becomes clear that she is all about the music. “We hear a lot of people say that records are dead, that it’s just single after single after single. But, for Jess and I, it’s important for it to be a sonic journey for the listener. And, thematically, this record represents the message of revolution and rebirth for us. Personally, that’s what we were going through.”

For anyone who’s listened to the record, it’s nigh impossible to disa-gree with this. The sounds on each track are eclectic, seemingly random. However, as she explains, there was a GH¿QLWH�PHWKRG�WR�WKH�DUUDQJHPHQW�RI�the pieces on the album. “The record VWDUWV� ZLWK� D� VRQJ� FDOOHG� µ6DQFWL¿HG¶�and then goes into a track called ‘Did <RX�0LVV�0H¶��ZKLFK� LV� D� YHU\�GLHU-ent sound from what people are used to hearing from us. It ends on a song called ‘You and Me’, which is very stripped back. It’s just an acoustic gui-tar and our two voices harmonising IURP�VWDUW�WR�¿QLVK��,W�ZDV�D�RQH�WDNH�NLQG�RI�PRPHQW�´�7KH�DOEXP�GH¿QLWHO\�UHÀHFWV�WKH�EDQG¶V�SURJUHVVLRQ�

Origliasso makes no excuses for the erratic nature of the album’s gen-res. The amount of time since their ODVW� HRUW� LV� UHÀHFWHG� LQ� WKH� PXVLF��and she addresses the juxtaposition between their famous punk-rock feel on some tracks and the contemporary SRS�LQÀXHQFHV�WKDW�DUH�SUHVHQW�RQ�RWK-ers: “Its been a natural progression, I PHDQ�� -HVV� DQG� ,� DUH� QHYHU� VDWLV¿HG�with being comfortable, so going in and making the same record over and over again is never going to be an op-tion.”

B ig up Edinburgh! Big up Scotland!” The sharp barks from Stamina MC, Shy FX’s hip-hop com-

pere, sharply wake us up. Towards the back of the stage, someone starts run-ning on the spot. We’re ready.

It’s been just over two decades since Shy FX shot to fame with his Ragga-Jungle anthem “Original Nut-

tah”, which established him as a lead-ing contributor to the jungle/drum and bass scene. He has since expand-ed into pop music; most of us will have heard of his re-edit of DJ Fresh’s “Gold Dust” which gained widespread popularity in 2012. This is just one example of how the DJ-producer has achieved success in combining music styles. In “Gold Dust”, we witness his characteristic reggae and drum and EDVV�VRXQGV�PHVKLQJ�HRUWOHVVO\�ZLWK�a well-known pop hook. Such achieve-ments have helped further the popu-larisation of drum and bass as a main-stream music genre, and fortunately, this versatility was by no means lack-ing in his set.

The crowd’s anticipation is swapped for adrenalin when “Feel-ings” opens the night and the “uh uh uhs and yeah yeah yeahs” spark people into life. Their energy only continues as he plays the two favourites men-tioned above: the pendulum move-ment of people’s bodies pick up pace

Interview with Australian duo The Veronicas

at the sound of UK Apache’s reggae scatting and their chest-down-thrust-up gets faster and faster until the beat kicks in. Stamina MC also does well to please the crowd, mainly through his random booty-shaking and rapping, which, if we are lucky, happens at the same time.

Shy FX’s recent remix of “Hold Yuh” sadly did not feature in this set, but that was the least of our worries. His version of Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me” was the main point of concern. It created a dip in the otherwise seam-less progression of music and elation. The emotional lyrics and gospel choir

Nightvision: Shy FXLa Belle Angèle, 27/02/15

She goes on to discuss what to ex-pect at the Veronicas show in Glas-gow: “It’s about reconnecting with all of our fans and it’s an electric, crazy rock show. I’d say just expect the un-expected, it’s going to be a loud, crazy night and a lot of fun.”

When it comes to Scotland, The Veronicas have a clear idea of what to expect: “Everyone’s just out to have a good time, very passionate, hot ac-cents.” This would be hard for anyone to deny.

“Jess has a thing for red-heads, so

By Rob Anderson @EdStudentMusic

By Rebecca Rezvany@EdStudentMusic

imag

e:m

edia

.wm

g-is

.co

m

I’m sure she’s just going to be in heav-en.”

When it’s brought to Origliasso’s attention that Scotland is around 15 per cent ginger, she replies, laughing, “That’s just a very exciting statistic for us: we’re all about it.”

The attitude and passion and op-timism that Lisa puts across makes clear that their number one commit-ment is to fans and fun. One phrase she uses sums their future up nicely: “The future is wide open, as Tom Petty would say.”

accompaniment of the original, with which we are all acquainted, clashed completely with the feel-good theme of the night. Smith’s song should not be used to get people dancing, rather, it should be enjoyed over a sob or, at least, an awkward memory. This being said, owing greatly to the conglomer-ate of intoxicated University of Edin-burgh students, people were on their feet. Yet this reward is nothing com-pared to the credibility undermined in producing such a song.

Like Shy FX’s previous adap-tation of Plan B’s “She Said”, this re-mix should have been portrayed with a slow-burning intensity that clearly UHÀHFWV� WKH� VHULRXVQHVV� RI� WKH� O\ULFV�it borrows. Instead, it took the song’s chorus and added an upbeat dance track to it. Perhaps this represents a bigger issue concerning dance music, which sometimes swaps musical in-tegrity for recognition.

“Big up Shy FX” - but maybe have a think about your next edit.

“Stamina MC does well to please the crowd, mainly

through his random boo-ty-shaking and rapping.”

“The pendulum movement of people’s bodies pick

up pace at the sound of UK Apache’s reggae scatting and their chest-down-thrust up gets faster and faster.”

imag

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igh

tvis

ion

off

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[email protected]/EdStudentMusic

Music

By Dan Carmichael @dancarmichael92

TKH� ¿UVW� DQG� RQO\� PR-ment of disbelief that you get listening to Chasing Yesterday arrives less

WKDQ� ¿YH� VHFRQGV� DIWHU� \RX� SXW� WKH�UHFRUG�RQ��,W�WDNHV�VRPH�VHULRXV�EUDVV�QHFN� WR� VWDUW� \RXU� VHFRQG�VROR�DOEXP�ZLWK�WKH�H[DFWO\�WKH�VDPH�UK\WKP�DQG�FKRUGV�DV�\RXU�ROG�EDQG¶V�ELJJHVW�KLW��EXW� WKDW¶V� H[DFWO\�ZKDW� RSHQLQJ� WUDFN�³5LYHUPDQ´�GRHV�EHIRUH�LW�EUHDNV�LQWR�LWV� FKRUXV� DQG� GUHDP\� VD[RSKRQH�EUHDNGRZQ��,W¶V�D�SUHFHGHQW�WKDW�VXPV�XS�WKH�DOEXP�±�VRPH�QHZ�PXVLFDO�DG-YHQWXUHV�SLOHG�ZLWK�FODVVLF�1RHO�LVPV��:LWK� DOO� WKRVH� H[SHFWLQJ� VRPHWKLQJ�UDGLFDOO\� GLHUHQW� IURP� 1RHO¶V� XVXDO�SUH�DOEXP�SHS�WDON�RI�LQÀXHQFHV��WKLV�WLPH�LW�ZDV�µVSDFH�MD]]¶�DQG�4XHHQV�RI�WKH�6WRQH�$JH��WKH\¶UH�SUREDEO\�JRLQJ�WR�EH�GLVDSSRLQWHG��0XFK� OLNH� KLV� VROR� GpEXW�� Chasing

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“ Incredibly honest, dead-pan and examine[s] the

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After the release of Still Alice we take a look at some of the best films to explore the theme of memory

By Toby Heaton @StudentFilm

Still AliceWash Westmoreland, Richard Glatzer

[email protected] twitter.com/TheStudentFilm


By Jade Jenkinson@TheStudentFilm

A corpse Leaning Tower of Pisa Jelly A Teething Toddler Jim Carrey

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“This means that film can serve as a time capsule

displaying a certain period and place and its beliefs and culture’’ “ Disguised behind a

commonplace ‘who done it’ narrative, it poses questions about the subjectivity and the disabling effect of memory’’

“The film is straightforward and unsentimental from

the onset in portraying the unrelenting effects of the disease, and its tragic inevitability makes the film brutally simple and moving”

Film

Neil Blomkamp has established that he is most at home when di-UHFWLQJ� VFLHQFH� ¿FWLRQ�

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With Chappie�� %ORPNDPS� UHWXUQV�WR�D�QHDU�IXWXUH�YHUVLRQ�RI�-RKDQQHV-

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HVFDSH�FRPSDULVRQ�ZLWK�WKH�RWKHU�$,�FHQWUHG� ¿OP� RI� WKLV� \HDU��Ex Machi-na,�EXW�ZKHUH�(YD�DOUHDG\�KDG�D�GH-YHORSHG� PLQG�� &KDSSLH¶V� DXGLHQFH�EHDUV� ZLWQHVV� DV� WKH� $,� OHDUQV� DQG�PDWXUHV�� 7KH\� IROORZ� &KDSSLH� IURP�QDwYH� FKLOGKRRG�� WKURXJK� DQJVW�ULG-GHQ� WHHQDJH�\HDUV�DQG� LQWR� WKH�HDUO\�WZHQWLHV� DV� D� VKXULNHQ�WRWLQJ�� DOEHLW�UHOXFWDQW�� JDQJVWHU�� ,W� LV� HHFWLYHO\�D� VKRUWHQHG�YHUVLRQ�RI�Boyhood,� EXW�ZLWK�D�URERW��7KH�¿OP�GRHVQ¶W�VK\�DZD\�IURP�DG-

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WKH�¿OP¶V�FKDUDFWHULVDWLRQ��&KDSSLH¶V�DGRSWLYH�SDUHQWV��SRUWUD\HG�IRU�VRPH�UHDVRQ�E\�'LH�$QWZRRUG¶V�1LQMD� DQG�<R�ODQGL�9LVVHU� �ZKR� HHFWLYHO\� SOD\�FULPLQDOLVHG� YHUVLRQ� RI� WKHPVHOYHV��FRPSOHWH� ZLWK� EDQG� PHUFKDQGLVH��GRQ¶W� TXLWH� KDYH� WKH� DFWLQJ� VNLOOV� WR�SXOO� R� WKH� HPRWLRQDO� UHTXLUHPHQWV�GHPDQGHG�E\�WKH�WKLUG�DFW��7KHLU� LQ-YROYHPHQW� LV� DOO� WKH� PRUH� FRQIXVLQJ�GXH� WR� WKH� XQGHU�XWLOLVDWLRQ� RI� 6LJ-RXUQH\�:HDYHU� DQG� +XJK� -DFNPDQ��-DFNPDQ¶V� FKDUDFWHU� LQ� SDUWLFXODU� LV�OLWWOH�PRUH�WKDQ�D�WRNHQ�YLOODLQ�ZKRVH�DFWLRQV�DUH�DV�XQH[SHFWHG�DQG�XQH[-SODLQDEOH�DV�WKH�E\�WKH�ERRN�¿QDOH��

By Nico Marrone@TheStudentFilm

ChappieNeill Blomkamp

Vince Vaughan’s acting SHUVRQD� UDQJHV� IURP�ORYHDEOH�URJXH�LQ�FRPHG\�FODVVLFV� VXFK� DV� Dodge-

ball and Wedding CrasherV�� WR�� HU��ORYDEOH� URJXH� LQ� WKH� � QRW�VR�FODVVLF�Four Christmases�� :H¶YH� VHHQ� � WKH�RGG�DWWHPSW� DW� µYLOODLQ\¶�� IRU� H[DPSOH�in Anchorman��EXW��JHQHUDOO\�KH�SOD\V�D�YHU\�VLPLODU��LI�QRW�WKH�VDPH�FKDUDF-WHU�LQ�PRVW�RI�KLV�FRPHGLF�UROHV��8Q¿QLVKHG�%XVLQHVV� LV�QR�GLHUHQW�

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By Toby Henniker-Heaton@TheStudentFilm

“The movie’s main problem is that it’s not much

more than a re-hash of all Vaughan’s previous work; nothing new or intriguing is brought to the table”


[email protected]/TheStudentFilm

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Unfinished BusinessKen Scott

What to look out for this

week...

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T his week there has been a dark, rain-laden cloud hanging over Am-bridge. Judgement has

been reckoned on David Archer and the residents of Borsetshire.

Regular listeners to The Archers

(BBC Radio 4) - who I realise are not generally students, are in a confused fury over the goings-on of this once sleepy ’shire. The new editor of the show, Sean O’Connor, has previous-ly been involved in such ridiculously over-dramatic television shows as Hol-

lyoaks and Eastenders, and replaces Vanessa Whitburn - who was involved in the show for the last 22 years. The

Archers has been in need of a shake-up in pace, and O’Connor is ensuring that this happens. The current storyline is that of David Archer - the name hints at the centrality of his family to the SURJUDPPH�� 'DYLG� KDG� EHHQ� RHUHG�seven million pounds to pack up the farm and move away in order to make way for a new road. He and his fam-ily were set to do so, until a ghostly Shakespearean visitation from his de-ceased father, who tells him to stay.

tives from #thearchers this week. Lots RI�VKHHS�GURZQHG��6FUX�PLVVLQJ��5RE�neither drowned nor missing” (Anne Liddon).

Despite the backlash to the new, sensational storylines, there is also praise. People are actually talking about it, which is good for any show, especially radio. And people are in-volved in the plot much more than previously possible when it consist-ed of drama surrounding the Flower and Produce Show and the Christmas panto. Whilst it may have lost a few

older listeners used to the agricultural mundanity, it has gained some young-er listeners, intrigued by the daily 15 minutes of social drama. O’Connor has kicked up a storm in the village politics of Ambridge through the rag-LQJ�ÀRRG��$VNLQJ�ZKDW�LW�LV�WKDW�PDNHV�a community and why these values are so important, the plot is taken from the real story of Oliver Surman whose RZQ� IDUP� ZDV� ÀRRGHG� LQ� �� 7KH�writers have highlighted the destruc-WLRQ� WKDW� ÀRRGLQJ� FDXVHV��ZKLFK� LV� WR�homes and livelihoods alike, a fact that

This gripping plot has been over-WDNHQ�LQ�WKULOO�E\�WKH�GHYDVWDWLQJ�ÀRRG�that has hit Ambridge. Since O’Connor introduced this biblical punishment XSRQ� WKH� SHRSOH� RI� WKH� ¿FWLRQDO� %RU-setshire, dedicated Archers followers have gone into twitter outrage. Regu-lar listeners are used to the humdrum happenings of the pastoral vista. Such a dramatic story has created a torrent of hilarious ‘#TheArchers’ tweets, such DV��³7KH�ÀRRG�ZDV�FDXVHG�E\�WKH�WHDUV�of thousands of disappointed Archers fans” (archerslistener), and “Nega-

Chuck Lorre produces his new sitcom Mom, by creating comedy out of ad-diction - again. Instead of

Lorre’s Two and a Half Men, which originally surrounded a wealthy man struggling with alcoholism, Lorre of-fers Mom, which surrounds a work-ing class woman struggling with, yes, alcoholism. The sitcom consistently oscillates between deeply serious tones of teen pregnancy, homelessness and addiction, to comic relief, as per usu-al. Speaking of the comedy, the show is largely composed of slap-stick humour with occasional moments of good writ-ing, which, in all fairness, do prompt a few laughs. In general, Mom is a bit messy and lacks the distinct focal point ZKLFK�VR�PDQ\�RI�WKH��V�VLWFRPV�PDV-tered.

A surprising twist to this fairly un-WLG\� SORW� LV� WKH� LPSUHVVLYH� DQG� GH¿-nitely recognisable cast. Anna Farris

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[email protected]/EdStudentTV

W hen it comes to podcasts, there is usually a basic formula to be a

winner. A loveable host, a few stories and interviews, and an interesting theme to go with each episode. Each podcast will have its own spin; wheth-er it’s about American lives, politics or the Internet, they will all still have the same basic structure. However, a new podcast has been released which may put a new spin on the podcasting JDPH�� D� JHQXLQHO\� GLHUHQW� VKRZ� WR�those typically on the iTunes Store.

The show is Burnt Toast from the popular food website Food52. Although so far only released as an intro podcast and a description explaining what’s in store for its burgeoning audience, it has already managed to entice the masses with its unique style.

For context, Food52 is a popular cooking and food site that has been hugely popular amongst millennials and seasoned cooks alike. They have articles ranging from food facts such as

“Everything You Need To Know About Doughnuts”, to how to cook large meals, to cooking a cheap meal for one. Their writers and editors are required to have in-depth culinary experience as well as the ability to write copy that HQJDJHV�UHDGHUV�IURP�WKH�¿UVW�OLQH��,W¶V�gained a dedicated following, devoted and always craving more.

Burnt Toast seems to be providing just that. In the description they say the show will not just be a discussion of recipes and cooking techniques, but al-so a “rotating cast of smart, salty guests, for controversial cooking topics, food culture, and occasional good-spirited debate”. This is an interesting twist on the typical podcast frame and gives the VKRZ� D� UHDO� GLHUHQWLDWRU�� RXWVLGH� RI�just being a podcast about food (which I doubt will garner many complaints).

Despite the fact that they have yet to release their inaugural episode, Burnt

Toast is already promising, especially for a student audience. Whether you want to listen in on how to cook some of the most basic, student-friendly rec-ipes, or are already a seasoned chef looking for a challenge, Burnt Toast appears to have the potential to please the audible appetites of any food lover.

Floods Drowned SheepAmbridge Ferrets David Archer

often neglected in the collective mind of the nation. The River Am breaking its banks has drowned lambs, a very dis-turbing thought (am I right Clarice?), and destroyed agricultural equipment and homes. Whilst seemingly sensa-tional, this plot has actually just artic-ulated reality for many.

The week’s episodes have been very well produced, ending consistently on WDQWDOLVLQJ� FOL�KDQJHUV� DQG� LQFOXG-ing fantastic, fate-tempting lines such DV��³LW�QHYHU�ÀRRGV´��DQG��³7KHUH�LV�QR�point staring at the river, Pip”. This ÀRRG�LV�ZDVKLQJ�WKH�VRDS�FOHDQ��DQG�LQ-to a new era of gripping drama.

The social media for The Archers is very good considering the popular view of Radio 4 as the realm of the mid-dle-aged middle-class. The website has a host of fake weather warnings and pictures of The Borsetshire Echo with the headline: “Ambridge Or-gone-ics? It’s pak choi or pack up for troubled vil-lage veg shop owners”. As well as this, it has a lively twitter account itself, one that is not afraid to make fun of The

Archers’ stereotype. Personally, I agree with those prais-

ing the new, water-logged path of The

Archers. Yes, the stories may be dra-matic and never-before-seen in Am-bridge, but at least it is exciting; sure-O\� WKDW� LV� WKH�SRLQW�RI�D�VRDS��6FUX� LV�missing and Rob, the villain, is still hanging forebodingly about, thus the Sunday omnibus will be the most rivet-ing ever heard in the history of radio.

Divine Retribution for Ambridge: The Ar-chers Washed Away

By Frances RoeTV &Radio Editor

is the leading lady. Sure, Farris is consistently a lovable character, but it is unclear if her endearing ditzi-ness translates just as smoothly when functioning as the protagonist. Allison Janney, who plays the mother of Anna )DUULV¶V�FKDUDFWHU��EULQJV�VRPH�ÀDYRXU�to this edible sitcom. Her character can be best compared to Charlie Sheen’s in Two and a Half Men. Her cynical, easy-going personality allows Mom to come out of the shadows and avoid the fate of many sitcoms: becoming stale. Whatever the undertaking, Janney consistently displays the talent to en-KDQFH�DQ\�SURGXFWLRQ��XOWLPDWHO\�RHU-ing Mom�D�¿JKWLQJ�FKDQFH�DPRQJ�WKH�endless sitcoms on television.

I must admit, this review is only with UHJDUG� WR� WKH� ¿UVW� WZR� HSLVRGHV�� DQG�contrary to how it sounds, I am honest-ly a Chuck Lorre fan. With all the hours spent watching The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t. Undoubtedly, Lorre has displayed a distinct knack for producing sitcoms which allow people to sit-back, relax and spend a few hours watching chitchat. For this reason and for Janney’s participation, Mom may be worth a few more episodes.

Some might see this ITV adaptation, starring Martin Clunes, of Julian Barne’s novel about Arthur Conan

'R\OH¶V�HRUWV�WR�FOHDU�*HRUJH�(GDOML¶V�name, as an attempt to cash in on Sher-lock Holmes’s popularity.

Viewers will likely be drawn to to the show by Arthur (Clunes), but it is WKH�UHYHUHQG¶V�VRQ�*HRUJH��$UVKHU�$OL��who is the incentive to tune in again for parts two and three: an all too rare in-VLJKW�LQWR�WKH�OLIH�RI�D�VSHFL¿F�$QJOR�,Q-dian in Edwardian Britain, modelled on a real person. Commendably, Arthur

and George� GHPRQVWUDWHV� DQ� HRUW�not to pretend that stainless Doyle and his amiable “man” Woodie (Edward James) were the only forward-think-LQJ�JHQWOHPHQ�LQ��:RRGLH�WKLQNV�*HRUJH� µXSSLVK¶� IRU� FRUUHFWLQJ� WKHLU�pronunciation of his surname). Divert-ing, to an extent, but unfortunately the most pressing mystery is the wax and wane of Doyle’s accent.

Arthur and GeorgeITV

MomITV

By Zoë Jorro @EdStudentTV

Podcast PickBy Sarah ManavisSenior TV&Radio Writer

By Carrie Dillon @EdStudentTV

T his time, four more ce-lebrities try to create mas-

terpieces” - try being the

operative word in this in-

stance. 16 fairly equally hopeless stars

took to the tent to bake for Comic Re-

lief, and we were relieved by the comic

failure of their talents. Their haphazard

HRUWV� UHPLQGHG�XV� RI� RXU� RZQ�NLWFK-

en disasters, proving a welcome break

from the shame of making a Hum-

mingbird Bakery recipe look like a dead

swallow. But not to worry, it’s nothing

WKDW�DQ�,QVWDJUDP�¿OWHU�FDQ¶W�¿[�The crème de la crème of the Com-

ic Relief cast included, “what have I

done” Joanna Lumley, “je ne sais quoi”

Jennifer Saunders, “uh oh” Zoella, the

screeching Abbey Clancey, and the

practically perfect Gok Wan. A dash

of David Mitchell, a generous portion

of Dame Edna Everage, the oozingly

competitive Michael Sheen, and Chris

0R\OHV�� $OH[D� &KXQJ�� 9LFWRULD� :RRG��Sarah Brown, Jameela Jamil, Lulu

DQG�.D\YDQ�1RYDN�FRPSOHWHG�WKH�PL[��And of course, we thoroughly enjoyed

watching Jonathan Ross take a whisk.

Panic-stricken bakers united over the

inevitable question: “What’s going on

there?” Unprecedented burning smells,

welded tins, and collapsing construc-

do you cut a mango? We’ll continue to

brush over the most pressing question

RI� DOO�� LI� WKLV�ZDV� ¿OPHG� RYHU� D�ZHHN-

end, then why on earth did everyone,

including Gok Wan, have just the one

RXW¿W"Sadly, in this series, the Sue and Mel

duo have been rationed as they, along

with Jo Brand and Ed Byrne, presented

solo episodes. Nevertheless, ‘Mez Bez’

DQG� 3DXO� +ROO\ZRRG� WHUUL¿HG� RXU� FH-

lebrities into producing some noble, yet

often futile creations. We have to agree,

Chris, it does look like it was baked in

the dark - but it looks better than the

one I tried last week. Nevertheless, we

can forever now call our most shameful

NLWFKHQ�IDX[�SDV��³GRLQJ�D�-RQDWKDQ�´Fortunately, to stop us feeling too

threatened by the more seasoned

hands, karma appeared to squash the

culinary hopes of the cocky. The relent-

lessly conceited Kayvan Novak learned

the hard way that you can’t just blame a

bad bake on your mother’s jam. It was

the surprisingly skilled who whipped

up a fuss among the judges, with

everything to play for across the signa-

ture challenges, technicals, and show-

VWRSSHUV��:HHN� WKUHH¶V�SRUN�SLH�¿DVFR�had even Mary boiling over.

It was nothing but refreshing to see

By Poppy-Anna Waterman @EdStudentTV

tions kept the heat high in the kitchen

as the celebs chased %DNH�2�glory. Yes

$OH[D��HYHU\RQH�HOVH¶V�DUH� LQ�WKH�RYHQ��And no, Jonathan, dubbing your style

misunderstood “avant-garde” baking

will not save you here. But it ultimately

GLGQ¶W�PDWWHU�LI��³WH[WXDOO\��LW¶V�TXLWH�OX-

nar”, or “if it were a horse, you’d shoot

it”, because baking should be about the

trials and tribulations - especially when

it’s for a good cause.

7KH�&RPLF�5HOLHI�VSLQ�R�PD\�HYHQ�have taught a thing or two, addressing

the important issues of the day, such

as: to drizzle or not to drizzle? When

is a cake not a cake? And how on earth

T he Underwoods are back, and they’re in the

White House. House of

Cards�KDV�¿QDOO\�UHWXUQHG�with the masterpiece that is Season

7KUHH�� 7KH�¿UVW� HSLVRGH��Chapter 27,

opens with Frank Underwood (Kevin

Spacey) acting as Machiavellian as ev-

er: “You have to be a little human when

you’re the president”, he says just be-

fore he pisses on his father’s grave.

The Underwoods take ‘power couple’

WR� WKH� H[WUHPH�� WRJHWKHU� RUFKHVWUDW-ing Frank’s rise to power, while Claire

(Robin Wright) also has her sights set

RQ�SROLWLFDO�RFH�IRU�KHUVHOI��The episode follows on a number of

PRQWKV� DIWHU� WKH� 6HDVRQ� 7ZR� ¿QDOH��After the impeachment of the previous

president, cunningly choreographed

by Frank, we saw the accession of

the vice president to the role of the

H[HFXWLYH�� %XW� WKH�SRZHU�RI� WKH�2YDO�2FH� GRHVQ¶W� VHHP� WR� EH� HQRXJK� IRU�President Underwood, as he struggles

to get his measures through Congress

and battles against his cabinet.

The sub-plot to the opening episode,

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10th March 2015 [email protected]

twitter.com/EdStudentTV

T he controversy sur-rounding Edward

Snowden and his whistle-

blowing activities is argu-

ably one of the most important events

RI� WKH� ��VW� FHQWXU\�� ([SRVLQJ� WKH� LO-legal wiretapping practices of the US

National Security Agency (NSA) and

other intelligence agencies, Snowden

showed the true nature of modern

government. Which then led to hav-

ing himself declared an enemy of the

States, hiding out in Russia as well as

Hong Kong.

The documentary CitizenFour fo-

cuses on this enigmatic individual. In

January 2013, Laura Poitras received

an encrypted e-mail from a stranger

who called himself Citizen Four, of-

fering her inside information. Poitras

had already been working for sever-

DO� \HDUV� RQ� D� ¿OP� DERXW�PRQLWRULQJ�programs in the US, programs which

were a result of the September 11 at-

tacks. In June 2013, accompanied

by investigative journalists Glenn

Greenwald and Ewen Askhill, she

went to Hong Kong with her camera.

What follows are several meetings;

the recordings gained from the meet-

LQJV�IRUP�WKH�EDVLV�RI�WKH�¿OP�As a subject, Poitas is almost as

enigmatic as Snowden. She is a mys-

terious character in her own movie,

heard more than she is seen. She has

EHHQ� D� ODUJH� SDUW� RI� WKH� H[SRVXUH� RI�many of the NSA secrets, from Iraq

to Guantánamo. Since the camera is

all under the direction of Poitas, Cit-

izenFour is less about the disclosures

from Snowden, but more how they

fold out for Poitas. However, this doc-

umentary does uncover some of the

SV\FKH�RI�6QRZGHQ��D�¿JXUH�RIWHQ�DW-tacked or admired. In CitizenFour he

comes across as sincere and calm in

the eye of the storm, yet also becom-

ing emotional when acknowledging

WKH� WROO� KLV� H[SRVXUHV� KDYH� WDNHQ� RQ�his family and girlfriend.

Given how controversial these is-

sues have been, CitizenFour is sur-

prisingly quiet, and simply spells

RXW� WKH� GLVFORVXUHV� LQ� D� FDOP�� H-

cient way, yet with a undercurrent of

sinister nervousness. Although the

subject is dramatic, the soundtrack

stays away from the gimmicks of ac-

WLRQ�¿OPV��LQVWHDG�UHO\LQJ�RQ�D�GLJLWDO�‘Social Network-esque’ simmer.

Comic Relief Bake OffBy Kerry Gilsenan

Senior TV&Radio Writer

and the rest of the series, focuses on

Rachel. Where is Rachel? Remember

last series when Doug (Michael Kelly)

was attacked in the woods by Rachel

(Rachel Brosnahan) when she thought

he was trying to kill her? Well, he was

just trying to relocate her as she sought

D�QHZ�OLIH�DIWHU�EHLQJ�D�VH[�ZRUNHU��%XW�you can never be too careful when it

FRPHV� WR�VOHD]\�JRYHUQPHQW�RFLDOV��Anyhow, Doug makes it – just about.

But the series is going to be a struggle

for him: physically, as he tries to get

back on his feet, and also politically as

he strives to get back into work but is

repeatedly turned away by Frank.

Controversy unfolds when Claire

gains an increaing amount of power in

the government within her own role.

As a result, her marriage to Frank is

WHVWHG�WLPH�DQG�WLPH�DJDLQ��2Q�WRS�RI�this are diplomatic tensions with Rus-

VLD��DV�ZHOO�DV�VH[XDO�WHQVLRQ�EHWZHHQ�Claire and the Russian president Pet-

rov (Lars Mikkelsen) – watch out for

WKH�H[WUHPHO\�DZNZDUG�NLVV�LQ�IURQW�RI�the President of the United States too,

the cheek!

The Underwoods are thrown into a

jungle of scandal, lies and manipula-

tion as they reach the shiny echelons

of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Are

they strong enough to make it through

the White House? – and better yet,

will they survive the election?

B BC Radio 4’s latest se-ries Promises, Promises:

A History of Debt is an

interesting, although not

entirely grabbing concept for an in-

depth analysis of what most people

cope with at some point in their lives.

7KH�¿UVW�HSLVRGH�RHUV�D�XQLTXH�ORRN�at a topic that initially seems incredibly

dry, adding a much more human factor

WR� D� ¿QDQFLDO� WRSLF�� ,Q� WKLV� SDUWLFXODU�episode, the listener hears from anthro-

SRORJLVWV�� H[SHUWV� DQG� DXWKRUV� WHOOLQJ�VKRUW�VWRULHV�DERXW�GHEW�LQ�WKH�FRQWH[W�of morality. They make debt less of a

¿QDQFLDOO\�IRFXVHG�LGHD��DQG�PRUH�SKLO-osophical and almost sentient. It makes

DQ�LQWLPLGDWLQJ�VXEMHFW�H[WUHPHO\�VLP-

ple and allows the listener to not only

be educated, but also to engage.

For anyone who does not understand

economics and debt, and wants to dive

into the topic with ease and interest,

this series will keep you entertained

and learning simultaneously. Delving

IXUWKHU� WKDQ� MXVW� PRQH\�� LW� H[SORUHV�how debt is a transaction we make in

almost all facets of our lives.

By Ashleigh Jackson @EdStudentTV

The History of Debt BBC Radio Four

House of CardsBy Sarah Manavis Senior TV&Radio Writer

TV and Radio

CitizenFour

that, outside of a closely edited You-

Tube tutorial, even Zoella’s dainty

EDNHV�KDYH�WKHLU�ÀDZV��$EEH\�&ODQF\¶V�VFUHDPV�PLJKW�EH�HQRXJK�WR�GHÀDWH�DQ\�SUR¿WHUROH�� EXW� ZLWK� KDQGV� FODPSHG�over ears, we empathise. We ought to

laugh, otherwise we might cry when

custard burns and piping bursts. In the

inspirational words of Michael Sheen:

³,I�DW�¿UVW�\RX�GRQ¶W�VXFFHHG��EDNH��DQG�bake again.”

The bake sale is a familiar ingredient

LQ� RXU� FROOHFWLYH� &RPLF� 5HOLHI� H[SHUL-ence, from our rice crispy cake school

days to the remarkable treats that oc-

casionally await us outside the library.

7KH�*UHDW�&RPLF�5HOLHI�%DNH�2�rein-

forced the accessibility of baking, how-

HYHU�EOXQGHU�¿OOHG�WKH�SURFHVV�PD\�EH��Ed Byrne reminded us of the impor-

tance of the money raised by this sim-

ple tradition, considering the impact of

Comic Relief across Africa and the UK.

Feigning Star Baker status at your local

fundraiser is not only a much-needed

HJR�ERRVW��EXW�DQ�HHFWLYH�ZD\�WR�KHOS�those in need, and have some fun along

the way.

Star Bakers Jennifer Saunders,

*RN� :DQ�� 0LFKDHO� 6KHHQ� DQG� 9LFWR-

ria Wood proved that you can muddle

your way to the top. If Abbey can get

marbling through her chocolate rod,

imagine what you are capable of. And

while one hour 50 minutes seems like

a bit too much of an ordeal for a hum-

ble crumpet, baking for Comic Relief

makes for a good bake indeed.

the enigmatic, occasionally cocky, always over-the-top Mayweather boasts a perfect record of forty-seven wins and zero defeats. In a career that has spanned nearly twenty years, the American has racked up ten ZRUOG� WLWOHV� DW� ¿YH� GLHUHQW� ZHLJKW�divisions, helping cement his place in

the pantheon of the greats.With nicknames including “Money”

and “Pretty Boy” however, the American is in total contrast to the more humble Pacquiao. A modest man away from the ring, the Filipino was elected to the Philippine House of Representatives and coaches his own basketball team.

Not bad for a man who can put his

Sport


[email protected]/thestudentsport

“As Pacquiao’s impeccable attack squares up against

Mayweather’s impenetrable defence, the boxing world will be waiting with bated breathe to find out which champion will go on to define a generation”

the various associate nations. As the generally accepted wisdom goes, by playing against the best that cricket has WR� RHU�� WKH� PLQQRZV� PLJKW� RQH� GD\�become real contenders in the global game.

We need look no further than the progression Ireland have made since their astonishing run chase against England in the 2011 iteration of the Cricket World Cup to see just how much impact World Cup participation can have for associate nations.

Following Kevin O’Brien’s re-cord-breaking hundred and the gi-ant-killing it inspired, the level of interest in cricket across Ireland has skyrocketed and in turn this has led to some phenomenal results for the Irish team, including a stunning victory against the West Indies in this year’s tournament.

When faced with this evidence of just how much value top-level cricketing

T he ICC’s plans to downsize the Cricket World Cup in 2019 to ten teams from the

current quota of 14 have been met with widespread outrage and general condemnation from all corners of the cricketing world.

Both representatives of the associate nations who face exclusion and experienced commentators have decried the ICC’s plan as short-sighted and liable to lead to stagnation in the growth of cricket in associate countries.,W� LV�GLFXOW� WR�DUJXH�ZLWK� WKH� ORJLF�

of their objections. Recent years have seen exponential growth in the levels of interest in cricket in countries outside of the true powerhouses of world cricket alongside a steady increase in the quality of cricket being played by

experience can have for the associate nations, it seems madness that the ICC, supposedly the body tasked with developing and improving the game of cricket throughout the world, are genuinely considering removing the opportunity for four less powerful cricketing nations to test themselves and gain vital experience against the big names in world cricket.

Even if we choose to ignore the development value participation holds for the associates, it would be a great loss for fans of cricket were the associate nations to be removed from the World Cup.

Throughout this and previous tournaments, the associate nations have provided some of the most thrilling and memorable games the World Cup has witnessed.

No true cricket fan could deny the thrill of watching Ireland overcome England in Bangalore, however painful

a memory it might be for those of the English persuasion. Who could claim that Scotland’s last gasp defeat at the hands of Afghanistan was anything other than utterly compelling? It is undoubtedly games like these which truly light up the World Cup.

The minnows defying the odds to overcome one of the titans of the game, the evenly matched clashes which FRPH�GRZQ�WR�DQ�XQEHDUDEO\�WHQVH�¿QDO�over, the thrill of watching a virtual XQNQRZQ� VPDVKLQJ� WKH� ZRUOG¶V� ¿QHVW�bowling attacks to all corners of the ground. These are the moments that

By James Gutteridge@HawaytheJames

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Given the incredible performances of a number of associate teams in recent years, the ICC’s plans to reduce the number of World Cup teams to ten will surely only damage the sport

truly make the World Cup the spectacle that it is and to remove them would be nothing short of negligence on the part of the ICC.

If we learn just one thing from this year’s World Cup, it should be that the associate nations have earned their place at the tournament and deserve their chance to mix it with the biggest and best in cricket.

If the ICC chooses to downsize the World Cup after the show the associates have put on this year, then it will be perhaps the greatest mistake they have made in recent history.

Associate Nations face being bowled out of World Cup by ICC beamer

Mayweather and Pacquiao will finally contest ‘Fight of the Century’With sky-high ticket prices, it seems that lucrative financial deals have turned boxing into a totally exclusive sport

By Charles Nurick@charlesnurick

W hen, on F e b r u a r y 20, it was FRQ¿UPHG� WKDW�

0DQQ\� 3DFTXLDR� ZRXOG� ¿JKW� )OR\G�Mayweather, Jr. the sporting world had a minor breakdown. Rooms for the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, where WKH� ¿JKW�ZRXOG� EH� WDNLQJ� SODFH�� VROG�out within three minutes of the announcement as fans desperately tried to book their places at what is set to be a piece of boxing history. )RU�PDQ\�� WKH� ¿JKW� LV� D� ORQJ� WLPH�

coming. Arguably two of the greatest boxers of their generation, talks of a contest between Pacquiao and Mayweather have been circulating since 2009.

However, continued disputes between the two camps have seen delays, empty promises and ultimately disappointment; that is until now.

Regularly ranked as the number one pound-for-pound boxer in the world,

name to ten world titles and claim to be the only man to ever win titles DFURVV�HLJKW�GLHUHQW�ZHLJKW�FODVVHV��

Despite this, Pacquiao has tasted GHIHDW� RQ� ¿YH� VHSDUDWH� RFFDVLRQV��whilst also giving away two years to his younger opponent.

On the other hand, he has been YLFWRULRXV�¿IW\�HLJKW�WLPHV�DQG�ZLOO�EH�highly motivated to claim the biggest scalp of his career to date. Whatever way you look at it, there is very little to separate the two.

Mayweather deservedly goes into WKH� ¿JKW� DV� IDYRXULWH�� 5HFHQW� \HDUV�have seen Pacquiao’s aura damaged somewhat and there remains a question of whether Mayweather only agreed to the match now when his rival was further from his prime.

Understandably then, the match is already being billed as the ‘Fight of the Century’ and that tagline is fully MXVWL¿HG��

With tickets starting at roughly $3,500 and reaching upwards of $250,000, Mayweather vs Pacquiao is set to break all commercial records for a bout, but is that really what

SHRSOH�ZDQW�WKLV�¿JKW�WR�EH�DERXW"�Not too long ago, boxing was a

sport for everyone. It dominated the back pages of papers and was the only topic on the lips of colleagues the next day.

But with an increased move to pay-per-view subscriptions for the biggest bouts, boxing has turned into a highly exclusive sport. To view Pacquiao take on Mayweather live on television is expected to cost roughly £60; all this for an event that could well be over in a matter of minutes.

It’s a real commitment and one that many will make, but also one that many will not. Mayweather, Jr.

vs Pacquiao will undoubtedly be the ULFKHVW�¿JKW�HYHU�WR�EH�VWDJHG�EXW�IRU�most it will have to be read about the next day and that is a sucker punch if ever I heard one.

One only hopes that the same fate doesn’t befall football, or other sports, where large cash injections have been welcomed with open arms.

On May 2 the sporting world will hold its breath when the ‘Fight of the &HQWXU\¶�¿QDOO\�DUULYHV��

Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao have a lot of hype to live up to, but these are two men who are more than capable of delivering a knockout.

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Kevin O’Brien made history in 2011 whilst playing for Ireland


[email protected]/thestudentsport

Trigger Warning: Rape - Lessons of Evans conviction ignored following Johnson arrestBy Johanna Doe@thestudentsport

S everal months have passed since many were forced to grapple with the nature of consent following

convicted rapist Ched Evans’ release from prison.

Many hoped that the media furore surrounding Evans’ case would open up a nationwide discussion that ultimately left the population more educated and with increased awareness of the nuances of the issues surrounding rape and sexual assault.

Given the overwhelming desire of many in this country to leave undiscussed what is for many people a highly uncomfortable subject, such a process would have been hugely EHQH¿FLDO�IRU�YLFWLPV�

The sad truth is that approxi-mately 80% of sexual violence goes unreported every year in the UK. Even more heartbreakingly, much of the trauma will remain totally unvoiced, with almost 30% of victims telling nobody about their ordeal.

Some simply do not feel comfortable expressing their experiences for fear of being held responsible, reproached, or even having their experience dismissed altogether.

As a result, issues are internalised, help is not sought and many victims ¿QG� WKHLU�PHQWDO� DQG�SK\VLFDO�KHDOWK�ZDVWLQJ�DZD\�DV�WKH\�VLOHQWO\�VXHU�WKH�

Whelan’s recent controversies overshadow his achievements

D ave Whelan’s decision to resign as chairman of Wigan Athletic last week is

perhaps not the greatest surprise. No one could bemoan a man who at 78-years-old wanted to take a step back from the demands of operating a professional football club.

Whelan is someone who was well respected within the game for DFKLHYHPHQWV� RQ� WKH� ¿HOG�� EXW� KDV�cut an ever increasingly controversial ¿JXUH�RYHU�WKH�ODVW�FRXSOH�RI�PRQWKV��and with good reason.

Not only did Wigan appoint Malky Mackay, a man who is in the midst of an FA investigation into allegations that racist, sexist, homophobic and anti-Semitic text messages were exchanged with Iain Moody while the SDLU�ZHUH�DW�&DUGL�&LW\��EXW�:KHODQ�himself was embroiled in a racism row

in late 2014. The time therefore was right for him to go.

Whether the cloud that has hung over Whelan played a part in his decision to step down is anyone’s guess, but there is no hiding from the fact it has tarnished his reputation within the game. An interview in which he openly used derogatory language, whether intentional or not, sent out a dangerous precedent to others that behaviour and attitudes like that are acceptable.

Whelan himself defended his use of words, as nothing more than an µDHFWLRQDWH� WHUP¶� XVHG� WR� GHVFULEH�the Chinese and nostalgia for a society that no longer exists.

The simple fact remains, whether KH� PHDQW� WR� FDXVH� RHQFH� RU� QRW� LV�irrelevant. It has no place in society, let alone football.

Had that incident not taken place, we would be talking about a man that was revered and praised in equal measure. After all, this is a man who, in

two decades as Wigan owner, laid the foundations for three promotions, an eight year stay in the Premier League, a maiden FA Cup triumph with a shock 1-0 victory over Manchester City in 2013, and a Europa League group stage appearance.

That makes for even more impressive reading when you consider that Wigan were on the verge of dropping out of the Football League in 1995. Whelan’s funds not only saw them turn dreams into reality, he also ¿QDQFHG� WKH� FRQVWUXFWLRQ� RI� WKHLU�current home, the DW Stadium, in 1999.

However, pretending the controversy of the last few months didn’t happen isn’t going to help anyone. Using his footballing achievements to gloss over his comments is, again, in danger of sending out the wrong message.

Football, and indeed society, has no place for those comments. With racism hot on the agenda in light of

a minority of Chelsea supporters who shamed the club with their actions and caused greater concern within wider society of the persistence of racism in the 21st century, we could GR�ZLWKRXW�KLJK�SUR¿OH�¿JXUHV�IXHOOLQJ�WKH�¿UH�DQG�JLYLQJ�WKH�JUHHQ�OLJKW�IRU�others to make similar comments and act in such a disgraceful fashion.

Whelan has arguably done an awful lot for the game. He may have spent vast amounts of money over the last twenty years to aid Wigan’s progress, but for the majority of their time in the Premier League, the Latics relied on a small group of players to perform their seemingly annual great escape from relegation.

It’s not been an easy road since for Whelan or Wigan as relegation from the Premier League followed IRXU� GD\V� DIWHU� WKHLU� )$� &XS� ¿QDO�VXFFHVV��'HVSLWH� D� SOD\�R� VHPL�¿QDO�appearance last season, the club are hanging precariously in 22nd place in the Championship, and relegation to

By Matt Ford, Senior Sports Writer@Matt_Journalist

League One is a real possibility. 2Q�WKH�¿HOG��:KHODQ�KDV�HVVHQWLDOO\�

overseen the birth and growth of football in a passionate rugby league town. But his actions in the last six months have, rightly so, overshadowed his position.

Whelan’s actions, coupled with the appointment of Mackay, arguably brought the club into disrepute. Ultimately then, Whelan must come to terms with the fact his successes will always be uttered in the same sentence as that now infamous interview.

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HHFWV�RI�VRPHERG\�HOVH¶V�FULPH��Once more, the world of football has

been plunged into disgrace following the allegation that 27-year-old Adam Johnson, capped by England and currently suspended by Sunderland AFC, had engaged in sexual activities with a 15-year-old schoolgirl.

Yet it seems the British public is far from learning the lessons of the Evans case. While the away stand rang with inevitable “there’s only one Adam Johnson” chants during Sunderland’s 1-1 draw with Hull the day after the arrest, Johnson’s girlfriend was being KRXQGHG� R� 7ZLWWHU� EHFDXVH� RI� KHU�decision to remain in a relationship with the father of her two-month-old child.

Both those supporting Johnson and those rebuking him jump to conclusions based purely on here-say and void of any evidential proof beyond accusation and rebuttal.

The questioning of the validity of a decision made by an independent jury following the Evans judgement made a mockery of the legal system that underpins the running of the British

state. Diminishing the fundamental

importance of the alleged victim’s age and circumstance is equally damaging to British society.

Suggesting that she may not be a victim because she allegedly saw herself as in a relationship with him is naive.

As the recent cases in Rotherham illustrate, many victims of abuse do not see themselves as being manipulated at all. This does not mean that the individual grooming them is innocent, simply that the near unavoidable power imbalance that VXFK�D�VLJQL¿FDQW�DJH�JDS�RIWHQ�EULQJV�has impacted upon their perspective.

Arguing that a 15-year-old, a minor in the eyes of the law, is old enough to

FRQVHQW�ÀDJUDQWO\�LJQRUHV�WKH�IDFW�WKDW�the law is made in order to protect the vulnerable unable to do so. If it is proved that Johnson engaged in sexual behaviour with the schoolgirl he will have committed statutory rape.

Of course, Adam Johnson is innocent until proven guilty. Rightly so. However, the alleged victim is just as deserving of the platform to prove his guilt as Johnson is his innocence.

Despite the fact any complainant in a rape or sexual assault case is guaranteed the right to lifelong anonymity, several members of the public have illegally circulated pictures RI�WKH�PLG¿HOGHU�SRVLQJ�ZLWK�WKH�JLUO��

There is mounting concern that the anonymity of the alleged victim will be breached. The same fate experienced

by Ched Evans’ victim may await her if she is exposed to the vicious online abuse already circulating the internet about her.

The case of Ched Evans illustrated how quickly people resort to victim blaming. Somewhat unsurpris-ingly, people have reacted in the same impetuous way to news of the accusations facing Adam Johnson. 3HUKDSV� WKLV� LV� VLPSO\� D� UHÀHFWLRQ�

of the endemic failure of British society to moderate the reaction to sexual violence. Society owes it to all victims of rape and sexual assault to rationalise their behaviour DQG� FRQVLGHU� WKH� HHFWV� RI� WKHLU�judgements on those around them, for they may be more impactful than WKH\�¿UVW�VHHP��

“Arguing that a 15-year-old, a minor in the eyes

of the law, is old enough to consent flagrantly ignores the fact that the law is made to protect the vulnerable un-able to do so”

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The Student 10/03/2015

Documents

Transcript of The Student 10/03/2015