C.1uardian Student Ne,vspaper of the Year EEDS TUDENT w:ww. eedsstuderat.or;g ; __ , · ,·_J;ridii 29th Ja_nuary 201 o

Somehow, Leeds L 111, 1.:rs1t\ has National condemnation becomL the n,ttiunal epi -cnt.rc of the cr1s1s tn I lighcr Education funding. Something must be f how 1-,'T:l\'C I he situation has hcc(lme. In rhc face nr LS News Team the biggest threat ro Higher J ·,ducation in recent years, en·r,·ont' at Leeds - man;igemu1t, lecturers, unir,ns, stud ·nr uninm and students Anti-cuts campaigner have hit thL"mselvc, - all seem to ht pulling out at a Leeds University Union in cliffercn1 . long- term prnjccts ,uc-h as build.mg \ statement on the UCU website and dl'\ clnpmc:nt the said: "\'Cc decide democratically what on as umptions that the good tunes we do, ru1d wed<> not interfere i~ what AGAINST CUTS: Students campaign against possible s taff redundancies would continue· to roll. lo,,'e\"er othcr unions do. I lowc,·er, I, have J one complaining as tbe acrcd in contempt of this code of However, mcmbe~ of Universic, \111dentalsc> understands tl1at tJ,e email I !annah G rccnslade, LUll um­ nt>· was L'niversity steadiJ)' climbed th..: respect with their blanket e-mail cam­ staff have condemned the emails sent was onlv available in awomatcd fotm m1.1 nit y Officer, commented: "My paign. \'('e disagree with what the, to them, saying d1at it is the quality of as part of the University's I.T. rq.,'Ula­ take is that we need to be consulung as le~"l.1c table~. But now the bonm that Gordon have clone, but now we mu. t seize on students' educallon tJ1at is their con­ oons, preventing irrelevant or abusive ~-icl<:ly as pnssible with student~ about Brown assured us ,,,ould never turn ir as an opportunity to talk c.lirecdy to cern. mass emails being sent to staff. what UlC\' make of the cut~ and what students. \X'e houlc.l be encoura1,rcd DrJu.lia Read, a lecrurer in Victori­ TI1e Education First campaign has they expect us to be doing. to bu t has, by the laws of capitalist ..:ennomics, inevitabh done so. To by me LJOO students signing up to a an Literature, said: "On the question also been condemned by former LUU "It's crucial that as tl1e exec we pass saYe the econnm1c si•stcm as we Pacebook sire LO upport u, in the of the automated email, I was . truck D.ccutives and student union officials on all information mat we have to sru­ fight to defend education at Leed .." by the very i.ndiYiclualistic tone of the from across the countr1. A national dents in nrde1- for them co make up know it, our government wa 111c LU executive has defended ~equest that we m·oic.l triking: it was petition against the Leeds campaign their own minds. l\h view is that forced tn dig \'Cf)' deep inm I he public purse. \X11ether or not it \, .is their campaign. Jak Codd, LUU Com­ 1n order to safeguard 'my education'. has already been signed by ~ Iind Has­ whatever the outcome of strike acti n, mumcations and Internal Affairs Offi­ 0[ course damaging individual Stu­ san, fonner L Equality & Diversi­ it's LUU's role to be challenging the an economic system worth S:tV1t1g cer, aid: "The Education First cam­ dent ' education is the last d1mg the ty Officer and LI ational Execu­ um,·cr icy throughout tl1is process to was never gi\·cn enough dc:batc ac paign was set up to defend the inter­ UCU want to do, but the whole point tive, Chris Marks, ] lull niversicy ensure that the value education at the time. ests of students throughout the Uni­ is that s~iking 1-r:ay be the only way of nion Education Vice-President and Leeds is preserved and docs not suc­ I .ike ir m nrn, it's now academic. verSJt:y's economies exercise. protecnng the iututc education of a Assed Baig, President of tafforcl. hire cumb to a market-ba~ed modd tlmt is Tht: b:mkt:rs arc back 111 business, :ind tl1e bole in public G.n:U1ce is 'The [campai~] enc~>mpasses a generation of srudcnts. The aumrnat­ University Students' Union. being pushed onto tl1 e HE system by whole host ot things - trom repre­ ed email seemed not to realize that LL remains plit over tJ1e stance cenrral government. It is student. that being slowly refilled by s:ivtngs senting student concerns ro the ni­ concern for current anc.l future ru­ ir should rake over possible strike am be the most powerful ,·oice within nude throughout the public sector. versit:y, to opposing strike action thar c.lents' quality of ed_ucation wa at the action from staff, with some student this cleban:." Thar's where the University negatively impacts upon tuc.lents. heart of any putenoal st:nke action." executives arguing that action would A Leeds University spokesperson comes in. J..:2.5 hill1on; that's the Education First is all about students, Codd denied that the automated have a det:riment.al effect on students' figure guotcd by our Vice­ a.nd making sure that our Yoicc is email fom1 was taken clown from the education. I lowevcr, orhers argue that Continued on page 4 > Chancellor that the gowmmcnt 1s hearc.l loud and clear on campus." ite chi week because of pressure accepting potential job losses will looking to save over the next three from anti-cuts campaign groups. Leeds cause harm. · years - one third of the amount the govt:rnmenr currendy spends annual!)' on Higher Ec.lucation.

Continued on page 2 > 02 Friday, J anuary 29, 2 009 I www.leedsstudent.01 g I Leeds Student

Curio uslv, chis diatribe was aimed of meir stance. bacb~mrds. i\s for the love!)' gra s at Leeds students, the verr people Sketch think the Exec are area aero s from the nion building who pay mese folks' wages ::ind, by definitely working for their own that has now been turned into a proxy one ma) argue, do indeed hold careerist interests once more, and is tarmacked car park, worry not: the right to voice their opinions on beginning co wonder if anyone will rumour is d1ey've dug it up to plant how the Exec is run. ever run the Union that isn t entirely more grass. The Exec's rampantly successful self-absorbed. ketch thinks not. \'qith such tumulr at tbe Union, and eminently wcll- rccc1vcd ln other news, Sketch was not ketch decreed that a drink was in "Education rirst" campaign has gone entire!) surprised co learn that the order. I laving salivated profusely at down a storm, both localh and in Univer ity, in a cw Labour-style me siglit of E entials' arsenal of fine students unions 11 cross the C<>unu,. effort to increase the beaur1 of the ales, ketch w11s ala rmed that Leeds Student is the ln a letter entitled "LUU are11, has cut clown the trees· outside 1dcntificat1on was required to Condemnation Pctiuon", former the nion ... m order to plant more purchase mcsc ambrosial brews. voice of the students fa1uality & Diversity Officer J find trees. 1 eeciles ro sav, ketch carries no "You can't cell us what to do!" I Iassan alongside nine other union The money for this rampant such documents. , ketch, in a haze of of the University of Sketch was rad1er taken aback lO hear officers from fi"e union (and four construction comes from a pot that, flattCC)' imd mild mitation, proceeded Leeds. But we always mese words roared from the foaming from the atiunal Union of 1f rou don't use it, is taken away, to The O ld Bar, where a crisp pint of mouths of furious T. U Exec Swdents) condemned the Union' which set-Yes as a partial explanation, alcoholic lager beer was produced n eed writers, members. campaihm and demanded the reversal but it still seems somewhat wimout any questions. photographers and -'------designers. We want Continued from page 1 you to join us. Under such incense financial Israel talk fuels controversy pres. un:, the bread and bµttcr ex pen cs o( the University; wages, Society QSOq and chaired by nion potential, we im·ited a really interesting Got a Story? chat U1 better times could expand pcaker lark Seward , was cur short speaker who had been warmly received andmultiply happily, sudden!) Virginia Newman Has a crime or a due ro d1c Khaldi' ttmc comminnenrs on many other c11mpuses. represent a burden that, according and security issues. L'nforrunatel) the speaker was dodgy landlord made to manll!:,rcmcm, might need to be undoubtedly disrupted, which created lightcm:d if the instituoon is to you the victim of a tense atmosphere. I feel mat had he n:mam financiallv solvent. spoken 1n a more peaceful injustice? Cuts arc a n:1oonal probk:m, and environment, the event would have thc fall-out will soon be felt Are you fed up with nm smoother and more tmportamly, everywhere. But here at l £<:(Is, he would have been able to convey his your School's man)· lecturers and student.,, ro dieir me sage. credit, have taken the mitianve to conslant blundering? Protesters, however, disagreed: defend the cxcdlem jobs I .ceds staff "The ttuation in Gaza is now even We're here to inform du. Our l -niversity U mon worse. One year ago Palestinians faced responded ·wid1 a campaif:,'11 that a brutal braeli assault during which as well as entertain, opposed budget cut , but also hundreds of school , hospitals and opposed stnkc actinn from and we want to hear ocher buildings were dcstrovcd and lecturers. It was a can1paign that m damaged and 'm·er 1,400 Palestinians from you. its dehcry seemed to pir srudcnts murdered with many more injured. against d1eir lecturers, causing " A ll this is ori top of [srael's widespread outcry from other continurng siege which has denied Email us at student's unions nationwide. Palest.irnans such ba ic foodstuffs as [email protected] udJcnly the eyes of the nation arc tu ents attempte to orce entry There has been some dispute as to pasta, lentil. and baby fond as well as upon us. rg or call 0113 380 into a controversial talk on campus whethi:r the name of rhe event was d1e basic building materials needed to Puttmg together this issue of called 'Why you shouldn't boycott changed. rep:ur d1c dani::1/-,>C caused by l srael. Leeds Studt:nt. our writers and 1450. Israel'. One student wrote to Lel'ds Sh1de11t "Given me severity of me sirnation All correspondences e~litors have been e>..posed to eVCC) ,\ member of me protest explained ro air her concerns: "I was really we believe mat pressure must be put one of the myriad vic\vpoints and their actions: "\X'e were protesting tnterested in the event on Tuesday. ·r on lsrad to halt these acoon . More will be treated with ll!:,>endas that have been drowning outside because we don't believe d1at think in an academic environment, broadly we believe in ju ace, equalit) the utmost one anomcr out in this dispute. rcprcscmativcs of rhe I raeli \ panheid events on born sides of the debate are and peace fo r the Palestinian people. Inadvertentl) die newspaper ~as state should be allowed to speak on really important for moderates like D ue to me failure of our government confidentiality. become d1c only fon11n in which all e,'UTlpus. myself. We should be able to :mend, to ro pre sure lsrael, we are calling fo r a point., of Yicw :-ire represented. "\X'e are willing to debate 1Yith educate and inform ourselves w1d1ouc political, e::conomic and culrural We propose that it is just such a 1ndividt1als whom' we disagree with necessarily taking sides in what is a boycott in order to achicYe d1 is.'' forum chat is needed now; a politically but mi - is quite different to massively divisive and tense issue o n ·students were advised to leave meeting of all concerned partieR; giving a p latform to a goYernmem our campus. campus ,~a a certam path to avoid any mru1agcmcnt, LUU, ac.1.dcmic and guilty of committing war ccimes, cdmic ·'J was d1crcforc disappointed to get potenbal confrontations. Univer ity teaching unions, srudent Corrections cleansing an

, ictorv Christmas tree from the Jay Smith opposftc team, and Wrighton wa · pleased \\'irh the way the event rurncd out. Several people bravely ran the Hundreds of students and Leeds "gauntlet of doom" - a JOO meter­ residents took advantage of the long djdde do\\'n the middle of the huge snowfall this month by warnng sides whilst one young man taking part in an enormous ran through scream111g and barc­ snowball fight in Hyde Park. chesred. He sustruncc.l severnl direct. The event, v. hich was organised Jurs to his exposed flesh from hanc.1- th rough Facebook, had mTr I 0,000 thrown snow and snm\-Jauochcd b:, confirmed ntcendaots on the website. man-si7.ed catapults. Organiser Judd \X'righton, 18, "lr's great that people 111 Leeds said he nc,er thought the e\·enc can get together and have a laugh," would attract so many people. "I said \X'righton. '"I think tbis is the invited 111\' friends, and they mvited jusr the tart of more e\·encs that are theirs. Suddenly over 60,00!l people random and fun." had been invited to m, snowball fight. I didn't expect thar:" he said. De pirc extreme weather ccmdioun;; as wdl as ,vam.ings b) the Pohn: not to attend the eYcnt, over a thousand people braved the condit10ns to take pan in what is being described as rhe biggc · t snowball fight Leed. has ever seen. \X'righton said: "Random!) the police turned up one mornmg to warn me chat if anyone got .injured or killed it would be my fault, but by chat point 1 realised it would go ahead even if T tried to stop it.'' Fortunately no major injuries were reported during the fight, of v.·hich the aim was to acquire tbc Sno~ ~ay out fron1 Hands up for Haiti cross country lock-in Nicholas Blair di cussing the possibtlitv of an poured in and the event got bigger official event 10 addition tO the and bigger. \Xlhac had started as an cake sale held on Thursday. idea for a small gig had ballooned direct!) outside the door, spirits Another tudent has used her into a massive 11 hours of music James Strother Students and lecturers across remained b.igh as studencs and fellO\\·' contacts with clubs and bands to and art, and absolutely everythtng the university have put on fancy reveller all chipped in with preparing raise money for the Haiti aid fund. offered for free." food and th.inking of way to get out. clothes, grabbed some· buckets ina Reece, a studem of Sociology Ocher students dnmkcoly came Stocks of alcohol are still being But by late afternoon, according to and starting raising money for at Leeds University knew plcnt) of up with fondraising ideas at house replenished after the 'ultimate Burchall, the c had "generally just aid in Haiti. artists, mu icians, humanitarians, parrte but then decided to go lock-in' with Leeds students at failed," so they "sat down, ate some Lecturer Dr Hasseeb habbir promoters 110d DJs who would be through with it the nexr day. England's highest pub. food and started on the beer again." and Kathrine Parker established willing to help misc money for Three student fund - rai ers The Tan Hill Ion, which stands at After a q'uick phone ca ll to the 'The Univcr itv of Leeds Student Haiti survivors. She organised shaking money buckets in cbc 1,732ft above sea level, sheltered 30 BBC on the Saturday evening, and taff Haiti Campaign' 'Hands Up For Ilaiti', a day-long Union explained their story: "'\':(/e students from LU Cross Country tenants awoke to fi nd a convoy of (UL HC), in support of the event of music and arc with a free were at a house party and thought Club as they were left stranded for 3 plows ready to take them borne Disasters Emergency Committee venue being provided by the let's do something noble! But tl1en days over the r ew Year amid agai n. (DEC), to help ,·ictims of the Haiti Faver ham. we woke up sober the next clay and colossal snowdrifts. Earthquake the moment they She aid: "I decided co organise figured it was actually still a good Planned festivities, including a heard about the disaster. barn dance witJ1 a DJ, were cancelled something bigger, something with idea," said Doug Hamilton as be The campaign hopes to raise following the extreme weather which the potential to yield a substantial scood dressed in a pink t-shirt and .{20,000 for the people of Haiti. saw tbe entire country under snow um, a well as bring together the co,vbo} hat. over the Chrisona period. Dr Ha ecb Shabbir is urging artistic community of Leed . The three students will be Faced with isolation, hypothermia people to donate, stating: "This Tho e who party hard, and those giving all their money to Red and possible boredom, the 30 is an opponuniry for campus who like it acoustic, and those who Cross. The group had not counted runners did the only thing they could students to show thejr pro­ are physically creative and those up their money when Leeds Student do given the circumstances, and the social side and demonstrate the who just like to watch." talked to them but were feeling sea on,: huddle clown and start great giving tradition of the ina and her friend contacted positive about how mucb they had drinking. University. all those they knew in the Leeds rai ed. upplies for three out of the four The faculty deans were critical music cene. Within a week they "Lots of people have beeo special draft beers were drunk dry, in supporting cbe campaign had cw Bohemia, Vag:ibood~ pretty generous, some have even leaving only Black Sheep Brewery's whkh now enter it seconJ and Subdub on board, and The given t,venry pounds", said third Riggwelccr Ale still on tap by the time phase seeking support from Faversham had given them a date year student E!Ja Foskeet. they escaped on the Sunday morning. the rest of the university's and a venue. , '' le really reaffirms your faith in The unusual story has attracted stakeholders." "As word got round, more and the human being" third year high degrees of attention from across Leeds University Union the British media and even from more event and businesses English student Alice Rowell (LUU) bas assured acros the Atlantic, with the club's showed upporc'' ina said. cheerfully added. UL I IC that it wi!J share Chri~ Burchall appearing on "The most heart-warming thing 'Hands Up For Haiti' will take Washington DC's public radio to resources in efforts to has been how eager everyone is to place on Friday 5th February at the explain his group's experience. raise the campaigns' help - printing suggestions, Faversham. Minimum donation at and RAG is Despite 7ft snow drifts and 2ft Wiiiiiiii--profile; volunteers, bands and ideas all the door will be £5. 04 Friday, January 29, 2010 Leeds Student

Anti-cuts LUU defends anti-strike email groups From front page The clash between Unions comes in spokesperson told Leed tudent that The C is the onl,, urnon to have a week in which Unison, which "talks are ongoing" between the UC balloted its members o;cr a trike. Joey Severn re ponded co calls for the institution to represents 1000 members of taff at and the Univer iry. egotiation arc The other union that represents intervene in the di pute between Leeds Univer icy, ended irs formal being mediated by The Advisory, staff, Urncc, has never been m formal umons, commenting: "University dispute with the institution. Conciliation and Arbitration Service dispute with the University. management took the view at the However, a Leed University (Aca ). In .response to LUU's apparent lack ourset that it was not for us to facilitate of support for trade_ unions on or block communicat.ions that the campus and the belief that the Union wanted to send between position did not represent the views of other students, a student led anti­ students and their lecturers, provided cuts group was created. rhat all communications ,vcre C consistent with our IT policies." 'Leeds University against cuts' JSa Lerdr Student understand char 250 0 politically ~verse group that oppo.e emails were cnt by students as pan of cuts but, CrJocally, also suppon strike ·- acnon. the Education rirsr campaih>n. \X'hen askeBirmingham in mind" "The 'Education First' campaign is Whelan told Leeds Smde,,, that the misi,ruided and inappropnare.'' 1-,rroup has been told they will receive "\\'e should be . ceking to stand 'cclebrit, status' at the Nauonal alongside our lecturers and campus Conventi'on g:unsr Fees and Cut:;. staff." The convention will be held b, fikc GlaLondon on Officer, said of campus anti curs February 6, groups: "Can they honest]) say to Whelan 'hope~ that the 'cuts group' can chem. elves that what they an: doing is work more closely with the Executive rroductive? ls rhrovcing pa1nr on on the "issues that they have common people outside rhe Union building grmmd with." r<.:ally gomg LO stop curs? \\'e need a l loweYcr, there arc plan for an m,uure discussion a. to how we can emergency referendum to force the move forward, and when the\ ar<.: Union to drop their "vote no tn strikes" rcadr to eni,,age in that then we \Vill be camprugn. To do chis thcr mu;t garn waiting.'' 600 signatures from the regular studeor membership. Mandelson: Universities Biological Sciences update Joey Severn so we started the ballot process then." cannot escape squeeze Job matching inYolves staff Further controversy has shm1:1ng their job profile conforms Marcus Chippindale budgets would ha, e a devastating current!) "protected", presumably due surrounded the Faculty of t the positions that will be left effect not on!)' on student and staff, tO their perceived importance at the after the economic exercise. but also on Britain's inrcrnauonal ballot box." Biological Sciences (FBS) as But the n1vcr ity denies the competltJ\'encss, economy and abiliC) J\fandelson rejected these claims the University and Colleges Universities will have to accept their to recover from rccc sion.'' and defended the Labour Union (UCU) iaunched an claim statmg: "The job matching fair share of savings in order to be In re I onse, Lord landel. on government's record of investment in attack on the University about process for Biological ciences successful in the future, according claimed that the effects of cuts will not higher education, stating that the their conduct regarding the was not brought forward by a to Business Secretary Lord be as devastating a critics are claiming. government has increased state ongoing ACAS talks. week. Mandelson, who has been forced to "The rca!Jty is different," he aid. funding of uru\'crsioes by 25 per cent \\'hen asked why the UCL! had "On 18th December 2009, rhe defend proposed cuts to higher ''While universtacs cannot escape the ince commg to power in 1997. niver ity circulated job_ He said: "The government's gone into ACA talks whil t al o education. · coming squeeze on public finance., descriptions to professorial sta~t In recent weeks tl1e cabinet minister nor arc they under an~ kind of threat. credentials JO investing in higher balloting for industrial action, a and asked chem co submit has come under attack from unions "It 1s for univcrsites themselves ro education should not be in doubt. \X'c CU press officer said: "Before and members of the Russell Group of identify where sa\lngs should be arc ab olutcly committed to increasing hristmas, we asked chem [the expresstons of interest b) Monday tn u01versitics, which is headed bv found, and thc1 arc as free as ever to the opporturutJcs for young people to Lln1Yers1tyj tn go into /\CA talks. 11th January 2010, line with the Un1vers11:y of Leeds \'ice hanccll ·r focus on their research excellence and study at university, and we arc clear that We said to members that chis was published timclinc. Professor Michael \rthur, who believe mstitutional strengths." excellent research and teaching arc vital the lase resort before balloting, :md "Job matching meetings wc~.c that proposed cuts will damage the Despite these reassurances, the to this country's compeutivenc s and that we wou)d arrange to go into due to cake place later that week. country's "gold standard'' higher Russell Group is concerned chat higher character." ballot onl) 1f tl1c University acted The Univer itv sav that onl} education system. education is being unfairly treated, De pitc chi , Mandclson ha made one clement of the ;eview was \X'ntingin lhrGuurr/;,1110n behalfoC especially when compared ro the level It very clear tl1at universities need to in bad faith. "90 . bought forward and according to 3 the Russell Group earlier tlus month, of investtncnr m other nations. Barack "change an

English under scrutiny Cuts across the U.K. The University of Edinburgh will reduce it's undergraduate inrnkc in for Tom Knowles Referring to UC . 's .trike ballot, the ba ed on an inaccurate understanding 2010 by iust over 3°/o. source said: "I think there will be an of figures tnvolved and the assessment A spoke person for the univcrsiry historically large 'ves' vote. People in of the Scliool's financial outlook is still said: "The number of places available A review of the SchooJ of English the cliool have been asking me when ongoing. He has promised taff will be has worried staff and students who they will get their ballot papers and informed and consulted throughout for new undergraduate students is believe it will mean job losses, that' never happened before. People the review. reviewed every year. merged departments and outside are prepared to cake action because LS's source clainls this is nor good "Reports of the University' influence over all decisions made. they don't feel supported b) the enough and the FMG review should be decision to reduce the intake of Facebook gr up have been university." stopped for the benefit of staff in d1eU" undergraduates 10 2010 need tO be formed, staff member threaten ro early 500 students have joined the day-to-day work, . taring: " Remove that seen in the context of conrinucd strike ruid staff arc working within ''a Facebook group 'Defend Leed dimatc of fear, remove the revic..w, then growth in application and climate of fear". This is due co the School of Engli h from review and we can continue to make sound unprecedented increa e in the uptake planned numbers as part of our School being under a 'Faculty cuts', set up by students worried that academic judgements about how we of offers tn the last rwo years, resulttng commitment ro the quality of the Management' (Rv!G) review. the FMG review and cuts will mean deliver our teachin~ and how we m our intakes being significantly student experience. The F IG review looks into redundancies for their lecturers. Many manage our research within the Scliool, higher than planned. "As a consequence d1e total departments where the chool's have written "Take the School of without the fear of someone coming '"It i necessary for d1c University undergraduate population in the next academic ruid finanaal mission might Enf;lish out of Fl\IG review' on top of and imposing something." to address this and bring the total academic year will be just over 31Yo not be sustainable O\·cr a fin: year thClf essays after the group law1ehed a The chool has already proposed student population back \vithin lower tl1an in the current year. period. sually one school faces campaign urging students to do so. savings sucli as single-marking degree n:view c,·ery year. The School of The creator of the Facebook group, work, increasing the number of The University of Sheffield is bracing itself for tncvitable cut . English was projecting deficits and had Henry Raby, third year Engli.;h and students tn a eminar group, more already lost £300,000 in re earcl1 Theatre tudies student, now wants to lecturing and less tutoring, and more Professor Keith Burnett, Vice­ funding from the goycromcm. The spread the word against cut even PhD students teaching second and Chancellor of the University of FMG review will involve interviewing further. ''We are thinking about some third rear. heffi.eld, said: "Universities play a staff, analysing data and making form of newsletter with all the ;Gorman t Id students and staff crucial role in tl1e local and narional suggestions about bow co restructure information conden ·cd into one handv in a recent student-staff forum that the economy and their succes is essential the School. sheet or other methods of support for chool is part of a largc..'"f organization for the whole of the UK. They have .'\ statement i ued by the our staff', said Rabv. and cannot act a an autonomous d1e power to transform people's lives, University of Leeds savs the revic..•w will "Our key cnem~ is apathy, but with outfit, yet maintains that "the quality of both through learning and teaching, help the School's furore: " \Xie wam to the dghr motivation I'm confident the student experience (education) i. and through the cliscove.ty and ensure Engli h at Leeds is secure for students will rail) to try and stop these central to the School's cornmiunent application of knowledge co the the future and, to do this, it needs to important issues of the day. deva taring curs." during this difficult financial time." statu . Reduced funding will impact have a refreshed academic strategy that " ignificant reductions in funding But the Univcr. ity insists that no lo~ the same meeting O'Gorman on die well-deserved global reputation is financially su tainablc." on our universities will nor onlv mean decision over redundancies has been could not guarantee whether the furure this country's universicics. Bur many srudcnts and staff at the that all universities in the C'K \\ill face or made. ofTheacre tud.1es was afe. He told d1e ""Along wit:l:i all other un.1versities, chool have asked to be removed from very challenging circumstance. but spoke person told 1.eeds Student forum that there could not be '"any we wtll need to think about doing the FMG review. Thev fear it will lead d1erc will also be damagmg­ "Given the review i in its early stages, guarantee around the nature of an\' some dungs differently, m.tndful of the to co1upulsory rcclundancic , and that consequence as a result. it is too early to speculate on any structures in the chool." possible cffeca on taff and students sections within the ·chool, such as " \.'< '1thour a doubt, UK Higher possible changes, indudin~ any impact These statements has worried and our collective desire ro maintain Theatre Studies and English Language, E.ducaoon needs to be adequately on jobs or courses offered u, the future. Theatre tudies s1Udents that their our c.,;;ccllence tn learning and teaclung will be merged with other departments, funded to maint.'lin its world-leading Any possible options for clianges will course will be closed or merged with and research." or even closed down. only Ge developed after the analy is bas anotl1er department \ enior staff member who ,rished been completed." Jak odd, LUL Communicaoons and The Vice Chancellor of the ro remain anonymou said staff mornle Many within the School think they Internal Affairs officer, prorrused the University of Manchester has set an i "at rock bottom" due co the FMG should be removed from the FMG student executive would upport agenda to look at contingency renew. review because the chool's buc:4tet is Theatre Studies srudents m the issue: planning for a variety of po sible "l've never k"!lown it as bad as this, ba ed on false assumptions about "If the majority of tudcnts don't funding scenarios over the coming people are afraid for thClf futures, they planned pay rises that are no longer want co be meq.,red with the d1ool of months and particularly post-election. are caking out mort~?ge insurance taking place. Performance and Culture lndustnes, Pre idem & Vice-Chancellor Prof protection'\ they ·aid. They d n't feel But Pranci O'Gorman, head of the then it's up to them, and we would AL'lll Gilbert srud: "~"ltl1out actually the university's being transparent" Scliool of English, says such a claim is support d1em in fighring that" dctc.:nnining anything until a new Government makes its position clear on higher educatJon, we need to understand in detail bo-w different policy and funding outcomes would LS's guide to funding cuts ''111t external funding climate for impact on an institution like our,. all K universities is now taking a What's acrually going on? campa1gners, who believe LUL' 1s nm lo horr, we need to have Funding cuts will mean fewer classes dramatic rum for d1e worse; even the Due to the reces. ion the government supporting lecturers, as a strike would informed, detailed contingency plans available, reducing the diversity and very strongest institutions will find it is looking at places where it can save be an attempt co protect jobs and your in place, knm.ving that most diem quality of education available. If some ot extremely challenging to manage the will never have to be implemented, money and bas dtaded that higher educarion. universities get shut down, which is hccr scale of the public funding cuts educuion is one of them. It pLms to but confident that Manche ter will be likclv to happen, more applicants will likely to be compOlmdcd year-on-year able to move . ,viftly to manage any cur higher education funding by up to How will it affect students? be ,1pplying for even fewer pL1ccs. over tl1e neKt fi, e years or so." £7..5 billion, lmlikc othu European Lecturers and tutors might lo e their Fewer srudents will have access to a scenario that does materialise." counterparts who are purnp.tng money jobs as a result of funding cuts, which lower standard of cducaoon. University College London (UCL) into univernoes. ,\s universities rely "ill have a strong knock-on effect for Council has recommended d1e heavi.lr on government funding, such sn1dents. Class sizes will get bigger, What is ACAS? esrabli hmcnt of a Redundancy deep cuts acro.s the board have had a students will have less contact time A \S arc like those friends who tty to Comrruttee. massive impact. Leeds Universiry with tutors, and certain modules may resolve an argument between you and •\ ni:versity spoke. person said: alone has been told d1at it needs to become unavailable. a mate by !,'Oing between you both "Since last sun1mer, when UCL ave {)5 million. l\lichael ,\rthur, Vice until it's sorted. They're employed br Council approved a bud!,ret that Chancellor of Leeds University, and What does it mean for the staff? businesses to sort out dbagreemenr.: rcqwred a 6"1,, financial improvement also head of the Russell Gwup, wrote raff jobs .trc at risk iffunclingcut~ go between two sections, in this case the tn the year 2009 / 10, UCL has ought an open letter to the Guardian al1e1d. Lord Mandclson has said that UCC and the Univcrsil). to identify savings and additional explaining what effects the cuts would changes in employment will have to income that will put us on a finn ha\·c on higher education. be accepted for universities to mm;e What is the University College financial fooring in the tough ccononuc rin1es that lie ahead, and forward. Lecturers, tutors, Union (UCU)? reducing the number of academic What has the Leeds University administrative staff and other best ensure that we can continue to JX>Sts in the Faculty. CCL's statutes TI1e CCU is the largest trade u111on our mission as a world-leading Union (LUU) done to cause so employees are all potential casualoes, fulfil require it to establish a Redundancy and professional as ociation fur researcli-intensivc w1.ivcrsity. much controversy? at Leeds uruversity aod at institurioos Crnnmittce to consider proposals that academics, lecturers, trainers, "As stated at the time, we would fembcrs of the Executive, who result in acaden1.ic redundancie ·. across the countrv. Those that do lose resea.rcliers and ac.'ldemic-reL·ucd staff seek to achieve this through voluntaty represent LUU members, set up a d1eir jobs will be on the Joie. TI1ose worktng in further and higher 'The Redundancy Committee's severance, early retirement and role i to consider the proposal that campaign cillcd 'f';ducation First', that stay in cmplopnent are likely to education throughour the UK They redcplo)ment, avoiding compul ory results in academic redundanoe,, which aimed to protect students from have increased workloads without the represent a large number of st.'lff at d1e redundancy a far as possible. agree the selection criteria and ensure cuts. This camp:ugn encouraged reward of increased wages. University of Leeds. However, as the process has rudents to contact their lecrurcrs and tl,ar academic freedom ts protected. progressed, it has become clear that Proposals would be put to a ask them to vote 'no' in the strike What does it mean for future Additional reporting by Eva one of ciur Faculties, the Facu.lry o[ ballot. This stance has enraged anti-cut students? Redundancy Committee, following Bean:yman Llfe Sciences, will not be able to extensive staff and union consultarion. achieve its financial raq.,,ets without t

06 Friday, January 29, 2010 ud n .o Leeds Student Disillusion with Devonshire halls

Gemma Sutherland unusual on Cumberland Road. "\Vie get fined by the wardens if anonymous, stated: "l f the the rising crime. A meeting with Mr Gray commented: "J've had we make noise inside the halls residents have a problem they students of Devonshire halls to loads of damage to my car over past 9pm, so of course we're shouldn't live next to hall of explain the consequences of their Tensions between local the years; they take the going to take it outside." Most residence, we're nor going to stop actions was due to take place this residents of Cumberland Road windscreen wipers and throw old students when asked didn't having a good time." week. Hannah Greenslade, Leeds and students of Devonshire food on it. I have to pop out now realise there wa a problem a~d Leeds Cit)• Council and Leeds University Union Commun ity halls of residence have at night just to check they're not said they'd received a "few University have pledged to pacify Officer stated: "It's not easy to escalated this year. doing anything." email " on the subject, adding the situation between the warring measure how th1 meeting is Leeds City Council have received Christopher Tod

Matthew Cundall came after The Observer reponed opposition m rhe invite from a number Mateus Chippindale There was no caution, it was an Choudar/s claims that he had receh·ed of student groups. Chouda:ry has infom,al chat." invitations to talk at Lceus demur Rupert HamerOO people who,C" rnoml nr, t'r -otlon me tbtit 1 down Tariq Zam:t? to a~count . . l'm off to JUnny pain. Hille girl's ,01« apln r ,cwear vlstbl than~~ otbio r,-e•r gain_ '1t is bastcally JUSt making a bit of a I live with th1'tt girls alld I will drop my au.,epan or --torikh l'rwnd • bloke. 0•• or tht Jlrlli ptila in • n, or ra~. on Friday Tb~n \llfa onc:-: r·n•plfo:n 1t• part af Tbatchcr', C•re fuss, and making them realise we'~e not LLJ In lhe C mn,unill prtltnd lb.at b• I• lhru 5k bU a boyrrteod. Lui taouK-b- 11 a, d ring ._ npnt just going to let them get away w1ili 1t - years old ln order lo gain nl1tbt ~h• announced to or I.bat T\ pruivamm•, .., r.. pro=-r mmt~ Tntr-ndon1> a bit of a rcmioder for rnem to say that affection. ..veryone that slM was off 10 - ttk rd 114nshlps. Tom lf••tt ,s 1M U, In a orfd at i.xe. or m~n~~ wiln,'" i<­ But prrh P" }OO c- n noi>el aod bup and r11bbinf,1 and - band. 'f'ltb?" she d, (Mlil) peding CarTol.< buown. importanL ~uddollly ,be • TIJpalbl ..;th them Centre advises students to consult the her hud op apinst you. with a proud pttiall~ wbel> vo-kt-: "H", not tru.t'. it' not JU'""kbT),k.

~ --- 08 Friday, January 29, 2010 vvw I i:~ tud nt.or Leeds Student letter @ee tudent.org

Turning a blind eye? year. incc the teaching budget is a key of staff wh~ are willing to go means through which to pay lecturers, voluntarily, until the politicians decide On a recent night out at the student and lecturers nationwide had won a up_on t_he full extent of the cuts to -Hamer- union l was appaUcd to see the union 13.1% pay rise in 2006_which w~ still LLt1Jvers1bes such as ours. ill force this left the umverstt:y faang a When the cuts do come students do Should we commemorate Hamer wa one of theirs at staff at the bar and the bouncer barring students from buying alcoholic rising w~ge bill and a faU in the income have a_ bit of pow~r. But I'm afraid journalists in conflict in the same the EDP and we also see him as and non alcoholic drinks from the bar needed to pay it 111c Government has protesting to the wuversity that we do way that we do soldiers in the one of ours at Leeds St11de11t. The in Stylus as a result of having downed a now formally announced their not want curs 1s, frankly, stati~ the media? archive issues follow his cacccr VK. In spite of this, you are still intention to make £600million of cuts obvious. They don't want cuts either This question was raised through different sections nf the allowed to down shots of all l'ypes to Higher Education in their Pre­ They are not making cuts out of choi~ around the editorial table of paper; a familiar path for all despite both beverages having a similar Budget report, when this is added to but through politician-forced necessity. Hamer's local newspaper the contributers. The papers from level of neat alcohol volume, their £300million of curs already planned As tudents, :-ve can use our voice to eastern Dai/y Press (EDP) when Hamcr's day contain many argument being the VK was of a this means £900million of c_ucs tC? a fight for the bits of the university which sector featuring around 140 urnversmes make the mo~t difference to our time news first broke. It seemed to be stones that are almost identical greater ovcrall volume. - as has been widely stated in the press here. The umvcrs1ry has said that the a non question, but 1c was to those that we have covered in Further to this, the bouncers and bar staff turned a blind eye to (especially the Times Higher Education student experience will be maintained intriguing that the issue was n:cent years. The same issues go numerous individuals acting upplement during the last month). and we can hold ~cm to_ that promise; raised. on and Leeds Studmt is still here suspiaously in the toilets, apparently Let' not mis the point here - the we can tcU them if we think the library Granted this situation was the covering them. under the inOucncc of something other pressure co make cuts tu meet the gap is more important than another pan of first of its kind; I lamer is the I Jamcr's column was clearly than alcohol. There has to be questions in the teaching budget ha already the university and if they try to cut that first British journalist tn be kiUed loved by all who remember it asked as to whether this is the kind of begun. which matters most to us then we can and the obituaries bad previou ly and clcspJre not knowing him attitude we want taken in our student You might ask what could the complain and stop them. b1:ccing with the points emrul amount that the land baron of free of the terror that a horror lt was then that Jack Gnmston ofThe greater extent then Lab ur \\·ould; they set by those boycottlilg. l lyde Park and Hcadinglev owes landlord, such as Zaman, can Times reponcd that civil seivants were plan to hake the national deficit in less There was consensus howeYcr chat making plans to cut funding to to the many former tenants. instaU. than half ~he time Labour plan to I should boycott 10 the as emb~y urnvcrsttics and other public-owned Leeds St11dent has been at the spend m.'lkmg the same 'savings' - as meeting, because ofUCs undemocraoc _services by up to 20%. I le wrote: Kenneth Clarke indicated 1n the nature, the failure of UC to haYe "\'(;'hitebali is drawmg up plans for deep undayTtmc January 24, 2010. con trucave and meaningful debate, -UC Democracy change- cuts in the higher cducaaon budget that So wha_t about Leeds? I low many which i in read often very palarise~. Proposals for the drastic refonn of cannot function. The reforms, whilst in the worst case would slash a fifth staff are gomg to lose their jobs here? 'Di.ere was also a feeling that UC _cant the Union democracy have been rcqwring student approval, will help &om university finance." It quickly o-one can know until the full extent effectively represent tudents vte~-s. met with universal approval, make the whole process easier and became clear that universities could no of nauonaJ spending cuts is known People attending the assembly tell an101igst hopes that this will clean more u-ansparcnt, as well as making it longer courn on receiving the amount (after the ,cneral Election because no there was an urgent need to create a up the present system. reflect the student voice more. of money that the) had come to rci1 party is going to announce the full new democratic system which 1s In a damning report \-Vhat is even more remarkable on. extent_ f such a_n unpopular move created with as much srudent conurussioned by the Union last yt:ar, about the whole thing is that the In fact, cuts have alrca~h started. before it). Lruvers1ty management have participation as possible_ and is one Union politics was condemned as a entire student Executive arc behind tudent numbers were capped by the asked s~ff co research bow university where in which student will be able tO government this year. The cap on "'play thing'" for a clique who arc the reforms. At a time when cue money ts bctng sr.em in every school have a say in decision making. student nun1bers has been bad news more interested ill pursLUng rcrsonal divide them, the chance to reform ~roughout the umversity, this exercise It seems from the a sembll' m~ agendas than implementing an} decision-making and make student for students who couldn't get a place at 1 called an ·~c~vitics anal} is' and the that UC is losing legirimaci: an a university; ll wa also bad for wider change. The report concluded politics accessible to the average results of tlus from all of the school re pect I didn't particularly desl!C ro that "the current democratic student umtcs them. We can only universities who were threatened with will help to in form the decision on who boycott UC in fact I feel rath~r landscape docs not look hope chat they stay united on this fint.'S of thou ands of poLU1ds for every or what v.~11 be cut. uncomfortable with it, but it wouldnt student they recruited over the set limit encouraging." front, and can maybe start to mend It is i:iot true that there will be bemg democratic to ·ignore theth Fewer students meant less tuitinn fees I lowever, these moves to reform some the fissures between them. neces. anl>· be . compulsory fcclin ,s of all those whom made bl~ the council wtU hopefully act to Regardless of the splits and and less money being re-invested in the red1;1ndanc1cs; the umversity's most 6 resources needed to teach tu

the The classic political spectrum of "left" and "right" has dwindling relevance in today's Britain, least of all in the Houses of Parliament. But is this good? This week, we ask:

James Legge Oliver Duggan

nee, in the age of real would give up the argument odem Bricish policies is under if elected as a 'socialist' the leader immediately. Often people do see politician like the great fire for denying its roots and would be unable to legitimately way William G ladstone, every political beliefs in chis clustered way abandoning all its principle from this position without strong commercial street of every cown, but this kind of dogma is stifling to in a ru, h to pander to populism. opposition. On the surface this may village and city on the Jeepy i le of public debate and for people to hold Words like 'Socialism', '"Marx.ism' and seem like an important fail-safe to Britannia was replete with cafes, them is an insult to human rationality 'Fascism' arc now more often cited in prevent elected tyranny. HoweYer, restaurant and other ga tronomic in general. history essays than the analyses of given the speed of globalization and enterprises within which could be However, a political ideology is an Is the climate more polirical pundits. As a result many in the transience of our socio-economic discovered multifarious olfactory ab tract notion about how a just the media have felt it their duty co situarion there is a good chance that a treats. state is governed which one can important than attack the death of ideology in politics leader elected on a trongly left or ow it's shit. apply to parcicular policy areas as is using the ba est journalistic right platform will be outdated in h1 the economy? technique-nostalgia. Things were policy fundamental by the time their ow, the only eateries we have to necessary. An example of this would better, they say, when you knew four year tenure is up. If, for instance, choose from, a we wade through a be: That the state can and should act where you stood; politician, were a there were a Marxist or strongly tormy sea ofBlackberries, Ugg boots to help those with too little by taking Yes: 34% nobler breed when they aligned traditionally conservacive goverrm1ent and those initially admirable but privileges from those who have too themselves with clearly defined at the rime of a )Tlajor rece sion they ultimately contemptible charity much. This ideology would most No:66% political the ries or philosophies. would be very limited in ho~, tbey fundraisers are McDonald's, Burger direccly lead to redi tributive tax However, beyond this as ercion there were able to respond and maintain the King or (if we're feeling flush) policies, but can equally be applied co seems little proof that this is the case, mandate. A centrist government 1s Subway. All of the food available in policy relaring to education or social Don't forget to log on and instead 1 would maintain that centrist capable of working with changing these outlets is uninspiring at best. mobility. The ideologically-guided policies has done relatively more good circumstances becau e their decisions Does it not strike you as odd as the politician would vote and act in have your say at than harm. don't require ideological ju tification. It's iniporrant to acknowledge the Those who argue in favour of a mo t ascendent in the high street accordance with hi /her reason for cencrism to understand return to ideological divisions also catenng industry make distinctly fundamental beliefs. Thi is a good why it is bavrng a positive effect. mi understand the importance of average food? This is because at some thing because those who voted for Centrism i the result of natural debate, which focu cs on the nuance, point in the la t century the invi ible him/her can trust that their pouricaJ evolution m a representacive of policy- omething that can only forces which govern our market represemarive in parliament will say, democracy like our own. Mose properly exist through centrism. economy realised, in their invisible in relation to any question which societies start off by relying on pre­ Instead of political competition being way, that the secret to popularity isn't­ comes up, something like what th'!)' conceived political ideologies, in an clouded by allegiance to particular as wa formerly believed- to be the would have said. That is, after all, the attempt to understand blooming political ideologies, and the best, but to be tl,e least likely to be the point of a representative democracy. society as adhering to a cert'lin set of resurgence of long dead debates over worst. But because of modern Centrism principle and legislating accordingly. things like eugenics, politics can be However, as more and more focused on the details of the public People like what they know. People what we sec in "The Mother of all observation occurs it becomes clear sector tl,ar require alteration, such as like what's average. And these people Parliaments", is a two-and-a-half that the e ideologies do not have the H budget or teacher arc more likely to buy your product if, party system in which the only complete explanatory power and so performance targets. Thi proves to even though it might nor be great, citizen actuall y represented are the they are either amended or be a vast improvement on ide(?logical they can bet their life that it won't be couple of million middle-cla s, abandoned. Once a society has politics for two reasons; the first be.mg God awful. I mean, when was the last middle-management, middle-earner reached the age of ours it would be that it rends to generate more time you saw Burger King selling a of Middle Englancj. Even a recently unlikely that the same clear left-right effective and progressive policies, and kangaroo and stilton burger? '!'hat's as the 1980s people knew that their or autl1oritarian-liberal divides would the second being the fact that 1t right, you didn't because people these par l iamentary still dominate. What is contributes towards the education of days don't take ri, ks on things which representatives were Illustration: Becky Jones more likely 1s that political the electorate, because they need to be partic, will re pond informed of much more specific might tum out to be sub-standard. sticking to what their directly co their electorate, policy alterauon co make a rational And the difference between a social con ciences cold thereby assuring that decision at tl1e polls. mu ltinational corporation and a them but now tl1ere i decision made are those And if anyone says that Centrism political party is getting slimmer every no voice to represent required by citizens rather excludes minonsies, they're wrong. In day. They both pay millions of the farther reaches of than ideological fact, there is evidence to ugge c that pounds to PR agencies for the policical spectrum, assumprwn. Essentially strong ideology is much more multimedia ad campaigns and are and so no diversity of then centri mis a re ponse excluding that Centrism, which is by fronted by faceles managerial-types. opinion or debate. co market forces, which definition i · an attempt ro respond to They both have benefactors who like Conseguently, has shown choice to as many people as possible. For example, although pusr-war to have a say in policy and a public to progress is fo rever become limited because there is not a substantial ideological allegiances were high for sell a product to; it's just that political limited to the best enough call for mure the majority, those who did not fit parties call these members and voters ideas that come out of divided ideology. If one into the two main parties were totally respectively while multinarional call an extremely narrow were to impose an artificial excluded from polirical paraciparion. them shareholder and customers. range of views. return co 1deological divide There i a clear correlation between But alas, 1 digress. And so, it is clear real social divide would the rise of Cencrism and the growth of First of all I fear that O li, in his that political Centrism rapidly undermine and Inde]?endenc candidates runmng for opposing article, is going to is bad, because it stifle positi,·e political publtc office, a phenomenon that completely misrepresent what an erodes faith in public evolurion. couldn't have occurred in a more ideology is. If we were talking about a servants and disallows Also, Centrism 1dcological system. collection of unconnected beliefs the inclusion of allows for llnmediate Ultimately, strong ideology has political elasticity if it is died in Britain as a result of cbe natural about specific policy areas- for diverse opinion in necessary. Current!) a progression of party policies and any example, immigraaon is a bad thing, public debate, which is politician's mandate is call for it return would see the the NHS shouldn't exist, everybody so important for social directly correlated to the butchering of progressive polic), the should pay the same rate of tax and progress. platform/ policies he/ she creation of deep societal di\Ti ion and we should invade China- then I is elected on. For instance, the exclusion of political minorities. +

10 Friday, Janua1y 29, 2010 ·w,v.leeds tu

students were still supervised and rutored - Conor Whelan starL, balloting for strike action docs not mean rhat srnff will strike. \t a talk given b) in short, tudent life continued largely as Second Y car English ally l lunt, rhe G eneral Secretary of national normal. J\nd that wa after summer exams - conorandhis lmanband LCL, the Leed hranch agreed that their tf UCU do take indu ·trial action in Februar), @hutmail.co.uk ":um,,currentl) is to make the J\cas talks there " 'ill be plenty of time for students co get work . marks 111 time for gradm1tion. They are more llkell' to he listened lo 1f \X 'e have already seen the form that ther threaten to strike, and chere is strong '·consultarion ,;vith staff' takes. The raculty evidence to suggest that strong support from of Biological Sciences (FBS) is being merged The ' Education First - \'o re N o' e mail srudencs (such as 10 the 2006 action by with other faculties and losing 70 staff, campaign launched by the LllU Exccuti,·e UCL's prcdeces or the J\UT) will in turn despite their 5* re ea.rch rating. Twenty FB was not vc,red fix by students. Neither dncs it remon: the ncc.:d fur ani industrial action - professors sent a letter to their dean saying defend the interests of srudencs. In. re ad, we the) felt the process had been "insulting and were ordered to oppose strikes ,nthout being demeaning" and "that engagement of staff in give n an) balanced argument, de ·pite this proces has been low." Even the awareness of a large student body that did professors are b ing asked to rc.:appl) for their support scnkes. own jobs. The letter also hows ho~ much suggests otherwise - then rather than \X'e all want to get good jobs when we re ·pect enior Management hold~ for talks: oppo ing trikes, it would be far more grndunte. ln order w g-et them, we need to "The deadline for profc sorial job po iriYc for srudenc to focus on fightmg cuts have been taught well. And this mean having applications precedes formal talks with rrade at a national le cl, such as at the arional staff who have ome for us, having staff who union represencach·e of the academic body by Convention AgainH Fees and Cuts on 6 ar · expc.:ns, whatever their line of srudy. a matter of minutes". This shows a patent February. 'Education Fir c' . ays "it i5 ,vonh noting that disregard for the consultation process. But curs at Leeds are being made too thc.:rc is no clear link between raff srudenc There are proposed cues in higher soon, and in an irresponsible manner that ratio and student sat1 faction as measured bv education, approximately f9 l 5million might be in breach of the Trade Union Act the ationaJ Student u1-ve) ' )'. But 1t i's nat1onall). In the Vice-Chancellor' appeal to (2000). We cannot let Leed lead a wave of cuts before ther are shown to be necessary. afao worth noting that the cudenc raff Ratio or ar least seriously shorten IL time span. The The Guardian he said cuts "will haYe a 1\t the moment, those proposed here a.re by is one of rhe deciding factors 1n any league action 10 2006, which encompassed both a dc\·astating effrcr 1.. •J on students and staff'. cable, bmh as its own criteria, and in terms of walkout and an admioi. trative trike, received But c.:ven if £l billion was cut, then the J:35 far the most far-reaching in the count[) . In order to protect the student experience its effect on the Uru,·ers1ty as a whok. Ir is substantial studc.:nt support noc least due to million our cnior Management intends co also worth noting chat e,lectronic the fact that formatiYc feedback was still cut would represent 3.5% oi the nation' and education, ~taff and students nc.:ed to Engineering went from the top ro the botcom gn en to tudencs, teaching which wa c·uts, which i grossly di proportionate. Yet if stand together. Whether tudcnt. support of rhe SS after job cues there. disrupted by the walkout \\'as nevertheless cuts at Lc.:eds were necessary - and a great strike action or ooc, could decide whether or You will hear that strikes ma) delay planned for and taught the following day, and deal of evidence on leedsucu.,vordpres .com not your favourite tutor till bas a job next grnduat1on, but this seems very unlikely. For a year. LUU will put education frrst

Mike Gladstone to both budg<.:t cuts and to strike acuon that Over the coming weeks, the niversity will be budget, with pos ·iW1 further cuts to follow. As LUU Education Officer neganvely impacts upon students. outlining ic proposals to make £.",5 million worth \.\'e approach the general election, pare of [email protected] Our number one priorit) is to ensure that of savings. It is my job, along w1tl1 colleagues, to 'Educanon Fir-r"s approach \\ill be ro make sure whatever happens on campus, students arc represent your opinions and concerns on die, e that higher education funding 1s ar the forefront protected and defended. W'e do not wanr to proposals to tl1e University. The plans, \\'hen they of students' miRds as they go co the ballot boxes. return t0 the days of 2006, when a di pute are released, will be put on to our website fnr Politicians need to \\'akc up and realise that between the academic trade union UCl' (then the students to scrutimse, anwill represent your concerns. W'c ,vill en ure those whn have not been interested at all, to do voice of students and did something about our the university sticks to it commitment LO something productive co oppose damagmg ~uts concerns. '; ' c an: working productiyely and srudents and to minimising the impact of cuts on to education, and join with us: let' put educaaoo closely with the ocher campus trade union , US. fir t and tackle what will probably be the most particularl) Unite, and hope tl1at UCU can agrc.:c _I lowever, we al o need to look beyond what i, in1portant issue students \J.·ill face thts decade. not to harm students in their dispute with the go10g on locally, and ask why tl1e University is Un.ivcr ity, so we can build a progressive coalition making the c cuts. The !,JQ\'ernment has alread, -L Education First that can G cu on the need. of students during announcc.:d a reducoon oi L'9 l 5 million worth c;f leedsuniversityunion.org.uk/ cducationfir t chi ' turbulent period. inve cmem in higher education, 12.5'1-u nfics l IE + Friday Janua1y 29, 2010 1,vww.lcedsstud nt.org I Leeds Student 11

A question of Council meeting a 'farce' Liberty: why we want Disdain a11d disresp ct at Uruon Counc eting 1.111d rmin s Anjem Choudary to

d E. ' . ~ T re 1 o speak at LUU

banners displa,mg hrrcat numbers o( swdents' willingncss to , peak co students and listen to Tom Hegarty Gayan Samarasinghe signatures back111g the campaign, WL \Vere told their Yiews. \t the council meeting of londa) 'J11ird Year English l..aw i\ !asters to sit down and put them away. \s the farce Januar) 25, students were able to speak from entpjl1(i't leeds.ac.uk Iced. libcrty(cugooglemail.cc >m continued, it became clear we had little more the floor at greater lcngrh and participate in Lhan J token Yotcc, to be expt:diently silenced 1f more of a dialogue \\Jtb their reprcsentaciYcs. Jt gre\\' too uncomiortable. ,\Jcmhers of the Lxec still on occasion \tone poim, Ged Colgan questioned if the pullcd faces and muttt:rcd m each other when l nion r.xcc would rccogni e the remarkable swdents expressed thcir view ·, but this was similarir, betwcen it. own rhetoric and that of l1mitcd to a minorit), as opposed to the mass L1berry@Leeds h,n c not ret issued Mr Originally, l had planned 10 wnte this the UlliYersity's managcment. ophia ameS, the tndiffcrencc and contempt cxh1b1teJ in the J \njcm Choudan with a formal 11witacion to comment abou1 the ongoing student camprugn I .qualit) and Din:rsit) officer replied, to a mceting J ha\·e previous!) addressed. ·peak al the Union. \'\ e arc howc\'c.:r to tight the cuts pro po ed at Leeds L' niYef'it), studem ·he bad been elected to repre cnt, 'Oh I would argue that these impnn cments, interested tn having this spcakcr debate ,ls a member of the 'Leeds L'ni\·er it) .\gainst shut up, you're boring Ged, \'ou're boring'. To \\ hile not nearly sufficient, arc.: a prn.1tive . tep, against other prominent Bnush \ [uslim Cuts' group, and a student \\'ho is proud to c::ip th.is ridiculous display, the audience were and haYc been caused b) prcssurc from the figures at an e\'ent hostetl by nur societ) in full\' support the use of industnal action on the.: then reprimanded for applauding one the· anti-curs campaign finall) beginning 10 or tht: near furnre. \\"e \l'ould hope the event to pan of its staff m prorcct their lin:lihoods, as fc\v instances \\'hen a ouncil member had pen tratc the.: Council's bubblc and force thc.:111 be stmilar to the debate hosted b) ews111ghr well as the education.al standards of thi. made a pomt on which there \\'a approYal to understand they mu. t listen to the people a fc\\' year. ago cntith.:d "Islam and the \,·est", C ni\'ersin. from the assembled rudcnt ·, told sternly 'don't tht-y represent, and 1101 merely claim to do so. 111 which a number of British fusl1ms 1lowe-ver, on December .., last ) ear, along clap'. That some Council and l~xec members haYe including Barone s \\. arsi debated with with many fellow student, concerned about the But for 111\ \\'Ord count, T could continue in rcalised this is encouraging, but 1· 1n itself an Anjem Choudar) on the true r..:lationship cuts, I attencled an LUl.' Council meeting in the thi. vein, bu·t I hope chc gencral impression indication that the onJ\' wa, to make student between lslam, human rights and libert). ARC Confc.:rencc Room, wcked awm round that emerged has been communicated. voices heard at Leeds, ni{c.:rsit\ 1s to do so the weird back passages at the _top of the ~ecdlcs to av the debate wa fundamcntalh first and foremost through ourselves, rather l nion. 1 did this because I'd heard that there one-sided and the motion \\'a passed·. than trust 111 an orga111sat1on that must he \\ as going to be a mouon passed that 1 '\fterwards, the Chair commcnrcd with a penodically reminded of its re~ponsibilities to disagreed with, clrummg that the majorit)' of the smirk, 'l expec1 a lot of you will be lca\·ing now, those it represents. student body acti\·ely oppost:d the human right though, feel free to stay'. Lea\·c we r his organi ·ation lslam4LK. ,\ a Rather than being an aberration, this level of society committed to equalin between the general re pect for each other . eemed par for sexe , ga) right and civil liberncs we bclie,c the course amongst many Council members, he would abhor our views as much as \'l.'e who roucinelv talked over t:ach other and abhor his. Rut bccause nne of the liberties muttered under their breath whilst others which we value is freedom of speech, an talked. This behm·iour was particularly evident important part of our role is co provide our m the J1airman, who seemed 10 actively enjor student mcmbers the opportunlt) to hear houting and rudely cutting off his fellow views that arc non-mainstrcam, deep!) members in mid-speech. contrnver. ial, and potentially offensive, a arc. This disdainful attitude seemed to be the Yit:\\ s of J\1r Anjcm houdary. \Xe amplified towards the Council' audience, of recognise that ~ome people will disagree which I wa a member. ~11en Codd was asked , trongl} with the value we accord to freedom if he would apologise for remarks alleged!} of speech, and 1hc faith we place in the made, that CU members and Leed lecturers maturit\ of our audience, but those were 'leeches and parasite.', he denied he had convictions are core tenets of a student made such r mark., despite insi. tent voices society commined to civil liberty and, we feel, from several of the crowd that he had. The a university. To condemn our decision on assembled . tudent audience, while never these grounds 1s co , uggest that group such formally welcomed b, the chair, were 111\'itcd as ours should not exist in the first place. to , peak on the motion in quesaon. l lowever, for all these reason, , although we will take. when several tried they were repeatedly told to \'Cr} scriou. ly any concerns that are 'hurry up', or effectiYcly told to shut up with a submined co us, we cannot apologise for our curt 'that point's been covered' from the chair. plan. to invite Mr Anjem Choudary to speak \X' hen 'Leeds Universit) Against Cuts' on campus. mcmbcrs attempted to display se\•eral large --t

12 Friday, January 29, 2010 www.leedsstudc•nt.org Leeds Student Student jury service proposed as Union democracy faces crisis

DEMOCRACY IN ACTION: The 2009-10 Union Council receives a visit from NUS Vice-President Aaron Porter. Photo: Joey Severo ln the same week that six members Environmcnul Assembh Chair r\dam continue ro attend the first half of C I lam ,\slam, became o disillusioned graduates' Assembly Chair, said: "I of Union Council (UC) took the I larper, has been forced to boycott meetings, she would no longer be aftc/J,is \'Car in office that he has since hope chat it is implemented a it decision to implement a collective meetings based on the conscnsu of his attending the ccond half for the same retired from nion politics altogether. neutralises factional interests and boycott for the remainder of the 1\ssembly members. In an open letter reasons put forward by tl,e boycotters. He told LS: "Sinct: l retired from the prevents those with specific agendas year, the Union has released a w Leeds S111dml Adam expla111s that The month Iv review of the Student game I have taken zero interest in the from forcing them upon students". proposal for drastic reforms to the Executive takes place in chi fir t ha! f. affairs of the ouncil, of 'Union I lowe\'cr, Rosy Dorfman, rbe Union's decision-making structure. \X'hen speaking to LI' 1lannah said Democracy' and all of me ego-driven Women's Assemblv Chair, told Ll that The proposal, which went online on "it will take it that she believed the refonns outlined and mind-numbing policies that goes while she support' the "spirit" of the Monday, recommends a complete 111 the Dem cracy Review propo~al along with those Lhings.'' Review, she remained doubtful about overhaul of the system, induding the away from the were viul: "I believe the Democracy If the Democracy Review proposal its capacity co tmplernenc real change: introduction of tudent 'juries' where Review is crucial because UC has got if vored through, however, questions "I feel that rhe proposed system still members of the student bodv will be hacky-cliquey to a point where it can't function surrounding d1e democraac nature of has the potential to retain manr of the selected at random and exp~ctecl co anymore; I don't con ider ir to be a tl1e nion 's decision-making trucntre £laws exlubited in the current system ... attend compulsory trai111ng and feel there is at representative bod>. Hopefully by could be a thing of the past. Two of the Srudenrs outside of UC must be oversee UC meeting., working in a undergoing a rc\'iew there will be three boyconers who were available for involved in shaping the new system." similar way to national jury service. present" greater opporrunicies for students to commcnr told!-'> chat they supported The proposal, which ha been Madeleine Harris-Smith, have their voices heard." the proposal. can kl !ale, the Post- Laura Mackenzie entitled 'Democracy Review 201 O' also LUU Welfare Officer Both ladeleine I lams-Smith, LUU recommends hretting rid of the current Welfare Officer, and ophia Jame , Union ouncil structure and Equality and Diversity Officer, hare So what is UC? establishing three councils in its place, though he hares die boyconers' \ icws, Hannah's view that the Democraq named 'Better Union', 'Better he docs not personally believe that a Revicv.· proposal would improve the Union Council is a decision­ Solidarity? University' and 'Better Leeds'. These boycott is the tight course of action to current decision-making system in making body made up of 32 What's that you say? The Leeds councils would deal with 'proposals' take: "h seems from the Assembly place. elected student representatives University Union Student put forward by the student body meeting that UC is losing legitimacy Madeleine said: "I thrnk with the inclucling the Student Exec, throughout the year and would deal and respect. I didn't particularly desire Democracy Review we will ec real Execu rive are actually in only with proposab relevant to their to boycott UC, in fact, I feel rather diange to the sy tem and it will take it General Student Reps and agreement on something? Surely respective areas. unc mforrable with it, but it wouldn't away from the hacky-cLiqucy feel tl1ere Assembly Chairs. The e not! Under the Review model, scu

2 5_. THINGS--- - ~___.... 29 10 ... to ignore in your new year heath b itz

The new year. A time to embrace new ideas, new ways of life and new ways of thinking. On the other hand, it could be a time to slob out on all those old, friendly habits. They may not help you shed the Christmas pounds, but they will make sure you have a fun 2010.

Going on early morning jogs. Giving up alcohol. Especially if you're the type of person who Cutting down, yes, for sure. But that self-imposed dry month will only religiously gets the lift in Edward Boyle. Firstly, it's result in lonely Friday nights watching Doctor Who on iPlayer (let's face it, cold and it's dark in the morning. Ten to one you ittakes courage to club sober), anxious parents suspecting pregnancy ... and 1 won't even make it out of bed. Secondly, even if you unprecedented messiness when you once more hit the bottle with reckless 2 borrow your housemate's trainers and do drag abandon. Besides, one glass of red wine a day is said to do wonders for the yourself out the door, you will not look like Eva health of men, but only one and only men. God Damn! Longoria in Desperate Housewives. Expect redness, puffiness, and the possibility of slipping on ice. Beginner's aerobics is much safer and kickboxing much cooler. Take your pick.

Eating Goji Berries. Getting your 5 a day. Shrivelled, red and downright ugly. They taste of nothing, in fact Sadly apple VKs do not count and nor do coffee worse than nothing, and cost their weight in gold. Or at least organic beans. Fruit Pastilles do contain 25% real fruit fillet steak. 'Nuff said. Green tea has many of the same advantages 4 juice so they can't be all bad. Any contribution is a 3 plus it comes in a range of more palatable flavours and is far cheaper good contribution after all. If expense is no option so stick the kettle on. then why not go for one of those smoothies that contains two of your five-a-day, although you would need the GDP of a small country to keep this up.

Getting healthy alone. Health, so they say, is a state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing. A solitary life of salads and the running machine just does not compete with cooking with your housemates and Wii dance-mat dance-offs. The ice is melting: impromptu rounders in Hyde Park is just on the horizon so get those lazy mates involved. Or don't, because that would probably mean that there would be motivation there to actually 5 get healthy. Lonely salad dinners it is then?

words: Abigail Yardlay + LOWDOWN------3 29 10

Returning to university this January for my their right to education, political exams, [ found the Union looked more action and freedom of speech. depressing than it usually does under all It is unfortunate that the the ice, snow extensive edevelopments and revision. It was not long before I continumg to take place around realised the reason for this was because the university have coincided with they, for some unknown reason, had cut the multi-million pound cuts down all the trees. proposed by Vice Chancellor Prof. Now as the new semester begins, there is a Michael Arthur, leaving many of great, yawning building site in the centre of its employees, many of them our the campus to welcome us back. [ am by no lecturers, fearing for their jobs. means against redevelopment but, Meanwhile LUU, the official considering the current financial climate voice of the student body, have /c .~ ; gripping the university and endangering chosen to oppose the lecturers if ovy the jobs of those that work they decide to str:ike. Without for it, this is terrible timing. wanting to sound cliched, this As the road running through the centre smacks of history repeating. The building of the university is flattened and widened, [ taking place on campus is an inconvenience ~ am ~eminded of Napoleon III's employment but unobjectionable, if it means improving of Baron our university. What grates is the feeling Going UP l laussmann to redesign the streets of Paris that, regardless of whether it looks the part, _into its now famous boulevards. These are a university where th • staff cannot rely Omegle.com no doubt impressive to behold but for many upon their superiors and the students It's never been more fun also cannot rely upon their union is far from taunting paedophiles from represent a time when the Emperor turned improved. across the globe. his back on the standards set after the Toby Ginsberg Qevolution by removing from the people Loan day --'--~- . .t- Let the ridi night eBa ~ous la.te­ y ids begin/ I have to agree with Toby that the front of £100 signing fee and that none of the rooml.//./Jp the Union isn't the prettiest sight to behold have windows. 'But the basement is SICK'. 'o(/$ at the moment. However, it's that time of The politics of choosing bedrooms is the year where students are more concerned another headache. People deal with this in a with the quality of housing they are looking variety of ways; drawing straws, first come for, rather than the appearance of campus. first serve or perhaps even a diplomatic Une Prophete Go I don't envy the wandering hoards conversation. It doesn't matter anyway; I Don't believe the h~;- d currently roaming the streets of Leeds got the biggest room in the house, then lost and see it for yours an seeking a new abode. Particularly as, having half a wall to mould, which now probably then realise . ht spent two years living in LS6, I have come to resides in my lungs. The only room without that everyone was ng the conclusion that the housing is probably a leak is the smallest, the kitchen floods on some of the worst I've ever seen. The a regular basis from the ceiling and the anyway. combination of short term lettings, student floor, the fire alarm goes off every morning apathy and dodgy landlords means that and the Going DOWN nothing ever gets fixed and slowly but surely shower smells. Yes, student housing in every house in Hyde Park is crumbling to Leeds is a comedy of errors, which quickly the ground. House hunting itself is an stop being funny because actually things like Housing absolute nightmare that are shit. By the time you move in, you'll See text for details ... too. The dread and panic generated over it is realise you don't particularly like anyone unreal, considering that there's no shortage you're living with and then you'll get of student housing in Leeds. Students will burgled. Sorry kids. quite literally run, yes run, to letting agents in Will Coldwell order to sign. Sometimes getting a house is simply a matter of winning a race down rarget Properties Victoria Road, forgetting somewhere along e text for details ... the way that there is a damp problem, a

.. )l/a4~ ~ bj'th "o/ brother i.s "o/ t.varost ,,;~.. "IJa.st. do.Seel "o/ ~and~ "o/ MOllth" "I'm real,y nest th:1t p,"c.4'." (k:yl},t!nd .sat~ to he,-) Stood aut.si~ leexllre ~: • 611~~ ./'a,, ~,.,,;"3r :,'rl.fi.,t!nd !"ep;,65:" iha!'.s td7at 11e s /.est ~r + LIFESTYL 29 10

later and appeared to just come in for a cup of green tea or a bowl of ramen. anew Everyone chatted with the waiters and generally the restaurant had a very feature, 'The relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Our food arrived promptly and we were Restaurant not disappointed. They do not follow the Review' custom of bringing everything at once but whenever it's ready, which meant first we Evelyn tried the sweet chili tiger prawns and then Prysor­ came the spicy beef. I quite liked this ,, system; a constant supply of food always •# ''Mr, ,• Jones sets makes me happy. With fierce resolution )' we stubbornly prodded things with our off to Japan. chopsticks and I very nearly had a Pretty Woman moment with a piece of tofu but I Well, Japan think I recovered it well. Sam pointed out in Leeds, to try her hand at there are knives and forks on request but by then I felt I was mastering the chop-sticks in Fuji Hiro. manoeuvring of noodles quite well. The meals were hot and tasty but I will From the outside you might not expect say, rather large. We decided, when we much from Fuji Hiro. both couldn't quite finish and had to smile apologetically at the waiter, that one main On entering, I was reminded of a typical course would probably be enough for two cafe, brown tables, leather seats and non people. existent deco. My hopes were raised, By the end of the meal we left however, when we were greeted with feeling full and sleepy and the best smiles from the staff and enjoyed a chat bit, we didn't have to pay. about the success of the last Leeds Student Unfortunately, this privilege is only reporter who reviewed this restaurant. bestowed on those intelligent The menu consists of starters/sides and enough to abuse the perks of then mains divided into dishes of noodle, writing for Leeds Student, but even ramen,and rice. There is a good variety of for the average among us expense is House Hunting meals and vegetarian options are available. not a problem. On average you As both me and my boyfriend Sam are avid would pay about £15 for a meal, meat eaters we both tried dishes including a drink and a starter/side, containing meat but were organised but if you do choose to share a Contract Checks enough to try different styles. To start I main meal this takes the price had ebi katsu - fried tiger prawns in a down considerably. There is a take sweet chili sauce followed by Fuji Hiro away menu available as well. For Ramen · which had pretty much a bit of If you're thinking about house hunting for next year. don't quality this is certainly the place to forget that there is no need to rush! There is a huge surplus everything in soupy noodles. Sam tried the go, it avoids the fancy-pants stuff spicy beef gyoza - doughy dumplings - and gets down to what is really of houses in the areas most students choose to live in, and if and then King Prawn Men a thick noodle important: the food. you leave it longer, you may get more value for your money dish. I also tried a glass of white wlne in terms of quality of house and rent price! which was drinkable but nothing special and personally I started wishing I had tried If you do choose to start looking early, then be aware that a cup of tea or one of the more unusual the Unipol Accredited Houses are not released until January drinks on the menu. Sam went for a traditio.nal Japenese beer, a few of which Fuji Hiro 16th! are available, which he enJoyed and was 45 Wade Lane especially impressed with the size of the Once you do find a house you like, don't forget to come can it arrived in ... little things. Woodhouse and get your contrac t checked at the Student Advice As we waited, which was not for very Leeds Centre in the Union building before you sign anything and long, I noticed the place was quite busy for LS2 BNJ pay anything! We can help you understand your rights, the half eight on a Tuesday night but none of landlord/agents responsibilities and we can tell you what these people were Japanese. They arrived tel.: +44(0)1132439184 we know of the landlord/agent. We can help you make sure you are getting the best deal for you.

The Student Advice Centre is open 9.30am-4.30pm . Monday-Friday, and there will be designated appointment slots available between 1Oam -4pm every day to have your contrac t chec ked. Please note that at some busy periods we may ask you to c ome back at a more su itable time.

, . Although it is best to have your contract checked in person. ,• you can also check online at the www.leedsunlversltyunlon.org.uk/helpandadvice/

For more information on house hunting, please check If 10 PEOPLE IN YOUR TEAM www/leedsuniversityunion.org.uk/helpandadvice/ call us on OR SOCIETY TAA:E A CHLAMYDIA 0113 380 1290 or email [email protected] TEST YOU COULD WIN £1so, LOOK OUT FOR ADVERTISED SESSIONS AT THE UNION. THE SH to sign for a house. SPORTS CENTRE AND WEETWOOD --- - Furniture Design - DIY money savers Quit smoking Diary 3rd January 2010 Whilst you may have all been shivering beside If you can't afford a trip to IKEA but you're bored ofyour drab drawers and dark wardrobes, why Entering into a new year, Amy Nickell the Christmas tree slowly morphing into icicles not make something original? Beat the winter blues by following E&abeth Holland's guide. continues her quest to overcome her un­ l was lucky enough this year to get to go away Transform your chest of drawers into an Wallpaper/pictures= from free to however healthy habit. for some of that much acclaimed 'winter sun'. infidivual work of art using a collage of your much you choose to spend Yes dear old mummy and daddy had agreed to selection of images. 25th December 2009 take me and the boyfriend on an exotic PVA Glue = no more than a couple ofquid Always an awkward one. Must perform the adventure over that awkward boxing day to Step 1: Sand down your old drawers to most complicated of routines. Try and hide my new year period (what day is it?). Now l hadn't remove any paint or stains and make sure nicotine addiction from elderly relatives whilst quite taken into account quite how brilliantly they are clean. Make your wardrobe far from average, with indulging in the annual greeting process. It's the smoking ban had been going. Yes there is a these alternative doors. only annual tradition that I misjudge Grandad certain camaraderie about huddling outside - Step 2: Make sure you cover the floor and Bill's one air kiss for two and end up kissing his all together! Fight the ban! Etc., etc. However well ventilate the room before opening any Step 1: Remove the doors from your ear. During the day older family members such when left to your own devices you resort to paint pots, then go ahead and paint your wardrobe. Make sure you keep all the screws, as the big brother are able to pop out, however, mayhem. You mean I can smoke here? In this drawers! bits, and pieces. being the youngest, relatives tend to assume bar? In this restaurant? On this beach? The I'm still four and want to play Hungry Hippos novelty is simply dazzling! I dare say, it would HINT: To save paint and time you only need HINT: Take a photo or note down the order under the table. be rude not to! So l tossed my head back, fag to paint the visible bits - don't bother with you took all the screws out so you can put They can't hear the FAGFAGFAGCJGCTG held high, and lit up. Everywhere! Social the back! To save money buy the tester pots them back when you want to! chant in my mind. I unfortunately could. The stigma was left at home with my Uggs. It was of paint - some even come with a brush next time the brother was outside I snuck out - all so civilised. Waiters casually arriving with attached to the lid. Don't forget to ask in Step 2: Measure the height of your wardrobe only for one little puff. To my horror Auntie ash trays on silver trays! 'Will anyone be store about the most suitable paint for your and multiply this by 3 - this gives you how Jessie was at the window. She looked as if she smoking at your table tonight?'. Simply put - furniture. much material you need. Your material width had just discovered I was an alcoholic and she'd Yes. No raised eye brows or pantomime flailing Try to match your colour choice to the rest needs to be at least half of the width of your found my stash of gin under the sink. Well, I of hands in front of noses. Excellent service of the room and the images you plan to use. wardrobe. think l can conclude I really am getting rather indeed' So yes, now l am home I realise lam a Off whit~s are good for the vintage look good at this 'non smoker' lark! Glad to be failure to my mission. However, it was all too whereas big, bold colours will make your HINT: The heavier and thicker the material jetting off on hols · will be so relaxed won't stressful - laying around on the beach only drawers a focal point. the straighter it will hang, but the more even have energy to light up! moving with the intention of being fed- I domineering it will look. Aim for cotton simply had to have a fag! Step 3: Cut out images from a magazine, material. The wider the material is the more depression. As the solitary Chris wallpaper or even wrapping paper - use a bunching you will get and the further your Are you being sociable? McCandless realised alone on his spray adhesive on both the wood and the material will go. 1'is the season to be jolly lonely. Or at least deathbed in the film based on his life back of the paper, then smooth the paper Get yourself to the market for really cheap 'twas, for half a million pensioners who Into The Wild "happiness is only real onto the wood. material- and don't shy away from haggling! spent this Christmas on their own, when shared". Clearly people are essential HINT: You can often find rolls of wallpaper Step 3: Cut a length of material equal to the according to glum new statistics. to the survival of the indiVIdual. in charity shops for a couple of quid. height plus at least half a metre. Staple this The boom of the internet and social Alternatively, samples in DIY stores are free! piece o the top of your wardrobe all the way Although during the festive period we networking sites has inadvertently served Charity shops are good for magazines and to the middle - use drawing pins to put it in are particularly reminded of lonely to further segregate our society, especially picture books as well. place before stapling. Repeat this for the Scrooge like characters, the experience of within the student population, with other side. loneliness· is neither exclusive to a young people increasingly swapping Step 4: Once you're happy with your designed particular season nor to a particular companions for computers. A Facebook drawers apply a coat of varnish to seal the HINT: Buy some ribbon from the demographic. hug doesn't quite beat a real-life squeeze. paper down and give it a finished, haberdashers in the market to tie back the But what the Charles Dickens does John Donne once said 'no man is an professional look. material so you can show off your clothes! loneliness have to do with this column, island'. Presumably even if it has internet You can create a loop of ribbon and staple to you ask? Well, as a social disease access. You need meaningful time with HINT: If you are going for a vintage look, use two ends to the side of the wardrobe half way loneliness can have profound implications others to help you thrive and flourish. a tinted varnish to give it an aged effect. up - you can then pop the material through for health, considered in its truest sense Alarmingly, social isolation is now If you are truly skint then a coating of PVA these. as a state of physical and psychological considered as great a threat to health as glue can work as well - but make sure you Drape the spare material along the top of well being. smoking and obesity, thereby highlighting give it plenty of space and time to dry! the wardrobe for extra detail! Physically, social isolation is thought to the benefits of friendship. So to your 'New Year's Resolution' list, Cost Cost increase the risk of hypertension and vascular disease and to generally reduce besides cutting down on the cigs and the cakes, you can add a big fat helping of Sandpaper= £1.98 for pack of15 The price ofmaterial varies, but a metre of life expectancy. To quote an African cotton in Leeds Market should be around proverb; 'If you want to go fast, go alone. spending time with friends and loved Tester Pots = from £1.34 from Dulex (it may £1.50. . If you want to" go far, go together'. ones. Do this in 2010 and you'll be as be cheaper to buy a couple of testers rather Hanging out with yourself is also happy (and healthy) as Larry is on a good than a whole 2 litre pot) associated with mental health issues such day. as alcoholism, sleeping problems and words: Benji Waterhouse -rn,r-~-.,.-"11- .. -. . . '~.if .'It'·~ ,· ~:;-·,,.' 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Having put pay to any fears of 'tricky second all the time. So that was kind of the feel we were always into that sort of music but never found a Obviously at the heart of your music is the album syndrome' with Two Dancers, the going for. We've been kind of [influenced by] way to filter it into what we were doing without contrast between yours and Hayden's vocals­ wonderfully-surreal follow up to their debut, asp_ects and refractions of dance music, partly - it sounding really conttived. It's easy to just buy did that come straight away when you formed it's no surprise to see the growing success of hence the name of the album. That was what a sampler and then suddenly you're an electro the band or was it something that came Wild Beasts. Understated piano chords and we wanted to hear, as much as anything, we band; that's not what we wanted to do. We naturally over time? chiming guitar riffs form the otherworldly wanted to keep that kind of emotional intensity wanted to take it on board. I started singing harmonies essenti.3lly, and basis of the album, over which Hayden bottled up. I think it's more powerful when you then I'd wtitten some songs and I tried singing. Thorpe's vocals swoop, dive, hoot and howl, tried getting Hayden to sing them, and I think in a completely unique style that can only be we became almost like two different characters described as • equally elegant and ugly. on the first album. Our voices did different things. our lyrics were kind of different, so we With Two Dancers being named as one of kind of ran with that this time. I suppose we the best albums of 2009 by publications sing different things for different effect. from The Guardian to Leeds Student, it's clear that the Leeds-formed band are The band has roon; in Kendal and Leeds. How becoming quite the local treasure. LS2 big a part did the latter play in the group's catches up with co-vocalist and guitarist formation? Tom Fleming to discuss success, influences I joined the band in Leeds; they were living in and their upcoming headlining appearance Kendal but they then moved to Leeds to kind of at Live at Leeds 2010. find a space for themselves. I was already in Leeds, I'd lived here for about five years already. It must be a greatyear to be a Wtld Beast, what with Two Dancers getting such critical acclaim? With that in mind, are you looking forward to Yeah it has been good, and to be honest it's returning to play Live at Leeds? been really unexpected. l mean we just made an · Very much so. We played last year and it was a album with no real expectations, an album that hoot, so yeah, we're really looking forward to it we wanted to make. We had an idea in our head about what we wanted and we' re not sure how And any future plans? Is it too early to think we got there. But it has gone really well and it's about a follow up album? been a real surptise that things have kind of We've got loads of ideas, but the hard part is kicked off. always organizing them. Writing's really just a series of choices and decisions, so we have to be Are you pleased to see the album hitting a lot of able to get to the desk as a four piece, and get the top places on the end of year album lisn;? into a practice room to plan these things out On a personal level, it's re.3lly flatteiing and and get them right. We haven't got a break until really nice to see it up there. but it's easy to get May, so we' re hoping to get it done by the end yourself wrapped up in that sort of thing and of tl1e year, but it'll be a while, I think. especially in the fact of it being a retrospective see something seems repressed, it's that kind of Given its sound, the album's lyrics are perhaps sort of thing. With the first record we were like simmer and it never quite boils over. not what you would expect - at times sexual, at One last question: with all the best of decade "It is good, you know nothing." but with this it's times political. lists popping up over the internet, what would like 'Yeah, it is good, but we can do better." Any particular artists that have influenced your Generally, what Hayden sings, he wtites and be your favorite album of the decade? You've got to remember that you've got to get work? anything l sing. I wtite; l think it's kind of God, that's an unpossible question! [laughs] I'm to your desk, you know. Definitely. We were listening to a lot of minimal anything that come through your eyes. There's gonna say Joanna Newsom's first album [The techno; there's a band called Junior Boys, who no saying "It's a fact" on the record; it's very Milk-Eyed Mender]. It's by far not the best Stylistically, the album seems a lot more we're label mates with, thaL we're massive fans much a point of view. There are no reliable release, and it's got some serious flaws in it, but streamlined. Is that the result of the writing and of. It's electronic pop. but it's really downbeat narrators it's always filtered through she is one of those artists where, whether she's recording or the music you've been listening to? and really kind of sexualized and longing. I somebody: You' re never quite getting the full good or bad, she's always interesting. And she We've been listening to a lot of dance music and think that's really important. Even stuff like story, merely an aspect of it, and that's made me want to make m usic again. She really electronic music, and it seems they aren't Born in the USA. and Rumours by Fleetwood something we were always keen to do. We'd tties hard, you know what I mean, so it was a necessarily structured like verse, chorus, and we Mac- these kind of really syn th-heavy, secretly­ talk about how Matisse talked about how the really important album for me. tried to structure it with that idea in mind, with melancholy songs. I mean, Spiingsteen wtites way paintings were actually experienced, not things repeating. and not speaking like they did huge anthems, but there's this real kind of how they actually were · how they made you in the first album. Things are kind of simmering sadness to it, this real sense ofloss. We were feel and how that affected what you saw. words: Dan Lester UY '

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SINGLES

The Macabees (feat. structures are also eschewed, on the whole Roots Manuva] suiting the music, although it can 'Empty Vessels' occasionally feel incoherent. I;, f1, tilr On the last three tracks, the smoke and mirrors are removed, the theatrics toned ~ lrrepressibles down, and a more intimate, evocative Although the prospect of a collaboration with sound comes through, reminiscent of gi.i.me pioneer Roots Manuva may sound Mirror Mirror David Gilmour's On An Island. There is an appealing, the final product is far less than the I /L,(){Jf) emotional honesty here, especially in the sum of its parts. Roots illuminates urban life closing track 'In This Shirt' - a confessional with his typical spark, but coupled with the hymn, complete with organ. McDermott's This album is a shimmering fantasy former Maccabees single 'No Kind Words', it is fairground: repetitive, endless merry go­ vocals tend to dominate proceedings, and reduced to no more than an intriguing b-side. round hooks; the sprawling, barely-lucid the album's one short instrumental shows words: Reece Stables psycopathy of a house of horrors; that with some more space, the music is able to fully explore an idea rather than MPHO [feat. Wale] rollercoaster twists and turns in focus and simply following the frontman. 'See Me Now' structure, and the distorted perspective of woodwin bring a truly theatrical Moulin These more focused moments show F u 1pt , a hall of mirrors. Frontrnan Jamie McDermott's Rouge feel. which colours the majority of that the Irrepressibles have more potential swooping falsetto is the star attraction the record. than a mere cabaret speciality, and you can throughout, perfectly capturing the fast, Glamour is put beside darkness, with a glimpse some heart underneath the circus. ' fun and decadent, yet subtly sinister feel somewhat bleak and burnt-out world view [n spite having a completely forgettable Less irksome than expected, but not of the whole show. Pink Floyd are a clear emerging. In places, this stream of name (The lrreplaceables? The interesting; the promising stomp and coo of influence here; so are Antony and the consciousness is almost too iFl tense, too lrresistables?). they've created a the opening minute are blunted to banality Johnsons, as well as more classical, skittish and frantic. and some ideas do not distinctive, ambitious debut, filled with until rapper/advertising ploy Wale enters for orchestral traditions. McDermott's ten feel fully developed before they are swept life and colour. some shameless self-promotion. This cliche piece ensemble including strings and away, never to return. Conventional song words: Hazel Ensing raises one question: when did the middle-eight get replaced by the glorified prick? words: Nicholas Jackson Maps 'Die Happy, Die Smiling' M11tE Denters Outta Here Jackknifed & Slaughtered

t•I 1! 'You're not happy. and you're not smiling." Quite right, Maps. Your ability to detect the J listener's state of psychological distress is by far What makes a vocalist good? Is it the ability to pening wi a Water endy) Carlos synth If you're at down with rock photography. you your greatest attribute; melodic variation, or the hit every note of 'Nessun Donna'? It is perhaps swell, opening track 'Thieves in the Night' is may well know Steve Gullick's work. Known for ability to create anything new - they are not. The easier to answer this when we have understood powered by a marching beat, as lead singer his traditional film and-dark-room methods, New Order-esque efforts of his Mercury­ what makes Esmee Denters so unbelievably Alexis Taylor does his best Kevin Barnes Gullick's moody, evocative pictures of rockstars nominated debut have seemingly been lost to terrible. Judging from the airbrushed album impression, complete with twisting hooks and both dead and alive (Kurt Cobain was, monotony. The sound of a recurring nightmare. cover, Esmee is perfection -which, in music at theatrical groans. It's an excellent start to an apparently, "a very nice chap") are steeped in words: Ed Dodson least, this equates with bloody boring. As David album with a lot of ground to make up authenticity. showing every booze-soaked dirty Cameron recently discovered, airbrushing following the disappointing Made In The venue in aD its seedy glory. His album Owl City highlights - rather than hides - a lack of Dark. Jackknifed & Slaughtered seems the perfect 'Fireflies' substance, and Esmee' s auto· tuned vocals are no The energy of the first track is put to musical accompaniment to Gullick's visual work r . •r ,I exception. To such vapid lines as "gravity's shame, however, by some of the turbo­ Noisy as a drunk and loose as a Soho prostitute, holding me down," we can respond only with powered matenal that follows. 'I Feel Better' the band's heavily distorted guitars and the emotion of primary school physics lesson. sets out with an absurdly over the top surprisingly tight drums have a muddy Do we want hollow perfection?'lrnagi.ne an orchestral syn th riff and a vocal line Pro Tool­ production as atmospheric as a black and white Hey cool, the Postal Service are back! Except auto-tuned Diana Ross, or even the Spice Girls; ed beyond recognition. A worrying start, but shot of a lit cigarette. they're not. Synth melodies and vocal emulation pop music is a tits best when at its most concerns vanish as Taylor makes his Therein lies the problem. The songs on the ofBen Gibbard make it hard to fathom that vulnerable. For clarity, I have Ii ttle against declamation, "Nothing is wasted and life is album sound like the band rocked up to the you're not actually listening to Death Cab's superficiality ifit is interesting (e.g. Lady GaGa), worth living," at which point the bass kicks in, studio with a bunch oflyrics hastily scrawled on electro side-project. The lyrics are as profound as and my issue with Outta Here IS that it is the steel drums sound and the swirling beat the back of a beermat, and just recorded a take-away menu, and the fact this single just insufferably dull. carries the melody away at a hundred miles an whatever came out. Not that that's necessarily a topped the charts should be added to your list of Esmee (originally from Denmark, though hour. By the similarly joyful title track, it starts bad thing, but Gullick's lugubrious vocals mark reasons to die. you wouldn't know it from her filtered vocals), to feel like the band are perfecting their dance­ him out as merely an amateur singer; such an words: Simon Rowbotham was 'discovered' by Justin Timberlake, covering floor pop formula, but a calmer side shines affected drawl only works for the truly talentless Justin Timberlake on YouTube (narcissism?) through on over half of the songs as well. The (Johnny Rotten, late Ozzy) or the secretly Girls Can't Catch leading to his production credit on this album band have stepped up their ballad-writing brilliant (I'om Waits, Kurt Cobain). While a 'Echo' one so cramped with novelty '80s syn th loops, skills since the last record; 'Alley Cats', with its lifetime of beer and fags has clearly achieved the ~ ,jyd1 X farting beats and Van Halen guitar solos that it shifting melody and intelligent wordplay is required mix of sandpaper and gravel, the truth makes the experience nauseating as well as probably a career best for the band. is that his voice is ultimately weak, and it gets Ct boring. When be joins Esmee on vocals, as be There is not a bad track on this album, and lost in the overdriven mix. The material itself is does on the majority of tracks, Timberlake several of the songs are as good as Hot Chip unremarkable, with functional lyrics and tried Ever since Ga Ga killed pop last year, this sort of sounds like the wannabe rude boi with the have ever recorded before. They have and tested structures. The 'ironic' final song 'Is sub-Saturdays dross is a stain on British music. Napoleon complex at secondary school, but less tightened things up considerably since their This How It Ends?' features an obligatory It's like when hip-hop got popular in 2002. but tough, as he bigs up' the talents of the beautiful last effort and as a result, One Life Stand hidden track, answering the track's title with a the only thing anyone could rap about was no't but dim deputy head girl. Frankly, l would rather sounds like the natural progression they ought dragging 15-minute improvisation. Jackknifed having enough money for chips on a Friday listen to TayZonday's 'Chocolate Rain' on repeat to have made following their breakthrough is nothing more than an attractive curio, night in Lewisham. Seriously, putting echo on until the end of time than have to suffer Outta sophomore album, The Warning. The best showcasing one man's varuty. Give it a listen if the word 'echo'? Get your act together. Here again. album of the decade so far? Quite possibly. you feel Mark Lanegan is a bit too interesting. words: Tom Bush words: Nick Todd words: Jack Ready words: Tom Bush + -• - - •• I •

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Following our trawl through the end of the flutters. As Ramone leads into a simplistic regrettably monikered naughties, we thought pentatonic lead riff, we see that her virtuosity we owed you a glimpse at what the start of the Vivian Girls as a lead guitarist leaves a little to be desired. new decade (the noughteens?) has in store. We However, this could be considered (or spun) as personally predict the advent of genres like Brudenell Social thoroughly charming. Nouvelle Rave. Snotgaze, Post Mortem and Placing their instruments to one side, Harsh Folkcore. However, if you want us to be Club Vivian Girls indulge the crowd in a lovely more specific, here are the albums that are ") rendition of 'He's Gone' by aJl-girl seminal surf making us prematurely eargasm at the start of ensemble the Chan tels. Full attention is 2010. afforded here to the girls' ability to harmonise. Hailing from Brooklyn, Vivian Girls are a With the exception of that song, it is apt to words: The Editors product of the ultra-hip New York scene. The suggest that there is a lack of variety clisplayed band find themselves in the presence of fellow in Vivian Girls' material. In the hour long set shoegaze-influenced, surf-sympathetic many songs find themselves indistinguishable Joanna Newsom megastars such as Crystal Stilts and The Pains from others. 'This effect is hardly aided by the Have One on Me of Being Pure at Heart, having carved a niche fact that the band seldom break between I l J rfy among the hipster rabble as one of the better afford her, while a competent rhythm section songs, as if their gapless playback option had bunches of estrogen -empowered indiepoppers. is the cohesive force that keeps Ramone's airy, been turned on. This leads to many of the Where Do You Run To?' fully illustrates jangle-tastic guitar from completely floatmg songs ultimately converging into one Vivian Girls' ability to create fantastic multi­ away. horrendously homogenous blob of trendy. A triple album sounds like a reaJly lame idea. layered compositions. using only standard Set highlight Wild Eyes' appears to be an However, debates on whether their sound is 1bat artwork looks like a really lame idea. power trio and three excellently-synchronised altogether more modem affair, with a guitar over-familiar or just plain consistent would l lowever, who better to make us think twice voices; their soniferous harmonies take much tone reminiscent of The Jesus and Mary unfairly detract from their fully deserving to be (three times?) about this than Californian from sixties surf artists such as the Beach Boys. Chain. Kickback Katy's highly driven bass gives mentioned in the same breath as their more pedal harp songstress Joanna Newsom. If the Cassie Ramone's guitar parts are drenched in the song a much greater kick, which is successful Brooklyn indiepop brethren. YouTube concert recordings are anything to go aJI the resonant reverb that her tube amp will amplified by a relentless set of percussive snare words: Simon Rowbotham by, her new material is reaJly quite Ys-esque ­ and that's far from unwelcome. Yswas so epic. Killing Joke Feast of Fools Future of the ;1 11 1t Left

It's been eighteen years since the post pun kers' original line-up last 13erformed together. After meeting up at second bassist Paul Raven's funeral, they decided to bury the hatchet. This As frontrnan, Falco, has said, this may be a Instrumental trio Brontide open with Wolfmother are not cool. They never have been. means superproducer and electronic pioneer farewell tour after Travels With Myself and muscular Battles-esque math rock; They never will be. There's nothing cool about Youth will be back on bass. f'm personaJly not Anotherreceived thoroughly clisappointing atmospheric pulsing loops build towards having perms bigger than Brian May. There's old enough to remember the invention of sliced marketing from 4AD. It certainly feels like a satisfyingly stormy crescendos. OccasionaJly nothing cool about caJling your album Cosmic bread, but I'm fairly sure this will surpass it celebratory goodbye. Almost every great song in they test the listener's t>atience, resting in the Egg There's nothing cool about onstage fret their catalogue gets an airing, the front half of same mood or edging towards self-indulgence. wankathons. There's nothing cool about the room is basically just an hour long bar-brawl but generaJly they're focused and propulsive. enJoying a band your dad might like. There are LCD Soundsystem and the banter is faultless. Crocus may be named after a flower but countless angst-ridden, painfully indie bands so TBA One look at Russell Howard's website will tell you probably wouldn't want to sniff them. desperate to hold on to the word alternative that Hv" you it costs £25 to see the shittiest comedian on Playing something close to screa..mo, they they forget they are there to entertain. the planet, when for just 8 quid you could see display frequent changes of style all Wolfmother have not forgotten. two of the funniest men in Wales interspersed ferocious. Their frontman bleeds energy, Opening with 'Dimension', Andrew with catchy rock songs. Some choice examples: thrashing in a fit of self-destructive Stockdale, along with his newly acquired Aussie [f rumours are to be believed then James L 'This song is dedicated to aJJ the people enthusiasm. Unfortunately his vocals are a bandmates, are an explosion of technical who died in 2009. Patrick Swayze, Pele ... Well Murphy's third offering as LCD Soundsystem 1 little sa..mey. flatly punctuating the band's wizardry and energy, sourced from somewhere may just be his last (he did say this last time Pele's not actually dead, but he should be by now more diverse thrash. in the early '70s. No, there's nothing original though). After 2007's i.i.ber-lauded Sound of having exhausted himself going round every Which brings us to Rolo Tomassi. Touring about apeing Zeppelin, Sabbath and Cream, but Silver, it's unlikely this will disappoint. Murphy country telling them they'll win the World Cup ahead of a second album in March, they're with every passing powerstance, their love for is claiming that this is the work he's most prqud in the next ten years." road-testing a few new songs, as well as crowd the genre becomes more infectious. Catchy riffs of thus far, and he's already undergone a triple­ 2. As bassist Kelson leans in, discussing the favourites. However, there's no massive mean less well-known material still has the bypass owing to the amount of coffee he's drunk funeral ofa loved one with a crowd member, departure from their established sound: 8-bit crowd hooked within seconds. During Woman', whilst making it. Falco quips: 'There's a very tender scene going electronics and spazzy hardcore stylings, with the band cuelessly predict what each other are on here. lf you've ever seen the film The surprisingly guttural screams from petite Gorillaz about to play. Clambering over whatever he can Proposal', where Sandra Bullock falls m love with frontwoman Eva Spence, not to mention find on the fairly sparse stage, Stockdale has the Plastic Beach her assistant, it's somewhat comparable to that." waltzing jazz interludes, during which the . I frenzied crowd in the palm of his hand. ,, rl ' 3. Pointing at a pair ofbearded, long-haired boys in the moshpit buss each other like shy Still, with material as uniform as it gets, the blokes. "Look, Lordi are in the crowd. Did the dodge-ems. OveraJI, it's similar to Mike set could have been shorter, but this is a minor 1 Garnes Workshop dose early tonight?" Patton's outfit Mr. Bungle, and that's no bad quibble when the crowd are having so much But let's not forget the music. Every track thing. The new material suggests a shift sweaty, beer-soaked fun. As the band return for Snoop Dagg. Mark E. Smith, Kano, Gruff stands out like a favomite and the choruses are towards longer songs and smoother changes their encore, any moping indie kids still yet to be Rhys, Mos Def, Lou Reed, De La Soul, Paul exposed for the mass-singalongs they reaJly are, without saaificing their bite or their sense of charmed surely would have appreciated the Simenon, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, making it aJJ the more frustrating and humour. Unfortunately the sound seems to be slow-burning stomp of Vagabond', from the Bobby Womack, Mick Jones. Excited yet? perplexing that the band haven't found a little off; the more melodic vocals are almost '500 Days of Summer' soundtrack. With a Continuing the cartoon theme, Damon commercial success yet. Pondering on his own lost and their usuaJJy impressive guitar work rousing version of 'Joker and the 1bief to dose Alba..rn claims the titular plastic beach discourtesy, Kelson seems to have the answer, gets similarly swamped. Still, these are minor proceedings, Wolfmother really have rocked . refers to an island made entirely out of joking '1bat's why nobody comes to see us. caveats for a band that continues to grow and Leeds tonight It may not be a cool phrase, but it commodities. Poignant. We're a bit cunty." improve. happens to be true. words: Luke Fear words: Gareth Austin words: Tom Pooley * 9 COLUMN

Los Campesinos! Romance Is Boring 'You've got to W1c.hita depress Gareth Campesinos! has always admitted a love for the darker side of US indie rock that his band people has rarely shown; three albums in and their . " sound has finally opened up. Their gift for sometimes ... hyperactive pop remains intact, but it's balanced out with a newfound sense of drama, as on the queasy theatrics of Who Fell Asleep In'. An early contender for one of 2010' s best Frightened Rabbit The Winter ofMixed Drinks F-atC 3t 0

Two years and one Death Cab for Cutie arena tour support slot after their stunning second album The Midnight Organ Fight, the return of Selkirk's favourite sons is an unexpected' cause for celebration. If trailer single 'Swim Until You Can't See Land' is anything to go by, Mixed Drinks will see the band playing up their The beats on the new albun:i ilbundmore her EP the year before last. She's got a great about himandgotalot of.. .badattention from anthemic side, and that's surely no bad thing. manic;didyouconscious\Y,~toniake voice, and it Just fit perfectly. I originall wrote the wrong ldnd of supremacist types. hazder backing tracks? my bit of'Cauliflower' with her in min and Instead of shying away from that I just thought of Montreal Well on the first alb there w~ yeamJf work then Pip had tten his vocal anyway d it 111 just fucking attack Griffin. False Priest all pulled together at the entL/ C'bk :were l'!l'acks just all seemed to tie together: She'll be big one Polyvinyl on the first album t I bcndone wen pefore I day.Ire Why does a white supremacist bother finding started working with Pip, and that gc,>es for the Dan Le Sac's Twitterpage? vocal stuff. This one w:ts.about sit:tiag down This.alltwnseems a lot more political, You can get little bo that trawl search terms, and writing a recAI4 §of thinkft i mt!remanic paitigatarly 'State of Claim'. Is that so next time so I would assume that people on these forums, It's hard to say what to expect from of just for the fact Ulpt ve had. more ~ to ~yafestival.at the same time as Rage whid1 I won't name because I don't want to Montreal's forthcoming tenth LP; their last actually create a soundiratl,er than~ving a ~theMachine,you1lhavesometbingto push anyone towards them, just trawl for anti­ effort, the impenetrably schizoid Skelet.a.l away with? BNP and American equivalents as well, just to mesh of crap ' tupover th-eyears. their crowd Lamping, was impossible to follow, while Maybe -we're back to a Pip g. I think this attack them. rumblings have emerged about Kevin Barnes album's a lot more about w 's oing on now. What new props can we expect on.stage, after indulging an obsession with classic funk and We wrote the albmn during a jor finandial Jasttour's livingroom set? 111pbeaval, and we're coming to an election. I I don't even know what happened to that working with names as clisparate as Solange ~some Of that was written when we were furniture. Visually, e set is developing, shall Knowles and Jon Brion. All we know for now is :t:9wing the states about a mo th before we say. Pip and rny partner are working on a that False Priest will be impossible to ignore. Obama' s election, so obvious! we were g · four foots~ set, just to make it feel like it's XiuXiu ~11: up in their political fe our and I · worth £12.50. Obviously, because we're not a tna"E' s probably affected him. is a good r ord ~ig band., there's not going to be massive Dear God, I Hate Myself f

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I !~ I r /Co :fr~ I r I r I I '-- i!)j f ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 13 FEA- ---~ TURES- - - ...._..... 290110 Get-fit fads: Fact or fiction? We all know health and fitness is important. Being healthy makes us not only feel better, but look better too. With such a high value on convenience, however, people are replacing gym memberships with expensive 'power foods' for a quick fix to their body image issues. Ellie Brown inv_estigates the student approach to dieting and exercise. For many of us, university is not the healthiest breathless with stitches just trying to run for time in our lives; low food budgets, scarily high the bus. Perhaps this is why bus drivers always units of alcohol consumption and one too wait till we are so dose before they smugly many UFOs (unidentified fried objects). speed off it's actually an act of kindness to When we return from the Christmas show us ourun-fit ways. hohdays to face the honifying 'New Year, New Thankfully for those of us who struggle You' philosophy and the media's pressure to trying to do 'normal' kinds of exercise, there are "get your flat stomach back", the majority of us also student replacements to maintain our do not know where to turn. Engulfed in a fabulous physiques. university lifestyle of not having the time to Seeing as most students don't own dogs. spend three hours a day in the gym or the seven would there isn't even the excuse to walk them. money to survive on endless boxes of Special K, ounces of make Instead, walking consists of the stubborn, "J we may find ourselves attracted to quick-fix meat a day, but totals a colossal refuse to pay that taxi fare" and" yes I will brace ultimately this diet does not fad-diets. £120.64 which, let's face it, 1s a the whole walk home at night with only my From magazines to web-pages they scream provide adequate energy to fuel a guinea-pig let six night stay in a Travelodge and you can't put beer jacket" philosophy. boastfully; "I lost 14 pounds in 10 days by alone a human body correctly. a price on that kind of fun. If you're a taken man you may even be lucky eating nothing but liverwurst!" Or "Doctor Instead of improving your metabolic rate The trouble with the 'Celebrity Cookie Diet' enough to get double the exercise, carrying Gaworski's Spinach Soup diet changed my life!" this diet can in fact slow it down further. By 1s lack of nutrients such as fibre but this is not a home your drunken girlfriend, whose shoes But what does a fad-diet actually entail? As reducing your food to tlus amount the body will problem for the student alternative. According have chosen to slowly cripple her on a night out, automatically enter into starvation mode and the official definition does not exist in the to the Food Standard Agency "Baked beans are destroying her feet forever. Well until she gets ding onto your bingo wings and double chin as Oxford English Dictionary, the Urban a good source of fibre. with an adult portion home anyway. Dictionary defines a fad-diet as "a popular diet a winter coat in this cold weather. contributing around 8g towards the To increase the amount of exercise you According to American collaborative studies used to lose as much weight as possible in a recommended adult fibre intake of between might get on a normal night out, why not go to short amount of time". by the Agricultural Research Service and the 12g and 24g per day". a roller disco. Whereas normally you can hang A fad-diet encourages extreme dietary fThe 'One Good[ish] Student Meal [every 1 Though a crucial problem underlying both around at the bar or relax in the smoking area, actions that supposedly work, according to the !day]' diet regime: ! diets is that critics claim that 800 calories is too with a pair of skates on your feet it will be hard I I far below the usual calorie intake and that by before and after photo of a size 4 model, I I enough to stand still, let along engage in any previously photographed wearing a skirt large !Breakfast : Coffee (To keep you awake in a ! having such a restricted diet our bodies will nonnal dubbing activity. enough to be a Moscow circus tent. ! morning lecture) suffer from a loss of nutrients. Alternatively, when next attempting a night Even more ridiculous is how fad-diets I Bearing in mind the average requirement for out or an Otley run why not try it in a 3-legged­ almost always include weird and unheard of ! Lunch: 2 Cadbury cream eggs (It's nowhere a boy aged 7 to 10 is 1740 kilocalories (kcal), it race position (you and your mates' legs tied foods, perhaps as a supermarket conspiracy to !near Easter but they are everywhere in the is no surprise that any adult having less than together). Suddenly trying to co -ordinate going replace the smart-price fish fingers in our trolley !shops. How can we resist?) half a child's guidline daily amount will suffer to the loo will take more energy than running for expensive brands of brazed goat liver. I from servere drowsiness. the London Marathon. Personally, I struggle trying to maintain !Dinner: 7 ounces of whatever meat you From time to time even daily-life regimes are enough fresh vegetables and un-stale bread, let : claim is in a takeaway burger. f' Celebrity Cookie' diet regime: • a form of student exercise. Doesn't it alone maintain a ripening stash of macas !(Combine with exercise including dancing !One can consume six cookies a day, plus one sometimes feel that carrying your shopping (Peruvian turnips). : on a night out, searching manically for keys : dinner to add up to 800 calories. Dieters bags back home is a strenuous exercise regime? If you think a double vodka and Redbull is !and nmning for the bus). !should also consume eight glasses of liquid a Stuffed to the brim with milk, fabric softener expensive imagine going on the 'Hollywood tI ______!day, which includes coffee and tea. and other ridiculously heavy things we race to Juice Diet'. Every 500ml bottle costs £8.04. I reach home before the cheap plastic bags stop National Institute on Aging. by even reducing I Fad-diets as well as being impossible to follow : 'Student Baked Bean' diet regime: all circulation to our fingers or split open just in your diet to one good meal a day there is an also are extortionately expensive and seriously One is able to have three tins of economy front of the door. increased risk of rising blood pressure and ! threatening to student purse strings. For : beans a day, one for breakfast, lunch and Farewell Eggs. Even deaning your room cholesterol. Overall, despite the new and these reasons I would like to assert that the dinner, adding up to only 834 calories. before the land·lord barges through the door improved 'Student's One Good(ish) Meal ! majority of fad-diets due to their unrealistic tI ______• can help to build a sweat. In my household's (Every Day) Diet' appearing wonderful, attitudes exclude the student population. case trying to hide three guinea-pigs always nutritionists recommend three good meals According to the 'One Good Meal' diet, Sadly then, even student fad diets are not seemed a strenuous and rather stressful everyday as a safe and healthy way to lose restricting more rewarding meals to one day a the best way to bust that Christmas belly. As activity. weight. week and sticking to healthy meals on the other demonstrated, these fad-diets, can be created Other daily activities such as sleeping bum Nonetheless we can still try and find the six days will result in serious weight loss from by anyone. All it takes is to select an obscure off calories too, an average of 50 calories can perfect student fad-diet by being inspired by the the saved calories. To many students the food item and assign some scientificjargonor to evidently be burnt off whilst asleep. Laughing 'Celebrity Cookie-Diet', which as, implied by the prospect of eating one healthy meal a day is enable you to claim that camu carnu also can count as a form of exercise as it is said name, involves eating cookies consistently. pretty grim, let alone six days a week. (Amazonian rainforest fruit) is the new super· 15 minutes oflaughter a day will bum 10 to 40 Sounds great you may say; Hobnobs, The good thing about this one is it does food to lose weight. Scary as it sounds, any caloties. Rumour has it that this amount of Jammy Dodgers and a Digestive every now and allow the consumption of one satisfactory meal, person off the street can put a doctorate in laughter can slim you down by four pounds a again for fibre. The regime however only front of their name and post futurologist food year. LOL. [Th~-'One Good Meal' diet regime: 1 consists of special Dr. Siegal's Cookies which for I I claims on the internet to gain some success. Even text laughter can be regarded as a I I a month starter kit of a measly sixteen cookies I I In terms of exercise, I personally try to avoid work-out, as it is claimed you can lose 214 : Breakfast Coffee : costs £147.61.At £9.23 per cookie may I I I it publically and secretly laugh at those calories a year through texting. I I suggest that this diet is somewhat unsuitable who run in the street. Not because So next time you find yourself !Lunch: 2 eggs & 1 tomato ! for the average student income. My proposed I I they look stupid, though in a tizzy and feel like a bit of I : alternative - The Student Baked Bean Diet' - admittedly anyone who has drunken 1ove texting', why !Dinner. 7 ounces of red meat & green salad : may be more appropriate. I I ever seen my dad on a jog not expand sending your I : The real advantage of the 'Student Baked might have collapsed in texts from just you» !C ontinue this for 6 days and on the 7th day ! Bean Diet' is the financial savings that can be laughter, but more crush/ex/lecturer (if your : the 'good meal' can be up to 500 calories. : made, particularly as a tin of Sainsbury's Basic I I because there is a small stalking has been that I I I I Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce is only a part of me that is insanely I I successful to get that I I minuscule 29p. Amazingly on the same jealous and has to release some information), and send some monthly budget as the 'Celebrity Cookie Diet' -;cl.-;~; is better than none I guess? • inner-sinister laugh to disguise it. to your friends, family and general However, there are some serious negative you could purchase 509 tins of baked beans. Or My level of fitness is diabolical; acquaintances. After all, it's all exercise. aspects to both the student equivalent and the if you decided to stick to the three tins a day my free gym pass is slowly being onginal. You can try and hide behind your regime (£26.97 per month), the savings you buried under a pile of dust and I'm

• ------~-~-----

FASHION_...... _..,... -- 29 10

New Year Fashion Resolutions 1) EMBRACE NEW STYLE ICONS There are certainly different levels of fashion enthusiasm - not everyone starts slavering at the red flash of a Louboutin sole, while to some, Thakoon might sound more like the name Kate Moss is the standard go to for chic, nonchalant day of a Polynesian island than an Ame1ican fashion line. However, the truth remains: we all dressing, but she's (dare I say it) lost her innovation in have to get dressed in the morning. So wave goodbye to your winter exam unifom1 of recent years. It seems a while since she made waistcoats and jeans, unflattering boots, layers, and yet more layers, and focus on being more fabulous Ugg boots acceptable. Turning to the red carpet commen­ tary of the weekly gossip rags isn't much help you're dress· with some suggestions for turning over a new fashion leaf in 2010: if ing for a lecture rather than a premiere. Instead, look to fashion eccentrics such as Catherine Baba, Lou Doillon or the late Isabella Blow for ideas. Alternatively, tum to the streets; or, at least. street style biogs such as Garance Dore, The Sartorialist and Jak & Jil.

2) SORT OUT YOUR WARDROBE

Throw out old underwear, and eBay off all those shoes that are just that little bit too high, the many sale items that turned out to be a mis­ take and that dress that cost a bomb but no longer fits. Once you've narrowed down your wardrobe to the things you actually wear, you can come up with a shopping strategy so that you buy the things that are missing, rather than, say, a sixth blazer. 3) INDULGE IN SOME FANTASY SHOPPING

You just wouldn't believe how nice the sales girls are in Selfridges, so swan in there like you own the place and try things on for the fun of it. There's no greater work inspi­ ration than trying on a pairof D&G lace-trimmed ankle boots in the hope that a good degree might just lead to a N 5 job that could afford them.

CHANEL Graphic - Print Silk Jersey Dress . 4) DISCOVER DIY ... f;I;, N·< CHANEL Avoid the fear that shopping on the high street will make you look like everybody else with some simple alterations. Rip off the nasty plastic buttons from your favourite Prir.nark jacket and sew on COLIN FlRTH JULIANNE MOORE some beautiful metal ones. Put some A -='='°"""""'~•cre

7) TRY SOMETHING NEW 6) GO TO THE CINEMA

Whether it's glittery ankle socks or messy plaits, Now that Borders has dosed, there are precious take something you've seen on the catwalk and try few places to go for guilt- free fashion magazine 1t out on the streets of Leeds. If you're a skirt girl, ?row~ing. Instead, watch films to get your fash­ why not look for a pair of tailored shorts? If you ion kicks. Expect lavender kimonos and fuchsia live in jeans, search for an equally comfy sweater satin bustles in Sherlock Holmes, and LBDs and dress. vintage jewellery in A Single Man (directed by designer Tom Ford). YouTube is also a fashion ~easure _trove - search for Ryan McGinley's short film of Tilda Swinton nmning through Scottish woods and castle ruins for Pringle. words: Elli Hollington photos:1) www.bigfashionsale.com.au, 2) Tomas Jivanda, 3) www.Net-a-Porter.com, 4) Tomas Jivancla, 5) www.amazon com, 6) www.traileraddictcom, 7) www.Topshop.com · 01 • ' ,l' }. ----· --• • - '_:_..,. • - - - I I I __:: • 15

Isabel Ma rant a thirty-something French designer who is Her colour palette ranges from grey and light pink silently wowing fashion bigwigs around the world. stripes, to hot pink and turquoise dresses. There is a look Her autumn/winter 2009 collection won much for every occasion, with one of the best consisting of acclaim with those 'in the know' and was seen across all chain mail necklaces, striped trousers, muslin t-shirts and the recent fashion weeks, adorning the backs of those in feather earrings. Other notable ensembles include a hot the front row. Now, her spring/summer 2010 collection pmk, long-sleeved muslin shirt-dress and her must-have has been tipped to do the same thing. boots and a quirky nude-based outfit of blue and white Marant is steering away from slavishly following striped shorts, nude shoulder padded t-shirt and gor trends this season - there is no underwear as outerwear geous, loose waistcoat. or reworked denim. Instead, she sticks to what she knows The pieces de resistance are definitely her jackets, best: wearable clothes with an edge. Key items for your which will never go out of style and are ideal for a day laz­ wardrobe, without looking overdressed. ing by the side of the river, with a bottle of wine and The collection consists of cute little dresses and skirts, strawberries. Just plain perfect. paired with embellished jackets and her staple item - the prrate boot, which was also a key feature of her fall collec­ tion

Get the Isabel Marant style:

Loaded? Log onto Net-a Porter.com this February as her collecbon will finally be available online here. Watch out though, its going to sell out in seconds!

Skint? Hit up a charity shop, pick up a little tweec;l granny jacket and crop it. Then pay the market a visit to either buy some braiding, or get some metallic string in silvers, pinks and reds to create your own braid. Sew it on around the edges and it11 give you the same look, without the price tag!

words: Elizabeth Holland photo: www.eile.com

A new year, a new decade and a trend that is set to be even are stealing the limelight this time round. Tavi, a 13-year bigger in the 2010s - the fashion blog. old fashionista who describes herself as a ''Tiny 13 year old The fashion blogosphere is growing rapidly, with record dork that wears awkward jackets and pretty hats" report­ numbers of blog-ees logging on at unprecedented rates. No edly gets 1.5 million hits a month on her blog. People longer satisfied with monthly or even weekly reads, £ash everywhere are logging on to read her daily posts and see ionistas are feeling the burning desire to log on at all hours her creative takes on the latest trends. The young fashion of the day to get their latest fashion fix. addict had no idea that her online diary - a simple pastime, With technology forever improving and devices provid­ would emerge to such levels of success, baffling the fashion ing easy internet access, fashion blogging is becoming world with every post she makes. Since launching her blog somewhat of an obsession. Bloggers are uploading daily two years ago. she's graced the cover of POP magazine, (even hourly) posts, showing off their latest outfit ensem bagged her own graphic-tees collection, and become a bles, photos of their current fashion cravings or even just columnist for the POP website, expressing her views on giving their opinions on the latest catwalk shows. The NYC fashion week. Pretty smart for a dorky-looking kid fashion world is evolving and we as fashionistas are who hasn't even hit puberty. becoming more and more infatuated by our peers and It's not just Tavi who's hitting the jackpot. Other flour their innovative take on the ever-changing fashion scene. ishing fashion biogs include Fashion Toast, Style Bubble, Now you may think it's just us students who are logging The Satorialist, and my personal favourite TheTrashed on, eager as usual to save a penny, exploring new ways of Fashion.com · which updates readers daily with various fashion-ing up our existing bargain basement wardrobes. photos of fashion inspirations and musings. However, it seems that the blogosphere is in fact attracting With biogs and virtual magazines, it looks like an online virtually the whole fashion world, making everyone a part presence is definitely the future. Magazines such as Vogue of this ever-growing addiction. Celebrities are keen follow­ and i-D are losing physical readers by the second, no longer ers, shops have introduced online blogs and big-name appealing to the newbie-fashion generation; it seems that brands are even jumping on the bandwagon by infiltrating glossy mags are fast becoming a thing of the past. As the ~e blog network and advertising on premium bloggers' economic climate remains unstable and job prospects look ~1tes. Designers are also taking notice with numerous fash- grim, the web is literally becoming our oyster. YoungTavi's 10n show invitations being §°ent out to bloggers and Marc success certainly proves that biogs are an innovative way Jacobs naming a bag after a young Phillipino blogger to get noticed. known as Bryanboy. Popular biogs are becoming household names in the fashion industry. Sure, Vogue.com, and Topshop have words: Alice Tate (www.alice-tate.blogspot.com) ~d biogs to their web pages, hoping to communicate with the modem generation, but it's the mere public who photo: www.stylebubble.typepad.com

• • • • • DILEMMA 29-----0110 ------m:::i-••11:11•------Kll------111 16 Which Tigure1s in:test: is sNnny se>Jest or is curvey cutest ? The debate has been raging for centuries and tastes have been constantly changing, from the fuller figures of the eighteenth century to the hourglass of the mid-twentieth century. The current celebrity climate flutuates between holding up skinny and fuller figured women on a regular basis, so the question is, which do you pre­ fer and can men ever be described in the same way? Not a problem Eating healthily is important mean when defining a body adopted in the 21st century to cushion as curvy? Curvy like a ball or curvy like an the blow of being branded fat or thin. Is this really a dilemma? It feels to me that This is one of those topics which people, hourglass? Neither is healthy. the whole 'debate' is one of those Catch- women in particular, aren't honest about. The latter would be preferable to most, We should aim to create a middle 22s that people, women in particular, get We're encouraged to reject the negative but people are funny shapes, a lot like ground between these two extremes and caught up in. skinny model and embrace the concept fruit apparently. I have been sporting the a healthy way of labelling body shapes. I People who are too thin are thought of that big is beautiful. People associate being 'pear shape' since puberty hit and often propose a synthesis of the two adjec­ as sickly, weird and probably vain; people big or overweight with being curvy, but this despair at why my hips are bigger than my tives: skurvy perhaps ... who are too fat are demonised as greedy is just not the case. This beUef is simply to shoulders. pigs. Look through any celebrity magazine make big people feel better about them­ The average size in Britain is a size 14 Charlotte Grant-West and there will be pictures pointing out selves and something that I consider patro· and we are told to perceive this as being a every jutting bone or fold of flesh on a par­ nising. bit on the large side, especially consider­ Person counts, not just looks ticular woman, sadly without any informa­ Some people aren't meant to be skinny ing Topshop only goes up to a size 16. tion on the range of weights at which one and some people aren't meant to be big Despite this curvy stars have done won­ A topic that will always breed debate, is actually considered fit to be seen in pub­ and vice versa. It all boils down to what we ders for the more buxom gal, think Beyon­ what often gets forgotten is that it is lic. are and what we should aspire to be. We ce and Scarlett Johansson. Nevertheless it person ~demeath that counts. Skinny and curvy are just two opposite should aim to be the best of what we are. is the skinny stars that get more coverage Whilst men and women have pref­ points on a wide spectrum of human It's unfair to put a stigma on being skinny such as Kate Moss and Victoria Beckham. erences for the type of person they pre­ shapes, and everybody has their own par­ or curvy. Maybe because they don't eat their private fer it is often the person on the inside ticular shape at which they're healthiest. As a slim person, my friends have said lives suffer. The well-known equation that is more important that the person Some people are naturally rake-thm, others to me, in regards to borrowing clothes for y=m[e-c] (yearly celebrity status= rnalnu­ on the outside. have hourglass curves or athletic instance, 'you need to put on weight' or trition[eating - calories]) can be applied Fashion magazines tell us what is physiques, and others are chubby no mat­ 'you don't eat enough!' If I were to say to here. in fashion on the catwalk, in fashion on the ter what. If they are eating well and getting them, 'you need to lose weight' or 'you eat A friend of mine, let's call her 'Louise' street, but it is everlasting fashion in the plenty of exercise, all of Lhat's just fj.ne. too much'. that would be considered (because, well, that is her name) is what heart that is the most important. Forget Standards of beauty constantly change incredibly rude and insulting. As much as most people would define as skinny. skinny or curvey, what really matters is from period to period and place to place. there is a stigma attached to being big, Despite not being a lesbian she appreciates that the person you want to be with is right Certain looks go in and out of fashion; the there's also a stigma attached to being slim. a full. womanly figure. She describes hav­ for you. minority who fit it feel good for a while. Such stigmas shouldn't exist full stop. ing sex with a sirn.ilarly svelte boy as giving Substance over style, everyday ... the rest feel bad for not living up to it. But In conclusion to this skinny or curvy the verb boning' a whole new meaning. although a certain shape rn.ight be trendy, dilemma: it just shouldn't be an issue. Then again, she can wear sequin leggings if Bill Tinson what actual people find attractive is just as Being skinny to the point of malnutrition she should so wish, whereas in said outfit varied as people themselves. No matter or being curvy to the point of being over my hips make me look more like a :Nextwook what type of figure you have, there will be weight is. Eating healthily for your size and sequinned teletubby. people who'll think that shape is the best exercising should be the main focus. But what about the gender barrier, can of all. you describe men as skinny and curvy? For Skinny or curvy? It doesn't matter. Just Marian Edusei example the phrase 'did you see the junk jopnon on this and wish to share itj be you. that hunk had in his trunk?' only shows :with the student b:xly, send a.tout: Everybody knows inside that curvy men don't exist. Men are . . Tim Boden described as skinny, well-built or fat. Curvy :250 VvOrds to : and skinny don't transcend gender bound­ Curvy is a peculiar adjective, what does one aries. They are just two labels that we have ~dilemma@l8€dsstudent.org Crossword

Across: Down: 1. ... of Rye', Agatha Christy novel (9) 1. Fruit (5) 5. Skin colour change (in the sun) (3) 2. Order(7) 8. Protective gear used in archery (8) 3. Large bird (3) 10. Bottom (slang) (4) 4. People in charge of funerals (11) 11. Used to make temperature higher (6) 6. Refrain from (7) 12. Do again (6) 7. University grounds (6) 13. Created by a painter (say) (3) 9. The magic word (11) 14. Comprised of 12 constellations (6) 15. Worrying (7) 17. Not present (6) 16. Mean to (6) 19. Inquire about (3) 18. Precious gem (7) 20. Talented (6) 22. Material for ballet costwnes (5) 21. First born (6) 25. Organ for hearing (3) 23. Nearly (4). 24. American sport (8) 26. Put into action (3) 27. University City (9) he answers to last week's crossword: oss: 1.Pocketful, 5. Tan, 8.Armguard, 10.Arse, 11. Heater, 12. Repeat, 13. Art, 14. Zodiac, 17. sent, 19. Ask, 20. Gifted, 21. Eldest, 23. Soon, 24. Baseball, 26. Use, 27. Cambridge. Down:1.Peach, 2. Command, 3. Emu, 4. Undertakers, 6. Abstain, 7. Campus, 9. racadabra, 15. Ominous, 16. Intend, 18. Emerald, 22. Tulle, 25. Ear AR290110 TS 17 FILM FILM A Prorhet (L In Prophete) 1r~Ar Hyde Park.Picture House Vue ~ DD Malik himself becomes 1es yeux, Jes oreilles', Elsewhere, runts of homosexuality amongst Jacques Audiard has flirted with the crime­ ('the eyes and the ears') guiding us through his inmates and racial tension between warring Veer is an historical drama on an epic scale, thriller genre before.'Both 2001's Read My Lips sleazy new world in which shootings, drug-deal mobs - Malik is a 'dirty Arab' even to his greasy with all the elements one might expect from and 2005's The Beat T11at My Heart Skipped ing and learning snatches of Corsican allow him Corsican master- overspill their miaocosmical a Bollywood film: warring families, star­ dabbled with shady characters and scenes of to ascend the ranks of the established hierarchy. limits and emerge into the wider world, giving crossed lovers, and the occasional musical unmitigated violence. Gritty realism reaches Much of A Prophet seems to devote itself to us a set piece in Marseille and one thrilling car number. Wntten by and starring Salman new heights however with his latest film, a putting a fresh spin on generic tropes. Wit.bin shootout. As such, a hefty running time feels Khan, a massive name in Hindi d11ema, it's a drama of jerky camera work and tight close-ups the alienating space of prison, Malik' s journey to dramatically shortened. Audiard's fresh perspec little like an Indian Bra veheart. Veer, a mem­ that gives us 149 minutes of unflinching brutali­ re-establish a lost identity is given supernatural trve into a well-worn genre makes for a fine con ber of the clan of warrior-bandits known as ty within the claustrophobic confines of the overtones, the ghostly presence of Reyeb leading tribution to French cmema, which has already the Pindari, fights to avenge the betrayal of French penal system. to a series of dream-like montages that suggests had a good past year with the likes of the two his people by the treacherous British and to The plot follows illiterate French-Arab teen Malik has acquired soothsayer abilities - the part gripper Mesrine. win the heart of the beautiful Princess Malik el Djebena - played with unnerving in ten prophet of the title. words: Annabelle Hawes Yashodhara. sity by Tahar Rahim - who faces a six year This is not, by any means, a subtle film. If stretch in prison for an undisclosed crime. With­ it were any more over the top it would in the first 30 minutes, the 18 certificate is justi­ escape the Earth's gravitational pull. The fied as the untried youth is forced to tum killer battles are vast and the sets impressive, but for Corsican inmate, Cesar -the boss-man - with the exception of a few unexpected pulling all the strings behind bars. In a night turns at the end - the story is predictable marish sequence of flickering lights and cracked and the characters two-dimensional. mirrors, we watch Malik practise sliding a thin The direction is overly prone to using concealed razorblade out of his mouth, the effects that distract rather than enhance; if instrument he will take to the throat of fellow you took a shot every time slow motion was Arab inmate Reyeb. It is a viscerally haunting used, you'd pass out within the first half initiation into a plot that pulls no punches; hour. Malik's bloody act buys him 'protection' under The setting makes an interesting change the wing of Cesar, his first mentor within an from Hollywood blockbusters. but it's not intricate criminal underworld. reccommended if you actually wanted to Gangster politics continue to keep our dubi­ learn about resistance to colonialism in ous protagonist on his toes, with character [ndia - from the Victorian Londoners in freeze-frames and typically Audiardian inter­ oddly modern clothes (trilbies feature heavi­ titles introducing us to tl1e key players: Jordi the ly, for some reason) to the jousting touma Gypsy and Latif the Egyptian among others. ment that turns up towards the end for no reason other than to fill twenty minutes or PREVIEW so, accuracy is not this film's strong point. Yet, despite being overlong and utterly 0 f.- ,11 _ ~I 1rnrner Nig fs Drearr' preposterous, Veer is never anything less than entertaining. Its silliness is rather stage@leeds channing. and ):he musical numbers are suit­ ably catchy and spectacular. It's not an intel­ LS talks to the directors Georgia Murphy and Laura Rolinson lectually challenging film. but rather like 300 Have you changed much of the text? between these maracters. You can place yourself or the works of Michael Bay, on its own shal Why is A.Midsummer Night's Dream being pro­ Everything is still in Shakespeare's language, but in their shoes. So, less magic. more sex. low tenns, it's pretty good fun. duced.independently from TG? the text has been cut a lot. With Measure we words: Tim Boden Our director, Tom Large, is self-funding the pro­ edited it heavily; fewer people knew the text so How are you bringing the magic wonderland of duction, and it's pretty much about making the change was less evident, but Midsummeris Fairyland to the concrete jungle of Leeds Univer­ enough money to put on more productions this such a recognisable piece that the change will be sity? year, providing more opportunities to create noticeable. But we've kept the structure of the We are using a junkyard setting to depict the for· independent productions. Also, TG already have play. est. It's a heightened world of chaos, with bro­ a Shakespeare production this tenn, Henry N. ken appliances like a washing machine to reflect so we would not have been able to perform A Most people rem.ember Midsu.mmerfor its mag­ that not everything is right in this world. There's Midsummer Night's Dream. ical fairytale elements, is this what you are a stark contrast between the dirty, muddy fairy focussing on? land world and the white, clinical world of You both directed the extremely successful pro­ It's also remembered for its comic bits through Athens. duction of Shakespeare's Measure for Measure the Mechanicals, like Nick Bottom. However, we last term. What were the differences in directing have devoted a lot more of the play to the lovers Considering you've given the play a gritty edge, Midsummer? and their relationships. The audience will be able then, what are the costumes going to be like? Well, both plays are timeless classics but Meas­ to recognise patterns in the relationship The Athenian costumes will be all white to ure for Measure had a really small cast, and was reflect strict, no frills Athens. It will be anally really intense with elements of tragedy and com­ white. For the fai1ies, we're not using classic edy. For Midsummerwe have big scenes, a huge fairies; we want feral Goll urns with costumes cast, and there's about 10 people in our produc­ made out of rubbish. We're using bin bags, Jiff tion team alone! clothes- anything we can find. So it will be cheap, but cheap in a Dolly Parton way. Will we be seeing familiar faces from Measurein Midsummer? A Midsummer Night's Dream is a comedy, do With Measure for Measure, aside from a few, you think people can still WL to Shakespeare? most of the cast were not really known as actors Yes definitely, in every rehearsal we've nearly and we are using a lot of the same cast for Mid­ wet ourselves crying - hop~fully our audience summer. We have a lot of first years and new­ will do the same. ~omers too, and we are really excited about introducing Jamie Hollingworth, who plays A Midsummer Night's Dream runs from 3rd- Puck, to the student theatre scene. Everyone 6th February, Z30pm at stage@leeds. Tickets are wants to know who Puck is and we think Jamie available from the stage@leeds box office. is a great choice - really wiry;he 's fallen off two tables already! words: Nali Sivathasan

• • • - • ARTS 29 09 -

Consulting the crystal ball I I I Our critics have scoured the listings for the cultural highlights of the next six months. Here's how Leeds is seeing in the new decade. Comedy

'Knock knock', Who's there?', 'Yourcomedy preview.' Listen up. Check out the full range of comedic revelry, which the new decade brings to our fine city. Hifi continues hosting the weekly 'Comedy Sessions' with three stand up comedians from around the globe every Saturday. The first of the term features no-nonsense comedian, Alun Cochrane, as seen on Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow. From February 1st, one of Leeds' best kept secrets, The Adelphi provides us with both barrels of beer and laughs the first Monday of each month. Its first birthday gig hosts Mick Sergeant, Steve Shanyaski and Leeds University's very own Max Dickins, with a promising line-up of more beauties in the future. In aid of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) EnviroSoc hosts 'Laughing in the Face of Climate Change 'at Stylus on 24th February. Six comedians and one cause. As Edinburgh Fringe's hot ticket of 2009, Pappy's boast a dizzying record of'200 sketches in an hour' at The Library pub on 20th March, promising experimentation and laughs by the bucket full. For those of you craving a touch of vintage check out Ken Dodd and his Happiness Show at The Grand Theatre on 27th March. Having entertained the country for almost 60 years, the rubber-faced comedy legend Ken Dodd is a national treasure in the truest sense of the phrase. words: Faye Rounding

June. In terms of Union productions, those TG boys and get a holiday out of it. Suffering from post-exam blues? Alan Bennett's Andi£ you like your theatre full of familiar and girls have been busy slaving away whilst us Other productions this term include A Olivier award-winning The History Boys heads faces and nakedness then a visit from the mere mortals have been revising for exams. Midsummer Night's Dream next week from 3rd home to Yorkshire from 3rd February until 6th nationally touring Calendar Girls at The Grand This term kicks off with Henry Win the week until 6th February. stage@leeds is also hosting March to teach us the value of education. Theatre may take your fancy. Running from the beginning 8th February. Prince Hal grows up Phaedra's Love from 25th-27th February, Director Christopher Luscombe's production 8th to 13th March, the cast boasts 'Loose raising hell in taverns with a group oflowli£e which is Sarah Kane's retelling of Seneca's spends a month in Bennett's Leeds birthplace Woman' Lynda Bellingham, glamour model friends. As King Henry grows increasingly sick, classic. Ravenrock's production uses puppetry as part of a national tour. In a play that is 'clever, Gemma Atkinson (Hollyoaks alumni), will Hal find the control to take the 'reigns' and and stagecraft to enhance the love, nihilism and funny and boisterous,' the production is a Eastender's Letitia Dean and Hannah prevent a sodety from crumbling? Theatre violence of the text. reminder that there is perhaps some joy in Waterman. They all play members of a Group's production of Henry VL Part JI, focuses SMS will be hoping to emulate the success of learning by exploring the wit and hilarious Yorkshire WI prepared to bare all in pursuit of specifically on this crucial decision, its potential Grease in their production of 80s hit film adolescent issues of eight Sheffield students an alternative charity calendar. influences and consequences. Footloose from 9th to 13th March. facing daunting Oxbridge interviews. Exploring the dynamics of family life, From Towards the end of February, Etchings, written and directed by James Huntrods will be From 1st May until 29th May and also at the Where I Am Standingis an original and funny words: Rebecca Carr, Nali Sivatbasan West Yorkshire Playhouse this spring is a production from Junction25, a group of heading to the Riley Smith Hall. Set in a revival of Arthur Miller's classic Dea th ofa Glasgwegian teenagers and their parents. A father basement in his dead parent's house, a self Salesman. The tragic tale of the Lomans is as talks in graphic detail about his son's birth, a girl _styled artist dreams of cracking the art world. pertinent now as ever, with the backdrop of wonders what she might to do to show her For now he paints alone, cut off from everyone. bleak 1940s America mirroring the current mother that she loves her while a father and An old friend reappears in his life but can she turbulent economic climate. Widely regarded as daughter vie to be the best at fencing. Described force him out of self imposed captivity? Miller's greatest work, it follows an ageing Willy as 'a brilliant and exhilarating piece of theatre' by Watch out for Oscar Wilde's classic An Ideal Loman fantasising about his unattainable the Guardian, this lesser known production is Husband, after Easter. Here, the 1890s political American Dream. Sarah Esdaile returns to the only on for one night, 30th January, at stratosphere is tainted by the revelation of a Playhouse to direct a timely resurrection of a stage@leeds and is a hidden gem in this year's sordid secret from the past, which threatens to classic. theatrical calendar. destroy the reputation and personal life of Sir The Playhouse is also hosting an original Other tempting Spring productions include Robert Chiltern. Pertinent in the current age of retelling of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure actor Don Warrington's directorial debut Rum political scandal revealing the guilty secrets Island in a two-man stage show by Wee Stories and Coca Cola, a bittersweet comedy of calypso from the people at the top of the greasy political Theatre. Andy Cannon and lain Johnstone tell music by Mustapha Matura, running from 5th pole. the story through the eyes of two shipWTecked March to 3rdApril, and a new adaption of TG will also be going continental when they musicians who need the adventures of Jim Alexandre Dumas' The Count ofMonte Cristo, head to the University of Montpellier to Hawkins to keep their wits and sanity whilst a sprawling tale oflove, treachery and showcase their production of As You Like It, so praying for rescue. For a bit of escapism, consequence showing from 16th April until make sure you get along to the auditions if you Treasure Island is showing from 2nd to 5th 15th May, both at the Playhouse. want to take part in this amazing opportunity 19

laughter, delightfully leaving no taboo unexplored. A rather unique gem to look out for in 2010 is The Loss ofA Teardrop Diamond, based on Tennessee Wtlliams' recently discovered 1957 screenplay. Set in the glitzy '20s, this story of a cross-class romantic entanglement contains all the ingredients characteristic of the American master. Peter Jackson's vivid imagining of Alice Sebolcf s bestselling novel The Lovely Bones will reach cinema screens on 19th February. A 14- year-old suburban girl - Atonements young but talented Saoirse Ronan - is murdered by her neighbour. From a dreamlike limbo, she watcl1es as her grieving parents, played by Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz, attempt to cope with their loss. For Scorsese fans, the wait for Shutter Island wili finally be over on 19th February. Expect and promises to divide movie audiences. suspense and terror as Leonardo DiCaprio Definitely not for the faint-hearted. searches the darkest recesses of an offshore ln the face of a nauseating 3D mania, Disney insane asylum as a U.S. Marshal in pursuit of a return to their 2D animation roots with The missing murderess. Princess and the Frog, an adaptation of E. D. Contending with this year's superhero Baker's classic tale. Under the blockbusters is Kick-Ass. Released on 2nd April direction of the team that it is a twisted comedy about a teenage comic brought us The Little book fan whose obsession drives him to take to Merrruiid and Aladdin, the streets as a real life superhero, inspiring Clint Eastwood's latest feature, Invictus, is movte' fashion. will The Princess and the several copycat crime fighters including Frog signify another released on 5th February and has already earned Tim Burton's ongoing fruitful collaboration Superbad s Christopher "McLovin" Mintz-Plasse the indefatig.. ble director a batch of richly with the incomparable Johnny Depp and renaissance for Disney as Red Mist and Nicolas Cage as Big Daddy. animation? We'll only deserved award nominations. Starring Morgan Helena Bonham Carter continues with Alice in On 8th June 2010. Tom Hanks and Tim Freeman as Nelson Mandela and Matt Damon Wonderland, released on 5th March. Lewis have to wait until 5th Alien repiise their ro1es as Disney Pixar's February to find as Sp1ingbok player Francois Pienaar, it explores Carroll's classic tale is given the trademark most beloved duo in the eagerly awaited Mandela's inspirational story via South Africa's Burton makeover- in ravfshing30. lt features a out. Toy Story 3. When Andy moves away to words: Joe Miller, bid to win the 1995 Rugby World Cup and terrific ensemble cast that includes Mia college and they are donated to promises to be yet another triumphant work Wasikowska, Anne Hathaway, Stephen Fry, Ben Holmes, a day-care centre, Woody, Matt Hutchinson from Eastwood. Christopher Lee and Michael Sheen, amongst Buzz and the gang must As we .enter a new decade, the eagerly awaited others. finally come to terms with the final instalment of a series that helped to define lnfamous black humourist Chris Morris reality that Andy is growing up. tl1eprevious ten years is due for release. (Channel 4's searingly Brass Eye) directs Casey Affleck stars as the Hany Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part Four Lions. Satirising the attempts of a upstanding detective of a small Texas 1). is released on 19th November and hapless group of British jihad.is ts town who is unmasked as a psychotic killer sees the celebrated wizard and friends (based on the cell in Leeds in Michael Winterbottom's unflinching leave Hogwarts, attempting to find responsible for the July7 bombings) adaption of Jim Thompson's pulp crime novel and destroy the HorcnlXes whilst locking lips who plan to launch an attack on London, The Killer Inside Me. The film caused much with each other, all in refreshing 'road- expect from this as much controversy as controversy at this year's Sundance Festival

lnstitute have commissioned Alan Johnston to As ever, Opera North has a fine season planned From 28th January, the MAP Gallery will be literally draw onto the gallery walls. If for any opera buff. Mozart's Casi Fan Tutte is showcasing the talents of Leeds students for a illustrating a space ofover 400 sq metres with showing al the Grand Theatre through February week. It's Not Funny, which is produced and merely a pencil is not a feat.to be marvelled at in the classic comedy of errors is sure to be a hit currated by Leeds students challenges the itself, Drawing a Shadow promises to under the direction of Tim Albery_ notion that art can never be funny and shows interrngate your visual cortex with canny La Boheme runs through February. before how the comical needs to be taken seiiously. illusions of special depth. This body of work picking up again in May. Moving Puccini's early The exhibition features a range of work lasts only until the gallery redecorates, so catch 19th century Paris into the chic '50s, the classic including sculpture, painting, performances and it while you can from 15th February. tale of young love and loss is one of the most video works from artists who all use humour in Running only until the end of February, performed works in the operatic repertoire And their practice. Leeds Art Gallery will be exhibiting the short­ for good reason. In a bold exhibition, The Henry Moore list for The Northern Art Prize a thought­ A more leftfield choice 1s Ruddigore, from the provoking collection of contemporary art inimitable Gilbert & Sullivan that starts at the rangmg from the disturbing apocalyptic videos end of the month. A witty tale of deception, of Nick Crowe and Ian Rawlings, to the grimly curses, witchcraft and romance, the opera may surreal submissions from the pencil of Rachel not be among the pair's most famous work, but Goodyear. is a biilliant example of their knack for light, yet In March, the legacy of Francis Bacon will be immensely satisfying, comic music. explored in Prisoner and Ruler, tracking tl,e Want some culture in your life? Mozarts' The legendary twentieth ·century artist's impact on Marriage OfFigaro LS coming to the Riley Smith the configuration of space. Known for his from 3rd until 6th Feb only. This is your chance graphic and often tortured imagery, the to see the award-winning peraSoc perform one opportunity to vtew paintings such as Head VI of tl,e most famous operas ever written. 'first hand is unmissable. words: Tom Bush South Asia has witnessed some of the most A dizzying array of dance styles will be bursting showcase of the company's choreography talent virulent conflicts in recent history. However, onto the stage at this year's LLU Dance Show. AU as performed by its greatest dancers, showing the response of women in these arenas of from 23th to 25th February. 111en, through conflicts has largely been ignored. Between of the dance societies have been working their their lavish production of Romeo and Juliet Kismet and Karma runs from 6th March and pumps off, so expect everything from ballet, tap and street, to lrish, Bollywood and belly dance. (27th February to 6th March) Northern Ballet engages with South Asian female artists from Runs from 16th to 20th March in the Riley demonstrate their ability to retell well worn Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan Smith Hall. classic tales through this mcomparable medium. through a British context. Off campus, Northern Ballet's season gets off Ballet will have never seemed quite so words: Amy Duggan to a thrilling start with As Time Goes By. a passionate. words: Matt Hutchinson

• • • • • • • .. • TV 20 29'.ll- 10 - COMMENT Telev1s1on for the Teenies Adam Richardson looks forward to how what we watch on television w ill be changing over the next decade As we enter a new decade, television will decade of reality TV; as shows such as The X contain. I would like to think that the teenies undoubtedly re-invent itself again, as we Factor, Britain's Got Talent and Strictly Glee is an advert for a genre likely to do would see a rise to prominence of the flock to the new and exciting shows. No one Come Dancing ruled the airwaves. What well, at least at the start of the teenies: the British sitcom. Left only with the stagnating could have predicted in 2000 that 17 million does the future have in store? hopeful, sentimental, against-all-the odds My Family, mainstream prime time British of us would be watching The X Factor, so in The continued ascendancy of interactive drama. Danny Boyle's multi Oscar winning sitcoms are becoming a thing of the past. the teenies, what will we be watching? TV is one of the few things I can predict Slumdog Millionaire was a fine film, but in With Only Fools and Horses gone, and the The 90s were the decade of the sitcom, with accuracy in the new decade. Already an era of doom and gloom due to global innovative minds that bought us things like with classics such as Friends and Frasier this has been shown by the success of a events such as the economic crisis and The Brittas Empire which ran for seven coming from across the pond, earning show hitting UK shores as you read this: terrorism, a rags to riches tale is always years in a prime BBC One slot gone from acclaim and popularity from all corners of Glee. The show, a fictional tale about a going to be well received by critics and mainstream television, British sitcoms are the globe. The noughties began as the teacher who tries to turn a bunch of oddball viewers alike. The start of the decade will in a sticky situation. There have been cult decade of hard hitting dramas, such as 24 students into a show-stopping choir, has see the continued emergence of these hi ts over the last few years, such as The IT and The West Wing, to be followed as the been a phenomenon in the US. The show sentimental feel good shows, with a move Crowd, but these shows remain hidden as been at the forefront away from them as the years progress. away in the TV schedule. Comedies from of integrated interactive Closer to home, British dramas should across the pond such as Big Bang Theory television, as after each continue to thrive. Shows such as Spooks and How I Met Your Motherwill continue episode in the US a song will continue to be contemporary, stylish to do relatively well, but they lack that as released for and fun, whilst we can hope to see a show of British sense of humour and often are just download. In the UK, a the same standard and calibre as Life on rehashes of successful shows, such as eek after the first Mars to emerge to set the TV world alight. Friends. However much I raise my hopes, I episode was shown on One of my hopes for this decade is that think the teenies will see British family E4, the song Don't Stop British TV executives won't be afraid to friendly sitcoms continue in the slwnp they Believin 'sung by the cast commission new dramas. Whilst things are currently in. eached number 6 in the such as Jane Austen adaptations are good The next decade is going to be crucial for UK singles chart. This every once in a while, having them TV Growing digitalisation will mean that hows the effect TV can constantly on TV can only be bad in the more TV will be online for when we want it have on other long term. British television is the best in and streaming will become the way many of entertainment sectors, the world when it comes to period drama, us will watch our favourite programmes. I nd this sort of but it can get a little repetitive. It would be just hope that in 10 years time some of us ·nteractivity is nice to see something new and innovative will still be practising the hallowed art of omething that the taking a few risks on TV in the next few curling up on the sofa to watch our favourite decade ahead will surely years. programmes. m THE E Bye Bye Big Brothe(? Legally Blonde 3/2/10 n 8.30pm BBG.1 Don't End! · Good Riddance!

The noughties' answer to Oueless has just hit the West End in London to generally So Celebrity Big Brother is finally coming So 2010 spells the end of Celeb BB, and positive reviews, so the BBC has chosen the perfect time to remind us why we all love to an end after ten years of breakthrough after 7 'fun-filled' series the house will Legally Blonde. This film gives us a chance to revisit one of the teen chick flicks of our entertainment. We've seen some shocking FINALLY shu,t its doors to celebs for good! generation. It's nothing revolutionary, but is light, frothy fun and offers an escape from things we never thought were possible and We no longer have to watch cl-listers trying the already mounting uni work as we are in awe of how much Elle Woods can achieve I for one feel like it's the end of an era. to re-ignite careers that finished years with a little bit of optimism, hard work and well put together outfits. This film has a What on earth could replace seeing A- ago, in a bid to make more money great moral to the story, as we are challanged not to judge people on the surface. Reese list celebrities having temper and earn a higher status among Witherspoon offers an alternative role model to the stereotypical dumb blondes, and if tantrums over ridiculous things like the tabloids. Watching celebrities we look past the pink and the boy drama, it's easy to remember why we loved this being denied diet coke?! Who be 'real' people brought no one movie when we were thirteen years old, and between Elle's admission video for would have thought stars like joy, and rarely any laughter, Harvard, and her "lawyer outfits", it is still just as funny and uplifting today. It's Jackie Stallone and Vinnie Jones rather it turned out to be nothing new, but Reese Witherspoon adds some intelligence to the standard chick would let themselves be controlled painfully embarrassing, or just flick. by the wrath ofBig Brother. plain painful. No one will Whatever anybody says, Big forget the racism that the Brother is one of the most beautiful, kind-hearted Survivors . Tuesdays at 9pm BBC1 genius and innovative Shilpa Shetty was programmes the 21st subjected too. Or the When science fiction was relatively young- and by that I mean when it was literary­ century has ever seen insanity of George it liked to dote upon successful future societies of Utopia. Then suddenly, sci-fi and this is shown Galloway. Or the changed its mind. The future was going to be grim - almost everyone would be dead, purely by the fact of singing of and those who weren't would hate you. And we loved it. The 1970s saw the original it having been a Chantelle, who Survivors, and dubbed this autumn's "Oh My God, Everyone's Dead" drama by the prime time hit in wasn'tevenaceleb Times, this new version of Survivors continues this sci-fi apocalyptic tradition. A various countries all to begin with! raging flu virus (sound familiar?) spreads uncontrollably around the globe leaving around the world. Celebrity big brother only, well, a few survivors. In a world where civilisation has fallen, Julie Graham and There are rumours that has been a huge money Paterson Joseph lead their new 'family' of survivors to try and rebuild their happiness. Celeb BB ~ould be revived spinner for Channel 4, and The storyline is successful. A will to endure gives the survivors purpose to hold and picked up by another I assume this is why it has together, whilst subplots about personal redemption create interest. Several mysteries channel and I really hope this is lasted so long, especially hang over the series, such as the origins of the virus and the involvement of the the case, ·as I do not feel that we with the dropping ratings government. Although in its second series, Survivors is worthwhile viewing even for a have had the last Celebrity laugh with each successive series. new audience, with its availability on BBC iPlayer and the ease at which the 'unknown' of the decade. Lets hope that regular BB has carried over from the initial series. A must see for fans of the apocalyptic drama. will follow suit!

words: Melissa Welliver words: Stephanie Byrom words: Sarah Grindall

'I .. .. BOOKS_,_,.. ~ ....._..... - -~ 29 10

r .,) y j~) rh This week Hannah Glick met Richard Milward, haJled as the Laureate of Youth, to chat about the sex, drugs and art in his second novel, Ten Storey Love Song

the view that "it is important that youngsters get This has culminated in the artful consuming love affair with writing should most of these things [sex, drugs. rock and roll] manipulation of turning his story into one long inspire any budding writers not from Oxbridge out of the way and off their chests, rather than paragraph, ending with an unfinished sentence. and he recommends they "treat it like a full time letting their curiosities linger". I asked Milward whether his creative writing job, and yet try and have as much fun with it as And just like Bobby, Milward could not wait style was an act of rebellion, or a natural you can". to return to Middlesborough. "! was studying art development from his Fine Art education. It The book's opening quote by the poet in London for three years, but after about six turns out not to be either, but both; "the Baudelaire perfectly depicts the mood of the months I was desperate to get back to the North. intention with all my writing is to offer novel: "You must always be intoxicated.. On At first I was a sucker for the capital, but the something different, especially with structure wine, poetry or virtue, as you wish. But you disillusion soon set in. Being away from Teeside and language. [t's strange, because in art you are must get drunk". The passionate love affairs in made me realise how amazing the North is and encouraged to be experimental and no one Ten Storey Love Song may be dysfunctional and how it's got everything I want: friends, family, quesnons madness within an artistic context. suffocating. but are imperative to our being. TEN STOREY cheap lager, good scenery and a top accent." Yet in contrast, when you're taught English Irvine Welsh says that Mil ward's "caustic wit and Literature, you are force-fed rules about what is Ten Storey Love Song retails at at student-happy LOVE SONG genuine warmth typifies all that's best about nght and wrong when you're writing. like good price of£5. However at the lovely Union Books, Northern England." I hope that all that boys in grammar and spelling. etc. Which is a load of downstairs in the Union, you can pick it up for 'Boro will read something by Milward, and bollocks." an even cheaper £4! appreciate the contemporary representation in Milward's inimitable poetic prose lifts a plot Richard Milward's debut novel, Apples, earned literature he has given their region. which is inevitably predictable because it is so words: Hannah Glick him a cool and famous literary fan base, and The similarities between Mil ward and his truthful. With a dysfunctional and quite rightly so. Irvine Welsh, authorof d1aracters do not end there. He winces as he hedonistic structure he intertwines Trainspotting, the book which initially inspired remembers "some of the dafter scenes, like both the beauty and the beasts of Milward to write, perfectly pinpoints that he has shitting yourself in a nightclub, nibbling pills on his characters' lives. Milward's brought "the love story kicking and screaming toast, hallucinating honible ghouls. These have wrinng style is unique amongst up to date". Milward is our generation and tells actually happened to me, sadly." formulaic novelists, who he truthful stories that are not told often enough. 111e Uves of Mil ward's other characters are deems to "have been churned His second novel. Ten St0rey love Song, is ;ust as tumultuous as Bobby the Artist's. His out of creative writing set in a Middlesborough tower block where best friend is Johnnie, who is just as besotted courses". intoxicated residents stumble tl1rough with his girlfriend as Bobby is with Georgie. Yet Luckily, the literary passionate affairs with love, sex, paedophilia and his failure to satisfy her sexually is down to a self world embraced Milward's art. Their hedonistic spirits are enviable, but also taught education of hardcore pom. This sexual second novel with open .. regrettable. Trapped in their sorry spirals of self fmstration and boredom leads him into a career arms, even though he was destrucnon, it is hard to see a way out for them. of petty and grotesque crime. Although Milward worried "that people Their characters may be tl10se society would never set out for Ten Storey Love Song to be a might think I only had one rather kick in to the gutter, but their ways are love story, "I guess love will always play a big part book in me". And Milward's down to insecurities and vulnerabilities which in my writing- relationships are fascinating. I next novel is sure to be just are innocent not ignorant, and you cannot help find 1t funny that the one you love is usually the as successful for its honesty but hope for a happy ending. one you also scream at the most." and hopelessness: "it's a The central character, Bobby the Artist, lives Another resident is Alan Blunt the Cunt, a comedy of errors, about this life as one big trip; h e is your friend who is a blatant paedophile who will make your stomach girl who decides to be as nice wannabe bohemian scenester with Russell churn. Yet loathing of this seedy alcoholic turns as possible to everyone, after Brand dramatics. Whilst you'd think you would into pity: Milward saves all his characters feeling responsible for her want to punch him, you just want to hug Bobby through a natural rite of passage that is accepted boyfriend's swcide" he explams. for his genuine naivety. He is head over heels in with relief and is dear of cinematic cliches, but . Milward may be prettyyol.mg (26. love with his girlfriend Georgie, who binges on his attempt to save Alan Blunt the Cunt in in fact) to have two published novels sugary sweets as her way of empathising with particular, strikes as bold and brave. under his belt, but this does not mean he Bobby's insatiable appetite for drugs. Their The tl1read that pulls Milward' s story 1s short of advice to aspiring writers. And relationship is a beautiful tangle of innocence, together was "inspired by living in cramped flats. in the voice of Benny the Artist, he dishevelment and love. You can hear everyone's daily secret business references a quote from On the Road Bobby has true artistic talent which gets him when you live in such close proximity to your (Jack Kerouac): "You've got to recognised by the art world. Milward says his neighbours (and usually it's the loud stuff: stick to it with the energy of own experience of "getting slung into the literary arguments, sex, their dodgy music taste ... I had a Benny (speed) world and having to rub shoulders with folk at to endure Craig David serenading me for a few addict". these stuffy literary parties", was projected onto months). Living in flats seems to give you a sort Milward's Bobby's stint in London, where he binged on of psychic sixth sense. Or i(just turns you into a all- everything you shouldn't. Milward writes with nosy bastard!"

Feeling Inspired? Check out The Ca.davenne, a Leeds based anthology for young, budding wrtters

they challenge or dazzle in their genre, meaning of the most estranged character, the watcher. effect is chilling. that each entry is at an eloquent and stunning The watcher is an unacknowledged theme of Throughout this inspiring anthology, you can tt;::cadavenr e CJ. rr level consistently from the first page to the last. the collection as a whole. Perhaps it has to be; if a expect words to be bent and twisted to fit m The CadaverineAnthologyis an eclectic and The pieces that particularly stood out poem is to be good then it must engage in the ways that capture the subtle or not-so-subtle sophisticated collection of young writers' work, to me were the short stories. Yet this was simply world and offer a unique reflection upon it. nuances of the images seamlessly, often an irresistible ensem ble of poetry and fiction, because they demanded more space and Nevertheless, these writings are particularly unexpectedly but inevitably memorably. including short stories, interviews, and a attention than the poems, rather than because insightful explorations of perception and the cookery-diary. All the pieces have been carefully there was something lacking in the poetry. world wh erein we live. Some are playful, such as You can buy The Cadaverine from the website, selected from the website, thecadaverine.com In particular, Amy Christmas' understated Gav Hudson's The Urban Forager's Cookbook, or from um·on Books, downstairs in the Union. which anyone under the age of 25 can submit first-person voice in Symptoms ofBeatrice but many are haunting and sinister, particularly their own creative writing into. builds up a chilling tension between the familiar Swithun Cooper's Oties Wi"th No Signal, where words: Georgina Hannsworth Each writer has been selected for the way and the other, an incredibly personal narrative the writing is so effortless and realist that the

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--=-WJ'I.--•~;' ~~~--,..------. - --.---?"'=""'------;;,-.------~·;;,' .•_...... ~J-• ;_,,.I•~_._,,--,•:..1,•_.-. . ..-: , • • \ I • • •:' • :,, ,• • , ...... I ,-' • f • t "' • ; L ': ._ r w-i" • • .ii l • < I/ ., I r : .- ._._,· ~' • .I-. •·· •• --- TECH ~..,,•~:}~..;-:.,..,~•-~<~-~~-r-h_~" 1 20 29 110 -- PREVIEW 1\/1 t the iPad The consumer technology industry has iPad, a touchscreen tablet computer. It was especially as the word processor, been happy over the last few years to also announced Wednesday. spreadsheet, and presentation components prnmote the smart phone as a bridge The iPad can be thought of as a beefed of iWork are sold seperately. between a phone and the laptop. However up iPod Touch measuring in at 9.6" by 7.5" More so, there will be a shock to all users anyone who has tried to use a smart phone and half an inch thick, roughly on par with in how difficult work may be on the device. in place of then laptop will tell you it is no an A4 pad, with built-in wi fi and for the While a netbook may have technical bridge, it's higher spec (and higher price) iPads, 3G limitations on its processing power the iPad altogether an too. also has limitations on what you are impossible leap of c""----....C- The technical fundamentally allowed to do on the device faith. Netbooks, specifications are multi-tasking, as with the iPod and iPhone, small-sized laptop fantastic: the demos on is not allowed. computers, bridge Wednesday featured In fact, it may tum out that not a lot is the gap more flawless presentations of allowed on the platform at all. Rather than successfully. games designed the OSX you see on a standard Apple Interestingly one specifically for the computer, the iPad is kitted out with the of the world's biggest device, iTunes coverflow iPhone's operating system, with both its smart phone and general musical advantages and disadvantages Typically producers is also a ability, Google Maps any application that competes with the computer-lifestyle with Street View, and a Apple built software is barred and without manufacturer: they product specific version access to a true operating system, students go by the name of of iWork. - who we can assume Apple is targeting - Apple. Their share of iWork? Though it that depend on programming will be left the personal shouldn't be-surprising, high and dry by the iPad. computer market this tablet is a very Ultimately the market has posed the can't be considered Apple tablet. Their own question, do you need a laptop? Either you niche any more, and Office Suite is on there do, you don't need a portable computer at it was revealed on and has admittedly all or you want/need a netbook or tablet. Wednesday that taken full advantage of Tablets are neat solutions, often kitted out they're bigger than the multi touch as ebook readers (as with the iPad) and Nokia in terms o enabled iPad- the could be killer gadgets, but only when the revenue from selling onscreen keyboard manufacturer doesn't box you mside a phones. even changes to accommodate your task - software creche. ,. So where is Apple's netbook? It's the but this will be a shock for new users words: Martin Hadley

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OBSERV...._...,.._.....~-- ...... ·--A---~----~ TIONS 29 0110 I miss the way you Politics of the Let's Just call it ,, used to be Edward Boyle karma ... . J English Uterature English and French ., . . ' ' ~ ~ Taxi Driver Be stretchy like • 1 - Prawn Cocktail ~ London Stretch Armstrong Fairly Odd The The smell of books • Parents Sorn Fincharn Faversham Shadows in pools •• • • j J

clmittirlly alothas b:eri.saidalxutfa::axxik re::ently, ruttbat's stEo.sil:xyalibrary.refactoamulti-stD!ycoffee~withrocoffee estaurant work ensures that I am brought into thelevelithasentem:lours:x:ial~ We justa:nversation. Un:loobtrrllythCJ.m tre:eisaninexm:able contact with an enormous variety of people, Ot~P']Ities,adqJtfurrnyardanimalarrl Olink~timeles,library=tionsand=ria.t:ionsof ometimes a good thing, and other times not; ~inmoowarallfu:rn thes:d'e, ~g)cmofthemmp.iter S!hx:e,industrn.isstudyetc,~oftalking Whyis therero this time, not. I recently bore witness to someone ro:een Imustrlnit, llike F.:mx:rl<, rutlarolike rantingarrlone thing much talkingina~ch:liratedtosilence? using the age old classic, "Don't you know who I am?" thatoothersmeroendisthestupidgroops~pn,ofwm:hthere At the beginning of first year we treat lecturers and . line. Something I didn't think actually happened and hasre::entlyD:ffi quiteasurfat seminar tutors like we would our old teachers; we quickly to which of course, the answer, if you're having to ask, "I am not a morning person" "100 (extremely clingy) find out though that the same rules don't apply. There is no is "no". Initially mildly traumatic and with hindsight things a guy should always do fora girl" "I like waking up conventional deference awarded to the lecturer or seminar absolutely hilarious; this incid·ent managed to spark a next to you" "I love orgasms!" Oh, you love orgasms you tutor you work with them on first name basis; if you miss conversation amongst the waitresses about karma, say? Really? Well that makes you one of the six and a half three of their seminars, you are called in for a counselling which in tum got me thinking: are there divine forces billion other people who are also fans, but choose not to session rather than a slap on the wrist or detention. ln whose sole purpose is to even out all the shit in the reveal that they are currently 'wanting some' via a global world? If so, does this mean that one day the press medium. I too dislike it when people don't text back, enjoy will forget about Paris Hilton, or that the day I leave staying up late, going on holiday, have a requirement for Leeds I will become rich, will never have to read agam, more wealth and in fact generally display the typical Everything reminds us will upgrade from Asda Smartprice and will stop emotional responses of most humans in social situations. drunkenly embarrassing myself on a nightly basis? I may also be a fan of the cold side of the pillow on hot of an Institution ... lrs We can but dream. nights, warm baths/beds/bodies on cold days and Karma itself can be defined in two ways, the first stepping on crunchy ]eaves/snow/children, but these are relies on the existence of God to, in effect, punish you p1ivate pleasures to be enjoyed by me alone. In fact, part of cold, monolithic, for making awful decisions. The second and only the enjoyment in such things lies in believing you are the vaguely more plausible definition relies on the laws of 1 ,tjljtc:iri~n . lnnk.d . only person in the world to have discovered and revelled in 'shb~. tMccl!'I'J'enl:ioticl1 jYower ynam1 1.at exists nature to punish and reward an individual for their such an activity. You may as well just join a group entitled between student and teacher, child and It, in SchC" l :S chosen actions. Either way, if you're mean you'll get 'one of the crowd'. absent at university. At university we L&en ser• ~,y; found out, particularly poignant when considering the Admittedly there are some useful groups, such as those seen as adults. recent festive season, reminiscent of the eerie image that genuinely are endorsed by charities, but the majority Sometimes though, we don't want to be treated as of Santa seeing you while you're sleeping and his are Just created by chavs, spammers and narcissistic idiots adults. We yearn for a return of the old power dynamic: we mystic omniscience in compiling his naughty and nice with agendas. What really amuses me is how much crave imperative tones and uncompromising orders. Enter lists. So if you too excitedly tore open your stocking attention people think criminals, companies and countries the Edward Boyle Library. this Christmas to find a sad and lonely lump of coal in are actually going to pay to their group's members; "Robert Everything about this place reminds us of an institution: the toe, I think this may be a time to reflect and to Mugabe sucks" has 2,000 followers - I bet he's quaking in its cold, monolithic, utilitanan look; its turnstiles and pinpoint where it is exactly that we have gone wrong. his jackboots right now, maybe crying a little at his global members of staff; its orders and statements: Silent Study! f'm not an angel, I don't think I'm supposed to be, I unpopularity. Kraft never cared how about how many No food or drink! Phone Zone! Everyone chooses this cold am a student; am I not allowed to horrendously people would obJect in Cadbury if they took them over, do clinical, concrete slab over the quaint old Brotherton misbehave? Apparently not. Either that or my parents you really think they'll actually give a damn about a bunch because it looks like a school. Likewise, we the students think it's side-splitting to panic me into thinking I am of people who clicked a button to join a group? treat it like school. We disobey its rules and regulations: we going to proverbial hell by giving me coal, which in Now, I could go on about this all day, but I've revision talk and eat and drink as loudly as we can if we're really fact only amounts to black streaks across all bed linen, and a word limit, so I'll conclude; what bothers me most of lucky a librarian/marshal will come and reprimand us for skin and pyjamas, for Christmas. They say it was a all is how this banality pervades our everyday lives. "John doing so. The Boyle is a place where adult character traits joke. All it has caused is a mild paranoia. As a direct Smith is at work." Well maybe he should also be doing his are replaced by childish ones, it's a place where result, I am now delightful, even if I say so myself and job. I just don't care. What we have with the internet is not consideration and understanding for others are supplanted it has in a way paid off; people smile back m the street, the 'singularity' envisioned by science fiction writers of the by selfishness, disruption and non -conformity. The Boyle, return favours, and even do you favours . The lessons last century (a collection of uriified minds working as one, through its rules and regulations, facilitates a regression 1 have learnt are therefore threefold. Firstly, and most brilliant supercomputer in the same way that a load of back to a time when all we cared about was pissing people importantly that my parents have an awful sense of dumb termites can build a pinnacle of civil engineering) off. humour; secondly that sometimes being a bit nicer but a collection of dung beetles rolling their turd-balls at There is so much talking in the library because it's every now and again goes a long way. And lastly, that one another 'for jokes'. I love the internet, I really do, but forbidden to talk in the library. We have to view talking in karma does exist; my mum had to wash my coal can we please have more Wikipedias and less "I used to like the Boyle as endemic of a desire in all of all us to disobey, stained sheets. All that's left now is for someone to you but now I think you're a dick." groups before our disregard, and most importantly relinquish all punch that person I overheard square in the face collective brains tum to mush? responsibilities that adulthood imposes on us. If you want whilst politely informing them that no, they do not to get any work done, go to the Brotherton. know who they are.

MINI------OR~FRVATIONS------

"Student prices are "Screw diets, just "When is it going to "Road rage and great, but they just have more green get warm enough to extreme weather don't apply to the tea-breaks. It skinny dip in the conditions is always really useful things, speeds up your Roger Stevens pool a bad mix." like alcohol and metabolism, which again?" chocolate." means more biscuits."

Annie Hawes Dave Miller AlexThomas

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Friday, January 29, 2010 \ .leed student.or< Leeds Student 13 Critical New species of bird discovered by Analysis Science Leeds Fellow Conunentary with Fliss lnkpen ln an a rounding discovery, a new . rune day," he saic.l. carried out smce 1986 . on our planet." species of bird has been identified in Further research confirms that the "It underlines the incredible "2010 is the international Year of the threatened Bornean rainforest by species has never before been recorded diversity of this remarkable area," said Biodiversity. It is an opportunity co Leeds Resea rch Fell ow Dr D avid anywhere in the world. Adam Tomasek, leader of WWF's increase our knowledge of nature and l~wards. 111e striking grey and black bird has }kart of Borneo Initiative. its functioning, explain its importance The elated Edwards, of d1c FaculC) bright white arcs above and below the "The discovery of a new bird to tl,e wider public, and most of all, A creative of Biological Sciences, first observed eye, a broad white stripe from throat to species further emphasizes the undcrmke action to reduce the current the bird along with two leader of the central belly, and pure whire tufts at d1c importance of the commioncm already threats in order tu allow thousands occupation tour company Field Guides, near the breast sides. The following clay, the made by Bnmei Darussalru11, lndonesia more di covcries like th1 one in the Borneo Rainforest Lo

13 Friday, January 29, 2010 ·www.lccd~. tudt'nt.org I Leeds Student Straw takes a trip down memory

you not think this is a sad day for Q: I it really going to achieve \\'as the summer of '68 which was just Jack Straw visited LUU on freedom of speech in this country? anything though, other than anger before I left mv year as student and outrage and anger the public President. [ was uncertain about January 18 to take part in a A: o it isn't, there arc \·cry smct all over again? whether we should go for a it-in, the cntena laid down m the Tcrrori:m Act L ni, crStC) were keeping files on question and answer session. 200ll. It has to be pnncipall) abnut A: \\'ell f think after rmlitaf\ acaon of students and political allegiance : you Leeds Student's Chris Stevenson whether these organisations are this ktnd I think n's right rh.crc should couldn't do that these days, you could org:uu. ing or supporung tcn-onsm or be a review. Th~ I rac1 war is do tt then. \n tnc1uir) wa. all we managed to grab a few minutes associated act1Yit\. Lt is quite right controversial in two respects bccau e wanted so we.: finally decided at a mas. these critcrta should be narro,~ of the process that led to the decision mec.ting Ill the Riley Sm.ith l lall to with the Justice Secretary to bccaLL~e as you say you shouldn 'r go of milit.H\ action and above all hm·c a sit-tn. \X'c has T could have added." they lire fundamental to thl economic about whether we.: should be tn r-i!r tr:iw appeared to be in a success and the cohesion of nur .t\fghan1staB, because lhat is a relaxed mood and this continued in . OCtel) . legitimate part of public debate, bur tn the intcrvic,v as be allowed us to touch offend the memory of people wbo ha upon a wide range of ubjects in the Q: How important do you think ve put their It, cs nn the line on interview afterwards. the issue of cu ts will be in the \fghani tan for the re tofus. The general election? And how arm} and na\'y and R \f,' nnd other Q: How would you respond to important will the student vote be? volunteers put thcmsekcs on the suggestions that some student frontline and get shot up. The~- had find it unfair that although top-up A: The . tudent vote is n:ry important designed thi. protest with malice and Back in 2000, Simon Rothstein, a enrering the Union lapsed in 2003. fees arc about to rise in the near and l 'm very proud of the fact that forethought 10 cause offence. The member of the LUU Executive, [ n 2007, a further motion wa - future, the budget for the HE wh~nlwashcrewegmce\idencctoa Mosgue in my consrirncnC}, proposed a motion which sought propo ed by student Rob Damiao to sector is about to be slashed? review where we proposed to reduce Lancashire have been the most vocal to revoke Mr Straw's life reinstate r-, Ir, craw'_ LUU the age of maiorit\ from 21 to 18. the ~nst lsla~14L I, Jtself. membership and ban him from the membership and put his name back A: We introduced . o-called top-up Labour pho o gra phy: Ri c hard Smith~ Union. on the Presidents' Board. fees in 2004 because we thought we that. Then we at me -" L moK tt to Q: How were you feeling about the ·n,e motion Stated tl1a1: ''Jack The morion stated: "That, had to do that in order 10 provide the Court of r\p~eal tn ensure that Chilcot inquiry and gi ing ' craw, as I lomc ecrera.ry, ha whatever \iews indi\'idual member, additional funding for urnvcrsiucs and students could register to vote here al evidence next week? furthered W>Vemment piiltcies may hold regarding former fficers of l their Unt\'Crsity rather than th= home create he funds to gain international curtailing civil Liberties. rn,ey[ the Uruon, we should not hide, or experience. People who arc able to go address which is why slUclcnts can A:. \X'e set up the Chilcot mquiry as in undermine basic pnnciples of attempt to erase, their place in the co university are able to earn have a lot more power since then, so it my mind there should he a full public freedom, liberty and democracy. LUU organisation's history." It was passed considerably more than those who is very important. im1u.iry imo the l raq military conflict is ashan1cd that.Jack Straw was·c\'cr its by L,200 votes to around 400. don't we arc aware of that. ctting the l hope that student. do what is in and we said we would do that. president and [he\ is a dist.rracc to both l lowcvcr, h1s name was balance here is very difficult, it just is. their interests and the country's Gordon said we would do that as LUU and the country." subsequently scratched off the brnu-d, Well, as I said m the Q and A, I had a interests and vote for Labour. soon as we had no troops tn lraq. 111a1 full grant and as a conscc1ucnce l was \'(/ill it be an issue? fa) be one of the ts the.: situaoon. I low do I feel abour Over GOO sn1dcnts took part in d1e pictured below, and this led to a glas able to get my education but there.: arc i sues, but rbe truth is Lhat the tl? \X'ell I am comfortable in debate that foUowcd and all but sheet being placed o\·cr the board to only a handful of people like me, I Conscrvam·es, as they have admitted explaining the decisions which the around 50 voted for the motion to prevent further vandalism. would never haYe gone mro pracace would cut public spending more than British gm·cmmcnt made m 2003 and pass. Mr trl\\\'Was sub. equcnd) till, tl1is has not stopped an at the bar and that was also on the we would because they have said they my role in them. Orr}, you are jusr banned and his name was removed cntcrposing student from using a basis of gc.:tting anorber large want to reduce the deficit tn a shorter going to have to watt for my e\~dence. from thl board of of ex- tudcnt black marker to obsure .Mr rraw'. scholarship based on my results, l also time cale, which could become presidents. The ban on Lr craw name from view, pictured above. had to pay my pupil master. Some dainaging to the cnun tr}. Q: I know you may not be able to rhings hme improved con. idcrnbl)' If you want to look to the future answer this, but what about the since then. look at people's record · in the past, we Jetter you suppo edly sent to Tony On tl,e cuts, they arc reductions in have been re ponsiblc for better Blair stating that mrntary action funding which would be decided and spending and a greater lt:vel of may not be the best policy? set for the nc.:xt financial year, l wa expansion of the education . ystcm. talking tu your Vice-Chancellor about The Conservative. left the whole A: That is a matter for the ,hilcot thar and no decisions are being made education system in a mess. tnquiry and the} have been provided for future years. AU public bodies arc ,vith all the paper I sent the Prime under a sgueczc, budgets arc under a Q: In terms of the organi ation Minister and man, od1er people. wally scriou squeeze [and people] are lslam4UK, why are the BNP trying to do more for lcs . allowed to exi t and not them? Do • •

Friday, January 29, 2010 , vw.le •d tudent.or Leeds Student 15 lane in return to farmer Union Jack Straw played an active role in student politics while at Leeds, becoming Student President in 1967 /68. Most famously he was involved in was the sit-in that took place in the Parkison Building in June 1968. He gained a lot of press coverage for this and various other incidents ...

DIRECT IIY JACI( STRAW VIC£.PRESIOENT, N.~.S

Wbat··- - -.-ona _.i th the N.u.s. ACTION AT 1 CONDEMN THE MASSES EEDS Of STUDENTS WHO TAKE 11ion asks for HO INTEREST IN THE ACT­ joint inquiry IONS OF THOSE WHO SEEK

TO REPRESENT THEM. .. • l -. TIIClt.'1).\..\. • "lu.,"fii fat h,,IAD ~ kc:pc Ute , on \11 of these items are taken from L<'Yi pouCE r l 111io11 ">-.m'S, the pn:Ill· univ rs1ti become President. country. Above - This piece from ( ktobcr of l 966 was wntten by Su·aw followi.nl!,' ,1 OJI n, ,· a trip to Chile for which the Porcign 'P· 1.1. ..,lr'-·,H Office ca!Jc

The Chilcot Inquiry was faced in my life. I had actively certainly would have been no "all I.hat would have happened i peace and security b) rea, on of its announced on June 15 2009 with supported ;he military action i~ majority, either in cabinet or in the that the inspection. proces would weapon of mas· destruction." the aim of looking into the the Falklands and in the first Gulf Commons." have petereJ out, the unresolved country's role in the Iraq War. \X ar, whilst in opposition. I had disarmament ~1ucst1ons woulv c all have public matter. been direct!) involved in the post- intend to do so, and full) acccpt On regime change: our bottom lmes." Jack Straw ga\e evidence on 9 / l 1 strategy which had lcJ to the the responsibilities which flow January 21 in orJcr to expl~in his inva ion of •\(ghanisran. But those from that. I believed at the time, "[Regime change] was off the But the decision to go to war

16 Friday, J anuary 29 2010 Leeds Student The -worst Inorning after Drink spiking has been imprinted on the consciousness of every student in the land after multiple campaigns and adverts. Victoria Gray was unlucky enough to have her drink spiked and she writes about her experiences of trying to find out what happened to her Stumbling back in at two am fresher's packs to the constant trying to find out more, still feeling which more than 200 students LUU works closely wi th the Unit supported by two random guys I reminders to not leave your drink horrible, we eventually gave up. blamed the effects of a bad night 1421 campaign, which advises that met near the Fav may sound like unwatched, ir seemed chat it must But the fact that there is no way out on dare rape drugs, when in fact if one su pects a spike to report it to a normal night for some people, be as easy to deal with the 'afters' of to confirm whether I lost any ort the venue staff and the police. but it certainly wasn't for me. spiking as the 'befores'. of tolerance for alcohol that night It appears one only The difficulty of co n fi rming Waking up the next day in the lf you think your drink has been or actually did have omething put suspected spikes means reporting same vomit covered clothes I had spiked, tell someone you trust if you in my drink does not add up. If I pays attention to them is problematic, but this is a been out in the night before, with can. Tell the management if there is am ju ta terrible lightweight, I methods of difficulty caused by the lack o f huge cuts I don't re.member getting, no-one there, as they should be able should probably get to know my services to confirm them. T his was bad enough, but not the worst to help. Then try to get to Accident limits so that I can survive the next avoiding being vicious circle needs to be broken if parr of my tale. The worst part was and Emergency , where the police two years at uni, and if anything the problem is going ro be solved. having absolutely no knowledge of untoward had happened, we would spiked after it has Madeleine Harris-Smith, Leeds how I had got into that state, feeling have bad ro report it ro the police. happened to you University Union Welfare Offic er like one of those people from the But without a confirmation of points our that: "I t can happen to 'you wouldn't end the night like whether anything had happened, both men and women, and the most this' adverts. I had had my drink the report would not go very far. they had just drunk excessively. common substance used ro spi ke . piked. Speaking to others - both boys Dr Adam Burgess from the drinks is alcohol! ,After mulling over the night with and girls - who have had university's School of Social Policy, "My number one tip is that you the friend I had been our with, who experiences of spiked drinks, it ociology and Social Research, said: take care of your drink - alway keep had almost the same experience, we appears one only pay attention to "Young women appear to be an eye on it, and never accept a both came to the ame conclusion. method of avoiding being spiked displacing their anxietJe about the drink that you haven't seen opened Like many students, we had been to after .it has happened to you or consequences of consuming what is or poured. It's simple advice but its a free bar, although the 'bar' part of someone dose to you. in the bottle on to rumours of what the most effective measure you can that was a bit of an exaggeration - Pres reports of drink spiking could be put there by someone take against you r drin k bei ng you could have either a inglc vodka have increased over the last few , cl c." spiked. Please also look o ut fo r mi..-xer or a small glass of wine. years, but actual figure are difficult Leed City Council reports that your friends, and bear in mind that After having a couple of each, to verify. Drugs can leave the drink spiking around Leeds is you may not be able to see, smell or sickness began ro set in. However, system very quickly, so often tests currently on the increase. Last rasre that yo ur d rink has been neither of u were prone to blacking for drink spiking can return serne ter alone, l heard around I 0 spiked." out and throwing up al l over the negative results. However in 2007, stories of friends or friends of place on that amount of alcohol. one helpline received over 600 friends who had had their drink That being the case, we set about reports of drug-related rape and spiked. illustrations: Laura Crane trying to figure out what happened. ·exual abuse. Symptoms of drink. spiking vary Attempts to ask for statistics on depending on what substance has numbers of patients reporting been used. They can be in liquid or spikes uncovered that both the powder form, and may not have any Leed teaching hospitals and Leeds r= smell or taste. Your drink can should be contacted. A blood or Primary Care Trust do not keep appear as if nothing untoward has urine sample can also be collected record on the number of patients tr happened. to try to a certain whether your reporting suspected spikes. Lack of The most common drugs used in drink has been spiked. evidence means there is nothing to drink spiking are also known. as dare However, this is the only in an investigate, with the problem left rape drugs. They vary, from other ideal turn of events. Our case was untreated as a result. types of alcohol through to not so simple. Hearing from a Th.is feeling of confusion over tranquiliser and GHB. They work friend who had been spiked before whether you have had your drink b) slowing down your nervous and had a blood rest, we toddled spiked was echoed by other ystem and dulli.ng your responses, down to Leeds Student Medical students. leaving people vulnerable. Practice to see if they could help. Suisse Osborne-James, a second Symptoms can range from Whilst not being particuJary useful, year Linguistics student said of her both doctors commented on the experience: "l was spiked in a club I work students coming in recently with the used to go to every Saturday. They by same problem. Because it's a small dub, you see the slowing down Unperturbed, we continued to ame faces every week and every Leeds General lnfirma.ry, where we one knows everyone. Like most your nervous were told that we would have to pay people who have been spiked, What to do if you think your drink has been spiked £300. looking back on the experience is Thankfully nothing terrible still confusing despite it having been system and Tell someone you trust and try to get them to take you home. happened to us, minus the odd lost almost two years ago, because 1 was phone. My cab driver however got never able to work out if I had been dulling your If not, call someone or tell the managen1ent and get to a safe spiked for sure. very angry with my throwing up out place. responses. of the window and physicalJy threw "l have been back to the club me our of the cab after driving me since, but I'll never be able to relax T ry to g e t to A&E as soon as possible where you can be tested. to a cash machine and standing over !.here again. It is certainly true that it drowsiness to confusion and me while L took out the fifty pound is only once it's happened that you They should call the police, but if not, report the incident. disorientation, through to paranoia fine he demanded (the usual fine i uddenly realise how easy it can be and hallucinations. twenty pounds). This explained my and bow cautious you need to be. Report the incident to the venue. Figuring our what happcnecl to cuts. Had it not been for the two ow I won't even leave a drink with us proved surprisingly difficult. good Samaritans who saw this and a trusted friend. It comes with me Considering everything you bear rook m\;! home, I could have had an everywhere." Leeds Stude nt Medical Practice: 0113 295 4488 about avoiding getting spiked, from entirely different nighL However, ome researchers from Leeds General Infirmary: 0113 243 2799 NHS Direct: 0845 4647 the bottle stoppers provided in After a day of trekking around Kent University did a survey in • • • • •

Friday, January 29 2010 'W\ .le• ds tud nt m Leeds Student ------Further The cost of truth your studies The freedom of the press was on the agenda at an event organised by Liberty@Leeds last week, where and get an Leeds students heard from Dr. Simon Singh advantage in the job market

The laws of defamation aren't clear and present tbrea1 lo the "Libel laws are there to protect the nonnally considered to be overly freedom of the media which is repu tauon of individuals and exciting, but a large lecture theatre undoubtedly the cornerstone of a safe corporations and companies in was packed out for the arrival of and democratic society. If big English law. Typically free speech ha Simon Singh, the physicist who corporation can bring a libel acuon come a long way bchmd ail sorts 1f Programmes available in: has done stints as author, every ume something negative is interests. ot just libel law but one columnist and broadcaster, who written about them, safe 1n the can think of things like state secret was in Leeds to talk about growing knowledge that many publications law, copynght, a whole range of areas Education, Teacher Training, concern about our country's laws can't even afford to defend where the state has priomised the Law, Politics and International of defamation. them elves, then the law seems to gift interests that is opposed to fn.:edom A tall Briush-As1an with spiky these companies the right to of speech". Studies, Development Studies, black hair and cirular-nmmed glasses, determine what is and isn't known But it seems like the ha%y figure of Singh i a natural communicator who about them. libel reform may be peering over the Sociology and Social Policy engages the crowd instant!) with a "Everybody else in the world looks political horizon. A large scale humility which belies his acievements. at our libel laws and thinks d1ev're a campaign of authors, lawyer and Corne along to speak to He gained hi personal interest in the joke'', says Singh. But not only are 1oumalists is hoping to place the i sue laws of libel when an aroclc he wrote British laws providing amusement for higher up the political agenda. members of staff and in the Guardian about compliment,'lf} the global community, they arc The Justice Secretary,Jack traw, WJth medicine ended up the subject of an proving a tool of convenience for the whom the power of legal change current students about the action by the British Chiropractic uper-rich. The phenomenon of ulomatel} rests, has suggested that we Association (BCA), who claimed ''Libel touosm" is sweepmg London's could see a review of the laws m the postgraduate opportunities defamation. The legal problem stems legal industry, where claimants who near future. from the BCA's claim, denied by aren't from Britain are bringing ca.cs "Our libel laws are having a chillmg available in the Faculty. ingh, that the article suggested that against defendant who equally aren't effc.'CL It is hitting the press that is v1ral chiropractors deliberately and from Britain to rake advantage of the to our dtmocracy but whose finances knowingly mislead their patients. claimant-sympathetic nature of the arc much more difficult, and that "I don't think that's what mv article ystem. includes magazines, one or two of the says. It's not what I meant. i don't One pamcularly disturbing nat10nals, and regional and local think it's what a reasonable reader instance of this is the case brought newspapers, and it's really bad for Come along to see would mkc from 1t." agarnst Dr. Rachel Ehrenfeld, the them. Thar's why I will b(. changing o far it has cost Singh over author of a book called Fundin,g I'..vil.· the law on defamation costs." how we can help you £100,000 to defend himself, which he I loll' Tenvris111 iI Pi11anced and I Jou, lo But Professor Cram think that an, almo t certainly won't get back in full, top It. Ln the book it was claimed that optimism about this seeming Beech Grove House, even if he wins. And this is one of the a audi Banker, Khalid bin Mahfouz commim1cnt must be cauoous: most worrying problems about the had financial lrnks with tcrronst "Pnvate companies will resist reform University of Leeds current legal situation: groups, Al-Qaeda and Hamas. of libel laws and they ,vill make their "l can afford to do this because ·n,e case is still the basis of a trans­ voices heard in parliament through l've had some bestselling books and A tla nu c legal wrangle, which is lobbying so you shouldn't expect the February 3rd ten years of fancastic success in ~:riling complicated by an increasing tendency process to be a quick one." but very few people could do this." for US states to mle that defamation Dr. Singh's case goes to the court 1pm - 5pm And not only is the legal system rulings ·in the UK will have no of appeal on February 22nd in what prohibitively expens1 c for journalists, jurisdiction in Amenca. Even more could be a pivotal mling both for the bur British laws are peculiarly tilted in farcically, some large U newspapers reform movement and in the histot, favour of claimants and against have threatened to stop distribution of the British media as a whole. wrhc,· Find out more defendants. The usual presumption of and block internet acce s to their could begin to trike a new balanc~ a def~ndant being "innocent until papers in this country so that cases between free speech and tJ1e right to proven guilty", which is normally can't be brought here. reputation or d,ey could remforce the www.essl.leeds.ac.uk considered sacrosanct, doesn't apply Bui why, in the counayconsidered situation we have at the moment," he in the case of libel and the burden is to be a political model for the world added. "Wc'U haYe to wait and sec." ?n the defendant to prove their to mimic; the home of Paine, Locke And after all of the financial and /graduate-school U10ocence. Further to this, the defense and Mill, are the laws regulating the emotional straw which he bas been of public interest isn't nearly as robust press so stifling? Why is the put under, l ask him if he regrets as it is in other countries, such as the fundamental right to free expression writing the offending article. Hi USA. This means that even being upersedcd by the right to answer is simple, and that of an information which is important for reputation? unashamedly zealous lover of the public to know can be cloaked b,· "1 think traditionally that's how it's scientific enquiry and open debate: libel. J been in English law'', says Professor ' o.n And the effect of these quirks of Ian Cram, an expert in consotutional the Bntish constitution pose a very law at the University of Leeds. James Legge .. • • •

18 Friday, January 29, 2010 Leeds Student The graveyard shift Football is in a state of mourning, as winter heralds the end for a host of unfortunate managers. Leeds Student looks at the sport's peculiarly funereal fascination with sackings.

Car• J.inckcr displ!lscd with his manv incidental fataliues in a · Grant's cl ub, Dafydd Pritchard dcfault mod · of radiant smu.brness to gangster fi lm. P ortsmouth, have assod.atcs(ai p;lumh announce parky\ deparrure, The indifference should come as recently had a and l\ lat h of the Day cnded their transfer embargo lecdsstudent.org no smprise. I !art (pictured) was the usually chirpy closing montl'lge with runth manager to be dispatched hy lifted, and they commentator teve \X/ilsnn's QPR owner, Formula 1 mogul and will be hoping desparnng mcnnnn nf l lughcs' pseudo mafia boss, Flavio Bnatorc. that an in flux of "lingering wn,-c". Wary nf Bri, torc's fe,1rsome new faces 1ethe·1.· 1t i& a confused I wen Arsent· \X;cnger, rhe reputatton, mcJia coverage of 11:trt's breathes new 'parnsh ph)~11akc1 supposed 1',1) of i111cllecrual hope 111 demtsi: was muted. Rolling news Li fe into the x:ing shown around tlw lnndfill site of Prem, r I .c:11--,rue channels were conspicuously rclegation­ m,mmgham or a cltcht's, succumbed to rhe solemnit) unwilling to expand on t.1,c issue, t.l1reatencd promising Bdgi.u1 hy adding that "ii ts :rlwavs ,cry snd while newspapers were similarly side. Wmidfidder takmg m the sight.<; n[ when a manager loses hrs job". careful not 10 upser Briatore. WtJlvcrhamptnn, tht· Januarv tr.U1sfrr ThL· most sombre of tributes was Similarly bereft of sentiment was window n:pn.:scnL\ DL"-\ bcp;tnntngs for paid to \Ian l rvt11e, who was On:d the end of Gar)' Megson's tenure at the transfer fi >otbalkrs. hi' Pn.:ston. I Lis succc;sso1· Rob I,clly Bolton. l .ike r la.rt, tht response to Frbidly prowl bettL'r". instead brushe;l aside: like 0;1e of of'nails in the coffin' and 'dead men their tcchni al areas. Northuinbria demolished as Queen of the Hill Uni surge into quarter fmals Men's Squash round. opponent the run an und in his had was c1uickly turned into Leeds' Non<.: of rhts seemed to be fir. t game, winning it 11 -2, even Women's Basketball advantage by th e d efence and Llni l.ccds lst-s ~-0 orthumhria aft<::r be turned over his ankle early Leeds Uni Lsts 105- 7 Liverpool rmpressrve speed from O luchi who 2nostcd by th,tt t.tlent wise the, should be Fighting (l[f ,1 comehack to win victory as "rourine", pointing out the: lirst game I l 7, be then rook the fact 1hut rhcy were a class apart rhts control :ind the entered their Player of the Match highcr than the Bllc'S orth 2B strongest stage, which saw som league, tw(l divisions higher than the second I I 5. Orroch then I rom I orthumbrta. They will Mel Hill finished the 10b in St) le, winning undnubt ·dly face a sterner extremely quick anti accurate pa ing Northumbria. throughout the court, effortless!\ Worked well dcl\\n the court and her Gotng 11110 \'{'ednesda \ march the: first eight points or the third challenge in the final eight, and sh.noting helped 1..ct.'C!s to the game for an emphatic l 1- l scurc will play either ' heffield Firsts or convened into baskets by some they wcn: the last Lint team tn the cfficreni shoe ting from Erin- Cbrkc, impressi\'C points haul line. York ~cconds. Cup with the Seconds and Thmls ]\,,fr[ 1lill and !--..'It Chuan Chao. D.rn Grni picked up ,, here losing to 11 uddt:rsfield and What litt.le pos ess1on Liverpool Durham respectively 111 the fir t Orrnch had left off, gi\ing his • • • - • • • -

Friday, January 29, 2010 Leeds Student 19 LS

,.

THE A dark day for football WEEK IN JUmful cries were heru.d ringing autographs, shows how clo. ca and sporting bram gave him the space exhibited regularly away from 11uughout the blue side of relationship be had wid, the club and to glide past the Championship Fa. dands, where the vocal tones of M fanchcstcrthiswcck \wh the its faithful. outfit's defence and dup the the travelling support have often NUMBERS news tn'lt crowtl and dub fuvuuritc Robinho For Robinho really is a one-club goalkeeper, capping off another v-·hipped him up into a frenzy, 1ust has moved on k.xlll to Brazilian side SM11~ man. I 1is dedication to City rivals that '-''ondrous awav performance. cannot be bought \"1.id1 Middle until thccn bea:k:pcd ti) remained unconscious. Iorri tz, wt rzc rland, m<>re important!} it is beneficial New Orleans Saints CVCJ.}(nS fuu.um., (~~DOC ITTllll.uocturer This 1s not the first time I recall T British bobslcighcr Gillian to the sports that otherw1 e do have made it to the lurtoorooa:oci=i1J.~ Nmmele$it'sa enjoying a big sporo.ng occasion at Cooke's suit split JUSt a~ she not get the same coveragc· SuperBowl cx:marn1rol fi:,urd to be~tn d,c such an unfamiliar hour. 11,e 2002 prepared w begin her run. afforded to football and rugby. 'htw' or'l allow us to watch the game. onto the Internet and watch it for football game perhaps, allov-·ing myself out of bed at a rime which the lnfamousl) England were defeated vourself but mstead to nuse the you to open a new tab and then non-student population might by a bizarre Ronaldinho goal from a ~1uest1on or the affect rhe l01crnet watch the highlights of the last consider acceptable. seemingly innocuous free-kick which has on sport. · game.: during half t1me, the On Thur day morrung this all fooled keeper David eaman. A a result of rhis sudden po sibilitie are endless. changed however. Bleary eyed J Ridiculing Seaman's prepo tcrous mn.:n:sc in women's bob le1gh the 1aybe even an end to k} 's woke at just past 8 to watch nd) ponytail soon became tire ome and, ,iewing numbers for the e,cnt at apparent monopoly on li1·c sport, lurray reach the Australian Open by late morning a general malaise had the \'ancou,·er \\'inter Olympics well we can dream. tennis final. Courtcsv of the time set in amongst pupils. Even tho·e next month will no doubt increase difference, anyone ~anting to watch with little interest in the result could live in the K was forced to tune in not fail to be infected by the and rhis 1s :i. trend that is being James Green at the rather inconvenient time of seemingly contagious misery spread replicated acros sport :is a whole. 8.30 10 order to sec die senu-final bl' those football fans let down so The iPlayer now allow people "He's come on played in the splendor of p~edictably by th(; national ide once to watch sport at limes chat suit Melbourne· summer cvemng. again. The coo equence, however, them in a host of nev- locanons. his left foot!" TI1e motivation to rise ca.riv was was that my cl,ool, full of kids All these technological of the most pressing kind, for' I am a placated b,; d,eir disappoinrn,cnt, adv:rnccments have proceeded to Tony Gale comments on self-con fes ed sport fanatic. l t was, were less unruly leaving teachers increase the profile oi such Robert Eanishaw's however, an odd sensation for largdy relieved of their normal crowd obscure sports as bobsleigh, someone more accustomed to accuracy during a game in control dun.. meaning that their foliowmg which Earnie scored a pectator spores with a 3pm kick-off. If only L:..ery chv 1 could enjoy my grows and, by allowing viewing brace for a rarnpan t Forest le certainly wasn't unpleasant though. eggs in die mommg v-~th a dose of umes to be fluid, mure people can side on Wednesday night. As a result I wa. able to enjoy a sport watch even if the) were busv leisurely breakfast quire unlike the when It was shown live. usual hurried piece of toast, and Michael Glenister This certainly has a positive absorb the peacefulness of a srudem • • • • •

20 Friday, January 29, 2010 Leeds Student

BUCS round-up: After winning the another stc.:p closer to promotion. Keele lsts It wasn't such a gooJ wec.:k for etball I sts, Norrhu-n Premier with a 2 - I win .1gainst Netball I .oughborough in December, ,1 9 1 win awa} in who m;1nagccl to avoid rdega tion d l'sp ite l\fanchcstcr this Wl'l'k ennUmH.:d thc G ryplmns slumping LO 1hcir fifth straight defeat. Leeds G ryphons I sts 48 - 55 Northumbria l ·ootball I sts' 1mp1·es1vc.: sL·ason as thl') ensurcd D c.:s pitl' win ning promotion t< the I ortlw rn I. ts n 12 po111t il'ad llVC.:r their nearest nvals. Con fc rt· n cc I A th ~ l ni Coif team were Leed s Grypho ns 2nds 42 23 Teesside knockt J ou r of the Conference C up b) 2nds hlsewhl:r1:, the Rugby l ninn I sts rook Leeds .,_9;pho ns 3rds 3 1 38 T ee side ewc:istlc 2nds. lsts (CU P) Rugby League Badminton Leeds Grypho ns brs 4- 18 Leeds Met Leeds niversiryMen's lsts 5 3 2nds L'lncru.ter 1scs Leeds Grypho ns 2nd O - 36 York tjohn Leeds Lniversit:y \X'omcn l) 8 Leeds Met lsts lsts Rugby Union Basketball Leeds Gryphons Men's 1s rs 17 - 12 Leed. niversi tt Men's 1sts 128 48 Loghborough 2nd Teesside 2nds (CUP) Leeds Grvpl ions M.en'. 2nds 26 - O I.eccl. University Women 105 17 orthumori a 4ths Liverpool hts Leeds Cnphons 1en's 3rds 10- 28 Leeds Met 4th . . Fencing Leeds Lniversity Women 44 - 5 heffield Hallam I sts Leeds Uruvcr, it) Men's lsts 135 - 79 Lancaster I . ts Squash Leeds niversit\ !en's 2nds 128 - I 04 Bradford I sts (C P) Lec

111111utes. 1..xtent of Teess1de's deficit seemnl add to their points total as tl1c} to put e,·cn more p ninrs o n the Men's Basketball Leeds began to capnalisc on a ro afford them a cart.. free .ittitude lnwly got a grip on the match. board, the match fi ni bing 124-46. significant height adn111tag1.. 1.ceds l rnvcn.n~ I sts 124 46 I lowc,cr, the surge didn't la t The victor) m amtain. a three around the hasket., as the 1owcring long and Leed.' Krumesh Patel point gap over Leed s' cl o. c t Tcc.:ssidc l niversitv I ~L, figures or I lua Zhang \X'alker and It was a was quick tO get on the ball and chall engers 111 the rablc, Leeds l\~ et e rgc l .eshchuk garhcred neral slow the game's tempo, 2nds. It 1s fitting that the vars 1t) Lc.:cds ni, ersitv deHroyenunue their 100 pc-r op1..ning quartn which finished 15- when and domin. nee. season. If Lee d s can main tain cent ,vinrnng re;cord in the l3UC 9. Teesside brought ,,.ith them ,l \X edne da, 's form, however, it is Northern ConfcrenCL' 2B. Leeds Leeds weren't rocallv reliant on not if the squaJ of 1ust 6 and so ,,·ith little hard to sec anyone beating them. dom111ated the game from start to their phrsical prLscnce, however, opportunity to rest, thcir players lin1sh, condenu1111g Tecs1dc ro a 78 and put together a number of swift began to noticeably tire in the final pomt defc,11. interchanges that Teesside's 100 point stages. The result was a mas 1,e unurganised defending foiled to Heading into the fin:il yuarter Player of the Match 1mpr<" ement nn the slender 7 cope ,dth. Luke Burton injc.:cted mark would Leeds led 94 3 \ and 1t became a point victory gained awa, at rq~ular bursts of speed to crentc a matter of when and not if the, 11 ua Zhang Walker Tc.:cssidc 111 ovcmber, nncl served series of l'aS} baskets for his team ":ould .reach the IOU point mark. mates, and AnJrcns Tsiatim1s be reached CapLun Joe ox secured the to undedme Leeds' league.: wtnnmg Towcnng around the basket, HUil incrt·as~·d the lead further with , chi~vcment wtth a fine -p01ntc.:r crcckntiab. Z han~ \\.alker helped Leed to111 some excellent lay ups brcaking that saw an improved as his team never let up. The home team immediareh set • C:IS} win. about thctr work, putting 20 pt~ints through a crowded defence. performance, albeit bnefly. An 1mprcss1n: late cameo from between thcmseh cs and thc.:ir The hosts held a 7 J 24 lc,1d The away ·iJc crented a number Jack \!mar sho\, eel the depth of emering the third LJUarter, but the of chances· :ind began to rapid!) opp n n c n ts w· 1th t n the fi rs t 5 the sguad, aJdrng several lay-ups • • • t '• • .. •

Friday, January 2 9 , 2 0 10 Leeds Student 21 the

After baseball legend Mark McGwire joined a long list of m ajor sporting stars to admit to the use of performance enhancing drugs, LS Sport asks:

refused to admit co steroid abuse, mumbling other high profile baseball player , including that he was "not here to talk about the past." current home run record holder Barry Bonds, Josh Powling 'Big Mac's' reason for admitting to steroid Lawrence Ostlere has sought to cling on to his records and use now, was an attempt to clear the slate, as he reputations, albeit beneath a cloud of tomier American baselEl pill) er Mark will begin the 2010 season as hitring coach for he World Anti-Doping t\gency su picion. McGw1re's confession, on the lcGwu:cadmincd to usmgpcrfunnancc hi former manager Tony La.Ru sa. Jack Clark, (WADA) was formed 10 years ago ocher band, has sacrificed much of his iancing

7 Spices Kashmiri restaurant and takeaway 7 Spices extends a warm wel­ come to all students to Leeds. Our chef prepares all food to order from fresh ingredients. New for 2009 we introduce a s p I C E s £5.95 buffet offer, and a function h all for even ts! 7 Tel. 0113 2435758 Ful ly Licensed COME FOR lHE BEST, 203/205 Woodhouse St, eet Leeds • LS6 2NY FORGET liHE RES1i! • • • • •

22 Friday, January 29, 2010 Leeds Student Durham snatch late 'Win Gryphons

Women's Hockey Leeds C, n ph, ,ns J sts I 2 Durham 2nds

Leeds Gr} phons Women's I lockC\ wnm sufft'rcd th<.: agonr of a lasr mmure Lkfra1 as Durham condemned them co a 2- 1 l(>SS :t• \X eetwood r,n W'eJnesda) . tac1c Garside had given the Gryphons d1L lead with 25 minutt:s remaining after a drab f"irst half. But rhe Yisicon wcrc back on lcvd terms within fi, e mmuce., and then went on to t,tp 1n the winner at tht.: ~ccc,nd attempt with seconds left on the clock. The first half was , tcntat1,·c affair, wtth ch;1nccs few and far between. Thc bcsc openings ,,·ere The first half was a tentative SOLID: Durham defend another Uni attack

affair, with horrendous finishing. After game needed a goal, anc.l Garside Prom then on Durham were ball to leap up over her and leave a mis. 1ng an open goal, Jo urlcy c.lid the honour·. Latch mg on to VLr\' much the better team, simple finish. It was a cruel blow chances few pulled off a goal line clearance tu an incisi\'e slide- rule pass from bre;king \I.Ith speed and drawmg for Leeds, but a win Durham fully prevent the away side scoring-. barley Grt:en, the Gryphons several top class saves from deserved. and far Sloppy passing and a stern forward lid the ball in from a eight Gore.Ion. defence from Curlev and the anglt: to park celebration on the Leeds' best chances to retake between impressive ara Kayu~1 kept the home bench. the lead came with a flurry of short scores locked as the hosts went in This was hon lived, howe\·er, corners. bm rhe\' foiled to converr. Player of the Match at the break slightly on the back a the visitors upped their game The Gr1 phun·s bench faced a spurned by poor finishing from fo t. and got back on level terms with a nerV) moment when Durham had Jo Curley both sides. t\nnie Gamble had the The second half began much as controversial goal. The shot from a short corner or their own with best chance for Leeds, only the first bad en dee.I: a t1ghr outside the area appeared to go two minutes left, which Leeds Scrong at the back despite: l~ng managing to hit the keeper after midfield affair with few clear-cut straight into Gordon's goal, but cleared at the rh1rc.l attempt. under pressure for much of the good build up play. coring opportunitie . the umpire deemed it to haYe been But there was still time for game. At the ocher end, the Durham Gordon was forced into a good deflected b, a Durham forward more drama as Gordon made a forwards were guilty of some sa, e from a rising shot, but the inside the o: and the goal scnod. brilliant last ditch save only for the Uni are up an' Hallam Women's Rugby and out in the backs. The first try Sheffield counterpart., but a luck) break on the very edge several inclividual break and helped came quickl) as the Leeds team demonstrated b) their quick of the pitch gave the 'heffield side forwards I Ieike eimand, Lotte Leeds ni 1srs 44 5 Sheffield utilised t1uick passing and forceful offloads and player upport. their only try and made Leed. Kestner and Am, Boyd to raise the Hallam lsts rucking to allow second row Amy They were rewarded b) two tries derermined to garher more points. core. Boyd to crash the ball home. I\ in quick succession from prop Tht: first trv m the second half arah Lamming put the cherry Jubilant Leeds once again sported Emma Jones and econc.l row Jenny came after a ;trong Leeds scrum. on the ca.kc by converting twice to Pre-match fears that the Chrisu-nas the weaknesses in the heffiel

Friday, January 29, 2010 Leeds Student 23 Met retain local bragging rights with comfortable victory conditions. Despite Uni grmving as an attacking Gryphons force through the first half, with Plumbadge being held up close co the line, the ryphon's hopes of a comeback were dealt a severe blow a thev conceded a try on the troke of half ome. Pace on "the l\kt wing saw another try m the right corner. ni were subjected to more Men's Rugby League Leeds Gryphons lsts 4 - 18 Leed Despite Uni growing \kt lsts as an attacking force through the first half, Leeds \kt cemented their posinon the Gryphon's hopes nL':lf the top of the onhcm Premier League as they recorded a relatively of a co1neback were comfort:ahle win over Uni. Yet despite the end result the Gryphons were dealt a severe blow as unforrunate not LO penetrate the i\let tbey conceded a try defence more than they did, a:; on tlu·ee occasions thC) saw attacks held up on on the stroke of half 1.he Met Lr\' line. time The to;,c for the game was set in the i111tial stages of the first half, as the ma1ority of the pl.I\ wa in the pressure cadr in the second hall~ as J;u;1. Gryphon's half Lmng defence from ditch cackks were made bv Frce,rnm to Cni mer thcsc attacks in the blusten, prevem Met from killing the !,>ame. conditions at \X'eeru·ood. · 11-us resistance did however pay off. It took until JUSt thc I 3th minute for As another Uni attack was held up on Mer co score their first try of the game. the I\ let tl") line Ben Slater stepped in to \litch.ing play from left to oght, rn clave the ball over the line and secure were caught exposed as the l\Iet wmg the Gryphon's only points of thc day. scored in the corner. Too many errors characterised the The Gryphons responded well to Gryphon's play, however, and this was the early try, 11 driving run from Jonny emphasised by Met' foutth ti") of the Soloanne brought ni just a metre da,. 1\ fumble mid wav in the Uru half, away from the Met try line. all;)wcd the 1er fo~ard to core a Yet four attempted assaults on the breakawa) try and take the score to 18- ~ kt defence could not break it, and the 4. attack faded out. horrly after, a G1yphon's coach commented after dunimy pass from the Met hooker saw the game that ·•we lost the f.,1fill1C rather them double their advantage. The cry than them winning" as ultimatcl) coo ,\·as duly converted, but was the on!) many ni errors prevented the conversion of the day due to the wind) Gryphon's from breaking down the sturdy Met defence. Leeds look for fresh start next season

'Other teams have a lot oi r_-,r-:-a'11e.e3 cbring thL 111renal were managed by thc irnpressi\'e them the score would have been a Men's Lacrosse 1mernacional players. \X'e\·e done befo~~ making a fa( bLtter contest Leeds forward ( Ilic Prescott and lor higher. \\'c were just a bit Leeds 1sts 8 - 15 1 orthumbria I ts really well con idering the players of the ensuing three tJUartcrs. his attacking partner Charlie rusty'. we'\·e got', said \lifalker, resulting 111 a respectable King also seemed confident l liggins, who felt that his squad Men's Conference Men's 1B 8: 15 final score. that, with a seasons experience on had coped well considering the Leeds progress during the game their side, the team can expect a "Men against bors": Often­ inexper1ence of their players in P\Xl Pts was evident in the final quarter more successful 2010/1 1 season: Dllrham lsrs 0 24 employed to patronising effect comparison to the division?s ocher which produced a clean sheet ?it?s sometime wugh co form a against the defeated, this sides. Sheffidtl !la!Lun 1stst ~ 5 2 18 courtesy of some fine keeping by side as we don't get a lot of slanderous cliche is typically Given rhe1r relauve immaturit} :Morgan, who produced a string of fonding and it's hard for some thought of in figurative terms but it was little surprise then that 111 Lt.-cds ~let 1sis 5 '\ 2. HI blocks, including a particularly guys to shell out for kit, but there's can be applied in more literal their final league fixture for the impressive reaction save after the a good group of boys here who fashion to a Leeds university season against orchumbria, Shcifidcl 1sts 8 6 2 18 Leeds defence allowed themselves can build on thi season' progre ·s lacrosse side comprised solely of Leeds struggled early on, to be dispos cs ed following some and do well next year.' baby-faced conceding seven goals without any Northumbna 2nds -I -I 12 misdirected passing. freshers. response in the opening It was a rare defensive error for York 7 3 -I 6 The fledgling side have endured quarter. Leeds, who grew into a game, a tough baptism into BUCS At that cage Leed might well Leeds 8 1 7 3 which, had they not trugglcd in Player of the Match competition, collecung just one have feared a heavy loss of similar early on, might ha,·e yie ld ed a league victor) all season, which proportions to 1.hat which was Newcastle 6 2 -I o• victory. Callum Morgan came against a Hull side who inflicted bv fellow Yorshirrnen 'After the Chrtstmas period Oc.,p1rc n,ncc,lrng ><.'Ven goals rn the operung languish at the bottom of che table Sheffield Uni last month, who Hull 6 0 b .(, everyone' come back a bit rusty,' quaner, ~1org.m ;1t(J11cd \\.,th ~tJrrw impressive on negative 6 points courte y of netted 27 past keeper Callum said ream coach ,\dam King, saves as the gum "cm on. gaining pnse from their failure to fulfil cwo fixtures. 1\lorgan. 'David Hoare had a storming game team wach ;\dam King. Team captain Matt Higgins But Leeds refused to allow De pite conceding on a further at the back along with Callum defended his young side, however. defeatism to prevail and eight occasions, four goal apiece Morgan. If tt weren't for - • • • • •

Drug cheats: redemption or ridicule?

Boyle has Gryphons sirmnering

Gryphons

Men's Rugby Union Lt:eds Gryphons I sts 1- - 12 Loughborough 2nds

hard fought l'ICtoq over Loughborough, the onh opposition tn defeat them 111 the league thi~ season, e.-tendet) the G ryphons' lead at the top of the BL C': Premier orth 13 . Two second half tries secured, ict<>r\ in a game that limped from <->ne scrum to another. Loughborough Jo1111nated possess1un for much ol a frustrating first half. Strong winds made 1t difficult for both ,1Je to retain possession before the ball was knocked-on. Desptrt. the home sitk 's 111d1sc1plinc and lack of possession, a resolute n,up,h 2nd!:- 10 5 5 15 pamcularl\' in their ~ ~ found pace on his opponent's down to interpretation. \X'hat's current form. Brown ~ Platt C9 (, more impon:rnL is thaL we need to outside shoulder. Broadly broke a ;\fanchi.·stt:r I st~ l l 'i IS ,\ fter the p;ame Broadley ® Recs-Cook tackle to offload to put wing be switched on." 1 lyde was full of Johnson ~ Durham 2nd, 10 5 5 15 The second try came after ni Hubert Brown in for an easy run praise for his Murray (9")_ had won a second sc run1 against in. hdl back Chris Platt con,·erted fo rward unit p~ ro put the Gry phons into the lead tbe head. The introduction of highlighting thc for the first ttme tn the game. The game was marred b) fresher Rob l~ll1nson at prop performances of The lead did nut la t long as indiscipline; U 111 were penalised m1dwa) through the second half Boy le and fresher Loughborough quickly . truck back for 111discretion at Lhe break