Interview: Tom Maksymiw Sochi 2014: Reactions talks to Cardinal Sin? John Woodcock MP Why the LSE should have as part of challenged Peter Turkson ‘Time To Talk’ over LGBT rights. 2SLQLRQS 6SRUWS Opinion: p. 10 Features p. 23 Catholic Church (England and Wales) CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Tuesday February 11 2014 | www.thebeaveronline.com | No. 806 FREE Newspaper of the LSE Students’ Union The Beaver Bursary Delays Hit AU Strikes Gold Students Gareth Rosser, Sports Editor votes cast - James Evans, Deputy News Editor 709 ښ RECORDS WERE BROKEN largest number LSE STUDENTS WERE DIS- last week as the UGM hosted APPOINTED to discover that a long awaited motion to in- since return of payments of an essential bur- crease the budget of the LSE’s sary would be a month late. Athletics Union. A staggering online voting. The termly payment which is 588 students voted over the provided by the LSE to help ,in favour 588 ښ hour period in favour of 24 cover the living costs or pay increasing the budget from 99 against, 22 for accommodation for stu- £86,821.90 to £99,845.19. A dents from the lowest income further 121 votes were cast, abstentions. groups were informed last with 99 students opposing month that the payment would CFO promises ښ the motion and 22 declaring not arrive on time. themselves undecided. These WRૹQDQFHLQ- 7KH ஊQDQFLDO VXSSRUW RI- dissenters demonstrated that WKHUHڔஊFHWROGWKH%HDYHUWKDW the rallying cries of the AU crease. was a technical issue with the Executive in the lead up to the LSE AU payment for some of the Lent -Paper throw ښ vote failed to fully satisfy the term instalments of the LSE concerns of all students. ing returns to bursaries,” and although the The UGM was heavily issue had now been resolved, hyped in the preceding days, UGM. the funding would not happen as proposers Harold Craston, until “mid-February.” AU President, and Thomas troversial line of attack, criti- perceived cliquey nature of theatrical to say the least. No information has been Meaden, AU Treasurer, sought cizing the behaviour of some the AU, with the opposition Wong’s proposal, that each released about the details of to unite the AU’s many clubs AU students in recent events being praised for sparking a society receive £2 funding per the ‘technical issue’ but it is in favour of the motion. The such as Take Me Out, and go- debate on the issue. member from the school was known that the issue only af- turnout at the UGM suggested ing so far as to describe some The UGM ended with par- deemed too distorting to the fects students from the UK that they had succeeded, and members of the AU as “nasty”. ticipants in generally high motion, as it would cost the and not international students despite the UGM following a Unsurprisingly this won him spirits, with many describing school a further £29k. But it ZKRUHTXLUHஊQDQFLDOVXSSRUW Wednesday night in Zoo Bar another bout of paper pelting, the UGM as reenergised fol- wasn’t all doom for Wong, as 7KH ஊQDQFLDO VXSSRUW VHU- there was a strong AU pres- although the AU might con- lowing more lacklustre previ- Meaden promised to garner vices encouraged students ence. sider investing any budget in- ous meetings. AU support for him should he to apply for an interest free Much scrutiny had been crease in training sessions to 7KH ஊQDO YRWH WDOO\ UH- propose a separate motion to short term loan if the delay given to the motion by LSESU improve their members’ aim, ஋HFWHGWKLVZLWKDWRWDOWXUQ- increase society funding. FDXVHG DQ\ ஊQDQFLDO GLIILFXO- societies, who feared that an based on the evidence avail- out of 709 votes proving a The motion’s opposers, ties. However, instead of reas- increase in the AU budget able in the UGM. stark contrast to the previous UGM stalwarts Dan Martin suring students, this recom- could only come at a cost Lively questions followed, UGM, which failed to meet the and Jamie Pelling, then took to mendation merely angered to them. Both proposers at- with many issues raised for quoracy of 250 votes. The re- the stage and experienced the some members of the student tempted to allay their fears, would-be voters to consider. sounding endorsement of the comeback of a tradition from body. with Meaden speaking di- Tennis Captain Chris Angue- motion doesn’t guarantee the the UGMs of yesteryear. A An Economic History stu- rectly to them as he said “our lov shocked many as he re- 15% budget increase since previous ban on paper throw- dent who does not wish to gain is not your loss”. Amen- vealed that members of his the AU must get approval ing has expired after three be named questioned ‘Why dements submitted before the team pay as much as £600 a from the Board of Trustees. years, and old copies of the should I have to apply for a UGM were generally received year out of their own pockets However, Chief Financial Beaver had been distributed loan? Of course the delay will positively, being accepted ei- to represent LSE. Officer Andy Farrell, a strong on the Old Theatre’s balcony FDXVH ஊQDQFLDO GLIILFXOWLHV ther in part or in full. The Pro- Meanwhile Miriam Mir- supporter of the SU, seemed to ensure that students took otherwise I wouldn’t need the posers consequently resolved witch brought the attention to suggest the request would -Q$ڑfull advantage of their lofty IXQGLQJLQWKHஊUVWSODFH that the AU will continue to of the UGM to the underfund- meet with approval on Twit- vantage point. Despite being nie Leonard, a second year be proactive in increasing its ing of Women’s sports teams ter, responding to A&D Of- in the minority in the room, Law student, reiterated these diversity, as well as promis- relative to their male counter- ficer Hannah Richmond’s re- DQG GHVSLWH ஋XUULHV RI SDSHU concerns saying, “I don’t see ing punishments for any club parts. Meaden acknowledged quest with ‘it will be done.’ projectiles, both Martin and why students have to wait an- found to be engaging in dis- this and suggested this was Meaden professed the AU Pelling spoke well as they RWKHU PRQWK IRU WKLV YLWDO ஊ- criminatory behaviour. a result of those clubs being ‘delighted with both the suc- voiced concerns shared by nancial support; LSE is clearly An amendment proposed more recently founded, and ess of the motion and Mr Far- many non-AU students. not short of money”. by Jason Wong and Musty Ka- thus placing an increasing rell’s commitment’, going on Pelling made the point For students from the poor- HKRSHWKLVLVWKHஊUVW:ڐ\PDORQWKH஋RRUZDVKRZHYHU strain on the budget which WRVD particularly well as he high- est economic background dismissed bluntly by Meaden, has not been revised accord- step of many in making our lighted the worry that the AU this non repayable bursary is whose prepared responses ingly. Athletics Union as successful would be prioritised over soci- worth around £3500 a year, throughout the UGM were There was also acknowl- as it can be!’ eties. Martin took a more con- edgement in the room of the making up a considerable pro- portion of their yearly budget; In other News... the delay will inevitably pre- VHQWGL஌FXOWLHV City-wide protests against loan privitization LSE ranked 47th most international uni Any student experienc- Students gathered to voice their opposition to the govern- The Times of Higher Education ranked the School as LQJ DQ\ ૽QDQFLDO GLIILFXOWLHV ment’s planned privatization of student loans. the 47th most international university in the world. VKRXOG FRQWDFW WKH ૽QDQFLDO VXSSRUW RIILFH LQ FRQ૽GHQFH NEWS Page 3 NEWS Page 5 ૽QDQFLDOVXSSRUW#OVHDFXN 2 The Beaver 8QLRQ%DVKď Room 2.02, TheBeaver Saw Swee Hock Student Centre, Enjoyed this Established in 1949 LSE Students Union week’s AU Issue No. 806 - Tuesday February 11 2014 - tinyurl.com/beaver806 London Hackery: Telephone: 0207 955 6705 Email: [email protected] WC2A 2AE Website: www.thebeaveronline.com Twitter: @beaveronline Executive Editor Record turnout and Dennis Mooney Return of paper [email protected] throwing? Motions, Elections and Editorials Managing Editor More AU Motions! Josh Jinruang (or lack thereof) [email protected] News Editor I promised myself I was going to write a proper and will support political initiatives on campus Sophie Donszelmann Especially the editorial this weekend, to actually sit down and that we think are worthwhile. It appears that [email protected] Treasurer’s take issue with some kind of injustice, or at least the amendment proposed by Messrs Wong and appearance: to take a stand on an issue close to my heart. As Kamal at the UGM is now to go forward as a Opinion Editor I found myself standing outside a Southampton motion in its own right; the details are as yet Sebastien Ash McDonalds at 4:30am on Saturday, arguing the unclear but they may rest assured that if it is [email protected] Meaden on stage toss with a man who looked like a McNugget in SUDFWLFDOIDLUDQGஊQDQFLDOO\IHDVLEOHDVWKH$8 Features Editor but, a suit and tie over my legal right to remain in budget motion was, they will have our support. Mike Pearson With such warlike the car park - I forget my exact legal grounds [email protected] but I was, by all accounts, detailing them in a Ahead of the all-important Lent Term elections, rhetoric, ORTXDFLRXVPDQQHU,UH஋HFWHGWKDWLWSUREDEO\ battle lines are being drawn, allegiances ques- Social Editor Many saw Churchill. wasn’t going to happen. tioned and secret Facebook groups created.