Brig Newspaper Volume 52 Issue 2 by Brig Newspaper

STIRLING'S STUDENT NEWSPAPER

VOL.52 ISSUE.2

Pancake day? We've got you covered. PAGE 26

9 FEBRUARY 2022

A tribute to the legend that is: Meat Loaf PAGE 10

TOP PRIZE FOR FORMER EDITOR By Andrew Robson

From left to right Neil Campbell, manager at the Kilted Kangaroo, Danielle McRorieSmith, Go Forth Stirling Project director and Dave Thompson, manager at Fubar. Image Credit:- Go Forth Stirling

PUBWATCH SCHEME GIVEN NEW LEASE OF LIFE By Iona Brownlie Editor in Chief

STIRLING'S Pubwatch campaign has been given a refresh with a fully digitised communications system and the appointment of a new team. Members, who make up most of Stirling's licensed premises' managers, have received new two-way digital radios thanks to funding from Go Forth Stirling BID and Police Scotland. The radio's will allow Stirling's pubs and club owners to contact and share information and photographs with each other

in a bid to tackle anti-social behaviour affecting the nighttime economy. Go Forth Stirling secured 15 radios for pub owners and other relevant parties like volunteers with the Safebase 'safe haven' initiative, taxi marshals and Stirling Street Pastors. The radios will link managers and staff with each other as well as to police officers, City Centre CCTV and the Thistles. Dave Thompson, General Manager at Fubar, and Neil Campbell, General Manager at the Kilted Kangaroo, have been appointed as the new Pubwatch Chairs, taking over from Danielle McRorie-Smith.

Thompson said: "I'm pleased to be part of a new team will give us a fresh impetus as we move forward into 2022 and prepared for the return to a vibrant night-time economy in Stirling. "Ensuring the safety of our patrols and staff in and around licensed premises is a top priority... and being a part of Pubwatch is a fantastic way for our business to talk to each other in partnership with the police and other stakeholders. "It all helps ensure a safe city centre and allow us to send out a clear, joint message that anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated within our premises."

Danielle McRorie-Smith, Project Director at Go Forth Stirling said: "We were delighted to be able to provide the upgraded digital radio system to Stirling Pubwatch members and other relevant organisations. "This is an important investment which will make a significant difference to communications between night-time economy stakeholders and is much better and quicker than the old analogue system. "We want to help build confidence in Stirling's evening

Continued on page 3

FORMER Brig Editor-in-Chief Abigail Taylor won ‘Young Journalist of the Year’ at the Highlands and Islands Press Ball and Media Awards. Taylor, who graduated in 2020, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to win this award and truly am shocked. My mentor and editor Iain Stephen has been amazing throughout my first year with Am Pàipear. “I have covered a wide range of stories from ferries to lost jewellery and wouldn’t change the entire experience for anything. “I would say to anyone thinking about applying for jobs to just go for it because it will pay off. My contract finishes this summer but I hope to continue on my journey as a journalist into broadcast and use my passion of politics with that. “I joined Women in Journalism Scotland this year and through that, Laura Kuenssberg, BBC political correspondent, has become my mentor. I feel extremely lucky and positive to be in this position and I am grateful for where I am and where I’ll be heading in the future.” Abigail currently works for the Am Pàipear, based in the Outer Hebrides.

NEWS NEWS

EDITORIAL

By Iona Brownlie Editor-in-Chief

OUR last printed paper was a huge success and I am incredibly proud of how it turned out and the reception it received. Since its publication, Brig alum from across the UK received a copy of the much anticipated return showing that print journalism is very much alive and well. All our members and our committee have worked just as hard to produce this next edition filled with more contene and even a new section. Braw is our new magazine section which combines magazine journalism with our classic Brig style. What started as a seperate publication is now at home as one of our sections. It brings new content and new ideas to fit new and exsiting readers. While we are pleased to be printing again, we have to acknowledge our work to increase our social media platforms. From February 2021 to February 2022 our Intsgaram reach increased by 491.9%. This is a huge achievement for our social media team and our head of social media Isla. Brig is continuing to grow and it's thanks to the continous hard work of everyone involved in both online content, social media and paper content. I hope you enjoy our latest edition and look forward to the next

www.brignews.com /brignewspaper

@brig_newspaper @brignewspaper @brignewspaper

Bus travel will be free in Scotland for all under-22s with a valid ID card. image: Jamie Cooke

Scotland introduces free bus travel for under 22 THE Young Persons (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel Scheme is now available in Scotland since January 31. Transport Scotland is introducing the scheme for children and youth aged 5-21. Children under five years old already have the capability of travelling free of charge. To be eligible, you need to have either a valid National Entitlement Card (NEC) or a Young Scot NEC with a free bus travel indication on it. People already having a Young Scot NEC should apply for a replacement with the added free bus travel product, otherwise, they will be charged for their tickets. The product is a chip inside the card and should be scanned

when getting on the bus to receive a receipt. People who are 16 and over can complete the NEC application themselves, while children under 16 must have their parents or guardians apply for them. Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish First Minister, said: “We are committed to giving our young people the very best chances to succeed in life. “The extension of free bus travel to all under 22s will improve access to education, leisure, and work, while supporting the adoption of sustainable travel behaviours early in their lives.” Transport Scotland reveals 61 per cent of young Scots believe free bus travel will help fight the climate change. Stewart, a YoungScot volunteer,

commented: "Free bus travel for young people in Scotland is a fantastic way to help tackle the climate emergency - an issue that's so important to young people as we are the generation who will be most impacted." Also commenting, Evelyn Tweed MSP for Stirling said: “I am thrilled that nearly 19,000 young people in this constituency now have access to a scheme which has potential to transform bus travel and improve the lives of many children, young people and families. “Extending free bus travel helps connects more people to education, leisure, and work opportunities. It also allows people to make a choice to travel sustainably, which we know is something young people care

about. “Increasing bus use will also help us reach our world-leading goal of cutting the number of kilometres travelled by car by 20% by 2030 and reaching net zero emissions by 2045.” Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Transport Scotland is requesting only travelling for essential purposes, e.g. to school or work. You can apply for the scheme via the website www.getyournec.scot

STIRLING Students’ Union has been awarded Quality Students’ Union (QSU) status by the National Union of Students (NUS). This news come after the Students’ Union last year took part in the national accreditation scheme. The QSU scheme is a quality framework which outlines what good practice in Students’ Unions looks like across a number of themes covering their: governance, leadership and management, their activities, and their outcomes. The scheme also interlocks with and complements relevant standards, codes that exist within the student movement and the charities sector such as the Students Union good

governance code, Green Impact, and Investor in People. The Union was judged against key criteria in a number of different areas including relationship and partnerships, democracy, services, equality, diversity and inclusion, participation and more. In total there were 11 areas. In six of the areas the Union received the highest ranking, four were seen as being very good, while sustainability work was noted as “working towards” on the basis of the Green Impact scheme, however due to COVID-19 the Union were unable to run this in 2021. The assessors did note however the Union “great work” in the sustainability area due to being the first Carbon Neutral

Students’ Union in the UK. The Students’ Union said: “Moving forward, staff and Officers will be identifying and building on the excellent work identified and establishing what else we need to be doing with you in mind. A big thanks must go to those students who took part in interviews with assessors and to Union staff and Officers who help deliver this work collectively so we can ‘make students’ lives better’.” Commenting on the award, Student Union President Nela Cadinanos Gonzalez said: “It is so important that alongside the regular feedback we get from students on our work, we have a way in which to benchmark against other Union’s to ensure

we’re delivering for you.” “From our equality, diversity and inclusion work to democratic processes, student engagement to facilities, the feedback from QSU is a great credit to the hard work of everyone in the Union.” “The report will be used to plan further work so we can continue to strengthen and develop in the best interest of our students.” “We are always open to hear from our members as any feedback or suggestion is valuable, so please do make sure to get in touch to help us improve and make students’ lives better”.”

By Julia Adamska

UNION GETS “QUALITY” STATUS

By Ben Waddell News Editor

NEWS

POLITICS COMMENT POLITICS COMMENT MUSIC FILM MUSIC & TVFILM ARTS & TV BRAW ARTS GAMING LIFESTYLEFEATURES FOOD 6-7 6-7 8-9 10-11 7-8 12-13 9-10 12-13 14-15 15-16 16-17 18-19 20-21 23-25 22-24 26-27

FORMER STUDENT UNION PRESIDENT TO RUN IN UPCOMING COUNCIL ELECTIONS

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STIRLING'S PUBWATCH RELAUNCHED Continued from front

Smith with Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater. Image Credit: - Amy Smith Twitter

By Ben Waddell News Editor THE former President of Stirling Students Union has launched a bid to become one of Stirling’s youngest councillor. Amy Smith, 25, the former Union President will run in the upcoming elections in May in attempt to gain a seat in the Stirling North ward. Smith who has lived, worked, and studied in Stirling North for the last six years has been selected by the The Scottish Green Party as their candidate for the area.

Smith was first elected as a Sabbatical Officer in 2019 where she campaigned for better financial support for students and to make the university commit to a progressive zero emissions target. Now, Smith aims to take her hopes for the environment and social justice to Stirling Council. In the previous council elections, the Green Party were only 112 votes away from winning a seat in the area. At the upcoming elections the party see winning a seat in the Stirling North area as winnable and they also see the election being an important opportunity to

increase their influence in the council. Currently, only 29 per cent of Scotland’s Councillors are women and if Smith is elected it will make her the first person under 30 to win a seat in Stirling Council for 23 years. Commenting on her bid to become Stirling North ward next councillor Smith said: “Having worked and studied in Stirling since 2015, I feel that I have a good understanding of what the local issues are, because I’ve experienced many of them.” “From terrible landlords to buses that are late and overcrowded, people in Stirling need to see some real change.”

“Now that so many young people, including myself, are protesting against climate injustice, it’s time we brought this message into our local council.” “It’s also pivotally important that young people vote in their local elections, especially in a marginal seat like Stirling North. We need students and young people to use their voice and demand a greener, fairer Stirling.” The Stirling North ward includes: the City Centre, Raploch, Cornton, Causewayhead, University, and Riverside.

economy and the radios give venues the capability to work together in a quick and secure fashion and will help make our city as safe as possible. "Refreshing the Pubwatch scheme is a crucial step which highlights the efforts all premises are going to to share best practice and work together to combat anti-social behaviour." National Pubwatch is a voluntary organisation set up to support the work of local Pubwatch groups formed by people working in licensed premises. Their objectives include tackling and preventing anti-social behaviour, promoting safe drinking environments for customers and secure working environments for staff and improving communication and sharing information between licensees.

CORRECTION-

In the last edition a quote from Jon Walton was used in the article 'Nightlife Safety Scheme 'Pubwatch' Relaunched in stirling City Centre' however Walton is no longer President of Go Forth Stirling and the quote was outdated and has since been removed from the online article.

FUBAR CALLS FOR END TO VACCINE PASSPORTS OVER CONCERNS FOR NIGHT-TIME HOSPITALITY REVENUE STIRLING nightclub Fubar has called on MSPs to challenge the use of vaccine passports in Scotland. In a statement shared on their Facebook page, the club said they want to: “avoid irreversible damage to the NightTime economy, hospitality, and events industries in Scotland” caused by the “debilitating restrictions” set out by the Government. Under current restrictions, bars, clubs, function rooms, and nightclubs are required to check the vaccine status of anyone who will be on the premises after midnight. The vaccine passports require people to have two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. If the second dose was administered over 120 days ago,

they are required to show they have had their booster jab You can also provide a negative PCR test if it has been taken in the last 24 hours. Evelyn Tweed, MSP for Stirling, said: "As we ease the protections implemented to stop the spread of the Omicron variant, vaccination certification is an important tool in our armoury to continue to protect those entering highrisk settings such as nightclubs “The Scottish Government continues to review the measures in place, but the certification scheme ensures that the risk of transmission in high-risk settings is lower, alleviating pressure on the NHS as serious illness and death is

reduced and allows businesses to remain open and trading in a safe manner.” Fubar’s post is part of the #SaveNightLife campaign started by the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA). The NTIA is a Trade Association and Membership Organisation that lobbies for the Night-Time hospitality industry around the UK Fubar has been contacted for comment.

By Morven Mackay Film and TV Editor

Stirling nightclub, Fubar, has challenged the use of vaccine passports.

NEWS NEWS

STUDENT'S UNION ADOPTS NEW GENDER BASED VIOLENCE CAMPAIGN

Erase The Grey Campaign posters will be displayed around campus. Image Credit: Stirling Student Union

STIRLING'S Student Union has announced the adoption of their new campaign, Erase the Grey, to fight against gender-based violence (GBV). The campaign developed by Glasgow Caledonian University contains key messages which challenge the stereotypical attitudes and behaviours. It aims to reiterate the zero-tolerance policy towards gender-based-violence. The introduction came after consultation with the University community- including staff, students, and victims and survivors of gender based and sexual violence.

The new Erase the Grey campaign will replace the multi-award winning #IsThisOkay campaign which has been running since 2016. Campaign statements will be present across campus on plasmas screens and avenue banners. They statements will also contain information about how to report incidents and access support. Erase the Grey was officially launched at the end of November 2021 during the 16 Days of Action Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls alongside several events for students' and staff.

The university is joined by other high education institutions across Scotland who have adopted the campaign which builds on the previous calls to action, challenging of stereotypical attitudes and behaviours, and reiterates and unambiguously zero-tolerance approach towards GBV. This is another element of the joint strategy which commits the University and the Students' Union to "take all steps within our power to prevent and respond effectively to gender-based violence (GMB) in our community, and to robustly address incidents of gender-based

traders should feel "mightily let down" at this decision and further criticised the four councillors who had backed its development despite planning officials recommending a refusal before it went ahead. In his blog, Professor Sparks said: "The last thing the struggling Stirling city centre, especially coming out of the pandemic, needed was another car-focused development." In a tweet, he added: "This is a dreadful decision, out of touch with national and local ambitions and policies. Members went against officials' recommendation to reject and against the policy and policy direction of their party's government Seventeen other objections were made to the new retail park plans including from the Thistles shopping centre and from Springkerse Retail Park,

located not far from the new Crookbridge site. Council Planning officials also said that there was not enough information to show that the addition of this new retail park would not have a negative impact on the city centre in terms of its economy, and climate change in general within the UK. As well as these seventeen official objections, many residents of Stirling have also voiced their opinion In response to the council, one Stirling local stated that they felt the council offered "complete misinformation on the economic benefit" of the development, and claimed it will not create 600 new jobs, as 205 of these will only be relocations. Despite Professor Sparks' decision to stand down from his role in the council due to the development, within his blog he also added: "I hope those left prove me wrong and Stirling city centre can recover. I wish them well."

misconduct that affect our students' and staff." You can find out more about the strategy and how to access support, at the dedicated website . You can report an incident of GBV via the Report and Support on the website (reportandsupport.stir.ac.uk). VP Communities Alyson Mackay said: "This campaign does not shy away from the fact that there is no grey area when it comes to consent. "For too long victims/survivors of consent violations, GBV and sexual violence have been the focus of attacks. "As a society, we need to make

it clear that the only cause of these actions is those who perpetrate them. We hope that this campaign can shed a light on the reality that consent is black and white. "The campaign is not the end of our efforts and we will continue to do all that we can to&nbsp;educate everyone to prevent these actions and empower victims/survivors to speak out and get support."

By Iona Brownlie Editor-in-Chief

STIRLING UNI PROFESSOR STANDS DOWN FROM COUNCIL ROLE By Chelsea Rasool

TOP retail expert, Professor Leigh Sparks has resigned from Stirling Council's City Centre Working Group last week after councillors approved plans for a new £20 million retail park just outside of Stirling. Ramoyle Development Ltd were granted planning permission for the Crookbridge site adjacent to the Kerse Road. It is said to include a drive-thru restaurant, car showroom, various retail stores and car parking which they estimated would create around 250 full-time jobs; and 600 if you include the construction workers Professor Sparks is the Deputy Principal at the University of Stirling and also a Professor of Retail Studies. In an online blog Sparks said

Image Credit: University of Stirling Leigh Sparks.

NEWS

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BRAW GAMING LIFESTYLEFEATURES FOOD 16-17 18-19 20-21 22-24 26-27

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STIRLING BIDS TO BECOME UK CITY OF CULTURE

By Andrew Robson

STIRLING has officially launched its bid to become the UK City of Culture 2025. As reported by Brig in November, Stirling was the only Scottish city to be nominated on the longlist, with seven other cities also competing for the prize. Now Stirling have backed efforts to make it happen. Stirling is joined by; Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Bradford, Cornwall, County Durham, Derby, Southampton, and Wrexham County Borough. All cities that made the longlist received £40,000 to support the development of bidding proposals. To mark the occasion the National Wallace Monument was illuminated in a display. The projection included lines from a collective poem submitted by Stirling residents. If successful, Stirling would become the first Scottish winner since the prize was established in 2009. Derry-Londonderry was the first UK City of Culture in 2013 followed by Hull, in 2017. Coventry was the most recent winner of the prize, claiming the title in 2021. Stirling Council Depute Leader and a member of the City of Culture Bid Steering Group, Chris Kane, said: "The fantastic support Stirling’s bid has already received from businesses, individuals and communities gives us renewed impetus on this exciting journey.

"Securing UK City of Culture status is proven to attract substantial investment so a successful bid from Stirling would provide a major economic boost, not just for the local area but the whole of Scotland as we recover from the pandemic.” Councillor Kane added: “This will also help us achieve our ambition of putting culture at the heart of Stirling’s regeneration and growth, harnessing the creative spirit and dynamism that flows through our communities. "A huge thanks to everyone who has signed up so far on Stirling2025.com. Please continue to spread the word far and wide about this fantastic opportunity for Stirling and Scotland.” 200 businesses across Scotland have already backed the bid including the University of Stirling. The University is joined by several local businesses, who all expect to benefit if the bid is successful. Businesses can pledge their support at http:// stirling2025.com/" or through the Your Stirling website. Kevin Moore, Director of the Stirling Arcade, said: “The prospect of Stirling being awarded UK City of Culture 2025 is hugely exciting and offers major opportunities for businesses. We are proud to back Stirling’s bid."Stirling is a thriving city, where rich history and heritage meets world-class research, innovation and creativity – but there is so much more we can do "Securing UK City of Culture

will promote Stirling and all it has to offer to an even wider audience, delivering significant benefits to the businesses and people of this area and across Scotland as we recover from the pandemic. "We need the support of more businesses, organisations and individuals to help us make this a success for Stirling and Scotland, so please sign up.” If successful, the award could have a positive effect in the area. 2017 UK City of Culture Hull benefitted significantly from the prize. A report by the University of Hull found that visitor numbers increased by 10 per cent compared to 2016 and 22 per cent from 2015. Additionally, jobs in the visitor economy grew by over 27 per cent between 2012 and 2017. Chief Executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, Dr Liz Cameron, echoed the excitement surrounding the bid. She said: “We are delighted to support Stirling’s bid for UK City of Culture status. Securing this status would be a major boost for local businesses and the economy as well as more widely across Scotland.” 2022 is also a special year for the city as it marks 20 years since Stirling was awarded city status by Queen Elizabeth II as part of her Golden Jubilee. The winning city will be announced in May 2022. The Wallace Monument backing stirling's Bid. Image Credit- Forth Valley College

STUDENT UNION ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL STUDENT STRIKE

The strike is due to take place on March 2nd. Image Credit- National Union of Students (NUS)

THE Student Union has revealed its sabbatical team will be supporting the NUS Student Strike on March 2. The National Union of Students has called for a national student strike on March 2 in support of it’s ‘New Vision for Education’. The NUS is encouraging walkouts for students that can, and is calling for students and student bodies to gather in Central London on the day. Stating its intention to “take over central London, and build our own education for the day” the NUS has announced it will have various speakers and ‘teach-ins’. Speaking to Brig, VP Education, Calum Brown, has said that the sabbatical team are currently working with NUS Scotland and students’ working group on the Union’s involvement. Brown said: “As a team, we think we can produce a stronger voice and impact by taking part in action on our Campus rather than in London on the strike day.”

He went on to assure students the action will be “constructive and informative, allowing students to learn about the key issues facing our education as well as being able to contribute their support” Affirming its support for the strike the Student Union has said “We agree that it is now time to make education fully funded, accessible, democratised and fair for all.” The main focuses of the NUS’ New Vision for Education are funding, accessibility, and a more democratised system. As part of this they are calling for higher and further education to be funded by governments, to be made “free at the point of use for students” Alongside this they are calling for proper pay, pensions, and improved working conditions for staff at educational institutions. Beyond this they called for the creation of safe and inclusive spaces to help uproot disablism and make students feel safe. The NUS has also outlined its desire to see a system that supports

students from “cradle to grave” and to give them more “power and agency” over their education. Beyond this they called for the creation of safe and inclusive spaces to help uproot disablism and make students feel safe. The NUS has also outlined its desire to see a system that supports students from “cradle to grave” and to give them more “power and agency” over their education. In information circulated by the NUS, it has stated its intention to take over “a park space in Central London” with the intention of using it to hold “workshops, performances and knowledge-sharing” The national strike is due to take place March 2 and Brig will be publishing more information on the strike as it becomes available and provide coverage of action taken by the Student Union and student groups at Stirling on the day.

By Peter Humfrey News Editor

NEWS 1-5

POLITICS

NUS SCOTLAND ISSUES WARNING OVER "INADEQUATE FUNDING"

Rachel Swan, Politics Editor FURTHER education funding for 22/23 is set to lose £23.9m due to inflation, with a five per cent reduction in funding for universities in real-terms. NUS Scotland President Matt Crilly wrote to MSP Jamie Hepburn on Thursday January 27 expressing concerns regarding the effects of the Scottish Budget proposals on students. In the letter, Crilly outlines the impact that these cuts will have on students in real terms. “As you know, NUS Scotland has consistently called on the Scottish Government to fully fund the education of every student place in Scotland. “Current funding is inadequate and jeopardises the progress made particularly to widening access… However, more generally I am also concerned that the draft Scottish budget does nothing to finance the commitments made within this year’s Programme for Government which was published only a few months ago. “This included starting work to introduce a range of substantial reforms to student support and a commitment that the total student support package will reach the equivalent of the Living Wage over the next three years. "There is no evidence that this budget will resource your commitment to increase the student sup-

-port package in line with the cost of living and that the total package of support will be extended to include the summer months where students are most at risk of poverty. "Meanwhile, the cost of living is rising, and our recent research found that student rent in Scotland has risen by 34 per cent in the last three years at a faster rate than any other part of the UK.” Data this week from Higher Education Student Statistics has illustrated that more students than ever before enrolling at Scottish universities, with an overall increase of 8.6 per cent in comparison to last year’s statistics. Funding cuts at this time of record enrolment, “fails to provide additional resources to these students and delivers a real-terms cut to further and higher education,” say NUS Scotland. In a statement on NUS Scotland’s website, Crilly said: “This budget is a bad deal for students and threatens to erode the progress made towards making education accessible for all. "While it is welcome that more students than ever are entering education from the most deprived areas in Scotland, it is never enough to simply get students in the door. “Students need support

once they enter university or college, to ensure they can stay, thrive and complete their studies. However, we have been living with the Scottish Government delivering real-terms cuts to our education for years, which threaten to jeopardise progress being made. This is yet another blow for students.” “It should be the priority of this Government to invest in the futures of the students and young people who have sacrificed so much in recent years.”

Bosses at Colleges Scotland (CS) have also raised concerns with budget proposals, saying that larger class sizes and frozen recruitment were among “noticeable changes" in the pipeline unless the draft Budget is amended. Like NUS Scotland, they have also levelled a warning to the government, telling Finance Secretary Kate Forbes that current budget plans would result in a £23.9m hit to further education (FE) institutions due to inflation, with an additional £28m removed because of the

loss of Covid-19 funding received previously. In a time where universities and colleges across Scotland are recovering from the devastating impact of the pandemic, these cuts illustrate that the government may not fully recognise the crucial role that further education institutes play in economic recovery, nor the needs of the student required to not only attend university but to thrive.

Matt Crilly, NUS Scotland President. Image Credit: - NUS Scotland

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Rioters decended on Capitol Hill to protest Joe Biden's presidency. Image Credit: -

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED FROM THE CAPITOL INSURRECTION?

Iona Brownlie, Editor in Chief IT'S been over one year since rioters stormed Capitol Hill as Congress were ratifying President Joe Biden's election victory on January 6. Supporters of former President Donald Trump entered the building carrying Trump memorabilia, confederate flags and pieces detailing a large Q referring to the popular far-right conspiracy theory Q-Anon. Four people died at the rally and in the aftermath of the insurrection four police officers, who were on duty on that day, died by suicide. On January 6 2022, President Biden stood in the South Court Auditorium, declaring his predecessor and his supporters represented values that "could not be further from the core of American values." But what has changed in the year since the riot and have there been any lessons learned? The mob attacked during the confirmation of Biden's election win. Once the mob dispersed congress gathered back in the chamber to confirm the win. The democratic process is seemingly undergoing changes as we

pass the one-year commemoration. Two bills have gone to the Senate, the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, after passing the House of Representatives last year. The Freedom to Vote Act would introduce standardised nationwide voting rules that require an overhaul of federal rules to guarantee new protection around mailin ballots. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would require certain states with a history of voting discrimination to get government permission to make any changes to election regulations. However, on Wednesday 19 January, the bill was defeated when Republicans used a filibuster- a technical rule that requires 60 votes to advance most legislation- to block the bill. This was a major blow to Joe Biden- two of his party members voted against the proposed bills. The claim of election fraud has been prominent since the night of the election. This rhetoric was a huge part of the justification for the

riot of January 6. According to the Guardian one in three people believe Joe Biden was not legitimately elected with many fearing the 2024 election could be overturned as Republicans fight for key election administration roles. President Biden just commemorated his one-year anniversary in office but with so many of his citizens in disbelief that the democratic process legitimately elected him, the fate of the next election is truly unknown.

his prison cell, he had tried to calm the crowd in an interview with Inside Edition. In November he was convicted of knowingly entering into or remaining in any restricted buildings or grounds without lawful authority, and with violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds and was sentenced to 41 months in prison. The FBI is still urging the American public to help track down any more people that took part in the riot. The House of Representatives narrowly voted to In the days following the create a commission on what insurrection participants happened with only two slowly but steadily began to Republicans sitting on the be identified and arrested. Panel. It's estimated 753 people The House Minority leader have been arrested and Kevin McCarthy has said the charged for crimes linked to Republican Party will create the riot. its investigation into what One prominent participant, exactly happened not that known as QAnon Shaman, fateful day. whose face governed most of In the aftermath of January the coverage when he stood 6, Democrats blamed Retopless with his face painted publicans and many Repubthe colours of the USA. licans denied they had any Chansley, who walked part in the take-over. through the halls of ConIn an NBC News poll from gress carrying a spear August 2021, 54 per cent of screaming and shouting, people asked are worried became a notorious figure and have a more pessimistic however he claimed, from view of the future for Amer-

ica compared to 44 per cent who said they were optimistic. NBC News claim more people believe the insurrection was an attempt to overthrow the election than an act of terrorism- 59 per cent to 52 per cent. The dividing line from the Capitol siege is pragmatically down the party lines. Out of those surveyed 40 per cent are Democrats or independently lean to the democrats and 37 per cent are Republican or independently lean When asked if they approve or disapprove of the job current president Joe Biden, 49 per cent of those asked approved and 48 per cent disapprove. Joe Biden just celebrated his first anniversary in office and what a divisive year it has been. The fate of the 2024 election will come down to how well Biden attempts to unify the country as the events of January sixth begin to become a distant memory.

NEWS POLITICS 1-5 6-7

COMMENT

image credit: Sportsmole

Paddy Jackson should never represent Ireland again; and neither Novak Djokovic: Rule-breaker or fighting hero? – The power of framing should misogyny Image credit: Eurosport

By Aysun Bora THE tennis player Novak Djokovic flew to Australia in December 2021 to compete in the Australian Open. The only problem is, he flew there without being vaccinated. The perfect set-up for a public drama. While he stayed in quarantine in a hotel until the problems got resolved, his Serbian supporters reported on the Australian government holding their star “hostage”. The Australian entry restrictions were clear. Many players either planned with the quarantine or got vaccinated in the first place. Djokovic seems to have forgotten about it. Now, he might even be persecuted for a fraud Covid test but that is another story. So, how is it possible to frame a story in so many opposite ways? 1. Cultural differences His supporters protested in front of the hotel for a long time, demanding to “abolish deportation”. It is easy to shake your head at those people and dismiss this idea that looks crazy from a British point of view. The vaccine has had widely positive responses and while not everyone is on the same boat, the public idea of vaccine support is societally accepted.

The cultural differences between Serbia, however, show how citizens from another country, with different backgrounds and political stances, can perceive an event differently. Eastern countries have been critical about the vaccine in general. A history of suppression top-down has made the everyday person cynical towards extreme rules and any signs of foreign control. 2.The information bubbles The digital environment at the current allows everyone to rely on their sources. Once you consume something similar things pop up in your feeds and the bubble of opinions and knowledge expands in a very specific niche of the internet. This supports confirmation biases and can be a reason for even more polarisation in social spheres. 3. The halo-effect Djokovic is a successful tennis player with a big fan group. If you look at the story from an objective point of view a man flew to a country and didn’t follow the Covid-guidelines. Just like any other person he is being held accountable for his actions.

However, since he is a person with a previous public persona, the opinions vary. Suddenly it is not about a random man anymore. It is about Novak Djokovic. The Halo-effect desribes the phenomenon of people associating everything connected to a positive connotated person with something positive as well. That is why companies pay millions of dollars to celebrities to advertise their products. Beyonce wearing Tiffany & Co. makes it even more precious and exclusive. The Halo effect has a lot to do with news as well. Our first reaction to new information is pre-determined by our previous opinions. And these are pre-determined by our information bubble. And the information bubble is pre-determined by upbringing and culture. You see what I am trying to say. The story about Djokovic can make many angry. Rightly so. Since he is a public figure, he holds even more responsibility. But it shows the lack of knowledge and the confusion around news as well, especially when it comes to Covid. Compassion and a healthy discussion towards and with one another seems a bit more efficient than pure anger and resentment. Don’t you agree?

THE Six Nations championship is approaching, along with the annual dispute about Paddy Jackson’s place in Irish rugby after he stood trial for rape in 2018. The ‘Belfast rape trial’ involved an unidentified woman, who claimed Jackson and four others raped her during a night-out in Belfast. All the defendants were found not guilty. However, Jackson and his teammate Stuart Olding were dropped from the Ulster rugby team and the Irish national team following the verdict. One of the key pieces of evidence during the trial was text messages exchanged between the accused following the alleged rape, which showed Jackson using sexist language. Four years later, there is still intense debate on whether Jackson belongs on the pitch. One leading rugby pundit for The Times recently said that rather than being exiled from the sport, Jackson’s story could act as a lesson to men. The main argument being that a not guilty verdict should mean Jackson’s return as Ireland’s fly-half. However, that doesn’t change the fact that a 19-yearold woman left Jackson’s house that night vaginally bleeding, upset and believing that she had been raped by two Ulster Rugby stars. It does not change the WhatsApp messages sent the next morning between the defendants, which asked if “Any sluts [got] f****d?”. And it does not change the fact that Jackson responded saying “There was a lot of spit roast last night.” We will never know what really happened that night

for sure, but we do know that these men were comfortable using misogynistic language when they thought no one else would hear. Allowing Jackson into the Six Nations Irish squad would not teach men how to treat women with respect but rather show them how to abuse women and get away with it. The microaggressions toward women can seem like harmless jabs but left unchecked they can evolve into more serious crimes. For example, Ashling Murphy was murdered while out for a jog, the same week that The Times called for Jackson’s reinstatement. A spokesperson for The Forth Valley Rape Crisis Centre told Brig that without a strong reaction against derogatory language, further actions can be justified. "When we choose to say silent…The aggressor knows they can get away with bad behaviour toward women and can see your silence as validation of their behaviour, which could escalate.” The moments when men are learning from their mistakes are also the moments when women are learning that men can treat them badly and get away with it. Letting Jackson represent his country would only show that Ireland is willing to uphold sexism and protect the perpetrators. We need to start taking sexist language at face value before more women die as a lesson for men.

By Rebecca Crockett

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Image credit: European Parliament

THE TALK: WHY DO What the most viewed porn in WOMEN APOLOGISE 2021 says about our society Image: Canva

By Chloe Richardson Comment Editor

PORN has been a taboo topic since its inception, but Statista calculates that Pornhub was in the top 10 most popular websites of 2021. With the majority of its daily traffic coming from the United States and the United Kingdom, it’s time to take a look at what our viewing says about us a society. Pornhub insights reveals that the most searched for term of 2021 was hentai- a category that may be defined as erotic anime. It’s no secret that users often view porn as a form of escapism, but the top search reveals a willingness to take this to the extreme. While it may be argued that viewers watch hentai for the “storyline”, the visual appeal cannot be ignored. With bodies, angles, and actions beyond human ability, the divide between real sex and the expectations arising from porn is thickened. The fantastical element

of hentai may be great stress relief in the short term, but long term could cause a few issues in the bedroom. It doesn’t stop at anime either with an abundance of searches for Harley Quinn and Wonder Woman. Despite Marvel’s recent efforts to stop the objectification of its female characters, it seems the damage has already been done by its original oversexualisation. Moving away from comics, in 2021 more and more people were browsing under the term ‘Lesbian’, pointing to a prevalent fetishization issue linked to porn. While some may favour lesbian porn for its focus on female pleasure, the reality often comes up short. The sexual orientation is often used to lure viewers in to scissoring scenes or straight pornstars that don’t accurately represent the sex life of the LGBTQ+ community. Despite the fallibility of these videos, the category ‘lesbian’ is more frequent-

ly visited by those identifying as female, especially in the Gen Z category. However, this doesn’t exactly point to the satisfaction of these videos, but rather the lack of female-friendly-oriented porn elsewhere, Porn is notoriously fixed on the male gaze and it can be difficult to find a video that gets you going, without feeling ashamed or uncomfortable for watching the screen. That being said, the top trending gay searches of 2021 weren’t what I expected. “Bromance” and “straight guys” topped the chartssuggesting a climate of toxic masculinity that still permeates porn, including gay porn. Despite the private nature of porn, it seems some people still don’t feel comfortable using homosexual labels in their searching. But maybe the issue isn’t with the viewer but with how porn is produced. But that still doesn’t eradicate the part that users have to play.

HOW many times have you heard women apologise today? Not for making a mistake or causing offence but just because she spoke her mind. Now, how many times did men do that today? I’m not saying that all women are scared to speak their minds; actually, it’s very much the opposite. Women are unleashing their inner Beyoncé’s, fuelled by the backing of seeing the power behind current feminist movements. However, powerful, accomplished women still make these subtle self-deprecating remarks towards their worth and unconsciously question why they are in the room. I don’t think you will be shocked to learn that this stems from childhood. Whether we are aware or not, our treatment between our daughters and sons is very different. It’s not as simple as a pink toy for the girl and a blue toy for the boy; gender norms are systematically built into the way we treat children.

We teach our girls to be kind but not too forward, polite but don’t pull focus. They’re brought up like the dolls they play with, controlled. However, we teach our boys to be outgoing, if they come home dirty and play a little rough it’s waved away by the apologetic voice of the mother “boys will be boys”. If that’s not a vicious cycle I don’t know what is. This treatment has left an impression on women’s behavioural patterns, how we carry ourselves and it widens the power dynamics of the sexes. We need to teach our girls that they are worthy, that they have the right just as anyone to be loud and explore. But above all else, it must be known their voices matter, that they belong in any room and they should not apologise for being there. By Lucie Smith

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Featured credit: Valtos Facebook page

Featured credit: CNN

A look back on Meat Loaf: Rock’s powerful veteran By Sophie McVinnie Music Editor

ROCK and roll superstar Meat Loaf died in his home mid-January at 74. Brig reflects on his career. Born Marvin Lee Aday, Meat Loaf, was most famous for his bombastic album Bat Out of Hell. Remaining one of the best-selling releases of all time. He’s widely regarded as a veteran in the industry. Brian May, Bonnie Tyler, and Cher all shared their sympathies on social media, the latter saying she had “so much fun” recording the 1981 track ‘Dead Ringer for Love’ with him. Queen guitarist May said he was completely gutted, having worked with Meat Loaf several times in his career. "Always full of madness, with the innocent sense of naughtiness of a five-year-old,” May wrote on Instagram. “Meat was forever young." The singer’s 1977 release, Bat Out of Hell, sold over 100 million copies worldwide and appeared in movies from Fight Club to the Rocky Horror Picture Show. He also released the successful hit ‘I’d Do An-

ything For Love (But I Won’t peacefully at home surroundDo That’), and an album with ed by family. He was known Bonnie Tyler in 1989. to be larger than life, with a warm, operatic voice that Known for his expansive could bend registers thanks to range and powerhouse per- his early start in musical thesonality, the rocker touched atre. Although the Bat Out of the hearts of many and grew Hell tour ended up exhaustive an impressive reputation. with complicated contract Glam rocker Alice Cooper ex- disloyalties, his career repressed his sorrow on Twitter, bounded with more successwriting: "Meat Loaf was one ful releases and an eventual of the greatest voices in rock reteam up with Bat Out of 'n' roll, and he was certainly Hell co-writer Jim Steinman. one of my closest friends in Their prompted the release of the business. the Grammy Award-winning track, spent seven weeks at "There was nobody, and I number one in the UK. mean nobody like Meat Loaf," he added. "His shoes can nevHis legacy lives on in the er be filled." belt-worthy classics he produced throughout his notaThe Dallas born singer, born ble, commendable career. as Marvin but also known as Michael, got his nickname from his dad, who said he looked “red as meat” at birth. Later, a high school football added “loaf”. His other most notable album between the ‘70s and ‘80s were Dead Ringer and Midnight at the Lost and Found. By the ‘90s, he’d won a Grammy Award for UK’s best-selling single with ‘I’d Do Anything For Love’. It's reported his cause of death was Covid, and he died

Credit: The Guardian

Meshing Genre: Introducing Electronic Trad Band Valtos

By Rhona MacLeod

VALTOS, made up of Martyn MacDonald and Daniel Docherty, are an incredible fusion band, combining electronic music with Scottish traditional music which creates a brand-new genre.

“We’re trying to tread a fine line where those who come in from another perspective won’t instantly write it off before they’ve heard it, and on the other side of the coin, the trad world will still listen The release of ‘Marx Terrace to it.” - Valtos Remix’ earlier this year was incredibly successBoth band members come ful for the Isle of Skye duo. from an electronic music Discussing the release, the background, having worked two explained how they’ve as DJs and music producers, been influenced by the Peat- and used this experience to bog Faeries — the original create music ready for any performers of ‘Marx Terrace’ environment. — throughout their lives, making this the perfect song “Someone messaged me the for the single. other day and said, ‘I want to be at a ceilidh and in a club “That particular song had sim-ultaneously right now,’” the perfect fiddle line in it, it said MacDonald. “So that always lent itself to electron- ticks ‘job done’ on that one.” ic music,” said Docherty on the track. Going forward, the upcoming album is an experimenHe explained further that tation of everything Valtos the band is very picky in its is about. It’s expected to have creative process, having made something for everyone. five or six remixes of the song before choosing which one “It’s full of some really interto release: “We were trying esting things, we’ve got Gaelic to figure out what we sound pop songs, club songs, drivlike. Peatbog Faeries was our ing songs, poetry,” explained first song that really, for me, MacDonald. “It is kind of a sounds like Val-tos.” story from start to finish.” The band’s fusion style of The album should be remusic has become very pop- leased in spring, and ‘Marx ular since they began releas- Terrace - Valtos Remix’ by Valing music in 2019, discussing tos is out now. the importance of trad music and what it means. Speaking of how they combine genres, they said:

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Featured credit: Variety

MÅNESKIN: A DEEP DIVE INTO ROCK’S NEWEST ICONS By Alexandra Jodie Whyte MÅNESKIN is the Danish named, Italian born, rock band taking over the world. But who are they? And how have they reached their levels of stardom at such a young age? The band’s origins are traced back to 2015, but their official formation was in 2016 when members were forced to choose a band name while registering for local music contest, Pulse. The name means ‘moonlight’ in Danish, a call to bassist Victoria De Angelis’ half Danish heritage, and was chosen because the band liked the way it sounded. Victoria De Angelis knew fellow band members Damiano David, the group’s lead vocalist, and guitarist Thomas Raggi, from high school. Together, the three asked Ethan Torchio to join as drummer after advertising to complete their line-up. This combination of formidable talents led them to win the Pulse Contest, writing all their own songs, and performing in front of hundreds of people. They continued creating a name for themselves, busk-

ing on the streets of Rome, and performing a small concert to a group of local fans. The band was determined to continue its success. By 2017, they were competing on the eleventh season of Italy’s X Factor.

release of their first, ever full-length studio album. Il Ballo Della Vita peaked number one in the Italian Albums Chart, entered the top 20 European music charts and became certified triple platinum by FIMI.

The foursome shot up to national fame after eventually coming second to Italian singer, Lorenzo Licitra. They covered iconic songs such as ‘Somebody Told Me’ by The Killers, ‘Take Me Out’ by Franz Ferdinand, and ‘Beggin’ by the Four Seasons. They also competed with their original song ‘Chosen’ which was released as a single by Sony Music on November 24 2017 and charted at Number two in the Italian FIMI Singles Chart. It was included in their EP of the same name, released on December 17, 2017, and featured many of their wellknown covers from their time on X-Factor.

Måneskin began to make a global name for themselves, living in London from late 2019 till early 2020, and competing in the Sanremo Music Festival 2021. Their win, with their rock song ‘Zitti e buoni’, came as both a shock and surprise to many because of the festival’s history with the song’s genre. The song featured on their 2021 album, Teatri d’ira: Vol I which hit number one on the Italian albums chart and, like their first album, became a triple-platinum success.

It later became double platinum-certified by FIMI. March 2018 saw the band release their first Italian language single ‘Moriro Da Re’ and in October 2018 the single was included in the

The band was then catapulted into international stardom after competing on, and subsequently winning, the 65th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest as Italy’s ‘glam rock’ entry. Their performance of their song ‘Zitti e buoni’ led them to receive 524 points, becoming the first winners for Italy since 1990, and the first rock

song winners since 2006. It was here, on the Rotterdam stage, that Damiano David shouted the iconic words, “We just want to say to the whole of Europe, to the whole world, rock and roll never dies!” Their unforgettable performance, and sensational song, seemed to strike a chord across the globe and soon the band’s discography was entering global charts. ‘Zitti e buoni’ reached the Top 10 in the Spotify Global Chart and is the moststreamed Italian song ever in one day. It was also the first Italian-language song to enter the UK Top 20 in 30 years and even debuted at number 26 on the Billboard Global 200. The band has continued with their world domination success and has managed to break into the US music market. This is in part due to their success as a top TikTok sound, with their cover of ‘Beggin’ going viral and has generated over 886 million streams on Spotify. They’ve booked performanc-

es on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and The Ellen DeGeneres Show and became the first ever Italian musical guests on Saturday Night Live. It's no wonder that when Måneskin released tickets for their 16-date LOUD KIDS ON TOUR, it sold out in as little in 15 minutes. Unfortunately, the tour has been delayed for at least a month due to COVID-19 concerns, and all UK and European dates will be confirmed to their rescheduled dates by March 1. Måneskin’s success is not to be underestimated. Their sound is unique, their performances are refreshing, and their attitude appeals to a younger generation determined to change the ways of the world. They are becoming a force to be reckoned with, and their third album is allegedly “in the works”. There is no doubt that Måneskin will continue with their success and firmly solidify themselves in the rock and roll halls of fame.

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PAM & TOMMY: THE THE WOMAN IN THE HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE FIRST CELEBRITY GIRL IN THE WINDOW SEX TAPE SCANDAL

By Morven Mackay Film and TV Editor

Kristen Bell stars in the the Netflix series. Image Credit:- Netflix

Robyn Duffy NEW psychological thriller parody The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window missed the mark altogether and showed us why there's no market for this particular genre. The satirical parody series centres on artist Anna (Kristen Bell), a grief-stricken and severely anxious woman who lives isolated in a large suburban house after the death of her daughter and divorce from her husband. She spends her days staring out the window and mixing bottles upon bottles of wine with a combination of pills. As the show advances, we watch as Anna witnesses a murder in the house across the street; but no one believes her due to the cocktail of alcohol and pills she had consumed that night. This leads her to begin questioning her own memories and state of mind. The series puts a spin on previous psychological thrillers Woman in the Window and Girl on the Train. Unfortunately, it was a severe let down. It plays with overused tropes, such as ‘the unstable lady alone in a house who hears bumps in the night’, the hot neighbour next door and the grief that drives people to

madness, to the point of being unfunny. Although the cast delivered a spirited performance (and made the whole thing watchable), the writing was bizarre and the comedy dry, with few jokes landing how they were intended. As someone who went into the series blind, it was hard to tell it was satire until a few episodes in. The first clue to this series being satire is the dreadfully long title; it feels like someone was trying to hit the word count on an essay and is arguably the funniest thing about the series. According to an interview with Kristen Bell in TODAY, Netflix wanted to shorten the name to 'The Woman In the House', but Bell insisted they keep the original title. She expressed, 'I said, 'no way’” "This show…it's a satirical psychological drama, it's based on all of these psychological novels that were written for women, by women. The formula's always the same. She drinks too much. She might be mixing it with pills. She thinks she sees a murder. No one believes her. There's so much formula to it that we thought it was about time that somebody poked fun at it. "So, we're hoping that the title will tip you to the fact we are making fun of the genre

the entire time." The Woman in the House… dragged on and would have been much better as a movie. The eight-episode series gave viewers about 20 minutes per episode but used many filler scenes and plotlines that could have been shortened. Had this been a movie, the writing would have been more concise and it would have progressed much quicker, something that was needed to make the satire funny. Scoring only 52 per cent on rotten tomatoes, The Woman in the House... has critics and viewers divided and, in all honesty, Netflix's Dead to Me was a more adequate example of mixing both thriller and comedy genres. The series is available to watch on Netflix now. Credit: Netflix

Episodes watched: 3/8 BASED on the article “Pam and Tommy: The Untold Story of the World’s Most Infamous Sex Tape” from Rolling Stone in 2014, Pam & Tommy tells the story of the infamous 90s sex tape scandal between Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee Jones. The Baywatch star and Mötley Crüe drummer got married back in 1995 after just four days of dating. The pair quickly became pregnant with their first son. It wasn’t long after that a sex tape of the two was leaked. Pam & Tommy is fun, high energy, and at times trippy and by trippy I am of course talking Tommy's conversation with his penis. While completely mental, it really works. The series takes an insane story and elevates it to a level you might not expect. Lily James and Sebastian Stan star in the titular roles and they are incredible. We already knew they looked amazing from the promo pictures released last year, but nothing will prepare you for how much they melt into their roles. From the way they hold themselves to the way they speak. James in particular is almost unrecognisable. Kudos needs to be given to the amazingly talented make up team. They put in every little detail, even down to the tiny scars on Pam’s shoulder. Episode one gets the show off to a great start. Seth Rogan stars as Rand Gauthier, the constriction guy Tommy Lee fucks over, resulting in him stealing the sex tape of the couple. We follow Guthrie through the events leading

Sebastain Stan and Lily James star. Image Credit- Hulu

up to the theft of the tape and the tension start to build. Rogan, as usual, kind of plays the role he always does and hasn’t strayed too far from his recognisable self. It’s not anything special but what he does do, he executes well. Episode two switches to Pam and Tommy’s story and we flash back to when the couple met. The details of their life have clearly been extremely well researched and based on real stories the couple have told in interviews (yes, the face licking really happened - how that drew her to him, I have no clue). As we move into Episode three, the show begins to set up for the release of the tape. They leave just enough of a cliff-hanger for the audience to be looking forward to the next episode, but not enough to be left frustrated. So far, the series has promise. It’s an undeniable interesting story and is very wellcast, so it would be difficult for them to mess it up. It will be interesting to see where the show goes from here. It has been nice to see that they have shown a multidimensional Pamela Anderson, as it would have been easy for them to write her as a vapid, sex object. In particular, I am interested to say the way Pam’s experience of the scandal progresses. The way the show handle’s it could go either way. Sex tapes and revenge porn almost always affect the woman more and one would hope that would be reflected in the plot. Only time will tell. The first three episodes of the show are available from February 2 with new episodes being released on Disney+ every Wednesday. An additional Star subscription is needed

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SEX ON THE SMALL SCREEN

Euphoria. image: HBO Max

Rebecca Crockett THIS article contains spoilers for several shows. Sex is the most natural thing in the world. So why has it taken nearly the same amount of time that the moving image has existed for it to be shown on television screens without stigma or censorship? Through suggestive shots of socks on doors and handprints on windows, there have long been little ways to beat the rigid guidelines placed on sex scenes. But despite TV’s ability to represent an almost universal experience, broadcasters have shied away from sex for decades, deeming it too taboo for the small screen. Famously when I Love Lucy star, Lucille Ball, became pregnant, the writers decided to add the pregnancy to the show’s storyline. But broadcasting regulators in the fifties banned the word ‘pregnant’ in fear of audiences thinking too much about how the beloved sitcom character got that way. Thankfully, attitudes about sex have matured since the fifties but it’s not enough to

just show sex on screen. To be considered progressive, how and who is shown to have sex is just as important. For decades sexual pleasure appeared to be an entirely male phenomenon. Showrunners seemed to think that sex was something that simply happened to women. They endured it and they definitely didn’t enjoy it. Popular comedies of the sixties and seventies featured wry male protagonists we’re meant to support while they harass women to the tune of scattered laugh tracks. These shows are clearly, products of their time, but I wouldn’t suggest turning to Credit: TheVerge.com

Credit: HBO

early seasons of M*A*S*H for your sexual education. By the nineties, women were finally allowed to want sex on screen, but not without having a moral conversation about it first. When Buffy (of vampire slayer fame) loses her virginity to Angel, her long-time vampire boyfriend, in season two of the critically acclaimed show, he literally loses his soul and Buffy has to send him to hell. One season later, when Buffy’s male sidekick, Xander loses his…. it’s played for laughs. Buffy the Vampire Slayer created one of the most iconic feminist characters of the nineties. The writers get brownie points for letting Buffy have sex. But, allowing the dangerous double standard surrounding virginities to prevail in popular culture, only promoted the misconception that women’s sexualities had to be morally evaluated. At this stage, there could never be accurate portrayals of sex on screen, especially for girls and women. The idea that women could want to have sex because it looked

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Credit: BBC

fun was still a foreign concept. It wasn’t until 2018 that the BBC even decided it was finally time to show a female orgasm on mainstream TV in Toni Collette’s drama series Wanderlust. All this is said before we come to the complete lack of representation for LGBTQ+ characters for years, never mind queer sex. Nowadays, with the rise of streaming services and a more open understanding of sex, anything is possible. From Orange Is the New Black’s portrayal of sex while incarcerated to the heartfelt and moving intimate scenes in the BBC adaption of Sally Rooney’s Normal People. Shows like Sex Education can portray teenage experimentation in all its awkward glory, while simultaneously giving queer relationships and stories the screen time they so desperately deserve. A sex revolution is taking place behind the scenes as well. Euphoria is known for its graphic sex scenes but behind the nudity and extremely realistic foreplay is intimacy

coordinated by Amanda Blumenthal. Blumenthal choreographs each scene, managing the way it looks as well as the comfort levels of the actors involved. After years of exploitation and embarrassment for countless stars, this feels like a welcome step forward. Sex is everywhere: we think about it, we talk about it, we plan the next time we’re going to have it. So why has it taken us so long to accurately show it? The faster we become comfortable with sex on screen, and create safer places for the actors involved, the quicker we might learn that it isn’t such a big deal after all.

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Poetry er Corn

Don't dread the femme By Iman Mackenzie

I am the fury inside Your head. You didn’t Truly think I was dead?

ARTS

By Emma Halliday Arts Editor

Stirling art societies reveal 2022 projects

IT is hard to express the work which has been put into reorganising and restructuring the University of Stirling’s art societies since the first lockdown of 2020. Now free to meet their members in person, existing societies are jumping on the chance to showcase the work of their members. Meanwhile, new clubs are appearing and quickly developing momentum. After the last couple of years, many individuals have formed new – or strengthened their ongoing – relationships with artistic expression. It has allowed many to share their lives and their losses with others throughout a very difficult period of time. Brig would like to celebrate our societies’ ongoing commitment to their members’ happiness and expression. Here are what our Stirling art committees have planned for the semester. "Our book club is one of the newest societies the University of Stirling has to offer. We are extremely excited to finally start this semester, after all the effort we put into building it. "We have planned a variety of activities and events for all booklovers, from reading sessions to “a dress-up as your favourite book character” contest. Our core ambition this semester is for our members to meet others who share the same passion for books, while engaging in fun activities. "Moreover, we want to provide a safe place for everyone and make them feel included. Since we know that many people want to be part of this society, we decided to split the society into smaller groups according to their preferred book genre. "We look forward to welcoming everyone to our society!”

Old Thomas told me not to go Gentle into the goodnight, so I let the Darkness feel my wrath, but never any Fright. For on my way out I wanted the World to reckon the force it had just Extinguished. To know that my life is Not so easily finished. I forged myself in fire, bathed in my ire. They loved me when I wore lace but Hated me when I wanted to move at my Own pace. Only be pure, and sweet and soulful. Far from sin, where it all begins.

Art Club

After all, are we all not born from desire We sing to the bedroom choir, we dance And delve into sheets, oh so discreet. But it is all deceit. Men call women either whores or bores You want us wild in the sheets, but ladies in the streets. So promising, so proud, so timelessly prudish. What will it be, darling? Gold hoops or white pearls? A life in the kitchen dusted in flour, food on the table Or dancing in the rain and living life by the hour. Now don’t be sour, you cannot kill power like me. Only bury it deep beneath the aprons, the plastic smiles And the reckless denial. Be a whore, be a whore, be all that And more. Do not let them label us, we are not unstable. We are perfectly capable. They want you to fear me: femininity. To resent your womanhood, to pay the pink tax But you will not: we will thrive together again. Wear the crimson lipstick, enjoy the click of your heels. Be proud of your body, be proud of yourself Do run from womanhood, spear towards it. It’s you, it’s me, it’s us

“The University of Stirling Art Club offers an opportunity for students to work on creative projects during their studies. There are a variety of different materials that can be used during the sessions on Tuesdays. “We are accepting of all levels of artist with absolutely no judgement. You don't have to be an artist to join! It is a valuable place to meet other like-minded people. “Every week, we introduce a theme and/or activity to inspire the members. However, no one is required to make art based on the theme and are free to work on their personal projects. Every year we plan on holding an art display allowing students to show their peers their artistic work.”

Hermínia Leite Seguro President of the Book Club

Book Club

“As a society, Creative Writing has always strived to celebrate our members and their writing as well as providing a safe, comfortable place to meet new people and form connections. “Like many people over the last two years, these aims have been difficult to achieve with many of us feeling isolated, alone, and uninspired. This semester, as we reach a state close to normality, the Creative Writing Society hopes we will be able to achieve our core goal, providing a space for writers to develop and share their talents and to build new relationships. We hope to publish our first physical anthology since 2019 to showcase our members’ work.” Helena Barton President of the Creative Writing Society

Thuraya Al Mahadin President of the Art Club Image credit: Instagram (uniofstirlingartclub)

Art by Abi McDonald

Creative Writing Society

Image credit: Canva

Valentines Day origami VALENTINE'S Day is almost here! Why not add a personal touch this year by attaching a handmade origami heart to your giftwrapping? Create your Valentine's Day origami with our cut-out template on the next page, and send pictures of your fabulous creations to arts@brignews.com. Happy folding!

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By Hannah Coyle LGBTQ+ characters and topics are often underrepresented in mainstream publishing due to censorship and disputes that LGBTQ+ content is “controversial,” and therefore not commercially possible. However, books about LGBTQ+ characters and history have a profound effect on readers, and LGQBTQ+ visibility in the media plays a valuable role when it comes to representation. Not only can these stories educate and inform readers who don’t identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community, they can also depict a path in life that LGBTQ+ readers may not have known to be possible. Throughout history and still today, LGBTQ+ stories and themes have been the subject to debates and controversy. Not only that, but they have faced many challenges and rejections. Through all these hurdles LGBTQ+ readers and writers have dealt with book

bans, restrictions, and even legal issues (we won’t get into how ridiculous that is), just to share their stories. Can you imagine writing a love story and it be discarded because of who is doing the loving. LGBTQ+ writers are some of the most heart-swelling authors we have, and this isn’t something we want to deprive the world of. These stories are truly valuable but the history of LGBTQ+ literature is not generally known or taught. In Greek and Roman times many stories show same sex relationships, especially in writers such as Plato and Homer. In the Renaissance period Shakespeare offered interpretations of LGBTQ+ stories, especially in his erotic sonnets. In the Eighteenth century we saw same sex love in the poetry of Katherine Phillips, but it was the Nineteenth century that LGBTQ literature really became prominent, though

still very subversive. We were given the gift of writers like Oscar Wilde, Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson and Virginia Woolf and their discrete reference to LGBTQ identities and connections. It would be an understatement to say that these writers paved the way for LGBTQ+ literature to have a wider awareness in the literary world. The twentieth century gave us writers such as James Baldwin with his award-winning text ‘The Fire Next time 1963’, Audre Lorde (an exceptional woman, feminist, writer, and civil rights activist), American Novelist, Truman Capote, Adrienne Rich, who is one of the most influential and widely read poets of the second half of the twentieth century and many more. She constantly pushed social boundaries and tore down barriers in order to bring light to LGBTQ+ stories and give them the representation and recognition they so

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rightly deserved. The twentieth century was seen as a game changer for LGBTQ+ literature with these great texts receiving critical and commercial success. From Plato and Homer slyly glossing over same sex relationships intertwined and hidden into their work, to published authors like Virginia Woolf and James Baldwin, the LGBTQ+ community has come a long way. But it wasn’t without its adversity and grave hardship for most. Up until our turning point in the twentieth century, anything to do with LGBTQ was illegal in most nations. In the early twenty-first century gay marriage began to become legal in some places but LGBTQ literature was still often banned and censored due to social traditions. Which is not a good enough reason for banning a whole genre of writing that holds so much representation and can create social change. But nevertheless, it happened. A lot. It still happens today, from ancient times right up until now, the LGBTQ+ community are deprived of literature, stories, biographies, etc. simply because society decided that it was wrong to be queer. Sappho, best known for their poems on female-centred sexuality and love, had her work destroyed. She was celebrated during her time, but eleventh century Pope Gregory VII burned her poetry for portrayals of lesbian relationships. Walt Whitman struggled to get his ‘Leaves of Grass’ published due to its queer nature, themes and sensual metaphors. He, undeterred, self-published and self-financed his work and ended up losing his job after his employer found his works to be offensive and inappropriate. Oscar Wilde was put on trial in a court of law four times for claims of indecency, as homosexuality was forbidden in England at this time. He spent two years in jail and was eventually exiled because he refused to adhere to the unjustifiable laws of his country. Hollywood and their obsession with taking LGBTQ+ book characters and making

them portray a straight character in film adaptions isn’t helpful either. Such as Ayo in Black Panther, Achilles in Troy, Jughead Jones in Riverdale, Mystique in X-men and so many more LGBTQ book characters who were stripped of their sexuality to adhere to heterosexual norms. Even queer theorist Judith Butler struggled to get her early texts published. Trans writers have faced a great deal of limitations on their work, with authors of colour facing the most oppression. Thankfully, literature like ‘Luna’ by Julie Anne Peters and ‘Gender Outlaws: The next generation’ by Kate Bornstein paved the way for more trans literature in the future. There are still many discriminatory approaches and individual biases all around the world today, so it is difficult to say how many great voices have fallen through the cracks, not been heard, and just pushed aside because of the prejudice and discrimination placed on the LGBTQ+ community. But it is the hope for our future that this happens less and less until we can finally see equal representation in all our literary texts. It is no secret that LGBTQ+ writers have faced adversity time and time again and getting equal representation is a road we are still travelling along. But the literature we have today is creating social and legal change, with writers such as Andrea Gibson, TJ Klune, Casey McQuiston, George. M. Johnson, Mary Lambert and so many more. We have representation at our fingertips, which is a long way from where we started. Not only that, but if we learn about the history of our LGBTQ ancestors, we have a whole stack of incredibly inspirational writers and literature that we can discover a lot from.

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BEFORE THE RAINBOW By Lucie Smith

THE pride flag has become a widely recognised symbol for the LGBTQ+ community. The rainbow was a symbol of unity at the peak of a rebellion. Our job now is to remind the bigoted few that it is not a symbol of flamboyance by a witness statement of the foremothers and fathers leading the stonewall riots; our genetics were birthed in a fight and we aren’t done yet. But before the pride flag became a modern-day symbol of hope for the gay community, history shows that nearly every generation has an accepted symbol for queer people, even dating back to Greek mythology carrying through to the late 19th century. One of the earliest symbolisms of homosexuality is the use of labrys, a double axed weapon commonly used in ancient Greece. The symbolism in Roman and Greek mythology links the weapon to feminine power. It was said that Greek goddesses would carry labrys on them as a sign of dominance and victory in battle like a decorated war hero. This symbolises remained strong in the feminist movement and in the late 70s it was adopted by lesbian activist groups as lesbians were called the powerhouses behind the actions of the gay liberation movement. Such a badass symbol should be connected to the community as it’s a physical representation of the fight that the community goes through. In comparison to ancient weaponry, the symbolism hasn’t always been so brash but in some cases more artistic. The green carnation was a symbol that came to fruition by poet Oscar Wilde in the 1890s. He reportedly asked a group of his “ likeminded” friends to wear them on their buttonhole for the opening of a theatre (No better place to find queers.) This fashion statement was to help queer people find each other safely without fear of prosecution. However, the reason for the particular flower was less than poetic, because to Wilde the carnation looked similar to a butthole. Which weird way is a testament to Wilde’s resilience as knew their situation compromised their safety but chose to see the lighter side.

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A reading list for the modern feminist

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By Rhona MacLeod DO you ever want to broaden the horizons of your feminist knowledge but don't know where to start? Don't worry, we’ve got your back. These are just five of the books that have inspired me on my journey to becoming a more understanding and intersectional feminist. I chose to include texts from more recent feminist authors as many beginner feminists may be acquainted with older feminist works, such as Simone De Beauvoir's ‘The Second Sex’ and ‘A Vindication of the Rights of Women’ by Mary Wollstonecraft. 1. Witches, Sluts and Feminists: Conjuring The Sex Positive by Kristin J.Sollée Sollée uses this book to trace the lineage of “witch feminism” by looking at the prosecution of women from the witch trials to slut shaming. She also discusses modern debates around reproductive rights, sexuality and pleasure, queer identities, pornography and sex work. 2. The Seven Necessary Sins for Women and Girls by Mona Eltahawy Mona Eltahawy’s fabulous book is a feminist manifesto teaching women (along with gender non-conforming and non-binary individuals) to harness their power and anger to destroy the patriarchy. 3. We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie ‘We Should All Be Feminists’ is a book-length essay adapted from Chimamanda’s TEDx talk of the same name. She offers a personal definition of what 21st century feminism is and what it means to be a woman. Referring to her own experiences of discrimination and marginalisation, Chimamanda delivers an incredible perspective that all modern feminists should acknowledge. 4. A Bigger Picture by Vanessa Nakate

A newbie's guide to getting their nails done By Freya Deyell

GETTING your nails done for the first time can be daunting. After wanting to try it out for a few months, I finally took the plunge just before Christmas and got acrylic extensions. It was an interesting experience, and I learned a lot. Getting your nails done can be fun and pampering for anyone, regardless of your gender identity or sexuality. Cute nails are for everyone! So, here’s BRAW’s must-know guide for your trip to the salon. BEFORE: Do your research beforehand. Check if the place you’re going to has good reviews and scope out their social media. Do you like the sorts of designs they post? Check out designs online (I would recommend Pinterest). Save the ones you like the best. Before you set foot in the salon, have a clear idea of what you want in your mind. Decide on shape, length, colour, and any extra details you may want. Make sure to have some cash on you as some salons don’t have card machines.

Climate activist Vanessa Nakate discusses the realities of being a young Ugandan woman fighting the climate crisis and how her story differs from the white activists. Although not solely about feminism, her motivation and fearlessness displays a brilliant woman who has control of her power and has utilised it to transform the world. 5. Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay In this collection of essays, Roxane Gay discusses being a feminist while still enjoying things that are considered feminine or against feminist ideology. She acknowledges that as we grow as women, so does our feminism.

DURING: Be prepared to wait if the salon is walk-in only. Show pictures of what you want and don’t be afraid to speak up if you’re unhappy with how something looks. Be patient and kind with the staff like you would anywhere else. AFTER: Moisturise your hands often and even invest in some cuticle oil to help keep your nails extra strong When it comes time for removal, there are a few options available to you. First, you could go back to the salon and pay to get them removed (or replace them with a new set). Or you can do it at home by soaking them in acetone. I personally bit them off because I got frustrated after a few weeks and refused to spend more money (I do not recommend this method at all). Overall, it’s a relaxing way to treat yourself and a fun way of expressing your personal style.

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By Robyn Duffy

Spirituality: where to start

2022's most anticipated reads

By Deanna Dawn SPIRITUALITY is a deeply personal subject: different for everybody who experiences it. With so much conflicting information surrounding this subject (especially online), those who consider themselves beginners to spirituality can easily become overwhelmed. There is no right way to practice or explore your spirituality. Ultimately, any decisions regarding your spiritual practice are completely yours and you shouldn’t feel pressured to take on anything which you do not feel comfortable with. This article will cover some of the basics involved in starting a spiritual journey, as well as some things to avoid. 1.Find your roots When it comes to researching spiritual practices, it’s important to consider your own cultural background and the spiritual traditions within it. For many people, discovering their family’s spiritual and religious background provides an easier route towards learning more about their own path. Finding your roots could also refer to establishing what is most important to you and what aspects of spirituality appeal to you naturally. 2. Research Before getting stuck in, it's crucial to research the basics of spirituality and the various kinds of practices available to you. Educate yourself on the differences between spirituality and witchcraft, and how to recognise and avoid disrespecting closed practices. For example, Santeria and Brujería are spiritual practices that are not open for everyone to join. Although there seems to be an abundance of information online, avoid using platforms such as TikTok as your main source of information. 3. Let go of what doesn’t serve you During your spiritual journey, you'll be doing a lot of reflecting on your inner state. To prepare for the path ahead of you, acknowledge your unhealthy attachments, ideas, and behaviours in order to start working on them. Evaluate what you hang onto that should be let go. This could apply to physical belongings and even relationships with others. 4. Explore mindfulness Mindfulness and meditation are important aspects of many spiritual practices. Regular meditation helps to quiet the mind and encourage introspection, while also providing physical benefits. Mindfulness is an easily researched topic that can help to regulate emotions and add intentionality into daily aspects of your life. No matter how you choose to pursue a spiritual journey, it will take time and consistency to get comfortable in your practice. There is no correct way to be spiritual, take pleasure in making it your own.

THE explosion of BookTok in 2021 saw reading hit mainstream media in a new way, opening the doors for hundreds of new readers and majorly influencing trends and sales in book shops across the country. The success of BookTok is not likely to disappear anytime soon. Many authors whose books received BookTok hype in recent months have exciting new releases scheduled for 2022, which are bound to receive lots of media discussions. House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas

The second instalment of the Crescent City series is highly anticipated by many fans, following the widespread success of the first book. The author has a strong fan base following her previous series A Court of Thorns and Roses and Throne of Glass. The Crescent City series follows Bryce, half-fae half-human, in an action-packed fantasy romance. Release Date: 15/02/2022 Book Lovers by Emily Henry Following the success of Henry's Beach Read and You and Me on Vacation, the anticipated Book Lovers promises to be the hottest read of the summer. Set in a peaceful small town in North Carolina, literary agent Nora can't seem to escape her rival, literary editor, Charlie, leading to a classic enemies-to-lovers love story.

Release date: 05/05/2022 Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover Arguably the biggest author on BookTok, Hoover's extensive backlog has built up a strong group of readers enticed by her emotional and heartbreaking writing. Reminders of Him is expected to tug on the heartstrings of readers. Following Kenna, a young mother returning to her hometown after a five-year stint in prison and reuniting with her four-year-old daughter. Release Date: 18/01/2022 The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley The author of The Hunting Party and The Guest List is back to keep us guessing in classic whodunit mysteries that will keep you up at night. Set in an old apartment block in the outskirts of Paris, this psychological thriller is set to be the mystery of the year. Release Date: 03/03/2022 Like what you see? Read our online version for more highly anticipated books.

LET'S talk about sex, baby! Let’s talk about you and me! I am 21-years-old, and I am a virgin. Very happily so, to be clear. Why, you ask? Firstly, I didn’t notice that this was anything extraordinary until the topic of sex was omnipresent after starting my studies at university. Do I want to have sex? Am I a virgin because I am hiding? I never felt the need to go out and explore my sexual needs in that way. Having physical contact with a person that I don’t feel a deep connection to has never been an interest of mine. Quite the opposite: the thought alone gives me chills all over my body. The second question that followed my observations was: Am I Asexual then? I can answer with a definite and strong “No”. I love sex, I love self-pleasure, I love lingerie, I love the conversation around sex, I love to ask my friends about their kinks and desires. The point that I don’t want to get involved with is having intimate physical contact, myself, with someone that I don’t feel a strong connection to. A confused research within the depths of the internet have led me to a term that seems to explain it all: Vanilla! Oh no, sorry, that was the result to a different search. Demisexual is the word that I was looking for. No need to add that sexuality is a fluid concept. Tomorrow I might be weirdly attracted to a stranger and could like to initiate an adult sleep over, if you know what I mean. Demisexuality is another term under the wide umbrella of Asexuality. For context: Asexuality is the lack of sexual interest in general. While Demisexuality, according to the BBC, applies to people that need an “emotional bond” to develop attraction. Finding a label that finally fits can be super relieving. Image credit: Aysun Bora

Can you relate? What is yours? I can’t wait to hear from you!

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Our most anticipated upcoming games:

Gran Turismo 7 Release date: 4 March 2022 Platforms: PS4/5 Developer: Polyphony Digital

Gran Turismo returns for a new entry in this long-running motorsport franchise. The game promises a return to its roots, with a fully fleshed out single player mode many missed from GT Sport

Starfield Release date: 11 November 2022 Platforms: PC, XBOX X|S Developer: Bethesda

Forspoken Release date: 24 May 2022 Platforms: PC, PS5 Developer: Square Enix

GAMING

Bethesda's first new IP in 25 years looks to wade into the sci-fi RPG genre. We don't know too much yet, but if it is Skyrim in space then sign us up.

Forspoken is about a woman who suddenly finds herself transported to a magic-imbued land ruled by bad guys. Sounds fairly simple, but the focus on traversal and magic has caught our attention.

God of War: Ragnarok Release date: TBC 2022 Platforms: PS4/5 Developer: Sony Santa Monica

2018's God of War was arguably the best PS4 exclusive of the entire generation. If you played it, the twist at the end will have you aching to play the sequel.

Redfall Release date: Summer 2022 Platforms: PC, XBOX X|S Developer: Arkane Austin

Imagine Left4Dead, but with vampires instead of zombies. Oh, and let the genius behind the Dishonoured series create it. We're looking forward to this one a lot.

Hogwarts Legacy Release date: TBC 2022 Platforms: PC, PS4/5, XBOX ONE/X|S Developer: Avalanche Studios

Horizon: Forbidden West Release date: 18 February 2022 Platforms: PS4/5 Developer: Guerrilla Games

"Hogwarts Legacy is an immersive, openworld, action role-playing-game set in the 1800s wizarding world, which puts players at the centre of their own adventure." Yeah. I'm sold.

Guerrilla Games moved away from their FPS roots to create a sublime open-world action RPG in Horizon: Zero Dawn. The sequel looks to improve on the formula. We can't wait.

Elden Ring

Release date: 25 February 2022 Platforms: PC, PS4/5, XBOX ONE/X|S Developer: FromSoftware

Elden Ring, a game from the minds behind the Soulsbourne genre and the Game of Thrones franchise. A beautiful open world, and undoubtedly difficult yet rewarding gameplay await. Not long now.

All images used belong to their respective developer..

By Calum Sutherland

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GAMING

Pokémon Legends: Arceus review GOTTA catch them all! Who remembers the first time they laid eyes on Pikachu, the cute mouse mascot of the Pokémon world? The little yellow electric type stole our hearts with its lighting tale, rosy cheeks, and the sound of its voice. I remember the first time I got the Gameboy Advance and started playing Pokémon Emerald. I think I was eight years old at that time, and I couldn’t get past the man in Littleroot town because I had no idea where to find the professor. However, once I got the hang of it, my heart and mind became obsessed with the world of Pokémon and I am not ashamed to say I am still, in fact, obsessed with it, just like many of you. Similarly, the moment the word came out of the upcoming game, Pokémon: Legends Arceus; anticipation and excitement filled my heart with ongoing expectations of a game that may change the Pokémon universe forever. Every trailer, every snippet promised a new universe where Pokémon roamed free, each

carrying they’re on personality and stats in the Hisui Region, based on Japan. The trailer promised a semiopen world, where catching Pokémon would be the main object of the game to complete the first Poke-dex in the Pokémon world. However, game freak could have done a lot more with this game. The opening of the game seemed unbelievable, especially regarding graphics. Some may argue the graphics are poorly made, comparing it to the other games that will soon be coming out. However, for a Pokémon game, the graphics were brilliant. The landscape and the night sky brought joy to my heart, yet the storyline could have been more interactive, and more action-packed. The gameplay itself is something that you would always dream about as a Pokémon fan, but it did not live up to my expectations. I think that Game Freak could have done way more, in terms of gameplay and storyline. The lack of towns surely made a difference to my judgement of the game. Not being able

to explore the region freely was something Game Freak should have thought about when creating this game. The Pokémon universe was usually all about exploring different landscapes without any loading screen. However, the new NCP that allows you to teleport to the similar wild area that we witnessed in Pokémon Sword & Shield, made me a little disappointed because running around in routes did not exist anymore and that was arguably my favourite part. However, I do not miss battling pesky trainers and being caught in the grass by invisible Pokémon. Being able to ride Pokémon, reminds me of 'Breath of the Wild' but apart from that, the only thing that is truly worth buying the game for is the new mechanics, when it comes to battling and capturing Pokémon. In conclusion, I would say the Pokémon game is something worth trying and beautifully made, however, don’t expect much out of it, you can truly see Game Freak has tried a different approach to the game, yet not to

Supergiant Games have delivered the veritable cherry on top of the cake with this one. With an impressive portfolio of games already under their belt, including 2011 indie darling ‘Bastion’, and the award-winning Pyre, the small team of indie developers have consistently shown their ambition and love for the craft in every title they produce. Supergiant Games are known for offering rich, colourful experiences, with unique and recognisable artwork, and usually an award-winning song hidden here and there from in-house composer, Darren Korb. A focus on story and characterisation is always at the heart of their titles, regardless of the genre of game. Hades is a rogue-like game, i.e. a dungeon crawler style game with a different layout and different items during every attempted ‘run’. While known for their endless replay value and often distinct and recognisable art style, ‘rogue-like’ is perhaps not the first genre you’d think of when thinking of games with a strong, codified narrative and enticing story. Prepare to change your mind about that- Hades is a different beast. You take the reigns as Prince Zagreus, son of Hades, God of the Dead, desperately trying to escape the many layers of the

Underworld- a feat unheard of. With an arsenal of unique weapons, play as Zagreus as he fights through the hordes of Hades’ shades, while trying to unravel the various mysteries of his parentage, Olympian relatives, and family secrets. Encounter more interactable characters than Myspace’s current user count, each with their own vivid and engaging tale to tell- if you build up your relationship right! Come for the absolutely addictive roguelike antics, stay for the totally unexpected depth of the writing- I cried more times than I can count at this one, and not always sad tears. The gameplay is fast,

tight, and slick; combat is responsive and endlessly entertaining, with such work put into animating moves- each weapon is more than unique and distinct, with a specific yet flexible play style. As you progress through each ‘room’ of the Underworld, you can be offered one of a variety of items, including God Boons (which alter your moves, offer quality of life improvements,

Rockstar logo. image: Rockstar Games

GRAND THEFT AUTO 6 IS BEING WORKED ON SAYS ROCKSTAR GAMES Pikachu. image: Game Freal

By Haneen Akbari

and generally result in busted runs), HP, Weapon Upgrades, and an endless buffet of tasty treats that will make little sense until you actually play it. At various times while playing it I stated aloud in a awed whisper, “This is the best game I’ve played for years. It might be better than Hollow Knight.” Never did I think those words would come out of my gob, yet Hades showed me a future where this was possible. Oh and it’s comparatively cheap as chips, and completely outdoes 99% of Massive Studios TM offerings. Supergiant Games have said they want to make games that spark players’ imagination, like when they were kids. Hades is a reminder of a time when games were full of content by default -with nothing cut for the inevitable DLC- made with all the creative passion and ferocity you could ask for. I’d say they’ve more than aced that mission statement with Hades.

By Rachel Swan Politics Editor

Hades artwork. image: Supergiant Games

its full potential.

Hades: luscious, beautiful, leading the way A luscious, beautiful, and painstakingly created roguelike leading the way in storytelling innovation

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ROCKSTAR Games have officially announced that development on a new Grand Theft Auto game has started. “With every new project, our goal is always to move significantly beyond what we’ve previously delivered,” read a tweet from the developer’s official account. “We’re pleased to confirm that active development for the next entry in the [Grand Theft Auto] series is underway. “We look forward to sharing more as soon as we are ready, so please stay tuned to Rockstar Newswire for official details.” The last entry in the series, Grand Theft Auto V, was released in 2013 and has sold more than 155 million copies to date. The smash hit fifth entry is also set to span its third console generation with an upgraded version of the game due to be released for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on March 15 this year. The developer acknowledged the growing demand from fans for a new Grand Theft Auto experience, but no further details such as platform availability, release date or title have been announced as of yet.

By Calum Sutherland

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LIFESTYLE

Healed Scars Charity: A Token Of Hope Healing. Image Credit-Healed Scars Facebook Page

The gift of pampering yourself "Spa treatment is peaceful and relaxing." image: Alex Bertha / unsplash.com

By Sonny Bailey

IF you are someone who has a lot of full-time commitments, such as work, university or family responsibilities, chances are you’ve had some rather stressful days. Workloads pile up, university deadlines loom, meetings are back and forth, and there simply isn’t enough time for yourself in the day. A few months ago, I chose to spend some time at one of the Bannatyne spas which are scattered across the area. Work-life balance seemed to be off, and my productivity had ceased. The first thing that happened as soon as I got there was that I was given a white dressing gown, flip flops, and a bag. Even just entering the building, the atmosphere was super calm and relaxed. Spas offer a multitude of different body massage treatments, and facial treatments. They’re available as day packages, or as part of a multi-day holiday packages. They also offer access to other facilities such as swimming pools, saunas, and steam rooms. They also offer some highend skincare products during the treatments, and the actual spa treatment itself is peaceful and relaxing. While I was having my back massaged with lava stones, the woman doing the treatment mentioned how we simply do not spend enough time pampering ourselves. Doing

so provides amazing relief from work or university stress, and I wish I had gone to a spa sooner. Not only that, but the aesthetic aspect of spas is evident, given that the range of skincare and facial treatments can be catered for any skin type, prevent ageing, and restore emotional equilibrium. Pampering yourself isn’t just about getting a massage, relaxing, or taking a break. It is about living an experience and using that experience not only to be kind to yourself, but to others as well. It’s very easy for stress to manifest itself in physical actions as well as mental. The lava stone treatment felt incredible, and even during the facial treatment it was relaxing. Feeling in a rush at the start of every morning sometimes meant that I scrubbed my face too hard or too fast. Noticing just how slow the facial scrub felt, made a world of difference. Afterwards, I was free to have a dip in the pool and experience the sauna and steam room. With my muscles feeling more relaxed, swimming felt more natural, while the intense heat of the sauna and steam room gave me memories of being on holiday. Pamper yourself. It’s amazing just how far this act of self-care can take you.

By Hannah Coyle WHEN we are going through hell, we need support, we need hope. We need to know that healing is possible and that there are people out there who want to play a part in that healing, to guide us on a path that best serves ourselves. It will be no surprise to you to learn that support services for women who have suffered trauma and abuse are staggeringly low, and as far as a safe place to go is concerned, there are very few. Until Healed Scars was founded by Ewelina Chin in August 2020 during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. A new charity was established in October 2021 and it is now called Healed Scars HSTAR Scotland, also known as Healed Scars Trauma and Abuse Recovery. Ewelina recognised that the restrictions of the pandemic were having a major impact on those who had suffered from trauma, as it presented new frightening challenges such as seeking support or refuge and brought up PTSD symp-

toms from past traumas. Ewelina is an experienced and qualified accountant, a soft skills coach, and not to mention a very down to earth, kind hearted woman, which makes her a fitting individual to take on such courageous and impactful work. What makes her position as the founder of Healed Scars Charity so profound is that she herself is a survivor of trauma and abuse – Ewelina told Brig she “felt a persistent calling throughout this time to bring her passion, energy and unique vision to the creation of services that would recognise the distinct interface and the differences between being a victim and the transition to becoming and being a survivor”. The main purpose of Healed Scars HSTAR is to be able to offer “free access to non-judgemental therapies” and advocacy support to women in Scotland who have suffered trauma and/ or abuse at any stage in their life, regardless of any factors. Ewelina told Brig:

“We offer a range of services throughout the community to raise awareness of all factors of trauma and abuse, to offer support to those who may be impacted, choosing the therapy that will work best for the individual, working together towards empowering and supporting women and improving their mental and physical well-being.” HSTAR services support and reflect the diversity of women and the services that they work alongside and all of their services are accessible, inclusive and focussed on supporting women to overcome fear, loneliness, stigma, and dealing with life in general. “Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of everything we do here at HSTAR” – Ewelina Chin. To access these services please see: https:// hstar-scotland.org/

LIFESTYLE

The Energy Drink Made Purely From Plants Tenzing Cans. Image Credit- Tenzing

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IN the age of the modern social media site like TikTok, Instagram and Twitter, Pinterest has seemingly taken a back seat for people. Some may say it was stuck in the 2010’s era, a millennial tool for weddings maybe, but when used correctly can be a relaxing creative outlet for anybody to use.

THIS article is not affiliated with Tenzing Energy drinks are notorious for being filled with artificial ingredients as well as high sugar levels which is why if you are an avid drinker you should try Tenzing. Tenzing is a natural energy drink made purely from plants. The drink includes caffeine from green coffee beans, electrolytes from Himalayan rock salt and vitamin c from acerola. Tenzing came about after former Red Bull marketer Huib van Bockel decided to create his own energy drink that included natural energising ingredients. Before starting Tenzing, the energy drink market was filled with artificial ingredients. Creating Tenzing brought about a whole new way of energising without the need for synthetic caffeine, artificial taurine and high sugar levels. The drink's blend of natural caffeine, electrolytes and antioxidants was inspired by a traditional Nepalese recipe.

For years the Sherpa people have been drinking this blend which inspired the company name of Tenzing in honour of Sherpa Tenzing Norgay who was the first of two men to climb Mount Everest. The recipe that inspired Tenzing was used to fuel Sherpas like Tenzing Norgay on high-altitude expeditions, not using any artificial ingredients that are in typical energy drinks today. With global warming also being a big issue in today’s world it is important to shop with companies who are trying to be environmentally conscious and Tenzing is one of those companies. Tenzing is the first carbon-negative energy drink in the world as well as the first soft drink to label their climate footprint on their cans. They also carbon label their products and are the first energy drink to do so. To not only help consumers be more climate-conscious when shopping but also own

If you don’t know what Pinterest is, it is a site where use can ‘pin’ images, videos and graphics uploaded by other users and companies onto boards on your personal page to create a scrolling mood board. You can create as many them as a brand accountable boards as you want for diffor their carbon emissions. ferent themes and follow As well as this, they are also your friends or other creaRainforest Alliance certified tors who make interesting for their green tea, B Corp boards too. As well as being certified, non-GMO, vegan able to search for photos and aesthetics Pinterest and gluten-free. will help cultivate your Tenzing cans are now popfeed and show you pins ping up in more and more stores including Tesco, Asda, they think you’d like for your board.

Morrisons, Holland and Barett and can be found on campus in the Atrium Coop store. You can purchase or subscribe for regular deliveries on Tenzing's official site and Amazon too. Find out more: https://tenzingnaturalenergy.com

The Lost Art Of Pinterest By Charlotte Sutcliffe

By Rio Kerr

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The ability to create boards for anything allows for endless potential. Most famed for outfit inspiration, recipes, travel photos and life hacks it’s developed more recently into a more personal and less stressful social media platform. It’s incredibly relaxing to simply scroll through and see the mood boards you’re creating come together. In the practical sense it’s amazing for practically putting together ideas in terms of visualising ideas. A lot of the pins are also links to blog posts or article so you can learn things related to the post which is especially useful if it’s a recipe or a travel related pin.

The most fun use for Pinterest in my opinion however is cultivating aesthetically pleasing boards for different aspects of my life to motivate and inspire myself and get excited for my goals. A note should be made about using Pinterest as a form of inspiration for your life. A large aspect of Pinterest is the aesthetic of many of the photos. This leads to perpetuating an unattainable life through a collection of snippets of other people’s lives pushed together to sell the agenda of perfection. Putting all these images in one place can be dangerous as you start to compare lives. The most important thing to remember about using Pinterest is that real life is so much messier but that doesn’t make it less enjoyable or beautiful. As much fun as it is to scroll through and collect photos and themes and aesthetics, your life is more than a Pinterest board.

Pinterest Logo. Image Credit- Seeklogo.com

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FEATURES On the left: Zoe Venditozzi and Claire Mitchell Image Credit: The National

The women fighting to pardon Scotland's accused witches THE Witches of Scotland campaign seeks to secure a legal pardon for those convicted of witchcraft in Scotland between the 16th and 18th century. The Witchcraft Act of 1563, a bill which defined witchcraft as a crime punishable by death, resulted in nearly 4,000 people being tried in Scotland, with over half of them being executed. Of this number, 84% were women. In Scotland, the Witchcraft Act remained in law until 1736. Witchcraft was deemed a capital crime and punished by strangulation and burning at the stake. To this day, witchcraft trials are taking place around the world, with witch-hunting being particularly prevalent in India, Papua New Guinea, Amazonia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. These trials are almost always violent, and sometimes fatal. The usual victims are children, the elderly, and women. Spearheaded by author and teacher Zoe Venditozzi and Queen's Counsel Claire Mitchell, Witches of Scotland has three main aims: a legal pardon for those convicted, a public government apology, and for a national

memorial to be erected in memory of those accused and convicted. Recently, the campaign has gained support from MSP Natalie Don, who plans to propose a Private Member's bill. The support from Nicola Sturgeon's government has inspired new hope that the campaign will reach its goal of obtaining an official apology for International Women's Day in 2022. The persecution of witches in Scotland, as with the rest of Europe, resulted in thousands killed and tortured to the point of confession. Most of the victims are un-commemorated, resulting in a large piece of Scottish women's history being lost in the larger witch-hunt narrative. An official pardon and apology from the Scottish government shows that they are not only committed to women's equality both past and present, but also to demonstrating their support of the cause to other countries. Methods of torture included sleep deprivation, drawing blood from the victim with needles and the crushing or removal of fingernails. This was often

done publicly and in front of a victim's community. The atrocities carried out would weaken an accused individual physically and mentally until they finally gave a false confession. The Witches of Scotland campaign started when Mitchell read Sara Sheridan's book Where are the women? and noticed a lack of female statues residing in public spaces. "We do consider the witch trials and the Witches of Scotland as a feminist campaign," Mitchell told Brig. "The view at the time was that women were inferior intellectually and morally, and therefore easier for the Devil to win over." “I decided that the women and men who were killed as witches should be properly remembered in a memorial, pardoned, and given an apology, so that history properly recorded them,” Mitchell commented. "We should reflect on the way we treated women, a vulnerable group at the time and now, and properly record it. They were people, who suffered a terrible miscarriage of justice." Recently, some individuals have taken to social media to voice their complaints.

Among them are those who believe that taking this matter to the government is a waste of their time. However, campaigners for the Witches of Scotland believe that their demands will not take much time out of the government's schedule, as the length of the legislation itself will be limited. To these criticisms, Mitchell responds: "We think that a memorial, whilst costing money, is worthwhile to record the history of Scottish women. So much of our history has been recorded from a male perspective; it does not seem much to ask that women’s history be given some prominence." The campaign has set up a public petition to the Scottish government asking for the pardon and memorialisation of those convicted under the 1563 Witchcraft

Act, which sits at 3,400 signatures as of late January 2022. For International Women’s Day this year, let's remember the victims of the witch trials as more than just a piece of history, but as real people who suffered a terrible fate at the hands of those around them. May we shift our perspective of these victims from “witches” to women.

By Deanna Dawn

Below: artist recreation of a witch trial Image Credit: Joseph E. Baker

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FEATURES

Finland: the happiest country in the world

Below: Finland's flag Image Credit: Zunkkis

By Robyn Duffy AFTER spending Christmas in the winter wonderland that is Finland, I was heartbroken to return to the mess of the UK. The short time I spent there made me fall in love with the landscapes, the people and the way of life. It’s no wonder that Finland has been named the happiest country globally for four years running. You may not think that the northern country would be an obvious choice for such a title, with its cold climate and six months of darkness and winter. However, Finns don't let the rain, snow, or cold winds get in the way of living a happy life and keeping active. Since the 1970s, Finland has significantly reformed its education system and is currently ranked number three worldwide in education. All education in the country is free, with uniforms, meals, transport, and school materials provided in all compulsory education. All teachers must have an MA degree as the government relies on high competency. In Finland, children don’t begin proper education until they are seven, with the belief that formative years are meant for play, exploration and development. Pupils don’t start school as early, as studies have shown that a later start time gives children's brains a chance to wake up. Schools rarely use exams due to the high pressure these entail; instead, they leave it up to

teachers to create a grading outline. Not only is education free, but Finland also has a universal healthcare system that looks after all its citizens. This means that no matter someone's income level, they will still receive the best care possible. The same goes for education. Finland was the first country to grant women the right to vote in 1906; since then, they have pursued equality for all citizens. All women and men have the same rights, LGBTQ+ rights are respected, workers have rights set out, and the egalitarian style of government allows everyone a chance at success. The current Prime Minister, Sanna Marin, is a woman, and, when she was elected in 2019, she was the youngest world leader at the age of 34. She notes that although Finland has taken great strides, she wants “to do better when it comes to equality”, articulating that “the hard work that people before me have done to build our society is important – the real work to be done now is to make sure that we continue to promote opportunities.” The idyllic winter landscape in Finland makes it feel like you are stepping into a fairytale. Extensive forests of trees covered by snow, crystal clear lakes and ponds (many frozen over in the winter months), and beautiful architecture in cities such as Helsinki...it tru-

ly is a beautiful country overall. The north of Finland enters the arctic circle and is home to Lapland; this is also where Santa is said to live. The country has a large selection of wildlife ranging from bears to reindeer, and the lack of air pollution is evident in the crisp, clean air. The cold may be eased by the staple of a sauna in most Finnish homes. This warms people up and provides them with a place to relax after a long day. And finally, a variety of sports, such as ice hockey, ‘salibandy’ or floorball, skiing, snowboarding, football and figure skating help to keep people healthy and active. It’s not hard to see why Finland has claimed the top spot; the egalitarian society has gorgeous landscapes, a relaxed way of life, and low crime levels due to citizens trusting each other. It also boasts one of the most outstanding education systems globally. It actively cares about the wellbeing of students, leading to more opportunities for young people within the country. It’s no real wonder that it has been crowned the happiest country in the world.

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You won't forget Lolita By Anna Nova YOU see this book called Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov on nearly every single list of books to read before you die. But why? What is the “big deal”? If you are not yet familiar with the story of Lolita it concerns a middle-aged man Humbert Humbert and a twelve year old Dolores Haze also known as Lolita. By telling you this little about the novel, you can probably assume that the book is highly controversial and has made a number of people to deem this book disgusting, inappropriate or unsurprisingly perverse. All of this notwithstanding, Lolita has been considered to be one of the best novels ever written since it was first published in 1955. But why is that? Vladimir Nabokov (18991977) was a Russian-American author who wrote in both languages, English and Russian. His literary career was in Russian until he moved to the United States in 1940. He also wrote in French, but in the United States, he appears to have determined that writing for a broader audience and in the country where he lived would provide him with far more employment opportunities. Nabokov spoke Russian, English, and French fluently. He earned a B.A. in Slavic and Romance languages from Trinity College, Cambridge. After that, he resided in Berlin and authored Russian novels and stories for the Russian emigré community under the pen name V. Sirin. He wrote for such a small community due to the fact that he was a persona non grata in his

home country, Russia. Many are surely interested in why Nabokov wrote Lolita the way he did and what he himself thought about it. In one of the many interviews Nabokov gave he was asked whether he closely followed Lolita's fate, to that he replied: “Lolita is an indictment of all the things it expresses. It is a pathetic book dealing with the plight of a child, a very ordinary little girl, caught up by a disgusting cruel man ... But of all my books, I like it the best. The last bone always tastes the best.”( Niagara Falls Gazette, 1959). Following that, Nabokov in the New York Post (1958) said that “Only fools would find Lolita obscene...” and also predicted that “ Those who keep looking for spicy bits will not find them. They will not be able to read the book through- they will get bored too soon. The only thing that might be attractive is diary H.H. keeps. And then, who would be attracted by a 12-year-old girl?” “If a few elderly gentlemen read it in that spirit, that is surely their business.” From this, we can see that the author certainly did not intend to make people think that this is in any shape or form a pornographic novel. Despite that so many people do find it this way for obvious reasons but is there more to it? Nabokov conveys the psychological processes of Humbert Humbert. What intrigues me the most til this day is how, despite the fact that his mother tongue is

Continued on next page Below: book cover. image: Lit Hub

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Continued from page 23 Russian, managed to use English in his own benefit and was not afraid to experiment. In 1958 for the Cornell Daily Sun, Nabokov shared that he believed that “ English is the richest language in the world. The spirit of the language is a harmonious one...”. In my opinion, the author definitely showed in Lolita how “rich” English actually is. Needles to add that after finishing Lolita

for the first time five years ago, I became absolutely devoted to literature for the rest of my life. That's what a great book does to you. As we all know, one of literature's goals is to deal with complex subjects. Lolita it's not about a man rapping a girl for the purpose of titillating the readers or anything. It's a superbly written, extremely informative glimpse into the life of a pervert and murderer. It's presented from his point of

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view, and his gradual unraveling, as well as his anxiety over his stalking doppelganger, is regarded as one of the best character studies in modern literature. There are no graphic sex scenes, yet Lolita's character is equally complicated. Finally, because the book was prohibited in so many countries, it should pique your attention on a cultural and historical level. What was the source of the fear? What did that indicate about the artistic

liberties of the time? If you read it, I suggest you consider the attitudes toward art and criminality that led to the book's suppression. The way I see it is that Nabokov wanted that reader to challenge himself/herself and go beyond what at fist seems to be a “disgusting” and “ perverse” novel and look for something else, because, as we all know, things are not always the way we think they are at first. We should never

FEATURES try to hold on to the idea that characters have to be ideal, at the end of the day, their flaws are what makes them interesting. One thing that I was wondering for ages after reading the novel (and you might be too) was whether or not it was based on personal experience. For I could not understand how someone is able to describe and convey one's mind and needs in such a deep and realistic way. It must be a real experience, right? About a year ago I discovered that the answer is no, Nabokov completely made the story up as he said in a 1959 interview for the Los Angels Mirror News. intriguing read for you. I can not say if you'll like the novel or not, what I can definitely say though is that you won't forget Lolita.

images: Anna Nova

MEET THE BRIG COMMITTEE Senior Team Editor in Chief Iona Brownlie editor@brignews.com

Deputy Editor Iman Mackenzie deputyeditor@brignews.com

Secretary Calum Sutherland secretary@brignews.com

Section Editors News Editors Ben Waddell and Peter Humfrey news@brignews.com

Features Editor Imogen Robinson features@brignews.com

Lifestyle Editor Molly Bishop lifestyle@brignews.com

Sports Editors Dylan Inglis and Graham Fleming sport@brignews.com

Food Editor Isla Glen food@brignews.com

Arts Editor Emma Halliday arts@brignews.com

Politics Editor Rachel Swan politics@brignews.com

Comment Editor Chloe Richardson comment@brignews.com

Film & TV Editor Morven Mackay filmandtv@brignews.com

Music Editor Sophie McVinnie music@brignews.com

Gaming Editor VACANT gaming@brignews.com

Braw Editor VACANT deputyeditor@brignews. com

Chief Sub-Editor Hannah Coyle

Head of Social Media Isla Glen

Production Team Head of Advertisement Rhona MacLeod advertise@brignews.com

Thinking of joining us? We're always looking for new people to write for brig. If you'd like to try student journalism and want to write for a particular section, send an email to the relevant editor inbox above. Not sure which section you want to write for? Feel free to reach out to a member of our senior team, or come along to one of our weekly meetings at 7 p.m. in the W1 lecture theatre, Cottrell Building. Thinking of running for a committee position? We have the following vacancies just waiting for someone to step up: - Gaming Editor - Braw (magazine section) editor - Head of Design If any of these positions interest you, or you want more details won the roles, email us at editor@brignews.com for more information.

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THREE WAYS TO ELEVATE YOUR PANCAKES By Ryan Barclay

THE date of Shrove Tuesday may change from year to year, so it can be difficult to know how to maintain the simplicity of your pancakes whilst still elevating the flavours and combinations to keep things exciting and appealing. Whether you are a beginner or a pancake perfectionist, Brig has three tips to show how you can have the perfect punchy pancakes ahead of Pancake Day 2022

be limited to banana, you could try some sliced pineapple or pear. Adding fruit to pancakes can help them feel fresher for longer and uncover some new flavour combinations.

3. Changing presentation

the

If you have already perfected your ingredients but feel like you continue to receive the same tastes and textures from the standard pancake, why not change the way in which

your pancakes are presented or shaped on the plate? Mixing up the order of the ingredients or design can fundamentally change the way in which a pancake tastes but still allows you to keep that trusted family recipe.

Add Alcohol

If you feel like your pancakes are lacking in flavour or are getting tired of a very similarly plain texture, why not add one or two teaspoons of gin or beer. There are a variety of ways to add alcohol to your recipe, such as through the syrups that you can apply to your pancakes once baked. If you are concerned that the alcohol will be overpowering, why not add it earlier in the baking process and mix it as part of the butter?

Berries on a pancake. Image credit: Lucas Guizo on Pexels

Syrup being poured on a pancake. Image credit: Desativado on Pexels

CHORIZO SAUSAGE ROLLS RECIPE By Rhona Macleod SPRING semester is the perfect time for picnics by the loch and long walks around campus. The picnic essentials are wellknown, sandwiches, sweets and of course sausage rolls. This recipe is the perfect way to shake up the classic sausage roll.

Ingredients:

- 320g ready-made puff pastry - 6 chorizo sausages - 1 beaten egg - Paprika, to taste

Method:

1) Preheat oven to 200°C, 180°C fan, gas 6 or the suggested temperature on the puff pastry packaging. 2) Remove the sausage meat from its casing in a bowl. 3) Spread out the puff pastry dough and cut in half to form two long rectangles. 4) Mould half of the

IS A BOWL OF TEA MAKING A COMEBACK? By Isla Glen Food Editor IT'S a good old British cup of tea a thing of the past? In a viral TikTok video, a user made a bowl of tea as it was easier to dip biscuits into. It gained thousands of likes and people loved the idea. The trend caught on as a prank, with it being blasted as “Too bowly! Not milky it’s flucking too bowly!” in a viral video that amassed over 300k likes. Even Yorkshire Tea caught on, dipping a whole shortbread wheel in a bowl of tea.

Dipping a shortbread wheel in a bowl of tea. Image credit: Yorkshire Tea on TikTok

2. E x per i ment i ng with fruit We have all heard of placing some sliced banana on your pancake. However, it doesn’t have to

FOOD

sausage meat into a log shape and lay in the middle of one of the rectangles, repeat with the second rectangle. 5) Use the beaten egg to brush the long edge of the pastry before folding over the unbrushed side. 6) Use a fork to gently press the sides together, wrapping the pastry tight around the sausage meat. 7) Cut the log into as many pieces as desired, I recommend seven pieces per log. 8) Gently brush the rest of the beaten egg over the top of the sausage rolls and add paprika seasoning to taste. 9) Bake for the 25-30 minutes, ensuring both pastry and sausage is cooked through and the pastry is golden brown.

Leave enjoy!

cool

But many TikTok users didn’t think it too uncommon. Japanese matcha is traditionally drunk from bowls. The French drink from a bowl at breakfast time, usually tea, or coffee. Some use bowls to enjoy hot chocolate with bread or tartine to dip. In Britain, the handle may have been added to tea bowls because of the high temperature it was enjoyed at or because cups and saucers were becoming more fashionable.

A traditional British tea bowel. Image credit: The British Museum.

and Chorizo sausage rolls. Image credit: Vikalinka

While drinking tea from a bowl isn’t a new thing, it has plenty of benefits. Whether it’s savoring every sip, feeling warmth in your hands, or enjoying a large biscuit. Tea is all down to personal preference so if biscuit dipping is a priority, this micro-trend may be for you.

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IS TOO GOOD TO GO WORTH IT IN STIRLING?

By Morven Mackay

WHEN Too Good To Go launched in 2016, it wasn’t long before it started soaring in popularity. It’s simple goal – to reduce food waste by allowing businesses to sell surplus food at a discounted rate – had clearing caught people’s attention. The “magic bags” offer no choice for buyers and are made up of whatever is left from the day. Some days, there won’t be anything for sale and other day’s there might be more than usual. Once you purchase the bag you will be given a time slot that varies depending on the business. Unlike bigger cities, Stirling doesn’t have much to choose from. In total there are only nine businesses on the app, only two

of which are small businesses. Some places are more popular and so they sell out fairly fast. It’s a good idea to keep an eye on the anywhere you like the look of so you can nab a bag before they sell out. I opted to get a bag from Café Sixty Four, a new café located on Upper Craigs, and Morrison’s in Sprinkerse retail park. Both bags were £3. The bag from Café Sixty Four was much fuller than I expected. The woman working did say it was especially full today, so I really lucked out. They don’t tell you exactly what each thing is so it’s a big of a guessing game – they do warn you if there is meat inside

though. The contents were as followed: Two croissant sandwich’s (one ham and cheese, one cheese and tomato) One camembert, ham and sweet chili chutney baguette One portion of chicken soup with two baps One chocolate twist pastry One small baked potato The quality of food was incredible, and I was really impressed overall. The pick-up process went smoothly and only took a couple of minutes. The Morrison’s bag was also pleasantly surprising. I was the first person to arrive for the bags, so they hadn’t made them

Cafe 64 (Left) and Morrsions (right) Too Good Too Go Bag contents. Image credit: Morven Mackay

up yet and the wait was around ten minutes in total. The contents of the bag were: One turnip One head of iceberg lettuce Three red peppers A punnet of strawberries A punnet of blackberries 150g of mixed wild mushrooms A 2.5kg bag of potatoes All the foods were really high quality and a good number of them had a few days before they expired. I was able to freeze some of it and give away anything I

wouldn’t use to friends and flatmates. All in all, I would definitely buy a bag from both places again. I think it is 100 per cent worth it for any students looking to be more sustainable or who want to save a little money.

HOW TO EAT INTUITIVELY By Aysun Bora

THIS is a guide for how to eat the right things at the right time. Many have started a list of new year resolutions for the start of 2022. Eating healthily is a classic that comes up regularly. However, it can be hard to find your way around all the premade food and take-out that is available nowadays. This is a reminder for everyone, myself included, on how to listen to your body and give it the nutrients it deserves.

1. Be cautious of your usual eating habits

Since human beings usually eat every day, it can be easy to fall into the same eating habit all the time. But once you decide to notice what you eat it can be very helpful. If you are dedicated, you can even start a food diary or write down on your notes app what you consume for a few days. You will be surprised how often we just snack something on the side without even

acknowledging it.

2. Ask yourself how you feel while and after you have eaten

Noticing what effect food has on our bodies can be interesting and very telling. Cravings are determined by tempting easy meals around us and a lot of advertisements. Finding out for yourself which foods do you good and help you feel better is super empowering.

3. Experiment with different ingredients and recipes

Our everyday lives can be full of hassle. Eating usually takes the backseat. I have noticed, however, how much food can affect your mental health. Getting out of your comfort zone and trying out new flavours can open a completely new culinary door for the normal ups and downs of life.

4. See food as part of self-care

Why is it that we cook something fancy for other people, but it is not worth it when we are alone? Showing yourself love through cooking for yourself and investing time in your health can be uplifting.

5. Be kind to yourself

It is societal that we have a certain perception of “good” and “bad” food. Explain why that is completely wrong is a topic for another article. Just keep in mind that you can’t fail in eating or self-care. Just focus on what feels right for you, and only you. If it doesn’t work out the way you want just start anew tomorrow. Every day is a new opportunity to reset. Use it.

A woman eating a burger. Image credit: Liberated Nutrition

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SPORT

Gordon Reid won his ninth consecutive Grand Slam title. image: Associated Press

Gordon Reid makes history at Australian Open By Paddy Hyde FORMER Stirling student Gordon Reid made history by winning his ninth successive Grand Slam Wheelchair Doubles title. Reid made history after winning the Australian Open, giving him nine consecutive Grand Slam titles.

Reid played alongside fellow Brit Alfie Hewitt to beat Argentina’s Gustavo Fernandez and Shingo Kenieda of Japan 6-2 4-6 10-7. In winning, the British duo has surpassed Martina Natilova’s and Pam Shriver's record of eight consecutive Grand Slam titles between Wimble-

don in 1983 and the French Open in 1985. Reid said: "It's always nice to hear them but, at the same time, I think we focus on what we're doing, and we're just enjoying each one as it comes. "Just trying to improve and push our partnership forward

excellent. “They’re a good side, and it was a good goal they scored, but we had enough chances to kill them off second half. We’re delighted though and it’s a great win for us.”

Class Stirling had shown their class against a team playing in the division below, but United proved what they’re capable of in the second half and made a game of it. Despite being fortunate to still be within reach of the Uni, Hurlford got one back through Alex Bell on 69 minutes. Paul McKenzie and Lewis Morrison combined with a neat one-two before the former pulled it back for Bell to finish at the near post. A triple-save to deny Conor Doan and Ben McIvor-Redwood wrapped up an impressive individual performance from McDonald, but Stirling had done their damage and progressed to the next round.

and to try and come back better in the next one." Reid and Hewitt have won three Australian Open titles, fourteen Grand Slams, and have not lost a Grand Slam since 2019. “I think that it shows our mental strength as a team and our mental

strength as well that we could find a way through our matches this week.” Reid said. Former British Number one, Tim Henman said: “They have the most incredible partnership and the most incredible friendship you can see what it means to them.”

Davidson free kick takes Uni past Hurlford By John Turnbull

STIRLING University booked their place in the fifth round of the South Challenge Cup after a 2-1 win over Hurlford United on Wednesday night. Hurlford goalkeeper Martin McDonald kept the score line respectable, but the Ford number one could do nothing about first half strikes from Jamie Penker and Ben Davidson. The two goals were enough to seal progression despite Alex Bell handing the visitors some hope as he capped off a well worked move. Head coach Chris Geddes said: “We were excellent tonight, and if it wasn’t for their goalkeeper, it could’ve been four or five, he was outstanding. “We started the game really well, and 2-0 at half-time was great but we knew the job wasn’t done. They came out and threw everything at us in the second half, brought another striker on, and the big man caused us problems, but I thought we played

Fifth round A place in the fifth round of the South Challenge Cup was up for grabs at Forthbank as Stirling hosted West of Scotland side Hurlford United. Both outfits showed early desire to open the scoring but crucially it was the home side that did so. Penker calmly controlled the ball before lifting it over the on-rushing McDonald on 19 minutes. And on the half hour mark the Uni’s lead was doubled. Penker was fouled on the edge of the box, and Davidson stepped up to curl the resulting free kick into the top corner.

Ben Davidson. Image Credit- George Vekic

SPORT

Rovers Make Goodwillie U-turn Amidst Fan Backlash By Dylan Inglis Sports Editor

RAITH Rovers have announced a u-turn on their decision to sign David Goodwillie. The 32-year-old alongside former team mate David Robertson was found guilty of rape in a civil court in 2017. His signing was met by outrage from the Scottish football community with Rovers seeing players, staff, sponsors and supporters all publicly distancing themselves from the club as a result. Best-selling crime writer Val McDermid had been a long-term supporter and sponsor of the side - but has since revealed she has now cut-ties and discounted her financial backing. McDermid welcomed the reversal as a ‘first step’ but still insisted there is a long road back in terms of undoing damage. She said: “I welcome this (unsigned) statement from Raith Rovers. “It’s a victory of sorts for the hundreds of people who MAKE the club who were appalled at the board’s original decision and who were not afraid to speak out. “But it’s just the first step on a long road back. “The same people who made the decision are still in charge. “Those who love and value the club are still on the outside; they need to be on the inside, shaping

the future for our community.” The farce has been nothing short of a catastrophe for Raith Rovers – who despite their u-turn - still look to have won back little in the way of support. The club paid a fee for Goodwillie’s services, lost the valuable support of the community they represent, and will now have to pay the 32-year-old out of a mind-boggling two-and-ahalf year full-time professional contract. Many angry supporters have vowed to never return to Starks Park until the decision makers behind the move are rightfully held responsible. Two board members have of course stepped down – but if reports are correct the ones to depart were those who voted against the signing in the first place. The anger for many comes with the fact the key decision makers who allowed this to happen are still part of the club. Changes within the board would be a reasonable next step behind the scenes in Kirkaldy – but don’t be mistaken – there is still more than a long, long way to go.

Raith Rovers made a U-turn. Image creditThe Courier and the BBC

STIRLING UNIVERSITY CHAMPIONS AGAIN AS THEY RETAIN BUCS PREMIER NORTH TITLE UNIVERSITY of Stirling 1sts have taken the BUCS title after a resounding 3-0 victory against Durham University. Goals from Conor Doan, Louis Kennedy and Ben Davidson on the day secured the win for the students. Stirling University sat atop the table with 21 points, 5 ahead of their nearest rivals - Nottingham Trent, but they celebrated an early title with 2 games still left to play. Following the win, head coach Chris Geddes said: “It was really good to win, because it wins us the league. “We knew what we had to do, it was a difficult one coming in because we knew that we had to

beat them and they were fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table. “Today we showed why we are the best team in the league - we have 8 wins out of 9 which is already more points than when we won it two years ago and being the first Uni team to win it back to back, so it’s quite an achievement. “I'm really proud of the boys today, they deserve it. That’s 11 weeks in a row we have played 2 games a week, travelling up and down to England so I'm really happy for them and delighted with the win.” The celebrations began immediately after the final whistle as joyous scenes overtook the

main pitch at the University grounds. It would be hard to deny the players their jubilation, as the club has been expected to play an enormous amount of games which even included two matches in one day - and it all built up to today when they finally got the rewards for their efforts. The title win ensures the students place in the play-off for the overall BUCS title, where Stirling Uni will play teams from the southern BUCS league in a knockout format.

By Graham Fleming Sports Editor

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Exeter Chiefs new logo. Image Credit- rugbyworld.com

Clansmen Return to Winning Ways

Exeter Chefs Unveil New Logo

By Andrew Robson

By Rhona MacLeod

THE Stirling Clansmen defeated Leeds Gryphons 19-8 in their first game of 2022. Stirling triumphed in a game that was plagued with stoppages and injuries. In the first quarter, Stirling took an early lead scoring two touchdowns in quick succession. Both attempts at a 2-point conversion were incomplete. Early in the second quarter Leeds got on the board - as Stirling conceded a safety due to a false snap. The rest of the quarter was much closer, with the ball changing hands several times without any team making significant forward progress. The gryphons then mounted a charge as the half neared conclusion - but the Stirling defence intercepted and returned for an 80-yard touchdown. This time opting for the field goal and converting to lead 19-2 at halftime. The second half started slowly with several injuries from both sides halting play. The

theme of the game continued as the sides went back and forth with little progress before Leeds mounted a late surge resulting in a touchdown. The score would remain 19-8 as the fourth quarter brought an end to a well-fought victory. Following the game, special teams coach Stuart Gilmour gave his thoughts: “It was a tough game with tough opponents and tough conditions. “What was important is that we got the job done in the end. “We managed to get some inexperienced guys game time and our focus is now on the next game. “Looking forward we are expecting tougher games, next up is Nottingham, the number one seed in the Brit Bowl. “Then back here to play Durham in the homecoming game – which will be an emotional day for all the guys.” The victory takes the Clansmen 2-4 for the season and all but secures a play-off place come spring.

They play their final game of the league season at home on February 13 against Durham Saints. The game kicks off at 1:00pm down at the artificial pitches.

EXETER Rugby Club have announced their new Chiefs logo to be launched in 2022. The new badge is inspired by the United Kingdom’s Celtic history and depicts a Celtic leader in a similar style to the one of the past. The previous logo controversially depicted a Native American Tribe Chief - leaving fans questioning the relation to the club. Over the past two years the club have undergone major internal reviews as they look forward to a fresh image. In an official statement, they said: “As a Rugby Club we have been willing to listen, we have consulted far and wide, and now we are ready to invoke change”. The Chiefs played Glasgow Warriors in January 2022, causing the Warriors to release a statement warning Exeter fans about their behaviour relating to the Chief's symbolism at the match. Alastair Kellock, managing director at the Glasgow War-

riors, said: “Today, Glasgow Warriors are asking visiting fans from Exeter Chiefs not to attend the game on Saturday with faux Native American head dressers or chant the ‘Tomahawk Chop’ during the match. “We are making this request out of respect for the Native American community around the world, whose views on the use of their imagery and cultural heritage we support, and the Glasgow supporters who have called for us to act on this matter” The new logo focuses on the history of both the club and the Exeter area. Since the Celtic Iron Age, there have been Celtic tribes and Kingdoms in the area, with the club citing the Dumnonii Tribe and the Kingdom of Dumnnia which held strong for nearly 500 years. Several Exeter Chiefs stars will be seeing action in this year’s upcoming Six Nations too - including fan favourites Stuart Hogg, Jonny Gray and Sam Skinner playing for the Scotland team.

SPORT

Celtic Top After Derby Demolition Celtic ran out 3-0 winners against last year's champions, Rangers. image: RTE

By Dylan Inglis Sports Editor

CELTIC stormed top of the Premiership table after a derby demolition over Rangers last week. An incredible first-half blitz had Ange Postecoglou’s side three up by the break - with the only relief for the visitors being that it hadn’t been more. They moved to the summit with 14 games to play whilst their Old Firm rivals dropped points for the second time in five days. Celtic Park was rocking after just five minutes when Reo Hatate gave his side the lead with a deflected effort from just outside the box. And the shoe wouldn’t leave the gas pedal any time soon either – with a relentless half of pressure concluding with Hatate

grabbing another and Abada heading in a third. Rangers looked shellshocked and only really started to retain proper spells of the ball after the half-time interval. Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men controlled the latter 45 based on possession but in truth rarely looked like a team with a fighting chance. The goal for The Light Blues would very much have been to keep it tight and quieten the Parkhead crowd early on. But any sort of assured start was out the window after just five minutes. Rangers complained of a head injury to Calvin Bassey from Matt O’Riley’s corner – but by the time referee Bobby Madden could take any notice the ball

had already fizzed by Allan McGregor and into the back of the net. Hatate’s strike took a slight deflection on the way in, but just like that The Hoops were flying. The away side in contrast looked rattled to say the least – conceding chance after chance as the half wore on. McGregor had a couple of stops to keep his side in it but could do nothing to stop Hatate’s curler to double the advantage. The move was excellent from Postecoglou’s side – they dragged an inexperienced looking Calvin Bassey out of position – and capitalised with power. 2-0 might have been an uphill task to come back from but just two minutes later the result looked put

to bed. A horrendous goal to lose from a Rangers point of view – with Borna Barisic caught sleeping at the back post and Liel Abada nipping in to head home number three. Barisic was one of many to have a calamitous firsthalf – and along with Glen Kamara and Amad Diallo a half-time hooking would shortly follow. The additions of Ryan Jack, Leon Balogun and Fashion Sakala may have helped Van Bronckhorst’s side stamp somewhat of a presence in the game – but by that point – the damage was done. Celtic’s rampant pace and intensity was replaced by more of a steadiness and assurance after the break. They allowed their oppo-

nents much more of the ball but made sure they were never under any sort of threat to say the least. Jack along with Scott Arfield went close - but the home defence both individually and collectively put in stellar performances to limit any sort of attack they would face. The reality was Postecoglou’s men had done all they needed to do after 45 minutes. The Hoops deservedly went top of the table – and at their best looked nothing short of frighteningly brilliant.

CELTIC VS. RANGERS VOL.52 ISSUE.2

9 FEBRUARY 2022

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Stirling student selected to curl for Team GB A University of Stirling sports scholar will leave for Beijing in the coming days after being selected to represent Team GB in curling at the Winter Olympics. Current Sports Studies student Ross Whyte will be joined by former sports scholars Bobby Lammie and Mili Smith. Whyte has been selected as alternate for the men’s team, skipped by Bruce Mouat, and is joined by Lammie, Grant Hardie and Hammy McMillan Jr. Smith, also alternate, joins Vicky Wright, Jen Dodds and Hailey Duff as part of the rink skipped by Eve Muirhead – who was made an honorary graduate of the University of Stirling in 2018. Both rinks won Gold rep-

resenting Scotland at the European Curling Championships in Lillehammer last November. Whyte, 23, now based in Stirling, said: “It is a tremendous feeling to be selected to represent Team GB. It’s a dream come true – a really good achievement for me. I’m really excited to get out there and show what we, as a team, can do.” 2020 Stirling Graduate Bobby Lammie, 24, from Stranraer, who studied Sport and Exercise Science while a scholar at the University, said: “It feels great to be selected for the Winter Olympics – it’s the result of lots of years of hard work and I feel very proud of this achievement. The Winter Olympics is the

pinnacle of our sport – and I’m really looking forward to getting there and feeling that pressure. The support from the University has been very important in the lead up to the Olympic Games. It allowed me to graduate a couple of years ago and gave me the opportunity to become a full-time curler, with a degree behind me.” Smith, 23, who graduated with a BA in Psychology last year, said: “It feels absolutely amazing to be selected to represent Team GB. We just want to make the most of it and do as well as we can.” Executive Director of Sport at the University of Stirling, Cathy Gallagher, said: “I’m absolutely delighted for Ross, Mili and Bobby following

their selection for Team GB at the Winter Olympics. We’re incredibly proud of all that they have achieved in their curling careers so far – and look forward to cheering them on over the next few weeks. The success of Ross, Mili and Bobby reflects the comprehensive sports scholarship that the University has in place for our high-performance athletes, as well as the effective partnerships with governing bodies, including British Curling.” The Winter Olympics run until Sunday, February 20. The men’s curling competition starts Wednesday, February 9 and the women’s Thursday, February 10.

By Andrew Robson

Stirling University retain BUCS Premier North Title UNIVERSITY of Stirling 1sts have taken the BUCS title after a resounding 3-0 victory against Durham University. Goals from Conor Doan, Louis Kennedy and Ben Davidson on the day secured the win for the students. Stirling University sat atop the table with 21 points, 5 ahead of their nearest rivals - Nottingham Trent, but they celebrated an early title with 2 games still left to play Following the win, head coach Chris Geddes said: “It was really good to win because it wins us the league. “We knew what we had to do, it was a difficult one coming in because we knew that we had to beat them and they were fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table...

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