Brig Newspaper Vol 51, Issue 1.

University of Stirling’s student newspaper | July Edition | Vol. 51 No. 1 Credit: University of Stirling

Thank you Stirling Student Nurses

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ACCOMMODATION UNDER FIRE

Students slam Accommodation Services over poor treatment Special Report on Page 3

News

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Campus to reopen after Coronavirus lockdown

Editorial

Iona Young Editor-in-Chief

I am delighted to introduce myself as Brig’s new editor-inchief. Taking on this role in the midst of a pandemic has been chaotic, a learning curve, and incredibly rewarding. Working under the circumstances has shown me how talented our team is. The passion, the hard work and incredible articles that have gone into our first issue of Brig is amazing. Last year we had fantastic coverage of news and sports throughout the year and this is going to continue. Brig is your number one source for news on campus, around Stirling and beyond. If you have a story, we want to hear it. My inbox is always open.

The team isn’t the only new thing I would like to introduce.

As well as the paper, a couple people on our editorial team have been working very hard to put together and launch Brig’s sister publication and first magazine – Braw. Braw will be published throughout the year alongside Brig focussing more on magazine journalism. Allowing writers to explore a different side of writing and more creative freedom with sections on photography, creative writing, and fashion.

Finally, I would like to say a massive congratulations to the class of 2020 who have just graduated. Especially our team.

I would not be here writing this editorial without the guidance and friendship from many who I have worked alongside in the society. It is one of the things that makes being a part of a student newspaper so rewarding. I wish them all the best for the future and don’t doubt they will go on to do amazing things.

Ben Waddell News Editor Stirling University have announced that the university campus will be open again for students at the start of next semester for some face to face teaching.

This comes after a recent announcement from the university which confirmed the undergraduate semester will start on Monday 14 September.

The university have said in there announcement “At this time our campus will be open to students and staff, with enhanced safety and hygiene measures in place.

“Most teaching will initially take place online, however, oneto-ones, seminars and tutorials will be available to many students from the beginning of semester.”

The university then went on to say: “Where face-to-face learning is not available, or where a student cannot attend campus, they will be able to undertake their studies remotely.”

As the university has announced campus will be open for some things, it has come with

mixed emotions.

On one hand, Stirling’s MP Alyn Smith, along with Clackmanshire MSP Keith Brown have welcomed the announcement from the university, on a staged re-opening for students and staff in September.

MSP for Clackmanshire Keith Brown said: ‘The University plays a huge role in communities right across Forth Valley - from attracting world-class researchers, boosting the local economy as a significant employer, or its students and staff choosing to call us home.

‘As we continue to bring COVID-19 under control and infection numbers decline, thoughts are understandably turning to economic recovery in the ‘new normal’. My hope remains we can build back better, and encourage green, sustainable growth to our communities. The University will play a crucial part in that endeavour, as a major partner in the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal.’

Also, MP for Stirling Alyn Smith said: ‘This is really welcome news, and will be a great

relief to countless students who were otherwise faced with a very different university experience.

Professor Gerry McCormac and his team have diligently navigated these unprecedented times with great care for their institution and community. I’m glad that a cornerstone of Stirling’s economy is planning for a phased return to a ‘new normal’.

‘Scotland is facing a long road to economic recovery from COVID-19, and through the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal the University will have a key role in boosting the regional economy and promoting sustainable growth. Students and staff will have a pivotal role in building back better, and I’m greatly enthused to see them return to the campus and city.’

The university has been closed since the end of March, due to the coronavirus pandemic, with the remaining learning and teaching taken place online.

While politicians from the area have praised the announcement of the university having plans to reopen, feelings have varied from others.

On the other hand, Students

Students who are due to graduate in 2020 will receive their award certificates by post, and all students who were due to graduate in July and November of this year will be invited back to a ceremony in July 2021.

The university statement read: “All of our Stirling 2020 graduates - from both June and November - will be invited back to celebrate their achievements at a ceremony in late June 2021, subject to government guidance and

public health advice at that time.

“Planning is ongoing and further details on the ceremonies and the registration process will be made available in the coming months. Thank you for your continued understanding and we can’t wait to celebrate your graduation with you in person.”

Stirling graduations were cancelled this year when the country went into lockdown during the Coronavirus outbreak.

have mixed feelings about returning partly to campus for some things next semester, and about the university re-opening.

One Facebook user expressed that they missed some of the campus facilities.

Another student Ross Davidson said about returning: “There’s a level of nerves to the situation. Personally for me surrounding accommodation.

For example do I pay for accommodation in September or hold off until January. The university have been very professional in informing us as best they know but there is definitely a sense of nerves surrounding the unclarity of the situation (i.e COVID-19).”

The university has said social distancing and hygiene controls which will be in line with government guidance will be set out and in place for the start of semester.

However, the news may come as relief to some student’s after initial reports suggested the university may continue a fully online module for the next academic term.

Graduations postponed till 2021

Harry Williamson Deputy Editor

Stirling University has made the decision to postpone 2020 graduations.

In a post on social media, the university announced that the November 2020 graduations would be pushed back to the July 2021 graduations.

The university made this decision due to the current risks posed by the Coronavirus.

Credit: University of Stirling

News News

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“Neglect and lack of care” - Accommodation Services criticised by students for treatment during lockdown Special Report by Iona Brownlie News Editor Students detailed the failures they’ve experienced in a campaign to confront the university’s Accommodation Services.

What started as a fight to scrap the leaving fee given to tenants when they had to leave accommodation during the Coronavirus pandemic has now become a campaign detailing the stories of tenants who have had issues with accommodation services.

A twitter page, Students Against Stirling Uni Fee, was set up after the university charged tenants an exit fee when they were told to move out during the Coronavirus Pandemic.

According to the twitter page tenants were charged different amounts, with no explanation, and when payments weren’t made, money was taken from government bursaries provided to students.

The page has now began to post stories accusing the accommodation services team of mistreating them, particularly when it came to support needed for mental health issues.

One user, Harry Constance shared their experience of living in accommodation and experiencing severe mental health problems while residing there.

In a tweet, they said they had been experiencing psychotic episodes for a couple of months during their first year of university and was not allowed to leave their accommodation contract to live with someone else, unless they left university all together.

They also said there was a lack of support available to their flatmates, whom, they said, didn’t receive any offer of support despite having paramedics, porters and ALS were constantly in their flat.

Harry stressed it was incredibly unfair for their flatmates to deal with the stress of their mental illness and them having no chance of support. They also said others in the flat were also experiencing mental health problems therefore it wasn’t acceptable to have received no support.

Harry’s tweet further said: “they never really reached out to them even though porters and ALS and paramedics were always in and out of my room. The lack of care for their well being was shocking. “... I just wish their well being was more considered by those who are literally paid for it.”

A university spokesperson said: “In instances when students may have mental health concerns, the Accommodation Services team liaises closely with the student and the University’s Student Support Services team to ensure the appropriate support is available.”

The twitter page is also bringing to light claims of inadequate living spaces from broken windows and stoves to dampness that were not resolved despite numerous complaints.

One user also tweeted the page to say their student flat had dampness in two bedrooms, a toilet that would flood with every flush and a stove where two out of four rings were not safe to use.

Harry, who lived in Spittal Hill, said out of two shower rooms the flat had only one of them worked to the year they lived there.

In addition, Harry said the radiator in their room was starting to burn the wall and despite calling multiple times because they had never gotten an answer.

Around March, Harry says, they had slept in a freezing room for a week and half until she decided to leave early and was then charged £400 by the university.

A university spokesperson said: “The University’s Accommodation Services team operates an online reporting system which logs any faults students encounter in University accommodation. The system monitors the progress of repairs, and in situations where there may be difficulties in sourcing materials, we keep the student up to date on the timescale for the repair.

Students who required accommodation beyond the original end date of their contract, due to the travel restrictions in place because of COVID-19, have not been charged rent for the extension.”

In the last week, it was revealed the university has emailed students notifying them they must empty their rooms.

The Stirling Students Tenants Union (SSTU) said in a Facebook post the university had asked ten-

ants to be cleared by July 12th.

However, travel restrictions were still in place due to the Coronavirus Pandemic meaning many international students were unable to come back to clear their rooms. Boris Johnson was due to make changes to travel restrictions on June 29th.

A student got in touch with the page saying the university were asking a friend or company to clear out rooms, if students were unable to do so themselves. The student said the cost of a removal company would be around £750.

Once they filed a complaint, they were told many students were in the same boat and the rooms were needing to be vacated to allow for cleaning to happen before new students arrived for the autumn semester.

The student also revealed the university told them if accommodation rooms were not emptied

by July 12th, they would dispose of anything left.

Another student, who wished to remain anonymous, told SSTU they stayed in London and cannot afford a courier service to pack and ship their things to their home.

Neither a removal company in Stirling or London would pick up her business due to the short notice and they had no one in Stirling to pack their things.

The student has had to consider booking a hotel room for the 13th July, however this is after the universities deadline. Therefore, the only other option for the student is to make a sixteen hour round trip to collect their belongings.

Housing Officer Cian Ireland said: “The university has one again showing their neglect and lack of care for students, especially international ones, by mak-

ing such unreasonable demands during a time of crisis which makes international travel unsafe and oftentimes impossible.

The university must stand by the original commitments they gave the students and give them until the end of August to pick up their possessions”.

A university spokesperson said: “In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the University extended the departure period for all students in our accommodation. “... to protect the health and well being of students moving into... accommodation for the new semester, we are conducting a deep clean of all of our rooms.

“To facilitate this work, former tenants who have left belongings... have been asked to inform the University by July 10 whether they intend to uplift their items.

“In line with Scottish Government guidance, those students who get in touch will be supported in making appropriate arrangements for the safe pick up, storage or disposal of their belongings.

“In cases where international travel restrictions prevent the collection of belongings, we will work with students to facilitate safe storage.

“The majority of students who left belongings... have already booked a collection slot, and those who have not, have until July 10 to get in touch. If the University has not heard... by this deadline, their former rooms will be cleared to enable cleaning work to begin, as the University is unable to store students’ belongings indefinitely.”

SSTU headed by Ireland have voiced their support and encouraged others to speak out with any

claims of bad housing conditions or mistreatment.

Housing Officer Ireland further said: “It says a lot about the actions and attitudes of the university towards tenants that we are now seeing groups of students fed up with the way they’re being treated and having to publicly share their story to try and be heard.

“They have my full support in these endeavours, and it’s clear that the University accommodation service must address these concerns... we must see action on this” Merryn Green is working alongside Cian, and the Stirling Students Tenants Union to help the campaign against the leaving fee.

The group had already set up their own campaign against the leaving fee and were in touch with a group of students who weren’t wanting to pay the fee.

From there, the twitter page grew into something more than just the leaving fee.

Merry said: “A few students were complaining about having the money taken out of their account despite not wanting to pay it.

This sparked a lot of anger and a lot of stories to came out ... of students being mistreated by accommodation services.”

Merryn also said: “The Goal of this is essentially to air out how poorly accommodations services treat students despite them paying extortionate amounts of money to live in.

“I think it’s disgusting so many people have been treated poorly by accommodation services to the point of dropping out and having mental breakdowns so it needs to be talked about.”

A university spokesperson said: “Those students who have chosen to leave Universityowned accommodation prior to the original end date of their contract, have been granted early release from their contract.

These students were asked to pay any remaining rent due, before beginning a 28-day notice period.

The amount due for that notice period is capped at a maximum of £400, with students whose monthly rent is less than that, paying the lower amount.

Students have not been charged extra-contractual fees, and the University has not taken any funds from government bursaries.”

SSTU are continuously campaigning for tenants who have been treated unfairly by accommodation services. The team have set up a petition to help support Stirling University tenants.

News

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Stirling University at lowest overall ranking since 2017

King of the Castle Stirling pubs set out plan to reopen Craig Mahood

Credit: Simpson and Brown

Iona Brownlie News Editor The University has the lowest ranking since 2017 according to the 2021 Complete University Guide University League Table.

According to the table, Stirling is now ranked 45th out of 130 universities, down two places from 2020.

The Survey also showed Stirling’s student satisfaction to have dropped three places to 103rd

out of 130.

see where we can improve.”

On the subject league table the

The University of St Andrews

University did particularly well in

placed the highest out of all Scot-

Social Work ranking third out of

tish Universities in third place

83, in English ranking six out of

behind the University of Cam-

81 and in Communications and

bridge in first place and the Uni-

Media Studies Ranking twelve

versity of Oxford in second.

out of 97.

The University of Edinburgh

The University of Stirling said:

was ranked fifteenth, the Uni-

“The University is committed to

versity of Glasgow was ranked

continuously enhancing the ex-

nineteenth and the University of

perience of all our students, and

Strathclyde was ranked joined

we will continue to monitor our

35th with Queen Mary University

position in the league tables to

of London.

GREENE KING – the UK’s largest pub retailer and brewer – have released their plans for how they plan to operate once Covid-19 lockdown restrictions are lifted.

Pubs and restaurants in Scotland will be preparing themselves for re-opening after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon gave the green light for the industry to kick start operations.

Beer gardens can re-open a week earlier, starting from July 16 after the FM revealed the country had made a “real sustained progress” in tackling Covid-19.

Many of the Scottish establishments will look south of the border for advice with English pubs allowed to open from July 4.

The company – who own six pubs across Stirlingshire – announced their ‘Pub Safe’ slogan on social media, alongside a virtual tour of their customer journey.

Stirlingshire pubs No2 Baker Street, Cole Beer Company, Molly Malones, Springkerse View, City Walls and at the Corn

Exchange will all adopt the approach on their return to business later this month.

Their ‘Five Key Priorities’ plan include Safe-Socialising, Cleaning Monitor, Hand Sanitisers, Reduced Contact and Looking After Our Team.

A ‘socially-distanced pathway’ will ensure customers follow the correct flow to minimise contact and ensure the public maintain the Government social distancing guidelines.

There will also be a brand new ‘Greene King order and pay’ app launched, allowing customers to order and pay for food and drinks to avoid congestion around bar areas.

One-in-one-out toilet use operations will be in place, as well as a one-way customer flow to help with the social distancing.

Mark Millett, Operation Director at one of the company brands, said: “We’ve been working hard behind the scenes at Greene King to make sure that our pubs are as safe as possible, whilst also following the latest government guidelines.

Uni receives backlash over master’s research survey Ben Waddell News Editor

The University of Stirling has received some backlash over a survey that was produced for a student’s master research last month.

Images emerged over social media with questions based around autism, the questions looked at to which extend you would be willing or unwilling to interact with someone with autism.

The survey gave a multiplechoice selection for participants to tick on how much they would interact in different scenarios.

The series of question was conducted as part of a student’s masters research at the university.

However, the survey gained some backlash from people over social media, who thought the survey was not acceptable.

One twitter user said: “Beyond appalled to see this. @Stiruni.

“The Document is clearly discriminatory and unacceptable.”

“An apology and it’s immediate removal is required.”

Another twitter user said: “@ Stiruni Upset to see this in a MSc survey about counselling autistic clients.

“Would you ask the same questions of clients of a different race, gender, or with other disabilities?. All the more reason to have #actuallyautistic involved in the planning of research. @aaspireproject” Commenting on the survey a University of Stirling spokesperson said: “This survey was conducted as part of a master’s student project investigating the perceptions, knowledge and experience of counsellors working with autistic people. The project received full ethical approval and its findings will help increase knowledge and decrease stigma in this area.

“The survey included the preexisting ‘Social Distance Scale’ – a well-established set of questions that are used widely by the

research community to measure prejudice and intergroup relations by asking participants to self-disclose their feelings of acceptance for members of other groups. This scientific approach allows researchers to understand why stigma and prejudice exists – a vital step in countering discriminatory views.”

The University spokesperson continued to say: “The research supervisor has acknowledged that, when presented without this context, the questions are insensitive.

“She has withdrawn the survey and apologised for any offence caused.”

The survey was taken down due to the reaction from the members of the public and the university have apologised for any offence caused.

However, the piece of research had full ethical approval from the university.

Your story could be on this page.

Join Brig and become a student news reporter.

Email editor@brignews.com for more details on how to join.

News News

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Sabbs plan for the year ahead Sports President Edd Keeler Ben Waddell & Craig Ma-

Starting out a normal aca-

demic year as Vice President for Education or Sports President is

daunting enough.

But for Lexi Ehresmann and

Edd Keeler, this year could be the most difficult yet for the role.

For both, it is clear that men-

tal health is a key component of their roles and something they

look to address in the year ahead.

Credit: Stirling Students’ Union

When asked to sum up her manifesto for the year ahead, Lexi said: “Accessibility, Support and Progression.”

In a year that could potentially see a lot of home-studying and uncertainty in international students, the roles that each volunteer takes are pivotal to ensure the Stirling experience remains as extensive as it has been.

Lexi said: “With the pandemic, this has particularly impacted non-traditional students so I want to take this year to increase the visibility of these struggles as well as increase the awareness and access to the resources that do exist.

“I also want to identify any gaps in our support services that need to be filled.

“The same goes for international students, one of my goals was to make sure Stirling remains open and friendly to international students, but with the pandemic this has kind of made things tricky.

“So my goal for this year is to make sure that international needs are properly attended to by the University in light of Covid-19, but also work to stop the sector wide view of international students as cash cows.”

Environmental issues provide a further passion for the new VP, something she is keen to include into the curriculum.

Lexi continued: “I have secured funding for a sustainable lifestyle kit project, which aims to make sustainable and environmentally friendly living accessible and open to our students as they start to develop independent life skills when they come to University.”

“I originally wanted to work on getting environmental issues and considerations included throughout the curriculum in all degrees.

“I firmly believe that the environment is all encompassing and our continued disrespect and ignorance for the environment is what has led to the dire state of our planet.

“I want to see the entire curriculum redesigned. We need to include the historical, social, cultural, and political context for everything.

“You shouldn’t be going to school to be a doctor or a nurse

unless you learn about how the gender data gap systematically disadvantages and endangers women. You shouldn’t be able to get a degree to be an expert in literature unless we are expanding the book lists to include BAME and LGBTQ+ and foreign authors throughout history. You shouldn’t come out of University with an economics and finance degree unless you see how the system of capitalism marginalises and disadvantages POC, women, and the working class to serve the rich and powerful.

“Everything we learn must be contextualised within our history.”

Wellbeing remains a critical societal aspect – heightened greatly by the Covid-19 pandemic and this is something the University will be expected to continue promoting.

Lexi added: “With a switch to online learning and working in the last few months, I know many people are struggling to maintain a healthy work, school, life balance.

“I would like to work on creating a resource that helps students understand the importance of a healthy balance, and how to achieve this when we are working from home, something many of us have not had to do before.

“Additionally, while there is a lot of momentum in the University and the Union right now towards our mental health and well-being approach, I want to keep representing the interests and needs of non-traditional students.

“Finally, I’m working on how to make the different resources and people from the education side of things, including Personal Tutors, Faculty officers, module coordinators, and even myself as VP Ed, more complementary to one another rather than competing to do the same thing.”

The challenge of this year is nobody knows what is going to happen. Preparing for it is almost impossible but it is certainly not something to faze Lexi, despite an overwhelming start.

She continued: “This upcoming year is going to be a challenge, a challenge that I don’t think the contemporary higher educa-

tion sector has had to face before.

“I sometimes feel like ‘wow, how are we gonna get through this without letting some of our students fall through the cracks’ but at the same time, I’m getting to know my SAAB team as well as the other Union Staff and there is a lot of really positive and ambitious energy.

“There is so much opportunity to just scrap any archaic or backwards principles and policies and just embrace what JEDI means today (I like to add a J for Justice to our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion policy because I don’t think you can fully appreciate EDI without talking about justice, plus JEDI just sounds cooler!)”

Lexi is already aware of the many stakeholders that will rely on her changes and although she has many ideas, implementing them all will be tough.

“I know that a big part of my role is making the most of my seat on multiple committees and groups with the University and in external organisations.

“The University understandably has a lot of considerations to make, but at the end of the day, we are an educational institution whose obligations are to the students first and foremost.”

“There is no way I could achieve everything that I want in just one year. I mean I want to see a revolution and those things take time!

“But if I’m being a bit more serious, I definitely have some key objectives that I would like to achieve by the end of this year, or at least create a foundation for either myself or my successor next year to carry on.”

“So if I’m doing my job right, I will need to set aside some of my projects so that I can work with and for my students in that moment.”

Sports President Edd Keeler has described the introduction to his role as ‘challenging but exciting’ as he looks to tackle some key aspects during his tenure.

The year ahead for the ‘Sports University of the Year 2020’ is looking good with the opening of the news sports centre.

Edd said: “I aim to increase support for mental health through upskilling committees as much as possible and running training where possible.

“Increasing the accessibility of sport for students who identify as disabled and the inclusion of minority groups within sports are imperative.”

“I want to help all clubs develop however I can.”

However, talking to Edd about his aims he said: “Its difficult to limit this down to one or two things I have a couple of ideas in the planning phase at the moment and I hope they will make positive impacts.”

The year ahead can be quite nerve racking for the new SAAB team, with having to adjust to the role, but looking at the year ahead Edd said he feels: “In a word positive, we will have incredible new facilities and although this year will be different, we are going to have a brilliant year.”

As both Sports President and VP Education President get to grips with their roles, the year ahead looks exciting but challenging.

Politics News

6

Government respond to scrap tuition fee petition Rachel Swan Political Editor

The UK government has responded to multiple petitions put forward by students demanding the suspension of University and college tuition (in some cases up to £9,250 per year) as a result of the uncertainty over education quality under the duress of COVID-19 necessary isolation.

Petitions range from the refund of semester 3 tuition 2020, all the way to full refunds for the entire last academic year as a result of strike action and other disruptions.

There are also petitions with hundreds of thousands of signers regarding tuition fees for the coming academic year.

Rachel Swan Political Editor President Trump’s administration shocked experts and campaigners alike on June 30th, purchasing virtually all pharmaceutical company Gilead’s COVID-19 trial drug remdesivir stocks for July, as well as 90% of August and September supplies.

“President Trump has struck an amazing deal to ensure Americans have access to the first authorised therapeutic for Covid-19,” US Health Secretary Alex Azar said in a recent statement.

Remdesivir was previously trialed to explore potentially beneficial effects against Ebola, however failed to ultimately show any signs of effectiveness in these trials. It has since shown signs of improving the condition of those suffering from COVID-19, speeding up recovery times for patients with the infection. However, it is wholly unclear if the drug actually aids survival rates as of yet.

Although still in its infancy with regards to determining its overall effectiveness against COVID-19 globally, promising remdesivir trial results in not only the US, but across Europe, the UK, and Mex-

The government suggested that tuition fees will not be waived for HE students during COVID-19 or strike disruptions, and that HE institutions themselves must be reasonable with regards to evaluating if their educational facilities and content were/are up to standard.

Education Minister Gavin Williamson stated that: “HE providers must deliver high quality courses.

If students are unhappy they should first complain to their provider and if their concerns are unresolved they can ask OIA to consider their complaint.”

Students of all ages across the UK find themselves in a worrying position during this current COVID-19 crisis. Between wor-

ries about exams, repeating years, and how they’re going to get into the building without banging elbows with someone else (all underpinned with the social and economic fear and uncertainty the COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it), some Higher Education students have more pressing financial fears.

Worries about online teaching were reconfirmed with statements from Universities and colleges across the UK, indicating that where possible students will be able to access teaching resources, albeit many of these many be confined to online resources given the risk of infections in classes of up to 200 students or more. Risking infection is unacceptable and

while many students understand the necessity of online teaching, the situation is presenting some problems.

Confusion over exactly what will happen when education terms begin is rampant, with conflicting information regarding wearing masks in classes, being broken up into smaller teaching groups, or simply utilising online resources remotely.

University and college students are struggling to make decisions concerning their commute; jobs are scarcer pre COVID-19 and risky financial moves closer to campus may prove unfruitful if students are met with online only content.

The necessity to isolate to en-

sure safety and reduce infection is of paramount importance, and realistically educational institutions are taking their cues from the government guidelines which are fast moving and changeable given the current circumstances we are faced with. It is difficult to determine what challenges these circumstances will present with at the time.

Students should consider the implications of courses being delivered through online means and factor their decisions regarding accommodation into the notion that it does appear that many classes will be remote.

We will update you on all government responses regarding how the syllabus will be presented in

America First? ico, potentially render this buyout yet another pharmaceutically based targeted, political, business maneuver with wide implications around the globe for future drugs and potential cures being distributed and circulated in a cooperative manner.

American pharmaceutical company Gilead had provided 140,000 doses of remdesivir across clinical trials worldwide, yet despite promising results, the States end up with a staggering first access pass.

The two main reasons for this monopoly are that Gilead is as mentioned, an American pharmaceutical company. America also has recorded the highest number of deaths and cases of COVID-19 worldwide. These two factors combined allow for some justification of their exclusive access to purchasing the drug- as some other countries are currently ‘well stocked’. A spokeswoman illustrated that Germany had supplies of the drug, aswell as confirmation from other Western countries.

However, many countries in developing nations are drastically

low on supplies, and the pharmaceutical industry’s profit driven mark-ups of drugs in the face of a global pandemic sits sour in the mouths of many.

In the States the drug treatment will cost approximately $2,340 (£1,900) for a full course, leaving US taxpayers critical of the price, given their tax contributions towards the creation of the drug.

As of the 4th of July, the USA has a total of 132,509 reported deaths from COVID-19, and 2,892,476 reported cases, with new infections at 28 a day. Globally, the virus has taken approximately 523,898 lives on record as of the 4th of July, and there are estimated to be 11,037,625 reported and known cases of the virus worldwide.

With no known cure for the SARS-like virus at present, distribution and access to potentially life-saving drugs is an essential need for populations worldwide.

Remdesivir is no cure and may not aid survival rates in advanced cases; it certainly needs wider drug trialling to infer judgement conclusively on benefits or negatives.

Although Gilead did sign a li-

censing deal to allow remdesivir production in other countries, this manufacturing is still in its early developmental stages, and at the very least the USA’s actions flout a sense of responsibility or global unity for a defiant ‘American First’ stance, a long echoed sentiment in the world of Trump’s United States. A businessman in mannerism and in practise.

It is too speculative to infer objective judgement and predictions on how the remdesivir buy up will affect the USA’s COVID-19 relations globally considering that other countries do have access to supplies of the drug at current.

However, the implications to-

wards self-interest are somewhat evident.

The United States’ monopoly on the drug has wider implications for drugs and cures in the future; in the event life-saving discoveries are made against COVID-19, can countries be sure that the national patent the drug falls under won’t influence their access to it?

Critics comment that the USA’s actions regarding hoarding the remdesivir fly directly in the face of the spirit of international cooperation against COVID-19; certainly a pharmaceutical monopoly of this magnitude is a worrying portent of the social medical malady to come. credit:BladenOnline

Politics News

7

Hong Kong Autonomy Under Direct Threat?

Rachel Swan Political Editor

New sweeping security law imposed on Hong Kong by China spells premature end to 2047 autonomy promise As of the 3rd of July, hundreds of Hong Kong citizens have been arrested under a controversial and ambiguous new national security law imposed by China. The sweeping new law grants Beijing judicial powers to crack down on a whole host of perceived political crimes against Communist China: separatism, collusion, terrorism, and subversion.

Zhang Xiaoming, a deputy director of the central Chinese government gave official comment at a news conference in Beijing on Wednesday, 1st of July : “This law is to punish a tiny number of criminals who seriously endanger national security- a sharp sword hanging high over their heads that will serve as a deterrent against external forces meddling in Hong Kong.”

The law came into effect on Tuesday 30th June, conceived and passed in secrecy without significant input from Hong Kong authorities, in which a vast security network will be set up within Hong Kong with China having the power to subvert the freedom of expression Hong Kong is legally entitled to, contrary to the rest of all mainland China.

Hong Kong’s population has taken to the streets against China since early 2019, fearing further interference and legal infringement on their unique rights as a Chinese territory by the mainland Chinese government.

Hong Kong has long been locked into protests against the central Chinese government, from the 1980’s handover to present daythe 2019-20 protests were a specific response to a proposed extradition bill, the Fugitive Offenders amendment, which would allow extradition of Hong Kong residents to jurisdictions with which Hong Kong did not have extradition agreements with, primarily mainland China and Taiwan.

As a result of these protests sweeping Hong Kong, chief ex-

ecutive Carrie Lam eventually withdrew the bill after initially postponing it after more protests of angry citizens fighting for their rights and freedoms took to social media to inform the world of their situation, after more than 9,000 people were arrested and 2,600 injured.

It is thought that the new enforced security law is a response to Hong Kong’s expression of desire for independence or further autonomy in the face of Chinese attempts to integrate the territory.

China will be likely preparing to consolidate Hong Kong into China over the next few decades, while some of Hong Kong’s citizens envision an independent city state.

Regardless of intent, China’s actions are illegal, and the security law a worrying patchwork of crime and punishment. Maximum punishment for these 4 poorly defined crimes (terrorism, collusion, secession, subversion) within Hong Kong is life imprisonment, whereas if Hong Kong citizens are extradited to China, they could face the death penalty in Chinese courts.

The security law is woefully ambiguous, with many fearing Hong Kongers subjection to arrests over simply unfurling a pro Hong Kong independence flag; on the 1st a local man seen with a Hong Kong flag during a demonstration and subsequently arrested under the new law. This man was thought to be the first arrested in a trial of the security legislation, with police taking to Twitter to insist he had been detained for “violating the #NationalSecurityLaw.” Ambiguous laws pertaining to security send fear globally, primarily due to their ability to be twisted and interpreted by governments as the situation calls for it. What exactly constitutes the crimes of secession, or collusion? Due to the vast difference in social freedoms between China and Hong Kong, it is likely China is choosing to start enforcing ideological stipulations on its only autonomous territory, tightening its ownership on the unique territory.

The new national security laws have been lambasted by human-

rights activists and governments worldwide as a devastating blow for Hong Kong’s human rights, expression, and freedoms. The EU ‘deplores’ the passage of the security law, with many other countries such as Japan expressing extreme dismay for China’s disregard and bypassing of Hong Kong legislature.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnston responded with a somewhat lacking formal statement indicating that the British Government will be “looking at the law very carefully and we will want to scrutinise it properly to understand whether it is in conflict with the Joint Declaration between the UK and China.”

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab wrote on Twitter that “China has chosen to break their promises to the people of Hong Kong and go against their obligations to the international community,” and Britain has responded to the enforcement of the new security law to offer nearly 3 million residents of Hong Kong with a British National Overseas status (BNO) the right to settle in the UK. China has responded to Britain’s offer with anger, with foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian stating that Britain would bear “all consequences” for their actions.

No further details have been announced as of yet regarding the potentially explosive consequences this offer will have on ChineseBritish relations.

Global commentary has led China to denounce interference from outsiders in its affairs, a sentiment suggesting China disregards the negative attention it is garnering on the world stage, a possible portent of further action against Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is officially Chinese territory, though their relationship is unique and must be understood to fully comprehend the international situation surrounding the new national security law.

Hong Kong exists within China and is indeed part of mainland China. However, as per the handover terms Britain and China agreed to when Hong Kong was

given back to Chinese control, Hong Kong’s autonomy and right to live the lifestyle in which they had become accustom to was a strict stipulation outlined by the British government.

Until 2047, Hong Kong’ autonomy was to be respected by China, although ultimately was given back to China under the BritishSino Joint Declaration of 1985.

This presents various problems internationally with regards to acting against China’s intent and new laws- Hong Kong is indeed Chinese territory, but this lack of compliance and respect for the joint declaration is indeed illegal.

As Hong Kong was previously a British colony, it obviously differs drastically in social freedoms comparatively to mainland China. Free press, freedom of speech, the right to protest and many other staples of Western democracy are present within Hong Kong. This presents a complex and unique situation for Hong Kong’s social and political integration into China, a communist nation with much stricter control over its people and their actions and beliefs.

China and Hong Kong exist, and have existed since 1985 under a ‘One Country, Two Systems’ banner, the first and only arrangement of its kind in the world. Given the ideological differences between Britain and China, Hong Kong was privy to a litany of freedoms of expression Chinese citizens were not. Hong Kong has long been able to soft-criticise the actions of its communist neighbour without fear of repercussion. However, Hong Kong is Chinese territory. It was perhaps an inevitability that China would seek to bring Hong Kong into its ideological control, to unify its territories. However, action taken 27 years earlier than stipulated in the Joint Declaration is as stated, illegal.

In the 90’s, Hong Kong was the economic powerhouse of China; Chinese authorities felt that the British-Chinese fusion perhaps possessed a unique attribute that allowed for greater economic prosperity. A more relaxed business atmosphere, with a strong currency

in the form of the Hong Kong Dollar, easily converted back into US dollars which made it a strong trading arena. Given Hong Kong’s economic strength, China kept promises made about preserving its autonomy without too much interference.

Fast forward to present day and Hong Kong makes up around 3% of China’s total GDP, contrary to the 25% it comprised only decades previously. It would seem that notions of a Sino-British powercity have been swept away by Chinese growth, as Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Beijing exploded. Perhaps China sees no economic benefit from allowing Hong Kong to continue with Western-style freedoms of expression any longer.

Make no mistake however, Hong Kong remains one of the most lucrative and developed cities in the world, let alone China, and is a valuable asset to the Chinese economy. The strange situation presented with the ‘one country, two systems’ model perhaps renders some Hong Kongers complacent about their position of independence from China- quite simply, they are not. Yet the autonomy they experience relative to mainland China may fog their perception of being a Chinese territory.

This creates a slew of ideological issues and a sense of separatism that strictly speaking doesn’t exist- and yet it does.

Regardless of the unique problems the ‘one country, two systems’ policy creates, China’s actions are illegal per the SinoBritish Joint Declaration to honour Hong Kong’s autonomy until 2047, and the world should be incredibly cautious of any country using poorly defined notions of crimes to erode the freedoms of their citizens as we have seen countless times throughout political history.

Rachel Swan Politics Editor

Comment

8

Safety, Lying and Prejudice – the Three Key Reasons for Decriminalising Sex Work Siobhan Hamilton Sex work should be decriminalised everywhere. It is the quickest solution to almost all safety problems workers face in the industry.

Transactional sex is completely legal in Scotland, and many make an honest and decent living out of it to support themselves and their families. But, the ‘Prostitution (Public Places) (Scotland) Act 2007’ makes this already risky industry even more dangerous.

It would be naïve to say that the sex work industry does not come with any risks and that it can run unregulated by law. However, more times than not, the restrictions decriminalisation imposes on sex workers does not help their safety but impedes it.

Right now, sex work is legal.

But, the law renders soliciting and sex workers working together as a group illegal. This is to prevent sex trafficking victims from being pimped out by criminals for money.

From this point of view, the law seems like a good thing. However, the impact it has on the everyday lives of sex workers is far from it.

Sex workers would be far safer banding together as a group, renting out a shared space completely removed from their personal homes to use for their work. They would also have an easier line of communication with each other, allowing them more flexibility in sharing information and warnings of dangerous clients.

Criminalisation also accelerates the stigma of sex workers. Right now, people in the industry rely on sex work charities such as Umbrella Lane, one of the biggest in Glasgow, to find ‘sex work friendly’ clinics for their mental and sexual health. This is because criminalisation of the industry creates confusion around their job. When they go to see a normal GP about anything related to their job, they are not always educated on the industry, leaving sex workers feeling judged and feeling reluctant to return.

It needs to be normalised, and therefore, decriminalised. And, unless sex workers are involved in the decriminalisation, they will never really achieve what needs to be done to ensure maximum safe-

ty within the industry.

Sex work charities are already attempting this. Dr Anastacia Ryan, founder of Umbrella Lane, says that their involvement is so important to achieve successful decriminalisation.

“I think sex workers would have to be involved in the production of things like health and safety frameworks, and that would apply across sex work settings making sure that, for example, sex workers have the right to refuse a client without having to give a reason.”

She also thinks decriminalisation would have a positive impact on sex workers’ relationship with the justice system. Comparing it to domestic abuse prosecution,

she says that right now sex workers do not have the same rights.

“If you are a victim of domestic abuse in Scotland you can anonymously testify. In fact, you don’t even need to testify if they already have two other bits of evidence…

But, with victims of violence within the sex [work] industry, they don’t have that protection through the court.”

Decriminalisation would not be easy, but with the essential involvement of sex workers and charities, the industry can be made a much safer and pleasant environment for both workers and clients.

What to expect when moving in with your friends for the first time Sorry to break it to you, but you will argue like a married couple.

Moving into a flat for the first time is an incredibly exciting thing.

It signals a whole new chapter in your life, the time to live that ‘student lifestyle’ alongside your best friends all under one roof.

You’re going to deal with a lot of new things; landlords, the shock of an electricity bill that shot up one month. Also, let’s not forget constantly questioning the incredible rate you all manage to go through the toilet roll at.

However, seeing your friends in a different light will also be a new experience while you live in a new home with them. So, it’s important that before moving in, you all try to discuss some key issues that you may face during the year.

Learning to deal with awkward situations can feel like it’s going to make or break your friendships at times. Of course, you don’t want to nag anyone, but is asking someone to pick up after themselves really a

just won’t work. big deal?

Remember though, you want to These little things can be extremely nerve racking when you make sure everyone respects that live with someone you only have there are other people living in the good memories with. It’s like mak- flat, whilst ensuring everyone feels ing it through the first argument in a relationship.

With everyone enjoying their newfound freedom, you can also very quickly find that there isn’t a single clean glass to use.

And the recycling looks Credit: frameworks like it hasn’t been taken out in 4 months. So, setting at home too. standards and splitting chores is As a flatmate, you should learn always a good idea before moving to take things on the chin. This in, introducing it after 6 months means that if someone asks you to

clean something up or says they’d like some space, don’t take it personally. The time and energy you could spend feeling bitter or worried about it would be much better spent just doing what you were asked.

That way everyone is happy, and you no longer have to worry about doing that chore you were procrastinating.

That’s not to say it’s always easy to deal with these things.

Just like living with a sibling at home, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

You want to be able to look back and laugh, and at the end of the day, you are all friends for a reason. So, stay open and honest with

each other during those awkward situations.

However, if you decide that certain people were just too much to live with then that’s okay. Not being able to live in the same house as someone, and being their friend in general are completely different things – continue to be besties, just don’t live with them again!

Living with your friends definitely comes with its pros and cons – like most things in life. But experiencing little things like being able to borrow a top for when you have nothing to wear, or helping your flatmate get ready for their date always means a lot, and it’s how memories are made.

Overall, you live, and you learn.

So, if you do ever move in with friends, keep in mind the simple phrase to ‘treat others the way you want to be treated’.

Kim Drummond

Comment

9

I Don’t Need to Forgive and Forget – and Neither Do You

Grace Middleton

If there’s one skill I’ve mastered in lockdown, it’s my ability to overthink and linger on the past.

With a lot of free time comes the unearthing of conflict, the seeking for answers and an overwhelming struggle to move forward.

What if I’d said this? What if they’d done that? How did we end up here?

When I find myself questioning, or constructing points for arguments that ended long ago, I remember what everyone always says. Just move on! Let bygones be bygones. Forgive and forget. All of it is easier said than done, but that last one? The last one I particularly struggle with.

The phrase ‘forgive and forget’ is widely circulated, often sold as a catch-all solution that allows us to take any grievances we have and throw them into the void. Forgiving and forgetting gives us the upper hand. It shows we have a sense of superiority, the ability to walk away from a conflict that offers no closure and yet somehow make our own.

When hurt, forgivers and forgetters believe you should compartmentalise those feelings and simply… move on. But why?

I’m all for creating your own closure, or accepting situations, conflicts, people, and mistakes as they are. Not everything will end neatly with a little bow on top. But to for-

give and forget is to ignore. It’s to issues changed not only the way I close your eyes, stick your fingers saw others but the way I saw myin your ears, and turn your back self. There’s no shame in creating on what’s right in front of you. a standard of behaviour that you Rather than forgiving and for- expect in your life – you are degetting, I’ve decided to be wholly serving of respect, loyalty, love and and completely invested in my light, and you deserve those sorts relationships – and that means being invested in the screw-ups as well. I don’t have the energy to tip-toe, to feel uncomfortable or disrespected by those who are meant to make me feel the Credit: The Medium.com opposite.

I’m sure of reyou’ve seen the quotes going viral lationships. When someone fails online, about how ‘the best apol- to give you that, you’re allowed to ogy is changed behaviour’, and it’s walk away or demand a change, true. Those who value you, your particularly when there’s a noticemental health, your time, and able pattern. Allowing yourself to your relationship will amend their validate your own experiences and behaviour if it’s something they discomforts is necessary in maintruly care about. Learning that taining strong relationships with takes time, but it’s a necessity. yourself and those around you.

Changing my approach to such Don’t just brush how you feel un-

der the rug.

Even the times where I’ve lost friends, ruined relationships or made mistakes. Omitting the ‘forgive and forget’ proverb forces me to take accountability for my actions. Lately, I’ve been thinking about the person I was a few years back: moody, insecure, and very good at playing the victim. I was mad at the world, for whatever reason, and so I was mad at everyone around me. I would argue until I was blue in the face, cry until I’d given myself a headache, and take out my feelings on those I love just to feel a sense of security when we made up.

Now I’m older, and I’ve had to learn my lesson ; it was either that or lose the ones closest to me. They couldn’t keep forgiving me, or forgetting how I was acting, because that only enabled me.

Instead, I took accountability for my behaviour. I did a lot of work on myself and my behaviours and began making better choices by

those I love. If they hadn’t put me in that position, I wouldn’t have recognised my ongoing pattern of behaviour, and I definitely wouldn’t have grown.

Of course, people have misunderstandings or falling outs. I’m not saying you have to cut everyone out or put them on a ‘three strikes’ kind of set up; but you should still allow yourself the space to feel. Forgiving and forgetting only works if you’re fully able to shrug off those feelings resentment-free, and even then, there’s no promise of changed behaviour.

Don’t get caught up in repeated cycles of conflict and resolution, only to realise it wasn’t worth it awhile later.

I don’t need to forgive and forget, because I prefer growth. Forgiveness only soothes not mends, nor does it change what’s been done. We all mess up, and we all seek to make amends. But rather than asking for forgiveness, why don’t we ask how to move forward? What else do we have to learn? How can we grow together?

All Bi myself: learning to accept my sexuality I was seven years old and in primary school, being asked to make a wish over a clootie dumpling.

Now, I had no idea what a clootie dumpling was, nor why we were making one or why I had to make a wish over the bowl: but I remember what I asked the clootie gods for. Please don’t make me gay when I grow up.

Thinking about that moment now, fourteen years later, my heart aches for who I used to be.

As the dumpling lords would have it, I did not grow up to be gay - but I did grow into my attraction for women. Bisexuality is not really something I knew much about.

I had heard that bisexual people

were kidding themselves, that they were greedy and more likely to cheat. That they actually didn’t exist. All bad things.

So naturally when in my teens and I was crushing on my artsy female friend, I did everything in my power to pretend it wasn’t happening. I was attracted to men as well, so everything was fine and dandy. Besides, my brother had already come out as bisexual and there couldn’t be two of us. Problem solved.

Accept it wasn’t. I fell in love with a straight girl in high school and for a short while it ruined my life.

I was at war with myself. I wrote countless journal entries insisting

it was a phase, that I was confused like all people get when they’re fifteen. But deep down I knew what I knew, even if I couldn’t admit it to myself at the time.

Years passed and I finally broke: I got drunk and confessed to a random girl at a high school Christmas party that I thought I was attracted to girls. She suggested we kiss to find out. For her it was an experiment, for me it was life changing. I couldn’t deny it anymore and I was terrified.

That moment, that fear, it defined my sexuality for years. I did some research and decided I was a hetero-romantic bisexual: attracted physically but not emotionally to

women. That label, that distinction, it made me feel safe. Less freakish.

But much like my scared fifteenyear-old self, I knew it wasn’t true. It was a shield not only from myself but also from the rampart bi-phobia all around me. Women who wouldn’t date me in case I left them for a man, men who would only date me if I agreed to a threesome – people who wouldn’t date me in case I cheated on them. I thought that by excluding part of my sexuality that I would be more acceptable. I would be less vulnerable.

But time went on and my friends accepted me, ill-conceived flaws

and all. Fellow bisexual people helped me to accept myself and who I really was. All of a sudden, my feelings toward women were validated and I wasn’t so lonely anymore. Now I spend my time embracing my sexuality and teaching people that were as confused as I was. Because I know how it feels to be alone and I would not wish that on anybody. Love yourself, accept yourself and most importantly, accept your own happiness.

Blair McPake

Meet the Committee

10

Meet your Brig Committee for 2020/2021 Editorial Editor-In-Chief - Iona Young editor@brignews.com

Deputy Editor - Harry Williamson deputyeditor@brignews.com

Secretary - Ryan Barclay secretary@brignews.com

Production Chief Sub Editor - Annemarijn Huizinga

Head of Design - Blair McPake Interim Head of Distribution Calum Sutherland Head of Advertising and Communications Roslyn Scott advertising@brignews.com

Section Editors News Editors - Ben Waddell and Iona Brownlie news@brignews.com

Sports Editors - Petra Kotkova and Charlie Harris sport@brignews.com

Politics Editor - Rachel Swan politics@brignews.com

Comment Editor - Iman Mackenzie comment@brignews.com

Interim Features Editor - Blair McPake features@brignews.com

Music Editor - Elizabeth Hunter music@brignews.com

Film/TV Editor - Morven Mackay filmandtv@brignews.com

Want to join our committee?

We still need to fill the position of

Food Editor

Gaming Editor - Andrew De Los Perros gaming@brignews.com

Arts Editor - Emma Halliday arts@brignews.com

Lifestyle Editor - Aine Donnellan lifestyle@brignews.com

Email editor@brignews.com if you are interested in the position.

Music

12

Album review: DMA’s – The Glow

Calum Sutherland SYDNEY trio DMA’s are back with their third album, The Glow, releasing on July 10.

Thankfully, the band – comprised of Tommy O’Dell, Matt Mason and Johnny Took - have managed to sidestep the third-album hoodoo that many have suffered in the past, providing an expansive, arena-ready set of songs that are just as suited to dingy dancefloors as they are to packed stadiums.

Compared with their previous albums, Hills End and For Now, their latest effort weaves together an elaborate tapestry of old and new with notably more electronic influences. This is in large part down to the involvement of the award-winning producer, Stuart Price, who has previously worked with Dua Lipa, The Killers and Madonna to name but a few.

The result is a euphoric set of songs which owes more to the sounds of New Order synth and Primal Scream psych than previous comparisons to the likes of Oasis, keeping things fresh and fans delighted.

The album bursts to life on the opening track Never Before, with

frontman O’Dell’s vocals effortlessly complementing a bassline that would make The Stone Roses’ Mani jealous, before flowing into the eponymous The Glow where Price’s influence really starts to shine.

Next up is Silver, which starts with a question, “did you feel like heaven?” and if you didn’t already, you certainly will by the time the question is asked again as the mellow guitar makes way for the thump of the drums and another fantastic bassline. It’s little wonder that this track currently has the most Spotify streams of the four singles currently released from the album.

Life Is a Game of Changing then erupts with arguably the biggest sounding song of the album, evoking the spirit of 90’s trance with energetic drums, explosive synth melodies, wispy guitar and euphoric overlapping vocals to produce a ripe-for-remix tune that will have you struggling to stay still.

The fifth song, Criminals, flows in with another heavily electronic track. The vocals sadly seem more electrocuted than electrifying at

times, but it is an enjoyable listen nonetheless and O’Dell’s voice is given the room it deserves again in the next two tracks, Strangers and Learning Alive, a pair of toetappers which are markedly more natural sounding than the preceding songs.

Hello Girlfriend then enters the scene with a jolt of rock’n’roll energy, exuding the kind of musical chemistry between O’Dell, Mason and Took that fans are used to and will be sure to have crowds singing, and jumping, along with catchy lyrics and dramatic instrumental pauses.

Appointment starts relatively subdued before building itself up to a satisfying end and giving way to possibly the closest thing DMA’s have come to grunge in Round & Around while maintaining the expansive soundscape found throughout the album.

Last, and certainly not least, is Cobracaine. The electronic sound returns with a darker, intense yin to Life Is a Game of Changing’s yang with filtered, hypnotic vocals and ebbing melodies which grow as the album comes to a fantastic conclusion.

BBC iPlayer: The best of Glastonbury Iona Young

Despite the festival being cancelled on its 50th anniversary due to the pandemic the BBC iPlayer has an incredible range of highlights, from headliners to laid back acoustic sets all available now.

Roughly 200,00 people attend the world-famous festival every year. With the likes of legends Beyoncé, David Bowie, and The Cure, to indie supergroups like Radiohead, Oasis, and Pulp to electro classics like The Chemical Brothers. Only the best of the best has graced the great Pyramid Stage.

From pop, rap, and indie, to DJS, dance and grime the iPlayer has a cracking selection right now.

Every Glastonbury performance stands out from the vast amount of people in the crowds, the incredible once in a lifetime performances and the picturesque sunset surroundings. The electric vibes and outstanding performances are enough to give anyone goosebumps.

There really is nothing like it.

Get a couple of cold cans, put on your best festival outfit, sit back and take in all the spine-tingling moments the festival has to offer.

Pulp,1995.

Pulps 1995 set really takes you back in time. Not a phone to be seen in the massive crowd, something that is rare nowadays. Jarvis Cocker is a king and this performance is a rare gem. Starting with the brilliant ‘Do You Remember the First Time’, the set just gets better from there.

Six months before the millennium this set actually features ‘Disco 2000’s’ live debut. Still an anthem today, seeing its live debut is a special feeling even through a screen twenty years later. The set climaxes with an outstanding rendition of ‘Common People’.

The Chemical Brothers, 2000.

One of the biggest crowds ever.

At the start of the millennium dance duo Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons took to the iconic stage on the Saturday night and turned the whole field into one massive house party.

Starting with ‘Hey Boy Hey Girl’ the set was instantly electrifying.

I cannot begin to imagine how

intensely incredible it would have been to be in that crowd on that night. Superstar DJs here we go indeed.

Bloc Party, 2009.

The exhilarating set from the London four piece is an amazing watch. Opening with ‘One Month Off’, highlights include ‘Two More Years’, ‘One More Chance’ and an incredible finish with ‘Flux’ followed by ‘Helicopter’. The way frontman Kele Okereke holds a crowd, paired with mid 00’s electric indie hits will light up your night.

Beyoncé, 2011.

Beyoncé’s incredible performance opens with ‘Crazy in Love’.

She came to headline, and holy shit how she headlined. The performance is a masterpiece. Beyoncé is the first solo woman of colour to headline the Pyramid Stage.

The whole set is magical: Destiny’s Child medleys, a Kings of Leon Cover, sensational songs. Exhilarating choreography throughout.

This performance is not one to miss.

Arctic Monkeys, 2013.

As an avid Arctic Monkeys fan, I have seen this performance countless times. The 2013 set debuts AM their most rock and roll album to date and a shiny new Alex Turner. Very different from their first Glasto headline performance.

It’s hard to believe the four suave Sheffield men owning the great Pyramid Stage are the same scruffy boys who headlined their back in 2007.

The guitar echoing through the darkness across the crowd, the classic AM graphics lighting up the screens building suspense till the drums kick in and ‘Do I Wanna Know’ begins, it is a spectacular opening.

Straight after diving into their old stuff with Favourite Worst Nightmares ‘Brainstorm’. The whole set is hit after hit, each one performed flawlessly.

There are many more headline performances, acoustic sets, and wholesome Glastonbury content to light up your lockdown available on the iPlayer now.

A larger version of this article can be accessed at brignews.com

Music

13

Exclusive: Abigail Kay’s debut album coming August 1 Singer songwriter Abigail Kays debut album comes out August 1.

The talented fourth year film and media student spoke to Brig on her upcoming album. Roof of the Regent is out on all major music platforms on August 1.

The first time I picked up a guitar, I must’ve been around the age of 10. I thought, what the fuck do I do with this? I taught myself the basic chords and played along to songs. I came across a band called Never Shout Never and instantly fell in love with the way they told a story through a song. I’m quite an emotional person, especially when it comes to having feelings for a girl, and I think Never Shout Never gave me the confidence to sing so openly about being gay.

I study Film and Media. I wouldn’t say (at the moment anyway) that film gets interpreted into my music, but I would say my music has been able to take me further with my degree. There have been times that I have been working on a group project and I have composed music to go alongside either an audio or video piece.

It’s really cool that film is such an open degree and gives you the chance to be creative and push the boundaries a little.

Working on new music is something that isn’t a chore for me. I don’t see it as something to tick off on my to do list, rather something

that is part of my everyday routine now. I think I enjoy it that much that usually, in the past, whenever I have had a hard day at uni, I have come back to my flat and sang my heart out. As much as my degree means a lot to me, I have always thought of music as (as cheesy as this sounds) my life.

Abigail said, “If I were to put themes on my album, they would be LGBT+ and mental health. If you can even call those a theme?

I think I made sure that I was as

Abigail Kay released her single Nude Beach in January honest as I could be, without putting myself in too much of a vulnerable position.”

Abigail Continues, “I remember thinking back to writing songs about being an openly gay woman and thinking, I hope that someone out there who maybe is struggling to come to terms with their sexuality, knows that it is okay to be open about it. Regarding mental

health, I will always be open about it in my songs to hopefully break down the stigma around it.”

Talking about top tracks on the album Kay said, “My favourite song from the album is called Last Liners (She’s Not Funny). Within the album, there are three songs that take you on a journey about having feelings for a girl. Part one is the song I Like a Girl which is me realising I have feelings for the girl. Part two is UNO, which essentially is the confession song where the girl finds out about my feelings for her.”

“Part three is Last Liners (She’s Not Funny) which is the conclusion. For me, making new friends is hard enough. I just went the extra mile and make it even more confusing for myself by falling for a friend. But Last Liners explores the true core of realising that our friendship means more to me than any romantic lesbian love story I wrote in my head.”

It is a tremendous achievement to release a debut album. Abigail told Brig, “It feels incredible to finally have finished an album that will soon be released. In the past, I have written potential albums, but nothing worth sharing on Spotify and Apple Music. I’m kind of scared to know what people will think, but I am hoping that people like at least one song! My theory is- if you’re fucking gay and struggle from time to time with mental

health, this is your kind of album.”

On what artists first inspired her to get into music Abigail said, “Growing up, car journeys with my mum would usually be entertained by Duran Duran. I could listen to their old albums on repeat for hours on end.”

On her upcoming album and hopes for the future Abigail said, “I hope that Roof of the Regent is well liked for one. I think I tend to look too far into the future and almost miss the small victories, like writing a full album all on my own, in my room. But of course, I have hopes of maybe one day touring.

Once Covid-19 has calmed down, I plan to do a couple of album release gigs here and there. The one thing I will always remember is my brother introducing me to BBC Introducing. Since 2015, I have uploaded songs to BBC Introducing in hopes of something big. Over the past five years, my songs have been broadcasted on BBC Merseyside and BBC Manchester which blows my mind! I’ve always loved watching the BBC Live Lounge sessions and I think if I were to set myself a goal, it would be to perform in BBC Live Lounge.”

There have been questions about Scotland’s music scene with many venues being forced to shut their doors, as a young artist in the industry Abigail said, “Scotland on the whole, I feel, doesn’t

get enough music spotlight. There have been times when my favourite artists have toured but seem to have skipped Scotland. It baffles me because there are some beautiful venues, especially in Glasgow (St Lukes, Hydro & Tchai-Ovna) and Edinburgh (Caves & Sneaky Petes). Stirling doesn’t have the best venues unfortunately. I supported a gig in Mediterranèa which was very cosy and intimate, which are the kind of gigs that I like doing, but other than that, there aren’t many places to perform other than open mic nights at a few select pubs.”

Abigail’s album Roof of the Regents is out on all major music platforms on August 1.

Iona Young

Music

14

The TikTok song: a cultural phenomenon

Elizabeth Hunter Music Editor

TIKTOK songs. We’ve all heard them. Even if you’ve never downloaded the app, chances are you could rattle off a couple of lyrics of these songs.

But what makes a TikTok song?

And why does nobody know the names of them?

Lil Nas X had arguably one of the first TikTok songs back in 2019, when he released his breakout single Old Town Road on the app, in the hopes that it would go viral.

Within a matter of weeks, he had gone from relatively unknown to one of the most talked about people in the music industry.

Doja Cat followed shortly after, blowing up in the mainstream after her song Say So went viral on TikTok. So far, the song has been featured in around 20 million videos on the app. As of July 2020, she has spent a total of 55 weeks in the Billboard Hot 100.

There’s no doubt about it, TikTok songs are having a real impact on the music charts and pop culture.

There are some hallmarks of a typical TikTok song – heavy bass, a simple beat and relatable or funny lyrics.

Challenges and dances of varying complexities have gone viral, with celebrities even joining in on the trend.

Gordon Ramsay’s TikTok ac-

count has amassed over 8 million likes and 3 million followers, and his daughter Tilly has raked in a huge 23.6 million likes through her dance challenges with her famous dad.

These dances can have millions of people recreating them – we’ve had the Renegade, Blinding Lights, Cannibal and many more.

But the trend isn’t quite so easy to start.

A recent single from Drake came under fire from critics for laziness – his song, Toosie Slide features lyrics telling listeners how to do the dance. Even with the criticism, the app has seen 5 million posts using the song.

Justin Bieber faced similar criticism late last year after the release of Yummy.

Promotion for the single included compilations of fans using the song in TikTok videos, a tactic that critics branded desperate and lazy.

Billboard’s chart manager, Kevin Rutherfold told In The Know, “Sometimes you look at these new songs that are coming out and you go ‘they’re definitely going for the TikTok crowd there.’

And sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.”

Some songs have even been given a new lease of life thanks so a surge of popularity on TikTok. Kesha’s Cannibal, originally released in 2010, now has a dance attached to it, while Justin Tim-

berlake’s SexyBack from 2006 has been used in many a comedic video.

With this resurgence of ‘throwback’ music also comes the techsavvy musicians that find a way to profit from a song’s increased popularity by sampling it.

Take Mr. Sandman, for example. Originally a song by The Chordettes in the 1950’s, it gained popularity on TikTok through a cat video.

This led to millions recreating the video with their own pets, and rapper Yung Gravy - yes, the creator of 1 Thot 2 Thot Red Thot Blue Thot - releasing his own song entitled Mr. Clean, which samples the original throughout.

80’s classics like Take On Me by a-ha and Funky Town by the Bee Gees have also been given a new lease of life through popularity on TikTok. While celebrities are still trying to figure out their place in the TikTok world, a new generation of musicians are enjoying instant success as a result of the app.

Rappers that utilise aggressive lyrics and booming bass have been popular on TikTok – rappers like Arizona Zervas with his smash hit Roxanne and breakout star Roddy Ricch with the hugely successful single The Box. The latter of which, after blowing up on TikTok, went on to amass over one billion listens across various streaming services

and charted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, dethroning Justin Bieber.

An issue arises for musicians who become popular via the app – if their song title varies from the lyrics of the chorus, fans can struggle to find its name, meaning the artist loses out on the all-important streaming numbers.

Surf Mesa’s ily has been heavily featured on TikTok but he was forced to rename the song to i love you baby in order to ensure its accessibility.

Another possibility that we need to consider is the influence of TikTok’s importance in boosting musicians to super stardom.

As it becomes easier and easier to release music and reach as many people as possible, more and more artists may abandon traditional routes of achieving success in the music industry.

The app garners around one billion views per day, and the everchanging nature of the ‘For You’ page ensures that users never run out of content.

The app constantly refreshes, allowing the user to scroll endlessly for as long as they want to - there is an almost never-ending supply of content available on TikTok. For those wanting to reach as many people as possible in a short space of time, TikTok may just become the default way for musicians to become known.

Credit: GQ “TikTok is something we need to keep our eye on,” said Billboard’s Rutherford.

The platform has the ability to reach millions of people and give users the ability to interact with the music they listen to. TikTok also allows for the advertising of music on the app, making it a vital tool for modern day marketing companies.

The app has rapidly become a cultural phenomenon and will no doubt continue to have a huge influence over the charts for some time to come, believe me – I say so.

Arts

15

Diversifying your bookshelves and amplifying black voices Stephanie Hanlon With the Black Lives Matter movement reiterating that black voices must be heard, many of us have realised that the media we consume is not diverse. Too often, black voices go unheard, lost in the sea of white and non-black stories. The world of literature is no different.

The Booker Prize has been running since 1969 yet only four of the winners have been black, with the first black, female winner Bernadine Evaristo, sharing the prize with Margaret Atwood last year.

So why are our bookshelves lacking in diversity? Black authors face more difficulty getting published – recent Twitter hashtag #PublishingPaidMe showed that black authors tend to be paid much lower for their work than their white counterparts. Once published, they face further problems in being promoted by mainstream media. Richard and Judy’s Book Club, for example, has only featured one book by a black author in 2020, despite numerous publications being available.

But the main reason our bookshelves are not as diverse as we’d hope is simply that we are not buying diverse books. Since the BLM protests, sales of anti-racist writing have soared with Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge selling out across many platforms including Amazon and WHSmith.

But now we must look to the novels of black authors, to the fiction and non-fiction, which celebrates the diversity and the beauty of black lives and experiences.

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe Following local wrestling hero Okonkwo, this piece of historical fiction deals with colonialism, community and African identity.

BLM We posted black screens in turn for pained screams Looked to streets worn with emptiness for weeks to translate the mother’s weeps.

In a world where police can forage amongst their destructive rubble and rebrand it as reparations.

Credit: Good Reads

Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman This young adult series follows a romance blossoming in a Britain divided into the black elite and the white underclass.

Where a woman sleeping is a death sentence.

Credit: Good Reads

The Source of Self-Regard by Toni Morrison This is a series of essays, speeches and meditations which deal with contemporary issues for the modern reader such as identity, race and the power of the arts.

Credit: Good Reads

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Where young names become legislation when they didn’t even get the chance to appear on wedding certification and diplomas.

Where we can watch from home how this brutality struck and still people say that’s just his own bad luck, as if seeing it isn’t believing anymore, black men and women pinned to the floor.

How many times is it going to take?

Before the trends become more than your reputation at stake.

A high-fantasy series which is steeped in West African mythology and tells the story of oppression, magic and friendship.

It can be a daunting task, gazing at our bookshelves and realising just how few books by black authors you read, but it is a task which must be done. Educate yourselves. Black authors are prevalent in every genre and all it takes is your willingness to find them. If you are looking for recommendations, however, below are five examples of incredible writing by black authors, ranging from young adult to historical fiction.

This chaos doesn’t make sense.

~Shannon Ellis Credit: Good Reads

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead A Pulitzer Prize winner, Nickel Boys is based on a real reform school in Florida and the horrors that the children sent there were subjected to.

Credit: Banksy Credit: Good Reads

Film & TV

16

What we watched in June The Floor is Lava

Credit: Netflix

Dating Around Season two of Netflix’s dating show continues to be sophisticated and refreshing take on an overdone concept.

Each episode sees one person go on five dates before choosing one person to take on a second date (we see the person they choose but not the date itself). The dates are shown simultaneously, cut together in a way that gives us a real idea of what the person is like.

It feels real, managing to capture the cringey and awkward moments true of a first date. As expected, some people are more likeable than others, but it still manages to hold up as a good show throughout the whole season. Morven Mackay

RuPauls Stars

Drag

Race:

All

In Season 5 of All-Stars there is a new twist added, once again changing the rules of the lip-sync at the end of each episode.

Despite being released only weeks after the regular season ended, a mix of new challenges and a wider range of Queens going back to season one prevents viewers from becoming bored.

In the last few years the show has happened more frequently so the new rule was a needed change as it keeps it from becoming stale and repetitive.

There seems to be less of a push to cause drama this year, making the show less fake and more enjoyable. MM

Netflix’s new game show is an outrageously fun, over the top obstacle course with a $10,000 cash prize.

Teams of 3 have to compete to get from point A to point B without slipping into the bubbling lava mixture.

The season has 10 episodes and is split into Level 1 and Level 2, the rooms are the same in each level but there are more difficult obstacles as you go.

This show is exactly what you need when you’re feeling down, something about grown adults playing a high stakes childhood game and looking ridiculous while doing it will never get old.

MM

Snowpiercer

Credit: Netflix

This dystopian show is an adaptation of Parasite director Bong Joon-Ho’s film of the same name.

Although they share a premise,

the TV show takes the story in a different direction in an attempt to lengthen out the plot to fit the TV format.

Some of the acting is not great however the story itself is intruiging and it contains some of the essence that made the original so good. MM The Politician Politics are cast in a sexy and relevant light in Netflix’s second season of The Politician. Ryan Murphy’s portrayal of America’s electoral system is given a playful twist and a gorgeous aesthetic to shadow the harsh reality.

We see the return of egomaniac Payton Hobart (Ben Platt) who is running for state senate in New York. However, opposing our anti-hero is the established Dede Standish (Judith Light) who gives audiences a reason to want a best friend and a power suit.

Season two of the Politician was politically relevant and a refreshing burst of humour. The exploitation of wokeness and millennial culture instigates an interesting conversation, to say the least. Iman Mackenzie

Credit: Netflix

I May Destroy You Michaela Coel’s I May Destroy You is an honest and riveting comedy drama that covers a sexual assault following a night out. The way the series tackles the issues truthfully whilst telling the story makes it a refreshing watch. Coel plays an author struggling with her second book who gets spiked on a night out. The series unravels the events in her mind that are still foggy leading to the heartbreaking realisation she was in fact raped.

Main character Arabella meets other survivors who help her to share her story. Iona Young

‘The Story of Plastic’ tells the real story of the plastic crisis Kailen Budge We’ve all seen the islands of plastic protruding out of our oceans and the images of turtles tangled in straws.

What The Story of Plastic really hones in on is the misconception that this crisis is not down to “Poor waste management” as Shell, other large corporations and governments would portray.

The Story of Plastic is a oneand-a-half-hour-long documentary by The Story of Stuff. It is now available on Farnham Eco Cinema to show what caused this and how the man-made plastic crisis has affected not only our planet but its inhabitants also.

The plastic crisis is down to fracking, the single use plastic that plagues our supermarkets, the washing of old plastics infecting our water supplies, the incineration of plastic clouding our sky and our lungs and the pellets that fill the guts of our fish.

From the birth of plastic to cleanup missions, this documentary has the full story. The film gives a sense of hopelessness throughout.

It builds anger in highlighting the issues we are struggling to tackle surrounding plastics.

This film invites you to jump across the globe, from the plastic mountains of India to the Houston Ship channel in the USA where children within a 10mile radius are 75% more likely to have Leukaemia due to the plastic

incineration plantations.

market with it.

The animation used throughout provides a clear and cleancut understating of the life cycle of plastic and a good visual understanding of what these large companies are doing.

The Alliance to End Plastic Waste committed to spending $1.5 billion on the clean-up of plastics yet still spends $204 billion on opening new petrochemical facilities which produce new plastics.

One animation that is reoccurring is the visual of a bathtub.

The large corporations are represented by one person sat at the edge of a bath spooning water out of it. Meanwhile the bath is overflowing, and the tap is still turned on full.

While the film presents no new or revolutionary information, it is an excellent reminder of the severity of the situation humanity finds itself in. The feeling that as a consumer you are limited to what you can do begins to overwhelm you while watching.

The bath of course representing the plastic production. Despite saying that they are helping (spooning the water out) they are still producing plastic and filling

With ten minutes left in the documentary and a heavy heart, things begin to uplift. A new option for humanity has been introduced. As the solemn music lifts to

Credit: Greenpeace

tune, the idea of a zero-waste future and new legislation to hold companies and governments accountable is shown.

The Story of Plastic fills the pits of your stomach with the fire and desire to make a change. As soon as this documentary is done there is an overwhelming need to make the change, to sign petitions and fight for a better future.

Film & TV

15

Review: Unsolved Mysteries

The future of award shows Morven Mackay Film and TV Editor

The ongoing global pandemic has caused a lot of problems for many, especially in the entertainment business. All in-person production has been shuttered and cinema closure has meant films are being pushed back or released online for far too much money (£15.99 for Trolls 2!).

These changes have created a lot of questions about the future of award shows and festivals. Here is a brief summary of what we know.

- Both The Golden Globes and The Oscars have announced later dates for their shows - The BAFTA TV awards are to take place on July 27 live on BBC One. It will be hosted by comedian Richard Ayoade in a closed studio - The Emmy’s are still going forward and will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel for the third time despite recent controversy around his history of blackface. It is unclear how it will be aired but we know it will be on Sunday Sept. 20 (or 1am on Monday Sept. 21 in the UK) Credit: Netflix

Morven Mackay Film and TV Editor Netflix’s latest reboot is a gripping docuseries that explores strange cases from around the world that haven’t been solved yet.

With UFO sightings and murderers on the run for eight years, they have picked a range of cases that will baffle you.

Unsolved Mysteries was a popular show in America that told of missing people, alien encounters, treasure hunts, bank robberies – if it was mysterious, it was on the show. They used hyper dramatized re-enactments of events to explain what happened and actors like Matthew McConaughey and Daniel Dae Kim got their start on the show.

When remaking a well-loved show, it can be hard to find the balance of keeping it true to itself while making it watchable for new

generations, Unsolved Mysteries strikes that balance well.

With original creators John Cosgrove and Terry Dunn Meurer behind it, the new show keeps elements of the theme but moves to an established documentary format that we see in the likes of Making a Murderer and Tiger King.

This move to focus on the people surrounding the case creates a significantly more compelling show. Hearing these heart-breaking and life-changing events straight from those it affected most is so valuable, we aren’t detached from them through actors and scripts.

The stories are told chronologically, painting the picture of what happened with absolute clarity and skill. As expected, some episodes are more mysterious than others, but they all tell of intriguing and mind-blowing

situations. Well, all except the UFO one, which is more fun that it is intense (like seriously, those people don’t seem okay).

What they did keep of the original is an updated version of the theme song. What was once very synth heavy is now an equally eerie but paired back version. They even give a nod to original host Robert Stack featuring his silhouette in the title sequence.

They also continue to put tip lines and links for anyone that may know something at the end of each episode. There was an effort to focus on solvable cases (although it seems unlikely that the mystery of aliens will be solved) and most of the ones out now have obvious suspects or gaps in timelines that they have no definitive enough leads on.

Netflix has a knack for knowing what kind of content their viewers want and this is no exception.

line of the streaming services true-crime content and within a day the show had become number one on the Top 10 list that feature on the front page.

Right now, there are six episodes available to watch with another six set to be released at a later date.

With the global reach of Netflix, the creators have made an effort to feature cases from around the world. Episode three features a French family’s story and they are currently chasing a case in South America.

Unsolved Mysteries isn’t the most original but will most definitely satisfy any true crime craving you might have.

For some, the topics discussed might be hard to digest and possibly be triggering.

With Covid-19 infection rates in some places still going up, and the possibility of a second wave not ruled out, there is still a chance that things will continue to change. It is likely that if production halts continue that there will be a period of time where new film and tv content will be reduced.

This will have a knock on effect leaving award show selection with fewer things to choose from.

It is possible that Television will fare better than film as it doesnt rely on Theatres being open.

No matter how soon things start to get back to normal people are coming up more and more alternatives and with extensive backlogs of content available online it’s doubtful that we will run out of things to watch anytime soon.

Gaming

18

Review: The Last of Us Part II

After seven long years, The Last of Us is back. But can the sequel live up to one of the best games ever made?

Calum Sutherland NAUGHTY DOG have released the highly anticipated follow-up to their 2013 masterpiece, The Last of Us. And with the game set in a world ravaged by a pandemic that spiralled out of control, the timing could hardly be better.

Fortunately for us, coronavirus doesn’t turn those infected into crazed, flesh-hungry walking zombie-mushroom hybrids who would love nothing more than to snack on your larynx.

It is worth noting now that this review may contain some minor plot spoilers, so, if you know you’ll play the game, you have been warned. You should also play (or watch a play-through of) the first game before playing Part II, as the events from the first instalment are critical to the plot of the second.

The first thing anyone who plays this game will notice is the graphics. They are simply gorgeous. Naughty Dog’s attention to detail is insane, and this is the best looking game you will find on a console to date. The lighting effects are impeccable, whether rays of sunlight are filtering through trees, or the subtle sparkle of snow, it is amazing - especially in HDR. Character models are also the most lifelike you’ll see in a game, at times even giving Hollywood CGI a run for its money, which is incredible for something running in real-time.

Animations, for the most part, are flawless with motion-capture magic integrated seamlessly into the world. Facial expressions are nuanced and lift immersion to new heights while bringing the characters to life in ways others games just don’t.

Environments are varied, from post-apocalyptic cityscapes and mountain range vistas to claustrophobic underground tunnels, teeming with infectious spores which linger in the glow of a flare. Words can’t do it justice - it has to be seen to be believed at times.

You’ll visit many, many locations throughout the game

which are all detailed with texture work that sets a new bar for video game realism. Very rarely will you find a muddy texture in this game, but even the mud itself is truly a sight to behold.

That’s not something I thought I would ever say.

The foliage in the game is also fantastic, reacting and moving naturally as the player moves through it, which is often a key aspect of the stealth gameplay as you sneak through the overgrown shrubs.

The stealth in this game is one of the elements which have been improved compared to its predecessor. Human enemies are less predictable than before, and often unexpectedly turn around to clock you when you thought you had them jumped.

Sneaking around, scavenging for supplies as you create makeshift weapons, in case you get caught with little to ammo in between silently taking enemies down, is still just as fun and adrenaline-inducing as it was in the first game.

When you do get caught, the shooting mechanics are rocksolid with guns which don’t shoot like laser beams and hitting your target feels just as challenging and visceral as it should.

Enemies react believably to your shots, and the constant consideration of whether to run at an enemy and try to take them out with an improvised weapon that’s about to break or to use up your last bullet on them makes the combat incredibly engaging, even if you die. A lot.

Formerly human infected enemies are still terrifying, with just enough jump-scares thrown in to keep things fun without seeming like lazy design. Infected who have been afflicted the longest are increasingly dangerous as they lose their sight and begin to rely on echolocation, making gung ho tactics risky business particularly with the increasing scarcity of resources in higher difficulties. Although, except for one particular boss-type enemy, it would have been nice to see Naughty Dog include a little more variety here.

There are plenty of wide-open spaces, as well as the cramped corridors, which are teeming with secrets to be found. Wheer it be trying to crack a safe using clues from your environment (it has been reported that you can even pick them using sound alone, a technique used by lock pickers, which is yet another example of Naughty Dog’s insane attention to detail) or finding the numerous types of collectables and Easter eggs, exploration is encouraged and rewarded. You can even finish-off a pre-pandemic robbery in a bank found during a semi-open world section of the game.

Unfortunately, despite often involving some of the best ropephysics in a game, the puzzles are uninspired and lacking in challenge. The rolling dumpsters from the first game also return, except now you have to climb them as they roll away from you - hardly groundbreaking stuff.

Playing the game on ‘Survivor’, its hardest difficulty, provided a challenge that never felt unfair, rewarded exploration much more, and in a play-through with around 80% of the hundreds of collectables found, it took around 38 hours. Lower difficulties with some exploration should take around 25-30 hours, which, for a (mostly) linear story-driven game, is great value.

The story itself has been rather divisive among fans. To sum it up: The Last of Us Part II is the Game of Thrones of gaming.

The story begins by totally throwing away plot armour, being characteristically brutal and evoking strong emotion in the player, launching the plot forward throwing turn after twist and keeping you on your toes.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t last, and much of the second half of the game has you begging to get back to where you left off.

The game at times feels like two separate entities, as you play as two main characters, weaving backwards and forwards in time.

Unfortunately, this weaving is more like someone decided to try and take up crochet for the first time than anything resembling

the kind of masterful storytelling we’re used to from Naughty Dog. There are flashbacks within flashbacks within flashbacks, and it would’ve been tiresome if the gameplay itself wasn’t so fun.

Sadly though, this leaves you feeling detached from the story itself. I found myself at times wondering if the game was too long, but by the end, it was evident that the problem wasn’t the length, it was the structure of the narrative.

There are many, many flashes of the brilliance that Naughty Dog fans are accustomed to. And by all means, this is a fine story by gaming standards, but in the end, I found myself frustrated because it was evident that there was so much unfulfilled potential.

Bruce Straley, one of the directors of the first game, left the studio shortly after its release, and it’s hard not to feel like the loss of his influence severely hampered the narrative. Neil Druckmann, a director and writer for both instalments, appears to have become self-indulgent with the story, attempting to say far too much and then appearing to run out of time as the end felt rushed and went out with a whimper compared to the fireworks of the first game.

Perhaps it was the inclusion of a seasoned TV writer, Halley Gross, that hampered the process, with the story at times feeling like it would have been better suited to an episodic format than the tight, refined core story you’d find in a good movie like it should have been.

Despite this, inclusion is one thing the game does get right, exploring sexuality, gender identity, body diversity as well as many other issues such as cults, religious fundamentalism and how political extremes on both sides are often just as bad as each other in their justification of atrocity.

But the pitfalls of revenge, and the horrors of a cycle of violence, are what the game is really about and sadly the story just doesn’t live up to its own over-ambition and it never manages to catch up

with a promising, gut-wrenching beginning. There was an opportunity here for the characters to become self-aware and for the writing to address ludonarrative dissonance, but the game only ever skims the surface and doesn’t achieve what it thinks it does with the theme of guilt.

Despite this, some really stunning moments in the story do make it worthwhile playing, including an unexpected cover of a classic hit song performed by one of the game’s actors, as well as breathtaking, adrenalinefueled set pieces. Sadly, the sum of the parts is somehow greater than the whole.

On the topic of acting, the voicing in the game is truly magnificent and in particular, the chemistry of Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson in playing Joel and Ellie respectively is spectacular.

Voices sound natural and the acoustics shift and change within an environment accurately, serving to ramp up immersion. The way rain sounds different depending on the surface it hits is just another example of Naughty Dog’s immaculate attention to detail.

Thankfully audio options are provided in abundance along with a boatload of various other options to make the game playable by anyone. The sheer accessibility of the game is something to be applauded and something that other studios should take note of. You could probably play the game blindfolded with one hand tied behind your back and a mitten on the other one with all the right settings.

All in all, The Last of Us Part II is a phenomenal game that gets almost everything perfect.

Unfortunately though, the story is an ocean-wide, yet puddledeep tale that may leave a bitter taste in the mouth of fans who expected more. Despite this, it is full of spectacular moments and is well worth the price of admission, even if it doesn’t quite attain the masterpiece status of its predecessor.

4.5/5 STARS

Gaming

19

The Perception of Gaming from a Gamer’s Perspective Credit: Reddit

Andrew De Los Perros Gaming Editor

Theft Auto V has grossed more than

see every summer. That’s not a criti-

any movie or album to date.

cism, it’s a form of entertainment.

screen.

There is no doubt that the Cov-

With over 130,000,000 sales, the

The common misconception of

with an eye roll on the topic of hob-

£6 billion profit of GTA V since its

gaming, a hobby that is boring or

for many to participate in outdoor

bies when disclosing that yours is

release in 2013 has overtaken the

repetitive, denies the actuality that

hobbies and exercise, however the

gaming.

entirety of the Star Wars franchise’s

gaming has evolved into an incred-

gaming community thrived.

ticket sales and home releases.

ible social experience.

It is not uncommon to be met

After all, it is a conversation piece

id-19 pandemic altered the ability

of treasures only imaginable is unprecedented.

Whats more is this has never been so accessible.

If you’re reading this on your phone, a device which contains more

When lockdown was placed and

technology than what put man on

streets were emptied, servers were

the moon, your finger tips can easily become the controller.

denounced in numerous first date

Still, the harsh conviction of a

The chance to settle down and

articles if you want it to be a suc-

hobby and community has never

speak to friends, colleagues, some-

congested. Friendlists and the varie-

cessful one.

been so prominent whilst also con-

body from a city you’ve never heard

ty of games being played were boun-

And with that power unlocked,

flictingly inclusive and celebrated.

of, and promote interpersonal skills

tiful. The backlog of games sitting

through a quick search through the

like teamworking is completely jus-

on that dusty hard drive were finally

AppStore, your screen can generate

tifiable.

explored.

an experience, much like the moon-

But why?

Surely, asking somebody what

The dichotomy is apparent on

their favourite game is, is just as

Twitter every year with the release

valid as asking what their favourite

of the latest FIFA entry:

Much like the scene from The

Escaping from your own realities

The general point of view quite

Office US where Jim cannot get to

into a virtual world which caters to

The mainstream perception of

demeaning, that (and I am general-

grips with Call of Duty. The oppor-

all your interests was something to

gaming has always, to some extent,

ising here) girlfriends will lose their

tunity for cohesive communication

be excited about within the mun-

perceived those that look for an es-

boyfriends to their Playstation for

and planning, support and team-

dane.

capism into that fantastical dragon

the next few weeks.

work cannot be underestimated.

film, band or book is?

world as something reclusive.

Or worse, a means of embedding a violent and dangerous ideology.

Despite this, gaming is an ever-

I am a firm believer that people that do not like gaming just haven’t

Post-lockdown, it is important to

found their game yet, just as those

Others however, post videos sur-

perceive gaming as that opportunity

that hate reading haven’t found their

prising their other half with a new

progression provided through many

to embrace that escapism and cele-

‘To Kill a Mockingbird’.

copy, gift wrapped and a season pass

games’ awards and accolades for

brate the diverse landscapes on your

to play wholeheartedly.

the time and skill you invest is also

own or with friends.

Achievement unlocked:

prominent.

At the end of the day, when most

surpassed cinema ticket sales per

consoles switch on; it’s a pastime, a

And nothing is more satisfying

Exploring the vast Wild West with

annum.

hobby. It might seem repetitive from

than completing that raid or stand-

your ‘pardners’ or commandeer-

the outlook, but so is every cut-and-

ing in an arena with your friends

ing your crew as you sail your ship

paste Hollywood blockbuster you

with ‘Victory’ plastered across the

through tropical paradises in search

studios and it’s behemoth: Grand

There is a game out there for everybody.

The rewarding nature and feel of

growing industry, which has now

Scotland’s own Rockstar North

landing, in a fun and enjoyable way.

Listened to my ramblings (100G)

Lifestyle

20

“UNCERTAINTY is

5

actually possibility”

Hobbies to pick up during

Lockdown

Iman MacKenzie, Comment Editor

1. Scrapbooking An old time favorite that everyone has to try once. We already live in nostalgia; we may just as well embrace it. Don’t worry if you don’t have a printer for photos - there are apps to help. One such, is FreePrints. Through it, you get a selection of 500 free photos printed a year and o pay the shipping fee.

2. Podcasts Podcasts are way too underrated. Finding fun ones can be a challenge but with Spotify’s student premium, there are a few good ones to choose from. Of course, you can always flex back to the ol’ reliable Youtube podcasts if Spotify isn’t your gig. Listening to other people talk is the most comforting thing, especially when their drama doesn’t affect you in the least.

3. declutter Start with your wardrobe. Binge-watch Marie Kondo’s show on Netflix if you need real inspiration. Look around your room. If it is too cluttered, narrow it down to what you actually need. Strangely, the more you buy, the less you wear. So look around yourself and determine what’s still hot and what’s not.

4. tutorials There’s always something to be learned. You saved that thing on Instagram, for later when you’d have time. Now, time is all you have. Websites like YouTube have an endless fountain of things to be learned. From hacking the perfect cat-winged eyeliner to drawing the world around you.

5. daily walks

Aine Donnellan, Lifestyle Editor Travelling as a career A well-rounded traveller, Brian has spent the past five years making his way across the world. Prior to that, he worked within the film industry in L.A. – a path he veered off due to burnout.

As a result he decided to take a leap of faith and see what else was out there, by embarking on a solo-backpacking trip.

His first stop was India. The month he had planned to stay quickly turned into four. This was right up Brian’s lane.

The further he went, the deeper he fell for this thrilling, nomadic lifestyle.

He soon realized travelling was something he wanted to pursue as a career.

He started building up a network during his excursions. As a result, he landed a role as a content-producer at Indian hostel chain Zostel in January this year.

Without hesitation he packed his bags and boarded a plane to Delhi.

This next chapter had hardly begun when COVID-19 hit and Brian was forced to return home to California.

This is where we find him, to pick his backpacker brain for some advice on how to best deal with the societal situation we currently find ourselves in.

Thriving of the uncertain As an optimist, Brian is someone who loves change as he sees it as a possibility for something greater than what already is.

“I like possibilities and to me, that uncertainty, the not knowing, that is possibility.

That’s options right there.

When things are concrete and booked in, there’s no chance for surprises or things that take you off guard.”

Reflecting over why he chose India, Brian points to the high energy of the nation.

“What a lot of people find really intimidating about India is what I really like - the high energy. It’s very chaotic, very high paced, you have to be on your toes, fast-thinking and I really like that. I like to be involved in life and not just sleepwalk through it, and I feel alive there.”

Change is only natural

As a passionate globe-trotter, strict borders and heavily restricted traveling has caused obvious havoc to Brian’s plans for the future. This is some-thing he’s firmly decided not to fret over.

“Many people look at the world and don’t want it to change, we’re taught to fear any kind of upheaval. However, to me, life is constantly changing and in order to get the most out of it, you have to adapt.”

“So, to someone who struggles to deal with uncertainty, I would just say take a step back and realize that life itself is at its core uncertainty and by embracing that, you are able to thrive more than if you avoid it.

“You learn by doing, you either sink or you swim. I think, with more of a positive approach and accepting change, people do swim more often than not.”

Name:

Brian Perlmutter Age:

33 From:

Texas Preferred superpower:

Teleporting

How to deal with lockdown

“We’re all stuck here in quarantine.

We can’t go places, can’t do the things we normally do - rather than get mopy, this time next year, chances are I’m gonna be wishing there was just a time I could take a break and sit on the couch and watch TV, guiltfree and watch something you know.”

Attempting to fill his days in quarantine with something worthwhile, Brian’s been testing out new things on a weekly basis.

“I’ve been going through phases, I’ll do things very intently for a week or two but then I get bored and move onto something new haha. I got obsessed with crossword-puzzles a few weeks back - I could sit there all day and do them one after another. Now I’ve moved on to camping with my roommates.”

The big life-topics When asked for advice on how society as a whole could learn to deal better with uncertainty, Brian sits quiet for a moment. A small crease appears between his ever-smiling eyes.

“That’s a tough question, but I have some thoughts on it. For a long time, society has been stuck between this dichotomy of progressive and conservative. I think that needs to go away. I think conservative ideology needs to go away.”

“And not for any political reasons, but more from the standpoint of ‘life is constantly changing and evolving’ and we need to be able to build systems that allow humans to quickly adapt to the constant change of times.”

“For us to be able to embrace uncertainty as a society and tackle global problems that are facing us right now, we have to be able to progress. That’s my personal thoughts on it, more on the cultural-sideof-things rather than political. Adapt or perish, that’s the way of the world.”

Get out of the house. I know some people hate the idea of being outside, but you’ll love it when you do. Create a playlist to walk to and let your mind unravel whilst you take a solo route. Do it for you, to let yourself think. To take everything in your life in without anyone watching over your shoulder.

Taking the time to be on your own is more refreshing than ever.

Remember that although life has been halted, the world is still spinning. You still need to invest in yourself. Fill your surroundings with things that bring you happiness. Whether that be a Disney movie day or yoga in the garden. Life will be waiting for you at the end of the road, until then - enjoy the walk.

How to deal with global uncertaities “My personal philosophy when it comes to a lot of things, is embrace it. I don’t let the sense of lack of control affect me, I don’t let it cause me anxiety. Because at its heart - that uncertainty when it comes to climate change or COVID, that’s just impossible to fully control anyways.”

Credit: Thestatesman.com

Lifestyle

21

Storyblocks.com

A small wave of

Cr ed i

D t:

uncertainty

iel an Me dez nen

Laura Menendez

It was late in the summer and the group of people I regularly surfed with had become essential to my everyday life. Living close to the sea brings a whole world of possibilities when it comes to surfing. The choices are numerous, but so are the uncertainties.

Today, we were going somewhere new. We had so many options close-by that we had grown accustomed to short drives and territories we were extremely confident in. Practice made perfect.

As the drives were not very long, even if we showed up and the conditions were terrible, it didn’t seem like such a waste of time.

But this time we wanted to take it

a step further, multiply the possibilities, face the uncertainty of a beach that we barely knew, and face the uncertainty of not knowing if the conditions were going to be any good.

We chose Llanes because one of the guys in our group was working there. He had to be close to the workplace just in case any emergency happened, and we took the chance to broaden our horizons.

We looked into it a couple of days before. The weather was going to be pretty good and the conditions didn’t seem bad at all.

We packed some lunch and loaded the car with everything we needed. In fact, we barely fit in the cars ourselves.

Playing some good music on the way, the day was already starting on a very good tone, the spirits were very up and we didn’t seem to care what happened next, we were enjoying our little adventure.

When we arrived at the beach, the conditions were not as good as we expected. It was pretty windy, and the waves were way tinier than we expected.

It seemed a big disappointment. But we had taken the chance to do something together and decided to get into the water regardless. The truth is the waves were a lot more fun than they seemed from the shore.

The weather was brilliant, so we decided to show off our sum-

pngwing.com

mer tan and surf in our swimsuits, which is usually not an option because in northern Spain the water is quite cold even in summer.

The session was short, and the waves were tiny, but we balanced the lack of power and size in the waves with

a lot of laughter in the line-up.

The spontaneity could have led us to a very disappointing session and a waste of time. Instead, we decided to embrace not knowing what the day was going to be like, and we all had one of the best days of all summer.

Sugar babies: stepping into unknown territory

Siobhan Hamilton

Next to some sugar daddy’s names were a ‘premium’ tick; meaning that for a membership fee you can see when a message has been read and gives you ‘advanced security’.

Some people don’t view sex work as a full-time job, but it was clear how much commitment was required. Sugar babies need to spend hours of their time talking to someone who could be completely dull, and it wasn’t easy. It was draining being treated as someone’s therapist, sex toy and girlfriend.

Traditionally, sugar-babying entails younger women providing platonic companionship to older men for money. It makes you wonder why everyone doesn’t do it. Apart from the emotional baggage and commitment you have to deal with, it seems like a painless way to rake in money.

I decided to get to the bottom of how important physical intimacy actually was for sugar daddies. I asked the men if it would matter if I didn’t feel comfortable having a physical relationship, and the answer was a resounding yes.

At this point, I wondered why they did not use full-service escorts to satisfy their sexual needs, but through more conversations, it was clear most wanted the girlfriend experience.

This demanding form of sex work is not as easy as providing your company for money. At first I was uncertain, but it is clear that sugar babies juggling jobs as well as being available 24/7 deserve the utmost respect.

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This seems backwards to me as the sugar baby is likely to be in the vulnerable position and should be given as much security as the site can provide, and for free.

Logging off to go to work, it felt like a much-needed break. I came back to piles of clingy messages in my inbox, angry that I had not replied.

You might find the odd sugar daddy willing to fork out hundreds just for the company of a beautiful young girl, but realistically, transactional sex seemed to be on most sugar daddy’s wish list. Intimacy was essential in the eyes of the average daddy.

.com

Opening up Seeking Arrangement, I am faced with a man who could not be more than thirty-five with two beautiful blondes on each arm. Within less than an hour there were twenty-five sugar daddies interested in my alias ‘RedRubes’.

From men offering me one-hundred pounds a week for one video of me filming myself forcing him to wear tanned tights, to an offer of four hundred pounds to ‘spend the night’ with them.

The whole thing made me uncomfortable. It was not flattering or complimentary, I did not feel empowered or independent, I simply felt used, like an object to them.

Shopee

You can make hundreds of pounds a week by becoming a sugar-baby, so I decided to try it, stepping entirely out my comfort zone. Facing the uncertainty a sugarbaby encounters on a daily basis through her various interactions with strangers.

Men from America to Australia didn’t hesitate to speak to RedRubes their net-worth ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions.

Before you get too excited, there is no background checks to determine whether or not this is where they live, or their wealth. Babies have to be cautious when seeking out a relationship with these men.

Credit:

Finding love and paying the bills are hard feats – let alone trying to do both at once. Maybe that’s why women are ditching barista aprons for laptops to find alternative sources of income.

Food

22

Kneading is leading the nation through lockdown, one loaf at a time.

Iona Young

Early into the nationwide lockdown people searched for hobbies to fill their newfound free time.

From crocheting, gardening, to painting and writing. People have been trying everything. But one phenomenon shook the UK like nothing else; baking.

The obsession swept across the UK leaving supermarkets without flour for months. A large proportion of the baking phenomenon is made up of bread baking. One kind that seems to be particularly popular is sourdough.

Getting sourdough right can be a lengthy but worthwhile process.

Once mastered it can be used for a signature sourdough loaf, experimental loaves and to take homemade pizzas to the next level as a base.

Part of the fun with baking sourdough is making one of the key ingredients, the sourdough starter.

There are many recipes online, but the general idea is to have a jar and create a paste with flour and water

leave it out to breathe and feed it for a number of days to get a bubbling mixture.

Once you have mastered your technique for the perfect sourdough starter, the possibilities are endless.

Here is Brig’s simple starter recipe.

Get a jar and fill with 50g of strong white bread flour, if you cannot find any plain flour will do. Add an equal amount of water, mix together and leave out of direct sunlight, at room temperature overnight uncovered.

The following day add another 50g of your flour and water, mix again, leave overnight.

Copy the process for up to seven days.

Brig used BBC Good Foods easy sourdough recipe by Barney Desmazery.

Ingredients: 400g strong white bread flour ½ x 7g sachet fast-action dried

yeast Method: To make the bread dough, tip the ingredients into a clean bowl and add 1 tbsp fine salt, 200ml cold water and your starter. Bring all the ingredients together to a dough, adding a splash more water if too stiff, then tip out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for at least 10 mins until smooth, elastic and springy (this will take 5-7 mins in a mixer with a dough hook). Place the dough in a clean, lightly oiled bowl, cover with cling film and leave until doubled in size – about 1 hr at room temperature, 3 hrs in the fridge (see tips, below).

Tip the dough onto a floured surface and gently shape into a round – you don’t want to knock too much air out of the dough. Dust a piece of baking parchment heavily with flour and sit the dough on top.

Cover with a tea towel and leave to prove for 1 hr until doubled in size.

Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/ gas 7. Place a sturdy flat baking tray on the middle shelf of the oven and a smaller tray with sides underneath. Dust the dough with flour and slash with a utility knife.

Slide the bread onto the hot tray on top and throw a few ice cubes (or pour some cold water) onto the tray below – this creates a burst of steam, which helps the bread form a nice crust. Bake for 25-30 mins until the loaf sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom. Leave the bread to cool completely.

Instagram foodie accounts to get you through lockdown @QuarantineKitchen13 Many mouth-watering dishes with unique combinations like black pudding, pear and pistachio tacos and mac and cheese with fried chicken. As well as many delicious dishes from all over the world.

The photos are what some would describe as ‘food porn’ so whether you are looking for some fantastic recipes to try or just a new foodie account to drool over.

@ elashkars_food A divine variety of all types of cuisine, with recipes available. The photography is an art in itself perfectly capturing the wide range of ingredients used and the vibrancy of each dish.

Credit: BBC

Favourites include the lime, chilli and chocolate tart, veggie cassoulet, mixed mezze dishes and many Mediterranean treats.

Five of the best viral fudge recipes Isla Smith THE fudge trend is sweeping the online baking community. With only two base ingredients and no scales required, it’s very easy to make for bakers of all skill levels. Whether you’re an expert or a newbie, here are the most delicious and creamy fudge recipes, many with an additional biscuit crunch.

Basic Recipe Ingredients: • 500 grams of chopped white chocolate • One 397 gram tin of condensed milk Method: Line a 20cm square tin with baking parchment. Tip your condensed milk and chocolate into a pan and melt on a low heat, stirring constantly until smooth and combined. This can also be done in a slow cooker, stirring constantly on high. Pour into your tin and leave

in the refrigerator to set. This can take between three and six hours.

Once set, slice and serve.

Oreo Fudge (credit: @fitwaffle) Additional ingredients: • One 154 gram packet of Oreo biscuits Follow the basic recipe. Once melted, chop up your biscuits. Add three quarters to your mixture and fold them in until combined evenly. Once the tin is filled and smoothed, scatter the remaining biscuits over the top. Place in the fridge to set.

Percy Pig Fudge (credit: Gemma Haywood) Additional ingredients: • Percy Pig sweets • Percy Pig dessert sauce • Sprinkles • Pink/red food colouring Follow the basic recipe. Add in food colouring until the mixture

is light pink. Pour into the tin then place sweets over the top and sprinkles. Place in the fridge until set.

ration. The Twixes may melt a little. Pour into the tin and scatter the Twixes over the top. Set in the fridge.

Biscoff Fudge (credit: @fitwaffle) Additional ingredients: • 100 grams of Biscoff spread • 125 grams of broken Lotus Biscoff biscuits Follow the basic recipe. Add in the spread and mix. Fold in the biscuits and pour into the tin.

Drizzle some additional spread over the fudge and sprinkle some crushed biscuits too. Leave to set in the fridge.

Galaxy Fudge (credit: @fitwaffle) Additional ingredients: • Pink food colouring • Purple food colouring • Black food colouring • Blue food colouring • Sprinkles • One packet of oreos Follow the basic recipe then pour the mixture into four separate bowls. Dye each bowl a different colour with the colouring.

Layer broken oreos onto the base of the tray and spoon the different mixtures over the top, making sure to create and even spread.

Drag a knife through the mixture to make a swirl pattern but do not overmix. Scatter sprinkles over the top and place in the fridge to set.

Twix Fudge (credit: @fitwaffle) Additional ingredients: • 150 grams of chopped Twixes Follow the basic recipe. Fold in the twixes, leaving a few for deco-

Credit: Lil Luna

Credit: the Sun

Credit: What the Red Head Said

Features

24

“I’m essential:” working through quarantine

Credit: bloomberg.com

Blair McPake: Features Editor Hundreds upon thousands of jobs have been lost due to the coronavirus pandemic, lockdown forcing many businesses to close, some permanently. Bored employees have been sent on weeks of furlough, earning only eighty percent of their wages. Some businesses that have been deemed essential however, manned by skeleton crews and bombarded by frustration and abuse.

Retail was already a difficult industry to work but for the staff manning stores and supermarkets, things have only gotten worse. I work at a hardware store.

We were allowed to stay open because we sell vital tools and parts to tradesmen. Fair enough. However, most of our customers were furious people who wanted fence paint, enraged when they realised we had sold out. The torrent of verbal abuse hurled at me is expected from those who are unable to get parts they need for vital trades jobs – it was not expected

from busybodies who wanted to paint their decking. They stand there in their entitlement, hurling abuse at us because we were sold out of fence paint and unable to get more: you know, because of the current global pandemic.

Had they not realised that I was risking my life? I was standing in the carpark with only gloves to protect me from the virus but nothing to protect me from the vitriol of customers. It seemed as though some people had no idea what was going on: confused as to why they could not come into our store, why they had to order things online instead of paying by cash, why places were closed. Had they been living under a rock?

I did not feel essential. I felt abused, unappreciated and scared.

I hated going to work. Hated hearing people swearing at me every day, spitting at my feet, purposefully walking closer to me even as I backed away. Having worked retail for over a year now, and at

a call centre before that, so I was no stranger to angry customers: but this was another level. People were purposefully threatening me, making light of a virus that could kill me and my household – this just hit me on another level.

A whole world under quarantine for weeks can be frustrating, every one is in the same boat. There is no need to take it out on people doing their best to help you. I hate turning people away simply because they don’t have online access and therefore can’t place an order. I hate not being able to give refunds or help people get heavy items to their car. I take no joy in this either. And I certainly do not get paid enough for my trouble.

It just astounds me how some people can be so self-centred in a time where the entire world needs to pull together. Is fence paint more important than the health of essential workers everywhere?

It becomes hard not to see these things as personal. It takes no ef-

fort to be kind. The smiles and the occasional thanks I receive from customers were sometimes all that kept me going. There were some days where all I wanted to do was quit. As it turns out I was far from the only one who felt this way:

“Being classed as a key worker was actually a really nice feeling. I felt useful and it definitely motivated me. But on the worst days when I was shouted at, questioned or verbally assaulted my enthusiasm deteriorated and I would just go home. It wasn’t worth the money or weekly clapping sessions”.

– Andrew de los Perros.

At that point in thinking it becomes easy to long for furlough, to hope that your company falls into bankruptcy and you lose your job.

At the lowest points after hours of abuse I even hoped that I would become sick. That is how it feels to be essential during quarantine.

Morale with the staff is low, communication is lacking and tensions are high. The clapping for key workers and supermarket staff felt hollow. In times like this it becomes apparent of how much we take for granted, especially in the west. Customers complaining because delivery took a week and the charges went up. People rioting for haircuts. It really puts things into perspective.

As time has gone on things have eased. But the anger of people has not. Still people do not understand social distancing, scoffing as I walk backwards away from them, ask them to stop at the yellow line two metres away from me. This is a time where we need to band together. Keep that in mind the next time you sigh at the queue at Tesco, worried you won’t be able to buy any loo roll.

Sport

26

When you take “water” away from British tennis stars “water polo” serving up ace Petra Kotkova Sports Editor The past few months have been hard on all of us. The Covid‑19 pandemic has affected various aspects of our everyday lives and has put the world of sports to a halt.

Training facilities got closed, leagues got cancelled and the Olympic Games got postponed.

Athletes all around the world were forced to come up with unique ways of maintaining their shape until everything is back to “normal”.

After the University of Stirling closed down all its sport facilities on March 17th, it was up to the sports clubs themselves to figure out a way to keep their training going.

This was a big challenge for the University of Stirling Water Polo (USWC) team, more than or the other ‘dry’ sports.

Lucky for the girls’ part of the team, the senior strength and con-

ditioning (S&C) interns, Marcus Graham and Matthew Brown, found a way to connect with their athletes even during lockdown.

Twice a week from the comfort of their homes, a Zoom S&C session is alternatingly led by the coaching duo and is attended by the UCWC members from all around the globe; from the UK to Italy and all the way to America.

“The ‘lockdown’ sessions obviously aren’t the same as the strength-based sessions we have in the Performance gym where we can throw some serious weights about,” Graham says, “[we had] to come up with sessions that use a bit of ‘out‑of‑the‑box’ thinking.”

Although these Zoom sessions are lot more difficult coaching‑wise, Brown sees them as “a refreshing experience to expand our creativity as developing S&C practitioners, and to delve

into different training modalities.”

He also admits that these sessions have “an additional benefits outside of S&C in maintaining relationships [with the team] in times of uncertainty.”

When the USWC squad was asked to describe their new training sessions and their coaches, words such as “exceptionally committed”, “very creative” and “unbelievable” were thrown around.

The team explained that there aren’t enough adjectives to express their gratitude to the coaches, for looking after their physical and mental health even during the world pandemic.

As Natasha Love, the president of USWC puts it “the interest from both coaches…and the impact it may have on us, has been really motivating and uniting as team ‑ something they’re definitely a valued part of.”

Credit: Stirling Uni Waterpolo

Credit: Getty Images

Jessie Hosking Dan Evans and Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski are back to winning ways after claiming the singles and doubles titles at the Schroders Battle of the Brits.

The tournament marked the start of a series of national events which will allow top British players to compete after several months off, due to the suspension of international competition.

The brainchild of Jamie Murray, this first event welcomed the top British male singles and doubles players at the National Tennis Centre from June 23 to June 28.

The group stages saw Kyle Edmund and Dan Evans qualify for the semi-finals after coming top of their respective groups, whilst Andy Murray and Cameron Norrie made it through in second place.

British number one and world ranked number 28 Evans beat Norrie, Paul Jubb and Ryan Peniston, whilst Edmund, the British number two, beat Andy Murray, James Ward and Liam Broady.

In the semi-finals, both of the matches were decided by a championship tiebreak; Evans beat Andy Murray whilst Kyle Edmund overcame Norrie.

Looking like he hadn’t been away from competitive tennis, Evans continued a perfect run of form by comfortably beating Edmund 6-3, 6-2.

The high quality of tennis was continued in the doubles, with Evans and his partner Lloyd Glasspool eventually losing in the final against Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski.

Before qualifying for the final, the eventual winners faced Joe Salisbury and Jonny O’Mara in close match which was decided in a championship tiebreak. O’Mara spent a year at the University of

Stirling before going on to play on the professional doubles circuit, where he is currently ranked 54 in the world.

The tournament proved to be a resounding success and was an opportunity for up and coming British players, like Peniston and Jubb, to train and compete alongside the very best.

Speaking to the Lawn Tennis Association after the event, singles runner-up Edmund said: “It was pretty much like a tour event, these conditions. It turned out really well and all the players put in a pretty good shift this week, and everyone else off the court put in a bigger one. Jamie (Murray) made it as safe as possible, the players were able to relax and go about their business without feeling like they were too restricted.”

These opportunities to return to elite competition will shortly be expanded to the female side, with the first of a series of British Tour events starting July 2 and taking place at the National Tennis Centre.

University of Stirling tennis scholar Maia Lumsden, who currently has a world ranking of 368, is excited to start competing again.

“I’m looking forward to it, it’s been such a long time since I competed due to being ill and injured before lockdown so it will be my first tournaments since last September. It will probably take a few events to get into things but I’ve really missed competing so I can’t wait.”

In addition to the British Tour events, there is also the Progress Tour Women’s Championships, which will start July 14 and be completed over the course of four days. The event will welcome 16 of the top British singles players and eight doubles teams- this includes Fed Cup players Harriet Dart, Katie Boulter and Emma Raducanu.

Sport

27

11 Free Agents your team should have in their phone books

IT is Lockdown. You are in the house, in lounge wear and on the sofa in a slouch.

When your mind isn’t desperately spiralling thinking about the hot mess that Britain and the wider world has fallen into - you might turn your attention to the return of the football season.

Most professional football insti-

tutions have come to a grinding halt until the current worldwide pandemic has been resolved.

Some major top-flight leagues such as the Bundesliga and Premier League are now beginning to train as a team and are playing league fixtures.

However, Scotland’s football leagues have been a different story.

With nationwide uncertainty over the restart of Scottish football, some clubs are already prepared to take extreme measures to protect their existence, by releasing the majority of their players to reduce wage bills.

An extreme example of these mass clear-outs has been Queen of the South.

The Dumfries club, in an unprecedented move, have released all but 3 of their playing staff in a bid to survive until fixtures can be played again, and they are not alone.

Dunfermline Athletic, Hamilton Academical and Falkirk have also taken similar measures.

This means that upon the begin-

ATTACK

DEFENCE

GOALIES

MIDFIELD

Stephen O’Donnell – Scotland international, O’Donnell, was released by Kilmarnock after the 2019/2020 season and has reportedly had numerous offers from teams in England after a difficult season under turbulent management.

The pacey right-back cements his place in the team due to his time under Steve Clarke as one of the elite defenders in the Premiership in that era.

Vaclav Hladky – For the goalkeeper of the out-ofwork XI, the only clear choice was the Czech stopper from Paisley.

The St. Mirren keeper was almost instantly linked with a move down south and also with Rangers, which speaks volumes about his performances.

Being a large part of the St. Mirren defence, which preserved the club’s premiership status, and also the volume of offers he has received, makes him a stick-on for this team.

Jonny Hayes – The second player in the XI to be released by Celtic, Hayes made his name in Scottish Football playing for Aberdeen.

Hayes was one of the key players which contributed to the Don’s title-challenges in the first half of the decade, which earned him a move to Parkhead.

Hayes, who was a free agent at the start of the window has returned to Aberdeen, who were in need of a hard-working, creative winger.

Steven Lawless – After being relegated to the Championship with Partick Thistle, Lawless earned his move to the premiership with newly promoted Livingston last year.

Scoring 11 goals in 38 games this season helped Livingston to an unprecedented fifth place finish in the Premiership.

Solid goal scoring stats from wide positions means Lawless will be a great acquisition for most Scottish sides this summer.

Tony Andreu – Tony Andreu is a name which is mostly associated with Hamilton Academical and has been released by the New Douglas Park club.

Andreu has been a nuisance for both Championship and Premiership defences while playing in the red and white stripes.

St. Mirren have again been linked with the Frenchman to the disgust of the Accies faithful.

Alex Gogic – Earning his place at centre-half is Hamilton Academical stalwart, Gogic.

The Cypriot defender has been one of the major reasons why the Accies have been able to continue to their Premiership story by leading the defence with his large stature. Ever since being released, the former Accies man has been linked with St. Mirren.

Jozo Simunovic – Ex-Celtic defender Simunovic joined the hoops in 2015 and while he did not make an immediate impact, he has shown his quality in the latter stages of his Celtic career.

Despite disappointments in Europe for Celtic, the commanding Croat played an important role in

Celtic’s 9-in-a-row campaign.

Richard Tait – Being shoehorned in at left-back is right-sided defender Richard Tait who was recently released by Motherwell.

Tait was one of the many names that was being touted as a solution to Steve Clarke’s fullback problems last year means that he is a solid pick-up for any Scottish side.

St Mirren have wasted no time in snapping up the experienced defender.

Vykintas Slivka – Energetic midfielder Slivka was one player that most Hibees fans were sad to see go.

The Lithuanian spent three years at Hibernian, however the ex-Juventus youngster is currently available on a free.

Charlie Trafford – Released by Inverness Caledonian Thistle at the end of their second-place finish in Championship, the large midfielder has been linked with a Premiership move.

Known for his physical presence in the middle of the pitch, he will be undoubtedly looking to make an impression in the top-flight next season.

ning of the new season, there is going to be a slew of quality players available to sign free for the 2020/2021 season.

Until that day comes, here is an eleven of the best unattached players from the SPFL that your club should definitely be keeping tabs on for the upcoming season.

Oliver Bozanic – Hearts have had a season to forget in almost every aspect, and with their ongoing financial troubles they have been forced to release a large number of players.

One of those players is one of their best performers of the season – Oliver Bozanic.

The Australian has filled a number of roles for the Gorgie club but he can easily play on the right side for the unemployed XI and that goes for most Scottish sides as well.

These players will most likely be top of manager’s short-lists whenever a restart proposal can be accepted.

Disagree? Make sure to make your personal XI and send it in to Brig’s social media.

Special Report

by Graham Fleming

Sport

28

And we’re off! - What to expect from this year’s F1 season

David King The new Formula 1 season is almost upon us, only three months and change late, but who’s counting? We have, and it’s been torture as we await what could be the most unique championship to date.

Two rounds in Austria followed

by Hungary and then another two at Silverstone will be the start of a blistering pace of six races in just seven weeks.

Brig will be shifting through the gears as we cover the new F1 season.

A lot has happened since the teams all tested in Barcelona, the driver merry-go-round has well and truly been kicked off and the cars we see at the Red Bull Ring at the start of June won’t be anything like the ones we studied back in testing.

To kick off our coverage, here’s what to look out for the coming season team by team.

Mercedes-AMG Petronas: The reigning champions, with a

record six double championships in a row, were on the back foot last year before they swept away the looming Ferrari threat like they were nothing.

The team from Brackley looked tidy in March’s pre-season testing and as the regulations are set to be frozen with minimal development for next year and the new 2021 cars pushed to 2022, they will be hoping they have a head start on the grid once again to potentially hold on to the titles for two more years.

Bottas will be looking to try and push his teammate a bit closer than previous outings to not only challenge for his title, but to keep his seat at the team.

Lewis Hamilton will be gunning for Michael Schumacher’s record of 7 drivers titles, but it may be a challenge to keep his head in the game given the loss of his beloved bulldog and such a long period since the end of last season.

Scuderia Ferrari: The pundits nearly all had Ferrari nailed down as champions last

year before a wheel was turned in anger.

But not only were they collectively left with egg on their face, the Italian team imploded in spectacular style with the new kid on the block, Charles Leclerc, taking the fight to four-time champion Vettel, giving us the most entertaining inter-team battling since Rosberg and Alonso both partnered Hamilton.

With the young gun breathing down the established Ferrari number one’s neck all season, the cracks were there for all to see and the promising title challenge of pre-season amounted to nothing.

Vettel and Ferrari calling it a day at the end of this season means the gloves will well and truly be off between the two this year. With nothing to lose, Vettel may be the one to watch.

Aston Martin Red Bull Racing: Red Bull really should have been the runners up if not for the disappointing form of Pierre

Gasly in the first half of the year.

Alex Albon stepped up in the second half, but the damage was already done, and the team couldn’t catch Ferrari in the standings.

Max Verstappen continued his meteoric rise as he clinched best of the rest behind the two mercs.

A first world title is surely on the horizon for the young Dutchman.

With the truncated season kicking off with a double at Austria, arguably one of Mercedes weaker venues, the young pretender to the F1 throne could kick off the season with a healthy lead over the rest of the pack.

McLaren: The once front runners McLaren have improved season on season since their split from Honda and picking up Renault engines.

Helped by the dynamic partnership of Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris, 2020 could be the peak for the team for a couple of seasons.

Sainz will be departing at the conclusion of this championship, to take Vettel’s seat at Ferrari, and replaced by the ever-smiling Aus-

sie, Daniel Ricciardo. They are also switching to Mercedes engines for the first time since 2014.

The team dynamic may be an easier issue to fix than the engines due to the development freeze on the chassis for next year. Yet they still having to make adjustments to fit the new power unit in a car designed around the Renault power train.

This season should tell us once and for all if McLaren are well and truly back as a force. But rumours of financial issues behind the scenes though may lead to this sleeping giant turning into a dead dodo.

As the new season kicks off from the beginning of July, keep an eye out for Formula 1 content on our website, with coverage of every race weekend, including the opening round in Austria this past weekend.

Sport

University’s online Fitness programme goes International Credit: University of Stirling

Graham Fleming THE University of Stirling Sport team goes global as their online fitness classes seeworld‑wide success.

Under normal circumstances, the University’s Sport team would be able to hold their everyday gym sessions in the Sport Centre, but the global health crisis interfered.

The pandemic has prompted the start of new online workouts, which offer over 20 free weekly virtual classes as well as daily social media workouts for people of all skills and abilities.

Over the last eight weeks, over 4,000 participants have taken part in these virtual workouts from over 50 different countries.

Some of the more out-there destinations include New Zealand, United States of America and even Japan.

This new virtual fitness phenomenon comes as a part of the university’s ‘Be Connected’ initiative, which aims to keep students connected during the ongoing health crisis.

“Our philosophy at the University of Stirling is to ‘make it hap-

eSports: False Dawn or New Hope?

Dylan Inglis

WHILST the Coronavirus pandemic has caused monumental damage to many industries across the world, there’s been one with contrasting fortunes. Gaming.

2020 so far has seen what was already considered to be a rapidly growing market reach extraordinary new levels.

Taking a dive into streaming service Twitch’s viewer statistics shows this, with their average viewership doubling in just six months to just over 2.25 million watchers using the app at any given time. This has the potential to reach three times that figure when one of their big names are live.

People are tuning in across the word to watch entertainers broadcast their favourite games in mas-

sive numbers, with big companies such as Facebook trying to cash in.

With the gaming market on the up you would expect eSports to follow the same path, but it’s not quite that simple.

Josh Hamilton from the University of Stirling’s Video Games Society said: “The current situation throughout the world will most likely increase the demand and interest in esports but people prefer watching and those playing prefer it in person.”

Competitive gaming events have seen tens of thousands of fans pack into arenas, but Josh said events, such as the League of legends World Championship in Shanghai, which was set to welcome over 56,000 spectators, are currently not feasible and won’t be until the end of the year.

He added: “The eSports following can be very fragile, popularity can spike because of a game or because they have nothing to do, but as soon as it returns to normal it’s a flip of a coin If they stay or not.”

As well as this, eSports aren’t just as simple as connecting one highly skilled player to another.

There is a desire for fans are players to be connected in person.

This is where it draws the parallel to other types of sport, players love playing in front of passionate crowds, whilst fans relish taking in the experience. Without this opportunity the industry isn’t the same.

Outside the competitive scene though, gaming has additionally served as a distraction to help people escape from the uncertain times.

Chris Hayes, another member of

the University’s Video Game Society, said: “I think having any form of distraction be it eSports or the football starting back all have been super helpful.

“For me since I work at a supermarket heading home after work and playing some games with friends and speaking on discord super helped me feel like I was keeping up with my friends if I have not been seeing them in person.”

Whether you play your games competitively or just jump on for a few rounds of Monopoly or Uno, continuing to have a platform like gaming and now eSports to socialise with your mates is a huge aid to people’s mental health at such a challenging time.

29

pen’ and never before has sport or physical activity been more important in our daily lives,” comments Cathy Gallagher, University of Stirling’s Executive Director of Sport.

When asked about the Sport team’s contribution, Gallagher says: “the engagement levels in our wide range of classes are a wellearned reflection of the effort, expertise and commitment that have gone into the creation of the new service.”

She admits that even though “the situation in the sport, health and wellbeing arena is always evolving and, although there are obvious challenges just now, there are also opportunities to diversify, enhance our services and maximise our impact on the student experience and the health and wellbeing of the University community.

At the UK Sports University of the Year 2020, we are embracing this opportunity.”

The all-popular sessions can be joined live, or if you’re late to the party you can access all previous sessions from stir.ac.uk/beconnected.

Join Brig as a Sports Reporter Scotland’s sporting university needs sport news.

Have fun and get great experience.

Email

sport@brignews.com

for more details

Sport Brig

Fish out of water!

How Waterpolo kept their heads above water during lockdown.

Full Report Pg. 26 University of Nottingham

Cricket pays tribute to fallen teammate Petra Kotkova Sports Editor

BUCS season primed for January 2021 start Charlie Harris Sports Editor

The 2020-21 BUCS season is set to start in January 2021, as Stirling University’s sports clubs begin preparation for a return to competition next year.

The season start had been pushed back due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which prematurely ended the previous season.

BUCS concluded its leagues by awarding titles, promotions and relegations based on current positions. However, the overall BUCS points table was voided.

BUCS’ upcoming season has been described as a ‘bridging season’, with no promotions or

relegations occurring. This is to maintain a level of stability for teams after the abrupt ending of last season.

The size of leagues and the possible inclusion of knockout cup competitions is also still under review.

It is also not yet known which sports will be able to restart, and when it will be safe to do so.

However, BUCS aim to host a successful season when they are given to go-ahead.

A spokesperson for BUCS said: “We are working hard at the moment to ensure that the best possible BUCS season does still go ahead in the current circumstances.

“We appreciate how difficult this situation is for our members and thank you for your patience and understanding in working with us to take the safest course of action for you”.

Sports teams at Stirling will be hoping to begin preparation for the new season and the university has announced that there will be some aspect of physical activity when students return in September.

Despite this it is not yet known how this will impact individual clubs and preparation will undoubtedly be affected in the run up to the start of competition.

Sports President Edd Keeler said:

“At this time it will be difficult to say exactly what we will be able to do, as we will be strictly following government guidelines.

“Student safety and well-being will have to be at the centre of any decision-making process”.

He added: “Clubs will be prepared to restart. Sport is in our DNA at Stirling and I look forward to when we can return to competition.

Whilst this season will undoubtedly be challenging for sporting universities across the UK, there is a real hope that this bridging season will give clubs a solid base to showcase their talents before the 2021-22 season.

It is with a great sadness for us to inform you of a tragic death of our fellow student Prajwal (PJ) Guhagarkar.

As a member of a Cricket team, Prajawal was one of us and we wish to pay our tribute to him.

In these sad times, Brig’s Sports team would like to express our deepest sympathy to Prajawal’s family, friends, teammates and anyone else who had the honour to know him.

As his fellow teammates described him, Prajwal “was always very polite and amicable. He was an unassuming, funny, kind guy.

He was always up for a social and had a cheeky infectious smile which would often brighten a room.

He gave his all at every cricket practice and would always run in hard, his whippy action often hurrying the batsman with low bounce.

He would always be willing to put himself forward to play and was always there to lend a helping hand. Truly the sort of guy you want around your club.

We as a club would like to offer our heartfelt condolences to all of PJ’s family and friends and he will forever be missed by all members of Stirling University Cricket Club.”

Please remember to be always kind to yourself and