Brig Newspaper Vol.56 Issue 1

MARCH FOR WOMEN’S SAFETY IN STIRLING

Reclaim the Night rally to take place ahead of dark winter nights and increased risk of violence

By Alice Pollard Braw Co-Editor

A Reclaim The Night march will take place on Monday September 29, gathering at the Stirling Castle Esplanade at 19:00pm. The march, organised by the University of Stirling Students’ Union, Forth Valley Rape Crisis Centre, and Stirling & Districts Women’s Aid, focusses on the safety of women and marginalised genders in public

spaces at night.

Reclaim The Night represents a global movement to empower marginalised genders to stand up for their right to safe spaces after dark. As the evenings draw in, threats hidden in the darkness become a violent reality to women across the world.

In 2021 - 2022, Scotland witnessed 2,498 crimes of rape and attempted rape recorded by Police Scotland, and 5,359 crimes

of sexual assault recorded by Police Scotland. Across the UK, one in four female students have reported unwanted sexual behaviour whilst studying at university. These statistics only represent the cases which have been brought forward - 5 in 6 women who are raped don’t report.

48 years on from the Reclaim The Night’s birth in 1977, Reclaim The Night marches continue to send a vital message about women’s

safety at night.

Brig spoke to Stirling Students’ Union about the importance of Reclaim The Night, and the motivation behind organising the march.

Ellie Hammond, VP Communities, said: “Reclaim the Night represents a predominant issue that impacts everybody in our community. If you think gender-based violence and misogyny..."

FULL STORY ON PAGE 4

EDITORIAL

By Alex Paterson Editor-in-Chief

WELCOME to Brig's first print edition of the 2025/26 academic year and my first as Editor-in-Chief.

I''ve spent the first three years of my degree in various different committee positions for Brig . As I enter my fourth and final year, I'm both grateful and thrilled to be leading the charge of student journalism on the Stirling University campus.

Already, Brig has delivered phenomonal content this year. Online, we published dozens of Fringe reviews, several local interviews and some seasonal tidbits, alongside the usual news and sports articles.

Of course, our writers still enjoyed the summer holidays, using the break to rest ahead of this Welcome Week print edition.

As you can tell, they're thoroughly rejuvinated and have written a paper full of gripping and intriguing stories.

Some of them carry some importance politically amd others are fun, informative pieces. Either way, each artcile in this edition of Brig has evoked profound pride in me that I know, or hope, my team senses.

Just in case, I thanked them all profusely for all their (succesful) efforts.

I'm especially grateful for Connor, my Deputy, for helping me through the many tribulations we faced with this print edition. Surely, it'll get easier from here? Hopefully so. If not, I know we can face it together.

Standing together as a united front is irrefutably important in present times. With far-right sentiment on the rise on Scottish soil, human rights being tarnished across the globe, and an online culture that is becoming more grotesque with each click, supporting your friends, loved ones and neighbours has never been more important. With this issue of Brig , I hope to bring a little light, camaraderie, and celebration into the world. Or at least you'll have something to wrap your fish supper in. Still helpful, in the end.

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Scottish-Born Artist Debuts Artwork in Home

Country For First Time at University of Stirling

By Amelia Fryer News Editor

A painting by Alison Watt, an award-winning artist, is to be displayed in the country for the first time at the University of Stirling.

Le Bouc will form part of the University of Stirling Collection’s Art & Science exhibition series, as well as marking the bicentenary of the Royal Scottish Academy (RSA).

The painting was fully funded for the University’s Collection by The National Fund for Acquisitions, David Armstrong and The Art Fund, is from a recent body of work completed after a period of special access by Alison to the Archive of internationally renowned 18th century Scottish portrait artist Allan Ramsay, which is held in the National Galleries of Scotland.

Alison was born in Greenock and has been taking various objects that feature in Ramsay’s portraits and drawings to produce a series of single objects which are neither portraits or still life’s. Le Bouc depicts a goat’s skull and is inspired by Ramsay’s ‘Sketch of a goat’ in black chalk.

Alison’s artwork will be on display from Monday September 8 in Pathfoot Gallery One at the University of Stirling. The university itself has a strong connection to Ramsay as Airthrey Castle (located on campus near the golf course, on the way to Alexander Court accommodation) was designed by Robert Adam, who was part of Ramsay’s circle.

The RSA is marking its bicentenary in 2026 with exhibitions featuring more than 100 partners, galleries and institutions across

This Freshers week, September 15 to 19, there are a number of free to attend on-campus events. New and returning students are welcome to check out what the university has to offer.

Monday (15) is the Welcome Freebie Fayre from 9am, where you will get the opportunity to check out a range of national and local organisations. From 10am to 5pm, on both September 15 and 16, have a look at the Poster Sale in Campus Central, with a range of distinctive styles and sizes, there’s something for everyone.

you best. Be sure to check out Brig’s stall! Also, from 11am to 12pm be sure to meet the Students' Union Sabbatical Officers in the Venue.

Wednesday (17) is the Sports Bazaar from 10am to 4pm. Head to the Sports Center and chat with a range of different sports teams and clubs. If you enjoy nature, be sure to meet outside the Green and Blue space at 1:30pm and learn about how to get involved with the community garden on campus.

Scotland and beyond. As well as Alison’s work arriving in Stirling, the RSA has loaned Species (Coelacanth) II, a print by Stuart MacKenzie RSA, to the University as part of its exploration of Art & Science.

Stirling’s year of Art and Science themed displays will look to explore the relationships between art and science and the community of practice shared by leaders in these areas.

Sarah Bromage, Head of Collections at the University of Stirling, said: “We are delighted to be able to bring this exquisite and important work to the Stirling area, and we hope that students, staff and the public will enjoy its quiet beauty as part of our exhibitions this year. Exhibiting a work by Alison Watt throughout 2025-26 will also form part of our contribution to the RSA 200: Celebrating Together programme, which will champion Scottish art and architecture throughout 2026.”

Sandy Wood, Head of Collections at the RSA, said: “For 2026 we’re opening up our Collections to organisations across Scotland and beyond, and we’re delighted that the first loan to go out as part of our bicentenary celebrations is to the University of Stirling, continuing the strong links between the two institutions.”

The Pathfoot building is open to the public Monday to Friday, 9am5pm, and there will be a special public tour of the exhibition series on Saturday September 27 as part of Doors Open Day.

On Tuesday (16) there will be a Plant Sale at Queens Court from 2pm to 7pm and the Societies Fayre from 12pm to 4pm in the atrium, the perfect chance to chat to different societies to find which ones fit

On Thursday (18) the Vintage Fayre comes back to campus, offering a variety of pre-loved vintage clothing, which is a great chance to get some good quality clothing for cheap whilst staying sustainable. Throughout the week there will be a variety of themed sabbatical campus tours which are free but require online booking beforehand which you can access via the union website.

Stirling Cocktail Week Returns For Third Year

By Isla Barker Lifestyle Editor

Every year from September 26 to October 5, bars across Stirling take part in Stirling Cocktail Week.

Over these ten days you can enjoy classic cocktails starting from £5 as well as discounts on other drinks and food within participating venues.

Some of the bars that are involved are; Lux Country Bar and Grill, Meraki, Fubar, Slanj A Va, The Bawbee Bar, Friend of Mine and The Crook Bar and Bistro.

Classic cocktails include martinis, cosmopolitans and old fashioned’s, and different venues will have their own original cocktails to try. How it works

To take part you must preorder a wrist band, which grants you unlimited use over the ten-day period. You can collect a wristband on behalf of someone else. These can be purchased via the Stirling Cocktail Week website.

Then you collect your wristband from the collection point. This changes every year, and the 2025 collection venue has yet to be announced so stay up to date with social media and the website to find out.

When you are out for a drink you should show your wristband to the bartender when ordering and again when paying the bill. Refunds for wristbands are not available.

By Plum McKechnie News Editor

Welcome Week banner 2025. Image Credit: Stirlings Student Union

Le Bouc. Image Credit: Alison Watt

Three cocktails on a table. Image Credit: Stirling Cocktail Week

PLEA FOR ORGAN AND TISSUE DONORS COMES TO STIRLING CAMPUS

By Alex Paterson Editor-in-Chief

Doctor David Fowler tells how the treatment resorted his quality of life.

NHS Forth Valley is coming to the Stirling University campus hoping to raise awareness of tissue and organ donation.

The cause has its own week, beginning September 23, when the NHS shines a light on the importance of being a tissue or organ donor.

NHS Forth Valley will be on campus to speak with students during the Welcome Week events on September 22.

The team are hoping to enlighten students about the lifesaving treatment that thousands of patients are still waiting for.

Dr David Fowler, from Bonnybridge, received the treatment from the NHS— which transformed his life.

After receiving a cornea transplant, the avid chess player, reader and traveller was able to return his ordinary life.

Dr Fowler said: “Without the transplants, my life would be considerably impoverished.”

Dr Fowler, who has a degree in French, worried losing his sight would snatch his joy for life. Luckily, they found a candidate who was able to provide him with the donation he needed.

Now, he gets to enjoy his life as he wishes: visiting theatres, cinemas, galleries and historic sites.

He continued: “Earlier this year, we went to Milan to see Da Vinci’s Last Supper, and then on to Verona to see the Roman arena and Juliet’s balcony.”

Dr Fowler then discussed the more ordinary parts of life he would be restricted from, including driving, had he not had the surgery. He added: “Without these grafts, my quality of life would be considerably diminished.”

Despite the cornea donation transforming his life, Dr Fowler understands that eye-related donations can make people feel uncomfortable.

He said: “Strangely, my family seems squeamish about eye donation.

“They're quite happy to donate their internal organs, but not the eyes.

“Even stranger, there is no tradition of open casket funerals in our

Stirling Pride Releases 2025 Event Programme

By Elliot Johnston Head of Podcasting

Stirling Pride have unveiled the program for this year's event on Saturday, September 20, with a Pride March kicking off the festivities.

The march is scheduled to set-off from King’s Park at 11:30am and follow a short route ending at the King Street Main Stage.

The event has put a major focus on accessibility this year with every event in the program labeled with accessibility logos detailed at the beginning of the program.

Main stage performances will run from 12:30pm, with the final performance set to begin at 4pm.

The event has added a second stage this year inside the Albert Halls which will house performances from 12pm until 5pm.

The Albert Halls will also house a Pride Market with over local 40 vendors in attendance.

The charity LGBT Youth Scotland will be hosting a Pride Pit Stop at Creative Stirling from 12pm to 4pm. The Pit Stop is for young people aged 13 to 25 with activities based around community building, selfcare, and support for LGBTQ+ youth.

Numerous other events will take place on the day at various venues including The Tolbooth, The Stirling Smith Art Gallery, Hotel Colessio and Fubar (which is

families, and quite a few of them would choose cremation despite my advocacy of cornea donation.

‘If you’re going to be cremated, it seems an awful shame to burn the corneas when someone might go blind waiting for a donor.”

He concluded: “If relatives are offered the opportunity to override the wishes of a loved one, I would urge them to respect the wishes of

hosting a Ceilidh).

Beyond the main event day, there are a few additional events running across the weekend.

On Friday, September 19 there will be a ticketed tour of Stirling Castle with a special focus on LGBTQ+ stories and folklore, and on Sunday evening there will be a Pride Service at 6:30pm in the Church of The Holy Rude which is open to all.

A pride photography exhibition will also be running in the Thistles Centre across the entire weekend. More information, including the full program and accessibility details, can be found on Stirling Pride’s website.

the deceased.”

Currently, those over 16 in Scotland are automatically registered to be organ donors, unless they choose to opt out.

You can change your donation preferences using the Organ Donor Register.

You can find out more online at www.organdonstion.scot or call 0300 123 2323.

Right-Wing Political Commentator Shot Dead on Utah Valley campus

By Connor Peebles Deputy Editor

Right-wing political speaker Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at Utah Valley University on Wednesday September 10.

The shooting took place during an event organised by Kirk’s non-profit organisation Turning Point USA (TPUSA).

The 31 year old was shot shortly after he argued with a student about the link between transgender people and mass shootings. Police have described Kirk’s death as a "targeted attack” and they are

currently looking for the shooter. His goal with TPUSA was to bring conservative education to the youth of America, and he spent 2024 working alongside Trump to reach young voters.

Known for his political debates with students and unwavering support of the Republican party, Kirk was a devoted supporter and trusted ally to President Donald Trump. Trump announced Kirk’s death by stating, “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie.”

OF SOCIAL SCIENCES RETURNS

By Plum McKechnie News Editor

The Festival of Social Sciences, organised by the University of Stirling, returns with the theme Our Working Lives.

The festival will run from October 18 to November 8, online and in-person across Stirling, Alloa and Glasgow. The festival features seven free public events this year, aiming to share social science with local communities.

The keynote event will take place on November 5 on the University of Stirling campus. This event will be hosted by the organiser, Dr Tom Montgomery, and is titled “Can Digital Workers Switch Off?” This is based on the right to switch off, which originally was included in the Employment Rights Bill, expected to be implemented in 2026, though now is likely to be its own statutory Code of Practice.

As working from home has become an essential part of the work life in recent years, Dr Montgomery stated “This event will be a forum to generate a new wave of debate on the right to switch off, which would allow employees to decline correspondence from their employer sent during personal time, except in exceptional circumstances.”

This will be the third time the University of Stirling has organised the Festival of Social Sciences, with its well-thought-out programme being supported by the Stirling Social Science Impact Acceleration Account (IAA). IAA promotes Stirling University’s collaborations with partners and communities.

A member of the team organising the festival, Dr Hannah Graham of the University of Stirling said, “This year’s calendar of events is innovative, interactive and exploratory, with a theme – our working lives – which we know resonates with everyone. Following on from last year’s huge success, we look forward to another exciting programme that encourages thinking, learning, debate and fun.”

This festival is possible due to funding by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and is part of the UK-Wide ESRC Festival of Social Science 2025.

Dr David Fowler smiling. Image Credit: NHS Scotland

Charlie Kirk Smiling. Image Credit: Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia

Front page of Stirling Pride Programme. Image Credit: Stirling Pride

Poster for ESRC. Image Credit: University of Stirling

STUDENTS' UNION AUTUMN ELECTION NOW OPEN FOR NOMINATIONS

By Plum McKechnie News Editor

Nominations for 11 roles in the Students Union are now open. The nomination period runs until 12pm October 3, and all the roles are voluntary and part-time.

Some roles include the International Volunteer Officer, who is responsible for organising campaigns and identifying concerns regarding international students. As well as Equalities Volunteer officers for women and lgbtq+ people who are vital to organisiing events to raise awareness

for equality as well as work with external organisations and charities to host events and campaigns.

These roles are crucial to keeping the Students Union running and ensuring that students are listened to and advocated for.

Any student is able to nominate themselves through the Union website. If you want to recommend a friend for a role, you can do this through the Union website as well, and they will contact you further with further information.

Voting will run from 10am October 16 until 2pm October 17. Find out more on their website at stirlingstudentsunion.com.

MARCHING

FOR WOMEN'S SAFETY: RECLAIM THE NIGHT MARCH TO TAKE PLACE IN STIRLING

By Alice Pollard Braw Co- Editor

A Reclaim The Night march will take place on Monday September 29, gathering at the Stirling Castle Esplanade at 19:00pm. The march, organised by the University of Stirling Students’ Union, Forth Valley Rape Crisis Centre, and Stirling & Districts Women’s Aid, focusses on the safety of women and marginalised genders in public spaces at night.

Reclaim The Night represents a global movement to empower marginalised genders to stand up for their right to safe spaces after dark. As the evenings draw in, threats hidden in the darkness become a violent reality to women across the world.

In 2021 - 2022, Scotland witnessed 2,498 crimes of rape and attempted rape recorded by Police Scotland, and 5,359 crimes of sexual assault recorded by Police Scotland. Across the UK, one in four female students have reported unwanted sexual behaviour whilst studying at university. These statistics only represent the cases which have been brought forward - 5 in 6 women who are raped don’t report.

48 years on from the Reclaim The Night’s birth in 1977, Reclaim The Night marches continue to send a vital message about women’s safety at night.

Brig spoke to Stirling Students’ Union about the importance of Reclaim The Night, and the motivation behind organising the march.

Ellie Hammond, VP Communities, said:

Stirling Students and Locals Bored of Bad Clubbing

By Alex Paterson Editor-in-Chief

A city with over 8,000 students and thousands more locals, Stirling is a city that offers a very restricted clubbing experience in comparison to other urban university areas.

The city hosts only one one club and occasional club nights in function spaces- and Brig’s research has found the people are pleading for more evening excitement.

The exclusive Brig research found over 60 per cent of students and locals surveyed that Stirling’s clubbing experience left little to admired in comparison to other major Scottish cities.

When asked if they ever enjoy clubbing in Stirling, nearly 60 per cent said they only sometimes or rarely enjoying clubbing in the little historic city.

One respondent said: “It’s the

same night every time, and it gets old.

“Same music, same people. It can be a nice familiarity but it is boring.

“It’s just the same night out constantly… clubbing in Stirling is like Groundhog Day.”

Variation used to exist within Stirling’s nightlife. A second nightclub, Dusk, was open prior to the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown. Savoured for it’s Skint Tuesday deals, Dusk offered an alternative to Fubar, the rival club which now holds the title of Stirling’s singular nightclub.

However, most respondents arrived in Stirling or came of-age after the death of Dusk and consequently have not experience a dual-club Stirling.

What Stirling can boast about post Covid-19 is an increase in oneoff club events in venues.

Settle Out, Stirling’s queer club night, claimed the last Friday of

every month in Spring 2025 to the very apparent joy of Stirling locals who crammed the venue to capacity each event.

Co-founder and University of Stirling student, Robbie McAvenue, revived the project with his partner, Sam Gibb. He said things like Settle Out are needed to give Stirling’s residents a boost.

He said: “It’s nice… I felt like there was nothing or nowhere for someone like me to go.

“Settle Out is something fun, different. It’s a different option for people bored or unhappy with the norm.”

After a summer hiatus, the pair are planning to launch a brand new event this semester.

They advise other keen clubbers to follow their footsteps.

Hopefully the cry for more clubbing opportunities will not fall on deaf ears.

“Reclaim the Night represents a predominant issue that impacts everybody in our community. If you think gender-based violence and misogyny doesn’t affect you; it does.”

“The importance of this event within the community holds with it a powerful social purpose. It embodies a challenge to the idea that safety should be earned, or that women (or other marginalised genders) should avoid going out at night or modify their behaviour to stay safe.”

We asked about Ellie’s motivation to organise a Reclaim the Night march in Stirling. She said: “I believe that our students, and other members of our incredible Stirling community, deserve to feel safe both on our campus and in the city centre”.

“I was motivated to organise this Reclaim the Night march by the aim of creating a safe space for expression, by allowing people to share their stories, express anger, grief, or hope and come together in a safe, supportive environment. To not only raise awareness of the prevalence of sexual assault, harassment, and violence, particularly against women and marginalised genders, but to show our community that there is support available.”

“I hope this event will empower the community by providing a visible show of solidarity and help survivors to feel supported and less alone. I also hope the event will give people, especially women and other marginalised genders a sense of ownership over public spaces where they might otherwise feel unsafe.”

A nighttime landscape. Image Credit: Alice Pollard

Autumn Elections promo poster. Image Credit: Stirling Student Union

People dancing in Fubar. Image Credit: Alex Paterson

STIRLING'S NEW INFRARED SAUNA PROMISES

TO DE-

STRESS AND SOOTH TIRED BODIES

By Alex Paterson Editor-in-Chief

Stirling’s newest therapeutic treatment has opened its doors to students, athletes, and anyone in need of some deep body relaxation.

Solāis Wellness, based in Springkerse Sporting Village, uses infrared heat therapy to treat muscle and joint aches as well as enhancing skin tone and circulation.

The treatment also supports hormone balance, reduces stress, and improves sleep.

The facility, located within MXP Fitness, offers private one person-one pod services lasting 30 minutes.

Infrared therapy has been gaining traction within the Los Angeles and London wellness scene.

Chasing the trend, the Solāis Wellness founder and Stirling local Siobhan Balie decided central Scotland deserved its own

state-of-the-art sauna.

Balie said: “Until now, there was nowhere in Stirling to use an infrared sauna without travelling to Glasgow or Edinburgh or booking a full spa day.”

“I wanted a studio focused solely on infrared therapy so people could access the benefits without carving out hours or buying extras they don’t need.”

“Our pod is single-occupancy and private, so you can pop in, switch off and fit recovery into your schedule in around 30 minutes.”

Open seven days a week with several late night time slots, the sauna hopes to be flexible to various gym and work schedules.

A membership option is also available to get more sessions for less money.

For new users, Solāis Wellness is offering a 20 per cen discount to customers for their first visit with

Celebrated Member of Cowie Nursery Reaches Four Decades of Service

By Amelia Fryer News Editor

Cowie Nursery recently celebrated forty years of hard work and dedication from a long-serving member of their early childhood education team.

Gillian Tierney started working at the nursery on August 19 four decades ago and has guided and taught generations of local children through early years learning.

As she reached this milestone, Gillian has gone on to care for the great-grandchildren of children who she has cared for, nurtured and supported once before.

Vicki Porter, Acting Head of Cowie Nursery said: “Today, we celebrate a wonderful person who

has achieved 40 years of service to this community. Gillian Tierney is a loved and recognised pillar of our nursery, an asset to the children and families and a wonderful individual who has dedicated her life’s work to working in Cowie Nursery.

“Congratulations and thanks to Gill for all her work and devotion to Cowie Nursery, we are truly blessed to have you.”

Social Work and Education Convener, Cllr Danny Gibson said: “Gillian has been an integral part of Cowie Nursery over the years.

The level of affection shown by her colleagues and the local community in Cowie is testament to the regard she is held in as a beloved figure within Cowie. Congratulations and thank you for your efforts over the last four decades.”

the code SOLAIS20.

Customers can book a session online through the link in their Instagram, @solais.wellness .

Further contact details can also be found on their Instagram.

Stirling Photography Festival Announces New Exhibition

By Jess Urquhart Secretary

The Stirling Photography Festival has announced a new exhibition series in rural Stirling, exploring the theme: “Beyond”. Running September 6 to October 11 at the Weigh Ahead Gallery in Dunblane, the exhibition showcases the work of festival volunteers and local photographers, including University of Stirling graduate Charles McGuigan.

He said: “I’m a landscape photographer drawn to quiet, atmospheric places and the way light and reflections can completely change how we see a scene. I recently graduated from the University of Stirling with a First-Class Honours Degree in Photography, and this exhibition marks the start of my journey beyond university.

My work focuses on natural environments and aims to capture a sense of stillness and mood. I’m always exploring new ways to tell stories through images and I’m excited to share this selection of work.”

Lesley O’Hare, Curator of the Weigh Ahead Gallery, said: “Weigh Ahead Gallery is delighted to be connecting, for the first time, with Stirling Photography Festival and to be supporting the area’s vibrant photographic community.

The Gallery, overlooking the Cathedral, aims to be a meeting place, connecting emerging and established artists and what better way is there of doing this than finding like-minded partners!”

Other exhibitions include work from Tom Astbury’s “dùtchas” project, which explores the landscapes that inspired Gaelic poet Duncan bàn Macintyre. This will be shown

in Doune Library from August 21 until September 18.

Forth Valley Welcome will show new Scots photography at Dunblane Library, in a collection called “A New Home”. The exhibition, running from August 28 to September 30, reflects on the experiences of displaced artists, now resettling in Scotland.

Elizabeth Fairgrieve of Forth Valley Welcome says of this exhibition: “A New Home exhibits images from New Scots and Ukrainians who have come to Scotland in hope of securing peace for their families. It highlights the struggles and the

hopes associated with coming to a new place and eventually, calling it home.”

From September 19 to October 4, Kelvin College Glasgow graduate Shan Simmons, will show his first solo exhibition at Mugdock Country Park, Campsie Gallery. Simmons said: “The work explores the themes of loss, grief, and ultimately healing through creativity and deep connection with outdoor spaces.”

A full programme and booking details for The Stirling Photography Festival can be found at stirlingphotographyfestival.co.uk/2025

Man in infrared sauna. Image Credit: Siobhan Balie

Gillian Tierney Smiling. image Credit: Stirling Council

Therapy Waiting Area. Image Credits: Siobhan Baille

Bird in sky. Image Credit: Anno Dominos

“A murderous apartheid regime committing a genocide”

A Conversation with Brian Leishman, the Independent MP for Alloa and Grangemouth on Gaza, Grangemouth, and his Labour suspension.

By Edward Jewsbury Politics Editor

Brig sat down with Brian Leishman, the Independent MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, to discuss his suspension from Labour, his thoughts on government policy from Gaza to Grangemouth, and what he would like to see from Labour going forward.

In mid-July, Leishman was among four MPs who were suspended from the Labour party for repeated breaches of party discipline.

When asked about his suspension, Leishman told Brig that while he was waiting to speak in debates on welfare and taxation, he received an email from the Chief Whip asking him to attend a meeting the next day.

“So 12:45, after PMQs, [I went] straight outside the Chief [whip]’s office, got called in… I was out by one o’clock, that was it”, Leishman said.

He said that it was a “temporary suspension of the whip pending [an] investigation” into how many times he’d voted against the government, alongside his comments in the mainstream media and on social media.

Leishman told Brig that his criticisms only came on policies not included in Labour’s 2024 manifesto, such as the cuts to international aid.

When he asked the Chief Whip for a timeline of this investigation, he said he was told it wouldn’t conclude this side of the Labour Conference, which ends on October 1. While he described his suspension as a shock, he stressed that “day-to-day, nothing’s changed”, and that he remains committed to representing his constituents.

On the new ‘Your Party’ and its appeal to him as a left-leaning MP, Leishman started by complimenting the founders’ performance as parliamentarians, pointing to Jeremy Corbyn’s help with navigating the “nuances” of Westminster and Zarah Sultana’s presence on picket lines and demonstrations.

While he wished them well, he said that he felt Labour was the most likely vehicle for delivering social improvement, due to the level of infrastructure it has behind it as an established party with party mechanisms, a core voting block, and local groups.

He recognised that while he is at odds with the current leadership, he wishes to remain a Labour member, have the whip restored, and shape the party into one more tolerant of internal debate.

On Gaza, Leishman told Brig that the situation is “a murderous apartheid regime committing a genocide” and he’d like to see an independent public inquiry with legal powers to establish what role the UK has played.

When asked if he’d support

international trials if such an inquiry found government ministers complicit in breaches of international law, Leishman said that as signatories to the International Criminal Court (ICC), the UK should be honest and transparent about its role in Gaza, and “from there follow international law”.

On steps that he would like to see the UK take, Leishman listed the unconditional recognition of a Palestinian state, a suspension of all military cooperation and arms sales with Israel. He also backed international arrest warrants for members of the Israeli government, the enactment of military, diplomatic, and trade sanctions on Israel, and the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador to the UK.

Speaking more broadly on foreign policy, Leishman said that it should be “written in Britain, by Britain, and not from Washington DC”, which he felt has been the case for many decades.

Meanwhile, on Donald Trump, he recognised the importance of dealing with him as US President but stressed that the UK’s international and domestic interests should take priority, adding that “we’ve all seen school playground bullies, and you’ve got to stand up to them”.

On the recent closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery, which caused the direct loss of over 400 jobs, Leishman criticised the lack of action by both the Scottish and UK Governments and, although he

considered it to be a problem that Labour inherited, he insisted that they could do more, faster.

For instance, the Labour Government committed to invest £200 million from the National Wealth Fund into the Grangemouth site in February, but unions, workers, and Leishman say the money is yet to arrive.

He continued, saying that the Grangemouth refinery should have been taken over similarly to British Steel’s Scunthorpe plant, although stressed that full nationalisation should be the goal, as he felt that continuing to allow private capital and foreign governments to run key infrastructure would be a mistake.

On coming elections, Leishman predicted that in 2026, as seen in the Hamilton by-election, threeway shootouts with tight majorities between the Labour, SNP, and Reform UK will become more common.

Focusing particularly on the rise of Reform UK, he pointed to the “failure of the political class over the last… 40 years” and suggested that Reform have capitalised on the public’s desire for change.

“The rhetoric from Reform… is terrifying, and as a Labour MP, that is something that keeps me awake at night… that if we do not do a good enough job in government… what comes next is terrifying,” Leishman told Brig

He also added that since the

“If we do not do a good enough job in government… what comes next is terrifying”

Conservatives are in “complete disarray”, he wouldn’t rule outsome sort of Conservative-Reform “amalgamation” in the coming years.

He said that going forward, he’d like to see Labour make genuine improvements to people’s lives through policies rooted in Labour values. He suggested this should be through widespread investments in public services – from healthcare, education, housing, and more. To fund this, and offset the effects of austerity, the pandemic, and the cost-of-living crisis, he pointed to an annual two per cent wealth tax on people with assets worth over £10 million and the equalisation of capital gains tax with income tax. On whether Labour had made people richer or poorer over their first year, he pointed to the Employment Rights Bill and minimum wage increase as policies that had improved people’s lives.

However, he also called the increase to employer national insurance contributions “flawed” and pointed to Ofgem’s two per cent increase of the energy price cap as something that requires government intervention, saying it will offset the increase in the national minimum wage.

Brig reached out to Labour for comment and has not yet received a response.

Read the full interview online at brignews.com.

Cut-out of Brian Leishman. Image Credit: House of Commons/Laurie Noble.

DID THEY DO IT? STIRLING AND STRATHALLAN'S LOCAL MP 2025

Labour MP Chris Kane One Year After Election

By

Back in July 2024, after having served on Stirling Council since 2017, Chris Kane was elected as Stirling and Strathallan MP for Labour. His promises for Stirling, and change as a local MP, included:

•“Make work pay, with a New Deal for Working People that will deliver wages that people can actually live on.

•“Set up GB Energy, a publicly-owned clean power company, headquartered in Scotland, to cut bills for good and create jobs.

•“Cut NHS waiting times by investing in our NHS and funding more appointments in Scotland.”

After over a year in the post, how do these promises stand now?

Obviously, as an individual MP, Kane cannot be expected to create an energy company or change the NHS alone, and neither should one individual be expected to. But regardless, this is what constituents were promised. So, how are these coming along?

On the promise to “make work pay”, the “New Deal for Working People” came in the form of the Employment Rights Bill, the most recent reading on which Kane voted in favour of. The previous two readings on this however, he was absent. The bill still has not come into effect, as it currently sits at it’s third reading in the House of Lords. The bill includes changes such as repealing the Minimum Services Act of 2023, which effectively made impactful strikes illegal and allowed workplaces to sue trade unions and fire employees who took part in strike action. Additionally, the bill will require employers to justify refusing flexible hours to their employees and remove the 2-year qualifying period for unfair dismissal (so if you’ve worked somewhere for less than two years, you’re still protected from unfair dismissal, as long as you’ve passed your probation period). The second reading and reasoned amendment to the second reading both happened on the 21st of October last year and were missed by Kane, but

despite this, he still voted the bill through more recently, and it waits to be implemented. All clear.

Great British Energy (or, GB Energy) is officially a company now, having been passed into law in May, a bill that Kane voted in support of. Headquarters are to be set up in Aberdeen, as established in September of last year. The organisation claims that 7,000 British businesses will have their electricity bills cut by up to 25 per cent from 2027. Generally, they won’t be making major changes to energy bills anytime soon, but developments may occur by the next time Brig prints.

NHS waiting times are where we have to get critical. According to NHS Forth Valley’s performance report, nearly 84 per cent of eligible patients for cancer treatment were waiting less than 62 days between urgent suspicion of cancer referral and their first cancer treatment when Kane was first elected as MP. The target is 95 per cent, and the most recent report (due to be updated at the end of this month),

shows that this number dropped to 63.4 per cent, the lowest in a year, in April. Waiting times for outpatient appointments performed better, with 68.6 per cent of outpatients waiting less than 12 weeks for an appointment at a consultant-led clinic last July. This jumped to 75.2 percent in April but still falls short of the target of 95 per cent. In terms of additional funding for the NHS, Labour gave Scotland £47.7 billion as a budget, for 2025/26, which was an additional £1.5 billion from the last. Former Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray MP said on this: “That money must reach frontline services, to bring down NHS waiting lists and lift attainment in our schools.” With that, the Scottish Government has invested an extra £2 billion in NHS Scotland since. So, the additional funding is here, but it’s not hit the waiting lists just yet. Overall, Kane has stood by the decision-making elements of these three promises, but Stirling, as well as Scotland in general, are not reaping the rewards of them just quite yet.

Brig reached out to Chris Kane. He responded: “Labour has only been in government for just over a year, but already we are delivering on the promises we made.

"From establishing Great British Energy here in Scotland to backing the Employment Rights Bill that strengthens protections for workers, we are putting in place the building blocks of a fairer, greener economy that works for everyone.

"I am proud to be a part of these changes.

"Great British Energy will be a game-changer, creating jobs, cutting bills and building a secure, clean energy network owned by the public and run for the public.

"For too long, families and businesses have been at the mercy of rising bills and insecure supply. With GB Energy, Labour is laying the foundations for long-term energy security and a greener, fairer future.

"On the NHS, Labour in government has committed record additional funding..."

Read the full article and statement from Kane at brignews.com

Jess Urquhart Secretary

Stirling King Street. Image Credit Brig Newspaper Cut-out of Chris Kane. Image Credit: House of Commons/Laurie Noble

THE ART OF DINNER PARTIES

Breathing Community into Student Life

By Alice Pollard BRAW Co-Editor

Now, I’m not suggesting that all student accommodation is akin to a hovel…but sometimes, it can be a little bit questionable. Dark corners, black mould, and grubby floors are commonplace in student life - and that’s all part of the package. But sometimes, just sometimes, even us students crave something more.

We crave community, a word that is rapidly losing meaning in modern life. Digital devices overcome the need to communicate in person, conversation becomes taxing as it invades our lives even from our beds, and people forget that community is what drives our society.

It is so easy to become isolated as a student. Too easy for the dark shadows in the corner of your bedroom to morph into loneliness, reaching dark fingers forward to bash away at your mental health. It sounds cheesy, I know, but I’m going to say it anyway: to drive those shadows away, we need to invite light into our homes (mouldy though they may be). This light comes in the form of people.

Inviting people into our homes is an act as old as humanity itself. Sharing food comes hand in hand. There is nothing in this world more wholesome and lovely than a group of people sharing good food and good chats, building their own community in the warm hub of the kitchen. That’s right - it’s time to Pride and Prejudice this bad boy. Let’s get the tunes on, the candles lit, the excellent boiled potatoes (it’s been many years since I’ve had such an exemplary vegetable) on the stove, and take a turn around the room. It’s time for dinner parties to become a key element of student life once more.

The dinner party is not dead, just perhaps slightly forgotten. Despite what the headline may suggest, there is little art to throwing a dinner party. For your convenience, we have listed the key ingredients.

THE STUDENT’S DINNER PART:

YOU WILL NEED:

1+ guest(s) from any category of relationship. Friends, acquaintances, enemies if you fancy a fight…you’ll be surprised at how many people will turn up if food is promised.

Space to host said guests. It doesn’t

matter if said space is mouldy, or messy, or a bit cramped…we’re all students here. We get it. There’s nothing wrong with perching on an upturned laundry basket. Food! A key element of a dinner party. Dinner is sort of expected… even if you just split a pizza order. Drinks of some description— unless your bathroom is truly too unacceptable to allow people to enter it.

Dinner parties are the most wonderful excuse to invite light and laughter into your home. Set a theme and celebrate cuisines from across the globe. Have a make your own pizza night, where everyone brings toppings to share. Creating a space for conversation to flow is a magical achievement, and you simply never know what you may learn about your fellow peers if you don’t talk to them. One time I met a guy who would put square sausages in the toaster. Gross…but at least I knew to never go for breakfast. Amid the cost-of-living crisis, there are few better ways to get a group together affordably than a potluck dinner party. Cooking at home is exponentially cheaper than eating out, as long as you’re shopping in Aldi rather than Waitrose, and having each guest bring a dish of their own choosing to the function creates an unbeatable vibe. A budget of ~£5 per person can cover a spread fit for kings. Get creative, try something new - just ensure your chicken dish is actually cooked fully first, and don’t invite the guy who toasts his square sausage.

Having a warmly lit room full of friends, good food, shared drink, and rife conversation is a key step towards building a strong student community. At the end of the day, you need someone’s sofa to crash on when you miss the last Unilink home. You need a friend to explain to you that your references are a pile of rubbish. You need a group of people to fall back on when it all goes to te pits - the least we can do is feed each other, laugh together, and keep each other’s shadows at bay.

Host a dinner party this semester, and see how many people you can bring together. You might well be surprised at the community you can build with a good roast chicken.

A dinner party.

Image credit: Alice Pollard

MOVING MOUNTAINS

By Amelia Fryer News Editor

Every day offers something new for everyone. For babies, life is new. As children grow up, the mundanity of dressing themself and excitement of playing with others is new. Then, they grow into adults and learn how to perform in their new jobs and become functioning members of normal human society outside their familiar old teenage world. Life is full of new beginnings, all of which involve learning. However, the most important things we have to learn in life cannot be taught to us- more often than not, they are learnt through trial and error (again, more often than not, a lot of error). Although doing things incorrectly over and over and over again often feels like you are digging yourself into a deep and never-ending hole that seems impossible to claw and climb you

A year of firsts and self-identity

way out of.

That’s an experience I learnt about this year. I discovered that sometimes it’s not about simply going through one tough period and immediately having some symbolic and philosophical revelation before coming cleanly out the other side, ready to pass your newfound wisdom onto others. It’s about going through so many rough patches back-to-back that you think it can’t possibly get any harder, and that you’ll never dig yourself out of this bottomless pit that just seems to get deeper.

I learnt this during my first year of university, something I found terrifying. I was so scared to move away from my family. They were my source of comfort and reassurance in this scary and undetermined world. My parents got me through every difficult time in my life and always had the right advice or thing to say when I was upset. So, moving away from them and into this unknown city with thousands of unknown people after coming from an isolated and rural part of Scotland where my closest neighbour was the cows in the field next door was bound to be a little bit terrifying.

Naturally, I started to meticulously look for societies and clubs to join to meet new people in the same drifting boat as me, just as many Freshers do. I already knew I wanted to join Brig Newspaper from before I even left high school

as writing is my passion and something that also brought me a great deal of comfort and self-satisfaction- so that was a no-brainer. I had also made a resolution to myself to be more fit and active when I moved to uni, which I later realised came in the form of sports as they subsequently filled the hole that leaving my horses behind had left, as they were well and truly what brought me the most comfort of all. Reading through the options of sports, it didn’t take long for me to land on the word ‘mountaineering’. Joining that club uncovered a passion that had rested dormant in my heart from years, invoking memories of going on holiday to Glencoe with my family.

The University of Stirling Mountaineering Club (USMC) has

taught me things I didn’t know I needed to learn, mainly about myself. The sport and the people I have met in it have taught me how resilient and ambitious I truly am, and how far I’ll go to never back down from anything I think is right.

Starting a new sport, in a new place, with people miles ahead of me with years of experience, after dreading PE in school was the most daunting thing I had ever done.

Anyone who knew me a year ago would probably think I’m crazy for starting the sport of mountaineering- the only sport I had ever loved was my horses and I never even saw them as a sport. Suddenly, I fell deeply in love with hillwalking.

Even when my parents worried for my safety, even when I worried for my own, even when everything in my body and mind was telling me that this wasn’t what I was supposed to be doing, and even when I felt inadequate compared to every single other person in the club, I just kept pushing forwards, and upwards.

It was almost like there was some invisible rope tied to me and hillwalking, or me and the club, that I just couldn’t pull away from. I kept coming back after every knock down I faced in the sport- and that attitude bled into my everyday life. Whether it was my course, my sport, my writing, or something deeper in my personal life; I got back up, whenever I fell. No one can take that fact away from me.

Being a fresher is about doing everything every day for the first time. The first time you meet your lecturers, teachers, peers; the first time you make a recipe; the first night you spend alone in your accommodation, take the bus, go to a pub, have a drink, do an assignment, start a hobby, start a sport, begin your first adult relationship, and start your journey of figuring out who you are.

Life is scary, but it’s not impossible. Finding out who we are will be a long and difficult road – on top of having adult responsibilities with teenage and childlike brains— full of love, experiences, both good and bad, heartbreak, loss, happiness and joy. Every lesson is one being taught to us for a reason— all you have to do is trust yourself a little bit.

Amelia in the mountains. Image credit for all page 9 images: Amelia Fryer

SABRINA CARPENTER 'MAN'S BEST FRIEND' REVIEW: 70'S ABBA THROWBACK

By Erin Schoolar Sports Editor

Sabrina Carpenter is back with her seventh studio album, Man’s Best Friend, and it’s a fun mix of disco, pop, and cheeky lyrics

The album builds on the success of Short N’ Sweet, but this time Sabrina leans harder into disco grooves, live instrumentation, and playful storytelling.

The sound is bold and colorful, mixing funky basslines, emotional but relatable lyrics and even a little country twang.

Lyrically, Man’s Best Friend blends humor and soul. Carpenter turns heartbreak into tongue-incheek one-liners, keeping the mood light while still letting emotions shine. This balance of depth and fun is what makes the album work

so well.

Standout Songs

If you only have time to pick a few stunners on the album, start with Sugar Talking, a sweet disco bop that encompasses sass and shade.

My Man on Willpower shows her wit and how she wears her heart on her sleeve. Goodbye carries a nostalgic ABBA shimmer that hits hard. And of course, Manchild, the cheeky single, is already a fan favorite and a TikTok hit.

Impact and Buzz

The album has sparked headlines for its bold cover art, but the real story is in the music. Fans are praising Sabrina’s ability to mix disco nostalgia with modern pop energy. Critics have noted how her confidence as a songwriter keeps growing, making Man’s Best Friend one of her most exciting releases to date.

Music Journaling: How I Chronicled My First Year of University

By Connor Peebles Deputy Editor

We’ve all got to have some way of keeping track of the days, whether it be the calendar app on your phone or a physical journal, chronicling the days of your life is something I think’s important.

Just before starting university in 2022 I decided to start my own journal in a bit of an untraditional way. Instead of writing out what I did each day, I selected one song I had listened to throughout the day and marked it down as my “song of the day”.

This meant everyday had a soundtrack of its own, in the moment the song wouldn’t matter but weeks and months down the line those singular tracks held more memories than pen on paper ever could.

At the end of every day I would post the song on my Instagram story, and at the end of the month the individual songs would be compiled into one big monthly playlist.

Though the playlists all inevitably ended up a mess of genres, my 2022 - 2023 monthly playlists stand

at the forefront of my memories of those times.

Making Plans For Nigel by XTC reminds me of moving my belongings into my first flat, Youth Overrided by Cave In got me through the worst day I ever had whilst living in halls and Fathead by Jakey played on repeat during the cold November days.

My memories of these days are backdropped by these songs, I could easily tell you what I did each day by going through the individual tracks I chose to define them by. When i started journaling my days this way I imagined I would do it for at least a couple of years, but as semester two drew to a close, I found my desire to mark my days starting to wain.

By the time I left my first year halls and made my way back to my home of Glasgow, I stopped using my music journal almost completely.

In first year, I needed my journal to help me differentiate the days, to keep myself in check. I don't regret giving it up as those playlists will be with me forever.

Reactions to Man’s Best Friend have been mixed. Some fans are head over heels for Sabrina’s full dive into disco glitter, calling it her boldest and most confident record yet. Others, though, have been a little more divided, with a few saying the album feels a touch over the top. But that’s part of the fun. This is an album that sparks conversation. Whether you’re blasting it on repeat or side-eyeing the sequins, Sabrina has people talking, and in pop music, that says everything.

Final Verdict

Man’s Best Friend is the kind of album that makes you want to dance whilst also texting your ex something petty. Perfect for study playlists, late-night kitchen discos, or anyone in need of a little sparkle and chaos in their week.

Sabrina Carpenter's album cover. Image Credit: Island Records

Connor attempts to find a song that fits the day. Image Credit: Megan Knight

Sombr ‘I Barely Know Her’ Review: A solid yet sulky beginning

By Emma Christie

Bedroom pop has exploded into stardom for one New York City native, a fame that will only grow following his debut album.

The 20-year-old artist, Sombr, has steadily etched a space for his confident and dramatic sound in the pop genre. He released a stream of singles after dropping out of high school to pursue his dream music career, each one herding in more fans.

Currently, Sombr bags more than 55 million monthly listeners on Spotify.

I barely Know Her was released on Friday 22 August. The debut album boasts 10 tracks, all crossing the three-minute mark, as Sombr broods about an ex he cannot move on from.

Previous viral hits, Undressed

and Back to Friends, feature on this album alongside new tracks which pack just as hard of an emotional punch.

Sombr uses his slightly distorted gritty vocals alongside dramatic instrumentals in his work, almost carving out a new beginning for the pop genre.

Although Sombr spends the duration of I Barely Know Her mourning an old relationship- “I’m living in the crevices of your heart” in Dime, and “I’ll never be satisfied ‘cause she’ll never be mine” in Under the Mat - none of the songs seem repetitive.

Canal Street has the longest run time of the album, coming in at more than five minutes long. It sways you gently alongside a feathery piano and soft guitar accompaniment as Sombr continues to

profess his heartbreak before gaining traction to an addictive chorus. His choice of instruments calls a mixture of big indie-pop names to mind, including hints of Arctic Monkeys and Catfish and the Bottlemen, and his similarly raw vocals show an outstanding display of confidence. The young artist co-produced this album alongside Tony Berg (who has also worked with Phoebe Bridgers) to create a refreshing revival of pop music.

To celebrate his debut album, Sombr is setting off on a world tour which begins on September 21 in the USA. For UK fans, you can catch the pop star towards the end of his tour, with dates across England and Scotland set for March next year before he ends his tour in Dublin, Ireland.

Mean City Fest: Punk Rock For Charity

By Connor Peebles Deputy Editor

Glasgow is in for a treat this September as the Classic Grand hosts a festival just for the punks of Scotland, Mean City Fest.

The festival boasts an impressive number of artists spanning across Friday 19 and Saturday 20 September. Though the variety of artists is vast, they are all linked through the punk genre.

Friday kicks off with Zounds,Peroxide, Venus In The Lake, and Pete Bentham and the Dinner Ladies. With doors opening at 7pm that night.

The fun doesn’t end there though as Saturday boasts the largest amount of bands and runs the longest with doors opening at 2pm.

Excitingly, 11 artists/bands will perform across the day, a couple of highlights being Gimp Fist, Trauma Bonds and Meryl Streek.

What sets Mean City Fest apart from many other festivals is that every ticket bought contains a small donation to Homeless Project Scotland, as well as that, all profits made across the weekend will go straight to Homeless Project Scotland as well.

Mean City Fest is the brain child of Beyond The Gap, a self described “Glasgow husband & wife punk rock promoting duo” that seek to bring punk to the masses but not for profit, instead they want everyone to enjoy themselves, and to give back to charity.

The festival takes place mostly between Friday and Saturday but there’s an exciting prospect for those that buy a weekend ticket to the event as Sunday offers up a couple of other surprises.

Those who buy the weekend pass will gain access to Survivor

Sunday’s Day of Rest, which includes Mondo Gerbo’s Punk Rock Pub Quiz, DJ sets and much more.

A weekend pass starts at £45.00, but a joint ticket which consists of one adult ticket and one 14-17 ticket is also availible starting at £67.50. Individual day tickets are also offered with Friday tickets starting at £18, and Saturday tickets going for £32.

To read an interview Brig conducted with Meryl Streek, check out www.brignews.com

WHY IS LOFI POPULAR FOR STUDYING?

By Isla Barker Lifestyle Editor

We’ve all seen the LoFi girl studying nonstop, or the Chillhop Raccoon walking with his headphones on, but where did Lo-fi come from? And why do people play it when they study?

Lo-fi, or low fidelity music, can be traced back to the 1950s rock and roll scene. However, lo-fi as we know it, came to be in the 1990s with DIY music when music was made cheaply on lower-quality equipment. This gives the music a raw and unique sound because it was not as aurally polished as other genres (also known as high fidelity). Background noise like static appears in some recordings but these sounds give the music depth. This music genre is very popular among students or people with ADHD/ADD who need to focus on

tasks.

While music does not help everyone study, focus or relax, lo-fi has been proved to increase relaxation and focus.

Here are some reasons why this type of music improves focus: Lo-fi music is mellow and has a variety of rhythms. Individual tracks are quiet and have a repetitive beat, this means the music is less distracting and resembles white noise.

Most lo-fi music has no lyrics which is another distraction blocked out. Classical music is almost entirely instrumental and is another music genre connected to increased focus.

Listening to lo-fi releases dopamine, the hormone that makes you feel motivated and happy.

Lofi girl studying. Image Credit: Juan Pablo Machado

Sombr posing with his fingers in his ears. Image Credit: Warner Records

The Poster for Mean City Fest. Image Credit: Beyond The Gap

Meryl Streek. Image Credit: Hels Milington

FILMING BEGINS ON THE NEW HARRY POTTER SERIES: WHAT’S THE POINT?

Normally when I begin an article about a new film or television project, I’d write buzz words like ‘ the highly anticipated’ or ‘long-awaited’ series. This time, I can’t really garner any enthusiasm for adjectives because, well, is there any anticipation for the seven season revival of Harry Potter for HBO Max? By the time it releases, it’ll only be about 16 years since the original film series ended and 20 since the last book.

The new series has met with criticism right from its announcement, from book creator J.K Rowling’s controversial X statements about transgender and women's rights- which is still unravelling- to the harassment of the child actors who will be playing the three leads.

Original director Chris Columbus commented saying that a reunion with the original cast will not

be happening due to Rowling’s politics. And on Richard Osman’s podcast, he said, “I’m seeing these photographs [of the new series]... and Nick Frost is wearing the exact same costume that we designed for Hagrid. Part of me was like: What’s the point?”

“What’s the point?” indeed Chris.

With the recent revelation that Warwick Davis will be reprising his role from the original films, it’s looking more likely TikTok jokes and rumours about the original Draco Malfoy-turnedobsessive fanboy Tom Felton will reprise his role will come true.

It’s long been known that Hollywood loves to cater to nostalgia and grab easy money from longrunning franchises, something which can be detrimental to the art of cinema. Look at the Fantastic Beasts films- a lame, lazy cash-grab devoid of what made the original films so beloved. But at least those were original stories and not shameless replicas. From the set photos that have so far been released, everything from the costumes to branding just looks too familiar and unoriginal. It will be interesting to see how the series performs, if it will make it the whole seven seasons, or be avada-kedavared a couple in.

With boycotts of Harry Potter related items currently ongoing due

BRENDAN FRASER

to Rowling’a politics, this could also negatively impact perceptions of the series and of those involved. While the original films were finished before J.K Rowling’s comments started, the new crew are likely to be aware of what has happened. Fans may choose to watch the original films to support the other creatives who worked on them, as, with Rowling being listed as an executive producer on the upcoming films, many Potterheads will refuse to watch the new release.

HBO Max’s upcoming Harry Potter series has been marred by controversy and questioning since it was first announced, and as filming continues, so too does the head-scratching.

By Ben Macswan Film & TV Co-Editor

From exploring Egypt to trending on Twitter for playing on his Nintendo Switch, Brendan Fraser is a true star. Brendan Fraser is known for his roles in The Mummy (1999), George of the Jungle (1997) and Doom Patrol (2019).

The Canadian-American actor has seen a well-deserved comeback after his successful film The Whale in 2022. During the premiere, he received a six-minute standing ovation for his role.

People love Brendan Fraser because of his astounding performances in movies and TV shows they know and love. Fans know him as a wholesome and genuinely nice person who has risen against impossible challenges.

Fraser’s acting career was its strongest in the 90s, when he starred in many films and TV series that made him a household name. He has since won 31 awards and been nominated for 80 others throughout his exciting career.

However, in the early 2000s, he began to endure great hardship.

Former film critic Philip Berk, who was involved with the Golden Globes, sexually assaulted Fraser in 2003. Brendan did not go public about the assault until 2018 but was blacklisted from the Golden Globes after he made the accusation in 2003. The assault started a long period of depression which Fraser blamed himself for.

In 2006, he and his ex-wife Afton Smith separated before divorcing in 2009. She subsequently demanded $900,000 a year in alimony, which Fraser struggled to

afford.

Fraser starred in The Mummy 3 (2008) which was less successful than the first film. He was also injured in the film’s making whilst performing various stunts. He had surgery to fix his vocal cords and was in and out of the hospital for seven years for a partial knee replacement, a slipped spinal disk and cracked ribs.

He also lost his mother to cancer in 2016 after a long period of illness. After years of what seemed hopeless and dark, Fraser landed the role of Charlie in Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale . His character is an English teacher who wants to connect with his estranged teenage daughter played by Sadie Sink. He went on to win an Oscar for Best Actor for his performance.

And despite the suffering he has endured, as well as the success he has enjoyed, he is still humble. While choking back tears during his acceptance speech at the Critics Choice Awards in 2023, Fraser said: “If you just feel like you’re in a dark sea, I want you to know that you too have the strength to just get to your feet and go to the light, good things will happen.” And now, he is filming his latest movie, Rental Family , a story about an actor in Japan who becomes a surrogate father for a little girl coming out this November.

It is clear that Brendan Fraser can amaze audiences

By Isla Barker Lifestyle Editor

Chris Columbus. Image Credit: NightScream via. WikiMedia Commons

The new Harry Potter revealed. Image Credit: HBO Max

Half Blood Prince. Image Credit: Warner Brothers Entertainment

Brendan Fraser in The Mummy. Image Credit: Universal Pictures

FILM & TV

By Tess Bowen Film & TV Co-Editor

As we prepare to return to university, the temperature drops and the leaves begin to change colour, we may believe that autumn has come. But for me, the summer season does not change until I begin my annual rewatch of Gilmore Girls. At this time of year, I believe the only thing that can keep us going are the perfect films and TV shows fit for the season.

Defining a season with a film is not necessarily easy. Though it may seem reductive, we must recognise that sometimes in autumn all you need is a supernatural film

to get you in the Halloween spirit or a cosy film to welcome the cold changing of the leaves. There are so many that I could name: Twilight , Sleepy Hollow, The Craft, Hocus Pocus . However, one film stands out above all of these (though as a side note I do absolutely believe you should still watch the aforementioned films).

Practical Magic is so much more than a film about witches. The film follows two sisters, played by Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, as they navigate life with their supernatural abilities. It is a story of loyalty, love and overcoming hardships- usual plot points enriched by the whimsigoth costuming and autumnal environment.

For general autumnal aesthetics we may consider films that have a golden hue to them. For this, I nominate Mystic Pizza , and two of my all-time favourite films, Good Will Hunting and Dead Poets Society I want to categorise these as feelgood films for the season, though, ironically, they don’t necessarily always make me feel very good. Each has beautiful writing and, despite the fact that they are fairly emotional stories, there is a warm feeling within the films that is reflected in the colours of the scenes. With autumnal TV shows, it is no surprise that I will say Gilmore Girls is the fan favourite. A small town, opening with ‘There She Goes’ by the La’s, coffee, love,

heartbreak. The show is a modern classic for a reason.

Despite being set and filmed during the winter months, Twin Peaks is often associated with being an autumnal TV show. Perhaps its colour grading, the red and orange tones, is why people make the association. Directed by David Lynch, the show blends multiple genres to create a surrealist atmosphere, which has cemented it as one of the greatest television shows of all time.

Even though I have tried to stray away from just listing supernatural media, it is hard not to include Buffy the Vampire Slayer. To me, Buffy is every iconic 2000s show merged into one-sprinkled with

a dash of horror. It is perfect for this time of year, as most of the episodes take place during school semesters, which gets me back into the mood for studying… and fighting vampires.

Hopefully, these films and tv shows can keep you company over the next few months as we settle into the start of a new semester. I know I will be seeking comfort in them this year, and the years after- as well as the ones before.

STIRLING STUDENTS FIND STARDOM PRODUCING BBC SHORT FILMS

Two University of Stirling students have premiered short documentary films through a partnership between BBC Scotland’s Disclosure and the University.

The final year students produced one film each as part of their BA Film and Media course.

Nicotine Pouches: What’s the Problem? was produced by student Cairnie Glaister, with the support of BBC Reporter Katie McEvinney.

The investigation revealed the truth behind extra-strong nicotine products mimicking popular confectionary brand.

A shop in Glasgow’s East End was found selling nicotine pouches that distinctly resembled Millions, a

sweet product targeted at children.

Glaister said: “This project simply wouldn’t have happened without the support, guidance, and space to develop it at the University of Stirling with our lecturers. From pitching the original idea to shaping the story, the University was at the heart of every stage. We’re incredibly proud to have taken it all the way from seminar room to BBC iPlayer.”

Also delivered in partnership with the BBC was Should We Hook Up?, a deep dive into online hookup culture and the effect it has on those engaged with it, created by student producer, Josh Vanhoutte, with the support of Disclosure’s Jax

By Alex Paterson Editor-In-Chief

Sinclair.

Vanhoutte thanked the University for their support and credits the experience as a “turning point” in his career.

He said: “Thanks to the guidance from lecturers at the University of Stirling, I have honed my skills as a director and a editor sufficiently and feel confident enough to work on a BBC Disclosure film, which was a real turning point for me.

“I’m proud of how the narrative flows, especially the archive sequence and group interview.”

The films aired on BBC Scotland last month and can now be streamed online at BBC iPlayer.

Gilmore Girls. Image Credit: Warner Brothers Mystic Pizza. Image Credit: The Samuel Goldwyn Company Practical Magic. Image Credit: Warner Brothers

The students filming BBC reporter Katie McEvinney’s interview with Professor Crawford Moodie. Image credit: University of Stirling

Local Matters

A new voice for Stirling

Isla Glen, The Courier’s Stirling reporter, graduated with a BA (Hons) in film, media, and journalism from the University of Stirling in 2023.

Former editor-in-chief of Brig Newspaper and contributor to Air3 Radio, Isla focuses on highlighting local issues and shining a positive light on Stirling.

EXPLORE MORE: DAILY STIRLING NEWS, MADE FOR YOU

BRIG 2025/26 COMMITTEE

Edward Jewsbury POLITICS EDITOR

Spencer Haynes FOOD EDITOR

Alex Paterson EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Connor Peebles DEPUTY EDITOR

Jess Urquhart SECRETARY

Plum McKechnie NEWS EDITOR

Amelia Fryer NEWS EDITOR

Melissa Thomson SPORTS EDITOR

Erin Schoolar SPORTS EDITOR

Rae Archibald ARTS EDITOR

Tess Bowen FILM AND TV CO-EDITOR

Ben Macswan FILM AND TV CO-EDITOR

Dylan Burt GAMING AND TECH EDITOR

Isla Barker LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Alice Pollard BRAW CO-EDITOR

Kerry Lloyd BRAW CO-EDITOR

Elliot Johnston HEAD OF PODCASTING

Robbie McAvenue HEAD OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Behind The Scenes of BRAW Issue 4

Five months of writing, designing, and editing have finally paid off. Braw Issue 4 is here, a physical copy to hold, to keep. A literal product of all our hard work.

It was quite the journey to get here, that’s for sure. We started planning all the way back in April, the idea blooming from an offhand comment - “What if we printed the next edition?” How hard can it be, really?

A fair amount of hours spent at The Book Nook can attest that, actually, it’s pretty difficult. Nevertheless, we powered through. Countless coffees, iced teas, and pastries fueled our brainstorming sessions. Pinterest boards were born, articles were put together, ideas workshopped until we had the basic blueprint for own articles, designing the

layout, picking fonts and colours. All to make it look cohesive, to feel vibrant.

After a long, hard day of gruel-

ling work, we deserved a fair few cocktails. A quick walk over to City

Walls or to Spoons is the perfect way to destress. Spending time with your co-editor and friend over a few drinks was imperative to getting this thing done. We couldn’t have done this without you, Spoons. Looking back, those days when I hopped on a bus from Dundee to Stirling to work on the magazine were the highlights of an otherwise uneventful, boring summer. Instead of spending months only going to work, I had a magazine to work on. It kept me busy, and I know for a fact I can say the same for Alice.

This magazine took up permanent residency in my head. I would be at work, and all I would be thinking about was deadlines, and where to source photographs from, and what if we mess up printing? What if, what if, what if. Thankfully, my

wonderful co-editor, Alice, was always there to answer my late-

night, last-minute texts. She would calm my frantic questioning, handling everything with the grace of a woman well-versed in magazine creation. With it being my first time as a BRAW Magazine editor, I would have crashed and burned without her. So, thank you for being

here, for taking the helm and guiding this process. How cool is this, that we’ve created an entire magazine from scratch?

I hope all my sentimental rambling has intrigued you enough to pick up a copy. The theme, Close Encounters, is wide-ranging, and we hope each and every person who gives it a read can find something in there to relate to. Copies of Braw Issue 4 can be found around campus, and at Brig’s Freshers Fayre stall (if it arrived in time…). We hope you enjoy it, as we had a blast putting it together.

By Kerry Lloyd BRAW Co-Editor

What Actually Is BRAW?

Welcome to BRAW Magazine, Brig Newspaper’s sister publication. Born in 2021, BRAW has created a space in the world of student journalism for people from all walks of life to come together and share their stories. We focus on the deep and personal aspects of student life, from LGBTQ+ stories and guidance to celebrity news with a twist. BRAW is the home for your experiences, advice, gossip, and everything in between.

Across five glorious subsections, we have made space for LGBTQ+ stories and news in ‘Queeries’, personal and

sensitive pieces in ‘All the Feels’, breaking silence surrounding sex and relationships in ‘Between the Sheets’, connecting with the world around us in ‘In Nature’, and chatting about world’s trends and gossip with a twist in ‘BRAW’s Hot Goss’. Our semesterly (now printed!) editions follow an overarching theme which encases and displays each subsection within it.

We are on the 4th generation of editors, with each individual bringing their own twist to BRAW’s story. Iona Brownlie, BRAW’s wonderful founder, was succeeded by Lucie Smith, who breathed the distinctive identity into BRAW over

the course of two incredible years. Lucie handed the baton to Alice Pollard in 2024, and as the magazine grew, so did the team, with Kerry Lloyd joining as co-editor in 2025.

Whilst BRAW’s appearance and content mould and shift over the years, the core roots of BRAW’s identity stay strong. We are feminist, liberal, queer-focused, sustainable, and conversational, and this shines through both our web content and printed editions. The writers lead the way with their unique voices and reflections. We like it, and we hope you do too!

Stirling Arts Societies to check out this Welcome Week

By Isla Barker

Lifestyle Editor

Stirling's arts societies are diverse spaces for creatives of all kinds to practice, discover and meet others in their craft. Each society is welcoming and strives to help newcomers find their place with them.

Art Club

On Tuesdays from 6:30 pm Art Club welcomes artists to create and socialise peacefully. The society provides pencils, paper, paint and other materials. Meetings are relaxed and welcoming to everyone regardless of experience. Anyone can come and go for as much of the session as they want. Art Club meets in Cottrell 2B87.

Book Club

Stirling University's Book Club hosts sessions for four genres of literature a week at 6pm. General fiction on Monday, classics on Tuesday, fantasy on Wednesday and romance on Thursday. Book clubs give readers the chance to meet new people, discuss books and try new genres. Meetings are in Cottrell 2B121.

Creative Writing Society

The Creative Writing Society shows new and seasoned writers how to hone their skills with workshops on Monday from 7-9pm. Topics range from villains, character building, diversity and bad

erotica. On Wednesdays they host a casual drop in from 5-8pm. Writers can come and go as they please to write, study or relax. Both weekly meetings are in Cottrell 2B184.

Drama Society

Stirling University Drama Society (SUDS) was founded in 1971 and has brought exciting theatre to students and the community since. Members meet on Tuesday at 7pm for drama workshops or socials. The society welcomes all who are interested, with no previous experience required. SUDS put on three performances a year, as well as open stage nights for anyone to try casual acting. They meet in the Macrobert Arts Centre.

Musical Theatre

Musical Theatre welcomes all whether they've performed for years or are just starting out. Those who do not want to perform are also welcome to join in to make friends. They run workshops on acting, singing and dancing as well as themed socials open to everyone. Stirling Musical Theatre meets at Cottrell A93 at 6:30pm on Wednesdays.

Photography & Videography

Even if you are a mobile phone photographer you have a place at Photography & Videography. The society holds meetings from 6:308:30pm on Mondays in Cottrell 2V1. Members can also learn about techniques and equipment, although bringing equipment is not required.

THE ARTS AND THEIR CRAFTS - MEET BOB MCDEVITT

By Rae Archibald Arts Editor

This series follows interviews of professionals in arts industries who graduated from the University of Stirling.

Bloody Scotland is an annual crime writing festival in Stirling, with an impressive lineup of authors and events. Bob McDevitt is the director, and the programmer for Glasgow’s Aye Write festival.

In 1989, McDevitt graduated from the University of Stirling. Brig caught up with him after the Bloody Scotland 2025 programme launch.

What about the 2025 line up excites you?

“I think it is the best line up we have had, a lot of that is down to having (Sir) Rankin as the guest programmer this year. He delivered a lot of headline events we need to make the festival a success. Apart from those we’ve got other big headliners, like Jo Nesbo the Norwegian bestseller.”

If you could only see one event, what would you go to?

“It is almost impossible as the programmer, because I think all the events are good. There is a

couple of books I’ve read this year that have been really excellent so I am looking forward to those.”

“One is called The Rush. It’s a brilliant historical novel unlike anything I had read before. The author will be part of a historical fiction panel.”

“The other is a science fiction book called Esperance. It’s a detective novel, but with aliens. It wasn’t the kind of book I would normally read, but that's the good thing about this job. The author is on a speculative fiction panel.”

Art festivals seem to happen in Glasgow or Edinburgh, why is it important for Bloody Scotland to happen in Stirling?

“Stirling is a great place to be because it’s in the heart of Scotland, so we tend to attract a varied audience.”

“It’s also good because it has a manageable centre. A big part of Bloody Scotland is the sociable aspect. Writers like to get something to eat, a drink from the pub. It’s not an exclusive festival where there’s no contact between readers and writers. “

“Edinburgh and Glasgow have big festivals, so it was nice to bring Bloody Scotland to a city that didn’t

already have one.”

Why is the Scottish crime genre significant?

“We have never worked out why, we do seem to punch above our weight as a relatively small country. We have produced brilliant crime writers like McDermid and Rankin. “

“We give out a debut prize, there is always new writers coming through. It’s been talked about, is it something dark in the Scottish psyche, do we just enjoy crime or crime stories.”

What advice do you have for students who want to work in literature?

“Literature is broad, it could be publishing, book selling or writing itself. There’s lots of different jobs, so I would say play to your strengths and things you enjoy.”

“I worked in bookselling and publishing mostly before I ran book festivals. There’s lots of different jobs in publishing, it’s a good industry.

My advice is work hard and make good connections.”

Bob McDevitt at the Bloody Scotland 2025 Programme Launch. Image Credit : Craig Sisterson

How To Actually Get Back Into Reading WHERE TO START WITH DC COMICS

Without performatively reading in public to look mysterious and quirky

By Jess Urquhart Secretary

Last semester, I managed to revive my book nerdiness, and I’ve loved it ever since. So, if you’re looking to get back into reading for fun and not full marks, here’s some tips.

Give yourself a push

I set a daily reminder on my phone to read at least one chapter of a book a day, because in my sensitive wee head, nothing acts like a kick up the backside like that scathing red text saying: “due today”. That, and pressing the wee button to make it go away is embarrassingly satisfying.

Get out the damn room

Having your reading spot can be a lovely way to shake up your reading routine! We tend to associate spaces with activities, hence why I can’t study in bed and felt like all

the fun was sucked out of The Sims when I got bored in the library.

So finding a nice wee spot, even if it’s just a random bench, can help you really get into your book! My personal favourite was a wee bench next to Stirling Highland Hotel (it’s quiet enough to concentrate but still outside).

It’s not a competition!

Don’t jump right in! Over the summer, I read Jane Eyre, and it worked no bother, but when I tried to read Wuthering Heights last semester, I couldn’t get through part one.

When you’re already spending your week reading academic papers and journals, it can feel like there just isn’t room for more reading, especially when your “for fun” book is too wordy.

So remember that if you’re reading for fun, the book can actually be fun! (Or, as someone whose “for fun” book was “The Virgin Suicides”, whatever your definition of fun is).

WHAT'S ON IN AUTUMN: STIRLING'S ARTS SCENE

The Tolbooth

The Tolbooth, located in the heart of Stirling's Old Town, used to be the city's jail. Condemned as the worst prison in Scotland in the early 1800s, the poor conditions prompted the construction of the Old Town Jail next door. A wonderful venue with a dark past.

18 September: Singer-songwriter Nadia Reed

19 September: Celebrating Paul Simon with the Paul Simon Treatment

Until 27 September: Ron O'Donnell exhibits 'Beyond Home' in partnership with the Stirling Photography Festival

20 September: She Drew the Gun, presented by Stirling Pride and Tolbooth, opening Stirling Pride 2025

26 September: From the Ground, a "Scottish soundscaping masterpiece"

The Albert Halls

The Albert Halls first opened their doors in 1883 and has been an integral venue at the heart of Stirling ever since.

12 - 14 September: Bloody Scotland, the international crime writing festival hosted annually in Stirling. Featuring speakers such as Sir lan Rankin and Steph McGovern, it is worth checking out.

25 September: The Stirling Night Market, a bustling evening small business fair.

22 September: Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls

26 September: McFleetwoodbringing all things Fleetwood Mac.

27 September: The Mersey Beetles, a Beetles tribute.

Macrobert Arts Centre

Located right here on campus, the Macrobert Arts Centre does more than just films (although they do that too - student tickets only £2.50) The venue hosted the European Premiere of Braveheart back in 1995, so you never know, you may well sit where Mel Gibson sat...

20 September: Dylan Moran and Friends. You might recognise Dylan Moran from Black Books, Shaun of the Dead, or Notting Hill.

24 September: Mairi Campbell - Living Stone, a Fringe First Winning solo show.

25 September: Black Is The Colour Of My Voice, the Fringe First winning solo show.

September!

By Alice Pollard Braw Co-Editor

By Connor Peebles Deputy Editor

Darker takes on classic superheroes has become something of a trend in the last decade, afterall back in the 2010’s DC released a whole comicbook line about evil Batmen.

But one series stands out as incredibly diverse when it comes to taking classic stories and switching them up, that series is DC’s Absoloute line.

The Absoloute universe was created to explore what would happen if certain DC icons lacked a core element to their character. Famously is Absoloute Batman, who, instead of being a billionaire with bottomless pockets, is a working class man that utilises his engineering skills to craft tech that’s just as, if not more, brutal than DC’s usual Caped Crusader. But the universe contains more than just Scott Synder’s beefcake brusier Batman; there’s Jason Aaron’s Superman that arrived on earth as an adult, Kelly Thompson’s Wonder Woman, a version of the character that wasn’t raised by the women of Themyscria, and perhaps most interestingly Deniz Camp’s Absoloute Martian Manhunter, which drops the space fairing adventures in favour of focusing on a gritty detective story and mental health issues.

The Absoloute universe is vast, with each story taking on different art styles and tones. However all the characters are linked by a shared fundamental change in their origin stories. If you’re new to comics and wanting something with a bit more edge, there’s nowhere better to start than the Absoloute universe.

Row of bookshelves in a book shop. Image Credit : Rae Archibald

Absoloute Batman. Image Credit: Nick Dragotta and Frank Martin

Macroberts Arts Centre. Image credit: Macroberts Arts Centre/University of Stirling

The Perfect Way to Play PlayerSingle-Games Together

By Ali Rees

For a pair of video-game-loving best friends who live hundreds of miles apart, some online multiplayer gaming should be just the ticket for casual hangouts and catch-ups. But if you don’t enjoy battle royale games or FPS games, your options are a little more limited. There are some options that are doing something a little more interesting, such as It Takes Two and Split Fiction, but it’s easy to find yourself casting around for a game to play together Luckily, for PC gamers, there exists a combination of fan-made modifications and modes that can make a range of games into multiplayer experiences you can revisit time and time again.

The first part of the combo is BingoSync. BingoSync is a website that generates interactive bingo boards with a random selection of goals. You create a room with your chosen game, send the name and password to as many of your friends who want to join in, and load up your game. You then compete to be the first to achieve the goals on the board. You can play lockout, where one person getting a goal ‘locks out’ the other person from getting it and is usually a race to 13 goals (half plus one); or non-lockout, where you race to a line or a full board blackout. BingoSync comes preloaded with a tonne of games (including 12 different Zelda games) but also includes the option for the determined gamer to import a custom list of goals to race any game their heart desires. The second part of the combo is a little more limited in game options, but where it exists, it’s some

Harry Du Bois. Image Credit: ZA/UM

RESEARCH UNCOVERS WOMEN EXPERIENCE MORE GUILT WHEN PLAYING VIDEO GAMES THAN MEN

By Connor Peebles Deputy Editor

Through research and collaboration, Dr Steph Rennick, a digital media lecturer at the University of Stirling, discovered that women are more likely to feel guilt and shame when playing video games than men.

Dr Rennick worked alongside Dr Seán Roberts, a lecturer in Communications at Cardiff University, and Undone Games, a Swedish games studio, to survey 1000 women across the UK, asking them various questions to do with their experiences playing mobile games.

guilty about playing video games and worrying about what otters think of them taking time to play video games.”

Using machine learning techniques, the researchers found that the younger the person surveyed, the more likely they are to feel guilt about playing video games. Those aged 16-24 were found to be three times as likely to feel guilt about spending time playing games, as opposed to those over the age of 55.

of the most enjoyable time you can spend with a game – randomiser. Randomisers (or randos) are mods that mix up the locations of key items within a game, essentially making it a new experience every single time. The mod will ensure there is an internally consistent logic that means you can always get enough progression items to never get stuck, but you never know what you’ll find where.

Many of them have a range of rule sets that randomise smaller or larger sets of things, so it might just be the upgrades and keys, or itmight be every single interactable object in the game. These can be enjoyed independently, of course, but the real fun begins when you combine the two. Racing to complete bingo goals with other players while not knowing if they might have found a movement upgrade before you is thrilling and fun every single timeHollow Knight bingo rando racing with your long-distance best friend never gets old.

What if he found Mothwing Cloak (an upgrade that lets you dash) while you’ve just found a bunch of lore tablets? The Metroidvania nature of Hollow Knight means there are tonnes of movement options, and it’s really fun to work out how to subvert the expected requirements to get to locations with unusual combinations of upgrades. Whatever your preferred game, adding in a bingo race or randomising all the items (or preferably both) and jumping on a Discord call with your friends is an excellent way to share even traditionally single-player games and have a great time no matter how far away from one another you might be.

What Disco Elysium Teaches About Isolation

By Dylan Burt Gaming & Tech Editor

In recent years, conversations around male loneliness have become louder, but few pieces of media tackle it with as much nuance as Disco Elysium.

Released in 2019, the detective RPG quickly gained acclaim for its writing, but beneath the noir mystery lies something far more personal: an unflinching look at the inner lives of menin isolation.

The game’s protagonist, Harry Du Bois, is a man defined by loss and self-destruction.

His addictions, regrets, and fractured psyche are laid bare, yet the narrative treats him with compassion rather than ridicule. Every dialogue choice feels like a step toward either collapse or self-repair, capturing the fragile balancing act of living with loneliness. What makes Disco Elysium especially powerful is its emphasis on connection. Partner Kim Kitsuragi is more than a sidekick—he’s a quiet symbol of patience and acceptance, showing how companionship can pull someone back from the brink. For many men who struggle to articulate their isolation, the game offers something rare: recognition. It suggests that loneliness isn’t weakness, but a call for empathy, healing, and genuine human bonds.

Of the 1000 women surveyed, 30% felt uncomfortable about calling themselves “gamers” and 60% claimed that they felt alienated in the wider gaming community, which is commonly dominated by men. Despite this, it was found that 41% found that playing video games was a highlight of their day.

Speaking about their research Dr Rennick said that, “The study shows many women feel excluded from video game culture, with significant numbers of women feeling

Dr Rennick went on to state, “Interestingly, feeling guilty or keeping secrets about gaming did not correlate with how much time women spent playing games. We expected a significant proportion of women to report feelings of guilt around playing video games and taking leisure time more generally.”

“But while we thought feelings of guilt or shame would have a negative impact on the amount of time women spent playing games, we didn’t find such a connection. Those who feel guilty or keep secrets don’t play less, but they feel worse.”

Hollow Knight and Hornet. Image Credit: Team Cherry

Dr Steph Rennick. Image Credit: University of Stirling

GAMING

HOW OUTER WILDS SHOWS THE TRUE POWER OF VIDEO GAMES

By Mattew Ponticelli

Outer Wilds is a 2019 indie game by Mobius Digital. It’s a space exploration game, and to me, it’s the greatest example of a game which defines the medium. A game which is so uniquely beautiful in how the player engages with it that it has quickly become one of my favourites of all time.

When I finally dragged Outer Wilds from my Steam backlog last month, I was enthralled. I had been going through a rough patch and ended up binging the game over a four-day period. That was around 19 hours played in total, though the game also occupied my thoughts any time I wasn’t actively playing –and I’m still thinking about it now. It’s a game about knowledge. From the beginning of the game you have every tool you need to

reach the credits; the only thing barring you from that path is what you know.

There are a variety of planets which are all unique and hiding their own secrets for you to uncover.

Everyone's playthrough of Outer Wilds is unique depending on how they engage with the game. The order you decide to visit the planets, how you take in what you learn there, and how you put that knowledge into practice will carve your unique path through the game

The game offers little guidance on where to go or even what your goal is. That isn’t to say the game doesn’t have a story.

Pretty much all of the story you encounter in Outer Wilds is told through texts, left behind by people who died long ago. That doesn’t stop it from being deeply engaging or having rich themes about

shared knowledge, holding on to the way things are, and knowing when to let things end.

One of the things that makes Outer Wilds so beautiful is that those themes directly impact the player. Being a knowledge-based game, you spend most of your playtime not knowing about how much of the mystery is left to unravel.

As the credits finally roll, you realise it's time to let go. You can’t play Outer Wilds again. There are no mysteries left. It’s difficult to express exactly how a game like this makes you feel without saying anything about it, but this is a game that needs to be played blind. I just hope that these few words convinced you how this game made me feel. And if you love video videogames at all, if you want to see what gaming as a medium is really capable of, I urge you to play it too.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH DEATH STRANDING: AN UNFORGETTABLE JOURNEY

By Connor Peebles Deputy Editor

Death Stranding , a game best remembered by the negative public and critical reception it received at the time of its release six years ago, is an experience I will never forget. I was one of the many gamers brainwashed into believing the game was a mindless Norman Reedus walking simulator.

Only now, as I approach the beginning of the end of my time at university, do I understand the true depths of Kojima’s controversial masterpiece.

You can’t really blame me for taking so long to experience the game, as the hate it garnered in 2019 was inescapable for the years that followed.

Even now, after its critically praised sequel Death Stranding 2: On The Beach has been released, many gamers remain steadfast in their opinions on the game.

Death Stranding is not a walking simulator; the game's systems are entirely designed around movement, rather than how many other AAA games are designed around their combat.

The player controls Sam Porter Bridges (Norman Reedus), a man with the uncanny ability to return to life after death who has to walk across North America to connect communities to one another through delivering packages.

There’s a lot more going on than just securing and delivering packages, though, as the world of Death Stranding is in a post-apocalypse that has forced everyone underground out of fear of ‘time fall’ and BTs, ghost-like entities that seek

to bring those left alive into the afterlife.

It’s not the easiest game to follow; I found myself at multiple points scratching my head over Kojima’s frankly bizarre concepts, but as the hours ticked by and I got the game’s rhythm down, I struggled to put it down.

The gameplay loop is addictive; creating intricate paths through roads, ropes, ladders and ziplines is incredibly rewarding, as every time you map out a path for yourself, anyone else playing the game will find your structures in their playthrough.

You’ll never run into any other player, but by having the remnants of previous journeys left behind, it creates a comforting comradery among the player base.

Instead of focusing on the main story, I spent a good amount of my time with the game creating convenient paths for other players to take that’ll cut down their delivery times and stop them from falling down a cliff.

There are very few games that have filled me with a sense of hope like Death Stranding did.

The perilous journey that takes Sam to the darkest parts of his world, all the while his journey is aided by other real players that took their time to build a road or place a couple of ladders, really hit me harder than I thought it would.

My experience with Death Stranding is likely one of many that plenty of other people have had, and I wouldn’t want it to be any other way. I love Death Stranding for its bizarre world and thought-provoking story, and most importantly, I love Death Stranding because it made me want to make a difference in my life.

Promotional Art of Outer Wilds. Image Credit: Mobius Digital

Sam on a hill. Image Credit: Kojima Productions

How to stay in touch with family and friends at home

Moving away from home is daunting, there’s no denying that. Moving away from the things that provide your familiarity and comfort makes being in a new and uncharted place seem far more intimidating.

I have admittedly had my struggles with keeping in touch and staying connected with my family and friends, especially in the busier times during the year like assignment or exam season.

So, now going into second year, I’d like to write a guide for Fresher’s on ways to keep in touch with those most important to you. Whether it be sending each other fun photos of your day, or planning visits during the holidays, there are always ways to stay connected to your loved ones, even when you’re far away. Calling and Facetiming

The easiest way I’ve found to keep in touch with friends and family is to call them. Phoning your family regularly- whether it be daily, every other day or weekly- is incredibly helpful. Having a conversation virtually face-to-face with someone is far more personal and connecting than a quick text.

This is a personable way to keep your family informed on what adventures you’re getting up to at uni, and also for you to do the same and find out what they’re getting up to— to stay connected with those you love.

While life at home doesn’t stop when you move away and things can get conflicting with time, calling my parents on an evening helped us stay connected so I could

By Amelia Fryer News Editor

find out how they were doing. This helped me still feel connected to life at home, even when I was miles away.

Going home for reading weeks and holidays

Going home for reading weeks and holidays was something that made the world of difference for both me and my family/friends. It makes staying connected so much easier as we could spend face-toface time together for a longer period of time.

I was lucky enough that home wasn’t too extensive of a travel for me, which I had planned when choosing which university I wanted to go to back in high school as I knew I wanted to be able to go home when I needed to.

Being able to spend special holidays like Christmas and birthdays with family at home can make everything seem so much less scary, as you can return to the places and people that make you feel like a kid again when adult life becomes quite overwhelming.

Not so scary after all

So, even though life can get busy and people can drift when things get hectic, it doesn't mean that it has to be impossible to stay connected with those you love.

Making the time and effort to put work into your friendships and relationships with your family is so important, and these things can significantly help to keep open communication and make sure everyone is on a similar page of the big story that is our lives.

TURNING YOUR UNI ROOM INTO YOUR UNI HOME

By Elliot Johnston Features Editor

Moving into halls is a daunting, somewhat alien experience as you and a handful of boxes crammed with as much of your identity as possible move into a tiny copy-pasted room.

That room will be your home for the better part of a year and the one constant through all of your ups and downs.

So, make it your own!

That process takes time but in the short term there are a few essentials that’ll start to make the room feel more like home.

Diffuser

I cannot express enough just how much of a difference a nice smelling room makes. Replace the smell of cleaning chemicals, new bedding and

decades of dead spiders with something light and refreshing.

Candles and incense aren’t permitted in halls so diffusers are the go-to option for their convenience and lack of flame.

You can get a decent liquid diffuser for less than £20 and then all you need are some essential oils and your golden.

Whenever you feel down or overwhelmed or just need a perking up, all you need to do is flick the switch and the diffuser will make it all a little better.

Throws and Blankets

When trying to make your room a bit cozier and comfier it doesn’t hurt to think literally sometimes and add some soft furnishings.

A good throw will make your basic bed significantly more comfortable and add a splash of different colour to the room.

The throw also doesn’t have to stay on your bed as wrapping yourself in it while at your desk can make coursework slightly less soul destroying.

Plus having a throw on hand is a lifesaver when the fire alarm inevitably goes off, constantly.

LED or Fairy Lights

There are few things I hate more in life than the abomination that is the big light so alternative lighting is a must.

Your room will come with a desk lamp but adding some more atmospheric lighting will do wonders for the feel of your room.

Both the cozy vibes of fairy lights and vibrance of LEDs can be found cheap online and will make a massive difference to the feeling of your room.

These essentials will get you started but the rest is on you.

An iPhone. Image credit

Amelia Fryer

A snug autumnal bedroom. Image credit Ellie William

LIFESTYLE

DAY TRIPS GALORE

Scenic places to explore near Stirling this autumn

By Spencer Haynes Food Editor

Regardless of whether you are new to Scotland or have lived here all your life, there is so much to see around Stirling. In a short distance, there are countless places where you can escape the university for a day and see something that interests you, whether it be history, nature, or films, the local area has something of interest. Below are a few of my favorite days or afternoons out, all around an hour's travel or less on public transport to Stirling town center.

Culross & Dunfirmline

Over in Fife, Culross sits on the Firth of Forth. The wee village is a fantastic example of what a 16th to 18th century borough would have been like and is labeled one of Scotland's most picturesque towns. When you're there, you can visit the very yellow palace, a 17th-century

merchant's house with a phenomenal garden, or the Abbey, which housed monks from the 11th century until the Reformation. To get there take the 51 to Alloa and then grab the 8a heading to Dunfirmline.

While heading in that direction, you may as well pop back on the 8a towards Dunfermline, and keep trundling over to Dunfermline and visit their abbey, which has had its fine masonry in many parts of Scottish history. Founded by Margeret I at the place of her marriage in 1070, Robert I financed new buildings being added in 1303 as a show of Scottish wealth and power, and it is where Ana of Denmark had her and James VI's child Charles I in 1600, who is the last British monarch to have been born in Scotland and who was executed by the Cromwells at the end of the English Civil war.

Doune and Callander

A Castle well worth the visit is Doune Castle. The home of the First Duke of Albany, who is known as Scotland's uncrowned king, and his son, who was executed by James I in Stirling for treason. This unfinished castle in more recent history served as the setting for much of

Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

To get the most out of your visit, listen to the Terry Jones Audio Guide, as he will explain the history of the castle and the clever ways in which it was utilized during the filming of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

You can get to this castle via the 59 bus to Callender.

If you don't quite feel like your adventure is complete, you can keep going towards Callander on the 59, entering the Trossachs National Park. From here, you can walk over to Bracken Falls or to the Trossachs Woolen Mill to see some highland cows and keep your eyes peeled for some red squirrels. Dunkeld and the Hermitage. More stunning scenery can be found if you head about an hour north on the train departing from Dunkeld and Birnam. In Dunkeld, you can visit the Cathedral, walk over to the Loch of the Lowes, or up Birnam Hill. A wee bit further from the village, however, is the Hermitage, which has fantastic forest paths, waterfalls, scenic bridges, and Pine Cone Point, where you can look out at the view from inside a pinecone! To get to Dunkeld just head on the train to Inverness and depart at Dunkeld and Birnum.

Cosy Corner: Creating Slow Mornings

Hello, I’m Isla Barker, the editor for Brig’s lifestyle section. This is the debut of Cosy Corner; articles that have a comforting theme. This series aims to help readers embrace cosiness. A great way to start is having a slow morning.

A slow morning is where you take the time to savour your morning. Doing this can put you in a focused and ready mood for whatever lies ahead, and calms you down. Take the time between getting up and leaving your home to slow down and relax. Starting the day quickly can leave you stressed for the rest of the day, even when you have nothing to do after the morning

you might still feel a subconscious feeling of anxiety. They are also good for your nervous system because you are slowly transitioning from sleep to being awake. So, this is how to set the tone for the day with a slow morning.

Take a break from social media

Scrolling can be a good way to turn your brain off after a busy day, but you should probably leave it for a later time when you are trying to get ready for the day ahead. Social media can distract you and make you late for wherever you need to be, and any negative content can increase anxiety or stress. It’s also a good idea to stay off your phone

while you’re eating. Having a meal while being distracted with work or your phone can make you feel hungry again soon after eating.

Stretch Getting your muscles ready for the day releases endorphins and can help with any aches and pains you might have. Take five minutes to stretch your arms, legs and back to recover from sleep. This will deliver oxygen to your muscles and reduce the risk of injury. On top of that, stretching is another way to take a break from stress before going to lectures or work.

Have a well-rounded breakfast Rushing out the door with an

apple is not going to sustain you until lunch. Sitting down for 10-15 minutes enjoying a bowl of cereal or some French toast will let you digest the food better and take the time to gradually build energy. Waking up early is not suitable for everyone, especially when you have to commute, so this might mean meal-prepping the night before, but waking up to having breakfast sorted out is worth it.

By Isla Barker Lifestyle Editor

A bridge in The Hermitage. Image credit Spencer Haynes

Highland cattle near Callander. Image credit Spencer Haynes

Doune Castle. Image credit Spencer Haynes

Dunfermline Abbey. Image credit Spencer Haynes

Coffe at White Dove Coffee Company. Image credit Isla Barker

WHAT MAKES STIRLING SPECIAL?

THE CITY EXPLAINED BY THOSE THAT CALL IT HOME

By Elliot Johnston Head of Podcasting

Stirling is unique amongst the cities of Scotland. It is the smallest city by population and has only held the title of city for less than 25 years.

Yet, despite its size and misleadingly newly granted city label, Stirling is steeped in over 900 years of history— much of which was spent as the definitive seat of power in Scotland, earning it the far longer bestowed title of “the gateway to the Highlands”.

But reputation and detached statistics can’t really tell you what makes a place special, what gives the place the spark that makes it truly its own.

So, Brig has spoken to several students and residents to find out what they think makes Stirling what it is.

The Perfect Size

By being the smallest city in the country, Stirling feels like it is partway between being a town and a city which is a selling point to many but can have its downsides.

For most students, moving away to go to university means moving away from home and for many, that’s the only home they have ever known. Students that have lived in

small towns or villages their entire lives may want to seek out a large city as a change or an adventure but equally, the concept of moving from one extreme to the other can be massively intimidating and off putting.

Stirling, however, doesn’t sit on either of those extremes. It has a lot of the conveniences of a city but without the overwhelming scale; it has a city’s variety but is still close to nature; it has the connectivity of a city but not the financial cost of one.

Of course, that also means that the city loses some of the best things about both towns and cities. Despite being bigger than a town, it still can’t offer the true variety of a city and, while cheaper than most cities, it is still more expensive than most towns.

Essentially, its scale affords the city a jack of all trades but master of none quality which appeals to a lot of people but will not be to everyone's tastes.

A recent master's degree graduate mentioned that the city's smaller scale also results in significantly less pollution compared to other UK cities she has lived in, saying “After spending time in a city that was super polluted, I felt much healthier in Stirling.”

The lack of pollution can be partially attributed to the city's scale but more importantly, it stems from Stirling's abundant nature.

Natural and historical beauty, intertwined

A lot of the people we spoke to mentioned nature, both in and around the city, as one of their favorite things about Stirling— and for good reason.

The city is full of natural life and has plenty of green spaces such as Kings Park and the Stirling Castle Gardens on top of an abundance of greenery that accents the streets.

Compared to a city like Glasgow, Stirling has much more greenery naturally throughout the city. While both cities do have some lovely parks and green spaces, you need to actively seek out greenery in Glasgow while Stirling has a little on every corner.

This natural beauty wonderfully compliments the gorgeous historical architecture that has defined Stirling for generations and is largely responsible for the city’s popularity with tourists.

Most people would immediately think of Stirling Castle or The Wallace Monument, but it extends far beyond that. The cobbled roads, windy backstreets, historic churches, and pre-war homes full

of life create an aesthetic that few other cities can match.

Importantly, these historical features seem to intertwine with both modern architecture and nature seamlessly, all throughout the city.

A current Stirling University student said ““The nature, architecture and sights are genuinely some of the prettiest things I’ve seen”.

This feeling is a common one amongst the students I spoke to while locals talked more about nature specifically with one saying, “The air is fresh, the area nice and clean the majority of the time… plus the walks are lovely.”

Walking was actually mentioned numerous times both in reference to various routes around the city as well as larger hills and Monroes less than an hour from the city.

Close to everything, far from nothing

While it’s known as the gateway to the Highlands, Stirling’s location provides rather easy access to the entire country. Both Glasgow and Edinburgh are around 45 minutes away by road or rail while the Highlands and the borders can both be reached in under two hours by car or bus.

This central location means that residents can get access to anything Stirling is lacking relatively

easily, and non-residents can visit the city without difficulty.

When speaking to Brig last year, Stirling Provost Elaine Watterson attributed a key part of the city’s economic success to its location as it is “an hour’s drive for nearly half the population” and mentioned that living in Stirling is a popular option for people working in Glasgow or Edinburgh that can’t afford to rent there.

Stirling is a special city, but it is not a perfect city. It has a lot of options and comforts for many different types of people. However, it does lack certain key aspects that other cities possess. But the people are happy— so happy in fact that Stirling was ranked the third happiest place to live in Scotland in Rightmove’s 2024 Happy at Home survey.

The comforts and pace of life seem to suit people; the blend of nature with history gives the city character, and if you find anything is missing then it’s incredibly easy to travel somewhere that has it. It’s that mix of factors that makes the city special. It isn’t one thing; it is a city that is very much the sum of its parts.

Collage of Stirling. Image Credit: University of Stirling (bottom right), Brig Newspaper (all other images on page 24)

STATS SHOW STIRLING BIRTH RATE PLUMMETTING AS LESS YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE CHILDREN

By Emma Christie

Birth rates have been steadily dropping across Scotland over the last 20 years, data from the National Records of Scotland shows. In 2024, 45,763 births were recorded in Scotland which was the lowest yearly total since 1855.

Stirling is among the lowest ranking council areas on standardised birth rates, placing 28th out of the 32 council bodies in the country. The county has also seen a drop in teenage pregnancies, as the 19-years-old and younger age group has seen the largest decrease in births between 2003 and 2023, dropping by 54.8 per cent. Every other age group between 19-years-old and 40-years-old has also witnessed a fall in birth rates.

However, the 40-years-old and above group has seen an increase in births, shooting up by 25 per cent. Parenting Across Scotland reports that on average, the number of children that women are having is on the decline, while the age that women have children at is rising. They also commented on teenage pregnancy, stating that it has fallen more rapidly in deprived areas of Scotland.

Fertility Rate and Widening Age Gap

Irregardless of age, women are also having less children, data from NR Scotland reports.

The fertility rate, which measures how many children a woman gives birth to and is adjusted based on the age of women in the population, has also fallen in Stirling and across Scotland as a whole. If there were no migration, a rate of 2.1 would be needed for the population to replace itself. In Scotland, the fertility rate fell to 1.25 in 2024, down from 1.27 in 2023 and 1.33 in 2022. While the 2024 statistics are not yet available for Stirling, the fertility rate has been on a

downward trend in the last few years, falling from 1.27 in 2022 to 1.26 in 2023.

Scotland’s fertility rate is below the EU average, despite the EU also showing a decrease. In 2023, Scotland sat at 1.27 while the EU’s average stood at 1.38, down from 1.46 the previous year. As well as this falling fertility rate, the death rate has decreased by two per cent since 2023. The total number of deaths in 2024 was 8.7 per cent lower than predicted, contributing to a widening age gap in Scotland.

NR Scotland’s data shows that this age gap is also widening in Stirling, with the number of people aged between 30-years-old and

49-years-old having declined since 2003. Furthermore, the number of residents aged between 50 to 90 has increased in the last 20 years. Currently, 2023’s statistics show that the two largest age groups in Stirling are those aged 20 to 24 and 50 to 59.

Stirling to See Increase in Population by 2028

Despite the decrease in births and the widening age gap in Stirling, the city is still expected to see an increase in population between now and 2028. NR Scotland reports that Stirling will see a projected population increase of 4.8 per cent. However, despite the expected increase, Stirling will still be among

the lowest populated council areas in Scotland, sitting at 24th place out of the 32 council areas.

Average Life Expectancy Increased

NR Scotland also reported on several other statistics within Stirling. The average life expectancy for females was higher than for males (81.9 years compared to 78.3 years). Both are slightly above the Scottish average, which is 80.77 years for females and 76.79 for males, statistics from 2021-23 show.

Data showing Bitrh and Population trends in Stirling.

Graphs created via Canva using data from NR Scotland

Midwife after a successful birth. Image Credit: Pexels.com

WHY I LOVE CAFFE POMPEI SO MUCH

By Isla Barker Lifestyle Editor

My favourite café in Stirling is Caffe Pompei on King Street. I have been coming since first year and fall in love even more every time. The ingredients are high quality, their tea always hits the spot and even when the café is full, the ambience is still peaceful with the right amount of noise. The owners make the café feel like you have stepped into your own kitchen at home.

The chairs, lighting and welcoming smiles wrap you up in a cosy embrace - and that’s before the coffee and baked treats. The café is owned by Mario and Connie Celiberti, alongside their daughters Maisie and Mia.

Caffe Pompei is named after his

Italian hometown. Caffe Pompei’s displays of pastries and posters of Italian destinations make the coffee shop stand out tastefully. The café serves delicious Italian food from pizza, meatballs, cannoli and gelato. They even serve Italian afternoon tea with scones, desserts, and sandwiches.

My partner and I had our first date there, which began our beautiful and exciting relationship. As we sat across from each other, making the other blush or laugh, the world around us blurred: it was just us.

Caffe Pompei brings warmth, joy and a little piece of Italy to Stirling. Everything about it is so wonderful. I love you, Caffe Pompei. Keep shining!

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR SHARING A UNI KITCHEN

By Amelia Fryer News Editor

The time has officially come for many new students to move into university accommodation. While this can be an incredibly daunting and intimidating time, there are many fun and exciting aspects to university accommodation. One of these is sharing your accommodation kitchen! Sure, there are horror stories floating around online of what sharing kitchens can be like, but not everyone’s experience is the same, and sharing a kitchen can be a great way to get to know new people.

Many say that cooking is a fantastic way for people to come together, and kitchens at university are no different. Socialising can be made fun Many people heading to university life for the first time are either one of two things: planning on being a social butterfly, or dead nervous to speak to anyone. The kitchen is a great and comforting place to talk to people and get to know them!

Whether you are all heading to your early 9am lectures and making breakfast or just coming back

and making dinner to wind down for the evening, making food can spark a conversation between anyone. Talking about the food itself is a great way to start, what do you all like to eat? Did you have a list of things to learn to make before moving away from home? How many times this week have you phoned your parents to ask how to operate the microwave or the uni stoves?

Making memories

Once you’ve chatted with your flatmates a few times and gotten to know them, the awkwardness of sharing somewhere to live with strangers will be gone, and you can start making some fond memories. Baking is a great way to socialise with people and have some fun while doing it. Whether it’s cookies, brownies, cupcakes, or even a cake, there is tonnes of fun to be had when baking up some sweet treats to share during those late-night study sessions. There is also an argument to be made that even major kitchen fails can bring out the fun side of everyone. There is no embarrassment in attempting to make something and burning and undercooking it at the same time. On the other hand If

you’re on the other side of the coin and prefer to keep to yourself, that’s perfectly okay too. Sometimes all you want when you’ve had lectures and classes all day is to retreat back to your quiet space away from the business of campus to unwind and relax. Having a set of headphones is a great and subtle way to let your flatmates know that you would prefer to be left alone when making your food. There is no shame in needing some alone time, everyone does, especially when you’ve been talking to people all day already.

Respect

The thing to remember is to be respectful of each other. Making a chores routine planner or list is a really great way to make sure fall outs are avoided. Who needs to take the bin out on what day? Who’s turn is it to clean the bathroom or kitchen? Who’s turn is it to hoover? As long as there is a certain amount of respect in cleaning up after yourself, taking the bins out when it’s you turn, and not stealing anyone else’s food without asking, everything can easily run smoothly and friendly all year round – no matter what side of the coin you’re on.

Fraser of Allander kitchen. Image Credit: Univeristy of Stirling

Inside Cafe Pompei. Image Credit: Independent Stirling

A look at Cafe Pompei. Image Credit: Independent Stirling

STIRLING DISTILLERY TOURSA UNIQUE, HISTORICAL WAY TO GET HAMMERED

By Elliot Johnston Head of Podcasting

Are you a fan of Gin or Whiskey?

Do you enjoy historical fun facts? Have you been looking for a way to get drunk in the afternoon that you can justify to your parents as cultural? Then boy do we have the experience for you. Nestled in the shadow of Stirling Castle, the distillery opened its doors six years ago and began creating small batches of artisan gin.

In the years since, the distillery has also begun producing their own whiskey on site while gin distillation has moved to a larger warehouse. The distillery has also added a fun and unique aspect to their portfolio in the form of Gin and Whiskey tours. While they may be called “tours”, there is far more to them than just fun facts and some poking around. Each tour begins with a refrshing welcome cocktail, gin or whiskey based depending on the tour. Your guide will begin by going through the dark history of the drink accompanied by several historical pictures and art pieces that illustrate each drinks surprisingly dark history.

As you’re led through the history you will also begin to sample all seven of the distilleries' different gins (and gin liquours) or whiskeys. As you sample the gins you will be

told the story behind the creation of each drink and its branding which includes a few local folk legends that inspired the looks of the Red Cap and Green Lady gin liquors.

Once the tales of history and folklore are finished you will then be shown where the magic happens in the distillery room. At this point you will have had a cocktail and sampled five or so different alcohols which makes the historical fun facts all the more enjoyable. To end the tour you’ll sample your final drinks and then be prompted to buy a bottle of your preferred alcohol which is a hard offer to resist thanks to lowered inhibitions and a ten per cent discount.

Overall, the experience is a very fun, and different sort of day out that’s perfect for a history buff or anyone that simply wants to expand that booze-based palette. It also leads perfectly into a night out if you wanted to make the most out of already being quite tipsy.

If you are interested, Brig has arranged an exclusive discount for Stirling University students getting you 20 per cent off with the code STUDENT20, so enjoy responsibility.

Why you should consider getting a slow cooker and what to do with it

By Spencer Haynes Food Editor

The slow cooker is a simple creature, being a heated pot with two, maybe three settings, but it is effective, using the same amount of power as a light bulb to cook meals that would otherwise take hours of pouring over the stove or peaking into the oven. Cooking things for hours on end is forgiving; timings are vague, you can leave them on while you leave the flat, and they tend to have a large basin that’s perfect for meal prepping. While it does require some forethought and planning, for me, throwing some ingredients in a pot one morning is much easier than preparing a whole meal when I get back from a long day, and if you really have the organisational beans in you, having everything prepped and chopped the night before, and

just dumping it all into the slow cooker is a masterful move.

In terms of what you can whack into the slow cooker, here are three ideas and an almost recipe to try with your new best friend.

Consider making a humble Jacket Potato in your slow cooker. Simply pierce the skin a few times with a fork, wrap it in tinfoil, and leave it on low for 7-8 hours or high for 4-5.

Top to your liking and enjoy!

Try making shredded or pulled cheap cuts of meat. Leave a chicken thigh, pork shoulder, or chuck roast in the slow cooker with your preferred seasonings and a little liquid for 6 hours on low or 4 hours on high, and soon you will be able to pull it apart with a fork. This pulled meat can be used in sandwiches, wraps, salads, soups, or as a topping for your jacket potato, also made in the slow cooker.

If you are hosting a Christmas party or feeling particularly festive, they can also keep your mulled

wine, hot chocolate, or hot apple cider warm throughout your holiday gathering.

Any stew or blended soup made on the stovetop can be made in a slow cooker with less labour involved. For stews, combine all the ingredients in the slow cooker, adding a dash of extra water if needed, and cook as usual. If you are using grains like barley or lentils, add more liquid, as they will thicken your stew significantly. If you are using beef, fry before adding to the pot for more flavorful results. If you want chunks of veg, cut them to a slightly larger size than you usually would, as they will dissolve if not. Also, do not include potatoes unless you plan to blend them, as they will make your stew grainy. If you are a fan of cooking—or of home-cooked meals — consider getting yourself one of these miraculous machines.

Outside Stirling Distillery. Image Credit: Stirling Distillery

Jacket Potatoeand onions in the Slow Cooker. Image Credit Spencer Haynes

SPORTS SPOTLIGHT: Louise Duncan Golf Star on The Rise

By Erin Schoolar Sports Editor

The University of Stirling has long been a powerhouse in developing world-class athletes, and while names like swimmer Duncan Scott often make the headlines, golfer Louise Duncan is quickly becoming another name to watch.

A recent BA Sports Coaching gradate, Louise’s time at Stirling perfectly showcases how the University supports student athletes to excel both on the field and in the classroom.

Louise started her journey at Stirling in 2019, stepping onto campus with her sights set high.

As an R&A scholar and a core member of Stirling’s high-performance golf program, she had

access to top-tier coaching, training facilities, and competitive opportunities that allowed her game to flourish.

The University’s support was vital in helping her balance the intense demands of competitive golf with her academic studies.

Her hard work and dedication paid off in a huge way in 2021. That year, Louise made history by winning the British Women’s Amateur Championship, becoming the first Scottish golfer to do so in 24 years.

Her victory was remarkable not only for breaking the long wait but also for the dominant fashion in which she won, setting a record for the largest winning margin in the tournament’s history.

This breakthrough achievement put Louise on the map and opened doors to the highest levels of the sport.

After her British Amateur

triumph, Louise earned invitations to some of golf’s most prestigious professional tournaments.

At the AIG Women’s Open, she impressed everyone by finishing in the top 10 — an incredible feat for an amateur.

This performance earned her the Smyth Salver, awarded to the leading amateur at the event.

Her success continued with invitations to the US Women’s Open and the Evian Championship, giving her invaluable experience competing against the world’s best.

Louise’s story highlights how crucial the University of Stirling’s sports scholarship program has been in fostering her growth.

The program gave her the flexibility and resources to pursue her degree in Sports Coaching while chasing her dreams on the golf course.

Reflecting on her experience,

Fresher's Guide to staying active on a budget

By Erin Schoolar Sports Editor

For many, Freshers’ week is a whirlwind of lectures, late night and learning how to survive in a brand-new environment. Between bouncing to club nights, crawling to lectures and making friends from all walks of life, it’s easy for fitness to slide down the priority list. Staying active doesn't have to be expensive, and thankfully the University of Stirling has plenty ways to get moving without draining your bank account.

The Sports Union

First port of call— the Sports Union. Many sports clubs run free taster sessions during the first few weeks of term, so you can try everything from football to pole fitness without paying a penny. Whether you are planning to join the team or just want to see what exists out there, these tasters are a great way to meet people and find something that clicks. Even if you just go for a laugh and to make friends.

The great outdoors

You don't need a gym membership to stay active at the University of Stirling. You’ve chosen the correct campus to be out and about in nature. With just a good pair of shoes, you are surrounded by hundreds of beautiful walking routes. The loch loop in the heart of campus is a great place for a quick break between lectures, and for the more adventurous, there’s Dumyat Hill, offering one of the best views around. Stirling itself is surrounded by hills, rivers, and woodland paths, making it easy fit walking into your daily routine.

Free Sessions

Louise said: “The scholarship helped me develop and allowed me to get a degree under my belt.”

She credits her growth to the combination of expert coaching and the opportunities Stirling provided to compete internationally.

Now, as Louise steps into the professional golf arena, she does so with a solid foundation built at Stirling — one that blends academic achievement with sporting excellence.

Her journey serves as an inspiring example of how passion, hard work, and the right support system can propel student-athletes to remarkable heights.

Louise Duncan is more than just a champion on the course; she’s proof that the University of Stirling continues to be a hub for nurturing future sporting stars.

If you live in university accommodation there are often free yoga or fitness sessions held in common areas that are open to all students. From morning yoga by the loch to free organised running or walking sessions you can easily make it a weekly routine without a mortgage spent.

DIY fitness

Another good workout partner is YouTube. There are many at home fitness channels. The offer free workouts for any goal possible and every level that could be done in your student accommodation. No equipment is necessarily needed either as body weight exercises are just as effective as lifting weights in the gym.

The bottom line is that staying active at university doesn't mean you have to fork out a bunch of money for a gym membership. With a little creativity and a willingness to try, you can keep fit, have fun and still afford that Wednesday night out.

Louise Dundanc. Image Credit: University of Stirling

By Amelia Fryer News Editor

Why the Mountaineering Club could be the one for you

Starting university is a nerve-wracking experience for all involved. Parents are watching their baby birds leave the nest, and those birds are terrified to learn about real world responsibilities and how to find out who they are. On top of the coursework- that requires an astronomical number of hours to come remotely close to wrapping their heads around- things can get pretty overwhelming.

The main thing that I found helped me get through first year the most was my sports club: the University

of Stirling Mountaineering Club (USMC).

Joining a sports club can significantly improve not just your Fresher’s experience, but also the university experience as a whole. Clubs can provide stability, routine, new opportunities and new experiences as well as friendships that will last a lifetime— ones that you’ll need to rely on. Personally, I am not a sporty person in the slightest. I dreaded PE every single week in high school. In my own time, other than taking care of my horses, I avoided any

kind of sporty activity that existed. So, it’s safe to say that joining mountaineering was a risk, and a great leap. However. I wouldn’t change a thing about that decision, as it turned out to be one of the best ones I ever made.

The USMC may seem like just another sport on the huge list of wonderful clubs to choose from, but it well and truly is special and entirely unique within itself. The community and the sense of togetherness is something that can’t be forced, and something that certainly cannot be replaced.

There’s no denying that mountaineering can be a somewhat dangerous and unpredictable sport. Because of this, I believe that everyone in the club are in some way friends, because in many ways we rely on each other, often both on and off the hill.

Mountaineering is a truly unique thing, and being surrounded by people who share the same passion and drive for adventure and exploration when many don’t dare to is a truly special thing and something to be cherished.

One of my favourite things about

Verstappen Sets F1 Record at Monza as McLaren Drama Steals the Show

By Erin Schoolar Sports Editor

Max Verstappen made a grand return to success at the Italian Grand Prix, producing a flawless performance at Monza and setting a record for the fastest Formula 1 race in history.

The Red Bull driver completed the 53 laps in just over 73 minutes, averaging more than 250 km/h. After no wins since May, Verstappen’s return to the top podium was a clear reminder of his championship form.

The Dutchman led from start to finish, managing his tyres and race pace. Behind him, McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri provided the iconic F1 drama. Norris finished second and Piastri

third, giving McLaren a double podium, but the results were overshadowed by the tension within the team throughout the race.

The drama began with a slow pit stop for Norris, which temporarily left him behind his teammate. McLaren’s response was issuing team orders, asking Piastri to yield his position to Norris. Piastri complied, but the decision stirred debate among fans and analysts. Some argued it was the right strategic call to maximise points, while others suggested it risked disrupting Piastri’s confidence and was used to better Norris’ position in the championship fight.

Despite the swap, Piastri remains the championship leader with 324 points. Norris has now closed the gap to 31 points, making the title race tighter than ever. With both

drivers performing at a high level, McLaren faces the challenge of keeping them motivated and competitive without causing tension that could hurt their title hopes. Further back, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished fourth, narrowly ahead of George Russell in the Mercedes, while Lewis Hamilton took sixth. Ferrari fans hoped for a home race celebration but instead saw Verstappen’s dominance and McLaren’s drama take centre stage. Verstappen, meanwhile, delighted the thousands of Dutch fans at Monza, showcasing why Monza remains one of his strongest tracks.

Pit stops, tyre management, and split-second team decisions shaped the outcome. For Norris, the slow stop and subsequent position swap could have cost him a better result.

For Piastri, yielding points to his teammate may have preserved team harmony but also underscored the fine line between cooperation and competition in a dual-driver championship campaign.

With only a handful of races left in the 2025 season, the championship battle is heating up even more. Piastri still leads, but Norris is gaining momentum, and Verstappen’s resurgence adds a new variable. Every team decision, driver move, and race result will be critical in determining who can claim the title.

At Monza, fans witnessed not only Verstappen’s masterful win but also the high-stakes drama within McLaren. The race was a reminder that in Formula 1, strategy off the track can be just as influential as speed on it.

the USMC is the fact that adventures don’t have to be inaccessible just because equipment can be pricey. The club can often help provide kit.

The committee and club members work so hard together to help turn something quite scary into a really fun and cathartic experience. The thing I looked forward to most when assignments were bearing down hard and the workload (both academically and personally) were too much was going up a mountain at the weekend. Read more online at brignews.com.

First off, it gave me a nagging deadline to roll out of bed for, and an actual consequence for not turning up (who hasn’t been locked out of their uni gym membership before?).

Secondly, and crucially, I found that when going to these classes, I literally had to force my brain to shut up. There wasn’t any space in my head for overthinking and spiralling when all my brain could possibly do was silently curse the instructor as she counted down from ten far too slowly for my fitness level. And whilst I fell over loads of times and felt a tiny bit insecure about the fact that I was fighting for my life in a plank as someone’s granny was sat at the front of the class showing me up, it worked like a charm.

And so, this is your sign. If you’re like me and you’re a wee bit shy in the gym and you’d honestly rather just focus on your degree more than anything, you still need to move your body. And a pigeon pose on a soft mat in a cool gym hall is possibly the least intimidating way to start.

By Jess Urquhart Secretary

FROM BACK PAGE

Cairnwell. Image Credit: Amelia Fryer.

USMC trip to Inverlochy. Image Credit: UNiversity of Stirling Mountaneering Club.

BACK PAGE

At BUCS, the women’s team even beat Loughborough.

When he got named Coach of the Year, he brushed it off, saying it was all down to the athletes and the wider support team. Classic coach answer. But if you talk to Angharad (or anyone in the squad), you realise just how much he’s changed the way they think about training, competing, and even enjoying the sport again.

Cathy’s recognition

Then there’s Cathy Gallagher. She’s been leading Stirling Sport for years and picked up the Honorary President’s Medal for her contribution to student sport across Scotland. It’s not just about medals or big moments for her it’s about using sport as a way to create change, to include more people, and to bring communities together. Last year, she went through breast cancer, but carried on showing up, encouraging others, and staying positive. That’s strength in every sense of the word. Her award is proof that leadership isn’t just about results; it’s about resilience, too.

Why it matters

It’s easy to see these stories as just big wins for elite athletes. But there’s more to it than that. Stirling is showing that this is a place where people can grow and change whether you’re chasing Olympic dreams, finding your confidence on the pitch, or just trying to make exercise part of your routine again.

That’s what makes this hat-trick so special. It’s proof that sport here isn’t just about competition. It’s about rediscovering joy, building community, and pushing yourself further than you ever thought.

Stretching your legs in and around Stirling

Brig’s most brisk and beautiful walks

By Erin Schoolar Sports Editor

Starting university is full of new experiences, but one of the simplest and most enjoyable ways to unwind after a day of lectures is by exploring your new home and going for a walk. Luckily, Stirling and its campus are surrounded by beautiful walks perfect for freshers looking to stretch their legs and clear their heads. Here are a few to check out.

Airthrey Loch Circuit

Right in the heart of campus is the Airthrey Loch Circuit, a 2.3 kilometre loop that takes around 30 minutes at a leisurely pace. It’s perfect for a quick break between lectures or a nice evening stroll with friends. Along the way, you can spot some of Stirling’s local wildlife, like ducks, swans, squirrels, and rabbits. The path is well maintained with little incline but can be a bit rocky, making it suitable for most fitness levels with benches scattered around for much needed nature breaks. Since it’s right on campus, no transport is needed— just step outside and enjoy.

Spittal Hill Woods

For a slightly more adventurous option, head to Spittal Hill Woods. It’s just under 2 kilometres from campus and offers a 1.7 kilometre trail through woodland. You’ll also get views of the iconic Wallace Monument. It’s an easy walk from campus, about 20 minutes on foot, with clear paths winding through beautiful forest. It’s a quiet escape where you can reconnect with nature without venturing too far.

Dumyat Hill

One of Stirling’s best-known local hikes, Dumyat Hill is about a 4-kilometre round trip from the car park at the base. The trail offers panoramic views over Stirling, the River Forth, and the surrounding countryside. The climb takes about two hours for most walkers. It’s accessible from campus by foot, but you can also catch a bus from Stirling city centre that stops near the trailhead at Menstrie Glen. If you have a car, there’s parking nearby, though spaces can be limited.

Riverside Walks, Bridge of Allan A short ten minute bus ride from Stirling city centre will bring you to the riverside paths near Bridge of Allan. These trails follow the River Forth through parks and green spaces, perfect for a peaceful

escape or a spot of photography. If you prefer cycling, it’s an easy ride from campus, and there are parking options nearby if you drive.

The King’s Knot and Bannockburn Heritage Trail

For something a bit different, check out the King’s Knot, an ancient earthwork just 1.5 kilometres from Stirling city centre. It’s an 18th-century garden mound surrounded by woodland paths and is a peaceful spot to relax and reflect. Nearby is the Bannockburn Heritage Trail, where you can walk through the famous battlefield of the 1314 Battle of Bannockburn. This is a flat, easy 2.5-kilometre route with signs telling the story along the way. Both are accessible by a short bus ride or about a 30-minute walk from campus.

Black Hill and Muiravonside Country Park

If you want a longer walk with more variety, Muiravonside Country Park is about 10 miles from Stirling. You’ll need a car or a bus plus taxi to get there. The park has loads of trails through woods and along the river, with the highlight being a climb up Black Hill for great views over the countryside. Trails range from easy to

moderate, and there’s a visitor centre plus picnic spots for a perfect for a day out with friends.

The Loch & Bridle Trail

Another great option close to campus is the Loch & Bridle Trail in Hermitage Woods. It’s about 3.5 kilometres of woodland and open spaces, popular with runners and walkers. The route has a few gentle hills but is beginner friendly. It’s roughly a 15 to 20 minute walk from campus to the trailhead.

North Third Reservoir

If you have a car, don’t miss my recommendation of the North Third Reservoir Walk, about a 15minute drive from the University. It’s a quiet, peaceful spot with a flat, well-kept path circling the reservoir. Perfect for a relaxed stroll or an easy jog. There’s no public transport here, so you’ll need to drive or get a lift, but it’s well worth it for a calm escape.

With so many beautiful walks on your doorstep, freshers have no excuse to stay inside. Whether you want a quick loch-side stroll, a historic battlefield walk, or a hilltop view, Stirling’s scenic routes are the perfect way to stay active, clear your head, and explore your new home.

Brig at the top of Dumyat. Image Credit: Brig Newspaper

SUWRFC – Why You Should Join

By Melissa Thomson Sports Editor

The University of Stirling is known for its sporting excellence, and while amazing, it can be quite overwhelming as a fresher. To make it less daunting I have spoken to five members of the Stirling University Women’s Rugby Club (SUWRFC) who have shared some of their experiences within the club and offered advice to any freshers or returning students who are looking to try something new.

While it is a sport club, you don’t have to be studying a sports-related degree to play for SUWRFC, with members studying anything ranging from mathematics to marine biology. There are also many members who had only been playing rugby for a short period before starting university, and, of course, you don’t need any prior experience to join.

A big part of any society is the socials, and SUWRFC is no different.

When speaking to the SUWRFC, they recounted some of their favourite socials from last year, including Halloween pub golf, moustaches, and grannies and babies.

When asked what their favourite memory of their time with the club was, the responses ranged from the socials, the charity matches for Siobhan and Eilidh, and the supportive atmosphere created by the team.

What would be your best piece of advice for someone considering joining?

“Get stuck in,” Stirling rugby player Lucy said, “Even if you’ve never heard of rugby before give it a go, and don’t feel nervous.

“Coming into the team as a fresher, I felt so welcomed by all the girls and coaches.

“Not once did I feel isolated or embarrassed, if I was unsure about

anything every single person I asked for help gave me amazing advice and didn’t make me feel stupid for not knowing.”

Other interviewees mentioned trying the Give it a Go, socials and training sessions without adding the pressure of playing competitively.

Why should you join SUWRFC?

“It gives you another way as a fresher to break the ice with people in your year and above who can help you with anything about the university you might not understand,” one unnamed Stirling rugby player said, “ It also means you have something to look forward to in the week, and it gives you something to do.”

The others agreed that the socials, sober or otherwise, are a great way to socialise and make friends. They’re all friendly, they stressed- the sport may be aggressive, but the girls are decidedly not.

ANTI-THEFT “BIKE IN ROOMS” SCHEME BY STIRLING CYCLING CLUB

By Erin Schoolar Sports Editor

The University of Stirling Cycling Club has launched a new initiative designed to make life easier and safer for students who bring their bikes to campus. The “Bike in Rooms” project will allow students to keep their bicycles in their accommodation during a trial period, providing extra security and encouraging more students to cycle. For years, bike security has been a concern for students. Many have said they felt discouraged from bringing their bikes to university because of the risk of theft or the lack of safe storage options. By allowing bikes inside accommodation, the club hopes to remove this

barrier and give students greater confidence in cycling around campus and the wider area.

A spokesperson for the club explained: “I’m so proud of our members for everything they’ve done for the challenge, and for the initiative itself.

“We’re hoping new students feel confident and safe in bringing their bikes to uni – as it’s been a hindrance in the past

“ It’s a huge deal for the club and we’re so happy we have a trial period agreed. We hope it can be brought in officially for everyone to benefit from.”

The launch of the initiative runs alongside the club’s fundraising project, Pedal the Planet. Members are attempting to cycle the equivalent of the distance around the

globe, raising money and awareness while showcasing the benefits of cycling.

If the trial period proves successful, the club hopes that the “Bike in Rooms” scheme can be adopted more permanently across student accommodation. This would not only support cyclists but could also contribute to wider university goals around sustainability, health, and reducing car use on campus. The University of Stirling has long promoted active and sustainable transport, and the cycling club believes this initiative could become another important step in creating a greener and more accessible campus for everyone.

University of Stirling Cycling Club. Image Credit: take that photo.

Image Credit: Holly Stodgell

Image Credit: Holly Stodgell

SUWRFC playing against Glasgow University. Image Credit: Ian Irvine-Watson

Stirling Dominates Scottish Student Sport Awards with Hat-Trick of Wins

By Erin Schoolar Sports Editor

At this year’s Scottish Student Sport Awards, the University of Stirling earned its title of Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence by taking home three major awards.

Olympian Angharad Evans took Female Athlete of the Year. Her coach, Bradley Hay, was crowned Coach of the Year. And our very own Cathy Gallagher, Executive Director of Sport, picked up the

Honorary President’s Medal. Angharad’s story

Angharad’s year has been wild. At just 22, she’s already an Olympian, making the final of the 100m Breaststroke in Paris last summer. She then went on to win silver with Team GB at the World Championships in the medley relay. Add in breaking British records, two national titles, plus a handful of BUCS golds and you can see why she’s walking away with this award.

But here’s the bit that makes it really relatable. She nearly quit

swimming. She’d lost the joy, the spark, the reason to keep going. Then she came to Stirling, found her love for the sport again, and everything flipped. Sometimes it’s not about pushing harder it’s about changing your environment.

Now she’s gearing up for the World Championships in Singapore later this month, her first time on that stage. And she’s loving every second of it.

The coach behind it all Bradley Hay isn’t one to hog the spotlight but, let’s be honest, he’s been huge for Stirling’s swimming

success. Eight of our swimmers went to the Olympics last year. Three medals came back. At BUCS, the women’s team even beat Loughborough. When wwhe got named Coach of the Year, he brushed it off, saying it was all down to the athletes and the wider support team. Classic coach answer. But if you talk to Angharad (or anyone in the squad), you realise just how much he’s changed the way they think about training, competing, and even enjoying the sport again.

Read more on page 30.

Happy Baby Pose for Happier Students

By Jess Urquhart Secretary

How Yoga heals the soul, body and academic mind.

For generations, our mothers and grandmothers before us have gotten into fun workout classes. Step aerobics, home videos, whatever Jane Fonda was doing at the time, etcetera etcetera. Our generation? We have fun looking yoga classes that are actually evil. I learned that the hard way.

But here’s your sign to start anyway.

I started yoga as someone who couldn’t touch their toes and was put into a “non-competitive” PE class in school (ouch), so sports have never really been my thing. But eventually you do have to listen to that ever-common study tip, that moving your body does help your head calm down a bit. As someone with no rhythm, Zumba was off the table, so I found a yoga mat and hit a tree pose on command.

What I didn’t realise is that yoga is a bit of a miracle worker for your mental health. According to Harvard Medical School, MRI scans have shown that yogis brains were stronger— they had a thicker cerebral cortex and hippocampus than those who didn’t practice yoga. As an aspirational academic weapon, this would’ve been great information to know sooner.

As well as that, yoga can improve your mood. I was convinced that I was enjoying the wee lie down you get at the end of a yoga class too much, or that maybe I was just obnoxiously relieved that I wasn’t stretching muscles I didn’t know I had anymore. Thankfully, science can explain that I’m not just that desperate for a wee sit down, as yoga can elevate your brain’s levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is associated with decreased anxiety and better mood.

The Human Kinetics Journal has even found that yoga may reduce the short-term symptoms of depression. As someone who suffers from seasonal depression, this was my number one reason for starting. Read more on page 29.

University of Stirling's Award Winners. Image

Credit: University of Stirling.