Brig Newspaper Vol. 55, Issue 4.

VOL.55 ISSUE.4

4 APRIL 2025

STIRLING'S STUDENT NEWSPAPER

THE ULTIMATE SCOTTISH ROAD TRIP

Image Credit: University of Stirling/ Leonie MacLeod Canva.

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EXCLUSIVE: STIRLING UNI Your Guide HALVES SCHOLARSHIPS FOR NON-SCOTTISH UK AND to Stirling's Growing ROI STUDENTS Hip-Hop

By Edward Jewsbury Politics Editor

Non-Scottish UK and Republic of Ireland students starting in 2026 could be entitled to half the total value of scholarships as those who start in 2025, as the University cuts awards.

One award being discontinued after September 2025 is the Undergraduate Merit scholarship, which awards a total of £3,000 cash across the first three years to

Why living off-campus is the way to go Learning how to pay your own bills, being responsible for rent and contracts, and expanding your world beyond the Stirling campus are key steps to a responsible and prepared adulthood.

Read more on p.9

students who achieved the equivalent of AAB at A-Level.

The other two are the Stirling Welcome scholarship, which awards £1,000 in cash in first year, and the Honours Year scholarship, which fully waivers tuition fees in the final year of study.

These three awards are available to non-Scottish UK and Republic of Ireland students and currently have a combined value of £13,535“ although increasing tuition fees

may push this up.

In 2026, they are being replaced with the Stirling Success scholarship, which awards £2,500 cash in first year, alongside £500 credit for campus eateries and sports membership. There is then another £2,000 cash award in fourth year, giving a total scholarship value of £5,000.

The changes were agreed in November and posted to the scholarship section of the University’s website in December. No press release or public statement

INTERVIEW: Stirling alumna publishes novel she wrote at 12

The English literature graduate kept up with writing her whole life, but one story from her preteen years stuck with her.

Read more on p. 5

accompanied the changes.

It constitutes a 63 per cent cut in maximum scholarship value for those who would’ve been eligible for all three awards, and half for those not eligible for the Merit award.

It also removes any tuition fee waivers, and although the Stirling Success award will be compatible with sports scholarships which typically offer waivers, this is still a huge blow to formerly eligible students.

Read more on p.2

Scene p. 10

NEWS NEWS

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CONTINUED: STIRLING UNIVERSITY HALVES SCHOLARSHIPS FOR NONSCOTTISH UK AND ROI STUDENTS

By Edward Jewsbury Politics Editor

EDITORIAL

By Niamh Brook EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

So, this is it. My last print edition as Editor in Chief of Brig Newspaper. A far cry from doodling on UK Government portraits and chasing members of the public with a microphone, but here it is.

Yes, I still do both of those things from time to time.

I'll be graduating at the end of June. I'll be doing so in a much less certain position than I was at the beginning of this year. I'll be moving to a different city, finding a new job, and trying to make it work as a freelancer. Honestly, it's terrifying.

It's also pretty exciting.

Change has never been something I've been particularly good at dealing with. However, I need to get better at accepting it as a natural part of progress.

Now, I'm a published journalistseveral times over. I was Politics Editor for two years, Editor in Chief for one, and coordinator of the Scottish Socialist Youth for two and half years. I work for a charity that manages street papers around the world. I've co-organised anti-war protests, secured Stirling students 24/7 mental health support. I've met and interviewed politicians, musicians, activists, writers and artists. I managed to secure Brig a new office. I've volunteered at Union events and raised more than a grand for relief organisations. All of that would be nothing without the people I've met along the way.

So, to the Scottish Socialist Youth and the whole team at Brig - thank you for putting up with me. A particular shout out has to go to Alex Paterson, Ali Rees and Jess Urquhart, who have sat by me in front of the computer and listened to me rant - thanks for making sure this newspaper still exists.

Thanks to The Courier, for helping us secure four print newspapers this year. A thank you to Nicholas Hargreaves, my biggest fan and the person who keeps me sane.

My fab parents, Lynne and Andy, my wonderful sister Emily, and to Talia, Hunter, Felix, Fern and Kiera, the best study group ever. Love you all x

www.brignews.com /brignewspaper @brig_newspaper @brignewspaper @brignewspaper

Sir Gerry McCormac. Image Credit: University of Stirling

It also removes any tuition fee waivers, and although the Stirling Success award will be compatible with sports scholarships which typically offer waivers, this is still a huge blow to formerly eligible students.

A University of Stirling spokesperson told Brig that the changes were made “in line with the sector”, and that students that started or will start prior to September 2026 will still be entitled to their current awards.

They also said that scholarship information can be found on the University website, the upcoming prospectuses, and offer letters for relevant students.

The cuts, blamed on higher

education funding, have happened amidst a much documented 40 per cent pay rise for University Principal Professor Sir Gerry McCormac over the last two years.

McCormac, who earned £295,000 in 2022, now boasts a salary of £414,000, or double that of the Scottish First Minister.

It is also equivalent to almost 14 times the calculated savings per eligible student that these scholarship changes will produce.

This said, the changes are largely echoed by other higher education institutions in Scotland, who have regularly cited funding shortfalls as the reason for cuts.

Take the University of Dundee for example, who in early March cut 20 per cent of its workforce and blamed a UK higher education sector funding crisis.

STIRLING UNIVERSITY’S EXPERTISE DEMONSTRATED IN UPDATE TO DEMENTIA CARE MODULE

By Kathryn Nutt News Editor

Being Dementia Smart launched in 2014 and has recently been updated to focus on “empowerment and inclusivity”. The module was developed by the Dementia Ser vicesDevelopmentCentre (DSDC) alongside the Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport at the University.

The updated module now incorporates dementia design for undergraduate nurses and paramedics, and meets the values of the Scottish Social Services

Council’s Promoting Excellence framework, becoming the “first of its kind” in the UK. It has been redesigned to include the Scottish Government’s 2023 Dementia Strategy, withassistance from Sarudzai Mutebuka, a Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing at the University andmany other dementia care and health experts.

This incorporation focuses on “dementia friendlyenvironments” and design, dedicating the final semester to this research.

Dementia-friendly design utilises patterns and innovation to make environments moreaccessible and

supportive for those with dementia. This includes dementia-friendly housing,care facilities and social environments, encouraging independence and mobility.

Dementia affects around 50 million people worldwide, with around 850,000 from the UK, and isexpected to rise exponentially in the coming years. Stirling University has an expressedexpertise in dementia care and training, with extensive influence in Scotland and throughoutEurope.

The original module from 2014 was created in collaboration with Alzheimer Scotland

Much of this is due to a recent drop in international student applications across UK universities, who typically pay higher tuition fees in the region of £10,000 to £40,000 per year.

While the data for Stirling is not available, Dundee experienced almost a 30 per cent drop in international student applications between 2023 and 2024.

A Students’ Union spokesperson told Brig that the Union was not made aware of the changes and will be ‘taking the time to assess the impact’ they will have on their members.

They encouraged students that are concerned about whether they’d be affected by the changes to contact the Students’ Union Advice & Help Teams.

and was astarting point for the University’s dementia-related innovation and expertise. The course was aco-winner in the Herald’s Higher Education Awards in 2016, receiving the Enhancing StudentLearning Award alongside Glasgow Caledonian University.

The University also won Best Collaborative at the Blackwood Design Awards in 2018 for theIdris app in collaboration with Space Group. The app has been downloaded over 1,000 timesand helps to analyse the suitability of homes and care facilities for people living with dementia.

The aforementioned dementia design new to the module will encourage this further and utilisethe app to analyse suitable environments.

The DSDC is a knowledge exchange centre at the University formed in 1989 and conductsinvestigations and research into dementia care, ageing, and medical training.

The DSDC is dueto re-launch the Best Practice in Dementia Care Facilitator Training programme on April 28,which runs over four weeks. The programme will create many Registered Facilitators who canthen support colleagues, creating a cascade approach to maximise collaboration and impact.

Alongside all of this, the updated module will continue the University’s leading research and development of dementia care and training, with more students now encouraged and better equipped to go into dementia and elder care.

. Image Credit: University of Stirling

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LOCAL ARTS FESTIVAL RETURNS TO STIRLING THIS JUNE

By Alex Paterson

GAMING LIFESTYLE FEATURES FOOD 20-21 16-17 22-23 18-19 24-25 20-21 26-27 22-23

SPORT 28-32 24-28

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Wildlife conservation society planting flowers last year. Image Credit: UOS Wildlife Conservation Society

Deputy Editor & Film and TV Editor

This summer, Open Studios Stirlingshire returns to offer guests a ‘behind-the scenes’ look at various county artists’ studios and creative processes.

Running from Saturday, June 15 to Saturday, June 23, the locally organised event will feature a range of artists from across the rural Stirlingshire area.

As north as Callander and as south as Strathblane, studios will be open to guests, allowing them to watch artists’ demonstrations, talk to artists and, if interested, buy some artwork.

Some studios will also be offering interactive experiences, where guests can attempt art themselves.

Artists include Sheila Patrick, a Fintry-based willow basket weaver, Mark Drury, a Doune based painter and jewellery upcycler, and Cindy McLoughlin, a Stirling-based potter and artist.

Local artists created the event in 2024 after the previous central Scotland Open Studios event ‘Forth Valley Art Beat’ failed to return after a 12-year stint.

Artist and weaver Katherine Cowtan helps organise the event as well as participating as an artist.

She said: “It is so much fun sharing my craft (silk weaving on a compu-dobby loom) and seeing people try a new skill for the first time – initially they are afraid they

Visitors try silk weaving in Katherine Cowtans studio. Image Credit: Open Studios

will ‘do something wrong’, or ‘break something’, but they quickly get the hang of the process, and a huge smi le spreads across their face!”

Similarly, guests have shared positive stories of exploring previously unvisited parts of the county and trying something new.

Discussing Katherine’s studio and her artwork, one visitor said: “I had never been over the hills before, so I am thrilled to discover this part of Stirlingshire. It is really beautiful here, and I will defini tely be back.”

“Seeing the view of hills from your studio, I can see how your work is inspired by the surrounding landscape.”

A full list of artists, events, and location details (including accessibility details) can be found online at scenestirling.com . Image Credit: University of Stirling

CONSERVATION IN CALLANDER: THE SOCIETY MAKING A DIFFERENCE

By Alice Pollard BRAW Editor

Stirling University’s Wildlife Conservation Society have volunteered with Callander’s Woodland Trust to protect its native woodlands.

On an overnight trip to the Stirlingshire town of Callander, the society helped remove invasive rhododendrons.

The trip embraced conservation efforts whilst offering scenic walks, wildlife spotting, and a hostel stay.

This was to fulfil the society’s conservation goals while harbouring student community.

Callander Woodland is a mixed wood, accessible to locals and visitors on foot from the nearby town.

Featuring waymarked paths and stunning views, the woodland is a highly valued, ecologically important element of Stirlingshire.

However, the spread of invasive Rhododendrons (Rhododendron ponticum) puts these woodlands at

By Anya Diggines Sports Editor

50th Anniversary of Iconic University Race

The University of Stirling’s flagship running event, the Dumyat Hill Race, will take place for its 50th year on Wednesday, 7 May. Described as a fun, challenging event, the run takes place around the University’s campus and doubles as the Scottish Student Sport Hill Running Championship and Scottish Hill Running Race.

The event is supporting The Future Forest Company, which is aiming to turn the Dumyat Hill Race into an “exemplar of sustainable land management.”

Organisation Trees not Tees are offering race entrants the opportunity to sponsor the planting of a tree at Dumyat. They work with events to reduce waste from merchandise and aim to plant enough trees by 2030 to remove 1 million tonnes of Carbon Dioxide from the atmosphere.

risk.

Rhododendron ponticum outcompetes native plants for light and resources, spreads quickly, and carries diseases which are fatal to over 150 native plant species.

The society’s president, George Hassal, told Brig “The reason we worked so hard to remove the rhodies is that they are a non-native invasive species. They spread very quickly on high, peaty ground and swamp out our native plant species as well as poisoning the soil so that no other plants can grow”.

They achieved this by “removing the root ball of the plant and leaving them upside down to dry out in the wind so that they can't grow again”.

He also spoke about the importance of the trip and the impact it had on local conservation efforts: “Our work on removing the rhodendrons absolutely benefited the site, and with such a big team of us, we managed to cover a lot of ground over the two and a half

hours. The group we worked with were over the moon at the work we managed to do”.

Overall, “the trip was enjoyed by all and we certainly felt satisfied (and tired) after our work and we treated ourselves to some pub grub afterwards!

“We absolutely hope to do similar-style trips with the next committee next semester, so make sure to come along!”

The Wildlife Conservation Society is a student-led group, offering practical and fieldwork experience which includes volunteering fieldwork, informative talks, and workshops all directed at protecting and conserving the wildlife of Stirlingshire and beyond.

It is also not exclusively for Environmental Science or Geography students. They have created a space where individuals passionate about nature, animals, and conservation can come together and make an environmental difference.

Elliot Wilkins, 22, studies Envir -onmental Science at the University of Stirling, and will be competing in this year’s race.

He competed in the event in 2023, placing 34th overall, 10th student, with a time of 39:51 minutes.

Wilkins has also spectated the race on a few occasions previously and says that overall, the experience is very positive.

The run is challenging, though, according to Wilkins, who says: “especially at the fence crossing at the Airthrey Estate boundary, as it can get quite clogged up by athletes.”

He says this adds to race though and is something you “just have to factor in when competing.”

Unable to compete last year, Wilkins returns to the race for its 50th anniversary.

He says the main reasons for signing up again are because it is local, well-priced, and the post-race portion of Stovies.

Wilkins comments he isn’t running the race to achieve any

specific goals, rather choosing to take part to see where he is at ahead of the new athletics season.

The event isn’t as spectacular as it may sound though.

Wilkins says there is a handful of hard-working staff and students who do so much for this event, bringing in a lot of positive press for the university.

However, he feels like it is marred by the apparent lack of support from senior members of the university.

Furthermore, the University of Edinburgh’s plans to plant trees on half of the 431-hectare site on Dumyat Hill “will drastically change the dynamics of the race” in years to come.

All racers are welcome to race, and must pre-register online by Sunday, May 4.

Tickets for students are £12, whilst general public tickets are £13, and both can be bought online at Eventbrite.co.uk

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POLITICS SOCIETY HOSTS “WOMEN IN POLITICS” PANEL

By Jess Urquhart Politics Editor

On the 20th of March, the University of Stirling's Politics Society hosted a Women in Politics panel, featuring Maggie Chapman MSP, Claire Baker MSP, and Melanie Ward MP. The event had a small turnout, but participants were very enthusiastic.

Politics Society President Adam Johnson, who organised the event, commented: "We just really hope this is an insightful event for people to come along, from across the spectrum.

"A lot of times we just see what's going on, but it's nice to actually interact and ask," he continues.

"Especially when it's women who are higher up and their experiences, and how we can encourage more people into those spaces, really looking at how their experiences can shape the future for positive for women".

Melanie Ward is the newly elected Labour MP for Cowdenbeath and Kirkaldy, and was formerly a humanitarian aid worker and Chief

Executive Officer of Medical Aid for Palestinians.

She attended the meeting virtually and spoke about her experiences with the "traditions and relics of the past that still dominate everyday life in Westminster" Despite women taking up 40% of MP roles, women in Westminster still face barriers, as Ward discussed the "cultural differences" to Holyrood.

"When some of the Tories talk about Rachel Reeves, the first female Chancellor, they call her "Rachel from accounts" and they sort of try to demean her experience. I've never heard them say that about Gordon Brown".

Claire Baker, Deputy Party Spokesperson for Transport for Scottish Labour, has served as MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife since 2007.

Baker spoke on the challenges that women in politics face due to childcare commitments. "It does have a bearing on people's decisions, at this election we're seeing

. Image Credit: Jess Urquhart

a lot of women not standing again."

For women hoping to go into politics, she advised: "Get involved, there's a lot to be gained from it.

If you really want to get involved, you need to choose a party. There's not going to be a party where you agree with everything, so you have to make some compromises."

Maggie Chapman, current Scottish Green MSP for North East Scotland and spokesperson for the Scottish Greens for Justice, Equality, Human Rights and Social Justice, was elected in 2021.

Chapman joined the panel virtually, and advised women who hope

to go into politics: "Do it! Ask for help, take help when it's offered, and sleep.

"It's just about taking that first step. Importantly, you don't have to take that first step alone. There are other women in politics, and we will help you, that's not confined to party politics.

"It's about using those connections as human beings, that can sustain us through some of those really awful moments".

Lisa Bierling, Secretary of the Politics Society, who hosted the panel, commented: "The panel discussion was an opportunity to

learn from the experiences of incredible women who are reshaping the political landscape.

"Hosting this event reminded me of the importance of spaces where women's voices can be heard, and I'm grateful for the perspectives shared by Claire Baker, Maggie Chapman, and Melanie Ward."

Stirling's Feminist Society expressed their enthusiasm for the event, and their excitement to "have the opportunity to gain some really valuable insight into the experiences of women within a male dominated career field".

Brig reached out to Amy Wilson, a 3rd-year BSc Paramedic Science student and secretary of the society, who explained: “One of the biggest barriers to performing CPR is the fear of doing it wrong. By running this event in a public space, we want to break down that fear and encourage more people to learn this life-saving skill.”

Alongside raising awareness, the event aims to raise funds for public-access defibrillators in the local area.

Defibrillators can be the difference between life and death in a cardiac arrest, yet many communities lack easy access to these vital devices.

“The proceeds from this event will go directly towards purchasing defibrillators for Stirling,” Wilson says.

“Our goal is to ensure that more locations are equipped with this essential equipment, improving survival chances for anyone who experiences a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital.”

How to Get Involved The Paramedic Society is encouraging as many people as possible to take part, whether by performing CPR, learning the skill from professionals, or donating to the cause.

Participants will be able to book slots to take part in the marathon, ensuring that CPR continues uninterrupted for the full 12 hours.

“CPR does save lives,” Wilson emphasises, “by having the knowledge and confidence to assist as a bystander, the outcomes for an individual in cardiac arrest improve.”

Donations can be made at the event, and all funds will go towards purchasing public access defibrillators for the Stirling community.

For more information on how to get involved, visit uosparamedicsociety_ on Instagram.

PRESSING FOR CHANGE: STIRLING STUDENTS COMMIT TO 12-HOUR CPR MARATHON FOR CHARITY

By Dylan Burt The Stirling University Paramedic Society is hosting a 12-hour CPR marathon on April 11 to fund public defibrillators and raise CPR awareness in the community.

The event aims to highlight the life-saving impact of CPR and ensure more defibrillators are available in public spaces to improve cardiac arrest survival rates.

It will take place in the Triangle in the Cottrell building on campus, where participants will work together to keep CPR going continuously for the full 12 hours.

Alongside the marathon effort, volunteers from first aid charities and the Scottish Ambulance Service will be on hand to teach CPR techniques, ensuring that both participants and passersby’s gain the confidence to act in an emergency.

The paramedic society hopes to address the fear and hesitation that many people experience when faced with a cardiac emergency.

. Image Credit: uosparamedicsociety_/ Instagram

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NEWS

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Stirling alumna publishes novel she wrote at 12

. Image Credit: Fran Fullerton . @fran.writes/Instagram

By Leonie MacLeod News Editor

Stirling alumna, Fran Fullerton published her debut novel, An Element of Magic, at the end of February - 18 years after first writing it.

The English literature graduate kept up with writing her whole life, but one story from her preteen years stuck with her. She says: “I'd always wanted to go back to it, I knew it had good bones and a lot of powerful prose.”

Fullerton was encouraged to finally go for it when she got in touch with publisher Adam Beswick at A.P Beswick.

What followed was a full edit and rework of the original draft, where Fullerton made drastic changes.

“It was actually set in the real world post-First World War,” she said.

“And I just decided when I was redoing it to create my world, because then I was able to do more with history and more with the lore.”

The fantasy novel follows Rose, who lives in a magical world but is powerless, despite promises that she would have the powers of her family.

. Image Credit: A.P Beswick

When her parents die in a mysterious car crash, she must take advantage of her non-magical powers to keep her sister safe and find out what really happened among a cast of murky characters.

This is just the beginning for the author, who wrote eight other books to accompany An Element of Magic. Not all of them are likely to make the edit but Fullerton estimates that six or seven are definitely making it past publishing.

“I haven't dug too deep into those later ones just yet, so I don't know what nuggets I'm going to find,” she says.

Fullerton offers advice to others with that one draft from younger years - “Don't be afraid of the cringe. Lean into it”.

An Element of Magic can be found on A.P Beswick’s TikTok shop, which offers bundles with freebies.

It is also available on the A.P Beswick website and Amazon.

There is also an audiobook in the works, although Fullerton asserts that the narration would be “best left to professionals”.

MINIATURE HORSE THERAPY AT STIRLING UNIVERSITY

By Amelia Fryer

Miniature Horse Therapy is set to be held at the University of Stirling during the months of April and May as part of the Be Connected programme.

From 12-2pm on April 19, 26, May 3, and May 10, 2025, students will be able to visit and spend some quality time with the horses in order to help students relax and reconnect.

Lunar Eclipse EFL Therapy Horses CIC Lunar Eclipse EFL (Equine Facilitated Learning) Therapy Horses CIC is a non-profit organisation that aims to focus and nurture the deep connection between humans and horses.

They have an affectionate herd called the Hoofgang. The herd is made up of ten horses, including

miniature horses, ponies, and fullsized equines - all of which bring a different quality to the herd.

Why Horses?

The horses’ empathetic way of being creates a comforting and safe environment. Like therapy, this allows people to explore their emotions, building trust and confidence within themselves. Simply grooming and feeding the horses can encourage a sense of responsibility and accomplishment.

Interacting with them can also lead to better regulation of emotions, reduced stress, and improved self-esteem.

The timing is no coincidence, either, with Stirling University’s website stating that it is, “the beginning of a new partnership with the University and have been designed

Refresh repurposed: campus outlet to become “social space” for students

By Charlotte Munday Stirling University’s “Refresh” will reopen as a social space for students, the university says.

The catering outlet will stop selling food and drink for the foreseeable future, with the building remaining open for students to study and socialise.

Located under the Willow Court Student Accommodation block, Refresh provides a place for students to relax close to where they live, previously with the option to order food and get drinks from the bar.

The outlet provided students with a range of different food options throughout the time it was open, updating and changing their menu regularly to meet the wants of the students. Changes in business levels and the unit's popularity led to the decision to close the bar and kitchen.

The area will remain a space for students to unwind in between classes, focus on university work and chat with friends. The pool table and foosball will be available around exam period”.

The horses will be on campus for a limited time so therapy will be allocated to small groups and that signs ups are needed in order to indicate numbers.

Allocation will be on a first-come, first-served basis with around five minutes for interaction and photos.

The University have also stated that they expect it to be a well-attended event so get there early and be prepared to queue which will run around the small loch from Haldane’s outdoor entrance.

Sign-ups are free so if you want a chance to spend time with the horses sign up now on the University website. . Image Credit: Lunar Eclipse EFL Therapy Horses CIC

for students to use, along with the televisions.

Refresh’s full food and drink menu will still be provided at Venue, another University owned Cafe Bar, with popular lunch options such as wraps, burgers and loaded fries.

Some concerns have been expressed over the changes to Refresh, with some students mentioning their disappointment with the outlet closing for food and drink. One third-year student stated that people “won’t be going out of their way to utilise areas only for social reasons, when they can just stay at home with their friends instead”.

Others have been sympathetic towards the University’s difficult decision to close the outlet for catering purposes, and are positive about the unit staying open as a social space. Another third-year student said “I’m obviously upset that Refresh has closed for food and drink, but I'm glad to see that it’s still open for use as a social space where I can hang out with my friends or do some work.”

Stirling University was contacted

for comment on the closures at Refresh. A spokesperson for the University said that “Following a review, the kitchen and bar service at Refresh has been withdrawn.

However, the space continues to be available to students as a place to meet and relax, play pool, and watch television. A food and bar menu may be offered for special events.

"A wide and diverse range of food and drink outlets are available across campus, covering breakfast, lunch, dinner, evening refreshments and everything in between.

Refresh is open as a social space from 11am to 10pm, seven days a week."

The Student Union commented: “We understand that the University needs to assess the operation of its outlets to best meet the needs of students and respond to where students are making use of their services.

In taking the action they have with Refresh, we are pleased to see that the facility will remain as a social space for students to use”. . Image Credit: University of Stirling

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POLITICS

TRUMP/ ZELENSKYY: A BREAKDOWN OF WHAT’S HAPPENED

by Amelia Fryer

A great deal has happened in the political world since the explosive meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump on February 28, 2025 in the Oval Office.

So, what’s happened since then and what could happen next?

The Meeting in the Oval Office The meeting on February 28 was regarding the potential signing of a deal surrounding the minerals in Ukraine in order to provide the US with a larger role in the country’s future.

The Ukrainian President was optimistic to leave with an even more secure relationship with Trump and the US - however in 10 rapid, heated minutes the meeting broke down, and no deal was signed.

It can be seen that Zelensky made an attempt to defend himself as he stated “During the war, everybody

has problems, even you. But you have a nice ocean and don’t feel [it] now, but you will feel it in the future.” Trump then quickly retaliated against this by raising his voice and saying, “Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel.”

Tensions grew rapidly as little could be heard in and amongst the arguing. However, a shocking and potentially game changing statement could be heard as Trump tells Zelensky “You’re gambling with World War Three.” This can be seen as a huge potential turning point as while in a meeting to discuss furthering the effort for peace, the potential for a devastating third world war was brought up instead.

What’s Happened Since Then So, what has happened in the aftermath?

Trump later stated shortly after the meeting: "It's amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelensky is not ready for peace if

America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations.

I don't want advantage, I want PEACE." Following this Zelensky stated that what happened in the Oval Office was “Regrettable” and that

it is “Time to make things right”.

Following these events the first meeting since the one in the Oval Office was held between Trump and Zelensky as the two had what was reported as an hour-long phone call. Trump called this phone conversation a “very good” one.

The pair have seemed to have had a rocky relationship so far, however with the right moves, negotiations, and compromises peace can be secured and the war in Ukraine can come closer to an end.

- Scottish Labour’s former leader Richard Leonard.

- SNP Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government Shona Robinson.

- SNP Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop.

- SNP Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

- Former leader of the Scottish Conservatives Douglas Ross.

Former Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism, Fergus Ewing also said that he wouldn’t stand for the SNP in the 2026 election but hinted that he may run as an independent.

Reform UK internal drama

Senior Reform UK officials fought amongst themselves throughout March, as Rupert Lowe criticised Nigel Farage’s leadership in an interview with the Daily Mail.

In the interview, Lowe described Reform UK as a “protest party led by the Messiah”.

In response, Farage suggested that Lowe was “completely wrong”, and Reform is not a protest party.

Two days after the Mail interview, Reform reported Lowe to the police over allegations that he had made verbal threats of physical violence to Chairman Zia Yusuf in December and February.

The party also suspended the whip for Lowe, stating that he had failed to comply with an internal investigation over alleged bullying in his parliamentary office. Lowe rebuked this, saying the statement was published before an investigation had begun and all allegations were untrue.

Private WhatsApp messages between Farage and an anonymous source were then leaked to the BBC in which Farage suggested that Lowe was suspended “because he is damaging the party just before elections,”, before suggesting “of course” Lowe’s suspension was about the investigation into bullying, and the Mail piece was just a “side issue.”.

UK Government cutting costs The UK Government took some

wide sweeping measures to cut some government spending in March.

Most notably, some disability benefits were slashed, and NHS England was set to be abolished.

The key changes to disability benefits, intended to save £5bn per year, were stricter tests for personal independence payments (Pips), a halving of universal credit’s incapacity benefits for new claimants, and reduced incapacity benefits for those under 22.

Most of the measures applied to Great Britain, although the changes to Pips will only apply to England and Wales.

Northern Ireland makes its own benefits rules, although typically mimics the changes adopted by Westminster.

The Government also announced the abolition of NHS England, with an intention to ‘cut bureaucracy’ and the running costs of the NHS. Despite the worrying headlines that this caused, NHS England is just an administrative body made up of bureaucrats and managers that decide where to funnel government money in order to get the best results.

It was established in 2011 and rebranded in 2013 and employs the equivalent of 10,000 full-time staff.

Government sources believe the move will save £500m a year.

The Oval Office. Image Credit: Pexels

MARCH 2025 IN POLITICS: THE UK

Month in Politics logo. Image Credit: Edward Jewsbury Listen to new Brigcast episode: "Politics talks UK party leaders"!

by Edward Jewsbury Politics Editor

Various MSPs announced their intention to stand down next year, Reform UK squabbled amongst themselves, and the UK Government sought to cut civil service spending.

MSPs standing down Six MSPs, including former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, announced their intention to stand down at the 2026 Holyrood election.

Those that announced they were standing down in March were: - SNP Deputy Presiding Officer Annabelle Ewing.

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REFORM UK PROJECTED TO WIN SCOTTISH SEATS IN 2026 HOLYROOD ELECTION

by Innogen Robertson

Reform UK has reached the highest Scottish vote share ever; a new poll conducted by Survation shows.

The poll on Scottish voter intentions was undertaken on behalf of public relations agency Quantum Communications.

The Survation poll finds that if the next Holyrood election happened tomorrow, Reform UK would come third place in voter intentions. The populist party would win 17 per cent of the constituency vote. Voting intentions for the Conservatives in constituency polling were five per cent less.

For regional vote shares, Reform UK would have 16 per cent, three per cent more than that of the Conservatives.

Based on a Holyrood poll from January there has been a four per cent increase in Reform UK’s vote share in Scotland.

Reform is Attracting four in 10 Conservatives Despite Reform UK’s rocky electoral beginnings as The Brexit

Party, in Scotland the party gained +6.5 per cent of the vote share in the 2024 general election. The Scottish Conservatives had a share change of -12.4 per cent.

Now, four in every 10 of those who voted for the Scottish Conservatives in the 2021 Holyrood election would now back Reform UK. The party won seven per cent of the votes with Scottish voters at the general election. This result suggests more electoral success could be on the horizon in 2026, coming at the expense of the Conservatives.

The newly elected leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Russell Findlay, has said the party is in trouble as Reform gains prominence in Scotland. This concern was raised after Renfrewshire Council's Alec Leishman defected to Reform.

“What has been shown in recent by-elections, and indeed the previous general election, is any vote in Scotland for Reform is only going to benefit the SNP,” Findlay outlined.

Reform is also enjoying support from other major parties – 10 per cent from the SNP, 12 per cent from Labour and eight per cent from the Liberal Democrats.

The Success of Populism Just before the general election of last summer, Scottish voters were focusing on practical issues. According to Economics’ Observatory, these issues were devolution, the economy and cost-of-living.

Farage has seemingly capitalised

on these broadly felt concerns.

Recently he lambasted Chancellor Rachel Reeves over her economic plan for the UK, stating: “Shouldn’t we tell people that actually they are getting poorer?”

Farage’s partial focus on relevant economic problems has likely added a level of credence to Reform’s image and allowed them to find favour with Scottish voters in turn.

As his presence in UK politics grows, we may see a stronger hold on Scotland in the future.

(Above) Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK. Image credit: members.parliament.uk.

(Below) Reform UK logo. Image Credit: Reform UK

through a leader or even a small council, just so long as their power is absolute and minimises the risks of returning to the state of nature (the period of human history where no government existed).

The House of Lords debate is a tug-of-war between unique visions of good governance. Locke, the promoter of liberal democracy, argues

that legitimate government is built on the consent of the governed, and the House of Lords undermines this principle. This critique is reflected in relevant frustrations, such as the Lords blocking the 2012 Reform Bill, which aimed to introduce elected peers. Hobbes, valuing stability above all else, would dismiss both the Lords and democracy,

favouring absolute power. The Lords’ role in delaying Brexit legislation in 2017, despite public mandate, might be seen as instability Hobbes would wish to avoid.

POLITICAL PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES: THE HOUSE OF LORDS DEBATE

by Paul Smith

The House of Lords is a peculiar mix of tradition, political power, and aristocratic governance. The political institution is undemocratic, with unelected members influencing legislation. It is no surprise that one questions: Should the House of Lords exist today where democratic governance is seen as the gold standard of government?

John Locke, the empiricist philosopher who inspired the sentiment of the US Constitution, created liberal democracy. Locke is well known for his theories on the natural right to ‘life, Liberty and property’ and the social contract.

Legitimate government, according to Locke, was founded on the consent of the governed, not through heredity aristocratic rule.

Locke would find the existence of the House of Lords a contradiction to the very principles of democratic governance. To Locke, any institution in government that permits

individuals to exercise power without the consent of the governed violates the principle of justice.

Locke’s verdict: The House of Lords should not exist in a modern democracy, and it opposes the democratic principle that legitimate authority is grounded in the consent of the governed.

Shifting gears to Thomas Hobbes, the philosopher with a dark view of human nature, argued that life without absolute government would be “nasty, brutish, and short”.

Interestingly, Hobbes’s political philosophy would oppose the House of Lords. Not because it is undemocratic, no, Hobbes didn't care much for democracy, but because the House of Lords may risk political instability. In this regard, Hobbes would disregard the House of Commons or any democratically elected branch of government.

Instead, Hobbes’s vision for good government would consist of absolute authority. This could be

The Houses of Parliament. Image Credit: Pexels

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COMMENT

First year away from home: completed it

By Sarah de Beer University of Stirling was my first choice in my UCAS application because I would have to move into accommodation to go to this university.

I had plans for my first year and I knew if I commuted, I wouldn’t have the same experiences I wanted out of university.

My other choice was University of Strathclyde and since I already spent a year commuting to City of Glasgow College for my HNC – my parents knew I could handle a commute for this university (doesn’t help that my sister has commuted to University of Glasgow for four years already).

I didn’t want that experience for four years though – I already had it for one year and that was enough.

Waking up at 6am to make it to my bus in time for a one hour and a half commute was something I would gettired of after a while.

It would make joining societies hard as well – since most university societies start between 6pm and 7pm (which was the time I would arriveback home during my year at college – I wouldn’t have joined any societies with that mentality).

During my first year at the University of Stirling, I have joined six societies – I will admit that I went overboard with the societies – because I have freedom to do whatever I want. The type of freedom I didn’t have at home. I could come back to my flat at 3am and no one would bat an eye – they’re just flatmates after all, not my parents that cared about that.

I have grown in ways that I never would have if I stayed at home during this year at university – from cooking for myself (I still struggle with that, it’s not my forte) to socialising with different groups of people. When people told me that university speeds by and you would blink and you’re graduating – I thought they were lying, until I was looking at my laptop writing this article and thinking: ‘Where did the time go?’

First year was a whirlwind of experiences that I can’t believe I was lucky enough to experience – it may be coming to an end, but it’s also the start of best years of my life and I am so grateful I chose University of Stirling to be where I have those years. . Image Credit: Pexels

Why I love summer

By Plum McKechnie Lifestyle Editor

. Featured image credit: Pexels

The sun is shining, birds are chirping, trees and flowers are vibrant and full of life. It's warm everyday and it's light out longer than it's dark.

Everything feels so much more productive in the summer. Waking up earlier, going to sleep later and enjoying every little bit of sun you can get. It's almost like I get a newfound joy for life when summer rolls around.

Even the activities you can do are better. Beer gardens, swimming, hikes, picnics in the park, going to the beach - the world is open to possibilities of new things you can't do in the colder months.

Maybe it's the extra vitamin D, or the release of the stress university brings, but I can't help appreciating things around me so much more when it's sunny and warm out. I go for a walk thinking about how lucky I am to get to experience such a nice day.

All I want to do is go outside and explore and see the world bright and happy. I find the summer such a positive time of the year. You’ve got a break from uni for a few months, the opportunity to travel

and work and experience new things, it's amazing.

Sitting in a park, watching all the little animals and bugs soak up the sun. Butterflies and bees shooting past you, everything feels so fresh. There's no pressure, it feels like the days are endless.

I find during the summer I don’t waste so much time on mundane activities. Instead of spending hours scrolling on my phone, or watching the same TV series over and over, I feel like my day is more open and free to do whatever I want to. I'm not held back by the dread of going out and facing the cold.

Even going to work is better.

Gone are the days of starting work at 8am while it's dark out and finishing at 4pm for the darkness to be back. As much as I'd rather be out in the sun, it's so much better to leave wrok and it's still light out.

To me, summer feels like happiness. It feels like a fresh start and the perfect time to quit old habits and start something new. It gives me the urge to skip around town, singing and dancing like I’m in a musical. That's why I love summer. . Featured image credit: Pexels

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COMMENT

Social Media: Friend or Foe?

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Social media: it is something that slowly but surely has not only made its way into the modern world, but it has helped to shape and create it.

Instagram, Snapchat, the infamous TikTok, Linkdn, Facebook, WhatsApp, Pinterest, Wattpad, and even sites like Wikipedia have slithered their way into our lives and made a lasting impact.

With updates every day and the developers producing new ideas – the human society is becoming an entirely online world of electronics, influence, and thoughts.

But there are differing opinions of the use of social media and whether or not it is a benefit andimproving our society and human culture, or if it is diminishing it.

So, is social media a friend or a foe to humanity?

end does the opposite.

Cyberbullying is also a huge issue surrounding social media, especially for young people. Rather than causing conflict in person, cowering behind a screen is often what online criminals do to attack their victims as they can hide behind a fake username.

Fake news can be easily spread as a simple rumour can start from a post on X or Instagram and cause a ripple effect of something that has never really happened. This can be dangerous as falseaccusations can be spread around like wildfire.

There is also an area of increased body-image issues.

Clothing brands and celebrities post abouttheir new clothing or even just a photo shoot can very quickly cause people to think that their bodytype is not ‘normal’ as it’s not the same as a photoshopped image online.

Social media is looked down on by many people. From spreading fake news to privacy concerns, there are many things in the world that can make social media unsafe.

It is possible for people to spend too much time on social media, causing feelings of FOMO and increased stress, depression and low mood. It is scientifically proven that being outside improves our mood; being inside and staring at a screen while scrolling for hours on

While there are many disadvantages and arguments as to why social media is a negative thing forsociety, it has been proven to be a great way of spreading awareness on important topics and also spreading positivity throughout the world.

Many influencers take to social media to spread kindness and positivity. People in professions suchas healthcare, therapists, nutritionists, journalists, beauty influencers

By Amelia Fryer

Disadvantages of Social Advantages Media Media

of

Social

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and so many more take to sitessuch as TikTok and Instagram to share their thoughts to ‘influence’ people on how to improve their lives.

These sites are also used by mainstream news agencies like Sky News and the BBC to share news as well as through the newspapers. This is due to the enormous number of people in the world that now rely on social media sites rather than any other form of media. This means important stories of things going on in the world can be shared to more people.

Social media has also been used to raise money for charities and used to spread awareness about fundraising such as for animal charities, cancer research charities and mental health charities.

This means that more people can learn about these important issues and even donate money online.

These sites can be a great way for people to meet through online dating apps and even just apps to make friends. Social media also allows people to stay in touch with friends and family when far away from them, it also makes long distance relationships easier as facetime can keep people connected. . IImage Credit: Pexels

OPINION: City Centre Superiority: Why living off-campus is the way to go

Stirling. Image Credit: Brig Newspaper

By Alice Pollard BRAW Editor

First year was over, and summer loomed. With it, the challenge of finding a private flat in Stirling. It was no mean feat - my summer became filled with unsuccessful flat viewings and numerous rejections, accompanied by lengthy emails with estate agents and no successwith our student accommodation back-up option.

One year later, and student living has never been better. Here’s why putting the effort in is so worth it.

Independence and community

When you get your own keys from the estate agent, you begin to feel like a real grown-up…just a little bit. Having an independent flat contract, setting up energy accounts, dealing with council tax exemptions and understanding how the Stirling bins work (I’m still not sure) pushes you into facing the real world without throwing you in at the deep end. It’s exciting, rewarding, almost thrilling in a super strange, tear-inducing way. I felt like I was evolving as an adult, upgrading slightly beyond who I was in student halls, and seeing the real world for what it really is (bad, honestly, but it’ll get you at some point - so why not now before you actually have to pay the council

tax?)

It’s beautifully rewarding to view flats with your friends, find the people you want to come home to, and build a little home together.

Arguing over charity shop art and who has to sacrifice their kitchenware is a soul-warming step in life, and one that forms a fond, if frustrating at the time, memory.

Affordability and Control

My little two-bed city centre flat costs way less than what we were paying on campus, and it is immensely satisfactory. This is not always the case, of course - on campus, I paid ~£636/month (Juniper/ Willow Court prices 23/24). In the city centre, I am paying £475/ month in rent, plus £44/month in bills, totalling £519/month.

For less money, we have the freedom of our own little kitchen, a comfy sofa, wall art and fairy lights in the living room, and the world on our doorstep. Sure, we share a bathroom, but that’s okay if you pick your flatmate(s) wisely (I did get lucky with mine, so I may be biased).

Commuting to university is way better than commuting to the pub

I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather suffer through the Unilinks to attend classes than struggle with them for social

occasions. Leaving the pub at midnight to roll into bed only ten minutes later is a joyful feeling that only comes from previously experiencing an early- morning bus.

Commuting to campus can be a pain; we all know that. However, I have yet to miss a class (or even skip a 9 am, not to brag) since living in the city. Compared to being on campus, I only have to leave the flat 20 minutes earlier - e.g., I leave at 8:20 am for a 9 am in comparison to 8:40 before. It’s really, really not a huge difference… especially when you can detour past Greg’s.

But what if I don’t want to live in town?

That’s okay! Some people prefer the quiet of campus, the accessibility to Dumyat and the woodlands, and rolling out of bed and straight into their 9 am. It’s a wonderful way to do it, and I loved it in my first year. However, after that initial first year settling-in period is over, a change of scenery is really beneficial. Learning how to pay your own bills, being responsible for rent and contracts, and expanding your world beyond the Stirling campus are key steps to a responsible and prepared adulthood.

Bite the bullet and view some flats - you never know, you might find your next little home.

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MUSIC

Your Guide to Stirling's Growing Hip-Hop Scene

By Robbie McAvenue Music Editor

Stirling’s vibrant music scene is home to lots of underrated gems, but perhaps most niche of all is its vibrant and growing rap and hiphop scene.

Big names in the Stirling scene include rappers like Pro-Focus, IC1 Steven and Bentley, and drill producer F1 who put Stirling on the map with a drill remix of Adele’s Hello which has now amassed well over 7M views on YouTube.

Now, with rappers from Stirling, Falkirk and Alloa gaining more traction through rap-exclusive nights and social media platforms like TikTok sending careers to new heights, Stirling’s rap scene is blossoming.

One rapper leading the charge in Stirling’s hip-hop scene is [name], aka Pro-Focus. Since moving to Stirling in 2018, Pro-Focus has seen Stirling’s scene die off during

COVID and re-emerge post-pandemic with new names.

He said: “The Stirling rap scene is mainly made up from people outside of Stirling and it wouldn’t be what it is without people coming from other scenes and cities.”

Pro-Focus is unique because he spits bars in an unapologetically Scottish accent, something he believes is a barrier other Scottish rappers need to overcome before Scottish hip-hop can break through into the mainstream.

He said: “The sooner we hear more of our own voices on TV and radio, the sooner we’re gonna embrace our accents.”

Now, Stirling’s hip-hop scene is evolving thanks to rap open-mic night ‘Bars at the Bar’, which ProFocus and fellow rappers/producers IC1 Steven and F8 helped set up back in 2022. Since then, it’s been a permanent fixture at local pub Nicky-Tams every second Thursday.

For Steven Pyatt, aka IC1 Steven, Bars at the Bar is as much about fostering talent as it is fostering community. He said: “It’s like going to the gym and training. It’s practicing your craft in front of people and getting an idea of what does and what doesn’t work.”

Scottish hip-hop is still small compared to English hip-hop, but there’s a growing momentum.

Edinburgh rapper Nova won Scottish Album of the Year in 2020, meanwhile the Stranraer-raised Bemz has played TRNSMT countless times and Grime MC Shogun has racked up millions of views rapping in a thick Glaswegian accent.

“It [Scottish rap] is chopping and changing as it always has, it fluctuates. But it’s never been as big as it is now and we are starting to see it grow in places like Stirling and Falkirk like never before.”

Stirling rapper Pro-Focus performs at Nicky Tam's 'Bars at the Bar'. Image Credit: Theodore Barrett-Marshall

LIVE: The Wombats Electrify Glasgow's OVO Hydro

By Natalie Dineen

The Wombats are no strangers to Glasgow, this was their twentieth time playing, but first appearance at the Hydro. Image Credit: Julia Friedland-Godfrey

The Wombats burst into Glasgow’s OVO Hydro on Tuesday, March 25, with an energy you wouldn’t expect on a school night.

Playful and heartfelt, their music had every corner of the stadium on their feet with new hits and classic bangers alike.

They started the evening with Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come, which was the lead single from their new album Oh! The Ocean.

It’s evident from this song that the band have injected a fresh funky feel into their new music, on top of that classic 00’s feel.

Lead singer Matthew Murphy revealed that this is the twentieth time The Wombats have played Glasgow, and they have a “big fat juicy love” for the city.

He continued: “One of our first gigs out of Liverpool was King Tuts”,

with drummer Tord Overland Knudsen chiming in, “Can we play Glasgow more?”.

While the crowd turnout may not have been the biggest to ever attend the Hydro, the performance from The Wombats’ passionate energy would have you believing that this was a sold-out show at Wembley Arena.

Following the trend of many touring artists of late, the band had their fans vote on social media for a surprise song out of three options.

In the end, 1996 off their 2011 album The Modern Glitch, had the audience bouncing.

The band are known to engage full-heartedly with their fans, even allowing a lucky few to join them on stage under the condition they dress as the wombat himself.

This time, a rowdy Glaswegian wombat ended up chasing the

band around stage while playing the trumpet during Ready For The High.

Of course, the band ended the night with their nostalgic classic Let’s Dance to Joy Division, and then rallied up the Glaswegian crowd to “give it the big ‘yin Glasgow” before playing a terrific encore of fan favourite songs Can’t Say No, Turn, and Greek Tragedy.

The Wombats clearly care about their fans and their music, and that comes across onstage through their playful banter with one another, and how much they just love being on stage together.

The band seems to have never really grown up, still as cheeky and playful as they were back in 2007. They attracted a wide range of ages to the gig and showed that their music is timeless.

Listen to their new album Oh! The Ocean on Spotify and Apple Music now.

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OPINION: WE NEED MORE PLUS-SIZED PERFORMERS IN MUSIC VIDEOS

By Plum McKechnie Lifestyle Editor

These past few years, body positivity has been a strong topic throughout the media. Brands are beginning to be more inclusive to all body types, there's more focus on embracing your body on social media and not criticising people based on how they look.

Despite this, there’s still an enormous lack of plus-sized performers in music videos. A prime example of this is a recent Vogue advertisement, which was a dance performance of You Can't Stop the Beat from Hairspray.

Although Hairspray centres on Tracy Turnblad, an unapologetically plus-sized main character, Vogue’s music video did not include a single plus-sized performer.

This music video would’ve been a great opportunity for Vogue to be more inclusive towards plus-sized performers since one of the main themes in Hairspray is how plussized dancers are often overlooked, despite their talent.

Inevitably, the video sparked

outrage. One YouTube commenter said: “Yeah Vogue… this isn’t it. But you’ve never cared about plus-sized people so why are we shocked?”

This isn’t the only example of the music industry’s lack of inclusivity for plus-sized people. In 2023, Australian YouTube star-turnedsinger Troye Sivan faced backlash for including zero body diversity in the video for his hit song Rush, which only used slender models.

In 2025, music videos should not be this exclusive. To make matters worse, it seems like the music industry and the wider media landscape is regressing. Vogue Business’s Autumn/Winter 2025 size inclusivity report found that plus-sized fashion made up only 0.3% of AW25 looks across Paris, London, New York and Milan fashion weeks.

Plus-sized people should be able to watch a music video or attend a fashion show without instantly noticing that only one type of slender body is represented. The “look” or weight of a person should not be considered more important than their talent.

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Gigi Hadid performs as Tracy Turnblad in Vogue's rendition of plus-sized positive musical 'Hairspray'. Image Credit: Vogue / YouTube

PICKS: 4 Underrated Scottish Stirling Uni Crowns Battle of EDITOR Artists to Stream in 2025 the Bands Winner

By Robbie McAvenue Music Editor

By Gabriel Dimarucut The final Stirling Music Quest battle of the bands was held on Monday, March 17 at the Students’ Union Venue, where four finalists from previous rounds came to battle it out for the accolade of best band in town.

Starting in late January, Stirling Music Quest has been a Mondaynight favourite for the last two months, with the winning band being given a professional recording of their single at Studio 1790.

Kicking off the night was an emotional performance from solo artist Camille, aka CJ. She sang a captivating combination of both original songs and covers of popular ballads like Adele’s Make You Feel My Love and Billy Joel’s Vienna.

Next up was another solo act, Will Treeby, who a strong catalogue of Scottish folk-inspired songs. This vibe was especially prevalent in his last song Pride, a song all about Scottish nationality and the pride of Scottish heritage.

The third act of the night was Falkirk-based group Taz and the Maniacs. Despite missing a drummer, they still executed a standout performance and also had a strong Scottish folk influence in their music. Their bassist was a standout.

The final performance was from East-Kilbride indie band The Karavats. Their youthful energy electrified the stage and the crowd,

TAALIAH Glasgow’s TAALIAH took the world by storm with the release of her sophomore album Gramarye at the end of 2024 – a lonely yet danceable visage into the artist’s mind. Recommended project: Gramaraye (2024)

covering popular hits from bands like Oasis and Fontaines D.C. Their lead singer commanded the stage and even shared a pint with his bandmates.

So, after that – who won?

After brief deliberation, the panel of judges concluded that Will Treeby was the most deserving winner of the recording session at Studio 1790.

Judge Rachel Buckley said: “We thought his [Will’s] performances were really good and he was able to make his songs really original and creative, especially as a one-man band.”

COMFORT With a catalogue of ‘Glasgowbased bangers’, sibling duo Comfort are as much political activists as they are musicians, pairing industrial, off-kilter rhythms with confrontational lyrics Recommended project: What’s Bad Enough? (2023)

500 One for the Soundcloud sleuths.

Producer and DJ 500’s music is heavily inspired by early 00’s ambient trance by the likes of Tiesto, paired with pitched-up vocal samples from popular artists to create dreamworlds. Recommended project: Home & You EP (2020) TINA SANDWICH Tilly O’ Connor, aka Tina Sandwich's debut EP For The World is a throwback to the angsty grunge that soundtracked all our favourite teen movies back in the early 2000's. Recommended project: For the World EP (2024)

'Music Quest' champion Will Treeby sings onstage at venue. Image Credit: Erin Schoolar

TAALIAH. Image Credit: Colin Mearns

Image Credit:Comfort / Bandcamp

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Letterboxd: A cinephile’s haven

By Tess Bowen

Amongst the film community, a new obsession has developed over recent years. Letterboxd, a social media platform which allows its users to log their watched films and interact with friends and other users alike. After being created in 2011, Letterboxd has now reached new heights of engagement with over 17 million users.

The large appeal to the app I would say stems from the ability to write reviews: from informal, funny, one-liners, to in depth critical analyses, the possibilities are endless.

Perhaps an added bonus to watching a film is being able to write a review and read what other people are saying about it as soon as it finishes! I am not ashamed to say that quite a few reviews have made me audibly laugh. As a sidetone, it’s also a very nice feeling when other people like your reviews. It’s a form of reassurance that your opinion is valid, and you are actually very funny, as you thought you were when you posted it.

On their Letterboxd profile, users can also display their top four films. This is something you may recognise from the Letterboxd social media, where they ask Hollywood’s hottest film personalities their four favourites. You may also recognise it from dating apps, or if you’ve ever had a conversation

with me… It’s a great ice breaker!

There is also the option for Letterboxd users to upgrade their account to Pro or Patron status. It is a yearly subscription that gives users the opportunity to view their film stats, pin content to

them, with the additional benefit of being able to change the posters of films and set a backdrop for their profile, films and reviews. Patron members also receive early access to new features before other members and have their names listed in the Patron directory. These paid subscriptions are available for people to show their support for the platform to help them keep going, something I have invested in due to my incredibly active presence on Letterboxd. It’s fun to change the posters and support a platform which unites the film community!

At the end of the year, Letterboxd also offers its users the opportuDead Poets Society. Image Credit: Warner Bros nity to see their ‘Year in Review’.

Similar to other platforms like Spotify who also use this concept, Letterboxd analyses the data from a user’s logged films to tell them what / who their most watched actors, films, directors and genres are as well as other categories.

They also tell you the week and day of the week where you watched the most films. While these stats are Bones and All. Image Credit: MGM something that Pro and Patron users can view at all times, the Year in their profile, and log their favour- a Review allows other users to see ite streaming services and receive their watching habits and share notifications when films from their them with their friends. watchlist are on their favourited Letterboxd truly has become a sites. place for cinephiles, and casual Patron Letterboxd users have film enjoys alike to bond over one all the same features available to of the greatest art forms.

HTTYD is a childhood favourite for many people throughout the world – with its comforting atmosphere, relatable characters, and the hidden but inspirational life lessons – the film (based on the books by Cressida Cowell) made its impact in 2010 and has resonated with children and adults since its initial release.

The cast was announced far before the trailer was released. From what we can see so far: Mason Thames and Nico Parker are set to play our two lovable characters of Hiccup and Astrid, Gerard Butler returns to play the great Stoick the Vast once again and the rest of the gang are set to be played by Nick Frost (Gobber), Julian Dennison (Fishlegs), Gabriel Howell (Snotlout), Bronwyn James (Ruffnut) and Harry Trevaldwyn

(Tuffnut).

A great deal was revealed in the live action trailer for what there is to expect from the movie.

Familiar scenes can be seen as the well-known and loved Isle of Berk can be seen in its nostalgic but now realistic towering rock with waves crashing and the Scottish-esque landscapes. The arena, Hiccup’s house, the Dragon’s Nest, and even the forest and cove that Hiccup and Toothless’ relationship began and formed in look practically identical to the animated movie.

The music was a great mix between a riveting cinematic piece used to create excitement and anticipation for the upcoming movie, and the nostalgic and equally riveting piece ‘Test Drive’ from the music composer of the animated film: John Powell.

Stardust. Image Credit: Paramount

Good Will Hunting. Image Credit: Miramax

Hollywood's next live action venture: How to Train your Dragon

By Amelia Fryer The trailer for the new live action How to Train Your Dragon (HTTYD) movie was officially released on November 19, 2024.

With the movie to be released later this year during the summer in cinemas June 13, let’s look at everything there is to expect and what we know so far from the release of the trailer.

The film is set to be directed by Dean DeBlois, who was also the animated films writer, director and co-producer. While there is often much concern and apprehension surrounding live action remakes of our favourite films, this one seems to already have an advantage as the man steering the wheel is carrying on the HTTYD legacy.

Live action Hiccup and Toothless. Image Credit: Universal Pictures

Many of the familiar dragons can also be seen from the trailer as we can see the Deadly Nadder, Monstrous Nightmare, Hideous Zippleback, Gronckle, The Red Death, and of course Toothless himself.

The characters’ outfits, props (weapons) and even the ships all look well-made and again almost identical to that of the film. The same nostalgic and reminiscent feelings can be sure to be expected from the movie as the same setting and characters are literally brought to life.

The HTTYD live action remake is already set to be a great success as fans begin to get excited about its release. From the characters to Berk itself, the movie has been advertised so far as a perfect live action adaptation.

FILM & TV

Amelia in M3GAN 2.0. Image Credit: Blumhouse

SUMMER AT THE CINEMA

By Ben Macswan Arts Editor

Every Summer, a slate of new summer blockbusters hit the big screen. From action-packed tales of dinosaurs to superheroes and animation, this is Brig's difinitive list of all the films to put on your towatch list.

M3GAN 2.0 – June 27 Viewers can prepare themselves for some more campy mayhem, and M3GAN memes as the killer robot doll marks her big-screen comeback after debuting in 2022.

Already a minor horror icon, it will be interesting to see how this sequel holds against the first, but we know that nevertheless a fun time is almost guaranteed.

Thunderbolts – May 2 The final film of Marvel’s Phase 5, Thunderbolts has already been marred with controversy, with many criticising it’s forced ‘A24’ themed marketing campaign.

But with a stacked cast featuring Florence Pugh, David Harbour and Sebastian Stan, amongst many others, this may just be the studio’s best project in a long time as we go on to gear up for the next big Avenger’s showdown.

How to Train Your Dragon (Live Action) - June 13 Dreamworks Animation Studios has taken some influence from Disney with this one. This live action reimagining of 2010’s iconic animation marks the studio’s first foray into the format. With original director Dean DeBlois and composer John Powell returning, this could break the live-action curse for animation studios and show Disney how to do it well.

Jurassic World Rebirth - July 2 We may have all rolled our eyes when they announced another Jurassic World sequel was on the horizon, however, this ‘rebirth’ looks like it could be what the franchise needs. Directed by Rogue One and The Creator director, Gareth Edwards, and starring Wicked’s Jonathon Bailey and Marvel’s Scarlett Johansson, the creative team is looking strong for this one.

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Glencoe. Image Credit: Amelia Fryer

THE ULTIMATE SCOTTISH FILM AND TV ROAD TRIP

By Alex Paterson

Deputy Editor & Film and TV Editor The North Coast 500 is one of the most popular summer holiday ideas for Scots and tourists alike.

A long, winding drive around the tip of the country exposes vacationers to sweeping forests, dramatic coastlines and plenty of outdoors-y activities. From castles to cliff edges, Scotland has a bounty of beauty scattered all over the country.

Although, sight-sighing in Scotland isn’t only suited to nature and history lovers. Whilst battlefields and bridges from the 1600s may not mean much to the average person, the chances of them recognising the landmark from a 21st century movie is significantly higher.

So, to kill two birds with one stone, why not ditch the overcrowded NC500 and undertake your own picturesque, jack-of-all trades road trip that any casual media consumer can enjoy?

Combining media trivia and classic holiday destinations, Brig has curated a list of the most must-see locations in Scotland for film and TV lovers.

Glencoe A dramatic plot often comes with a dramatic landscape, which is why Glencoe is one of the most used areas for nail-biting movie moments.

The backdrop for several scenes in Skyfall, the Outlander opening

credits, Harry Potter, and more, Glencoe is jaw-dropping iconic Scottish landscape that anyone can recognise the beauty of.

Vast, sprawling, and untouched by engineering, Glencoe allows for historical films like Outlaw King and Mary Queen of Scots to film there without any intrusion from modern architecture.

Glencoe’s beauty comes from green hills and free roaming wildlife; it’s perfect for the adventurous film lover to visit.

Glenfinnan A similarly beautiful landscape but with a welcome addition of an engineering marvel, Glenfinnan and the Glenfinnan viaduct are most recognisable from the Harry Potter franchise.

The Hogwarts Express famously coasts over the viaduct (once with a blue Ford Anglia swooping around it). Visitors, too, can take an equally magical train journey over it. Nearby is the location of the Back Lake and other spots recognisable from the franchise. If you’re a Potter fan, this is a must-visit spot.

Doune Castle If you’re a lover of the classics, then Doune Castle should shoot to the top spot on the list of places to visit. Doune Castle is most famous for featuring in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, as the home to French soldiers and many more comedy gold moments.

For observant fans of another franchise, Doune Castle was also

the first castle used for Winterfell in Game of Thrones. Whilst the rest of the series filmed in Ireland, the first episode used Doune Castle.

For die-hard fans, it’s a filming location to tick of the list before George. R. Martin eventually release the Winds of Winter.

Culross Outlander is perhaps one of the most famous pieces of Scottish media. Luckily for Scottish tourism, it was largely filmed in Scotland itself; luckily for fans, one of its most picturesque filming locations is easily accessible with plenty of things to do.

Culross is one of Scotland’s prettiest, daintiest, and historic villages.

With plenty of cafes, tours, and historical sites to visit, it is a casual yet fun filled day out that even those who do not recognise the filming locations can enjoy.

Culloden/Cumbernauld Glenn

Doune Castle. image Credit: Anya Diggines

If you’re as keen on Outlander’s historical topics as you are its eye candy, why not visit the site of one the bloodiest battles in Scottish history- a battle featured in the show? The Battle of Culloden marked the end of the Jacobite uprising, when thousands of Scottish Highlanders lost their lives to the English Army. The show shot the battle at Cumbernauld Glenn, but the real Culloden is near Inverness.

Whilst it ism't the show's filming location, the real site of the Battle of Culloden is hauntingly mesmerising- fans may still appreciate a visit. You can imagine the real circumstance of your favourite characters fictional hardships, and connect even closer to the show.

St. Andrews Along West Sands Beach, the iconic Chariots of Fire opening scene was filmed. Run along the beach with a set of headphones and envelop yourself in one of the most monumental moments in cinema history.

Or pop into the town, where a recent season of The Crown following the world-famous Will and Kate love story was filmed. Mimic the cast or the real-life couple by sitting in the library, wandering around the university grounds, and flirting in the cafes.

Whether it’s a walk along the beach, a pop into the shops, St. Andrews offers an engaging day out that, again, will satisfy anyone looking for a relaxing meander

along the coast and around the shops.

Glasgow If you’re bored of trees, beaches, and romance, head into Glasgow to see some grittier filming locations.

Home of Robert Pattinson's The Batman, World War Z, and many films pretending to be set in New York City, Glasgow has a notable filming location on near enough every corner.

Edinburgh Similarly, fans of Ewan McGregor and the film Trainspotting need to visit Edinburgh. A city known for romance and history, Trainspotting shows the beautiful city’s underbelly.

Whilst I won’t advise recreating many scenes from that film, you can try sprint down Princes Street like McGregor, if the summer or winter crowds don’t block the way too much.

Away from violence and death, Edinburgh offers many romantic walks which, for TV fans, often involve walking around the One Day filming locations.

The Vennel Steps may be steep, but it’s worth climbing to get a wonderful view of the castle and of the city. Plus, when you get to the bottom of the steps, you can treat yourself to a delicious ice cream from the best spot in Edinburgh and my personal favourite ice cream parlour: Mary’s Milk Bar.

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A Continous Struggle With Endometriosis ALL THE FEELS

By Kerry Lloyd Food Editor

March marked the beginning of Endometriosis Awareness Month – where the struggles of living with the condition is brought to people’s attention.

One in 10 women and those assigned female at birth are impacted with Endometriosis, yet it is horribly under-researched.

The organisation Endometriosis UK dedicated March to explaining the condition and bringing awareness to the cause. They have a plethora of information on their website.

But what is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis occurs when cells similar to the ones in the lining of the womb (uterus) are found elsewhere in the body. These cells can grow and change in response to hormones in the menstrual cycle, this can cause inflammation, pain and scar tissue.

There are four types of Endometriosis: Peritoneal (superficial) endometriosis - is found mainly on the pelvic peritoneum – a thin film that lines the inner surface of the pelvis and surrounds the pelvic organs.

Ovarian endometriosis

(endometrioma) – is when endometriosis cysts are found in the ovaries.

Deep endometriosis - is found in locations such as the bladder, bowel and recto-vaginal septum. The lesions of endometriosis are at a deeper level than peritoneal (superficial) endometriosis.

Extra-pelvic endometriosis - is when endometriosis is found outside of the pelvis, such as the thorax (chest) and caesarean scars.

How Do You Know If You Have It? The symptoms of Endometriosis can often be missed, or more likely, dismissed as normal period pain.

This leads to a battle in getting officially diagnosed by doctors.

Some common symptoms include: * Pelvic pain * Painful periods that interfere with everyday life * Heavy menstrual bleeding * Pain during/after sex * Painful bowel movements * Pain when peeing * Difficulty getting pregnant – only 70 per cent of those with Endometriosis will be able to conceive naturally * Fatigue, likely accompanied by one or more of the previous symptoms Having Endometriosis can,

unfortunately, have a heavy impact on mental health as well.

If you experience any of these symptoms, it is always a good idea to see your doctor.

My Experience Puberty and the teenage years were not a good time, constant debilitating pain took over my body every month and I had no idea why.

It seemed that the pain was supposed to be a normal aspect of menstruation – if I complained about it, it was just an exaggeration. I would be told to take a paracetamol and get on with my day. Yet when the paracetamol did nothing for the pain, I had to just grin and bear it.

It got to a point where I would cry and beg to get out of having to do PE - I was too uncomfortable, in too much pain, unable to participate.

For years I would take so many ibuprofens and paracetamol that they eventually stopped working on me – cramps that had me curled up in the foetal position kept me from sleeping whilst no pain killer had any effect.

Eventually my Mum took me to the doctor since this was not a normal experience. I was given a higher-grade painkiller meant specifically for period pain – Mefenamic Acid – and was “diagnosed” with Endometriosis.

The “diagnosis” was not standard procedure in diagnosing Endometriosis. Typically, a surgery is needed where a camera is inserted to prove the Endometriosis – or blood work is taken. My doctor, instead, asked my Mum about family history of Endometriosis and told me that my symptoms aligned with the condition. Now, about 6 years on from this, Endometriosis is on my medical records.

Dealing with it has gotten so much easier now that I know what is wrong. I have found that contraceptive pills are an effective way to stop the pain, but everyone deals with it differently.

Bringing Awareness Endometriosis is an under-diagnosed, under-researched, potentially life-altering condition.

People need to be aware that the heavy, painful periods they experience are not standard procedure – it could well be a symptom of Endometriosis.

The pain can be horrific, and the only way to help lessen it is to bring awareness to the condition and how it manifests in people.

Check out Endometriosis UK’s website for some fantastic resources, and don’t be ashamed to bring your symptoms to a doctor – it can make your life so much more bearable.

Pain and Pills. Image Credit: Pexels.com

taken to the streets – particularly in Budapest – to celebrate Pride alongside other countries worldwide. This era might be coming to an end as Hungarians Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s ruling party bring forward a law to ban Pride marches held by Hungarian LGBTQ+ community.

This community – much like the

Pride in the Past: Pride Marches QUEERIES

By Sarah de Beer Imagine being a patron at Stonewall Inn on June 28, 1969 – a bar in the gay area of New York City, USA. A place that you find safe and where you can be yourself, which at the time is few and far between.

Yet, after midnight police raid this place of refuge – a common occurrence for gay venues as the police viewed these as ‘easy arrests.’ Not

this night though!

A riot breaks out – it goes on for hours and continues late into the night when word spreads about it.

It kickstarts a new era for the LGBTQ+ community – of not hiding in shadows and being polite, but of fighting back, protesting, and being loud about their identity!

A year later in June 1970, the first Pride protest started – or gay

liberation march, as it was called at the time – taking place in cities across the U.S. In 2025, Pride has grown to be an event that happens around the world – however, there’s a risk of Hungary getting rid of Pride in its country for good.

Pride in Hungary Since

1997,

Hungary

has

Symbolising Pride. Image Credit: Pexels. com

community at the beginning of Pride – aren’t going to go down without a fight! They vow to defy this law and to continue with Pride,

despite the risks – after all Pride is a protest and people shouldn’t forget that!

Pride being banned is a worry for the worldwide LGBTQ+ community, especially with the rise of rightwing ideology in countries like the U.S. If one country can ban Pride, who’s stopping other countries?

Pride is a Protest When I went to Pride in Edinburgh in 2024, I was shocked to see cooperations marching alongside the LGBTQ+ community – it didn’t feel like people remembered that Pride started as a protest and should continue as a protest!

There were sections that remembered that – but that was few and far between (at least to me it felt like that).

Hopefully, what is happening in Hungary will be a shock to people to make them remember what Pride is for and just because cooperations can slap on rainbows on their products in June, doesn’t mean that a protest stops being a protest.

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Semester Abroad: The Fear of Missing Out

By Plum McKechnie

ALL THE FEELS

Lifestyle Editor

Putting your heart out there. Image Credit: Pexels.com

Friends to Lovers: Facing Anxiety, Affection, and Arousal BETWEEN THE SHEETS

By Alice Pollard BRAW Editor

"Joey, you can't just grab some girl and expect her to be your girlfriend. You have to be friends first.

You have to build a foundation."

Chandler Bing, Friends Season seven Episode three.

Friends to lovers is a well-versed, beloved trope in popular media.

From Monica and Chandler to Jake and Amy to Jim and Pam, there are stacks of successful, albeit heterosexual, examples out there. But what is it actually like? Can love like that exist? And is it worth the risk of your friendship?

Having romantic feelings for a friend is a confusing, terrifying experience. You find yourself experiencing a skipped heartbeat accompanied by deep nausea rolling through you. You’ll be sneaking stolen but subtle looks throughout the blessed curse of their close presence in your life. The emotions are hard to interpret. It doesn’t matter if it’s a heterosexual situation or LGBTQ+ - either way, the feelings of falling for a friend are consistent. It takes courage, bravery, love, and every sappy adjective you can pull out of the thesaurus to confront those feelings, confess those feelings, and risk everything you’ve built together to keep heading skyward.

Most importantly, you have to consider the feelings of the other person. Upgrading to something more intimate than friendship comes with a messy, complicated, and unique pile of pros and cons.

It’s completely terrifying. There’s no guidebook - and I can’t write you one. Every situation is entirely unique, a single snowflake - fresh, new, and easily lost. There will be hurdles in the shape of anything

and everything: a gone-but-notforgotten one-night stand, coming out (or not) as LGBTQ+, other friends who could be impacted, confused queer friendships…the list goes on.

I was lucky to face only a few hurdles with my partner. I had moved to a new country and knew nobody his kind face and actions welcomed

Fragile hearts. Image Credit: Pexels.com

me to Scotland, and we became fast friends. Best friends, even. We stayed this way for months, both quietly feeling something more but far too embarrassed to fess up - I was also busy exploring my gender identity and various labels, which definitely set us back some time. It took nine months of friendship before making anything official, but I can say that it was worth the wait: four years on, and we’re still going strong.

It happened gently. A brushed hand, a subtle compliment. More movie nights, inside jokes, and consistent texting. It was probably a pain in the arse for our

other friends, and for that, I can only apologise. You know what, it was bloody awkward - trying to find each other's hands, muddling through learning deeper parts of each other both emotionally and physically and trying not to laugh (unsuccessfully) through that initial intimacy.

Having now watched my two best friends fall in love at university, I can appreciate the true beauty and luck that comes with upgrading from friends to lovers. One friend has opened up like a flower, finally in a relationship that appreciates her for who she is. The other has never smiled and laughed so much.

They are giddy in ways that I never knew they could be - that’s what being friends first can do. Their understanding of each other is almost complete, and they’re only a few months in. It’s magical for them and unfortunately for me as I do share a bedroom wall with them…

Being friends first builds unwavering, sturdy foundations to hold through the worst earthquakes.

But the first earthquake is asking.

It’s grasping their hand. It’s telling the truth. You have to be sure, but brave; friendship is one of the most valuable relationships. Think: have you noticed your feelings being reciprocated? Is there some unnamed energy between you two? It can’t be one-sided - it takes two people to build a relationship, friendship or other, and so observing, noticing, appreciating, and understanding each other is step one and always will be.

There is no rule book except for the one that you write yourself.

Semesters abroad are an amazing part of the university experience, that I am of course very lucky to experience. But the thing that no one ever talks about is the fear of missing out that comes with being away.

No one ever mentions the anxiety that comes with the changes.

Scrolling through social media, seeing all your friends hanging out having fun without you. Missing out on family events and holidays, seeing pictures of your family pets wishing you could cuddle and play with them. Everyone living their lives without you, returning home to see that things aren’t the same.

You never think that things will change that much in five months, but you’ll be surprised. Already I’m seeing that new stores and restaurants are opening, my friends entering new relationships and my cat has accepted wearing a collar which he never did before I left.

It is difficult to miss important moments. For me, a lot of my close friends are graduating in June. It sucks that I'm missing their last semester and the last time we will all be living in the same place. That's what makes my FOMO the worst, knowing that I really am missing out on the last times we will all be in uni together.

Don’t get me wrong, being alone

in another country isn’t a bad thing. In fact, it's nice to know that you can be by yourself, that you're capable of being completely independent. And for that I am very grateful.

However, there are times where I feel slightly resentful of my surroundings. I’m annoyed at the fact that I'm missing out on the good weather in Scotland, while I'm in Quebec where the snow won't stop falling and I’ve got to bundle up each time I want to go to the shops.

When you’re shivering with cold while trying to study, you get really jealous that you’re missing the start of beer garden season back home.

I miss coconut berry Red bulls that I can't seem to find in any shops here. I miss the fresh Scottish water that I will definitely appreciate so much more when I get back.

I miss potato scones and crumpets.

I miss beer gardens, rainy days and spending more time looking at the swans on campus than I do studying.

I’m being dramatic of course; it's only five months away from everything that's familiar to me.

I’ve got the opportunity of a lifetime to live abroad, but still - its human nature. You always want what you can't have.

The Views from Abroad. Image Credit: Plum McKechnie

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The Best Mystery Thrillers for Summer Reading

By Anya Diggines Sports Editor

Yellowface by Rebecca F. Kuang -

Cleopatra and Frankenstein Cover Image. Image Credit: HarperCollins Publishers/amysbookshelf

Once I picked up this book, I couldn’t put it down.

Following the story of aspiring writer Juniper Hayward, her world is changed when her friend and successful author Athena Liu passes away right in front of her. With Liu’s manuscript at her fingertips, she has to make the decision if she wants to fulfil her dream of being a successful writer even if it’s not through her own entire work.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time, with no predictable plot twists, it’s easily an all-time favourite.

CLEOPATRA AND FRANKENSTEIN: RELATING TO THE UNRELATABLE

By Jess Urquhart Politics Editor

Trigger warning: Cleopatra and Frankenstein contains discussions of suicide and depictions of self-harm and drug abuse.

Cleopatra and Frankenstein, based around a struggling artist who quickly marries an advertiser for the green card, is a heartbreaker. Coco Mellors, who released this first book in the UK two years ago now, manages to force her reader to invest in a relationship that leaves you questioning if who and what you’re rooting for is right at all. Through parallel storylines, the reader sees the same relationship through different perspectives with varying levels of knowledge of it, providing a sense of clarity and

frustration at what’s really going on.

The setting surrounds the romantic iconography of New York, with the highs in the book having NYC appear like a rich Pinterest dream.

Despite moving to New York as a teenager and knowing it much better than the average British reader who’s never been to New York, Mellors does not gatekeep the city from the reader. Whilst you may have never been to an art gallery in Chinatown or a brownstone in the Bronx, Mellors fills out the world of New York City in a way that complements the characters but doesn’t intimidate or isolate the reader.

The book surrounds characters with vastly different experiences and backgrounds, many of which are generally unrelatable to the average reader due to their lavish and seemingly financially unlimited

Bride of Frankenstein. Image Credit: Universal Pictures

lifestyles. Despite this, every character is made vulnerable in their own way, meaning that whilst every reader has a favourite, the book leaves you wishing the characters nothing but the best, and the sincere hope that even though they aren’t real, they all get a happy ending somehow.

With the magic yet bleakness of any true romantic relationship, Cleopatra and Frankenstein exposes the truly romantic cloudnine moments of a relationship that make you hope that the couple stay together forever, but also the soul-shattering lows that has you begging for either character to run for the hills, filling you with a temporary hatred for their spouse.

Until of course, the next chapter is from their perspective, providing the reader a slow and cautious emotional retreat.

Silent Patient. Image Credit: Celadon Books

Yellowface Cover. Image Credit: HarperCollins Publishers

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides Attracting a lot of different opinions on TikTok’s ‘BookTok’, some say the plot twist in The Silent Patient was completely predictable, however I was shocked at the twists and turns this book took. Michaelides managed to take a very simple storyline and turn it into a thrilling spectacle. The story tells of psychotherapist Theo Faber trying to get a patient, Alicia Berenson, to speak after she murdered her husband.

Faber is obsessed with digging to the bottom of the case to find out why Berenson shot her husband, and why she no longer speaks.

However, it leads the reader down a very twisted path. This is another book that was very difficult to put down.

A Good Girls Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson This three-part thriller follows the story of Pip Fitz-Amobi as she investigates cases from her small town of Little Kilton. In the first book, Fitz-Amobi is determined to figure out what really happened to local teenager Andie Bell, who disappeared one night five years ago. Her boyfriend Sal Singh was accused of doing something to Bell, but he was later found dead from a suspected suicide. However, all is not as it seems, as Fitz-Amobi starts revealing the dark secrets the locals of this town confine.

The Cornish Guest House by Emma Burstall Liz has moved to the quiet seaside village of Tremarnock, with her disabled daughter Rosie, after her marriage to Rosie’s father fell apart. But when a seemingly innocent couple move into the village to open a guest house, Liz starts to get suspicious that the couple are hiding something. It is up to Liz to uncover the truth of why this couple have moved to such an off-grid

Good Girl's book cover. Image Credit: Electric Monkey

area, to keep the village safe. Rosie and Liz are such likeable characters in the story, the reader eventually feels a connection with them.

'Guest House' Cover. Image Credit: Head of Zeus

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A Booktok display in a book store. Image Credit: WHNT

‘BOOKTOK’ IS DESTROYING LITERATURE! BookTok – the section of TikTok that promotes, reviews, and recommends ‘good’ books. Many would think this is a good thing, it is encouraging reading, after all.

It is not a good thing, believe me.

What started out as a way to interact with people with similar interests has turned into a judgemental, trope-obsessed, erotic literature minefield.

Publishing companies and authors utilise the platform to promote their work in a new way.

Instead of promoting the synopsis

of a book, or saying why people should read it, the promotion is simply a list of tropes that the author has jammed into their book in a desperate attempt to entice BookTok. Too many times, I have seen an image of a book cover with arrows coming out, pointing towards tropes like ‘enemies to lovers’, ‘forbidden romance’, and ‘spice’.

There is nothing wrong with romance books, of course, but it seems that that is all there is on BookTok.

The guide to a perfect summer read

By Rae Archibald

When assignments are handed in, exams are done and the semester is over, reading is a hobby that no longer needs to be a guilty pleasure. It’s the perfect opportunity to pick up where you left off, but amongst the vast options here are my favourite books that just hit different as a summer read.

Literary Fiction A forever favourite of mine is the much-loved classic, The Great Gatsby. Despite being published in 1925, it is one of the most vibrant and alive books I have read. If you

love going on nights out, driving fast with the windows down, and romance, this is the ideal read for you.

Do you want a book that feels like blasting Chappell Roan’s Casual on repeat? Then Sally Rooney is your go to. Her books are authentic, and none of them miss. Conversations with Friends is my recommendation for this summer season.

Greek Mythology When we think of summer, we think of golden sand, rolling blue waves and the heat of the sun.

Where better to transport ourselves for this setting than Greece.

A beautiful Greek mythology retelling, Circe, follows the minor deities’ days on her exiled private

Falling for BookTok marketing and reading a mediocre book that has been heralded as the next Pride and Prejudice is devastating.

Now I’ve spent ten pounds on a book I couldn’t be bothered to finish, it was so bad.

BookTok flooding to the comment section of any attractive person on TikTok is equally painful to see. The community is more about ‘spice’ ridden books and hot men at a first glance.

The encouragement to read is wonderful, and in fact the

community has gotten a lot of people who had no previous interest in reading to pick up a book. I will always encourage new readers to find a genre they love, but please, if there is anything to take from this, do not go straight for BookTok classics.

There are so many incredible authors out there who need the interaction, and they are much better than the trashy romance novels found on BookTok.

island. Don’t be put off, it is far from boring. With a gripping opening line Madeline Miller firmly holds your attention, and the book reaches a climax when Odysseus arrives on Circe’s land. From another point of view, the character of Circe could be hated, but from her own point of view, she gathers us all on her side.

Psyche and Eros follows the story of, well, Psyche and Eros. Eros is the Greek equivalent of Cupid, who is under the watch of the goddess Aphrodite. When Aphrodite decides to despise a mortal princess, Psyche, she curses the arrow that will strike her. But Eros made a mistake. When he shot the arrow, he pricked himself, cursing the heartless, promiscuous god to fall hopelessly in love with the one thing he can never have.

Collin’s Sunrise on the Reaping, a prequel to the iconic Hunger Games series, centred around Haymitch’s games. The movie adaptation will be released in November 2026, so if you want to read the book before, prioritise this as a summer read.

Rebecca Yarros released the third instalment in the hugely popular Fourth Wing series, Onyx Storm, in January, with a major cliffhanger left from the sequel. If you love romance, fantasy, dragons and worldbuilding, you will be obsessed with this series.

Although released in September 2024, Sally Rooney’s newest book, Intermezzo is also a contender.

Intermezzo follows the story of two brothers, their individual grief, and the love that comes out of it. It has been shortlisted for fiction book of the year in the upcoming British Book Awards.

New Releases There have been some amazing new releases to catch up on. The list starts off strong with Suzanne

By Kerry Lloyd Food Editor

#BookTok. Image Credit: Què

Woman reading on beach. Image Credit: rawpixel

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POLITICS COMMENT MUSIC FILM & TV 6-7 8-9 10-11 12-13

BRAW 16-17

ARTS 18-19

GAMING

CO-OP GAMES TO PLAY WITH YOUR FRIENDS

ARRRRRR MATEY. Image Credit:Rare

By Isla Barker Comment Editor

MONSTER HUNTER WILDS: A 100-HOUR DEEP DIVE INTO THE NEWEST HUNT Balahara . Image Credit: Capcom

By Dylan Burt

After spending over 120 hours in Monster Hunter Wilds, it’s safe to say that Capcom has delivered yet another thrilling entry in the legendary franchise.

Taking the open-world elements introduced in Monster Hunter World and expanding them into a more dynamic and immersive ecosystem, Wilds offers a blend of strategic depth, dynamic environments, and a host of quality-of-life improvements that refine the classic hunting experience.

The First thing players will delve into in Wilds is its vibrant and seamless open world. Unlike previous entries that relied on segmented zones, Wilds introduces sprawling environments filled with life. The game’s new weather system isn’t just for show—it actively affects hunts, making tracking and fighting monsters more dynamic than ever. Sandstorms can obscure visibility, while sudden downpours might make certain monsters more aggressive. The interplay between environment, monsters, and hunters creates some of the most organic encounters the series has had yet. Although the cycle can be confusing at first, with weather cycles impacting what monsters will spawn, as well as what materials will be in the world.

The combat remains deeply

satisfying, retaining the series’ signature weighty, deliberate weapon mechanics while introducing smoother movement and expanded combo options.

At launch weapon changes have left the Long Sword feeling more fluid, the Charge Blade’s transformations more intuitive and with the bow no longer needing to buy coatings, the weapons have become more streamlined. The biggest addition is the 'Focus Strikes' mechanic. By landing consecutive attacks, players can open ‘wounds’, allowing for devastating counterattacks or enhanced weapon abilities. This system encourages more deliberate combat, rewarding skilful play while giving experienced hunters new ways to maximise damage output.

Monsters no longer follow predictable roaming patterns; instead, they react dynamically to hunters, the environment, and even each other. Some apex predators will actively stalk their prey, while others will avoid direct confrontation unless provoked. This intelligence makes both fights and the environment feel more like true battles of instincts rather than simple pattern recognition. Many fights will find you or your prey ambushed by another monster, this brings a freshness to old encounters and a surprising challenge to new ones.

With the games four apex monsters

presenting an enormous challenge, requiring players to adapt constantly to not only smarter attack patterns but environmental changes they bring as well.

Multiplayer in Wilds builds upon the cooperative elements of its predecessors but streamlines matchmaking and team coordination. Joining hunts is now more seamless, with fewer barriers to jumping into a friend’s session or responding to SOS flares. The new “Hunter Camps” serve as mobile bases where players can regroup, change loadouts, and even interact with NPCs who offer mid-mission support. These additions make team play more engaging and flexible than ever, with lobbies allowing a constant catalogue of other hunts to choose from. The most effective way to engage with others is to find a populated lobby and choose to either post your own quests for help or surf others at your discretion.

Progression in Monster Hunter Wilds is well-paced, rewarding players for exploration and mastery rather than simple grind loops.

Endgame content is extensive, featuring challenging hunts, dynamic world events, and tempered monsters that push even veteran players to their limits. Capcom has also promised a steady stream of post-launch updates, ensuring the game will continue evolving well beyond its release. However, the

grind after HR 100 is rudimentary, with perfect builds only achievable through repeated fights with the same two monsters – Arkveld and Gore Magala. This isn’t necessarily a fault with the game however, more content will come, and Capcom can’t be blamed for players tearing through all the games content after only a few weeks.

After 100 hours, Monster Hunter Wilds stands as one of the most ambitious and refinedentries in the series.Its breathtaking world, intelligent monster AI, and fluid combat elevate the classic Monster Hunter formula to new heights. While some adjustments to balancing and lategame content could be made, the foundation is rock solid. Whether you’re a veteran hunter or a newcomer looking for an immersive action RPG, Monster Hunter Wilds is a must-play.

Gaming with your friends over the summer is a fantastic way to spend your time. Whether it’s board games, cards, D&D or video games. The following are co-op video games that suitdifferent interests you and your friends might have.

Minecraft Creating a server and building a world with your friends can be a memorable and fun experience.

Minecraft’s versatility allows for different interests. You could focus on defeating the Ender Dragon and beating the game, building a massive city or exploring without a specific plan. Minecraft is available on Xbox, PlayStation, PC and Nintendo Switch.

Sea of Thieves Set sail for Sea of Thieves! With a crew of up to four players, you can battle enemies, find treasure and explore an extensive map.

There are also story-based adventures called Tall Tales. Like The Shroudbreaker, where players search for an ancient artefact. This game is available on Xbox and PC PlateUp! Have you ever thought about running a restaurant? Do you get too competitive at the drop of a hat? If so, then maybe PlateUp! is for you!

This game is like Monopoly but with salad. PlateUp! has rogue-like elements where if you don’t serve customers in time, you go back to the first level and have to build your restaurant back to what it was. It’s stressful, but it’s fun. The game holds one to four players and is on Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation and PC. To read the full article go to brignews.com

A cute cat companion. Image Credit: Capcom

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MOST FUN PARTY GAMES TO PLAY OVER THE SUMMER A Chess Board. Image Credit: Pexels

By Ali Rees Secretary

Summer means barbeques, holidays, and hanging out late while the sun lingers. Casual board games with a few friends and a few drinks can strengthen friendships and generate long lasting, laughter-filled memories. Here are Brig’s top picks for games that are perfect for casual hang outs over the summer.

1. Flip 7 – 3+ players – very short This casual push-your-luck card game is just a pile of cards, making it easy to take to wherever folks are gathering. The deck is made up of 12 number 12s, 11 number 11s, and so on, and players are trying to get the highest number of points without ever doubling up on a specific value. Sure that 12 is giving you a

ton of points, but there are 11 more of them in the deck ready to bust your round for a zero score. The tension when someone is about to win and just needs to flip one more card is exciting and the laughter when they inevitably flip a dupe is raucous. The modifier cards really add to the experience too – forcing someone else to flip three cards is a great way to either bust your opponent or give them the extra points they need to win the game.

It’s really adaptable too - play to the recommended 200 points, or lower if you want a quicker game. It goes up to pretty much any player count too, perfect for big groups.

2. Just One – 3-7 players – short

In Just One, a player randomly chooses a word that the other players then have to get them to guess with a single clue each, but beware – if multiple clue-givers give the

same clue, they are both eliminated. Sometimes a key clue will get eliminated and cause the entire thing to fall apart and suddenly someone has to guess the word “Pineapple” with only the clues “fingerprints” and “yellow”. It’s a fascinating insight into how your friends’ brains work and is sure to generate many a “how does THAT make sense???” debate.

3. Secret Identity – 3-8 players – medium

Players in Secret Identity are all given (wait for it) a secret identity which they have to indicate with a selection of clues. The clues are, however, less than useful, taking the form of icons and abstract shapes. What do you mean I have to get people to guess “Princess Diana” with a thing that looks like a tent and an icon of a beard??

Luckily you also have the power to

WHY I LOVE THE POKÉMON GAMES

Pokémon having fun. . Image credit: Game Freak

give a general sense of green for yes or red for no for each clue too.

Helpful, right? Getting players to explain themselves at the end of each round leads to some of the best laughs board gaming has to offer.

4. Cockroach Poker – 2-6 players – short The ultimate bluffing game. Try and empty your hands of critters onto other people’s boards until one person has a full set and is the official loser of the game.

You achieve this by misdirection.

Hand someone a frog and tell them it’s a rat – they can either believe you (they’d get the card), doubt you (you’d get the card as punishment for bad lying), or pass, which means they look at the card and then pass it to another person, who has the same options. Lying to your friends is a lot of fun, and passing

By Connor Peebles Gaming & Tech Editor

The sheer joy that comes from the Pokémon games can’t be replicated anywhere else, they are simple, engaging and thoroughly entertaining adventures. My love for Pokémon goes back to my childhood as the Black and White series of games were some of the first games I truly fell in love with. I used to exclusively play Pokémon Black and White, refusing to play any other game because I found myself completely engrossed in the world of pocket monsters. The simplicity of the mid-generation games is what truly made the games so captivating for the younger me.

There’s a fairly linear path you’d follow but there was plenty of time to be spent exploringm the vast Routes the games offered as well as the surprisingly layered construction of the towns. Pokémon Black and White opened my eyes to what games could do when I was a child and every entry into the mainline game series since then has continued to blow me away with the sheer amount of content that is packed into every game. Though the series has stumbled in the last few years, with the commercially panned release of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet being the lowest point

all the spiders to the arachnophobe never gets old.

5. Codenames – 6+ players (though you could probably play with 4 in a pinch) – medium Divide into two teams, with one spymaster per team who has to give clues to get their teammates to guess the right words. Be careful though, they might guess the other team’s words, which gets points for them. And make sure you avoid the assassin – choosing this word means your team automatically loses the game! Codenames is an all-time party classic for good reason and leads to many head scratching moments that culminate in a demand to “explain yourself on this one”.

the series has seen in decades, the games have remained incredibly successful as another entry into the series, Pokémon Z/A, releases at the end of the year. I haven’t fully engaged with the series since Pokémon Sword and Shield as the last release, Legends Arceus was a big change to the series that I was unsure about. I plan on playing the new games when I get the chance, but what’s really stopped me from playing anything other than the Pokémon games I own right now is the fact that the Pokémon games are incredibly re-playable. Even though you have to delete your current save to replay any of the Pokémon games, you can save any of the Pokémon you have collected by putting them in the Pokémon Home app. It’s always a shame to delete all your progress but with the amount of freedom and different ways to play through the Nintendo Switch-era games, that sad feeling doesn’t stick around for too long.

I’ve loved Pokémon since I was five and it fully believe I’ll love the series for many more years to come, even if I don’t play every new game, I still appreciate the fact that the series has been going on for almost three decades and that’s a feat very few videogame series can conquer.

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POLITICS COMMENT 6-7 8-9

MUSIC FILM & TV 10-11 12-13

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LIFESTYLE

OVERCOMING DIFFICULTIES: NEW BEGINNINGS

By Amelia Fryer

March is the season of new beginnings. Spring rolls around, baby animals are born, flowers and trees come back to life, seasonal depression comes to an end, and life essentially starts again.

It is a time of joy and excitement as things begin anew once again.

However, people also face many issues and difficulties every day, especially when things change – whether you forgot what the deadline was for an assignment with the new semester, you don’t know how to adjust to your new module, can’t find a flat for next year, or even have to face unexpected hardships such as grief.

Certainly, for student life, it can get tough. Assignments pile up, friend groups blur, and things can get pretty overwhelming pretty fast. Even for non-students, life can

sometimes go so fast that you can struggle to see what’s right in front of you or lose sight of who you are; taking care of yourself can often feel like a struggle.

However, it is how we deal with our problems and come out the other side that matters the most.

It’s no secret to anyone that life can throw some pretty big curveballs our way, sometimes they can even be seen as wrecking balls, however there are many ways to deal with these struggles.

Pick up a craft – many people find crafting things to be a calming way of bringing your mind back down to Earth and to reconnect with reality. Whether it’s picking up a paint by number in a craft shop, having a go at knitting/crocheting, or even doodling and writing! Human beings have a natural

Spring on Stirling Uni campus. Image Credit: Alex Paterson

ability to craft things, look around everywhere! Why not be practical and calming in one go?

Do some exercise – picking up a sport such as badminton or football, something adventurous such as mountaineering our cycling, or even just a short walk around the Loch on campus or around your local park for just a short amount of time. There is something for everyone to be able to get out and enjoy the fresh air.

Cuddle some animals (within reason) – for uni students missing our pets can be one of the hardest things about moving away from home (sorry family). By spending some time with our lovable pets, we can feel re-grounded and reconnected with ourselves as they are often the most understanding of everyone we might know. Even just feeding the ducks can boost how you feel!

The thing to remember is that there is always a way to get through a tough time, even if it doesn’t feel like it at that moment in time. Even if all you need is to snuggle up with a movie and a hot chocolate or see some friends.

Even if you need a bit of help by speaking to someone you feel comfortable around like family/ friends, even if you need to speak to someone such as a counsellor (there are counselling and mental health help available on campus), there is always a way out the other side.

Brig's Top Tips: Double Edition HOW TO HAVE A SUSTAINABLE SUMMER As summer rolls around, it's tempting to buy a whole new wardrobe. New trends on social media, your friends chatting about having to buy new clothes for their holidays and looking through your closet feeling like nothing looks good.

However, every year millions of tonnes of clothes end up in the landfill. So, here are some tips to update your wardrobe without being wasteful.

Charity shops Perhaps the most obvious one, go charity shopping! Charity shops are a great way to get new clothes without feeding into overconsumption.

Some of my favourite summer items are from charity shops! This is a good way to scratch that itch of getting new clothes, plus you can end up with some really unique, high-quality clothes.

Ask your friends There's a high chance that your friends are planning to donate or throw away some old clothes, so ask around!

Everyone has different styles, but your friends might be getting rid of things that you’d love to wear.

This will save you money and saves your friends getting rid of them.

Reuse what you’ve already got Got an old pair of jeans? Cut them into shorts! Old swimsuit that you just don’t like the colour of anymore? Dye it!

There's plenty of tutorials on Pinterest or TikTok on how to spice up old clothes in your wardrobe. Turn old t-shirts and dresses into tank tops and cute skirts!

I can guarantee you’ll fall back in love with items you were about to throw away!

By Plum McKechnie Lifestyle Editor

By Sorcha Hay

HOW TO START YOUR SPRING CLEANING With spring well on its way, deciding how to start spring cleaning can be daunting, especially with added stress of assignment deadlines coming up, so here are 3 things to get you started.

Clear out your Phone Start off small to kick off your spring reset: simply clear out your phone!

Easy tasks like deleting unused apps, old emails and files, and anything else you no longer need can help free up storage and your mind.

If you’re someone who uses social media, it is also a great idea to take this time to unfollow accounts that don’t positively impact you and focus on creating an online space that you enjoy viewing.

Donate or sell unwanted clothes Now is the time to let go of any clothes you no longer wear and consider selling or donating them.

It’s good to start this task

in sections. This helps you be aware of how much of each item you have and make mindful decisions on what to keep!

Anything you are no longer keeping can be donated to the green and blue space on campus or many charity shops located in Stirling, however if you’re looking to make some extra money, online sites such as Vinted make it easy to sell your clothes!

Deep clean The biggest task of spring cleaning is always tackling your physical space.

It's good to focus on your bedroom where you most likely spend most of your time. Working through it in sections can help you to not get overwhelmed but remember to take breaks!

Just like your clothes, unwanted items can also be donated or sold and help clear space for new things!

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SUMMER ACTIVITIES

By Isla Barker Comment Editor

Life After University Graduation. Image Credit: Pexels

By Anya Diggines Sports Editor

After spending almost 20 years of life in education, it is a daunting thought that in just a few weeks’ time, everything is going to change.

All of a sudden, your whole future is yours, there is no one telling you what to do and when to do it for.

And there are two different sides to this, it is freeing to think that you won’t be weighed down under constant looming deadlines.

What you choose to do next is completely up to you, the world really is your oyster.

On the other side, you lose the safety net of being in education.

And all around you everything is changing, you can’t just stay where you are forever because all of your friends are moving on too.

Overall, fourth year feels split into two very different experiences.

The first semester is fun, there is a lot more work than there has been in any other university year, but you can still somewhat enjoy yourself.

Then comes the second semester, reading week is no longer a thing, you are doing something every day

Anya just before first year of University

. Image Credit: Anya Diggines

until your deadlines.

Reading week, despite the name, was probably spent going on holiday or returning home to visit family, catching up with friends you haven’t been able to see.

However, there isn’t much time to rest for your second semester reading week.

Whether it is university work, applying for jobs, or just figuring out what it is you want to do after completing your undergraduate career, it is 12 weeks of constant thinking.

Everything in fourth year comes

Anya recently, in her final year of University

with negatives and positives, and although the 12 weeks will be the longest, most stressful weeks of your life, they are also the most rewarding.

Your dissertation is like wrapping everything you have learned at university into one big bundle finished neatly with a bow.

It is incredible to see the small steps you take to complete your dissertation, from thinking it will be impossible to write 10,000 words to seeing the word count creep higher and higher.

So, it is important to be proud of yourself for handling everything that is being thrown at you.

Especially when it becomes hard to prioritise completing your last ever year at university or applying to jobs or postgraduate degrees.

Ultimately, you have to try and enjoy it no matter how tough it is, because soon you might be working full-time, wishing you could go back to the university days when you actually did have all the time in the world.

When you start university, fourth year is the furthest thing from your mind, you feel like you have ages before then.

However, it comes at you fast, you really do blink, and it is here, but it is important that you don’t let it overwhelm you.

Look forward to the future, be proud of how much you have achieved, and realise how much you have grown as a person, because that is the person who is going on your next adventure.

As summer comes around the corner everyone is shaking off their assignment fatigue and making plans for what to do in the months ahead.

And while the sun is not always a guarantee, you can always enjoy the new season with your friends.

Picnics A picnic under the sun is not only a lovely scene, but it makes happy memories too. A blanket on the grass, cool drinks and flowers in bloom, what could be better?

Picnics are easy to organise and enjoyable. Some card games or a frisbee are a great addition as well. Picnics can also be affordable.

Whether you make what you bring or buy it.

Swimming What is a better way to cool off than to take a dip in the sea or a loch?

You can bring drinks, games or have a barbeque. Scotland in particular has countless lochs, rivers and beaches to try for a swim. And if that water is too cold, you can bask in the scenery surrounding you.

Travel You don’t need to jet off to New Zealand or Greece. You can take a bus, train or bike to where you want to go. Staycations became more popular during Covid, and they should still be on people’s minds when thinking where to travel.

Taking a trip into the mountains, to a seaside town or a historic town makes for a memorable experience with your friends. In Scotland, you could go to the Highlands, or the Hebrides for a beautiful getaway.

Museums Museums are not only fascinating but free as well. Regardless of the museum’s focus, you could spend as long as you want there.

For example, the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh has five floors featuring exhibits of natural history, human history, art and even a LEGO model of the museum.

Cinema For the rainy or even the sunny days, a cinema trip with a group of friends is another great idea. Like a movie night at home, you get a bigger screen with higher sound quality. And it doesn’t have to end there. After the film, there’s always the opportunity to go out for food or drinks afterwards.

Brig in Barcelona. Image Credit: Alex Paterson

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POLITICS COMMENT 6-7 8-9

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FEATURES

UNMASKING THE ZODIAC KILLER

Possible zodiac killer Arthur Leigh Allen with images of the victims. Image Credit: Netflix

By Erin Schoolar Head of Photography

returned to shoot them both again.

Mageau survived and provided police with a description of the shooter: a stocky white male, approximately 26-30 years old, 5’8” tall, weighing around 200 pounds, with light brown curly hair and a large face.

he seemingly random brutal murders of five people in California’s Bay Area in the late 1960s and early 1970s, along with a series of taunting, cryptic notes sent by their killer, terrorized Northern California for years. The murderer, who became known as the Zodiac Killer, toyed with law enforcement and the public, sending letters filled with mysterious ciphers and menacing threats.

Despite numerous investigations, extensive media coverage, and a myriad oftheories, the Zodiac Killer has never been conclusively identified, making it one of the most chilling unsolved cases in American history.

On December 20, 1968, the Zodiac struck for the first time on Lake Herman Road, Vallejo, California, around 11pm. His targets were 17-year-old David Faraday and16year-old Betty Lou Jensen, a young couple parked in a secluded area.

The killer ambushed them, shooting both in cold blood. Betty Lou was found dead 30 feet from the car, while David, though still alive, succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital.

Just months later, on July 4, 1969, the Zodiac struck again at Blue Rock Springs Park in Vallejo, minutes from his first murder. He targeted 22-year-old Darlene Ferrin and 19-year-old Michael Mageau, who were sitting in a parked car. The killer approached them, opened fire, walked away, then

The Letters

The Murders T

One of the most perplexing aspects of the case was the Zodiac Killer’s letters, first sent on August 1, 1969. He mailed a series of cryptic messages to newspapers,including the San Francisco Chronicle, the San Francisco Examiner, and the Vallejo Times-Herald. These letters contained specific details about the murders and were signed with a circle with a cross that was synonymous with the killer.

Accompanying the letters were three ciphers, which the killer demanded be published in the newspapers, threatening to continue his murder spree if they were not.

The first cipher, Z408, was solved by a schoolteacher and his wife, revealing a chilling message: “Man is the most dangerous animal of all to kill.” Another cipher, Z340, remained unsolved until December 2020, when an international team of codebreakers cracked it.

The message included taunts to law enforcement: “I hope you are having fun trying to catch me” and written alongside saying that death would send him to paradise with his slaves (the victims) which he referenced in his first cypher Z408. However, two other ciphers, Z13 and Z32, remain unsolved, likely due to their short length, which makes verifying solutions difficult.

On August 4, 1969, another letter

arrived in which the killer first used the moniker “The Zodiac” and boasted about his ability to evade capture. His arrogance was evident when he complained about not receiving front-page coverage for his crimes, further demonstrating his thirst for notoriety. On September 27, 1969, at Lake Berryessa in Napa, the Zodiac struck again. This time, his targets were 22-year-old Cecelia Shepard and 20-year-old Bryan Hartnell, who were picnicking on the shore.

Cecelia noticed a man standing behind a tree watching them. When he stepped out,he was wearing an executioner-style hood with the Zodiac symbol on his chest. Holding a gun and a knife, he used pre-cut rope to tie them up. Hartnell asked the killer to stab him first so he wouldn’t have to watch Cecelia suffer. The Zodiac complied, stabbing Hartnell six times to the back and Cecelia ten times before walking away, killing Ceceilia.

Bryan Hartnell miraculously survived and described the attacker as 5’8” to 6’0” tall, heavyset, weighing between 225-250 pounds, with dark brown hair visible through the mask. A chilling message was also left on Hartnell’s car door, listing the dates of all previous Zodiac attacks with the words “By Knife” written beneath the date of the Berryessa attack. The Zodiac’s most infamous crime occurred on October 11, 1969, in San Francisco.

Cab driver Paul Stine was shot in the head by his passenger at the intersection of Washington and Cherry Streets. Witnesses, including a teenage girl, saw the suspect clean the car before walking away.

Despite clear descriptions of a white male, stocky, with a reddish-brown crew cut and thickrimmed glasses, a miscom

unication between the police and dispatch led to a critical mistake.

Officers in the area were told to look for an African American suspect, allowing the real killer to walk away. The Zodiac later mocked this error in a letter, writing, “P.S. 2 cops pulled a goof about 3 min after I left the cab.” The zodiac would continue sending letters all the way up till 1974 when the last letter was sent after many years of taunting letters containing threats to school children and bomb diagrams. In the zodiacs last letter, he makes a final claim of a kill count of 34.l

The Suspects One of the most well-known suspects is Arthur Leigh Allen, who was heavily investigated by police. He owned a Zodiac-brand watch, which featured a symbol identical to the one the killer used in his letters. Friends reported that Allen made disturbing comments about killing people and disguising crimes, and he lived near the crime scenes. He also had a criminal record, including a conviction for child molestation.

A search of his home uncovered weapons and suspicious writings.

However, despite these connections, DNA from the Zodiac letters did not match Allen, and handwriting experts found no conclusive evidence linking him to the case.

Another recent suspect is Gary Francis Poste, a man linked to the case in 2021. They claimed that his facial structure closely resembled the police sketches and that anagrams in Zodiac’s letters contained his name. However, law

enforcement has not officially confirmed him as a suspect.

Richard Gaikowski was a newspaper journalist who wrote for a counterculture publication that contained writing styles like the Zodiac’s letters. Some believed he physically resembled the police sketches of the killer. A former coworker evenclaimed that Gaikowski’s voice matched the one heard on a Zodiac phone call. Although, no hard evidence was found linking him to the murders.

Another potential suspect was Lawrence Kane, a man with brain damage from a car accident that reportedly affected his impulse control. Some witnesses claimed he resembled descriptions of the Zodiac, and he had a background in military intelligence, which could explain the complex ciphers the killer used. However, likeothers, no evidence has tied him to the crimes.

Some researchers believe that the Zodiac could have been more than one person, which could explain inconsistencies in the killer’s handwriting and behaviour. Despite decades of investigation, no suspect has been definitively proven to be the Zodiac Killer, making this one of the most enduring mysteries in criminal history.

In 2002, the San Francisco Police Department extracted a partial DNA profile from a Zodiac letter, eliminating some suspects but failing to provide a definitive match.Advances in forensic genealogy have given hope that the case may one day be solved, much like the Golden State Killer case in 2018. Until then the case remains unsolved.

This article is part of Brig's True Crime Tuesday series. Read more online at brignews.com

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FEATURES

WHAT MAKES THE BOOK NOOK SO POPULAR?

By Isla Barker Comment Editor

With an owl brandishing a cup of coffee and a book welcoming you

in, the bookshelves of the café are equally inviting.

The Book Nook first opened on September 14, 2020 by Leanne Brown and Jasmine Stenhouse.

The pair had an idea to open the café/bookstore when they met two years prior.

The café’s warm lighting, drinks and atmosphere bring all ages through the doors.

“Our Mission is to provide an inclusive and cosy space that is welcoming and valuable to the Stirling community and its visitors.” As proudly stated on the website.

But what else makes The Book Nook so popular?

Vibe and comforting atmosphere Locals enjoy The Book Nook for its cosy vibe and interior. Personally, I love the colour scheme and soft chairs. They make you feel welcome and cosy.

The owners lean into this and state on their website: “The Book Nook is intended to be a casual and cosy space for people across all stages of life to immerse themselves in the comfort of fictional stories with a good cuppa.”

They also sell stickers and other merchandise which are popular and can be found on many laptops and notebooks around the campus.

Like many cafés in Stirling and Bridge of Allan, The Book Nook is dog friendly. They are even embraced by the owners and staff.

Apparently, they like dogs more than people!

The café’s food and drink are another obvious pull for people.

With every new season the seasonal menu changes and brings new thematic drinks. In the winter you can get the apple pie matcha latte, strawberry and kiwi iced tea in the summer and the Valentine’s white-hot chocolate in February.

Customers come in for their delicious bagels as well.

You can come in for a cup of tea in the morning with your new book or have an early evening hot chocolate with some board games.

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A Book Nook event. . Image Credit: The Book Nook

Community Impact Even after the last cup of tea is drunk, The Book Nook still welcomes readers for Book Club events and Trivia Night. For Book Club, a new book from a variety of genres is selected every month and readers come in to discuss it.

From Edgar Allan Poe’s collection to Everything is Illuminated by Johnathan Safran Foer.

Leanne told me that The Book Nook provides a third space, which is a place outside of home or work that provides community and does not charge you. The most common kind of third space is a library, but even they are becoming rarer.

“A lot of people have made friends through the shop; with the various events and book clubs we have on which is really lovely to see. We set out with the intention to foster a community in Stirling, and I think we have managed to do that!”

The café hosts numerous events and gatherings for people of all interests to join in.

Graphic novel and comic book lovers are also welcome in Beyond the Bubble. And parents can come in on Sunday morning with their children for story time. Trivia Night is also a hit with locals, not only for the host Craig, but the free entry as well.

They are also openly supportive of the LGBTQIA+ community and have recommended a reading list

(Above) A coffee from Book Nook. Image Credit: The Book Nook (Right) The front Book Nook. Image Credit: The Book Nook

for LGBTQIA+ History Month. They also sponsored Stirling Pride and had a quiz fundraiser for the event.

And they have won accolades that attest to their popularity and quality. The Book Nook won Best Café/ Coffee Shop award from Go Forth Stirling Business Awards 2024.

Smaller publishers get a unique spotlight on the bookstore’s shelves with Small Press Spotlight, which is a space exclusively for smaller publishers. Avery Hill publishers is currently on the shelves spotlighting the works of Tillie Walden.

The bookstore also takes book donations with enthusiasm, which improves sustainability and gives beloved books a new home.

People get to know the owners of the café which gives it a human touch. The space becomes a part of the community which draws people to it.

Student Opinions

Because of its optimal environment for reading and studying, the café is particularly popular with students. And with the café’s social media engagement, young people who follow the page also find out about events and new drinks.

Third year student Britney said: “I love the cozy vibe it gives, and the seasonal drink menu makes it stand out to me more than other coffee shops.”

Connor, another third year, likes The Book Nook because of: “The fact that it’s both a lunch spot and a convenient book shop makes it incredible, especially since it’s located in the centre of Stirling. I’ve got a lot of love for Book Nook, and I think every student should pop in at least once during their time at uni! Especially for their coffee!”

I, and many others, love The

Book Nook because of its unique concept and drinks. I enjoy sitting comfortably and buying an inventive and delicious drink and savour the teal-painted bookshelves and the fairy lights.

You can bring your friends along to play board games and browse the shelves. Or cosy up with the soft and decorative pillows all over the colourful room.

The owners make people feel included by engaging with the community and accommodating everyone. It feels like a home away from home for readers, parents and trivia whizzes.

As a third space, The Book Nook welcomes and cares for the people who enter. And provides camaraderie in a world losing its third spaces. It is a unique cornerstone of the city centre and engages with the community that loves it so much.

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POLITICS COMMENT 6-7 8-9

MUSIC FILM & TV 10-11 12-13

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THE BEST BEER GARDEN BEVERAGES

By Anya Diggines Sports Editor

As summer approaches and the sun is starting to shine, the beer gardens begin to open again, and it is hard to stay away.

In preparation for arguably the best time of year, here is a list of some of the best tipples for the beer garden.

A Fruit Cider It is hard to pick one cider to include in this list as there is an abundance of refreshing flavours behind the bar these days.

Personal favourites include Kopperberg’s Sweet Vintage Pear, Old Mout’s Pineapple and Raspberry and Outcider, a crisp apple cider.

A cold cider is perfect whilst bathing in the sun.

A Mojito Whether you order this alcoholic or non-alcoholic, a mojito is the perfect cocktail, or mocktail, to sip on in the beer garden.

The minty glass of goodness is a zesty taste of summer, helping you to cool down in the heat.

A Fresh Orange and Lemonade A cold soft drink can be refreshing in the beer garden; however, this fruity concoction is thirstquenching.

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Superbly Souperb

By Isla Barker

COMMENT EDITOR A new takeaway soup restaurant has opened on Murray Place recently.

If made in equal parts, it takes your delicious fresh orange juice and gives it a fizzy twist.

A great way to still enjoy the beer garden, even if you aren’t drinking alcohol.

And like its name, it is Souperb!

Souperb seemed to open out of the blue out of the former location of a Subway franchise.

The restaurant serves nine homemade kinds of soup from cream of mushroom to Thai chicken noodle.

A Pint of Beer Everyone has their personal taste, I personally enjoy indulging in a tall, cold drink of Peroni or Corona.

There is an array of alcohol-free beer from these brewery’s now too, meaning you can still enjoy a fresh pint whilst staying sober.

Although still to be tested personally, apparently the alcohol-free Guinness is one of the tastiest alcohol-free beers, tasting almost identical to its alcoholic counterpart.

Although the list could go on, there are simply too many beverages to enjoy in the beer garden.

Whether it is wine, water or a hot chocolate, every beverage tastes better in the beer garden.

I’ve tried the Thai chicken noodle soup twice and it’s enjoyable. It doesn’t have too much of a kick but enough to go well with the chicken and noodles.

And not only is the soup high quality and delicious, it is also very affordable.

For £2.95 you can buy a 12 oz. portion of soup, you can also buy bread, donuts and soft drinks. They have gluten free rolls as well. And a 16 oz. cup is £3.95 Souperb also gives loyalty cards where your fifth cup of soup is free, as well as provide biodegradable spoons.

As a student town, Stirling needs more affordable food outlets that also provide good quality. So Souperb achieves this perfectly.

A selection of local cocktails. Image Credit: Niamh Brook

Three Things to Bake in Your Uni Kitchen

By Amelia Fryer Baking means different things to many different people. From improving mental health to making a tasty treat to share with friends, making food is a great way for us to connect with ourselves as well as other people!

I know personally, baking gives me a clarity of mind when I need a break from the stress of assignment deadline and being drowned in coursework. I also know that university accommodation kitchens can be less than satisfactory in terms of working appliances.

So, here is a list of things that you can bake in your uni kitchen to lift your spirits! Even if your oven seal is broken or your microwave takes 300 years to make your dinner.

Mug-Cake If you love cake but live on a budget, a mug-cake can be a perfect solution and a very tasty pick me up in the week!

There are hundreds of mug-cake recipes on the internet, however

I’ve never been one to follow instructions very well, so I tend to use them as more of a guide (this has surprisingly worked more times than it hasn’t).

With some self-raising flour, an egg, some sugar, butter (or margarine), cocoa powder and a pinch of salt – you can have a perfect pocket-sized cake to eat while you study!

Just pop your ingredients into a microwave-safe mug and put it in the microwave.

If you want to get fancy and have some icing sugar lying around, you can make icing to top it off!

Chocolate Chip Cookies Who doesn’t love chocolate chip cookies? I know I do. With just a few ingredients and about 15-20 minutes in the oven (depending on the quality of oven) you can have a perfect batch of cookies to share with friends! Or let’s be honest, just enjoy yourself!

Something I never set out to buy is brown sugar, so with some angels on the internet there are plenty of recipes for some perfect cookies with no brown sugar, Simply mix some butter, sugar an egg, some golden syrup, a bit of

salt, some self-raising flour, and some chocolate chips and pop it in the oven for around 20 minutes.

Enjoy!

Sultana or Chocolate Scones Scones are a delicacy in many people’s lives. No matter how you say it – they still taste just as good.

So, here’s how to make them at uni!

Simply mix together self-raising flour, sugar, butter/margarine, an egg and some milk. Personally, I find it quite fun to do this with my hands but do whatever works for you!

You can also add vanilla extract (I prefer to use golden syrup myself) to give it an extra nice, sweet taste! Then add your sultanas, chocolate or even just leave them plain.

Roll the mixture into balls and pop them in the oven for about 15 minutes and you’ll have some tasty scones to again share with your friends or just to eat yourself!

Kerry's cake. Image Credit: Kerry Lloyd

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Gyros. Image Credit: Alice Pollard

FORGOTTEN FAVOURITES: RETURNING TO CAFE AINA

By Alice Pollard BRAW Editor

Cafe Aina has been tucked away on King Street since 2018, delighting locals and visitors alike with a fantastic array of traditional Greek food, personable customer service, and a warm atmosphere. However, the beloved family business has recently been put up for sale as the owners are looking to retire.

As a favourite dinner spot for many folk in Brig, we decided to pay them a visit to enjoy, reflect on, and review the food, immortalising the personable service and warm atmosphere in writing before the restaurant changes hands.

Creating a group of food enthusiasts, including Brig’s very own food editor, six of us gathered along a well-dressed table to experience

the joyful destination and beautiful food. If you have ever visited Cafe Aina, you will know that our opinion, undoubtedly, will be very high indeed. If you are yet to visit Cafe Aina, then now is the time to pay them a visit. Though the cafe itself will not be lost, the spark of joy that the owners currently fill the restaurant with is at risk with new ownership. The highly valued care, attention, and affection that the owners currently harbor for their customers may also translate differently under new ownership.

To begin this reflection, it is worth mentioning that all six of us who visited had a 10/10 experience.

We were greeted by the owner’s son with a kind smile, and he provided warm, funny, personable, and attentive service for our entire visit. His service plays a huge role in creating the happy soul of

the restaurant, filling the tables around us with laughter emboldened by beer and good food.

I breached my comfort zone, confidently ordering the Greek beer ‘Mythos’. As a stubborn anti-beer drinker, I surprised myself by enjoying the drink massively.

Drinking from the bottle, I did feel like I should be on a beach enjoying the sun somewhere, but Stirling’s King Street certainly wasn’t the worst alternative that evening.

Between us, we ordered the Chicken Souvlaki (£8.25), Falafel Souvlaki (8.25), Halloumi Souvlaki (£9.00), and the Chicken Gyros (£8.25). The food arrived in good time, with the fillings wrapped in a hot and fresh pitta bread loaded with properly seasoned chips, amazing homemade vegan tzatziki, and fresh tomatoes and red onion.

It was phenomenal. Conversation ceased promptly as we sank our face unashamedly into the Souvlakis, like bees to honeysuckle. We worked out that there was no art to eating these monsters - it was a matter of committing your self respect and cleanliness to consuming the loaded pitta breads, and it was worth every crumb of mess.

No corners had been cut on the quality of the ingredients or the amount of them - there was a brilliant value for money that really encouraged us, as broke students, to fully enjoy ourselves. The Souvlakis were more than generously filled.

The chicken was gorgeously seasoned and tasty, and the vegetarian options that we tried were just as good as the meat options - if not more so.

A review of a restaurant should information.

Have breaks between meals

as possible Eating 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day should play a crucial part in anyone’s lifestyle. It is highly recommended by professionals as they provide you with plenty of essential nutrients which help fight fatigue and improve overall health.

Although, as we all know - fresh fruit and vegetables can be expensive. However, your 5 A Day allows for tinned and frozen fruit and veg, which can be a lot cheaper.

Different kinds of frozen fruit and veg costs an average of £2-£3 per bag in most supermarkets. Tinned fruit, vegetables, beans and chickpeas are also relatively cheap as they vary in price between 80p and £1.50 in most supermarkets.

Fruit and nut bars or snacks can

also contribute, and vitamin supplements can also be taken.

Avoid ultra-processed foods The vast majority of ready-made foods or snacks can fall into the UPF category, and when consumed in large amounts they deprive you of essential nutrients through their heavy use of preservatives and additives, offsetting your energy.

These foods include chocolate, breads, crisps, ready meals, cereals, sugary drinks and pre-cooked meats.

Healthier alternatives to these foods can be switching to more fruit and vegetables, more fresh meat and dairy products, and wholegrain bread and pasta. However, be aware that these foods are still okay to eat in moderation and as part of a healthy active lifestyle, but excessive consumption can lead to lower energy and health issues.

You will be able to tell if food or drinks are UPF by looking for preservatives, emulsifiers, artificial colours/flavours, sugars or sweeteners within the ingredient

HEALTHY SNACKS TO BOOST YOUR ENERGY

By Erin Hamilton

It’s a universal experience for students to have intense phases of fatigue when it comes to exam season, where “I can’t be bothered” becomes a daily quote for many.

There are many effective food tips that are overlooked which can genuinely help to boost your energy levels and enhance productivity.

Some great places to start include: eating your 5 A Day, trying more nutrient-rich foods, cutting down on ultra-processed foods, and planning mealtimes.

Here’s some healthier and easy food swaps to benefit your mental and physical energy: Aim to eat your 5 A Day as often

Try to space out the time between your meals to allow for continued energy throughout the day.

Instead of having a large meal try aim for lighter meals within 3-4 hours of each other, eating healthy portions for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with snacks

be balanced, noticing any aspects that fall short or negatively impact the experience. For Cafe Aina, I can think of nothing to criticise. Every part of the evening was brilliant.

Ensure you bring good company to enjoy the food and atmosphere with, as Cafe Aina is a space designed to be filled with laughter, and go and cover your face in fresh tzatziki and pitta bread.

Cafe Aina will not be lost to Stirling with the sale of the business. The owners are in search of someone to continue the successful business as we know it, with all the necessary skills to be handed over.

Here’s to many more years of fantastic Greek food in Stirling - thank you to the current owners for creating this beloved restaurant. We’ll be back soon.

in between if needed!

This also applies for starchy carbohydrates, which should be consumed in smaller amounts and be spaced out to avoid ‘crashing’ and losing more energy.

A summer salad. Image Credit: Plum McKechnie

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POLITICS COMMENT 6-7 8-9

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No Car, No Problem: Accessing Stirling’s Best Wild Swim Spots by Public Transport

Stirling Swimmers Selected for Aquatics GB’s World Class Programme

By Alice Pollard

By Dylan Burt

Scout Pool, Callander. Image Credit: Alice Pollard

BRAW Editor

Cold water submersion has got to be one of the strangest, most addicting pastimes out there.

Throwing your nice warm body into freezing temperatures takes a unique kind of person and a strange mindset, and yet it is so freeing. The mental release, the endorphins, the deep comforting chill that settles in your chest…there’s little that compares to it.

Wild swimming has taken the world by storm since lockdown, and figures show that the trend is not going away - here in Stirling, we are fortunate to be based in the hub of Scotland’s most popular outdoor swimming spots. Nearby Loch Lomond is currently the number one outdoor swimming spot in the UK. Unfortunately for a lot of us, the more popular spots are inaccessible without a car. Public transport may appear limited to reach stunning remote locations, however, this is not the case.

Here is Brig’s guide to accessing outdoor swim spots without a car, beyond the familiar locations.

Lake of Menteith The Lake of Menteith is situated south of Callander, featuring stunning views and plenty of access to the icy cold water that makes wild swimming in Scotland so popular.

To access the Lake of Menteith,

get the X10A from Stirling Goosecroft Bus Station (running every two hours) to Inchmoy, Port of Menteith. The journey takes ~37 minutes and is free with a U22 NEC. From the Inchmoy bus stop, head south towards the loch edge and follow the loch along until you find a dunking spot with unobstructed entry to the water and minimal disruption to wildlife.

Just don’t miss the last bus back to Stirling at 18:14, or you’ll have a chilly night at a bus stop!

Scout Pools, Callander Callander is easily accessible from Stirling, with the 59-bus running directly every hour from Stirling Goosecroft Bus Station. This scenic bus journey takes a little longer at 45 minutes.

Once you have arrived in Callander, drop by the incredible bakery to pick up a sandwich for your adventure, and follow the signs to Bracklin Falls. You should reach the bridge over the falls after about 30 minutes of walking. Keep following the path (it may be very muddy and wee) over the bridge, heading up the river for another 30 minutes until you reach another bridge. Instead of crossing, find the path to the left of the bridge - this will take you to the hidden wild swimming gem that is Scout Pools. Be warned: it is incredibly

cold, fresh water here with a long walk back, so be wary of your body temperature.

Sherrifmuir Paradise Pools A little closer to home, the Sherrifmuir Paradise Pools (also known as the ‘Devil’s Bucket’) are a tucked-away wild swimming haven in the Ochils.

You need your walking boots to reach these plunge pools, which feature a natural rock slide, but it is worth the trek.

It is a one-and-a-half to twohour walk from the University of Stirling to reach here. Begin walking as though you are heading for Dumyat. When you reach the Dumyat car park, press on past the Dumyat turning and continue along the road. The Paradise Pools are a left turn before Cauldhame - use Google Maps or a local OS map to guide you.

There are wild swimming spots closer to Stirling University, however, they are well-trodden and widely known. Use this article to plan some more adventurous trips, however, if you’re just starting out then you can join the University of Stirling Wild Swimming Society in their weekly swims at the local Coxburn Reservoir.

Remember to leave no trace, take a hot drink, and respect your surroundings.

A total of 14 University of Stirling swimmers have been selected for Aquatics GB’s prestigious World Class Programme (WCP) for the 2025 season, culminating in the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore this July and August.

They are among 57 swimmers from across the UK chosen for the programme, following Team GB’s five-medal haul at the Paris Olympics, three of which were won

by Stirling athletes.

The WCP athletes undergo a rigorous selection process, assessing their potential for success at future Olympic and senior World Championships.

Swimmers are divided into Podium and Podium Potential tiers, reflecting their competitive status and future aspirations.

Among Stirling’s Podium-tier athletes are Olympic medallists Duncan Scott and Jack McMillan.

Freya Anderson joins the list after moving to Stirling’s programme, alongside British champion Angharad Evans, who will now represent Scotland.

Completing Stirling’s elite group are Paris Olympians Kathleen Dawson, Lucy Hope, and Katie Shanahan.

The Podium Potential category features Stirling talents David Annis, Evie Dilley, Lucy Grieve, Keanna MacInnes, Holly McGill, and George Smith. Dean Fearn, who trains between Stirling and Aberdeen Dolphins, also made the list.

Athletes on the WCP receive specialised training opportunities, competition exposure, and support from Aquatics GB and UK Sport.

They benefit from cutting-edge sports science, medical support, and athlete performance awards to aid their development.

David Bond, Head of Performance Sport at the University of Stirling, highlighted the university’s role in developing elite swimmers, saying, "The high volume of Stirling swimmers on the Aquatics GB World Class programme is testament to the performance environment created by our coaches and support staff."

Aquatics GB Performance Director Chris Spice emphasised the programme’s importance at the start of a new Olympic cycle, noting, "This is a year for us to find new talent and start building towards LA 2028. We can’t wait to get going."

The programme’s new Head Coach, Steven Tigg, formerly of the University of Stirling, will oversee athlete development.

Stirling’s high-performance swim programme continues to offer world-class coaching, cutting-edge research, and academic flexibility to support student-athletes in their pursuit of excellence.

With the 2025 season ahead, Stirling’s swimmers are set to make waves on the international stage, reinforcing the university’s reputation as a powerhouse in British swimming.

Stirling’s research on football penalty kick wins prestigious award at global conference Continued from back page.

The research was based on 536 penalty kicks from the UEFA Champions and Europa League.

The data showed that those taking a penalty kick are sometimes avoiding the most effective shot placement and instead prioritising their credibility.

For example, given the choice of aiming for the top corner of the net, which is statistically more likely to result in a goal, but at the same time it runs the risk of missing the goal completely, which is exactly what footballers are seemingly wanting to avoid at all costs.

On his research, Singleton, a Senior Lecturer in Economics at the University of Stirling Management School, talked about his findings, saying that “Professional football and soccer players care about missing the goal because it looks like they’ve made a big mistake,

by not even testing the goalkeeper.

Our findings show that they are not shooting to areas of the goal where they would have a high chance of scoring in.

“They are happy to trade off their chances of scoring a goal with looking credible as professionals who can at least make the goalkeeper work, meaning they’re not taking shots to the top corner as often as they should.

“To the coach and the team, a kick missing the goal versus being saved by the goalkeeper is the same outcome, but to the player that distinction clearly matters.”

He added: “It is important that football players learn that it’s OK to fail, and that the stigma attached to negative outcomes such as this is taken away. Coaches need to help players develop more of a no-fear mentality.”

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Triumphs and Tribulations: The 2025 Chinese Grand Prix Recap

By Erin Schoolar

Head of Photography The Shanghai International Circuit's 2025 Chinese Grand Prix was an incredible event. Exciting fights, surprising drama, and a major shock in the championship Fight —it had it all. Fans were on the edge of their seats the whole weekend, from Ferrari's high on Saturday to a heartbreaking low on Sunday.

For Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton, the sprint race on Saturday was a dream come true. Hamilton won his first race in red during his first season with the team, winning the race from pole position and dominating the 19 laps. He won by holding off Red Bull's Max Verstappen and McLaren's Oscar Piastri, despite worries over tire wear.

It was significant for Ferrari as well as Hamilton because it was their first sprint race win since the format's debut. After a difficult season, supporters hoped it was the beginning of something better.

Verstappen, on the other hand, was not pleased, implying that Red Bull needed to catch up before the main event.

However, McLaren's Oscar Piastri dominated the race on Sunday.

Piastri drove flawlessly from pole position, controlling his tires and pace flawlessly. He maintained control in spite of early pressure from Verstappen and his teammate Lando Norris.

Red Bull and Mercedes suffered as the race went on, but McLaren's tire strategy gave them the advantage. George Russell battled hard but was forced to settle for third place as Mercedes' aggressive strategy failed, while Norris passed Verstappen to secure a McLaren 1-2 finish.

In addition to being Piastri's third Formula 1 victory, this triumph was significant for McLaren because

it was their 50th-ever 1-2 finish.

Their performance demonstrated that McLaren is now not only a formidable competitor but also a team capable of competing against the best in Formula One, marking what seemed like a true turning point.

As McLaren celebrated their dream weekend, Ferrari experienced a nightmare. Despite their best efforts, Hamilton and Charles Leclerc finished fifth and sixth because they lacked the speed to overtake the leads.

Both Ferraris were disqualified following the race. Leclerc's car was underweight, and Hamilton's had excessive wear on the skid blocks. It was a vicious hit that changed the outcome and erased their points. Pierre Gasly was also disqualified after post-race checks revealed his car was under the underweight.

Despite his frustration, team manager Frédéric Vasseur acknowledged that "rules are rules."

After an already shaky season, Ferrari is now under much greater pressure.

The title race took a new turn after McLaren's impressive performance and Ferrari's defeat.

Despite Red Bull's difficulties in Shanghai, Norris maintained his lead in the Drivers' Championship, and Verstappen was still competitive despite finishing fourth.

The stakes are extremely high as the paddock prepares to go to Suzuka for the Japanese Grand Prix on April 6. Ferrari feeling the need for redemption, Red Bull needs answers, while McLaren wants to maintain its momentum.

The 2025 season is looking to be one of the most unexpected in recent history.

McLaren celebrating a win. Image Credit: Steffen Prößdorf

MotoGP 2025 at Circuit of the Americas: A Real Texas Showdown

By Erin Schoolar Head of Photography At the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, the 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas was nothing short of thrilling. The race had fans on the edge of their seats with its high stakes, surprising turns, and championship-defining moments. This event demonstrated once more why COTA is one of the most thrilling tracks on the MotoGP calendar as the third stop of the 2025 season.

All eyes were on Marc Márquez, who has a history of dominating at COTA, going into the weekend. With a lap time of 2:01.088 the eight-time world champion did not let anyone down and secured his third straight pole position of the season.

This solidified his status as the king of COTA and scored his 69th pole in his MotoGP career.

The lights went out, showcasing

the unpredictable nature of racing.

The track dried up more quickly than anticipated due to unforeseen weather conditions, prompting last-minute tire replacements.

In order to stay within the rules, Márquez and a few other riders hurried to swap to dry tires, which delayed the start.

Márquez appeared unbeatable as the race eventually started, leading and managing the pace. On lap nine, though, Márquez lost control and crashed out of the race, shocking spectators and quickly changing the championship leaderboard.

Márquez's absence made room for Francesco "Pecco" Bagnaia of Ducati, who took advantage of the situation to win his first race of the year. Marc's younger brother, Alex Márquez, led the championship standings after finishing

second in a flawless race. Fabio Di Giannantonio of Ducati took third place on the podium.

With a 3.426-mile layout that includes 20 challenging corners and a 133-foot elevation difference, the Circuit of the Americas is still one of the most difficult courses on the MotoGP season. It's a real test of endurance, talent, and strategy.

To make life easier for fans, COTA announced the construction of a $16 million parking garage, set to open before the U.S. Grand Prix in October. This massive upgrade aims to reduce congestion and improve the overall experience for spectators.

The championship battle was shocked by Marc Márquez's crash.

With 87 points, Alex Márquez is currently one point ahead of his brother and leads the standings.

With his victory, Bagnaia shot up to third place with 75 points, further intensifying the competition for the title. With a dominant 111 points, Ducati is still leading the Constructors' Championship.

Now that the dust has settled in Austin, MotoGP will move on to Qatar on April 13 for the following round. The competition for the 2025 title is intensifying, and if COTA is any guide, this season will be an exciting one.

As the top riders in the world continue their pursuit of MotoGP gold, expect more thrilling high-speed drama, amazing overtakes, and intense rivalries.

Francesco Bagnaia. Image Credit: Simon Patterson

Stirling’s Sporting Success 2025

By Melissa Thomson Sports Editor

Baseball Stirling Storm became 4-time Scottish BUCS Division Winners and go on to compete in London for the BUCS National Championship this May. Basketball The Men’s 1s came in first place in the BUCS Conference Finals, and the Women’s 2s defeated City of Glasgow College in their last game of the season.

Cheer Stirling put on a tremendous performance at the Scotcheer University Nations Cup. Level one took home first place and won their first ever overall Grand Champion title, and Level two took home a silver. Jazz and Pom both came

in first place and Pom reclaimed their title as overall Dance Grand Champions. Pom also won the Nations Cup for highest scoring routine of the day – a title they have held since the first Scotcheer University Nations Cup. Cycling In the BUCS Track 2025, Stirling went home with three 4th place finishes.

Football Women’s 2s took home a silver after a loss to Aberdeen 1s in the Conference Final.

GAA Men’s GAA made it to the cup final where they placed second, and the Women’s team became 2025’s British Champions Plate Winners.

Hockey The Women’s 2s hockey team won the BUCS Conference Finals after defeating Edinburgh.

Judo Judo went home with a gold in +78kg category, and two bronzes in the -52kg and +100kg categories Lacrosse Women’s lacrosse came second in the BUCS Conference Finals after a close game against Dundee ultimately ended in a loss.

Tennis The Men’s 1s placed second in the Men’s National Championship, while the Men’s 2s defeated Bath 4-2 to become National Trophy Champions. In the BUCS Conference Finals in St Andrews, the 5s placed second, and the Fast came in first place.

Trampolining Stirling’s trampolining team went home with a grand total of 9 medals - three bronze medals, four silver, and two gold.

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GAMING LIFESTYLE FEATURES 20-21 22-23 24-25

Basketball creator was a Scot - not Canadian, recent research reveals

By Alex Paterson

Deputy Editor & Film&TV Editor

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SPORT

Scotland Crash Out of Nations League A: What’s Next for Steve Clarke?

By Anya Diggines

New research conducted by the University of Stirling has found the creator of basketball considered himself Scottish.

Physical education (P.E) teacher Dr James Naismith created the game in 1891 whilst living in Almonte, Canada, where he was born and raised.

However, Dr Naismith spoke with a Scottish accent for most of his life, lived in a Scottish community, and had a Glaswegian father and Scottish maternal grandparents.

During childhood, his Scottish family introduce him to duck-onthe-rock, which has father had learned in Glasgow.

Naismith revealed later in life that the childhood game became the basis for basketball.

Dr Naismith was born and grew up in a British colony in Canada, where his family and the majority of people around him were Scottish.

Canada has historically claimed to be the origin the sport, however Stirling researchers argue this discovery merits a review of the claim.

Researcher, lecturer and Scotsman Dr Ross Walker wants to reclaim the creator as a Scot and educate others on the Scottish influence seen on the game.

Dr Walker, who is also played basketball for 15 years and represented the country in the sport, said: “Until 1891, Naismith resided in a replanted Scottish community and Scot-dominated areas, living a lifestyle similar to those contemporarily in Scotland.

“In day-to-day life, Naismith spoke in Scottish mannerisms, had a Scottish accent, used the broad Scots dialect, engaged with Scottish activities, and spread his

Scottish values that underpinned the actions of his life.

“Scottish culture, heritage, Presbyterianism, and nationalism formed his identity, representing who he was as a person, how he carried himself and how he saw the world around him. It also determined who he wanted to be and what he wanted to do in life.

“Scotland influenced the creation of basketball because Scotland influenced the creator of basketball who instilled elements of Scottishness into the sport.”

Despite living in Canada, Naismith’s entire community was Scottish.

His teachers were Scottish, his class work revolved around Scottish geography, and he favoured Scottish poetry and music.

Naismith regularly referred to Scots poet Robbie Burns in his personal communications, and once gifted his wife a book by burns with the inscription: “Tae the bonniest lass”.

When studying at McGill University, Naismith enlisted with an army regiment known as the kilted laddies.

The troops in Fifth Regiment: Royal Scots of Canada Highlanders wore tartan kilts and had a traditional marching band and piper.

Naismith became the Captain of the Regiment.

Members of the Regiment were required to know traditional Scottish dances.

Dr Walker wants Naismith’s Scottish lifestyle to come to the forefront of the creator’s history, wishing the “Americancentric” history of basketball to be reevaluated.

He said: “While there has been

some coverage of Naismith’s Scottish connection, it is very anecdotal and put across in a way which provides background to Naismith but not in a capacity which argues, and most importantly evidences, that Scotland influenced the creation of basketball through Naismith.

“My research contests the global narrative and reputation of basketball that it is a Canadian and American sport, which it is not.

Furthermore, most of the coverage which has been shared touches solely upon his parental links to Glasgow, but nothing really delves deeply into the profound impact of his Scottish Presbyterianism, the Scottish settler communities which developed him, and much more which all led to the eventual creation of basketball.

“My research argues that, without Scotland, the global phenomenon that is basketball today may have never been created in the current form that is known and celebrated worldwide.”

Dr Walker added: “Until his passing, Naismith maintained his Scottish beliefs, mindset, traits and values, and made multiple pilgrimages to Scotland to visit relatives and locations, even buying his wedding outfit in Scotland in 1894.

“Prior to basketball entering the 1936 Olympic Games, Naismith revisited his spiritual home one last time, connecting to where his and the journey of basketball began.

“In the words of Naismith’s grandson, Jim Naismith, Scotland was a country that he called home and cared deeply about.”

James Naismith: the creation of basketball and the Scottish connection was published in the journal Sport in History.

Scotland’s rugby journey through the 2025 Six Nations tournament has been full of excitement and disappointment for fans as the team finish at a downing fourth place in this year’s final standings. Despite the electric levels of support and pride from Scottish fans during every match, the end result leaves the dispiriting feeling of defeat to linger for yet another year.

The team opened their 25th round of the Six Nations with a promising victory of 31-19 against Italy, boosting the hopes of fans that the Scots may finally be strong enough to beat their record of third place since the tournament’s commencement in 2000, however the hopes slowly began to fade following the next two painful losses of 32-18 to Ireland in Dublin and 16-15 to England in Twickenham.

Scotland learned from the defeats and came back with a relieving win of 35-29 against Wales at Murrayfield, to then suffer another hard-hitting loss of 35-16 against

France in the closing match in Paris.

The games have been contained a mixture of positive and negative moments, with a number of fantastic tries by the likes of Huw Jones, Tom Jordan and Blair Kinghorn; yet there were also a number of unnecessary blows such as vital conversions and penalty opportunities that were missed, or the yellow cards and knock-ons that could have been avoided. The removal of highly rated players Finn Russell and Darcy Graham that was caused by intense head-to-head contact between the two in the first half of the Ireland campaign in Dublin also proved detrimental to team’s overall performance in the second game of the series.

There has been plenty of criticism of the team’s performance this year, with people shaming the many silly mistakes that were made by the players during the games, especially Finn Russell’s shocker of three missed conversions against

England which led to their defeat, alongside the unacceptable number of handling errors, throwing away penalties and the team losing their confidence under pressure.

Following the heartbreak after the second and third matches, a key talking point for disheartened fans were the number of poor decisions made by the referee during the England game, which has sparked a lot of rage from people online.

Many social media users commented on a mishap during the derby game in Twickenham, highlighting how a ‘clearly un-grounded’ try by the opponents was accepted by the referee who received many complaints of unfairness.

One Instagram user commented: “Unless the ref was looking somewhere else… that ball was not grounded. Not a try any day of the week… in my opinion!!!”

Another online fan stated: “I only hope @worldrugby make sure that was the referee’s first and last Six Nations. He and the TMO were

Sports Editor

Scotland’s Men’s National Team have lost their place in the Nation’s League A after a bitter loss to Greece in the play-offs.

It seems as though this has become Scotland’s style, beating big names such as Portugal and Croatia, giving hope to fans who have seen decades of whimsical Scottish football, only to disappoint them by putting on the worst performance imaginable.

After the bitter performance in the Euro’s last summer, something needed to be done to strengthen this squad, however manager, Steve Clarke, doesn’t appear to have done much with his team.

With the number of minutes played at clubs, players are likely exhausted by the time the international break rolls round, and with no real time to rest they are struggling to provide the Tartan Army with the dreams they hope to see made into a reality.

The fans aren’t letting them away with it, as boos rang around Hampden Stadium on March 23,

during the second leg of the playoffs, throughout the game and at the full-time whistle.

It’s no wonder fans were showing their fury, there was no movement on the pitch, and the players looked like they didn’t have a clue what they were doing.

To add insult to injury, Greece managed to sub off their two best players, Giannis Konstantelias and Konstantinos Karetsas, and Scotland still didn’t come close to challenging the visitors.

Clarke depends on players who are well past their prime, and it appears he doesn’t want to move on to start building a new squad with young talent.

However, if they want to claim a spot in the 2028 Euros, they have to perform well in League B of the Nations League.

Next up, they face the World Cup Qualifiers, placed in a group with Denmark, Belarus and Greece, Clarke will need to rethink his approach if they want to take any success from the qualifiers.

The Disheartening Rollercoaster of Scotland’s Performance in the 2025 Six Nations

By Erin Hamilton awful today - possibly the worst I’ve ever seen.”

This particular loss of the historic annual Calcutta Cup match against England was a hard pill to swallow for both the players and fans because if the game was won by the Scots, it would have earned the country a never-before completion of 5 wins of the cup in a row.

However, there were still many memorable performances from the players in the tournament to shine some light on: the hat-trick of tries from centre Huw Jones against Italy, the almost hat-trick from full back Tom Jordan against Wales, and the incredible efforts heading towards the try-line from Darcy Graham, Finn Russell, Blair Kinghorn and Duhan Van De Merve throughout the campaigns.

Although this year once again proved unfortunate for Scotland, it appears that head coach Gregor Townsend is aware of where wrongdoings occurred and where improvement is required for next

year.

He reflects on the match against France saying, “Strangely, probably the two best performances this year that happens were defeats, to England and to France, but we can take a lot from those two games as we look to next year and beyond when we have those challenges again.”

Finn Russell also commented on the improvement required after their crushing defeat in the match against England, stating: “As a team, we need to get better.

It sounds simple, doesn’t it? When we do get chances, we need to take them and have that ruthless edge that a lot of people talk about, but it’s tough to actually do.”

The next instalment of the Six Nations series in 2026 will once again unite Scottish fans all over the country. But as to whether our hope for improvement will show through in the squad next year, only time and training will tell.

SPORT

31

Stirling Uni Student Starts Commonwealth Games Relay with the King

Gabriella Wood holding the Commonwealth Baton. Image Credit: Commonwealth Sport

By Alex Paterson Deputy Editor & Film&TV Editor A University of Stirling student launched the Commonwealth Games with His Majesty King Charles II during the King’s Baton Rely at Buckingham Palace.

On Monday, March 10, Student Gabriella Wood was one of the first baton-bearers alongside Sir Chris Hoy, wheelchair racer Sammi Kinghorn MBE, and Commonwealth Society volunteer Keiran Healy.

Gabriella was representing her home nation Trinidad and Tobago, the first destination for the relay.

The baton will travel around each Commonwealth country before returning to the U.K. ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. he relay marked 500 days until the Games begin. After starting the relay, Gabriella hopes to continue her sporting success and compete in the Games.

The 27-year-old was the first woman – and second person ever – to represent Trinidad and Tobago in judo at the Olympics when she competed at the 2020/2021 Tokyo Summer Games.

Whilst studying and training, Gabriella coaches at the Judo Club

Esprit in Alloa.

Before her return to Scotland, Gabrielle will be competing in 78+kg division for her third consecutive win at the British University Championship in Birmingham.

Discussing the relay, Gabriella Wood said: “It was an honour to walk the first official leg of the baton relay receiving the baton on behalf of my home nation Trinidad and Tobago to commence 500 days to the next Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Being part of this historic moment fills me with immense pride – not just as an athlete, but as a representative of my university, my sport, and my

country. Carrying the baton symbolises unity, perseverance, and the shared spirit of competition that the Commonwealth Games embody, and I am truly grateful to have been a part of this journey.”

David Bond, Head of Performance Sport at the University of Stirling, said: “We are filled with an immense sense of pride at seeing one of our athletes and brightest talents play such an important role at the prestigious King’s Baton Relay and really shine on the world stage.

“Gabriella’s journey to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games started some time ago and I know there has been a great deal

of hard work and dedication that has gone into her preparations. Having the privilege of being one of the first baton-bearers is another fantastic step on her road to Glasgow 2026.

“Gabriella is an exceptional role model for young athletes, her fellow students, the entire University of Stirling community and her home nation of Trinidad and Tobago, demonstrating just what can be achieved through a University of Stirling sports scholarship.”

The King’s Baton Relay will conclude July 23, 2026, at the Glasgow Commonwealth Opening Ceremony.

Tristen Bell Becomes BUCS Modern Pentathlon Record Holder

By Melissa Thomson Sports Editor

Florida native, Tristan Bell, placed first in the BUCS Modern Pentathlon Championships, where he broke the record by 10 points.

The event is made up of fencing, swimming, a laser run, and an obstacle course. Bell finished first in the swimming and laser run portions, second in fencing, and seventh in the obstacle course. This left him with a total of 1435 BUCS points, which is 10 seconds faster than the previous record.

When asked about his win, Bell said: “I am absolutely delighted.

I couldn’t have asked for a better competition – I recorded a personal best in my swim, beating my previous time by one second, and ties my laser run personal best. This has been a great way to start my season and I’m excited for what there is to come later this year.”

The University of Stirling’s Head of Performance Sport, David Bond, wishes Bell “huge congratulations from everyone at the University – and we look forward to seeing what

he can achieve across the rest of this year.”

Bell is now preparing for the United States Nationals in July in the hopes of qualifying for the World Champions later this summer in Lithuania.

Since the most recent Olympic Games, Modern Pentathlon has replaced their traditional event of horse riding with the obstacle course race.

Image Credit: University of Stirling

VOL.55 ISSUE.4

APRIL 2024

University of Stirling Student Selected for Young People’s Sport Panel

Stirling’s research on football penalty kick wins prestigious award at global conference

By Amelia Fryer

By Archie Meldrum

Image Credit: University of Stirling

University of Stirling economist Dr. Carl Singleton has won a prestigious award in the USA, due to his research into the football penalty kick. Singleton is the co-author of a study which found that footballers are compromising the chance of scoring a goal with the possibility of missing the target completely, so the player can save their face.

A student from the University of Stirling has been chosen to speak on a panel for the sportscotland Young People’s Sport Panel.

Holly Wilkie-Milne is a Sport and Exercise Science student at the university and is currently in the second year of her studies. She is also a part of the British Curling performance programme and was one of the only twenty people chosen to be on the panel of whom were chosen through a competitive recruitment process.

Coming from Perth, Holly has partaken in curling after first doing it when she was seven years old. She paved her way through the local junior stages and later competed at the highest international

level.

She was a member of the GB team that won during the World Junior Curling Championships in Germany (Füssen) in March 2023.

However most recently went with team GB and represented them at the World University Games in Italy (Torino).

Holly is a part of only a few people who will be able to speak and work with national agencies, government bodies and Scotland’s wider sporting community.

The Young People’s Sport Panel The Young People’s Sport Panel which is led by sportscotland and supported by Young Scot “provides a national platform to represent the voice of young people

across Scotland” according to the sportscotland website.

Further seen from the website the panels aim is to “help influence and shape the future of sport in Scotland and to raise the profile of sport.”

The website also states that the programme’s principle is that “young people’s views are heard and valued, and they have the opportunity to influence decision making and drive change.”

The seventh cohort of the panel is the one that Holly will be partaking in.

UoS Curling Sport Scholarship The University of Stirling website also gives information regarding a curling scholarship that can be

This groundbreaking research completed by the University of Stirling and Reading, and Syracuse University, beat six other finalists to win the yearly competition at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference in Boston which is a major forum for professionals to discuss research and analytics in terms of global sports.

Read more on page 28

acquired for students in curling for The other benefits are listed as: more exciting opportunities. support in nutrition and perforThe website states that: “we offer mance analysis, costs including scholarships in partnership with training and competition costs British and Scottish Curling to of- being covered (with additional supfer athletes a bespoke coaching port offered in the form of academprogramme which fits in with the ic flexibility and financial subsidies demands of elite sport.” for academic related expenses like It is stated that the scholarship accommodation, living grants and offers a great deal to students in- tuition fees if applicable). cluding: enhanced training oppor- There is also a selection of criteria tunities at the National Curling listed for the scholarship which can Academy at the Peak providing be read here on the curling website. dedicated ice all year around, To apply simply visit the website sports medicine (including physi- and complete/return the ISSP apotherapy) and psychology support plication from the required date. to work on individual and team dynamics, and high performance coaching services providing advice . Image Credit: University of Stirling and support.