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Bouncer brutality at Stirling’s nightclubs uncovered
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Credit: Jack Haggarty
tirling may be classed as a city, but it’s not exactly a big one. When it comes to a student night out on the town, there’s pretty much only two choices for your nightclub – Dusk, off Baker Street, or Fubar, on Maxwell Place. You can expect several things from a night at these clubs: overpriced drinks, cheesy tunes, and a Tastebudz to munch at the end of the night. What you don’t usually expect is violence from the nightclub bouncers who are paid to keep you safe. Last month, former Dusk bouncer Bruce Jamieson was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid community work after being convicted of assaulting University of Stirling student Iain Morrison in July 2016. Jamieson was captured on CCTV kicking and punching his victim on the head as he lay on the ground outside the Stirling nightclub. Morrison had been asked to leave the premises as he
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was intoxicated, but when he tried to re-enter to find friends, the doorman launched the attack on him. Speaking exclusively to Brig, Iain Morrison, a recent psychology graduate, said: “We went to Dusk after having some pre-drinks at a flat in town. “We got in fine, had a drink at the bar and were on the dance floor for a bit. “Then my memory gets a bit hazy, but I was asked to leave, and at some point between the dance floor and the exit [Jamieson] assaulted me. “My next memory is sitting in the cloakroom and being tended to by one of the staff members. Then we left and I was walking home, being helped by a friend, with my hands and arms covered in blood.” Morrison only found out that he was on the floor and that he’d been kicked when he read the article about the case over a year later, as he wasn’t allowed to see the CCTV footage of the assault. The next day, he went
to work, and called the manager of Dusk on his way: “He let me know that the police had been contacted, and that the bouncer had been fired and they’d submitted to have his license revoked. “The police showed up a couple of hours later at work and took my statement.” As for Morrison’s injuries: “the big one was a fractured nose, which is where all the blood came from. “I also had other scrapes and bruises in various
places around my arms and face.” Commenting on the sentencing, Morrison said: “I was meant to attend a court hearing on November 28, but he pled guilty before the court date. “Other than the letters telling me about the hearing and then telling me it was cancelled, I’ve not heard anything about it since it happened. “I think the sentencing is fair. “He was doing his job by getting me out of the club to begin with.
“But obviously he took it a little too far, considering I wasn’t aggressive toward him and couldn’t defend myself very well.” This incident is disturbing; however, it is not an isolated case. In November 2014, Dusk bouncer Michael Thom was found guilty of assaulting 20-year-old clubber Danielle Kelly and a friend in February 2014. While waiting for another bouncer to find her l ost shoe, Thom approached continued p.3
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SPA Best Journalist in Scotland 2017 SPA Best Political Journalism 2017 Craig Wright - Sports editor Rebecca McCurdy Over 80,000 individual website visitors in 2017 | Over 115,000 online views in 2017
2 Brig | January 2018
News
Meet Erin: one of the many dogs affected by the university dog ban
Hannah Kennedy News editor
F
rom January 1 2018, the new policy to ban all dogs from university buildings, with the exception of service dogs, was implemented by the University of Stirling. The original article on the topic received hundreds of negative comments on the ban, with many feeling upset at the thought of no longer seeing their furry friends around campus. But when the reality of the situation sunk in for dog owners, it became about much more than that. Elizabeth Lemmon, an Economics PhD researcher at the university, reached out to Brig in the hope of sharing her story. The owner of Erin, an eight-year-old Lhasa Apso, Elizabeth explains the significance the ban is having on her daily life. “I tend to bring her into the office with me a couple of days a week,” she says. “She sits by my desk very happily in a shared office with other PhD students, all of whom enjoy the company of Erin.
“She genuinely brightens up our day.” When questioned on the impact it was likely to have, Elizabeth comments on the isolating nature of being a PhD student and the detachment from real life that results from this. Erin provided a “a boost at work”, and the two of them would regularly go for walks at lunch time, along with other PhD students, to get some fresh air and increase productivity in the afternoon. “It’s very easy to let hours slip by, and it gets to 4pm and I realise I haven’t moved since the morning,” she says. The university say the reason for the ban was to secure the safety and wellbeing of both students and staff, but Elizabeth believes this is an extreme measure and that it is “the dog owner’s responsibility to ensure their dog doesn’t pose a threat to the safety of other students and staff”. Another reason made by the university was in relation to allergies being triggered or even exacerbated by dogs being present in campus buildings. However, an anonymous commenter under
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the original article argued: “You are still at risk at allergies from service animals. Do you suggest getting rid of them as well?” Many students would like to appeal the ban, with the suggestion of some sort of compromise. One of the suggestions Elizabeth gives is making sure dogs are kept on leads at all times when on campus. A survey published on Brig’s Facebook page showed 84% of students don’t believe the university was right to create the dog ban. Her final comment during the interview sums up her general feelings regarding the ban: “It appears to me, and based on conversations with friends and colleagues, that the benefits to wellbeing associated with having a dog on campus, who sits in a closed office with its owner, far outweighs the cost associated with threats to safety”. It is unclear whether anyone has reached out to the university on the ban but for now it will remain. The university have been aproached for comment.
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Editor’s Column
he last year was an incredible one for Brig Newspaper. Following in the footsteps of the previous editor in chief, Dan Vevers - with whom we were nominated for two Student Publication Association Awards and awarded Best Website by the SSJA - the bar was high for us to keep improving. It was, therefore, incredible for us to be awarded with the SPA awards for Best Journalist, Best Political Journalism and overall Best Publication in Scotland for 2017. We really have been pushing the boundaries of what Brig has always stood for. Some of our headline stories for the last academic year - the Mifsud saga, an accommodation crisis and a surprising general election result for Stirling - were picked up by national media outlets, and caused waves in spheres beyond Stirling University.
It was a testament to the work our team at Brig does in providing students with the news that matters and the stories behind the story. Student journalism is such a crucial part of the student experience. Whether you are on the receiving end of student media - such as you, reading this column (and I am glad that you do) - or in the production of it, it provides a huge boost to the community of students. Although we are merely a society, just like Creative Writing or History society, I hope Brig contributes to a community of students through the voices of the people it serves. Times have been challenging for Brig this past year. Financially, it is harder and harder to build up funds to keep our enterprise afloat, and pro-
vide such an incredible experience for the people who write for us. Online is becoming an increasing focus of ours, and I am sure it will continue to throughout 2018. Last year, Brig racked up over 115,000 views on its website, with 80,000 individual visitors over the course of 2017. People do enjoy our content, and are engaging in it more and more through social media. Just as traditional print media in the UK and the rest of the world is changing, I am excited to see what the future holds for Brig as we turn 50 next year.
3 Brig | January 2018
News
“Dusk Nightclub has a zero tolerance policy on all forms of violence” continued from front Kelly and asked her to put on her shoes or leave. When she tried to explain, he ejected her from the club, using her own body to push her through a fire exit. Kelly was thrown to the ground, and left with cuts and bruises. And in November 2013, former Fubar doorman Douglas Sillars left a 23-year-old clubber with a fractured wrist after grabbing him in a hold usually used to restrain violent criminals. The incident was seen by two police officers passing in a patrol car, and Sillars was sentenced
to 120 hours of unpaid community service. This brutality from club bouncers is echoed on Fubar’s TripAdvisor page. The nightclub’s latest review, dated September 16 2017, advises others to “avoid unless you want assaulted by bouncers”, saying “if you wish to be wrongly accused of drug dealing, be pinned to the floor, have your phone smashed and have the shoulder joint twisted which has previously had extensive surgery, then off you go”. Other reviews describe bouncers as “unnecessary [sic] intimidating” and “rude and bullying”. A review of Dusk on
Yelp described bouncers there as “pompous and negligent”. Dusk and Fubar have strong ties with the University of Stirling. The nightclubs provide a full week of events during Freshers Week each September, and they also have sponsorship deals with many of the clubs and sports teams, where members sell cheap club night wristbands to other students to earn money for their club. Almost every Stirling student has been to one of these clubs during their time at university. But with these shocking stories of violence against young clubbers, students
may rather travel elsewhere in order to have a safe night out with their friends. When approached for comment, Dusk Nightclub said: “Dusk Nightclub has a zero tolerance policy on all forms of violence, whoever perpetrates it. In addition, we would highlight to you that [on] the two occasions you specifically reference, it was Dusk management on the night that reported both incidents to the Police and the SIA [Security Industry Authority].” At the time of publication Fubar Nightclub had not responded when approached for comment.
Credit: fubarclub.info
Pride is coming to Stirling for the first time this February Rebekah McVey News editor
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tirling University’s LGBT+ society are preparing to host the first ever Pride event here on campus. It will last from Monday February 5 to Friday 9 to celebrate and inform people about the different LGBT+ identities here at Stirling. Union President Astrid Smallenbroek said: “I’m very excited that the LGBT+ society are organising a Pride event. As a member of the community myself, it’s obviously an issue that I care a lot about. “Seeing students come
IN BRIEF
together and organise such a great event is fantastic to see. “I really hope that this event shows how vibrant and welcoming Stirling is.” With regards to the Union’s involvement, Smallenbroek added: “Although the Students’ Union doesn’t have any concrete promotion plans, I will definitely be involved however I can.” Each day will be dedicated to what it means to be part of a specific group within the LGBT+ community. Different gender identities and lesser known groups beyond the plus acronym will also have their moment in the spotlight. In light of LGBT History Month, what it has meant to be part of the community in the past will also be
Stirling University to hold sixth Japan Week event
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apan Week is returning to the University of Stirling for the sixth year running. The event, dedicated to Japanese culture, will take place from February 20-22, and is open to students, staff and members of the public. Most of the lectures, workshops and displays throughout the week will be free of
Credit: Stirling University Facebook
something students can learn about on this week. There will be information stalls, games, music and art in the daytime. Activities will also take place in the evenings, in-
charge. All the events will take place on Stirling University campus. Events at last year’s Japan week included a traditional Japanese tea-ceremony, language classes and calligraphy workshops.
cluding a ‘Big Gay Quiz’, and a drag show to round off the week, which is expected to take place in Venue. Wednesday February 7 will have a specific focus
on LGBT+ identities and sports with the Sports Union playing a major role on this day. LGBT+ society president Rosie Charles told Brig: “Everyone is en-
Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour arrives at Macrobert
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he Banff Mountain Film Festival is bringing its World Tour to the Macrobert Arts Centre on February 2. The event, based in Banff in the Canadian Rockies, showcases a selection of short adventure films, featuring today’s up-and-coming adventurers on journeys in the most remote and spectacular
corners of the globe. Tour director Nell Teasdale said: “We guarantee the tour will inspire viewers to start planning their own outdoor adventures too!” Films in this year’s programme cover a Yorkshireman cycling in the Canadian Arctic, and three adventurers towing kayaks across Greenland to reach the northernmost river ever paddled.
couraged to come along and show support and learn a little more. Also, I’d like to put a huge emphasis on other societies’ involvement, and regular students get-
ting involved.” Anyone who wants to be involved in organising Pride week is encouraged to contact SULGBT+. VP Communities Jamie Grant has also expressed his thoughts on Stirling Pride: “I’m delighted to see our societies leading from the front when it comes to celebrating Pride. “Volunteers are the bedrock of our Union, and it’s through their hard work and dedication that awesome things are able to happen. “I stand fully behind the LGBT+ society as a firm ally, and will support their event in any way I can.” For more information on what’s happening throughout Stirling Pride Week, keep an eye out on social media as plans unfold.
Computing Science and Mathematics public lectures begin
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he first of a series of public lectures organised by Computing Science and Mathematics is to take place at 7pm in lecture theatre B4 on February 22. The lecture is entitled ‘Computing and Maths - the Language of Numbers’, and it will be taken by Daniel Norman. The series, named ‘A Ran-
dom Walk Through Mathematics and Computing Science’, consists of seven lectures, and will continue until May. Future lectures will be taken by Dr. Adrian Worton, Dr. Eddy Borges-Rey, Prof. Rachel Norman, Donald Smith, Prof. Helen Ross, Dr. David Cairns and Ken Reid. All are welcome and there is no need to book.
4 Brig | January 2018
News
2018 National Student Survey launches at Stirling T Credit: University of York
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he National Student Survey (NSS) goes live for Stirling students on Monday January 29, and runs until Sunday April 30. The NSS is aimed primarily at final-year undergraduates. Each year, nearly half a million students complete the survey on their experience at their chosen university. Last year, Stirling achieved an overall satisfaction score of 86%, placing the University above the sector averages in Scotland (85%) and the UK (84%). Social Work ranked top in Scotland and joint-top in the UK, whilst Iberian Studies placed top in Scotland and joint-fourth in the UK. Professor Tim Whalley, Dean of Student Experience, said: “The NSS gives you the opportunity to tell us what you liked and didn’t like about
native). The university will also make a donation to a charity selected by Stirling students through the Students’ Union – up to a maximum of £500 – should they meet the target response rate of 70%. The survey can be completed through the NSS website at www.thestudentsurvey.com. Other surveys going live during the survey season include the Stirling Experience Survey, aimed at undergraduates not in their final year (January 29 to April 30); the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey for TPG students; and the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey for RPG students (both February 1 to April 30).
your time at Stirling and is the most effective way for us to see how we are performing.” Matt Adie, VP Edu-
cation in the Students’ Union, added: “The responses we receive allow us to plan future improvements and enhance-
ments to the student experience.” Following feedback, the university has moved to 100% online coursework submis-
sion, established a Listen Again policy, and is making significant investment into learning and study spaces.
vealed. When asked why he had not been fired sooner, the university did not respond. The university also did not respond to questions about how Prof. Mifsud’s resignation was received; if it was in direct communication with the academic, this would be the only evidence of anybody coming into contact with Mifsud since CNN reported he had “vanished” on November 10. Since the resignation, there has not been much more clarification about Prof. Mifsud’s relationship with the university. Despite being employed by the university since December 1 2014, a freedom of information request filed by Brig found he had only lectured on campus three times before his resignation, although he visited a total of 18 times. Several more links between Prof. Mifsud and Prof. John Gardner, who
retired as a Senior Deputy Principal at Stirling in March last year but remains employed as a Professor of Education, have been uncovered. On October 25 2015, both participated in a conference at Oxford University entitled “Challenges of a Shared World”. Other attendees included the famous linguist Noam Chomsky and Michael Frendo, the former Maltese Foreign Affairs minister, who has been linked with Mifsud on several other occasions. More recently, on May 8 2017, both Gardner and Mifsud were listed as “discussants” at the G7 International Forum in Rome. Both were listed as representing Stirling University. Several clues about Joseph Mifsud’s character have also appeared this month, with Simona Mangiante, the fiancée of Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos,
granting several interviews to the press about her interrogation by the FBI. It was Papadopoulos’s indictment that made reference to the ‘Professor’ who was later revealed to be Mifsud. Mangiante claims that the FBI asked her “a lot of questions about Joseph Mifsud”. She worked for the professor at the London Centre for International Law Practice, and talked about the strange atmosphere in the workplace in a recent interview with Business Insider: “It all felt very artificial. I had worked in real diplomatic environments and this didn’t feel that way at all. I never even had clarity about who [Mifsud] actually was.” For the time being, questions remain about how Joseph Mifsud became an employee of the University of Stirling, and what he did for the three years he was on the university payroll.
Professor Joseph Mifsud (left), Professor John Gardner (centre) and International Director of Link Campus University Davide Sarnatoro in July 2016. Credit: Twitter/@DPJohnGardner
All online respondents will be entered into a draw to win one of ten £30 Amazon vouchers (exchangeable for a cash alter-
An update on Joseph Mifsud Craig Munro News Editor
I
t has been two-anda-half months since the world learned that Joseph Mifsud, an academic and employee of the University of Stirling, was the mysterious ‘Professor’ - referenced in a US Special Counsel indictment - who introduced members of Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign team to figures associated with the Russian government. In that time, many questions have been asked about Prof. Mifsud’s links to several institutions around the world, including the University of Stirling. Most of those questions remain conspicuously unanswered. Prof. Mifsud resigned from his position at Stirling on November 23 last year, over three weeks after his role in the TrumpRussia scandal was re-
5 Brig | January 2018
News
University accommodation criticised by leading estate agent Craig Munro News editor
O
ne of the UK’s leading estate agencies sharply criticised University of Stirling accommodation in a report received by Stirling Council last year, details of which have now been discovered by Brig. The report, which includes comments on the current availability of student housing as well as an assessment of the condition of existing accommodation, was compiled by Savills as part of an application for new private student housing on Dumbar-
ton Road in the city centre. It blasts campus accommodation such as Andrew Stewart Hall, H.H. Donnelly House, Fraser of Allander House and Polwarth House as “poor” and “very basic”. Even Beech Court, completed in 2014 and one of the newest residences on campus, is criticised as “not high spec”. Off-campus accommodation does not fare much better in the report, with John Forty’s Court described as “very basic”, despite “some light refurbishment to the kitchens in 2012”. The housing on Union Street in Stirling is de-
scribed using the same terms as the oldest campus buildings: “Poor. Very basic.” A University of Stirling spokesperson said: “Representatives from Savills did not visit university buildings at any point and, therefore, their claims are not based upon physical inspections or surveys of the properties. “The university prides itself on offering a range of comfortable and secure accommodation to its students and the success of our approach is evidenced by the positive feedback we receive from our students. “In addition, all of our buildings comply with Houses in Multiple Oc-
cupation (HMO) regulations and are inspected every two years. “In recent years, the university has spent more than £40 million upgrading its student accommodation. “However, we recognise that our older properties will require further investment in the coming years to ensure we maintain our high standards.” While Stirling Council received the application containing the report from Savills at the end of March 2017, dates from the report reveal that it was written in Quarter 3 of the 2016 financial year. This may explain the lack of an assessment for
Juniper Court; its entry simply states “New for 2015.” The application, for a private 150-bed student residence building on Dumbarton Road, was approved by Stirling Council in September last year. In supporting documents, the residence is referred to as Carters Yard. A brochure produced by Savills in August 2017 explained the 150 bedrooms would consist of 48 “self contained studios”, 6 “accessible studios”, and 96 “single en-suites”, which would be clustered together in groups of four, six and eight. The report also reveals
that CRM Students, an accommodation management company, has drafted a management proposal that includes potential rates of rent for Carters Yard. CRM Students anticipates charging students £165 per week for one of the “cluster” flats, and £190 per week for a studio flat. The weekly rent for the most expensive student accommodation at Stirling is currently £145 for a single en-suite room, and £163 for a studio flat. The potential cost of rent at Carters Yard has been a topic of discussion among students at the university since the plans for the new ac-
commodation were first made public in March 2017. In a Facebook post written in April last year, then- Students’ Union President Dave Keenan said he “would be cautious to welcome the development of student accommodation by a private provider given that private providers have a track-record of exploiting students to extract profit”. The post was written in reaction to comments from then-Union President-elect Astrid Smallenbroek, who was quoted in a Brig article as saying she thought the increase in places for students to stay was “fantastic”.
6 Brig | January 2018
Politics
A glimmer of hope for the Korean Peninsula
credit:Biography
Finlay Allmond
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ne thing that 2017 may inevitably be remembered for in the world of international relations is the dramatic escalation in tensions between North Korea and the USA. Since February, the rogue state has launched 26 missiles during 16 tests. Meanwhile, on the other side of the Pacific, US President Donald Trump has been firing insults rather than missiles, calling the dictator Kim Jong-Un a “rocket man” and telling the assembled leaders of the world at the United Nations General Assembly that, “if forced”, the US will “totally destroy” North Korea.
But what if the worst actually happened and Mr Kim decided to press the big red button and launch his missiles directly at Uncle Sam? Experts have claimed that, if fired upon, President Trump would have up to ten minutes to decide whether to launch a retaliatory strike. In the interests of this scenario, let’s assume that he chooses not to employ the principal of mutually assured destruction. The Korean missile would devastate the state in which it landed and, dependent upon its power, it could kill millions. However, it could also be shot down by missile defence systems before it reaches its target. Whether shot down or not, this would obviously be considered an act of war, and whilst the
United States Congress is the body that holds the power to declare war, the President - in his role as Commander in Chief would be able to choose to launch an offensive immediately. Military strategists have said it could take just a week for American naval ships to run out of missiles if a barrage against North Korea began. American pilots, so used to being unchallenged in the skies over the Middle East, would face a new challenge against a sophisticated military force. It can be assumed that Article 5 of the NATO treaty would be enacted, requiring NATO members to come to the aid of the United States. One country that would quickly be decimated is South Korea. The densely populated
history shows, the US will make the final decisions. Who is to say Pakistan will not face the same outcome as Iran? Economic sanctions are used often within US foreign policy. However, are sanctions dished out too easily and without any positive benefits? The answer is yes. Brookings Instituion, a non-profit public policy organisation based in Washington DC, focused on how effective, or in this case uneffective, economic sanctions are. The report mentions that, post-Cold War, the use of sanctions has increased greatly, with the US sanctioning “dozens of countries”. Brookings Institution
research came to the conclusion that economic sanctions are ineffective and do not achieve multilateral goals, or deter countries from creating n u c l e a r weapons and
capital of Seoul lies just 35 miles from the border and, in the mountains and caves on the Northern side, it is believed there are masses of artillery canons ready to flatten the mega-city in an instant. War games led by the US Pentagon have shown that for troops to secure the country’s nuclear bases, it would take almost two months and nearly 100,000 troops. But the ground fighting wouldn’t be limited to the North. For decades, it has been believed the North has been embedding sleeper agents into South Korean society, to be activated at a moment’s notice as an armed force within the heart of the country. This is a threat that is known, but cannot be accurately planned for as numbers and capability levels have not been identified. However, it is not the invasion and almost inevitable capture of North Korea that is the worst part, but rather the aftermath. In North Korea itself, an allied force would be able to begin to help the millions of malnourished citizens the regime allows to starve, but in the South, one of Asia’s richest and most developed nations would be left almost in ruin. The small nation provides a lot to the world economy from its massive motor corporations to Samsung, the world’s
Sanctions are utterly futile
Aneesa Dastgir Politics editor
H
ave you ever heard of any success coming from sanc-
tions? Economic sanctions are in place by powerful countries against not so powerful states. From Qatar, to Russia to the possibility of sanctions on Iran - which have a very likely chance of occurring - they are the most pointless element to exist in foreign policy. Qatar supposedly harbours terrorists, yet Saudi Arabia supplies arms to the UK? Pakistan cannot take a back seat. The US has proven time and time again that it is not happy with Pakistan and that, no matter what
t h o s e whose ideas of democracies differ from America. Qatar has been exiled by the Middle East for more than six months.
The sanctions haven’t affected a thing. Pakistan and India have been threatedned with sanctions in the past, and still have nuclear weapons. Iran has been under the spotlight regarding protests and new sanctions could be decided within the coming weeks. If anything is to be taken by past foreign policy, sanctions create more trouble for America and its citizens. Farmers, businesses and other areas of civilization are affected by sanctions abroad. It isn’t just states at stake here.
largest technology company. The aftermath of a war would be both a humanitarian and economic catastrophe. On the northern border there would be the problem of a country now occupied by the United States bordering China. This situation is possibly China’s worst nightmare. Zhao Tong of the Carnegie–Tsinghua Center for Global Policy said in an interview with The New Yorker the current Chinese approach to North Korea is: “‘Who is the bigger evil?’ “For China, the US is always the top geostrategic concern, the top threat.” The implications of a new border between two of the world’s largest economies who share a rather difficult rela-
tionship is unpredictable but would have the opportunity to be quite dangerous. There may be a new glimmer of hope, though. In his new year address, Kim stated his launch button was “always on my table”. Alongside this thinly veiled threat, he also mentioned a new openness to dialogue. Speaking of relations with his southern neighbours, the North Korean leader said: “The year 2018 is a significant year for both the North and the South, with the North marking the 70th anniversary of its birth and the South hosting the Winter Olympics. “We should melt the frozen North-South relations, thus adorning this meaningful year as a year
to be specially recorded in the history of the nation.” Since the speech, South Korea’s unification Minister, Cho Myoung-gyon, has spoken of proposals to hold talks during the Winter Olympics and reiterated a “willingness to hold talks with the North”. On January 3, the nations spoke to each other on a diplomatic phone line that had been out of use for two years. Like all things, experts and specialists will never be able to get it all 100% right. But if 2017 was the year to be remembered for an escalation of tension on the Korean Peninsula, perhaps 2018 will be remembered as the year that saw a rise in positive Korean relationships. credit:Biography
Union elections Want an opportunity to shape your Union and the student experience? Step forward and get involved in your Union at the Union elections. Email amy.berlin@stir.ac.uk for more information
7 Brig | January 2018
Politics
credit: BBC
What is Scotland’s future after Brexit?
Salomé Job
A
fter a referendum result questioned a lot in Scotland, many issues are raised. Will indyref2 happen? Will Brexit be stopped? Will Scotland stay in or out of the EU? In this article, four radical views will debate and express their visions for the future of Scotland after Brexit. Theresa May has a lot to deal with already in the negotiations in Brussels. However, she also has internal problems to deal with. Between a minority government at Westminster, the Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon urging her to have Scotland’s voice heard, and, above all, division in her own party. For Conservative Edinburgh Councillor Cam-
eron Rose, the angle to adopt is clear. The Brexit voter is confident about the Prime Minister’s action but asks for more firmness, “She needs to Thatcherise the party” Later, he observes: “The Conservative Party is divided but, as good democrats, they should follow their party. “However, the government has to deal with lobbyists campaigning for a new referendum or stopping Brexit. “She has a disunited Kingdom behind her.” John McLellan, a Conservative colleague at Edinburgh Council but on the Remain side, agrees the Conservative government is only carrying on what was a popular and majority vote, and regrets “the EU’s lack of respect for the democratic decision of the British people to leave”. Even so, the two Conservatives disagree on the
benefits and disadvantages of leaving the EU, which reflect the internal divisions inside the party. In fact, the party is divided between two sides. One are the liberal moderates that voted Remain and are considering voting against the final deal proposed by the government. The other side of the party is partisan of the government and would like to agree to a ‘soft’ or ‘hard’ Brexit. So, what would Scotland gain out of the EU or staying in? For Cameron Rose, as a Brexit voter and unionist, leaving the EU is taking back control of the UK economy and policymaking. He also argues it would be an opportunity to diversify and amplify trading. He assures it is not an isolating process and that it could be beneficial
for the EU, acting like an “electric shock” to renew a “costly bureaucratic system”. Though MacLellan agrees about the cost of EU bureaucracy, he voted Remain, “not because of any great love for the institutions, but because after years of uncertainty, Scotland badly needed political stability”. Political stability in Scotland is indeed a big challenge, which also forces the government to re-evaluate the likelihood of a second independence referendum, and Scotland staying in the EU while the rest of the UK leaves. What are the prospects for Scotland to have a second independence referendum and to remain in the EU? Both Bill Kidd, SNP MSP for Glasgow, and Robert Aldridge, Leader of the Liberal Democrats group at Edinburgh Council, agree they would
like Scotland to stay in the EU. Yet, too much constitutional change would be necessary, and would affect the political stability of Scotland. Robert Aldridge is pessimistic about Scotland staying in the EU: “It would result in a hard border between Scotland and England, which I don’t think would be acceptable either side of the border. “The EU will not accept membership as part of a state. So, practically, I think Scotland cannot remain a member of the EU if the rest of the UK leaves.” On the other hand, contrary to other parties’ colleagues, Kidd is positive a second independence referendum could happen, and that it would be in the interests of Scotland. “A second independence referendum for Scotland will happen within the next few years, and will succeed in achieving a Yes for independence vote. It would be the express wish of the people of Scotland to remain in the EU; all 32 Scottish local authority areas registered a vote to Remain at the Referendum.” Nevertheless, the unionist Cameron Rose reminds us that, following the first independence referendum in 2014 where 55% voted to stay in the UK, Scotland is liable to follow the consequences of a national consultation such as the exit of the EU referendum; similarly, to Wales and Northern Ireland. He also underlines that, even if he doesn’t believe in a second independence referendum, every part will have to argue their cases.
Ones to watch Northern Ireland They are still to form a government, despite being at loggerheads for over a year now. One of the main sticking points is the Irish Language Act, so watch this space.
Scottish independence again? There has been some speculation that 2018 could be the year for indyref2. Then again, so was 2015, 2016 and 2017, so whether these predictions ring true is up for debate.
Italian Elections on March 4 The Italian parliament was dissolved by President Mattarella on December 28 2017. Could there be a rise in right-wing populism in Italy, or could a coalition be on the cards?
Union Elections The Union elections will be taking place in mid-March. Our next edition will have fresh interviews and results frm the election nights – it may include some alpacas.
Anti-Trump protests Donald Trump’s visit to the UK has been postponed since early 2017. Analysts say a visit in early 2018 is likely, but will protests result in an indefinite delay? There will be one in Glasgow February 26.
All in all, not the most exciting reshuffle of the government Abigail Taylor Political editor
T
he cabinet reshuffle came as no surprise following recent resignations from high up members of the Conservative Party. Theresa May has had her work cut out for her after the NHS crisis erupted. Many held their breath as the reshuffle began. However, it was much of the same faces when the Prime Minister had finished. With only four new names added to the
list of ministers, there wasn’t much change at all. The first new name is Damien Hinds. He wasn’t the PMs first choice for education minister, as Justine Greening refused the position of workplace and pensions secretary and, in turn, resigned from her cabinet post. In her resignation statement, she said: “Social mobility matters to me and our country more than a ministerial career.” Esther McVey replaced Greening as the new workplace
and pensions secretary after her refusal. The former GMTV presenter was first elected to Cameron’s government in 2010. Matthew Hancock was promoted to culture secretary, replacing Karen Bradley, who was reshuffled to the position of Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Arguably one of the most difficult positions to hold, Bradley replaced James Brokenshire, who had a tough time attempting to bring back devolution to Northern Ireland after the govern-
ment collapsed in early 2017. Brokenshire resigned due to health reasons before May began her reshuffle. The new Conservative Party chairman is Brandon Lewis. First elected in 2010, he now sits in the cabinet without a ministerial portfolio. Credit: The Express ChanThe big names cellor in the party, such as Boris Johnson, and Foreign SecrePhilip Hammond and tary. Jeremy Hunt also Amber Rudd, all retained their positions remains health secreas Home Secretary, tary after a fight for the position with May.
A very unpopular position to hold, and Hunt has yet to please the public in the ministerial role he has held since 2012. All in all, not the most exciting reshuf-
fle of the government. The average age of the cabinet now stands at 50, and 34% of those are women, which is an improvement from 29% before the reshuffle.
8 Brig | January 2018
Comment
Like dominoes they fall: the year the powerful and mighty in Hollywood were outed as sexual predators Katie Williams
T
Credit:thefamouspeople.com/Mashable
Amy Beveridge
Deputy editor
L
ike dominoes they fall, one by one. 2017 will be remembered as the year the powerful and mighty in Hollywood were outed as sexual predators hiding in plain sight. It started with producer Harvey Weinstein, one of the biggest names in Hollywood, being accused by more than a dozen women of sexually harassing, assaulting, or raping them. This gave others the confidence to step forward and tell their own harrowing stories, involving big names like Kevin Spacey, Ed Westwick, Dustin Hoffman, and Ben Affleck. Everyone is wondering who’s going to be next to fall from grace. But to me, all of this seems painfully familiar. In 2014, I was just finishing school. I was still young and naive, and slightly outgrowing the YouTubers I had watched and loved over the years. What can I say? I liked watching cute boys on my laptop to distract me from the pressures of studying and applying to uni. But this safe, welcoming online community turned dark overnight. All it took was one anonymous Tumblr post to explode, turning into a catalogue of allegations of i n a p propriate conduct by famous YouTubers. There were stories of sexual abuse, manipulation, and coercion. They came from women and men, both fans and fellow YouTubers. Some of the accusations were even made by those underage.
Some of YouTube’s most popular stars lost thousands of subscribers in a matter of days. They were ostracised by their famous friends and completely cut off from the rest of the community. The accused either disappeared entirely off our screens, or now lurk in the shadows of the internet (occasionally posting videos from their houseboat about how much of a good Buddhist they are, right Alex?) How could this have happened? How could this bright, creative community have a dark underbelly that exploited the very audiences they relied on for their success? The community at that point was mainly made up of young teenage girls watching older men’s content. This shifted the power in favour of very ordinary people who suddenly had armies of adoring and impressionable fans at their feet. YouTube blurs the line between creator and fan, letting audiences have much more access to their favourite YouTubers than other more traditional celebrities. And this also let influential YouTubers have access to their sometimes too devoted fans. We only knew these people through what they decided to post about their lives on their channels. We didn’t see them behind the scenes, or their real relationships with their friends and their fans. This is why their betrayal stung – we thought that we knew these creators as friends, and it was painful
to realise that, really, we didn’t know them at all. In this way the Hollywood sexual abuse scandal is similar. We ignored the jokes, the asides and the veiled cautions because it was easier than considering the alternative. We thought we knew an actor through the characters they played. We thought that prominent figures in the industry reached those heights through working hard and gaining respect. Instead, some wielded their influence to do as they pleased, becoming so powerful that they seemed untouchable. Until now. The whole time the truth was staring us in the face. The YouTube community eventually recovered from its sexual abuse scandal, but for many viewers the damage was already done. This was the tipping point that finally drew me away from what had become a very toxic platform. It was the beginning of the end for YouTube. Three years on, and the platform is very different. There’s a clear split in the scene – videos are either the jaded swansongs of those who can see the platform running out of steam, or bland, sanitised make-up tutorials, vlogs and movie reviews. The problems within YouTube and Hollywood are the same, albeit on a much larger scale. However, the way that they tackle this systematic abuse must be different. The YouTube c o m munity simply ignored problematic individuals
until they disappeared from the platform. But the Hollywood sexual scandal isn’t going away any time soon. Every day, someone new takes the brave step to tell their story, and this will continue well into 2018. And it isn’t just in Hollywood – the so-called ‘Weinstein effect’ has forced politicians, musicians and journalists to come clean about their unacceptable behaviour. It’s a tidal wave that won’t stop coming. The abuse runs like a seam in these big industries, and it must be addressed in order to gain justice for the victims, and stop this sort of widescale abuse – either online or in the real world.
hroughout 2017, the world saw the rise against sexual harassment in Hollywood. The fall of a number of critically acclaimed Hollywood actors, directors and producers came. It seemed that every other week a new celebrity was being called out for sexual harassment after years, even decades, of people staying silent in fear. Their voices did not go unnoticed, with Time magazine awarding the “whistleblowers” as 2017’s ‘People of the Year’. Anticipation grew throughout November. Time magazine encouraged the general public to vote who they believed deserve the position, and it was the mass #metoo movement and the bravery of the women standing up against the dark side of Hollywood that triumphed. While it may appear that this is just a a magazine competition, the whistleblowers break away from the conventional winners, and is a big “eff you” to
those who abuse and harass, and maybe even the President of the United States. During the run up to the final 2017 issue of Time magazine, Trump took to Twitter to announce that he declined the offer to be Person of the Year, only to be called out by the editor of Time magazine, Richard Stengel. He corrected the President and reminded him that he has never been named Person of the Year or Time’s most influential. Trump has been among the list of celebrities accused of sexual harassment, and has been known to make crude comments towards women. This behaviour only became validated when he became president and accusations were dismissed. Stengel is not a stranger to using Twitter to show his political stance against Trump, and that is just what the chosen People of the Year did. They are standing up against the powerful and dangerous. Women will no longer be silent, even if he is the president. Beating the celebri-
ties and politicians, the whistleblowers included both the famous and unknown. They came together to speak against the power driven harassment within the industry, leading to the #metoo movement that proved the vast scale of sexual harassment within society. Like a domino effect, it has led to people within the industry coming forward to speak about the issue, many of whom worked with producer Harvey Weinstein. The latest act of protesting was at the Golden Globes on January 8, with many actresses wearing black dresses and taking activists to the red carpet. The night was not about the films anymore, but a magnifying glass to what has been going on behind the camera. Within the Hollywood industry, the media can be a friend or foe but now acts as a megaphone for women, a platform for the people who had their mouths taped shut by money and power. And Time magazine continues to raise these women up.
Valentine’s Day is commercialised - but that shouldn’t get in the way of romance
Rebekah McVey Comment editor
V
alentine’s Day is incredibly c o m m e r c i a l ised. The fact we live in a capitalist society means this isn’t a very bold statement to make. You can anticipate sales for chocolate, jewellery and cutesy cards to bombard the high street some point soon. To be clear, this isn’t going to be a rant about a flawed economic system and ideology. Big companies see February 14 as a money-making opportunity, but it’s still important to have one special day with your other half.
We don’t need to let adverts dictate how we choose to express our appreciation for that special someone. Like Christmas, it’s not about the gifts, but rather who you’re spending it with. If you and your partner have been together for a while, it’s too easy to fall into a dull routine. University, work or life in general can often get in the way of romance. It can be difficult when you don’t see each other often and, when you do, time spent together involves not doing much. This can’t always be helped. It’s probably not what you want right now, but in the future, it will be different. You’ll
eventually see each other more often; it’s just a downside of your current situation. That’s why it’s important to have days like Valentine’s Day as something to look forward to. You could argue any day with your loved one is something be excited about. However, when people get comfortable in a relationship, they don’t always tell the other person how they feel as much as they should. It doesn’t mean we don’t think about how much and why we love them. Sometimes, we simply don’t express those thoughts enough. Of course, you should
tell your other half you love them at every opportunity. Nobody has ever said you can only do this on Valentine’s Day. It’s simply a set date when you know you’ll see your other half and shower them with love and appreciation. If you’re fortunate to see your partner every day, or if you only seem them once on a blue moon, it’s one day where you can break the routine and do something different. Until it’s toppled, capitalism is going to exist all year round and will be particularly noticeable on days like February 14. That doesn’t mean it should stop us from embracing a little romance.
2 Brig | January 2018
Music
THE BEST ALBUMS OF THE YEAR 2017 Jamie Harris Music Editor
2017 was a magnificent year for music. From big pop comebacks by the likes of Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran to exciting new artists like Khalid, there has been loads of great music out there. While the top 40 may have remained somewhat stagnant, thanks to the inclusion of streaming into chart data, there was great music elsewhere. Here are ten of the best albums that were released last year:
10. Taylor Swift – Reputation
On first listen, it sounded like Taylor Swift had lost her way and was just taking meaningless swipes at anyone she’s been mentioned in tabloids with. However, upon closer inspection the lyrics are very introspective (like on ‘New Year’s Day’, which is one of the highlights of the album), and it is probably her most elegantly produced album to date. With the album stretching to almost an hour long, there are definitely a few filler tracks, but there’s a lot of genuinely good pop music here – don’t let the nonsense lead single ‘Look What You Made Me Do’ mislead you as it’s actually one of the weaker tracks. Best tracks: ‘New Year’s Day’, ‘Delicate’, ‘So It Goes…’
9. Ed Sheeran – Divide
Released back in March, this is one of the biggest releases of the year, and deservedly so. After the disappointing sophomore album Multiply, this is a vast improvement. It flows with ease from more upbeat tracks like ‘Bibia Be Ye Ye’ to ballads like ‘Perfect’.
Ed Sheeran always sounds at his best on his pop tracks, like ‘Shape of You’, as some of his ballads can just be a little bit too mushy, but he’s managed to get the balance just right here. Best tracks: ‘Shape of You’, ‘Castle on the Hill’, ‘New Man’
HARRY STYLES WOMAN FERGIE - ENCHANTE (CARINE)
8. Gorillaz – Humanz
It’s been seven years since Gorillaz brought us their last two albums, Plastic Beach and The Fall. After taking a brief hiatus, Damon Albarn’s virtual band came back with a vengeance this year, with what might be their most eclectic and experimental album to date (and they recorded a whole album on an iPad on a tour bus!). Featuring artists like Rag ‘n’ Bone Man, Grace Jones and Popcaan, they’ve managed to create a concept album of dance music about a world gone mad, which seems particularly apt at the moment. Best tracks: ‘Out of Body’, ‘We Got the Power’, ‘Saturn Barz’
7. Khalid – American Teen
One of the biggest up-and-coming artists of the year has been Khalid and, if his debut album is anything to go by, he is going to be a major long-term success. His soulful R&B and honest song-writing make him truly stand out as an artist, with his songs about growing up as a teenager being brutally honest. He definitely seems like the male version of Lorde. Best tracks: ‘Another Sad Love Song’, ‘Location’, ‘Young, Dumb and Broke’
6. Harry Styles – Harry Styles
If you said this time last
DRAKE PASSIONFRUIT DUA LIPA - NEW RULES WOLF ALICE - DON’t delete the kisses calvin harris slide year that Harry Styles, of One Direction fame, would end up releasing one of the best albums of the past year, most people would’ve scoffed. But here we are! Rather than following the bland pop route that most of his bandmates have, Harry has created his own image and the rock ‘n’ roll vibe suits his voice perfectly. Going from introspective tracks like ‘Two Ghosts’ to bombastic bops like ‘Kiwi’, this album is a stellar debut and it will be interesting to see what Harry Styles does next. Best tracks: ‘Woman’, ‘Meet Me in the Hallway’, ‘Two Ghosts’
5. SZA – Ctrl
Having first garnered major attention for being a featured artist with the likes of Rihanna and Kendrick Lamar, SZA (pronounced Sizza) has been building a reputation for her style of
alternative R&B. Written almost like stream-of-consciousness, she sings about everything from failed relationships to bedroom bravado to teen angst. SZA manages to hold her own alongside bigname collaborators like Travis Scott and Kendrick Lamar, showing that she’s a fully-fledged talent showing what she’s made of. Best tracks: ‘Drew Barrymore’, ‘Prom’, ‘Supermodel’
4. Calvin Harris – Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1
2017 saw the return of Calvin Harris, just not as we’ve known him. Moving away from the EDM sound he’d embraced for years, he’s undergone another reinvention. This time around he’s showing himself as a serious musician, easily bouncing from funk to R&B to dancehall to reggae across this 10-track LP. It has guest artists as varied as Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, Young Thug and relative newcomer Jessie Reyez (who features on ‘Hard to Love’, which is one of the highlights of the album). This was the sound of the summer! Best tracks: ‘Feels’, ‘Hard to Love’, ‘Slide’
3. Kendrick Lamar – DAMN.
Credit: billboard.com
Credit: thepolitic.org
THE BEST SONGS OF THE YEAR 2017
This was the year when Kendrick Lamar proved
his dominance of the rap scene. The sheer success of the album and several of the tracks on it is testament to how good it is. Lead single ‘HUMBLE.’ shows him posturing as the King of rap. He’s at his best here, and on tracks like ‘DNA.’ and ‘XXX.’, which show Kendrick at his most ferocious. That’s not to say that there’s a weak track on the album, though. The unexpected collaboration with U2 works surprisingly well while his track with Rihanna is a great pop track. Not only that but the album works backwards to tell a different story from the original track-listing… two albums for the price of one? Best tracks: ‘DNA.’, ‘HUMBLE.’, ‘LOVE.’
2. Wolf Alice – Visions of a Life
The London-based grunge rock band came back this year with a sophomore album that is far superior to their debut. Ranging from the venomous anger of the first single ‘Yuk Foo’, as Ellie Rowsell shrieks “I want to f**k all the people I meet”, to the lovestruck discoinfused ‘Don’t Delete the Kisses’, this is Wolf Alice marking their territory as one of the best rock bands in the country. The title track, an eightminute masterclass at the end of the album, bounces
across all of the sounds across the album to make one glorious closing track. With highly personal lyrics and beautiful production, Visions of a Life is the most beautifully unconventional album of the year. Best tracks: ‘Don’t Delete the Kisses’, ‘Beautifully Unconventional’, ‘Sky Musings’
1. Lorde – Melodrama
This is hands down the greatest album of the year. After her debut album about the trials and tribulations of being a teenager, Lorde returned this year with a concept album set over one night at a house party. From the dance-infused opening track ‘Green Light’ to the piano balladry of ‘Liability’, this is one of the best pop albums in recent years. An introspective album reflecting on the pain after a break-up while simultaneously having each song feel as anthemic as the last is a difficult feat to pull off, but Lorde seems to take it in her stride. Best tracks: ‘Green Light’, ‘The Louvre’, ‘Hard Feelings/Loveless’ Special mentions: Foo Fighters – Concrete and Gold Lana Del Rey – Lust for Life Dua Lipa – Dua Lipa Drake - More Life The XX - I See You Alt-J - Relaxer
ed sheeran - shape of you kendrick lamar humble. lorde - the louvre french montana unforgettable sza - drew barrymore lil uzi vert - xo tour lif3 clean bandit (feat. zara larsson) symphony nina nesbitt - The best you had billie eilish bellyache selena gomez - bad liar lana del rey (feat. the weeknd) - lust for life
3 Brig | January 2018
Music
ONES to watch 2018 Pale waves If Pales Waves remind you of a certain other 80s-referencing dreamy synth-pop indie group, it’s because the two bands have strong connections. Also hailing from Manchester, The 1975’s members have had various roles in producing the work
of Heather Baron-Gracie and co., while Matt Healy directed the video for their single ‘Television Romance’. Although that comparison is immediately clear and has been much-repeated, on closer inspection, the equal parts boy-girl outfit occupy a somewhat darker space, with Baron-Gracie’s reflections often bleak ac-
The 16-year-old, Los Angeles-based singersongwriter has been writing and performing since the age of 11. She signed a record deal with Interscope records after the viral success of her tracks on Soundcloud first brought her to prominence,
eden
Although he isn’t a completely new artist to the world, having been making music since 2012, Jonathon Ng (better known as his stage name EDEN) is set to release his first full-length album, vertigo, on January 19.
Credit: billboard.com
billie eilish
counts of flawed love and laced with images of death. Juxtaposed with immediately melodic, shimmering layers of guitar and synth, her lyrics provide intriguing contrast. The gothy style of BaronGracie and drummer Ciara Doran, however, recalling Robert Smith, makes perfect sense. Placing fifth on the BBC’s
including ‘Ocean Eyes’ (a song that she wrote for her dance teacher to choreograph a routine to). Many may have heard her for the first time on the soundtrack for the hit Netflix series ‘13 Reasons Why’, which featured her song ‘Bored’. That track is a very good introduction to her dark alt-pop style of music
with smart, affecting lyrics which bear slight comparison to the similarly young and talented Lorde. Her lyrics can verge on being rather macabre, with her adopting the persona of a serial killer for the lyrics on her track ‘Bellyache’, which features lines like “My friends aren’t far, in the back of my car, lay their bodies”.
recommendations on the artists you should be looking out for by peter stewart, cameron watson & jamie harris ‘Sound of 2018’ tips, debut EP ‘All The Things I Never Said’ and an as yet untitled full-length album are set to arrive this year. Destined for the top. For Fans Of: The 1975, CHVRCHES, The Cure
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feel. The singles released (‘start//end’, ‘gold’, ‘crash’) all still have hints of electronic in them, but they are very much dulled down compared to the likes of his early EPs. vertigo looks to be a culmination of everything EDEN has been working
on up until now and feels to be something truly special - with 6 years to perfect his sound, there is no doubt that the 22-year-old from Dublin will have an absolutely cracking year. For Fans Of: VÉRITÉ, Crystal Skies, blackbear Check Out: ‘Drugs’
From these early singles and her debut EP ‘Don’t Smile at Me’, it is clear that Billie Eilish is an excitingly individual artist with an original sound that makes the prospect of her debut album, due this year, very exciting. For Fans Of: Lorde, Lana Del Rey, Lykke Li Check Out: ‘Bellyache’
The often shocking, if not always altogether surprising, allegations of sexual harassment that continue to sweep the news have not even left Westminster MPs without reproach, but it is the entertainment business that provides the backdrop for the most highprofile revelations. Since The New York Times made public a series of very serious claims against film mogul Harvey Weinstein in October, the floodgates remain open as a cascade of unsavoury allegations of sexual misconduct engulfs Hollywood. Kevin Spacey. John Lasseter. Dustin Hoffman. Ben Affleck. Casey Affleck. Stan Lee. James Franco
Credit: dailystar.co.uk
(again). The list goes on and it will continue to grow. The film industry may be in the throes of an ugly and necessary flushing process, with seemingly each passing day another name being in the papers for all the reasons that are not only wrong, but frankly detestable. Only time will tell which venerable figures 2018 will bring crashing down from the false, invincible pedestal success has fabricated for them. But as one branch of entertainment hangs its head in shame, others fall silent. And no silence is more deafening than that coming from those who make noise for a living. Bar a few relatively low-profile cases, recent sexual harassment allegations against figures within the music busi-
ness have been relatively scarce. It is over four years since Ian Watkins was sentenced to 29 years in prison and branded “potentially the most dangerous sex offender” his judge had ever come across. The former Lostprophets vocalist’s paedophilic crimes were sickening; the case was so horrifying that it transcended industry lines and appeared to be the actions of a warped individual rather than indicative of underlying tendencies within music. In October 2017, Watkins was accused of grooming a young mother from inside prison. While the Weinstein storm grew into a hurricane, it was difficult to recall similar charges brought against any major music stars in the intermediary between Watkins’. Gene Simmons of Kiss, who denied groping a female interviewer in December, became one of the first such cases in recent memory. This scarcity is clearly a fortunate one, but it does not mean certain truths will one day, sooner or later, come out. It also does not
The Amazons (The Garage, Glasgow) – 2 Feb PARTYNEXTDOOR (O2 ABC, Glasgow) – 5 Feb Jorja Smith (Liquid Room, Edinburgh) – 6 Feb Bowling for Soup (O2 Academy, Glasgow) - 9 Feb
Credit: nlvrecords.com
does music hold dark secrets like hollywood? Peter stewart Music editor
Paramore (The SSE Hydro, Glasgow) – 20 Jan Rat Boy (Barrowland, Glasgow) – 31 Jan
Check Out: ‘Television Romance’ I’ve talked about EDEN before for Brig and how his mesh of pop/rock/indie/ electronic sounds mesh together in an outstanding way (I know that’s a lot of genres to cover), and the singles released so far in the run-up to vertigo’s release hint towards a move to a more calm, acoustic
what’s on
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Kendrick Lamar (The SSE Hydro, Glasgow) – 11 Feb marmozets (liquid room, edinburgh) 12 Feb Jimmy Osmond & His Band (The Albert Halls, Stirling) – 15 Feb
mean that music has an entirely clean slate, with a number of artists holding not-quite-celebrity status accused of wrongdoing of late. Fans of emo-rockers Brand New will be well aware of vocalist Jesse Lacey’s soliciting of sexual images from underage fans in the 2000s, which came out late last year. Indeed, a swathe of members of bands belonging to the ‘Kerrang’ genres have fallen from grace recently. Moose Blood, We Came As Romans, With Confidence and PWR BTTM are among those involved. Alt-rockers Don Broco announced in late November that an alleged
case against singer Rob Damiani had been ‘publicly retracted’. Perhaps these instances have come to light due to a younger demographic than other genres. Most of the above victims were fans, often disarmed or misled by their idols. And just as these cases are not necessarily representative of creators of alternative music, the chances of this epidemic not extending beyond a handful of closely related genres are slim to none. Is it a question of if, or a question of when allegations will surface against a pop-megastar, or a superproducer of emerging
young talent? A Weinsteinlike situation is immediately imaginable in the case of the latter. This consideration is not intended as grimly pessimistic. The as-yet small number of high-profile cases is encouraging, and one hopes that Hollywood’s shame is limited to the minority already outed. It does aim to prevent complete shock when a serious allegation is made against someone who holds the trust, adoration, attraction, charisma and captivation of millions, however.
Brig supports the #MeToo campaign
The Script (The SSE Hydro, Glasgow) – 16 Feb Jake Bugg (The Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow) – 19 & 20 Feb Fara (Falkirk Town Hall, Falkirk) – 25 Feb Imagine Dragons (The SSE Hydro, Glasgow) – 4 March
4 Brig | January 2018
Film & TV
The rise of the new Hollywood child star Rachel Talbot Film & TV Editor
I
n recent history it was somewhat of a sore spot to recount those poor souls who had been thrust into the glaring Hollywood spotlight at a tender young age. This huge stardom may have been what every ordinary kid dreamed of when growing up but the reality in the past has been far from the fun-filled bonanza portrayed by the MickeyMouse Club and Nickelodeon. The pitfalls that await a child star range from exploitative parents, to drug abuse to predatory people in the industry. In fact, if we look back to even as far as
the silent era of film, there has always been gross misconduct concerning a child star. John Leslie “Jackie” Coogan was an actor and comedian who made his debut starring alongside Charlie Chaplin in the silent film classic ‘The Kid’. Coogan was credited as one of the first ever child stars, but this title didn’t stop his mother and step-father squandering all his film earnings on diamonds and fur before he was 21. After suing them but only receiving a fraction of the remaining earnings, this prompted the creation of the 1939 enactment of the California Child Actor’s Bill. This is often referred to as the “Coogan Law” or the “Coogan Act”.
It required that a child actor’s employer set aside 15% of the earnings in a trust (called a Coogan account), and specified the actor’s schooling, work hours, and time-off. Fast forward to more recent times and the 1990s and early 2000s are strewn with child actors gone off the rails due to pushy parents and widely available drugs. Think Macaulay Caulkin, Lyndsey Lohan, Corey Haim, Corey Feldman, Amanda Bynes and Britney Spears, to name a few. For a long time, it seemed hard for young actors to deal with the pressures of fame at such a crucial period of their growing up. I mean, who can blame them? Of
course, there have always been success stories such as Natalie Portman and Jodie Foster. However, for the percentage of those who went off the rails, they did it to dramatic and often life-threatening levels. It was the fear of being forgotten forever, like so many child stars from the 90s were. Cue the ‘where are they now’ articles, or to be typecast such as Zac Efron, who has been turned into a character who just always seems to take his top off. However, there seems to be a new era of child star dawning, one where the parents are there to support them and not exploit them. Where they would much prefer to play
Credit: Netflix
Molly’s Game: A Review rACHEL tALBOT
A
aoron Sorkin’s American crime drama ‘Molly’s Game’, which is based on the real life autobiography by Molly Blum, was released in the UK on January 1. If you had only seen the trailer for ‘Molly’s Game’, the true story of the beautiful ex-pro skier who ran exclusive poker games, you’d be forgiven in thinking it was just another Russian crime mob film with seedy underground characters, drugs, fast cars, beautiful women and a far-fetched storyline. You wouldn’t be too far from the truth; however, it’s so much more than that. The story opens with the crushing failure of Blum failing to qualify for the Olympic Games, a failure that haunts her for the rest of the film. Suddenly, we are fast-forwaded to the present day, when Molly is arrested by the FBI in
the middle of the night, which leaves the audience curious to understand how such a drastic transition had occured. She has been accused of working with the Russian mob; the film spends the rest of the time exploring her culpability. Blum, played by Jessica Chastaine, with an enviable wardrobe, has no option but to find a lawyer who will take on her case as most will not touch hers with a barge pole. Cue Idris Elba as the highly successful, but painfully expensive, lawyer Charlie Jeffrey, with a moral compass which points firmly the right way. Blum explains her story to Jeffrey, and subsequently the viewer learns of her transition from strict upbringing as a skiing Olympian to her moving to Los Angeles, and accidentally falling into the poker business. Despite not having a thorough knowledge of poker, the film makes it easy for those watching to
understand the winnings, the losings and the tactics of the game. It’s almost enough to make you want to pick up the cards yourself. As the film shows the rise and fall of Molly Blum in the poker industry, the cast is studded with well known faces along the way. Kevin Costner makes for an infuriating father figure to Molly, Chris O’Dowd as a hilarious Irish-American drunk and Michael Cera, playing, unsurprisingly, a Hollywood movie star at Molly’s table. Directed and written by Aaron Sorkin, known for ‘The Social Network’ and ‘The West Wing’, he uses his trademark razor sharp dialogue, especially in the exchanges between Molly and her lawyer. A sophisticated humour is the result of this battle of the tongues, and will have the viewer unintentionally laughing aloud. 4/5
Credit: machinimasboc.com
Credit: Warner Bros
video games and hang out with their fellow co-stars than take drugs and party all night. 2017 brought a wave of films and TV which catapulted some very young actors into instant stardom. The remake of Steven Kings classic ‘IT’ brought a whole new raft of child stars to the fore. This included young actors such as Jeremy Ray Taylor, Sophia Lillis and, of course, Finn Wolfhard, which leads us to the next huge commercial success. The much anticipated second season of sci-fi horror ‘Stranger Things’ made sure everyone who had missed out on the first season would be catching up in time for the boom of memes and articles on the
cute new star actors coming out of the TV series. Amazing performances by Millie Bobbie Brown and the much loved Gaten Matarazzo alongside the aforementioned Finn Wolfhard made full grown adults pore over their every interview, as well as the younger following. In interviews, the children have been praised as very aware of their popular cultural references, including those from the 80’s era when the show was set. This is something that the Duffer Brothers, creators of ‘Stranger Things’, ensured when they asked the kid cast to watch the classics from the 80’s such as ‘The Goonies’ and ‘Stand By Me’. This is something that
could help them from falling into the pitfalls of past child actors - being more aware of actors of the 80s and 90s. The kids, from the ages of 12-15 year olds, have not seemed to let fame change all of their childhood experiences. They still went trick-ortreating in heavy costume to disguise themselves and have sleepovers as they are firm friends. With this new raft of child stars catapulting into stardom, with their heads firmly screwed on and support families and tight friendships with each other, we may be seeing a new wave of child actors that will be dominating our screens for all the right reasons for years to come.
5 Brig | January 2018
Film & TV
brig predicts this year’s oscar-winning plots craig munro film & tv editor
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ne of the excellent things about being a cinemagoer in the UK, I think, is the slight delay that exists between an American film’s official premiere and its actual release date on this side of the atlantic. This delay is particularly noticeable around this time of year – award season. Now is the time that distributors release the really great movies that they’ve been saving, to ensure that they’re fresh in the minds of Academy members when they vote for the Oscars. You might think the Americans have it best, since they get all these films first, but no: the little delay works in our favour. We don’t have to waste our time going to see the damp squibs, the many, many films that studio executives think will win Oscars for them, but are actually just a bit naff. The Americans have already thrown themselves on that particular grenade, and their critics and social media users have handily told the world the names of these films, who is responsible for them, and exactly why they’re so dreadful. So, thanks to the miracle of the release delay, Brits have a little map of the award season labyrinth ahead of time. We need not spend a fortune on disappointing cinema trips. We can safely dive straight into the good stuff. It also means that, at this moment in time, even casual cinephiles in the UK know which films are likely to do well at the Oscars in March, and which ones will be considered snubs if they aren’t nominated.
Credit: Vanityfair.com
Credit: Variety.com Unfortunately, this makes any Oscar predictions I might have a bit redundant. If I were to make a list, it would merely be parroted from some American publication, collected by a writer who has actually seen the films. However, I’m happy to report that I’ve managed to avoid any plot spoilers from these as-yet-unreleased, which does leave me with something to predict. Without any further ado, here are my predictions for what this year’s likely Oscar-nominated films are actually about. Joe Wright’s Darkest Hour will actually have been released in the UK by the time this newspaper is printed – it came out on Fri-
day January 12. But due to the exciting way Brig is put together, the finalised version of this article is placed into the paper on January 11, and so I haven’t seen it. I have seen this film’s poster and some of its other promotion, though, so I know it’s got something to do with Winston Churchill. There’s a lot of buzz around Gary Oldman, who plays Churchill: apparently he’s a shoo-in for Best Actor. I think the film will be a biopic in the vein of Lincoln, which used one significant event in the subject’s life to demonstrate the strength of their character. In the case of Darkest Hour, this event will probably be the power cut that struck 10 Downing Street between 8:18pm and
Oscar Statue Credit: Clipart Collection
9:18pm on March 4 1944. Martin McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri is released on the same day as Darkest Hour, but again I won’t get to see it before this goes out. American filmy folk are saying Frances McDormand may just win a second Oscar for her lead role in this one. Here’s what I think will happen. McDormand stars as the first billboard outside of Ebbing, Missouri. The other two are played by Sam Rockwell and probably Colin Farrell, since it’s a Martin McDonagh film. Since all the billboards are facing the same way, Billboard 3 can see the back of Billboards 1 and 2, but Billboard 2 can only see the back of Billboard 1 and Billboard 1 can’t see either of the other two. Now, the billboards know that two of them have backs painted blue, and one of them has a back painted red. They have to work out which is which. After waiting in silence for a while, Billboard 1 (McDormand) shouts out, “My back is red!” How did she
know? Well, you’ll just have to watch the movie to find out. The Post is the new film from Steven Spielberg, starring Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep, and it’s due to be released on January 19 over here. It’s been snubbed a bit by the Golden Globes and the B A F TA s , but the Academy’s fondness for Steven, Tom and Meryl should never be underestimated. I think that The Post will be a suspense thriller, with Hanks and Streep playing a pair of dogs in a suburban bungalow. Every morning, the post arrives through the letterbox, a n d Hanks and
Streep go absolutely mental. We watch over their shoulders as the Royal Mail van makes its way down the street and towards the house one morning. Will the terrifying post invade their house yet again? Tom and Meryl hope not, but they’ll certainly be ready if it does. Other films I’m looking forward to in the next couple of months are Phantom Thread, in which Daniel Day-Lewis is tormented by
a series of tweets he decided to delete; The Shape of Water, which simply consists of Guillermo del Toro saying, “the shape of the container it’s in”; and Lady Bird, a spin-off from A Bug’s Life that reveals Francis’s fascinating backstory. Time will tell whether I’m right on any of these. Try not to be too disappointed if I’m not.
WHAT’S ON AT MACROBERT pitch perfect 3 Jan 19-25 the killing of a sacred deer jan 21-24 happy end jan 21-25 a woman of no importance jan 25 follies jan 31 banff mountain film festival feb 2 tosca feb 7 twelfth night feb 14 cat on a hot tin roof feb 22 the winter’s tale feb 28-mar 3 carmen mar 6-11
6 Brig | January 2018
Arts From the written word to the big screen: Most anticipated book to film adaptations for 2018 Kirsty MacLeod Arts editor
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irst on this list of books to movie adaptations for 2018 is A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle, hitting theatres on March 9. This beloved children’s novel is about a young girl named Meg, whose father has gone missing whilst working on a secret government project, which forces her to go on a journey through time and space. This adaptation by Disney looks spectacular and especially the cast. A few famous faces include Oprah Winfrey, Mindy Kaling, Reese Witherspoon and Chris Pine. This is a must see for 2018. Second on this list is Simon Vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Beckie Albertalli, hitting theatres as Love, Simon on March 16. This coming of age novel follows an American high school junior named Simon, who has not come out to his family and friends. However, he finds advice from an online mystery friendship, which blossoms. This heart-warming story
had me emotionally invested and rooting for Simon. A few famous faces include Katherine Langton and Nick Robinson. Next, we have Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, due to hit cinemas on March 30. If you are looking for a little bit more action and futuristic technology, then look no further, my friends. This young adult novel
takes place in the dystopian future of 2044 where a significant portion of the population are living in a virtual reality called the Oasis. Before the creator of the Oasis passes away, he leaves an Easter Egg i nside the Oasis, and whoever finds it inherits his fortune, and an unlikely hero comes before us. This film is being directed
by Steven Spielberg and stars Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke and Ben Mendelsohn. Then we have Where’d You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple, which is being released on May 11. This young adult novel tells the story of 15-year-old Bee Branch, whose mother, Bernadette Fox, has gone missing. This novel definitely has Sherlock Holmes and Nancy Drew vibes to it, with a comedic twist. If you are looking for a much darker tale, then we have The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters, which is due for release on August 31. This novel is about a dilapidated haunted house in the 1940s, in which the way of living is dying with a twist. A few famous faces include Ruth Wilson, Will Poulter and Charlotte Rampling. Next, we have The Darkest Mind by Alexandra Bracken. This is the first book adaptation in the very popular trilogy, due for release on September 14. This trilogy was emotional, thrilling and futuristic all in one. This adaptation, I’m sure,
will be no disappointment after the books, as It is starting Amandla Stenberg and Mandy Moore. Next, we have Boy Erased by Garrard Conley, which is set to hit cinemas on September 28. This novel follows Jared, a son of a Baptist preacher in a small, conservative American town, when he is outed as gay at 19. He has a choice of whether to never speak to his family and friends again, or attend a gay conversion therapy program. This novel tackles issues
such as identity, sexuality, religion and family all wrapped up into one. This novel gives us an insight into the mind of a young person not accepted by their family. I have very high hopes that this movie adaptation will give this novel the justice it deserves. It features Troye Sivan, Russell Crowe, Nicole Kidman and Lucas Hedges. Finally, one of the most anticipated books of 2017 and one of my personal favourites, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, the release date for which has not been published. This novel follows Starr Carter, a 16-yearold black woman, who witnesses her unarmed best friend being
shot and killed by a policeman. She is then forced to testify, which throws her into activism. This novel broke me and gave me an incredible insight into a world which is extremely relevant in our society today. This novel handles issues with police brutality, friendship, racism and, most importantly, standing up for what is right. I am extremely looking forward to this film adaptation, as it is an important topic which needs to be talked about. This film stars Amandla Stenberg, Sabrina Carpenter, Regina Hall and Antony Mackie.
people, but never felt any need to read it. It sounded flimsy and way too spiritual for my liking. It was not until I found myself in a rut that I decided to give it a fair shot. It is safe to stay that my life changed the day I started the first chapter. I cannot explain the reasoning behind The Power of Now simply because Tolle does it so well himself. The book is most definitely not a light read;
in the five years that I’ve owned a copy, I have never managed to actually finish it, but its message becomes clear within the first couple of pages. I have always described reading The Power of Now as being told to walk on your feet, instead of your hands, after years. Tolle’s way of thinking is incredibly logical, but you do need someone to spell it out to you.
Three books that changed my life Alchemist gently leads you onto a more spiritual life path. If you are looking to ease yourself into the mystical and foggy world of magic and energy, this is a good place to start.
anne stoop arts editor
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho The first on the list is a short but powerful novel written by Paulo Coelho. As one of the best selling books in history, it tells the story of a young shepherd who takes matters into his own hands, and follows his heart. While the novel is drenched in life advice and powerful lessons, the story itself is worth reading on its own. See it as the best of both
worlds: wisdom and good literature. While the two other books in this list can be rather dry and confrontational, The
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz While The Alchemist presents its spiritual message all wrapped up in a tale of
adventure, love and mystery, Ruiz’s Four Agreements is a lot more straightforward. Do not expect a novel but a step-by-step explanation on how to live your life according to ancient Toltec Wisdom. The book itself is paper thin, but manages to blow you away within its few pages. If you are highly allergic to hippy talk of love and energy, this one is right up your alley. The Four Agreements are simple lessons, highly practical and easy to understand. It is one of my favourite books to lend to friends stuck in a bad period ,
since Ruiz’s advice is so simple yet highly effective to rebooting your life.
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle If you have any interest in spirituality of any kind, The Power of Now will be a title you might have come across. I was introduced to this book through many
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9 Brig | January 2018
Food The Valentine’s Day dinner worth staying in for Irina nakon
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here are loads of pros to cooking your own V-Day dinner: your date will be impressed, you will save some cash, you two will avoid overcrowded loud places, and will instead enjoy some (hopefully) good food in intimate and cosy surroundings. Put out some candles, start a jazzy playlist, and get your apron on. Choose the main dish – either red meat, fish or veggie – that you two prefer best, pair it up with a no-fail chocolate mousse cake, and have a grand night.
breast. Score the duck with a knife by cutting some lines into its skin, and fry on medium-high heat for about 10 minutes per side. Remove from pan and let rest. Mix together the red wine and crème de cassis and simmer on a medium-high heat for 10-12 minutes, until it thickens. Then add the raspberries and continue cooking for a few more minutes. Slice the duck breasts and pour thin currents of sauce over the pieces. Serve warm with crusty bread and salad.
Preheat the oven to 200°C. Bake the salmon uncovered, until easily flaked with a fork. Serve with a green salad.
Lentil ‘meatballs’ with lemon pesto
Brush them with a bit of olive oil if you would like a crust. Bake at 200°C for 15-20 minutes, until the tops are golden. For the lemon pesto, combine the green pesto,
almond eater
Sylvaine Hughson
Pan roasted duck breast with raspberry sauce
4 duck breast fillets 4 tsp. brown sugar 2 tsp. cinnamon 100ml dry red wine 100g raspberries 2 tsp. sea salt a splash of crème de cassis liqueur Mix the sea salt, sugar and cinnamon and spread the mix over the duck
Maple salmon
¼ cup maple syrup 2 tbsp. soy sauce 1 garlic clove, minced 1 pound salmon salt and pepper Mix the maple syrup, soy, garlic, and salt and pepper, and spread the mixture all over the salmon. Place the salmon in a shallow baking dish, cover it, and place in the fridge to marinate for up to an hour.
2 cups cooked lentils 2 eggs ¾ cup ricotta ¼ grated parmesan 1 garlic clove, minced 2 tbsp. each of parsley and thyme 2/3 cup breadcrumbs salt and pepper For the lemon pesto: 1 jar green Pesto Sauce ¼ cup grated parmesan zest and juice of two lemons Use a blender to mash up the lentils, then combine them with the eggs, the cheeses, the garlic, parsley and thyme, breadcrumbs and seasoning. Roll the mixture into 1 inch balls and place on a baking sheet.
parmesan, lemon juice and zest in a bowl, and allow to cool properly in the fridge. Serve the lentil balls drizzled with the lemon pesto, with some pasta on the side.
Mocha mousse cake
5 tbsp. cognac 100ml strong filter coffee or espresso 6 egg yolks 8 egg whites Pinch of salt For the glaze: 150g dark chocolate 120ml rapeseed oil In a saucepan, over a low heat, combine the coffee and cooking chocolate. Add the butter and coffee mixture gradually. Remove pan from heat and add the yolks one at a time, stirring well. Add the cognac, mix well and set aside. Place the egg whites and salt in a mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the whites into the chocolate mixture. Pour into a heartshaped tin, and place in the fridge for 12 hours.The following day, prepare the chocolate glaze. Over low heat, melt the dark chocolate in a saucepan. Add oil, remove from heat and mix well. Pour glaze over the mousse cake.
C
hristmas is always a difficult time to keep track of diets. With the never-ending boxes of chocolates and a self-replenishing stack of mince pies taunting you from the table, it’s easy to lose yourself in gorging with family. But nobody wants to go into the New Year lugging around a postChristmas dinner belly, so here are a few ways to keep your diet (and your body!) on track throughout the year, condensed here into five easy steps. •Cut down on the alcohol (I know, that’s sad!) A devastating lesson to learn is that alcohol is high in calories and is not at all beneficial. But you don’t have to commit to ‘dry January’ to become more drinkaware! Consider putting down the fruity drinks and
instead choosing a drier alternative. Calorie-heavy drinks such as cider and cocktails aren’t doing much for your waistband, but a dry wine is much gentler per glass. If wine isn’t your tipple, consider combining it with a sugar-free mixer for a more refreshing drink.
•Get a smaller plate out Most of us are guilty of having eyes too big for our stomachs. A nice, big, full plate may look satisfying when you are famished, but that doesn’t mean that its good for you. Using a smaller plate or bowl will ensure you get that
The Fitness Zone
Y
Irina nakon Food editor
our body will always appreciate some extra help in fighting off all the nasty viruses floating around, especially during particularly cold winters such as this one. To keep your immune system strong and your energy levels up, consider centering your meals around the following eight foods during the winter months. Additionally, try incorporating these into your daily diet for the remainder of the year.
1. Fish
Tuna, sea bass and salmon are rich in omega 3 fatty acids, which help reduce inflammation in the body, fight infection, and maintain a healthy immune system. Try oven-baking or steaming your fish, as frying it will discard most of its healthy nutrients.
2. Dark Greens
The darker the greens, the higher the nutrient content. Add lots of kale, rocket and spinach to your salads. Cookpad 350g plain cooking chocolate 300g butter, softened and cubed
Place in the fridge for up to an hour. Serve with cream or Bailey’s.
New Year, New Diet? A short guide to staying healthy in 2018 Heather Dalgleish
Eight foods that keep colds at bay
visual satisfaction, but with smaller portions that will benefit your diet in the long run. •Consider going vegetarian Whether it be for the short or the long-term, going pescatarian, or just cutting down the amounts of meat you are eating, can greatly benefit your health. Focusing your diet on plant-based foods loads you with nutrients that are beneficial to kickstarting a healthy lifestyle. And if you cannot imagine your life without a prime cut of steak, then reduce your red meat portions, and combine them with the occasional week of veggieism. Ideally, at least two of your main meals a week should be vegetarian, so try some new recipes and you may surprise yourself. For the committed carni-
vore, Quorn (made from a member of the same plant family as mushrooms) is a cheap, healthy alternative, and taste-wise you will not be able to tell the difference. •Ditch the pop For 2018’s New Year’s Resolutions, you should ask yourself: do you really need all those fizzy drinks? Cutting down will save you money, significantly decrease your sugar consumption, and will help you feel less lethargic, which will result in a healthier lifestyle. Find alternatives if you must, such as going for the sugar-free or zero calorie options, or perhaps mixing a cordial with sparkling water which contains far less harmful chemicals (e.g. aspartame, acesulfame) than your average soft drinks. •Don’t skip breakfast Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the
3. Garlic
The un-crowned king of flu-fighting, garlic is a biggie when it comes to keeping your immune system strong. A Boston study found that daily intake of fresh garlic over a 12-week winter period has resulted in a 60% drop in the recorded amount of colds. day, so avoid skipping it! Even a simple piece of toast can be beneficial. If you think you don’t have time in the morning, slipping a piece of fruit into your bag will keep you focused and more energised throughout the morning, and will ensure you aren’t binging out at lunch time, however tempting that midday Maccies may seem. Breakfast is always important, so make sure you have a lot of things to cook with in the morning. A freshly-cooked breakfast will give you extra motivation to get out of bed every morning, and will provide good variety to your diet. Even a fry-up, if you balance it right, can be a healthy (and tasty!) way to begin the day. Whatever meal you prepare, make sure to complement it with plenty of fresh veggies.
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4. Yoghurt
Probiotic products are highly beneficial for your digestive tract, but the bacteria present in yoghurts also help maintain a healthy immune system and circulation. Opt for the sugar-free, Greek-style yoghurts over the sugary ones, and add some honey and berries to your pot for a breakfast treat.
5. Dark chocolate
Cocoa contains more antioxidants than most berries, and is highly beneficial for your immune system and internal organ functions. Choose a plain chocolate bar with at least 70% cocoa content, and limit yourself to about 15g of it per day.
6. Brazil nuts
By far the most beneficial of all nuts, Brazil nuts are high in protein and selnium – a mineral which is essential in aiding immune function and guarding against infections and the flu.
7. Tea
Opt for herbal or fruit infusions over traditional black teas, as the former are rich in antioxidants called catechises, which actively help in keeping a healthy immune system and metabolism, as well as helping guard against heart disease and cancer.
8. Blueberries
These contain the most antioxidants of any fresh fruit, and would therefore make the perfect snack between your mealtimes. The high levels of anthocyanin in blueberries will help your body fight off numerous viruses and colds.
10 Brig | January 2018
Lifestyle POSITIVE MANIFESTATION - a HOW TO guide
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e have all found ourselves stuck in a long queue or in front of red light, just when the timing could not have been worse. Of course you manage to spill coffee all over your white shirt before you head in for that job interview; it is almost as if there is some dark force out to get you. What if I told you some believe that there is - no I’m not referring to Star Wars, but your own mind. Oversimplified, positive manifestation is the belief that that you can create the life you want through your thoughts; what you think is what you get. Interested in figuring out how to enter a world where everything you think of can turn into a direct future? Here are six easy steps to get started with positive manifestation. Affirmation - loosely translated, affirmation means to say something positively. For example, instead of “I hope I do not get stuck in traffic today”, you would say, “I am so grateful I made it into work perfectly on time”. Sadly, the universe tends to work like a low budget Google. You mention traffic, that is what you’ll get. On the other hand, if you mention being perfectly on time, that can be provided just as easily. Try to observe your thought pattern for a period
ANNE STOOP LIFESTYLE EDITOR
of time. Do you tend to emphasise what you don’t want to happen, or do you think more along the lines of the things you would like to happen? Most of us will fall victim to the first, negative, line of thought. So instead of hoping you’ll not fail a class, hope you’ll pass. Make those thoughts overflowing with positive search terms and you’ll be right on your way. Intention - know what you want. Give yourself the time and space to truly look within your deepest dreams and wishes. Forget any expectations others
might have for you. What is it that your heart truly desires? Positive manifestation revolves around the idea that the universe responds directly to your thoughts. Make sure your intentions are crystal clear, and phrased in that positive language we talked about earlier. Affirmation - once you have established a more positively driven mindset and have revealed your desires to yourself, it is time to actively manifest these requests. It is essential that you act as if your desires are
already fulfilled. Are you manifesting a romantic relationship? Imagine the relationship, create a vision board of couples in love or even take it a step further and create literal room for that relationship by sleeping on one side of your bed or emptying a drawer. Commitment - while positive manifestation is a practice of the mind, it does need exactly that – practice. By focusing on your thought pattern and frequently checking in with your intentions, and manifesting your affirma-
New Year, Better Me O
f course I did this. On January 1, you have your brand new calendar or diary and you start to put in all the important dates: birthdays, anniversaries, trips, nights out, university deadlines. However, I also made a list of New Year’s resolutions. Why? New Year is such a magical time and has you thinking that it does not matter what happened last year – a new start. However, it can be taken too far, and you are there trying to shave all of your apparent imperfections. We are in a society where everything has to be perfect, and if it’s not, we have show we are working towards making it so. However, this pressure is silent. After deliberating all of
tions, you will achieve the desired results. Some make vision boards of their dream house, others like to repeat their affirmations while brushing their teeth, or writing them down just before going to bed. Choose whatever strategy appeals to you most, as long as you consistently make use of it. Gratitude - besides focusing on all the things you want, be aware of all the things that you already have. Aim to write down at least five things you are grateful for each night. This list can consist of big
things, like your health or family, or seemingly insignificant things like finding your favourite tea on sale. If you truly focus on the seemingly mundane daily happenings, you will discover many small moments of magic and wonder. The sun warming your face, wagging dog tails, trains arriving perfectly on time, and getting that last Picnic bar. Write it down; the more you do it, the easier it will get. Trust – let go of the worries that roam your mind. An exercise to do this is by keeping a worry list. Whenever you find yourself stuck in a stream of negative thoughts, write them down and return to this list a couple of weeks later. You will find that the vast majority of these appeared to have been unfounded. Positive manifestation requires heaps of trust from those who practice it. You have to remember that it is not an easy fix or magical resolution to those problems that plague you. Daily, you will have to envision your affirmations and focus on the positive, and show gratitude. With the power of manifestation found in acting like you have already received what you have asked for, you cannot focus on the fact that you might not have received the very thing you have been trying to manifest. If you think you still have not received your manifestation from the universe, you will attract not receiv-
Kirsty MacLeod LIFESTYLE EDITOR
this, I decided to do something instead of making a list which included going to the gym more or have my five a day, which I grant you is important for your overall health. I decided to focus on changing negative thought patterns and working towards having a more positive mindset. My resolution was to go easier on myself. We are our worst critics and put so much pressure on ourselves, whether it is to get a 1st class degree or go to every single thing you agree to do. What can happen is that the pressure is what causes you not to achieve that goal; if you just take a breath and just try the best you can do in that moment. If that doesn’t work, get out of your space, go for
a walk, clean your flat, listen to a podcast (Best of Friends is my personal favourite), or make a healthy, hearty meal. Get out of your head. Additionally, say ‘no’ once in a while. If you stretch yourself too thin, you break, like an elastic band. I often promise to be at every single social event, every favour, every helping hand. Although I do like this, at the end of a hectic period I often feel drained, both physically and emotionally, and I end up snapping at those I care about. This year I want to say ‘no’ every so often and take a breath. I will be a better friend if I take more time for myself and not spread myself too thin, and not put too much into not enough. Like a
paintbrush on a canvas, the paint gets fainter and fainter. It doesn’t make me a bad friend if I do not go out most nights of the week and it does not make me boring. Finally, say ‘yes’ more, but only to things I can put 110% into; things that will bring joy to my life and to those around me. Do not only agree because I have felt pressured or social expectancies. Also, maybe because I was afraid to let people down. But the people who love you only want you to be happy and do not want to to be spread so thin that you do not have time to do your own work or have time for yourself. I will be a better me, and a better friend, through being kinder to myself.
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ing it. While this might sound like the perfect scam, you can never acknowledge that positive manifestation did not work, because then it won’t work. I want to remind you that this entire mindset has more to do with simply allowing more positivity into your life than providing you with a magic stick to make all your dreams come true instantly. When I first stumbled upon positive manifestation a year ago, I did not take it seriously for one second. I watched The Secret, a documentary explaining positive manifestation in depth, on Netflix with my roommates as a way to pass a dull Wednesday night. What struck me, however, was someone who mentioned that he uses positive manifestation to always get a parking spot. It sounded so silly that I started to test this mumbo jumbo out by asking the universe for small things. It worked, the line in front of student services was non-existent for the first time in my life, the UniLink would show up just when I needed it, and my favourite rather expensive tea was on sale at Tesco. I can fully understand any reservations you might have. All I can say is give it a try. There is no harm, and something tells me you’ll be surprised with how much you will receive.
11 Brig | January 2018
Lifestyle In the loop with Stoop: cocktails Anne Stoop
SLY SEXISM: UNNEceSSARY AND UNPROFESsIONAL ANNE STOOP W
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’ll be brutally honest, I want to sit in bed and watch the final episode of The Fall. I do not want to open an empty word document and blast out a column. Bubble baths, fresh sheets, books, and detectives is what my poor heart so deeply desires. But life does not work that way, does it? This column needs to be written so it can be printed in the paper that you are holding right now. See, we all have things we do not want to do but we have to do. Sometimes, they are the absolute worst, like doing dishes or writing essays about research methods. Sometimes we are just lazy little maggots. Like me, now. The new semester is very much on her way, and I think many of us will find ourselves stuck in an unmotivated, procrastinating universe where Netflix
Source: Elite Daily
rules all. But no, my fellow citizens of this sluggish world, we will no longer inhabit this place. We are stepping into a world of productivity, success, and endless amounts of cocktails. Cocktails, you say? Yes, cocktails, because whenever people are highly successful, they can spend their money on expensive, delicious cocktails – and those people will be us. In the end, you just have to do it. You know you can, because you and I are both incredibly amazing and competent. Make your bed every morning, pick out your outfit the night before, make a to do list you can actually finish, and give yourself some love. Diamonds are made under pressure, just like this column. Hereby we enter into our cocktail fellowship. We will venture into this next year with our heads held high,
our dreams crazy big and our passion madly driven. Repeat after me: We will make our lives as delicious as our cocktails; topped off with tiny umbrellas we put in our hair while we dance on the bar of life. Cheers!
henever university releases its grip on me and I’m allowed to venture home, I spend the majority of my time earning the exact thing that makes the world go round: money. I do this in a craft beer store, where I sell around 650 different beers. I will admit that I am not the biggest expert on this type of alcoholic beverage, but I am most certainly not a novice. I can tell you all about IPAs, stouts, porters and triples. However, some have a hard time believing this is true. “Oh, you work here? I’m sure you don’t drink any of this stuff right, since you’re a girl?”, is one of the sentences I hear at
least once a week. Another favourite: “they must have hired you to up those sales, with that smile of yours”, comes in once or twice a month. I always make sure to wear big baggy clothes, concealing any curviness that might attract wandering eyes. Some of these remarks are made in a light-hearted manner; some carry much more weight. While I have learned to brush off their demeaning words, and ignore their piercing eyes, my male colleagues never let those comments slide. They remind me that while it feels normal, it is not. It is exactly this attitude that reassures me that the time where #MeToo is needed might finally come
women in film
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mollie hodkinson
hen I began my pursuit into film studies at the University of Edinburgh in 2014, I had realistic expectations about the hard work and determination that it would require to build my knowledge and a good name for myself within the film and television industry. Creating a career in this field is far less glamorous than you may expect: with 14 hour shoot days, the necessity to work on many “expenses only” jobs to create contacts, and the somewhat inhumane working environments you find yourself in, it takes a tough nut to make it in the “movie business”. One challenge I had underestimated in these early days, however, was the subtle and consistent sexism I would experience day to day in my film
work – no matter what job title I held. With the recent events in the news, it has become powerfully apparent that sexism and sexual abuse towards females in particular appears to be engrained within the fabric of Hollywood and other large studio productions and has been an unspoken phenomenon since the very beginning of film. However, what may not be as well known is that this sexism trickles down to the very foundations of filmmaking – film schools. I am currently entering the final semester of my four years of film studies, and within this time I am pleased to share that I have enjoyed innumerable respectful collaborations with both men and women. However, I have also experienced some truly
to an end. The comments I suffer tend to come from an older generation, the men that speak up against them are from mine. We still have a long way to go, but I am hopeful we are finally walking on the right path. However, we females do not walk this path alone. Just as we women are to be respected and seen as individuals, are we to see men. There are more loving fathers, caring brothers, and respectful colleagues out there than there are the Harvey Weinsteins of the world. And there is no harm in honouring and thanking those who stand beside us.
“A women with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult” Melinda Gates
challenging behaviour. In the first year of my studies, I took on one of the most labour intensive and stressful jobs on a male graduate’s short film shoot; the role was First Assistant Director. This role involves scheduling the entire film shoot, troubleshooting any problems on-set and ensuring the shoot doesn’t run overtime during shoot days. On the first day of shooting, the director of the film approached me to let me know that the only reason he hired me was because he thought I was “beautiful”, and he liked the idea of seeing me on his film set. I proceeded to run his shoot efficiently and ahead of schedule, however it troubled me deeply that I had been made to feel demotivated and invalidated before I’d even begun. Whilst working at the Edinburgh International Film Festival during my third year, I met a Hollywood producer who, after discovering that my goal was to become a producer also, invited me out for dinner with him and his colleagues where we could discuss his work and the possibility of a job. During this dinner, our conversation never diverted from the curves of my body or the smell of my skin. He even said the words “I can teach you things no one else can”, with a smirk. On another student
film set, I was forced into “standing in” for the main actress in a sex scene. Without consent, I was firmly pulled to the crotch of the other stand in - a male camera assistant who had been making unwanted advances on me throughout the shoot - and repeatedly caressed all over my body as the male director and male cinematographer looked on. After the incident, I was in shock and I continued working on the shoot as normal. I received no apology from any of these crew members. I cannot fathom that such terrible behaviour takes place at student level alone and, if I am completely honest, it has often made me reconsider my career path for fear of even more powerful men exercising even worse actions on me in future. I am not denying that men within the industry experience oppression in similar ways. However, from my many, many conversations with male course-mates, I have never heard any anecdote that comes close to those of my female course-mates. The knowledge that the brave testimonials arising from the initial Harvey Weinstein incident have progressed this issue into the public sphere inspires me greatly, but this damage control is too retrospective. In order to ensure a fair working environment for all within this field, we need to start dealing with the issue of sexism at its grass roots.
9 Brig | January 2018
Features
Disability - changing the name and the game Nathalie Hollede
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he is a second year student at the University of Stirling. She is on the national boards in swimming, top two in her division. She has participated in three marathons: one in London, and two in New York. She has been featured in the Falkirk Herald, skydived for charity, and met royalty. Jill Hendry has achieved all of these things - and she is blind . So? The word disability is
with disabilities. Jill's story says that people with disabilities are not china plates waiting to be broken. I am going to try to test your boundaries and challenge your preconceptions about disability through Jill's story. This will not be your ordinary interview about how hard it is to be disabled. It is about how disabled people, like Jill, are fighting the stigma. If you are not interested in the story, jump to the
is connected to the rod and cone cells of the eye, which actually affect the imagery in her brain. In the beginning, she would see mixed up colours, and shapes would be all wrong, so trust me, she's really not missing out on recreational experiences. She now dreams vividly, and her cells send incorrect images to her brain - which Jill says is a reported side effect of RP. She says that the symptoms are quite unsettling, but during the interview
ticle. I learned a lot from Jill, and I did tell you it would be different. During my interview with her, we laughed a lot, and had good banter. When she walks into walls, she laughs. She has walked into a pole, and tricked a blind friend into walking into a door because he let her walk into one. Jill says it is not too bad to walk into things, as she can take it with a smile, but there are limits.
Credit: Jill Hendry
end of this article. Jill's journey is a humbling one, yet she is very chill about it. If you want to see more, check out her blog at: jillhendry.wordpress. com.
“And she is blind - so ?” After years of not being able to see the classroom boards clearly, being scolded at school, falling and walking into things, and eventually not being able to see what she was writing, 16-year-old Jill was hit with the diagnose retinitis pigmentosa (RP) with rod-cone dystrophy. She described it starting with eye-itchiness, after which she first lost central vision, then peripheral vision. She was given one of the most difficult, life-altering and fate-changing prognoses - or so one would think. However, Jill has managed to make it her own type of normal. Her type of blindness
she was not adamant about explaining what was going on in her head, but rather relating to the outside world as undefined by her disability. Although, she can probably smell if you have bad breath from a meter away, so she might just have special abilities. After the first article about her in the Falkirk Herald in October of 2011, Jill has made a lot of progress. She has, and continues to raise money for Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) research, the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB), Guide Dogs, kidney research, and Cancer research by skydiving, fundraising, and running marathons. She is second on the leaderboards in division S11 (completely blind) swimmers in the UK. The Paralympics are not too far out of sight for her. You may think that using the word sight was a bad choice, and that I am crossing boundaries, but no eggshells were broken in the making of this ar-
Credit: Falkirk Herald 2013
becoming broader and broader, and with the broadness comes an ambiguity: should we reevaluate its abnormality? It seems that doctors will consider any functional anomaly a disability. Yet a disability does not define a person, nor hover over a person, unless others make them feel they are different or undeserving of the same things that people without disabilities are entitled to, or can experience. Luckily, the world today makes things possible for the blind, and the disabled in general, but we still have a long way to go as far as changing our preconceptions about the word disability. The pop singer Lorde once made a statement about Taylor Swift which made the insinuation that persons with disabilities are difficult to be friends with. Let me tell you this the difficulty is not in the disability, it is due to our attitudes and preconceptions, in addition to our fear of offending a person
It is not very funny to have people want to punch you just because you can't see them coming. Jill experienced this kind of bullying in school, but luckily, her friend stepped in to stop him. Let's just say the culprit might have needed a bag of ice to soothe an eye. Her guide dog, Bazil, adored by the Duke of Edinburgh amongst others, was sadly retired in November. Jill has fallen over Bazil several times in the dead of night, and he had a peculiar fondness for my shoes. You may have seen them walking around campus. Upon asking her what
Including Bazil, Jill has more friends than I do note: I have five friends in total, and one of them is named Cabernet Sauvignon. She stays up to date with the newest technology which allows her to write by audio recording, and still aspires to do more, such as learning how to ski again. Her achievements and aspirations would be impressive, even if she were not by society's standards: "disabled", but she only wishes for people to see that her achievements make her absolutely like the rest of us – and I think this should make us see disability differently. When all is said and done, this is what she wants us to know about crossing that boundary to getting comfortable with a blind person: You don't have to be awkward around her, or ignore her – that last one was my own point. I hope this article has convinced you that the disability does not devalue or damage the person. We tend to hurry
Credit: Jill Hendry
No eggshells were broken in the making of this article
she would do after Bazil, she suggested I be her permanent guide - just kidding, I have things to do (like skipping every single lecture). She will keep Bazil, and hopes to find a new guide dog soon. She says that it is not an easy process to get a dog approved to be a guide, so she is using a walking stick at the moment, which is difficult, however, she feels Stirling has a very disability-friendly campus.
around, and connect with people similar to us, but the best is when we can find energy to realise our surroundings, and get to know someone we might not know how to approach.
Impressive even if she were not by society's standards: ‘disabled According to her, it is actually easier for sighted and blind to communi-
cate than for blind and blind to. Don't think too much about how to approach, and just do it – if the blind need anything, they will ask. Jill does say, you might want to introduce yourself and touch their arm briefly so they can know who they are speaking to, and where you are. Jill doesn't mind telling her story, but it can be tiring to be asked when you just want to talk, so I brought it to you, hoping I did it, and her, justice. Let us work to change the stigma around the word disability, because changing the way we say things is key to changing how we view them.
10 Brig | January 2018
Features
Paws for thought - the story behind Ace the assistance dog Emma Simper Features editor
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or many they are a source of joy; pure unfiltered happiness exhibited in the furry, fourlegged body of man’s best friend. For some, they are that and so much more. Sarah Jackson, owner of Ace, the Siberian Husky assistance dog, and a student here at the University of Stirling, is one of those people. As apparent by the plethora of “No dogs except assistance dogs” signs attached to all building entrances around the university, Stirling has as of January 2018 forbid students, staff, and the general public from bringing their pets indoors. Ace goes wherever Sarah goes, and although he is the exception to this new rule, many have come up to ask Sarah about him roaming the university alongside her. “I simply explain that he is registered” she says,
“the university is aware of him, and they accept all his credentials. I just hope that people don’t think that since I am bringing my dog in and security isn’t doing anything about it, that they themselves then feel justified to bring their dogs in.” When asked what role she feels assistance dogs play in the lives of students, Sarah acknowledges that generally assistance dogs do not play a big part as they are trained to serve and focus solely on their handlers, not being allowed to be distracted or touched by passersby. However, in Ace’s case, Sarah says he is actually encouraged to socialize with others. “After serving eight years in the Navy, I easily withdraw from the public and can become antisocial” she says. Medications and cogitative-behavioral therapy were simply not enough, so Ace was sent in as what she calls, ‘a sort of baby
Credit: University of Stirling
blanket’ to help add to Sarah’s confidence in social situations. “With Ace I feel confident to come out, smile, and talk to others who are intrigued by him. So many faces light up, and I continuously get comments along the lines of;, ‘This made my day!’, ‘I really needed this before my exam!’, and, ‘You are the
perfect stress relief!’”. It seems apparent that assistance dogs like Ace not only bring comfort to their owners like Sarah, but lots of other students as well. A quick cuddle with him allows for momentary stress relief and for some, can even help them overcome their fear of dogs. “One makes himself touch dogs in hopes of
letting go of his fears one day. He likes Ace now. “They just drink it up with glee and I laugh and smile too, because I get to witness the bigger picture of reaching out to others who may be dealing with some same issues as I am but not sure how to go about it.” Sarah points out that now these individuals who have been prompted
to get a pup to ‘find their own sanctuary’ are now only able to access their sanctuary at home, rather than bringing it along to a high-volume stress area, such as university. “I think that the university could have looked into other methods of keeping the complaints down.” Sarah suggested implementing training courses by the Human Animal Interactions, both to provide the program with an opportunity to get onhand, in-the-field training, with people and their dogs, and a medium for people who are wanting to bring their dogs inside the university. This would then in turn provide an opportunity of training and qualification for an ID card, that would allow the dog in the university. “I have also been dreaming of a fenced in dog park that mounts right next to the Starbucks, behind the Roman shoe art sculpture. Have a fundraiser,
design one side for the small dogs, and a bigger side for the big dogs. Easily accessible to the parking and café, with benches, bins, and fencing. Keep the trees for shade in warmer weather. There you have a dog park. “Apply some rules, charge a small fee for those willing to go through some training, and you have just improved the program as well as the status of the university.” As a husky, Ace is a breed known for their love for running, and he’s not alone in that. Ace has made a friend on campus, a black Labrador named Teddy, who sadly he is unable to play with. With dogs unable to run around without their leads, and some handlers unable to run at all, all of a sudden not only do some students and staff lose their ability to de-stress with their pups, but so do hard working assistance dogs like Ace.
11 Brig | January 2018
Features
Cut out the fad January diets
Katie Williams
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s soon as one festivity ends, another begins. Easter, then Halloween, Christmas and then diet season. Get beach body ready!
It comes around every year, right after December 26. Adverts on television change from being indulgent, full of chocolates and roast dinners to slendertones and gym memberships. Gym gear is moved right to the front of the shop and the ‘new year, new me’ is chanted in unison. While having a healthy lifestyle proves to help people feel better, is the the pressures from media and shops counteracting it?
Is it time to cut out the January diet?
As I was slouched on the sofa watching tv, in a five minute advert space, four of the adverts were about diets or gym membership.
credit: pinterest
On my Instagram feed the fad skinny teas were popping up as adverts and sponsored posts - the swarm of diet talk is unavoidable. Along with seeing so many people on social
media snapping their “gains” at the gym or weight loss progress, guilt can start to form and the idea of competition between those wanting to lose weight can fester. Social media, for many, is a place of comparison,
and weight loss companies see this. Skinny tea uses slim girls with high followers to try and sell their product. But here’s the dirty secret; those girls do not look that way because of
a tea. Skinny tea will not give you abs. It will give you the runs. But when sales spike in January as brands lurr into the low self esteem customer, they don’t care what lies are being fed.
That tea is just one example, but the January diet culture preys on the idea that we should feel guilty for indulging over Christmas. All this, “start the new year by being the best you... lose weight”, dismisses the notion that in fact, you are already the best you. Yet, marketing from brands continue to press on the insecurities, telling consumers that there is bad food and good food. January diets see the introduction of fad diets, detox and restrictions, all that have low success rates. In an idealistic world, there would be marketing for loving and accepting yourself, whether you’re full to the brim with mince pies or kale.
ready beach ready body. But January diets are consumed as an act of punishment after Christmas. Restriction as a form of weight loss often leads to binge eating and faster weight gain once a person starts eating normally again. It can be discouraging and for many, setting up to fail. It is no surprise when a study from the Scotsman suggests that one/third of Scots failed their January diets. Maybe this is because unrealistic goals are set and extreme measures are being encouraged by the media to get that “beach body”. But if you go to the beach and have a body, you have a beach body no matter the shape or size.
But self-love does not sell skinny teas.
A healthy lifestyle can be done as a form of self love, taking care of your al-
Aunt Em-ployability Emma Hill Student Engagement and Events Coordinator
H
appy 2018! New Year is traditionally the time of reflection on the previous year and making resolutions for the year ahead. Most New Year’s Resolutions are dropped by March so here’s five we think you’ll be able to keep (and some tips on how to keep them!)
Here to answer all your career questions
Get out of your comfort zone
We’ve all heard the ‘do something every day that scares you’ chat and while I think that’s a bit unrealistic (I’d be a nervous wreck by the weekend!) there is a lot to be said for trying things that take you out of your comfort zone. So much can be gained from new experiences and if you don’t try, you’ll never know. In terms of your career this is particularly true. So many people work in areas they never even considered while they were studying. Things like volunteering, travel, internships and networking take them in a completely different direction to the one they thought they would go in. A perfect place to help you out of your comfort zone is the This is Your Life careers fair. It’s happening on February 8 from
4.30pm-6pm in the Atrium and will have loads of different organisations there with a wide range of opportunities. Get more info at stir. ac.uk/careers/events
we see hundreds of CVs
Don’t give up
Get your CV ready
This is usually on people’s ‘to do’ list for quite some time before it actually happens. If you’re not actually applying for jobs, it can seem pointless to spend time on your CV. But what if you see that perfect job and the closing date is tomorrow? What if you meet a potential employer and they ask for you to send through your CV as they might have something you could get involved in? Having your CV prepared and checked means you’ll be in a strong position and ready for anything. I can’t stress the work ‘checked’ there strongly enough. As a careers service
ac.uk/careers)
and hear from a range of employers about exactly what they’re looking for. You can come and ask us to have a look over your CV in one of our Quick Queries slots (available every day) or at the Career Café (Wed 12-2pm @ Underground and Thu 11am-12pm @ Crush Hall) to get some instant feedback. We have some great resources too which are worth a look before you come and see us. (stir.
It’s easy to feel disheartened if you are getting rejections from job applications or interviews but the only guarantee of failure is to stop trying. Ask for feedback if you haven’t been successful. Some employers, especially if you have got through to the interview stage, are happy to give you details on how you could improve in future. Their feedback may also increase your confidence if they can give you information on what you did well. It’s rare that people get the first job they go for and there are lots of examples of where determination and perseverance have led to success in the end… just look at JK Rowling, Oprah, and Steven Spielberg!
Have confidence in Do more of the yourself things that you If you don’t have conenjoy fidence in yourself then why would anyone else? It can be hard to feel confident, especially in unfamiliar situations like interviews or a new job, but confidence can get you a long way. There are lots of resources available online to help build your confidence but even something as simple as making a list of all your strengths and your achievements can help. Exercise can also improve your confidence and energy, so why not join the sports centre on campus and see the difference that can make. It may sound obvious, but thinking positively can have a big impact on your confidence. Silence those negative thoughts, concentrate on giving yourself praise and you’ll slowly start to feel more confident.
January is usually a time for giving things up, but I say make 2018 the year you do more of what you enjoy! The perfect career is getting paid for doing something you love, so spend time finding out what that is and then you won’t go far wrong. If you would like to contact me with any career questions or concerns then just email me on emma.hill@stir.ac.uk
JOIN US FOR THE FIRST EVER WOMEN AND GIRLS
STIRLING RUGBY 7s 21ST MARCH 2018 STIRLING COUNTY RFC
13 Brig | January 2018
Sport
Countdown to Commonwealths: athletes unveiled at Stirling Court Hotel
Craig Wright Sports editor
I
f you asked a straw poll of athletes as to what the best way to announce being selected to go to Australia as part of Team Scotland would be, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone that suggested a photocall in subzero temperatures on the University of Stirling campus. Yet, shortly after 10am on a crisp December morning, that is exactly how 25 of Scotland’s finest track and field athletes found themselves being presented to the country’s media, celebrating their call-up to represent their country at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. For Dunblane’s Andrew Butchart (below), however, the seasonal chill could do nothing to curb his enthusiasm for what lies ahead. “It should be a lot of fun” said Butchart. “To get out to Australia is going to be great. To have this unveiling in Stirling means a lot too – the Forth Valley is definitely home for me, and the support from Dunblane has been massive.” An Olympian in Rio de Janeiro back in 2016, the 26-year-old distance runner can regularly be seen pounding the track on campus as part of Central Athletics Club. The local connection is one which clearly matters to Butchart, with his own personal experience reinforcing that fact. “There’s a runner, who I still run with today, called Alistair Hay who ran at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. “He’s just a regular guy, but I remember going to training and thinking ‘that guy’s amazing’.
Credit: @andybutchart91
“He wasn’t the world champion or anything, it was because he was the local guy. “[The local link] is very important. For the future, for those kids, they look up and say ‘oh, Andrew was running here at my age’. “If just one of them comes through then that’s great, and if I can inspire the it means a lot.”
Credit: Team Scotland
One such member of the ‘next generation’ is para-sprinter Maria Lyle (above). The 17-year-old from Dunbar is set to head out to the Gold Coast for her first Commonwealth Games, and her excitement was palpable on announcement day. “It’s my first time representing Scotland, so I can’t wait! Scotland is the best country – not that I’m being biased or anything” she laughed.
Credit: Craig Wright
“I’ve never been [to Australia], so it’ll be amazing. The heat will be good for my CP (cerebral palsy), and for my tan!” Behind the smiling exterior, though, lies a truly world-class competitor. Having set a world record in the T35 200m at the age of just 14, Lyle has since gone on to claim medals at European, World and Paralympic level, but isn’t letting dreams of completing the set cloud her preparation. “It’s an odd time for athletics – we don’t normally start the season as early as this, but for me, if I run my best race I’ll be happy. If that gets me on the podium, even better. “It’s good experience – what athletics gives you is the opportunity to go to these amazing places, so I’m really grateful. “I know what to focus on – just going out there, not letting the occasion take over and delivering on the day. “I’ve never been on a team with able-bodied athletes before either, so it’s great to have all these talented athletes in camp together. Hopefully I can learn from them!”
At the other end of the experience spectrum is Steph Twell, for whom Gold Coast 2018 will mark her third appearance at a Commonwealth Games. Having been around the Scottish athletics scene for a number of years, the two-time Olympian is in a better place than most to offer an opinion on the next batch of talent coming through the ranks. “I still feel quite young, but it really nice to see youngsters coming through” said Twell. “I’m looking at Erin Wallace or Jemma Reekie and you can really see people now start to make a jump up, and I’m sure that is the look-on effect of how successful we are as Scotland.
Credit: Craig Wright
“Also, having such a strong representation at the Olympics and at the World Champs is making it second nature - it’s not new, it’s like you’re going
to see us there, and I think that’s really important that we have that identity across all level of world competition.” A bronze medallist in Delhi back in 2010 (below), Twell has since endured a torrid run of injuries during her career, most notably an ankle problem that ruled her out of London 2012.
Credit: BBC
However, having helped Great Britain’s women to gold in the European Cross-Country team event in December, the 28-year-old is hoping that more success lies in store in 2018. “For my individual performance, the top time was solid, but I think we’ve got so many goals next year that we have a lot to get ready for. “You can’t push the pedal now, and I mean that in the sense of you can’t be at the
peak just yet because I want to be at my Everest at the Commonwealth Games, and I want to be at my Everest later on in the track season, so for me it was a solid performance. “It’s given me an indicator of what I need to do, but it was encouraging at the same time. And again, another great GB representation, being part of a team and succeeding, is really great to build off.” Hammer thrower Mark Dry is in the same position as Twell. Having claimed bronze at Glasgow 2014, the 30-yearold has had to battle for his place in the squad. “I had a hip reconstruction recently, so there’s a bit more rehab on the cards for me. “I’m in a really good place though, ahead of schedule, so I’ve got a lot of coaching and training to fit in alongside recovery. “It’s a case of staying in one piece and not making any stupid decisions!” Dry, perhaps understandably, is reluctant to set any concrete targets for the Games ahead. “I’m not going there to come last, but I’m not going to say I’m going to win the competition” he laughed. “I have as much chance to win as anyone else in the competition though.” For Butchart, though, only one result will suffice. “I need to come away with a medal. 100%.”
Athletes added to Team Scotland, 12 December 2017 Chris Bennett, Andrew Butchart, Mark Dry, Callum Hawkins, Guy Learmonth, Chris O’Hare, Robbie Simpson, Allan Smith, David Smith, Jax Thoirs, Jake Wightman, Amy Carr, Zoey Clark, Eilidh Doyle, Rachel Hunter, Sammi Kinghorn, Maria Lyle, Holly McArthur, Kirsten McAslan, Eilish McColgan, Emma Nuttall, Lynsey Sharp, Kelsey Stewart, Stephanie Twell, Lennie Waite
14 Brig | January 2018
Sport
“The heart of an Hawaiian Lion”: from Fulbright to the Forth Valley Shannon Scovel Sports editor
The Stirling Experience
Raymond found a home at Stirling, and she went about applying for a doctoral degree at the university, with the hopes of continuing her work on play therapy. Another driving force in her decision to return to Stirling for doctoral studies, however, was the possibility of playing on the football team again. When Raymond graduated with her master’s from Stirling last July, she said she thought she might have played her last game of uni football. Her PhD and visa materials had not been finalised, and her future remained unclear. She said goodbye to her teammates at the end of the year, unsure when she would see them again, and returned home to New York.
As a master’s student at Stirling, Raymond thrived. She joined the women’s football team, volunteered with an adult disability team and graduated with a master’s in psychology with distinction. Her dissertation, a project which focused on sports psychology, as well as the life skills and emotional well-being required for performance, therapy and play, brought her studies in social work, biology, and psychology together, but also left her with even more questions. Raymond ended the 2017 school year having accomplished her dream of playing football at university and having earned a second master’s degree. However, more goals remained, and Scotland, Raymond said, provided her the best location and community to continue to chase those goals. “In Scotland, it is so free for you to decide what to explore, whatever questions you develop, it seemed like the perfect place to do it,” Raymond said. “I’m amazed at how I’ve been able to refine my thought process. My thinking has changed and evolved just in the year and a half, it just blows my mind. It has a lot to do with the academics I’ve encountered in Stirling.”
“I really missed everyone,” Raymond said. “Of course, when I was back in New York I was playing adult leagues, but it’s nowhere near this game. You don’t have kits, you don’t go away together. People would text me with updates, it was just so great that everyone would text me updates about the team and the game. “It told me that I was an important part of the team, and that my presence was missed.” Yet, Raymond’s Stirling story was not complete. After a lengthy visa process and a stressful few months, she returned to the pitches, this time, chasing new goals, both on and off the field. “Coming back and seeing everyone again and seeing how people were excited to see me, we had our first game two days after I came back, it was overwhelming to put the kit back on again,” Raymond said. “When I left I wasn’t sure if I was coming back, so it was nice
C
helsea Raymond is a football player, pure and simple. It’s who she is, who she was, and who she always wanted to be. As a kid growing up California, Raymond learned the game from her cousins, and her passion for the sport carried her all the way through high school. She had hopes to play in college, a dream to represent a university. She was on the path to achieve that dream until a knee injury ultimately derailed her from that goal. The game, however, a part of Raymond’s life that she loved and cherished, would make its triumphant return into her daily routine in just a few years. She would join a team again, wear a kit again and compete at a high level again. That much she knew. The question was, when? And would she ever have the chance to compete for a university? The answer was yes, but the process would be a little more complicated. After graduating with a degree in biological science from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo in 2012, Raymond moved to New York to study social work at Columbia University, where she managed to compete on some adult football teams, but she still craved the chance to play for her school.
Credit: Chelsea Raymond
Her master’s program at Columbia lasted two years, and as she started to think about her next step, she knew she would find a way to integrate football into her plans. During her master’s years in New York, Raymond worked
Credit: Chelsea Raymond
with refugee children in the United States and helped them adjust to life in public schools, and she found sport to be one of the most effective ways to teach those lessons. She also volunteered with Soccer without Borders, America Scores and AmeriCorps, programs that helped set the foundation for her current projects in social work and play therapy. Through all of these programmes, one of the biggest lessons Raymond learned was the powerful ways in which sport, particularly her favorite sport of football, brings people together. “With the International Rescue Committee, I did an internship there as a social worker [and] some of the kids didn’t speak English when they got [to the U.S.], but when they found out that I played [football], they got really excited, especially the boys,” Raymond said. “Where the kids came from, women in powerful positions didn’t exist, they didn’t have teachers that were women. I was able to communicate with them through sport without using verbal language.” Her experience working with the kids inspired Raymond to continue down an academic path, an academic path that she knew would allow her to integrate sports
into her work as a student and a researcher. She applied for the US-UK Fulbright Scholarship, a program that offers tuition scholarships for students in the US to study in the UK and help build cultural understanding between the two nations. The University of Stirling serves as one of Fulbright’s partnership schools, and with its focus on sport, health and well-being, Raymond said that Stirling offered the right academic program for her.
Credit: Chelsea Raymond
Acceptance into the Fulbright program however, remains competitive, with only about three to five percent of applicants earning the tuition scholarship that would allow them to travel to the UK. Raymond put her applicant in and waited. And waited. And waited. Then on March 22, 2016, Raymond’s dream came to fruition.
Credit: Chelsea Raymond
to have that moment, it reaffirmed my decision to come back.” Raymond, now a veteran on the team and the only player over 25 years old, took on a leadership position this year as vice captain, and she also accomplished something that had evaded her in her first year of play: scoring a goal. She described the goal as “one of the worst goals,” but said the team’s excitement for her accomplishment made her want to work even harder and commit more of herself to the team. Craig Beveridge, one of the coaches for the 2s, said Raymond’s “professional and motivated attitude” has had a positive effect on the team and he credits her for being a role model for her teammates. Captain Kaylan Grainger agrees. “Chelsea is a very committed player - you can always count on her” she said. “She has the heart of an Hawaiian Lion and is very passionate about football.” Raymond’s story, and her success in Scotland both in football and in her PhD project so far in social work, may seem like a fairy tale, but Raymond is quick to point out that her accomplishments did not come without stress. Yet, through it all, it is the family that Raymond built with her football friends that she said has helped make this new country and then brought her back to Stirling one year later. “If I didn’t decide to play soccer again and agree to play for all of these teams, those clubs, those families, I wouldn’t have enjoyed my time in Scotland as much. I spend 75 percent of my time with people from the team, so I think [saying ‘yes] is definitely one of the biggest one of the attributes that has led me here.” Given her academic trajectory so far, Raymond has put herself in a position to give back to her community, share the sport she loves with the next generation, and use football as a way to help those in need.
15 Brig | January 2018
Sport SUAC ready to make cross-country mark Emma Simper
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nother new year rolls around, and once again the athletics team find themselves in the final stretch of preparation for their BUCS debut. Athletes will head to both Sheffield and London early next month, with both crosscountry and indoor action on the schedule.
Credit: Jonnie Nisbet
Roughly 25 runners, including triathlon club members, are ready to take on the crosscountry course on Saturday, February 3. Hosted in Graves Park, Shef-
field in 2017, the event brought in a total of 1,991 student athletes competing across the three races, and with Brunel University London hosting this year, we can only expect the same spectacular turnout. For quite a few of the distance men, including president Jonnie Nisbet, this will be their last year kicking up mud at BUCS. “I’ve had a great four years being involved with the athletics team and every year the highlight is always BUCS”, says Nisbet. “We’ve had some great results over the years and I think we can definitely expect some more this year! “It’s the last year of competing for a few of us and looking back, the great training and racing with so many of these boys and girls throughout university can all be credited to the SUAC team.” Conversely, vice-president
Aidan Thompson, recent Scotland representative and gold medalist in the men’s U23 category of the Celtic International race, already has his last BUCS behind him. Thompson is opting out of this year’s competition to save eligibility for his future hopes of competing across the Atlantic, post-Stirling graduation. Though not attending himself, Thompson offered up hopeful predictions on how this year’s distance team will contend, as well as some seasoned advice. “This is a huge race - for some this is the highest level they will ever compete at. The depth of quality throughout both the men’s and women’s fields has seen BUCS become a massive fixture on the cross-country circuit for young British athletes. “It is important for the athletes not to let the occasion get to them. With races that
Take a walk on the wild side Ross Brannigan Editor in chief
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cotland is bursting with potential for adventure. Whether you are into your summer hillwalking, winter mountaineering or simply spending a few days in bothies away from the world, Scotland has it all. What else has all of that, plus all the fun of doing it with likeminded and brilliant people? University of Stirling’s Mountaineering Club. USMC is a club dedicated to exploring Scotland’s wilder places, and giving you the chance to develop your mountaineering skills. Catching up him after the club’s annual Wintermeet – which this year took place in Spean Bridge and the surrounding area – he explained what USMC is all about. He said: “The club allows students both experienced and inexperienced a gateway into the heart of the highlands for walking and climbing trips. “It’s a great way of meeting likeminded people, seeing the
Credit: University of Stirling Mountaineering Club
natural side of Scotland, and learning valuable skills to allow you to safely carry on what you love doing most in the mountains.” There are lots of opportunities to get involved with the club: almost every weekend, there will be a club walk in some area of Scotland, but there are also opportunities to climb outdoors or in one of Scotland’s several climbing centres. It isn’t all about the mountains, though. Every Wednesday there is a pot luck dinner, each week with a different theme, a chance to meet mem-
bers over a fun-filled meal. Looking ahead to the new semester, Gill has lots of plans for the club. “As well as our weekly climbing and hillwalking outings, longer trips planned for the spring include visits to the Cairngorms, Torridon, and the end of year Arran Dinnermeet. “Numerous training days are also on the cards, whilst we are also competing in BUCS climbing nationals down in Sheffield. “There is always something new to be organised, and we are always open to suggestions!”
involve travel there is always the opportunity for nerves to build earlier as the impetus shifts towards race day. It’s key that athletes control their emotions on race day, as the biggest danger is that they get carried away and go off at an unsustainable pace.
Stirling’s Big Wednesday Sports president Rebecca Blair gives Craig Wright the lowdown on an event coming to a campus near you...
Credit: Jonnie Nisbet
“There is a good wealth of experience in our team and I am confident that the older athletes will reassure the younger athletes. With the president, Jonnie Nisbet and the crosscountry captain, Kirsty Irwin, both competing alongside seasoned fourth years like George Goodwin and Ruaridh Miller, I am sure the team is in good hands.” Their most recent outing, Wintermeet, saw nearly 20 members benefiting from two guided days in the mountains, working on their winter skills under expert supervision, and two non-guided days exploring the surrounding mountains. Talking about the Spean Bridge trip, club member Mairi Jones said: “Wintermeet is a fantastic opportunity for anyone, regardless of experience, to get an insight into winter walking and staying safe in the Scottish hills. “Above all, though, it is about having an incredible week socialising and relaxing with friends in the beautiful nature Scotland has to offer.” With tailored guidance, members learned skills such as using crampons and ice axes, and progressing to multi-pitch climbs and snow belays. Last semester, the club reached a record 90 members, with a large number of overseas and exchange students getting involved in the club. Gill said: “It would be awesome to continue this through to 2019. “With the correct committee in place, dedicated to doing what they love, I look forward to seeing what happens next.”
Credit: University of Stirling Sports Union
What is Stirling’s Big Wednesday? Stirling’s Big Wednesday is Stirling’s very own personal twist on Big BUCS Wednesday, which is an annual event for finals to take place over the British leagues. Stirling’s Big Wednesday has more of a focus on the amount of home fixtures we host here at the campus, all on the one day, and I’d like to say a special thank you, once again, to our sponsors Fubar for kindly sponsoring this event. This year, it takes place on Wednesday 31 January and is shaping up rather nicely! Which teams are set to be involved? This year, we have 16 fixtures taking place spread across six different sports. The fixtures are set to include men’s tennis, women’s hockey, men’s football, men’s rugby, women’s rugby, women’s lacrosse, women’s football, men’s hockey, women’s basketball and men’s basketball. So, plenty going on across a multitude of different sports! Is a collective spirit amongst university sports teams something you’re looking to build? Absolutely! This is something I feel we can massively push towards and strive to achieve. There definitely already is a sense of belonging which exists amongst our sports teams, but it’s something that can always be improved. Hopefully, through events such as Stirling’s Big Wednesday, we can push towards this on an even greater scale. Are you hoping this will be a springboard for a push up the BUCS leader board? Again, yes! Our performance this season has been exceptional and something we should be extremely proud of – particularly as we are such a small institution on the grand scale of things! Hopefully, with a good few BUCS fixtures to go this season, we can cement our place within the leader board and attain another strong finish this year. What message would you like to send to students who might be unsure about coming out to support their teams? It really is a fantastic showcase for sport here at Stirling! It is a great day to get involved in, whether you’re just spectating or if you want to get involved (there are plenty of opportunities to do so!) You will definitely be glad that you popped down.
16 Brig | January 2018
Sport Q&A: Netball president Ellie West Jessie Hosking How’s the season going so far? The season so far is going really well. I feel we have four extremely strong teams with some top-class players! We have managed to retain so many social players this season and it is so promising to see such a strong interest in the sport. Our new coach this season has made such a positive impact on all of the girl’s performances and goes above and beyond to ensure we have the best quality sessions tailored to each team. Overall, I’m super happy with how everything has gone so far this season and I hope the rest of the season continues to bring enjoyment and success for the club. Have there been any stand-out performers? A standout performance for me from last semester would be our second team - they have only lost one game so far and have come out fighting every single game. It’s been amazing to see the team gel so quickly, especially with some new players that have never played together. They are a team on and off court and it is super promising to see.
Credit: University of Stirling Netball Club
What would you say are the biggest achievements of the club so far? I feel one of the main achievements for the club so far is how many recreational players we have had coming to training, week in week out. We had well over 130 girls sign up at the beginning of the
semester and seen at least 100 at our Give it a Go session. Some of the girls had never tried netball before coming to uni and from feedback received they are all thoroughly enjoying training and the nights out, which help them feel included with the girls who play competitively as they don’t all train at the same time. I feel that the club is a big family and new members who come in get a sense of how close everyone is. Every training session is taken seriously, but you can always see the girls getting along and having a laugh and it is a really positive atmosphere to be part of. How does it feel to be accredited with Netball Scotland? I am absolutely delighted. It is such an amazing feeling to be recognised for the quality of the club and for every member’s dedication to taking the club to a higher standard. I think it gives the club that something extra that not many other clubs have and although we are a hardworking, competitive club we also have other attributes that help us to stand out. What kind of support have you received from the Sports Union? The Sports Union (SU) has been a massive help to us this year, with the funding helping us to buy new equipment such as balls and ball bags, as well as providing transport to games
SPORTING SNAPSHOTS Credit to Giulia Hadjiandrea
Credit: University of Stirling Netball Club
and the ability to pay umpires. The club was also so grateful for the workshop that was presented to our committee members about tackling and dealing with the stigma surrounding mental health. I was fortunate enough, along with a group of other SU members, to be put through a Mental Health First Aid training course, which was extremely valuable and the information I took away from the course is definitely something I will remember for life. I now feel more comfortable talking about mental health and hope that over time more people will also feel the same. Our club feels passionate about improving mental health and reminding people its OK not to be OK. With the SU funding courses it’s a worthwhile opportunity to take. The sports union isn’t just there for financial help - they have always been there to give us support and advice when needed, and the club wouldn’t be able to run as smoothly as it does without the help that we receive from the SU. Are there any clubs you’ve been particularly interested in building links with? A club we have been building links with over the last 12 months have been the Clansmen. The support they show at our games is amazing, they are always so enthusiastic and loud and we love it. We have really enjoyed going
along to their games, and a few of us even got the chance to get involved in the actual running of the game. The link with the Clansmen helps both of us, as we don’t have a male team and they don’t have a female team ,so we are willing to support where we can! We couldn’t be more grateful for anyone from other teams who comes to support us at matches or helps us out by supporting our fundraisers. We have made a big push to support a few different clubs this year - even if it is just sharing their posts on Facebook or attending their fundraisers, it’s nice to see what other clubs get up to and it’s an added bonus to receive the same support. The club is always willing to support any sports team as we all do Bleed Green! What are your aims for the rest of the season? I hope for all our competitive teams to keep training hard and place as high in the league as possible. We’re planning to get involved with as many Sports Union activities as we can - we appreciate the support they give us, so we would like to show them the same support in return. My overall aim for the rest of the season is to run a happy, positive, netball loving club and as long as everyone enjoys themselves and plans to come back next year, I’m happy!
continued from back page Qatar whilst her daughter, Eilish - herself a double Olympian - will compete at the upcoming Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast in April. So how does she assess the current health of the sport? “The state of Scottish athletics is very, very good at the moment.
tish Marathon, is experiencing a significant surge in participation. With just over three months until the second instalment of the event, McColgan is happy to extol the virtues of running, regardless of your own personal marathon ambitions. “Running is so beneficial in a lot of ways, both physically and mentally, and I think a lot of people need that in their daily lives” she said. “Even if you take 20 minutes to go for a walk or a run, it really clears the head and makes the body feel good.
Credit: University of Stirling
“We’ve got a lot of athletes on Great Britain teams now, especially in the endurance events. “The standard in Scotland is pretty high, and to make the team is pretty tough – you need to pretty much be world class to make the team for the Commonwealth Games now, so it’s great to see. “We’re seeing a lot of people and young kids getting motivated as a result, though things like Passport to Sport, so there’s generally been a turnaround in activity in Scotland, right down to school level. “Whether it’s the government or the clubs, there’s been a real change, and hopefully now people are realising that kids need some form of exercise to go out and be healthy adults.” Indeed, it is the grassroots level of the sport that, on the evidence of the Stirling Scot-
Credit: Stirling Marathon
“Everybody should at least try to fit in 20 minutes of exercise of some form, but when you get into running, it has a real sense of euphoria about it. “The challenges you set and beating them – its something achievable to everybody. “It’s not about how fast you do it, it’s about getting up off the settee, going out and going it. “The biggest challenge is that first step – once you do that, the rest falls into place.”
liz Mccolgan factfile Born: 24 May 1964, Dundee 1988 Olympic Silver medallist 1991 world champion - 10,000m 1986, 1990 Commonwealth Games Champion 10,000m Scottish Marathon record holder
17 Brig | January 2018
Sport
Fencers en garde for Stirling Sword Chris Bond Sports editor
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n 2010, the University of Stirling Fencing Club was going through some tough times; struggling to bring in enough revenue to survive and having failed to win a BUCS match in over three years, then club captain Matt Osprey Pocock decided to do something about it. “I went as part of a Scottish team to one of the other European university fencing competitions and having enjoyed it so much, came up with the idea of running our own, so our fencers could get some extra competitive experience and bring in some more money for the club. “The first Stirling Sword was held in January 2011 and we’ve been running it annually ever since. This year will be our 8th Stirling Sword event.”
Credit: Matt Osprey Pocock
So what is the Stirling Sword? A two-day fencing competition hosted on campus, the Stirling Sword is one of the seven competitions that make up the European university fencing competition calendar. The first day is a team competition for all three disciplines (foil, epee and sabre). Competing teams for each discipline are drawn into
groups of four where they play each other in a round-robin format. The teams are then seeded on their performance in the group for the knock-out stages, which is an elimination format until there is a winner. The second day is an individual competition, again for all three disciplines, and similar format to the teams - the only difference being that for
the group stages there are two rounds that both count for seeding and there are six in each group. Pocock explains that this year’s competition will follow the same format since the competition’s inception, ‘just on a bigger scale!’ “We’ve thought about changing it, but the format partially is why the Stirling Sword is so popular as it means everyone can have two days of fencing if they want. At most other UK competitions, you only get one. “This year is the most diverse and competitive field we have ever had with an over 180 fencers taking part over the course of the weekend. “In the past, we often had some of the disciplines dominated by one or two big clubs, particularly the team events. “At this year’s Stirling Sword, though, nearly half of the en-
trants are capable of winning a medal on the day, which is certainly going to make it an unpredictable and exciting weekend of fencing.” Pocock himself sadly won’t be competing. “The competition is now grown so big that I’m needed to help run it. “I last competed at Stirling Sword 2015 and won a silver medal in the epee team event. Every year we get more competitors and the quality of the field just keeps getting stronger, so I don’t think I’ll be able to top that.” The competition has attracted fencers from all around the world. “A lot of them work or study in the UK, but last year we had fencers coming from the Netherlands, the USA and Norway to compete. “This year, nearly 30 nations
from five continents are represented, with 29 fencers from France alone. Since the first Stirling Sword in 2011, we’ve had fencers representing over 40 different nations.’ There are a few big names to keep your eye on. “England’s Calum Maynard is trying to win his third Stirling Sword title after winning previously in 2015 and 2016. “In the individual foil, Switzerland’s Alex Arbelet is back to defend his title in field full of strong Scottish and French fencers. “There’s also some local interest too with Edinburghbased club Salle Holyrood aiming to defend their team foil title for a third year as well as the Stirling Sword Trophy for best club they won for the first time last year.” The competition will take place on 27 and 28 January.
Clansmen’s Keeler showing the right moves for success Harry McArthur Sports editor
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dd Keeler is a starting cornerback for the Stirling Clansmen in only his second year on the team. The 19-year-old is in contention for defensive back of the year after having an excellent start to the season. Before the Christmas break, he caught an interception, forced a fumble and played a key role in a 37-0 shutout of the Loughborough Students. The key thing that sets Keeler apart from the rest of the starters on the Clansmen is his previous sporting experience. “I had never played before I came to university but I have followed it for many years. I am a massive Green Bay Packers fan and I am always wearing Packers gear. “I just love the sport. You always get tense moments in American football and every third down is just so intense it
gets me excited.” In terms of previous sporting experience, it was a mixed bag for the Clansmen sophomore. “I have quite a varied sporting past, you could say! “Growing up, I played a lot of rugby and football. I played rugby outside and inside school, and football outside of school for 10 years. “My wildcard is I considered a career in dance before coming to university. I decided against it and set my heart on playing a sport I had never played before and looked to join one of the best university teams in Britain.” I pressed Keeler on his dance experience and how it helps him with football. “I did a wide variety of dance, a bit of tap, some ballet. I even did six dance tours with my dance school - shout out to Essex Dance Theatre! “I always danced in a group; I’ve always loved a team environment. “At my position of corner-
back, it is a lot of footwork, core control and balance; dance has given me a bit of an edge on that front. “I had to do a lot of weird movements I had never done before (at cornerback), and dance really helped me with learning the fundamentals of the position.” Moving on, we looked at the present and how he managed to break into the first team. “[It was] a combination of luck and hard work. I was lucky to be placed in a position in which most players are true rookies like me. This allowed me more chances to get on the pitch.” Keeler continued: “I have always been fully committed since joining the team. I prioritise football during the season and I feel that my commitment and drive has really helped me break into the team.” The ambitious cornerback said that he is still striving to get better, and he intends on locking down that starting spot
Credit: Katie Stepek
for the future. “I came to the University of Stirling, over 400 miles from home, with my intention being to play a sport I had never played before. To be a second year starter is pretty special. “I’m just going to stay committed and make the starting spot mine for the rest of my time with the Clansmen.” Having been involved since early on in his first year, Edd
has had a lot of memorable moments. He said on personal level his first interception was really special to him and he described it as “so cool and awesome”. The peak of his time so far was participating in last season’s last gasp National Championship win. “Standing on the side-line during the final; unbelievable scenes is the best way to put it.
“I had never felt that before and it was an amazing experience. The main reason I came to study here was to play American football so winning that title was just awesome.” Keeler is a hot prospect and could well be a leader on this defence in his last two seasons. With his head tuned in and focused on getting better, keep an eye out for this cornerback in future Clansmen matches.
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Scotland’s university for sporting excellence Refreshers edition 2018 | Twitter: @brignewspaper | Website: www.brignews.com
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New and improved Stirling Marathon excites Scottish legend McColgan
Credit: Scottish Athletics
Craig Wright Sports editor
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think it’s probably the first time I’ve really enjoyed the whole experience of a marathon.” Those words will bring sheer joy to the organisers of the Stirling Scottish Marathon, coming, as they do, from someone who knows a thing or two about the world of athletics. For Liz McColgan, former world champion over 10,000m, the key to the success of the in-
augural event? The sheer passion of the Stirlingshire support. “The event was really good [last year] – we had great numbers taking part, and although there were a few issues with the course, the support from the locals on the route we ran was really good” said McColgan. “[The support] is really important. The marathon is a long event, a tough event, and it’s a real rollercoaster ride. Some parts you feel bad, some
parts you feel good, so when you’ve got support the crowds just lift you all the time. “When we ran last year, there were people handing out jelly babies and Mars bars when you ran past their homes, and I think everyone needs that support. I really enjoyed taking part.” Whilst the double Commonwealth Games gold medallist is unable to take part in the 2018 event – “I’m self-employed, so I have to work some of the time!” - the Dundonian is en-
thusiastic about the changes to the route that have been made ahead of the second running of Scotland’s premier marathon. “The course has been improved this year, which is a massive plus” she said. “It’s a better layout this year. With it being the first year last year, the organisers have listened to feedback on what worked and what didn’t work so well, and it’s all about improving for future years. “The main issue last year was that there was some bottle-neck-
ing at some parts, which have been taken out this year. It should be a better, and a faster, race.” However, despite the potential for faster times in 2018, McColgan has a word of warning for those counting down the days until the starting gun is fired. “I think a lot of people actually ruin the race by being too focused on times. People get so bogged down on the time they’re aiming for rather than just focusing on the benefits
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of training and enjoying the event. “If you have a really good race, the time will come anyway, so I don’t think it’s a good idea to focus on times.” McColgan is in a better position than most to assess the state of Scottish athletics at the start of a new year. Still the Scottish record holder for the women’s marathon and an ambassador for the Stirling Scottish Marathon, the 53-year-old now coaches in continued on p.18