November Issue of The Glasgow Guardian (2020-2021)

IMAGINE A SCOTLAND...

A VISION OF A POST INDY WORLD - BYE ST ANDREWS! - PAGE 10 6 November 2020

THE CRISIS OF Q-ANON

ANANYA EXAMINES THE CONSPIRACY - PAGE 15

ALL FILMS HAVE LGBT+ CONTENT

GOOSE MASONDO ON WHY ALL INTERPRETATIONS ARE VALID - PAGE 22

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW, INDEPENDENTLY INFORMING SINCE 1932

Issue 3 | Free

GUU-dbye to the student union?

In interviews with the union presidents, we discussed the future of the student union and the difficulties of surviving Covid Holly Jennings and Jordan Hunter EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

The Glasgow Guardian sat down with Nam Ranpuria, Glasgow University Union (GUU) president, and Ruaraidh Campbell, Queen Margaret Union (QMU) president, to discuss the future of the student union and the difficulties of surviving Covid. Both of the student unions mainly earn their income from their bars, cafes, venue hirings, gigs, and events; all of which the Covid-19 pandemic has put a stop to. Glasgow is currently in Tier 3 of the government’s new guidance system. The guidance currently states that no sale of alcohol is permitted indoor or outdoor in the hospitality industry, food can be served before 6pm, with no events (including gigs) to be permitted. The unions are certainly not able to operate as usual under these restrictions.

Prior to the pandemic, the QMU had struggled financially. In the past five years, the union has lost £1m. Four years ago, the QMU’s honorary secretary at the time, Terry Murphy, worried that the union would close in three years if they continued at the same rate of losses. In a change of pace, last year, the QMU managed to make a profit of £73,000.

Down the hill there’s a different financial story. GUU has been profitable over the last five years, giving them a bit more cushioning, but also have more staff and operating expenses than the QMU. Ranpuria stated: “Through prudent financial management, and increasing popularity on campus, GUU has built a cash reserve prior to the pandemic hitting in March.

These reserves were intended for a fairly significant investment in the building and services in 2021, which unfortunately will no longer be possible.”

While neither institution was willing to disclose how much they are losing, both noted that they

won’t break even as their operating expenses will surpass anything they could reasonably earn.

The unions had originally planned on trying to increase their block grant from the University before the pandemic, but the University cancelled the meeting and provided the same funding as last year, despite knowing there would be a lack of income for the unions for some time. While the University did not increase its grants, both presidents noted the University was finding ways to help out. Funding was provided to have the venues open for Freshers’ Week in a safe manner, by funding the outfitting of signage, barriers, and sanitising stations.

Employment has also been a touchy issue with unions. GUU was hit out at by trade union Unite Hospitality, following hospitality staff’s contracts being ended in June, rather than taking advantage of the furlough scheme to maintain a steady income for their workers.

QMU made headlines at the beginning of the pandemic as they almost had 31 redundancies, which was saved by the government with the first furlough scheme. The QMU must now manage paying staff fair wages as well as maintaining as many staff as possible, as Campbell, explains: “In a normal year we would have provided employment opportunities for students in our cafe, restaurant, and bars, but so far do not have the level of business to require additional staff. However, we have worked hard to keep the majority of full-time jobs at the union and ensure staff are paid fairly.”

Campbell also noted that they have elected not to take part in the new furlough scheme as they want to be able to top up their staff’s wages.

Campbell added that the union has taken advantage of other

Credit: AJ Duncan - Illustrator schemes saying: “We were also lucky to secure Venue Relief Funding via Creative Scotland, which will help cover costs of our venue and event staff and allow us to stream two major gig events between now and the end of March.

We have also applied for funding through Glasgow Council available as a result of the central belt

lockdown announced at the beginning of October. Whilst this support has been invaluable we really need more sustainable support for arts and venues as they have done for other industries.”

There has been some criticism of the government’s restrictions in the selection of certain sectors and the tier system in different loca-

tions. Campbell explains: “A tough month of lockdown would do far less damage than the slow death the government has prescribed for the hospitality industry, through debilitating and sometimes frankly bizarre measures. It feels like they are avoiding taking responsibility for the industry failing, by Continued on Page 2

THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN

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“The University cancelled the meeting and provided the same funding as last year...”

Continued from Page 1 keeping them open in an unsustainable way.”

The unions have done their best to cope with the pandemic looking for ways to still stay relevant in student’s lives, as Ranpuria notes: “We cannot safely replicate the same experiences students would have physically in the Union. Thus, we have made efforts to transform this engagement online, from quizzes, G-YOU magazine, Hive livestreams to online debates training and competitions...We are working incredibly hard to make sure the union is still there, a part of the members lives, following Covid-19.”

In the long term, there is some concern that the effects of the pandemic may linger, as Campbell describes: “Students, especially

CAMRA warns continued pub closures are concerning Matilda Handley

Freshers haven’t been able to get to know us, what we do, and build a relationship with the union this year and so our engagement with students has been reduced significantly. Even if everything was lifted tomorrow, we’d still have to keep our belts very tight financially. I also worry about how people’s attitudes towards social gatherings, concerts and nightlife culture will change. I wouldn’t blame people for being hesitant.”

Ranpuria noted one way students can help: “All a student can do to help the union is to be a member, come to the union when we are open, use our services as they become available, and engage with our content online as much as possible until we can open our doors.”

DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR

As the closure of pubs in the central belt was extended for at least a week after the original end date of October 25th, CAMRA, a lobbying group for the pub sector, is concerned about the future of pub trading in Scotland.

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has said that the extension of the closure and expected future restrictions have meant that the pub sector is really struggling, and they have called for a long term support package, deeming it crucial to allow pubs and the people they employ af loat.

Industry figures have warned that Scottish pubs and bars

could face closure and job losses, deeply affecting students with part-time jobs in the pub trade. The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) said two-thirds of hospitality firms could be mothballed or shut in the coming months.

Joe Crawford, CAMRA’s Director for Scotland, stated: “These businesses feel like they are being offered up as a sacrificial lamb without sufficient evidence that pubs - who have done everything they have been asked to in making their venues Covid-secure - are responsible for transmission of the virus […]

The Scottish Government must urgently review and improve their support package to make sure all our pubs and breweries get the financial compensation and support they need to get

through this extended closure period – and, crucially, also during the tiered restrictions that will follow […] In addition, ministers need to give breweries and pubs enough notice about their plans so people can plan and re-stock for opening their doors again.”

Paul Waterson, the spokesman for the SLTA, said: “Yet again, there has been no consultation with the industry and as we said earlier this month, we believe these measures to be cataclysmic for hospitality operators.”

Restrictions to pubs have applied to the Greater Glasgow area and Clyde, Lanarkshire, Forth Valley, Lothian and Ayrshire and Arran. Only cafes have been allowed to open between 6am and 6pm.

THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN

6 November 2020

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Campaign launched Students warned after safe drugto protect the Tobacco consumption van arrest Merchant’s House Giselle Inglis REPORTER

The Scottish Civic Trust has announced a new campaign to protect Glasgow’s Tobacco Merchants House. The “Written in Stone” campaign was launched on 12 October 2020 and seeks to establish a capital fund which will cover the cost of future major repair work and to preserve this historic building - as well as the stories which are held within its walls.

The Scottish Civic Trust has been situated within the Tobacco Merchant’s House since 1995, following its initial rescue from demolition by the Glasgow Building Preservation Trust in 1989. The Scottish Civic Trust claim that this Palladian jewel is not only a rare example of an elegantly proportioned 18th-century villa, but is also a powerful reminder of how far Scotland has come on its civic and social journey. The Trust states that their aim is to provide the conservation and (where necessary) adaption for re-use of older buildings of distinction or historic interest. They also strive to ensure their amenity groups are active, empowered, and educated to make a difference in their locality.

The House was originally built

by John Craig in 1775 and is all that remains today of a row of “self-contained gentleman’s villas”. The House was purchased initially in 1782 by Robert Findlay, a tobacco importer, giving the house its current name and place in Scotland’s history. The Tobacco Merchant’s House acts

as a reminder that slavery fuelled Glasgow’s fortunes, and was not viewed with the abhorrence that it is today.

The Scottish Civic Trust are the custodians of the House both of architectural heritage and its wider historic, social, and economic heritage. Sue Evans, the chair of the Scottish Civic Trust stated: “We wish to ensure that the Trust’s home at the Tobacco Merchant’s House is properly safeguarded and managed. We have sufficient initial funds to undertake some immediate resilience and maintenance work, but will need more public support in the coming years to maintain the upkeep of the building.”

The House has survived industrial and commercial changes over decades in Glasgow, including a fire that destroyed neighbouring warehouses. The Tobacco Merchant’s House was then home to successive businesses, but due to difficulty of upkeep had to be rescued from demolition and restored by the Glasgow Preservation Trust.

John Hume, a fellow of the Scottish Civic Trust and architectural historian admired the house as: “a summation of what has been Glasgow’s urban experience during its transition from a compact town to a major city. 42 Miller Street is above all still a living, breathing building, not a museum, truly lovable and loved.”

The Scottish Civic Trust invites all with a passion for Scotland’s building and its civic movement to contribute via leaving a gift in their will to protect the House for future generations.

Credit: Jenny Dimitriadi - Photographer

Credit: Lisa Paul - Illustrator Lucy Dunn REPORTER

Students at the School of Medicine have been warned to stay away from Glasgow’s safe drug-consumption van after its founder was arrested by police on 23 October.

The arrest of the alleged founder of Glasgow’s safe drug-consumption van, Peter Krykant, stimulated the latest in a series of emails from Glasgow’s medical school. These warned students to stay away from the van and its activities, after the University was informed that many medical students had signed up as volunteers.

The safe-drug consumption van had been garnering support through Glasgow’s student body over the last few months. Despite reportedly friendly relationships developed between the van owner and the police, Krykant was arrested last Friday and charged with obstruction of a police officer, under Section 23 Part 4(a) of the 1971 Drugs Misuse Act. Reported on Saturday afternoon by national newspapers, what was not mentioned was the latest in a string of emails disseminated across University of Glasgow’s medical school following their growing concerns about student involvement in the van.

Following an incident of drug overdose the week before, unrelated to Krykant’s alleged mobile operation, the medical school was contacted by the Glasgow Alcohol and Drug Recovery Services after some students volunteering at the van had rushed to the nearby scene to help. A series of emails have been circulated around the medical school over the last few weeks, and one communication received from the deans of the medical school stated: “We have been contacted by colleagues about people identified as Medical Students serving

as volunteers in a drug consumption van. [We] have a duty to warn you in clear and unequivocal terms when voluntary activity may carry serious consequences for your future careers… If you are thinking about volunteering, please consider these risks, and the good you can do over the span of a lifetime in Medicine. At this very early stage, we would advise you not to risk your career and your huge potential to make positive change.”

“Krykant told The Glasgow Guardian that the police had allegedly tolerated the van’s presence for the two months that it has existed for...”

When asked about student involvement, Krykant discussed the medical school’s stance on the matter with The Glasgow Guardian. He sympathised with conflicted students, saying: “I don’t want to encourage anybody that’s not got the backing of their employers or their place of study. I respect that the University has got to advise students on stuff that could potentially impact their career.”

He commented on how helpful the students had been with helping to publicise the van and share information about the “outdated Misuse of Drugs Act” across a myriad of social media platforms.

Inspired by similar initiatives, like Copenhagen’s “fixing rooms” initially set up by a grassroots organisation, Krykant allegedly operates on Fridays near an alleyway just off Argyle Street in Glasgow’s city centre. He had been

in touch with a University of Glasgow student involved in a drug harm reduction initiative, called “Drugs and Me”. With the help of the student, he was allegedly able to advertise his van on social media, using Google Forms and online marketing resources. Money supposedly was sourced from a crowdfunding page enabled him to make purchases of crucial medical equipment, including syringes, clean needles, blue lights and even a defibrillator.

Krykant was reportedly keen to get medical students on board, and his plan was to ensure they had completed online learning modules in naloxone management, as well as attending faceto-face stimulant overdose sessions. He supposedly arranged for students to come and visit the van, where he would show them around, and discuss with them what was expected.

Ex-Labour MP Paul Sweeney has been an active advocate of the injecting rooms. Krykant alleges Mr Sweeny was in charge of running their second site and had provided “great support” by “highlighting grey areas in the law”, which Sweeney has done vehemently on his Twitter feed.

Krykant made the point that both Paul and himself strongly believe that no laws are being broken, and he cited both SNP MPs Alison Thewliss for Glasgow Central and Ronnie Cowan for Inverclyde as showing fantastic support for the van’s mission.

Krykant told The Glasgow Guardian that the police had allegedly tolerated the van’s presence for the two months that it has existed for. In the eight week period over which it has been running, the operation has supposedly supervised over 50 injections so far. He described the van as providing a safe space for many vulnerable people, commenting: “It’s a way to actually support drug users into treatment… We know from places like Sydney, Australia that 80% of people who regularly attend that facility accept a referral into treatment.”

He went onto further emphasise Scotland’s comparative problem, stating: “Two thirds of people who are deemed to have a problematic substance abuse issue are not in any form of treatment.”

Krykant’s hope for the future is that soon the “green light” will be given for legal, regulated injecting rooms to be set up, as he feels that the current situation is not practical in the long term. Currently Glasgow is the drug death capital of Europe and there is an ongoing HIV outbreak that has spread further outwith the city centre.

Naloxone can be injected by anyone, and people are able to request it at their local pharmacy. First Aid training courses are also available via different organisations online.

THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN

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Sir Keir Starmer calls the Covid-19 plans for Daft Friday 2020 people of Glasgow for Q&A Matilda Handley

Gisele Inglis REPORTER

On Friday 23 October, Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the UK Labour Party held a “Call Keir” event with the people of Glasgow.

The event entailed a short Zoom webinar for people to put forward their questions or points of view to the current Labour leader. Starmer stated that the reason for the event was to hear what people have to say, particularly looking towards the Scottish parliamentary election in 2021 and the United Kingdom general election in 2024. Individuals were told to be blunt and say exactly what it is they want him to think about.

“It was an attempt to redeem Labour among the people of Glasgow by listening to the issues that they prioritise...”

In the duration of the call, Starmer answered questions based on restoring the trust of the Scottish Labour party with the electorate by answering on issues such as Scottish independence and the means by which Labour is approaching Covid-19.

When Starmer was asked how Labour plans to gain supporters who have previously defected to the SNP, Starmer outlined that he wished to bring people back to the party by listening to them. Keir Starmer stated that in his previous roles as shadow Brexit secretary and shadow immigration minister, he has had success in making a persuasive case and ensuring trust by listening to what issues people are prioritising, or worried about and using this as a case for his ability to represent the people.

“He said the pandemic it should not be politicised...”

However, when asked whether Labour policy would change to support the SNP’s and the Green’s call for Scottish independence in order to gain back electorate support, Starmer declined. He stated that he does not support the breaking up of the United Kingdom and that in the current climate of the pandemic, we need to be supporting the “pulling-together” of borders rather than breaking them apart.

Acknowledging this, Starmer did put forward the argument for “tak-

ing back control” and advocated for moving power closer to people in their own community and areas, as both Holyrood and Westminster are still too localised.

“Starmer described scientists as the ‘anchor’ in order to get the pandemic back under control...”

Starmer also outlined his impression of the government response to Covid-19 during the event. He defended his position as opposition party by stating that due to the current pandemic, the Labour party would support the government as they are invested in doing the right thing for the interest of the public; it should not be politicised. However, when criticised for opposing the government’s Covid-19 policy, Starmer believed that he is “duty-bound to criticise where the government gets it wrong”. He outlined that there are only two areas where the Labour Party has majorly criticised the government: test-and-trace and the decision not to have a circuit break in England, but instead follow a tiered system.

The reasoning for the latter was that the scientists had advised for a circuit break; the government did not take that advice, and Starmer described scientists as the “anchor” in order to get the pandemic back under control.

One of Starmer’s final points was looking towards the 2024 general election. He claimed that he wanted to create a more caring and inclusive political system, especially following the Conservative vote against the extension of the free school meals bill to cover this half term. Starmer stated that if Labour was successful in the 2024 general election, they would not only address the issue by keeping a free school meals policy in action, but they would also deal with the underlying economic unfairness in society.

Overall, “Call to Keir, Glasgow” focused on an attempt to redeem Labour among the people of Glasgow by listening to the issues that they prioritise. Starmer approached the topics of Covid-19 and his impression of the government’s decisions candidly. However, it does seem that the issue of Scottish independence will remain a crux for the support of Scottish Labour in the future, as this was the most discussed topic throughout the call.

Although the current opinion polls clearly show that people are broadly swaying towards independence, Starmer claimed that “people’s opinions change” and that this is not the priority of the United Kingdom during the current pandemic and economic crisis.

DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR

The Glasgow University Union (GUU) will still be hosting their annual Daft Friday event, though the Union has made some changes to ensure safety during pandemic restrictions.

Typically held on the last day of first semester, Daft Friday (and branded as D*** F*****) will still be put on by the union - starting in November, the union will be showcasing elements of the historic event.

Daft Friday is usually a 12-hour Hive event. Even though this will not be possible to host, the union

will still be displaying the boards with paintings from the secret theme, hoping the event will be held within the building if restrictions permit. However, they also have alternatives set up for if the event has to move fully or partially online.

Blake Gray, GUU honorary secretary, told The Glasgow Guardian: “D*** F***** has happened every year since 1908, including through two world wars, and whilst it’s going to have to be different this year, GUU’s legendary builders and painters have no intentions of giving up on the best event of the year!

“We’re committed to supporting and celebrating the incredible

creativity of the team that makes the event a reality, bringing joy to thousands of students every year.

We really want to showcase the history of D*** F***** and celebrate what it has meant to students across the ages so that we can keep the magic alive for this year’s students. As part of our 90th anniversary project for our building at 32 University Avenue, we’ve been hearing tons from previous students and alumni with wonderful stories, from couples who met at D*** F***** in the 1940s through to artists, designers, and engineers who got a start in their careers by being involved on the committee, with all sorts of fun and antics involved in

Credit: GUU

UofG students wanted as part of Covid-19 mental health study Luke Chafer REPORTER

A new study to be run by Public Health Scotland will assess the mental health impact on students self isolating, with researchers seeking the assistance of University of Glasgow students.

The new study wants to understand the experiences of students who have self-isolated or quarantined on-campus since the start of term. The aim, they say, is to “learn from students who have had experience of self-isolation or quarantining, so we can ensure that students are adequately supported.” Additionally, Public Health Scotland wants to look into possible “alternative” approaches to lower the spread of Covid-19.

The Public Health Scotland study has three main questions that it seeks to answer centered around the impact of the two week isolation: the experiences of overseas and home students of having to isolate including having to self-isolate more than once,

what sort of impact has self-isolation and quarantining had on students’ course work, social life and wellbeing, and what support is required for the wellbeing of those who are required to self-isolate.

“This study will build on recent research by the University of Glasgow that showed lockdown disproportionately affected the mental health of young people...”

Public Health Scotland say they hope the research will help the Scottish government, universities, public health agencies and other support organisations to provide adequate support for students now and in the future.

The students that take part in the study will be required to complete a survey followed by a series of online focus groups.

This study will build on recent research by the University of Glasgow that showed lockdown disproportionately affected the mental health of young people (aged between 18-29), women, and those from socially disadvantaged backgrounds, and urged that provisions need to be drawn up in the wake of rising cases and local restrictions being put in place.

The announcement comes as the Scottish government sets to draw up plans for the Christmas period and students’ safe return for semester two.

The return to campus in September resulted in major outbreaks across halls of residences in Scottish universities post Freshers’ Week. The University of Glasgow was at the heart of the Scottish student Covid-19 epidemic, having over 600 confirmed cases which resulted in thousands of students self isolating for two weeks.

THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN

6 November 2020

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Glasgow declared a Global Green City

The award comes a year before the city is set to host COP26 Roshika Perera WRITER

Glasgow has been declared a Global Green City by the Global Forum on Human Settlements (GFHS) at their Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements Awards Ceremony 2020. This year’s award was shared with Changshan in the Zhejiang Province of China. The annual awards ceremony has been running for 15 years and has been hosted by countries across the globe. In light of Covid-19 restrictions, the ceremony took place online on 16 October.

With support from the United Nations Environment Program, the awards recognise the progress made by cities and communities in implementing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and GFHS’s own mission of building sustainable cities and human settlements. In 2015, the UN set out a list of 17 interlinked SDGs to be achieved by 2030 including no poverty, affordable and

clean energy, and sustainable ties and communities.

Glasgow was awarded the title for having scored highly on a wide range of criteria including transportation, the economy, and low carbon and energy efficiency.

Writing in The Glasgow Times, Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council stated that the award was not a “mere plaudit”, but “can lead to investment, jobs, the staging of major events and the financial boost these bring”.

Upon accepting the award, Aitken announced: “It has been wonderful to receive this award on behalf of Glasgow. Achieving the status of a Global Green City is an acknowledgement of the tremendous strides made by the city in overcoming the legacy of our past and building a better environment for our future.

“Glasgow is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 and the city is joining together across a broad partnership to meet the challenges faced by the

Calls for Cambridge halt work with Home Office Border Force Silas Pease DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR

Campaign group Unis Resist Border Controls (URBC) have called for the University of Cambridge to stop promoting a recruitment message from a Home Office sub-group Border Force which is allegedly calling for academics to work on research in digitising border security in the UK. URBC have expressed outrage at this recruitment effort, as evidenced by a Facebook post from last month which included an email sent by sub-group the “Border Vision Advisory Group” to academics at Cambridge University, as well as an email template addressed to Cambridge University urging the institution to not work with the Home Office on this venture.

The email in question, screenshots of which were included in the Facebook post, called for academics looking to “work with BF and the wider Home Office to drive theoretical research into propositions for cutting edge border solutions”.

The post also links to a webpage at the Cambridge Centre for Data Driven Discovery which allegedly had an advertisement for said recruitment, however this page has since been taken down.

The group have opposed the recruitment effort, arguing that the UK’s “xeno-racist border regime” has resulted in countless deaths of migrants trying to enter the UK. By choosing to work with the Home Office, the group argues in the provided template that Cambridge University would be complicit in the countless deaths caused by the

country’s strict border control, including through the deportation of migrants during the current pandemic.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has once again brought questions of the issues asylum seekers face living in Glasgow...”

Not only this, but the group argues that engaging in these types of border control efforts add to a “hostile environment” not just for many of the University’s international staff and students, but for the greater migrant populace at large. This may not be an issue entirely localised in Cambridge, and the Covid-19 pandemic has once again brought questions of the issues asylum seekers face living in Glasgow.

Earlier this year, hundreds of refugees living in Glasgow were moved by a Home Office contractor to stay in hotels for the duration of the lockdown. The Park Inn hotel stabbing in June was allegedly motivated by poor conditions, with many saying they were barely given notice of the move, being moved to more densely populated spaces with no support pay, which in turn has had a knock-on effect on their mental health.

climate emergency. Our citizens must be at the very heart of our drive towards carbon neutrality.

It is essential that our transition to carbon neutrality is just and sustainable for all the people of Glasgow, especially as we seek to recover from the Covid crisis.’’

However, Glasgow City Council released a Climate Emergency Implementation Plan earlier this month, warning that more needs to be done for the 2030 target to be met. The report set out 52 actions that would help the city reach its target, covering key issues such as improving recycling and developing the city’s green economy. The plan has been put forward for consultation and sits within the UK and Scottish Parliament’s wider initiatives to push for a green economic recovery.

In her speech, Aitken also noted that “with COP26 just over a year away, there could have been no better time for Glasgow to be recognised as a Global Green City”.

COP26 will be the 26th United Na-

Credit: Unsplash tions Climate Change Conference of the Parties, an event held annually to discuss global solutions to tackle climate change. With over 30,000 delegates including heads of state due to attend, the event will garner international attention for the city.

The UK will host the confer-

ence for the first time. Glasgow has been chosen as the host city due its ranking as fourth in the world and highest in the UK in the Global Destination Sustainability Index as well as its green spaces, river, and city serving as inspiration to act on the climate crisis.

UofG study finds that lockdown has had a ‘major impact’ on mental health

Over a quarter of adults experienced mild to severe depressive symptoms, a 20% increase from pre-lockdown Luke Chafer REPORTER

Research led by the University of Glasgow has shown that lockdown has a profound effect on mental health, with the most devastating impact being caused in the first six weeks.

The study, which assessed over 3000 adults via a survey, found that 26% of respondents experienced mild to severe depressive symptoms. To put that in context, the pre-Covid-19 level was believed to be around 5% across the population.

During the first six weeks, between 31 March and 9 May, levels of anxiety, feelings of entrapment, and levels of defeat rose substantially. The study found that this increase was most apparent in the 18-29 age bracket, with 37% experiencing feelings of entrapment in the first wave of lockdown and 30% experiencing anxiety.

Suicidal thoughts did not peak during the first period of lockdown, and have instead increased over the course of lockdown.

These reported rates were again most prevalent in those aged 1829, with 10% of respondents overall reporting suicidal ideation and 14% in the youngest age bracket.

The research points to the growing economic uncertainty and warns that this a trend that needs to be watched over the coming month with the further imposi-

tion of local restrictions.

Speaking on the studies findings regarding suicide Dr Liz Scowcroft, Samaritans head of Research and Evaluation, said: “it is important to remember that a rise in suicides is not inevitable.

Suicide is preventable and these results demonstrate that it’s more important than ever that effective support is available for those who need it most.

“The effects of Covid-19 on the population’s mental health and wellbeing are likely to be profound and long-lasting...”

“As we continue to navigate our way through the pandemic, it is a priority for us to reach those struggling to cope and encourage them to seek help before they reach crisis point. Suicide prevention is everyone’s business, so we need to work together to ensure that no one has to face these things alone. It can be as simple as checking in with those around us who might be struggling and encouraging them to talk or reach out for support.”

The study also identified cross sections of society that were most affected by lockdowns: women, young people (aged 18-29 years), those from more socially disadvantaged backgrounds, and those with pre-existing mental health problems suffered the most as a result of the pandemic response.

The conclusion was drawn that these groups need to be prioritised when provision is made.

Prof O’Connor, chair in Health Psychology at the University’s Institute of Health and Wellbeing, said: “While public health measures, such as lockdown, have been necessary to protect the general population, we know the effects of Covid-19 on the population’s mental health and wellbeing are likely to be profound and long-lasting. The findings from our study, showing in particular the increasing rates of suicidal thoughts, especially among young adults, is concerning, and show that we must be vigilant to this at-risk group.

“As we move through this pandemic, investigating the trajectory of mental health and wellbeing is crucial to giving us a better understanding of the challenges people face during this difficult time. By having such analysis and information, we can formulate targeted mental health measures and interventions for those most in need as this pandemic continues, as well as being prepared for the future.”

THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN

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6 November 2020

News

New report examines mental health of rural GUADC and XRGU hold event to disrupt Science and LGBTQ+ Scots countryside from 2017 to 2020, BTQ+ identities.

Engineering Fair have determined that LGBTQ+ On the issue of Covid-19, the Silas Pease

DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR

Sofia Della Sala SCIENCE AND TECH COLUMNIST

Glasgow University Arms Divestment Coalition (GUADC) and Extinction Rebellion Glasgow University (XRGU) teamed up to “disrupt” the Science and Engineering Careers Fair.

Between 19 to 21 October, the Engineering and Technology Careers Fair was held by the University of Glasgow. Extinction Rebellion Glasgow University (XRGU) and Glasgow University Arms Divestment Coalition (GUADC) ran an event to “Disrupt UofG Careers Day”, which involved creating fake accounts to book up slots hosted by some of the companies with the intention of not turning up. In some cases, using their real accounts, the students enquired about the role of the company’s (Barclays, NatWest, BAE systems) contribution in the arms trade or the climate crisis.

This caused substantial disruptions to the event as a whole, with some students being removed from the call and receiving follow-up emails outlining the code of conduct that should be followed during Career Service events.

Previously, the University has been criticised for arms trade investment of £3.1m and backing companies heavily involved in the fossil fuel industry. Glasgow University invests £390,000 in BAE systems which is the world’s fourth biggest arms producer and whose fighter jets are directly linked to Saudi Arabian attacks on Yemen.

Similarly, the University also has over £1.4m invested with Barclays, despite Barclays providing £85bn in funding to fossil fuel companies between 2016 and 2018. Both of these companies were present at the Careers Fair and this was the driving force behind the events that took place last week.

At one of last year’s Careers Fairs, XRGU also protested by setting up a stall pretending to be an employer but instead informed fellow students on the unethical practices

of the companies present around them.

A XRGU representative told The Glasgow Guardian, “We don’t think companies like Barclays and BAE Systems that still invest heavily in fossil fuels and the arms trade, and contribute to the climate crisis and human rights abuses have any place on our campus. The University Careers department is directly supporting them by encouraging students to consider becoming employees of these organisations after university. At the same time, the university has huge financial links with these companies, investing millions of pounds in them while also relying on them as research partners.”

“The Uni also has over £1.4m invested with Barclays, who provided £85bn in funding to fossil fuel companies between 2016 and 2018...”

Commenting on the protest, a University spokesperson told The Glasgow Guardian: “Our Careers Fairs are a vital part of how we create pathways from study into employment. We think it’s important that, as part of the experience of studying at Glasgow, students have the opportunity to engage with a wide range of businesses and organisations.

“The University has a clear commitment to tackling climate change. We were the first university in Scotland to publicly declare a climate emergency, in 2017, and we are committed to reducing carbon emissions to net zero by 2030. To inform this process, we recently undertook a thorough consultation with students and staff which received over 1,300 responses and has informed our new Draft Climate Change Strategy.”

A new report examining the experiences of LGBTQ+ people living in rural areas of Scotland has recently been released. The report, titled “Further Out: The Scottish LGBT Rural Equality Report” and which was published last month by the charity Equality Network, highlighted how LGBTQ+ people living in rural areas tended to have higher levels of mental health issues compared to those living in larger towns and cities, and that this was worsened by social inequalities, discrimination, a lack of access to LGBTQ+ inclusive spaces and services, and the Covid-19 pandemic.

The findings in the report, compiled from a survey of respondents living in the Scottish

people in rural areas are 81% more likely to have experienced prejudice in some way, and around 66% of the study’s respondents felt that provisions and services were not satisfactory to their needs. This, the report argues, further exacerbates feelings of isolation and stress, which can have a knock-on effect on mental health.

The report also found that discriminatory attitudes and behaviour, as well as religious and conservative attitudes have all been found to be potential factors behind mental health issues for rural-dwelling LGBTQ+ people. Traditional values, a lack of overall diversity, and a general more insular nature of some rural communities were also cited by respondents as specific causes behind less tolerance of LG-

report has also determined that the pandemic has worsened existing issues for rural LGBTQ+ people in Scotland. Isolation, closure of facilities and increased negative press around LGBTQ+ identities and issues are a handful of factors cited in the report that are said to be exacerbating already existing mental health issues for these groups.

Also included in the report are some recommended improvements on how to address and improve these issues at both the national and regional level. This advice includes improving hate crime intervention and awareness, improving health care services to isolated LGBTQ+ individuals, and increased funding for sexual and mental health services.

Glasgow suffers loss of £120m as students stay away from the city Ollie Rudden NEWS EDITOR

Glasgow has suffered a loss of £120m as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Research from Studee, who studied the effects of Covid-19 on university towns and cities across the UK, found that such towns and cities have suffered a cumulative loss of £3.5bn, as students have moved away back home with families since the start of the first lockdown in March.

The findings show that cities and towns with student populations have suffered huge losses over the last six months since lockdown began, with Glasgow being the third worst city affected, losing approximately £20m a month.

The figures show Glasgow has lost £18.5m from food takeaways, who, despite being allowed to still be open, suffered these losses as

a result of students moving away from the city. Students are typical buyers of fast food, and this sector saw a total loss of £418m across the UK during this period. £23.6m has been lost as a result of less socialising in Glasgow. Many popular leisure venues were forced to close, with some now having not opened since March. Across the UK this loss is as high as £577m.

A further £17m has been lost on transport, as students and other members of the public have avoided public transport where students would normally take the bus, train or subway to travel to campus, or ride a taxi to and from a night out in the city centre. As much as £574m could have been lost across the UK as a whole, with London suffering a loss of £81m alone on transport. £36.9m has been lost on groceries in Glasgow, and this is estimated to be as high as over £1bn across student towns in the UK. Another £13.4m has been lost

on clothes and shopping, as students have had little need to buy new clothes, and it is expected clothes shops have lost as much as £347m across the UK. Laura Rettie, vice president of Studee, stated: “It’s no wonder the government has been so keen to get students back to university, despite the fact mass movement of young people during a pandemic probably isn’t the wisest course of action.

Students bring a huge amount of money into the areas they choose to study in - money many small towns simply can’t afford to lose.

“Students have recently been blamed for coronavirus outbreaks, but we shouldn’t be using students as scapegoats when it was the government who urged them to get back to campus, with no clear guidance about studying online instead. Sadly, for many university towns across the country, the economic pain is likely to be felt for many years to come.”

Glasgow Kelvin Labour Party supports ‘Covid direct action’ Ollie Rudden NEWS EDITOR

Credit: Glasgow University Labour Club

Glasgow Kelvin Labour Party have come out in support of direct action against Covid-19.

The party, which has links to the University of Glasgow via the Glasgow University Labour Club (GULC), have endorsed an article piece written by Glasgow University student Morag Innes, vice chair of GULC, who states “direct action” is needed to protest against “harsh measures” that first years are facing currently in student halls. In addition, Innes has criticised the Scottish government and stated that

Universities Scotland should take responsibility for the increases of Covid-19 infections on campus, and not students themselves.

In a statement, the party said they are concerned of the outbreak of Covid-19 in University of Glasgow student residences, insisting the mental health damage it will do to students on campus will not only affect themselves but also other students, staff and the wider community in the West End. The party specifically said they give their full support to Innes, who wrote on Labour supporting news website Labour List: “In the first instance, direct action is needed to protest the harsh

measures and poor living conditions that first-year students face.

The Glasgow Uni rent strike campaign has already been established on social media to force commercialised universities to listen by impacting their profits.

“Secondly, the Scottish government and Universities Scotland need to take responsibility for their part in causing this outbreak, rather than continuing to scapegoat students. The government and the universities had a duty of care to students, and on this they have totally failed.”

Glasgow Kelvin Labour Party are the local party of both the Scottish Labour Party and the Labour Party.

THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN

6 November 2020

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Lockdown and loss: processing grief during a pandemic How has the pandemic affected the way that we grieve? Tara Gandhi shares her personal experience as you write the largest piece of academic work you have ever attempted, you are also working on the subject of the last ever proper conversation you had with a loved one. Not once have I sat down to do dissertation work and not thought of my grandpa.

Tara Gandhi SOCIAL MEDIA AND PRODUCTION MANAGER

Lockdown feels like it was a lifetime ago. Watching Tiger King, making that whipped coffee and entertaining the idea of learning Tik Tok dances could not be further from the situation we’re in now. The passage of time throughout this pandemic has been weird for everyone - but having lost a family member, it feels even stranger. For nearly five months, every day was the same. But then one day, everything was the same, except I no longer had two grandfathers.

“It was easier to put my loss out of my mind, but it hits so much harder when I do allow myself to remember...”

“Knowing that Christmas will be very different anyway is very reassuring when I think about experiencing my first Christmas without him...”

Losing my grandpa is the first big loss I’ve faced and processing that during lockdown was, and still is, very challenging.

Coming back to Glasgow helped, in that I had new distractions and lived away from the grief and the memories. Instead, I was faced with returning to life as it was - in the same flat, with the same girls and the same three rotating dinners. It was easier to put my loss out of my mind, but it hits so much harder when I do allow myself to remember. The things that hurt the most are the everyday things. When I’m talking about seeing or talking to my grandparents and my friends ask for the now redundant clarification “is this your Irish or your Indian grandparents”. Realising I won’t get to read Caitlin Moran’s columns anymore, because he was the person who would cut them out and save them for me.

Catching his smell on the cushion I took from his house. I imagine these are the things that

Credit: Dorota Dziki - Illustrator will hurt for a long time, and probably would have regardless of the pandemic.

“By the time it came to the funeral withholding hugs felt almost cruel...”

He lived in Wales, which only made things more complicated.

As he got sicker, restrictions got tighter, and we became more wary of my mum having to explain herself as she crossed the border. She shared the care work with her brother, who she would see briefly as they swapped over every 24 hours, unable and unwilling to break distancing, as my aunty was shielding. Every

official process that we went through to get some help from the NHS or palliative care nurses took double the time, with numbers reduced and far more restrictions in place. The care nurses who we eventually organised to come were constantly fretting about how no one could see them smile through their PPE, not wanting to come across any less warm than they were.

Other than my mum, my family saw him twice in the time he was really sick. The first time we all went separately, so as not to have a full car sparking questions. We sat with him while he dozed, and I had to excuse myself to join a Zoom office hour with the lecturer who is now my dissertation supervisor. I had some ideas for a topic I wanted to bounce off her and I ended up choosing the topic there and then, at my grandpa’s. Another downside to having to do everything via Zoom is the haunting reminder that

Obviously, there are huge restrictions on funerals. But I think the tiny, quiet goodbye we held was far more akin to what he would have wanted. At the time I believe restrictions limited funeral numbers to 10, so it was just us and my uncle’s family. This feels like an incredibly selfish viewpoint, because there are so many people who deserved to be there but could not. All of my grandpa’s surviving family live in Northern Ireland, many of whom haven’t seen him for several years. My dad’s side of the family all would have travelled to Wales too, as well as my aunty’s mum. My grandpa lived a quiet life, but that didn’t mean there was any limit on the number of people who loved him, and who should have been there to say goodbye.

After the funeral, we broke distancing and hugged my uncle for the first time in the three month long ordeal. As a very tactile person, the lack of physical touch since March has been one of the hardest parts of the pandemic for me. Not being able to hug my friends goodbye after a picnic date is one thing, but to not spend this process comforting my family in the best way I know how has been challenging, and by the time it came to the funeral withholding hugs felt almost cruel. It was a risk we were willing to take, and luckily nothing came from it. In all the

aftermath, in the clearing of his house, and dealing with his will, we have gone back to distancing, once again unable to provide that necessary form of comfort.

In some ways, I’m glad that the upheaval of the pandemic shaped this process. It made sure that my family were all together for the hardest parts of it, throughout his illness and the aftermath, able to support my mum and each other. Knowing that Christmas will be very different anyway is very reassuring when I think about experiencing my first Christmas without him, because the complete shakeup of our traditions will hopefully make it harder to constantly be aware of his absence.

“My grandpa lived a quiet life, but that didn’t mean there was any limit on the number of people who loved him, and who should have been there to say goodbye...”

Lockdown also meant I was around to help with the clearing out of his house, a task that is constantly being put on pause as restrictions in Wales and Manchester change. A treasure trove of stuff, this process dredged up hundreds of old family photos, notebooks full of lists and holiday plans, and my particular favourite, a clipping of a photo of Grumpy Cat stuck inside a kitchen cabinet. These are the memories of this experience I want to hold on to. I wish I could have spent more time in Wales with him in his last few months; I wish I could have seen the whole family at the funeral, given him a wake. But the universe had other plans, so I have to hold on to the moments and memories I do have. Grief in 2020 is a challenge, and it is not a process I have finished.

THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN

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Spare a thought for shielders

6 November 2020

A new reality without the arts?

Christy O’Hanlon WRITER

Katherine Prentice WRITER

Seemingly ever-changing and ever-more confusing restrictions related to the current pandemic have been wearing most of us down lately. Feeling so restricted and constantly having to readjust is hard. It may seem time to “return to normal” and ask those most vulnerable to the virus to continue shielding to allow the rest of us to get back to classes, pubs, and the movies - but what these calls for “protection” and “normality” really mean is keeping those who have been or still are shielding hidden away, isolated from the outside world. The only way to truly protect those with underlying health issues is for everyone to try their best to help prevent the spread of the virus the best we can.

“High-risk people can not be hidden away, even for our protection.

We still need to live...”

During lockdown, my family were shielding. This is something I never expected to experience, and something which was extremely difficult for us all. It was necessary to protect our physical health, but it took a significant toll on our mental health and even on our relationships. It had its good parts too, and overall I would say we are closer as a family for it, but it was also terrifying. Members of my family have autism and anxiety, and this on top of physical health problems made this pandemic a living nightmare for us.

Of course, lockdown was incredibly difficult for all of us, but I’d like you to consider what the reality of another lockdown for us “vulnerable” folks would mean.

Imagine lockdown but without your daily exercise, without being able to go to the shops, and living off of government-provided Baxter’s chicken broth and baked potatoes. Imagine knowing that if you caught this virus, you are far more likely to end up seriously ill, or to make your family seriously ill, or worse. Imagine crying in Aldi because people keep walking next to you, and you know how at risk your family are. This was our experience and that of thousands of other families. It was even for those shielders who live alone.

Somehow, the hardest part has been trying to come out of shielding. Every time we go out we feel scared and guilty, but it’s neces-

Credit: Hailie Pentleton - Views Editor sary. For people with conditions like autism or anxiety, this is even harder; uprooting routine again and again, and trying to face the public with new threats and new “normal” behaviours makes this hellish. Trying to stop fearing everyone we see is an enormous challenge, and it can feel much easier to continue to hide inside.

But as people come out of shielding, it is important to help protect them, not encourage them back in.

It is more dangerous for those who have been shielding to try to go back to normal, but it is necessary to avoid a new epidemic of loneliness and mental health problems. When people first started meeting up and going outside, we were still on square one.

But there is only so long you can stay inside. For autistic people or those with mental health issues, it’s even more difficult to readjust than it has been for the rest of us.

The longer it goes on and the more times we get pushed back into shielding, the more isolated and anxious shielders will become.

“I won’t hide inside and be further isolated because you miss the pub...”

Suggesting that those who are vulnerable should just stay inside longer is ignorant. If we otherwise go “back to normal”, the cases will rise along with the risk for everyone, including those shield-

ing. This won’t protect anyone.

Measures are needed to prevent the spread for everyone. This shouldn’t be an “us” and “them” issue, we should want to protect everyone. It is hard to still be so far from “normal”, but the truth is it will be a very long time before any semblance of normality returns. It will feel like one step forward and two steps back at points, but this is needed to allow shielders to move forward at all.

“This shouldn’t be an “us” and “them” issue, we should want to protect everyone...”

High-risk people can not be hidden away, even for our protection. We still need to live. Surviving this virus is not the only thing we are worrying about. As someone with an autoimmune disease, I’ve let it steal enough of my life already. I won’t hide inside and be further isolated because you miss the pub. It’s hard, but it is beneficial for everyone to continue with social distancing measures, not just those at a higher risk. A repeat of lockdown may even be necessary, although it will be detrimental to shielders and their families mental health. The way around this is to do our best to slow the spread and reach out to those we know who are at high-risk and let them know they aren’t, and won’t be, alone.

I imagine Rishi Sunak, throughout all those months during that dreary lockdown beginning in April, passing his spare time with a chuckle as he looked at a blank television screen. Scratching his head to ponder a thought as he read a book with no words, or perhaps even tapping a toe whilst wearing headphones that play no music. As, when asked by ITV News if those in the arts who are unable to work under the current situation will receive any more financial support from the government, the chancellor stated: “Everyone is having to find ways to adapt and adjust in the new reality.” The chancellor’s comments and the lack of financial remedy for thousands of workers have unsurprisingly caused concern and fear over the stability of jobs in this sector, and a lot of finger-pointing toward the government for failing to protect vital careers and opportunities that carry enormous importance within our society.

Luckily for us, the government has devised an ingenious quiz that truly highlights the creative flair they’re bringing to the table in order to help save jobs in the arts.

Their new Careers Quiz is a fun and interactive multiple-choice questionnaire that aims to help those who have dedicated their time, money, and energy into their careers in the arts to simply find a new job. The quiz suggests totally rational and realistic career suggestions for those who take it, with suggestions such as “sports professional”, “civil engineers”, and “stunt doubles”. The government’s reluctance to support careers in the arts is extremely damaging to a career sector that is already often treated as inferior in a capitalist Britain. For those of us with an interest in a career in the arts, or who are undertaking an arts degree, how many times have we been asked “but, what will you do with

Credit: Rosie Wilson

a degree in that?” It is ingrained in many of us that a career in the arts won’t be as secure or profitable as one in finance, or banking, or administration. For many who chose a career in the arts, or those hoping to, the government’s clear messaging towards the lack of support for this industry have been nothing short of a kick in the teeth. It does nothing to help cure the already growing amount of anxiety that surrounds a career in the arts in today’s current climate in Britain. It begs me to question if, during the 2008 financial crisis, bankers were also encouraged to rethink and reskill.

“I wonder if Rishi Sunak would be able to re-skill and consider learning the trade of compassion?”

For many, the arts have provided a source of comfort, joy, and escapism during these very difficult times. The lack of protection and consideration over careers in the arts sends a transparent message that the products of creatives and artists alike are dispensable. We must remember that on the other side of every magazine we flick through, every film or programme we watch, every song we shuffle through on our phones are teams of people who pour their time, energy, and money into giving us a taste of their passions. These jobs are filled by people with families, bills, and worries and anxieties like everyone else. The totally flippant attitude taken toward people’s livelihoods echoes the already concerning narrative that hangs above the Tory party; one that places profit over people. I wonder if Rishi Sunak would be able to re-skill and consider learning the trade of compassion?

THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN

6 November 2020

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Should we be paying for Zoom uni?

Are students getting their money’s worth this year? Or are they due a refund? because they don’t see themselves as an educational institution at all - they see themselves as a business with the sole purpose of making money.

This is all by no means targeting the lecturers; I am aware that this is a really difficult time for all of us, and trying to provide a university education from home isn’t exactly easy. But it is on the universities, and to a further extent, the UK government, for turning educational institutions into businesses back in 1998, and then making them damn more expensive ones in 2010. We’re still getting a version of the university treatment, I suppose, so a full refund isn’t exactly in order in my opinion - but a partial one definitely is. And much like I hope that online lecture recordings stick around when the University eventually returns to in-person teaching, I hope a lowered price will as well.

Credit: Lisa Paul - Illustrator

“We’re paying £9k a year for this?”

Jack Corban MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

Universities have cost money ever since 1998, subsequently going up in price in 2004 before seeing their most controversial rise in 2010. This of course does not apply to Scottish undergraduates, but as students from other UK countries or further afield: the amount of money we pay for university is ridiculous. I don’t agree with the practice, however, that isn’t what this article is about. What I want to argue is that, given the current circumstances, we are due a refund from the University.

“The University isn’t really selling us an education, it’s selling us a degree with a prestigious ‘University of Glasgow’ stamp on it...”

The reason I believe this is plain and simple: for better or for worse, universities have become businesses rather than educational boards. We pay ridiculous amounts of money for an already very limited amount of teaching; if you’ve reached honours on an arts course, you’ll be lucky to have more than 6 contact hours a week, for a cost of £9,250 a year.

We aren’t getting our money’s worth already. Yet, regardless of

if I believe in tuition fees or not, I think the current tuition fees for this year should be substantially reduced. I could see an argument to be made that online teaching is just as good as in-person teaching, but from my own course, I can confirm that the move online has definitely affected the number of hours I’m getting: my seminars didn’t start until week five, and even now they’re every fortnight.

“We are plainly not getting what we expect from a Russell Group university education...”

And if online teaching is really just as good as in-person teaching, why has it taken this long, and a pandemic, for lecture recordings to become commonplace for people with health issues, both mental and physical?

We are plainly not getting what we expect from a Russell Group university education. Given the disruption caused by strikes over the past two years and now Covid-19 forcing things online, it doesn’t seem unreasonable to turn around to what is essentially a business and tell them outright that we feel we’re not getting what was promised - or what we’re paying for. I don’t want universities to be treated like businesses, but this is, unfortunately, the world we live in, and the fact that we’re still expected to bury ourselves under the deepest piles of debt for this is disgusting. It almost feels like a scam; the University isn’t really selling us an education, it’s selling us a degree with a prestigious “University of Glasgow” stamp on it. It’s as though they don’t see the need to reduce fees or refund us

“We don’t deserve a tuition fee refund just because uni is online” Rothery Sullivan CULTURE COLUMNIST

Requesting a lower tuition fee from the University due to online classes is honestly ridiculous. I would love to see tuition fees lowered as much as the next person, being an international student and all; no student wants to leave university with a large amount of student debt. However, requesting to lower the tuition fees on the grounds of classes being held online is one that isn’t well thought out or fair to the University.

Many people who argue for lower tuition costs claim that they aren’t receiving the same level of education that they had paid for in the past because courses are now taught online. However, this simply isn’t true: any student who is receiving less of an education right now is doing so because they are not taking advantage of all the resources being made available to them. We are still receiving the same education in terms of the number of lectures, seminars, tutorials, assignments, class hours, office hours, and learning material, if not even more so — many students are even complaining that their online lectures are longer in duration than they would be if they were held in person. While it is true that all students (especially those who are taking subjects with labs) are missing out on the experiences that come from hands-on teaching, the material for learning the information is still provided to them. Moreover, it’s important to note that as a university student you’re not just paying for your education: you are paying for your course credits, you

Credit: Lisa Paul - Illustrator are paying for your degree. A large reason why many people attend university is to obtain a degree that they can later use to get a job, and the value of this degree isn’t being lessened due to Covid-19.

Another major argument for why tuition fees should be lowered is that the maintenance costs of the University have been lowered.

However, running costs have not been substantially reduced, at least enough to reduce tuition. If any costs have been lowered it’s the lack of constant maintenance for every building on campus; nevertheless, many buildings such as the library, Reading Room, Fraser Building, and McIntyre Building are still being used and are even requiring further maintenance to keep them safe. The campus grounds also still need to be maintained and emergency responders are still available via the security team on campus.

Furthermore, the University has had to implement expenses due to the virus, such as more cleaning services in spaces used, installing one way systems, sanitation supplies in every campus building, and the issuing of free face coverings.

After looking into the costs of the University, it cannot be argued that they’re saving a lot of money due to the virus.

Finally, a large portion of tuition pays for staff salaries, and we should all agree that teachers deserve the same - if not higher wages teaching remotely, as they are putting in as much - if not more - work. In addition to preparing lecture material and giving the lectures themselves, professors need to upload their material, answer more emails than usual due to online complications, and figure out new ways to deliver their material in a comprehensive way.

The total income from tuition the University of Glasgow received in 2019 was £228,234 while the staff expenditure alone was £356,253; this shows that the tuition paid

by students doesn’t even cover the cost of staff salaries. The rest of the funding for the University comes from grants and investment income (which makes up over 66% of the institution’s total yearly income). To break down where your tuition money goes into percentages, roughly 33% of your tuition fees go towards operating expenses, so with only a microscopic decrease in operating expenses, the percentage drop in your tuition costs would be minimal.

“It’s unreasonable to expect the university to give a refund when they’re still granting you the education they promised...”

While I do agree that paying tens of thousands of pounds for a university degree seems unfair, it is a reality of the world we live in. When you make the decision to go to university, you are committing to the cost of earning your degree. It’s unreasonable to expect the university to give a tuition cut when they’re still granting you the university education they promised. Paying to attend university is paying for a service, so as long as the university continues to provide students with an education and a degree they should not need to lower their price. We want teachers to continue getting paid what they deserve and we want our university to continue to stay open, so I suggest we stop requesting a tuition cut and rather blame the capitalist system we live in that requires young adults to go into massive amounts of debt before the age of 22.

THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN

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6 November 2020

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Imagine a Scotland...

With support for Scottish independence at an all-time high, Ciara McAlinden gives her top tips for what our new government should do when we go it alone Ciara McAlinden CULTURE COLUMNIST

The topic of UK politics is a dreary one - there’s no doubt about that.

It’s easy to become disconnected from the daily updates about which group of people the Tories have decided to fuck over, so it’s important to see the brighter side of things. I personally support the push for Scottish independence, so it’s pleasing to see that the overall national support for the cause has increased in the past few years; it’s a rare occurrence of political joy for me. In saying this, I’m becoming bored of the discussions surrounding currency, oil, the EU, and all that jazz – they may be important issues, but my God they’re dull. And so, I present to you a list of the more interesting and fantastical ideas of what Scotland could do if we were to go it alone.

Abolish the Fife accent. I’m sorry Fifers, but you need to take a long, hard listen to what you sound like. I suggest a (mandatory) Scottish Open University course for the pop-

ulation of Fife to learn how to talk in an accent that’s bearable; even the poncy Edinburgh accent would be acceptable, ae?

Sell St. Andrews University to England. We know the economy would take a bit of a hit in the event of Scottish independence, so what better way to resolve our financial issues than to sell off a part of the country that’s basically English anyway? If it’s good enough for Kate Middleton, get it out of here.

Rename Nessie. It must be upsetting for Nessie to be named after the bit she lives in; it’s like hearing where I was born and just calling me “Bellshillie”, isn’t it? I propose that after the next referendum, we give Nessie an appropriate Scottish name – I suggest Aileen, Freya, or Gormlaith. While we’re at it, let’s get Nessie on the pound coin! We’ve already got one lizard on it, we may as well put a better one in her place.

Make tablet ice cream a standard dessert in all restaurants. I can’t explain the disappointment that strikes my heart when I look at a dessert menu and there is no mention of tablet. Is your restaurant even worth visiting if

tablet isn’t on the menu? I don’t care if your apple crumble is to die for – Mrs Tilly deserves better, and so do we.

Hire Limmy as our new Eurovision commentator. One of the most difficult things we’ll have to deal with when leaving the UK is perhaps the loss of Graham Norton as our Eurovision host. The only person that I think is a potential candidate for replacement is Mr Brian Limond.

Let unicorns come out of hiding. The unicorn is our national animal, and yet they are so hard to find. We can only come to the conclusion that the unicorn has hidden itself to avoid being hunted alongside foxes. They must not be hunted, but they also cannot be put on farms or in zoos; let them live freely, and without fear of a Tory wanker harassing them.

Some of these may sound a bit harsh, but educating Fifers, giving Nessie the respect she deserves, and feeding the population more tablet is simply necessary for the independence of Scotland to be feasible – if we cannot make these changes, then we are no better than England.

Credit: Allison Campbell - Photograph & Illustration Manager

Quantity isn’t a replacement for quality Lecturers piling up the workload with online classes is hurting students more than it helps

Credit: Ioanna Chrysanthakopoulou - Illustrator Michelle Osborne SCIENCE AND TECH EDITOR

While doing my daily scroll on Facebook, I came across a GlasKnow post about one of my courses: “I don’t believe for a second that in any other year History 2 had this much workload,” was plastered on my timeline, with many of my friends reacting and commenting. Although I had noticed a slight increase in workload for History in particular, I didn’t think it was that bad.

Luckily, my friendships extend past just that course, so I soon realised that it wasn’t just histo-

ry. Many of my friends have been complaining about full days of working without having a moment to themselves. Software engineering, economics, politics: the scope of subjects which have students experiencing this problem is vast.

Clearly, classes online are producing far more work for students than is sustainable.

Maybe the workload is to make some students feel better for the thousands they’re investing in Zoom University. We’re all aware of the injustices of paying £9,250 a year (or more!) for online classes, and some staff may have seen an

added workload as a way of making it up to us. They’re just doing us a favour, right?

No matter how much virtual contact time they add, it’ll never make up for us not receiving in-person teaching. I’ve worked far harder this year already, but I’ve only absorbed a fraction of the information in comparison to last year. Regardless of whether they’re giving us more information, it isn’t of the same value as face-to-face teaching.

It could be a question of being more organised. If you’re the most motivated and organised student, surely all of the work is manageable.

Right? Maybe part of the problem is the easy distractions at home.

True or false, it’s impossible to expect all students to be able to work as efficiently in a new environment.

Nobody has really experienced this type of learning before, and we can’t all be as motivated anymore.

If we’re spending hours trapped in our rooms, forcing our personal space to double as a working hub and not getting any fresh air, then we’re going to be unmotivated. It’s an endless cycle - with student mental health plummeting.

And it’s easy to see such an impact on our mental health. I only need to read through those Facebook course chats to see the floods of messages complaining about the workload. Within one conversation, it became clear that some

people hadn’t left their homes in weeks due to workload stress. During a global pandemic, when we’re already filled with anxiety, should we be investing in the privilege to get even more stressed?

“During a global pandemic, when we’re already filled with anxiety, should we be investing in the privilege to get even more stressed?”

I have coped with the workload - I don’t tend to procrastinate, and often I’ll plan work weeks in advance. However, even with that, I can see the deadlines and stress catching up to me.

For my history course, I’m beginning to lose interest in trying.

Moodle books are dull and uninteresting, and often breaking up the work causes me to get distracted. We have frequent workshops

which require reading beforehand and don’t replace lectures, meaning we’re getting added hours to our timetable. History is already time-consuming with extra reading: why make it worse?

It seems different subjects have varying problems. Friends in politics and economics have complained about their subjects being disorganised. Without organisation on Moodle, it’s hard to find deadlines or the particular work for that day, taking up unnecessary hours of work. My resident workaholics have found that they have too much access to the lectures, so they spend hours slowly going through work, taking notes on every minute detail. Whether it’s added information, disorganisation, or a personal issue, clearly online learning is taking far more time and mental power to get through.

Personally, I’m coping better with online lectures than I expected. This may be because I’m constantly playing lectures at 1.5x speed, or that I’m oddly motivated at the moment, but everybody is spending more time on their work than in previous years. Stuck in our rooms and constantly staring at a screen can take a mental toll, and many of us seem to be feeling this.

The workload needs to be altered to help us to take time to look after ourselves amidst all this stress.

THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN

6 November 2020

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Fighting pandemic fatigue: World changers or job seekers? we can’t get complacent Hailie Pentleton VIEWS EDITOR

When the first few cases reached Scottish shores, my partner and I began shielding informally, just a week before they officially called lockdown. He’s high risk, I’m hyper-vigilant by nature; it made sense. I quickly developed the habit of calling on my good pal Alexa for the news every half hour, unable to concentrate on anything else. A few weeks into lockdown, I disclosed this ritual to a friend who admitted that she had been avoiding the news, for the most part, explaining that watching the cases rise put her on edge. This was also the reason she had taken to avoiding social media, rampant with apocalyptic opinion pieces and budding conspiracy theorists.

I realised not long after that memorising every piece of pandemic related news was doing nothing more than making me ill and gradually abandoned the habit.

You don’t have to watch every single briefing or memorize every new statistic you encounter in the morning papers. But you do have to care.

Toilet roll hoarding and Thursday evening claps now seem a lifetime ago. The wartime imagery has been abandoned, and the warm collectivist spirit of the early days of the pandemic seems to have worn off. People are tired. The rules are murkier than the original instructions to “Stay Home. Protect the NHS. Save Lives.” While the number of cases creeps back up, people have started to become weary and resentful of pandemic precautions, especially when these precautions are constantly in flux.

Though another lockdown as restrictive as the first seems it would do more harm than necessary, at the very least there were clear-cut rules about what you could and couldn’t do. Now there’s a wide-

spread perception that guidelines can be undermined on a case by case basis, or that current rules around meeting with other households are contradictory. Scepticism is spreading, and with it a sense of pandemic fatigue.

“While we often feel helpless in the face of an invisible force, our actions do have tangible effects...”

A lifetime ago, we volleyed the term “Brexit fatigue” back and forth across discourse around our divorce from the EU. Despite the magnitude of the situation, an oversaturation of discussion around Brexit began to grind down the interest of the public. The second polling stations closed, the decision-making process was taken from our hands; the outcome of Brexit, ever-looming, is beyond our control. People get bored. Bombarded with case numbers and new restrictions, pandemic coverage seems to have a similar effect.

There is a growing sense of boredom around the pandemic, that fails to be challenged by unclear guidelines. And while we often feel helpless in the face of an invisible force, unlike with Brexit, our actions do have tangible effects.

“The collective solidarity of ‘we’re all in this together’ is a really important part of people following challenging restrictions,” Professor Susan Michie, a member of Sage, told The Observer, “but adherence is being undermined by many kinds of perceived unfairness.” The hypocrisy of figures like Dominic Cummings and Margaret Ferrier has wrought havoc on public confi-

dence in the legitimacy of local and national powers and the rules they prescribe to the general public.

I remember the rage I felt when Dominic Cummings stood in that rose garden and defended his jaunt to Barnard Castle. It had been three months since I’d seen my grandpa, who would pass two weeks later.

I sobbed like a child. I was scared.

Not because I felt that our shielding efforts were in vain, but because I recognised this as the start of a gradual erosion of public confidence in pandemic precautions.

We can and should recognise that, by and large, the fault lies with a lack of precautions, financial support, and initial acknowledgment from the UK government.

There is plenty of space for criticism, but that doesn’t remove the personal responsibility we have towards one another to protect lives.

Current restrictions appear to be failing, and it is often difficult to believe that our individual actions will have any significant influence.

When we observe other people becoming complacent, it can be easy to trick ourselves into believing things are safe. I see people off on group holidays and I wonder if they know something I don’t. Did I really miss the last three months of my grandpa’s life for nothing other than weight gain and isolation? Maybe things aren’t that bad after all.

But they are.

If we continue to let our guard down, this disease will only continue to wreak havoc on our lives for a longer period of time. It is exhausting to stay on high alert all the time, and it easy to become complacent as time goes on and things seem to stay the same. You’re allowed to be mad, and resentful, and tired, and bored. But we don’t get to decide when we’re “over” a pandemic. It takes a commitment to act mindfully, to observe precautions, and to accept that - whether we like it or not - for now, we’re in it for the long haul.

Rothery Sullivan CULTURE COLUMNIST

A huge issue for students today is the crushing reality of graduating from university (usually with some amount of student debt) and not being able to find a job with their degree. As a student working towards an English Literature and Film/Television Studies degree, this is a major concern for me. As we know, humanities students tend to have a harder time finding jobs after university - but with the current economic climate, this issue is even more fraught. For this reason, I argue that universities should have programmes in place that give all students some sort of job placement opportunity, such as mandatory internships, co-ops (a multi-work term agreement) or a scheme that connects new graduates with alumni in their career field to guarantee a higher percentage of job placements within the first year of graduation.

Other universities in the US have similar systems to these that result in higher employment rates after graduation. For example, Northeastern University has a co-operative education programme in which students can alternate their academic semesters with semesters of full-time paid work experience. In this programme, students can take up to three co-ops, although most students who take three co-ops graduate a year later than originally planned for their degree. However, students also have the option to take summer classes in order to undertake these co-ops and graduate on time (i.e to obtain a bachelor’s degree in four years instead of five). As an established university, Northeastern has many great connections, both locally in Boston and globally, giving students a chance to work abroad if they wish to do so. This programme gives students work experience while obtaining their degree, and helps them build connections in their career fields before they graduate.

“Universities should have programmes in place that give all students some sort of job placement opportunity...”

Credit: Unsplash

Many co-ops lead to full time work placements after graduation. Of course, this program is optional, so students who do not wish to take summer classes and want to graduate on time can do so. As a

result of this, 92% of Northeastern’s students report that they are either employed or enrolled in a graduate job within nine months of graduation. Since the University of Glasgow is just as established in the UK as Northeastern is in America (ranking the 11th best university in the UK

by Top University), I suggest that our university should implement a similar scheme. Not only would this help current students, but it would also make our university a more desirable establishment for prospective students.

“When students graduate, they are only usually 21-23 years old a very young age at which to find a stable job or career they want to work in for the rest of their lives...”

Another programme that the University of Glasgow should consider is a Eph network, which would connect current students with alumni of the university who can help with career opportunities. For example, Williams College in the US has a programme like this where students can put together a profile and search a directory to be connected with alumni who have job openings at their place of work, internship opportunities or for general career advice. Something like this would be very beneficial to students at the University of Glasgow, as it would give students a wider choice of opportunities to apply for.

As someone considering teaching, journalism, and jobs in the film industry, I know I would greatly benefit from a co-op programme that would allow me to try out different career paths to see which I’m most interested in.

I would also benefit from a Eph network because I would be able to talk to experienced people in these fields of study who have gone to the same university as me and know about the process of going from student to professional.

When students graduate, they are only usually 21-23 years old - a very young age at which to find a stable job or career they want to work in for the rest of their lives.

Guidance in this area would be helpful because it would allow students to establish stable career goals while still in university, which would make them more prepared for when they graduate and must face the world on their own.

THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN

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6 November 2020

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The hijacking The sun won’t set on the student clubbing experience of #BeKind Michelle Osborne

Rachel Campbell VIEWS COLUMNIST

The #BeKind movement arose in response to the death of presenter Caroline Flack, to encourage both individuals and the wider media to think before posting comments which could be detrimental to those on the receiving end. Caroline Flack had posted to Instagram a few months before her passing, with the message; “In a world where you can be anything, be kind”, inspiring the hashtag which calls for an end to the hateful comments similar to the onslaught she received online before her death.

Of course, I agree that many people need to be reminded of the impact their words can have through a screen, and I’m sure it has made some people think twice before adding to the storm of hate directed at whoever is under fire on that occasion. However, like anything online, it can be manipulated.

What happens when #BeKind is applied only when it allows someone to escape valid criticism, and forgotten when they are once again tearing someone else down?

“In a perfect world, telling people to be kinder online would be enough, but realistically it won’t eradicate hate...”

The users I have witnessed using the hashtag #BeKind, are not often using it purely to encourage kindness. It has been warped and weaponised. Often, the people using this plea to be kind are the ones who are relentlessly harassing someone on a different occasion. As much as I dislike drawing attention to his platform, Piers Morgan exemplifies this. In response to the British LGBT Awards Twitter account claiming he has made transphobic comments in the past, Morgan used the hashtag, stating, “I’m not transphobic & have always supported transgender rights. So why are you encouraging this hate just for clicks? #BeKind”. The British LGBT Awards account subsequently attached a thread of articles showing instances where Morgan has clearly made transphobic comments or attacked members of the trans community. It is, then, quite a stretch to say the British LGBT Awards are “encouraging hate” by identifying someone as transphobic and offering examples of their

offensive behaviour. People like Piers Morgan twist the #BeKind hashtag, using it to try and shift the blame to those who call out their offensive behaviour, rather than having to take accountability for the damaging comments they made in the first place. When Piers Morgan is simply identified as transphobic, based on several comments he has made, he implores people to #BeKind but feels no need to do so himself the next time that trans people are being targeted by the media.

“Often, the people using this plea to be kind are the ones who are relentlessly harassing someone on a different occasion...”

What’s more, although the hashtag is well-intentioned, it could also encourage more engagement with hate comments. By engaging with these comments in any way, we fall into the trap of giving them a bigger platform. In a perfect world, telling people to be kinder online would be enough, but realistically it won’t eradicate hate.

The hashtag could make users on the receiving end of negative comments feel a responsibility to try and make these trolls realise the impact of their words. They may then fall down a rabbit hole of being all-consumed by the growing numbers of hate they are engaging with, rather than stepping away from the screen. It is not the responsibility of the person receiving hate comments to make the perpetrator realise the error of their ways and become a kinder person. We only have control over ourselves and how we act towards other people.

The #BeKind movement began with more practical steps to change: hairdressers ridding their salons of gossip magazines which notoriously tear women down; raising funds for Samaritans using the #BeKind message Caroline had posted; signing petitions to enact stronger laws around online bullying. However, it has been reduced to a hashtag which seems only to serve those who are not following its message themselves. We shouldn’t forget stories like Caroline Flack’s, which show the real impact of bullying by the media and online, but we also shouldn’t allow these stories to be hijacked by those who only use them only to avoid criticism or put the negative spotlight on others.

SCIENCE AND TECH EDITOR

This time last year, I was sitting on a train to go home and have a night out with my friends for the first time since coming to university. I was excited to catch up with them over a few drinks in a crowded club in the city centre of Liverpool. The biggest concern I had was the cost of the taxi I had to get home.

“And just in case you’re worried, unless student unions receive reduced funding, I think Hive is safe...”

A year on, the idea of travelling across the country casually and mixing with so many people seems absurd. Going on those sorts of nights out were integral to my first year. Admittedly, I’m not the biggest clubber – I just like getting slightly drunk and then screaming along to songs. However, the weird experiences in clubs were how I formed my best friendships. Something about sticky floors and accidentally breaking a hand-dryer brings people together. Freshers this year have had to form friendships in different ways - and without having already experienced the nights out that Glasgow has to offer, will they flock to it once nightclubs reopen?

Flat parties have replaced most nightclub experiences. While they’re not necessarily legal, we’re all aware that they’ve been going on. People need to be social. Flat parties are often smaller and quieter, but possibly are prone to far

higher alcohol consumption. It replaces that need to be in a busy place, pumped full of alcohol and meeting new people. It’s practically the same, except the chances of meeting a stranger are far lower. I prefer flat parties to clubs, mostly because it’s easier to talk to people. However, the fact that they continue to exist in our current circumstances shows that there is a demand for alcohol-fuelled gatherings that isn’t going away.

It may be optimistic, but I’m hoping that by the time I’m graduating, clubs will be open again. By that point, I probably won’t have lost my love for getting drunk and screaming incorrect lyrics. Even if current first-years feel they don’t need to go to Sauchiehall Street on every free night because they’ve coped with university without that temptation, I’m confident anyone older will jump at the chance to get back out. That’s also assuming that there are no first years who had taken a gap year and went clubbing, or that we all only magically started going to clubs the day we turned 18 - I imagine most first years know what they’re missing out on.

When clubs are allowed to reopen, many of those students will finally be introduced to the venues around Glasgow. Unfortunately, it’s expected that many clubs won’t be able to financially survive Covid-19, but new venues will open in their place. As explained, there will most definitely be a demand for nightclubs going forward. If there’s a demand, then businesses will expand, or new opportunities will be made for entrepreneurs. While many established venues will, unfortunately, close in this period, nothing has replaced the feeling of being out with your friends in a club, and so I don’t believe that the entire nightclub scene will cease to exist: it may just be in a reduced size for a while.

Credit: Jack Corban - Multimedia Editor

And just in case you’re worried, unless student unions receive reduced funding, I think Hive is safe.

Anybody who has complained that they miss Hive can rest assured: Hive will live another day.

“I don’t believe that the entire nightclub scene will cease to exist: it may just be in a reduced size for a while...”

From what I can tell, the nightclub scene won’t be one of the casualties of Covid-19. While the industry will be changed because of the closure of the entertainment sector, it won’t cease to exist. In places with young people, there will always be a desire to go out and meet new people, and this is easiest in a nightclub setting.

It’s a venue to make friends, have fun, create new memories, hear new music, and our want to experience these things isn’t going to suddenly disappear due to a pandemic. Assuming the industry is free to reopen once Covid-19 is no longer a threat, they will experience the success that they had in the past if not more success. The only issue would be if the virus was still a threat, but anybody who’s been attending house parties probably won’t care about the health risks.

Until then, I’d suggest you spend some nights with your flatmates recreating the experience: dim the lights, make some awful decisions, whip out the homemade pints of fun, and blast the Hive Spotify playlist.

THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN

6 November 2020

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Yes, you’re allowed to be mad right now

We can only keep calm and carry on for so long Orla Brady WRITER

“I cannot believe people are complaining so much. All we’re being asked to do is sit on the couch and watch Netflix! Think about when people had to go through during the war!”

This is something that I have heard repeatedly over the last seven months, and I have fervently disagreed each time. It implies that our frustration towards coronavirus restrictions means that we have lost that traditional British “Keep Calm and Carry On” spirit. It also disregards the struggles that so many are facing as our livelihoods, relationships, and health are put at risk. Adapting to unforeseen circumstances has been incredibly demanding. We must reject the expectation to react in a prescribed way.

We are not living under the

imminent threat of bombs being dropped from the sky and destroying our homes. But, arguably, we are dealing with something just as dangerous. This virus has claimed the lives of approximately one million people, and over 44,000 of those deaths have been in Britain. To me, there is no greater fear than something beyond our control claiming our lives, or the lives of our loved ones.

Lockdown had us confined to our homes for the most part. We were cut off from friends, family, and the outside world, facing loneliness, isolation, and fear. For the elderly, and those with underlying health conditions, it was even harder. The NHS came under unimaginable strain, with only a weekly clap on the streets as thanks. Businesses have struggled to survive, unemployment has soared, and establishments all over the country closed with little warning. To say it’s been

hard is an understatement - and with figures once again rising, it seems that we aren’t close to being out of the woods yet.

We are incredibly fortunate to live in an era where technology allows us to connect with family and friends through the touch of a button. The daunting prospect of spending days, weeks, or even months at home can be eased slightly by binging our favourite Netflix shows, working out from home, researching new recipes to try or doing that online course you always wanted to try. I don’t know about you, but as of late these novelties are beginning to wear off, becoming tedious and repetitive.

After seven months, I firmly believe that it is okay to feel lonely, anxious, bored, or frustrated without comparing ourselves to past generations and feeling guilty. It is even okay to feel angry too. Many of us have lost the best part of a year to

this virus, and with it, countless opportunities and experiences. Being forced to sit at home whilst thinking about what could or should have been is bound to bring up feelings of disappointment and sadness. That we do not know when we can return to some version of normality is frustrating. That does not mean that we lack an understanding of the bigger picture.

I’m turning 24 next month. I have frequently seen the pity on my parent’s faces as I tell them how much I miss going out and spending time with my friends. It’s reassuring to hear them say that they would have struggled with being told to stay indoors at my age. We are at a time in our lives where we should have the freedom to do what we want to do, go where we want to go, experience what we want to experience. To be candid, I am angry that this virus has stopped us from enjoying our youth. I am angry that we cannot

make plans for our futures because we simply do not know what that future will look like. And I can only assume that the young people who lived through WWII would have felt something very similar.

It’s not as simple as staying in and watching television; Britain’s coronavirus restrictions have come at a massive cost for many of us. Of course, it is important to look back at past generations to understand how they dealt with and adapted to life-changing circumstances similar to the coronavirus pandemic.

However, there is no benefit in demanding a more suitable reaction toward the catastrophic events of this year. I have found it helpful to take life a day at a time; to accept and embrace whatever thoughts, emotions or feelings come my way.

These are extraordinary times; we are allowed to feel whatever we want or need to feel.

Editorial: Pausing to give thanks Holly Jennings and Jordan Hunter EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

In the UK, Thanksgiving can feel like an alien concept to us. After all, what’s a British Christmas without bitching about your family to your uni friends, complaining about Boris Johnson over the dinner table (which will definitely set off your not actually racist uncle), before vomiting over your childhood bedroom from too much mashed potato and mulled wine. November for us is mainly cold weather, only accentuated by the 12-hour Daft Friday queue we all ritually choose to suffer, as we begrudge through deadlines. There’s hardly time to make sweet potato casserole topped with marshmallows.

“‘This year I’m grateful for the chance to slow down and refocus...’”

There is no denying there are controversies surrounding the celebration of Thanksgiving. But we don’t want to use this editorial to discuss the history of colonialism that is rooted in every American tradition, we want to tell you what we’re thankful for. Brits criticise Americans for a lot, often rightly (sorry Jordan), but taking some time at the end of the year to dwell on the positives is some-

thing we all could use right now.

This year, there isn’t a person who hasn’t suffered in some capacity.

Suffering, of course, happens every year, but perhaps not in the quantities 2020 has been serving us. We don’t need to discuss what we’ve lost, because the list would go on forever. However, now more than ever, we can appreciate what we do have. We can appreciate our friends, family, and health.

Over the last 10 months, we’ve learned to know how it is to live without these things, and in turn, have begun to appreciate them more.

History aside, we’d like to recount what we’re thankful for. Holly’s thankful for the stash of Tunnocks caramel wafers in the office, the people in her life, and the opportunity to be writing these words. She’s not quite sure how she managed to bag this position, but she’s sure it’s one of the best things she’s ever done. She’s also extremely grateful for the latest trailer for The Crown; goosebumps. Jordan’s thankful for his beloved Ohio State Buckeyes being undefeated so far, the fact this paper still continues despite the stresses of this year, and the wonderful support his friends have provided, especially being far from home during this time of year.

We spoke to members of the team to ask them what they’re thankful for this year: Tara Gandhi, Social Media and Production Manager: 2020 put me through the ringer, but I met my boyfriend, which has been this year’s saving grace.

I’m also so grateful I have been

able to start therapy, something I am lucky to have access to.

“November for us is mainly cold weather, only accentuated by the 12-hour Daft Friday queue...”

Rebecca Scott, Deputy Editor-in-Chief: I’m grateful for having found the most solid support group through The GG. Going through university life as a home student was really difficult, and this was only exacerbated when classes were all put online. But thanks to The GG, I’ve been lucky enough to be surrounded by the most wonderful and supportive friends, for whom I’m so entirely thankful.

Rosie Shackles, Culture Editor: I am grateful for takeaways.

They have provided a means of keeping track of what happened when during this Groundhog Year. Just about the only thing I can remember from May is my parents 27th wedding anniversary - celebrated with curry- and the rest seems to be a strange, stressful blur. Takeaways seem to have marked all the 2020 milestones; my brother’s graduation (Chinese carry-out), my boy-

friend moving to London (Julie’s Kopitiam), and my 21st with my lovely flatmates (Waitrose sushi and a hungover Dumpling Monkey). Normally we would celebrate with parties or dinners out, trips away and whole families together, but until we can do that again, I am indebted to the humble takeaway.

Sofia Stephens, Books Editor: This year I’m grateful for the chance to slow down and refocus, for the chance to read everything I never had time for, for the shine of my plant’s new leaves, for the blurriness of my camera when I cry on the phone to my mum, for sausage rolls for just £1, for the feeling of seeing the sunrise over the Clyde, for the cute grocery boy bagging my tomatoes, and for the big, heart-warming, never-ending love of those around me.

Hailie Pentleton, Views Editor: This year I’m grateful for the 20 years of practice I had at expecting the world to collapse around me, it’s made the real thing much more bearable. I’m also extra appreciative of colourful cardigans and chunky knit socks, forever saving me from daring to give Scottish Power an extra penny of my hard-earned student loan.

Michelle Osborne, Science and Tech Editor: This year I’m grateful for the internet existing... for so many reasons but mostly so I can keep in touch with all my family and friends during this lovely pandemic.

Genevieve Brown, Culture Editor: I’m grateful for box bleach and nail varnish. I can’t justify gaming with all my uni work so I’m being my own Sim! Traditionally,

this

celebration

“Taking some time at the end of the year to dwell on the positives is something we all could use right now...” is also an opportunity to think about those who are less fortunate. As we take time to express our gratitude, we should also think about those who aren’t as lucky as us. More importantly than thinking, we should also do. To be generous, you don’t need to drop your Pret subscription in exchange for a donation to charity (although this would be a lovely thing to do). Perhaps, you give one of your five coffees to someone who can’t afford a warm drink this month. Or even checking in on the friend you’ve noticed has stopped coming to Zoom socials, reminding them how happy you are to have them in your life. In the immortal words of the messiah, Harry Styles, treat people with kindness.

THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN

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6 November 2020

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Vent to views: advice from our editors This month, Emily and Hailie take on binge eating and new relationships

Hailie Pentleton and Emily Hay VIEWS EDITORS

Content Warning: Binge eating, disordered eating I’m a first year and during Freshers’ Week I got into a relationship - like an actual boyfriend and girlfriend relationship. I would never have imagined myself in this situation, mainly because I always thought of first year being the year of getting with random people. It feels right to be with her, but I really don’t want to look back and regret anything, especially seeing everyone around me having a great time being single. But at the same time why do I have to compare myself with everyone else? I’m really confused on what to do, I feel like I’m at a crossroad and I don’t know which direction to go in.

Emily: This is actually something I have first-hand experience with. The summer between my sixth year and starting uni I somehow ended up in a relationship. No one was more shocked than I was. I had never really had much experience with boys in high school, so the fact that I wound up in an actual relationship the minute I had any sort of freedom and a license to legally buy booze was surreal to me.

We’d been together for six weeks by the time I moved to Glasgow for my Freshers’ Week, which was when the doubts set in. For me it wasn’t so much about getting off with random people – it

only took a few crap kisses in clubs for me to realise it wasn’t a favourite past time, and I wasn’t comfortable enough with sex yet to feel anything other than terrified at the prospect of getting naked in front of a stranger. But I did feel, at the beginning, like it was getting in my way of fully letting go of home and throwing myself into new friendships and social events since he was coming to visit me every other week.

When I went home for reading week I had hit the point where I really thought I was going to break up with him, because I felt like he was just way more into it than I was.

“If it honestly feels good to be with her then don’t let some idea of what your uni experience ‘should’ be like get in the way of something that could be special...”

Long story short – it’s four years later and now I live with him. I’m pretty certain he’s my life partner. When I went home for that week I had such a great time with him that by the time I got back to uni he seemed to slot into my new life there almost seamlessly. Looking back now,

I think the doubts I was having were just tied to all the upheaval and stress of moving away from home and starting my course, because from that point on he made everything in my life easier, and I never had a single problem in bringing him along to nights out with f latmates or society socials.

It’s hard to give advice on this because only you know how you really feel, but if it honestly feels good to be with her then don’t let some idea of what your uni experience “should” be like get in the way of something that could be special. In the current circumstances would you be getting off with people left, right and centre anyway? And even if you were, are a string of onenight stands and tinder dates more meaningful than a deep, loving relationship? They may deny it, but I think a lot of those singletons around you might not be having as great a time as they let on.

On the other hand, if you find yourself continually feeling like this then it isn’t fair to lead her on. That’s cruel, and will just make it all the worse when you do eventually break up – as you inevitably will if your heart isn’t in it anymore. It might be a good idea to try and plan a bit of time on your own, to get your head straight, but then make sure to spend some proper time together as a couple and talk about how you feel. Maybe she feels similar, and maybe talking through things will help both of you. Maybe things will work out, or maybe they won’t - but either way, it’s better than being in limbo.

I’m really struggling with binge eating but I don’t think I can talk to anyone about it because people don’t think of it as a real problem.

Hailie: Although I imagine you already know and accept this, binge eating is a “real problem”, and has likely been exacerbated by the adverse circumstances we find ourselves midst. The eating disorder charity BEAT reports a 50% rise in calls to their helpline, and that they’ve had an even greater increase in the number of people contacting them via social media.

Although it isn’t a consolation for your own struggles, know that many people have really struggled to cope with eating difficulties because of our disrupted routines and living situations.

I’ve struggled with my eating for as long as I can remember, but it wasn’t until two months ago that I opened up more about my difficulties with food. I am lucky to have a patient and encouraging therapist, but I know that more often than not this isn’t the case.

Discussions about our eating habits are often uncomfortable. Binge eating, with assumed connotations of “laziness” or “lack of control” brings with it a lot of shame, beyond the slight embarrassment that comes with being shamed for putting ketchup in your macaroni, or for secretly hating hummus.

The first step to getting help is acknowledging that your concerns are valid, and it seems that you have. To admit that you have a problem with food takes a lot of strength. Although it seems easier, this is not something you should shoulder alone. If you aren’t ready to talk to your family or friends but feel you’d like some advice, I’d

recommend getting in touch with BEAT, which has a separate helpline specifically for students, and really coherent resources.

If you do feel ready to talk it out, don’t be afraid to take it slow.

Choose people you expect to be understanding and an environment that makes you feel safe. Something I’ve found important to assert is that you don’t need to hear about the health risks; you know them, and you likely encounter them before, during, and after a binge. The binge cycle brings with it a cycle of fear, shame, and regret that can be difficult to quantify in a few rational sentences.

Often, binge eating and compulsive eating develop as methods of coping with other stressors in our lives. While perhaps not ideal, I’ve learned that it is important to acknowledge that, rather than shaming ourselves for the way that we cope. Recovery is a difficult journey, and I’m proud of you for wanting to make that first step.

Have a question you’d like Emily and Hailie to answer? Scan the QR code to make an anonymous submission for our next issue!

Contributors Editors Holly Jennings & Jordan Hunter Deputy Editors Rebecca Scott & Chloe Waterhouse Production Tara Gandhi News Ollie Rudden, Silas Pease, Matilda Handley, Jordan Hunter, Holly Jennings, Gisele Inglis, Luke Chafer, Roshika Perera, Sofia Della Sala

Views Emily Hay, Hailie Pentleton, Tara Gandhi, Katherine Prentice, Christy O’Hanlon, Jack Corban, Rothery Sullivan, Ciara McAlinden, Michelle Osborne, Rachel Campbell, Orla Brady

Joseph Evans, Jarrod Grant, Claire Thomson, Niall Turner, Rebecca Richard

Features Nairne Clark Hopkinson, Jamie SalemDalgety, Ananya Venkatesan, Sofia Della Sala, Emily Hay

Sport Jamie Byrne, Craig Smith, Luke Chafer, Claire Thomson, Thomas Harris, Max Kelly, Amy Pope

Culture Genevieve Brown, Rosie Shackles, Katrina Williams, Heather McSwan, Jodie Leith, Madeline Pritchard, Max Kelly, Sofia Stephens, Ananya Venkatesan, Bethany Woodhead, Emily Hay, Janika Popova, Esme Orssich, Hailie Pentleton, Emily Menger-Davies, Natalia Pieniazek, Olivia Marrins, Goose Masondo, Ananya Venkatesan, Leda Basile, Ethan Brodie,

Photography & Illustrations Allison Campbell, AJ Duncan, Dorota Dziki, Hailie Pentleton, Lisa Paul, Rosie Wilson, Ioanna Chrysanthakopoulou, Jack Corban, Ciara McAdlinden, Tara Gandhi, Emma Garcia Melchor, Roisin Stangoe

Science & Tech Michelle Osborne, Jordan Hunter, Claire Thomson, Rebecca Scott

Online & Social Media Becca Luke, Rianna George & Tara Gandhi

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THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN

6 November 2020

15

Features

QAnon: from an online mystery to a real-life crisis Ananya Venkatesan THEATRE EDITOR

Has someone ever told you that the actors, politicians, and celebrity personalities you know and love are part of a global paedophilic, bloodsucking, autocratic syndicate? If not, you clearly haven’t heard QAnon.

In what seems like a decade ago, the comparatively blissful times of November 2017, YouTube creator Tracy Diaz along with two moderators from 4chan (an online far-right platform), brought to the world another conspiracy – QAnon. Followers of the theory claim that Hillary Clinton along with a series of other Democrats, Hollywood stars, and politicians across the world, are part of a satanic “deep state” – an underground child sex ring that uses children’s blood to elongate their lifespan.

“Q”, a high ranking official in the military, gives believers secret messages and clues to reveal the plans of Donald Trump who has been recruited by the military to thwart this organisation and liberate the people of the world from the autocratic control of the “deep state” in “The Great Awakening”.

Soon after its inception, QAnon moved to Reddit in an effort to gain a larger audience and “spread the message”. Reddit, having forever been a home to questionable conspiracy theories, allowed for the QAnon movement to succeed in its recruitment goals, and they eventually crept into Facebook where they gained a new audience demographic – senior citizens, appealing to many of their rightwing tendencies. Extreme sites like 4chan and 8chan now saw a flood of “Boomers” using their services to connect to other far-right conspiracy theorists, anti-vaxxers, and anti-5G propogandists.

Being locked up at home with not much but the internet to keep people company has not helped with the situation, and followers of the bizarre QAnon conspiracy have increased exponentially dur-

Credit: Ioanna Chrysanthakopoulou - Illustrator ing the pandemic. With thousands of people googling the health crisis in a frenzy, eventually, with the ways in which internet algorithms work, these people are connected to QAnon’s theories.

An interviewee on MSNBC stated: “We saw a lot of groups who were wellness communities, people who were interested in alternate health. The algorithm would sort these people together with the QAnon people. They would say.

Alternative health? Maybe they’re into anti-vax. If they’re anti-vax, maybe they’re into Donald Trump!

And within one or two clicks, people would go down these very bad paths.”

Not only that, but algorithms also connect conspiracy to conspiracy. The lines between anti-vax, 5G, and Covid deniers is extremely thin, to the point where it might be considered non-existent. The primary reason behind these blurry lines is the common underlying sentiment among them – far-right and anti-establishment rhetoric and, most importantly, widespread hysteria and fear. Although they many display underlying predispositions of subconscious racist, xenophobic, and/or right leaning ten-

dencies, new recruits of unfounded and dangerous conspiracy theories like QAnon aren’t necessarily those who would have bought into these bigoted narratives, if not for the mystery and misinformation that was rampant in the initial days of the coronavirus pandemic - thanks to severe mismanagement of the crisis. One might assume that the grasps of QAnon would not have left the borders of its birthplace – the United States of America – but as 2020’s modus operandi would have it, its phantom claws have reached Britain. How? Social media.

“Reddit, having forever been a home to questionable conspiracy theories, allowed for the QAnon movement to succeed in its recruitment goals...”

In Facebook, we can find a cesspool of crazy conspiracy memes talking about an international child sex ring run by society’s elites, supplied by schools that have reopened. And now almost everyone from toddlers to grandparents seem to have an account on what was initially to be a college networking site. With Zuckerberg’s “free speech” policies, until recently, there was no filter to the content being spread – and this functioned as a key propagator of the conspiracy and recruitment tool for QAnon. People buying into it believe coronavirus to be a smokescreen to allow for the “deep state” to gain access to their children.

The problem here is that we are not talking about 10s and 20s, we’re talking about hundreds of people that buy into this rhetoric; these are not just ideas, they have very physical consequences in the real-world. QAnon, anti-vaxxers, Covid deniers, 5G Covid believers all band together in marches – like the protests in London – to “free the children”, or participate anti-mask campaigns, and spread their conspiracies to an already scared and hysteric public. Re-

ports across papers confirm that the protests in London were an amalgamation of conspiracy theorists. It is crucial to note that this is a vicious cycle – mass gatherings of people function as breeding grounds for the virus that has crippled the world, and increased lockdown means more people on the internet which almost certainly leads to a rise in conspiracy believers.

What is particularly sickening to see is that the right-wing leaders like Donald Trump do not condemn the behaviours of these groups but use them as a voting bloc, even accepting the role of the messiah. With QAnon believers getting into public office, and personalities like Piers Corbyn making statements that may not be outright stamps for the conspiracy but sure as hell fuel the principles behind them, protestors are roused to march on the streets endangering not just themselves but also every single person in the country and even the world. These are not just filter bubbles that exist in the dark corners of the web, they are real-world protests; and even if they existed only within the abstract internet, they cannot be ignored. These are real people with the capability to vote, people who have a say in who runs the government and what policies are implemented – legislation that affects thousands and thousands of people’s lives. Now more than ever, when the entire world is battling this pandemic, fighting for a return to normalcy, we must ensure that those in power take into account the threat posed by unchecked conspiracies, and understand the effect misinformation has in enabling these groups.

Next time you read something online, a crazy theory of the mole people or paedophilic sex rings, remind yourself that these may not be the ‘facts’ you should live your life by, perhaps we all need to question what we hear.

THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN

16

6 November 2020

Features

My love life: or the lack of it

The first in a new series looking at different romantic outlooks from various students Sofia Della Sala SCIENCE AND TECH COLUMNIST

Simply put, my love life is non-existent. I didn’t think that at 22, in my final year of university, I would be in the same place most people are at 14: a couple of sloppy kisses filling my romantic and sexual portfolio. As a pre-teen I would devour books with titles such as Kisses for Lula and Girls in Love, where the 15-year-old protagonists would dream about boys, and the book would revolve around them obtaining their first kiss from the captain of the football team with the heart-stopping dimples. Then 15 came and went, and there had been no earth-shattering kiss. I moved onto more brooding teen romances like Soulmates where the characters in their last year of school, predictably, find their soulmate. This made sense - what was I thinking? I had to wait out the end of high school; that’s when everyone gets together. And most of my friends did. I, on the other hand, packed up the YA fiction, having outgrown it. We all know real life doesn’t work like that anyway, the time will come when it does… at university, obviously.

What was less obvious was how nervous I would feel around guys.

During school, I was sure guys saw me as “the geek who doesn’t drink”.

I thought this would change at university. After all, I started drinking, and who isn’t “cool” then? But I would constantly worry about what guys thought of me, if I was boring or dull. I wanted to be funny, but didn’t know how. “Just be yourself,” I was told, only to not understand who else I was being.

In first year, I was asked out by a couple of guys which sent me into a wild panic. I was convinced they’d run a mile when they found out that it would’ve been my first date and that not only was I a virgin, but hadn’t even had my first kiss. It was easier to politely turn them down and carry on as I had. These were missed opportunities - I didn’t have to find the love of my life on these dates, just simply get to know someone. But even that seemed too daunting.

Thankfully, my mind-set has now changed; I enjoy meeting new people and wouldn’t turn down a date (although offers have been

Credit: Unsplash scarce). However, I find myself reversing to my old ways when I am intimidated or when I desperately want a guy to like me. Especially when it is a seemingly normal interaction. Are we flirting? Do I even know how to flirt? How do I let him know I am interested without being obvious? Reading “signals” has always been a struggle for me, with my friends often asking why I didn’t get with the guy who was flirting with me. He was flirting?!

It doesn’t help that my limited dating experience has been somewhat underwhelming. From my first kiss in Viper (legend) towards the end of first year, to my two dates in second year, it is far from a stellar record. For the first awkward date, we went for drinks on Ashton Lane and occupied ourselves with semi-engaging small talk. All relatively pleasant... until he kissed me in the middle of the bar. I wasn’t sure if it was a normal move, but it was a date after all, so I stopped over analyzing and just shook off my discomfort. We left soon after. I was relieved that I made it through without many qualms or hiccups.

We walked home, down University Avenue. He took hold of my hand, which perplexed me. It was December, my hands were freezing, surely it would be more effective if they were in each of our respective pockets? Halfway down University Avenue, I felt myself being pulled backwards - he had stopped walking. And kissed me.

Full on. In the middle of University Avenue. I cringed: date or no date, this was too intense. I shyly broke

away. He insisted on walking me home, despite my assurance that there was no need. If he was happy for us to make out on University Avenue, then sure enough he had no issue outside my flat door.

Does he want me to invite him up?

Not happening - regardless of how much he tries to kiss my neck.

“I convinced myself that I couldn’t reliably complain about my lack of love life if I didn’t even give an interested guy a chance...”

I swiftly returned to the easy realms of my flat and conveniently my flatmate saw the whole thing from the window. She reassured me that it was excessive. I am quite a tactile person, growing up with four sisters (It was rare to not have someone’s arm on my head or foot in my armpit), which made me question why I felt uncomfortable with the physical aspects of the date. Thankfully with the Christmas break coming up, I didn’t have to worry about him for a while. But on the last weekend of the holidays, the merriment was cut short when he asked to see me. I didn’t particularly want to, nor feel the need; the first date was mediocre at best.

However, I convinced myself that I couldn’t reliably complain about my lack of love life if I didn’t even give

an interested guy a chance. All that needs said about our second date is that when we were parting ways at Kelvingrove subway station, he went in for another inappropriately placed kiss, which I politely declined this time. He responded with a handshake. And with that, our transaction was complete.

Interestingly though, I wouldn’t consider myself an insecure person in my day to day life. I am rather confident and sure of myself for the most part. It has made me think vthat a person is neither “secure” nor “insecure” overall, but just at ease in certain situations more than others. I don’t look for constant reassurance when it comes to my interaction with guys. Sure, it’s nice to be told that I could get with someone if I “went for it” (how?!), but I don’t need it to justify my actions. What I do need is to realise that not everyone is some super-confident, smooth-talking, rom-com protagonist, and that everyone is nervous sometimes.

And if I do make a move but completely misread the situation... so what? I am in no different a position than I started out in, and the other person would be flattered.

Being asked out, or liked (if done in the right way) is flattering, the worst I will have done is pay someone a compliment. At least that is what I tell myself, but am rarely able to act on it. I did ask someone out at Christmas which was a big achievement for me. He was someone I hadn’t seen in five years so, even if he turned me down, I wouldn’t have been put out. Naturally the “date” itself was a blur

of trying to keep the conversation going, and I got so worked up over whether he thought it was a date or just a catch-up with an old friend that I ran away at the end so that I would never find out. Baby steps.

I am not what comes to mind when you think of the term “happily single”. I am not the girl who got out of a relationship six months ago and is now ready to “get back out there”; I was never “out there” to begin with. But just because I don’t sleep with people or chat on Tinder doesn’t mean I’m not happy - simply that I’m still at the starting line whilst others are halfway through the race. I guess you can’t miss what you never had. Don’t get me wrong, it would be nice, and I do think about having a boyfriend or even getting past that stage where I can be “happily single’. I just have to blow the whistle first.

I’m not sure how I got into the position I am in. I certainly didn’t think this is where I would be when I was 13 and reading Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging. My friends have their own theories, mostly centred on the fact that I haven’t found the right person yet: “Don’t settle for less than you deserve”. The problem is that my standards might be set too high, the rugged prince charming of romance novels still not completely erased from the back of my mind. And Covid-19 doesn’t make the situation easier; I have now convinced myself I need to get onto dating apps if I have any hope of meeting someone this year. I have barely gotten past the first hurdle of creating a profile for the fear of what people will think, let alone trying to have a conversation with someone with whom I have barely any connection. A conversation that has to be witty and funny whilst getting to know each other, but in a light-hearted way. Yet also deep, with a bit of flirting sprinkled in.

I may not be “in love”, but I take back what I said at the beginning - I definitely do have a love life. As cheesy as it is, I have a great circle of friends who I can rely on at all times and a family who support me no matter what. My life is pretty full of love, and if ever I want a little piece of nostalgia or romanticism in my life, I have a kindle full of novels to choose from. I may be alone, but I’m definitely not lonely.

THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN

6 November 2020

17

Features

Post-lockdown utopia?

What would be the dream world after the social changes of lockdown?

Emily Hay VIEWS EDITOR

There’s no denying it’s been one hell of a year – and mostly for the worse at that. When the coronavirus lockdown was ushered in back in March it felt like the world was ending, but whilst it didn’t come without its fair share of anxiety and heartache, we mostly managed to adapt to our new circumstances. In fact, for some of us, lockdown brought some previously unthinkable (and almost utopian) ideals to fruition in the attempt to mitigate the disaster awaiting us. Don’t get me wrong, nothing the UK government got right really went anyway to repairing the damage that their slow reactions and general incompetence had gotten so wrong (or the decade of austerity they had forced on us prior) but what they did do was give the public a taste of just what a society could do to make its citizen’s lives better. They showed the general public just what we’d been missing out on. So now, I want you to imagine a world where we live with those things on the daily – only minus the deadly virus and Uncle Boris imposed curfews.

afford my rent, let alone those other frivolous necessities like food. When the furlough scheme was announced it was the first sigh of relief I’d breathed in weeks. Sunak’s words that day felt like living in a world turned upside down: a Conservative government... effectively nationalising the economy?

The unthinkable had come to fruition. Yet, once the relief had settled then the questions started coming to mind: if the government could afford to pay the salaries of nine million people at the drop of a hat, then they always had the money for everything they had always told us that the country couldn’t afford. Potential future policies: improving the benefits system, implementing a universal basic income (UBI), eradicating the need for food banks, ending child poverty? Yes, they went further into debt to support jobs, but what they conveniently don’t like to mention is that governments can be in quite a lot of debt without any real consequences. Not to mention the fact that a guaranteed UBI for everyone in society would itself have

“Dragging yourself out of bed on Monday morning may not be so bad if you knew you had some support to fall back on...”

Imagine that no matter what you did, you knew you didn’t have to worry about your income month to month. Back in March, before the full lockdown, I was terrified about catching the virus.

Not for my health, but because it would mean a two-week isolation period where I couldn’t go to work – and I was ineligible for sick pay.

At that time there was nothing which scared me more than the thought that my work would be forced to close indefinitely; without that income I couldn’t even

Credit: Unsplash

gone a long way to mitigating the economic effects of the pandemic: to get out of recessions, people need to go out and spend money, but they can’t do that if they don’t have enough money to live. In my perfect post-lockdown world, not only would there be a universal basic income for everyone, but the public would never again swallow the idea of a “need” for austerity without question. We know where you keep the money Rishi, and we’re coming for it.

“Lockdown brought some previously unthinkable (and almost utopian) ideals to fruition...”

Imagine your healthcare system not only being free at point of use, but also being properly funded. Somehow, in a country that has a weird amount of national pride in its healthcare system, this one seems even more farfetched than implementing UBI.

Wouldn’t it be nice if post-pandemic, when our hospitals have been stretched to breaking point, Boris and Rishi could dig deep into those cavernous pockets and properly fund the NHS? 10 years of austerity certainly hasn’t helped our health service in their ability to wage war on a militant virus (and I’m not talking about privatisation); so with what they know now the government would never return to the stripped back, understaffed and overstretched system the NHS has been forced to deal with since the tories came to power... right? Ah well, a girl can dream.

Imagine if our mental wellbeing was a thing the government actually cared about when it came to policy. In their endeavour to stave off a second total lockdown, Westminster and the devolved administrations have enjoyed bandying about the fact that continued restrictions are bad for our mental health. However, it seems pretty clear (especially in Westminster’s case) that this fact is mainly to allow them to continue opening up the economy no matter how physically dangerous it

may be. But what if, on the other side of all of this, the government and our employers could take that performative concern and turn it into substantive change? Proper funding for mental health services, more opportunities to work from home where possible, all in all just a better work-life balance – doesn’t that all sound fantastic?

Over the course of the pandemic, I’ve heard some companies who continued operating (albeit, from home) gave their employees extra holidays specifically as “mental health days” to help them cope with the upheaval. Just imagine the possibilities if the government implemented that as a scheme across all workplaces.

Dragging yourself out of bed on Monday morning may not be so bad if you knew you had some support to fall back on.

“10 years of austerity certainly hasn’t helped our health service...”

Imagine if forcing people to work when unwell was completely a thing of the past. I’m personally really excited at the potential for no longer feeling pressured to drag myself to work, or anywhere else for that matter, when I’ve got a cold. The upside of the paranoia caused by this pandemic is that it’s definitely frowned upon – if not outright illegal – for your boss to insist you come in and interact with colleagues and customers when you’re sniffly because you’re “not that ill”. Oh, I’m sorry Sandra, would you rather I sneezed all over you? Yeah, I thought not.

Imagine a country where all of this was likely to stick. Perhaps the best, and most likely outcome of the trials and tribulations of this year? What, with their delayed reactions, mixed messaging, ill-planned marketing campaigns, and general incompetence, the Tories might just have dug their own electoral grave. Now, that’s something that might just make the months of cancelled plans and being stuck indoors worthwhile after all.

THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN

18

6 November 2020

Culture

Commercialising your pastimes: facing the fantasy Turning your hobby into a job may not be the fairytale you’ve been looking for from. I’ve been there and done that, with last-minute gift making at Christmas, and it put me off picking the knitting needles up again for my own projects for months after.

Emily Hay VIEWS EDITOR

Which TikTok sounds do you hear in your nightmares? Come on, I know you have at least one.

One that plays over and over in your head when you close your eyes at night. One that, when you hear it start playing, you impulsively swipe up to get away from the video as fast as you can.

Chances are that it didn’t start out that way. It was just another inane TikTok sound, until one day you’d sat through it too many times and something snapped.

Now it’s like a UTI for your ears: surprisingly painful, and something you’ll do almost anything to avoid.

“Even our downtime – has to be monetised, and if it’s not then we’re failing in our potential as participating members of society...”

During our seemingly 20 year lockdown that sound for me became “small business check!”, or, even worse, “I-was-furloughed/ fired-from-my-job-so-I-took-upX-Y-and-Z-hobby-and-turned-itinto-a-business-check”.

It started out as one of my most-watched genres of TikTok. I’ve always been kind of addicted to crafts (the more old-ladyish, the better) and lockdown only exacerbated this, but it pretty quickly turned sour for me. Since I took up a frankly alarming amount of crafts with a decent amount of ferocity a few years back, I’ve had countless

“I can’t think of anything worse than looking down at that yarn in hand and seeing yet another deadline...”

Credit: AJ Duncan - Illustrator people, from friends to family members, my partner and even my boss, comment that I should make things to sell them rather than just for me. And I have to admit that after refuting that suggestion time after time it now strikes a raw nerve with me. The answer? Quite honestly, I just don’t want to.

When you’re a teenager, almost everything that you think you might want to do with your life starts out as a hobby. Want to study English Lit at uni? Reading is your hobby. Want to become a photographer? Taking pictures is your hobby. Want to become a writer of any description? Making a blog or writing in your spare time is your hobby. Due to the competitive nature of university admissions and job openings, if you want a chance at something becoming a future career it feels like you have to make that thing your life as a teenager or a young adult. But the problem is, once that thing becomes something you have to do, you end up needing to take up new activities to

allow you to de-stress from it – to give you the same sense of serenity you once gleaned from the activity itself. This is exactly the trajectory I followed. Once upon a time reading was my life, and then I started a literature degree and reviewing books for a magazine, so I needed something else to take up my spare time that didn’t feel like work. I used to write because I loved putting words to paper, and then I took on responsibilities with various publications and suddenly I needed something else to do in my free time that was purely for me. It’s a vicious, never-ending cycle. If you let something that you love become a potential career or source of income, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you love it any less, but it does bring with it a whole host of stresses that you didn’t have when it was just for fun.

When my life fills up with deadlines and my stress-levels skyrocket, I find escapism in the form of reading or watching TV difficult because I just can’t silence the thoughts in my head.

“If you want a chance at something becoming a future career it feels like you have to make that thing your life...”

But what I found did help me more than anything else was doing something with my hands, which is why I so aggressively took up knitting, crocheting and now, weaving, during my uni years. Working with my hands forces me to concentrate and pushes out all those anxiety-riddled thoughts so that I can actively relax. I can’t think of anything worse than looking down at that yarn in hand and seeing yet another deadline or piss-poor profit margin to just add to the noise in my brain that I’m trying so hard to escape

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not criticising those people who want to turn hobbies into businesses or future career paths – after all, isn’t that what I’m actively doing with reading and writing? Especially for people who have been forced to earn money any way they can due to a lack of work and an even bigger lack of government support for being out of work. If you’ve fallen victim to the cogs of the capitalist machine in the past, I can see why you’d want to take matters into your own hands and become your own boss.

But what I do take issue with is a society which is obsessed with the idea of everyone having a side-hustle to earn extra money, when that society itself isn’t providing them with enough financial security. One which has drilled into people that all of our time – even our downtime – has to be monetised, and if it’s not then we’re failing in our potential as participating members of society. One which has created a culture where if art isn’t made for profit, then it’s inherently less valuable than that which is.

Thanks, but no thanks. I think I’ll keep my free time just that – free.

THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN

6 November 2020

19

Culture

Home Comforts: Creme fraiche on the brain Janika Popova discusses how comfort food and self-love coincide Janika Popova TRAVEL COLUMNIST

Trigger warning: eating disorders In the morning, it was sirniki: quark sizzling in the frying pan and served glistening with drops of jam and creme fraiche. The type of breakfast that makes you feel sluggish yet happy in the morning. I remember the first time I watched my dad cooking: the smells wafting from the kitchen coaxing me inside to watch his deft hands spoon pancake batter into a pan. That’s how delicious food is passed on through generations: by watching with your eyes, smelling with your nose, and cradling a yearning to recreate.

As it happens, Eastern European food has been my epicentre of comfort since I was born. It’s the food that keeps you satiated and gives you energy for the day ahead.

It is also the food that has stayed with me through my journey across countless countries and homes.

Picture me: a six-year-old child, uprooting my life in Estonia to move to Scotland, leaving everything but my childhood memories and my

grandma’s recipe books behind. I was so young that I didn’t even have a chance to learn my mother tongue before moving to the UK, so food was one of the only things anchoring me to my homeland.

“In seeking this false comfort, I ended up letting go of the small comforts not just of Eastern European food, but of food altogether...”

Afternoon brought in borscht, red as blood, in my soup bowl. I brought it into school once (when I was younger and first trying to find my footing in Scotland) and watched the kids stare and giggle from the edges of the cafeteria. I explained to them how the sourness of the beetroot mingles with the rich beef. I told them that my mother always taught me to offset the sourness with a spoonful of creme

fraiche. She taught me to stir in the creme fraiche and watch the soup lose its distinctive red colour, turning into a more palatable soft pink.

That’s how I would describe my high school self actually: palatable.

At 15, my cultural identity is the joke I tell when I meet people to make them like me. I tell them about the kholodets (or meat jelly, as I like to refer to it) that my parents used to make. I tell them about the stringiness of the meat; the coldness of the jelly. I joke about creme fraiche being in every meal I ate as a child.

That’s where the paranoia sets in, you know? First, you notice it in every meal, then in every spoonful, until it’s creme fraiche in your brain. Creme fraiche everywhere: that’s how my soon-to-be full-blown eating disorder presented itself. It rears its head and suddenly every food has too many calories. Suddenly you turn to vegetarianism, veganism, anything, to try to fix your leaky, creme-fraiche brain. At 15, my brain’s new favourite foods were rice cakes and a rationing of dark chocolate. Let me make it perfectly clear: my eating disorder was a lastditch attempt to bring comfort to a

life that felt out-of-control. But, in seeking this false comfort, I ended up letting go of the small comforts not just of Eastern European food, but of food altogether.

“It is also the food that has stayed with me through my journey across countless countries and homes...”

It’s dinner time and my family are around the table eating pelmeni. 20 dumplings on my plate.

A dollop of creme fraiche on top.

My parents never let me leave the table until I had finished my plate: “Every last dumpling. Don’t forget the creme fraiche.” I wriggle around in my seat. Dumplings used to be one of my favourite foods, but now I’m dragging one through the puddle of creme fraiche on my plate and I’m doing anything but eating it: refilling my glass of water once,

twice, three times; fiddling with the cutlery; trying to make a dumpling tower, maybe. And, eventually, you just get tired of pushing dumplings around a plate. Tired of a rumbling stomach. Yearning for some longlost comfort and peace of mind. A brave streak gets you into therapy (years and years of therapy, actually) where you relearn how to eat.

Like a child, you relearn to love the smells wafting from the kitchen. You find your new “normal” by learning how to bake and by trying to recreate dishes you find in recipe books.

So, what is comfort food now?

Nutella on toast for breakfast and recipe box subscriptions, apparently. It’s also being able to eat without counting calories actively and subconsciously at all times of the day. It’s about being really excited to make Eastern European dishes again and about criticising food blogs that don’t call for a heaping spoonful of creme fraiche next to a bowl of borscht. And, last of all, it’s the realisation that comfort food and self-love coincide, and it’s the acceptance that we could all use some more of both.

Review of Intimations: Zadie Smith’s portrait of ‘the now’

Credit: Penguin Books Esme Orssich BOOK COLUMNIST

Since the beginning of March, advice that actually helps us navigate this changed normality has been a rarity. Clarity has become a unicorn concept seen once in a blue moon. As a second lockdown looms over Glasgow, my

recommendation is to dash to Waterstones and read guru Zadie Smith’s new book, Intimations.

Intimations as a physical book is inviting, alluring, and - thanks to this magical word on the front - concise. Comprised of 82 pages, the book does not intimidate the non-reader, and tempts the avid one. The printed hand-scribble that reads “Six Essays” on the cover is unpretentious and self-aware.

“This is not a novel”, it states, this a suspended distillation of thought that reflects the times we have seen, the times we are in. It’s an in-between of sorts.

Written in the beginnings of the “global humbling”, Smith writes confusion into order. The book both educates and refreshes, leaving you nodding your head in understanding and relatability. Intimations makes sense of the debris flying around in this hurricane.

Smith acknowledges with grounded sentences and a clear directness our longing for the past, the contradictions of politics, as well

as the inequality of a virus that is also a social leveller. She does this without lecturing and arrogance, without drilling in her thoughts, but rather by leaving them on the table for you to pick up when you want. She does it with gentleness.

“Her awareness creates sentences that stand as manifestos in their own right...”

The essays are observant and sensitive, with the penultimate one being a series of “screengrabs” that paint portraits of characters we can recognise in ourselves. Her words are warm and non-judgmental, reacting with kindness to the different scenarios described.

For instance, she refers with gentleness to a homeless man in a

wheelchair, who declares the virus a “cold” and separates himself from “these people” who run scared. We are all guilty, during this pandemic, of separating “us” from “them”, from the people who are being “irresponsible” or “self-indulgent”, of mounting our high horses for protection. Smith corrects us, inviting us to make space for the reality of suffering.

The “screengrabs” include a woman with willful blindness to her dog’s unfriendly nature, an elderly man at the bus stop ranting with humour, and a masseur called Ben. The portraits depicted celebrate our unified fragility, finally making sense of the slogans that state “we are in this together”.

The author looks at how emotions that become viruses live within us. She looks at how the virus of contempt infected the White police officer as he suffocated George Floyd. Smith redefines terms that have been associated with Covid-19, such as “herd immunity”, to address the purposeful exclusions

that have been permitted in our society. Examples being the exclusion of Black students in schools, and the racism experienced by darkskinned people.

“Intimations makes sense of the debris flying around in this hurricane...”

Zadie Smith does this all while being honest about herself; while raising herself no higher than the reader. In her final essay Debts and Lessons, her awareness creates sentences that stand as manifestos in their own right. This book is worth the online order, the walk to your local bookshop or the begging to borrow from a friend. With all proceeds going to charity, Intimations is as generous in its nature as it is in its existence.

THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN

20

6 November 2020

Culture

Are second-hand bookshops killing the publishing industry? readers to burn through twelve books a month without racking up any spender’s guilt.

“Buying from charity shops allows readers to engage with books they may not have else discovered...”

Buying second-hand books from charity shops allows readers to engage with books they may not have else discovered. In most cases, if I discover an author whose work I enjoy from a jaunt to Oxfam, I will follow them on social media, recommend them to a friend, or buy their work firsthand at a later date.

Charity shops are an asset to the book industry, and one we ought not to take for granted.

Credit: Dorota Dziki - Illustrator

“Charity shops are an asset to the book industry, and one we ought not to take for granted” Hailie Pentleton VIEWS EDITOR

I’ve had many a serendipitous encounter between the stacks; with a leather-clad classic, a mysterious collection, or a well-thumbed toe-curler. There is something so exhilarating about rummaging around a second-hand bookshop, eager to find comfort or clarity amongst the pages of your next fix.

I could spend copious amounts of time and money in my local Oxfam book shop, and quite often I do.

Ignoring the dent in my bank balance, it seems that this after-class activity can do no harm, can it?

“There is no shortage of artists, but seemingly there’s a shortage of cash to support them...”

Creators are having a hard time with it at the moment. There is no shortage of artists, but seemingly there’s a shortage of cash to support them. When a book finds itself amongst a sea of rehomed stories, it gives an author the opportunity to touch another life with their words.

It does not, however, pay the bills.

In the past, writers have drawn attention to this and suggested that consumers find ways to compensate for buying second-hand.

While it would be ideal that authors were paid in full every time their works are published, this isn’t always possible. You don’t have to search far before finding a shady pdf or dodgy reprint of a bestseller online. It seems far better to encourage readers to purchase second-hand books that will have already paid full royalties than to ask them to avoid your work until they can afford to pay the full sticker price.

If you rely on charity shops for your reading material, the likelihood is that you have to be conscious of your spending. These shops allow students to access overpriced textbooks for a slither of the original spending price, introduce younger bookworms to a variety of genres without a high tariff, and allow avid

“Charity shops aren’t killing the publishing industry themselves… but they aren’t helping” Emily Menger-Davies BOOKS COLUMNIST

With Waterstones and Oxfam Books sitting opposite each other on Byres Road, it can be interesting to wonder whether their relationship is one of sibling-like affection or friendly rivalry. Is the attraction of having a coffee while you read and a Waterstones rewards card enough to keep people from the tantalising prospect of economically, environmentally, and socially beneficial reading? The benefits of buying books at charity shops are plentiful, but what are the effects on the publishing industry and on authors?

When a book is born, it can live many lives through many different readers. I personally love the feeling of rifling through a second-hand book and seeing someone else’s underlinings and annotations. However, once it leaves the home of the bookshop, the part played by its original parents, the

Credit: Dorota Dziki - Illustrator author and the publisher, comes to an end. The book is out in circulation living its life.

Making it as a writer is a tough business which, if your book is bought and resold 5 times and you only receive part of the profit for the first time, can question the extent to which the author actually benefits from their own creation (although by this reasoning, Dan Brown would be living in poverty as copies of The Da Vinci Code line the shelves of Oxfams country-wide). Of course, more people reading the book raises the writer’s profile even if they do not directly profit from it.

“If a book is bought and resold 5 times, you can question the extent to which the author actually benefits from their own creation...”

Cut to – it’s a hyper-capitalist dystopia and Waterstones is making books like Apple makes iPhones, they start to disintegrate after a year

on someone’s shelf so that you have to go back and buy another copy.

Is it our duty to support authors and the publishing industry if we can, or is it their responsibility to make new books more accessible?

Then again, doing this at a time when sourcing sustainable materials and ensuring non-exploitative labour practices should be a priority is tricky.

“Making it as a writer is a tough business...”

Of course, charity shops are not killing the publishing industry themselves. The much more likely culprits are online second-hand booksellers like Amazon whose social contributions in terms of tax are non-existent, as opposed to the beneficial work enabled by profits from charity shops. However, it is worth considering the price we put on literary production and how to ensure the survival of publishers, books, and authors in an increasingly digital age. For now, I think both the charity shop and the bookshop have a role to play in its survival and sustainability.

THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN

6 November 2020

21

Culture

The ‘new normal’ and the nude Natalia Pieniazek WRITER

This pandemic has turned the world upside down. It has halted schools’ and universities’ teaching in classrooms; restaurants serving food; local shops earning money; and artists painting life models in their studios.

From the perspective of a 19th century artist, there was nothing easier than finding a model to pose for a nude portrait or an everyday life scene. In plenty of books about French post-impressionism, you can learn about the models and muses of modern artists who were chatted up on the streets of Paris by painters. As a result, we can admire Manet’s Olympia, Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, Toulouse-Lautrec’s La Toilette or Degas’s ballet dancers. However, a few months ago working with a life model, at universities or independent art classes, became impossible.

Both the amateur and the professional artist could no longer walk in the post-impressionists’ shoes as the practice moved to online plat-

forms such as Zoom. The question is, then, whether this is a well-working solution for the current situation and whether it’s one which artists can switch to long-term.

All The Young Nudes (ATYN) have been running Life Drawing Club since 2008. Life Drawing Club hosts classes open to people of artistic and non-artistic backgrounds.

Inspired by her own art classes wherein teachers would criticise students’ works without allowing much freedom of creating, organiser Joanna Susskind decided to run these sessions on a weekly basis. Due to lockdown, classes could not take place at Sloans in Glasgow as they did before, and have now moved to an online platform.

The description of the event states: “Poses in HD, excellent music to draw to, chatter + two hours of zoning out (together). Bring a glass of wine, draw in yer PJs.” What’s not to like? You can enjoy alcohol, and most of all, art from the comfort of your home. It certainly was a good solution for lockdown - but according to the ATYN website, the classes

will come back to Sloans in January 2021, taking into consideration requirements of the “new normal”.

“Whether you’re an amateur, or a professional artist, drawing is a practice...”

Another online class which has life models participate is one that used to take place at the Oxford Street Studio in Sydney, Australia.

It has been held online ever since the rise of the pandemic. An art teacher who runs the classes optimistically looks at this way of teaching art: “People can join from wherever they are, like they don’t have to physically be in Sydney. So, some people can join from different cities, maybe different countries, so that’s pretty good”, says Daniel Parra, for Reuters.

Johannes Ultri, a student of Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, does not see digital subject matter as the future of making art.

His classes moved to Zoom in March and have since consisted of painting still life, such as prosecco bottles. Life models posing for a camera throughout the Spring semester weren’t an option for the university. From this semester on, amongst all the classes at university, painting classes are the only ones that will be performed inside the studio. Making art for Johannes is not possible via the internet. Not only does working with a model in a studio give more room for manoeuvre, but also, a laptop screen simply makes the image flat and it doesn’t allow him to work with the light and space around the model. Working at the studio provides the freedom of moving around the room, spotting aspects which you would not be able to spot on the screen - and most of all, there is the social side.

Whilst some of the students feel best working alone, others enjoy the occasional chat and a cigarette break with classmates.

Art historian Anna, who works in a London gallery, says that online drawing classes are a way to play up

the idea that people are isolated, but this way of creating art will never be able to replace a session with a life model. Online image is a lot less crisp, less immediate, and it simply won’t be as lifelike. At the same time, Anna explains: “Whether you’re an amateur, or a professional artist, drawing is a practice, and so you have to continually engage with the practice; it is necessary to find other ways than live classes, whether it’s zoom or images.”

At the moment there are plenty of uncertainties. Thanks to some art classes moving online and becoming more accessible to everyone, we were able to fight lockdown blues and get creative, with the internet allowing us to pick up new crafty hobbies.

It’s truly amazing that in the past six months we have found so many ways to keep ourselves busy, from Zoom pub quizzes to making Dalgona coffee, to running 5k for charity and, well, making art. Technology can certainly replace some things and make our daily lives easier - yet in some aspects, such as art, human beings are irreplaceable.

Upcycling your summer wardrobe for winter Olivia Marrins WRITER

Let’s face it, who can’t resist the arrival of the winter collections on the high street? Fresh wool coats and cosy jumpers is all anyone needs to entice them into buying a whole new wardrobe for the upcoming season.

As we enter not only a new season but a period of serious environmental issues, we need to stop categorising styles into specific months of the year and instead think of them as a suitable option year-round. Therefore, we should follow suit of the many people who “trans-seasonal” dress.

Trans-seasonal dressing is a lifestyle in which clothes are no longer seen as seasonal, but rather a collection of garments which can be layered up or down and fitting to each occasion or season. Moreover, revamping your wardrobe for winter can certainly be expensive, and not an expense that everyone wants to pay for. So next time Zara has a sale or a pair of shoes are half price, ask yourself; is there something in my wardrobe already suitable? Whether you’re a student trying to save money on fashion this

winter or are just looking for some fresh ideas to upcycle old clothes, this essential guide to trans-seasonal dressing has got you covered.

It should come as no surprise that fashion has had a damaging impact on the environment for centuries, so much so that the fashion industry has become the second-largest polluter in the world. Over 20,000 litres of water are needed to produce just 1kg of cotton, deriving from a resource which is already in short supply.

This evidential use of excess water should be enough for us all to trade fast-fashion for fair-trade fixtures, yet as toxic wastewater rises the demand for fast fashion continues.

Whether it be patches and buttons or layering, there is always a way to revamp your wardrobe without the extra cost or waste this winter.

Layering Layering is one of the easiest and quickest ways to overhaul your style and can be achieved with almost any piece of clothing. A common way of getting the wear out of any summer dress or jumpsuit is to layer with a long-sleeved top or turtleneck; whether it be any style of top, this is a simple but stylish

fixture to have you wearing your favourite summer prints all winter long. Pair any vacation piece with a neutral-toned top for a more casual look or go dressy with a black turtleneck for an evening out (or, more fittingly, an evening in your kitchen).

Embellishing A tasteful means of reutilising last year’s winter essentials is with embellishment. There are many methods to adopt, all of which are decorative yet functional. One of the best ways to redecorate your winter coat or jumper is with the addition of buttons: with endless colours and styles, they can be sewn into anything. By adding a suitable button to any garment, you can add texture and create a more vintage look to your outfit.

Accessorise Never underestimate the power that a good accessory can have on a basic outfit. If you are looking to turn last year’s everyday look into something more stylish, simply add a necklace or a pair of statement earrings from your jewellery box. Try a simple gold necklace against a warm tone this winter or trendy earrings with a turtleneck to transform your outfit from sim-

ple to stylish.

The trend of upcycling our clothes is not new; people have been finding all kinds of alternative and innovative ways to carry their summer wardrobe into the colder months. During the second world war, clothes rationing began, leading to the “make do and mend” initiative being introduced. The Ministry of Information published a pamphlet encouraging people to find different ways to extend the life of their clothes; this prevented not only the wasting of clothes and Credit: Ciara McAlinden

money but encouraged many more to value their belongings. From darning socks to stitching patches and washing delicates more carefully, the effort to take care of your belongings and reduce the cycle of buying new clothes engaged an economic and financial change in many people’s lives. Not to be mistaken for a WW2-only trend, the use of trans-seasonal dressing and renewal should be continued now more than ever in this time of great uncertainty; both financially and economically.

THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN

22

6 November 2020

Culture

The Matrix is about trans people - and so is every other movie Goose Masondo WRITER

When you think of queer cinema, what comes to mind? Perhaps Brokeback Mountain, the classic gay cowboy romance? Or Blue is the Warmest Colour, the catalyst for lesbian awakenings everywhere in the early 2010s? Or perhaps even more recent additions to the canon, such as Moonlight and Call Me by Your Name? Well, how about The Matrix?

Earlier this year, The Matrix co-director and co-writer Lilly Wachowski made headlines for confirming what fans had been theorising for years — that this trilogy, which forever changed the way science fiction is made and consumed, was intended to be an allegory for the trans experience — or at least, for the Wachowskis’ own experiences as transgender women.

The first Matrix film follows computer programmer Thomas Anderson as he discovers that his reality is a simulation, and as he creates a new, truer identity for himself by the name of Neo. The parallels between the plot of The Matrix and the trans experience are easy to spot when you’re intimately familiar with both, and many trans and cis fans alike had come to this same conclusion, particularly after the Wachowskis’ gender identity was made public. Many fans welcomed Lilly Wachowski’s official confirmation of the fan theory — beyond the satisfaction of having been right, to have the director of a huge blockbuster that is consistently named as one of the best sci-fi films of all time publicly own the transness of this story is huge. The Matrix won four Academy Awards, which is three more than all nominations for any trans person combined (I’m not counting A Fantastic Woman, as the writers, directors, and producers are all cisgender and Daniela Vega was not nominated for her performance). The Matrix is also one of the most influential science fiction movies ever made — it began the trend of blending martial arts and sci-fi, and established the concept of “bullet

Credit: Tara Gandhi time”; you know, like The Matrix’s bullet scene. The content of The Matrix being inseparable from its transness not only disrupts the cis patriarchal narrative that science fiction is made for and by straight cis men, but also the cis patriarchal narrative that huge commercial success in film is for and by straight cis men.

“To have the director of a huge blockbuster that is consistently named as one of the best sci-fi films of all time publicly own the transness of this story is huge...”

But not everyone was as overjoyed as I was. You see, The Matrix has unfortunately found a fanbase amongst an online community of violent misogynists that call themselves “incels”.

Incels refer to the moment that they are radicalised into believing that feminism is the problem with modern society as being “red-pilled”, a reference to the red pill in The Matrix that causes

Neo to be enlightened to the true nature of his world. Instead of an unsatisfied, closeted trans person who finds the freedom to be his true self in the Matrix, incels see Neo as a cool hacker who punches bad guys. These fans of the franchise were awfully upset that they now had to think about trans people when deluding themselves about their favourite movie — they could no longer ignore the fact that the lived experiences and identities of the writers and directors had influenced the content of their art.

For those fans, I have some terrible, terrible news: every movie you love is trans.

Blade Runner is set in a dystopian future in which humans and robots are completely indistinguishable, even to themselves.

Robots created to look, think, feel, and dream exactly like humans — replicants — are hunted down and “retired”, even though some replicants have memories, emotional responses, and experiences identical to those of humans. The morally nebulous antagonists are a group of replicants who, after discovering that they are not human, demand to be given more life (as they were built with a four-year lifespan) in order to live like humans. The film asks, in a very direct way, what

the essence of our humanity is — the ability to bear children; the existence of years of childhood memories; or perhaps a lifespan of a little less than a century. It also answers that question very directly, furtively denying that it is the biological mechanics of our bodies that make us human — or at the very least, worthy of life.

“The only thing that isn’t valid is transphobia, and policing anyone’s interpretation of a piece of art...”

In Fight Club, protagonist Jack (spoilers) hallucinates a manifestation of everything he wishes he was in Tyler Durden — hypermasculine, spontaneous, controlling — not realising that he and Tyler are the same person. This hallucination destroys him and everything around him as he unknowingly keeps up the act that he is Tyler Durden, alienating himself and becoming abhorrent to love interest Marla, the one person he values. It’s only when Jack “kills” Tyler by shooting himself that this stops. Some have theorised that Marla is another of Jack’s halluci-

nations, personifying the self-destructive, feminine, chaotic side of Jack that he attempts to repress, and can only embrace once he does away with Tyler. Either way, Fight Club presents an image of a man unsatisfied with his masculinity who destroys everything in an attempt to overcompensate. It is the feminine — whether Marla is a hallucination or not — that ultimately saves him.

Similarly, in Terminator, Arnold Schwarzenegger takes the allegorical role of transfeminine dysphoria, relentlessly chasing the protagonists without end until the masculine dies and the feminine overcomes. In Inception, Leonardo DiCaprio has a woman in his brain.

The truth is, it doesn’t matter whether or not the creator of a piece of art has a specific and closed meaning in mind when making the piece, or whether or not most people agree on one reading. Art is in the eye of the beholder, and if a trans person finds a story like their own in The Matrix — or any of these movies — then that reading is no less valid than the reading of someone who thinks Fight Club is just about fighting. The only thing that isn’t valid is transphobia, and policing anyone’s interpretation of a piece of art because it doesn’t fit your own.

THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN

6 November 2020

23

Culture

We need to break up with Creating online awful creators Ananya Venkatesan THEATRE EDITOR

Leda Basile WRITER

When I first heard about JK Rowling’s new book – a crime novel about a “transvestite serial killer” – I felt a mix of emotions that are, by now, all too familiar. The fresh stab of rage and disgust at seeing proof of a view so offensive to my own, followed by the usual dulled sadness that my once favourite author was so painfully out of touch with her fans, and finally, an overall exhaustion at the general situation.

“We act like voyeurs; following, liking, and retweeting artists and influencers, only to either worship them for what we like or castigate them for what we don’t...”

I think a lot of people collectively groan whenever JK Rowling floods Twitter with controversy on top of controversy, especially as she is regarded by many as an author whose relevance has long passed. But it becomes particularly infuriating when said controversies are used to make a splash and sell books. The buzz around her new release was generated from indignation and hurt - and Rowling’s book is selling marvellously because of it. She’s hardly the first artist to use this kind of schtick; the world of pop culture is full of artists and influencers who rely on any kind of publicity to feed their fame.

It is true that pop culture is very much based on shock value. From articles with click-bait titles to celebrity feuds, all corners of society use hype and scandal as commodities to be traded for relevance.

Artists capitalise on controversy to sell tickets and albums, and though this is in itself quite problematic, it is usually relatively innocuous.

Sometimes though, it can have very real and very negative effects.

In JK Rowling’s case, for example, her insensitive new book might

Credit: Rosie Wilson seem distasteful to some, but to others, her transphobic views are attractive. Her influence has real, harmful consequences on the lives of trans people who still face discrimination or worse. And yet, the only consequences she will likely experience is financial success and a temporary spotlight. There are dozens of others too, in every form of art, who act similarly. PewDiePie, for instance, has made multiple racist and antisemitic comments, yet continued on to become one of the world’s most successful YouTubers.

These artists, among many, many others, survive on the publicity that they get from such scandals; publicity that we allow them to achieve.

The only thing to do would be to starve them of the press and not allow them to manipulate bad publicity the way they do good publicity.

Yet why can’t we leave them alone? Why do we still fan the flames and give these people the attention (and the money) that they don’t deserve? Social media has blown up the already problematic idea of “celebrity” into an obsession. We act like voyeurs; following, liking, and retweeting artists and influencers, only to either worship them for what we like or castigate them for what we don’t.

They in turn use our fascination to acquire more fame, more attention, and more influence. As easy as it is to hate morally awful artists, we have to acknowledge that we are part of the problem. Our culture

functions off the back of artists and our connection to their work, but we’ve become too clingy. Instead of letting artists we dislike fade into irrelevance, we allow them to remain famous through our criticisms and our morbid interest in scandal. Our time and our emotions would be better spent on artists whose opinions and actions are more deserving, rather than those who rely on negative attention to make a profit.

“It is true that pop culture is very much based on shock value...”

Of course, I’m not saying that problematic behaviour should never be addressed: I can understand the urge to fight back against every damaging voice on the internet – especially those with a big platform. Solidarity on social media, in the face of prejudice and intolerance, can be both beautiful and powerful. But the more we respond to celebrities who are determined to be malicious – and the more virulent our response – the more they thrive. Standing up for justice and equality is of vital importance, but a more effective way of doing so is to suffocate the flames lit by those with everything to gain from striking the match.

As we get closer to a world that, only a decade or so ago, was a dream of science fiction, it seems like people are more adept at living in the phantom lands of infinite cyberspace than in the (admittedly horrifying) real world. So, it comes as no surprise that the digital realm we love and cherish has become ground-zero for creators across the globe. Much to the delight of emerging artists, in a practically cost-free environment, they have access to an unimaginably large audience. Within a few clicks, we have a showcase of talent in our hands. But having an online presence goes hand in hand with open access to self-doubt, hate, and negativity. And thus, comes the million-dollar question – is this truly a costless endeavour?

We love a pretty piece of art to admire, a soulful cover to vibe with, and profound poems to read.

We like, share, subscribe, retweet, and comment, asking for more and more; but how does this interaction affect creators? Do the internet’s many pros beat its cons?

Jenna Fraser (@jfrayzor), a painter from Glasgow School of Art who uses Instagram to share “almost funny work as a way of dealing with allergic reactions” says: “[having a digital presence] meant that I have found lots of other art accounts and inspiration through Instagram and helped me find contacts for when curating exhibitions in the future”.

“It is impossible to please everyone, so just do what makes you happy...”

Her sentiment is shared by all of those I spoke to. Because of social media, artists from around the world have unique opportunities to network and collaborate, creating a sense of global community which otherwise would’ve been impossible. Social media has changed the game for the arts. What was previously a nepotistic field that only the well-off could enter has turned into a diverse résumé-pool from which talent-scouts can pick the crème de la crème, paving the way for a diverse industry. As consumers of art, we have the opportunity to go as far and wide as the internet will

allow us to find what makes us happy. Which, of course, is the aim of all art and their creators: to inspire emotions, evoke memories, and help you experience new environments.

“Having an online presence goes hand in hand with open access to selfdoubt, hate, and negativity...”

For the most part, the online world is a joyful, friendly, and supportive environment for creative work. This is according to Aanvik Singh (aanike.com), a graphic designer/podcaster who uses these platforms to be heard and connected through narratives and stories.

That being said, he doesn’t deny the existence of online hate - with which it is easy to lose perspective.

He says: “You may have hundreds of people who support and love your work but then you may ignore them to focus on just the hate you receive.”

All it takes is one or two cutting comments, and the heart breaks, as the creative mind descends into a spiral of doubts and insecurities about the work produced.

In addition to that, Charlyn O’Mari Prince (@marsprynce), a poet/musician, says that seemingly small things like having a post not do as well as others or finding someone else getting more likes for the same concept affects self-esteem and creative content. This is a problem faced not only by creative content providers but also every single person on social media. The infamous “like culture” exists as the villain in our origin stories with our self-esteem being the kicked down protagonist. For artists the fight is hard for it is a fight to still do what they love, the way they love it, and continue loving it – it’s a fight for their passion and their living.

So how do they do it - let the internet’s pros beat its cons? Get out of bed every day to gift us their talent? Going off the grid and taking some well-deserved self-care time could go a long way to making yourself feel better. That’s something that all the artists I talked to all live by – it is impossible to please everyone, so just do what makes you happy and do it to the best of your abilities!

THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN

24

6 November 2020

Culture

Food on Film: Hayao Miyazaki’s treats for the stomach and soul

Credit: Studio Ghibli Ethan Brodie WRITER

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of entering the mystical and magical dimensions of Hayao Miyazaki’s films, then you’ll have noticed their many unique charms. For over 35 years, the veteran Japanese animation director and co-founder of Studio Ghibli has delighted us with worlds that are at once touchingly simple and overwhelmingly fantastical. But what remains underappreciated is how rich his films are with tummy-rumbling depictions of food.

Much like the old-fashioned hopping lamp pole that guides Chihiro and her companions through the dark forest in Spirited Away, food is not a necessary part of the narrative — it is a gift from Miyazaki. The vast range of functions that food serves in the auteur’s canon is quite remarkable. In one film it is a metaphor for the grotesque consumer culture that has engulfed modern capitalist society. In another, it is simply part of the furniture — understated yet profound.

Amid Spirited Away’s ominous opening scenes, in which 10-year-old Chihiro and her parents stumble upon an abandoned amusement park, her parents are enticed by the smell of food.

The scent leads them to an empty restaurant stall that is scattered with freshly-cooked juicy meats and glutinous rice cakes.

As we are witnessing these events

through the eyes of Chihiro, we are alarmed by their reckless and obsessive devouring of the food, as well as their blind assumption that it is theirs to take. Little do they know that food is sacred in Miyazaki’s spirit realm and therefore, in-keeping with fairy-tale tradition, their ignorance initiates their downfall. As night falls and the procession of the spirits commences, they are transformed into revolting pigs. While you initially drool at the sight of the masterfully animated food, the animalistic mistreatment of it at the hands of her parents leaves a bad taste in your mouth. The ugliness of excessive consumerism underpins this scene and it is a metaphor that is recalled later in the film.

In one of the most colourfully exotic scenes in Spirited Away, the mass bathhouse workforce prepares a banquet for the wretched No-Face monster who, in return, grants them an endless stream of gold. This banquet consists of almost every traditional Japanese meal imaginable and is an extraordinary sight to behold. However, the allure of the food is undermined by the fact that it is both produced and consumed from a place of greed. While the workers scramble and scream for gold, No-Face goes from one platter to the next in a matter of seconds, tipping them into the bottomless pit of his body and carelessly creating mounts of discarded food and crockery around him. Moments such as these remind us that good

food can turn unpleasant, just as innocent people can be corrupted by their environment.

It is in Miyazaki’s follow-up epic, Howl’s Moving Castle, that we experience food as an expression of love and comradery. The frying of a typical Sunday brunch lies among the many charms and incantations that the wizard Howl practises over the course of the story. He applies the same skilful elegance to cooking a pan full of eggs and bacon as he does to redesigning the interior of the castle with a spell. In this film food is a product of magic — a ritual that has the power to bring people together in distinct ways. Departing from the rush of daily life, the dysfunctional residents of the castle take a moment to tuck into a delicious meal and enjoy each other’s company in the process.

Of course, slowing down and observing the smaller moments of

Credit: Studio Ghibli

life is a staple feature of Miyazaki’s films and classical Japanese culture in general. It is nowhere more present than in the heart-warming world of Ponyo — a world in which food amplifies the themes of love and adventure. Ponyo, half-girl and half-fish, has befriended a young boy named Sosuke from the surface world and is soon introduced to the wonders of human food. Miyazaki takes his time to show us Ponyo’s avid curiosity and anticipation as Sosuke guides her through the process of bringing packaged ramen to life.

As Sosuke’s mother lifts the lid, unveiling the boiled noodles, eggs, and ham, Ponyo jumps into the air with delight. And yet it does not feel overly romantic — there is an inspiring truth to this depiction of a child being presented with ramen for the first time. Perhaps we forget the warmth and excitement we once felt when we were served our favourite meal surrounded by the comforts of our family home.

The portrayal of food in Spirited Away may be visually grander, but in Ponyo it is deeper.

At the heart of Miyazaki’s long-running interest in food is gratitude. An acknowledgement that food, much like life, is essentially beautiful and precious. And yet too many of us fall for the corrupt outlook of No-Face — taking it all for granted, forever wanting more and never having enough; seemingly incapable of just existing and enjoying. But there is always the option of following the philosophy of Ponyo: living out of the pure yearning of your spirit and embracing the riches of this very moment. Life is food for the soul. Food is life for the soul.

If you read one thing this month...

The days are getting shorter, and it looks like we’re only going to spending more time inside, so our Culture Editors have got some books recommendations to get you through to the festive season.

Whether or not your degree involves a lot of reading, it just feels better when you read for pleasure. Genni’s choices are a cosy contemporary novel and a new cookbook. Rosie recommends a modern classic and Japaneasy, a guide to Japanese home cooking.

Rosie: I’ve just finished James Baldwin’s If Beale Street Could Talk. The novel is written from the point of view of pregnant Tish, whose boyfriend Fonny is in jail accused of rape. Eye-opening and raw, this short novel is a time machine to 1970s Harlem. I am looking forward to watching the 2018 film on a dodgy streaming site over the weekend.

Japaneasy on the other hand provides a fun way to spend a boring weeknight. I have the vegan edition, which has some incredible recipes including fresh gyoza, aubergine ramen, and “rough night rice”. Some of the recipes are more time consuming than others, but this book would make a beautiful gift and is a worthy addition to anyone’s kitchen, beginner, or cuisinier.

Genni: I’m looking forward to reading Ghosts, the debut novel by marmite media figure Dolly Alderton. I personally loved her memoir Everything I Know About Love, and Ghosts promises to contend with many of the same themes, from female friendship to the eponymous ghosting. Nigella Lawson also proves she is more than just food euphemisms with her latest publication. She has always written brilliantly about eating and its centrality to our lives. Her new book and accompanying television series Cook, Eat, Repeat focus on pleasure, yes, but were written during lockdown and remind us of the culinary opportunities that more time spent indoors can bring. It features essays as well as recipes, which is perfect for a person like me who spends far more time reading cookbooks than actually cooking.

THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN

6 November 2020

25

Culture

Why do musicians with political music avoid speaking out?

Joseph Evans WRITER

In one of the wilder happenings in an already tumultuous 2020, Jedward are now among the most beloved icons of activist Twitter.

From highlighting the inconsistencies of lockdown policies, to calling out other celebrities for their harmful behaviours, to hammering out the message to keep safe and wear a mask; Jedward’s Covid-19 content genuinely seems more effective and coherent than most governments. The Irish pop duo – who have not been considered particularly relevant in recent years – also boss their way through most contentious issues in general pop culture. Their dedication to calling out JK Rowling on her transphobia is particularly welcome given how many of our childhood role models are turning out to be, well, bad people recently.

Speaking of other celebrities proving to be disappointments; why is it that Jedward, famous for their 2009 X-Factor run and glossy, Eurovision-esque covers of pop songs, are the ones leading the charge for speaking out on current events, as opposed to say, IDLES, a band whose lyrics bleed political engagement and whose career is defined by how ready they are to, according to The Line of Best Fit, rip into “Tories with shit-eating grins”?

Is it unrealistic to expect celebrities who get political for their work to be as political after hours? It must, at the very least, be utterly exhausting to constantly sound the rallying cry against inequality and idiocy with no let-up. Perhaps it is asking too much of an artist to supplement their chosen medium of political engagement with other avenues that they may not be as skilled in using well. In an interview for The Line of Best Fit the quote: “I feel like using popular culture is an easy and astute way of making people question things they’ve normalised that aren’t necessarily natural” is highlighted prominently, which implies that for IDLES at least, the chosen method of activism is the music itself.

Maybe we are looking for social media leaders in the wrong places.

For the most part, pop culture icons aren’t seasoned commentators or academic thinkers. Expecting them to coherently and robustly platform ideas online is as unrealistic as expecting the legions of “Steve, 52.

Love Stella, hate the missus” types that swarm the comments of Daily Mail stories shared on Facebook to engage with people who disagree with them in a respectful and meaningful way. IDLES are good at protest songs about the state of modern British politics; would this translate to them being good at raising awareness and building an activist presence on social media?

A good punk anthem requires a different set of skills than an engaging and memorable Twitter presence, so perhaps Jedward are just better at controlling an online discourse than IDLES would be.

“Pop culture icons aren’t seasoned commentators or academic thinkers...”

Perhaps there is a bleaker side as to why most pop culture figures don’t engage with political discourse with the same flair and dedication as Jedward. Firstly, the extent to which celebrities are practically involved with their social media accounts differs widely. For example, the vocally anti-Trump Green Day have outsourced their pages to a professional media management company, which means their presence is obviously more driven by advertising and generating money from their brand than by spreading the opinions of the person whose name they bear. Even to an individual who still exercises full control, the need to maintain a presence that does not harm their income is paramount in an online culture that primarily advertises through posts and paid adverts on Facebook – the reach of which would be reduced by

Credit: Getty

expressing views that risk alienating part of that target audience.

Celebrities who “go political” often face backlash from supposed fans who do not want to have to question their own held views, or have injustices and contradictions in their belief systems pointed out to them – especially by a pop culture figure whose work they enjoy.

For examples of some of the worst reactions speaking out can bring on, check out the story of Gamergate, or the harassment faced by Rose McGowan after she accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault. The not only loss of income but stalled careers and an utterly terrifying level of privacy invasion and threats can easily become the lot of figures who attract enough attention on social media to be perceived as a threat by people who don’t agree with their take on the issues raised.

This obviously isn’t consistent in its targeting or severity, but if an artist decides they don’t want to risk it can you really blame them? With the increasing awareness we have of how social media can become a breeding ground for militant rightwing groups, and the domination of mainstream media sources by right-leaning conglomerates like the Murdoch Empire, I sure as hell wouldn’t want to put myself in a position where I risk becoming the focus of their ire.

The fact that Jedward are willing to call bullshit where they see it is commendable and adds some much-needed whimsy to this absolute train wreck of a year, but the systemic problems built into our culture are not going to be solved by a weekly Twitter-storm, so I wouldn’t be too hard on the bands that don’t want to take the risk of starting one.

Comedians, not commentators Jarrod Grant WRITER

My memories of the last US election are foggy at best, but the most prominent involve some outlandish phrases and jokes.

Hillary Clinton telling people to “Pokemon Go to the polls”, Trump threatening to shoot a person on Fifth Avenue, or Gary Johnson being booed at a convention for supporting drivers’ licenses.

“Some people use comedy and their own intuitions as their only source of political information...”

Besides the absurdity of these acts, what really made them stick in my mind is what people said about them. In 2016, Have I Got News For You’s panellists made jokes about Clinton’s email scandal or jabbed at Trump being the “first openly crazy president”. Across the pond, you can see Frankie Boyle in New World Order running similar routines about Prince Phillip causing Covid-19 in his bat form. Before the pandemic, Russell Howard was running bits about Johnson’s response to fearmongering over Brexit, televising fragments of his speech that reassured the public that Britain would still have Mars bars, or where he talked of putting an “oven-ready Brexit deal” into a microwave. While I can enjoy Russell Howard pointing out that Boris does talk more about food than policy, my extended family reading Mock the Week jokes in the form of serious political commentary is beginning to grow old. Some people use comedy and their own intuitions as their only source of political information, and it starts to make me wonder if that is really a positive thing.

Credit where credit is due modern-day comics are hilarious.

New World Order is a must-watch if you want a laugh at the expense of governments that are murdering thousands and ripping up

the world at the seams. They are also really good at engaging people who otherwise could not care with politics; my mum already finds any conversation about politics I try to start these days pretty grating but is always willing to tune in to Have I Got News For You and, come election time, both my parents turn out to vote. My best friend is possibly the most apolitical person I’ve ever met, but even he still watches The Last Leg. Even if it’s just discussion over soundbites of Matt Hancock, these kinds of TV shows definitely draw people in, but the quality of information those people get varies.

Having interrogated various friends and family members on their political awareness, only one person (well done, mum!) was capable of naming more than just one member of the cabinet.

All “interviewees” that attested to watching panel shows were capable of name-dropping Johnson and his title, but none bar one were capable of naming any more elected members of the current government. The problem with taking away serious political thought and information from only stand up and other comedy is that it’s just not meant to be used for that purpose. I get from New World Order and Have I Got News For You that Trump and Johnson are less-than-sane on their respective Covid-19 policies, but that’s about all the useful information I have. One might think “surely that’s fine, we don’t want people like Johnson and Trump to be loved,” but an issue arises when people that support those governments are watching comics crack similarly styled jokes at Clinton’s alleged health concerns or at Corbyn being a commie.

Stand up is inherently tied to the notion that you agree with the premise. With politics, you don’t want people taking in information with any particular biases or pre-established truths. To be politically well-informed and engaged in positive political participation, we need to think critically about any political content we consume. I’m not saying we can’t have a laugh at the fact that the Queen won’t die for another 250 years, but let’s also maybe have a think about why her kid isn’t in jail.

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26

6 November 2020

Culture

Where to get starstruck

Forget true crime podcasts, there is nothing more mysterious than the universe

Credit: Ioanna Chrysanthakopoulou - Illustrator Claire Thomson SPORTS REPORTER

As towns and cities in the UK expand and grow increasingly bigger and brighter, it’s more difficult than ever to witness the magic of the night sky. However, even the most twinkling stars are not too far out of reach for many people.

“The UK offers plenty to make anyone starryeyed...”

Both the Dark Sky Discovery and the International Dark Sky Association in the UK have worked with organisations throughout the country to help combat this light pollution. Dark Sky Parks are places with exceptionally dark night skies where people have committed to keeping those skies pristine by controlling light pollution, to ensure that everybody in the future will have the opportunity to experience the delights of the night sky and learn about the cosmos. Here are some of the best places to stargaze and see meteor

showers in the UK. South Downs National Park Located in the south of England, South Downs National Park stretches from Winchester in the west, to Eastbourne in the east, through the counties of Hampshire, West Sussex, and East Sussex. Whilst at first glance, this 140-kilometre park looks too close to London to be truly dark, South Downs is one of only 13 International Dark Sky Reserves in the world. The National Park is not only renowned for its magnificent coastal scenery and undulating countryside paths but its several Dark Sky Discovery Sites, including Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium. South Downs National Park Authority recommend downloading a stargazing app to help identify constellations and stars as well as stargazing before a full moon, to get the ultimate escapist experience.

Northumberland National Park Northumberland National Park forms part of Northumberland International Dark Sky Park, the largest area of protected night sky in Europe, at 1,483 square kilometres, and a popular destination for zealous stargaz-

ers and aspiring astronomers.

The park was awarded gold tier status by the International Dark Sky Association and features numerous Dark Sky Discovery Sites due to its unspoiled skies. On a clear night, it is possible to see millions of stars, the Milky Way, and sometimes even the Andromeda Galaxy, which lies a colossal 2.5m light-years away, all with the naked eye. Open all year round, this wonder park is also home to the Kielder Observatory, which hosts stargazing sessions, astronomy talks, and workshops for all ages and experiences. The popularity of Northumberland National Park can only be testified by a night under the breathtaking starry skies, in this oneof-a-kind remote location.

Cairngorms National Park Encompassing three Dark Sky Discovery Sites, including the Dark Sky Parks of Tomintoul and Glenlivet, the Cairngorms National Park proudly owns the title of the most northerly Dark Sky Park in the world and one of the darkest sites in the UK. An excellent place and best in the UK to chase the aurora borealis, the park is perfect for those

looking for the once-in-a-lifetime chance to, hopefully, spend the night under one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

The best time to see the Northern Lights is during cold months, when the temperature drops, typically between September and March. Cairngorms Astronomy Group holds frequent events aimed at beginner stargazers who are enthusiastic about astronomy and want to get involved and learn more. Pairing up with a Dark Skies project, the group is working to improve lighting in residential areas, distilleries, and farms to help further reduce light pollution and continue to darken the skies again.

Galloway Forest Park As the first place in the UK to be presented with Dark Sky Park status in 2009, Galloway Forest Park, situated in the Scottish borders, is one of Scotland’s top astronomy destinations. The 300-square-miles of almost uninhabited forests and hills allow stargazers to wonder at the Milky Way and over 7,000 stars, all visible to the naked eye. On occasion, the dark skies over this beautiful location will even

boast meteor showers or glimpses of the colourfully vivid Northern Lights. The park has three visitor centres at Glentrool, Kirroughtree, and Clatteringshaws, where stargazers can find information about how to make the most out of this remarkable area.

On the edge of Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park is the Scottish Dark Sky Observatory, a hilltop facility that is open to the public for stargazing and meteor-spotting events.

Snowdonia National Park Awarded International Dark Sky Reserve status in December 2015, the lakes in Snowdonia National Park in Wales are the best spots to witness the show from the stars. On a clear night, there is the possibility for stargazers to observe not only the Milky Way and millions of stars, but nebulae (bright clouds of gas and dust), major constellations, meteor showers and shooting stars… make a wish!

Brecon Beacons The Brecon Beacons in south Wales is one of the few places in the UK, even in the world, with skies untouched by light pollution, hence making it a popular destination for stargazers and astronomy enthusiasts from across the globe. Becoming the first official Dark Sky Reserve in 2012, the Brecon Beacons offers stargazers the opportunity to see the Milky Way, major constellations, bright nebulae, and often spectacular meteor showers. The Cardiff Astronomical Society regularly hosts outreach events in the park which include observing the wonders of the night sky through powerful telescopes or, during the summer months, the safe viewing of the Sun with solar scopes. The National Park is also home to a number of Dark Sky Discovery Sites. Through the Brecon Beacons high status and reputation, the park hopes to preserve the beauty of the magical night skies for the future, help to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and a goal to protect nocturnal creatures.

Whether an experienced stargazer or beginner astronomer, the UK offers plenty to make anyone starry-eyed.

THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN

6 November 2020

27

Culture

The Amazon alternatives you knew you needed

Credit: Emma Garcia Melchor - Illustrator Niall Turner CULTURE COLUMNIST

The start of the academic year has been a bewildering time for many on campus. The ongoing pandemic has dramatically altered the way in which we conduct our studies, and confusion is widespread across the university. In these unpredictable times, however, every student can still rely on being presented with a long, daunting - and possibly expen-

sive - reading list.

Setting out to purchase the tomes I’ve been directed towards by my teachers brought me to a familiar location: Amazon.com. Amazon is unequivocally a cheap and convenient place to procure textbooks - but the prospect of supporting the company left a bad taste in my mouth. I had, of course, heard rumours of Amazon’s scandalous exploits, and so before clicking the “buy now” button I chose to do a little further research

on the matter.

Amazon has gained a poor reputation over the past few years; in the last decade, for example, the Amazon corporation has avoided paying over £75m in tax. Add that to a history of ethics violations, union-busting, and evidence of child labour being used in Amazon’s supply chain, and it is little wonder why a call for its boycott has developed.

To make matters even worse, Jeff Bezos, the owner of Amazon, is now worth a massive $175.4bn. He’s quite literally the richest man on earth.

In the face of all this, I resolved to seek out possible alternatives to Amazon - largely to prevent Jeff’s pile of money from getting any larger. In the words of the man himself: “Life’s too short to hang out with people who aren’t resourceful.” With this wise mantra weighing heavily on my mind, I mustered up all the resourcefulness I possessed in order to present to you, the reader, the following guide. I hope my efforts aid you in escaping the Amazon empire in an ethical, but also cost-efficient way.

An estimated 4bn trees are cut down annually in order to keep up with the world’s growing demand for paper. This figure may make the prospect of purchasing a physical

paper book less appealing to those of us concerned about the looming climate emergency. The obvious solution to this dilemma is to turn to e-readers, which don’t require the pulverisation of quite so many trees.

Fortunately, the widespread adoption of this online format is already underway.

“Amazon is unequivocally a cheap and convenient place to procure textbooks - but the prospect of supporting the company left a bad taste in my mouth...”

However, for those among us who still find comfort in the reassuring physicality of a paperback book, there may still be hope. Just off Gibson Street, in adjacent lanes, lie two independent second-hand bookshops: Voltaire and Rousseau (12-14 Otago Lane), and Thistle Books (55 Otago Street). Within these inviting establishments, you can find a selec-

tion of books encompassing a wide array of topics, from philosophy to classic literature. And the prices are good - sometimes unbelievably so.

After a recent visit to these literary goldmines, I departed not only with a stable credit score but also with a conscience free of the guilt that accompanies each Amazon purchase.

Nonetheless, to many readers, the thought of trawling through physical spaces in search of a particular book that may or may not even be there might seem a daunting one. This is especially true in the age of Covid-19, when a pleasant visit to a cosy bookshop may prove to be a risky (and perhaps unlawful!) endeavour.

In this case, the reader may turn to the online sphere as a means of acquiring sought-after texts. Project Gutenberg offers the free download of over 60,000 eBooks, all within the public domain. Gutenberg is an essential website for anyone who is searching for classic titles, or for those who simply enjoy free stuff!

So there you have it, a short guide on where to buy books when Amazon just isn’t cutting it. I wish you happy reading, and the best of luck in your attempt to navigate a university reading career between the Scylla of a limited budget and the Charybdis of monopolistic e-capitalism.

Flight, fright… or fun?

Rebecca Richard WRITER

Jump scares shouldn’t work. Us avid horror fans know they’re coming, even seek them out, but every time, we leap out of our seats in genuine, goosebump-inducing, heart racing fear usually followed by the laughter of relief and maybe a little bit of humiliation that they got us again.

A jump scare is a technique used in the horror genre to scare the player by startling them with a sudden movement or event usually accompanied by intense music and sound effects.

When done well, they are a satisfying release after a build-up of tension. We usually find ourselves literally waiting for the scare - and still we scream, despite knowing it was coming. Why is this source of uncontrolled fear so addictive? For one, we humans love an adrenaline rush, of which a killer jumping down from a tree followed by a manic chase scene where we dare not blink for fear of sudden

death definitely provides.

When it comes to games that do these jump scares well, it would be wrong for Outlast not to be included.

“We usually find ourselves literally waiting for the scare - and still we scream, despite knowing it was coming...”

This game, in which you attempt to escape from a corrupt mental asylum, is the jump scare elite. This is one of the few video games where you cannot fight back. It’s run, hide, or die. The jump scares here are of a different calibre, with no time for a sigh of relief when the scare has come and gone. They are almost always followed by frenzied chase scenes within which a wrong turn or mistaken click

of a button can have you impaled.

Until Dawn is another jump scare favourite. In this decision-making based game, set in a winter cabin in the mountains, a group of teenagers must contend with a killer and an evil spirit on the loose. The player’s decisions determine who lives and dies and even the smallest of decisions can impact the player’s experience later on. This makes the jump scares feel more personal as the player is actively involved in deciding their own fate. It can be played through multiple times, with different paths taken, opening up the potential for new jump scares every time. This is a game that stands out from others in the horror genre as the player’s potential for being scared is very much in your own hands, with quick-time events and “don’t move” features requiring the player to hold their controller still in real life to avoid being killed. The fear feels much more real when you feel that your decisions are to blame for a sudden murder.

Jump scares release that build-

up of tension. Waiting nervously through a 10-minute walk through a deserted spacecraft corridor only to have a two-headed alien drop down from the ceiling is a big event that,

Credit: Rosie Wilson

despite being hair-raising levels of terrifying, is almost satisfying. To put it simply, frights are fun - and I’m sure I’m not the only one that craves more of that feeling.

THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN

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6 November 2020

Science & Tech

How to hack the US election Our resident American takes us through the different ways to potentially steal the US election

Jordan Hunter EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

With another American election and a slate of less than desirable candidates, you might be wondering how you might be able to increase your influence regardless of whether or not you can vote. Don’t worry, you’re not alone; Russia, Iran, and China have already started trying to hack the vote this cycle.

Social media Congrats! If you’ve shared anything about Trump or Biden and you’re not American, you technically interfered with the election.

It’s not technically illegal unless you coordinated with the official campaign, but still technically interference. China is notorious for doing this on a massive scale by hiring an army of trolls to comment and share their opinions on everything to sway opinions of those on the internet through peer pressure. Russia also was doing this by suppressing the Black vote in 2016. They created fake Black activist pages on social media, @blackstagram on Instagram and Blacktivist on Facebook, and the latter had more hits than the actual Black Lives Matter page during the election. They then encouraged Black people to vote, but gave them deliberately false information about eligibility and how to vote so they would miss deadlines and crucial steps to vote.

Spreading fake news This is also an easy one to do.

Even with Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram fact-checking software, you can get away with sharing a fake post for a few days before someone reports it or it gets checked. That’s enough time to go viral and get it reshared in different forms across the web. If you’re lucky, it might actually be reported on the real news! While this gets hyped up all the time, it has very little impact, as people tend to believe fake news within an echo chamber that they were already committed to. It’s no wonder, according to Pew Research, that a majority of Americans in

both parties think fake news is a problem within journalism rather than associating it with social media. While we might be concerned with the spread of false information online, its election impact seems to be minimal as people tend to just use it to reinforce their own beliefs.

Stealing information Now we step up to felonies and things that require actual skills.

This is the main one we saw people concerned with in 2016, as Russia has successfully hacked the Democratic National Committee and John Podesta, and gathered thousands of private emails, with damning evidence of improper meddling against Bernie Sanders on the part of the committee and anti-Catholic sentiment within the Clinton campaign from Podesta’s private conversations. This kind of hack is what Iran had allegedly attempted to do to Trump earlier this year, but supposedly failed. Obviously, this one is more difficult as with each attack - both parties tend to get more secure servers and have additional security measures to prevent attacks.

Microsoft and Google have both ex-

Credit: Lisa Paul - Illustrator

pressed concerns as they have seen attempts by foreign actors to gather this information, but it appears that no one has been able to pull off an effective hack this cycle, yet...

Voting booth hacking This one is perhaps the most straightforward and also the most illegal, but the execution is pretty difficult. Many British people tend to worry about American voting booths being able to be hacked as they’re electronic. The problem is that they’re not as complex as people think and are instead more like glorified calculators. Obviously, there’s some variation state to state, but in general, these are what most states have as safeguards. Tally machines don’t use wifi, the connection ports are physically sealed with tape, so inserting a remote disk would not work as if the tape is removed the machine is taken out of service.

The biggest prevention of election hacking though is the parties actively checking to make sure the other is not cheating them. From the moment an election machine is programmed at the county board of elections to the moment votes are

tallied, there is at least one Republican and one Democrat watching the machines to make sure there is no hacking by an election official or the public. They both assist voters with problems, mark them against the list of registered voters, and transport the ballots. There is also a physical copy of each ballot which is printed like a receipt that the voter can verify their vote was tallied accurately. According to the New York Times This will be the method in 95% of polling stations this year.

The electronic ballots are stored in a cartridge which makes it easier for counties to declare a winner quickly, but often a candidate can ask for each of the physical receipts to be counted which were certified by the voters themselves. This one is really difficult and not likely to make a difference as there are thousands of voting machines and multiple party reps at any location; you would have to organise a statewide internal party coup to pull this off.

those not entitled to vote will do so, but each mail-in ballot is checked against the list of registered voters.

Each ballot is also sealed in such a way that if it’s tampered with after the voter has sealed the envelope, it is automatically disqualified, so the only way a person at the postal service would have any incentive to throw away or tamper your ballot is if they suspected you would vote for a candidate they did not support.

This is really difficult to figure out based simply on your postal information, and also is a federal offence on top of a state felony. It’s not impossible, but if several mailed-in ballots are missing an investigation is likely to happen. This has already been the case with a handful of military voters in Pennsylvania. Since voters can usually check on their state’s election website to see if their ballots have been counted, you have to hope you have some voters who aren’t checking and take a gamble for each ballot you tamper with or throw away.

Mail-in ballots While Trump likes to hype this one up, it’s actually really hard.

He claims that dead people and

Voter fraud Voter fraud is perhaps the most common form of election hacking that changes the outcome of ballots, but the actual success rate is very low and rarely changes the outcome of the election. My home state of Ohio has the highest amount of reported voter fraud - and out of 4.5m ballots, only 77 were fraudulent.

None of those ballots changed the outcome of any election, and most were done by accident. Out of those 77 ballots, only seven resulted in criminal convictions according to the Heritage Foundation, a lobbying group who supports higher voter restrictions. Voter fraud usually results from people voting when they are ineligible, be it previous criminal convictions or simply not notifying the board of elections that they changed address. More sinister voter frauds that result in convictions usually entail pretending to be someone else, both living or dead, and deliberately falsifying your information to vote in closer races and contested districts. These often are spotted after the election when officials review the registration list.

THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN

6 November 2020

29

Science & Tech

Bitter about glitter Can a planning tool help mitigate the effects of extreme weather? litter The UK Met Office is releasing a tool to help planners avoid areas prone to extreme weather Rebecca Scott DEPUTY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Credit: AJ Duncan - Illustrator Claire Thomson SPORTS REPORTER

With Santa’s sleigh soon approaching, it’s important to consider the use of glitter and the concerns that it poses to the ecosystem.

Recent research into the effect of glitter has shown that it may be harmful to the ecosystem; in particular, rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Glitter is used in a variety of decorative ways, including on clothing, in arts and crafts, and cosmetics and body paint. It contains microplastics, which takes several years to degrade, therefore littering the riverbeds. Due to the current coronavirus pandemic, music festivals and nights out have been cancelled - but the question of whether the lack of glitter being consumed for these events is helping to curb this effect remains.

Traditional glitter consists of a plastic core made of polyester PET film, which is coated with aluminium and then covered with another thin plastic layer. There have been efforts to terminate the use of PET glitter, with the development and introduction of biodegradable alternatives, such as mica glitter, which is increasingly used in cosmetics, and another version that has a core of modified regenerated cellulose (MRC), sourced primarily from eucalyptus trees, coated with aluminium for reflectivity and then topped with a thin plastic layer.

However, scientists have revealed that these substitutes are no better for the environment than conventional types of glitter.

As a type of microplastic, glitter has the potential to have the same effects as other microplastics and should not be released in considerable quantities into the environment. Microplastics in oceans and rivers pose a threat to plankton, fish, shellfish, seabirds, and other

marine life when consumed. The plastic bits collect in the stomachs of birds, causing starvation, which can ultimately lead to death. There is a constantly increasing worry about its effects on fish and other marine life.

A study, led by Dr Dannielle Green of Anglia Ruskin University, is the first to examine the impact of glitter on freshwater habitats. After 36 days, research showed that the presence of glitter halved the root length of common duckweed, and levels of chlorophyll in the water were three times lower than in control conditions, signifying reduced levels of phytoplankton.

The cellulose biodegradable alternative increased the abundance of a non-native snail, which the scientists say could lead to further disruptions of the food web. These snails are generally present in polluted waters and have the potential to wipe out and outcompete native species to the UK due to being an invasive species.

The experiments focused on the effects of large amounts of glitter, for example, significant quantities used at festivals. Scientists say that there is less of a concern surrounding the effects of smaller quantities of glitter, for example, those used in make-up. In present times, it is largely presumed that the absence of concerts, festivals and nights out will aid in the reduction of glitter pollution in lakes and rivers. However, a longer break in this chain will be required before a noticeable difference will be able to be recorded. It is recommended that if wearing glitter as a cosmetic or body paint, that it is removed using a wipe and disposed of in general waste rather than washed off with soap and water down the plughole, to reduce larger quantities entering the waterworks and ultimately the ecosystem.

The UK Met Office is launching a new climate analysis tool which will allow planners to more effectively prepare for increasingly frequent and severe weather extremes across the country. This tool comes from the United Kingdom Climate Projections (UKCP), which have recently been updated to highlight the significant impact that a changing climate will have upon the UK. The most recent projections, called the UKCP Probabilistic Projections of Future Extremes and published on 22 October, utilise a model of extreme weather events within local areas – down to 25km resolution – to allow planners to look at simulated examples of extreme weather events in the form of elevated rainfall and temperatures. The Met Office has decided to plan for future 1-in-50-year hazard events, as opposed to present 1-in-50-year hazard events, considering that the climate is not in stasis and will only become more capricious as we proceed into the future.

“The climate is changing, and we must change with it...”

The introduction of this new projection tool helps planners (who are primarily comprised of government organisations, engineers, and professionals) to better understand the effects of more extreme weather events. This highlights the need for policymakers and planners to take into account the impact that the climate crisis will have upon the means through which new schemes and projects are constructed.

The Met Office’s projection software looks at the updated UK predictions for the most extreme weather events throughout the coming century and superimposes them on a map of the UK, allowing planners to closely examine the climate in which the projects they are constructing will exist. In par-

ticular, the tool utilises projected maximum temperatures and maximum precipitation as variables which can be analysed regarding a given region. This helps allow planners to essentially envision the climatic environment in which their projects and constructions will exist, allowing them to assess the risks and take into account necessary design changes – for example, greater implementation of urban green infrastructure or designs with a higher albedo effect to mitigate the negative impact of such extreme weather events on humans.

The utilisation of this tool by planners is essential in protecting communities in a period of considering climatic shift – it’s simply not viable to construct a building in a floodplain which will be increasingly inundated with more frequent and severe precipitation, consequently putting the wellbeing of residents at risk. This projection tool ensures planners are fully aware of how the climate will change throughout their project’s lifespan.

The UKCP operates under the Met Office and is supported by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. According to the Met Office, the tool aims to “help decision-makers assess their risk exposure to climate” before constructing schemes/projects, to entirely mitigate poorly planned projects which will be negatively affected by climatic change throughout the 21st century.

Regarding access to the UKCP tool, the Met Office stated: “Use of the service is free but we like to know what people are using it for and how they are using it. This helps us understand how the wider community is benefiting from the projections.” Individuals can create an account on the UKCP website and experiment with the climate analysis tool themselves, taking a look at the effect increasing precipitation and temperatures will have in their own region throughout the coming century.

The value of this tool cannot be understated, particularly during

current times; 3 October 2020 was recorded as the UK’s wettest day on record since 1891, with the Met Office stating that the volume of rainfall that fell nationwide that day could have filled Loch Ness. The average rainfall on 3 October was 31.7mm, significantly greater than the previous record of 29.8mm set on 25 August 1986. Figures like these highlight the severity of the UK’s changing climate; we are facing unprecedented instances of severe weather events, and we must figure out a means of appropriately learning to live with and plan for these.

“It’s simply not viable to construct a building in a floodplain which will be increasingly inundated...”

According to the UK Government’s 2009 National Assessment of Flood Risk, almost 6 million individuals in the UK are at risk of flooding. A key factor in perpetuating flood risk is the increased frequency and severity of precipitation events. The tool from the UKCP allows planners to more effectively plan with such risk taken into account, in order to mitigate flood risk for future projects.

As precipitation and temperature records are broken increasingly frequently across the UK, we must be as prepared as possible to deal with the impacts that such climatic events will have on humans. This increasing frequency of extreme weather events is indicative of a more serious, concerning and sustained alteration to our climate and must be appropriately dealt with by relevant planners and agencies. The importance of utilising climate models when designing projects and buildings that will take us into the future cannot be understated: the climate is changing, and we must change with it.

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Sport

THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN

6 November 2020

GUSA launches new Intramural League Cricket captain Luke Chafer discusses talks to GUSA about their upcoming Intramural League Luke Chafer REPORTER

This week saw Glasgow University Sports Association (GUSA) launch their new intramural league, with the first set of sports planned to start their fixtures at the beginning of November. The competition will consist of four houses: Grampian, Lomond, Cairngorm and Pentland. Each sport will have their own league, with the top four teams gaining points for their houses, and an overall champion of houses crowned at the end of the academic year.

The league will see teams of all abilities competing in biweekly “friendly” fixtures across seven sports: flag football, shinty, tennis, athletics, volleyball, rounders as well as men’s and women’s football.

This is with the additions of Muay Thai, squash and cricket to come hopefully in the new year once Covid-19 restrictions ease to allow indoor sports.

Increasing engagement with university sport is a key aim of the intramural league, so the new league will not require a University of Glasgow sport membership and is free to play, meaning there’s no reason not

Credit: GUSA to get involved. The result has been vast numbers of people opting to get involved. So far, 300 people have signed up across six sports, with volleyball seeing the greatest uptake of 80 people. Initially, the sports were capped with a certain number of places available. However; rounders, tennis and volleyball hit capacity within just days of launch, but with the commitment to facilitate everyone who wants to participate from

the GUSA President Shereif Kholeif, capacity was increased.

The organisers of the league have also been pleased with the nature of signups. Speaking to The Glasgow Guardian, George Fournarakis, GUSA events convenor and the architect of the intramural league, commented: “It has been really interesting to see from the sign ups we have had so far all the first years and people who have never played

the sport before signing up individually [without affiliation to a club].

It’s great to see people wanting to try something new”.

Central to the running of the league are the newly appointed house captains. Speaking to The Glasgow Guardian about the formation of the league Grampian House captain and Glasgow University Athletics Club captain David King has said: “I think this is definitely something that the University has been needing for some time now. I think it’s great for getting students immersed in sports whilst at university, especially sports which they haven’t played before or have played but are wanting to play more recreationally. Its importance at this particular point in time is even more crucial, as joining sports clubs and getting involved is, for freshers in particular, one of the limited and best ways to meet new people and make new friends. It will definitely go some way to forming social interactions that we have been missing for the past few months”.

It is hoped that the creation of the league will also benefit clubs in the long term with an increase in participation by removing the per-

ceived barriers to entry. King went on to say: “for athletics in particular, it’s something anyone can do.

It’s often one of those sports at university that prospective members, especially if they are a complete beginner, tend to worry that everyone else will be high level athletes. Once they join, they realise they didn’t need to worry as the club caters to all abilities. It can be quite daunting arriving at university and joining clubs, and this league will provide a stepping stone to those while providing a recreational yet competitive platform for everyone.”

“The league will see teams of all abilities competing in biweekly ‘ friendly’ fixtures across seven sports...”

The vast number of signups along with diversity of sports on offer means that the intramural league promises to be a great initiative for all involved.

British basketball is bouncing back

Glasgow Rocks are amongst the 12 teams looking ahead to the rescheduled BBL season start date Claire Thomson SPORTS REPORTER

Originally scheduled to tip-off on Friday 2 October, the British Basketball League (BBL) has now confirmed that the 2020/21 season will launch on Friday 30 October 2020. Following government guidelines forbidding fans returning to sporting venues, the BBL has stated that games will be played behind closed doors with streaming packages available for fans to follow all the action.

Scotland’s professional basketball team, the Glasgow Rocks, are one of the teams affected by this update. Playing out of the Emirates Arena in the East End of

Glasgow, the team are concerned that they will be at a disadvantage to their English rivals due to having to wait longer to properly train than any of the other teams in the league.

“The team are concerned that they will be at a disadvantage to their English rivals due to having to wait longer to properly train...”

In an interview with The Daily Record at the beginning of October, player and head coach of the Rocks, Gareth Murray, commented on the fact that the team were not allowed to train properly yet and many of their European imports, such as recent signing Marc Kwedi, had just arrived in the country and were subsequently in self-isolation. He claimed he was frustrated by the government restrictions as the team had to adhere to social distancing on the court and only have the opportunity to shoot using their own basketballs, with an official pre-season and training commencement date only announced on October 13. Following on from that, Mur-

ray also highlighted worries surrounding the financial situation of the Glasgow Rocks and their reliance on ticket sales, merchandise, and sponsors, all of which are currently very limited.

“Games will be played behind closed doors with streaming packages available for fans to follow all the action...”

Finally being allowed to train

properly again, Rocks chairman, Duncan Smillie, emphasised that all protocols such as physical distancing off the court and frequent hand sanitisation will be followed, but for the time being, full-contact training is allowed on the court.

The Glasgow Rocks will begin their BBL campaign at home on November 1, with the hope of success despite being weeks behind their competition.

The changes in restrictions also allow Scotland’s leading women’s team, the Caledonia Pride, the chance to get back into action in the Women’s British Basketball League next month, with the league expected to have a staggered start.

THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN

6 November 2020

31

Sport

International football, a major mistake? part in his country’s most recent UEFA Nations League match.

While Portugal still defeated Sweden without their captain, the fact that teams are becoming disadvantaged in competitive matches as a result of the pandemic only adds to the concerns regarding whether or not continuing with international football really is the best option.

Thomas Harris WRITER

As one of the most popular sources of entertainment, it’s natural that many would gravitate towards the return of professional football following its suspension as a result of Covid-19 as soon as possible. While some eyebrows were raised over the decision to eventually reintroduce the sport to our television screens as early as June, in the case of the Premier League, these concerns have only grown following the return of international football.

International football, where players jet off to join their national teams, has already resulted in consequences for those involved. In the case of Premier League champions, Liverpool, a period of international football at the end of September resulted in three players returning with the virus. The risk exists that players will compete for their countries whilst inadvertently catching the virus in the process, before returning to the locale of their domestic competition. Ideally, the players are in a position to self-isolate upon infection as to reduce the likelihood of infecting others, but, with symptoms potentially taking time to present,

“There is the distinct likelihood that players and staff will accidentally spread the virus before knowing they have it...”

Credit: Wikimedia Commons there is the distinct likelihood that players and staff will accidentally spread the virus before knowing they have it.

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers stated: “You know at least when they are at your club you have them in your bubble, and from our perspective that has been really, really good. But there’s no doubt it increases the risk when they travel and go outside of that bubble.”

Rodgers’ statement highlights how monitoring players and as such better ensuring their wellbeing in the face of Covid-19 becomes more challenging as a result of international football. It begs the question: should international football should continue to operate in the current climate, given the potentially increased risk to people’s physical wellbeing?

On top of the health risks posed

by travelling players potentially bringing the virus back to the country where they live, international football suffers as well.

More and more players are being forced to isolate and miss upcoming matches for their country. As such, there is the risk that results become skewed and the integrity of international football is harmed.

For example, the esteemed Cristiano Ronaldo was unable to take

At the time of writing, international football does not seem likely to be postponed. However, as the health of players, staff and potentially their friends and families are put at greater risk, in addition to the risk that matches themselves may become unfairly affected, the choice to allow international football to continue in the current format is perhaps something that should be reconsidered.

THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN

32

6 November 2020

Sport

Sport of the month: Quidditch Amy Pope explains the game of muggle quidditch, and encourages others to join the movement Amy Pope WRITER

Many fans of the Potterverse will recall the main sport of the franchise fondly, although the specifics of the rules may be a little… fuzzy.

Knowledge of Harry Potter or love for the wizarding world is not a requirement for the sport - however, for those who remain oblivious to the concept, quidditch is a sport played on flying broomsticks with a tiny winged golden ball, which becomes very important later. It may surprise you to learn that such a fantastical sport has been being played in the muggle world for over 15 years, and in every continent except Antarctica! Our fine city even has its own team – the Glasgow Grim Reapers, founded in January 2017, and still going strong. Quidditch is truly a sport played across the world, with competition at a local, British, European, and even world level. I personally first played quidditch in Texas, but more on that later.

“Despite what She-WhoMust-NotBe-Named might prefer, quidditch is certainly one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly sports around...”

Back to those fuzzy rules. A quidditch match requires two teams, six hoops, three bludgers, one quaffle, 14 players, 14 brooms, and one snitch. Yeah, a lot of equipment - most of it sitting in my cupboard, thanks to Miss Rona - but don’t let that intimidate you! It’s simpler than it looks - not least because depending on what position you play, half of those things magically become not your problem. But, a quick overview; the chasers’ job is to score points by putting the quaffle through the other team’s hoop. A beater’s job is to assist their team’s chasers or to prevent the opposing team’s chasers from scoring, by throwing bludgers

Credit: Roisin Stangoe at opposing chasers and beaters to get them out. The keeper’s job, while primarily there to defend the hoops, can often include directing play and assisting the chasers. Finally, the seeker’s job is to catch the snitch, ending the game and gaining their team the equivalent of three goals.

The snitch? A human being wearing fluorescent yellow shorts, with a Velcro attachment on the back that the seeker has to steal. Just as hilarious as it sounds, I promise.

“Quidditch is truly a sport played across the world, with competition at a local, British, European, and even world level...”

And the shenanigans don’t stop there, as the entire game is played “on-broom”, meaning every player has to have a PVC pipe held between their legs the whole game.

No, they don’t actually fly, I’m sorry to say, but it’s still pretty spectacular. The beaters also aren’t allowed baseball bats, unlike in the magical version, much to the dismay of certain players! Muggle quidditch is a fairly eclectic mix of sports techniques, ranging from dodgeball to rugby to handball, but experience in those sports – or any sports – aren’t necessary, and the emphasis is on borrowed techniques, definitely not borrowed rules.

“Quidditch encourages all kinds of personal development, be it in terms of fitness or physical skill...”

Unarguably, one of the biggest draws of the sport is its inclusivity. Despite what She-Who-MustNot-Be-Named might prefer, quidditch is certainly one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly sports around, with all genders acknowledged, and supported through the Gender Rule – a rule that no more than four people of the same gender may be on the pitch at any one time for your seven-player team, non-binary and queer genders included.

This ensures that every team is mixed gender, making it one of the only mixed-gender, full-contact sports around. That’s right, quidditch is a full-contact sport, and perhaps not what you were expecting from a game pulled from the pages of a fantasy book series.

Rest assured the rules in place for the sport strictly enforce safe contact procedures, and the likelihood of contact is largely dependent on player position, so the less contact happy participants can avoid it.

Outside of LGBTQ+ support being built into the very foundations of the gameplay, the culture and community around quidditch are equally as welcoming, if not more

so. Friendly faces and enthusiastic support abound, on and off the pitch, making for a genuinely lovely experience, supportive teams and a healthy drive to improve.

Quidditch encourages all kinds of personal development, be it in terms of fitness or physical skill, or lending bravery to interact with new people and develop friendships in a more social setting. A lot of tournaments are out of town and require some travel, which usually results in some memorable shenanigans, and the hosting team tends to throw pretty impressive socials to entertain their guests.

Many teams have regular socials themselves, which improves teamwork, but also allows for some impressively strong friendships to grow.

“Quidditch is a full-contact sport, and perhaps not what you were expecting from a game pulled from the pages of a fantasy book series...”

I can personally attest to the welcoming nature of the quidditch community. I first played very briefly in Texas, and then came to a taster session for the Grim Reapers upon returning home last year.

I never looked back, have met some

truly amazing individuals, and have been made to feel welcome with them faster than I have in a very long time. I’ve only played one season with the Reapers, but I know I’ve gained relationships that will last a lifetime and a love for the sport that I hope I’ve been able to articulate to you.

“The entire game is played “on-broom”, meaning every player has to have a PVC pipe held between their legs the whole game...”

As mentioned above, Glasgow’s quidditch team is called the Grim Reapers. Practice is, of course, temporarily on hold right now, but the team is hosting weekly socials and has some instructional videos filmed to help teach some basics in the interim. If quidditch sounds like your cup of tea (or butterbeer), feel free to contact the team via email (glasgowgrimreapers@ gmail.com), Facebook (Glasgow Grim Reapers Quidditch Team), Twitter (@GlasgowReapers), or Instagram (@glasgowgrimreapers). The team is always open to new members, or just for questions about the sport! And don’t worry, they don’t bite! (That’s against the rules, apparently.)