G-You February 2016 Edition

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Contents

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CO N TE N TS Dearest readers,

I’m writing this editorial for the final time, as my position as Editor-in-Chief is coming to an end here at G-You, after a fantastic two years. I’ve had the best time being involved in the magazine throughout my time at university, and I am so excited to see what my successor has in store, because I know she’ll be amazing.

To end the soppiness, this issue has a mix of topical cultural information, from Glasgow Film Festival to the Oscars, as well as consideration on study abroad and student journalism, two key factors of the university experience for many.

I will say farewell, adieu, thank you for having me and thank you for reading. It’s meant the world to us.

Yours, Lucy Keown Editor-in-Chief 2014-2016 Editorial Team: Culture Editor - Anna Ireland News Editor - Hannah Burgess Column Editor - Amy McShane Lifestyle Editor - Kate Whitaker Cover and Graphics Editor - Rachel Bean Photography Editor - Lottie van Grieken

4&5 From the board

6&7 News - Student Journalism & US ELECTion 8&9 lifestyle - SW@G and Social bite 10&11 GU Law Society (GULS) 12&13 culture - ROUND up: Glasgow film

festival 14&15 review - Oscars round up & Oscars 16&17 Column - home or away?

18&19 Pics of the month CONTRIBUTORS: Lottie van Grieken, Anna Ireland, Kate Whitaker, Hannah Burgess, Ali Cooper, Amy McShane, Lucy Keown, Elsa Brotchie, Moray Fraser, Daniel Irwin, Rachel Bean, Emma Harrison, Matthew Botez, Ally Farrell, Kirsty McKenzie, Claire Flynn, Michael Gray, Romain Ricchi, Bella Borgstein If you’d like to contribute in any way, or get in touch, please email: libraries@guu.co.uk, or check us out below; Facebook - /GYoumagazine Twitter - @g_youmagazine Instagram - @gyoumagazine Website - www.gyou.co.uk G - Yo u | F e b r u a r y E d i t i o n 2 0 1 6

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Fr om the Boar d

Greetings, members, and welcome to the February issue of your most coveted read of the month - G-You! Campus is as busy as ever trying to get out of the winter chill and celebrating such life-changing events as Groundhog day and Valentines by fine wining and dining, or curling up wit a big bag of Doritos and Making a Murderer. But if you’re short of things to keep you entertained this coming month, fear not: Election Season has arrived!

The end of February heralds the return of cheap spray-painted t-shirts sparkling with pizzazz, and all the sweets Poundland can offer as students slog and toil to curry your favour for those precious votes. Having both been through the process before, we can safely say it’s a loooong day but so very worth it in the end. Running for student board in any of the 4 student bodies is an opportunity unmatched by anything on campus, but obviously GUU is where it’s at. Without sounding like a generic recruitment advert for the MOD, the skills you can acquire and practical experience you can gain are things you will never learn in any lecture - the people you meet while doing it too aren’t too shabby to boot.

But most of all, it’s a hell of a lot of fun. Oh, and you get a whole new wardrobe of board clothes absolutely gratis!

From designing and implementing new club nights in our big bad (and fully WIFI equipped, FYI) HIVE, to reinventing the catering services and absolutely anything in between,

Board really is what you make it. Trusting 17 students to run a million pound business might sound a bit mad, but it gives you every chance to make this place as fun as ever. And running one of the oldest student unions in the country is a pretty great accomplishment. The new facilities have just been launched so the potential of what could be done with them is virtually limitless.

SO, if all this sounds good and you want to get in the race, here are some top tips to consider before you hit the campaign trail:

Discuss your campaign with other candidates.

For the sake of not having overlapping colour schemes if not for anything else, but chatting to other people running and even running campaigns together can be a great way to round up some extra votes. It’s meant to be fun after all, not the Hunger Games.

Rally your team.

You’ll no doubt have a squad of loyal campaign soldiers who will be tearing around campus for you, flyering all in sight and wearing as many novelty costume items you could get them into. Make sure you are extra nice to them, since all this effort is just for you.

Stock up on highly caffeinated produce.

Campaign day is long. That is just a fact. And if you’re outside

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the steps of 32 University Avenue from 9am until 7pm, you’re going to need something to pep you up. You’ll probably be out even earlier to poster campus, so maybe just skip straight to a caffeine drip.

Facebook isn’t everything.

BEWARE: Election season invariably means that your news feed will be bombarded by heartfelt pleas to vote for someone, habitually referring to their heroic deeds and superhuman abilities. Take it from us, Facebook likes don’t mean much, so stop yourself from obsessing over them - it all comes down to Election Day, and the amount of effort you put in in the REAL WORLD (scary thought).

Board is fun, Board is actionpacked and Board has truly been one of the most integral and enjoyable parts of our university experience, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

So if you’re even slightly considering it, then just RUN – you won’t regret it.

If you’ve got any more questions about what being on Board is like, or you’re freaking out about how to run a campaign, then get in touch – we aren’t always in those robes though, that was just a special occasion.

Lots of love, Daniel and Moray PSMs Today PSMs Tomorrow PSMs Forever

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F RO M T HE B OAR D

DANIEL IRWIN & MORAY FRASER

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News

ST U DE N T J OU R NAL I S M , HOW D O I LOV E T HE E ?

LUCY KEOWN Let me count the ways… It’s good for your CV, helps your critical thinking which is good for uni, you can make lots of pals through involvement with a student journalistic society, you’re more clued in about University life, you get to meet and interview famous people like Edith Bowman, Fatherson and the beautiful Greg James. Utterly awful, truly. Just terrible.

But in all seriousness, student journalism has defined my whole university experience, and opened so many doors for me during my time at Glasgow Uni. But will it really help you in your future career?

After all, it’s an unpaid, often sporadic, and can be an under-appreciated part of any university. I asked a few recent graduates, who once upon a time wrote for G-You (some when it was called GUUi), about their opinion of student journalism,

and why it was worthwhile for them to get involved. These people have become writers and journalists in their own right, now being employed and paid for their work.

Which is every student journalist’s wildest dream, I know.

Ally Farrell, showbiz reporter for The Sun: “If you attend Glasgow Uni and dream of being a journalist you would be silly not to get involved with the GUUi. Pitch features every week, go out and find stories and opinion on campus, get out to gigs, restaurants and bars and write reviews.

The GUUi needs your content and if you want to build up a portfolio then it’s there for a taking.

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I used the magazine as an opportunity to better the quality of my writing and I still count it as a huge factor in getting to where I am today.

Writing eye-wateringly dull essays for my politics degree could have sucked the life out of me but the GUUi kept my passion for writing alive.”

Kirsty McKenzie, postgraduate in Media journalism at Caledonian University, writer for The Source magazine “Not only did it help me meet some of my best friends, working for my student magazine gave me the push I needed to follow my passion and go out and get my dream job.

What started out as an escape from my dreary law degree has led me to do a Masters in Multimedia

News journalism and helped me to get my foot in the door at places such as STV and the Evening Times. It taught me there is a story in every situation - all you have to do is write it. Whether you are the next Paxman or are just curious to see where you’re writing can take you, get involved. I promise you won’t regret it.”

The starting point is to stop procrastinating and apply. Write about what you care about to the editor, and go from there.

Michael Gray, GUUi editor 2011, journalist with CommonSpace. scot and The National newspaper:

Claire Flynn, G-You editor 20132014, writer at The List:

“When it comes to journalism and writing, the best advice I’ve had was at a Glasgow Uni careers talk from author John Niven: “Don’t waste money on a fancy writingadvice course. Buy a pen, some paper and start writing.”

It’s easy to day dream at university about things you might do (my salsa dancing, acapella singing or rock climbing never worked out).

Student journalist provides an opportunity to try, fail and try again.

And it’s fun. Beyond my wildest expectations, it even made me employable.”

“Getting involved with student journalism was undoubtedly one of the best decisions I made at university.

Since graduating, I have started writing for The List (one of my favourite magazines). It was my experience with a student magazine that landed me the work experience placement that then turned into a freelance writing job.

Getting involved with student publications developed my writing and editing skills, while also providing me with experience of working to

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tight deadlines, which was incredibly useful when I started working with The List. I think writing for student publications is a necessity for anyone who wants to succeed in this increasingly competitive industry.”

So there you have it... yes we’re all a bit biased, and I’m not saying that writing for a student magazine will definitely get you a journalism job.

But from experience, if you want to be a writer and haven’t capitalised on this opportunity whilst at uni, future employers will smell a rat. A ‘are you really bothered because we see no evidence’ kind of rat. So spend a few hours every so often writing about something you care about, something that piques your interest, or something that bothers you, and get in touch with a publication at uni. It doesn’t even have to be us... but why opt for second best?

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Lifestyle

S OC I AL B I TE & SW @ G

BELLA BORGSTEIN Still feeling those January blues halfway through February?

Struggling to get your teeth into anything inspiring during these dark days and need reminding that there is a crumb of cheerfulness left in the world? Chew on this: a sandwich shop with freshly made food fashioned by a MichelinStarred Chef in which 100% of profits are donated to charity; where 1 in 4 of all employees were formerly homeless; where you can buy a ‘suspended’ coffee or meal for a homeless person to have later. In a city where the homeless

community is just as friendly and witty as all of its locals (at least from my personal experience), and if you are the kind of person who likes to be reminded that humanity can be pretty good sometimes, this place and its statement will be a real winter-warmer for you.

A couple of weeks ago, co-founder Alice Thompson was hosted by Successful Women at Glasgow (aka SW@G) to give a talk at the uni and she blew our minds with stories of the little social enterprise and its big dream.

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Like so many of us, the charismatic 25-year old followed the natural progression from high school into university, without the faintest idea why, or what the hell she wanted to do. She, like so many of us, used her innate problem solving skills to find the solution partying and clubbing rather than in the lecture halls and classrooms. This led her to the solution of dropping out of uni to start a skiing and snowboarding events business. After a year or so of semi-successful seasons this was floored by a chance encounter with Bangladeshi social business guru, Professor Muhammad Yunus. (When I say chance encounter, she and co-founder Josh Littlejohn literally flew out to Dhaka in Bangladesh to see him) Once they were there, they saw first hand the effect that this man’s

Lifestyle actions had had on tens of millions of people’s lives. The social entrepreneur and civil society leader has tackled problems such as financial exclusion of poor women, malnutrition and blindness through social business. Thompson described the effect of visiting and bearing witness to that as “life-changing”.

On the back of their trip and £38,000, Social Bite was first dreamed up. Low and behold, three and a half years later it is a real and thriving reality. With two shops in Edinburgh, two in Glasgow, one in Aberdeen and a sixth planned for Dundee, the little business is growing up alongside the big cheeses like Prêt a Manger and Greggs. The twist is that no matter how big they grow, no individual will ever get stinking rich off of it. After the staff is paid and costs covered every penny goes into tackling social problems, locally and abroad.

Social Bite now donates to 4 awesome charities. Two of these are local: Shelter Scotland, an organisation that helps over half a million people a year struggling with bad housing or homelessness and the STV Children’s Appeal who give practical help like food and warm clothes, create opportunities for employment and training and provide support for impoverished families in Scotland. The other two work a bit further afield: Vision Eye Care Hospital in Bangladesh which performs cataract operations for the poorest and most marginalised people in the country and the MicroLoan Foundation in Malawi and Zambia which supports over 28, 000 families and communities by providing small loans and extensive business training to impoverished women to set up businesses, to help them live sustainably and self-sufficiently away from poverty

and insecurity.

Even more impressive than their contribution to those great causes, is Social Bite’s initiative and engagement on home ground. It now has 83 workers, 20 of which used to live on the street.

Formerly homeless employee Joe was taken into Social Bite from where he was selling the Big Issue on the corner of Rose Street, literally from right outside the front door of its first shop. From being in care as a boy, endless stress from an unstable family and sleeping rough for most of his life, Joe now lives in a flat in the Grassmarket and has been promoted to Chef’s assistant. Alice Thompson told us about several other ex-Big Issue sellers who now have rewarding careers at Social Bite. John was expelled onto the streets after an unfortunate split with his wife and child, and Colin is now making his way up the ladder from dishes to food prep and was “really chuffed to be promoted so quickly.”

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about the employees and heartwarming ones about opening their doors to the homeless, Thompson illustrated to us just how much more Social Bite is to the community than just a wee sandwich shop.

This is a hugely selfless initiative, busy tackling social problems on all levels. I can really recommend a stop at this spark of a café when you are next out and about, where you would be standing in the gold-dusted footprints of the likes of George Clooney and Nicola Sturgeon; Social Bite’s esteemed and enthusiastic supporters.

Following up from Alice Thompson, SW@G has a whole lineup of inspirational speakers. Be sure to keep an eye out for upcoming talks

by Anna Dominiczak; Glasgow uni’s own distinguished medical researcher, Jenny Brown; creator and namesake of Scotland’s largest literary agency, and more!

With some heart wrenching stories

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Societies Spotlight

G LAS G OW UN IV E R S I T Y LAW S OC I E T Y

ALI COOPER

Law students tend to get a bad rap for being self-obsessed, dull and generally not much fun. Who can blame us? We get a mountain of weekly reading and spend far too much time squabbling with each other over the small print – literally.

However, when we do manage to squeeze in a bit of fun, we do it in style.

This year GU’s second largest society on campus has been busier than ever with a host of academic, social, musical, charity, sport and networking events.

Whilst it might not be as ancient as MedChir, GULS has been evolving for decades. Did we mention one of our Presidents in the 90s is one of Hollywood’s finest – Gerard

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Butler? Yeah, we do like to boast about that.

Socials are at the heart of GULS. This year we kicked things off with Cheese and Wine, consuming a record 250 litres of the finest* red, white and rose. Family Ties came the following week as we introduced new first years to their

Societies Spotlight mums, dads, aunties and uncles in the Beer Bar. Whilst sadly our Subcrawl was cut short – Yik Yak speculated that the entire Committee was arrested for taking SPT staff hostage – our joint Burns Ceilidh with international law students in the Debates Chamber saw us through ‘til the wee hours in Hive.

February’s Law Ball is the highlight of the year for GULS with 400 tickets selling out in a record two hours. The event at the Radisson Blu came with Jazz Band, Ceilidh and DJ set from Switch Saturday’s Ross McMillan, followed by an after party at the Corinthian Casino and of course, a cherished individual bottle of wine each.

New initiatives also came to GULS this year. A weekly running group was added to our five Sports teams: Rugby, Netball, Basketball, Football and ‘Lawkey’.

Our sports teams also headed up to Aberdeen for the annual

Inter-Varsity event between the other Scottish law schools. GULS Music also launched with weekly Choir rehearsals and charity carol singing. 2016 will also see the addition of a brand new social – GULS Field Day. With the theme of Lord Advocate of the Rings we will be heading out to GHA Rugby grounds for a day of sports, food and inflatables before returning to campus with for a pub crawl.

GULS also raised a record amount for our charities this year: Cancer Support Scotland, the Yorkhill Royal Sick Kids Hospital and Access to Justice Foundation. £820 was raised in total with GULS Charity Pub Quiz and sponsored Glasgow Legal Walk.

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Bake Off. Four firms descended on the GUU to judge the best legal bakes with a spot of networking on the side. You may not find law related cakes funny but we did.

The GULS Law Review also went from strength to strength this year with the foreword written by none other than past GULS member and current First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon. The publication received a record number of submissions from which the best essays will be selected and printed in addition to being published online.

With a record amount of sponsorship and a variety of new initiatives, GULS has had a law-t of fun this year. March elections for the new Committee are fast approaching and campaigning will begin soon. If you want to help law students become less dull and more fun, GULS wants you!

Academic and networking events are a big part of our calendar. In October we hosted 9 law firms in the Sir Charles Wilson building for our annual Bubbles and Truffles networking event. Much chocolate *Boxed wine, what’s wrong with and champers were had. A new that? edition arrived with the Great Legal

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Culture

ROUN D U P : G LAS G OW F I L M F E ST IVAL

ANNA IRELAND

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Culture It may or may not have escaped your attention during your time in Glasgow that it is a hub for the artistic, the musical, and the theatrical. However, if you were in doubt about it’s position as a leader in the world of the cinematic, recent years have seen Glasgow’s status in this league skyrocket. It’s annual film festival, beginning in 2005, has seen a melting pot of international, UK and Scottish screenings, premieres and events combine to create a diverse and exciting selection for Scottish audiences.

This year’s looks set to be no different, for which we have provided a handy overview of what’s happening.

The festival opener sees the Coen brothers return with a slice of old Hollywood magic, peppered with more stars than you can count.

Hail, Caesar! harks to a bygone era of 1950s studio cinema, where the movie star was lauded and every move, even the bad, could be transformed into gold dust.

When Capitol studios epic production, ‘Hail, Caesar,’ finds its star kidnapped (George Clooney), the studio are faced with one problem they can’t solve. Starring Tilda Swinton, Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum, this promises an eclectic, evocative piece of cinema. Despite receiving a somewhat tepid response from critics, it will still, no doubt, start the festival with a bang.

There’s a host of Festival collections to direct your attention to, spanning a wide variety of films and genres. Dream Teams provides, as part of the retrospective strand of the festival’s programme, the chance to see your favourite double acts on the big screen, be it Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers or Audrey Hepburn and Spencer

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Tracy. Winning adoration as part of much loved duos that graced many a cinema screen, this might be one to visit with an elderly relative, or a keen old school movie lover. What’s more, morning matinees are free.

There will also be an appearance from Richard Gere to promote the UK premier of Time Out of Mind, the story of a homeless man in New York in which he stars.

Local Heroes is a selection of the finest homegrown talent that we Scots have to offer, providing both exciting new films for audiences and inspiration for those who may feel that they are too far from Hollywood to see the realisation of a movie career. Featuring Scottish comedy and Glaswegian actor Tommy Flanagan in Winter, get along and support some local, and varied, talent.

If you’d rather be quivering in your cinema seat and struggling to sleep without the light on for days after, then FrightFest will be right up your street. The Festival’s horror fantasy event claims a line up to ‘shock, chill and thrill,’ with 13 films screening from the 25-27 February. This will be accompanied by shorts, guest director Q&A’s and give-aways. It kicks off with a screening of The Forest with star Natalie Dormer (of Game of Thrones fame) in attendance; the film sees her searching for her twin sister in Japan’s most haunted spot, the Sea of Trees.

Prefer your movies more international than local? Window on the World will showcase the hot picks of films that give you a snapshot of the lives of other people, cultures and places. Aiming to give you an ‘extreme close up’ of the countries it depicts, the selection allows you to take a trip to a far off land, all from the comfort of your cinema seat. Grab a ticket for a colourful patchwork of time, places and communities.

Don’t Miss:

As well as plenty more collections, the Short Film Festival and Youth Film Festival will each be running an extensive programme of screenings. To find out more, visit www.glasgowfilm.org.

More admiring of the glitz and the glam? The Gala festival strand might be the one for you. The self-proclaimed ‘glitziest’ event of the festival, these films promise exciting premieres and glamorous guests, giving you the chance to see in advance what everyone else in the film world will be talking about for the next year.

These include Jake Gyllenhaal in Demolition, the latest film from Dallas Buyers Club director JeanMarc Vallée, and Ben Wheatley’s adaptation of J.G. Ballard’s ‘High Rise,’ and are sure to come under the not-to-be-missed category.

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Review

T H E OS CAR S : I N S HO RT

EMMA HARRISON & MATTHEW BOTEZ from more unconventional techniques beside his complex storyline, occasionally having his all-star cast actually address the camera and include a few more comical sketches.

Also nominated for: Best Supporting Actor (Christian Bale), Best Director, Best Editing, and Best Adapted Screenplay Bridge of Spielberg)

It’s February, which means it’s that special time of the year again: the awards season. Of all the prestigious ceremonies taking place these couple of months, the most iconic one, both loved and hated and forever ingrained in our collective memory is the Oscars.

While marred in controversy over the issue of #OscarsSoWhite, the 2016 Academy Awards has also stirred up quite a few debates as to which film will take home the big prize. Only three major award ceremonies are left to indicate this year’s winner and so far it’s shaping up to be the most fascinating and unpredictable race in years. Start your countdown: it’s

going to be a memorable night!

The Big Short (Adam McKay) A biographical comedy-drama, The Big Short is adapted from Michael Lewis’s non-fiction book of the same name, centred on the 2007 financial crash triggered by a build-up of the housing market.

Considering the somewhat tragic subject matter, the film manages to be very funny, telling the story of those few that saw the corruption ahead of time and managed to make a huge profit from the events that resulted in so many losing houses and jobs. Director Adam McKay does not shy away

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Spies

(Steven

Returning to a classic feel of espionage thriller, Bridge of Spies follows the story of James B. Donovan; an American lawyer tasked with negotiating the release of a pilot whose plane was shot down over Russia, in the midst of the Cold War. With an intricate and suspenseful story and masterful work by Spielberg, the film is hugely engrossing, with an interesting dynamic between the instantly recognisable Hanks and the relatively unknown Mark Rylance, whose break-out performance has been particularly noted by critics.

Also nominated for: Best Supporting Actor (Mark Rylance), Best Musical Score, Best Production Design, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Original Screenplay

Review Brooklyn (John Crowley)

The Martian (Ridley Scott)

A historical period drama, Brooklyn takes the viewer back to Ireland, 1952, where young Eilis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan) is preparing for her immigration to Brooklyn, US. In an incredibly moving story, the film portrays Lacey’s struggle to decide where she truly belongs, pulled between two different countries by the ties of both family and romance. The emotional core is skilfully handled, allowing Brooklyn to feel both warmly genuine as well as an enjoyably light and romantic viewing. The true heart of the film, however, lies with Ronan’s performance, whose grace and subtle power effectively carry the story.

Adapted from Andy Weir’s bestselling novel, The Martian follows the story of Mark Watney (Matt Damon), one of a number of astronauts on an exploration mission to Mars. When a storm strikes and the group evacuate, Mark is lost and presumed dead, leading to him being left alone on the planet.

Realising that his closest potential help is at least four years away, the astronaut sets himself the task of somehow growing food for himself on Mars, with the film tracking his bid for survival and the attempts by others to rescue him. Thanks to Damon’s exuberant presence and the clever and compelling writing, the film is both thrilling and hugely entertaining.

Also nominated for: Best Lead Actress (Saoirse Ronan) and Best Adapted Screenplay Max Max: Fury Road (George Miller) Making a triumphant return to his Mad Max franchise, George Miller here provides the surprise success of the year, in his exhilarating post-apocalyptic adventure starring Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron. Taking a structure akin to a wild, non-stop car chase, the film is a wonderfully extravagant rollercoaster of intense colour and stunning action sequences, while still retaining a strong sense of narrative and the key Mad Max themes of home and survival. Critics have also given high praise for its focus on female empowerment, so far as to be heralded by some viewers as the feminist film of the year.

Also nominated for: Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Director, Best Editing, Best Costume and Make-up, Best Production Design, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Visual Effects

Also nominated for: Best Lead Actor (Matt Damon), Best Production Design, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Adapted Screenplay The Revenant (Alejandro González Iñárritu) Holding the largest collection of nominations this year, The Revenant is an astonishing spectacle that follows frontiersman Hugh Glass’ (Leonardo DiCaprio) desperate fight for survival, after being brutally attacked by a bear and left for dead by his team. Director Alejando Iñárritu’s decision to use only natural lighting and wildly remote locations have paid off in a spectacular way, producing a striking, at times gruesome, and completely immersing spectacle.

Also nominated for: Best Lead Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Best Supporting Actor (Tom Hardy), Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Director, Best Editing, Best Costume and Make-up, Best Production Design,

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Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Visual Effects Room (Lenny Abrahamson) Arguably the most powerful story of this year’s nominees, Room recounts the tale of 5 year old Jack (Jacob Tremblay) and his mother, Joy (Brie Larson), both of whom are kept captive in a single room

by Jack’s father – who kidnapped Joy seven years prior. When the pair manage to make an escape, Jack sees the outside world for the very first time, and has to adjust alongside his mother to life outside of Room. Filled with suspense and emotion, Room is incredibly tender while showing a very disturbing subject, always staying strong to its central focus of the bond between Jack and his Ma, which is stunningly acted by the film’s two leads.

Also nominated for: Best Lead Actress (Brie Larson), Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay Spotlight (Tom McCarthy) Focusing on the true story of the Boston Globe’s “Spotlight” investigation team, this compelling biographical drama follows the uncovering of decades of covered-up sexual abuse in the highest levels of the Catholic Church, in the Boston area. Skilfully handling the telling of extremely delicate events, Spotlight manages to demonstrate a near flawless control over its attention to detail, and has been highly praised for its honesty and respect to the real-life individuals.

Also nominated for: Best Supporting Actor (Mark Ruffalo), Best Supporting Actress (Rachel McAdams), Best Director, Best Editing, and Best Original Screenplay.

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Column

HO M E O R AWAY ?

AMY MCSHANE As a student, you have recently made one of the biggest changes to your life to date. Almost immediately, it seems, after making this huge decision to dedicate four years (or more) of your life to a degree someone comes along and asks DO YOU WANT TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY FOR A YEAR? ‘Bloody hell, I just got here’ is all you can think, let alone which continent takes your fancy. Some students even have to make a decision before their second year, let alone having the luxury of staying put until third year. Certainly for me, thoughts of hanging out with surfer guys and gals at some huge ‘college’ next to the beach in California were all that clouded my mind while I prepared to start university; I absolutely wanted...

NEEDED to do a year abroad.

But before I knew it, I was into the first semester of second year and the deadline for international study abroad had been and gone. How did that happen? My Cali dreams evaporated into a poof of condensation in my freezing GWR flat. This came as something of a relief to my already long distance partner ­transatlantic relationships aren’t really a thing, are they? But

I was really sad.

really ​think of the house I grew up in as ‘home’. However, there I eventually got over the sadness is truth in the satisfaction of familand sent in a dodgy applica- iarity and community. Continuing tion for Erasmus+ (exactly four to connect with the university and minutes before the deadline). I this beautiful city is appealing. whittled down the length of time So much can change in a year abroad to three months to keep and there is nothing better than my other half happy, and picked strengthening already strong relacold Northern European coun- tionships; with your friends, your tries like Finland and Denmark course mates, your faculty and because of their excellent social your city. For many, Glasgow is science modules. It’s definitely still a ‘new’ home. I asked a third not going to be California. My flat- year friend of mine why he chose mate once went to Lapland and her to stay put, and I was overwhelmed nose hairs froze. But who needs a with his confidence in his decision. tan when you can go and see the He told me ‘I love Glasgow, I’ve REAL Santa!? I am now eagerly already done way more cool stuff waiting to find out if I got a place here than I thought I would have on Erasmus, even though I think and I’m always finding something that my application was so unin- new to do’. That actually resospiring that the chances are small. nates with me. Last year I stayed Seeing as things are so unsure, I holed up in halls, wandering along decided to look at the advantages Byres Road or in typical freshers of staying at home or going away haunts like Bamboo, Buff Club and so I can feel relatively happy no Kushion. This year I have joined matter what happens. the union, become swallowed up by the Kelvinbridge area and set HOME: Home is always where the up camp in Hive. If I stayed here heart is, and without a heart you next year, what sort of things would are dead. Just kidding. ‘Home’ as I be doing? I really do feel like the a concept of ultimate belonging possibilities are endless. My friend and permanence has never truly went on to mention money as a resonated with me. I don’t even​ factor, and

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Column this also made me consider the stress I would save myself if I stay put. I’m sure many people can argue the case that an Erasmus trip doesn’t have to cost any more than living in Glasgow, but ultimately the inexperience of a new currency and feeling impulsive and liberated in a new city would, for me, probably result in overspending.

AWAY: The attraction is obvious.

To travel is one of the greatest privileges one can have, and many students are desperate to thrust their passports at whomever will give them the cheapest flight out of here. It’s not that ‘here’ isn’t

wonderful, it’s just that exploring is even more wonderful. This opportunity comes at a time in our great existence where we are most free and without responsibility. Children, mortgages and full time jobs don’t yet exist for most first/second years. The world is our big, juicy oyster. The opportunity to live in another country as a ‘student’ citizen is golden ­you need not fuss around with visas, work permits and whatnot. You receive guidance with paperwork, finding accommodation and, on some occasions, financial grants.

It is one of the best opportunities to travel you will be offered.

Everyone likes new, shiny things.

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To have a brand new place to explore is surely amazing. Friends tell me of the new sports they took up, the foods they tried, the sights they saw. One friend spent four months in Copenhagen last year and every day their Snapchat was brimming with stuff that just looked really, really cool. People often talk about the new friends they met­ people they might never have met in Glasgow ­and the new culture they got to experience together.

That sounds pretty good to me. It seems that, in these ‘best years of our lives’ as a student, the outcome will be great either way, but I’m still crossing my fingers for those three months abroad.

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Pic of the Month

Brel Beer Garden (Romain Ricchi), Necropolis (Amy McShane), Go Green Week (Lottie van Grieken)

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PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION