Palatinate Issue 731

Charley Boorman on his latest adventures Indigo Travel, page 16

No. 731

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New!

Business & finance section on a turbulent summer

Durham’s Kate Silverton on her long road into journalism

Palatinate, pages 12&13

Palatinate, page 15

Palatinate Durham’s student newspaper since 1948

Tuesday 11th October 2011 | FREE

In Sport: Wildcats endure a tough start to the season

The University has had a string of league table successes over the summer Photograph: Neitram Images

Durham makes top three Charlie Taverner Lauren Stark Ettie Bailey-King

According to the Sunday Times University Guide, Durham is the third-best in the UK. The ranking is the highest that the University has ever achieved in this guide, and is an improvement of three places on last year.

Vice-Chancellor Chris Higgins said: “This latest league table is recognition for the distinctive research-led and rounded education Durham University offers.

“Durham is an ancient place of scholarship and yet is also one of the leading full-subject universities in the UK in the 21st Century.”

In the national rankings, Durham sits just behind Cambridge

in first position and Oxford in second. The University is comfortably the North’s top institution, with Newcastle and Sheffield the nearest competition, coming in at twelfth and thirteenth respectively.

The news comes after the QS World University rankings, in which 17,000 blue-chip organizations recognised Durham graduates as among the most sought after in the world.

Durham was ranked in the world top 100 in its overall table, and fifteenth for graduate employability.

Rising from 24th place last year, Durham was placed alongside the University of Edinburgh and ahead of Princeton University, one of the eight US Ivy League Universities.

Professor Higgins spoke about efforts across the University and with external partners, which is “enhancing the employability of our students by providing professional advice together with opportunities and links with leading employers.”

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Durham’s world ranking for graduate employment

In addition, Durham University Students ranked among the most satisfied in the UK, according to the 2011 National Student Survey (NSS).

Durham received its highest ever rating this year as 90 percent

of students expressed overall satisfaction, compared to a national average of 83 percent.

The result is reflected in a thirteen-place rise up the NSS league tables, moving to eleventh place.

It also ranks eighth out of fullsubject universities in the UK. Professor Anthony Forster, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, commented: “We are delighted that our students rate their experience at Durham so highly.”

Nadia Galitzine, (2nd year sport), said: “It’s great to see that Durham has been recognised as a high-achieving university not only by the student population but by the country as a whole.

“Hopefully it will contend for the top spot against Oxbridge in the future.”

Comment: is the DSU an irrelevant institution?

Music: bumper summer festival roundup

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Editorial

Tuesday 11th October 2011 | PALATINATE

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Get drunk and do other stuff as well 11.10.2011 Welcome, Freshers, to the first edition of Palatinate this year.

And thank you for briefly postponing the mammoth elevenweek pre-lash that is Michaelmas term at Durham long enough to read what we’ve put together here. I am going to resist the urge to give you patronizing and irrelevant advice. For some reason as soon as Freshers arrive, every second, third and fourth year immediately becomes the source of sage counsel.

Most of you will have noticed that Freshers is almost entirely based on alcohol. Being drunk is pretty much the central tenet of

the experience. However, if we are to gently apply a cliché such as “scratch beneath the surface”, I think one can abandon this cynical view. There is no doubt that alcohol is vital, but in reality it’s a means to several very important ends.

In one dizzying swoop of inebriation the awkwardness of meeting 250+ new people is removed, and the process of actually becoming a community is accelerated. Alternatively, if you are beholden to a slightly more purist view of the purpose of Fresher’s week, you are free to be as promiscuous as you like as you have

the perfect excuse: I lost the ability to think coherently.

I said I wouldn’t patronizingly advise. I lied. What I’m saying here is definitely get drunk. But remember to get involved in as many things as you can fit into your sober hours. Most of you have only got three years here, and at least three of your nine terms are taken up by exams.

That leaves you six terms. By all means spend the first getting to know people via the happy haze provided by Sambuca, but look around for things you can do here that maybe you won’t be able to in ‘the real world’.

It won’t be lost on all of you that this year’s batch of Freshers have exhibited some immaculate timing.

After just three more frantic terms, or not so frantic terms depending on what you study, a university education for first years at Durham will cost £9,000. This is a truly extraordinary increase, particularly when you consider that so far there has been very little indication of how things will change, if at all.

Under the new system, students will be perfectly entitled to demand more contact time, more time with staff, and a greater experience overall.

Although those who held up signs during last year’s protests which claimed that one English lecture would cost in the region of £125 were scaremongering, they still made a rather startling point.

Don’t lose faith however. As today’s front page story shows,

graduates from this picturesque part of the North East will join a group of illustrious alumni, earn more, and enjoy significantly better career prospects than those who are not fortunate enough to have gone to university.

However, it’s almost impossible to imagine a scenario in which students, particularly those who read arts subjects, are treated to much more than the customary five hours a week and an (allbeit whopping) journal subscription.

Triple the fees, triple the quality?

No.731

Contents Palatinate News pages 3-9 JCR guide page 11 Business pages 12-13 Profile page 15

Comment pages 16-19

Sport pages 20-24

Indigo Editorial pages 2-3 Cover story pages 4-6 Features page 7

Music pages 8-9

Stage pages 10-11 Fashion page 12

Food & Drink page 13 Film & TV page 14 Books page 15

Travel page 16

In Features: A week in the life of a Fresher

Vacancy: Deputy News Editor (x3) Want to get involved with Palatinate? Have a keen eye for a story? Email news@palatinate.org.uk for an application form.

Palatinate is published by Durham Students’ Union on a fortnightly basis during term and is editorially independent. All contributors and editors are full-time students at Durham. Send letters to: Editor, Palatinate, Durham Students’ Union, Dunelm House, New Elvet, Durham, DH1 3AN. Alternatively, send an e-mail to editor@palatinate.org.uk

Editorial Board Editors-in-Chief Daniel Johnson Hugh Anderson-Elliott editor@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Editors Olivia Swash & Alexandra Bottomer deputy.editor@palatinate.org.uk News Editor Rowena Caine news@palatinate.org.uk News Features Editor Mei Leng Yew news.features@palatinate.org.uk Deputy News Editors Ettie Bailey-King & Emma Charles deputy.news@palatinate.org.uk Business Editor John Zhu business@palatinate.org.uk Careers Editor Charlotte Seager careers@palatinate.org.uk Profile Editor Jessica Waite profile@palatinate.org.uk Comment Editor Michelle Wisson comment@palatinate.org.uk Sport Editors Delaney Chambers and Peter Vickers sport@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Sport Editor Tom Ryder deputy.sport@palatinate.org.uk Indigo Editors Hannah Shaddock & Rachel Aroesti indigo@palatinate.org.uk Features Editor Sarah Murray feature@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Features Editors Catherine Bradfield & Ellie Ross Food and Drink Editor Molly Fowler food@palatinate.org.uk Travel Editor Alexandra Groom travel@palatinate.org.uk Fashion Editors Laura Gregory, Rachel Bailin & Tom Weller fashion@palatinate.org.uk Film and Television Editor Christian Seiersen film@palatinate.org.uk Stage Editor Kathy Laszlo stage@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Stage Editors Larry Bartleet & Sarah Johnson Music Editor Jess Denham music@palatinate.org.uk Music Multimedia Editor Briony Chappell music@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Music Editor Will Clement deputy.music@palatinate.org.uk Books Editor Izzie Bengoechea books@palatinate.org.uk Chief Sub-Editor Florence Snead sub-editing@palatinate.org.uk Section Sub-Editors Kelsey Tollady, Alice Melton, Rebecca Lee, Rebecca Paul, Malik Al-Mahrouky & Gemma Neale Chief Web Editors Dori Beeler & Rhiannon Mehta web.editor@palatinate.org.uk Photography Editor Tamsin White photography@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Photography Editors Kartikeya Khanna, Delaney Chambers, Katherine Merchant, Sam Lipman deputy.photography@palatinate.org.uk Illustrations Editor David Drysdale illustration@palatinate.org.uk Palatinate TV Editors Ellie Onions & Danford Showan ptv@palatinate.org.uk Blogs Editor Julie Fisher blogs@palatinate.org.uk Publicity and Advertising Editor Charlie Taverner publicity@palatinate.org.uk

News

PALATINATE | Tuesday 11th October 2011

3 www.palatinate.org.uk

News

News Editor: Rowena Caine news@palatinate.org.uk @PalatinateUK Palatinate In the past year both Revolver and Bad Habit have been cancelled because they made a loss Photograph: Durham University

Planet of Sound moves to Studio Lauren Stark

Planet of Sound has moved from Durham Students’ Union (DSU) to Studio this year.

Running since 1998, Friday night Planet of Sound (POS) has been at the heart of DSU’s events for the last thirteen years.

Last term, POS regularly failed to reach half the 1,350 capacity of Dunelm house and consequently the event was losing money.

Mike King stated that this decision will “allow the invigorating change that is needed.”

To prevent POS being shut down completely, as Saturday night Revolver was last year, the

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for our JCR Guide, go to page 11

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DSU reached a collective decision to host the night at Studio, as of October 14th.

“Studio is the ideal venue because we are able to recreate the best parts of PoS such as a social bar area and multiple dance rooms playing different types of music.

“The DSU is not a building, the DSU is the community of Durham students and by moving we have freed up money that can now be invested in resources that the local market cannot provide such DSU President Mike King said that the change was absolutely necessary

as in societies.”

Last year, despite an estimated profit of £90,000, the DSU lost £14,200 through events such as Revolver, the Freshers’ Ball and the Bop. Despite this loss, this year the DSU is spending twice as much on the Bop, for which tickets are reduced by £2. In addition, Tinchy Stryder is hired for the Fresher’s Ball.

Studio will take 60% of the door profits, and the rest will go back into providing services for students.

The DSU is hoping to make £16,000 from this deal based on the numbers attending Studio each week. Studio has already paid £1,000 to take POS on.

Tickets will be available in advanced from the DSU website, DSU reception, Kingsgate bar (until 11 on the night) and from POS reps. Tickets cost £3 in advance and £4 on the door.

a major part, and is often ‘the place to be’ on a night out, this is not the case at Durham.

Planet has been running in the DSU for thirteen years, and provided a refreshing alternative to Durham’s somewhat limited range of night clubs, ensuring Dunelm House was regularly visited by students.

However, without providing evening entertainment of some description freshers will increasingly view the DSU as an unimportant concrete shell.

We need the support the DSU provides, but it will become harder to persuade people of this if it lacks a constant presence in student life.

The move is a major blow for the DSU

Kathryn Beeson Commentary

Studio was designed as a club.

The DSU was designed as a multi-purpose facility. Naturally, club nights like Planet of Sound function better in Studio, which never feels quite so

empty and has significantly cheaper drinks. It is also difficult for the DSU to sustain a loss-making enterprise.

In the past year, two other events run by the DSU have been closed, both down to making significant losses.

Whereas at other universities, the students’ union plays

Past DSU events

. Used to host ‘Revolver’, an alternative music night on Saturdays

. ‘Revolver’ was cancelled

in March, and replaced by ‘Bad Habit’, which only lasted two weeks

. The last three Revolvers lost a combined £3,307

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News

Iranian prison releases PhD student

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Tuesday 11th October 2011 | PALATINATE

Ehsan Abdoh-Tabrizi set free after two years of imprisonment in Iran Daniel Johnson

Durham PhD student Ehsan Abdoh-Tabrizi has been released from Iranian prison, after almost two years behind bars.

According to friends and reports in the Persian media, he was released on Saturday from the notorious Evin prison and is now with his family in Tehran.

Close friend Afshin Shahi, who is also a postgraduate student at Durham, said: “I spoke to Ehsan yesterday and everyone who knows him is thrilled at the news of his release.

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“After months in the infamous Evin prison, Ehsan has been granted an amnesty, and he seems very optimistic about the future.

“Ehsan told me that throughout his difficult days in prison the thought of completing his PhD and the support others have

shown him really kept him going.”

Ehsan, a student in the School of Government and International Affairs, had been sentenced to five years imprisonment for “insulting the leader”, “having links with foreign elements” and taking part in protests.

The Campaign to Free Ehsan (CFE) was instrumental in bringing his plight into the media spotlight. Initially criticised for its lack of response to the situation, Durham University sent three letters to senior Iranian figures.

University Director of Communications Michael Lavery gave his reaction to the reports: “The University is extremely heartened by reports of Ehsan’s release from prison in Tehran and is seeking verification from Ehsan’s family who we have been in regular contact with since his arrest.”

Ehsan was arrested and imprisoned in mid-January 2010 at Imam Khomeini International Airport while visiting his mother in Iran during the Christmas holidays. It is believed that he was held in solitary confinement for 50 days after his arrest.

Ehsan now hopes to return to Durham to complete the final years of his PhD.

Ehsan’s innocence has never been in doubt Photograph: Afshin Shahi

Tracy Emin confirmed for Durham Lumiere light festival Olivia Swash

Turner Prize nominee and controversial leading member of the Young British Artist movement Tracey Emin will be the highlight of this year’s Durham Lumiere festival.

Emin’s neon work will star amongst 30 installations by local, national and international artists

and light designers using light art to illuminate the nooks, crannies, bridges and buildings of Durham‘s historical city centre.

The light festival, organised by Artichoke, returns for four nights in November at the cordial invite of Durham County Council after their previous successes enticed 75,000 people to the city to witness the unique illuminations.

The globally-acclaimed and often misconstrued artist is most

famous for her ‘My Bed’ piece, which was presented at the Tate Gallery as it was when she had spent many days within it feeling suicidal because of relationship issues.

Her ‘Everyone I Have Ever Slept With 1963–1995’ piece also raised eyebrows with an assumed euphemism- a tent with an interior jigsawed together from appliqued names of relatives she has slept next to, sexual

partners, and her two aborted children.

Emin is renonwed for ‘My Bed’ and other controversial works

Details of Emin’s neon contribution to the festival are still under wraps, although it is rumoured to be one of the main

pieces exhibited at her major solo retrospective at London’s Hayward Gallery earlier this year.

She has previously donated neon work to auction for charity and in 2007 her neon ‘Keep Me Safe’ reached over £60,000.

Lumiere Festival will be coming to Durham from 17th to 20th November.

The last time Lumiere came to Durham was in 2009, to rave reviews from critics.

PALATINATE | Tuesday 11th October 2011

Durham to host Sri Lankan Olympic team Rowena Caine

Durham University will host Sri Lanka’s athletes at the sports centres at Maiden Castle and Queen’s Campus.

The Sri Lankan Olympians will use the facilities to prepare for the 2012 Olympics in London.

Maxwell De Silva, General Secretary of the Sri Lanka National Olympic Committee, toured Maiden Castle on 12th September. The tour included looking at the new developments at the Stockton site, as well as Durham itself.

Links between Sri Lanka and Durham were made when the

Head of Sri Lanka’s Olympic Commitee described the facilities as “exceptional”

University launched Project Sri Lanka, which provided support

through manpower, research, expertise and fund-raising in response to the 2004 Tsunami.

Dr Peter Warburton, the University’s Director of Sport, explained: “We have a team of eight sports students out there at the moment working closely with Sabaragamuwa University and surrounding villages delivering an all-round sport programme.

“Our sport science staff also work across all Sri Lanka’s Universities and their PE staff evaluating fitness levels, training methods and delivering fitness programmes through workshops.”

The sports site is currently undergoing improvements; part of a £100million plan to enhance the University’s estate.

Dan Lewis, Deputy Director of Sport, hopes that the Sri Lankan Olympians will enjoy these new facilities: “At the Queen’s Campus in Stockton we’ve got a new eight court hall which is what we are potentially looking at for the badminton support.

“At the Durham City Campus

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News

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Maxwell De Silva inspects the facilities at Maiden Castle Photograph: Durham University

we are in the process of redeveloping the sports centre there with a boat house, fencing cell, and new sports medical support.”

The developments also include a new extension and refurbishment of the centre itself, including a 28 station fitness suite and a £1million high-specification power rowing tank.

Mr de Silva described the facili-

ties as “exceptional.”

Mr Lewis added: “It’s been a huge investment by the University and it’s come at a really nice time, with 2012 coming up.”

He also hopes that hosting the Sri Lankan athletes will be a great experience for the region: “We think they’re going to be an accessible team, so not like one of the big teams who might be a bit

precious about wanting restricted access.

“We think the community and local schools will be able to come in and watch them train, and our student athletes can train alongside them.

“People will see that it’s not just about London, it is a nationwide thing and they can get a lot of benefit from it.”

University misses social mobility target Durham was one of 23 universities which failed to meet their targets for widening access to poorer students Katie Pavid

One quarter of universities in England, including Durham, have failed to meet their own targets to admit more students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The 23 universities under fire also include Cambridge, Bristol and Exeter, who have failed to meet targets they set themselves for the year 2009/10 to broaden their mix of applicants.

This is usually done by making use of extra income to provide bursaries, summer schools and outreach projects, to target those who may be unsure about applying to selective institutions.

A university spokesperson said: “Durham has some of the highest entry standards in the sector and a fair and transparent

admissions policy which is designed to admit the students with the greatest merit and potential, whatever their background.”

Last year, universities received over £470m from the Higher Education Funding Council to spend on these activities.

It was agreed in 2006 that widening access was the condition which allowed universities to charge the current fees of just over £3,000.

The Office for Fair Access (Offa) will be discussing universities’ performance with them, and will perhaps be granted more power in the future to fine institutions for bad performance.

Liam Burns, president of the National Union of Students, said: “The haphazard formation of student support in universities means that those universities with the best record of recruiting

those from non-traditional backgrounds have the least money available to spend per student.”

The news comes at the same time as fears increase concerning the fee rise planned for 2012.

Many are worried the high fees

£470m

The amount universities received last year to spend on widening access

will put off students from low-income backgrounds from applying to university and encourage elitism, and this failure from some of the country’s top institutions will do nothing to dispel those fears.

However, many feel that the problem of poorer students not

gaining access to university lies with schools and sixth forms, rather than the universities themselves. Many feel that poor schooling and A-Level grades are the real issue in some cases.

A third year student at Durham commented: “It is the school’s responsibility to encourage students to apply to university.”

Some Durham students have expressed concerns over how to ensure students from all backgrounds have equal opportunities to attend the best universities, while retaining a meritocratic system within those institutions.

Former NUS President Wes Streeting, from the Helena Kennedy Foundation, said the news was “deeply worrying.

“This is before fees are trebled next year. It’s hard to see how things will get better before they get worse”.

The news has divided opinion on the fairest way of judging admissions criteria. It also highlighted the difficulties universities face in understanding the most effective ways of recruiting those from poorer backgrounds.

How others fared

. 12.6% of Cambridge students come from families with household incomes of less than £25,000

. At Oxford the figure was just 14.4% whereas Bolton managed 50.1%

. University of Sunderland spent 42.9% of its extra income on bursaries, scholarships and outreach activities

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News

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Tuesday 11th October 2011 | PALATINATE

News you may have missed this summer...

A selection of Palatinate’s top summer headlines. See the full stories at www.palatinate.org.uk

University’s £11m support fund

Challenging success

North East stars for cafés and bars

Debaters reach European final

New Chancellor announcement

Durham University created a support fund to help students meet costs due to the fee increase to £9,000 from 2012.

The fund total is £11 million.

Students with family incomes under £25,000 will receive £3,000 a year. Households with an annual income between £25,000 and £42,000 will receive £1,000.

The fund will help students towards living expenses.

Earlier this year, a poll revealed that over 50 percent of students would not have gone to university if they had been charged £9,000 annually.

On 15th August, Durham University beat Plymouth University in the first round of University Challenge.

Students have named the bars, cafes and restaurants in North East university cities the best in the country.

The survey was taken by over 2,500 students at UK universities.

The North East was ranked second out of the eleven regions for “general nightlife” and “chill out areas”.

78% of the region’s respondents labelled the bars in the region as “good” or “excellent”.

However, Durham came 57th out of 62 cities for clubbing, shops, transport links, community and facilities.

One of the teams from the Durham Union Society’s competitive debating squad made the finals of the European Universities Debating Championship at the National

The new Chancellor of Durham University will be announced tonight, after the much-loved Bill Bryson stepped down after five years of service.

Described as “an inspiration and a true friend to Durham students” by ex-DSU President Sam Roseveare, Bryson himself said “I will treasure forever the time that I have spent at Durham University and in this beautiful city”.

Palatinate will exclusively reveal the result of tonight’s announcement on our website, www.palatinate.org.uk.

Host Jeremy Paxman praised Durham’s “very impressive score”

Durham University gained 325 points as opposed to Plymouth’s 45.

The team was captained by George Twigg.

Durham is now in the second round of University Challenge.

The team: Ben Dory and Thomas Ball

University of Ireland, Galway for the EUDC. In the final, Ben Dory and Thomas Ball faced Oxford, Cambridge and Trinity College Dublin, but unfortunately did not win.

DSU President’s Column

Mike King

Welcome (back) to Durham!

I’m Mike your DSU president which makes you my boss!

Every student at Durham University is automatically a member of DSU. Durham Students’ Union, DSU, is run by students for students. The Sabbatical team and I are already buzzing from the fresher vibe that can be felt on the campuses and in the colleges.

The Union is not a college or a JCR; it is a separate body to the University and exists to champion a world class student experience. My role as President is to effectively represent the student body on a local and national level, as well as leading the Students’ Union to support and provide for you during your time at University.

You are sure to pop into DSU a few times a week for lunch, a social or a drink on the balcony over the river facing the cathedral. The freshers fair last week was the perfect taster of DSU; hosting 190 societies, the advice centre, DUCK, accommodation office and SCA all under one roof!

This summer we have been working towards team projects such as extra money into socie-

ties by making all room bookings in the DSU free. We have launched the new website http://www.dsu.org.uk along with re-launching Planet of Sound (PoS) at Studio to give Durham’s longest running Friday night a new lick of neon paint.

Why should you get involved? DSU defends the rights of all students. For example, you may know that with the trebling of tuition fees came the promise of a better financial support package for students.

Whereas Edinburgh now gives 50% of its fee income back to students as bursaries, Durham only gives 20%! Is this an issue you want us to fight? Imagine if we could get our bursaries to that level? That would mean a student from a household income of less than £25k would at least get funded above the poverty line!

If you think that fights like this are worth having then come to council on the 26th October by chatting with your college senior DSU rep. Or to just learn a bit more about the DSU then please pop into DSU or email me at dsu.president@durham.ac.uk

PALATINATE | Tuesday 11th October 2011

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Students’ complaints keep Spags silent Emma Louise Jones

Durham University students have now twice succeeded in their campaign to limit late-night noise emanating from local restaurant and bar La Spaghettata.

Known to most as Spags, Mr. Ciampolillo’s property has become a popular student haunt.

However, attempts to extend the night-spot’s music licence into the early hours have not been met with universal enthusiasm from the student population.

In January, students joined forces to combat an application aiming to allow music until 2:30am seven days a week.

Those living in close proximity to the premises expressed con-

cern about the impact an increase in noise would have on their degrees.

Finalist, Charles Delaney, stated: “I am a student myself and appreciate everybody needs to socialise” but explained that the level of noise from La Spaghettata

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was already enough to severely disrupt his academic studies and sleep patterns.

The flatmates commented: “We are here at the university to study and we have worked hard to achieve a university place…we

DUCK Officer’s Column Archie Dallas

I heard a fantastic story the other day. Back in the late 60s, there was a team of workman in the road just outside the Dun Cow pub on Old Elvet.

As they continued busily digging their hole, a group of students came up to ‘tip off’ these workmen that group of DUCK students dressed as policemen were shortly about to try and arrest them as a RAG week prank.

At the same time, unbeknownst to the workmen, someone else arrived at Durham Police station to report that a group of students, disguised as workmen, were digging up the road in Old Elvet. Having successfully created a recipe for disaster, our students stood back to watch the fun begin.

Now, the last thing I want you to take from this is the idea that you should be breaking the law and wasting police time during your University career.

However, what you have to remember that some of the things that DUCK does are the stuff of legend. This is still being

talked about half a century after it happened, these students will be in their 70s by now.

Jailbreak, for those who don’t know, is when you have to get as far away from Durham in 36 hours without spending a single penny. Last year, 3 minutes from the deadline, we received a text from one pair, Dave Binns and Tom Cox, telling us that they had just touched down in Sydney, Australia.

You’ll find that there are a lot of deathly dull things that blight your life in Durham - but DUCK isn’t one of them.

Don’t take my word for it though, obviously I’m biased.

Ask around the 900 people involved in sponsored DUCK activities last year and see what they say. If you don’t make the most of it, university could be tedious.

However, if you take action and do something out of the ordinary then I guarantee it will be the best time of your life.

Join DUCK, and who knows, you might become the stuff of legend!

Fabio has repeatedly applied for a late licence

do not want our studies affected.”

Liam-Matthew O’Brien, of Moatside Mews, wrote to the council: “The levels of noise that come from Fabio’s are frankly unbearable.

“Being a finalist, the need for a peaceful and work-constructive environment is paramount, yet is almost impossible when you have music playing until 2.30am on occasion.

“Living in these conditions has proved extremely difficult with one of my housemates’ work suffering through lack of sleep.”

Reports that the restaurant regularly played loud music as late as three in the morning prompted Durham councillors to rule that music should cease at midnight, Sunday to Thursday,

and 1:30am on Fridays and Saturdays, with a noise suppressor installed to limit disturbance to residents.

Not to be deterred, Mr. Ciampolillo recently embarked on a similar application, this time to allow music and dancing until 2am daily.

In the face of student and councillor opposition, as well as accusations of opportunism due to the application’s submission outside university term-time, Mr. Ciampolillo decided to withdraw his application on Tuesday 20th September.

However, with a renewed application reportedly in the pipeline, it remains unclear how much longer Spags’ required late-night silence will last.

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Foreign report

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Tuesday 11th October 2011 | PALATINATE

Watching history unfold: a Durham Great changes swept rapidly across the Middle East over the last year, and several Durham language

J

ust as the term ‘The Arab Spring’ was becoming a nightly theme on European television screens, I went to the Middle East in April this year to continue my Arabic studies, The first students from Durham to be affected by the upheaval in the region were those studying in Cairo, as most are either sent to there or to Damascus, Syria to continue their language studies.

However the changes occurring across the Arab world ensured that language students there had a very different ‘year abroad experience.’

Protests in Egypt began on Jan 25 and St. Cuthbert’s student Toby Elsegood, found himself trapped in his flat twenty minutes’ drive away from Tahrir square – his language school closed, the internet and mobile communications cut off and no contact from the British embassy – as chaos spread around the city.

Vigilante groups formed in the street below, as residents and shop-owners sought to defend their property from looters taking advantage of the situation.

The regime had released prisoners and withdrawn the police from most areas, in order to create fear amongst the capital’s population and stem the growing protests.

As tear gas from a clash between demonstrators and security forces diffused in the air around Toby’s home, residents took turns guarding the street against potential looting, with suspected opportunists beaten up and a shooting occurring in the street.

Protests also began in Syria in March - at first isolated in the southern city of Deraa but slowly spreading to other parts of the country. The grip of regime on society was visibly more obvious than in Egypt, with most

96%

A burnt out truck in Cairo, a dark reminder of the night riot police killed many peaceful protestors

of Northumbria postgraduate taught and research graduates are in employment / further training within 6 months*

Find out more at our Postgraduate Study & Research Event Career-oriented professionally accredited qualifications An excellent range of applied research opportunities including MPhil/PhD and Professional Doctorate awards A lively city-based campus in Newcastle upon Tyne

Wednesday 9 November 2011 12.00pm – 4.00pm Students’ Union, Newcastle City Campus FoR MoRE iNFoRMATioN AND To REgiSTER, viSiT:

www.northumbria.ac.uk/pg

* DLHE Survey – Full-time and Part-time UK and other EU Leavers 2009

PALATINATE | Tuesday 11th October 2011

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Foreign report

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student reflects on the Arab Spring students were able to witness first hand the events while on their year abroad, by Jack Stallworthy

s Photograph: flickr ID nebedaay

businesses, schools and homes displaying large pictures of President Basher Al-Assad. Not knowing how to describe how I wanted my hair cut in a Damascene barbers, I pointed to the President’s photo on the wall.

The only protests I witnessed in Damascus were large progovernment rallies, organised to strengthen the position of the President. Whilst this meant a day off from classes for students at Damascus University, civil servants, teachers and other state sector workers had their names ticked off by their bosses, checking to see that their employees had attended the protests.

Despite growing anti-government protests each Friday in different cities in Syria, life in Damascus remained relatively normal for students, who mostly lived in “the Old City”.

The first signs that anything was untoward in Damascus itself

were on Good Friday. Rumours spread through the Christian quarter that Islamist protestors might attack the area. The Syrian regime often claims (as did the ousted regime in Egypt) that, without the government’s grip on the country, Syria would split along sectarian lines. The Christian quarter was not attacked on Good Friday.

“Durham students were ordered to leave Damascus”

After the Syrian security forces used tanks against civilian protestors in Deraa on that same Friday, Durham students were ordered to leave Damascus immediately.

Those who delayed their departureDURHAM’S found that attendance no1in their Arabic classes dropped dramatically. Conversation in class revolved around the developing

situation, with teachers stressing the safety of Damascus and denying the extent of the government crackdown and the reasons behind the protests.

A number of students moved to Cairo, where, a few weeks later, those dissatisfied with the interim government occupied Tahrir Square and erected a tent, vowing not to move unless the ruling military council pressed on with reforms. Mass demonstrations on Fridays became routine with students planning their movements to avoid protests. However, Westerners were not discouraged from joining the protests, so long as they went through the protestor-organised security checks and showed some ID. I was allowed in using my University campus card.

The protests featured organiSTUDENT FOOD sations around the edge of the square, including one dedicated to Connell Nasser with a small girl

repeatedly shouting, “The people want the downfall of the regime.”

Entrepreneurs went around the square, selling bottles of water, offering to paint faces, and presenting a range of revolutionarythemed merchandise.

Ramadan remained quiet but, after the first suicide attack on Israeli soil for a number of years and the shooting of Egyptian soldiers, a reformist demonstration developed into an anti-Israeli one, with people breaking off from the protest in Tahrir Square and heading towards the Israeli embassy – their chanting interrupting the English classes I taught only 400m away .

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PALATINATE | Tuesday 11th October 2011

St Mary’s College, 1899

‘Ancilla Domini’ – The handmaid of the lord Renamed after Saint Mary in 1920, it was once the Women’s Hostel.

Notable alumni: Biddy Baxter, editor of TV show ‘Blue Peter’; Tracy Langlands, 2002 World Championships bronze-medallist rower Undergrad’ make-up: Comp – 27.62%, Gram – 9.6%, Ind – 39.14%, VI form – 9.75% Average UCAS points: 536 Infamous for: ‘The Mary’s challenge’, was the last female-only college, until 2005

Collingwood College, 1972

Aime Le Meilleur’ – love the best Named after mathematician Sir Edward Collingwood Notable alumni: Lorraine Heggessey, ex-BBC 1 controller; Peter Elleray, Formula One and Le Mans racecar designer.

Undergrad’ make-up: Comp – 31.41%, Gram – 10.74%, Ind – 39.46%, VI form – 8.65% Average UCAS points: 509 Mascot: Stag Infamous for: great at sports (current champions in Hockey, Netball, Cricket and Squash), and allegedly their bar sells Durham’s b e s t Skittles cocktail.

Josephine Butler College, 2006

‘Comme Je Trouve’ - we take life as we find it, and make of it what we can Named after the social reformer, Josephine Butler, who had a profound influence on women’s health and education (also grand-niece of Earl Charles Grey whom Grey College is named after) Undergrad’ make-up: Comp - 21.42%, Gram – 8.37%, Ind – 56.57%, VI Form – 6.72% Average UCAS points: 533 Mascot: The Butler Mole Infamous for: the only self-catered college, guarantees all students a single ensuite r o o m , is the youngest with the m o s t modern facilities.

University College, 1832

‘Non nobis solum’ not for ourselves alone Notable alumni: Sir Timothy Laurence, husband of Anne, Princess Royal; Harold Evans, former editor of The Sunday Times; Phil de Glanville former captain of England’s rugby union team.

Undergrad’ make-up: Comp – 32.08%, Gram – 9.49%, Ind – 37.32%, VI form – 9.66% Average UCAS points: 531 Mascot: Marilyn, the portable statue, now chained behind the bar after it was first stolen by Van Mildert students.

Infamous for: being an early motte-and-bailey Norman castle, Maurice the Castle Master’s cellar which houses more than 1,200 wine bottles collected over 12 years and around 200 licence plates including one for every US state.

Van Mildert College, 1965

‘Sic vos non vobis’ – Thus do ye, not for yourselves Named after William Van Mildert, Prince Bishop of Durham Notable alumni: Martin Wharton, Lord Bishop of Newcastle; Jonathan Edwards, Olympic gold medallist and current World recordholding triple jumper.

Undergrad’ make-up: Comp – 31.29%, Gram – 8.99%, Ind – 38%, VI form – 11.15% Average UCAS points: 514 Mascot: A large yellow duck Infamous for: the only college with a lake, being the University’s first co-educational college when females were admitted in 1972.

Hatfield College, 1846

‘Vel Primus Vel Cum Primis’ - Be the best you can be Named after Thomas Hatfield, Prince-Bishop of Durham. Originally Bishop Hatfield’s Hall Notable alumni: Will Carling, former captain of the England rugby union team; Warren Bradley, Manchester United and England footballer Undergrad’ make-up: Comp – 27.54%, Gram – 9.72%, Ind – 47.42%, VI form – 6.92% Average UCAS points: 498 Mascot: Lion Infamous for: being the University’s second oldest college

JCR Guide Trevelyan College, 1966

‘Vera fictis libentius’ – Truth more readily than falsehood Named after G. M. Trevelyan, a British historian and Chancellor of the University from 1950-1957 Notable alumni: Baroness Hayter, former General Secretary of the Fabian Society; Dame Jill Black QC, Lord Justice of Appeal.

Undergrad’ make-up: Comp – 33.61%, Gram – 10%, Ind – 36.89%, VI Form – 9.84% Average UCAS points: 516 Mascot: Trevor the pantomime horse Infamous for: being the most musical college, its hexagonalshaped buildings

Grey College, 1959

‘Gradibus Ascendimus’ Ascending by Degrees, a pun referring to the ladder on the coat of arms.

Named after Earl Charles Grey, as ‘Oliver Cromwell College’ was deemed too controversial Notable alumni: Dr Paul Hawkins, invented the Hawk-Eye system; Daniel Casey, co-star of Midsomer Murders; Stephanie Solomonides, First Cypriot to trek from the Antarctic coast to the South Pole Undergrad’ make-up: Comp – 29.13%, Gram – 6.96%, Ind – 47.78%, VI form – 10.89% Average UCAS points: 522 Mascot: The college trout. However, the crest and unofficial mascot is the phoenix, as a few months before Grey first opened, the Elvet residential block was devastated by fire. Despite this, it was rebuilt and opened as scheduled.

Famous for: holding Durham’s largest fireworks display each Nov 5th, the revolting “Oswald smell” which seeps into the clothes of those living in Oswald block.

St Aidan’s College, 1947

‘Super fundamentis certis’ – Upon sure foundations Named after Aidan of Lindisfarne.

Originally St Aidan’s Society.

Notable alumni: Judith Hann, former Tomorrow’s World presenter; Graham Brady MP Undergrad’ make-up: Comp – 30.48%, Gram – 7.91%, Ind – 35.33%, VI Form – 12.24% Average UCAS points: 524 Mascot: Badger Infamous for: its location at the top of a steep hill, accessed by a long series of steps.

St Chad’s College, 1904

St Cuthbert’s Society, 1888

‘Gratia gratiam parit ‘ – Friendship begets friendhsip ‘Non Vestra sed Named after Cuthbert Lindisfarne vos’ – not yours Founded for local students who but you wanted to be affiliated with a Named after St Chad of Mercia, a college without moving into in the 7th century Bishop existing colleges (University and Notable alumni: Nick Archer, Hatfield) HM Ambassador to Denmark; Notable alumni: Alastair Lord Michael Ramsey, the 100th Fothergill, producer of the Blue Archbishop of Canterbury; Giles Planet series; Oswald O’Brien, Ramsay, theatre director Labour MP Undergrad’ make-up: Comp – Undergrad’ make-up: Comp – 28.77%, Gram – 11.97%, Ind – 22.28%, Grammar – 11.28%, Ind 37.04%, VI Form – 9.84% – 44.65%, VI Form – 8.03% Average UCAS points: 503 Average UCAS Infamous for: Chad’s Day celpoints: 507 ebrations (painting themselves Infamous green, doing challenges which for: culminate at noon on Palace Being Green with the college’s goat). the only SociSt John’s College, 1909 ety, in the ‘Fides nostra victoria’ – our faith University. is our victory.

Named after the St John the Evan- College of St Hild and gelist Notable alumni: Richard Adams, St Bede,1975 pioneer of fair trade and founder ‘Eadem mutata of Traidcraft; Gavin Hewitt, Spe- resurgo’- I rise cial Correspondent for BBC News again changed Undergrad’ make-up: Comp – but the same 27.38%, Gram – 9.51%, Ind – Named after the Venerable Bede and St Hild and founded when the 44.96%, VI form – 8.65% male-only College of the VenerAverage UCAS points: 513

Infamous for: its under- able Bede, 1938 merged with the ground bar, female-only St Hild’s College,1858 s e r v i n g Notable alumni: Sir Roger Moore, the ‘Tri- Actor; Gabby Logan, television pod’ 3 presenter and 1990 Commona l c o - wealth Games gymnast p o p s Undergrad’ make-up: Comp – h e l d 21.42%, Gram – 8.37%, Ind – upside 56.57%, VI Form – 6.72% down in a Average UCAS points: 491 Infamous for: its competitive spirit George Stephenson Col- in sport, being the lege, 2001 only Durham Campus college not ‘Me quondam mirabitur orbis’ – located on the hill or the bailey.

One day I shall astonish the world Named after George Stephenson, The breakdown of each college the 19th century railway engi- population’s academic backgrounds are accurate for academic neer.

Undergrad’ make-up: Comp year 2010/11.

– 21.90%, Gram – 4.53%, Ind – Average UCAS tariffs are per 25.03%, VI form – 12.62% student and are the latest availAverage UCAS points: 417 able figures, applying to the intake John Snow College, 2001 of 2010. An ‘A’ grade at A-Level is ‘Per scientiam et prudentiam worth 120 points, ‘B’=100, ‘C’=80, quaere summam’ – To seek the etc. highest through knowledge and wisdom Images courtesy of the University, Named after the 19th century Maurice Tucker and Josephine Yorkshire physician Dr John Butler College.

Snow Undergrad’ make-up: Comp Compiled by Danielle – 26.13%, Gram– 2.75%, Ind – Triggs and Mei Leng Yew Additional research by 17.63%, VI form – 12.25% Nicole Chang Average UCAS points: 402

12

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The events that turned up the temperature this summer

May 2011

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Tuesday 11th October 2011 | PALATINATE

7th: The ECB and the IMF agree on a bailout package for Portugal. USA meets its debt ceiling.

June 2011 29th: Greece is warned by European ministers to pass new austerity measures if it is to receive further assistance from the bailout fund.

16th: US Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner extends default deadline to 2nd August.

Greek parliament narrowly pass new austerity measures to secure the new loan.

All that glitters: the golden delusion With sinking investor confidence, what’s next for the universally ‘safe’ asset?

Stephane Rouschmeyer

H

ad you invested £1,000 in gold this time last year, you’d now be able to sell that gold for over £1,250.

Not a bad return for a commodity universally deemed as ‘safe’.

Since the recession that crippled financial markets and institutions in late 2007, the price of gold has soared three-fold due to a combination of issues, most notably the devaluation of the dollar, poor investor confidence, and of course poor performance of financial markets. Up until the beginning of the year, everything was ‘normal’. Gold prices have an inverse relationship with market performance and so it was expected that the price of gold should increase. But as the shroud of economic contraction cleared and markets rallied back to pre-recession figures, the price of gold continued to climb.

Silver was the first victim of the summer. It suffered a violent correction (-26%) in May indicating that investors were beginning to leave safe havens to please a renewed appetite for risk. Everything was set for the global recovery to begin - until trouble began to brew in the West. The general consensus in the market was that western nations were racking up debt beyond their abilities to repay their obligations. It started with Athens, Dublin and Lisbon, but soon Washington and Paris alike were all implementing austerity measures of their own. Instead of reaching for the fire extinguisher, the ECB and US Treasury hit the snooze button while Eurozone leaders looked for someone to blame - temporarily banning

The New York Mercantile Exchange, a Global Hotspot for Gold Trading Photograph: Plemeljr

short selling to curb speculative trading.

In moments of crisis, markets turn to the major safe havens.

These are the Dollar, Gold and Government Bonds. With the dollar losing value, and questions over governments’ abilities to repay debt, the price of gold soared.

The improvements in market

confidence lead to violent corrections, and gold fell by over 10%. Investors are now standing once again looking into the abyss. For sure gold was, and still is, over-priced and its correction was inevitable, but European bonds may not come to fruition, and austerity in the US may not yield growth. Pessimism over Greek debt now sits like a tree

across the road to a European recovery, and until a genuine solution is implemented, it would take a leap of faith to bet against the price of gold. But once market optimism gathers momentum, the next correction in the price of gold will be as violent and aggressive as it is inevitable.

The price of gold is sitting on a hair trigger.

PALATINATE | Tuesday 11th October 2011

July 2011 5th: Moody’s downgrades Portugal’s debt.

22nd: The Eurozone agrees on a comprehensive 109bn euro package designed to prevent contagion from Greece spreading to other Eurozone countries.

13

Business

www.palatinate.org.uk August 2011

September 2011

2nd: USA finally approves higher debt ceiling.

6th: Liquidity begins to dry up as European & American banks are seen to move funds out of Europe over fear of exposure to the crisis.

4th: Jose Manuel Barroso (President of the EU commission) warns of contagion beyond the Eurozone.

14th: Moody’s downgrades French commercial banks due to exposure to Greek debt.

5th: S&P ratings agency downgrades US from ‘AAA’ to ‘AA+’.

Debts, downgrades and deadlocks in USA US loses top-notch AAA credit rating for the first time after Standard & Poor’s cut Alex Bond

W

ill it or won’t it happen?

The biggest question on Wall Street and Capitol Hill was finally answered as Standard and Poor’s downgraded America’s credit rating to a mere AA+ joining countries like New Zealand and Belgium.

What appears to be a simple switch of an ‘A’ for a ‘+’ carries important implications in determining the pattern of the markets.

It is this rating which indicates how likely debt is going to be repaid back to its lenders. This change could dramatically alter the course of borrowing for the American economy. A change to AA+ could lead to greater demands for debts to be returned due to the increase in the risk of the investment. This downgrade is not at all palatable to US debtholders, least of all China.

Pervasive embarrassment for Obama and his Administration is the immediate impact as their attempts to stimulate the economy seem to be flaccid at best. The downgrade followed after warnings from Standard and Poor’s that America needed desperately to cut its deficit by $4 trillion over ten years. However, only $2.1 trillion was agreed

by Congress, which S&P called “modest savings.” These plans also see the federal debt ceiling raise by $2.4 tn from $14.3 tn over the next decade. However, the agency pulled no punches in raising questions over the ‘effectiveness, stability, and predictability of American policymaking and political institutions’ which ‘have weakened at a time of ongoing fiscal and economic challenges.’ John Chambers, head of

S&P Downgrade of U.S. Debt Approved By 67% in Recent Global Poll Photograph: Sienda

sovereign ratings for S&P, was one of the many individuals to affirm the existence of no credible plan and a failing political system as the logical consequence of the decision.

$14.7tn United States gross debt

Obama’s Administration did not take too well to the decision, raising questions of the credibility of Standard and Poor’s

figures. The Treasury stated that calculations were out by around $2 tn. This supports many of those who believe that countries should rely on their own credit rating estimates rather than from external organisations that some believe have created a fractious relationship between Europe and America in this time of economic turmoil.

However, optimism was to be found amongst investors who correctly argue that America is still appealing for investment.

This does appear to be the most reasonable line of response and

to ignore the potentially facile claims over the attractiveness of America’s investment potential.

Paradoxically, the downgrade of the debt was actually beneficial to America as their government debt is seen as a ‘safe haven’ asset by investors. Although it does expose how much America’s polarised political system brings the country’s fate onto a knife edge as many believed America would default on some of its debts.

What this downgrade represents is further polarisation for American politics. From the Republicans, we have accusations

of decadent over-spending. From the Democrats, we have accusations of political sabotage. There appears to be no middle ground and therefore no solution to this crisis. Perhaps the situation is slightly more complex in Britain, but there is a clear contrast with our transatlantic neighbours.

To repeat the maxim that serves as the justification for the coalition, the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives have put aside party differences for the national interest. However, the possibility of this occurring in America is extremely slender. It is obvious that party interest is beginning to take precedence over national interest. To prove the point, both sides accused it of being a “tea party downgrade” by former presidential candidate John Kerry and “Obama’s downgrade” by Republican activists.

The more ominous result of the downgrade is that China has now begun to express disquiet over America’s situation. As the largest holder of US debt, they lambasted the US Government and made an audacious attempt to question whether the US dollar should remain as the global currency reserve. On the other hand, South Korea was far more muted in their response, naturally appealing for market certainty.

It seems clear that the situation for America is going to get far worse before it gets better. With unemployment sitting at 9.1%, a huge deficit and no workable long-term solution in sight, the double-dip recession looms for America. With S&P claiming that there is a 1 in 3 chance of America’s credit rating being downgraded again, the current global economic turbulence is unlikely to be remedied soon.

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PALATINATE | Tuesday 11th October 2011 Profile Editor: Jessica Waite profile@palatinate.org.uk

15

Profile: Kate Silverton

“Be as eclectic as you can” Former Durham student and ‘sweetheart of the industry’ talks to Jessica Waite about her circuitous route to BBC anchor

K

ate Silverton’s enthusiasm and interest in trying new things has always been a winning combination. Born in Essex in 1970 to Patricia and Terry Silverton, Kate excelled both in the classroom and in the swimming pool, where she became a junior champion. After school she pursued her passion for travel.

Indeed, she took two gap years before going to university during which she visited Israel, Eygpt, Europe and Zimbabwe, and was so stimulated by her experiences that she initially began a course in Arabic and Middle Eastern history before eventually settling on St. Cuthber “I strongly believe independent travel can be as valuable as any other experience… It probably prepared me more for the job I do now than my degree.”

Kate’s taste for travel has certainly been satisfied through her jobs with the BBC, where she has reported all over the world. After training with BBC Look North, she became a presenter on Tynes Tees Television as well as several other TV jobs, before joining the esteemed BBC News Team.

It seems incredible given this success that Kate’s career in journalism was almost not to be. After graduating from Durham, she spent the first two years of her working life in investment banking, “earning a lot but equally probably not being very happy.” She puts the decision partially down to being

“intrigued to understand more about the City and our financial industry”, an interest that has helped her later on when covering financial stories. However, she also reflects that perhaps it took her two years to “follow my heart and take the plunge… because I held a certain amount of fear that I could not make the grade as a journalist. Underconfidence is a trait I see more in female students now than male, and it is always to our cost.”

“Taking the plunge” sits well with Kate. Though tales of egotistical high-profile presenters and journalists are reported in the press all too often, it is clear that in Kate’s case, her feet are firmly on the ground.

She speaks with genuinely humility about her career, de-

“Under-confidence is a trait I see more in female students now than male”

scribing her stints as a front-line reporter in Iraq and Afghanistan as her highlights. “From a personal and professional perspective these were without doubt the most exciting and fulfilling times in my career... I secured some major scoops whilst out there - with one exclusive that led to much of the debate about

Kate Silverton reminisces on life as a Cuth’s undergraduate Photograph: Kate Silverton

the current state of the military covenant - of which I am very proud.” As the only television journalist in Basra (at that time) she came under mortar attack live on air. It’s difficult to take your career for granted when your life is constantly on the line.

So, what was Kate’s life as an undergraduate at St. Cuthbert’s like? An old-hand in radio (Kate was a presenter on BBC Radio Newcastle and 5 Live) and seasoned journalist, surely writing or presenting took up much of her time? No, is the answer. “I did none of the above, I did all of it further down the line after I had graduated.” Focused though she is, Kate surprisingly wasn’t blinkered on getting experience in journalism – and she doesn’t regret this. “It is hard to always know what paths to follow,” she advises, “So be as eclectic as you can.” Kate has many fond memories, “from gaining a place in the first Four in Rowing (when I had never rowed before University!),

to taking part in the University Fashion Show and then joining the Officer Training Corps.”

A self-confessed “book worm”, Kate admits that her academic drive perhaps consumed a little too much of her time at St. Cuthbert’s, a fact she might change were she to do it all again. “I think one aspect of university is to learn how to balance your social life with your education - if you get it right here, the chances are you will do the same in your life beyond Durham.” It was her job as a BBC reporter in Iraq that led to Kate meeting Mike Heron, a former Royal Marine Commando and the man that was to become her husband in December 2010. “I met him when I had to have ‘hostage-taking’ and medical training [with Mike] before going to Iraq. He joked at our wedding that the day he had me hooded and bound and thrown in the back of a Land Rover was the ‘first and last day’ he was in charge!”

As students, it’s commonly felt that we ‘ought’ to know what we would like to do after we graduate and – as such – we should be

“Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to tick all the boxes”

working towards that fixed goal.

The reality, however, is that this supposed certainty of “what I want to be when I grow up” applies to very few of us. Kate’s career path has been exciting, but it was never linear. “In all honesty if you really want to do something you will put your heart and soul into it when the time is right… University for me is about life experience, achieving an independence - a rite of passage that enables you to fulfil another of life’s more interesting chapters before heading off into the world to start the next one.”

16

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Tuesday 11th October 2011 | PALATINATE

Debate: DSU is an irrelevant institution With such a strong collegiate system, and a student union facing cutbacks, is the DSU unnecessary?

YES: Charlie Taverner

W

hen you first applied to Durham, chances are you would have read or heard about the “Durham Difference”. Every student here knows it was not an empty promise. The advantages of the college system make Durham so fantastic, unique and special, and, while performing a range of roles, it also renders a central students’ union – our DSU – completely irrelevant.

In many universities the union forms the focal point of the campus, but Durham life revolves around the college. Admittedly, within Durham city itself, the DSU is centrally located. With Kingsgate Bar, Riverside Café and a maze of function rooms, there are certainly enough things to do inside the bizarre concrete structure.

However, colleges are such a hub for students that there is no need to come down to the DSU to meet or socialise. If you’re from as far afield as Josephine Butler or even as close as Hatfield, you can just relax in your college JCR and bar or chill out in your room with friends. With social facilities and, at least in your first year, all your friends living on site, the college is a ready-made university community.

Yet it’s not all about the good times. Nearly everyone runs into some difficulty at some point during their university life – be it

related to work, finances or managing the new lifestyle. When it comes to providing support the college is the first and most effective port of call.

The DSU Education and Welfare Officer (EWO) co-ordinates welfare provision across the university as part of the sabbatical team. This means organising university-wide campaigns and training college welfare officers.

But, for those in trouble it is the direct contact that matters most.

The college welfare representatives are on the front line, dealing with problems and have high

“

The college is a ready-made university community

”

levels of expertise.

Moreover, colleges have deep pools of expertise to draw from.

On the student side there is a Welfare Officer and a welfare committee to help organise help, campaigns and activities.

Amongst the staff, a Senior Tutor and other staff below them can provide a more mature, official point of view. Perhaps they could provide the same training and

Does Dunelm House represent something positive or, due to the

perspectives that the EWO can.

And, despite the sometimes patchy effectiveness of the college tutoring system, it provides even more assistance for students when they need advice or support.

The JCR president and executive are not unseen figures but are fully-integrated into the college community. Most people would feel comfortable approaching them on a wide range of issues – simply because they represent a much smaller group of people. The college system of representation is more personal and relevant to Durham’s students.

When it comes to sport and societies, the college system is the key factor in making Durham’s extra-curricular participation rate so incredibly high. Of course at the highest level, Team Durham is important in giving the very best sportsmen and women every chance to succeed against other universities and university-wide societies like your very own Palatinate or the major artistic groups that allow talented people with similar passions to group together.

However, the colleges, provides a similar range of societies and allow participation for people of all levels of ability. On

the sports field, college competitions in everything from Ultimate Frisbee to Pool mean that Durham has one of the highest sports participation rates of all British Universities.

Moreover, friends and socialising are one of the most important aspects of university life. The college system appears purpose-built for this, and as part of the nightlife, the DSU yet again falls short.

The DSU’s social calendar pales in comparison to the college scene. The Freshers’ Ball and Bop are often cited as poor alternatives to college nights, while Saturday Night Revolver suffered from low attendance. As a central entertainment venue, the DSU appears relatively pointless.

The University prides itself on offering a well-rounded education centred on the “Durham Difference”. The college system means that your interests can be pursued at any level of experience, you feel part of a smaller community within the wider university and excellent personal support can be offered if you need it. Other universities need a sprawling union because they don’t have these advantages. In Durham’s case, a central union is almost obsolete.

17

PALATINATE | Tuesday 11th October 2011

www.palatinate.org.uk

NO: Mike King

DSU President

T

“

collegiate system, is it superflous? Photograph: Nick Bramhall

It it not that DSU is not a great institution, but it is fundamentally unnecessary. - Durham Graduate 2010 Bring back Hound! I’m missing it already! - 3rd Year Natural Sciences Student Why does everything have to run through college? This excludes people who want to get involved only at university level. - 2nd Year English Student There is no reason to go to the DSU during the day - there’s nothing there!

- 1st Year Sociology Student

”

he strength of the collegiate system lies in Colleges, JCRs, MCRs and DSU working together to promote the best outcome for all students.

Without a strong partnership the united front of the student body breaks down. We need a federal union over the common rooms to deal with ‘The University’ and this is the main purpose of DSU. In non-collegiate universities, policy is decided on the opinion of a vocal minority of politically minded people. However, here it is made on the basis of the information received from College execs (which are chosen on their own merit) Therefore, we act on the views of the majority as we have access almost instantly to the majority of student opinion.

However, we need a strong union to do it.

Speaking as a Welshman, I understand the power of close vocal harmony. Having 16 different colleges creates the potential for major disagreement and this is why you need the DSU to try and unify this student voice.

DSU and the colleges are interdependent; neither can function effectively without the other and the student experience is enhanced because of this partnership. The loyalty that exists between individual students and their college is something many other unions could only wish for. 16 colleges working with a central representative body, the DSU, makes for a formidable partnership; informed individual colleges feeding into DSU and working collectively. This means that DSU is hypersensitive to the needs of Durham students.

Durham isn’t a single bubble of homogenous student life, but is a series of sixteen smaller bubbles. This is fine, to an extent, but obviously this structure does not constitute the perfect hub for representation to the University.

The DSU promotes, defends and extends the rights of students by providing the expertise, resources and dedicated time to protect students.

DSU is important to you because we champion the real issues, such as societies funding, JCR/MCR grants, academic representation and welfare.

Comment DSU is able to provide autonomy because we are independent from the University, whilst most college common rooms are in what is known as the DSO framework, rendering all staff employees of the university. This autonomy empowers DSU to act in the best interests of students.

DSU provides central DUCK, Education, Welfare and Society officers, who are dedicated purely to their remit which feeds directly into and supports the colleges systems. DSU and Common Room Execs form a two way dynamic that benefits all parties.

“

DSU is important as we champion the real issues.

”

Through acting in the best interests of our students at college level or collectively across the entire institution - we will achieve the best results. The colleges have certainly managed to ameliorate each and every student’s university experience; but so, I believe, has DSU. I am certain that the strong partnership between the colleges and DSU will continue to play a vital role in enhancing and vitalising the Durham University experience. The partnership between DSU and the common rooms give the collegiate system its power. DSU gives students access to the resources they need to challenge university decisions; we act as the central body colleges need to facilitate discussion with the University.

By acting as the president, I unite the 16 colleges with DSU, so that the student body has a cohesive voice. A statement from the DSU, made on behalf of (and incorporating the view of) all 16 colleges is a powerful and resonant tool.

Looking to the future, Durham Students’ Union has the goal of becoming a world class students union. The reason DSU can attain this status is because it has 16 JCR’s, 16 MCR’s and16 college

Execs giving instant access to the opinion of 16,000 students. With this many voices feeding into DSU, we have the best representation in the country. The power of a unified, strong and effective student voice will be transformational to the Durham Student Experience. This new partnership with colleges will enable the University and its students, to make great strides towards becoming a world class students’ union.

Reflecting on last year, there are obvious further benefits of partnerships between colleges and DSU. Last year DSU’s Nightbus safely transported over 10,000 students around the city our advice centre assisted 2,913 students through difficult issues, and we accredited 532 properties under the ‘code of standards for landlords’.

Similarly, DSU supported 193 student-led societies, providing funding and offering transformational experiences. One of our 193 university societies is Palatinate for example, a loss making society that the student body clearly wants. Without the DSU Palatinate as it is in this form would not be possible.

DUCK, once again is an incredible success, raising over £827,000 for 119 charities by offering students incredible extracurricular opportunities.

All of these outstanding activities are supported by DSU and are led by students; these activities enhance employability and change lives. Whilst I’m proud of the achievements of DSU, we can go further. This will be best achieved by continuing to work with common rooms on a more intensive and engaging level.

In actuality, DSU makes the collegiate system immeasurably stronger. Unlike other universities, DSU allows the details of student life to be dictated by students who can have the highest level of engagement with them.

We are able to focus on issues that matter to the student body at University level. A united front, strong representative and welfare systems as well as experienced staff support, are the Union’s unique selling points because of the collegiate system, DSU is free to fight the issues that are important to you as a student body. The collegiate system is our backbone which is in turn informed by student opinion. That is where the strength of the Union lies.

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Comment

PALATINATE | Tuesday 11th October 2011

www.palatinate.org.uk

For students of Durham, sex still sells A look at the relevance of sexual capital on the cobbled streets of Durham Charlie Deans

W

hen someone in a bar catches your eye, is it their sparkling wit and repartee that holds your gaze or their plunging cleavage/peachy behind/pumped up guns/Indie litheness (delete as appropriate)?

LSE sociologist Catherine Hakim has thrust this reality into the forefront of relevance with the publication of her book ‘Honey Money’, the title rather appropriately deriving from the caterwaul of Jakartan street prostitutes living by the simple transaction of no money, no honey.

Hakim’s argument is that men and women should exploit their sexual capital and that those religious fundamentalists and Anglo-Saxon feminists who preach against this, are more often than not, physically ugly. For those who do not have financial, intellectual or situational capital, sexual capital should be a legitimate source of power and one not to be condemned.

“

Sexual capital is redundant purely in its physical form

”

She infers that Indonesian street walkers and girls adorning the cover of Nuts have the right to be empowered when shaking their hips for tips. Closer to home, Hakim uses Nigella Lawson as an example of an affluent, well educated woman who uses her sex appeal to her advantage.

It’s not just cakes that rise in her presence.

It is safe to say that the social capital of Durham students

differs from that of Indonesian street walkers, girls and boys who have no choice but to peddle their physical wares in the most explicit fashion. But when you put on your body-con dress or Hollister polo, ready for a night of rough and tumble at LloydsShack, you do so expecting some appreciation of your rawest form of capital, your physical form.

For those of us who believe that we should scratch below the surface, why is it that more often than not, we don’t?

Students who fill Durham nightspots on a Wednesday fully subscribe to the school of thought ‘If you’ve got it, flaunt it’, or as I say to my mother when she protests a lack of substance to my ‘going out’ uniforms – “I’m in the North-East now”.

Sociologist Pierre Bourdieu classifies forms of social capital as anything perceived through social schemes, for example monetary capital, accumulated through financial wealth.

As Durham University possesses some of the finest minds in the country, why are Durham students emphasizing their sexual capital so much in their socialising?

Constant eyelevel exposure to lads-mags covers adorned with breast implants supported by ‘hand-bras’ is reminiscent of another famous orange scarecrow, this time in Oz bemoaning what his life would be like “If I Only Had a Brain”.

These images portray women as the antithesis of the feminist movement, women with doll-like facial expressions and prepubescent bikini lines, who may in fact possess degrees in nuclear physics but who have chosen to cash in purely on their aesthetic bankability.

Human beings are biologically drawn to aesthetically pleasing things, be that a baby, a Beagle puppy, or a Hermes Birkin. We nurture such things, we hormonally react to them. Evolution has assured our survival by making such sexual attributes as ‘child bearing hips’ and dense muscle mass (on the male of the species, but each to their own) sublimi-

Nigella Lawson benefits from sexual capital so should Durham students? Flickr: John Keogh

nally attractive.

Thus I am not condemning sexual capital altogether but arguing that in an ideal world, the way one looks should not be the most important thing after the first fifteen minutes or so of talking to them.

Who hasn’t made the mistake of chatting up a good looking member of the opposite sex, then made an excuse when ten excruciating minutes later their stifled chat is as awkward as trying to find a seat in the Main Library in May? I will never forget the moment when one of my laddiest acquaintances uttered the sentence, ‘Yeah, she’s hot, but she’s got sh*t chat.’ I nearly fainted at such a revelation, and felt hope for all size twelve brunette funny girls everywhere.

The Abercrombified concept of Durham beauty epitomised by a few Bailey girls is unrealistic to all but those few who naturally

possess it and good for them.

Those Hatfield Hotties have made it to Durham for a reason, and last time I checked there wasn’t a swimsuit round on UCAS applications. It seems that

“

Durham does seem to possess somewhat archaic values

”

students have the opportunity to benefit from multitudinal forms of social capital, in Durham anyway.

Hakim assembles her argu-

ment of sexual capital, with charm and sexuality being as important ‘assets’ as social stratification and wealth.

However, sexual capital is redundant purely in its physical form – there is more to what makes people aesthetically pleasing than their appearance alone. Surely talent and attitude are more important, and in fact hold the most sexual capital.

These attributes make up a three dimensional picture, lifting a person off the page.

Despite such an onus on mental gravitas, Durham does seem to possess somewhat archaic values, perhaps aspiring to the upper class image of women being seen and not heard?

Why make the effort (both in time and finances) to go to university and in the words of one peer, “I want to get a first and then become a housewife”.

Hakim and her WAG aesthetic have a lot to answer for.

PALATINATE | Tuesday 11th October 2011

Jack Stallworthy

Comment from abroad The Arab Spring: Israel’s Winter of Discontent

H

aving been in the Middle East since April, I have had a wonderful opportunity to experience first- hand the great sweep of changes in Syria, Egypt and across the wider Arab world. My time there has given me a great deal more insight into the region and how the Arab Spring is altering security issues in the Middle East.

Among the vast array of different people I have been able to meet, whether they might be a languages student at Damascus University, a journalist at a high-brow Egyptian newspaper, a liberal-minded protester in Tahrir square or an Arabic teacher sympathetic to the Muslim Brotherhood, they have all been passionate about one issue: Israel-Palestine.

As we have recently seen in New York, the Israelis and the Palestinians seem as far from reaching a lasting settlement as ever. The Israeli Prime Minister’s speech to the UN General Assembly was a defiant defence of Israel’s current policies and present opposition to Palestinian

19 www.palatinate.org.uk statehood. The President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, has expressed his frustration at the lack of progress in negotiations and the formation of a Palestinian state.

In Egypt, the Mubarak regime (like President Saddat before him) has been seen as an active supporter of Israel. The ousted President’s government helped to maintain the siege of Gaza, supplied gas to Israel at below the market rate and remained passive during the Intifadas and Gaza war.

However, there is a prevalence of hatred towards Israel in all levels of Egyptian society; amongst the well-educated and intelligentsia, as well those less ‘well-off.’

Whilst many Arabs are keen to stress that they have issues with the state of Israel and Zionism - not Jews - anti-Semitic ideas and opinions are not uncommon amongst otherwise perfectly respectful Arabs. Even a liberal Egyptian friend, who will admit hatred of the Muslim Brotherhood, claimed that the numbers

Comment of those killed in the holocaust was exaggerated. Many deny the holocaust completely and also claim that no Jews were killed on September 11th. Copies of “Mein Kampf” are in abundance in Arab cities.

Most Arabs will strongly argue that the establishment of Israel was unjust and without legitimacy, annually mourning the Nakba “the catastrophe” that occurred when the Israeli army defeated combined Arab forces and up to 760,000 Palestinians fled their homes.

If democracy does flourish in the Arab world, the rules of the game could change significantly.

A democratically elected government in Egypt would have to address its people’s desire for a change in its relationship with Israel.

Israel could no longer claim to be the only democracy in the Middle East, surrounded by hostile dictatorial regimes.

Moreover, if democratically elected Arab governments seek a peaceful resolution, the Jewish state cannot not afford to reject

them.

In order to build partnerships in the region and rebuild old ones, with countries like Turkey, Israel must champion the cause of human rights in its neighbours. I suggest hatred of Israel in Arab countries could be kept in check by both moderate parties in government in Arab states, alongside Israel reaching out to Palestinians and allowing them to build a state of their own.

Pragmatic Arab leaders accept the presence of Israel; those against could be brought round by an Israel which stops the development of settlements outside of the pre-1967 borders and enacts mutually agreeable land swaps for existing settlements and, ultimately, allows a sovereign Palestinian state.

The more stable the region, and the more development Arab countries experience, the less likely opposition to the state of Israel will be. Israel will ensure its security, if surrounded by stable, economically viable, democratic states, including a Palestinian one.

Sport

PALATINATE | Tuesday 11th October 2011

21 www.palatinate.org.uk

More success on the horizon for Durham Quentin Sloper explains why this season could surpass even last year

and Trophy wins. She has been replaced by Rebecca Greenslade who comes with great pedigree having previously coached at the renowned Syracuse University, New York.

With the best coaches and players being drawn to the university, the construction at Maiden Castle has been somewhat disappointing in its continuing state of development. Sloper

Sport Editors: Delaney Chambers & Peter Vickers sport@palatinate.org.uk

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@PalatinateUK Palatinate

Number of sporting scholars at Durham

The rugby club will be looking to repeat their undefeated year Photograph: Team Durham Peter Vickers

T

he season of 2011/2012 has the potential to be the University’s best season ever, says Head of Student Experience, Quentin Sloper.

“We look stronger than ever this year”

Quentin Sloper

an insight >> for into pre-season training, turn the page

P

For more, visit palatinate.org. uk

Sport

After the wide-ranged successes of the 2010/2011 season, inculing seven premierships and four championships, preparations began at the start of the summer break for Team Durham, with recruitment being top of their agenda. No fewer than 69 scholars were specifically brought in to the University for their sporting prowess. Of the 69, fifteen are undertaking undergraduate study whilst the remaining 54 are post graduates, suggesting a wealth of experience has been brought in to guide the university towards its targets. Scholars have come

from as far as the US, Portugal and Slovenia and this year even sees British females returning to these shores after completing Football scholarships in the US. The new crop of Durham athletes are looking ‘stronger than ever’ according to Quentin Sloper, who has overseen the recruitment process and manages Student Experience in Durham. “I expect us to be in contention for nine or even ten premierships this season and ultimately we are looking to obtain second place in the BUCS points table”. Last season saw Durham narrowly lose out to Leeds Met and Birmingham and finish fourth, equalling the university’s previous best table finish but Durham could have claimed second place had a few games gone ever so slightly differently.

Summer preparations also saw changes to the Team Durham coaching staff. Player/coach Rich Wire finished his post graduate studies in the summer and has been replaced as Men’s Tennis coach by Croatian Slavko Radman who is responsible for keeping the teams newly earned Premier-

ship status. Possibly the most notable departure was Jess Adam, last season’s Women’s Lacrosse Coach that respectively led the 1sts and 2nds to Championship

was frank when asked about the delays in construction, “It’s a major frustration, especially for the staff and coaches up here” he said before going on to explain what they will bring, “The new buildings and facilities will help improve all the clubs, as they will now have more time and space to train in. There’s no doubt this will be a spectacular sports facility once it is complete”.

‘Super Wednesday’ Fixtures

When? Wednesday October 19th at 16:00 Where? Maiden Castle What? Netball v Northumbria When? Wednesday October 26th, 14:00 Where? Racecourse What? Men’s Football v Sheffield

When? Wednesday November 2nd, 19:00 Where? Durham City Rugby Club What? Men’s Rugby Union v Northumbria

When? Wednesday November 9th, 14:00 Where? Maiden Castle What? Women’s Rugby Union v Leeds Met Carnegie When? Wednesday November 16th, TBC Where? Maiden Castle What? Men’s & Women’s Hockey v Birmingham When? Wednesday November 23rd, 18:00 Where? Maiden Castle What? Women’s Volleyball v Leeds

When? Wednesday November 30th, TBC Where? Maiden Castle What? Men’s & Women’s Lacrosse v St. Andrews

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Sport

Netballers to be up all night in world record attempt Billy Phillips

June of 2012 will see Durham University Netball Club undertake one of the most peculiar world record breaking attempts, a they aim to play one game of Netball for 72 hours.

The existing record for a continuous match is currently 60 hours on the court but Durham intend to smash this and last three whole days in what will be a tremendous physical challenge.

“We’ve still got to work out how the shifts are going to work!”

Katie Worthington DUNC Club Captain

Two squads of DUNC members will play each other in this charity match, raising money for Team Durham’s Zambia and Sri Lankaprojects , which were selected because numerous members of the squad have been part of these projects in the past and have seen the work in action.

The squads will consist of 12 players, which means that only 5 members of the squad will be able to rest at any one time. This makes the timing of substitutions imperative as at least two players will have to remain on

court until the next round of interchanges.

“We’ve still got to work out how the shifts are going to work“ amdits Club Captain Katie Worthington. “We’re all really excited for it though and will just have to get on with it“ she adds.

Physical exhaustion is sure to be a huge problem that the DUNC girls will encounter, so their hydration, nutrition and sleep-wake cycles need to be carefully organised and then monitored throrughout.

Water, energy drinks, physios and nutritionists will be on hand to keep the girls refreshed, nourished and safe, whilst sleeping cots will be available courtside for the resting players.

It is highly likely that the intensity of the game will deteriorate as the hours and even days go past so the squad will need to be in excellent condition to prevent the game from becoming farcical. Preparation will be difficult as it is such a unique event but with the event taking place in the close seaosn, the girls will be able to devote time to a programme of intense stamina.

As for spectators, sleepovers are encouraged to allow the fans to really become invovled in the event. There will certainly be enough goals to keep a crowd entertained, “We expect the scoreline to be in the 3000s’s!“ laughs Worthington. Whatever the scoreline, this is sure to be an event to witness, even if you can only give just a day.

www.palatinate.org.uk

Stuart West trains with Durham University Boat Club in a pre-season powerlifting session in our

Early training key Pete Vickers Delaney Chambers

As most students are still enjoying the last rays of summer, many Durham athletes are heading back up to the northeast, where they will undergo a rigorous programme to improve their fitness, enhance their skills, and ultimately decide whether they will make the next year’s team.

ROWING

Netballers ready for challenge Photograph: Team Durham

Tuesday 11th October 2011 | PALATINATE

Durham University Boat Club, or DUBC, invite potential DUBC candidates who have shown rowing talent in the past, having rowed for a GB Junior squad, in the National Schools competition,

or at school with a current DUBC athlete.

Fresher rowers who have been invited to participate in preseason are housed with current rowers, to cultivate team spirit.

“Intake is important to the extent that we try to make sure the freshers enjoy their time in Durham,” said Francis Highton, Vice President of DUBC. Training consists of two to three sessions a day, with novel exercises such as tyre flipping and hill runs as an alternative to term-time training.

“It’s a good way to get back basic fitness,” Highton said.

“It’s good for team building, and it’s also quite fun,” added Chris Thomas, DUBC treasurer.

Midweek ergo tests take place

twice during preseason, and fitness is emphasised throughout.

This year, preseason finished with a club triathalon, where rowing replaced swimming.

RUGBY

Rugby preseason is carried out in a similar way, with a month of preparatory training. The team attends one two-hour session in the morning and one in the afternoon, Monday through Friday.

Morning sessions consist of a brutal schedule of alternately strength and conditioning exercises, which take place in the gym and on the track.

1st team captain, Josh Bayford is pleased with the effort of his squad, “We’ve had 80 guys up

PALATINATE | Tuesday 11th October 2011

23 www.palatinate.org.uk

Is London safe?

Sport

Riots cast doubts on London’s Olympic security Delaney Chambers

T

High Performance gym. Photograph: Delaney Chambers

to success here for three weeks and they’ve all worked really hard, especially on a training day we did with the army in the boiling heat.”

The afternoon consists of an exacting rugby skills training session, including full-contact tackling, set pieces and ball skills.

12

Number of university sports with a preseason

With such a hectic load, Bayford knows the importance of recovery in maintaining high intensity training, “We’re aiming to work the guys as close to their limit as possible so they’re going

to get knocks and niggles so we also need to manage it sensibly and recovery strategies such as muscular temperature control are ways of doing that”.

International student Charles Markum, who played American football through school and university in the U.S.A., decided before he came to Durham to swap over to rugby, saying “I’m in England now, I have to play a sport that’s popular here!”

With intrernationl students, returning second and third years and even some freshers attending pre-season preogrammes across a variety of sports, Maiden Castle has been alive with productivity in an attempt to make Durham the best sporting university in the country.

he recent protests in London and around the UK led many people to question both the motives behind the anarchy and the stability of their country. In Britain and around the world, shock spread as images of beatings and burning buildings appeared on screens and in newspapers.

Before the protests, it didn’t seem as though the international community would have any cause to doubt that such a strong ecomony would be able to support the 2012 Olympic Games.

However, the recent protests have raised these concerns, not economically, but in terms of safety. During the week-long period of rioting, the question was asked many times: is London a safe place to send the best athletes in the world?

London organizers have assured the press that the riots will not hinder preparations for the Olympics. The real question, however, is: have the riots harmed the international image of London?

And if so, how will this affect the Olympics?

Two international football matches were cancelled due to lack of available security, and officials considered delaying the start of the Premier League, according to an article in the New York Times.

During the same week as the riots, over 200 officials from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) arrived in London to discuss the upcoming games.

“There’s no doubt that this is a very bad day, a worrying day, for Olympic organizers in London,” said Tony Travers, a professor at LSE who has studied the impact of the Olympics on the city.

“They planned to protect London from conventional terrorism. But of all the things they might have thought might happen, I’d be surprised if civil insurrections was high up on their list of expected risk factors.”

Officials, however, did not express nearly as much concern.

“We have a commitment to deliver a safe and secure Games and we will do so,” said Olympics Min-

ister Hugh Robertson, according to The Associated Press. “All the evidence shows this trouble is low-level criminality driven by messages on social networks and not some new, emerging security threat.”

The question still remained as to whether the rest of the world agreed, and whether the riots would affect the way athletes and spectators viewed London’s safety.

Paula Radcliffe, the British

“All evidence shows this trouble is low-level criminality”

Hugh Robertson Olympics Minister

marathon runner, posted on Twitter about the riots: “In less than one year we welcome the world to London, and right now the world doesn’t want to come.”

However, during the riots, Olympic test events proceeded as scheduled; a marathon swim and a cycling race were both held in Hyde Park over the weekend. The only change made to the scheduling was to a beach volleyball tournament. The tournament was moved forward in order to end before nightfall.

Still, athletes did not seem to feel the affects of the strikes. Top American beach volleyball player, April Ross, said, “If we didn’t see the riots on the news, we wouldn’t have any idea that they were going on.”

Chinese state television said that rioting in London has “raised serious doubts about the safety of the 2012 Olympic Games” in addition to having a negative affect on the city’s image, according to a video produced by Reuters.

When questions were still rising as to whether protests would continue, this kind of image would indeed contribute to a sense of unease as to the security of the Games.

The Olympic Committee website lists a variety of measures taken to ensure safety at the Games, including an Olympic Security Directorate set up within the Home Office. However, the most recent article posted on this list is from March 2011. This leads to questions as to whether increased security measures will be set up.

Sebastian Coe, former middledistance runner and current chairman of the Olympic organising committee, is certain that the riots will not affect the Olympics, and described the riots as “an aberration,” saying they had nothing to do with the London with which he was familiar.

Protests in the streets of London Photograph: Lewis Whyld

Sport

Non-stop Netball

PALATINATE | Tuesday 11th October 2011

DUNC attempt 72 hour match, page 22

Another record-breaker?

Durham looks to dominate, page 21

Keen and dedicated athletes

Discover preseason’s affects, pages 22&23

Wildcats in tough opener Life in the British Basketball League begins for Durham with a loss to the Newcastle Eagles Durham Wildcats

66

Newcastle Eagles

88

Delaney Chambers

T

he Durham Wildcats charged onto the court for their first game in the British Basketball League last Saturday to the thunderous welcome of their home stadium in Newton Aycliffe.

The fixture was local rivals Newcastle Eagles, Britain’s most successful team, for their first game in the League.

It was an exciting match-up, with the BBL’s newest and best teams pitted against each other in a local derby.

Though the Wildcats are Durham City’s basketball team, they hold close ties with the university, as the University is the Wildcats’ official partner, and the team consists of the University coach and several University students and alumni.

“It was a tough game and the heat was intense but we didn’t do enough”

Stephen Jones

Despite the energy originally buzzing throughout the stadium, the Wildcats were off to a hesitant start, with Newcastle scoring from the tip-off and subsequent free throws.

The Wildcats were often restricted to three-point shots, as they found it difficult to penetrate the Eagles well-drilled defence and get near the lane.

The Wildcat’s first basket eventually came from Bucci, number 32, who was Durham’s leading

scorer on the night with 23, a tally that was also equal game-high with the Eagles’ Defoe.

Despite their early comeback, the Wildcats finished the first quarter down 13-21.

The rest of the first half continued in the same vein, with the Wildcats struggling to maintain possession and both teams fouling often.

Heat levels rose in the stadium, and by halftime fans seemed as exhausted as the players. Durham

23

Number of points scored

by Bucci of Durham

more than matched Newcastle in the second quarter, outscoring them 15-14, and at half time the score was 28-35, the Wildcats still in with a chance.

The second half began with renewed energy. Still, the score turned against Durham and though the Wildcats managed to avoid going 20 points down for most of the third quarter, the end saw them down 46-67.

In addition to the players, the fans had also lost their energy, and the end of the game saw only the rugby club singing whilst the rest of the stadium, save three Eagles supporters with drums, fanning themselves in fatigue.

By the fourth quarter, though Mark Elderkin managed to make some good runs and Bucci continued to break into the lane earning free throws, the Wildcats saw themselves defeated by the better team.

With a disappointing final score of 88-66 Eagles, the Wildcats can nonetheless take heart from the fact that for periods of the game they were able to match the reigning champions.

Durham struggled against the more experienced Eagles Photograph: Delaney Chambers