P772

Palatinate’s exclusive interview with legendary pundit Chris Kamara Sport (page 17)

A conversation with Owen Jones Profile (pages 10-11)

Durham’s independent student newspaper

Indigo tries modafinil (i6-7)

Palatinate

www.palatinate.org.uk

No. 772

Thursday 5th March 2015| FREE

Around 100 students protested last month against the University’s decision to increase accommodation fees by over 8% next year. Photograph: William Pinkney-Baird

Students demand freeze to accommodation charges

Josh Smith A protest organised by Durham Students for University Reform (DSUR) took place outside the Bill Bryson library on Monday 23rd February.

The DSUR are demanding a twoyear freeze of accommodation

charges, greater transparency from the University, and reform of the University’s governing structures to increase student involvement in the setting of charges.

Harry Cross, co-chair of DSUR, spoke to Palatinate before the protest, saying: “By organising the largest student protest at Durham in

years, we aim to leave no doubt as to the strength of student opinion on this issue.

“College accommodation fees in Durham have risen over 20% in recent years, with a knock-on effect on the level of rent charged by landlords in the city, impacting both students and residents.”

Cross also described the University as “the largest landlord

in the city” and claimed that it “seems more concerned with its external reputation than the opinion of students.”

The protest started at 13:00 with chants of “freezes the fees.” Around 100 students later marched through the ground floor of the Palatine Centre chanting “student homes, not bankers’ loans.”

William Pinkney-Baird, a member of DSUR, spoke to the attendees.

“The new Vice-Chancellor will need to listen to our demands.

“If they don’t, they will get more than they bargained for.”

Continued on page 7

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Editorial The safety of the people must be the highest law On Saturday, Durham was shocked by the news of the sudden death of 69-yearold Bill Grant.

Although, at the time of writing, a post-mortem has yet to be carried out, what is presently known is that Grant suffered some sort of medical episode while cycling along the bank of the Wear and this caused him to fall from his bike, down the bank and into the water.

The father-of-three was then pulled out of the river thanks to a joint effort between rowers and passers-by but, despite a commendably swift response from the emergency services, tragically died in hospital a short while later.

It’s a terrible story that acutely reminds us of the fragility of life.

But you won’t find it in this issue of Palatinate for the sole reason that it’s currently somewhat unclear and still unfolding as we wait for his postmortem.

That is, of course, with the exception of this editorial because I believe it has raised some worrying issues about how the river safety debate is being approached.

Before I get to it, I’d like to express my belief that Durham Constabulary does a superb job of keeping this city safe and I’m grateful that Durham is protected by such an effective and active police force.

However, I was concerned by how quick the Constabulary was to take to social media on Saturday to push its agenda.

Though it’s admirable that the Constabulary’s updates on Facebook were regular, keeping the public up-todate with the tragedy as more information emerged, its Facebook updates were calculated and measured, carefully emphasising that Grant had suffered a ‘medical condition’ while giving as little mention as possible to the fact that the 69-year-old had fallen into the Wear.

With each update, less and

Thursday 5th March 2015 | PALATINATE

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less emphasis was put on the river until, on Monday morning when the police identified Grant online, we were merely reminded that he had “fallen down a riverbank”.

The message was clear: a man had tragically suffered a medical episode on the riverbank. That he had then fallen from the path into a freezing river was irrelevant and it would be a waste of police time to even mention the fact.

Seemingly out of the blue, two hours prior to this identification, the Constabulary boasted on Facebook that the student who fell into the river in January was to be fined for drunkenness and would take part in a diversionary alcohol awareness scheme.

“The police must ensure they do not allow their agenda to hinder meaningful steps towards making Durham safer for everyone.”

This was a prime example of the kind of approach that Durham Constabulary has adopted throughout the river safety debate.

Mike Barton and his force have robotically repeated their well rehearsed warnings about the demon drink, backed alcohol awareness initiatives and even threatened to fine intoxicated students causing trouble in town.

Recently, the chief constable explicitly spoke out against fencing along stretches of the river on BBC Newcastle, ruling out the idea as if it would not have made any difference whatsoever in recent tragedies.

The Constabulary’s attempt to divert our attention away from the river at the weekend was an irresponsible move.

As opposed to acknowledging that Saturday’s tragedy raised questions yet again about the dangerousness of the

riverside path, the police chose to dodge the issue so swiftly and blatantly that it almost appeared stubborn.

Instead, they delivered a rather distastefully timed reminder of the dangers of drinking and the irresponsibility of students in an attempt to neutralise any possibility that a lack of proper safety provisions along the river could have contributed to the tragic death of a 69-year-old man.

In the past 16 months it has become acutely clear that the riverside in Durham is unsafe.

In order to tackle this fact, what’s required is a pragmatic approach that looks at all sides of the problem.

We’ve seen much positive action in the past weeks to attempt to reduce the risks of walking home alone, notably the student volunteers who have given up their time to ensure their peers get back safely after a night in the city.

But if the wider problem (that is, the problem that stretches further than simply alcohol) is to be dealt with then the whole community must accept that safety in the city is a multifaceted issue.

I implore Mike Barton to approach the coming months with an open mind.

Of course, it won’t be the Constabulary’s responsibility to improve safety on the riverside.

But the police must ensure they do not allow their agenda to hinder meaningful steps towards making Durham safer for everyone.

Chris Somers

Inside 772 News pages 3-8 SciTech page 9

Profile pages 10-11

Careers page 12 Comment pages 13-15 Politics page 16 Sport pages 17-20

indigo

Editorial page 2

Film & TV page 3 Books pages 4-5 Features pages 6-7 Visual Arts page 8 Stage page 9

Fashion page 10

Creative Writing page 11 Music pages 12-13 Travel page 14 Food & Drink page 15

Letters to the editor

Want to see your name in print? We’d love to hear your opinion on our stories. If you have praise for Palatinate or a bone to pick with us, email editor@palatinate.org.uk.

Your letter could appear on this page in the next edition.

Vacancies

Editor-in-Chief If you are considering a career in journalism, management, editing or publishing, than this position is for you.

The role of Editor-in-Chief involves leading editorial board meetings, training new editorial board members, planning content, liaising with the Students’ Union and University, sending off final proofs to the printers, and much more. No experience with Palatinate is necessary to apply for the role.

However, successful candidates will have journalistic experience, leadership skills, and excellent time management.

To apply, email editor@palatinate.org.uk Deadline, 06/03/2015

Editorial Board Editors-in-Chief Christopher Somers & Thomas Fenton editor@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Editor Lawrence Holmes deputy.editor@palatinate.org.uk News Editors James Poole & Henry Clare news@palatinate.org.uk News Features Editor Rebekah Wilson news.features@palatinate.org.uk Deputy News Editors Josh Smith, Pippa Cole & Ryan Gould Politics Editors Alex Cupples & Ollie Hamlet politics@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Politics Editor Miriam Brittenden Profile Editors Will Fremont-Barnes and Oliver Mawhinney profile.editor@palatinate.org.uk Careers Editor Toyosi Taiwo & Olivia Rosenthall careers@palatinate.org.uk Science and Technology Editor Sadie Bartholomew scitech@palatinate.org.uk Comment Editor Patrick Brennan comment@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Comment Editors Ellen Orange, Sandy Thin & Oscar Rocklin Sport Editor Nick Friend sport@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Sport Editors John Evans & Kieran Moriaty Indigo Editor Kate Wilkinson indigo@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Indigo Editor Sraddha Venkataraman indigo.deputy@palatinate.org.uk Features Editor Zosia Eyres feature@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Features Editor Ellen Finch Food and Drink Editor Anisha Mohan food@palatinate.org.uk Travel Editor Oliver Collard travel@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Travel Editor Naoise Murphy Fashion Editors Jessica Ng & Megan Magee fashion@palatinate.org.uk Film and Television Editor Jonathan Peters film@palatinate.org.uk Stage Editor Amy Price stage@palatinate.org.uk Music Editor Ana Symecko music@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Music Editor Will Throp deputy.music@palatinate.org.uk Books Editors Atifa Jiwa & Florianne Humphrey books@palatinate.org.uk Visual Arts Editor Frances Marsh visual.arts@palatinate.org.uk Creative Writing Editor Celeste Yeo creative.writing@palatinate.org.uk Chief Sub-Editor Lucy Hart sub-editing@palatinate.org.uk Sub-Editors Morgan Hayden-Kentt, Marianna Mukhametzyanova, Ciara Murphy, Isabel López Ruiz, Ellie Mullan Online Editor Kat Hind online.editor@palatinate.org.uk Web Editor Ian Ager web.editor@palatinate.org.uk Photography Editor Venus Loi photography@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Photography Editors Rob Law and Dai-Khue Le-Duong Illustrations Editor Mariam Hayat illustration@palatinate.org.uk Publicity Officer Alexandra Fitzgerald publicity@palatinate.org.uk Advertising Officer Jess Sham

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 University. 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

PALATINATE | Thursday 5th March 2015

Union President’s Column The Union is currently developing its strategy for the next three to five years because our current plan, which started in 2009, is now coming to an end. This process will shape the direction we move in to best help the students of Durham University. We have already consulted with a variety of students as part of this process. At the start of this term we held some online focus groups with a mix of different Durham University students.

We have also over the last few weeks met with your College Union representatives, society and common room presidents. But we want as many people as possible to be involved, so visit the Union’s website to complete the survey. As a thank you for completing the survey, all participants will be entered into a prize draw to win a £50 Amazon voucher.

Candidates to be next year’s Development Officer of the Students’ Union next year are currently campaigning for your votes. The Development Officer takes lead responsibility for the training and skills development of Durham University students. Voting in this election will coincide with voting for the National Union of Students’ (NUS) National Conference delegate elections. NUS National Conference is an annual event which brings together student representatives from Students’ Unions across the country. The delegates vote on national policy and who will be the President and Vice Presidents of NUS next year. The four elected delegates from Durham Students’ Union will join me at the event to represent the views of Durham students nationally. Voting in both of these elections runs from 10:00 on Tuesday 10 March until 17:00 on Friday 13 March. Meet the candidates and find out more on the website www.durhamsu.com Away from elections, we are now in the process of planning our annual awards evening.

This is your opportunity to celebrate the successes of outstanding students, student groups and staff. The awards are chosen by you, so make sure you have your say and recommend somebody deserving. Nominations are now open.

I hope everyone has a great Easter break!

3 www.palatinate.org.uk

News

News

@PalatinateNews

Durham Opera Ensemble performed Mozart’s opera ‘The Marriage of Figaro’ on the 21st and 22nd February at the Gala Theatre Photograph: Kyle Wong

Neighbourhood Inspector speaks to Palatinate

Music Society abandons Students’ Union

90% of Collingwood library stock removed

Photograph: Peter Roberts

Photograph: Dai-Khue Le Duong

Photograph: Rob Law

Turn to page 4 to read more

News in brief

Turn to page 6 to read more

Turn to page 7 to read more

STUDENT VOLUNTEER SCHEME PROVIDES ‘SAFE HAVEN’ FOR STUDENTS

ONE IN FOUR STUDENTS CONTACT STAFF VIA SOCIAL MEDIA

LABOUR PROMISES TO CUT TUITION FEES TO £6,000

A student volunteer scheme which aims to support Durham students on Wednesday nights was launched last month. Volunteers and members of staff from Student Community Action and the University are based at a “safe haven,” with student volunteers moving around Durham City between 10pm and 2:30am offering help to students.

A survey conducted by the education technology charity, Jisc, has revealed that 27% of UK students contact members of staff using social networking sites. Of these students, 85% said they use Facebook to contact staff.

Jisc Chief Executive, Martyn Harrow, said: “Our research shows just how important technology is to students.”

Labour has announced it will cut tuition fees to £6,000 if elected in May. The cut would be funded by reducing tax relief on pensions for those earning over £150,000 per year.

However, Chancellor George Osborne said that the policy would be “bad for students, bad for universities, bad for the taxpayer and bad for the British economy.”

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Thursday 5th March 2015 | PALATINATE

Neighbourhood Inspector: “Protect yourself and look after your friends”

Pippa Cole Durham’s Neighbourhood Inspector Dave Coxon has encouraged students to “look after your friends” on evenings out, in an exclusive interview with Palatinate.

Insp. Coxon took over as Neighbourhood Inspector for the Durham sector in January, and was able to shed light on policy changes concerning alcoholrelated incidents in the city.

Insp. Coxon’s comments come just over a month after the tragic death of Euan Coulthard, who was the third student to have drowned in the river in 15 months.

Earlier this month, students received an email from the University detailing new measures from the police, which stated that “any person who is found to be drunk and incapable could be arrested or be given a £60 fine for the offence, once sober.”

When asked about the reasons for this more robust approach, Insp. Coxon told Palatinate: “Up until last year there was a two-tier system in place, whereby if you were a student you’d be dealt with one way, and if you were a permanent resident you would be dealt with in a slightly different way.

“If you were found to be drunk and disorderly in town, as a nonstudent, you may have been arrested and issued with a fixed penalty notice and be fined the following morning.

“As a student however, you may have been arrested and brought into custody, but then you’d have been released and your name would have been sent to the college, and they would have dealt with the disciplinary issues.”

“That, to people who were receiving fines, and to me, seemed inherently unfair that there was a dual system.”

Insp. Coxon went on to speak about his keenness “to decrease the gap between town and gown.”

In addition, Durham

Constabulary will now attend reports of anti-social behaviour such as noise complaints, which previously had been the responsibility of University Security. According to Insp.

Coxon, this is to facilitate early

“We understand a lot of people are living for their first time away from home... we want to help educate them with what is acceptable and what is not”

intervention and to help prevent repeat offences.

“We understand a lot of people are living for their first time away from home…and we want to help educate them with what is acceptable and what is not acceptable.”

Insp. Coxon praised the set up of a safe haven, available on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights, where vulnerable people can be referred by either the police or volunteer groups such as Durham Streetlights.

Durham Streetlights are a volunteer group who are now linked by radio to door supervisors at nightclubs. If supervisors see someone leave on their own, particularly those walking in the direction of the riverbanks, they can now notify the Streetlights via radio.

They are then able to identify that person and have a conversation about where they are going, and if necessary, refer them to the safe haven.

In addition, the City Safety Group have proposed a trial of using breathalysers on the entrance to bars and nightclubs.

Insp. Coxon commented that it is intended to be used as a “screening tool” and confirmed that “we won’t necessarily be breathalysing everyone who walks through the door.”

However this proposal will at first be a pilot, Insp. Coxon said: “We are looking at places around the country, to make sure we’re not putting in measures that aren’t going to work. We are, however, aware of the timeliness of the issue so it is something we are keen to progress.”

When asked why alcohol issues have been the main focus for the changes in policies, as opposed to issues with the riverbanks, Imsp.

Coxon said: “The commonality between the incidents we have had on the riverbanks, and in other areas around Durham, has been that people have put themselves at extreme risk as a result of drinking.

“Not every one of them has been so drunk that they couldn’t walk, but the alcohol certainly reduced their inhibitions, and made them feel like the risks they were taking

“Up until last year there was a two-tier system in place, whereby if you were a student, you’d be dealt with one way, and if you were a pernament resident you would dealt with in a slightly different way.”

were more acceptable.”

The City Safety Group have,

Insp. Coxon wants to “decrease the gap between town and gown.”

Photograph: Pippa Cole

however, commissioned an independent review by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).

Insp. Coxon spoke about this review and said that “RoSPA will tell us about areas we need to think about, but it’s not just about the riverbanks.

“There have been incidents in other parts of the city too and we will look at the recommendations they make, and as a safety group, we will look at implementing their recommendations.

“But alcohol is by far the biggest issue. We are seeing people who are drinking far greater amounts

of alcohol before they come out than we ever have.

“We are seeing people who struggle to locate their way home, look after their own property, and this is making themselves extremely vulnerable. That’s why alcohol is our main focus, as it has been the main contributing factor in the risk-taking that has gone on.”

When asked about people walking home alone, and incidents regarding both males and females, Insp. Coxon said: “We don’t tend to see as many females walking home alone [...] I think that society’s view of females

PALATINATE | Thursday 5th March 2015

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Former Twitter troll tells students: rethink your relationship with alcohol Ryan Gould A woman whose alcoholism saw her jailed for sending malicious tweets has offered to help Durham students stay safe while drinking.

Once a ‘Twitter troll’, Isabella Sorley was jailed for 12 weeks in 2013 after sending offensive tweets to feminist campaigner Caroline Criado-Perez while drunk.

Sorely, who has been alcohol-

“I got on first name terms with the city centre police officers.”

free for six months, wants to use her past experiences to, she says, encourage Durham students to reflect on their relationship with alcohol.

Sorley, a 24-year-old from Newcastle, founded the not-forprofit social enterprise, ‘Rethink Drink’, with help from the Prince’s Trust. She is hoping to use the initiative to tackle youth binge drinking.

“We believe that education and awareness is key in preventing binge drinkers developing problematic alcohol issues,” Isabella told Palatinate.

“As a result of creative interventions and hard-hitting, real-life workshops, young people will become more aware of their drinking habits, and will become ambassadors for healthy, enjoyable drinking lifestyles.”

Sorley said that Rethink Drink’s

walking home alone changed a long time ago. We do however see a lot of males walking home on their own.”

When asked how this was looking to be addressed, Insp.

Coxon added: “Volunteers are targeting people on their own, predominantly males. They ask them where they

workshops are based on her own personal experiences with binge drinking. “My drinking started at university. I wasn’t really a drinker [before starting university], yet I wasn’t some sort of nun who didn’t drink at all.

“Engulfed in the culture of Freshers’ Week, I went out on a daily basis to drink to excess”, Isabella told Palatinate, also making reference to the idea that the only way to make friends upon arriving at university was to become immersed in the student drinking culture, and “drunkenly become best friends.”

Aside from missing several lectures, the only consequences of Isabella’s actions were “trips to A&E and massive hangovers.”

Sorley explained how her alcoholism reached its worst point in her third year, when she was sometimes arrested three times

“Addressing the real problem will only come from raising awareness and educating those involved, which is what Rethink Drink is all about .”

per week.

“I got on first name terms with the city centre Police Officers.

Looking back now, although I was being arrested, it had no are going and where their friends

implication on my life.

“I was banned from the city centre pubs, and that did have implications on my social life, so I drank at home.”

At the height of her addiction, Sorley assaulted a police officer six times, but still managed to graduate from Leeds University with a 2:1 in 2012.

Following her graduation, Isabella tried to stay in Leeds, but said that being banned from the city centre ruined her social life, prompting her to move back to Newcastle.

Even following her release from prison, Sorley failed to recognise her addiction, saying: “I wish I’d got help earlier. Actually, I wish I’d acknowledged I had an addiction earlier.”

“Inevitably, I reoffended and ended up back in prison. I wish I’d listened to my friends and family.”

Making reference to the new measures being introduced to ensure the safety of Durham students during evenings out, Sorley claimed that punishing for students for their drunken behaviour is the wrong solution.

“Speaking from personal experience, the reason I never sorted out my drinking earlier was because I kept on getting away with it. Just a fine, and even then the court told me I only had to pay £5 per week, which is nothing.”

Sorley thinks punishing students on evenings out is a “quick fix,” which fails to address long-term issues.

“Addressing the real problem will only come from raising awareness and educating those involved, which is what Rethink Drink is all about.” are, and if necessary, take them

“We are keen not to have a knee-jerk reaction before we fully understand what the problem is; clearly the problem isn’t just one factor.”

Sorley was jailed for 12 weeks in 2013 back to the safe haven.”

“The incidents we have had to deal with would indicate that we do need to target men. This does not mean we should ignore the fact that we do see occasionally females deciding to walk home alone too.

“I hope the message will be the same to everyone, protect yourself

Photograph: Isabella Sorley

and look after your friends.”

Looking forward, Insp. Coxon said that “we are keen not to have a knee-jerk reaction before we fully understand what the problem is; clearly the problem isn’t just one factor.

“There are a number of factors contributing to the overall problem and we need to understand that.”

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Thursday 5h March 2015 | PALATINATE

Durham University Music Society abandons Students’ Union

James Poole

Durham University Music Society (DUMS) is set to break away from Durham Students’ Union (DSU) and relaunch as a Durham Student Organisation named ‘Music Durham.’

Complications with the Union’s financial system and “inactivity” from student officers led to DUMS members voting to leave the Students’ Union in a referendum in January.

Frustration has also been directed at the Union’s structure, which members say does not allow DUMS to act as an umbrella society for music ensembles in Durham.

Lewis Wilkinson, the President of DUMS, told Palatinate: “Durham University Music Society was unable to be classed as an umbrella society within the Union - and

we need to be, because that’s the way the Music Department do it in terms of room booking and instrument booking, etc.

“Many societies have also had problems with the DSU’s financial system, which has led to embarrassing situations where profes-

“As far as I’m aware, the Students’ Union didn’t have a vision for DUMS”

sional musicians have not been paid for a very long time.

“As far as I’m aware, the Students’ Union didn’t have a vision for DUMS. They are committed to ‘student-led’ societies, which results in them rarely pitching ideas

or actively seeking to meet with society execs.”

Ensembles within DUMS have now had to vote in a second referendum to decide whether they will move to Music Durham or remain within the Students’ Union.

Durham University Brass Band, Durham University Orchestral Society, and Durham University Chamber Choir, amongst others, have all voted to break away from the Union.

Ensembles that move to Music Durham will receive support from Experience Durham, the body that coordinates Team Durham.

Wilkinson added: “The advantages of Music Durham are vast.

Firstly, we will run an exec where the president of each society is present, so that societies know what each other are doing and musical activity can be better orchestrated.

DUMS’s decision to leave the Students’ Union comes after frustrations directed at the Union’s structure

“Secondly, we can be further exposed to people who value musical activity in the University such as alumni, staff, and patrons, who will provide audience for the music societies.

“Thirdly, we will be part of the same system as Durham Student Theatre who we are increasingly working with.”

One DUMS member, Charles Price, told Palatinate: “I support DUMS’s vision, as much as any of the musicians do in Durham.

“They’ve looked at sport in Durham and seen what Team Durham has achieved, and are trying to emulate it. They want to create a more professional unified body from which to coordinate musicmaking.”

“They aren’t trying to take away from the entirely student-run music-making experience at Durham, the ensembles will remain the

Photograph: Dai-Khue Le Duong

same structurally, but they’ll have professional staff enabling them perhaps slightly better than the sabbatical officers at the DSU. “I think DUMS feel like Experience Durham will care for them more than the DSU does, perhaps simply because of inactivity on the DSU’s front.”

However, response to the move has been mixed, with some students completely apathetic to the move.

Luke Bentley, a member of Durham University Big Band, said: “When it was first proposed last year, the idea was very flawed,

“I think DUMS feel like Experience Durham will care for them more than the DSU does, perhaps simply because of inactivity on the DSU’s front”

with the motives not very clear.

DUMS has been a lot more open this year under Lewis Wilkinson but the motives for the move still remain unclear.

“By moving, societies lose out on DSU grant funding and use of the fresher’s fair. Experience Durham will support high quality music-making and I feel the best musicians may benefit from this support, but this may be at the expense of the more casual music societies who look to be more inclusive.”

In a statement, Joely Charlton, Activities Officer at Durham Students’ Union, said: “We are extremely disappointed that some music groups have chosen to leave Durham Students’ Union. There are many benefits associated with being part of the Union which are not available as part of Experience Durham. Music societies should not be forced to choose between being part of the Union or part of Experience Durham.

“We are very pleased that many student groups have decided to stay part of the Union as they benefit from being student-led, accessible, and open to all.”

PALATINATE | Thursday 5th March 2015

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90% of Collingwood’s library stock to be removed

Henry Clare Collingwood College’s Lormor Library is selling off 90% of its stock to make space for desks and other study facilities.

The renovation is meant to give students a “peaceful and tranquil space” to work.

Professor Joe Elliott, the Principal of Collingwood College, told Palatinate that removing the excess stock from the library would help give students a comfortable place to work.

“The rationale behind this decision is that students need a useful place to study. Many of our students don’t want to work in their rooms, and during exam season just about every desk in the whole of Durham seems to be taken.

“Therefore, by making these changes we’re making sure that students at Collingwood will always have a space that they can use for their studies”.

Before the removal of stock began, it was estimated that between 15 and 20 students could work there at a time due to the “cramped” nature of the Lormor Library.

Professor Elliott also claimed that, due to the availability of electronic copies of books and libraries, students have been borrowing fewer books from the library, which initially prompted the decision.

“We have had one of the biggest libraries at the University, yet for the last few years it hasn’t been used anywhere near as much as it once was.

“Students these days can Continued from front page

Sofia Hewson, co-chair of DSUR, praised the protest’s success in “raising awareness of student objections to accommodation fee rises.”

Speaking to Palatinate, Cross called the protest “an overwhelming success” and said DSUR has been “flooded with messages of support from across the student body.”

Cross also stressed the need for the DSUR to continue to put their message across.

“Those who attended have expressed a desire to remain

get hold of e-books very easily through the library catalogue.

We’re so close to the Bill Bryson Library as well, and paper copies of all the books that they need for their courses are available there”.

Professor Elliot was also keen to stress that students would still be able to borrow books from the library, and that “essential” books would remain in place.

However, the renovation has caused frustration amongst some Collingwood students.

One student, who wished to remain anonymous, told Palatinate

they feared that the decision to remove the stock from the library would affect their studies.

“I for one am quite frustrated, especially as a third year who has had to go through the year without the extensive resources that I enjoyed over the past few years.

I’m sure that they would have been useful for my research.

“We did know that the library was going to be turned into an extensive study space, and so for this reason, space needed to be made. However, whilst I completely agree that greater

study space was needed in the library, I can’t understand why we had to sell stock to create this space.

“The students were not consulted as to whether we wanted to sell our stock, we were merely informed”.

Another anonymous source suggested that, although students are generally “apathetic” towards the Lormor Library, some consultation between staff and students should have taken place.

“It appears that there was little or no involvement of students in

It is hoped that the renovation will create a “peaceful and tranquil” space to work mobilised and keep up the pressure on the Vice-Chancellor and the candidates for his succession.”

DSUR has also threatened to protest at University open days in March and boycott the National Student Survey if executive staff do not respond to demands to freeze accommodation fees.

“Action would probably be focused around informing applicants of the rent crisis in Durham and encouraging them to ask the University about this during, or after, the open days”, an anonymous source said.

“JCRs, the Students’ Union, and

the student press have called on the goodwill of the University to engage in transparent and constructive dialogue, but this has been unforthcoming.

“We therefore feel justified in taking more concrete forms of action.”

Durham Students’ Union President, Dan Slavin, also addressed the protesters: “I’m pleased to see so many people here today. This shows that Durham students aren’t apathetic”, Slavin said.

“It is important that students can show that they feel annoyed at the University, and I hope that this

brings that about.”

Speaking to Palatinate, Slavin said: “We agree with the cause, this is something that we’ve wanted to support throughout the Union.

“As a Union we would like to help DSUR to communicate their message to the student body and welcome open communication.”

Responding to the protests, a spokesperson from the University defended their approach to approach to accommodation fees.

“As a University we have been transparent about our costs and remain competitive in terms of our accommodation pricing.

“We continue to work closely

the decision.

“This is especially worrying given that many of the books had been brought through student money, via JCR fees.

“If it turns out that students just don’t care then that’s fine, but that is that no-one bothered to find out”.

In response, Professor Elliott informed Palatinate that, although not all students had been consulted about the decision, many had spoken out in favour of the renovation of the library when asked.

Photograph: Rob Law with the elected student body and although we may have differences of view from time to time, we agree on much too and are determined to work together in delivering the very best educational experience for all our students.

When asked if they believe whether DSUR plans to protest on open days would be justified, the University simply offered the reply: “No.” The University also said that protests are “one way of getting the views of some students across.

Other ways include working through those elected to enact such representational roles.”

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Prison Exchange Programme has “changed students’ perceptions” of prisoners Henry Clare A Prison Exchange Programme run by Durham’s School of Applied Social Sciences has “changed students’ perceptions” of prisoners, according to an instructor involved in the course.

As part of the programme, Durham has become the first university in Europe to deliver classes to both students and prisoners.

The ten-week programme was introduced last October, and the second cohort of students are currently receiving lessons in HMP Durham and HMP Frankland, two high category prisons in Durham.

This term, 13 Criminology students, referred to as ‘outside students’, and 10 prisoners referred to as ‘inside students’ have received lessons together.

Instructors on the scheme underwent an intensive training course at Temple University, Philadelphia, where a similar scheme was introduced in 1997.

Lessons start and finish with all students sitting together in a cir-

cle and, although there are set topics which focus around key issues in the judicial system, the direction of the lessons is dictated by the conversations between inside and outside students.

“I’ve found it to be a very powerful process,” Dr O’Brien told Palatinate. “My job as an instructor is to facilitate dialogue between inside and outside students.”

O’Brien revealed that, although outside students were initially “anxious” about entering the prisons, they quickly became comfortable with their surroundings.

“Some of the students were anxious before the process started. They all went through with it, though, and no one has dropped out of the scheme.

“When we first came together, there was a very clear divide between the prisoners and the students. But, after an hour or so, those boundaries had been broken down.

“A lot of the outside students have told me that they can’t believe how bright the inside students are, and in that respect the scheme has removed a lot of prejudices.”

The lessons take place at HMP Frankland and HMP Durham Both inside and outside students have written five reflexive papers on their experiences, two of which are summative, and the marking criteria is the same for all students.

Dr O’Brien believes that the scheme, which is nearing its conclusion, has been an unqualified success.

“There’s absolutely no doubt that this experience has benefited

Photograph: Rob Law those involved. The course has led a lot of the outside students to look at their subject in a completely new light”.

PALATINATE | Thursday 5th March 2015

SciTech

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Reader’s Scigest

Music-making mould: Physarum Polycephalum in concert

A QUICK LOOK AT SCIENCE

Jennifer Hack

BIZARRE QUASAR Astronomers have detected a black hole larger than any seen before in the centre of the brightest quasar in the distant universe. Having formed only 900 millon years after the Big Bang and with a mass 12 billion times that of the sun, SDSS J0100+2802 is puzzling scientists who can’t understand how an object so large and massive formed so quickly in the early universe using current theories. The quasar containing the enormous black hole was discovered in a recent survey of distant luminous objects.

DRASTIC TRANPLANTS AHEAD? Italian surgeon Sergio Canavero has claimed that the first full-body transplant, where a living person’s head is removed and grafted onto the body of a dead donor, could be carried out with humans in just two years. Canavero first proposed the idea in 2013 as a method for lengthening the lives of those with cancer in advanced stages or degenerative diseases. He has recently published an outline of how the radical surgery could be carried out, and is expected to announce detailed plans for making the procedure a reality at the American Academy of Neurological and Orthopaedic Surgeons (AANOS) annual conference this June. Head transplants have previously been performed with partial success in monkeys, though no attempt has yet been made to fuse spinal cords.

STATISTICAL MECHANICS OF A ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE Traditional disease modelling has been applied in the context of a hypothetical zombie outbreak by a group of graduate students from Cornell University. The statisticians, inspired by the book ‘World War Z’ by Max Brooks, simulated an apocalypse in the United States, treating various interactions, such as a human being bitten or killed by a zombie, like radioactive decay by assigning a half-life dependent on relevant parameters. They determined that the safest place for Americans to hide would be the northern Rocky mountains, which would take several weeks for the zombies to reach, with major cities, being the most populous areas, having the highest infection rate.

Imagine going to a concert where the performer is a lump of mould. It doesn’t exactly sound like the most exciting of exhibitions, but on March 1, 2015, visitors to the 10th Peninsula Arts Contemporary Music Festival at Plymouth University will watch exactly that.

As part of the festival Eduardo Miranda, Professor in Computer Music at Plymouth University, will perform a piano duet with the single-celled organism Physarum Polycephalum.

The festival, now in its 10th year, celebrates the innovative developments of modern music and this year’s theme, Biomusic, explores the relationship between science and music.

So what is Physarum Polycephalum exactly and how is it possibly going to play a duet with a human?

Physarum Polycephalum is a single celled organism that fuses together with other single cells to form a larger supercell, which is itself a living single cell containing hundreds or thousands of single nuclei. These supercells are large enough to be seen

by the human eye.

The collective name for these types of supercells is ‘slime moulds’ and they occur in many different colours and locations, from soil in the back garden to tree canopies in the rainforest. Physarum Polycephalum itself has a distinct yellow colour and it has been the subject of much scientific research over the past fifty years.

One of the most incredible properties of slime moulds like Physarum Polycephalum is the ability for the single cells in the organism to cooperatively search for food or react to external sources, like light or humidity, as one giant cell. By working together, the moulds are much more successful in foraging for food or surviving changes in environment, such as increased sunlight.

A group from the Bio Mimetic Control Research Centre in Nagoya, Japan investigated the movement and flow of Physarum Polycephalum in their search for food. The scientists were able to prove that by extending into protoplasmic tubes, Physarum Polycephalum organisms could find the shortest route through a maze.

A larger colony of the slime mould was divided into smaller pieces

which were positioned periodically through the maze. By forming narrow tubes, the individual pieces were able to connect together to create a network that was suitable for nutrient transportation. This network successfully linked two plates of agar jelly that had been positioned at the start and end of the maze.

This behaviour mimics Physarum Polycephalum’s behaviour in nature, where it changes shape and creates protoplasmic networks when scavenging soil or logs for microorganisms on which to feed.

However, the ability for this organism to move still does not explain how they can play music. For that, one must consider the electrical signals that are generated by a slime mould when it is moving and transporting nutrients.

Both the intra cellular movement of food within the organism and the movement of the organism itself generate very small electrical pulses, which can be picked up and measured by electrodes (this process also occurs in humans). The generation of electricity by these cells is the ‘instrument’ used by

Physarum Polycephalum to create its performance.

The rather ingenious bio computer designed by Miranda and his team uses electrodes that are connected to the keys of a piano. The electrodes are covered in agar jelly, the nutrient source, and then loaded with a small amount of the slime mould; the slime mould reacts to the pressing of the keys by starting to move.

This movement creates electrical signals that are converted into vibrations by electromagnets positioned above the piano strings and the vibrations cause the strings to start oscillating. Hence, by reacting to what is played by Miranda, his duet partner creates an accompaniment.

The actual music created by this unusual pair sounds a little extraterrestrial and will probably not be making the chart top ten any time soon. Nevertheless, this innovative link between music and technology is an incredible example of the type of interdisciplinary research possible for modern day scientists to study.

Miranda has created something truly unique in his work and those who attend the concert are undoubtedly extremely lucky.

carbon rings.

The unlikely discoverer of graphene was Andre Geim; he was widely regarded as being a bit crazy after he levitated a frog using a magnetic field in the 1990s (winning an Ig Nobel prize for his efforts in 2000 – no frogs were harmed). After various failed efforts to shave down slices of graphene from blocks of graphite, he simply peeled away a layer using Scotch tape.

In 2010, he and his colleague Konstantin Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work with graphene. Geim became the first person in history to win both a Nobel and an Ig Nobel Prize, and claims to

value them both equally.

Graphene is a two-dimensional allotrope (alternative form) of carbon; it is widely regarded as a ‘super’ material. It is extremely reactive compared to other forms of carbon, capable of conducting heat and electricity, and is also extremely strong and durable.

Graphene could potentially be used to make solar cells, flexible display screens, electronic circuits and many other new forms of technology, including technology for drug delivery in medical science. You can see why everyone got so excited by the fact it could be isolated with Scotch tape and some patience.

The discovery of graphene led directly to the discovery of carbon nanotubes, cylindrical tubes made of a single layer of hexagonally bonded carbon atoms. Like graphene, carbon nanotubes have an extraordinary range of potential applications, making them an extremely interesting and lucrative area of research.

The nanotechnology research group at Durham University has recently expanded to include the university spinout company Applied Graphene Materials.

Now, a new carbon form has been discovered; similar to graphene in being a thin sheet, but composed of bonds in a pentagonal pattern, penta-graphene was discovered by researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University.

The synthesis of penta-graphene is still in the theoretical stages; computer simulations have predicted its structure, but scientists are still researching how to make it. It is predicted to be very stable, strong and capable of withstanding extremely high temperatures – possibly even stronger and more durable than graphene itself.

This new form of carbon is an exciting discovery in what is a rapidly growing field; once synthesised, it will surely pave the way for a completely new area of carbon chemistry.

How can Scotch tape help us make carbon nanotubes?

Bryony Hockin Those of you struggling to finish summatives this week are likely doing so on a laptop, but for a moment think back to the humble pencil, the stalwart of primary school education.

Graphite and its cousins in the world of carbon chemistry have been getting a lot of attention in recent years. Graphite is a form of carbon made up of sheets of hexagonal carbon rings, each a single atom thick.

For years, chemists had been trying to isolate a form of this known as graphene, which is a single layer of

Illustration: Bryony Hockin

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“We have to have hope and that means coherent alternatives” Political commentator and author Owen Jones talks to Palatinate on why proportional representation, Syriza and possibly even the Labour Party are coherent alternatives to The Establishment.

Oliver Mawhinney Owen Jones has become the poster boy of the left in British politics. Formerly a researcher for the trade union movement and the Labour Party, he is now distinguished as one of the most respected and recognisable leftist voices.

Currently a commentator and writer for The Guardian, Jones can be seen regularly feuding with many of the prominent figures of the political right on formats such as Newsnight and Question Time.

After his lecture as part of the Durham Castle Lecture Series, titled after his second book- the follow up to Chavs- The Establishment: And How They Get Away With It , Jones talked in depth to Palatinate.

“The Establishment explores how at the heart of our democracy is a network of people who are embedded with unaccountable and unchallenged power”, Jones claims.

“The point about the establishment is that it is not about how unrepresentative it is- which it is- it’s the fact that its unaccountable power.”

In writing The Establishment, Jones garnered vast media attention which he determines as a success of the book: “The book- it’s just an excuse to talk about issues and open up a debate about issues that I care about. In terms of who has got wealth and power and how we go about changing our society and how we organise to change it.

“The problem is we have the media which is run by these elite who use the media as a megaphone for the interests of people from their backgrounds. For me, it’s a case of even getting a debate going which is hard because they’re the gatekeepers of debate.

“Even if people don’t agree with it, which a lot of people don’t, it’s just about forcing a discussion, so if that happens, it’s a victory.”

The Great Hall of Durham Castle appears as the antipodal to the location of where one would expect an anti-establishment lecture to locate. The formalities of the Hall and the portraits of many white males feels greatly embedded within The Establishment. Indeed, Jones- an Oxford history graduate- described the Great Hall as “the poshest place I’ve ever spoken in.”

Therefore, it was no surprise that Jones appeared much more relaxed away from the coats of arms and vast windows. He spent amble time after his talk interacting with the audience shaking hands, posing for photos, and discussing politics.

That is not to discredit the monologue of Jones. He is a speaker who

appears just as comfortable next to David Dimbleby as he does at a rally or demonstation. It will be unsurprising to those familiar with his work to note that he displayed an endearing ability to precisely articulate his captivating arguments.

Jones is not a career journalist. He crusaded into the media industry from a different background, rooted in a upbringing formed in Sheffield and Stockport, compared to his fellow ilk that are predominantly made up of those who can afford to live off an unpaid internship in cities like London.

Through the use of the term media-ocracy, a term brought to the mainstream by Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, The Establishment explores the extent to which the media is embedded within the establishment.

“The problem with the media is

“We’ve got to abolish all unpaid internships ”

not just the moguls that run it. It is unrepresentative, partially because of the scandal of unpaid internships, so to even get into the media, you’re expected to work for free.

“How does an aspiring journalist from a non-privileged background work for free? Of course you can’t.

And that is a bar that discriminates on the basis not of talent, but of wealth. We’ve got to abolish all unpaid internships, otherwise we have a media that is dominated by a very small, privileged elite.“ It is clear that writing provides a platform for Jones to reach vast audiences in his pursuit for change.

However, as a young- the freshfacedness of the 30-year-old is often at the core of many offensives by many branches of the right- and popular figure who can engage beyond the characteristically middle class Guardian demographic, many postulate the integrity of Jones in entering a career as a Member of Parliament.

This is a question often posed to Russell Brand, a fellow ‘poster boy’ and prominent voice of the left. The response of Jones was synonymous to the answer of Brand and although Jones celebrates the importance of voting, unlike Brand who discouraged it, he is highly complementary of him.

“I think by saying [don’t vote] that he got a debate going, he got a whole discussion about democracy going that needed to be had.

“I think his critics when they argue that he’s getting young people not to vote- young people aren’t voting already largely- it’s often because

Photograph: Miguel García

of the very same people attacking Russell Brand, as these are politicians and commentators who soak cynicism.

“But he actually gets young people- who are otherwise totally disengaged. I go to lots of schools and colleges in inner city areas and often people are talking about issues because of Russell Brand.”

Jones asserts: “I want more working class people and more women in politics who are rooted in their communities and that’s why I have not stood, I’ve tried to support other people instead.

“We need a more representative Parliament that is treated as a service, not a profession, where people are rooted in their communities. And I will keep fighting for more call centre workers, supermarket workers, cleaners- who aren’t given a voice to be there instead. I think my role is far

“There is a coherent alternative that isn’t linked to Stalinism”

more important in supporting people like that than being there myself”.

A strong advocate of the importance of engaging in democracy, Jones posits that our electorate are not overcome by political apathy but instead “resignation, which is a different thing all together. The problem is there is lots of anger and fear but not very much hope and without hope, people give up. They become resigned.”

The solution in Jones’ eyes is shifting these politics of “anger [that] are

directed at their neighbours, immigrants, unemployed people, [and] public sector workers” and redirecting them to the politics of hope.

“We have to have hope and that means coherent alternatives to the way this society is run.”

“There is a coherent alternative that isn’t linked to Stalinism and I think Podemos and Syriza are showing that- they are democratic alternatives” On Syriza, who won 149 out of 300 seat in January’s Greek election, Jones rejoiced: “It is a big revolt by Greek people against an austerity offensive that has basically reconstructed a new model European society- over half of young people are unemployed, there’s a huge explosion of poverty, and the demolition of basic worker rights and public services.

“It’s unprecedented- it will be the first time in a modern European democracy that a radical socialist power will have come to power.

“The problem is that the international powers don’t want them to succeed because they believe that would then provide a positive example to the likes of Podemos and embolden those movements.

The increased marketisation and privatisation of the university system has pushed universities further into The Establishment, Jones perceives: “It turns students into consumers and education is not a privilege, it is a social good that all of society benefits from. “ Jones describes G4S who are contracted by the University for security as a “tax dodging company.”

“G4S have a really shocking record in lots of ways in terms of brutality,.

It’s out of order that any university employs G4S in that way and we’ve got to stop the contracting out to private companies whose interests are not in looking after those of students and others on campus but in making money.”

A key campaigner for the nationwide implementation of the living wage, which Durham University still does not pay for 600 workers, Jones asserted that “it’s an absolute scandal that this institution doesn’t pay the living wage”.

“It’s out of order that any University employs G4S”

He raises the question “how much are the top figures of this university paid? Quite a lot of money, whilst their people are expected to earn their poverty and their wages subsidised by the state and that is unacceptable.”

Jones is a keen supporter of direct action and can regularly be seen on the picket line for various causes.

However, he recognises that “the right to protest is under attack in this country: “Our ancestors won the right to protest and it is not for us to allow it to be undermined. We’ve got to fight for the right to protest.”

Jones appears optimistic that students will be proactive in defending this right. “I think the student movement is beginning to kick back into action, there’s really hopeful signs of students beginning to get their energy back.”

Continued on p.11...

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Linvoy Primus: from football to faith Will Fremont-Barnes Professional footballers tend to have a fairly narrow set of options open to them once they hang up their boots.

Many carry on in the game, putting their skills to good use in a coaching capacity or making observations from a television studio. The very best are able to enjoy a quiet life of luxury, financially secure enough to go years without doing another day’s work.

Yet for Linvoy Primus, a formidable central defender in his time, whose CV includes spells at Charlton Athletic and Reading before nearly a decade at Portsmouth (20002009) during the most successful period in the club’s history, none of those post-career playing options were appealing. Instead, whilst his former team-mates continue their playing careers or enjoy the perks of retirement, Primus now travels around the country taking every “opportunity” to talk about how his faith in God transformed his career and continues to shape his life.

Working for organisations such as Faith and Football and Christians in Sport was, Primus admits, something he would never have imagined doing when he started his playing days. In fact, Primus had little interest in Christianity for much of his life. “I grew up in a family that went to church”, he recalls, “but it wasn’t somewhere I wanted to be because I loved my sport more.”

However, when he broke into the Charlton team as a teenager,

Continued from page 10...

Although a voice of such political left-right binary, it is the Liberal Democrat party which receives Jones’ most ferocious attack: “They inspired those young people and those young people will never trust a politician again and we should never, ever let them off the hook for what they did to our democracy, and how they undermined that faith.”

While in conversation with Jones policies such as “rent controls, an industrial strategy to create renewable energy jobs, public ownership banks, and democratic social ownerships of industries” arise numerous times.

His beliefs align very similar to that of a Green Party manifesto.

In fact, when it comes to private schools Jones’ views go greater.

Jones demands that they need to be “get rid off” on the basis that “I am opposed to segregating children based on the bank balances of their parents, it’s bad for children and it’s bad for society as a whole. One day we will find it abhorrent that we allowed the division of children by the wealth of their parents.”

However Jones remains a Labour supporter, albeit partially trepid.

He is a greater admirer of the Green’s and in particular, their

Primus found that the reality of being a footballer did not match his preconceptions. “My whole thought process was that it was going to be the best thing ever, and there were moments when it was amazing. I’d say there were more lows than highs on a personal level.”

It is a surprising admission from someone who went on to play at the highest level of English football. He puts the frustration of “never having

“I couldn’t handle failure so I was never ever happy with what I’d done”

that satisfaction of being the best” down to a fear of failure.

“I couldn’t handle failure so I was never ever happy with what I’d done.” After his development stalled at Charlton, Primus worked his way back up the leagues following a stint at Barnet, spending time with Reading before moving to Portsmouth.

Despite the success that was to follow, turning up at Fratton Park did not solve Primus’s problems.

“The first couple of years I was disillusioned with my football”, Primus reveals, his state of mind not helped by the fact that his wife was unwell. “Even though on paper I had what looked like the best life ever, I started to ask the question: ‘was there more to life than this?’ I still couldn’t find happiness and peace.”

That happiness and peace

lone MP Caroline Lucas: ““I think Caroline Lucas is an inspiring, courageous member of Parliament.

What a scandal so may MPs weren’t arrested for milking their expenses while Caroline Lucas was arrested for standing up against fracking.”

Yet Jones recognises the danger the Green’s pose in splitting the left vote in May’s Election.

“The problem is our election system sucks”

“In Conservative-Labour marginals, if you vote for the Greens you just get a Tory MP. If we end up with a hung parliament where the Conservatives are the main party there will be no electoral reform, the total dismantling of the NHS and the welfare state.

“If the Tories win again, that’s not just bad for the Labour Party or people stuck with the bedroom tax, or for people who depend on the NHS, it will be bad for the Green party and the rest of the left. It will be seen as a vindication of Toryausterity.”

Jones, who has only recently emerged as a supporter for proportional representation, cites

came from an unlikely source.

Whilst things were tough, both professionally and personally, Primus recalls the moment when his life began to change. “People invited us to church and for the first time I heard the Christian message through a person who had the same anxieties as me. It looked from the outside that he had everything but he was empty. He spoke about Jesus, and to be honest, when I heard, that I wasn’t drawn to it.” That initial scepticism was short-lived. “I realised that Jesus wasn’t in my life and that I needed to make him the centre of my life, knowing that he had died for me on the cross and rose again so that I could have a relationship with God.” How did things change for Primus after that transformative

“I started to play for God, and it allowed me to play with a real peace”

experience? “After about a year or so I started to play for God, and it allowed me to play with a real peace.

I used my performances, in training and on the pitch, to honour God, and it changed my attitude towards the game because I knew I couldn’t control the result, but I could control my performance by playing and giving it all to God.” Primus also reached out to his team-mates, organising an “in-house Alpha course”, an introductory guide

the failings of the current “daft” first-past-the-post as the constraint on greater electoral impact by the Greens.

“The problem is our electoral system sucks and if the Green Party get 10% in the next election, they will end up almost certainly with one Member of Parliament.

“We’re in the age of coalitions now, first-past-the-post means permanent hung parliaments as far as I can tell, so if we have hung parliaments all time, we might as well have representative hung parliaments.

“That’s why whatever happens,

“Labour should offer a more corageous, inspiring alternative to austerity”

if there’s a hung parliament where Labour is the biggest single party, they can be compelled by the other smaller parties as a condition of their support to offer a referendum on proportional representation.”

However, Jones remains anxious about the role of UKIP in eroding the core Labour vote: “UKIP are

to Christianity, which he saw as a great opportunity” for other players to find the same happiness and peace as he had.

Shortly after things began improving off the pitch, they began

“If your identity is caught up in he job you do... then you’ll always be unhappy”

improving on it for Primus. In 2003, during Harry Redknapp’s first spell as manager, Portsmouth achieved promotion to the top flight. Primus relishes recalling that experience, so much so that he describes it as his “personal highlight”, more rewarding than avoiding relegation or winning the FA Cup final. “The Premier League was somewhere that I always dreamed of playing, never fully believed I would get there, and when you actually get that championship medal, winning your league and being promoted, it’s one of the best feelings.”

As Primus is quick to point, it is easy to romanticise the Pompey glory days because of their incredible great escape in 2006 and FA Cup triumph two years later.

“Even amongst that we had some quite dismal runs”, he remembers, although these were relatively insignificant compared to the decline that followed after his retirement in 2009. After several years of chaos in the boardroom and successive relegations, Primus is confident that

disproportionally winning over working class people with often deflected anger- people can’t afford homes because there’s not enough council houses, their wages are falling, they can’t get a secure job.

“I think Labour should offer a more courageous, inspiring alternative to austerity- if they just came up in support of renationalising railways that is such a symbolic message that we’re going to be different than what came before.

“It hasn’t been the environment that’s won over the majority of Green Party supporters, people just think the Green’s are better on social justice and on austerity.”

He is unsurprisingly critical of New Labour: “the problem is obviously New Labour represented a shift away from the role of the Labour Party to represent working people.

“As long as that trade union link remains I believe there is something to be fought for there with the potential to represent working people. However, Jones affirms “they have no automatic right to represent working people.”

Therefore, he foreshadows the potential mirroring of the collapse of social-democratic parties in Greece and Spain: “If the Labour Party

the club is finally heading back in the right direction.

“They’ve sorted out a lot of things off the pitch, and the football will take care of itself once everything behind the scenes settles down.”

With Portsmouth struggling to lift themselves out of mid-table obscurity in League Two, it will be some time before they reach the same heights as when Primus was playing alongside the likes of Sol Campbell, Sulley Muntari, and Kanu.

It is striking that Primus is just as comfortable in his current job as he was at the heart of the Portsmouth back four. Unlike many of his contemporaries, who have found the sudden transition from playing to retirement extremely difficult, Primus is in his absolute element working in Christian ministry. He looks back fondly, and modestly, on a long and rewarding playing career, but is adamant that those achievements do not define him: “If your identity is caught up in the job you do, or the lifestyle you live, then you’ll always be unhappy, you’ll always be searching for who you are.

I’ve recognised that the life I lead is for Jesus, so whatever he’s called me to do, I know I’m doing it in his strength.”

The advice Primus gives to aspiring professional footballers is in keeping with his commitment to engaging with the wider community: “Recognise that there’s a life outside of football. Get involved in things because you’ll have a better perspective of life. Never hold anything back.”

come to power and attack their own people they will destroy themselves and they will be replaced by more radical forces”

“People just think the Greens are better on social justice”

Jones is an incredibly divisive figure: he fights against what The Establishment stands for and therefore, is unsurprisingly the martyr of many of the aggressions of its people and organisations.

However, Jones continues to rally against this and at only 30 yearsold, he has emerged as one of the most prominent voices of the left that many rally with, share, and retweet. The extensive coverage The Establishment gained in the media- a media that is so embedded within The Establishment- must be regarded as one of Jones’ great successes.

Regardless of your political views, Jones is opening debate and discussion for many who would otherwise feel voiceless or disengaged, with the goal of coherent alternatives through change.

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Durham student shortlisted for Mars One Mission Hannah Earnshaw is one of five Britons to potentially venture to Mars in 2024

Olivia Rosenthall

23 year old Hannah Earnshaw is one of the five Britons shortlisted for the Mars One Project, a one-way mission with the aims to establish a human settlement on the red planet. Out of 200,000 applicants from around the world, five Brits have been selected as potential candidates to be the first humans to step foot on Mars.

A privately funded mission, the entire project will cost nearly six billion dollars all in all, and is set to be filmed as a reality TV show. However, there is sceptism surrounding the mission, as last year researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology reportedly discovered that any manned mission to Mars could result in the crew dying after 68 days. Hannah, who is studying for her PhD in astronomy at Durham University, remains hopeful. As the final candidates

“I have always wanted to advance human space exploration.

When I was younger, I wanted to be an astronaut”

are being wittled down, Hannah could well be the first Durham graduate to tread on Mars’ ground. Hannah spoke to Palatinate about her determination to venture into space, and her fears of never being able to return to Earth.

1. Hannah, how does it feel to be the first Durham University graduate selected out of 200,000 applicants to potentially go to Mars?

It’s an absolutely amazing feeling,

combined with a big sense of responsibility.

Now we’re just down to five Brits, I feel more than ever that I’m not only representing Durham University but the UK itself in this mission to Mars, and it’s a real honour to do so.

2. Would you be able to illustrate for our readers the aims of the mission?

The aim of the mission is, quite simply, to establish a permanent human settlement on the planet Mars. This will involve a number of unmanned missions to set up a habitable base, and then a series of crewed missions to start a population of people living and working on Mars. In the long term, we hope that the colony can become self-sustaining and independent of support from Earth - the first society to exist on another planet.

3. What would your role be on Mars?

My role as one of the first colonists would be to help maintain and expand the habitats, ensuring that we grow enough food and making sure that we all stay healthy. There is also the opportunity for a lot of valuable research to be performed on the surface of Mars, from discovering more about the history of the planet and of our Solar System, to searching for evidence of life.

4. What was it that inspired you to apply for the mission? Have you always wanted to go into outer space?

I have always wanted to advance human space exploration. When a lot younger, I wanted to be an astronaut; later on, I wanted to join the space industry and make it possible for people in the future to push the boundaries of human achievement and walk on another planet. I never expected that I might get the opportunity to do it myself, but for me it feels like the ultimate contribution to that goal that I can make.

5. What will you be leaving behind on Earth, and are you scared of never being

able to return?

Of course I will be leaving behind friends and family, people and places that I love. That’s going to be difficult, but we will be able to stay in contact. I will also miss travelling and trying new food. However I am going to Mars to help create a community and a home, in a place that is as beautiful and amazing as Earth is (just in different ways). It’s as much about what I am going towards as about what I am leaving behind. One day, humans living on Mars may be able to lead relatively normal lives, just like on Earth.

6. If you’re selected for the mission, besides from training and researching, how do you intend to spend your last three years on earth? Do you have a bucket list of things you’d want to do before you go?

If I am selected I will go into full-time

“I am going to Mars to help create a community and a hame, in a place that is as beautiful and amazing as Earth” training. I don’t have a specific bucket list per se, but I have found that over the past year or so I have become much more spontaneous about taking opportunities, especially to travel, given that there might now be a time limit.

7. What are your expectations of Mars?

Life on Mars will be hard work for at least the first few years, if not decades. We are unable to survive on the surface without an enclosed habitat which can generate its own air and water. A lot of time will be spent simply getting the colony to a point at which it can start to manufacture its own components and become self-sustaining, no longer having to rely on Earth for hardware. But I will be with friends, in a crew that would have trained together for the better part of a decade before launching, and the end result will be the first town on Mars - a diverse community formed from a worldwide effort. And I believe that will be well worth the initial difficulty of surviving there.

8. How do you think you’ll be able to cope living with such a small group of people?

I’m a pretty introverted person. I operate best with small numbers of close friendships, and a small group of about four or five feels just about perfect for me. As for the amount of time spent with only them for company, during our training we will spend three months of every year in isolation to build up to living on Mars.

It will be the first crew on Mars who will spend the longest time alone, with their seven-month journey and two further years before a second

Illustration: Mariam Hayat

crew lands and joins them. In the grand scheme of things, that isn’t so long.

9. Though we obviously want you to be chosen for the mission, what are your plans if you are not selected?

I’ve had to hold two possible futures in my head for a while now, since I can’t just drop everything right away because I don’t know if I will be selected yet,

“I have become more spontaneous about taking opportunities, especially to travel, given that there might now be a time limit”

so I’ve had plenty of reason to think about it. The plan if I don’t get selected is to finish my PhD in Astronomy - after that I have several options. I might move into postdoctorate research, but I have also developed an interest in science policy and science communication (especially after now having had a bit of media experience!) There is plenty for me to do!

10. And finally, is there any part of you that is a little bit worried there might be aliens?

Not really - even if there were, I’d find the prospect way more exciting than frightening!

Hannah is one of 1,058 people who will be whittled down to 24 for a seven year course to start in 2018.

Photo credit: Monica Alcazar-Duarte

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Don’t let fear of failure hold you back Accepting the inevitability of rejection is the key to success argue Patrick Brennan

Patrick Brennan

Failure is an integral part of success.

As contradictory as that sounds, it makes perfect sense.

My primary school had a motto: ‘nobody is good at everything, but everyone is good at something’: what it meant is that in order to be the best you can be, you need to find what it is you’re good at and focus on that thing. Some things you may spend hours working on, but find you lack a certain affinity for, whereas others may come far more naturally, even with relatively little practice.

Adolescence is the perfect time to hone in on these areas that you have a knack for, and start focussing on them. As Dos Equis’ ‘the most interesting man in the world’ once said, “find out what it is in life that you don’t do well… and then don’t do that thing.”

Finding out what you’re good at and not good at requires a lot of trials and tests; auditions, competitions, projects, you name it. Even

socialising- you eventually realise who your friends are and who you don’t ‘click’ with so well. For every one successful thing you do, you will undoubtedly have several failures, and that is not because you’re a failure, but just simply because you are working out which direction is best to go in the future, and failure is just part of the process.

My point? My point could be that variety is the best strategy, to start with: find out where your strengths are early on, then dedicate the rest of your life to just those things. Keep your options open for as long as you can, then settle, because that’s the best way of doing things. …Except that’s a bit boring, though, isn’t it? Yeah, it is, that’s what everyone does.

My actual point is very different.

My actual point is that of fear. Or more specifically, fear of rejection.

Chances are if you don’t fancy doing something, it’s because of a fear that it will go wrong.

For example, if I told you that if you were to ask out girl/boy X, that they would 100% say yes, would still be afraid of asking them out?

No, of course you wouldn’t. It’s the fear of rejection that’s stopping you from taking that leap. But this is never going to happen- in real life

you’re always going to have to weigh up the odds, take chances, look back on your previous success rates in certain areas etc etc. If you fail a few times, it’s not a reflection on you, it’s just stats.

But if you go for things, take lots of chances and get used to the inevitable rejections that will happen along the way, it’s actually incredibly useful, because getting used to rejection is the biggest key to success.

Some people may think of this as backwards, and say that acclimatisation to failure will only hinder your future chances of success by getting you in the wrong mindset, but they’re dead wrong. Get used to rejection, and you’ve forever lost that element of fear, the thing that’s stopping you from attempting that thing - whatever it is - in the first place.

It’s like when Batman cast aside his rope and was able to leap out of that massive underground prison in ‘The Dark Knight Rises’. The rope was his backup in case his jump failed; the physical representation of his fear of failure. When he let that go, he was able to make the jump.

Admittedly the analogy falls down after that point, because if he had failed that time around he would have plunged to certain

death. Chances are if you ask out a girl/audition for a play/try out for a job, and you fail, the repercussions will only be that you have to go back to square one. Not death.

So the moral of this story is this: go out and try lots of things, and gain lots of new skills, and get rejected lots in the process. It’s not the end of the world and it’s not a depressing thing; it’s just probability. Don’t get put off by it and always keep your successes in mind along the way, to bolster your spirits.

No one in the world, not even Beyoncé, would get everything right first time, or indeed any time. But get used to the inevitable rejection you will face along the path and you have set yourself up for the best kind of success - a kind where cautiousness and fear are thrown aside and you can do pretty much whatever you want.

Illustration: Mariam Hayat

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The press under pressure again

John Churchill discusses the potential for crisis following Peter Oborne’s resignation from The Telegraph John Churchill

When Peter Oborne resigned, citing the desperate situation at The Telegraph regarding the influence held over the paper by major sponsors, a light briefly pierced the thick blanket of darkness that hangs over the profession. Those whom we expect to be the watchdogs of our democracy, the press, do not seem to be working in the public interest.

When crises emerge, it is rarely through Parliament that we gain the facts. In many ways due to the patronage, the politics and the selfinterest that dominates this hallowed bauble of the constitution,

it is as powerful and rigorous as a geriatric woodlouse when it comes to challenging wrongdoing or engaging people in the matters that govern their lives.

The courts? Can they help? Well even their most ardent supporter would not claim that they are at the forefront of empowering people and putting issues at the forefront of public debate, even if they are where wrongdoers often meet their comeuppance.

No, when we reduce issues to their basic essence we are left with the conclusion that the only people who have the capacity and the ability to put issues in front of people and engage their passion and principles in creating change, are those who ply their trade in the media and the press.

Once confined to ink on paper, clear-cut tones broadcast from a

television screen or through a radio, these people now have myriad ways and means to reach the population, spread information and enthuse people to take part in democracy.

Without such people, without their skills being directed at furthering the aims, purposes and principles of what a society prioritises, the dynamism of democracy is strangled by the weeds of corruption, nepotism and inertia.

Yet we must be realistic. The press require finance—they do not exist on account of their utility to our society, they exist because a pay-packet is put into their pocket. We must accept this and ensure that the transparency and light that the press attempts to bring to other areas of public life does not falter and fail at their own door. The issues with HSBC and The Telegraph that were alluded to this week, were exploited with relish and

delight by The Times in its editorial the following day.

But who owns the Times? Rupert Murdoch. He’s hardly the virtuous virgin of the world of lobbying and clandestine influence. It was rather like hearing Lady Godiva complain at an immodest outfit worn by Lady Gaga.

If we are to have a press then it has to ensure the rigour and the focus it gives to the exploits and activities of other public bodies is not confined in any way. Prostituting their role as the watchdogs of democracy and the exposers of wrongdoing is the antithesis of their entire purpose. This is much like employing a gardener to encourage weeds in your garden or a asking a vicar to preach on the virtues of atheism.

There is no point in supporting someone who destroys everything they seek to achieve. No person can

commit in the long term to fund a newspaper that seeks to obscure rather than reveal. Nobody expects the press to be superhuman in their virtues, or how they go about trying to remain commercially viable. But a line should be drawn between what their position and purpose entitles (and forbids) them to do.

In altering their content, skewing their analysis and bypassing issues that it is their duty to examine in order to ensure the money of sponsors flows into their accounts, the press abrogate their duties and fire a nuclear weapon into their own foot.

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‘Free speech’: a silencing tactic?

Francesca Moll responds to a recent article in Spiked Magazine claiming that four in five universities in the UK restrict students’ freedom of speech Francesca Moll

I think it’s time I finally admitted it. As a social justice activist, I’m sick of free speech. I think everyone who disagrees with me should be censored, arrested by the secret social justice police, and taken to reeducation facilities where they will be indoctrinated until they shudder at the sound of Blurred Lines. This should be simple enough, as everyone knows that we are in charge of all the country’s political institu-

tions, educational centres, and secret services.

In case the sarcasm of that first paragraph wasn’t evident, let me be clear: I actually think that reasonable freedom of speech is probably a good idea. But some genuinely seem to think that people like me hold these views. Recently, I’ve noticed a trend of justifying conservative backlash under the banner of “freedom of speech”; and so I’d like to talk about how this most uncontroversial of political principles has started to become toxic.

Particularly I’d like to talk about a recent article by Spiked magazine, which claimed that four out of five UK universities restrict freedom of speech. This assertion is, in fact, deeply flawed and based on a mis-

leading use of evidence, as I hope to show. But first, I think I should define what I think free speech is and what it isn’t.

On a national level, I agree it is necessary that expression be as unrestricted as possible. This is because of the power dynamics between the individual and the state. As the government holds disproportionately more power than any other group, and controls instruments of coercion such as the police force and the army, when it restricts expression, it’s much more serious because it’s not a fair playing field.

What’s more, much as I would like for us just be able to pass a law and have people stop saying sexist, racist, or bigoted things, changing attitudes simply doesn’t work like

that. It would just create resentment while not getting to the roots of the social problem. This happens with

“

Free speech is an important legal right, but it must always be balanced with critical awareness

”

persuasion, frustration, and a good deal of time. Therefore, at a legal level, speech should not be restricted unless for a very, very good reason.

Are you with me so far?

Where I disagree with the free speech furore of late is that I don’t believe that just because opinions are permitted in society at large, they have to be promoted, forced on people, or go uncriticised. One individual telling another individual they are an arsehole based on their opinions is not a restriction of their freedom of speech.

Equally, people have a right not to listen to or promote opinions that are deeply hurtful and add little to the discussion, if they so choose.

Hence groups of people, such as, say, students’ unions, should be allowed not to provide a platform for someone if the majority of group members agree on it. That’s something called democracy.

And before anyone points out that groups forcing their opinions on individuals is as coercive as the government doing so, this simply isn’t true: as long as legal freedom of speech is upheld, there are a myriad

Photograph: dreamwhile

of other platforms for people to express themselves from, especially in our internet age. Walking into town to buy the Sun when the university shop has decided not to sell it is hardly Soviet-style repression.

Not only, however, does the Spiked study wilfully misunderstand freedom of speech, it is actively promoting an agenda. It considers anti-harassment policies, charters against homophobic behaviour, and policies against racist fancy dress such as sombreros and Native American costume as restrictions on freedom of speech.

Now, in my opinion, homophobic language and harassment are not opinions, but bullying. It is perfectly possible to disagree with someone and express yourself without them.

And I’m not sure wearing a sombrero is any kind of speech at all, unless you’re trying to say you’ve probably never met a Mexican person in your entire life.

Ultimately, Spiked seems to think that condemning bigotry will inevitably lead to the banning of any kind of free and honest debate. This is a transparent slippery slope argument, which, as anyone who has done so much as a critical thinking A-Level will know, is pretty dodgy.

I would even go further and say that this is a deliberate attempt to silence those pushing for a more tolerant, inclusive public forum, under the pretext of a popular political principle.

This is in the trend of Brendan O’Neill’s laughable “Stepford students” rant, which is simple antileftist fear mongering disguised as concern for freedom of speech.

Free speech is an important legal right, but it must always be balanced with critical awareness. Let us not conflate true censorship with refusal to promote views most people consider distasteful. And if you disagree with the social justice agenda, please engage in proper debate rather than incessantly repeating this well-worn slogan.

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Kidulthood: are students becoming less mature?

GK Teh

GK Teh examines recent remarks made by leading psychiatrist Beatriz Luna

“I hope I die before I get old”, proclaimed Roger Daltrey in 1965, in The Who’s classic ‘My Generation’ half a century ago. The hit would soon become an anthem for the glorious era of debauchery, alcoholism, destructive ‘art’, and all the other laddish ways of Rock n’ Roll.

While your regular Economics fresher from Trevs would hardly be prone to putting away a bottle of brandy a day or throwing televisions and luxury cars into swimming pools, it is important to remember that The Who’s ‘Baby Boomer’ generation were the pioneer ‘kidults’.

Born into a world keen to move on from the atrocities of the Second

World War, these kids spent their teenage years idolising Elvis and their early adulthood years basking in their newfound freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom to make jangly new noises on their guitars that really annoyed parents, freedom to conscientiously object, and freedom to experiment with substances. Marriage, desk jobs, and parenthood were simply empty threats; guns that the parents would brandish from time to time to bring the young’uns in line. It must have been an amazing time to be young, but the glorious revolution against the traditional milestones of starting and providing for a family inevitably impacted military and university intakes. Throughout the 1970s, desertion rates climbed rapidly in militaries across the Western world.

Let me anticipate the question you want to ask. No, the phenomenon does not contradict the wellknown observation that children

‘grow up too fast’. Overall, children do begin emulating adult behaviour at an earlier stage than before.

Children do begin demanding that adults treat them as their equal at a younger age. However, the desire to ‘grow up’ younger widens the valley between the youthful perception of adulthood and what adulthood ac-

tually entails – a valley which we see no need to bridge until an increasingly later age. This, then, is the crux of the ‘kidulthood’ phenomenon.

While it would be far too simplis-

tic to blame the increasing competition in tertiary education and the workplace on delayed mental development, it is undeniably one of many prominent factors. The ‘kidulthood’ phenomenon is most clearly seen in elite colleges on both sides of the Atlantic: a tendency towards later mental maturation, an increasing emphasis on an all-rounded student body, and an exponentially growing human population do not bode well for Ivy League hopefuls.

The majority of us enter University not at the peak of our maturation, but while mental development is still work in progress. The University of Exeter has seen two deaths and over a dozen hospitalisations in the last nine years due to excessive drinking. The antics of Oxford’s Buller boys are getting wilder as time passes (to think the Bullingdon Club was once a hunting club!). Closer to home, the Durham Constabulary has noticed an increasing trend towards

excessive alcohol consumption with the passing of time – with consequences that we are, unfortunately, too familiar with. This certainly is not to suggest that everyone who starts their first year under 21 (or even 25) is an alcoholic in training, but these figures irrevocably support the notion that university is now less about rigorous academia and the development of thought, and more about getting pissed and having a good time.

Despite all this, the argument that we are less prepared for university is grossly untrue. At the risk of sounding like a Darwinist groupie, the Homo Fresherus (common name ‘Fresher’) are a highly intelligent, adaptable species. We mature quickly: those who don’t are simply phased out. I should know: I came to Durham at the tender age of seventeen. What a journey it has been indeed.

Illustrations: Mariam Hayat

Why does everyone want to be an author?

Emma Yeo considers the reasons why writing seems to be everyone’s ‘dream career’ Emma Yeo

We live in an age where novels such as Fifty Shades of Grey can be transposed onto the big screen, while less controversial works go unnoticed.

From the computer of a middle aged teacher dreaming of sparkling vampires and Mary Sues, to a cinema near you, right?

Although it’s not usually quite as simple as that, this hasn’t prevented people from dreaming. According to a recent YouGov survey, 60% of people want to become authors. That’s a pretty impressive statistic, especially considering that only 43% would like to be a lawyer.

Last year, the average wage for a barrister was over £43,000 while a professional author can expect to rack up just £11,000.

But apparently there is something romantic about being an author, in a way that turning up to court each day and prosecuting the bad guys never could be. It isn’t that hard to see the point though.

Marketing. Retail. Finance. Think

about how those words sound. None of them excite, do they? OK. Let’s try another one. “Inventor of Worlds.”

That’s a title that only an author can claim (unless you have a secret history as a deity) and it is a pretty impressive one.

Authors get to make whole worlds out of the ‘what ifs’ that plague them at night. Have you had an especially juicy conversation down at the pub recently? That could soon become the basis for your next novel. Daydreaming is no longer just about whiling away the time, it is a way of life.

It sounds perfect, looking at it from the outside; of course it is anything but. I have a confession to make. I, like a significant proportion of the population, want to be an author.

However, from what I have seen so far, being an author isn’t a fairy tale or a dream come true. A character can break your heart just like a boyfriend can. Except, in the case of a character, no-one will tell you that you deserve better or sit with you while you eat that second tub of ice cream. After all, that character is your own creation and you should have a better handle on them than that.

It’s fascinating that so many

people want to become an author despite all the highs and lows, monetary or otherwise. However, you have to wonder just what proportion of that 60% surveyed had made a conscious effort to fulfil the dream?

When I was young, I really wanted to be an ice skater. I have never, to this day, been on an ice rink.

Aside from other issues, I am far too clumsy and would probably have broken numerous bones within ten seconds of stepping onto the ice. I’m not sure that it would be right to say I still dream of being a professional ice skater as I never did anything to make that become a reality.

Perhaps it is the same with being an author. People commit to the term, based on the excitement around events such as National Novel Writing Month or a fanciful notion of what it might entail and do not really think of it again. Of those people who would love to be an author, only a small proportion attempt it.

Estimates vary on what percentage of those will finish their novel but let’s just say it’s really low. Maybe that has something to do with the way in which people perceive the job of a novelist.

You wouldn’t sit down in front of the piano for the first time and try

and perform a symphony. Neither would you grab a canvas and attempt a copy of the Mona Lisa. By the same logic, complete beginners wouldn’t attempt to simply write the next Harry Potter.

But they do, and sometimes it ends wonderfully. Other times, stories emerge that may simply spend their life languishing on online writing websites. Either way – as long as the story is shared.

It is hard to tell what constitutes

an author nowadays with the Internet and the rise of fan fiction making it so much more difficult to identify where that line in the sand is. If a very odd BDSM Twilight fan work can achieve millions of copies then could a witty Harry Potter and Come Dine With Me combination expect the same praise? Would its creator even be considered an ‘author’?

Maybe someone should write it so we can find out. Any takers?

Illustration: Mariam Hayat

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The rise of feminism at university Why are so many feminist societies being set up here in Durham?

Alex Cupples

Over the last year there has been a dramatic increase in the number of feminist societies in Durham.

The first feminist society to be set up was at Castle in 2012 and DU FemSoc was set up shortly after.

There are currently eight active feminist societies in Durham, each of which deals with a wide variety of issues from internationl women’s issues to problems faced by women here in Durham.

“There is definitely a focus on women’s experiences at university, in particular relating to lad culture”

There is definitely a focus on women’s experiences at univeristy, in particular relating to lad culture. Although some argue that lad culture is on the rise, the recent rise in media attention given to feminism has made students more aware that they can change attitudes towards women and encour-

Image: Creative Commons

age them to take action.

All of Durham’s feminist societies are open to men, although they are mostly run and attended by women.

Some of the colleges without official feminist societies are still commited to feminist activism.

Chad’s, for example, have held forums on sexism and sexual violence and are planning to hold consent workshops in the Summer. Van Mildert college have just had their feminist society ratified and Trevelyn are in the process of setting one up.

The trend for the feminist societies at university is something that can be found across the country; from high profile stories such as the banning of an LSE Rugby team by the university feminist society to the involvement of feminist societies in running consent workshops at Oxford and Cambridge.

It is encouraging that there is feminist activism taking place at universities but it is also a sign that there are still problems facing women at university.

University feminist societies are just one step in working towards an equal society for men and women.

University College Feminists

Founded: 2011-2012 Why was the society established? UCF was founded in response to the prevelant culture of sexism at the university. It remains relevant to day as there are still so many problems facing women in university life.

What do you do? We host talks, discussions and film screenings and take part in campaigns at both college and university level.

Have you had any negative responses? We did have some negative experiences around the debate over the title of Senior Man, however, it does feel like things are changing.

Grey

Founded: 2013-2014 Why was the society established? We wanted to create a society where people felt comfortable debating tough themes in a comfortable, safe space.

What do you do? We meet once a week and we tend to have a theme for each meeting. We also have outings to other FemSoc meetings and interesting talks.

Have you had any negative responses? You do get the odd comment about the society; ‘“Isn’t it for women only?” is one we get a lot. Sometime’s people will try to provoke you into an argument but on the whole it has been a positive experience.

St. Aidan’s

Founded: 2013-2014 Why was the society established? I thought a college society would be a good way to raise awareness of feminism at a more immediate level.

What do you do? Our society is mainly run online, sharing websites and news articles. We also have fortnightly meeting where we disucss current issues in feminism.

Have you had any negative responses? We encountered some problems at the initial ratification which was met with hostile murmurs but the reaction has been generally positive.

St. Cuthbert’s

St. Mary’s

Josephine Butler

Founded: 2014-2015 Why was the society established? I set up the society as a way of raising awareness of women’s issues and to provide a space for people to work on their own opinions.

What do you do? We hold weekly meetings on a range of issues from ‘Do Muslim women need saving?” to ‘Lad Culture at univeristy’. We’re also raising money for the White Shadow’s Initiative and the Rape Counselling Centre for Durham and Darlington.

Have you had any negative responses? There has been very little hostility to the society,

Founded: 2014-2015 Why was the society established? I was surprised that Butler didn’t have a feminist society, especially given its namesake.

What do you do? We cover aspects of college that can be improved such as emergency contraception and sexual health advice. We’re also looking into raising money to sponsor women in the developing world.

Have you had any negative responses? My FemSoc has never had any negativity but I believe a similar society here a couple of years ago had quite a lot of

Founded: 2014-2015 Why was the society established? We thought a feminist society would work well at a college level as a platform for discussion.

What do you do? We meet fortnightly in the bar and arrange one or two big events per term coverring mostly topics specific to Durham.

Have you had any negative responses? So far we’ve not had any negative responses. We were worried that a discussion on lad culture might get a little heated but it was a productive and positive environment that most

DU FemSoc

run several different campaigns each year which can be fundraising or activism basedthis year we’re raising money for women’s aid, a domestic violence charity.

Have you had any negative responses?

Just search through last year’s Tab! We seemed to ruffle a lot of feathers among certain people in our first year as a society. Particular highlights included Godfrey Bloom’s wife claiming we needed our bottoms smacked. More seriously, when one of our committee members had a column there she was subjected to all-out abuse in the comments section. It’s easy to laugh at some people’s attitudes in a con-

servative place like Durham but sometimes it’s also deeply depressing and can make you feel very unwelcome. On a more positive note, while the backlash has been surprising the amount of goodwill has also taken us aback.

What’s your response to the increasing number of college feminist societies?

I think it’s fantastic! The more feminism in Durham the better. However, it is important that we all work together so we can make the most impact.

I’ve reached out to the execs of all the college femsocs and I’m hoping to set up a meeting by the end of term to work out how we can all support each other going forward.

much less than I was expecting.

Founded: 2012-2013 Why was the society established?

Our founder, Jola, felt that there needed to be a society that was accessible to everyone and had the backing of the union. That’s also why we’re necessary today- feminism needs to be represented at a uni-wide level.

What do you do?

We mostly do discussion meetings on a wide variety of topics- highlights this term included a discussion on fatphobia and a session on women in gaming. We also

hostility.

people enjoyed.

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Chris Kamara: a lifetime in football

Palatinate spoke to former player, manager and legendary pundit Chris ‘Kammy’ Kamara about his Middlesbrough upbringing, his brief tenure in the Royal Navy, the Rooney Rule and much more Nick Friend From humble beginnings growing up in Middlesbrough, Chris Kamara’s story is proof that dreams can come true.

From Royal Navy to Goals on Sunday, there is far more to ‘Kammy’ than the bubbly pundit who graces our screens.

Born on Christmas Day, Kamara, who is half-Sierra Leonean on his father’s side, acknowledges the difficulties of the period in which he grew up.

Raised on a council estate in Park End, Middlesbrough – where he met long-time friend and ‘Boro chairman Steve Gibson, he admits “it was tough.”

“My family was one of the first black families in Middlesbrough,” he explains.

“This was a time when things

“Unfortunately, the Rooney Rule cannot work here in the UK”

were very different to today.” These issues didn’t end on the estate.

He echoes Queens Park Rangers manager Chris Ramsey’s recent comments when I ask him about encountering racism during his career.

“Yes, I did,” he confesses. “There were too many incidents to mention.

Luckily for me, I don’t encounter such incidents these days.”

Indeed, Kamara was inducted into the Show Racism the Red Card Hall of Fame in 2004.

Whilst ugly scenes marred multiple Europa League fixtures last week, ‘Kammy’ is full of praise for the work

work here in the UK.” “I applaud its success in the USA, but unfortunately we do not have an interview process.

When a job becomes available it is very often ‘not what you know, but who you know.’”

This season’s Premier League managerial merry-go-round has proven Kamara’s point. Not one of the recently appointed Tim Sherwood, Tony Pulis, Chris Ramsey or Alan Pardew went through rigorous interviews to secure their new jobs.

All four were handpicked.

Southampton’s technical director Les Reed told The Telegraph earlier this year that even when a manager is in place, his job is “to identify coaches who will buy into it because of the track record they’ve got and the style they play.”

The short-termism of modern football means that the traditional interview process has now become obsolete. Owners can’t afford a slack month of results caused by managerial uncertainty.

Of course, there was a time when Kamara himself was part of what he describes as “our infamous merrygo-round of managers.”

To Soccer Saturday viewers, his persona may not appear as that of a manager in the most harsh and gruelling of industries.

Yet, ‘Kammy’ enjoyed remarkable success as Bradford City manager after replacing Lennie Lawrence in 1995.

Tasked with keeping the Bantams in the division, he took the club on a run of three defeats in thirteen games to claim promotion through the playoffs – a period that Kamara describes as “unbelievable.”

Could he be tempted to hop back on the conveyer belt?

“No chance,” he tells me. “I have a fantastic career now, which hopefully is still climbing.”

He backtracks slightly though. As

“When I was a kid, it was my ambition to play for Middlesbrough and my dream to play for Leeds - and I was lucky enough to do both”

being done in this country, in spite of recent criticism from the likes of Jason Roberts and Rio Ferdinand.

“The guys are doing a great job.

With them and so many other organisations in place to eradicate the racism, it is better than it has ever been – and long may that continue.”

On the subject of the Rooney Rule – the NFL’s regulation to promote black managers – Kamara is less optimistic. Simply, he says, “it cannot

we are so often told, “you can never say never in this game.”

Such has been the extent of his success since joining Sky Sports – Goals on Sunday is now in its fifteenth year - it is easy to forget Kamara’s success on both sides of the touchline.

Despite a somewhat nomadic playing career spanning ten different clubs, ‘Kammy’ assures me that he can have no complaints.

“I loved all the clubs I played for.

Kamara has been an ever-present on Goals on Sunday which is now in its fifteenth year Photograph: Chris Kamara When I was a kid it was my ambition to play for Middlesbrough, and my dream to play for Leeds - and I was lucky enough to do both.

“I had two promotions with Swindon, and one with Leeds. I played in the top division with Luton, Middlesbrough, Sheffield United and Leeds – there are so many fond memories.

“I have been very lucky in that I have been happy in all aspects of my career. I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Along with more conventional stints at Portsmouth, Swindon, Brentford, Stoke, Luton, Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield United and ‘Boro, Kamara’s on-field career is framed by two less than traditional spells.

His career – he admits – was fortuitous in its beginnings.

After following his father into the Royal Navy, his break came when ex-Liverpool striker and then-Portsmouth manager Ian St. John spotted him playing for the Navy.

Although his foray into naval life came at the detriment of an appearance for Middlesbrough in the FA Youth Cup Final, Kamara insists that the experience aided his development.

“The navy was good for my football career - I may not have had the career I had if I hadn’t been spotted playing for them.”

Seventeen years after playing his final match for Bradford City – who he would then go on to manage – ‘Kammy’ turned out twice for Welshpool Town in the Mid Wales Football

League.

The story matches up with the perception of Kamara as a jovial character in his most famous guise on Gillette Soccer Saturday.

“I wasn’t the only person at the ground to miss the sending-off, but unfortuantely I was the only one on air!”

He explains to me that his brief venture into Wales’ lower leagues came as a favour to a club in crisis.

“Jeff Stelling laughed at one of their results on Soccer Saturday when they had got beat 10-1,” he recalls.

“The manager explained that the only reason the team was still running was thanks to funding by the good people of Welshpool, as the club had no money for wages, and all the best players had gone on to pastures new.

“I played twice – once with Paul Merson - just to help in putting them on the map and getting a few people through the turnstiles.”

As Kamara admits, Soccer Satur-

day has reinvented him as a television personality and excitable pundit. Partial to the occasional gaffe, he has thrived in his role as a free-spirited reporter.

“My fortunes have turned around and it appears that everyone seems to love watching my antics unfold with the panel.”

Over the years, he has coined multiple new phrases.

‘Fighting like beavers’ has claimed cult notoriety and his autobiography carries the title ‘Mr Unbelievable’ in reference to his penchant for the word.

“I can’t tell you where they come from,” he admits – “just out of my mouth, along with lots of other crazy things!”

Most famously, perhaps, was a Saturday at Fratton Park when ‘Kammy’ failed to notice Anthony Vanden Borre’s red card whilst playing for Portsmouth. The incident went viral immediately and gave Kamara cult status amongst football fans.

He laughs when recalling the incident, joking that “I wasn’t the only person at the ground to miss the sending-off, but unfortunately I was the only one on air!”

It is this happy-go-lucky attitude that has engrained Kamara’s name in footballing folklore across the country.

From Middlesbrough council flat to Royal Navy, ‘Kammy’s’ inspirational rise has made him the pundit of the people.

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Thursday 5th March 2015 | PALATINATE

College Varsity an overwhelming Nick Friend

Netball: Hatfield 15 - 21 Derwent In freezing conditions on the tarmac court at Maiden Castle, Hatfield took on Derwent.

Hatfield fielded a strong side, with the team unchanged from their previous league game, a defeat to St Aidan’s.

York made an early mockery of Hatfield’s strength, taking an early lead with two quick-fire goals. In a game that was open throughout, however, Hatfield were rewarded for their high pressing and subsequent turnovers.

The Durham side levelled with two successive strikes of their own through Pippa Frizzelle. With momentum in their favour, Hatfield continued to attack, with three more turnovers leading to goals. Derwent crucially fought back just before the break, netting twice to remain in touch going into the second quarter.

In an attempt to pull away from the visitors, Hatfield brought on University players Hattie Gould Katherine MacLennan. The move paid off with Hatfield turning over possession at the first centre.

However, as good as Hatfield were in this period of play – scoring seven

Jack Parkes

Volleyball: St Mary’s 0 - 3 Wentworth When Mary’s fell to a devastating 25-3 defeat in the first set of this match, the script already seemed to be written. Not least because only half of the team had ever played volleyball before!

Yet, this plucky Durham side was undeterred at the end of a disastrous opening set. As one of the players optimistically said as they swapped sides: “at least we know the rules now.”

This high spirits certainly transmitted into the second set performance. Chopkowski served impressively and Megan Frogley made a nuisance of herself at the net throughout the set, setting up smashes for her teammates at every opportunity. Despite a notable improvement, however, Wentworth were again too strong for the Durham side.

They linked up consistently and had numerous routines that they dispatched with ease, which proved difficult for Mary’s to deal with.

times, Derwent were naïve in their approach.

The windy conditions meant that short passing was a necessity in order to avoid a constant flow of turnovers. Derwent, though, were direct in their approach, leading to a higher rate of possession change.

With Hatfield 12-7 up going into the second half, the York college made a belated change to their tactics. They changed their shooter and began to find teammates with a more logical passing approach. The change made for a tighter game with a scrappiness creeping into Hatfield’s play that had not previously been there.

Buoyed on by a large band of increasingly drunk supporters, Derwent came back into the contest.

Three quick goals made it 12-10 and but for Rosie Stewart’s crucial turnover, the advantage may have been even slenderer.

With just one quarter remaining, Derwent went for the jugular, hassling the Durham side and forcing errors.

Penalties were awarded to both sides as fatigue crept in along with the effects of the sheer cold.

In a moment that summed up Hatfield’s late capitulation, captain Hannah Burnell and Kate McNay tripped each other up, causing a brief delay and a certain loss of concentration.

The York college took advantage, producing a stirring late display to claim a dramatic 21-15 victory.

The third set was more impressive still. Gone were the instances when the Mary’s faction cheered for the ball merely crossing the net. The Durham side were winning points aplenty as they pushed hard for a consolation set. Captain Scott Reid led from the front with some commanding smashes while Danny Lewson teased the York frontline with a couple of devastatingly effective drop shots.

Henry Ivall was also able to force mistakes from York which was a pre-

Photograph: Kyle Wong

Francesca Bull

Squash: Grey 4 - 4 Alcuin Grey College’s Mixed Squash side drew with York’s Alcuin College after some challenging and very close games.

Ranking high in the League Table, Grey Squash showcased their skills in front of an unprecedented crowd.

Grey were marginally beaten in their first few games, but the tightness of each tie was reflected in the scorelines.

Ellie Johnson and Molly Cooper, ranked third and fourth for the women, each won a match despite being defeated.

Grey did not lose determination, however, and Will Parr, ranked third for the men, raised morale in the camp with a comfortable win.

York’s Alcuin College won the following two games, but nevertheless Grey performed well, fighting up until the last point.

Lorna Sokolowski, the women’s top seeded player, was particularly strong, winning one match 15-11, and marginally losing the following two: 14-15, and 11-15.

Francesca Bull, Women’s Captain and ranked second, was defeated 1510 followed by a closer game, losing

viously impossible task only two sets earlier. At the match wore on, Mary’s height advantage began causing real issues for the vertically challenged Wentworth side as the Durham outfit started competing at the net and getting fingertips to the ball ahead of their opposition.

Although this set also ended in defeat, the score of 25-18 was more than respectable and this was reflected in Reid’s post-match optimism. He said: “We’re quite pleased. We gave them a good run for their money.“

Photograph: James Boobier

15-13.

With his strong serves, Timmy Avni, ranked fourth for the men, secured victory in his matches, comfortably winning 15-9 and 15-11, whilst Russell Lamb, ranked second for the men, followed in his footsteps, winning a thrilling first game 15-14 before easing to a 15-9 victory, ensuring that Grey was only one game away from a draw and 2.5 points for Durham.

Despite the heavy pressure, Ben Frei, ranked first for the men, performed well and showed his class. A

Kieran Moriarty

Women’s Football: Mildert 4 - 0 Langwith Van Mildert strolled to a comfortable 4-0 victory over York college Langwith, with Jodie Lucas scoring all four goals for the Durham college. Mildert never looked troubled by York and completely outclassed their opposition with superior link up play and finishing.

To begin with, both teams seemed evenly matched. As a result, the game was a turgid affair for much of the first half as both sides were proving difficult to break down. Mildert were playing the neater football as Langwith seemed quite content to absorb the pressure. Near the end of the first half, the York goalkeeper was forced to make a good save from a fierce long-range effort.

The second half saw the game markedly improve as a spectacle.

Durham now begun to produce an end product to complement their lengthy spells of possession. First, a swift counter attacking move saw Mildert race up the pitch. Lucas had a low shot well saved by the keeper be-

15-13 win and a superb 15-1 drubbing of his opposite number left the final score at 4-4.

Frei spoke afterwards, admitting that a draw was the right result: “After a very enjoyable afternoon of high quality squash, I had a very hard fought game to seal the draw, which I think Grey deserved for their effort and valour throughout the afternoon.”

One of only two draws across the entire day, Frei’s late heroics showed how little there had been between the two sides and meant that the sides shared the spoils.

fore slotting the rebound against the crossbar. It was clear that Durham were looking more likely to make the breakthrough.

This was proven a few minutes later. Lucas latched onto a precise through ball and made no mistake with the finish, slotting the ball into the bottom left hand corner, to put the Durham side ahead. This proved to be the opening of the floodgates and York’s stubborn resistance was broken. A second goal for Lucas and Mildert followed soon after, with another tidy finish, similar to her first of the game.

York continued to battle on but it proved to be in vain. The game was effectively over as a contest when Lucas secured her hat trick. The third goal was the pick of the bunch. Some lovely passing down the left wing threw the York defence into chaos.

A through ball was chipped into the area and the ever-alive Lucas latched onto it. In that position, there was only ever going to be one outcome.

In the final few minutes, the striker added a fourth to round off a highly impressive individual performance.

Mildert, too, had been exceptional as a team. A resounding victory, which gave York a harsh lesson as to the quality of women’s college football in Durham.

PALATINATE | Thursday 5th March 2015

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g success as Durham thrash York Nick Friend

Kieran Moriarty

Men’s Rugby: Castle 19 - 17 Derwent

Lacrosse: John Snow 6 - 7 James

In arguably the day’s most exciting contest, Castle and Derwent went head-to-head in an almighty tussle on the Old Crumb. While the howling winds did not allow either side to show off their best rugby, there was no questioning the commitment or enterprise of either side.

Castle started poorly, with countless handling errors putting needless pressure upon themselves.

With that in mind, it was no surprise when Derwent’s big second rower bulldozed his way through two Durham tackles before offloading to his winger to touch down in the corner.

A successful conversion sent the travelling York fans on the sidelines into raptures.

Despite being the recipients of numerous favourable penalty decisions, Castle were unable to take advantage. Ed Thomas struggled to find touch with his punts as the wind continued to make a nuisance of itself. However, as the first half continued, even without seven regular starters, the Durham side were beginning to build up ahead of steam.

Indeed, the sustained pressure finally paid off as captain Barney Jeffcoat Dick burst through to score.

Parity was short-lived, however, as Derwent’s backs showed off a rare moment of quality in a rugged and scrappy first half. A dummy from the outside-centre was followed by a subtle offload into an inside runner whose pace took him beyond Castle’s defensive line. The conversion was shanked wide by Derwent’s increasingly sloppy goal-kicker.

The York side seemed to put the game out of Castle’s reach with the very next attack. Having soaked up ten minutes of Durham pressure, the dangerous left wing broke clear in the last minute of the half.

The second half saw more of the same as Derwent appeared content to sit on their lead and rely on their resolute defence. However, hooker Gus Woolley drove over to reduce the deficit to just three points. And minutes later, Callum Bain completed the turnaround with a carbon copy of Woolley’s try. This time, though, Thomas couldn’t add the extra two points.

With the clock ticking down, Woolley, whose try had sparked the comeback, was sinbinned during the final ten minutes, leaving Castle to defy huge York pressure.

The referee’s whistle sparked jubilation on the touchline as Castle celebrated a hard-fought win against a very impressive Derwent outfit.

York college James prevailed over John Snow in the Mixed Lacrosse 2nds game, snatching victory with a last minute goal to win 7-6. This game was an excellent advertisement for Varsity and college sport in general, and was one of the most thrilling contests of competition.

Snow took the lead through James Hudson but York were not rattled by this early setback and responded well.

They were unlucky not to equalise after one of their forwards squandered a decent chance on goal.

However, Durham were soon in the ascendancy once again. Olivia Hughes-Alderson profited from an excellent passing interchange from the Durham team and flung the ball into the goal to make it 2-0.

York were finally able to get off the mark and soon began to push Durham back. The blustery conditions were causing increasing difficulties

Photograph: Kyle Wong

for both sides. It was so extreme that, at one point, Durham’s goal blew away. Nevertheless, it was HughesAlderson who was blowing away the York opposition, as she scored her second and Durham’s third to put them 3-1 up. Hudson was also having an impressive game and he got himself on the score sheet again to make it 4-1.

York fought back and were able to score again. This goal was then followed by a period of sustained

Durham 60 - 36 York

pressure on the Durham goal that produced two big opportunities for York to close the gap even further.

Eventually, on the stroke of half time, this pressure yielded another goal for York, to leave the score at 4-3 at half time.

Durham looked to rally themselves and gain their composure at the interval. However, the break had seemed no shift in momentum as York continued to dominate. They started the second half clinically, levelling the scores at 4-4. This was then swiftly followed by another goal,

which put York ahead in the game for the first time in the match. Durham were on the ropes.

Once again, it was up to HughesAlderson to get Durham back on track. Another attractive passing move put her through on goal and she ruthlessly took the opportunity to complete her hat-trick. Yet, in the game’s decisive moment, she missed a golden opportunity to put Durham back into the lead. This proved to be costly as York scored again to enter the closing stages of the game leading 6-5.

The last five minutes of the games took the drama to another level. Durham were given a controversial penalty, which Tom Everington stepped up to take. Despite the pressure upon him to save his team from defeat, Everington still had the composure to score and level the game at 6-6.

Durham were elated and relieved but those feelings would be shortlived. In the dying seconds of the game, Durham were hit by a sucker punch breakaway goal as York scored with the final action of the game. John Snow had performed admirably for long spells but the manner of defeat will have been gut-wrenching for the Stockton-based side.

Squash A St Hild & St Bede 5-3 Vanburgh (5pts to Durham) Squash B Grey 4-4 Alcuin (1.5pts each) Netball A Hild Bede 28-28 James (2.5pts each) Netball B Hatfield 15-21 Derwent (3pts to York) Women’s rugby A Milbut 2-6 Derwent (5pts to York) Women’s rugby B Cuthle 4-6 Halifax (3pts to York) Men’s football A Collingwood 0-2 Derwent (5pts to Durham) Men’s football B Hild Bede 2-1 Vanburgh (3pts to Durham) Mixed lacrosse A St John’s 12-0 Halifax (5pts to Durham) Mixed lacrosse B John Snow 6-7 James (3pts to York) Mixed badminton A Trevelyan 4-5 Goodricke (5pts to York) Mixed badminton B St Cuthbert’s 9-0 Langwith (3pts to Durham) Men’s rugby A Collingwood 69-5 James (5pts to Durham) Men’s rugby B Castle 19-17 Derwent (3pts to Durham)

Collingwood’s Lauren Crawford and Chad’s Lance Rossert with Colege Sport manager Tom Newman Photograph: Venus Loi

Women’s football A Stephenson 1-0 James (5pts to Durham) Women’s football B Van Mildert 4-0 Langwith (3pts to Durham) Mixed hockey A Castle 4-3 Vanburgh (5pts to Durham) Mixed hockey B Hatfield 3-1 Goodricke (3pts to Durham) Mixed volleyball A Wentworth 3-0 St Marys (5pts to York) Mixed volleyball B Queen’s 3-0 Halifax (3pts to Durham) Mixed basketball A Ustinov 66-47 Vanburgh (5pts to Durham) Mixed basketball B St Chad’s 39-44 Derwent (3pts to York) Darts A Collingwood 4-3 Derwent (5pts to Durham) Darts B Josephine Butler 6-1 Langwith (3pts to Durham) For photos from every Varsity match, go to http://bit.ly/Durham_York_ Varsity_2015

Cuthle (a Castle and Cuth’s combination) lost the day’s first event - women’s rugby vs Halifax Photo: Kyle Wong

Sport

Thursday 5th March 2015 | PALATINATE

Chris Kamara exclusive Soccer Saturday pundit and ex-Middlesbrough player speaks to Palatinate p. 17

College Varsity roundup Sport rounds up Durham’s 60-36 victory over York p. 18-20

Aidan’s secure Floodlit final place Kieran Moriarty

College Varsity: Collingwood close in on yet another try during their 69-5 win over James College, York Photograph: Kyle Wong

Durham win College Varsity Nick Friend

Durham 60 - 36 York Durham basked in College Varsity glory for a second successive year.

They overcame extraordinary winds to claim a 60-36 triumph over York, with Josephine Butler B securing the win with a 6-1 victory over Langwith in darts.

After last year’s late drama that saw York mount the most stirring of comebacks before falling just short of a stunning victory of Medinah and Istanbul proportions, this year Durham reached the unassailable 50 point mark with six events to spare.

The day was an overwhelming success, with twenty-four fixtures being played across twelve different sports. There was terrific support for both universities with swathes of York students streaming off

coaches at Maiden Castle to support their colleges.

The competition actually began with little between the sides. Although St John’s set the tone for Durham with a 12-0 win against Halifax College in the mixed lacrosse, victories for Halifax and Goodricke in the women’s rugby and mixed badminton gave York a surprise early lead.

Indeed, a stunning late show from the white rose University in the mixed lacrosse between John Snow and James College had the visitors threatening to run away with the contest as they opened up a sizeable early gap between the sides.

However, a crucial and hardfought triumph for Castle in the men’s rugby roused Durham as they went on to restrict their opponents to just five more wins from the remaining nineteen fixtures.

Such was the quality of Durham college sport on show; York had to be at their best in each of their eight overall victories.

This was best displayed in the men’s rugby where Collingwood hammered James College 69-5, thus

giving them the biggest margin of victory of the entire day.

With all twelve sports being played in and around Maiden Castle, there was a carnival-like feel about the day.

A burger bar, the café and the Maiden Castle bar nourished competitors and supporters alike, whilst Spotify were present to reverberate music onto the outdoor pitches and add to the atmosphere.

The energy on the outside pitches wavered somewhat in the afternoon as blustery winds and freezing cold conditions made cheering and supporting increasingly difficult.

However, as England kicked off against Ireland in their Six Nations clash – shown live in the Maiden Castle café, the atmosphere at the basketball, volleyball and darts left nothing to be desired.

As Chad’s were narrowly beaten

by Derwent in the men’s basketball, the fandom in the sports hall bore closer resemblance to that of an American college than that of an English university.

None, though, matched the scenes

of jubilation when Butler sealed victory over Langwith with the winning double in the darts to give Durham an unassailable lead with matches yet to finish.

College Sport manager and College Varsity organiser Tom Newman showed his relief and pride at the success of the event afterwards, telling Palatinate: “I just want to say a huge thank you and congratulations to all of our Durham athletes, there were some exceptional performances across all sports today.

“York put up an excellent fight and challenged us at every level.

“I’m personally really pleased with how the day ran, it went without a hitch and this is testament to Team Durham staff and students who put in so many hours of work to make it all happen.”

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Aidan’s A produced an accomplished performance to edge past Collingwood A 2-0, sending them into an unlikely Floodlit Football Cup Final with Josephine Butler A. On a bitterly cold Wednesday night under the floodlights at Maiden Castle, both teams battled it out in a truly hard-fought contest, in tough conditions.

The semi-final started in scrappy fashion, with both teams guilty of sloppiness in possession. With the game reduced to a bruising midfield battle in which huge tackles were plentiful, there was little craft on display.

The first significant chance of the game fell to Aidan’s. Tom Jones’ low drive took a wicked deflection off a trailing Collingwood leg and spun narrowly wide of the post. However, the breakthrough would arrive a minute later and it would go to Aidan’s. A long throw from Ferdy Campbell caught the wind as it was launched into the area. Jamie Turney leapt highest in the box to finish with a deft reverse header on the stroke of half time.

Collingwood begun the second half determined to equalise promptly and Dillon Steele missed a good opportunity to level. After ghosting away from his marker, he was left with a free header with the goal at his mercy. His header, however, sailed over James Barlow’s crossbar.

After another lengthy lull in play in which both sides cancelled each other out, Aidan’s scored again to put breathing space between the two well-matched sides. Jones spun away from his defender and chipped a lovely through ball to the advancing Tom Hillard. His cutback was met by the onrushing Tom Jones, who rifled a shot into the bottom corner.

The second goal allowed Aidan’s sat back. Collingwood pressed but were unable to breakdown the resolute Aidan’s defence. The game petered out as a spectacle in the closing stages as both teams seem to accept the result and created few chances of note. The fulltime whistle signalled a historic victory for Aidan’s as they marched into the final where they will face Josephine Butler A.