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Thursday 7th February 2019 | No. 814
Found love at Durham? Profile speaks to the 70%
Introducing the new Palatinate wine column in Food & Drink
Grey JCR President resigns due to ‘personal reasons’ Jack Taylor News Editor Grey College JCR President, Henry Folds, has resigned from his role due to ‘personal reasons’. An email was sent to all Grey students by Tom Allen, Master of Grey College on Tuesday evening. In the email he said: “On behalf of the JCR board of trustees, Mr Parik Chandra, the chair of the board, has let me know that: On February 1st, JCR President Henry Folds tendered his resignation for personal reasons to the Chairman of the board of trustees. “It has been accepted and we would like to wish Henry all the best in his future endeavours. Izaak Beck, as Vice President, will continue to serve as Acting President.” Folds, who had been in the paid sabbatical roll since the beginning of the academic year, made a comment to Palatinate after his resignation was announced. He said: “Following a long period of reflection, I have taken the decision to resign from the role of JCR president due to personal reasons. “I’d like to thank Grey JCR for electing me to the position and making my time in office so rewarding and enjoyable. “I’m sad to be stepping down, but I wish all members of the JCR the very best in their studies and beyond, I know they’ll all go very far.” Campaigning for the Grey JCR President for the academic year 2019 -2020 began on Tuesday 5th February. Voting will take place during Sunday’s JCR meeting. In this edition, we look at Hatfield College’s vote against a proposed motion to make the role of JCR President (titled Senior Man) sabbatical. Continued on page 4
▲ Durham saw itself covered in snow for most of last week (Michael Crilly)
Compère trio provoke controversy at charity fashion show • Many took offence over “vulgar” remarks made by show’s presenters • DUCFS has since apologised and stated “this was categorically not the intention”
Jack Taylor News Editor Durham University Charity Fashion Show raised £150,000 for the Environmental Justice Foundation, with their efforts culminating in three fashion shows last week. However, the three nights of fundraising were host to some controversy as the compères for the event have been accused of making ‘vulgar’ comments and jokes, that some in attendance
have interpreted as sexist, racist and body shaming. 2800 people attended the black tie event over the three nights at Rainton Meadows Arena, watching from tables that cost a minimum of £55 towards the charity. The show, the UK’s most profitable student run charity event, beat last years total of £106,000 raised for mental health charity Mind, in part due to an extra night being added. After initial complaints of the content of the show, one student told Palatinate: “I’m all about provocative jokes and risque
comedy but it really missed the mark. It really brought down the rest of the show and was vulgar, which the show itself wasn’t.” In a public post made on Tuesday, DUCFS said: “We are aware that some members of the audience were not happy with some of the content they heard of the comperes speeches. The show has been such an engaging and inclusive experience for all the models and exec, and we hope that this was the case for everyone there too. “The £150,000 we have raised
would not have been possible without the support of all the audience and so we would like to sincerely apologise to anyone who took offence. We would like to emphasise that this was categorically not the intention of any of the comperes, nor the DUCFS team that worked alongside them, and we are very sorry if this detracted from anyone’s enjoyment of the evening.” In particular two of the comedy sketches proved controversial... Continued on page 3
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Thursday 7th February 2019 | PALATINATE
Editorial
Durham - we could do so much better T
here’s never a slow news day in Durham. In this edition, Palatinate looks at two massive Durham institutions: DUCFS and the Durham Union. You’ll no doubt have heard that DUFCS raised an astonishing £150,000 for the Environmental Justice Campaign last week – making it the biggest student fundraising event in the UK. Beyond the total, they have been hosting countless events throughout the year including the Festival for Sustainability which Palatinate hailed as an overwhelming success.
It is so hard to report on our headlines this week We reported last week on the Union scheme which helps to empower recovering addicts and young adults at risk of homelessness through teaching them new debating skills. The Durham Union is the University’s biggest society and often plays host to high profile speakers and creates a platform for open debate. Both societies are doing amazing work in the community and it is entirely down to the hard work of hundreds of students who volunteer their time. That’s what makes it so hard to report on our headlines this week. If, like me, you are among the 2800 students who attended the fashion show, our story on the outrage sparked by the comperes probably comes as no surprise. What was an incredible night of fashion, production, and partying was sadly tainted by some extremely misjudged jokes. Ninemonths of hard work by the committee and I left feeling ashamed to be a student at Durham – where
Inside 814 News pages 3-6 Comment pages 7-9 Profile page 10-11 SciTech page 12 Politics pages 14-16 Sport pages 18-20
indigo
apparently it is acceptable to make jokes about African children and prisoners of war. The Durham Union have been the site of controversy again this week, after legal threats made by one of their members successfully shut down the anonymous posting page, Durfess. This time we are reporting on their electoral process, and how a candidate is now running who was previously ruled invalid due to a late email. The ingenuity of Durham students always amazes me, and I have no doubt that the Union membership will continue to grow and next year DUFCS will make even more money for their chosen charity.
I left feeling ashamed to be a Durham student But most importantly I look forward to seeing how they change in the future to be more inclusive, positive spaces that will make me proud to be a Durham student. Elsewhere in the edition, Profile speak to the Durham alumnus who are part of the infamous 70% statistic and found their future spouses during nights out in Klute
and summative stress. But don’t panic - apparently 30% of those lucky couples found their Durham partners after leaving university, so we’ve still got time. If, like me, you spent the weekend having a Netflix binge, you should read Film and TV’s review of the new show ‘Sex Education’ and how it opens up an important discussion. Durham became a winter wonderland last week and we’re happy to be able to showcase some excellent student photography on our front-cover. Thank you to the many people who sent in your snowy photos! We will be sharing the best of them online so keep an eye out. I hope you enjoy reading this edition as much as we have enjoyed making it. If anything, it should provide a welcome relief from summative season. Julia Atherley
Editorial page 2 Film and TV page 3 Fashion pages 4-5 Creative Writing page 6 Visual Arts page 7 Stage pages 8-9 Books page 10 Music page 11 Features pages 12-13 Food and Drink page 14 Travel page 15 Interview page 16 (Photograph by Katie Fraser)
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VISUAL ARTS: Fortnightly bulletin of Durham arts events
NEWS: Durfess temporarily suspends posts after legal threats
NEWS: Former Durham student cleared of sexual asssault
COMMENT: Abortion: Safe, free and legal
Ever complained about not being able to find arts events or spaces in Durham? Palatinate Visual Arts has compiled a list of local events.
Durfess told Palatinate: “We anticipate and are continuing that it will be a temporary suspension. We will be returning with college war as soon as we can.”
Christopher Twigg has been cleared of three counts of sexual assault of a fellow student, after giving a ‘heartfelt apology’.
Durham Students for Abortion Access argue that abortion is a fundamental healthcare right that should be safe, free and legal to all those who choose to access it.
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
Editorial Board Editors-in-Chief Julia Atherley & Anna Tatham editor@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Editors Millie Fender & Oscar Elmon deputy.editor@palatinate.org.uk News Editors Jack Taylor & Alex Leggartt news@palatinate.org.uk Deputy News Editors Melissa Tutesigensi, Lydia Blundell, Naomi Clarke & deputy.news@palatinate.org.uk Investigations Editor Anna Marshall investigations@palatinate.org.uk Comment Editor Tom Davidson comment@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Comment Editors Jacob Whitehead, Emily Kilner & Hannah Anson Profile Editor Ella Catherall profile@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Profile Editor Jamima Westermann Science & Technology Editors Ewan Jones & Charlie Hetherington scitech@palatinate.org.uk Politics Editors Alice Lassman & Sarina Rivlin-Sanders politics@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Politics Editor Matthew Spivey, Katie Fraser & Tom Loring Sport Editor James Smith sport@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Sport Editors Ed Lord, Alana Ker Mercer, Tim Sigsworth & Finlay Smart Indigo Editor Adele Cooke indigo@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Indigo Editor Carys Frost Features Editor Kleopatra Olympiou features@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Features Editor Imogen Usherwood deputy.features@palatinate.org.uk Food & Drink Editors Piers Eaton & Philippa Murrison food@palatinate.org.uk Fashion Editor Anna Gibbs fashion@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Fashion Editor Ana Hamilton & Frankie Reffell Film & Television Editor Hugh Johnson film@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Film & Television Editor Josh Sagoo Deputy Stage Editor Martha Wrench Music Editors Tom Watling & Francesca Howard music@palatinate.org.uk Creative Writing Editor Rhiannon Morris creative.writing@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Creative Writing Editor Susie Bradley Books Editors Freya Neason & Shauna Lewis books@palatinate.org.uk Visual Arts Editor Stella Botes visual.arts@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Visual Arts Editor Jo Chandler Travel Editor Abir Mishra Deputy Travel Editor Alex Bicknell-Cummings Interview Editors Zue Leong and Nathan Kelly Chief Sub-Editor Daisy Robinson Sub-Editors Heather Craddock, Ines Pandzic, Isabella Beaumont, Constance Castle, Namrata Menon & Freya Ellingsen Photography Editor Madeleine Flisher photography@palatinate.org.uk Illustrations Editor Nayva Lobo illustration@palatinate.org.uk Deputy Illustrations Editor Elena Onwochei-Garcia Website Administrator Bilal Mohd Advertising Officer Harriet Willis advertising@palatinate.org.uk Social Media Officers Connie Castle & Shoaib Ahmed
PALATINATE | Thursday 7h February 2019
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News
“One woman attempted to throw her drink on the compères in protest” Continued from front-page
This week is National Student Employment Week and at Durham SU we’re teaming up with the Careers Service as part our Student Worker Rights Campaign! With more students working as well as studying to make ends meet, it’s important that they know their rights in the workplace and that we celebrate the contribution of student workers! We’ll have a stall in Dunelm House each day this week with information about your rights as a student worker and a different interactive quiz question each day to test your knowledge. I’d also like to encourage you all to make nominations for the National Student Employment Awards, including student employee for the year. This term you’ll be voting for the Durham SU Officers and Trustees that will be representing you during the 2019/20 Academic Year and shaping the future direction of the Students’ Union. Nominations have now closed and campaigning will be taking place from 14th February, with voting from the 17th -20th . Look out for the candidates around campus and on social media telling you about their ideas for how they will change Durham if elected! We’ll also be holding a referendum on Durham SU’s Articles of Association, which have to be reviewed every five years. We have allowed chance for students to submit amendments to the proposed text, which will be finalised by our Trustee Board. Voting on the changes will then take place alongside the Officer and Trustee elections so make sure you have your say in how the Union is governed. Our Opportunities Officer, Charlie, recently launched a campaign into the cost of opportunities at Durham, seeking to make sure that everyone is able to access the fantastic range of extra-curricular activities on offer. If you’ve ever felt cut-out of activities at Durham, make sure you share your experiences so we can make the campaign a success!
An imagined phone call between the compères and the organisation’s President was performed on stage, containing the line: “What do you mean women aren’t funny?...(On the phone to the President), that’s horrendous”. The trio joked: “If only we had a female compère, we could have made a tampon joke”. DUCFS told Palatinate that the
skit was “playing on the fact that all the comperes this year were male, something they thought they ought to address, given it’s 2019. The irony of this joke comes through as the vast majority of the DUCFS organisers are female and that DUCFS has provided an empowering platform for all those involved. “The singing , exacerbated physical movements, and pretence of miscommunication, all made evident that this was a comedy sketch as part of the comperes’ speeches.” However, the comedic skits
were criticised by multiple students, including one woman who attempted to throw her drink on the compères on the Friday night. The student in question stated in an anonymous Durfess post: “The production of the event was amazing, so credits to the exec and the models. But, regarding the sketch, I guarantee you that at least one person left feeling a little bit more shit about themselves. You had a platform to spread love
(Anna Gibbs) and empower people.” Another skit involved one of the compères appearing to forget the charity supported by the show and another entering the stage singing the Band Aid song ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’, more specifically the line ‘feed the world’. DUCFS maintain that they “immediately went on to say “in all seriousness, ladies and gentlemen” before describing the real charity (EJF) and emphasising the importance of their work.” Another student present said: “While the DUCFS is an amazing
cause and has raised a lot of money for the EJF, the compères were an embarrassment to the cause and the wider university. DUCFS has a massive platform, appearing in the likes of Tatler and achieving 2800 audience members, from the University and beyond. “Students don’t go to DUCFS to be subjected to comments which is unacceptable in everyday forum. It’s bad taste. While I’d love to say I’d go to DUCFS again to support an amazing cause, I’m conflicted by the possibility I may support and help normalise an unacceptable and offensive culture at Durham.” DUCFS defended descriptions of the models as “Durham’s tightest, lightest and brightest”, calling this “an innocent stereotype” and “wordplay that lightly mocks the models.” One student told Palatinate: “The compere performance become more of a cue for a toiletbreak than as a gripping and exciting section of what was a brilliant fashion show, they really missed a trick. The compères were more laughable than any of their illplaced attempts to make humour out of blatant sexism and racism.” There were also initial complaints over comments such as “the most beautiful curve on your body must be your smile” and “hunky to hungry, from phwoar to prisoner of war”. However, DUCFS insist that these were made in the context of what the fashion industry expects from models and were ended with “but at DUCFS, that’s not at all what we’re about” and “at DUCFS all that matters is that you have either luscious long
(Anna Gibbs) locks or a shaven head.” In a comment to Palatinate, the compères said: “We are absolutely distraught and deeply sorry that some of our content caused offence. Our aim was first and foremost to entertain and certainly not polarise. If anyone would like any explanation for certain jokes that were perceived as offensive, we would be very happy to give one & send their exact wording. DUCFS is an inclusive, empowering event. “As an integral part of the show, we are 100% in tune and aligned with everything it upholds and are hugely proud to have played a part in it. “In a raucous room of over 900 people, we recognise that it was easy to miss large portions of the comperes speeches. Unfortunately, certain jokes have subsequently been taken out of context, exaggerated and quoted without the ironic, performatory tone that crucially differentiates satire from sincerity.”
University “extremely sorry” for Theology lecturer breaching confidentiality in mass email Jack Taylor News Editor A private email containing sensitive information on a students mental health and attendance, had been sent to all Theology undergraduates at the end of January.
any official medical notification of this, and I am wondering whether the department has any “official” awareness of [the student] suffering from this. [The student] says that [the student] still wants credit for the course, and !” A follow up email urged recipients to “simply delete it and accept our apologies for any inconvenience.” The department have stressed that they “take confidentiality matters very seriously.”
The student in question was explicitly named in the email and specifics of their university life were disclosed “We are extremely sorry for The student in question was this mistake, which should explicitly named in the email and never have happened” specifics of their university life were disclosed. In the email the lecturer claimed that the student had “not been attending due to social anxiety. “However, I have never received
The University Secretary, Jennifer Sewel said in a statement to Palatinate: “We are extremely sorry for this mistake, which should never have happened.
“The email was recalled immediately, all recipients were asked swiftly to delete it, and we informed the Information Commissioner’s Office.
“An apology was issued to the student, who also met with the Head of the Department that sent the email.” (Maddie Flisher)
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Thursday 7th February 2019 | PALATINATE
News
Hatfield rejects sabbatical JCR president role
Alex Leggatt News Editor Hatfield College recently voted against a proposed motion to make the role of JCR President (titled Senior Man) sabbatical. The final vote was 137-82 against the motion, with two abstentions. The college is one of four college’s who do not have a sabbatical JCR president. These include St. Chad’s College’s JCR President, University College’s Senior Student and Trevelyan College’s JCR President. A sabbatical JCR President, (used by the eleven other undergraduate colleges), is a role occupied by a graduated student, working as a member of staff in the college with an annual salary. Chloe Sweetland, Hatfield Col-
lege’s Senior Man, was the proposer for the motion to make the role sabbatical. She told Palatinate: “Raising a motion to make the position of Senior Man sabbatical was an idea I had been considering for a while. I believe that having a sabbatical Senior Man is in the best interests of the JCR.”
“I believed it would make the role more accessible to those who currently are unable to apply” Dominic Berry, Hatfield College’s JCR Vice-President, seconded the motion. He told Palatinate his reasons: “I believed it would make the role more accessible to those who currently are unable to apply, from those who have numerous contact hours due to their degree, to those who are holding
(Des Blenkinsopp via Geographg)
part time jobs during term time, to those who are doing a year abroad or a year in industry. “I also thought the position would be better served as a sabbatical position because regardless of what degree you do, or how much time you are able to dedicate to the position, it is never enough to satisfy the demands of the role. “When the motion was proposed in the JCR Meeting, the general consensus in the room was for the motion to be passed. I think the main opposition came from the fact that, regardless of whether you can promise that levies/event prices won’t increase, the £15,000 used to pay the salary of the Senior Man is a lot of money and students thought there were better ways of spending it.
“There’s no proof that any sabbatical colleges have managed to do anything our senior man’s haven’t been able to do with the extra time” Nelly Kaidan, Hatfield College’s JCR Treasurer, told Palatinate that the money used to pay for a new sabbatical role “could go towards other subsidy. “There’s not really any proof that any sabbatical colleges have managed to do anything our senior man’s haven’t been able to do with the extra time.” An student from Hatfield College, who wished to remain anonymous, told Palatinate: “A reason
why the motion for making the Senior Man a sabbatical position didn’t pass is that there is a large dissociation from the average JCR member to those heavily involved in the JCR.” They believed this was largely because “less and less returners are living back in college (due to both rising accommodation prices and available spaces),” They felt this problem had been “exacerbated” by Durham University’s decision to increase colleges’ intake of freshers, thereby “depleting the feeling of community that collegiate systems are supposed to have. When this motion was raised, voting against it was seen by some as a protest vote as they felt they didn’t know how their money was being spent, so the idea of spending £15,000 on a sabbatical Senior Man was aggravating. Other non-sabbatical JCR Presidents, such as Josh Barker of St. Chad’s College, argue that the role is not necessary for their specific college. In a statement to Palatinate, he said: “I understand the arguments in favour of a sabbatical JCR President, especially in larger colleges, and in many ways I support them, however, I don’t believe it is necessary for Chad’s at present. “Being a JCR President is a lot of work but, by delegating to my brilliant Exec and through support from our college staff and senior leadership, I’ve managed to balance my degree alongside the role. As the smallest Durham college, I think there is something to be said for a current student represent-
ing other students in a community where everyone knows everyone. “That said, this will be something for future students to keep under review and I know the college would support the will of the JCR on this matter.”
it is not about shaming or blaming, it is about discovering the beauty of human life and protecting it.” Speaking to Palatinate, Chelsea Lowdon, the leader of the protest said: “We’re going to be focused on supporting students in Durham on where to access abortions, and provide advice on where to find to further sources of support where necessary.
mental right that everyone should have a choice to access. Pro-life activism is extremely dangerous, therefore it’s important not to remain silent when this goes on.
“I think there is something to be said for a current student representing other students” Annamaria Karvalits, Trevelyan College’s JCR President, spoke to Palatinate regarding the interest in debating the nature of the president role, culminating in a voided referendum vote and the establishment of a working group in Trevelyan to “explore different routes of changing the job descriptions of JCR position holders to make their work more effective and suitable for those working alongside their degree.” She also acknowledged, in reference to the recent vote in Hatfield, that “each JCR has to decide what is suitable for them as all colleges are different. There is no uniform solution that fits all communities. Working with such rapidly growing student bodies is quite a challenge and thus, I would not be surprised if Durham is to see more sabbatical roles being created in years to come. “Regardless of what my personal opinion might be about how Trevs JCR should be run, I admire anyone who undertakes initiatives to improve their common room structure if they believe it serves their community.”
Students protest against pro-life event Jack Taylor News Editor A pro-life event was heavily protested by around 100 students on Tuesday 29th of January. The event, entitled “How to Be a Voice for the Voiceless and Defend Pre-Born Babies,” consisted of a series of talks and discussions in support of the pro-life movement. A local woman that was present at the event told Palatinate: “The primary focus was [on] loving women, loving unborn and helping them both as best we can.”
They were refused access to the church to attend the event and those at the scene told Palatinate they were threatened with police action if they were to attempt entry. Durham Students for Life post-
ed on their Facebook group: “We exist to create a culture of life for both born and pre-born people in Durham University through discussion and providing a space to explore life ethics. “Our message is a positive one,
We’re focused on supporting students in Durham on where to access abortions
The event consisted of a series of talks and discussions in support of the pro-life movement Protestors were seen chanting and holding placards outside the gates from 6pm.
(Izzy Hassett)
(Aisha Hussain)
“We’re also keen to highlight that abortion is not fully legal in the UK, and to show solidarity to those in Northern Ireland fighting for access to safe, legal abortions, so we plan to do some events focused on that. “We really wanted to emphasise that abortion is not something that’s up for debate, it’s a funda-
“I went to the pro-life event more out of curiosity” A PhD student, who wished to remain anonymous, told Palatinate: “I went [to the pro-life event] more out of curiosity and solidarity with the organisers than anything else. I wanted to show that the group has a right to exist. It was sharing a traditional Christian viewpoint on the rights of the unborn.
HEARD ANYTHING NEWSWORTHY? Email news@palatinate.org.uk
PALATINATE | Thursday 7th February 2019
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News
Bill Bryson Library launches seat tracker Lydia Blundell Deputy News Editor The Bill Bryson Library has launched a new seat tracker function which now shows how many seats are left in the building. Students can now refer to the library website to see how busy the library is before they get there and struggle to find a seat. Out of a total of 1560 seats, there have been as few as 230 available across the four levels at several
points this term. However, the new tool isn’t 100% accurate. Palatinate has been informed by a member of library staff that the number displayed is actually the total number of seats, with the total number of scanned in students subtracted. This means that there may be more seats than are being displayed, as people also enter the library to collect and return books, access support and enquire with reception.
The library will also be adding another 100 seats on to Level 1 Palatinate spent the past week tracking the number of free seats using this new system. The lowest number of seats
found was 232 on Monday 28th January at 2:30pm. Peak times for the Bill Bryson appear to be from 2pm until around 4pm, with the average number of free seats falling below 400.
The pressure is increased because the E-Den and YUM library café are currently closed for renovation With peak summative and exam seasons not yet upon us, the library has responded by adding another 100 seats on to Level 1 as well as 4 additional disability support rooms. The Bill Bryson has also announced on its Facebook page that it will also open 24
(Maddie Flisher) hours a day the 11th of February. Finalist Kezia Jackson-Harmon told Palatinate, “Third year is stressful enough as it is without having to worry that you will not be able to find a seat after 10am. I really hope the situation improves before summative season.”
The Bill Bryson will open 24 hours a day from the 11th of February The pressure is increased by the fact that the E-Den and YUM library café are currently closed for renovation, meaning students are instead utilising the Calman and
Chemistry Cafes, or sitting on the floor of the foyer to eat their lunch.
“I really hope the situation improves before summative season” Level 1 has already had considerable renovation completed, with communal desks and booths added to accommodate teamwork in the library. This includes the installation of Nook collaboration pods. Visit the library website to track how many seats are available in the Bill Bryson.
Initially rejected DUS president candidate allowed to stand Jack Taylor News Editor It was announced on Monday that Alastair Sledge, of University College, can now run in the Union President for Michaelmas Term 2019 election, after initially having his campaign ruled as invalid. The election will now be contested between him and Jack Perry, of St. Cuthbert’s Society and RON. Sledge’s campaign was originally rejected by the Union Rules Committee, as his proposer emailed the Returning Officer four minutes past the deadline 11am deadline. In a letter to Sledge, the Durham Union Society’s Returning Officer wrote: “Rules Committee met today to scrutinise the nominations received for Michaelmas Presidency 2019. I am afraid to inform you that the Committee rejected your nomination. “The reason for this was that Mr Samrat Pasriccha had not formally identified himself as your proposer as of the deadline.” Sledge appealed the decision, resulting in a Rules Committee meeting last Friday. The Committee returned a majority ruling that he should be allowed to stand in the election. However, the Committee also imposed certain penalties onto
Sledge’s campaign, that according to the written record of the meeting he was ‘happy to take’, due to the late email. These include cutting his campaign team down to 15 people, with his opponent remaining at 20, and his original proposer, Samrat Pasriccha, not being allowed to take part in the campaign. The Durham Union Society’s Election Regulations state: “Candidates shall have a proposer and one seconder who shall be in statu pupillari Members of the Union.” The hustings, that were originally planned for last Friday, after the ‘Beyond 70: The Future of the NHS Panel Discussion’, were suspended until after the weekend. They were meant to be held on Monday evening, before the ‘DASH Charity Debate’, but instead were pushed to Wednesday night. The campaign was reopened on Monday at 3pm and both candidates were added to the ballot. Campaigning from both sides will include Facebook pages, printed leaflets and speeches at the Hustings. The Durham Union Rules Committee told Palatinate that: “Alastair Sledge’s nomination was incomplete at the close of nominations as the identity and consent of his proposer was unknown and, as there was no precedent for accepting a nomination as valid in those
(Samuel Read) circumstances, he was ruled out of order. “He then appealed the decision and a majority view emerged on the committee to take the unprecedented step of accepting his nomination, subject to certain penalties, whilst accepting the validity of the original decision. Mr Sledge accepted those penalties as a proportional punishment for his inability to get a completed nomination on time and a condition of
his being a candidate.” This comes after a previously turbulent week for the Durham Union, with various posts on the anonymous submission page ‘Durfess’, after presidential nominations opened on the 26th of January. Some posts were considered harmful to certain members, pictures were posted without those featured permission and others raised concerns about the elector-
al process and culture. After reports of threatened legal action, The Union told Palatinate: “As Durfess clarified in one of their posts, one of our members, claiming to represent the DUS, messaged the page with comments which implied an intention to initiate legal action. That individual was acting against the wishes of the Society and has been reprimanded”.
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Thursday 7th February 2019 | PALATINATE
News
Durham not considering two-year degrees
Melissa Tutesigensi Deputy News Editor MPs have approved the motion to introduce two-year degree courses in England, but Durham University has ruled out the shorter courses. Although costing more per year, the shorter, more intensive courses will save around £5,000, the government insist, as students would cut a year’s worth of maintenance in accommodation and living costs.
“We are not actively pursuing this option at present” Durham has defended its decision to stick to three-year courses. Professor Alan Houston, ProVice-Chancellor (Education) said: “We pride ourselves on offering an excellent education and student
experience, which rivals the best in the world. “There are a number of reasons why full-time, three-year degree programmes are generally the most appropriate at research-intensive institutions like Durham. “While we are open to exploring the possible benefits and necessary compromises which two-year degree programmes would entail, we are not actively pursuing this option at present.” The cost of these shorter degrees will be just over £11,000 per year compared to the £9,250 per year for standard three or fouryear courses. A spokeswoman for Universities UK said: “Several universities have been offering two-year, fast-track degrees for a number of years, but demand has been limited under the current system.” “But if these changes help encourage even more flexible modes of study and meet the needs of a
diverse range of students and employers, they are to be welcomed.
Two year courses could “just lead to a factory-line kind of education” “While accelerated degrees could meet the needs of some students and their families, it is important to remember that there are a high number of individuals wishing to learn while they work and for whom more flexible ways of learning are needed.” Hannah, a fourth-year languages student, feared that intensive degree courses at Durham would “just lead to a factory-line kind of education” as “part of learning experience comes from time for reflection.” She thinks that two-year degrees are “a positive as students get more options (rather than a one-size-fits-all kind of model) but
I think it will probably add more pressures than alleviate” “[it seems to be] a cop out to argue that it’s financially beneficial rather than change the cost of the current system.” Georgie, a fourth year Psychol-
(Maddie Flisher) ogy student says it is unfair for those paying more for less. “People on three-year courses pay £27,000 for a degree and two-year course students only pay £22,000 for the same degree.”
Business School ranked 6th in the country Lydia Blundell Deputy News Editor Durham University’s Business School has been ranked 6th in the United Kingdom by The Financial Times. The 2019 rankings credited the Business School as 13th in Europe and 43rd globally. The school has also been ranked 1st in the UK for value for money and 1st for Corpo-
rate Social Responsibility. Established in 1965, the Durham University Business School offers MBA and MSc programmes and awards degrees at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The school has also received recognition over recent years from The Economist and the Wall Street Journal. In 2018, it was placed 5th in the UK by The Times and Sunday Times Good University
Guide and 6th in the UK by The Complete University Guide.
The 2019 rankings credited the Business School as 13th in Europe and 43rd globally The Business School website states that: ‘we believe that to succeed in business, you need to get closer to the realities of business. So that’s what we do. We
connect students and alumni with global companies. We link businesses with incisive and innovative thinking.’ The school engages in research with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, The Association of Chartered Certified Accounts, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and the British Accounting and Finance Association amongst others.
Previous ranking success by the Business School includes being listed 1st in the UK and Europe.
“We believe that to succeed in business, you need to get closer to the realities of business” They were 3rd globally in the Financial Times’ Top 10 MBAs for Economics.
SU want your say in February referendum Anna Ley Deputy News Editor Durham Students’ Union have recently revised how the organisation is assembled and administered in a review of its articles of association. Ensuring that Durham students approve of the advised article amendments, the Union invites a student electorate to vote on the proposed reforms in a referendum later this month.
review ushering a welcome reflection on “how the Students Union should be run”.
It is a welcome reflection on “how the Students Union should be run”
Proposed reforms include the expulsion of ‘exclusionary’ gendered language, increasing the clarity of the Union’s membership categories and adding the DUCK chair to the Board of Trustees which Walker says will allow “charitable fundraising groups to receive the support they need”.
George Walker called the referendum to “make sure the students are satisfied” with the suggested changes
Proposed reforms include the expulsion of ‘exclusionary’ gendered language The articles act as a “constitution for the Students Union” President George Walker says, with the
Walker called the referendum to “make sure the students are satisfied” with the suggested changes. As with several articles seeking to ensure that Union decisions are well reflecting student wishes, such as the proposed increase to the percentage of students needed to vote to remove a Trustee, it comes as part of a larger enthusiasm for the Union to establish a greater student insight.
(Maddie Flisher)
Discussing the more significant structural amendments at stake, SU president Walker stresses the importance of revising the very process by which such articles are reviewed. Granting the Student Assembly a greater say, as
suggested by the review, will be “a more effective way of getting approval from students” in the future. Though he maintains that “for some changes”, Trustees, students and the Assembly alike “may still call a referendum to pass changes to our articles and will power to do this”.
The referendum will run from February 17th until the 20th Students can have their say on the above amendments, as well as on Trustee and Student Officer election, by voting in the referendum between 17th and 20th February 2019.
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Can you still claim to be an environmentalist if you eat meat? Page 8
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Referendums: Doomed to divide us? Ben Summer
“I think politics needs a bit of spicing up.” When Nigel Farage said this in 2002, not even he could have predicted the unrestrained chaos of the EU referendum. With over two years since the vote, the UK still seems irredeemably divided. It’s not hard to posit that it wasn’t the subject, but the nature of the discussion that caused all this. A few months of campaigning and a couple of TV debates, and all of a sudden the British public was asked to wrestle with a question that has thrown us into total polarisation. This begs the question: are we a country that can handle the pressure of deciding?
The people, having been given a voice on the matter, don’t want to give it back This isn’t meant as an insult to the average voter, nor an underestimation of the power of direct democracy. The European question is one of life and death for many. The people, having been given a voice on the matter, don’t want to give it back. The
past few years, however, have shown how painfully unprepared we have been to hash this one out in public. To understand why this has happened, a question needs to be asked – do referendums always do this to a country? Although recent Catalan struggles spring to mind, I don’t really see what we gain by looking outwards to a country with a totally different political backbone to ours.
It feels like we are dealing with an entirely different beast It goes without saying that our country doesn’t always descend into chaos when we put a question to the public. For example, the public didn’t really care much about the 2011 vote on electoral reform, which garnered a fairly pitiful 42.2% turnout. 1973’s EU vote incensed the public at the time, but we enjoyed decades of stability before the question reared its head again. The Scottish “indy ref” generated a lot of buzz, but when it comes to the 2016 vote, it feels like we are dealing with an entirely different beast. A referendum on any hot-button issue is going to generate more animosity and vitriol than a regular vote in Parliament – for months at a time,
the floodgates are opened to anyone with an opinion and a loud enough voice. The sheer scale of this vote compared to those we’ve had before means the process has allowed destructive, populist voices to seep in. We revel in the publicity of the debate, proud to exercise our democratic right, and we end up hating each other in the process. Just enough dialogue is allowed that everybody is desperate to have an opinion, but not enough for them to know why they hold it. However, ask any random member of the public, and you’ll be hard-pressed to get an opinion on whether we should have adopted the Alternative Vote system back in 2011. So, is it the EU – and not
the very concept of a referendum – that is actually responsible? YouGov polling on “the most important issues facing the country” has revealed that, ever since the referendum, Brexit has topped the list by a fairly sizeable margin – higher than the economy or healthcare. A Parliamentary vote on our EU membership never would have sufficed; people needed to feel heard. Referendums aren’t inherently a bad idea. But when the issue being voted on is so stomachturningly constitutional, we just aren’t well-equipped enough to have that debate. We live in an age where most people’s political news comes almost solely from Twitter. The public dialogue just
doesn’t have the space to keep everyone informed on every issue.
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We live in a country more governed by the masses than ever before
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Desirable as direct democracy is, we’ve taken a leap into uncharted territory by asking the public – and many are clamouring to be asked again. The number of referendums we’re holding is sharply on the rise, and with them, the inherent dangers that come with. We now live in an country more governed by the masses than ever before. This situation brings exciting opportunities, but we might not come out of it with much dignity unless we figure out how to have a proper discussion. (Martin Hearn via Flickr)
Imperialism and white privilege: The real story of Fyre Festival Izzy Sasada There’s no excuse, you’ve had the weekend, Netflix’s latest documentary Fyre Fest: the greatest party that never happened is there to feast upon. If you’re really keen, or just particularly discerning in your viewing choices, you may have even watched Hulu’s counterpart Fyre Fraud. Both documentaries retell the story of 2017’s biggest and most epic failure: Fyre Fest. Cofounded by rapper Ja Rule and entrepreneur Billy McFarland, the festival aimed to provide a Coachella-esque experience to rich millennials on a secluded island in the Bahamas. Through interviews and video footage we learn how the festival fell immensely short of what was promised, and is now known as one
of the biggest scams of the decade. Guests arrived en-masse to find a disorganized construction site with no live music and supplies which would be inadequate for a secondary school open mic night. False marketing is an understatementthe “luxury” apartments turned out to be disaster relief tents and the guests could only endure one night on the island before evacuating. The paradise island soon became Lord of the Flies, as the millennials’ initial c o m ra d e r y descended rapidly to chaos. Far from riding off into a Bahamian sunset, Billy McFarland is currently serving a 6-year sentence in prison for fraud. The most startling aspect of the documentary is undoubtably the stunningly fraudulent nature of social media. One well-produced promotional video depicting scenes of white-sand hedonism, posted
in correlation with 64 mysterious orange tiles was enough to create Fyre Festival’s whirlwind social media hype. Yet just one picture of a grotty cheese sandwich was enough to tear down the façade. The power of social media to create false reality is exaggerated to dangerous proportions, and this discrepancy between Instragram and reality is the key lesson we must take from the ninety minutes of hubris and heat rash.
Colonial undertones lay the groundwork for the festival More important, however, is the colonial undertones that lay the groundwork for the festival. The dynamics of the festival are deeply disturbing and the story basically unfolds as follows: a group of Western men find beautiful exotic land which they seek to exploit. They employ and exploit every native they can find to construct their vision, setting them to manual tasks in the hope they will create wealth
and prestige for their achievement. Through the construction of their vision they destroy the landscape and economy of an already poor area, and they don’t pay their employees but leave the island in crippling debt. Sound familiar? It should. Almost all of Fyre Fest’s creators are white males, and the documentary exposes their primitive understanding of their relationships with others. Female influence is limited, and their main contribution is as over-sexualized marketing tools. Furthermore local labour is devalued with many labourers being left unpaid in what is effectively a form of modern slavery.
The paradise island soon became Lord of the Flies This world view is epitomized by the video footage – where we see toned, white over-sexualised bodies dancing in the sun winking seductively at the camera, there are
glimpses of black bodies laboring endlessly in the background. When hell breaks loose, the Westerners can cut their losses and hop on a plane back to Miami whilst the islanders are left to rebuild their destroyed landscape and economy
“Hustled, scammed, bamboozled, hoodwinked, led astray” We must also remember who gets a voice in the documentary and the motives of those voices. The Bahamian labourers are silenced and the narrative is exclusively owned by western voices. Their story is of victimhood and disbelief – they feel betrayed, “hustled, scammed, bamboozled, hoodwinked, led astray” as Ja Rule tweets. For them, the documentary is an opportunity to absolve themselves of shame. For us their overbearing voices contribute further to the story of white imperialist privilege.
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Thursday 7th February 2019| PALATINATE
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Is Jameela Jamil the right person to represent body positivity? Millie Fender In recent months Jameela Jamil, radio presenter-turned-actress, seems to have become the unlikely poster child for the body positivity movement. Her high-profile critique of celebrities who promote products such as ‘detox teas’ grabbed headlines in November as she debunked the glorified laxatives and their harmful marketing for the impact they have on women. More recently, her exposure of an Avon advert for cellulite cream which claimed that ‘dimples are cute on your face (not your thighs)’ saw the removal of said marketing campaign. Another victory for the body positivity movement, surely?
The movement has its roots firmly planted in a movement for fat acceptance It’s highly probable that I’m following a certain, liberal strain of media, but I can’t seem to go a day without scrolling past another article about Jameela Jamil and
the blows she’s delivering to the ugly tactics of the beauty industry. For some, this might be the first they’ve heard of the body positivity movement. Countless online commentators have deemed her ‘refreshing’; a radical, feminist powerhouse. However, the narrative Jamil preaches is far from original.
She herself has pleaded guilty to body positivity’s multiplicity and intersections The concept that we are so much more than what we weigh and that we should strive to love the skin we’re in has circulated the internet for decades. To the marginalised women at the root of the movement, the fact that size ten model Jameela Jamil is fast becoming the poster child for body positivity leaves a sour taste in the mouth. This is not to say that women of certain sizes aren’t negatively affected by living in a society which tells us that we should be ashamed of our bodies- far from it, Jamil herself has spoken of her struggles with body-shaming and eating disorders, and I can’t begin to imagine the constant pressure which comes with
such prominence in the public eye. However, the movement has its roots firmly planted in a movement for fat acceptance, whereby those whose body sizes fall outside the mainstream attempt to uplift each other in the face of daily abuse and microaggressions- something which Jamil herself accepts she can’t fully begin to understand. The unwitting co-optation of this movement into the marketing ploys of companies such as Aerie and Dove has emerged in recent years as an arguably positive result of the movement. Certainly, we cannot criticise a company for halting its use of photoshop and airbrush- it’s definitely a step in the right direction for women everywhere. But if you’d like to see a flat-stomached, golden-skinned, dramatically curvaceous blonde’s trite attempts at showing beauty in some laughably forced stomach rolls I’d recommend checking out the Instagram of Iskra Lawrence, face of the AerieReal campaign. Likewise, if you need a reminder that women do in fact have pores, feel free to check out Jamil’s twitter. The triumph of both bodypositive icons, whether or not they can be held responsible for it, is ultimately at the expense of the fat
Illustration: Asia Cossu
women who created a movement, who still face the brunt of the damaging culture they attempt to confront. In response to claims of outright appropriation, Jameela Jamil herself has conceded that she should not and never has attempted to be the face of the body positivity movement- calling such a suggestion “frankly, fucking ridiculous”. She claims that her @I_weigh movement seeks to uplift and give a voice to
activists and marginalized groups by using her own privilege to initiate the conversation in newer and more public mediums, claiming “this is not me trying to steal your movement”. The attempt is without doubt well-meaning, refreshing and perhaps a needed leg-up to create more incisive change. However, Jamil is going to have to tread carefully if she is going to effectively represent a movement with its roots in fat acceptance from the position of little more than ally. She herself has pleaded guilty to ignorance of body positivity’s multiplicity and intersections, and whether or not she’s trying to stand alongside us, not in front of us, I don’t see other body positive voices getting lauded on the cover of every major magazine. There’s little more frustrating than seeing the narrative and language of a movement fostered in spite of the messages of mainstream media pedalled in trite and nonsubversive terms by that same opponent. Even if the media has genuinely bought into Jameela Jamil’s forward-thinking message, the truth it that it was never hers to sell in the first place.
Can you still claim to be an environmentalist if you eat meat? Jonathon Macnab Just off the bat, yes. Yes, you absolutely can call yourself an environmentalist if you eat meat. After the backlash following a similar statement from actor and environmental advocate Suzy Amis Cameron in 2014, I would not say otherwise. I do, however, think it is important that people who care about the human impact understand that, in terms of lifestyle choices, by far the most effective thing you can do is change the way you eat. From birth to plate, every 400g of beef produces 105kg of greenhouse gasses (GHG). The average pack of mince weighs 500g meaning eating beef once a week for a year produces 6552kg of GHG emissions, as well as using 520,000 litres of water and cutting down 3432 trees. For comparison, the average car produces 4600kg of CO2 per annum. Palm oil, the current media villain, is responsible for 26 million acres of deforestation to date; the cattle industry is responsible for 136 million acres. 59% of all land on earth is used for livestock
farming, this represents 83% of all farmland despite the industry only contributing 18% of our dietary calories. And, while only 0.3% of ocean plastics are straws, 46% are fishing nets and tackle. Agriculture isn’t generally regarded as an environmental issue, but it currently greatly outstrips travel and even energy in terms of emissions and global impact.
“Making a change is very much your responsibility
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This is clearly the most significant environmental challenge we face, but unlike energy or transport the solution to this one is very simple. Agriculture is entirely consumer driven and, as consumers, we have a huge amount of power and freedom to influence the market. You can’t demand that the national grid only provide renewable energy to power your house, but you can stop buying meat. The effect of societal change is very evident from Quorn’s growth in recent years. In 2017, the company
registered a 16% growth as a direct result of increasing numbers of vegetarian and flexitarian customers. In the case of animal agriculture, making a change very much is your responsibility. The practicalities of being vegetarian or vegan are a prolific argument against, but it’s becoming less and less compelling. With over 3,000,000 vegetarians and 600,000 vegans in the UK alone, the surrounding industries are growing rapidly. Gone are the days when it was hard to find alternatives for meat, a good recipe, or a restaurant to eat at. There’s even a place in Manchester where you can have wings, a BBQ bacon cheeseburger, a brownie, and a milkshake without a hint of an animal product.
Cutting out beef could be the same as getting rid of your car The nutritional argument holds no water either; it is generally accepted that you can get every nutrient you need without eating meat or dairy which, incidentally, also constitute the main food groups which cause heart disease. As for protein, Kenneth G Williams is a lot bigger than all of you. The fact is, it is no longer
Victor U via Flickr
unenjoyable or difficult to stop eating meat. For such a simple lifestyle choice, it seems illogical that anyone who claims to care about the environment would disregard it. It is this cognitive dissonance which I encourage people to acknowledge and address.
You don’t have to become a vegan overnight I am not under any illusions that I have the right to say who is and isn’t an environmentalist. Imagine being the person who tried to claim our saviour David Attenborough wasn’t an environmentalist because he still has roast chicken on Sundays.
However, those who call themselves environmentalists, or even just claim to care a bit, should appreciate that this is the biggest impact you can have in terms of lifestyle choices. You don’t need to become vegan overnight. It’s not sustainable in the same way that going to the gym seven days a week when you first join. But simply cutting out beef could be the same as getting rid of your car, meaning you don’t need to subject yourself to riding a bike for miles and miles, or struggling to carry your weekly food shop home cradled in your arms because you forgot bags. Just lay off the beef burgers, give Linda McCartney sausages a go, and your carbon footprint could shrink considerably.
Thursday 7th February 2019| PALATINATE
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It’s Blue Monday and I’ll cry if I want to
Comment look at whether ‘the saddest day of the year’ is just a marketing myth Sorrel Briggs At Christmas, we should ‘eat, drink, and be merry’; on Fridays, we party, whilst Sundays are ‘fun days’; woe betide us if we don’t have a date for Valentine’s Day; Black Friday and Boxing Day are for sprinting around the sales; and on the third Monday of every January, we are all supposedly…blue.
At a brief glance, this seems fairly logical and innocuous. But the idea that the same factors affect us all equally, or even that emotion can be predicted by a set of specific criteria, seems at best far-fetched and at worst, potentially damaging. The concept of ‘Blue Monday’
human emotions are more erratic than the weather; they cannot be predicted or forecast by a set of arbitrary criteria. To suggest that they can is to perpetuate the idea that there is a one-size-fits all cause and cure to low mood and mental illness. Even
disorder, then it is alarmingly misguided. To attempt to tie a phrase like ‘Blue Monday’ to suicide or depression is to trivialise what are actually complex and devastating illnesses. Mental illness is never confined
Mental illness is never confined to one single day
Christmas is over, the weather is poor, and many of us are struggling financially
I will never be against an opportunity to raise mental health awareness; rather, I encourage it: the more we can learn, the more we can lessen stigma, the more comfortable we feel discussing it, the better.
Blue Monday, which fell this year on the 21st January, is apparently ‘the saddest day of the year’. It seems to make enough ostensible sense: Christmas is over, the weather is poor, and many of us are struggling financially. But where did the concept of Blue Monday originate, and is it a valuable way of bringing the topic of mental health to the fore, or just another marketing ploy?
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No day in the calendar can or should dictate what we feel, act, think, or worst of all, buy
“The idea that
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the same factors affect us all equally, seems at best far-fetched and at worst, potentially damaging
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The term ‘Blue Monday’ first appeared in a marketing campaign by Sky Travel to promote their winter deals, and various companies have since followed suit in an attempt to capitalise on our apparent misery, offering everything from 70% off clothing to 10p Freddos. The day itself was calculated by a psychologist using a formula which comprised of factors, such as, time since Christmas, levels of motivation, monthly salary, and the weather.
Mental Health Day, World Suicide Prevention Day, PTSD Awareness Month, National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, and Mind’s ‘Time To Talk’ Day. Days such as these raise awareness of mental illnesses in positive, proactive ways. If we must subscribe to any particular day at all, why not one that promotes positivity? (World Kindness Day, anyone?)
But it is difficult to claim that Blue Monday — with its commercial origins and trivialisation of complex illnesses — contributes productively to this awareness. No day in the calendar can or should dictate what we feel, act, think, or worst of all, buy.
Illustration: Asia Cossu
is in itself a negative one, seeming almost to insinuate that we ought to feel miserable.
If Blue Monday is intended to raise awareness of mental illnesses then it is alarmingly misguided Perhaps you woke up feeling positive and productive last Monday, then saw #BlueMonday flash up on your phone, and suddenly your day started to go ‘wrong’ by way of selffulfilling prophecy. In actuality, mental health and
the psychologist who created the formula for Blue Monday has since admitted it to be ‘incorrect’ and ‘pseudoscientific’. Still, proponents of Blue Monday argue that at least it ‘raises awareness’. Awareness of what, one might ask? That we all feel ‘blue’ from time to time is no new phenomenon, and to suggest that we need to raise awareness of the fact that everyone experiences ‘sadness’ is somewhat disheartening in 2019. If Blue Monday is instead intended to raise awareness of mental illnesses, such as clinical depression and seasonal affective
to one single day. Studies have actually found that suicide rates reach their peak in the spring. Suicide isn’t the consequence of ‘feeling a bit blue’, nor is ‘sadness’ even necessarily a symptom of depression at all; quite often, it is characterised by an absence of feeling, a numbness.
Suicide isn’t the consequence of ‘feeling a bit blue’ Furthermore, numerous mental health awareness days and events already exist, such as World
If we must subscribe to any particular day at all, why not one that promotes positivity? Nobody should feel guilty for failing to feel festive at Christmas time or disappointed on their birthday, it’s perfectly okay to be single on Valentine’s Day, and it is no less than human to experience a spectrum of emotions on so-called ‘Blue Monday’.
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Tell us what you think by emailing us at comment@ palatinate.org.uk
Thursday 7th February 2019 | PALATINATE
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Profile
Meeting the real 70% With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, Profile hears from eight couples who have become part of the infamous Durham 70% Ella Catherall & Jamima Westermann Profile Editors In 2013, The Independent reported that Durham University is thought to have the highest rate of interstudent marriages in Britain. Roughly 72% of students will marry a fellow Durham alumnus, a third of couples starting a relationship only after graduation. This is by far the highest percentage of any UK university, with the national average typically standing at 1820%. What is it about the Durham bubble that so often leads to wedding bells? Do college marriage proposals soon lead to real ones? Are love potions secretly mixed into the Johnny Woodgates? With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, Palatinate spoke to eight happy couples who found love in the land of castles and Klute queues. It was second day of Uni and I was approached by a tall, lanky boy in Varisity Pub (now known as the Library). He introduced himself and we danced for a bit but it was clear to me that he was mostly interested in talking to my friend, who I’d come with that night. Somehow, he ended up in my room but it was terribly innocent. I had no intention of getting involved with anyone who wasn’t Sri Lankan and I think he thought of me as his opportunity to have a token brown friend. We ended up talking the entire night and the only thing I remember is at one point, he looked at me and said “I’ve never felt a connection like this before - never talked to someone like this”. So started an epic friendship, that had several misunderstandings - he made me chase him, I had to break it to my parents, who then demanded we get married and move to Sri Lanka. It’s been 7 years and we’ve had to move from Durham to London to Colombo and have one crazy big South Asian wedding but we’re now finally settled in Sri Lanka. We were friends first and foremost and have survived long distance and visa complications and the sometimes awkwardness of an interracial marriage. Now, he’s everyone’s token white friend - talk about reverse colonialism. - Manjaree Gamage-Brooker David and I met before our first lecture in 2012. We were friends for a long
Durham and it’s opportunities to time (including me telling him meet in lectures, Klute and on field I liked him, and him saying no trips. #cheese! (at my college wedding!) then - Emms Moger him coming to my house every Monday lunchtime in second year We met in 2011. Jack was the for free toasties) before we finally first person I met when I moved got together in second year after into halls (John Snow College I’m a romantic yet confusing kiss afraid...). in Klute after a Choral Society concert. Even better, we went away for six weeks on an archaeological project in second year, during which my tutor asked everyone else on the project if we were dating (which we weren’t) before coming up with his own dramatic story about how David had rejected me but I was planning my revenge... He first proposed to me during a summer ball in 2015 by the side of a lake, before “officially” asking again (after he’d talked to my parents!) in the (Photograph: Petr Ovralov via grounds of John’s. Unsplash) He sent me on a treasure hunt with a map and multiple clues on how to find him. As we’re both archaeologists it was perfect! Unfortunately for me, each clue contained a letter that was highlighted that combined to spell a word. It took me far too long to rearrange the letters into the word “blue”... The final clue was “X marks the spot”, but I took him too literally and dug a hole in the wrong place - he had to shout from his hiding place to get me to excavate in the He (Photograph: Patrick Tomasso via right spot. came Unsplash) I eventually found my to my buried engagement ring and room to offer me tea or coffee and said yes, but we also managed to let me know that a few others to annoy a visitor to John’s by had arrived and were chatting in popping champagne - they looked the kitchen. out of their window towards us, Our relationship blossomed huffed and forcefully closed the after the Freshers’ Ball and we curtains. made our relationship “official” We got married in September after he came to stay with my 2017 in York Minster and have family at Christmas. enjoyed annoying each other ever We stayed together throughout since. uni, weathering yearly Palatinalps As much as we enjoy being a trips, a university exchange Durham statistic, we wouldn’t to China and the dreaded have met had it not been for
dissertations. After graduation, we moved straight to Clapham in London where I started working in a Special Needs school and he started working in Healthcare PR. After 2 years and a series of terrible landlords, we bought our first place in Richmond. He proposed to me during a romantic weekend in Bruges and we married earlier this year (June 2nd) at The London Oratory in Knightsbridge. - Gemma Dixey We met at Durham in 2007 through BALADS (Ballroom and Latin American Dance Society).
Margaret’s Church, Westminster Abbey, and have just bought our first house - a period cottage in Surrey which needs lots of work. We will be spending the foreseeable future renovating this alongside our careers as we enter the next chapter of our lives. - Katherine Carter
We were just friends for a while, but bonded over our mutual love of God (and cryptic crosswords). We started dating a year ago, and got engaged a month back, in a field in the valley down the road from my parent’s house. By the time we get married in August, we’ll have been longdistance for two years! We write letters and see each other as often as we can, and we both are very much looking forward to when we get to say goodbye to each other at the train station for the last time. I can’t wait for many happy years loving Jesus together, he’s a wonderful man. Lucy Davenport
We met at the college boat club (a mutual friend introduced us on our first day at the club!), we were put on the same (Photograph: mrgarethm via Flickr) rowing team and I was his cox throughout our time at We went to different university. colleges (Iain was at Chad’s He had rowed before and I was at Hild Bede) and university but I was new to it, we studied different subjects (Politics competed in regattas a lot. and History/Education Studies We had the typical university respectively) so we probably experience, lots of fun and nights wouldn’t have crossed paths if it out. He studied business and I wasn’t for dancing. did psychology. We were first introduced by a Since university we’ve moved friend at the society’s Christmas around a lot, lived in America, ball which sounds very romantic now back in the UK. but as I was social secretary I was - Rebecca Marsh off busy dealing with logistics and it was another year or so before we So, we met at a Valentine’s Day would start spending a lot more formal dinner at Grey College time together, but it was definitely they joked at the dinner about worth the wait. the marriage statistic at Durham We both graduated from and that we might meet our Durham in 2010 and moved to spouses. London for our jobs. The way it worked was that Today Iain is Political Director you ended up sitting next to two of the Conservative Party and I’m people of the opposite sex who a Curator at Chartwell (Winston you may or may not know- and Churchill’s House) so there’s a lot you paid to move seats and the of overlap in our worlds. money went to charity. We got married in July 2017 in St At the very last moment I
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PALATINATE | Thursday 7th February 2019
Profile
“They joked at the
paid to sit opposite Lewis and his friend because my friend knew him from Frisbee. We didn’t actually talk that much at dinner as he was more opposite my friend and he bought her a cactus as a gift - but after the formal we went to the bar and got chatting & I spilled a Fanta banta (Grey College drink) over his college gown and he bought me another one. This was in my first year and his second year. We started dating and in my third year we moved in together at uni & got engaged just before graduation (2015), and we got married last year! - Kate Middleton-Tansley
Nick and I met on my first full day at Durham in Loft on North Road on a night out (I stole his shirt and wore it back to college!) He’d been there for a year already as he was doing a Masters. We both went to Hatfield College and after successfully completing a psychology degree (me) and a Masters in Mechanical Engineering (Nick), we both graduated in 2009. We bought our first house in 2011 and got engaged in Vegas in 2017. In August, we went back to our beloved Hatfield to get married. Anthony Bash conducted the ceremony in Hatfield Chapel, we had our wedding breakfast in the dining hall and our evening reception in the refurbished bar. A real “Hatfield Ever After” story! - Vicki Sandbrook
dinner about the marriage statistic at Durham and that we might meet our spouses
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I think he thought of me as his opportunity to have a token brown friend
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A real “Hatfield Ever After” story!
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Thursday 7th February 2019 | PALATINATE
SciTech
CO2 levels set to increase drastically in 2019
The increase in being driven by the continuous burning of fossil fuels
Hadley centre said this was mainly due the the fact carbon sinks have been “relatively weak” due to human influences such as burning fossil fuels. A report by the Nature Journal also raised concerns over the health of the natural environment due to rising CO2 levels and global temperatures, specifically how this will affect soil moisture levels and the ability of different plant species to thrive in natural habitats. It also stated the ability of plants to absorb carbon from the atmosphere remained “highly uncertain” due to the unknown concentrations of CO2 predicted for the future. Data was harvested from four different models to isolate changes in land soil moisture.
An El Niño event occurs when the tropical Pacific swings into a warm phase, causing many regions to have warmer and drier weather. Trees and plants are natural carbon sinks because they absorb CO2 as they grow, but this is reduced in El Niño years. Professor Richard Betts of the Met Office
On top of these concerning new statistics, the thinktank World Resources Institute published a report explaining how the world was as long way off from successfully reducing these emissions. It
Joshua Hurn A string of new scientific reports have confirmed concerns about rising CO2 levels in the Earth’s atmosphere. This week, the Met Office published new findings which confirmed this year will see one of the largest rises in atmospheric CO2 concentration since records began. The increase is being driven by the continuous burning of fossil fuels and the destruction of forests and will be particularly high in 2019 due to an expected return towards ‘El Niño-like conditions’.
The United States saw emissions rise by 3.4% in 2018
states, “Tremendous opportunities to scale up and accelerate action remain untapped across all sectors”. Wealthier nations have been criticised by several institutions for failing to reduce their CO2 emissions enough, with the Unites States in particular being put under the spotlight by environmental groups as their emissions rose by 3.4% in 2018.
“Around the world this heat has different impacts”
Academics and scientists have expressed their dismay at the most recent predictions for 2019. Dr Chris Jones from the Met Office explained what these findings could potentially mean for our future: “Around the world this heat has different impacts. In some places, it’s hotter and drier and you get more forest fires. In a tropical rainforest, for instance, you reduce the natural growth of the vegetation.” Others commented on how this demonstrates a failure of global fossil fuel strategy. “The increases
(Billy Wilson via Flickr) in CO2 are a function of our continued reliance on fossil fuels,” said Dr Anna Jones, from the British Antarctic Survey.
The rise in CO2 is entirely at odds with limiting global warming to 1.5C
What’s critical, however, is that the persistent rise in atmospheric
CO2 is entirely at odds with the ambition to limit global warming to 1.5C. We need to see a reduction in the rate of CO2 emissions, not an increase.” Predictions for the future of CO2 in 2019 demonstrates a concerning journey towards rising temperatures and rising sea levels with unforeseen devastation around the world.
Mental illness engineered in cloned monkeys
Hershikka Tourani
smaller number of affected individuals.
Chinese scientists have recently genetically edited monkey clones to “turn off” a sleep regulation gene, in order to better study sleep regulation disorders and mental illnesses in humans in the future. This controversial experiment highlights many ethical issues, including those surrounding animal rights, cloning and genetic engineering.
Genetically edited monkeys showed signs of depression, anxiety and sleep disorders
China is the only country to successfully clone primates
The experiment was conducted with CRISPR-cas9, a pioneering genetic technology that acts as “molecular scissors”, essentially allowing scientists to select, cut, copy and paste genes with much more precision and ease than ever before. The researchers used this technology to “turn off” the BMAL1 gene in a monkeys, a gene that plays a crucial part in circadian rhythm regulation. “Disorder of circadian rhythm could lead to many human dis-
(Institute of Neuroscience) eases, including sleep disorders, diabetic mellitus, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases, our BMAL1-knockout monkeys thus could be used to study the disease pathogenesis as well as therapeutic treatments,” said Hung-Chun Chang, senior investigator at the Institute of Neuroscience. China is currently the only
country to successfully clone primates, which are notoriously difficult to clone compared to other mammals. The cloning was said to be done in order to minimise the quantity of monkeys used, by limiting the genetic variation between monkeys and thus being able to isolate the effects of the “turned off” gene with a much
The scientists considered this experiment to be a success as the genetically edited monkeys showed signs of “negative behaviour” such as depression, increased levels of anxiety, sleep disorders, and “schizophrenialike behaviours”. Newspapers in China claim that the clones would pave the way for more research into sleep disorders in humans. Unlike the controversial HIV editing experiment from last month which used human embryos, this experiment was fully legalised and approved by the Chinese government, but many bioethicists claim that it should not and would not be approved in countries with stricter ethical regulations. Prominent American bioethicist Carolyn Neuhaus pointed out that the researchers had neither
a scientific hypothesis nor a new treatment they were trying to prove or disprove, both critical elements to gaining access to work on primates. Rather, she claimed, the scientists were simply “turning off” a crucial gene to see what happened, likening it to deleting a “cryptically named file” off of a computer to see what would happen.
It is imperative that international legislative bodies draw a line
With the excitement surrounding the new genome editing technology CRISPR, it is imperative that both international legislative bodies and the public come to a consensus about where to draw the line with genetic engineering. If not, our decision to dither may come at the cost of further animal and human rights violations.
Want to write for us? Send an email to scitech@ palatinate.org.uk
Thursday 7th February 2019 | PALATINATE
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Politics Tanay Vankayalapati 8 out of 10 Venezuelans live in poverty. The IMF forecasts its hyperinflation to hit an annualised rate of 1 million percent in 2019. Oil output is at an all-time low. Yet somehow, its embattled President Nicolas Maduro retains his post. The Venezuelan crisis is not just one of statistics. It is a democratic struggle between a dictator and an insurgent, an ideational proxy war between the worlds superpowers and a seemingly perennial economic catastrophe all rolled up into one. None of the problems appear to have an easy fix, yet they do have a common factor: the man that Hugo Chavez chose to be his successor as leader - This is now, for all intents and purposes, Maduro’s crisis.
It is a democratic struggle and an ideational proxy war
After winning another term as President in May 2018, in what was an election in name only, the legitimacy of Maduro’s governance has been heavily disputed. After his inauguration this month, newly assumed leader of the main opposition coalition, Juan Guaido
Venezuela: a country in crisis? declared himself as the rightful interim president, with the promise of free and fair elections – a move supported by the millions of his supporters now rallying behind him. Maduro however, refused to relinquish his right to rule, and is backed by the armed forces.
None of the problems appear to have an easy fix
Guaido himself, however popular, is not the reason the Venezuelan crisis has reached tipping point. Indeed, he was largely unknown on the international stage before this unprecedented move. Rather, the crisis has been escalated to the forefront of the international agenda, by the involvement of foreign powers, The United States at its head, who have issued statements recognising Guaido as the legitimate head of the Venezuelan state. Maduro’s close allies however, including Russia and China, remain behind him, having declared this another sign of American imperialism. As was the case in Syria, two coalitions split along strict ideological lines and functional goals support differing leaders, with no compromise appearing likely.
The question now is whether this crisis will end in same way the Syrian one did, with armed conflict. Whilst the US looks reluctant to remove Maduro by force (though not ruling it out) they have already begun applying pressure in different ways. Sanctions on Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA will hurt the Venezuelan economy given the United States remains it’s foremost trading partner, and oil its most lucrative export. The sanctions themselves are unlikely to deter Maduro and there is a risk that they will only serve to further hurt the Venezuelan people, without leading to a change in governance. If that does prove to be the case, Maduro’s grasp will tighten, and the plight of his citizens will continue to worsen. So can this crisis ever be resolved? Guaido has suggested that the only way Maduro could be displaced now through the abandonment of his military commanders, and this appears to be true. Whether the opposition leader can achieve this however is highly questionable. His own security is under threat, as Maduro attempts to reduce his economic and diplomatic power. Guaido may not see the end of the revolution he has begun.
Regardless, it now appears Nicolas Maduro’s reign will come to an end, sooner rather than later. These protests have set into motion events to make the international community take action, and the Venezuelan cries for freedom are unlikely to quieten.
that Hong Kong should be maintained under the same ‘one country, two systems’ approach that Taiwan already enjoys.
Zoe Haylock
haps pragmatic, omits any intricacies or notion of identity. To suggest that Hong Kong should be Chinese could be morally dubious. When Hong Kong was handed back to China in 1997, the people were promised that their social and political freedoms would be retained. Yet, this has not become reality. Rights are continuously being restricted and the brutal government reaction to the Umbrella protests of 2014 shows that Hong Kong is now indisputably entrenched in Chinese Communist totalitarianism. Referring back to the notion of identity is essential to this debate. It may be argued that the people of Hong Kong feel greatly aligned with British culture, and thus see themselves as part of this country.
It is thought that independence always corresponds with freedom. Yet, life and politics is not that simple. Hong Kong was part of China and then ceded to Britain under the Treaty of Nanjing after the first Opium War. As Hong Kong was under Chinese control to begin with, surely Hong Kong should return to the China? This view, although per-
This identity cannot just be nullified, and a quick transition from being British or Chinese to being an independent state would be tricky, complex and perhaps unstable. However, the British people could be seen as unqualified to hold an opinion over Hong Kong’s
The only question now appears to be how much longer the people will have to suffer
The Venezuelan economy cannot survive for much longer, with or without economic sanctions. The only question now ap-
pears to be how much longer the people will have to suffer, until they can be rid of Maduro, and begin the long process of rebuilding their broken nation. Decree will allow citizens to protect themselves against the country’s violent crime, or in his words, “that good citizens can at this first moment have peace inside their homes.” By contrast, the Brazilian Public Security Forum’s President, Renato Lima, said that the decree “is a gateway to violence and terrible news for public security.” Given a flavour of what controversies might arise in the near future.
(Joka Madruga via Flickr)
Debate: should Hong Kong be fully autonomous? Rights are continuously being restricted in Hong Kong
(Studio Incendo via Flickr)
Lydia Buckroyd On the global stage, we like to see ourselves as the supporters of freedom in the face of authoritarian regimes. And yet where Hong Kong is concerned, the global community shuts its eyes. Never mind the fact that bookshop owners housing critical political books have disappeared, or that the legitimate election of proindependence candidates has been blocked. Since the 1997 handover, Hong Kong has been considered to be China’s issue and is therefore
invisible to international concerns. Ignoring the archaic handover itself which harked back to the colonial era, Hong Kong’s oppression means independence has become a necessity.
The global community shuts its eyes when it comes to Hong Kong
Under the 1984 Sino-British Treaty that agreed the terms of the handover, it was agreed
But this agreement has been steadily intruded upon. From China prosecuting activists to banning political parties, even the Chinese foreign minister declared the agreement a ‘piece of paper’ with ‘no practical significance’. The mainland has continuously shown itself to be incapable of honouring the rights of the people of Hong Kong, and for that it should seek independence.
To suggest that Hong Kong should be Chinese could be morally dubious
identity. What is important is not whether Hong Kong should be independent but how best to protect the freedoms of its people. Instead, the British people should listen to the people of Hong Kong, who ultimately are the ones whose voices should be heard.
“
What is most important is how best to protect the freedom of Hong Kong’s people
”
CORRECTION In our last edition we credited Anasuya Narasimhan‘s article to Zoe Haylock and Zoe Haylock’s article to Isabella Chalmers-Arnold. Our apologies.
PALATINATE | Thursday 7th February 2019
15
Politics
Trump advisor Roger Stone arrested Palatinate interviewed Roger Stone last year when he made an address at the Durham Union
Simon Green As if the failure of his government shutdown wasn’t enough of a blow for the 45th President of the United States, the latest developments in what he has termed the “Greatest Witch Hunt in the History of our Country” will have undoubtedly bruised his sizeable ego even more. On 25th January Roger Stone was added to the list of former Trump confidants arrested due to the Special Counsel investigation into the 2016 Presidential campaigns’ alleged collusion in the Russian Government’s interference.
Roger Stone was added to the list of former Trump confidants arrested
CNN captured the moment that FBI agents raided the Florida home of Stone, a move that has been criticised by Trump’s supporters, and Stone himself, as an unnecessary use of force. A friend of the property tycoon-turned-President for four decades, Stone’s slippery and bullish character is evident in
the Netflix documentary Get Me Roger Stone, in which his penchant for provocation is exemplified when he reveals a tattoo of disgraced former President Richard Nixon on his back, for whom he worked briefly as a consultant. While his portrayal in that documentary shows him to be a proud modern-day Machiavellian, his political ‘trickery’ seems to have caught up with him, as he was indicted on seven counts including witness tampering, obstruction and lying to Congress, all of which Mr Stone denies. The indictment filed by the Mueller team alleges that Mr Stone was in contact with WikiLeaks, under the instruction of a ‘senior member’ of the Trump campaign, ahead of the organisation releasing emails belonging to senior members of the Democratic Party in the lead up to the 2016 Presidential election. Mueller’s indictment references emails and texts sent by Trump’s former right hand man, including one in which he tells an associate to “do a Frank Pentangeli” when about to talk to a Congressional committee, referencing a character in the Godfather Part II where a witness claims to know nothing about the Corleone
(The Durham Union)
family’s criminal connections. While the Trump associates that have already been arrested have almost all become cooperating witnesses in the Mueller probe, Stone will follow not suit. When talking to Palatinate last year following an address to the Durham Union, Stone’s view of those former aides who spoke out against Trump was clear: “the President is en-
The court is marshalled
Aisha Hussain The United States Supreme Court has voted in the favour of the Trump administration regarding the proposed ban on transgender individuals serving in the US military. The 5-4 vote was split on ideological lines, with the conservative majority voting in favour of lifting injunctions imposed against the ‘ban’ since it was originally announced in mid-2017. The decision remains without explanation, as the justices wait for rulings coming from lower state courts.
Most transgender people are now unable to serve in the US Military
Controversy regarding the ban of transgender Americans serving in the military began as soon as the President took to Twitter to declare his intention to prevent these individuals to serve ‘in any capacity in the US Military’, due to a supposed burden of ‘tremendous medical costs and disruption’. This undid policy enacted un-
titled to […] discretion at a minimum and loyalty most certainly”.
Stone’s slippery character is evident in the Netflix documentary Get Me Roger Stone
Stone’s trial date is as yet undecided, but it’s thought that his very
LGBT+ in Egypt
Charlotte Alt
der President Obama, who had worked to ensure transgender Americans could not only serve openly in the gender they identified with, but also fought to obtain funding for individuals who sought gender re-assignment surgery while serving in the military. As a result of the recent court ruling, most transgender people are now unable to serve in the US Military, unless they are willing to identify with their birth sex in service. The response from the Department of Defense has been controversial, with several spokespeople defending the decision as an
(DVIDSHUB via Flickr) action deemed ‘necessary to best defend our nation’. Despite the ruling, enforcement of the ban by the Department of Defense currently remains temporary. A final resolution cannot be reached until the lower state courts have made rulings on several individual disputes brought against the Trump administration. Although the Supreme Court ruling has upheld the ban, the current legal proceedings in lower courts puts the fate of the estimated 15,000 transgender individuals currently serving at question.
public insistence on loyalty is in order to gain a Presidential pardon in the event of a conviction. Despite that normally being an unthinkable move, thankfully for Stone, it does not seem there is a norm that President Trump won’t break.
Mohammed el-Gheiti, an Egyptian TV presenter, was charged with a one-year jail sentence and a fine of 3,000 Egyptian pounds (£130), for interviewing a gay sex worker. El-Gheiti aired an episode of his chat show Wake Up, in which a male sex worker talked about his relationship with another man, but especially expressed his regret at being a prostitute. Homosexuality is not illegal in Egypt, yet homosexuals are often persecuted under charges of pornography,prostitutionordebauchery.
Homosexuals are often persecuted under charges of pornography, prostitution or debauchery
Additionally, the Supreme Council for Media Regulation banned the appearance of homosexuals on any media outlet in 2017. Lawyer Samir Sabry accused ElGheiti of publicising the idea that “practicing homosexuality” could lead to financial gain. The Mis-
demeanour court in Ginza consequently sentenced him on account of ‘promoting homosexuality, incitement to debauchery and immorality and contempt of religion.’
Amnesty International described this incident as sending a “dangerous message”
Amnesty International described this incident as sending a “dangerous message,” as “it represents yet another blow against freedom of expression, the LGBTI community and diversity in Egypt.” Egypt’s government increased their crackdown on the LGBT community following a concert of the Lebanese pro-LGBTI band Mashrou Leila in 2017. After the crackdown 57 people were arrested because a rainbow flag had been shown during the concert.
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Thursday 7th February 2019 | PALATINATE
Politics
Debate: Should we sell our data? Henry Warner Personal data is intrinsically linked with the choices that an individual makes. At times it is almost impossible to distinguish between an individual exercising control over the flow of such information and the choices which generate the information in the first place. This is obviously so in the physical world where the data that exists in the minds of others about us is generated by what we do in their presence. The compli-
cation comes when we start looking at actions and qualities which are expressed on online platforms.
Our online personal data is easily collected and its value is easily extracted
On the internet personal data is easily collected and its value easily extracted. Currently a market place exists between users and data collectors, we (the users) act and they (the data collectors) collect. The (Timothy Vollmer via Flickr)
trade takes place when we decide to do something rather than something else on a particular platform and in turn receive a service. Our choice of platform determines which collector gets our data and what service we are provided.
We should be free to choose who knows about our data
Taking Snapchat as an example we get the value of the Snapchat service in return for our attention and our data. This trade is not monetary, however, it is a trade nevertheless. No force is used to make us use one particular platform over another and we have the choice not to use any platform at all. As markets go, our choice of social media platform is relatively unregulated. This is a good thing as the intrinsic link between personal data and our choices means that if we believe that we should be free to choose how we live our lives we should be free to choose who knows about it, which is how things currently stand.
Will Article 50 be extended? Dan Egglestone The issue that The Telegraph suggests ‘looks inevitable’ and the BBC says is ‘uncharted territory’ – that of extending Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty – is a dangerous one. The case that we need more time to negotiate our way out of the union we are locked in with Europe is one that will fall on deaf ears in Brussels, as the better part of our requests have, and will burn time in debate and argument that we no longer possess. Michel Barnier’s flat refusal to renege on the “Backstop”, a proposal that will threaten the rest of the UK’s relationship with North-
ern Ireland – a constituent part of our nation – is further proof that extra time will not change the attitude of the European negotiating team in any substantial way.
Any extension will not be acceptable to a European team
A couple of weeks, maybe. A couple of months, perhaps (although it will mean straddling the European elections). But any further extension, only for a deeply torn Parliament to argue over the contents of the final deal will not be acceptable to a European team that be-
lieves, as it has said time and again, that the negotiations are over. It was only on Tuesday that Commons passed Graham Brady’s amendment, by 317 votes to 301, to accept Mrs May’s deal should changes be made to the “Backstop”. As expected, Barnier has refused us again. Giving him more time to think over an issue he has already given a clear answer to adds no pressure, no impetus, to change. With now less than two months until we leave (and legally we do leave the EU at 23:00 on 29 March) and the very real possibility of “No Deal” looming, we need to show our willingness and commitment to leaving the EU no matter what, otherwise Barnier has no reason to change his mind.
“ Extra time will
not change the attitude of the European negotiation team (Hernán Piñera via Flickr)
”
Piers Eaton The idea that an individual should be able to sell their data sounds great and fair on the surface. But the devil is in the details, and the details here reveal bad, unintended consequences. The first is that platforms like Facebook, which are already built to be as addictive as possible, are suddenly given a huge boost in their addictiveness. Because the amount we will be able sell our data for will be derived from the amount and quality of the data we are selling, we will have an incentive to spend more time on Facebook, scrolling and liking. At the moment, Facebook is something we may freely choose to spend time on, but if we can sell our data, then it becomes a supplementary income, creating perverse incentives to waste away free time online. Another consequence is the people we expect to be helped most by data - those worst off in society - will be those most negatively affected.
(morebyless via Flickr) Firms such as Cambridge Analytica have claimed they can use people’s data to manipulate how they vote, and if we treat people’s data as a commodity, we are basically giving a license to companies and political consulting to use the data in perverse ways. Because people who are well off won’t have to sell their data, it will only be poor people who are targeted for manipulation. By putting a price on our data and information we would be putting a price on our autonomy, and by putting a price on autonomy, we are putting pressure on those struggling to make ends meet to sell their autonomy, while allowing the financially comfortable to hold on to theirs.
Salmond in deep water
Izzy McCarthy The ex-First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, found himself back in the public eye last month as he was accused of sexual assualt. He is currently facing fourteen charges that include sexual assault and two attempted rape, after voluntarily attending the Scottish court to answer to charges.
Salmond has never been far from controversy
He insists that he is ‘innocent of any criminality whatsoever’. On the surface, the image of Salmond during his time as leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) was one of commitment, loyalty, and boldness with his ambition to change to Scottish government, and ‘bullish promises’ to abolish student debt. However, Salmond has never been far from controversy; his persona is, for many, unappealing. In 1982 he was expelled from the SNP, reflecting upon it later he described his actions as being the result of being a ‘brash young man’. Salmond is well-known for his ambition for Scottish independence. An ambition that was nearly realised in 2014 with 45%
(Scottish Parliament via Wikimedia Commons) of Scots supporting his campaign for independence. Opposition parties regularly referred to him as ‘obsessed’ with independence and taking his ‘eye off the ball’ from Scotland’s needs.
Salmond has stated the need to ‘observe the rules of the court’
Now, only a few remain loyal to him, including his wife Moira. His relationship with the SNP has since deteriorated. Salmond has previously stated the need to ‘observe the rules of the court’.
REALITY CHECK? For sources on this and all our articles please see our online editions at www.palatinate.org.uk
Thursday 7h February 2019 | PALATINATE
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Sport
Durham Parkrun: fun and free fitness right on your doorstep
Tim Sigsworth Deputy Sports Editor With track records of success and many dedicated, hard-working athletes part of the student body, organised sport at Durham University can seem intimidating to those not already in the fold. Furthermore, friction between the University, its students, and the local community can also lead to student anxiety about sporting opportunities outside not offered at Maiden Castle.
It is open to anyone and accessible to all abilities One of the many schemes and groups which do great work to reduce this university-community uneasiness is the Durham Parkrun, a volunteer-led running group. This academic year, Palatinate Sport has sought to highlight the wealth of sporting success and opportunity available at the University and in Durham itself. So we sat down with co-event directors Antony and Clare Clish to learn more about Parkrun, and what is has to offer the student body. What is Durham Parkrun? “Durham Parkrun is a free 5km timed run which takes place at
9 a.m. every Saturday from the Graham Sports Centre, Maiden Castle. It is open to everyone and accessible to people of all abilities.” How long has Parkrun been running (pardon the pun)? “Durham Parkrun has been running since August 2011 when one-hundred and fiftyseven runners took part. We have seen our numbers grow consistently over the time we have been operating and the record attendance is currently sixhundred and eight participants.” Who can get involved? “Our focus is on increasing participation in exercise and as such we have been pleased to see not only fast runners complete the course but also those who jog, walk, or run and walk.
“It’s a good place to test yourself against other runners” Anyone can participate in the event, from more active individuals looking to achieve a personal best to those who simply want to get more exercise by walking or jogging the distance. On the last Saturday of each month we hold paced runs with
▲Durham students after completing a Parkrun (Dewi Erwan)
pacers covering twenty, twentytwo, twenty-five, twenty-seven, thirty, and thirty-five minutes, and this is a great way to challenge yourself. The volunteering side of things is just as welcoming, too. Anyone can volunteer, the roles are really easy and full training is given. Our volunteers marshal the route, keep time, give out finishing tokens, scan barcodes and generally make sure that the event runs smoothly.”
are opportunities for students to become more involved in the running of the event and gain some valuable employability skills by doing so.”
fifty and five-hundred.“ “If you’d like to volunteer, then email us at durhamoffice@ parkrun.com to let us know when you’d like to volunteer and which role you’d like to do.
What are the aims of Durham Parkrun for the future?
Our students are a very important part of the Parkrun community
Why should Durham University students come along?
How can I get involved?
“Participating in Parkrun is completely free and is an excellent way to increase your level of activity. Many other students and members of the local community regularly run with us and are all really friendly so it’s a great place to meet new people and exercise at the same time. Many of the local running clubs have members who run with us so it’s a good place to make contact with and test yourself against other runners if that’s what you’d like to do. We also have around thirty volunteers every week so there
“We simply aim to enable as many people as possible to enjoy running, walking or volunteering with us.”
“If you register at www.parkrun. org.uk/register then all you need to do is print off a copy of your barcode and turn up at 9 a.m. on Saturdays.
“We simply aim to enable as many people as possible to enjoy running” Once the event is over results are processed and you’ll receive a text and an email with your time. Once you have completed fifty runs you can claim a free t-shirt and then another when you do one-hundred, two-hundred and
Our volunteering rosters can be found at http://www.parkrun. org.uk/durham/futureroster/. Similar to our runners, volunteers can claim a free t-shirt after they have volunteered for twenty-five runs. Of course, many runners also volunteer from time to time too. Durham Parkrun is a community event and as our students are a very important part of that community we’d very much like to encourage you to come along to either run, walk or volunteer with us.” So if you’re looking for a fun way to get some exercise on a Saturday morning, and maybe meet some new people, look no further.
“My pride will kick in and I’ll start training to defend my title” Continued from back page ...just being able to compete to the best of his ability appears the goal. So having won such an accolade at such a young age, where does this leave him now? He is currently living in Sydney,
enjoying “the full joys of Australian summer heat,” and is still training and loving his life post-university. He has also hinted a shift of his career trajectory. “I’ve recently joined the British Fencing Board as a Director so my involvement in the sport might be a little more admin-based in the near future.”
Despite this, Tommy was also adamant that actual fencing will be part of his life for much longer. This is especially convenient as the Commonwealth’s also offer a veteran competition alongside the Junior and Senior. His natural desire for competition came through again
after joking that he may have to find a new sport after fencing “which let my knees and back recover from the hammering I’ve given them so far” This being said, in four years time, when the Commonwealth’s come back around he stated “my pride will kick in and I’ll start
training to defend my title.” But if he keeps up his staunch professionalism and remains humble, it seems that he has a bright future both competing in and being an ambassador for the sport.
PALATINATE | Thursday 7th February 2019
19
Sport
DUWRFC charity match: A resounding success Erin Collins If freezing temperatures and lastminute venue swaps deterred spectators, you couldn’t tell. Intrepid fans sat and stood, sometimes five people deep, to make up what some have heralded as the largest spectatorship of any women’s sporting activity in Durham to date.
Arguably Durham’s supremacy lay in executing the basics The crowd’s suffering was rewarded with a steady flow of tries that asserted Durham’s dominance and maintained a strong and unwavering lead against Newcastle University 1st XV. Indeed, had you turned up only five minutes late, you would have missed two speedy tries and by half time, Durham were already eight tries up with number 13, Coreen Grant, having already scored a hat trick. The game ended 69-5 to Durham with rapturous applause and a dash for the warmth. Interestingly, almost as many tries were scored by forwards as backs, with prop Heather Kerr taking two as well as both second
rows: Roshini Turner & Trudy Cowan, making decent ground to put points on the board. Coming into the first game of the term after two months break and the pressure of a large home crowd was never going to be easy. Arguably, Durham’s supremacy lay in executing the basics, echoing coach Cameron Henderson’s famous adage “do the simple things well”. However, the range of tries scored also showed the adaptability of the girls, an echoing roar went up for hooker Tilly Kidd as she stepped multiple opponents and made impressive ground, displaying agility and speed rarely found in the “Tight 5”.
The range of tries scored also showed the adaptability of the girls Conversely, the strength of full-back Liddie Harris to break through so many defenders and score Durham’s ninth try was impressive, especially for a back. Indeed, as the commentary noted, she has played twelve of rugby’s fifteen positions in her university career, moving on occasion directly from winger to prop. Other tries came from the evening’s wingers, Lydia Otulakowski and Katie Moran, who displayed Durham’s characteristic
arguably second to the success of fundraising. The game raised a grand total of over £1600 for Wooden Spoon, the children’s rugby charity, whilst supporting Tamara Taylor in her record-breaking attempt to play rugby on Everest Basecamp. She is hoping to raise £200,000.
The game raised a grand total of £1600 for Wooden Spoon
rapid pace and executed some beautiful moves, impressive feats at the best of times, never mind that sub-zero temperatures make accuracy difficult. Despite Durham’s dominance, Newcastle gave an excellent performance and were not sent home pointless. In the second half a strong attack over many phases brought them close to Durham’s tryline and despite a valiant defence from the girls in palatinate, Newcastle prevailed. Indeed, the performance did justice to supporters from both sides who were rewarded with a well-contested game which highlighted the excellence that can be found in women’s rugby across the country.
▲Coach Tamara Taylor (Sally Evans) The achievements within the game aside, we must draw attention to the occasion that this game represented. After meticulous planning and last-minute ice-induced re-organisation, DUWRFC’s inaugural charity rugby match went down in Team Durham history as an unqualified success. The work of second and third team players to deliver such a successful event must be applauded, it highlights the cohesion of the club from the support of College teams through to the organisers, the event could not have gone ahead without such extensive voluntary effort. Although true success cannot be reduced to a statistic, the on-pitch achievement was
Such a sum of money for a game of egg-chasing on a cold winter’s night, is testament to the dedication of this team and the support of friends, local rugby teams and other university sports to come together for a celebration of great sport and good fun. To everyone who attended: thank you. To everyone else: we’ll see you next time! All in all, a hugely successful evening. One improvement? Next time maybe just bring another jumper…
Usain Bolt: a legend on and off the track, but maybe not on the football pitch Oliver Scott ‘It was fun while it lasted’ commented Usain Bolt in his typically playful manner, as he called time on his sporting career, a year after swapping his spikes for his studs and embarking on a short-lived football adventure. In spite of a career on the pitch mirrored only by Ali Dia, Bolt’s illustrious sprinting career means that he will be considered one of the greatest sportsmen to have ever lived. Since bursting onto the global scene at the Beijing Olympics in
2008, Bolt’s ability on the track and bubbly personality off it meant he has become the face of athletics and one of the most recognisable figures in global sport.
Bolt changed the perception of what a sprinter should be He caught the attention of not just athletics fans but all sporting fans in the Birds Nest Stadium when he celebrated his 100m victory with twenty meters to (Nick Webb via Flickr)
go. He was quickly branded arrogant by the global media, but they soon came to realise he could back this self-confidence up. His world record of 9.69 seconds, despite clearly easing up towards the finish marked the start of Bolt’s dominance of the sprinting world for the best part of a decade. Experts estimated Bolt’s time could have been as quick as 9.51 seconds had he not slowed down, but that did not matter, he had the first of his nine Olympic gold medals and Usain Bolt became a household name overnight. 2009 however, would be the pinnacle of Bolt’s career. He went into the World Championships in Berlin as a firm favourite for all three sprinting events and rightly so. Bolt eclipsed both his own world records by over a tenth of a second each, running 9.58 seconds in the 100m and 19.19 seconds in the 200m. He completed his treble at the Championships, winning the 4x100m relay with the Jamaican team, running the second-fastest
time in history, bettered only by their own world record set in Beijing the previous year. Recovering from his disqualification for a false start in the 100m final at the 2011 World Championships, Bolt would go on to win the 200m and 4x100m at the same event whilst picking up his fourth Olympic gold medal in London, running the second fastest time in history of 9.63 seconds. The 2017 World Championships would be Bolt’s last appearance on the track, winning bronze in the 100m, the first time he had lost a major sprinting event since 2007. This marked the end of the ‘Bolt era’ of dominance over the sport. In a decade his rivals Asafa Powell, Tyson Gay, Yohan Blake and most recently Justin Gatlin all tried to get best him, but couldn’t. Bolt changed the perception of what a sprinter should be. Since the days of Jesse Owens in the 1930s, it was assumed a sprinter must be short, compact and quick off the blocks, as all world record holders had been. His sheer size meant that
although he may be behind after 30m, he would sure be ahead by 70. No one could match Bolt’s ground speed and when he was in full flow it was beautiful to watch, as he left the rest of the field in his wake.
Usain Bolt became a household name overnight It is clear that looking back over Bolt’s illustrious sprinting career, his two appearances for Central Coast Mariners in the A-League will be a mere footnote in the career of the 21st century’s greatest sportsman. A global icon, Bolt will certainly be mentioned in the same breath as the Peles, Muhammad Alis, and Michael Jordans of the world. That was assured long before his footballing career began. Bolt’s records will surely stand for decades to come, a legend on and off the track, he will be remembered as a global icon, and the man who single-handedly carried athletics for over a decade.
Sport
Thursday 7h February 2019 | PALATINATE
Durham Parkrun: fun and free fitness right on your doorstep Deputy Sports Editor Tim Sigsworth finds out how to get involved, and all that is great about this free, weekly fitness event (page 18)
DUWRFC charity match success The Women’s charity game shows again how DUWRFC on not just making an impact on the pitch this season (page 19)
▲ The DUWRFC charity match against Newscastle took place last week (Sally Evans)
“If you love something, you find a way to do it”, Tommy Curran Jones – Senior Commonwealth Epee Champion James Smith Sports Editor Tommy Curran Jones, is Philosophy and Politics graduate, Van Mildert College Alumni, and now Senior Men’s Epee Commonwealth World Champion. After winning the prestigious tournament in Canberra from a field of forty-one top-level athletes, he spoke to me about his victory and how much the sport has shaped his life so far. Tommy started his fencing career in 2005, aged ten, when a fencing club opened near to where he lived. The man running it “turned out to be a former Polish Olympian and I was his first pupil at the new club.”
After finding his new sport Tommy said that three things made him fall in love with it: firstly he was able to invite his school friends along so “it was always just playing with friends after school.” His two coaches, Marek and Kamil, were also great influences on his early career, leading him to choose Epee as his weapon of choice. And finally, fencing helped him fill his appetite for success. “I chose a tiny sport,” he tells me, “so it was easy to do well quickly.” These early successes clearly had him hooked on the sport. In 2015, Tommy was also made Junior Commonwealth Champion, after he had taken a year out to focus solely on his fencing. Despite
this success though, he says “when I won, I didn’t think of myself as that good.” In fact, he notes that year had followed a series of disappointing results at a number of other tournaments and recovering from that was hard. He went on to say that “I certainly didn’t know I was good because I wasn’t always.” Tommy’s blend of humility and his desire to improve appear to have been the key to his success. He is also keen to thank the support he has been given along the way, especially after he got to university. “Team Durham were incredibly helpful in helping me work with my department to sort out any clashes if they occurred.” Team Durham ensured that he had full time coaching, as well as
offering him a sport psychologist if he felt that it was needed. But clearly, at university, it couldn’t have been easy juggling a full time degree and top-level sporting commitments, especially, as Tommy admits, he didn’t have a main priority when he arrived in Durham. “I found trying to keep on top of everything rather than focusing on doing anything in particularly.” Above everything, he knows that “if you love something, you find a way to do it,” and so he did find a way to juggle his academic and sporting commitments. Despite this, though, he did lament that “I wish I had branched out and tried a few more things,” whilst at university. This being said, the dedication
Tommy displayed has clearly paid off. He stated that his Commonwealth title “added further justification to the ludicrous choices I’ve made in pursuing this weird sport.” I asked Tommy whether this was what he had always wanted, but intriguingly he answered “I have only ever fenced because I loved doing it, not because I had any end goal in mind.” Even though winning the Commonwealth’s “meant a great deal more to me than I ever imagine it would,” Tommy gave off the clear impression that fencing was what he loved doing, but it was not the be all and end all to be the best... Continued on page 18