The Insider December 2024

PARTNERS

GENERAL PARTNER

GOLD PARTNERS

Special thanks to

Morten Hansen, Mārtiņš Pumpurs, Madara Šlitke, Alise Kuzmina, Daryna Yanchuk, Arina Hakele, Kristaps Tuskens, Andris Čipāns, Odrija Ozoliņa, Dāvis Tetris, Martins Emīls Millers Silliņš, Oskars Majevskis, Daniels Dzirnieks, Aleksanda Birjukova, Maxim Levchenko, Kārlis Šadris, Rasmus Riim, Aleksis Visockis, Loreta Tauriņa, Matīss Dancis, Matīss Paegle, Citadele, Annija Gaile, Zane Kalniņa, Danija Līva Jaundzema, Elīza Beta Kalve, all the gossiper and, of course, The Insider team!

In case of any queries, contact insider@sseriga.edu or eskudra@sseriga.edu (Editor-in-Chief)

T-MINUS ONE WEEK UNTIL BREAK and we all know everybody needs it We need that calm, those quiet moments to take a breather from whatever these past four weeks have been

Anyway, that’s exactly what we have in store for you today an issue all about quiet moments Because, you know, Christmas is coming up the perfect time for just that

So, what do we have? First up, a debut: CIT ADELE GOSSIPS, but with a twist No, these aren t the rumors happening at Citadele s office, but rather some stories from our dear alumni So definitely check it out and get used to seeing more Citadele articles in the future ;)

What else, what else? We ve added a little twist for our beloved lecturers You definitely know Morten, so this isn ’ t really an introduction Instead, think of it as a “Best Moments of Morten compilation, courtesy of the Class of 2026 a little gift, perhaps?

But that’s not all Have you noticed the two little elves sitting in the library this past year? If you ’ re truly living under a rock, let us introduce you to Madara and Mārtiņš, our beloved librarians Their term is coming to an end as they’ll be leaving soon Perhaps this is your chance to step up reflect and think about it

We h ave also optimized gift giving so it is not too late and go get your loved ones the presents they deserve And don’t forget about 2025, as we have an article on goals that shouldn’t make it to To-Do lists Speaking about reflecting and new year, check out the reflection on things that occured this year that went from quiet to LOUD Something that introverts should do?

Anyway, good luck with all your exams, s ee you in the Christmas Formal, and MERRY CHRISTMAS

T H E

E D I T O R I A L

e c e m b e r

08 ASSOCIATES OF THE YEAR

Almost as anticipated as the Spotify Wrapped – the Associates of the Year It’s the time where we once again find out who has been the busiest, the most helpful, and overall, the best of each of our beloved committees

18 CITADELE GOSSIPS

Who would have thought that working in a bank might not be so boring after all? Our Alumni prove differently and break common stereotypes All whilst combining it with a bit of gossip

An SSE legend? Most definitely Meet Morten - the man who almost singlehandedly has been taking care of all the economics knowledge of SSE students for nearly 30 years

Always

TMartins and Madara, our beloved coursemates who have also held a prominent spot in our library experiences From powernaps in the storage rooms to bare feet in the library, they’ve seen it all!

From

shapeshifters to unapologetically

Associates of the Month

Teteris

BY MORTEN HANSEN

Q U I E T B E F O R E

T H E S T O R M

APPLIED TO ECONOMICS

Can the term “quiet before the storm” be applied to economics, The Insider asks.

Sometimes we even know the exact date of when the storm might come At other times, we know it will come, just not exactly when. Some examples to follow. OH YES!

All may be quiet in terms of interest rates, but we know when the storm may come.

The ECB has its next Governing Council meeting on 12 December where it may decide to cut interest rates further – or not cut at all. Its decision will have big economic impact; we just don’t know what the decision will be – but we know perfectly well the date

As the great economist Rudiger Dornbusch once said,

“IN ECONOMICS, THINGS OFTEN TAKE LONGER TO HAPPEN THAN YOU THINK THEY WOULD –BUT WHEN THEY DO, THEY HAPPEN FASTER THAN YOU THINK THEY COULD”.

In February 2023, the Lebanese central bank gave up and let the exchange shift from 1500 Lebanese pounds to 15,000 – a devaluation of 90%

America Great Again” won the American presidential election – and he is a great fan of crypto currency and would like to see it used more Quiet went away and gave place to the storm.

At other times, we know that there will be a storm – just not when it will hit.

Lebanon had for years run huge current account deficits and had a massive financial crisis in 2019. This means that its central bank had to intervene by selling foreign currency, which it can only do for so long When would it have to cave in and let the Lebanese currency devalue?

It also works in finance. All was rather quiet in terms of crypto but since 5 November 2024, Bitcoin has risen 50% in price.

What happened on 5 November that was so special? A person who likes to wear a baseball cap on which it says “Make

And a last example from microeconomics:

Northvolt – the shining star, founded 2015, on the European car battery scene. All rosy and good.

Until evidence started appearing about the firm’s inability to provide…. And then the storm broke loose when it collapsed on 22 November 2024….

Associates of the Year Alumni Committee - Alise Kuzmina

If it were possible to fit everyone here, I would. This year, we didn’t just make it special we made history I am incredibly proud and deeply grateful for each and every one of you With a team like ours, dreams turn into goals, and goals into reality.

Thank you for never giving up and for proving that, together, nothing is impossible

Lots of love, Alise

This year has flown by so quickly, and I feel incredibly grateful for the chance to lead such an amazing team Of course, there were ups and downs, but with everyone ’ s effort and support, we resolved every challenge I’m proud of what we ’ ve achieved together and hope to see Educom flourish even more next year

Looking back, a few associates truly stood out Karyna was always ready to help, support new ideas, and provide reassurance when needed plus, she’s a talented photographer Aleksandra proved to be our survey expert and focus group guru, always taking on tasks with dedication. Banuta brought incredible organizational skills, especially with events and surveys, easing a huge part of my workload Karlis elevated Educom’s work with his dedication to interviews and evaluation reports, while Pavel contributed fresh ideas for focus groups and mental health initiatives

Each of them made a real difference this year, and I’m beyond thankful to have worked with such an incredible team!

Education Committee - Daryna Yanchuk

ANETE TĪKMANE ALEKSANDRA KIOPA

ELĪZA ANNA ZELČA EMĪLIJA ŽIRNOVA

BETIJA BLOMNIECE KLĀVS MŪRNIEKS

BAŅUTA RIMŠA

KRISTAPS PLĀTE GĻEBS BARŠEŅEVS

EMIJA LŪSE

KARYNA SHCHERBINA ALEKSANDA BIRJUKOVA BAŅUTA RIMŠA KĀRLIS ALEKSANDRS STRANTE PAVEL ZAYTSEV

Event Committee - Arina Hakele

Information Committee

There are a lot of enlightened individuals in the Information Committee

But two stood out the mostOskars Valdis Kalnozols un Renars Rugelis They played a crucial part in the vision movement, contributing to the planning and execution

This year flew so fast It is hard to believe that in just a couple weeks my position as a chief will end I want to say a huge thanks to every person from my team for being there I’m very proud of all of you and of all amazing job we did

A special mention would go to two people from my team - Agata Morkane and Dmitrijs Jaldovs

Agata, you were my real support through the whole year You not only did a crazy amount of work, you were there emotionally, you were there always, with me, with our team You always were the person who will tell me everything I need to hear, even if it’s bad, and I’m very grateful for that

You can’t imagine how much I value all that I will not tell the list of things you did, just too many to count

Thank you very much You are my friend, my best team member and my biggest help

Dima, you are just an amazing person from inside out You were my support in so many aspects that it is hard to count but if we ’ re talking about event com it always was the most respected task - Certified Forklift Driver of The Event Committee It is hard to take this job, hard to accept but you did it wonderfully Sounds silly, I know, but I’m so grateful that in this aspect I can always count on you This was very important to me You always were there

I, probably, need a couple books to tell all the good things that every person from my team did, so shortly Just one more time - thousands and thousands thanks to every person from my team You all made a difference, without you nothing would be possible I love you with my whole heart.

- Kristaps Tuskens

OSKARS VALDIS KALNOZOLS RENĀRS RUĢELIS

This year has been quite a blast There have been ups and downs, regrets and victories, but in the end I can safely say that it has been worth it The work of IT com might go unnoticed most of the time, but still it has been a really rewarding experience for me personally The start of the year was quite rough, but we pulled through and created our own online ticket sale service, which is pretty rad if you ask me There was also Game Night which many loved I want to say thank you to these two fine gentlemen for aiding me throughout this journey It was pretty cool to have you guys by the side during interviews and when creating new things for the school

IT Committee - Andris Cipans

AGATA MORK

DIMA JALDOVS

As we wrap up this incredible year, I want to take a moment to celebrate the dedication and hard work of Agata, Anete, and Eduards

Agata and Anete, our brilliant photographers, have been the heart and soul of every event we ’ ve organized Their support, creativity, and reliability have truly set the bar for excellence Whether capturing the smallest details or the grandest moments, they’ve ensured every event shines through their lenses I’m endlessly grateful to have had them by my side throughout the year!

Eduards, your versatility and commitment have been remarkable Whether designing a story or crafting the final detail for a poster, no task has been too big or small for you, and your willingness to step up and support the committee at every turn has been a true gift

To my dear friends and all associates, thank you for your passion, hard work, and unwavering support You’ve made this year unforgettable, and I’m incredibly proud to have worked alongside such talented and dedicated individuals!

Marketing Committee - Odrija Ozolina

Almost a whole year has passed since I got the chance to become SportsCom chief, and sadly it's coming to an end

There are a few people that did amazing work that I would like to thank However, if I had to choose a single person to give the associate of the year nomination to, that would definitely be Martins Pumpurs Pumpurs has always (when sober) offered a helping hand in whatever it is Be that helping for the Hockey game, refereeing for SS, going out of his way to help and generally offering his advice in any occasion He's kept his energy high and vibes immaculate since the beginning when I got elected until the very end

Of course, as I mentioned, other associates might ve been worthy to be the associates of the year for helping out during different occasions, and even though if you didn't get nominated, I hope I thanked you appropriately and you know, you are still appreciated

Thank you everyone for this year, it was a blast

Sports Committee - Davis Teteris

This year has seen some very good BusCom associates who have put sweat, tears and maybe even blood to grant our students with some of the best snacks, beverages, gifts and many other things available on the market Each of these associates deserve a whole page for themselves, however, Insider then would become a book, so in the name of our whole student community I want to thank Katrina, Andrejs, Ernests and Kristaps for their contribution to us!

Business Committee - Martins Emils Millers Silins

AGATA MORKĀNE

ANETE TĪKMANE

EDUARDS SKUDRA

M

ĀRTIŅŠ PUMPURS

KATRĪNA ZVAIGNZE ANDREJS BOGDANOVS

KRISTAPS PLĀTE ERNESTS LENŠS

What a year it’s been Black Ducky proved it wasn’t just a fleeting idea - it’s real, loud, and impossible to ignore But none of this would be possible without the incredible associates who made it all happen While everyone played a part, some stood out in extraordinary ways Thank you, Eriks and Beatrice, for making finance anything but boring with your ideas You were entrusted to bring our first client’s ad to life - and did not disappoint Think Black Ducky is all about flashy visuals and catchy slogans? Think again Reinis, our brilliant Chief Accountant, proved numbers and creativity go hand in hand Leading our first project, with his charming smile, he even got a CEO to do the voiceover - Legendary. Anete, with a camera always in your hand, you stepped up when it mattered most, proving to be an indispensable team member, thank you! To Alise and Karlis, hosting our first workshops was no small feat You shared knowledge, inspired newcomers, and helped shape Black Ducky into what it is today Your dedication didn’t stop there - thank you for always showing up when it mattered Karyna, where were you before? Joining in October and already excelling as project manager - you ’ ve made

a fantastic impact, thank you! Last, but definitely not least, thank you, our dear associate Annija, who’s helped all around, she made our voice be heard, making many great posters, visuals and posts, so many, that we can’t even count them on our fingers (toes included)

Cheers to 2025, the board of Black Ducky

KARYNA SHCHERBINA

Black Ducky - Oskars Majevskis & Daniels Krists Dzirnieks

All our associates are amazing, full of compassion and dedication

They come together to tackle challenges, try new things, and make every Charity Club event special Whether it’s before exams or presentations, they work hard to bring their best Among these shining stars, two have stood out the most so far!

Anete, our second-year associate, has shown great creativity and leadership She led the “poster team” for the clothes donation campaign, coordinating with others and designing the final template

Moldir, our first-year associate, has shown incredible dedication! She’s always there when needed and even when not asked but knew help was needed From getting the most donors for the breast cancer drive to helping with our first movie night and the clothes donation event, she’s done it all Marketing, crafts, photography, organizing you name it, Moldir has done it!

We’re so proud of you both!

ANNIJA GAILE

ĒRIKS DUKAĻSKIS

ANETE TĪKMANE

BEATRIČE ELSTA

ALISE KUZMINA

KĀRLIS ALEKSANDRS STRANTE

MOLDIR ANUARBEK ANETE TĪKMANE

REINIS KIRŠTEINS

MARGARET

y K

KLĀVS T

LURII SIMU

ANNA MAR

This year at IFund has been nothing short of impressive. With so many people stepping up, bringing fresh ideas, and delivering real results, it’s been a true team effort Every member has contributed in their own way, and it hasn’t been easy to pick just a few to highlight But these four have definitely gone out of their way to push IFund forward, setting a standard for what dedication, creativity, and teamwork can achieve.

Lenija has been an essential part of the team this year From creating reels that showcased IFund’s work to being an active and reliable presence in meetings, she always found ways to make an impact

Kirills has been someone you could always rely on He consistently brought good ideas to the table and contributed thoughtful questions that helped drive discussions forward His steady presence and dependability made a real difference to the team

Jens has been reliable and driven, contributing two fantastic articles that stood out for their quality and depth His amazing engagement, commitment, and questions during guest lectures have been a valuable

Pumpurs has stepped up when it counted, whether it was securing a key sponsor, writing a great article, or helping set up the team-building event His ability to support the team in meaningful ways made a real difference this year

As we close out this year, one thing is clear: IFund is all about the people who make it great To everyone who brought their best whether securing deals, writing articles, or just being there when it mattered most thank you!

Keep the Zynachinnos close, the caffeine flowing, and your sleep schedule looking like an investment banker’s nonexistent but somehow functional. Stay bougie, stay bullish.

IFund - Aleksis Visockis

All our consultants in 180DC are amazing, but if you strive to be promoted as one of the elite employees, you should look to the best for inspiration. Huge thanks to Alens, the ultimate “why” guy, who always questions everything, deepening knowledge not only for himself but also for his peers A big shoutout to Alikhan, who has been everywhere, done everything, and always brings his A-game to every case study discussion. And when it comes to events, you can bet Anya is there, capturing every angle and sacrificing her sleep to create amazing reels for Instagram – big thanks to you! Lastly, a huge shoutout to all members Let’s keep up the great work next semester! :)

JENS JURGENSON

LENIJA LAURA LIEPIŅA

KIRILLS RUBĀNS

- Karlis Krumins

ANNA DANKEVYCH ALIKHAN DAULET ALENS PILMANIS

ANNIJA GAILE ZANE KALNIŅA

Well, well, another year has passed, filled with new articles, new segments, and plenty of gossip One thing I just have to say right at the start - each issue would not be possible without our dear Insider team, so I want to give the biggest thankyou to the team

But as always, there are some overachievers Annija, our first girl with a brush, our dear cover designer, turns cover ideas into actual covers, poster ideas into actual posters and so much more! “Annija, please draw something for our org fair presentation,” and she does! Zane, our second girl with a brush, creates illustrations even when she’s in the hospital Now that’s dedication! Btw, this issues poster is made by her! Ilze, always thinking of exciting and quite complex article ideas Karlis Sadris, writing articles on topics that make you think, “huh” (in a good way) and is also the man behind the horoscopes. If your horoscope predicts no “action” next month, he’s the one to blame And then we have another Karlis, Karlis Aleksandrs, the info and Photoshop “wizard” He’s the one contacting alumni and lecturers, gathering all the juicy details for our Insider specials and lecturer spreads Thank you, thank you! Then we have Danija her dedication to the Insider amazes me. She’s truly a mentor to me, not only for the Insider but also in life, answering my endless questions about the do’s and don’ts of writing, designing, and, well, everything else THANK YOU!

Last but not least, Katrina, our managing writer one could say (I would say) my left hand. I can’t even put into words how grateful I am for her help. I need some help with a design, an article or social media? Katrina will be more than happy to help me and do it excellent AND with excitement thank you!!!!!!

The Insider - Eduards Skudra

Our amazing Days of Opportunity team this year has been all about progress, camaraderie, and setting the stage for something extraordinary With our biggest event yet just around the corner the 30th-anniversary celebration in March 2025 we ’ ve already made incredible strides, though much work still lies ahead From a fantastic team-building experience to countless moments of creativity and collaboration, this group has proven what’s possible when everyone works together. While every single person has contributed in their own way, a special thank you goes out to Luize, Ieva, and Patriks for their dedication and energy in helping us move closer to our vision. This year has been about more than just planning events it’s about building connections, creating opportunities, and paving the way for our students to land their dream jobs. Big cheers to this team you ’ re the heart and soul of Days of Opportunity, and we can’t wait to see it all come together in March!

Days of Opportunities - Aleksis Visockis

IEVA GRUNDMANE

PATRIKS TOMS LĪVMANIS

LUĪZE STAŠKEVIČA

ILZE RASNAČA

Je Jou - Loreta Taurina & Matiss Dancis

Snow White had her seven dwarfs, but Je Joue has its seven associates of the year There is no correlation, but I thought it sounded cool Needless to say, we are immensely thankful for every one of these kind, hardworking Don Juans who keep the gears of Je Joue oiled and working

Among this group, you'll find those who have gone above and beyond with their ideas, initiatives, and unwavering help throughout the years And then there are the newer associates, who’ve completely blown us away with their eagerness to get involved and understand the ways of our humble organization. It’s been amazing to see the spirit of Je Joue take root and grow so quickly in their little hearts

REINIS ANDERSONS ELĪZA BETA KALVE LUCIAN RAVE

PAULA KOVAĻEVSKA

ĒRIKS DUKAĻSKIS

HENDRIK KRAMER

ARINA HAKELE

FROM INSIDER PAGES

Just over a month ago, SSE Riga marked its 30th anniversary with a special Homecoming event that brought together around 1,300 alumni alongside some current students

This party wasn’t just another gathering, it was a celebration of connections, legacy and the strong bonds of SSE Riga As part of the Alumni Committee, its associates and I had the f f

Article by Elīza Ance Zelča Design by Alise Kuzmina

TO HOMECOMING STAGES

For years, Insider has been the heartbeat of our school, capturing the essence of its vibrant environment. From publishing articles and conducting interviews to dishing out the juiciest gossip, Insider has captured the ins and outs of campus life with style. In many ways, you could say Insider runs through our veins Whether you ’ re a seasoned alumnus or a first-year student just finding your footing, it has become an integral part of our shared school experience by connecting us all through its stories and memories.

Unsurprisingly, this corner of nostalgia drew alumni like a magnet. They gathered around, flipping through the pages and snapping pictures of the iconic cover art and posters This definitely struck a chord, as it was evident that people genuinely cared about preserving and reliving these moments. However, it didn’t stop there Some alumni couldn’t resist gravitating toward the infamous gossip pages of the latest issues of Insider, proving their curiosity about “the latest tea” is very much alive But let’s not kid ourselves, those old gossip columns definitely were ten times juicier and more unhinged! They truly were the stuff of legends, adding just the right amount of spice to our walk down memory lane.

Th 30th i H i ’t j t

CITADELE GOSSIPS

Study time – for many of us, it’s where we discovered not just our chosen career paths but also lifelong friendships, our ability to adapt, and maybe even our favorite coffee shop for survival mode

But how does that experience translate to the workplace? To find out, we sat down with few colleagues here at Citadele who once walked the same halls and now bring their lessons learned to the world of finance

My main concern, however, was that the environment might feel too slow, outdated, or resistant to change While it’s true that there are many procedures and processes to update and comply with, which can sometimes feel overwhelming, I’ve also found that there is plenty of room for creativity and forward-thinking solutions

IEVA ALHASOVA

Head of the Savings and Investment Department

of 2007

I joined Citadele just 1 5 years ago, bringing prior 15+ years of experience from both government and non-government organizations highlighting how diverse backgrounds are highly valued in the banking industry, with numerous opportunities to apply your unique skills and experiences.

Citadele, with its hybrid approach combining traditional banking and a fintech mindset, fosters this innovative atmosphere I feel it every day by contributing to the development of new products, enhancing existing ones, staying ahead of global trends, and bringing ideas to life

What I truly treasure are the lasting friendships I formed with my course mates There something special about meeting another SSE Riga graduate; it feels like you have an instant connection because you both understand the journey you ’ ve shared, especially the intense Financial Economics course in the second year

For students considering a career in banking, I can confidently say that it’s an industry full of potential The sector offers a wide range of career paths whether you choose to specialize in a particular area or explore diverse roles, from traditional positions to more innovative, techdriven ones

I am often asked what, from everything I learned, is the most useful in my job I will mention a few examples To understand how loan accrual accounting is used to calculate a bank’s profit or loss and balance, the “airplane” drawings from Financial Accounting will come in useful To decode probability of default (PD) calculations for bank loans, you need knowledge from statistics and econometrics To calculate an effective interest rate for a loan, you need knowledge from the Financial Economics course

DMITRIJS BELOKUROVS ,

Head of Risk control and analytics unit

Class

Class of 2009

I used to think that working at a bank is very formal, with everyone having to wear suits and only working from the office. The reality is completely different.

Speaking of great memories, the first thing that comes to mind is when four of my classmates and I took the ferry to Stockholm on the same night that we finished our Financial Economics exam In Stockholm, we went looking for the SSE b ilding and our FE lecturer Peter front of the SSE ed more Finance”

DEBORA RIVKINA

My advice to current students: apply for internships or entry-level roles, and don’t be afraid of work sometimes it will require effort and patience, but effort always pays off in the long term And, of course, regularly read The Economist, about which Morten, a lecturer at the university for many years, once said: “This is a Bible that comes out every week,” as well as an interesting book from the wonderful SSE Riga library at least one every 1-2 months Good habits pay off

Project Manager, Large Corporate Department

Class of 2019

After my summer internship, I thought I would never work in a bank, but Citadele showed me that banks can be cool I used to think that working in a bank would be boring and monotonous, focused mainly on routine tasks However, the work is dynamic and engaging, with opportunities for problem-solving and innovation I like that my work is a healthy mix of communicating with clients, colleagues, and working with numbers a bit of everything

During my studies at SSE Riga, my friends and I were part of the event committee, and we organized a lot of parties It was both amazing and challenging to study on Friday and then see the university transform into fullon party mode with a stage, DJ, photobooth (we loved those), and all the decorations We would stay until 6-7 am to ensure everything was cleaned up and the university was spotless in the morning. I guess I won't be sharing many details about the parties my boss might be reading this article! :)

SSE Riga helped me to develop a vast variety of skills. Among the most important ones I would mention persistence, result orientation and team work When combined with deep dive into finance and economic theory, these helped me greatly to progress in my career

During my studies, work in the banking sector was considered as a bond – the instrument which you obtain, when you are willing to get stability and distance yourself from ups and downs of smaller companies or overtimes and crazy stress of the advisory sector. However, when you get on board, you realize that there is much more happening behind the calm facade – collaboration, challenging targets, tight competition and constant learning Citadele is a bright example, supplemented by focus on innovation and local businesses

My advice would be to start with a summer internship to see if a career in the financial sector suits you Don’t be afraid to ask questions and embrace challenges. And remember, first impressions aren’t always accurate— banks today are evolving, and working here can be really cool

DMITRIJS

The most important and remembered moment from my years in SSE Riga is the moment when I first time met one of the greatest persons in the world and my wife – Tatjana Kačalova (Class of 2011)

I would advise students to take advantage of summer internships and shadow days in various financial institutions This experience is vital to get the feeling of the organizations and their business as such

Senior Client Relationship Manager, Large Corporate Department

Everyone has heard of Bitcoin and Ethereum. While these cryptocurrencies aim to establish decentralized forms of payment and financial independence, some internet users see the crypto space as a way to get filthy rich quick Many exploit this opportunity by creating their own alternative coins, commonly referred to as “meme-coins ” As the name suggests, meme-coins are typically based on trending internet memes. This is handy because memes are an integral part of the crypto community, enabling these coins to generate massive hype quickly through viral sharing.

The Nature of Meme-Coins

In most cases, meme-coin developers prioritize neither technical sophistication nor practical utility Instead, their focus lies in exploiting speculative markets Many memecoins are built on the Solana blockchain, which offers fast transaction speeds and low fees, making it an ideal choice for such projects. However, these coins are often created with malicious intent, such as rugpull schemes or pump-and-dump operations. In these cases, creators inflate the coin’s value by generating excitement on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, X, Discord, and Reddit, only to sell their holdings as soon as the price surges This leaves unsuspecting investors holding worthless tokens

How Meme-Coins Operate

Typically, only a small group of early investors (usually the creators of the coin) often referred to as "whales" reap the benefits of a meme-coin’s rise During its early stages, when prices are negligible, these whales accumulate the majority of the supply As hype builds, demand surges, causing the price to inflate exponentially At this point, whales start selling their holdings to lock in profits. This triggers panic among other investors, who rush to sell their tokens, leading to a liquidity crunch and a sharp price collapse. Soon, the coin becomes virtually worthless, signaling its demise. Inevitably, though, it is quickly replaced by a new meme-coin, continuing the cycle

Examples of Recent Meme-Coins

Recent examples of meme-coins include $pnut, $wif, $moodeng, $bonk, and $chillguy

All of these were launched either this month or in late October, with $chillguy being less than a week old at the time of writing Despite their short lifespans, these coins have achieved daily trading volumes in the hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars. For reference, Bitcoin’s daily trading volume is around $100 billion. This disparity highlights the extreme volatility of memecoins, as they typically have small market caps often just double their daily trading volumes leading to wild price fluctuations.

A Case Study: $chillguy

To illustrate how meme-coins can generate massive returns, let’s analyze the case of $chillguy Suppose you invested $100 on November 15 after hearing about the coin from a friend At its opening price of $0 002134 per token, you would acquire 46,860 tokens Five days later, you sell your tokens at a price of $0 5139 per token, netting approximately $24,081 (excluding fees) Congratulations, you just achieved a staggering 24,100% return on your investment.

However, such scenarios are extremely rare. Most successful meme-coin investments yield returns in the range of hundreds to a few thousand percent Additionally, with thousands of meme-coins flooding the market, it’s nearly impossible to predict which ones will “moon” without insider information As a result, investing in memecoins is more akin to gambling than a sound investment strategy would meme-coins without coins

The meme-coin frenzy shows no signs of slowing down. Observing platforms like X and TikTok reveals a pattern of investors hopping from one coin to the next. For instance, an X user named @kkashi yt recently reported earning $1.1 million from a $498 investment in $FATHA, a coin less than a day old at the time of writing In the comments section, users were already promoting the next big meme-coins, such as $speedy and $normie Similarly, during the $chillguy surge, a new coin called $comeback gained attention as investors scrambled to avoid missing out on another opportunity

This behavior is fueled by FOMO (fear of missing out), a psychological phenomenon that compels individuals to invest impulsively, driven by the fear of missing lucrative gains As long as this mentality persists, meme-coins will remain a fixture in the crypto landscape

Article by Deniss Jonins

While meme-coins can offer astronomical returns, they are highly speculative and fraught with risk They are best approached with caution and viewed as a form of gambling rather than a reliable investment If you’re curious to learn more or participate, consider exploring platforms like Raydium, Uniswap, Coinbase, Telegram bots like Trojan, BullX, Pepeboost, and tools such as Phantom, ZelFi Guru, and Dexscanner.

In conclusion, meme-coins may offer the allure of overnight wealth, but the reality is that few investors succeed, and in 99 99999% of cases, your 5$ investment will not yield any gains. As with any financial decision, it’s essential to trade at your own risk and never invest more than you can afford to lose

IS GOOGLE THE NEXT “VICTIM” OF THE DOJ?

A HISTORY OF MAJOR U.S. BUSINESS BREAK-UPS

The U S Department of Justice (DoJ) is inching toward one of the most ambitious antitrust moves in modern history: potentially breaking up Google The search engine giant faces accusations of stifling competition, hurting consumers, and charging excessive fees for online advertising If the DoJ pushes forward with its proposed remedies, it would represent one of the most consequential interventions in the tech industry since the breakup of AT&T in the 1980s This article explores the background, arguments, and implications of this case by revisiting key moments in U S antitrust history

Antitrust and Monopoly: The Government’s Rationale

Antitrust laws, first established under the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, are designed to prevent monopolies from overwhelming a market. The goal is to keep markets competitive, ensuring consumers have choices, prices are fair, and innovation flourishes Throughout U S history, the government has taken action against corporations with too much control, particularly when their market dominance restricts consumer options or raises prices

The Standard Oil Breakup: The First Landmark Case

The Standard Oil Company, led by John D Rockefeller, was the first major target of U S antitrust efforts By 1911, Standard Oil controlled around 90% of the oil refining industry in the United States, primarily through practices like exclusive deals and acquiring competitors The Supreme Court ruled that Standard Oil’s tactics unfairly restricted competition, ordering it to be split into 34 smaller companies, including those that eventually became Exxon and Mobil. The case established a precedent that a monopoly could be dismantled if its dominance came at the cost of a competitive marketplace.

Design by Lenija Laura Liepina

AT&T and the Telecommunications Monopoly

Another defining antitrust case came in 1982, targeting AT&T’s near-total control of the U.S. telephone industry. The DoJ argued that AT&T's monopoly on long-distance and local phone services stifled innovation and kept prices high The government ordered AT&T to divest its local phone service subsidiaries, leading to the creation of seven “Baby Bell” companies

The breakup opened the telecommunications market to competition and innovation, enabling companies like Sprint and MCI to enter the market and paving the way for mobile and internet services

Microsoft and the Browser Wars

The late 1990s brought about a wave of antitrust scrutiny in the tech industry, with Microsoft at the center The DoJ alleged that Microsoft had used its control over the Windows operating system to crush competition in the web browser market by bundling Internet Explorer with Windows. A federal judge ordered Microsoft to split its operating system and software divisions, though an appeals court later overturned this decision. Still, Microsoft agreed to restrictions on its business practices, which encouraged greater competition in the software and internet spaces.

Google: A Modern Monopoly?

Google now finds itself in a similar position to these historical giants It accounts for around 90% of all global online searches and controls a large share of the digital advertising market.

The DoJ claims Google leveraged its other products, like Chrome and the Android operating system, to push its search engine to users, creating a self-reinforcing ecosystem.

This has allegedly limited competitors’ opportunities to gain a foothold and allowed Google to charge high rates for ads while

The Potential Implications of a Breakup

The outcome of the DoJ’s case against Google could establish a new precedent for regulating Big Tech, potentially extending to other tech giants like Amazon, Meta, and Apple, who have faced their own antitrust investigations.

According to Xiaofeng Wang, a principal analyst at Forrester, more competition could arise in the online search and advertising markets, benefiting consumers and smaller companies However, achieving this would require not only regulatory intervention but also technological innovation and effective marketing strategies from competitors to gain market share

limiting the quality of service If Google’s products Chrome, Android, and Play Store were separated, they would likely need to generate revenue independently, potentially resulting in higher costs for consumers. However, Google argues that its practices benefit consumers by making the internet more accessible and that splitting its services would harm users, businesses, and developers by raising costs.

Conclusion: A Test for Antitrust in the Digital Era

If the DoJ succeeds, the breakup of Google could open doors for competitors and fundamentally reshape the digital landscape While history has shown that breaking up monopolies can reinvigorate competition, the impact on consumers, prices, and the economy remains uncertain This case underscores the challenges regulators face in applying antitrust laws to modern tech giants, whose business models, markets, and user bases differ vastly from those of traditional monopolies As the court date approaches, all eyes are on the DoJ and Google, as their battle could define the future of digital regulation and competition.

TARIFFS: WHAT ARE THEY AND HOW DO THEY AFFECT THE ECONOMY?

Article by Dario Bassils

As Donald J Trump begins his second term as the 47th president of the United States, he faces a long list of promises from his campaign yet to be fulfilled. One of his most notable agenda items is a plan for significant income tax cuts over the next four years As a rational reader, you might assume such aggressive shifts in fiscal policy could drastically increase the budget deficit and you’d be correct, at least in theory.

According to the latest IMF report, the U.S structural budget balance deficit now stands at a staggering 2.2 trillion dollars as of 2024, marking an approximate 1366.7% increase since the start of the millennium. To at least slow down the snowballing debt, President Trump has a one-word answer: tariffs This fiscal policy tool has a simple purpose In essence, tariffs are additional taxes imposed on imported goods, mainly used to boost the competitiveness of domestic industries. However, Trump’s approach has some major inefficiencies in his action plan The same group of people, with absolutely disproportionate trade-offs, would serve as both beneficiary and benefactor in his plan the domestic consumer.

The policy’s efficiency could, in fact, be so poor that even Pareto would be rolling over in his grave. Allow me to illustrate this. Suppose Trump imposes a 20% tariff on apparel imports from China to boost the U.S. apparel industry a plausible scenario, given his intention to recapture market share from his fellow Asian partners For China, the deal doesn’t change much; they continue selling T-shirts to the U.S. for $10 a piece. But for the domestic importer let’s call them Binco & Clo the cost rises. They typically apply a 20% markup, making their usual retail price $12 per T-shirt With the new tariff, however, Binco & Clo must now pay an additional $2 in tariffs per shirt, bringing their cost up and effectively eliminating their profit margin. To survive, they’ll have to raise the retail price to $14.40 to keep their 20% margin.

You can see where this is heading. This price increase, otherwise known as inflation, is a predictable outcome of such an aggressive fiscal intervention And as history shows, tax cuts rarely outpace the impact of inflation. This approach creates a disproportionate trade-off: while consumers may save money through lower income taxes (covered by tariff revenue), they face significantly higher prices on everyday basket of goods Following the 2018 Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the long-run inflation’s toll was temporarily offset by a slowdown in economic activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, however, inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% target, currently at 2 99%, down from 4 13% in 2023 (IMF data)

Although Jerome Powell, head of the U.S. Federal Reserve, has announced a recent rate cut of 25 basis points (from a range of 5%–4.75% down to 4.75%–4.5%), Trump’s new tariff strategy and ongoing inflation make it likely that the Fed will need to tighten monetary policy in the long run. Powell’s remarks about an "inflationary economic agenda" do not add any optimism to the situation. Higher U.S. rates c ould spill over into the European economy as the European Central Bank (ECB) responds to maintain economic balance, potentially slowing growth in both regions. Unlike the Fed, the ECB does not operate under a dual mandate of low inflation and low unemployment. As a result, rising unemployment could become a more prominent feature in Europe’s response to inflation, forming a key part of its inflation-control strategy.

Ultimately, the U.S. may not be prepared for such bold fiscal policy changes. Higher labor costs and insufficient raw material availability hinder American producers from reaching the production efficiency seen in Asia Perhaps a gradual “tariffication” of imported finished goods could be a first step allowing American producers fair access to un-tariffed resources before reclaiming market share. One thing remains clear: the end consumer will bear the burden, and the trade-offs are likely to be disproportionate relative to their net benefit

INSIDER

With new years approaching it is good to look back on the year and see what SSE Riga has accomplished. We decided to look back a lot further all the way to the first ever SSE Riga student association ever by interviewing its first president, Matīss Paegle

How

did you end up being the president of the SA?

To summarize, the SSE board from Sweden came around to party at the SSE in Riga and for them the Student Association is a very serious thing They have a multi-million euro budget as well as they take a gap year just to focus on that In any case the then SSE SA president Pia Engholm came to Riga and they invited us to Stockholm, which became the boat trip After seeing the SA we thought, why couldn't we have that As to how I became the president I have honestly forgotten, there was an election but how formal or informal it was, I honestly do not

I have an interesting story about the founding of the SA To found an organisation, one capable of funding and such we had to draft founding documents. We decided to go and speak to these 2 lawyers from the US who had come to Latvia with the name of Kļaviņš and Slaidiņš They instead of helping us draft the document, sent us 2 houses down So we, very educated in economics but not law, drafted some documents Of course that was not all, we had to submit them, and without the internet it worked a lot differently. We had to physically in the freezing cold, que up to a small window at the Justice Ministry where we would give our documents We honestly did not do the greatest job, but that is how the Student Association was founded

LOOKING QUIET WHILE CRYING INSIDE:

Reflections on My FE Experience

Author: Pavel Zaytsev, Designer: Zlata Zajankovska

"Cool experiment." Nastya, 2024

How do you survive FE if you don’t give a shit about finance? This was my initial title for this article, but I decided to make it humbler. Anyway, FE is a significant milestone for every SSE Riga student. As plain as this may sound, it’s a truth that’s hard to ignore Since the theme of this magazine issue is Quiet Moments, I’d like to reflect on my life through the lens of my FE journey. This might resonate with many and be particularly relevant for Year 2 students who are about to experience it for themselves (Good luck, by the way!). I’ve structured this article into thematic reflections with a little advice at the end. Enjoy!

People Do Change

By the end of the first week of FE, I noticed that I had changed Maybe it was the mandatory attendance, or maybe the buzz surrounding the course Either way, I began taking my studies more seriously This shift might also have been influenced by the timing – I was still in a festive haze New Year, new me, right? Whatever the reason, something clicked, and I realized I was capable of pushing myself

This course completely changed my attitude to life, and severely improved my time-management skills and taught me to set my priorities in life I learned how to manage stress wisely and spend time with myself. So, Let FE be a chance to surprise yourself. Just go with the flow and reflect.

Productivity

You will likely never be as productive as you are during FE Okay Maybe not But you’ll definitely realize you have not been as productive as during FE (Well, good for you if it turns out that you were, but don’t kill the vibe of my reflections and my article) FE pushes you to new limits It teaches you to manage your time wisely and study more efficiently Treat FE as a boot camp for time management

Priorities

This one is close to the previous one One of the biggest lessons FE taught me was how to prioritize I started to understand when and what I want A Valentine’s party? Sure - everyone needs a breather Drinking every Friday? Hard pass I learned to measure activities against the backdrop of your energy and goals Identify what’s essential for you, both academically and personally Balance is key, but so is saying “no” to what doesn’t serve you

Mental Health.

Yes, I have to include this ubiquitous theme But do not overlook it Overthinking, stress, and anxiety waste your precious time and drain your energy. In my case, it led me to Natalja, our school counselor I reached out to her during the first week because it all felt like too much Looking back, it was more post-holiday stress than anything else, but seeking help made a world of difference.

Staying True to Yourself

FE feels like a simulation You wake up in the dark, go to lectures as the sun rises, and spend the day between lectures and seminars By the time you head home (to self-study after this long day ), it’s dark again Weekends are for catching up, or your term paper, or pretending it doesn’t exist until the last minute Oddly enough, this all creates a kind of quiet space - a moment to reconnect with yourself I found myself tuning out the usual university noise and focusing inward This period was about me. That said, FE is a nice experience, but I would not repeat it again.

Life After FE

According to SA Instagram (2024), “Life after FE is better than you could imagine” The final week of FE feels like the light at the end of a tunnel It’s also the week when everyone is booking flights during colloquiums Typical business school vibes The only thing that can make it less enjoyable is seeing that a takeover party would happen the week you will be away after FE The best thing about this period is the feeling that it’s over. And yeah, Anthropology. It was another game-changer for me. It deepened the self-reflection FE had sparked Year 2’s second semester is truly a transformative period So, celebrate finishing FE. It’s worth acknowledging. Then, carry the lessons you’ve learned into the rest of your life.

Noise or Quiet Moments?

This is the question that I eventually asked myself 2024 has been a year of values, growth, and change for me Sorry for throwing loud phrases, but I can do whatever I want in my article And FE was the starting point It forced me to ask myself hard questions: What do I truly care about and should prioritize? What really do I need to do to achieve it and how do I want to spend my time? What do I need to let go of?

I cut back on social media, for one Like Natalja said: “Either you rule it, or it rules you ” This principle applies to everything - alcohol, social media, music, films, deadlines, annoying people, toxic people, terrible news, worldwide events, friends, family, people in general, and other addictions Yeah, I call it addictions Because the only addiction we should have is ourselves Of course, you should push yourself to finish something as in the case of FE (or this article which I am writing at the last minute) However, we should also filter what we really want and need Sometimes, all we need is a quiet walk without our phones and headphones to reconnect with who we are

Use FE as a moment of introspection

Step back from the chaos and let it be about you

Don’t wait until you’re overwhelmed If you’re struggling, talk to someone Mental health is just as important as your grades

Take a break from the noise Use FE as a chance to prioritize what really matters to you.

I will finish with general advice This might be relevant, especially for non-finance bros Focus on the moment Focus on yourself Think of FE as a personal growth opportunity – learn to work hard, be productive, and be resilient FE might make you feel like everything inside you is crying, but it’s also a quiet, transformative moment Embrace it

Final Thoughts:

Don’t stress too much about the outcome

Focus on the process and the personal growth it brings Oh, and read the course evaluations beforehand - it helps avoid surprises

It’s Just a Course

Halfway through FE, I realized something: it’s just another course. The hype, the fear - it’s all exaggerated. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t meaningful. The real takeaway isn’t your grade (yeah, it’s completely fine if you fail); it’s the experience. FE is an opportunity to grow, to learn about yourself, and to build resilience.

THE COURAGE TO DREAM AND THE STRENGTH TO ACHIEVE.

Reflections from one Chief’ s year

This is a personal story I would like to share with you. Many of you know me as the Alumni Chief, Alise This year has changed me in ways I never thought possible, and I hope that by telling you about it, I might inspire you to reflect on your own journey, as each SSE Rigan’s journey is special

It’s often hard to acknowledge our achievements. Think back to when you received your acceptance letter to SSE Riga how proud and excited you felt on that day. Now, we tend to minimize it, saying, “That was the easy part; the real challenge is studying here ” I realized I’ve been doing the same with my own achievements, rarely taking a moment to feel proud of what I’ve done. I decided to write this reflection to learn how to appreciate myself more and, in turn, might encourage you to do the same

When I took on the role as Alumni Chief, it might have seemed like just another position on paper But to me, it opened up a whole world of opportunities and ambitions The first few months were chaotic I felt unsure of how to do projects I’d never done before, how to talk to people I never met, how to balance my studies while trying to succeed in this new role Sometimes I even questioned whether I deserved to be there at all I worried I was overthinking things, that I was just complaining too much, that perhaps I wasn’t good enough

Eventually, I fell back on a simple formula that has always guided me: set priorities, follow them, get results, reflect, and repeat My priorities became clear study, alumni work, and personal well-being. But I learned that focusing fully on all three at the same time is nearly impossible I’d heard that people can truly dedicate themselves to only two major priorities at once, and this year proved it. My personal well-being often took the back seat That’s a lesson for the future: sometimes choosing what not to do is as important as choosing what to do.

Even with my priorities set studies and alumni work I still felt this restless need to do more. There was a voice inside my head telling me I needed extra achievements to feel accomplished It’s a toxic cycle: never feeling truly proud unless I achieve something more, beyond my responsibilities It’s like running a race with no finish line But what I learned, it can be my strength if I take control of these feelings not them controlling me.

The most important thing I got this yearpeople Looking back now, it is something that makes me the most happy, the ability to share that pride in accomplishments with others I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart, and not just to sound cheesy, but to genuinely acknowledge them: Agnis, Sasha, Anete, Baņuta, Beatriče, Betija, Elīza, Elīza Beta, Emija, Emīlija, Emīls, Glebs, Gustavs, Jānis, Kristaps, Kārlis, Liepa, Māra, Roberts, and Saule without your support, none of this would have happened

You know this feeling, its often starts in the quiet of night, when an idea comes to you, million dollar business idea. In that moment, it feels so real and exciting you ’ re sure you’ll make it happen in the morning But then morning comes, and the idea lingers as just that: an idea. I’ve had many moments like this, especially about Alumni Com but somehow I feared of outcomes

One idea I acted on was the podcast With Emija on my side, we took it from concept to reality.

We named it Soulsteet and poured our energy into it. We gathered insights from experienced people, met with tech experts, involved the school’s administration, and asked ourselves what we truly wanted to leave behind with this podcast an impact that transcends generations.

Firstly, I felt proud of Sasha, knowing how nervous she was before the filming and seeing her shine during the recording. I felt grateful for Emija, standing by my side, making it all happen together But the thing that made me cry - I never really allowed myself to dream big because I feared too much being a disappointment, what the point of dreaming and never getting taste of it Somehow, writing now, it sounds silly, how someone cannot dream The reality is that the freedom that we have nowadays can make us even

I NEVER REALLY ALLOWED MYSELF TO DREAM BIG BECAUSE I FEARED TOO MUCH BEING A DISAPPOINTMENT

more limited Dreaming is a part of a process, if I can dream of it, I can put it into a goal and achieve it

Since then, we ’ ve accomplished so much more We launched the biggest Alumni Fundraising Campaign, organized a Golf

The goal was to bridge the gap between current students and alumni, to challenge the perception that today’s students are “less than” those who came before I’ve met so many brilliant, driven people here at SSE Riga, and I wanted their stories to be part of our history.

I remember the first time we filmed Emija and I had prepared everything down to the smallest detail, it was Aleksandra’s and Anastasia’s episode In the middle of it, I started crying not just because of what they were saying, though their conversation was amazing, but because of what it meant to me

Tournament, filmed seven podcast episodes, and hosted the craziest Homecoming event imaginable. In just two months, we raised nearly 100k (cool, right?)

If there’s one thing I hope you take from this, it’s to never be afraid to dream Get to know people around you, learn and inspire from them, be humble and grateful. You’ll never know what you can accomplish until you let yourself imagine it and then take that first, brave step

PS KP, I would have never done it without you being on my side and thank you for dreaming together

Article and Design by Alise Kuzmina

From Quiet To LOUD

As Christmas time, also known as the year ’ s quiet time, is approaching, this is the perfect moment to reflect on some events that occurred this year that went from being very quiet for several years or even decades to being the loudest, most discussed worldwide. By events, this time I mean trends, successful rebrandings, and brands that managed to get talked about - good or bad. You can also use this article as a reminder that if these brands got out of the biggest shitholes, so can you

Starting very strong - Barbie, of course About 13-15 years ago, Barbie dolls were the only ones every girl wanted Yes, there were also Bratz, Monster High, and some other cheap copies, but Barbie always stayed superior When people my age started growing up, we got our phones, moved on to musical ly, ask fm, makeup, books, and completely forgot about the dolls, and so did our siblings since they were introduced to phones way earlier than us. They also had other toys to worry about. After that we know what happened - the movie. That one movie made so many generations pick up their old Barbie dolls or buy new ones Not only that, but after the movie, several books, fashion collections, magazines, and so on were made, which people were dying to get their hands on It didn’t matter if the person was 8 or 80 years old, Barbie became iconic again and not only the doll - the message, the pink colours, the Barbie cartoons, and everything else that had fallen off the hill. Name a better comeback. I’ll wait.

Article & Design By Danija Liva Jaundzema

Moving on to more girly things - Victoria’s Secret Everyone remembers the iconic fashion shows with the fantasy bras, the wings, and the live performances, and one day all of that disappeared. VS was cancelled for several reasons, the fashion shows were cancelled, and the hype around the brand was gone. After 6 years, on May 15, 2024, VS announced that the fashion show would return in October, imagine the excitement, the increase in the brand’s popularity and the high hopes everyone had to see a new and improved show again?!?! Yep, well that was a flop People were disappointed, there were no fantasy bras, the outfits felt very cheap, no iconic VS blowouts, just girls in simple underwear, but I guess lots of you still enjoy that So, how was this a good comeback? It wasn’t at all, BUT the brand got what it wantedit was talked about, it came alive again, and even though people were disappointed, people were talking before the show, and after the show, so good for them

Now, talking about social media, have you noticed the style of photos people post now? I certainly have, and most of them are taken with digital cameras, old shitty flip phones or the classic 2014 filter on them. If you told me 4 years ago that people would not be throwing up from the thought of the 2014 Retrica filters in 2024, I wouldn’t have believed you Right now, it is cool, girly and super trendy to post a picture with the classic filters that change every single existing colour in the picture to some shade of pink, purple, blue or green. Not only that, but phones are over (sorry iPhone Photography School). Every person who has social media, even our SA’s Instagram account, is now obsessed with old digital cameras or, as our parents call them - soap boxes. For this one, I totally understand the hype, and I enjoy the style of photos a lot, however, again, people our age used to make fun of the dads on

vacation with the little camera hanging around their necks, taking pictures of every single corner of every street but now, we have become them, so next time you want to pick on another tourist dad, remember that that will be you in a couple of years

One thing everyone wore in 2014 was skinny jeans, and even though most of you probably don’t want to hear thisthey’re back, sorry Of course, now people don’t wear skinny jeans with crop tops that say “YOLO” Now when you search skinny jeans, it shows the “old money aesthetic” paired with classy and timeless pieces Another classic relic from 2014 - is Ugg boots, and there is a good reason for them being back in fashionthe platform. Look at almost any trendy shoe that people wear a lot right now, what do all of them have in common - the platform. Whether it be Adidas Sambas, Converse, chunky boots or Uggs, people loooooove the platform I don’t know the reason behind this - maybe you will be more powerful or always wanted to be taller, but I can say for sure, that the platform Uggs saved the brand since almost every girl now wants to have them

The last piece of clothing that has been loud recently is the Barbour jacket No, not the Barbora Maxima delivery service. There is a very old Scottish/Northern Irish brand called Barbour that makes waxed jackets. Why are they popular again? No idea, but suddenly everyone wants to get their hands on the 500 Euro jacket. Perhaps it’s because they’re very high quality, practical and stylish, or maybe it is just because some influencer decided to take it out of his/her closet and post it on social media, and now everyone is going with the flow nevertheless, it’s a good jacket, but why, now after so many years of not even knowing the name of the brand? That’s a question you can think about, the next time you ’ re waiting for your Barbora Maxima delivery guy.

Mariah Carey She’s back

chill

e cold weather is starting to approach, seasonal depression is no stranger to the of us. Considering the unsatisfied faces of Latvians on the streets, we seem not to ing a great job at beating it; thus, I suggest looking at some better examples, Scandinavians! These divas are pros at keeping calm and cozy all the way gh winter with their methods Hygge, Fika, and Lagom.

or, to put it in simpler words, it means setting a positive vibe. The first step into hygge-ing your life is starting with home: get rid of the big, bright lights – embrace keeping a lot of smaller lamps and fairy lights for your own enjoyment and mood-setting Do not forget about blankets, pillows, and carpets – the warmer you will be, the better you will feel! With Hygge in your life, Latvian obsession with candles will finally feel appreciated, however bedrotting –normalized Honestly, this is the perfect solution for introverts that we, Northern Europeans, are, as this tradition is all about staying at home, taking a chill pill, and feeling grateful for our close friends and family. In case you have run out of ideas for stay-athome activities to try out, I can recommend some mindful hobbies like scrapbooking, keeping a personal blog, or mandala coloring. But in case you are not much of a homebody, I think it’s time to reconnect with old friends over a cup of hot chocolate. The way you Hygge is truly up to you; the opportunities are endless, but the main goal is only one – to chill out.

LAGOM

If you are a victim of the afternoon sweet treat, quit the guilt and embrace this Swedish tradition: Fika is a phenomenon of having a coffee and a pastry with a side of quality time spent This is a substantial part of the daily routine, especially in a professional setting Swedes use this as a form of team building, allowing coworkers to get to know each other and strengthen their relationships by scheduling a time slot for Fika It is important to distinguish Fika from a rushed coffee run to consume an unhealthy amount of caffeine Every self-respectful student is fueling themselves with caffeine during intense studies; however, that does not include the mindfulness, therapeutic effect, and socializing that Fika represents. Therefore, I encourage you to reserve about 30 minutes for a Fika pause: chill out, grab a coffee and something sugary (without guilt!) while focusing on being present Through this practice, you will gain more positive emotions, energy (from caffeine and sugar), and, of course, integration with Swedish culture

Even though this might be the most unknown method out of these three, Lagom is very linked with the typical Latvian mindset It is a philosophy of finding just the right amount Lagom encourages finding balance, moderation, and understanding when enough is enough. Now, you might be wondering, How is it linked with Latvians ?

Well, the most common take on this philosophy is being grateful for having the necessities like a roof over your head, family, food, and enough money It fully discourages greediness for more money, luxury goods, and maximalism that comes in pair with tackiness. There is also a quite moral background to this philosophy –fairness For example, if there are three cookies on the table, you must take just one to leave the remaining two for others It is mostly because one is simply just enough and there is no need to consume more,

leaving others without any. Such thinking reminds me of something that we all have learned in Microeconomics: diminishing marginal utility. The first cup of coffee brings significant joy; however, with each subsequent cup of coffee, the satisfaction decreases Therefore, Lagom puts emphasis on finding just the right point of satisfaction. This is truly the “sometimes more is less” final boss So, if you want to apply Lagom to your life, the first steps would be accepting that during the cold months, staying in is the new going out; letting go of overconsumption; and most importantly, no matter how filled your schedule is, finding work-life balance is the golden key to sanity

Now that you are familiar with the traditions, may your life be balanced (Lagom) with the well-deserved breaks (Fika)

and cozy atmosphere at home (Hygge)!

EArticle anddesign by

Madara Šlitke

veryone in my inner circle knows that I despise gift giving. If your birthday is approaching, my apologies - you can surely expect some sheer tomfoolery from my side. Chill vibes? Gone. Crying, shaking, throwing up? Sounds about right. I may even rip the present out of your hands seconds after gifting it, and then secretly plant it somewhere in your room (#tb2023). It’s not nearly about money, time or other tangible resources tied to it - just some plain unreasonable anxiety over how this would affect our relationship.

With the arrival of Temu and other sites and shops with an infinitely large selection, and terrifyingly cheap pricing, we have the possibility to

attain almost anything we desire. But this is not a story about overconsumption, rather a story of how difficult it is to appeal to the needs and wants of a modern day person.

They say that the best gift is either one which shows effort, perhaps a DIY (but at the same time it cannot be tacky or else it occupies your space, ruining the minimalist aesthetics) or one which is nice, (but not too necessary, so that the person wouldn't be able to just get it themselves (or too basic, for that matter)) The amount of times when I have seen gifts, totally abandoned just a couple of days later, alongisde a pile of other junk... People have become so picky when it comes to items they own, and reasonably so

"How can we possibly navigate all these boundaries?"

It feels like it's getting increasingly difficult to guess what’s a truly good gift, and thus, to my mind, by burdening ourselves with gift giving, we are totally not optimizing preference satisfaction. If you love this process, I am envious, but the following is not for you. But I believe that, at least to some degree, a lot of you share this anxiety with me So I’ve come here to share something in return - 3 paths to explore this gift abundant season.

There's world w lamp. purcha importa Howeve

If you p this b wrappe tree. Yo everyon open it. you, a verbal Overwh reenact a detailed haul. A promise of greatness, of feelings not hurt Apart from the welfare efficiency, it's also a wonderful exercise of self-care (bonus points if a self-directed appreciation letter is attached) What's there not to love?

+ On birthdays, you may collect a small (!) fixed sum from your friends to fund the haul Everyone participates, it's cheaper, it's nicer. That energy you just saved from stressing, can be spent making this world a more beautiful place Or b00ze

Receiving a message "Hey I've got an idea for a gift for X, maybe you want to pitch in?" is like a breath of fresh air We could easily make it the norm, even on Christmas time. There's quite a big likelihood that one of the giving parties has way better ideas. No reason to not share this knowledge, thus optimising what? Correct, utility. A bigger budget for the best contender. I acknowledge some limitations, for instance, there may be an issue with deciding upon the group size, so this may not be universally applicable Yet after all Christmas is about family, and family members are more or less a certain group of people :-) p g

The Loneliest Place on Earth

It’s likely you ’ ve heard about the isolated and remote location in the middle of the Pacific ocean, titled Point Nemo. This unique site is known for being the furthest point from land on Earth It is around 2688 kilometers from the nearest land - Ducie Island, which is a part of the Pitcairn Islands. To put into perspective, this is just about the distance from Riga to Madrid, if you take it and add endless horizons of the ocean There are no regular marine or air traffic routes within 400 km of the area. And, at certain times, the astronauts in the International Space Station are actually closer to you, than people on Earth, in fact, at least once a day, the space station will be directly above Point Nemo.

Historically, Point Nemo was first identified by a Croatian engineer named Hrvoje Lukatela in 1992 with the help of a geo-spatial computer program It lies beyond any national jurisdiction. Though the name Nemo came from Jules Verne’s novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas, published in 1870, which was a favorite of Lukatela’s. Even quoting the vital character that inspired this location to be recognized, Captain Nemo has said “Here alone do I find independence! Here I recognize no superiors! Here I’m free!”.

Besides being the furthest location from land, Point Nemo is also deemed the Spacecraft Cemetery. This is because space agencies from across the world use it for retired or broken satellites and space crafts, to limit trash being kept up in spaceironic, as most of the crashed space vehicles just lie at the bottom of the ocean, contributing as growing pollutants to international waters. It is even set that in 2031 the International Space Station will contribute to this space-themed graveyard.

Point Nemo is used for this purpose for a very concrete reason - it is far away from any civilization, minimizing a risk of hurting anyone from the falling and burning spacecraft. In this sense, Point Nemo acts as a silent protector for society - sort of like a pillar that helps maintain the structure of a building, but you don’t really see it until you pay close attention. Point Nemo can also represent certain people in our lives, the people that are seemingly remote from us, but contribute to our well-being, we may just not realize it.

Article by Anete Tīkmane & Design by Patrīcija Nora Blumentāle

Point Nemo also shows how something that is unexplored may seem intriguing and interesting to others. In retrospect, there’s nothing truly special about this location - it is far away, but it’s just coordinates in the middle of nowhere, that mathematically represent being the most remote place on Earth. But even with just this information, people are curious and eccentric A sort of remote mystery. As a visitor to the location expressed: ‘’There’s something very special, about knowing you ’ re someplace where everybody else isn’t’’

In a way Point Nemo portrays a sort of safety of isolation. In Latin Nemo means no one. The location truly offers no one and nothing to any intruding visitor, not even a place to stand The area doesn’t have any biological nutrients to sustain life, being a marine desert. Due to the lack of biological diversity, the water is extremely clear.

Tying together the faraway point to human tendencies, we can draw some meaningful parallels too. No matter how isolated, alone or lonely you feel no one shall feel like this forever. If falling satellites can find their way to the most isolated place on Earth, then any person facing hardship and isolation can be found by the right people, it just takes some time.

Lastly, if a person is ever stranded at this location, they can try to swim in every direction, though the only way to get out would be if somebody helped you With that in mind, the next time you feel like mentally you ’ re at Point Nemo, don’t be scared to reach out and ask for help!

“Here alone do I find independence! Here I recognize no superiors! Here I’m free!”

~ Captain Nemo

Fitting in with people: stayin to yourself and keep appea

Articl Desing

Fitting in with different crowds has always seemed like one interesting phenomena to me. I struggle to see how people ca true personality and still fit into any cohort of people they find this month’s issue I wanted to explore the cases of a few people ( unnamed) who I have noticed in life and explore how I have morph their personality and expression to fit in with other peo among other people and light up the room or be unapologetical matter what they do or who they are with All three make for studies on human interaction, societal pressures and the state o a post-covid society faced with the pressures of social media. I piece, I would like to super shortly discuss the overarching s societal intricacies that make us want to fit in.

Before we dive head first of uncertainty, let me mention like capitalism produces market failures, despite market form humanity insofar, the way our soc on an interpersonal level alienate certain groups people. We are faced sizable issue of certain excluded from making personal connections being able to socialize The reason for this is people are on a large scale have prejudices, care ourselves and do quite other people feel accepted These issues will not this piece, I just acknowledgement is necessary.

The first prototype of people

are what I like to shapeshifters. Shapeshifters in superhero films tend to be some of the antagonists (they rarely are the he main characters face. These to spot and even harder to defeat. to real life, in a social sense rgely battle themselves, not other otting your various personalities and among various groups of people is struggle. These people adjust rding to the people they are with understand what is real and isn't. hese people is understanding and themselves. Where does the real you where do any one of your different end? This is a tough question, that rarely know the answer to. Their ever is driven by a need to be liked and we all have, but for these people it is much higher in their order of needs.

failure, that we can’t ourselves and be along? answer - we can’t say depends. For sure, it is this is the case, but matter that much? I that being yourself as a overrated. Of course it have to adjust yourself to others, but you still get you wanted, so is it bad? As long as you are with yourself, I think There are much larger impact your life in hence I think it isn’t the

The second prototype person

is the social flower one -  the person that room as soon as never seems out paired with an attractiveness, the like they have it all thing is, nobody might be low hanging this, but people that sociable and vibrant biggest issues. Tha ignore them and try acknowledging your if you are a person yourself to be this don’t agree with mentioned, I suggest simply aren’t aware touch with your feelings way. People use others mechanisms and try be these social butterflies create a wall between their inner world. being alone is facing facing yourself is likely quite unfavourable. I might be largely generalising here, but frankly I don’t care.

Social flowers are very important in people make some to be more outgoing, which to positive outcomes own lives. Confidence the most attractive people and while more confident is has truly figured something a lot to achieve. There debate whether similar people confidence is something attracts always. like a social flower wanting to become confident, copying something to be long as you put on things.

Last but not least

-  the people with the backbone. These people never manage to be true to no matter who they are These people are unapologetic fear of rejection. To these in with others isn’t a thing, like you for who you are or and in that case - fuck them. commendable and might be way to balance your inner social interaction. However, if it why are we all not like this? answer is that it isn’t possible, balance thought and expression person tells you to just stay yourself, quite frankly it is not great a balancing act and in my the key to be happy with balancing things well. To me with an iron social backbone extreme, this isn’t something

Overall,

built a society that doesn't really fit us. Our social interactions tend to be awkward and our relationships tend to not work. We are the diggers of our own graves, but I guess that is just human nature. We are all a bit masochistic and have built our society in such a way. Maybe it will change over time, but at the current state of affairs these prototypes I gave are just some of many that we have in society. We don’t embrace our differences and truly care about other people, but that might not even be that bad. As long as we make sure we keep either faking it till we make it or coping decently with what is happening, we will all be fine.

In the meantime people need to fight their own battles and make sure things are mostly right in their own garden before looking at other gardens. Life tends to mostly suck, we just need to find little ways to make it suck lessthat is how we improve our lives in the long run. This is not a sprint, but more so a walking marathon. I thank you for your time dear reader and for some more insight into the ways I see our society functioning, refer to my articles about community and anti-community in last year’s December issue.

CHASING THE MOMENT

The Cost of Owning Eternity

Thousands of people - art collectors, dealers, journalists, and art enthusiasts - gathered in Christie’s auction room for one reason: to witness the sale of one of the rarest artworks in history - an original painting by Leonardo da Vinci. One of the reasons why the painting brought so much attention is its history, as well as the fact that fewer than 20 works are confirmed to be by Leonardo himself - all of them, except Saviour of the World, are held in museum collections.

Although the authenticity of this painting is still up for debate, its story is truly legendary Once sold for a $45 bid at a Sotheby’s auction in 1958 and later even thought to be lost forever, it made an incredible comeback years later. In 2017, the painting made art history, breaking all records at a Christie’s auction by selling for $450 million - the highest price ever paid for a painting. After this purchase, the work of art was supposed to be exhibited in the Louvre’s branch in Abu Dhabi.

Article

However, since the auction, it has never been publicly shown Leonardo da Vinci depicted Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the World, as a human who went through suffering and sacrifice for humanity and still did not lose faith. So, is $450 million a price too expensive, or maybe a painting like this is simply priceless after all?

When observing this painting, Saviour’s eyes look deep into your soul as if they already know every thought, worry, and dream you ’ ve ever had.

The painting radiates light, endless wisdom, and an extremely hypnotizing gaze that, at first, steers your attention from important details.

In the left hand, Jesus holds a crystal orb that symbolizes the Saviour’s divine power over the world.

The painting uses no vivid colors or striking elements; it combines three fundamental colors, blue, brown, and deep black thought to represent the sky, the earth, and eternity.

by Aleksandra Kiopa Desing by Katrīna Zingule

In 2019, Saviour of the World was meant to appear in a major exhibition in Paris, celebrating the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci’s legacy Right before, experts at the Louvre in Paris conducted another scientific analysis of the painting, concluding that while Leonardo da Vinci was most certainly involved, the painting may have been finished, or even heavily worked on, by some of his students.

So, why do art collectors chase after these paintings, willing to take such risks?

Yes, historical significance, investment potential, status, hype, and prestige, are surely reasons why people spend enormous sums on paintings - but could there be the other side too?

The moment we spend observing a certain work of art could be a very quiet moment, an

escape where the world seems to slow down. Our mind focuses on a single point while time seems to fade away, even as the chaos continues to spin around us. Perhaps this is the very “moment” people find worth competing for in hours-long auctions, spending thousandsor even millions of dollars. Because in the end, they’re not just paying for all the things mentioned above - they’re paying for that "moment" to always be theirs. A moment that offers an endless sense of belonging to something unique, great, and timeless. A painting, to some extent, captures the emotions of the artist, frozen in the very moment of its creation

In any case, debates surrounding the authenticity of the work exist to this day.

Rumor has it that the painting's owner, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince, keeps it aboard his yacht He is also building a new cultural center where this priceless masterpiece by one of history’s greatest Italian masters will once again take its place in the spotlight

It usually takes us two hours to understand a movie’s story. Yet, when visiting a trendy new exhibition at a museum, we often rush through, barely stopping as the paintings pass by. As a result, by morning, all the memories are hazy, and we can barely recall a single piece. So next time you visit a museum, pick one painting that stands out to you the most and return to it a few times. Trust me, it deserves more than just a quick glance.

“Quiet, please” – you must have heard an umpire say to the audience before the beginning of each point played in a tennis match Rightfully, you may wonder, why tennis must be so quiet Sports are usually associated with chants, cheering and loudness, while tennis needs a peaceful audience so that players deliver their best performance. It requires a lot of concentration in order to serve and properly hit the ball during the play.

PRINCESS OF WALES

Tennis history has seen numerous moments when players messed up simple yet crucial points simply because someone in the crowd celebrated too early. Besides the courtside aspect, it is known to be a traditional sport with many rules related to decorum, which includes quietness But it is not guaranteed that the world number one woman player’s semifinal match won’t get interrupted by “Cotton Eye Joe” by Rednex and may be a part of the reasons why she loses to her American opponent

Thanks to the silence during the games, arguably the most satisfying sound in the universe - a ball hitting a racket is produced. However, that is the ultimate calm before the storm as the spectators make a one hundred eighty degrees shift the moment the point is won, and cheer vigorously The unwritten rules of cheering differ from tournament to tournament as posh English crowds are more reserved than the American or Australian ones that are there just for fun instead of prestige While during the US Open someone can be seen chugging a pint of beer on the big screen of the

Arthur Ashe Stadium, Wimbledon offers headshots of Kate Middleton being satisfied with the ongoing game at the Central Court.

PRINCE OF TENNIS

Writer: Anna Gogebashvili

Designer: Dominika Ignatjeva

There is one thing all crowds have in common, though – the chants against a 24-time Grand Slam title winner Novak Djokovic; no matter where he plays, people always openly support his opponent, which usually leads to his outrage but never stops him from remaining victorious. He has even confessed that when the audience chanted Roger Federer’s name throughout their iconic final of Wimbledon in 2019, he heard his own name instead.

Speaking of Djokovic and Federer, 2024 marks the first year since 2002 that no one from the Big Three – Novak, Roger and Rafael Nadal has won a major (For those readers who are not familiar with tennis and are confused by the term major/Grand Slam title, here is a brief explanation; there are four tournaments: Australian Open, Roland Garros (the French Open), Wimbledon and the US Open, they are the most important championships on the calendar since they provide the most possible ranking points, prize money and relevance to the winner as well as the imprint of his/her name in the history books due to their significance.). 2003born Carlos Alcaraz who had only seen the dominance of the Big Three in his lifetime was one of the two players that ended their reign

NOVAK

DJOKOVIC

I want the same thing I’ve wanted since I was 7 years old. I want to be No. 1.

His sidekick ended up being Jannik Sinner, another 2000s kid who finished the year as the number one men ’ s singles player. Many fans refer to the pair as the modern day Fedal (Federer & Nadal) due to their success at a young age, and respect and sympathy towards each other The young stars won two grand slams each: Sinner dominated hard courts and won Australian Open & US Open; Alcaraz took the clay and grass slams – Roland Garros & Wimbledon; remarkably enough, both defeated Novak Djokovic on their paths to the triumph. Rafael Nadal has been no obstacle to Carlitos and Jannik as he barely participated in any tournaments this year and joined Roger Federer in the retirement club at the end of the season.

The main intrigue of the upcoming year is whether Djokovic brings the glory of the old generation back or the new Fedal establishes domination, of course as long as the audience remains quiet and lets them hit seamlessly perfect serves and volleys

The Longing for Summer

by Kārlis Aleksandrs Strante

Under the poplar tree and with the rustling of wind, and the crashing of waves, I am at peace.

Under the cement skies and with the tapping of rain, and the crackling of trees, I dream of peace.

oppppppppften when on a first date, or trying ppppppppto make conversation with anyone ppppppppelse unfamiliar, the first thing that ppppppppwill come to mind to ask is, what is your favorite season? The regional variation for such a question is strong, but the prevailing answer for those living in the northern hemisphere is summer. Some may say autumn, but just like its leaves, the season soon gives way to cold and unforgivingly dark days. Spring is also an answer, but the bright green pre-text of summer that everyone thinks of is only the smallest slice of spring Winter may be white and it may be quiet, but this quiet that once thought to be calming can soon feel isolating and lonely, giving way for the ever so dreadful seasonal depression. This essay seeks to examine the physiological and behavioral aspects of our favourite season and the longings we tend to have towards it.

Firstly, the physiological aspect, summer is best known for its sunlight which has many positive effects on the body, mainly the improved dose of vitamin D, which is connected with bone health, improved mood and better sleep. Of course the sun also allows for the body to better adjust its circadian cycle, that is when to go to sleep and when to wake up That is why we are so miserable in winter, no vitamin D, means we stay awake well into the night and then wonder why we feel miserable. (Shetty, 2024) Of course, summer also has the added benefit of warmer temperature, this is also connected behaviorally as it allows us to spend more time outside, breathing fresh air and exercising.

Now, as much as we can say that the preference for summer is purely physiological, it does not explain the peaking suicide rates during the late spring and early summer months. (Shapiro, 2019) This is hypothesised to be caused by factors such as allergies, which cause mood swings and also changes in hormones, but another reason that is purely behavioral is that which most people cite as the reason they enjoy summer, that being the ability to socialize more freely. Many activities open up during summer which allow for people to, for example, enjoy a day at the beach. This fulfills an inherent need for humans to socialize, but for some it may be damaging. Research into SAD (Seasonal affective disorder) has revealed that certain people may resent summer by this fact alone, as certain body image issues or the reminder of their loneliness is triggering enough for depressive episodes. (Griffin, 2023) And even if you are not lonely, financial struggles to keep up with the activities may cause SAD, not mentioning the heat, which for some persons may cause disturbed sleep which on top of pre-existing sleep issues may cause a disturbance in the natural circadian rythms of the human body. (Griffin, 2023)

To conclude, both behavioral and physiological aspects contribute to our longing and interest in summer, but whilst researching this topic, I gained some nuance on the subject. Perhaps those who hate or just not like summer have a point. For those who have trouble socializing, summer may work as a painful reminder of that. For that, I have no advice to offer, except per my last article, embracing the solitude and being mindful of yourself and the season around you, which unlike winter breathes life into this rather bleak world we live in right now

G O S S I P S G O S S I P S G O S S I P S

We definitely know which duo was the highest in the room..

Everything went smoothly until we opened the photo gallery

JB the absolute gambling god

Everyone was only hanging out with their friends in their rooms, not partying all together- ibiza was dead

running around like a puppy is not cute look

Right after the red room I saw a dude look up feet pictures

MP is the definition of study hard and part haaaaaaar d

Love our multitasking queens, effortlessly balancing the party scene with econometrics on the side. Now that’s the real deal

M was very keen on peeing over the railing

E was seen flying all over the stairs

Those guys with flags were super annoying

You most probably had no idea but the famous Latvian rappers Galeniex and Epifanija was on the boat as well

Showing off their sharp minds at the slot machines, hope y ’all came out on top

Is a certain com chief and that y1 guy a thing?

E.S looked so good. I wish I could have given him one of the kisses he had on his face

Can we please not invite RBS anymore

Honestly, the organizers really managed to ruin the vibe of SSE parties this Halloween.

The baby of the VP was more drunk the the average person at the party at some point

The german exchange students have dominate d the vibe

Toooo many people judging others, chill out and have fun in ur life.

Didn’t know you could get a VIP entourage at Inferno. - -

To see Y2 E.R and another Y2 student grinding against each other on the dancefloor was surprising to say the least My jaw was on the floor with this one.

girls making out with girls

Idk who put a fire extinguisher in the toilet during inferno but cmon guys yall aren’t at the kindergarten anymore to pull this shit

some were not making out but making LOVE on the dance floor

SM Y1 had a lot of fun w a girl on the dance floor at inferno. Does this man kiss or eat?

The music was so bad - the same songs repeating 2/3x times (and very basic songs), and some awful things were playing. Cheap club music, ruined the whole party

The party was fine, but the vibe was off... Too many rando m people, boring activities. Hopefully the next chief will bring the good vibes back Mia set the bar very high, Reinis was still keeping it up kind of, but it's going down...

O.M. had a tad bit too much of the adult juice at the inferno party

LS y3 was a queen as always. Outfit, dance moves, vibe All of us boys should wish we were in her boyfriends shoes

EventCom truly nailed the theme I genuinely felt like I was in a sauna

If you decide to be a bad friend and break the girl code, maybe dont do it at a party, where everyone knows everyone

Wanted to take a bite out of our sexy librarian MP with the slick back hair

E.S. has somehow made it into my dreams every night this week. What a freaking love spell

Multiple people throwing up during the first hour is crazy

LT Y1 we couldnt figure out the gender of the person eating you up but you both slayed

So manh rv3g folks that dont even study here...... wtf were you doing at that party

Does that one y1 know that she is NOT fun to be around?.......

I love my lesbian wife

Some girl broke the mirror in toilet during Halloween party. Due to that, man lost one toilet for some time

The fish got cought by a beautiful fisherman

K.K. y1 answered many calls during the event

Someone was passionately making out with 2 baddies from Cesis all night at Inferno

We can’t really argue about taste, can we? But we sure as hell can argue about some decisions made.

D working those hips with his brand new blonde on his arm a plot twist no one saw coming

First time at sse party and loved the lgbt friendly atmosphere

When I grow up I want to be like our alumni…��

Homecoming is my motivation to graduate from this institution

E.P. had the best campaign out of all

No I was wrong, E C took over E P when the guy BROUGHT OUT HIS CELLO in the middle of the lobby. wow, a multit alented king

rgsl and rbs will think of any excuse to call sse rigans worse than them while we haven't expressed any hatred against them jealous?

please stop inviting RBS and other nobodies to sse events

Some people woke up with tattoos made by the one and only - the tallest y2

L F Y1, at this point it is pathetic to see you showing up to random team buildings. It's clear that you can't get girls, but maybe go party elsewhere and leave sse riga girls alone, nobody wants you here.

Some say that the a certain chief used her influence to get multiples of her friends and allies to the party as VIP’s - without waiting in line and not paying for the ticket. You go girl!

x

A certain chief showing us once again how easy it is to be corrupted by power

RR is indeed “ on edge”

Another year, another proof that no one can beat LS buscom campaign and presentation. The bar was set too high...

R sure is one to speak about drinking problems, Mr. Got shitfaced in the lobby and caused basically the biggest student fuck up in a while Really good VP potential there

Everyone shitting on RR campaign, but the actual hell was the KT q&a session. disaster

J Y2 spent 400 euro on drinks for girls and tried to kiss all of them

He lost the second he had put on THAT shirt and wore it proudly in the lobby the other day

Why was the sa licking that on IC guys ass seemed so rude, biased and so unfair

Just copying LS answer to OF question… very unoriginal

Blond girl from second row in grey FA hoodie , need to drop self-esteem on real level, you are not better than others

I feel so bad for EC, pls do not give up bbygirl

D actually cheated on the pushup contest

Almost died in Soros, cuz my seat broke. Y1 and Y2 what have you done to my beloved auditorium?

Every time a person pronounces the word "vision", nerve cells die inside me and never recover

L.H.T. showing R.A. when to stop the music during musical chairs in marketing com elections, so that a certain candidate would lose, really shows how disgusting some people are. If you do not like a candidate, just do not vote for them, no need to be a b****

I ship ms. P and mr . VP <3

I R did sooo well on her presentation, i was very turned on

I think this year’s yearbook will be so bad (derogatory)

MU was working hard when needed the most - good chief candidate

Surprisingly throughout all election presentations the most annoying person present was R.A. Just take the microphone away…

Speaking in front of a large audience can certainly be intimidating, but for someone running for president, this performance was far from reassuring. The lack of confidence in her words raises a critical concern: how will she effectively communicate with the public if elected?

T.E.G. please don’t ruin parties if you don’t know how to party, you are not the main character

Bis com candidate really showed how it's done

Toast com intros for their questions were PERFECT!!! Props to them

Dear board, if the can didates are your close friends, doesn't mean that they should escape the hard questions Honestly sad to see the best candidates being hated on/trying to be intimidated the most.

We are pretty cooked if K.T is the face of sse riga

EL was seen quite cuddly with someone in the leisure room

How the hell did some people win... Maybe start voting for competent future chiefs not only your friends. This is the downfall for some committees.

The juciest ... gal, you didn't even prove it

These election were rigged- the board clearly showed their favourites by not asking them hard questions and allowing them to make a whole comedy show while others (who were clearly more competent) were working for a fighting chance..

The presentation by IR embodied the qualities president’s address should have confidence, passion, and a captivating spark in their eyes.

This year elections' organization is below par. how are you gonna forget to remind people that voting is ending, tf. i personally received liks 15 emails since the email about the start of the voting, of course people are going to forget. you ' re not int erested in securing a lot of votes?

What's wrong this year? Candidates who are friends or even more with the current board, candidates who messed up and then think they can pretend like nothing happened How can even these people represent the student body?

The best part of this year ' s elections was comments in the chat on the first day

The president really had the juicy election questions this year ��

I was waiting for the candidates to make actual suggestions, but all I heard was still water...

Y2 was balancing on the edge with that one question... Let's say it was juicy

E.L. and K.V. Y2 seen giving advice to one of the marketing candidates at the foosball table. From what I heard, let's just say that NOTA would be the best outcome...

You know it’s been a great party when JB buys shots for everyone

AK was seen helicoptering somewhere where he should not be helicoptering

How hard it is to come to lectures on time... eyes on a certain Y2

O A , how is it possible to not have the capacity to come to lectures on time?? Get a watch and read the room.

D. J. (Y2, brand new BMW owner) did not score a single cup in beer pong

The KP and DJ beer pong team indulged in drunk driving (bad)

Beer pong was poopy (RGSL & RBS)

RS a.k .a. lobby party, a.k.a Romija, prioritises ball over maths

RK was seen loosing 6x in a row in Brawl Stars

MP > MJ MJ didn't understand it now

SMK's score was 1:1 I could see it

DL was seen riding his bike

GD has supposedly not revealed his home address to anyone ever (Homeless??!!)

I accidentally had to chance to overhear a conversation by our next VP and his friends, and let me tell you There is not a single thought behind those eyes. He sounds too full of himself for a guy who hasn't achieved anything yet Pretty sure he just went for the title

Certain someone got rid of all pics with his girlfriend. What happened?

Ms Lithuanian O.A., how is it possible to not have the capacity to come to lectures on time?? The disrespect to come in late and then ask useless questions. Get a watch and read the room

AK & KP are my favourite sse riga couple

If R.R. can't take the heat, shouldn't go for P

H O R O S C O P E S H O R O S C O P E S

Life will throw a lot of challenges your way in January It will be a challenging, but very rewarding month You will not be able to chill much, but you will shine and take on every challenge thrown your way

Saggitarius Saggitarius Saggitarius

You should put extra effort into being visible in January There will be new people entering your life and you will miss the chance for some fun if you don’t show yourself in the best way

Aquarius Aquarius Aquarius

It is time to leave all the toxic people behind at the start of the new year Focus on yourself and don’t devote too much time to others, you are the only one who can truly make your life worth living

January will be a dry month for you romantically Not much will happen in that aspect and you will be bored Fear not, as February will be quite the opposite - you will be a proud resident of Freak Town

Capricorn Capricorn Capricorn

Fridays will be as eventful as ever for you in January Love, passion, new flingseverything will be turned up to 100 this month

Pisces Pisces Pisces

Try to take life one day at a time Don’t devote too much energy worrying about the future, live in the now Reminiscing too much about the past or thinking too much about the future brings needless clutter to your mind - try to keep your mind clutterfree this month

January will be completely different from the rest of your 2025 Whatever happens this month, don’t count on it repeating for the whole year Life is an ever changing game and it doesn't sit still for nobody

2025 will be a year of growth for you A lot of introspection and various challenges will be present this year, but January will be the start of one of the most interesting years in your life

Don’t let other people influence what you think or feel in January There will be a lot of external pressure from various people this month, but you always know what is best for you

Cancer Cancer Cancer

It is time to let go Those feelings you still have for that person in your past or the resentment you have built up, let it all go and look toward bigger and better things

If you let it happen, January will be a month of overthinking for you Devote yourself to your passions and your friends, otherwise you will be left all alone with your thoughts

It is time to freshen up your wardrobe Go to a thrift shop, shop during some sales and make sure you build a fresh, new image This image change will do wonders for you in your romantic life

Libra Libra Libra

Leo Leo Leo

Scorpio Scorpio Scorpio

Virgo Virgo Virgo

F Y O U C O U L D P L A Y A S O N G D U R I N G I

I

F Y O U C O U L D P L A Y A S O N G D U R I N G Y O U R Y O U R " q u i e t b e f o r e t h e s t o r m " " q u i e t b e f o r e t h e s t o r m "

G l o r y B o x b y G l r y o x b y P o r t i s h e a d o r t i s h